THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 16, 1995 TAG: 9509150100
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E5 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Issues of Faith
SOURCE: Betsy Wright
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
WHILE I GOT my share of lumps about last week's column on being upset over Dr. James Dobson's stand against the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, mostly I got calls and letters from folks who agreed with the column.
At least two readers, however, were more concerned about the headline, ``Disenchantment with the family doctor.'' As those readers rightly pointed out, Dobson is not a family doctor in the sense of being a medical doctor. Dobson is a psychologist. However, in defense of the editors who wrote the headline, I thought it was a good one. The ``family'' reference was to Dr. Dobson's ``Focus on the Family'' organization.
Now, on to other Reader Responses.
From C.E.C. Cummings of Virginia Beach: ``Your answer to Dr. Dobson is most relevant, recalling that Jesus ate with publicans and sinners to acquaint them with the person of the Son of God, else how could he have taught those who needed the Good News. At this World Conference for Women in China, hopefully there will be Christians to make a stand. I think Jesus would not want to miss such an opportunity through his followers.''
From April Allen of Norfolk: ``I very strongly agree that (Dobson's) all-or-nothing statements about the women's conference are very foolish. They have nothing to do with the real world. I stand behind what you have suggested.
``For me, the bumper sticker I saw the other day says it all: `Feminism is the radical notion that women are people.' ''
From Carlo Cordasco of Hampton: ``Dr. Dobson's standard is the Word of God. keep us focused on the standards set by Christ. Some may argue that as a nation we have veered either too far to the left or too far to the right. I would make the argument that we have veered too much to the lukewarm center.''
From Kynn Wilson of Virginia Beach: ``Even though I, too, have benefited from some of Dr. Dobson's wisdom in other formats and arenas, I, too, think that his sort of blanket condemnation is extremely dangerous. . . . The real Silent Majority out here are the multitude of reasonably intelligent Christian women who believe in respecting the opinions and beliefs of other individuals but are too busy nurturing families, friends, causes, jobs and household responsibilities to research and rebut the kind of propaganda that high-profile Christian leaders put out. Thank you for taking the time to do that. . . .''
From Carolyn R. Haywood of Chesapeake: ``I agree 100 percent with you about your disenchantment with Dr. Dobson and his `Focus on the Family.' I quit listening to him before the last presidential election. . . . I (can't) believe that these minister have not heard of the atrocities that go on in some of the countries of this world. I think that these men need to live in India or China as a woman for a while!''
From Jean Cantrell of Virginia Beach: ``Were you a regular listener, you would know that Dr. Dobson and Focus on the Family Ministry is very much concerned with women's rights - all women, including unborn ones. Calling Dr. Dobson an alarmist and saying he writes hateful letters is very misguided. . . gentle, loving and caring way than anyone I know.''
From Israel Zoberman from Congregation Beth Chaverim of Virginia Beach: ``All efforts such as the United Nations sponsored Women's World Conference in Beijing ought to be supported and applauded, for much needs to be corrected in this critical regard around the world. The rabbis teach that when we cheapen the lives of others, we diminish the Divine stature; upholding the indivisible gift of life and it's full human potential to bless all, we enhance Her position as well as our own.''
From Caia Mockaitis, public policy information manager for ``Focus on the Family'' in Colorado Springs, Colo.: ``This Beijing conference would not have been controversial if it were about clean water, maternal health and better living conditions for women. But this global gathering was more about advancing a world view of . . . `gender-feminists' than it was with really helping women.
``Gender-feminism is not about equality and fairness for women; it is political ideology that views women as victims of an oppressive, patriarchal system who are continually engaged in a class warfare struggle against men. It is based on an enormous hostility to marriage, motherhood and the family. . . marriage and family are just another part of `social conditioning' to keep us down. We don't view family relationships in terms of power, but of love and responsibility. Most rational people understand that having a husband and children is a blessing, not oppression, and a woman's fertility is a gift, not a handicap or a disease.'' by CNB