Family in Crisis

October 2006

Dear Friends,

Lend me your eyes and ears, fellow countrymen, for a very passionate message that comes from the heart. It was paid for by many concerned people who contributed to our Focus on the Family ministry because they believe in our mission. I thank them for their generosity and concern. They have allowed us to nurture and defend the family and to speak with candor about the moral and social issues that lie before us.

I am writing specifically to express my concerns about the upcoming national election on November 7, and its implications for America's future. We, its people, are about to experience a time of decision on which our very survival and the values we hold dear will hang precariously in the balance.

For the first time in the 29-year history of this ministry, I feel I must address the burgeoning threat posed by Islamic fundamentalism. The security of our homeland and the welfare of our children are, after all, "family values."

Let me make one thing clear as a place to begin. All evidence indicates that the vast majority of Muslims wish us no harm, and are decent and peaceful people. Unfortunately, millions of extremists do exist among them, and they hate us with a vengeance. Remember that a small percentage of a very big number is a very big number. There are, according to several estimates, more than 1.2 billion Muslims in the world, representing almost a fifth of earth's population.1 Some estimates indicate that from 10 to 15 percent of them hold to the view that infidels ("non-believers" in the Islamic faith) deserve to die.2 That would mean 120 to 180 million people are committed to our destruction. These extremists have been promised from childhood that they will be rewarded in paradise with endless glory and 72 virgins for sacrificing their lives in the Jihad (holy war.)

Suppose, however, that only 4 percent of Muslims are supportive of terrorism. That would mean 48 million people around world would give their lives, if required, to murder Christians, atheists and members of other religious faiths. For purposes of comparison, let's ratchet the numbers down further. If only 1 percent are potentially violent, that would still suggest 12 million who would, if given a chance, bomb our homeland or blow up themselves or their children on suicide missions. This is a threat of enormous proportions.

If you doubt that our nation is in grave danger, just remember what the extremists have done recently to their victims around the world:

• They pulled four American civilians out of a Humvee, then murdered these unarmed prisoners in cold blood and mutilated their bodies beyond recognition.3

• They tried to bomb 10 commercial airplanes simultaneously and murder thousands of innocent men, women and children. A Muslim couple was apprehended in London this past summer in the effort. According to reports, they had planned to sacrifice their 6-month-old son, Zain, using his baby bottle as a liquid bomb.4

• They beheaded American journalist Daniel Pearl, just to make a point.5

Also consider the rising tone of inflammatory rhetoric:

• An 8-year-old girl said on Abu Dhabit television, "I hope Bush dies in flames, and I want to go to (then-Israeli Prime Minister) Ariel Sharon and kill him with a gun and stab him with a sword."6

• The Hamas Web site carried this quote, "With Allah's grace, we have raised an ideological generation that loves death as much as our enemies love life."7

• A lyric from an Iranian music video carries this line, "America is lurking for you, and will not give up until it destroys you completely. Rise up soon because the world is not safe from the hunter."8

• A line from a grade-school textbook used in Jordanian and Palestinian classrooms reads, "This religion will destroy all other religions through the Islamic jihad fighters."9

• A spokesman for Al Qaeda last month said that Muslims are calling for the murder of Pope Benedict XVI, referring to him as "the worshipper of the cross," and saying "you and the West are doomed."10 The extremists went on to murder a Catholic nun as she was leaving a Somali hospital. She actually forgave her attackers as she lay dying on the pavement.11 The Al Qaeda spokesman went on to warn, "You infidels and despots, we will continue our jihad and never stop until God avails us to chop your necks and raise the fluttering banner of monotheism, when God's rule is established governing all people and nations."12

• Al-Zawahiri, Al-Qaeda's No. 2 official and Osama bin Laden's lieutenant, sent the following message by video to "Western Nations" on the fifth anniversary of 9/11:

  "I tell them your leaders are concealing from you the true size of the disaster which will shock you; the days are pregnant, and they will give birth to new events with Allah's permission and guidance. I tell them: You have provided us with all the legal and rational reasons to fight you and punish you. You have committed ugly crimes, breached treaties that you used to impose on others to abide by. For our part, we have repeatedly warned you and repeatedly offered a truce with you. So, we now have the legal and rational justification to continue fighting you until your power is destroyed or you give in and surrender."13

That threat takes on new meaning when we consider the convincing evidence that Iran and North Korea are working feverishly to develop nuclear capabilities, which would almost certainly result in proliferation of weapons of mass destruction around the world. Furthermore, I have no doubt that under the right circumstances, they would use them against the U.S. and Israel. If they ever decide to do that, North Korea, China and Russia could be tempted to pile on. With our country crippled or destroyed, the way would be open for world domination by ambitious despots. That scenario has terrifying implications.

The danger is even closer to home. Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has allied his country with Iran and other Muslim countries. He said at the United Nations on September 20 that President Bush was a "devil" and that the platform where he had stood the previous day still reeked of sulfur.14 He said the United States was on its way down, and indicated Venezuela is working to develop nuclear weapons. If Iran succeeds in building a nuclear bomb, you can be sure Venezuela will be given its own supply.

What should infuriate every American is that hardly any congressmen or senators stepped forward to condemn this outrage with the passion it warranted. What kind of wimps have we become when the elected leader of this great nation can be assaulted in our own country and no one has the guts to condemn it vehemently? I heard a former ambassador talking on Fox News after the Chavez statement. His limp-wristed response was that America should work harder to make friends around the world. It made me sick.

Is there any doubt that Adolph Hitler would have used weapons of mass destruction if they had been available in 1940? And is there any question that there are many other "Hitlers" and "Stalins" alive today who would set the world on fire if given the opportunity? You can bet these dictators are lurking in the tall grass. The writer and philosopher George Santayana wrote that only dead men have seen an end to war.15 Jesus prophesied that to the time of the end, there would be "wars and rumors of wars."16 Confrontations with wicked rulers are coming, as certainly as the sunrise! Apart from prayer and God's gracious protection, there is no easy way out of the crisis we are facing. Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich has said convincingly that since 9/11, World War III has been in effect.17 I believe he is right.

It is time to pray for our country, for future generations of freedom-loving people and for the nation of Israel. As long as we are pledged to defend Israel and its "covenant land," we will be targeted by Muslim terrorists.

Given these ominous developments on the world scene, I would ask you two critically important questions:

1. Would you favor turning the leadership of this nation over to those who believe we can negotiate with extremists and talk them into being "nice"? And can we avoid a showdown simply by packing up and running away? Diplomacy has its place, of course, but trying to negotiate with those who want to kill us is ridiculous. That is what British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain attempted to do at the beginning of the Second World War. He handed the nation of Czechoslovakia to "Herr Hitler" on a silver platter, hoping to avoid his wrath by appeasing him. It didn't work. Appeasement never works. Ultimately, 50 million people died in a worldwide conflagration. Weakness and groveling only create contempt and greater determination among those whose intentions are dishonorable. Yet there are politicians whose names will be on the ballots this November who have no plan for national defense other than "talk." They are naive, foolish and dangerous.

2. Can you afford to stay at home on Election Day and leave the future of our country in the hands of those who would sell us out? Absolutely not! When I think of the ultra-liberals, I am mindful of actress Rosie O'Donnell who said recently, "Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam in a country like America."18 People such as O'Donnell and her political friends could help bring about the destruction of Western civilization. Let us hope against hope that ultimate power will not be within their grasp.

I beg you to pray about this decision and to present yourself at the polls on November 7. It will take you only 15 minutes to indicate your preferences, and the future of our nation may depend on that participation. Yet approximately 21 million evangelical Christians did not bother to vote in 2004!19

Remember these four facts: (1) Elections have enormous consequences. (2) Politicians have great power in a democracy. (3) Cultures bend and sway in the aftermath of a national vote. (4) I've heard it said by Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mark Steyn that a free society is "a tough thing to hold onto. It's an aberration in human history. If you want to keep it, you want to fight for it or you're going to wind up in a terribly appalling state."20 We owe it to our children and to future generations to study the issues and then to cast informed votes.

One other thought about the war. I thank God for the United States military, which is protecting us by its sweat, blood and tears. It is the only force standing between us and those who would do us harm. My heart also goes out to the families at home, especially to the wives and mothers who are raising children alone and waiting, waiting, waiting for the return of their beloved warriors. To them I would say, "We know you are sacrificing mightily for our country. You are in our prayers."

And finally, I want to thank President George W. Bush. He is not a perfect man, and I have not agreed with some of his decisions. But when it comes to the threat of terror, he gets it. Mr. Bush has been subjected to incredible criticism, much of it unfair and vicious, for his prosecution of this war. I admire him for standing firm, and for doing what is right even when it is politically disadvantageous to do so. Never in my memory has a United States president been called a devil by a foreign head of state who also said that he reeks of sulfur. I still can't believe the one who uttered those insulting words came to Harlem the next day, where he was hugged by actor Danny Glover and hailed as a hero by misinformed people.21 Nevertheless, the president remained serene and respectful, even when being savaged by some members of Congress. I am just one lone voice, but I want to say, "We appreciate you, Mr. President, and we pray daily for you and Laura."

The War on Terror is not the only issue being considered in November. There are numerous traditional values being decided again this year. Near the top of the list is the struggle to defend the institution of marriage.

Amendments are on the ballot in eight states, including South Dakota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Arizona, Idaho, Tennessee, South Carolina and Virginia.22 As you know, 20 states thus far have introduced and successfully passed legislation defining marriage exclusively as the union of one man and one woman.23 In most cases, the issue has been decided by a strong majority of voters—as high as 86 percent.24

This is great news on the surface, but I'm sorry to report that recent polling in the eight aforementioned states indicates an alarming degree of apathy among voters on this issue. Perhaps it is the result of increased efforts on the part of liberal groups, which are funneling millions upon millions of dollars into their cause, to portray pro-traditional-marriage advocates as "extremists" while suggesting that gay couples who wish to marry are victims of intolerance. Or maybe the overwhelming success of marriage legislation in the 20 states has lulled conservative voters into a false sense of security.

Whatever the reason, it is clear that support for traditional marriage is seriously flagging in the eight states that will be voting on the issue next month. If you live in one of those states, you CANNOT afford to sit this one out. If the traditional definition of marriage is not upheld in even one of these states, it could have negative ramifications for the rest of the nation in the future. I urge you, in the strongest possible terms, to keep abreast of the latest developments as Election Day nears, and then, by all means, GO TO THE POLLS AND VOTE on November 7! Make no mistake: If conservative voters fail to make their voices heard, even in this midterm election, the results could be disastrous.

In addition to the definition of marriage, the citizens of South Dakota will also be voting on the legality of abortion, to a degree never before seen in a U.S. election. As you may recall, the South Dakota legislature previously approved a ban on all abortions in the state, with the exception of when the life of the mother is jeopardized, and it was signed into law.25 This year, however, Planned Parenthood and other liberal groups have put an initiative on the ballot that would overturn that law, effectively making abortion legal once again. It's not an exaggeration to suggest that the survival of South Dakota's abortion ban is absolutely vital to our cause. At some point, that law will eventually be appealed to the Supreme Court. Who knows what will be possible when that happens? With enough conservative justices on the bench, it could end up being the legislation the Court uses to roll back or at least seriously curtail the tragic Roe v. Wade decision. If the ban in South Dakota is overturned this November, a key chance to diminish abortions nationwide will be lost.

Considering what's at stake, you would think that concerned citizens in South Dakota would be working overtime to ensure that the state abortion ban is upheld. Unfortunately, the latest polls suggest that only 44 percent of citizens support the ban.26 Again, this erosion in support might be attributed to the sweeping campaign of misinformation and propaganda on the part of Planned Parenthood and other pro-abortion forces in South Dakota, or it might simply indicate that conservative, pro-family voices in the state have become apathetic or weary of the battle, despite the heroic efforts of a few.

This eroding support for an abortion ban in South Dakota is mystifying in light of nationwide trends. A recent Pew poll revealed that a whopping 63 percent of Americans favor either limiting abortion or banning it altogether.27 What is more, 73 percent of Americans believe that abortion is morally wrong in either all or most circumstances!28 These incredibly encouraging numbers demonstrate that the tide of public opinion has definitely shifted in our favor in recent years. And that is why the weak 44 percent show of support for South Dakota's abortion ban is so troubling. If you live in South Dakota, it is imperative that you go to the polls on November 7 and vote against overturning the state abortion ban. The lives of untold numbers of babies—not only in South Dakota but across the nation—may well hang in the balance.

So, here is the question of the hour. For whom should you vote in 2006? I can't even attempt to tell you, but I can suggest how you can go about making your selections. Maybe this will help:

1. If you can find a politician who understands the institution of the family and will work to preserve it.
2. If you can find a politician who cares about children and will work to protect them from those who would hurt them and teach them immorality and expose them to filth.
3. If you can find a politician who understands that we are at war with those who seek to destroy us utterly, and is determined to defend us from them.
4. If you can find a politician who wants to eliminate waste in the federal government and let the people keep more of their own money to invest and spend on their own families.
5. If you can find a politician who believes liberal judges are undermining this country and need to be reined in.
6. If you can find a politician who has read the U.S. Constitution and is determined to protect and defend it.
7. And if you can find a politician who lives by a strong moral code and is committed to the God of the universe—and from my perspective—Jesus Christ, His only-begotten son.

If you can find such a person, I urge you to go to the polls to vote for him or her on November 7. Your country needs you!

And, yes, there are many of them out there. Help put them in office in your state and in the nation.

Will you join me in fervently praying for our country as the midterm elections approach? I firmly believe that many of the principles we hold dear are hanging in the balance at this time, and that only a supernatural move of God—coupled with active engagement on the part of the citizenry—will ensure that righteousness and morality are upheld. And one more time, let me say it: Turnout is the key to the entire election. May the Lord grant each of us the passion and conviction to "vote our values" on November 7.

Sincerely,

James C. Dobson, Ph.D.
Founder and Chairman