Lunch with a legend, Kinsey, & Common Core

At Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, for a meeting with Judith Reisman.

[April 2019 update:] Over the past few months, crazy headlines and circumstances in my life have caused me to dig out this post and revisit the content. A lot has changed in the past 4 years since I wrote it. Before you read, I need you to know a few things:

First, a good portion of this article revolves around Ontario’s sex ed curriculum. As many of you know, I’m now co-host of the Media Savvy Moms Podcast. Incidentally my partner, Marilyn Evans, lives in Ontario. (Small world!) She was just telling me that this curriculum has been withdrawn and is no longer used in schools. However, since curricula like these exist in other regions of the world (including the U.S.), I believe the discussion here is still relevant. Read Marilyn’s reaction to Ontario legislation on sex ed curriculum here.

Second, California schools have recently begun teaching that pedophilia is “just another sexual orientation.” This is a direct fulfillment of some of the warnings I received from Judith, and also at the UN. This is my primary reason for revisiting this article. (See related video clip below.)

Third, I’ve had a lot of time to research and think about Common Core and Sex Ed since I wrote this piece so many years ago. I think it’s safe to say that I’m no longer floundering around for information as I once was. In fact, I will probably write about it again, if I can find the courage. Truthfully, it is a messy, complicated, controversial issue, and not my favorite. On that note, I would add one huge caveat to this article. I don’t want to approach this topic from a place of fear. As parents, we have a great responsibility placed upon us to educate our kids in a safe environment–and it is okay to be scared. But take courage. Learn about what is happening around us. But then create a safe place in your home. That is the most powerful thing we can do for our children. ~MamaC [End update]

I’ve recently tuned in to the global education agenda launched by the United Nations (aka Common Core). Honestly, until now I haven’t been able to make heads or tails of it. I’ve just been stumbling around like all the other parents, trying to glean what information I can from random articles, social media, etc.

But a few weeks ago, I met someone who knows: Dr. Judith Reisman. She is a pioneer in my field, internationally renowned, and her work fighting child sexual exploitation and deconstructing the ‘Kinsey myths’ spans more than three decades. (*TRIGGER WARNING: Beware of links involving Alfred Kinsey’s work, as it may be–and should be!–disturbing to readers.*)

I am excited to say that Dr. Reisman will be speaking at the 2015 CESE Summit in Orlando. If you can, come join us in September, soak up some sun, and hang out with some amazing leaders in the movement to end exploitation!

Honestly, I wish every mother could spend an afternoon with Judith. If that were possible, I think it would change the world. It was quite an experience lunching with a legend–seeing the passion and tears in her eyes; trying to keep up with her quick wit; and following her through the endless library of files, books, and resources that she’s collected over a lifetime.

One moment she’d be running nimble fingers through her silver hair with frustration and the next she’d be gesticulating wildly to get a point across. ‘Unforgettable’ is a major understatement.

Check out my complete interview with Dr. Reisman on the NCOSE website.

I love my job. I love going places and meeting people who believe so deeply in their causes. But most of all, I love how I learn and grow with each experience.

After spending an afternoon with Judith, I felt differently. I see things differently. Because of her influence, I will be more observant, and I will process things differently. If I can only share one thing from my visit, I hope that’s it.

Melody&Judith — Melody Bergman, Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation, with Dr. Judith Reisman

Here’s an example. I saw this headline the other day and after reading through the piece was under the impression that it was a good thing:

“Highlights from Ontario’s new sex ed curriculum”

I mean, read it yourself! Here are some phrases that stood out to me:

Recognize caring behaviours and exploitive behaviours …

Explain the importance of standing up for themselves …

Develop safety guidelines for Internet use …

Explain the importance of understanding with a partner about delaying sexual activity and the concept of consent …

Demonstrate an understanding of a variety of mental illnesses and addictions …

Demonstrate an understanding of the effects and legal implications of different types of harassment, violence, and abuse in different relationships and settings and describe ways of responding to and preventing them.

These descriptions had the activist (and parent) in me cheering for joy!

While I was with Dr. Reisman, I pulled up the Ontario article as an example of a victory in the movement to end sexual exploitation.

Judith, however, was horrified. She sat at my side saying over and over: “NO! No, no, no! This is not good!”

For the first time, I took a moment to watch the accompanying video clip, and saw the controversy surrounding the curriculum.

Angry people. Worried parents. Aloof parents shrugging their shoulders or blindly supporting a curriculum they–frankly–know very little about. Legislators defending their position to educate children about things their parents are not educating them about.

Yes, of course Dr. Reisman was aware of this news. But she was anything but happy about it! In fact, she posted this related article on her website two months ago:

“Lesbian premier orders Ontario’s sex-ed update to teach kids about giving sexual ‘consent’ from ‘the very earliest stages’”

So why is Judith so upset about this? It’s because she has studied the back story and the actual source of the Ontario curriculum. She knows about The Kinsey Institute. I, on the other hand, am still learning.

Embarrassed, I quickly apologized for my apparent ignorance, but Judith reassured me:

“Yes. This is what they do,” she said. “This is the glossy media version of what is going on. You are a young mother. You were meant to read this article and think this is a good thing. But read the fine print. ALWAYS read the fine print.”

She then described the legislators behind the curriculum and their agenda. As it turns out, one of the involved parties was even arrested for making child porn. But did that stop the passage of this groundbreaking curriculum? Nope.

With new eyes, I have read over the first article I saw, and now I see a different picture.

Little phrases, buried within the other more flashy ones, take on a new meaning:

Grade 1: Identify body parts, including genitalia, using correct terminology.

Um … Wait … We’re starting sex ed in first grade? Wow.

Grade 2: Outline the basic stages of human development. Identify related bodily changes.

So, we’re teaching 7-year-olds about puberty. Because the teacher decided it’s time. Not the parents.

Grade 3: Describe how visible differences, such as skin colour, and invisible differences, including gender identity and sexual orientation, make each person unique.

That means we’re introducing homosexuality at age 8. And potentially pedophilia soon, too. Did you know that?

Pedophiles (and their supporters) are pushing for the American Psychological Association to remove their “disease” from the list of psychological disorders–saying it is not a disorder at all. It is simply an in-born sexual orientation, like homosexuality.

[April 2019 update: Pedophilia is now being taught as “just another sexual orientation” in California public schools. See video clip below. My advice is to stop about halfway through the video. After that, they seem to get a bit off topic.]

Top on the pedophiles’ agenda is removing consent laws, which–in their eyes–are discriminatory toward “minor-attracted persons.” Also keep in mind, the Kinsey Institute, which supports this agenda, now has a seat at the UN and is helping develop the global educational curriculum like the one launched in Ontario (and soon in the U.S.).

Once you know this background, does the Grade 3 description look a little different?

I could go on, but I think you get the idea. Read the article again and see for yourself.

You know … I never thought I’d be one of ‘those parents.’ I always thought people fighting Common Core were a little paranoid and off-base.

And I have to admit that when I first caught wind of Kinsey and all this mess, I rolled my eyes a little because it just wreaked of “conspiracy theory.”

Why did I do that? Because it is all sounds too awful to be true? Because I’m afraid of what it might mean? If it’s true, then what am I going to do about it? Am I going to pull my two hyperactive kids out of the public school system and try to home-school?

At the end of the day … I’m not sure what my next step will be. I only know that I have been changed as I’ve educated myself regarding these issues.

And maybe that is the answer: educate ourselves. It’s simple. But possible.

Ideas are powerful.

Pass it on.