Recent op-eds:

Pornography Problem Hits Home, Richard Nelson (Special to Community Papers, 08/19/02) 
Priests, scout masters, and police officers are supposed to be people parents can trust, but recent headlines have caused some to doubt—at least with their children.

What Makes News at the Herald-Leader?, Martin Cothran (Special to Lexington Herald-Leader, 08/05/02) 
Why is there a need for a special session on Lesbian health issues unless there are health ramifications for lesbianism? Are gays now saying there are bad health consequences to what they do?

The Gay Rights Movement Should Make Up It's Mind, Martin Cothran (Special to Kentucky Community Papers, 08/02/02) 
The University of Kentucky was criticized recently by two state senators for including a special session on lesbian health issues at a women’s health conference sponsored by the University.  The complaints set off a firestorm.

The State Media is Ignoring the Obvious on Gay Parenting, Richard Nelson (Special to Kentucky Community Papers, 07/19/02) 
Should judicial activism be declared ‘unconstitutional?’ The uproar resulting from the Ninth Circuit’s already infamous Pledge of Allegiance decision is enough to make conservatives childishly silly enough to hop on a rusty gate and swing to the melodious sounds of  “Naa-na-na-Naa-na.” 

Homosexual Parenting Leaves Kids on Short End of the Stick  by Richard Nelson (Special to Kentucky community papers, 07/19/02)
According to state law, same sex marriage is illegal, but after reading several news stories about it, one would have hardly guessed it. 

The Pledge of Allegiance Debacle, Crystal Chapman (Special to Kentucky Community Papers, 07/12/02) 
Should judicial activism be declared ‘unconstitutional?’ The uproar resulting from the Ninth Circuit’s already infamous Pledge of Allegiance decision is enough to make conservatives childishly silly enough to hop on a rusty gate and swing to the melodious sounds of  “Naa-na-na-Naa-na.” 

People Ought to Remember What the YMCA Stands For,  by Dr. Walter Jones, III (Special to Louisville Courier-Journal, 07/08/02)
Religious people and organizations have often been accused of “cramming” their religion down the throats of others who choose not to subscribe to their particular beliefs. But the Fairness Campaign’s—or anyone else’s—complaint over the natural, traditional definition of family is just one more example of the attempt by secular special-interest groups to “cram” their destructive ideology down the throats of faith-based organizations.

Nickelodeon is Not Mayberry Anymore, Richard Nelson (Special to Kentucky Community Papers, 06/30/02) 
Safe havens for children are hard to come by these days, especially in the sex-saturated and violence-ridden world of television, so a family-friendly station like Nickelodeon is an oasis to parents searching the desert of TV-land for safe viewing for their kids.

The Bottom Line on Planned Parenthood of Kentucky, Richard Nelson (Special to Kentucky Community Papers, 06/12/02) 
Planned Parenthood, the organization known for pushing condoms to kids without their parent's permission, is now poised to push its way into Owensboro regardless of public opinion.

A Little Knowledge is a Dangerous Thing, by Meredith Fenley (Special to Lexington Herald-Leader, 06/10/02)
When it comes down to it, articles like the Herald Leader’s editorial just disseminate the myth that abstinence education equals no information, an incorrect assumption that should have been researched.  What is at issue in this debate is not who gives information and who doesn’t, but what do we really want our kids to have—truth, real truth--or consequences?

An Open Door Policy, by Dr. Walter Jones, III (Special to Kentucky Community Papers, 05/22/02) 
Hailed as the most significant legislation in Kentucky since Roe vs. Wade, House Bill 138 was effectively killed by the Senate on Friday, thereby inviting the potential for unrestrained human cloning in the commonwealth.

Supreme Court Ruling on Child Internet Porn is Outrageous, by Richard Nelson (Special to Kentucky Community Papers, 05/05/02) 
At a time when child sexual abuse is dominating the news, the Supreme Court unwittingly made it easier for pedophiles to defend themselves in court.

Cloning: The New Slavery,  by Crystal Chapman (Special to Kentucky community papers, 04/12/02)
"Life is a creation, not a commodity," said President Bush last week in his support of S 1899 banning all human cloning.  If his words had come earlier, perhaps they would have helped to guide the recent cloning debate in the Kentucky General Assembly.

The Zavos Amendment, by Martin Cothran (Special to Lexington Herald-Leader, 04/08/02)
The amendment not only took out the prohibition on so-called “therapeutic” cloning, in which a human embryo is produced for research purposes then destroyed, but it took out all prohibitions, including those for reproductive cloning which, ironically, many of the people voting for the amendment claim to abhor.

Cloning for Dollars,  by Dr. Walter Jones, III (Special to Louisville Courier-Journal, 03/08/02)
Researchers at the state's two largest universities are making a false distinction between reproductive and so-called "therapeutic" cloning.  Both involve a human life.  Besides, there are no proven medical benefits to therapeutic cloning.

The Three-Legged Abortion Mantra and Informed Consent,  by Crystal Chapman (Special to Kentucky community papers, 02/22/02)
Clintonian catch-phrases apparently have short shelf life--at least when it comes to the abortion issue.  What happened to the "safe" and the "rare" in "safe, legal, and rare"?

Harmonizing Abortion and Compassion,  by Crystal Chapman (Special to Kentucky community papers, 02/08/02)
Normally, the liberals like it when you expand social programs, but the Bush Administration's initiative to cover unborn children under Medicaid is not being greeted by applause.  Hoots and jeers are more like it.

What do We Really Believe?  by Crystal Chapman (Special to Kentucky community papers, 10/24/01)
"The events of the past month, with its specters of hijacked airplanes, burning buildings and post-marked anthrax, like that villain, have pressed us with the same pointed ultimatum.  We’ve responded with prayer vigils, patriotic songs, flags waving in every neighborhood, and marquees that read “God bless America.”  We’ve done these things, and discovered how good it feels to find again our heritage, and our spirituality."

Deja Vu All Over Again, by Martin Cothran (Special to Kentucky community papers, 10/17/01)
"WHEN STATE EDUCATION OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED increases in state CATS test scores recently, there's something they conveniently neglected to tell us."

Terrorism is not a Crime  by Martin Cothran (Special to Kentucky community papers, 09/26/01)
"WHEN THE JAPANESE ATTACKED PEARL HARBOR, we didn’t send in the SWAT team; we sent in the Marines. It is time to abandon the criminal justice view of terrorism and replace it with the military view."

Kentucky Lawmakers Should Keep their Hands Off of Home Schools  by Richard Nelson (Special to Kentucky community papers, 09/11/01)
"OF ALL THE PROBLEMS facing the education of children today, home schooling should not be considered one of them--even if Kentucky lawmakers disagree. Some are now claiming home schoolers need to be regulated."

Stem Cell Research and the Ethics of Totalitarianism  by Crystal Chapman (Special to Kentucky community papers, 08/17/01)
"Even if some nice people got those organs and went on to live productive lives, even if the organs’ $15,000 price tag funded great strides in medical research, even if the man was going to die anyway, there’s still the gruesome ring of rottenness about using people as though they were inventory in a junkyard salvage store. "

The Dr. Kevorkian of Human Cloning by Martin Cothran (Special to the Lexington Herald-Leader)
"I'm willing to go to hell to get something done," Zavos told the L. A. Times, "if I believe it's the right thing to do." Dr. Zavos has every right to go to hell to accomplish his purposes.  What he doesn't have the right to do is to drag the rest of us with him.

A Green Light on Sex from the Red Light District by Chris Cigany (Special to Kentucky community papers, 08/02/01)
Satcher sought advice from prostitutes on how to teach America’s children about sex? Let’s face it, when it comes to “responsible sexual behavior” ladies of the night aren’t exactly the best role models for our children. What comes next--field trips to brothels for “life experience” credits?

Is KET the Place for Gay Activism?  by Martin Cothran (Special to Kentucky community papers, 07/04/01)
"The primary significance of KET's involvement in this issue is not that it is perhaps the first time a partisan attack has been made on the Scouts in Kentucky--although that is notable in itself.  The most important aspect of KET's airing of this film is that it places the state's public television network, which is taxpayer-funded, in the position of taking sides in an issue."

The ACLU: There They Go Again  by Martin Cothran (Special to Kentucky community papers, 06/24/01)
"Chalk up one more victory for the forces of historical intolerance--delivered once again by a judge. Last week, Judge Jennifer Coffman ruled that three Kentucky counties must take down historical displays that feature the Ten Commandments.  The ACLU reasoned, as it always does, that the display of the Ten Commandments is unconstitutional."

The Importance of Fathers  by Chris Cigany (Special to Kentucky community papers, 06/11/01)
"As for me, Dad, I will be coming home soon. “We’ll get together then. You know we’ll have a good time then.”  But I’ll still need to borrow the car keys. "

Have we Abandoned a Key Principle of KERA?  by Martin Cothran (Special to Kentucky community papers, 06/09/01)
"The bottom line is this: it will be easier to get a better grade in the new CATS grading system than before, which is why figures from the Kentucky Department of Education show there will be huge increases in scores during the next round of testing."

Eulogy for an Idea  by Martin Cothran (Special to the Lexington Herald-Leader, 05/28/01)
"The belief that all children can learn at high levels has died a quiet death in Frankfort.  It was 11 years old ..."

Kentucky State Rep. Katie Stine Lives the Values She Promotes  by Crystal Chapman (Special to the Kentucky Post, 05/23/01)
"In a culture that questions the relationship between family values and political savvy, it’s good to see an elected official who practices what she preaches.  It gives us confidence that she will continue to put those same values to work when she crafts legislation that affects our families."

Has the State School Board finally admitted that Kentucky’s statewide tests were inaccurate? by Martin Cothran (Special to Kentucky community papers, 05/04/01)
"Is the State School Board now admitting that the grades on the tests over the past 10 years were wrong? Does that mean the millions of dollars in taxpayer money was given out to the wrong schools, since, under the new method, many schools should have had higher scores and therefore gotten reward money?" asks Family Foundation policy analyst Martin Cothran.

Playing with the Numbers  by Martin Cothran (Special to the Lexington Herald-Leader, 05/18/01)
"Under the new scoring system, many students would move from the Apprentice category (the second worst ranking) into the Novice category—a move down.  But huge numbers of students would move into the Proficient and Distinguished categories—up, rather than down, resulting, in many cases, in huge score increases.  In basketball terms, this amounts to moving the 3-point line closer to the basket."

Put a Halt to the Kentucky Incumbent Protection System by Martin Cothran (Special to the Lexington Herald-Leader, 01/18/01)
"IN THE MOVIE “SUPERMAN,” Lois Lane is falling off of a tall building when she is caught by Superman:
“I’ve got you,” says Superman.
“But who’s got you?” asks Lois."

Stop Hiding the people's business from the people by Martin Cothran (Special to Kentucky community papers, 01/18/01)
"THE REASON WE HAVE ELECTIONS is to not only elect new people to office, but to hold accountable the ones who are already there. Incumbent public officials are held accountable by voters because they are constantly faced with the possibility that, if they don’t do the public’s business the way the public wants it done, they might face an opponent in an election who will. The Kentucky General Assembly, however, has a built-in protection system against accountability in the form of an early filing deadline for legislative challengers."

Florida isn’t the only state with an election problem by Martin Cothran (Special to the Louisville Courier-Journal, 01/17/01)
Kentucky has an election problem too, one that results in a government less representative of the views of voters and more insulated from challenge by those who could change it. In Kentucky, the equivalent of the butterfly ballot is something we might call the “Kentucky Incumbent Protection System.”