Everyone’s story in this room, this city, this county, and this world begins . . in the family . . . and that is regardless of your political affiliation, race, color or creed. Whoever you are and wherever you are, your story, your life's history began in the family home. But sadly not all families are created equal.

For instance, if you were to ask a prison inmate about their family life what you will inevitably hear is the story of a broken home, a dysfunctional family life. You would likely find a single parent family with the father missing in many cases or an abusive family life with one or both parents serving as bad examples.  Something has happened to disturb the natural order and content in those families.

So when it comes to the family institution is there a best practice if you will, something we should all aspire to?  

Until the past few decades and when we spoke of the family, we imagined it to be one biologically born man and one woman in a lifelong, committed, monogamous relationship with their children, which has served mankind well since the beginning of time. 

Yet we are moving further and further from that foundation which is curious as I believe any objective sociologist, psychologist, anthropologist or even historian would tell you . . , this solid tradition of the natural family has historically provided the best model for a stable society - Our prison systems serving as exhibit A to what happens when we alter it.

As a matter of fact if you look back in history and look carefully, I believe you will find that when nations ignored, altered or veered from this Natural family institution their demise was inevitable. 

Sadly over the past several decades there has been a war on this historical family foundation. We now somehow think that it is ok to alter the traditional family's form, structure and proper place in society. We no longer require a mother and father, which every child has an inherent need for. Divorce is evident in a good half of all marriages if couples ever bother to get married in the first place. The state has in more and more cases become the Daddy in America replacing the parents at the head of the table. How can children learn respect for authority when they are confused as to who their real daddy is? Not good!

They say the first casualty of war is the truth and with that in mind I would like to ask these two local government bodies to consider making an official proclamation that would promote a month long celebration of this centuries old traditional family. An official directive of whatever means appropriate in which the City of Roseburg and the County of Douglas formally acknowledges this age-old family institution’s proper place in today’s America and especially within these two jurisdictions. 

This celebration might rightfully start on Mother’s Day in May and end it with Father’s Day in June. My hope is that by this official recognition we would start our way back to a normal family life expectancy.

If you plant a family seed and nurture it properly it will grow, multiply and become a fertile pasture and then a forest. My hope is that these two jurisdictions will indeed think green when it comes to the family and start by planting the first traditional family seed in our communities in May of 2023.

If you agree and sign this petition you are agreeing to send the following resolution to be a proclamation both in the city of Roseburg and the County of Douglas, here in Oregon. Your signature also is an attestation that you are a citizen of Douglas County and/or the city of Roseburg, in the state of Oregon.

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                    Resolution Honoring the Natural Family in 2023
Whereas the ideal natural family has long been recognized as a unit that includes two married individuals of the opposite biological sex and their biological and/or adopted children;

Whereas for centuries this family unit has been the mainstay or foundation of Western and other civil societies;

Whereas in recent decades this uniquely designed institution has been maligned and denigrated and there even have been attempts made to redefine it; and

Whereas it is vital to the health of this community to support, celebrate, promulgate, and honor this sacred institution; now be it

Resolved, that the County of Douglas/City of Roseburg

1. urges the community to acknowledge and to celebrate Natural Family Month Mother's Day (Sunday, May 14, 2023) through Father's Day (Sunday, June 18, 2023);

2. urges the community to participate in various activities in support of family-friendly oriented events;

3.   urges the various churches and religious groups, businesses, and organizations in the community to make a special effort to promote and to honor the Natural Family this summer;

4.   urges the community to consider holding a Natural Family Festival or some other activities during Natural Family Month.