My 45 yrs. of Change

Comment

Comment by TAZZ on November 5, 2008 at 2:56pm

Von, that is a killer idea, the world accordin' 2 Tazz. I can see it now. ty

Comment by Yvonne Oxford Dougherty on November 5, 2008 at 12:41pm

TAZZ:
Pulaski Technical College is recording oral histories to be preserved on CD or DVD and kept in their library. You can pass your stories on to generations of children. It would make Harry proud.
Von

Comment by TAZZ on November 5, 2008 at 11:41am

very good von,my only regret is i won't have any grandkids to pass on all these things & stories that i've seen

Comment by Yvonne Oxford Dougherty on November 5, 2008 at 11:36am

TAZZ:
I went to school in segregated schools in Arkansas. It wasn't until 1964 or 65 that schools fully integrated in this state. I, too, have seen many changes. I graduated high school in 1973 before the 1975 law that allowed girls equal access to sports programs. I was an excellent basketball player with no place to play because the school only had male sports programs. I remember Roe v Rade. My life has been impacted by segregation, the civil rights movement, the womens' rights movement, the assinations of JFK, RFK, MLK, Johnson's War on Poverty, Viet Nam, 9/11, Reganomics, and the most explosive growth in medicine, technology, and space travel this world has ever known. I have never in my life felt the hope that I feel for our country this morning. This is a good day.
Von

Comment by Jan B. on November 5, 2008 at 11:27am

Too bad it wasn't split into two proposals. One for unmarried couples and one for same sex couples. I'm not giving an opinion on either, I'm just saying the unmarried couples proposal might have had a better chance of passing.

I'm in the same boat, Renee. If something happened to me, I would prefer my boyfriend off 11 years raise my kids. He has been with us since they were very small (2 1/2 and 6 mos.). He knows them better than anyone aside from me - even better than my brother and his wife. He would be my choice. It's in my will, but I don't know that my wishes would be followed.

Comment by Yvonne Oxford Dougherty on November 5, 2008 at 11:24am

Comment by Yvonne Oxford Dougherty on November 5, 2008 at 10:41am

Here is the ballot measure:
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 a 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; stating that the act will not affect the guardianship of minors; defining “minor” to mean an individual under the age of eighteen (18) years; stating that the public policy of the state is to favor marriage, as defined by the constitution and laws of this state, over unmarried cohabitation with regard to adoption and foster care; finding and declaring on behalf of the people of the state that it is in the best interest of children in need of adoption or foster care to be reared in homes in which adoptive or foster parents are not cohabiting outside of marriage; providing that the Director of the Department of Human Services shall promulgate regulations consistent with the act; and providing that the act applies prospectively beginning on January 1, 2009.

Comment by Yvonne Oxford Dougherty on November 5, 2008 at 10:34am

The measure will prohibit unmarried couples living together from fostering or adopting children.

This means that gay, lesbian, or straight cohabitating couples without the benefit of marriage cannot adopt or foster children under the age of 18. I do not think that it specifically addresses single people - but I could be wrong. The Arkansas Supreme court has already declared this unconstitutional (2006 I think.) I would bet that it comes before the Courts again.

Comment by renee on November 5, 2008 at 10:14am

Someone told me that not only is this going to effect "unmarried couples" it will also effect single parents. For example I am a single parent - God forbid something were to happen to my sister and her husband and left their 15 year old son without parents I would not be able to adopt him.....
So they would rather just throw him into an already overcrowded foster system?

Am I getting wrong information?

Comment by Yvonne Oxford Dougherty on November 5, 2008 at 9:57am

Bud,
I'd like to see it challenged in court. I don't think that it is constitutional. Perhaps the ACLU will take up the case.
Von

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