Recently at a civics competition for high school students in Washington, D.C., a student was asked if the Declaration of Independence is still relevant, specifically, that portion that states that whenever government becomes destructive of the ends to which it was implemented, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it.
The question was not surprising, given the fact that many in academia question the relevance of all of the founding documents, including the Constitution itself. My answer to the question would have been short and sweet: Of course, it’s still relevant. Let’s not overthink this. The Declaration basically says that we are all created equal and are endowed by God with certain unalienable rights. Governments are instituted to secure these rights, and if government ever becomes destructive of these ends, then it is the job of the people to alter or abolish the government and install a new one.
It’s pretty simple, actually, and it’s still as relevant today as it was 240 years ago. While I’m not saying that our government has become so despotic that it should be abolished, it is definitely time to do a little altering. In a radio interview earlier this week, I told the commentator that we are in danger of losing the ability to govern ourselves. In effect, we are being ruled by fiat. At both the state and federal levels, individual judges are overturning the will of vast majorities of the electorate. Congress and state legislatures are becoming irrelevant, and executive orders are becoming the 21st century equivalent of a royal decree.
Governor Bullock is considering an executive order that would make gender identity a protected class in all government contracts, despite the fact that the people, through their elected representatives, have rejected this idea repeatedly over the past 20 years. Last week the Obama administration issued a set of guidelines that would allow transgender boys to use girls’ restrooms, locker rooms and showers in every school in America that accepts federal dollars. And lest you think this only means public schools, think again. Most Catholic schools and many evangelical private schools also accept some form of federal subsidy.
In reading the guidelines, I was shocked at how specific they are. One mandate that’s rarely mentioned is the Title IX provision that boys be allowed to play on girls’ sports teams and shower and dress in girls’ locker rooms. As disturbing as that is for any parent, it gets worse. Imbedded in the guidelines is a very specific provision that says that transgender boys on female teams that travel must be housed in the same hotel rooms as female members, no exceptions.
We keep hearing about the rights of transgenders, but what about the rights of the 99.7% of students who are not sexually confused? Don’t they have the right to be secure in their personal space, especially in vulnerable places like restrooms, showers and hotel rooms?
This policy is nothing short of insane, and it needs to be stopped. You can help in three ways: First, pray fervently for our state and nation. It’s evident that we’ve lost our way. Second, call your local principal, school board chairman and school superintendent and tell them that under no circumstances do you want this policy implemented. And third, please go to our website at montanafamily.org and add your name to the petition calling on Governor Steve Bullock and Superintendent of Public Instruction, Denise Juneau, to block this blatant attempt at federal overreach.
It’s now or never – and it’s up to us to protect our daughters and granddaughters!
