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Saving the American Family

By Bob Small

The AFA (American Family Association) was one of the groups listed on last year’s Bill of Rights brochure.

The AFA was founded in 1987 in Tupelo, MS. (Birthplace of Elvis, see below).

This group raises the nettlesome question of what constitutes a family and who gets to define it. Their definition is heterosexual and traditional. For an opposing viewpoint, see Dykes to Watch Out For. Or is the argument merely “equal rights versus special rights”? One way to discern opinions on this is to review the AFA statement of purpose and their six examples.

The Boycott has been a tool for decades.Walker Wildmon, a descendant of the founder, feels it’s part of AFA’s mission to restore America’s morals. AFA says America’s morals have been in steep decline ever since the 1960s. 

However, some boycotts have the opposite effect.” Writer Neil Gaiman  thanked AFA “for its help to get the word out about his 2022  Lucifer series, which exceeded 18 billion streaming minutes on Netflix. “

Walker feels companies should remain “neutral” rather than promoting any viewpoint.

Robert Chmbers, a former AFA VP sued the AFA for “alleged sexual harassment and financial irregularities”.The case was terminated in August 2025 without details being made public.

Large Institutions have problems dealing with controversial topics, especially artistic. Then Temple Student Michael Marcavage tried to counter the effects of a production of Corpus Christie with a production of Final Destiny. All hell broke loose, and you’ll have to read the article for the full impact. I’d like to see them both but only Corpus Christie is available online (Youtube).

This is from 2014, so some of these facts may have changed. 10 Shocking Facts About the American Family Association

This is just one of many other lawsuits, Wojnarowicz v. American Family Association – Artist Right The Artist in question won this one.

We visited the birthplace of Elvis in Tupelo in one of our jaunts down south. We urge everyone to visit at least once.

I would probably feel violated if I knew one of the men changing next to me at the Y had been born female.

Mad About Maduro

By Bob Small

President Trump’s recent Venezuela overthrow has been one of his most controversial actions. The reactions, surprisingly, have not adhered to the Party line.

Among the GOP nay-sayers were Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02), who said that “dictators will try to exploit this to rationalize their selfish objectives,” citing both China and Russia.

Persistent Gadly Rand Paul, junior senator from Kentucky, reminded us that “Best though, not to forget, that our founders limited the executive’s power to go to war without Congressional authorization for a reason . . .”

Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Iowa-1) is a physician and politician who said that “We don’t want to have troops on the ground.”

Other GOP critics include, but are not limited to (outgoing) Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Senators Susan Collins, Cynthia Lummis, Roger Marshall, Eric Schmitt, and Todd Young.

While Rand Paul thought the process was flawed, he added, in justifying the action, “For Socialism to achieve its goals, ultimately and always, requires state-sponsored violence.”

In Pennsylvania, House member Bryan Fitzpatrick (PA-1) said “ the only country that the United States of America should be “running” is the United States of America.”, after first giving his approval of the overthrow of Maduro.

Meanwhile, Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla-25^th) said “Venezuelans deserve the promise of democracy and the rule of law, not a state of endless violence and spiraling disorder.” Darren Soto was among other Congressional Democrats supporting the Maduro takedown. Others have, allegedly, supported this action “off the record”.

Pa Senator John Fetterman “Removing Maduro was positive for Venezuela “ and reminded us that L”less than a year ago, President Biden upped the Maduro bounty to $25 million.”

Why Democrats fear speaking out and Republicans don’t is a question beyond my understanding.

The SWP (Socialist Workers Party) remains anti-interventionist, maintaining “They have never forgiven Venezuela for nationalizing the oil industry in the 1970s. “

The SWP is one of a handful of Socialist parties with active chapters in Philadelphia.

See also Pennsylvania Democrats propose resolution ‘opposing unconstitutional military