Just Say "No"

I have desperately tried to stay out of politics here on my blog, and I suppose it is probably a little too late to get into it here since the polling places are open already. But, I have decided to say something about one of the initiatives on the Arkansas ballot.

Arkansas Proposed Initiative Act 1 reads:
"A proposed act providing that a minor may not be adopted or placed in a foster home if the individual seeking to adopt or to serve as a foster parent is cohabiting with a sexual partner outside of marriage which is valid under the constitution and laws of this state; stating that the foregoing prohibition applies equally to cohabiting opposite-sex and same-sex individuals;"

The original act that was proposed for this simply was trying to exclude same-sex couples from adopting or serving as a foster parent. The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that the act was discriminatory, and the organization placing this act on the ballot went back and amended the act, provided the necessary signatures to have the amended one placed on the ballot, and here we are.

I am urging you to vote "no" on this initiative. I have done some serious soul-searching on this, and I am convinced that this initiative is NOT in the best interest of the children of our state. This initiative excludes same-sex couples, heterosexual couples, and singles from fostering or adopting in this state. It even excludes someone who might tragically become a widow or widower at a young age and choose to foster or adopt.

Unfortunately, this is a case where politics has hijacked christian values. We throw around words in politics like "homosexual" and "same-sex marriage" to energize an entire segment of people to vote to undermine what I believe is one of the most basic of christian values: caring for children.

I urge those who are dead-set against same-sex marriage adoptions and foster care to vote "no" on this initiative today and go back to the drawing board if that is what you so choose to do. Let Arkansans vote specifically on that issue. (And, I am in no way advocating my position one way or another on that issue here). And, if you voted "yes" and this measure passes, I would urge you to consider signing up for foster care yourselves. I can't even think too long about the number of children in this state on the foster care rolls without getting a little weepy. And if this bill passes, that number will grow exponentially.