Sunday, 31 July 2005 19:00

Family Matters
August 2005

As this is the first installation of Family Matters I thought it appropriate to describe the intention of this regular contribution. As a man who has been fortunate enough to marry his high school sweetheart and one who has been blessed with three terrific children, my focus will be defending American Families from today’s caustic society.

Webster’s Dictionary defines Family as “the basic unit in society traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their own or adopted children; also : any of various social units differing from but regarded as equivalent to the traditional family (a single-parent family). In this column I will defend family values.

Family values haven’t changed in over 200 years. What has changed is public tolerance to vulgar attacks. Family Values is not something you read about, it is how you live your life. Family Values are not negotiated, spun, colored, or chosen based on popular opinion.

Nothing is more irritating to me than to hear or read about attempts to lessen the value of family in the name of progress, tolerance, or cooperation.

In this column, I will discuss attacks on families in the true sense of Family. Attacks originating right here in Eldersburg. Regardless of the threat to family or the source of the attack, I will illuminate and address attempts to erode our America Family values. Attacks launched against the core values of American Families will be exposed, countered and reconciled. This column will be used as command central.

I will not sugar coat the message or misrepresent the facts. We place a high value on families, morals, integrity, and honesty and that message should be abundantly clear.

As a middle class American male, I am likely the happiest married man you will ever meet. I love my wife of over 26 years more with each passing day. I am proud when my teenage sons tell me they love me before they leave the house. My daughter thinks she is a princess because, well, she is. I am proud of the people my children choose to spend their time with. I appreciate it when teenagers shake my hand the old fashioned way. (that’s where they stand up straight, grip your hand firmly and look you in the eyes). I am a conservative father who places family above all else.

People who attack, abuse or intimidate families and children really irritate me. I have been told numerous times that I am a hard dog to keep under the porch. This analogy is more accurate than I should admit.

”Family Man”
Hugh Jensen

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