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Should Government decide the Definition of "Family"?! Round 2
Did you know that The City Commission for Oakland Park Florida has discussed changing the Definition of "Family"?!
If you believe that the Family should be left alone and defined only by God, then please “Stand” with me as we discuss how to share the concerns of
“We The People”
With our Commissioners in Love & Truth!
On Wednesday, September 1st at The Oakland Park City Hall Commission meeting at 6:30pm, located in the:
Oakland Park City Hall
3650 NE 12 Avenue
Oakland Park, Florida 33334
( Go right Inside City Hall to The Meeting when you arrive )
“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to Stand By and Do Nothing” ~ Edmund Burke
Thank you in Advance for taking the Time to “Stand Up” and Stop the Discrimination of our Families… in The Name of Jesus!
Note! This is an open meeting to the public, so you do not have to be a resident of Oakland Park to attend or speak at the meeting!!!
Should you decide to stand up and speak, you will typically get 2 minutes to address the commission!
Please Show Up and be counted...this is the time!
Buddy Helland
Broward Republican Executive Committeeman - Precinct D023
North Andrews Neighborhood Association Board Member
www.TheChristianAmerican.US
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To see what has transpired via video, click the links listed in numbered order:
1 ) http://oaklandparkfl.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=302
Go to Item #16 "Definition of Family" on left of screen under video
2 ) http://oaklandparkfl.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=320
Go to Public Comments on left of screen Item #4 under video
3) September 1st, 2010 http://oaklandparkfl.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=327
Go to Public Comments on left of screen Item #5 under video
Note! The City Manager decided ( with a nod from the vice mayor, I noticed ), to remove the Item for vote until a later date, that I and the residents of the City of Oakland Park had shown up to discuss just prior to the vote! The reason given was that there were too many Items on the agenda that night! This seemed rather surgical since there were a great number of people there to defend the family definition, or exclusion of it through square footage, in the City Housing Code! You are welcome to draw your own conclusions...
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Listed below is the PDF word letter that was sent to Oakland Park Commissioners, for your review:
September 1st commission meeting regarding the “Definition of Family”:
I want to Thank you for taking the time to read this prior to your vote on September 1st, 2010. I know that you all work very hard and your service to the City of Oakland Park is much appreciated! I will offer up two perspectives for your consideration: First the moral viewpoint and second, the practical viewpoint.
Please take the time to consider these, since they are both very important…
After having spoken with family, friends, neighbors and a great number of people all across our great city that live and work in the City of Oakland Park, the consensus is that “The Family” is not available for redefining!
There has been an attempt to create a new definition of family based on “a group of people held together by bonds of affection or attraction." This redefinition encompasses unmarried, with or without children, gay and lesbian couples, and even larger groups of individuals in various communal living arrangements. According to this view, what is important is not the actual family structure, but how people feel at the time. Any attempt to defend family values is considered judgmental and insensitive to those in these alternative cultural constructs.
The first two chapters of the Bible reject these alternate restructurings of the family. The family is arranged not as an arbitrary cultural construct, but as a fundamental God given institution built into the very nature of the universe. God created both man and woman in His image, commanding them to "be fruitful and multiply." The Bible makes a value judgment that "it is not good for man to be alone." A man is to "leave his father and mother and cleave on to his wife, and they shall be one flesh." All of these establish monogamous marriage and the raising of children as a God given ideal from the very dawn of creation.
When the traditional family is seen as a God given institution, then marriage and procreation take on a more profound meaning. They are not simply ways to achieve self-fulfillment. Rather, they become ways of serving God and fulfilling His will. When family relationships become difficult, this Biblical perspective makes it more difficult to “bail out”. There is a religious reason to work on making one's marriage work, being a better parent, and strengthening one's family.
When you validate the ideas of a very few against the values of the great majority in a society that bases itself on these fundamental principles of family, then you signal to the city that family commitments and values are no longer important unless they are interchangeable with the indefinable and changing views of the very few.
That said, there is a world of difference between a person who chooses to go against God's created order of what a family “is” and a government entity enforcing these rebellious choices against God's created order. The choice made by Individuals that affect them personally, is and will always be, in a Free United States of America, between them and God. The choices made by Individuals that infringe on the rights and freedoms of the majority, in an attempt to force the majority to agree with them, should never be permitted in law. Political Correctness has gone too far and created a false image of politeness where tolerance is retooled to suit its author.
The secular view that the family is a mere cultural construct has contributed to the breakdown of the family. Why work to save a "cultural construct"?! On the other hand, traditional Biblical values strengthen family life.
Your decision makes a difference because ideas have consequences. If marriage and family are mere cultural constructs, then marriage becomes a social convention with no deep religious value or meaning and the family is up for interpretation.
Your decision broadcasts to the community at large whether the “discrimination” of the Traditional Family is acceptable, because it is not recognized by this commission as valid and is up for redefinition or exclusion ….or that the definition of Family as is recognized by the creator of the universe along with the vast majority of the United States of America Citizenry that includes the people of Florida and the City of Oakland Park is not to be tampered with because it has already been defined.
Discriminating against the great majority of families, in trying to retrofit a definition to match personal choices sounds less like a concern about Housing and more like a specific agenda shrouded to look like city business.
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The definition of the Family in the Housing Code lists:
Under Oakland Park City Housing DEFINITIONS (36) Family: One (1) or more persons residing together in a dwelling unit as a housekeeping unit which shall not include more than three (3) individuals unrelated by blood, marriage, or adoption and shall not include any paying guests.
Looking at this from the perspective of practicality, if a change was made to include more unrelated individuals, then with each addition, comes the need for a square footage agreement, because you would need to accommodate any amount of unrelated children. If children were not in the mix, then you are looking at multiple roommates or renters, unless the Home owner is extremely generous…
Also, by removing the definition inclusion of “Family” through blood, marriage, or adoption and retrofitting the code to reflect “square footage” not only discriminates against the Family by eliminating it entirely, but also introduces a Pandora’s Box of problems.
Practically speaking, a change would also open up our neighborhood homes to a large number of people “calling themselves family” that would create flop houses and other problems into and around the City of Oakland Park.
Margate Commissioner Pam Donovan said, “We were having problems with flop houses”, “There were six, seven people living in a house, there were cars everywhere.”
Additionally, a square footage definition also limits a large family living in the City of Oakland Park, so if you are a married couple and the code reflects a “square footage limit” and you have more kids than it allows, then you find yourself at the receiving end of a government entity dictating how many children you can have in your home in the city!
Alternatively, if you expand the square footage to accommodate a large family, then you also expand the amount of unrelated individuals that can habitat a house in the city, therefore introducing the large “Flop Houses” into our neighborhoods that would be unstoppable based on the city codes!
The portion that says “Not including paying guests” would be impossible to maintain unless an unrelated person was paying for the other group of unrelated people in his or her house! I think that you would agree that this would exclude common sense to think that six or more unrelated roommates would not be paying their share to live together…
Then there are the multiple car problems that would have to be addressed in other codes to accommodate for the many unrelated people that would be living in a Single Family Home! Example: Seven unrelated Adults calling themselves Family with Seven cars in the swale and driveway. Welcome to the Pandora’s Box of problems that, we the people, living in the City of Oakland Park would be addressing well into the future...
The odd thing is that the code is not enforced, because you cannot visit each home each day to do it, which turns this into a symbolic act and creates an avenue of opportunity to those that would take advantage of the system.
The only change that the people of Oakland Park have agreed upon is the “reduction by one” of individuals unrelated by blood, marriage, or adoption listed below:
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Under Oakland Park City Housing DEFINITIONS (36) Family: One (1) or more persons residing together in a dwelling unit as a housekeeping unit which shall not include more than two (2) individuals unrelated by blood, marriage, or adoption and shall not include any paying guests.
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This would leave open the option of two unrelated extended family members in a home and more closely reflect the purpose of a “Single Family Home” in the City of Oakland Park, as opposed to a rental property. This would not exclude unmarried couples that decide to live together, roommates, or interfere with their children or adopted children, but would solidify the integrity of the “Family” in a “Single Family Home” as it was intended.
Again, we thank you for all that you do and encourage you to leave the family definition as it is, while decreasing the unrelated Individuals in a “Single Family Home” to “two” and continue to focus on the business of our city.
Thank You for your time and patience.
Your Friend and Neighbor,
Buddy Helland
Broward Republican Executive Committeeman - Precinct D023
North Andrews Neighborhood Association Board Member
www.TheChristianAmerican.US
I have added these additional quotes from our Founding Fathers of the United States of America for your reflection:
John Adams stated, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." --October 11, 1798
Thomas Jefferson wrote that the “Creator,” not government, is the source of our “unalienable rights,” and the Founders expressed their “firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence” in the Declaration of Independence.
Benjamin Franklin said, “God governs in the affairs of man. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. I firmly believe this. I also believe that, without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel” –Constitutional Convention of 1787 | original manuscript of this speech
Faithful till the end…A Perspective on Winning and Losing Elections By John Stemberger
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I encourage us all to do our reasonable service for God and allow the outcome to be His!
A personal Thank you to John Stemberger for his help and encouragement in the coming discussions with The Oakland Park City Commissioners in Florida over the Definition of Family in the Housing Code!
Please Take the time to visit the Florida Family Policy Council at www.flfamily.org and consider supporting them as they council us in spiritual and tangible ways for God's Glory!
Conservative Candidates - My Current Picks for Broward County, Florida & National Races
Oakland Park City Commission: Jed Shank www.jedshank.com Broward County Commission District 4: Beverly B. Kennedy www.beverlykennedy.com Broward County Commission District 8: Christopher Max Ziadie www.voteforchrisz.com Broward County School Board:
Local, State & National Conservative Candidate List:
VOTE AUGUST 24! 7am to 7pm
VOTE AUGUST 24! 7am to 7pm
VOTE AUGUST 24! 7am to 7pm
DISTRICT 1: REBECCA HORNER
DISTRICT 2: KEVIN TYNAN
DISTRICT 3: (NOT UP FOR ELECTION)
DISTRICT 4: ROBERT W. SUTTON
DISTRICT 5: (NOT UP FOR ELECTION)
DISTRICT 6: MELVIN "DOC" PROPIS
DISTRICT 7: TRAVIS WILLIAMSON
DISTRICT 8: SUSAN ELEANOR MADORI*
AT-LARGE
*NOTE: SUSAN MADORI...AS THE AT-LARGE CANDIDATE...WILL BE ON
EVERY BALLOT IN BROWARD COUNTY, WHICH MEANS HER NAME...
PLUS THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE IN YOUR DISTRICT...WILL APPEAR ON YOUR BALLOT...SO PLEASE...VOTE FOR THEM BOTH!
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VOTE AUGUST 24!
NON-PARTISAN BROWARD COUNTY JUDGES
DISTRICT 17 CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES... ALL OF BROWARD COUNTY:
GROUP 2 - KENNETH GILLESPI GROUP 4 - ELIJAH H. WILLIAMS GROUP 6 - CARLOS A. RODRIQUEZ GROUP 9 - SUSAN LEBOW GROUP 15 - MATTHEW ISAAC DESTRY GROUP 22 - ROBERT "BOB" NICHOLS GROUP 23 - BARBARA ANNE Mc CARTHY GROUP 24 - JOHN T. (JACK) LUZZO GROUP 47 - LAURA RENEE SEIDMAN GROUP 51 - LEE JAY SEIDMAN GROUP 53 - EILEEN M. O'CONNOR
COUNTY COURT JUDGES...ALL OF BROWARD COUNTY:
GROUP 1 - JOHN D. FRY
GROUP 3 - PETER BARRY SKOLNIK
GROUP 4 - EDWARD H. MERRIGAN, JR.
GROUP 12 - JOHN "JAY" HURLEY
GROUP 13 - LINDA R. PRATT
GROUP 14 - MARY RUDD ROBINSON
GROUP 15 - (NO RECOMMENDATION)
GROUP 20 - STEVEN A. SCHAET
GROUP 26 - NATHANIEL KLITSBERG
ALL OF THE ABOVE CANDIDATES CAN BE ELECTED ON AUGUST 24 WITH 50% PLUS ONE OF THE VOTE...AND IF ELECTED...THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO GO ON TO THE NOVEMBER 2 ELECTION...SO LET'S TURN OUT THE VOTE ON AUGUST 24!!!
EARLY VOTING DATES, TIMES AND LOCATIONS FOR THE AUGUST 24, 2010 PRIMARY: DATES: AUGUST 9 TO AUGUST 14 AND AUGUST 16 TO AUGUST 21 TIMES: 10:00 A.M. TO 6:00 P.M. NEEDED: Two volunteers are needed to cover each early voting location and hand out this list of Conservative Candidates. ~ Contact debtfreebuddy@bellsouth.net
August 8, 2010 - Voter Guides available online- from the Florida Family Policy Council- http://www.flfamily.org/voter_guides.php
SOUTHWEST REGIONAL LIBRARY NORTHWEST REGIONAL LIBRARY
16835 SHERIDAN ST., PEMBROKE PINES 3151 UNIVERSITY DR., CORAL SPRINGS
MIRAMAR LIBRARY LAUDERHILL MALL
2050 CIVIC CENTER PLACE, MIRAMAR 1299 N.W. 40TH AVE., BAY F,
LAUDERHILL
WESTON BRANCH LIBRARY MAIN LIBRARY
4205 BONAVENTURE BLVD., WESTON 100 S. ANDREWS AVE.,
FT LAUDERDALE
HOLLYWOOD BRANCH LIBRARY AFRICAN-AMERICAN RESEARCH
2600 HOLLYWOOD BLVD., HOLLYWOOD LIBRARY
2650 SISTRUNK BLVD.,
FT. LAUDERDALE
NORTH REGIONAL LIBRARY/BROWARD COLLEGE WEST REGIONAL LIBRARY
1100 COCONUT CREEK BLVD., COCONUT CREEK 8601 W. BROWARD BLVD.,
PLANTATION
TAMARAC BRANCH LIBRARY
8701 W. COMMERCIAL BLVD., TAMARAC
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MANY REPUBLICAN VOTERS DON'T REALIZE THAT BY TURNING OUT ENMASSE TO VOTE ON AUGUST 24, THEY CAN ACTUALLY ELECT A MAJORITY OF CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES ON THE SCHOOL BOARD...WHICH MEANS THESE CANDIDATES WILL NOT HAVE TO GO ON TO THE NOVEMBER 2 ELECTION. WE HAVEN'T SEEN SUCH POSSIBLITY IN BROWARD COUNTY IN OVER 25 YEARS! IMAGINE... A CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY ON THE SCHOOL BOARD!!! THAT'S RIGHT! IF EACH OF OUR CONSERVATIVE, NON-PARTISAN SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES...AND NON-PARTISAN CONSERVATIVE JUDGES, FOR THAT MATTER... RECEIVE 50% PLUS ONE VOTES ON AUGUST 24... WILL 50% PLUS ONE BE TOUGH TO GET? NO, BECAUSE DEMS...LIKE REPUBLICANS...GENERALLY DON'T TURN OUT IN LARGE NUMBERS FOR THE PRIMARY, AS THEY DO FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION. BUT IF WE CAN TURN OUT REPUBLICANS IN LARGE NUMBERS ON AUGUST 24, WE CAN SNOOKER THE DEMS, AND WIN AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT REPUBLICAN VICTORY THAT WILL HAVE A RESOUNDING IMPACT ON THE NOVEMBER 2 ELECTION!!! ------------------------------------------------ THE FOLLOWING ARE CONSERVATIVE STATE & NATIONAL CANDIDATES AND THEIR DISTRICTS:
THE IMPORTANCE OF VOTING ON AUGUST 24 or EARLY VOTING:
THEY WIN AND THE ELECTION, FOR THEM, IS OVER! 
US Senate
Marco Rubio
Rubio for Senate
2030 South Douglas Road, Suite 105
Coral Gables, FL 33134
(786) 953-6711 www.marcorubio.com Congressional District 17
Corey Poitier
Congressional District 19
Joe Budd
Congressional District 20
Karen Harrington
2000 NW 150th Avenue Suite, 2120 Pembroke Pines, FL 33028
Phone: (954) 358-4861
Congressional District 21
Mario Diaz-Balart
www.mariodiazbalart.house.gov
Congressional District 22
Allen West
Allen West for Congress
PO Box 1028, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441
877-906-2010
gowest@allenwestforcongress.com
Congressional District 23
Bernard Sansaricq
Governor
Bill McCollum
Bill McCollum for Governor
PO Box 10829, Tallahassee, FL 32302-2829 Phone: (850) 241-1885
Attorney General
Jeff Kottkamp
P.O. Box 10787
Tallahassee, Florida 32302
info@JeffKottkamp.com
Phone: 850-701-2377
Commissioner of Agriculture
Adam Putnam
Putnam Campaign
PO Box 547 Bartow, FL 33831
863-578-5303
Chief Financial Officer
Jeff Atwater for CFO Campaign PO Box 14366 North Palm Beach, FL 33408
850-297-2802
District 25
Ellyn Bogdanoff
908 South Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316 954-767-9850 www.ellynbogdanoff.com
Senate District 27
Mike Lameyer
P.O. Box 20172 West Palm Beach, Fl. 33416 Mike@MikeLameyer.com
561-248-8934 www.mikelameyer.com
Senate District 32
Patrick Laffey
P.O. Box 772797, Coral Springs FL 33077 www.laffey4senate.com
House District 91
George Moraitis
P.O. Box 7237 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33338
www.electgeorgemoraitis.com/index.aspgeorgemoraitis.com
House District 94
John Labriola
(954) 515-2084 John@RestoreChristianAmerica.com
www.restorechristianamerica.com
House District 100
Edward J. Bender
P.O. Box 22612, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33335
(954) 548-0522
House District 101
Matt Hudson
6017 Pine Ridge Road #350 Naples, Florida 34119
(239) 248-7107
House District 112
Jeanette Nunez
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Conservative leaning Democratic Races: Note! Where only Democrats are competing
House District 92
Gwyndolen “Gwyn” Clarke-Reed (954) 786-4848
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Note! The above choices have been made from what I have gleaned, either from direct contact, personal research or the opinion of a respected Christian Conservative person with a lot of experience in their arena of information! These are my best personal choices, although you may have alternate insights on a particular race or person, therefore I respect your choices also!
There are a lot of Great people running for office to help navigate our country in the right direction, so I ask that you pray for each candidate and for your choice! God Bless the United States of America where we still have the freedom to choose…
Oakland Park Florida City Commission Meeting - Round 1
Below is the reading that I had prepared for the Commissioners at The City Hall Meeting in regard to The "Definition of Family", although as you will see in the video link, I was only able to get out a portion of it before my time limit ran out...
therefore I have included the reading in it's 4 to 5 minute entirety for your review!
Note! The 1st speaker to the podium is not on the same wave length as I am and has been since requested not to show up at any other functions on the same subject matter of which I will be speaking.
Here is the Video link for your review:
http://oaklandparkfl.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=320
Here is the Reading for your continued review:
Reading to Oakland Park City Commissioners: Redefining Family aka Marriage
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you tonight. My name is Buddy Helland and I am your neighbor here in The City of Oakland Park, along with my wife and two daughters that are 11 & 3 years old.
My Mom and Dad were here when Commercial Boulevard was just a dirt road, so we have been here for awhile! My parents were active in The North Andrews Neighborhood Association or NANA, that I am now honored to be serving as a Board Member. As a kid, I have attended North Andrews Gardens Elementary, Rickards Middle School, and graduated from North East High School, where I’m proud to say Brent Jett, the commander of two space shuttle missions, also graduated. I have also served on the K-12 Team for Broward Days alongside Linda Drake at Motorola in 2000 and also worked with the Broward Alliance to promote job growth.
I have introduced myself in this manner, just to let you know that I am a part of this city in ways that are like family. I care about the people here and how we are represented locally and across the state of Florida.
I watched the City Commission Meeting on May 19th, on the internet, for the 1st time, out of pure curiosity, to see how our elected officials were representing the Majority of Oakland Park. I was able to see that you all work very hard to find ways to help as many of our residents as possible … and we do appreciate your efforts!
I noticed that when you stand at the beginning of each meeting you each put your hand on your heart and Pledge Allegiance to the Flag, Under God, with sincerity. I have a copy of The Great Seal of The State of Florida which reflects in bold lettering “In God We Trust” and when we look closely at the money in our wallets, we can still see “In God We Trust” written on it! These are reminders of our American Heritage of being a nation based on God’s word and His definitions.
As an American Citizen, I also Trust In God, in His authority and how he defines the things that he has created. When you began to consider redefining the family in the housing code while stating your personal agenda, I realized how inappropriate that was. How troubling to think that a handful of commissioners can decide a moral issue without the consultation of “We The People”! As George Washington said, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible”.
The Traditional Family is an important cornerstone, to the majority of Americans, and is seen as a God given institution of One Man and One Woman in Holy Matrimony and through blood or adoption. The fact that 3 unrelated people were already listed in the code to begin with, would seem satisfactory in covering extended family.
That said, there is a world of difference between a person who chooses to go against God's created order of what a family “is” and a government entity enforcing these rebellious choices against God's created order. The choice made by Individuals that affect them personally, is and will always be, in a Free United States of America, between them and God. The choices made by Individuals that infringe on the rights and freedoms of the majority, in an attempt to force the majority to agree with them, should never be permitted in law. Political Correctness has gone too far and created a false image of politeness where tolerance is retooled to suit its author.
It’s important to understand that I am here solely to defend the definitions of Family and Marriage in Love and in Truth. I asked a friend of mine how to approach a group of people and express to them an unconditional love that was genuine, while still sharing the honest truth. His answer was to make sure that I tell the truth, no matter how controversial. You cannot have Love without truth.
George Washington said, “There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily”
The truth is that for the purposes of making opinion become law, Vice Mayor Suzanne Boisvenue pointed out a Judge that backed her and former commissioner Niedwieck’s thoughts on the redefinition of family. I took the time to look up Judge Carlos Mareno, who was the only judge dissenting in a 6-1 decision upholding Proposition 8 in California, where the majority of citizens had already made their choice. In 2000, Proposition 22 defined marriage as being exclusively between one man and one woman; the initiative passed by an overwhelming margin!
Here is an example of someone that is using his position to forward an unpopular agenda against the express wishes of The United States Citizenry. His comments were that "Majority rule is nice in concept, but I think there has to be some kind of restraint on that to fulfill the larger purpose of our democracy." Moreno said he had considered the possibility of a conflict of interest. Despite the judge’s opinion, In the United States of America, the Majority Rules and is not a concept. As Abraham Lincoln stated, Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people.
In closing, Discriminating against the great majority of families, in trying to retrofit a definition to match personal choices sounds less like a concern about Housing, or even four elderly ladies living together for financial purposes, and more like a specific agenda shrouded to look like city business. The odd thing is that the code is not enforced, because you cannot visit each home each day to do it, which turns this into a symbolic act. Practically speaking, a change would also open up our neighborhood homes to a large number of people calling themselves family that would create flop houses and other problems into and around the City of Oakland Park. Margate Commissioner Pam Donovan said, “We were having problems with flop houses”, “There were six, seven people living in a house, there were cars everywhere.”
Again, we thank you for all that you do and encourage you to leave the family definition as it is and continue to focus on the business of our city. Thank You for your time and patience.
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Additional Notes:
Under Oakland Park City Housing DEFINITIONS (36) Family: One (1) or more persons residing together in a dwelling unit as a housekeeping unit which shall not include more than three (3) individuals unrelated by blood, marriage, or adoption and shall not include any paying guests.
John Adams: June 21, 1776
"Statesmen, my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is Religion and Morality alone, which can establish the Principles upon which Freedom can securely stand."
"The only foundation of a free Constitution is pure Virtue, and if this cannot be inspired into our People in a greater Measure, than they have it now, they may change their Rulers and the forms of Government, but they will not obtain a lasting liberty.
Marriage:
Mark 10:9 NKJ
Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."
Truth in Love:
1 Peter 1:22 NKJ
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
2 John 1:3 NKJ
Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
Ephesians 4:15 NIV
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
Should Government decide the Definition of "Family"?!
You Are Invited:
Did you know that City Commission of Oakland Park Florida has discussed changing the Definition of "Family "?!
If you believe that the Family should be left alone and defined only by God, then please “Stand” with me on July 21st at The Oakland Park City Hall Commission meeting, as I share the concerns of
“We The People” with our Commissioners.
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“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to Stand By and Do Nothing ~ Edmund Burke
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Here is the link concerning what will be discussed:
http://oaklandparkfl.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=302
You Are Invited on Wednesday - July 21st, 2010 - 6:00pm at:
The City of Oakland Park - City Hall
3650 NE 12 Avenue
Oakland Park, Florida 33334
Located on N. Dixie Highway & N.E. 38th Street
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Thank you in Advance for taking the Time to “Stand Up” and Stop the Discrimination of our Families!
Your Family, Friend and Neighbor,
Buddy Helland 
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What's really in Obama's health care reform bill?
Listed below is an older email that I received that I felt was worthy of posting here for your review. I encourage you to take the time to actually read "all" or "portions" of Obama's Health Care Bill, that has now become law, so that you can get a better understanding and insight as to the thinking behind what is coming down the pike for you, and me, our families, and fellow Americans!
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What's really in Obama's health care reform bill?
Almost no one knows, and here's why: It's 1,017 pages long and written in an alien form of bureaucratic English that can barely be decoded by earthlings.
And yet, astonishingly, a U.S. Army translator has been found who speaks "Washington Doublespeak" and he was kind enough to decode the bill and post his plain-language findings over at FreeRepublic.com (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f...).
Below, we reprint what he found in the health care reform bill. As you read this, keep in mind that some of these translations are a bit loose with the interpretations, but I've personally spot-checked these points, and they are indeed all contained in the bill in one form or another (shrouded in Doublespeak language, of course).
Editor's note: I don't personally agree with every interpretation listed here, and some of the bill's provisions are actually good ideas (like banning doctors from owning stock in health care companies). But overall, this interpretation points out many alarming provisions in the proposed health care reform bill...
From CMS at FreeRepublic.com:
Page 16: States that if you have insurance at the time of the bill becoming law and change, you will be required to take a similar plan. If that is not available, you will be required to take the government option!
• Page 22: Mandates audits of all employers that self-insure!
• Page 29: Admission: your health care will be rationed!
• Page 30: A government committee will decide what treatments and benefits you get (and, unlike an insurer, there will be no appeals process)
• Page 42: The "Health Choices Commissioner" will decide health benefits for you. You will have no choice. None.
• Page 50: All non-US citizens, illegal or not, will be provided with free healthcare services.
• Page 58: Every person will be issued a National ID Healthcard.
• Page 59: The federal government will have direct, real-time access to all individual bank accounts for electronic funds transfer.
• Page 65: Taxpayers will subsidize all union retiree and community organizer health plans (example: SEIU, UAW and ACORN)
• Page 72: All private healthcare plans must conform to government rules to participate in a Healthcare Exchange.
• Page 84: All private healthcare plans must participate in the Healthcare Exchange (i.e., total government control of private plans)
• Page 91: Government mandates linguistic infrastructure for services; translation: illegal aliens
• Page 95: The Government will pay ACORN and Americorps to sign up individuals for Government-run Health Care plan.
• Page 102: Those eligible for Medicaid will be automatically enrolled: you have no choice in the matter.
• Page 124: No company can sue the government for price-fixing. No "judicial review" is permitted against the government monopoly. Put simply, private insurers will be crushed.
• Page 127: The AMA sold doctors out: the government will set wages.
• Page 145: An employer MUST auto-enroll employees into the government-run public plan. No alternatives.
• Page 126: Employers MUST pay healthcare bills for part-time employees AND their families.
• Page 149: Any employer with a payroll of $400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays an 8% tax on payroll
• Page 150: Any employer with a payroll of $250K-400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays a 2 to 6% tax on payroll
• Page 167: Any individual who doesn't have acceptable healthcare (according to the government) will be taxed 2.5% of income.
• Page 170: Any NON-RESIDENT alien is exempt from individual taxes (Americans will pay for them).
• Page 195: Officers and employees of Government Healthcare Bureaucracy will have access to ALL American financial and personal records.
• Page 203: "The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax." Yes, it really says that.
• Page 239: Bill will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors and the poor most affected."
• Page 241: Doctors: no matter what specialty you have, you'll all be paid the same (thanks, AMA!)
• Page 253: Government sets value of doctors' time, their professional judgment, etc.
• Page 265: Government mandates and controls productivity for private healthcare industries.
• Page 268: Government regulates rental and purchase of power-driven wheelchairs.
• Page 272: Cancer patients: welcome to the wonderful world of rationing!
• Page 280: Hospitals will be penalized for what the government deems preventable re-admissions.
• Page 298: Doctors: if you treat a patient during an initial admission that results in a readmission, you will be penalized by the government.
• Page 317: Doctors: you are now prohibited for owning and investing in healthcare companies!
• Page 318: Prohibition on hospital expansion. Hospitals cannot expand without government approval.
• Page 321: Hospital expansion hinges on "community" input: in other words, yet another payoff for ACORN.
• Page 335: Government mandates establishment of outcome-based measures: i.e., rationing.
• Page 341: Government has authority to disqualify Medicare Advantage Plans, HMOs, etc.
• Page 354: Government will restrict enrollment of SPECIAL NEEDS individuals.
• Page 379: More bureaucracy: Telehealth Advisory Committee (healthcare by phone).
• Page 425: More bureaucracy: Advance Care Planning Consult: Senior Citizens, assisted suicide, euthanasia?
• Page 425: Government will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney, etc. Mandatory. Appears to lock in estate taxes ahead of time.
• Page 425: Government provides approved list of end-of-life resources, guiding you in death.
• Page 427: Government mandates program that orders end-of-life treatment; government dictates how your life ends.
• Page 429: Advance Care Planning Consult will be used to dictate treatment as patient's health deteriorates. This can include an ORDER for end-of-life plans. An ORDER from the GOVERNMENT.
• Page 430: Government will decide what level of treatments you may have at end-of-life.
• Page 469: Community-based Home Medical Services: more payoffs for ACORN.
• Page 472: Payments to Community-based organizations: more payoffs for ACORN.
• Page 489: Government will cover marriage and family therapy. Government intervenes in your marriage.
• Page 494: Government will cover mental health services: defining, creating and rationing those services.
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Thank You to Free Republic.com for the helpful information and to the U.S. Army Translator that took the time and risk to make available a glimpse into the Truth of the future of our Health Care under the current administration.
Please Pray for them... and pray for The President and the people that have been put into power, currently, for the Holy Spirit to come over them and fill them with God's Will, that they would see the error of their ways and turn from their personal desires and return our Nation to the principles and freedoms that made our Country Great... Pray that "We The People" would purpose to have a working knowledge of The Constitution of The United States of America, The Bill of Rights, and the goal of the Founding Fathers as they built this Great Land with The Bible as the corner stone and Jesus as it's Author.
In Jesus Holy Name, God Bless the United States of America...
2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJ
if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Pray For The Tea Party!
History repeats itself in so many ways! The struggle between Good and Evil, Freedom and Tyranny, Common Sense and Ignorance continues to display itself throughout time. Currently the Boston Tea Party comes to mind when Americans had reached a tipping point where they had had enough of having their freedoms crushed by a tyrannical government. This scenario repeats itself today, as we see Americans from all walks of life and political backgrounds come together in the Spirit that has bound us all together for over 200 years. 
In numbers that have grown exponentially, American Citizens are now gathered across the Country, under the banner of Freedom in protest to what they see as a Government that is now trying to remove their "God Given Freedoms", piece by piece, without the consent of "We The People".
Instead of communicating and addressing these concerns or debating in an open forum in a constructive manner, the opposition instead looks to infiltrate the groups of Moms, Dads, Grandparents, Service Men and Women and their children, and create the illusion that they are... well see for yourself in this recent website at www.CrashTheTeaParty.org
If your reading this, then you probably already know why this is happening and the mild opposition that it has attracted. I personally do not see the humor in the creation of lies and distortions to circumvent the rights of honest, hard working, Americans that want their voices to be heard! I do know that the American people are not as dumb as our current government would think us to be and that Freedom always grows under opposition!
Although I know that Truth will prevail, as a Christian, I urge you to Pray for The Tea Party participant's safety from these very confused individuals that have lost their way. Most of all please Pray for Jason Levin, the creator of "Crash The Tea Party" and those people that feel compelled to disrupt peaceful protests. Pray that they would have the scales lifted from their eyes and have their minds renewed and filled with the Holy Spirit, so that they can see the realities of their personal bondage!
"No people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffused and Virtue is preserved. On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant, and debauched in their Manners, they will sink under their own weight without the Aid of foreign Invaders." - Samuel Adams Letter to James Warren, November 4, 1775 "Better tidings will soon arrive. Our cause is just and righteous and we shall never be abandoned by Heaven while we show ourselves worthy of its aid and protection." - Samuel Adams - While encouraging wavering Continental Convention delegates in gloomy winter of 1776-1777
Israel and "We The People" of The USA, United Under God, Forever...
I felt compelled to send the below letter of encouragement to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. There comes a time
when Free Americans need to stand up and reach out to those that are friends of the United States of America, especially
when we feel that our own leaders may not be treating them with the respect and honor that Trusted Allies should receive.
received my note of encouragement and had forwarded it to the Prime Minister!
leaders that they would reach out to God for guidance and wisdom in their daily dealings with each other...
|
From: מחלקת פניות ציבור <pniot@mofa.gov.il>
To: Buddy (suppressed)
Subject: RE: My Prayers and Encouragement Are With You! |
Dear Sir,
Thank you for contacting the MFA website.
Your letter was forwarded to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Sincerely,
Pniot
Media and Public Affairs
From: Buddy (suppressed)
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2010 5:33 PM
To: מחלקת פניות ציבור
Cc: לשכת מנכ"ל
Subject: My Prayers and Encouragement Are With You!
Dear Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,
I wanted to Thank You for standing strong in the gap for Israel! As an American Citizen, I have been following
current events, since I know the importance of our relationship with Israel. I have been concerned about how our
Country has been responding to, and communicating with you, in respect to Israel, since I know that Israel is our
best friend in the world as we know it, and always will be! This has not gone unnoticed by the people of the USA...
and as you know...Leaders and representatives are elected into office, and voted out of office, based on how they
represent the American people and how we perceive their ability to represent us properly, at home and abroad!
During these difficult times I am very proud of your strength, in not compromising your faith in God,
concerning Israel's place in the world, in alignment with God's Word , just to please other countries requests
... based on their personal world views!
I just wanted to send you a quick note of encouragement to let you know that the majority of United States Citizens,
are with you in prayers and support, and that "We The People" of the United States of America honor your commitment
to God and encourage you to stand your ground, no matter how many world leaders gather and try to persuade you to
follow their lead.
I saw you speak once at my church, Calvary Chapel in Fort Lauderdale Florida, and was very impressed with your
knowledge of the Bible and of your understanding of how Christians will always support Israel! I have prayed for you
and your family prior to, and after your becoming Israel's Prime Minister. I'm sure you don't remember, but when our
eyes met for a moment, as you left the stage at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, there was momentary connection
and "knowing look", that communicated in silence to me... that you would be a leader that would protect Israel
in a manner that would honor God, during a time of great difficulties.
I'm happy to say that you have not disappointed!
"...I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and
this nation should be on the Lord's side." The Inner Life of Abraham Lincoln: Six Months at the White House by
Francis B. Carpenter (Lincoln, Nebraska, University of Nebraska Press, 1995), p. 282. Also, Recollections of
Abraham Lincoln by Ward Hill Lamon (Lincoln, Nebraska, University of Nebraska Press, 1994), p. 91.
God Bless you, your family and the State of Israel!
Your friend in faith,
Buddy Helland, A Christian American
Thank You to The SEAL Team and All of our Service Men and Women!
Earlier this week my wife introduced a wonderful way to remember the many ways that our family could be Thankful to God for the blessings in our lives. She made a list for herself, my daughter and myself... simply lettered A through Z along the side of a sheet of paper and challenged us to think of words that would best describe the people, place, and things that we were "Thankful for" starting with each letter of the alphabet.
I considered the letter "A" for America, or Army, or Accountability, whereas the letter "B" may cause me to think of Bible or Blessings or Babies. I managed to get through the letter "C" for Christ, Children, and Coffee and then began to get distracted with my Busy Schedule of Life and Work, and did not finish the challenge.
Of Course, my Wife and 10 year old daughter completed their "Thankful List" and shared it with me over dinner, days later, to my embarrassment...although with compassion, as to include me and my thoughts, on the other letters, as we ate together!
Tonight I was wrapping things up to relax, after the kids went to bed, and the "Thankful List Word Challenge" came to mind. Over recent weeks my heart has been going out to our Armed Forces and the Men and Women that sacrifice themselves and their families in the pursuit of Freedom, Liberty and the safety my family and the American people enjoy daily, without hesitancy...
Stories flooded my mind regarding recent events that our Military has had to endure, and deal with, outside of our borders and within, from an enemy of terror and from a Politically Correct governmental albatross.
When the massacre at Fort Hood by a "Cowardly Terrorist" comes to mind, I think of the words that I am "Thankful for" like, Bravery, Sacrifice, Loyalty when taking into consideration the people that were involved with stopping the "Islamic Extremist".
When I think of recent events concerning Navy SEALs that secretly captured one of the most wanted terrorists in Iraq, who may be the alleged mastermind of the murder and mutilation of four Blackwater USA security guards in Fallujah in 2004, I think of the words, Training, Courage, and Accomplishment.
Shortly there after I find that these same Navy SEALs are faced with assault charges, because Ahmed Hashim Abed, whom the military code-named "Objective Amber," told investigators he was punched by his captors and he had the bloody lip to prove it!"The three suspects, all members of the Navy's elite commando unit, have refused non-judicial punishment — called an admiral's mast — and have requested a trial by court-martial," according to Fox News Channel.
In taking this measure to make sure that the Truth is revealed about the "Politically Correct Climate" of "changing war time commandos" into "overseas police officers", these same Navy SEALs reveal the "Thankful words" of Truth, Honor, Character, Distinction, Clarity...Americans...
During the challenging times ahead, I encourage all of us that call ourselves Americans and Christians to make a purpose to Pray and "Pray Hard" for the Service Men and Women that fight hard against Tyranny, both home and abroad. Pray that our Government will correct it's stance and once again get behind our Military.
Be sure to Thank those that have "volunteered to serve", any chance you get, and let the "Thankful words" of Country, Seals, Navy, Army, Air force, Marines, Coastguard and United States of America fill your heart, this Thanksgiving, because they should be 1st on our "A through Z" letter list of "Thank You's" to God, through His Son Jesus...Amen
Sarah Palin's Not Quitting -- Just Reloading!
I have to say that I was expecting more fireworks when I watched Oprah's Interview with Sarah Palin regarding her New Bestselling Book, "Going Rogue"!
Interestingly, Sarah Palin's book has become a Bestseller even before it has been released, which is very telling about the current climate of the United States! I ordered the book this evening to have a deeper understanding of the direction that this very popular Christian Conservative, that very nearly became the Vice President, was going in the near future.
It struck me that as Oprah was asking very polite and carefully constructed questions, that there was a certain apprehension or concern, as to not create a backlash affect, and to concentrate more on ratings and covering tracks. Oprah made sure that her listening audience perceived her as a someone that did not block Sarah Palin from her show, but as a citizen that was making a clear decision to her choice in the Presidential election.
This only solidified the fact that Oprah's Show is not to be considered a place of news or authentic journalism, but of a forum of Oprah's popularity and personal interests. This is not to discredit the many kind acts that Oprah displays on her show, but to enlighten the viewer to the reasoning behind the emotional mask and eventual purpose of the information that lies beneath this venue of entertainment.
Mrs. Palin answered questions ranging from her relations within the "John McCain Camp" during the run for office, to her choices for not aborting her wonderful little son, and the genuine concerns for the father of her grandchild. She also shined a light on the choices that she made before leaving her office as Governor of Alaska, based on the overwhelming pressures and bogus lawsuits that came from directions like the Obama administration, that began to cause her great personal debt and ultimately position her as a 'lame duck governor".
When asked why she quit her job as Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin was quick to guide viewers to a statement made by a family member, saying that she was "Not Quitting, but was Reloading". This sentence alone, I suspect, sends a chill of fear through the democratic party and the Obama administration, since they seem to perceive her as a genuine threat, based on the relentless state run media attacks on her and her children.
Presidential runner in 2012 or not ...you can bet that this "Hockey Mom, Pit bull with Lipstick, Strait Shooting, Christian Conservative, will weigh in heavily in the elections to come, and to those that underestimate her focus and strength of character, don't be surprised, when she "Goes Rogue"!
