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looking for help, and especially to young people who aren’t married, but who seriously
want to create and nurture happy families.
Obviously, this is something very important to me, Shirley my
wife of 54 years, and to a growing host of expert observers of
America’s social fabric.
The meeting, attended by a large crowd of influential educators,
business leaders, ministers, psychologists and counselors,
started in a very upbeat manner. In its relatively brief existence,
it’s already made significant strides and is being recognized as
an important resource in the preservation of society’s basic
foundation. And while the Center has had able leadership
already, the new director has very impressive credentials and
the endorsement of knowledgeable experts all the way to the
upper reaches of our government.
ELECTRIC URGENCY
As all these positives were underscored, there was a feeling of
elation, of hope. But then we heard from Keith Phillips, founder
and director of World Impact, an inner city organization.
Keith exudes an electric urgency whenever he speaks, but his short remarks shocked us
a lot more than usual. We all knew that after the 1992 L.A. riots, Keith moved his all-
white family into Watts, determined to do something himself to assuage the anger and
poverty and deterioration of the whole social structure in the black community.
Or for this: “In L.A. County there are 90,000 homeless; and close to 40 percent
are women and children!”
We were all stunned. For a moment, many of us were tempted to feel “Well, then it’s
over. What’s the use of our even going on with our efforts? We can’t undo this horrible
situation; it’s totally out of hand, and getting worse every day. American society has
developed a deadly cancer, and it’s spreading exponentially!”
But we caught our breath, prayed collectively and individually, and we responded
something like King David, who, after his own family had been abducted by marauders,
“strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” We pressed on in our meeting, with renewed
zeal and energy.
THE FAMILY...THE CENTER OF GOD'S PLAN FOR EARTH
Shirley and I joined the already formed and active Center for the Family some years ago,
convinced that the family is the center of God’s whole plan for man on this earth. He
started with a nuclear family, and directed the first man and woman to “be fruitful and
multiply, and populate the earth.”
When, after several hundred years, He saw that “the wickedness of man was great in the
earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually,” the
Bible says “the Lord was sorry that He had made man; He was grieved in His heart.” But
when He caused the great flood that all ancient civilizations record, He saved one family,
eight people, to start all over again, and commissioned them to implement His plan.
Still later, in the days of Abraham, God determined to completely destroy the corrupt
cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, raining fire and brimstone on all the inhabitants—except
one family, Lot and his wife and two daughters. On and on the story goes, the creator
working with and through families, fathers and mothers and their children to perform his
will...and in the process, become the eternal family with whom he plans to dwell eternally.
These are my convictions, based on the best-selling book in the history of mankind, the
Bible. I know some will scoff and reject the Bible accounts, but the scoffer is at a great
disadvantage when confronted by eye-witness accounts. And then he must try to explain
the continued, repeated corruption of society when the Bible is ignored; and he must try
to conjure up some other solution for man’s failing, something other than returning to
God’s original blueprint for humanity, the family.
SOBERING AND REVEALING FIGURES
And in this election year, I feel compelled to pass along some data just provided to me
by Frances Rice of the National Black Republican Organization.
Quoting statistics combed from the 2004 University of
Georgia Selig Center Study, the National Black Chamber
of Congress, and the 2004 National Urban League’s
“State of Black America” report: "In 1950, when most
blacks were Republicans, 63% of blacks were married.
By 2002, when most blacks were Democrats, only 35%
of blacks were married.
"In 1960, when most blacks were Republicans, 80% of
black children were born in wedlock. By 2002, when most
blacks were Democrats, only 25% of black children were
born in wedlock."
There are many more sobering and revealing figures in
these reports; but for this column the simple truth is that,
in contemporary American politics, the party of Lincoln
has always been the most committed to the traditional
structure that made America great, most supportive of
true civil rights and the black citizen—and most supportive
of the family.
want to create and nurture happy families.
Obviously, this is something very important to me, Shirley my
wife of 54 years, and to a growing host of expert observers of
America’s social fabric.
The meeting, attended by a large crowd of influential educators,
business leaders, ministers, psychologists and counselors,
started in a very upbeat manner. In its relatively brief existence,
it’s already made significant strides and is being recognized as
an important resource in the preservation of society’s basic
foundation. And while the Center has had able leadership
already, the new director has very impressive credentials and
the endorsement of knowledgeable experts all the way to the
upper reaches of our government.
ELECTRIC URGENCY
As all these positives were underscored, there was a feeling of
elation, of hope. But then we heard from Keith Phillips, founder
and director of World Impact, an inner city organization.
Keith exudes an electric urgency whenever he speaks, but his short remarks shocked us
a lot more than usual. We all knew that after the 1992 L.A. riots, Keith moved his all-
white family into Watts, determined to do something himself to assuage the anger and
poverty and deterioration of the whole social structure in the black community.
- It had taken almost unthinkable courage — and faith. And
since then, he and World Impact have moved into more of the
worst, most run-down and needy cities in America, improving
situations dramatically. He’s a genuine hero, and we looked
forward eagerly to what he might say. But we weren’t ready for
“75 percent of the children born in urban hospitals this
year will be born out of wedlock.”
- Or “50 percent of children born in inner-city hospitals
will be born addicted.”
- Or “There are more African American young men in
prison in the U.S. than in colleges and universities.
There are 2.2 million people incarcerated in the U.S."
Or for this: “In L.A. County there are 90,000 homeless; and close to 40 percent
are women and children!”
We were all stunned. For a moment, many of us were tempted to feel “Well, then it’s
over. What’s the use of our even going on with our efforts? We can’t undo this horrible
situation; it’s totally out of hand, and getting worse every day. American society has
developed a deadly cancer, and it’s spreading exponentially!”
But we caught our breath, prayed collectively and individually, and we responded
something like King David, who, after his own family had been abducted by marauders,
“strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” We pressed on in our meeting, with renewed
zeal and energy.
THE FAMILY...THE CENTER OF GOD'S PLAN FOR EARTH
Shirley and I joined the already formed and active Center for the Family some years ago,
convinced that the family is the center of God’s whole plan for man on this earth. He
started with a nuclear family, and directed the first man and woman to “be fruitful and
multiply, and populate the earth.”
When, after several hundred years, He saw that “the wickedness of man was great in the
earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually,” the
Bible says “the Lord was sorry that He had made man; He was grieved in His heart.” But
when He caused the great flood that all ancient civilizations record, He saved one family,
eight people, to start all over again, and commissioned them to implement His plan.
Still later, in the days of Abraham, God determined to completely destroy the corrupt
cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, raining fire and brimstone on all the inhabitants—except
one family, Lot and his wife and two daughters. On and on the story goes, the creator
working with and through families, fathers and mothers and their children to perform his
will...and in the process, become the eternal family with whom he plans to dwell eternally.
These are my convictions, based on the best-selling book in the history of mankind, the
Bible. I know some will scoff and reject the Bible accounts, but the scoffer is at a great
disadvantage when confronted by eye-witness accounts. And then he must try to explain
the continued, repeated corruption of society when the Bible is ignored; and he must try
to conjure up some other solution for man’s failing, something other than returning to
God’s original blueprint for humanity, the family.
SOBERING AND REVEALING FIGURES
And in this election year, I feel compelled to pass along some data just provided to me
by Frances Rice of the National Black Republican Organization.
Quoting statistics combed from the 2004 University of
Georgia Selig Center Study, the National Black Chamber
of Congress, and the 2004 National Urban League’s
“State of Black America” report: "In 1950, when most
blacks were Republicans, 63% of blacks were married.
By 2002, when most blacks were Democrats, only 35%
of blacks were married.
"In 1960, when most blacks were Republicans, 80% of
black children were born in wedlock. By 2002, when most
blacks were Democrats, only 25% of black children were
born in wedlock."
There are many more sobering and revealing figures in
these reports; but for this column the simple truth is that,
in contemporary American politics, the party of Lincoln
has always been the most committed to the traditional
structure that made America great, most supportive of
true civil rights and the black citizen—and most supportive
of the family.
- OUR ONLY HOPE
Back in Biblical Ziklag, recounted in I
Samuel 30, after David and his men found
their city burned to the ground and their
wives and families taken captive, and after
he “strengthened himself in the Lord” and
sought His directions, he and his men
attacked their attackers and “recovered all
that the Amalekites had carried away”—
most notably their families.
I’m convinced that the family is at the
center of true conservative principles.
Grounded in the eternal plan of our
creator, they are our country’s only
hope.
| The eColumn appears on MyBestYears.com courtesy of Pat Boone, recently inducted into the inaugural Class of 2007 Hit Parade Hall of Fame. During the early years of his golden career, Pat sold more records in the '50's than any other artist except Elvis Presley. As one of the top recording artists of the Rock and Roll era, he sold more than 45 million records and charted 60 songs in the Top Forty, with 18 hitting the Top Ten. His Platinum recording "Love Letters in the Sand" stayed on the charts for 34 consecutive weeks. Pat also starred in 15 films, including Journey to the Center of the Earth, State Fair, and April Love. Currently, Boone hosts two weekly radio programs, The Pat Boone Show (one of the most listened to and recognizable radio shows in the country) and Then and Now, from the Music of Your Life Radio Network. Each week Pat Boone is heard worldwide on over 315 radio stations. For almost 20 years, has proudly held the honor of spokesperson, chairman and host of the Easter Seal Society Telethon. Through the years, Pat Boone has given voice to the best things about America, religious liberty and freedom. |
PAT BOONE
...American Families in Crisis
Just a few days ago, I had the encouraging privilege of
participating in the installation of Kenneth Canfield as the
new executive director of the Boone Center for the Family,
launched 12 years ago at Pepperdine University in Malibu,
California.
The purpose of this Center is to analyze all the factors
contributing to happy and productive families and to teach
them in many ways to people who are already married,
whose marriages and families may be in trouble and
...American Families in Crisis
Just a few days ago, I had the encouraging privilege of
participating in the installation of Kenneth Canfield as the
new executive director of the Boone Center for the Family,
launched 12 years ago at Pepperdine University in Malibu,
California.
The purpose of this Center is to analyze all the factors
contributing to happy and productive families and to teach
them in many ways to people who are already married,
whose marriages and families may be in trouble and
| Visit Pat's Gold! |
| Dr. Kenneth Canfield, New Executive Director of the Boone Center for the Family at Pepperdine University |
| Dr. Keith Phillips, Director of World Impact |
| Frances Rice, Lt. Colonel, JAGC US Army, retired, and Chairwoman of the National Black Republican Association |
