They might use it all the time, but do conservatives really know what "family values" are? I assume it refers to family-affirming policies and visions for society, and maybe there are people out there who do advocate for such policies and dreams, but it certainly isn't what Conservative America has in mind when you ask them.
Instead family values are, as dictated by right-wing America, found in the homophobic, sexist, biblical and G-rated policies we enact. Clearly the Pink Plague is what is contributing to America's divorce rate, because it has been scientifically determined each gay kiss in America kills a bunny and breaks an otherwise happy marriage. Clearly this means all feminists must either be lesbians or hate bunnies.
The popularization of the feminist movement also cleverly coincides with the decline of the American nuclear family, but so does the increased volume of Internet spam, the number of fatal car accidents and global warming. The no fault divorce made it so either marriage partner could leave the marriage if it wasn't working. Ideally all marriages would work, but there is a difference between helping couples resolve their problems and forcing two people in a failed marriage to live together until one or the other cheats on or abuses the other so a fault-based divorce can be drawn up.
It is also inexplicably obvious to our religious conservative counterparts that the more we see or talk about Jesus, the better our marriages will be (God is spelled G-O-D by the way, not G-O-P).
People are coming to the realization that women and men work better as equals in a marriage and that counseling, family planning and communication work better to create a successful marriage than do the oppression of women or gendered stereotypes. In fact, surprisingly enough, the state with the lowest divorce rate is the same that marries homosexuals: Massachusetts, a rate that is almost half of Utah's in 2004. And I might also add that America's divorce rate has not only stabilized but is decreasing, clearly the result of anti-homosexual legislation and more women staying at home.
Imagine a world where building families is not the exclusive right of heterosexuals, where welfare policies favor families and help parents spend more of their precious time with their children and spouse than at the office, where parenthood is better planned, a world with fewer teen pregnancies and abortions and is the progressive vision for America's families.
Still unconvinced? The Democrats recently reintroduced their "Prevention First Amendment" which aims to reduce abortions by expanding the accessibility of birth control, family planning and sex education, because when it comes down to results, a rubber does a better job than a Bible will at prevention.
The progressive idea is that the institution of the family might contribute to a more stable society. Until the needs of the individual are met, the greater society will not reap the benefit of any institution.
Class dismissed.
Matthew Blackham is a junior majoring in sociology. Comments can be sent to matblackham@cc.usu.edu.
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