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Can I think of any family that would be an example of a Ned Flanders family? That question is an easy one. I grew up in Kentucky in the middle of the Bible Belt where if there wasn’t a Ned Flanders Family living next door to you then something was wrong. All of my neighbors were extreme Christian fundamentalists who incorporated the church into every decision that would be made for their children and families. Many of them had signs in their front yard with Ten Commandments on them, while others placed crosses or statues of Mary in their front yards.

And everyone knows that Christian territory is directly accompanied by conservatives; in turn, Republicans. Throughout the election the statues of Mary were holding signs supporting the Bush campaign.

The families that live in these parts of the country are c led by the male of the household doing the decision making. Without that type of leadership in the home the family structure would crumble. The daughter of the family tends to take on the pre-set role of the mother and assisting in her duties. The way of life and of thinking is very old fashioned and is something that many, especially in this part of the country find to be ridiculous.

However, there is something to be said for family values and hard work. It is what type of values you are practicing, and to what extent you are pushing them onto your children. There is nothing wrong with incorporating the value of free-thinking or allowing for children to make their own decisions. Regardless, this is something that is obviously lacking in the value system in those given areas of the country. A Ned Flanders family, without a doubt, would not allow their child to vote for John Kerry the crazy “liberal” democrat. The moral of the story: If religion is going to run your life, then it must run your government as well: Vote for Bush J

-LizH

Posted by: John Power / 1:54 PM