Virginity Pledges May Inadvertently Build Barriers Between Parents And Their Children

The Axiom Of Responsibility

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Taking Responsibility

For Themselves And Their Children

Magna Sententia stipulates that parents do everything within their power to establish close relationships with their children. All parents are unique with their own style of parenting, so undoubtedly “doing everything within their power” will manifest itself in as many different ways as there are parents. Nevertheless, across the board, establishing a close relationship with your children has nothing to do with superficial acts and everything to do with open communication and truly knowing your children. Your children need to feel that they can be completely honest with you about who they are and the choices they make.

Since the 1990’s, there have been movements such as True Love Waits and the Colorado Springs Purity Ball that encourage youngsters to pledge to “remain pure” (not engage in sexual activity), and sometimes not even kiss, until their wedding day. In the case of the Purity Ball, fathers escort their daughters to an annual ball, which is a “fairy tale night filled with ball gowns, swirling ballerinas and dancing past midnight.” (“Virginity Pledges Can Work for Some“) At this event, there is no discussion on “the topic of virginity.” On the contrary, according to father Keith Dorscht, the ball is meant to communicate a “prescription of love and commitment” and “helps [him] get into [his daughters'] hearts when they are young.”

While it is refreshing to learn of parents truly working to be an active part of their children’s lives, we feel there is one important caution in order: While it’s fun to share important occasions with your children and important to make them feel loved, truly knowing your children is far deeper and much harder work. Establishing a close relationship with your children is not always pretty, and there will be times when you have to get your hands dirty. Getting to know and understand every part of them (not just the parts they think you will approve of) takes persistence and a tremendous amount of time. Purity balls, chastity rings, pledges, and all the other devises parents use to encourage their children to make decisions they think are best will never replace parents who know their children inside and out.

Let’s face it, there are some parts of all of us that are not always acceptable to others, and our children are no different. For example, a True Love Waits chastity ring may put an incredible amount of pressure on a closeted 18-year-old boy who knows he is homosexual or a 16-year-old who was born biologically female but is really a transsexual male. It would be a tragedy for such children to go through their entire lives pretending to be something they are not because they fear (or know) they would be rejected by their family and/or community. (This is why it is vital that sexual orientation and gender identity are better understood in our society.)

We must accept our children regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity, and whether or not they are virgins on their wedding days. Further, they must feel that they can come to us with any and all of their struggles: If your child is thinking about experimenting with drugs or is experiencing pressure from her boyfriend to be sexually active, you want them to come to you for advice. If children have too stringent of expectations placed on them, it is incredibility difficult for them to open up to their parents. This results in secretive (and often destructive) behavior and advice coming from someone other than parents.

There is also the thought that waiting until your wedding day to experience your first kiss may not be the best way to ensure your marriage lasts “until death do you part,” but that is for a different day.

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Nebraska’s Safe Haven Law Was Meant For Infants, Not Teens

The Axiom Of Responsibility

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Taking Responsibility

For Themselves And Their Children

Since Nebraska’s Safe Haven Law went into effect this past July, “at least 14 children have been abandoned,” eleven of them, “ranging in age from 1 to 17,” being dropped off at hospitals on Wednesday alone. (“11 Children, Including Family of 9, Abandoned“) Interestingly, “Nebraska was the last state in the nation to adopt a safe-haven law,” going a step further than other states by allowing “caregivers to abandon youngsters as old as 19 without fear of prosecution.” According to the Child Welfare Information Gateway, similar laws in other states only apply to the abandonment of infants, with the purpose of “ensur[ing] that relinquished infants are left with persons who can provide the immediate care needed for their safety and well-being.”

Nebraska State Senator Arnie Stuthman, who introduced the bill, maintains that “abandoning teenagers was not the original intent of the law”; however, “in a compromise with senators worried about arbitrary age limits, the measure was expanded” to include those beyond infancy. In addition, Stuthman believes that “people are leaving [their children] off just because they can’t control them [and] they’re probably in no real danger, so it’s an easy way out for the caretaker.”

Safe Haven Laws were meant for desperate situations only. Abiding by Magna Sententia, unless a parent finds themselves in extreme circumstances in which caring for an infant is a complete impossibility, such as in the case of homelessness, they never push their parental responsibilities onto the government in this manner. Further, arranging a legal adoption is the only course of action for parents who are unable to care for children once they are no longer infants. Simply dropping off your teenager is a cowardly act that should be punishable by imprisonment.

When are the adults in our country going to start acting like adults and stop looking for ways to avoid their legitimate adult responsibilities? It is amazing to us that every day people make another lame attempt to get out of doing what they should be doing. Magna Sententia is truly the logical cure for our society because it demands that individuals take responsibility for themselves and their children, and it allows no excuses! If you are a parent, you and only you are responsible for your children until they are 18 years of age.

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Emotional Pornography Alert: ABC’s “700lb Woman Stranded At Home”

The Axiom Of Responsibility

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Taking Responsibility

For Themselves And Their Children

Once again, we have to sound our Emotional Pornography Alert!

In Bosque County, Texas, a 44-year-old woman, Susie Alonso, needs medical treatment because “she fears an open sore may be spreading an infection.” (“700-lb Woman In Need Of Medical Doctor Struggles For Transportation“) The catch: she weighs 700 pounds and cannot get herself to the hospital. “They tell me, ‘Miss. Alonso, we can’t do anything if you don’t get down here,’” she said. “I tell them I can’t get down there. I weigh 700 pounds. I can’t get out of my bed.”

What is ABC’s take on this story? (Watch “700lb Woman Stranded At Home“) Prepare to be nauseated! The introduction begins, “For some, obesity is a debilitating and life-threatening disease, [and] one woman in Texas is facing a life and death battle, trapped in her own home.” Hoping for sympathy, Alonso tells reporters, “I can’t find nobody, and I done told them I’m going to die here if you can’t help me.”

Sorry, but it is completely misleading to portray Alonso as a helpless, “trapped” victim in need of medical care: No one has “trapped” Alonso but herself, and her sore is most likely a complication of her excessive weight. For ABC to use the fact that Alonso is too morbidly obese to leave her home to try to pull at the public’s heartstrings is not only irresponsible journalism, but it also perpetuates today’s victimization mentality.

You can cry “eating disorder, depression, and other forces” until you are blue in the face, but you will never convince us that Alonso is not responsible for her situation. What type of society are we living in anyway? Apparently, one in which you can eat, smoke, and drink yourself into illness, gamble and shop yourself into bankruptcy, and still expect other people (the government) to take care of you and protect you from yourself. Give us a break! If you are suffering from a disease or addiction, it is no one’s problem but your own, and you have to find a way to take care of it and make something of yourself and your life.

Under Magna Sententia, each one of us is responsible for our own health. That means, if you are struggling with your weight and may possibly have a thyroid and/or other medical/psychological condition, seek professional help before your troubles get out of hand. No one is perfect, but it’s up to you to help yourself!

As a final thought, who is paying for all of Alonso’s food since she clearly cannot work? Let’s take a guess . . . the taxpayers?

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

emotional pornography – noun
a: emotionally explicit material
b: video, photography, writing, or speech, typically sensationalizing a single case or instance, that is (overtly or covertly) intended to sway one’s opinion by stirring his or her emotions
c: any material that seeks to convert or influence using a specific and emotional appeal, rather than a comprehensive and logical argument

From SNL Incest “Joke” To Obama Waffles, Tasteless Supporters Degrade Election

The Axiom Of Respect

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Treating Themselves And Others

Respectfully And Respecting

Only Those Who Earn It

Antics ranging from the disrespectful to the appalling keep right on coming this Presidential election, and as Americans who know we can do much better than this, it is all quite a disappointment. (We couldn’t have planned a better illustration of our country’s need to embrace the concepts of our book than the disgusting behavior displayed day in and day out by the supporters of both Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain.)

From Saturday Night Live insinuating that Todd Palin is guilty of incest (Watch “Palin SNL Outrage“), to former Focus on the Family employees Mark Whitlock and Bob DeMoss creating the extremely offensive Obama Waffles (Watch “Obama Waffles,” or See “ObamaWaffles.com“), there seems to be no limit to the depth Americans can sink when it comes to politics.

Magna Sententia is adamant about treating others respectfully, even when their political opinions differ from your own. Suggesting that Todd Palin has an inappropriate relationship with his daughters and drawing a turban on the caricature of Obama on the Obama Waffles box is not funny, serves absolutely no purpose, and can only be described as repulsive and low-class.

Further, this ignorant behavior has no relevance to what is actually important in this election. Electing a new leader for our country is an enormous responsibility, and to honor those who have fought and died for our freedom, we must look carefully at the issues and each of the candidate’s positions, casting our vote for the one whose policies will be the best for our country.

As citizens, we must express our disapproval and indignation when political activists, television shows, celebrities, and those in our own communities cross the line. There is nothing gained by people making demeaning political “jokes,” except that it proves their own lack of character.

During this and other elections, remember the wise words of Abraham Lincoln: “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.”

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

The World Gone Mad: Panhandler Shoots Innocent Man For Not Giving Her Change

The Axiom Of Realistic Expectations

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Having Realistic Expectations

For Themselves, Their Lives, And Others

Yesterday in Sacramento, CA, “a bus stop panhandler [Audrey Jackson, 47] shot a [54-year-old] man who turned down her request for money.” (“Downtown Panhandler Shot Man, Left On Bus“)

Jackson was begging for change at a public bus stop in the middle of the afternoon. “Several people turned [her] down, police said, and she shot the last man who did so.” According to a witness, the victim “first told Jackson ‘no,’ and then said, ‘get a job.’” She shot the victim “once in the stomach” and then “aimed the second time at the man’s head and pulled the trigger but the gun malfunctioned.” (Watch “Witness: Man Told Panhandler ‘No,’ Got Shot” for more details.)

Unfortunately, fear has been the general reaction to Jackson’s crime: People are considering not riding the bus anymore and/or always having change available for panhandlers. This reaction only takes power away from the innocent and gives it to the criminal. Alternatively, the more effective reaction to this crime is outrage! The American dream is that we can accomplish anything with hard work, and to allow some lowlife to threaten us into giving away our hard-earned money is a disgrace to that dream.

Abiding by Magna Sententia, individuals take responsibly for their financial well-being, which implies that they work hard and live within their means. Charities and governmental programs are in place to help those in their time of need, but utilizing these resources should not be a way of life: Continuing to give money to individuals who are physically and mentally able prevents them from learning how to take care of themselves. Those who are capable yet still live off of other people’s generosity drag on our economy and weaken our society.

Furthermore, this crime is a case in point that even when there are restrictive gun laws, as in California, bad people still acquire weapons. Jackson was carrying a concealed weapon, and she obviously was not doing so legally. In Sacramento County, you must have “good cause” to receive a concealed carry permit (CCW). (“Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department Concealed Weapons Permit Issuance Policy And Application Process“) This means that unless you or an immediate family member has a “history of victimization” or threats, works for the justice system (police officers, lawyers), or has a job in which there is “exposure to harm” (private detectives), you will not get a CCW. (The Policy clearly states, “The mere fear of victimization, or desire to carry a firearm, shall be insufficient” to establish good cause.)

Restrictive gun laws do not serve the innocent: Jackson had a handgun, but all of the law-abiding citizens waiting in line for the bus did not. We cannot stress enough that when you disarm the people, you allow them to become victims!

The victim and his family are in our thoughts and prayers, and we wish him a swift and complete recovery. (As for Audrey Jackson, we hope that justice prevails.)

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Diane Schroer: Congratulations On Your Contribution To Transgender Rights!

The Axiom Of Respect

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Treating Themselves And Others

Respectfully And Respecting

Only Those Who Earn It

September 19, 2008, “Diane Schroer won her federal lawsuit against the Library of Congress after officials backed out of a 2005 job offer when told of her intention to become a transsexual.” (“Transsexual Wins Lawsuit Against Library Of Congress“) Schroer, born physically male, was “a onetime Army Special Forces commander” and before transitioning had interviewed for “a position as a senior terrorism research analyst.”

According to U.S. District Court Judge James Robinson, “The evidence established that the Library was enthusiastic about hiring David Schroer — until she disclosed her transsexuality. The Library revoked the offer when it learned that a man named David intended to become, legally, culturally and physically, a woman named Diane. This was discrimination ‘because of … sex.’”

In a statement after the ruling, Diane said, “I knew all along that the 25 years of experience I gained defending our country didn’t disappear when I transitioned, so it was hard to understand why I was being turned down for a job doing what I do best just because I’m transgender. It is tremendously gratifying to have your faith in this country, and what is fundamentally right and fair, be reaffirmed.”

This ruling is a wonderful step forward for the rights and equality of transgender men and women, who are frequently subject to abuse, hate, and discrimination simply for being who they are. Transsexualism is misunderstood by the majority of our society, and a great deal of prejudice is caused by the misguided notion that individuals choose to be transgender. On the contrary, gender dysphoria and transsexuality are absolutely not a choice, and these conditions typically cause a great deal of stress and harm to the transgender person’s self-image. The suicide rate for transgender individuals is incredibly high: It is estimated that “approximately 30% to 50% of persons who identify as transsexual do not live past the age of 30, mostly because of suicide.” (“A Brief Introduction To The Transgender Experience“)

There is more and more research proving that transsexulism is a medical, not psychological, condition in which the physical sex of the body does not match the gender of the brain. (“What Causes Transsexualism?“) For an excellent resource on this topic, please see: “Transsexual Road Map.”

Magna Sententia insists that individuals treat all others respectfully, and this includes the LGBT Community. Thank you Diane for your service to our country, and congratulations on your “important victory for transgenders claiming bias in the workplace.” You are paving the way for transgender equality!

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Affair Between Texas Judge And D.A. Threatens Death Sentence Conviction

The Axiom Of Respect

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Treating Themselves And Others

Respectfully And Respecting

Only Those Who Earn It

America’s criminal justice system isn’t perfect, and at times it has been the source of immense injustice. Nevertheless, it is still one of the best (if not the best) justice systems in the history of the world because of its dedication to principles such as trial by jury, innocence until proven guilty (the state, not the accused, has the burden of proof), and proof beyond a reasonable doubt, as well as its protection against self-incrimination (the Fifth Amendment), cruel and unusual punishment, and double jeopardy.

This potential for greatness is why it is incredibly disheartening to hear about individuals who treat their positions of authority in our justice system disrespectfully: Not only do they compromise America and her justice system’s reputation with their behavior, but they also fail the American people by casting doubt on their convictions and allowing people who should most likely be in prison to go free.

Just recently, it has come to national attention that former Texas Judge Verla Sue Holland and ex-Collin County District Attorney Thomas O’Connell “‘had a romantic relationship’ from at least 1987 until about 1993.” (“Experts Slam Alleged Judge-Prosecutor Affair“) According to former Assistant District Attorney Matthew Goeller, the affair was “‘common knowledge,’” and now questions are being raised as to whether Charles Dean Hood, who was convinced and sentenced to death in 1990 under Holland’s oversight for “killing a 26-year-old former dancer and her 46-year-old boyfriend,” received a fair trial.

Under oath, Holland and O’Connell admitted their sexual relationship “‘would have had a significant impact on the ability of the judicial system to accord Mr. Hood a fair and impartial trial,’” and “about 30 former prosecutors and federal and state judges have already signed a letter sent to Gov. Rick Perry arguing the alleged relationship had to be considered when it came to Hood.”

Living according to Magna Sententia, you treat your position of authority respectfully, and as a judge and district attorney, this means you act in a way that upholds the integrity of the law. It is highly unlikely that Hood received a “fair and impartial” trial from a judge who was sleeping with the district attorney, and there is good reason for Hood to be granted a new trial. Hopefully, justice will ultimately be served, and in the meantime, Holland and O’Connell really should be “publicly disciplined by the State Commission on Judicial Conduct or the State Bar of Texas.” (As of this time, they have not.)

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

If You Protest Casey Anthony, Treat Her Neighbors Respectfully While Doing So

The Axiom Of Respect

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Treating Themselves And Others

Respectfully And Respecting

Only Those Who Earn It

Casey Anthony, 22, is innocent until proven guilty, but the evidence against her continues to mount: She says her three-year-old daughter, Caylee, has been missing since June 9, 2008, yet she neglected to tell anyone about her daughter’s disappearance. (Orlando police didn’t find out about the missing child until Casey told her parents she had not seen her daughter in 31 days, prompting them to contact authorities.) Apparently, she was seen partying carefree during Caylee’s absence, and it seems she lied about having a nanny. (“Zanny” the nanny?) Since her initial questioning, Casey has been arrested and released multiple times, but the truth about Caylee’s whereabouts remains a mystery.

The lengthy investigation, Casey’s secrecy and numerous arrests, and the absence of answers have caused emotions surrounding this case to become volatile. She is currently staying with her parents, and along with the media and the curious invading their neighborhood, protesters are constantly in front of their home. (Watch “Missing Tot’s Mom Stirs Protest“) The protesters are causing such a disturbance (the police have been called to the scene over 40 times in the past few weeks) that the neighborhood homeowners’ association feels forced to take legal action. Specifically, they are asking protesters and others to stay in a vacant lot at the end of the Anthony’s street so that some form of normalcy can return to the neighborhood.

After watching the protesters confront Casey’s mother, Cindy, it is evident that a reminder regarding appropriate behavior for protesting is long overdue: Americans have the right to protest, but in doing so, we must be cognizant of those around us. The Anthony’s neighbors are having their street taken over by screaming, cussing, disorderly people, and it is undoubtedly affecting their quality of life. Not only are the protesters present day and night, but they also do not hesitate to get out of their cars and confront Casey’s family.

Abiding by Magna Sententia, we must treat those around us respectfully at all times. Casey appears to have harmed her child, she still refuses to cooperate with investigators, and her family is protecting her; nevertheless, as sickened as we may be by the whole situation, the wrongs of others do not excuse distressing innocent bystanders.

As citizens of our great country, we are blessed to have the freedoms we do, and the First Amendment, which protects our freedom of speech and our right to peaceably assemble, is of the utmost importance. However, with freedom comes responsibility, and in this case, protesters and others have the responsibility to respect the rights of the innocent people living in the Anthony’s neighborhood who are unjustly suffering from Casey Anthony’s irresponsible, and perhaps deadly, actions.

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Fat Or Thin, Death Row Inmate Richard Cooey Should Be Executed

The Axiom Of Responsibility

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Taking Responsibility

For Themselves And Their Children

It is our hope that on October 14, 2008, the State of Ohio will have one less murderer/rapist alive on death row, for on this day, Richard Cooey is scheduled for execution. (“Inmate Seeks Clemency, Says He’s Too Fat To Execute“)

In 1986, Richard Cooey “kidnapped Wendy Offredo, 21, and Dawn McCreery, 20, [two University of Akron students] after disabling their car by dropping a chunk of concrete on it from a highway overpass. [Cooey and an accomplice] choked and beat the women to death after repeatedly raping them, then carved X’s in their abdomens.” (“Weight Gain Not Intentional To Dodge Execution, Inmate Says“) Cooey was rightfully sentenced to death, and after 22 years in prison, it is about time he was executed.

In a desperate attempt to avoid taking responsibility for his actions, Cooey at “5-foot, 7 inches tall and 267 pounds” now claims that he is too obese to be executed humanely, something he considers a Constitutional right. “‘It’s hard getting access to my veins,’” he says, which would “[make] it difficult to get an IV inserted for a lethal injection.”

First of all, the burning question is: Why did the State of Ohio’s penal system allow Cooey to become so obese? Prison is supposed to be punishment, and it is infuriating to us that Cooey was able to gain “perhaps 70 pounds” as an inmate. The amount of money the State of Ohio has spent on food for him to reach and maintain such a large weight is truly a waste of taxpayer dollars and an injustice to Wendy, Dawn, and their loved ones.

That point aside, there is no reason Cooey could ever give that would justify delaying his execution. While humane execution is preferable, it is by no means necessary for the likes of him: The day he raped and murdered Wendy and Dawn was the day he forfeited his right to a humane death. (Imagine how painful their last moments and deaths were.) If the executioner has trouble finding a vein or must give Cooey a second dose, and his death is consequently more painful, so be it. (Ironically, Cooey himself suggests, “If it would make people happy, shoot me in the head with a .45.”)

Magna Sententia advocates taking responsibility for your actions: Richard Cooey raped and murdered two innocent women, and death is just punishment for his heinous crime.

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Laxative Cupcake “Senior Prank”: A Crime Deserving Adult Punishment

The Axiom Of Responsibility

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Taking Responsibility

For Themselves And Their Children

Parents, teachers, and school administrators across our country can learn the appropriate way to set and enforce high standards of behavior from the excellent example set by Principal Kristy Philippi of Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy, as well as the Sheriff’s Office in Old Jefferson, Louisiana.

Americans should applaud these authority figures for the manner in which they disciplined Jeannie Nguyen, 17, and Kamrin Kennedy, 17, two students who mixed MiraLAX, an over-the-counter laxative, into cupcake batter and frosting and then put 22 tainted cupcakes in the teacher’s lounge as a “senior prank.” (“Students Expelled In Cupcake Caper“) Both students were “suspended for the rest of the school year” and “booked with mingling harmful substances, punishable by up to two years in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000.”

Amazingly, Kamrin’s mother, Marietta Kennedy, said her son’s actions were “a silly idea” and “called the punishment over-the-top.” In what sounds like an attempt to encourage sympathy for Kamrin, she said, “her son and Nguyen were taken to the Gretna jail the Friday before Hurricane Gustav’s arrival, the same day officials were evacuating inmates to state prisons. The teenagers were told that if they didn’t make bond in time, they would be taken to the state penitentiary at Angola.” She told reporters that “both [Nguyen and Kennedy] were terrified,” and “her son is still traumatized.” “This kid doesn’t eat, sleep, anything. His whole thing is he just wants to get his life back.”

Ms. Kennedy’s response is the epitome of what is wrong with parents and their relationships with schools today: Parents consistently take their children’s side against teachers, schools, and administrators, even when their children are disrespectful, cruel, or out of control. How can Ms. Kennedy have the audacity to complain about her son’s punishment when he intentionally tried to make the entire faculty of his school sick?

Instead of defending her son, Ms. Kennedy should be hanging her head in shame because she obviously did not do her job as a mother. At the age of 17, Kamrin will be an adult within a year, and his blatant disregard for the well-being of his teachers is frightening. His actions display a complete lack of character and concern for the safety of others, in addition to a total absence of forethought and understanding of the possible outcomes of his choices. Under Magna Sententia, both Kamrin and Jeannie would take their well-deserved punishment silently and think about what kind of people they want to be.

It was completely appropriate for Jeannie Nguyen and Kamrin Kennedy to be expelled and arrested because it is important for them to face the consequences of their actions. It is our hope that they learn from their mistake and become better citizens in adulthood.

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society