The “Back to Center” advice column provides perspectives for personal realignment and empowered living in these tyrannical times. Sarah encourages you to reach out to her with requests for advice about self-development and emotional and mental well-being. Please send your questions to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:advice@frontline.news" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">advice@frontline.news</a>. Anonymous and secure. Looking forward to hearing from you!<hr>I feel like there's bad news everywhere I look these days — so much violence and grief and struggle. How can anyone possibly be happy? I try, but it feels so hard…Thank you for your question. I hear you — there are a lot of really difficult and stressful things in the news right now. Achieving happiness and calm can feel elusive and nearly impossible at times.I'm going to share with you one of the most powerful insights I've ever experienced, in hopes that it will be helpful to you. It's not a new idea, but when you truly internalize it, it can change your life dramatically.Here it is: Happiness is a choice.Your level of happiness is 100% up to you. It does not have to depend on anything external — not the state of the world, not your spouse, not your children, not your job. True happiness can't be about what's going on outside of you. If that's how you look at it, you will constantly be running around, desperately reaching out for something to be that thing that makes you feel okay. And that “something” will always ultimately disappoint.You're right — this world is a hard place to live a lot of the time…terror and tragedy abound these days…spouses forget that important thing you asked them to do…children misbehave…your boss doesn't acknowledge all the hard work you're doing. If we make these people and circumstances responsible for making us happy, we will be waiting a long time. This doesn't work.True happiness is something you create within yourself. How? I can't answer that for you, but I can tell you some of the things that work for me:<ul style="list-style-type:disc;"><li>Connecting with something higher — Deepening my relationship with God and belief that things happen for a reason as part of a higher plan for the world.</li><li>Practicing self care — Making a conscious choice to allocate time in my day to things I enjoy that make me feel nourished.</li><li>Choosing my thoughts — Making healthy decisions about how I want to think about myself, others, and situations in life. Focusing on empowering ideas.</li><li>Getting into action — Choosing to focus on ways I can do something positive and helpful to others, especially when I feel unhappiness or despair creeping in. This also helps me feel good about myself.</li></ul>What could this look like for you? How could you shift away from the feeling that the circumstances you see in the world are preventing you from being happy, and find a way to own the process of creating some happiness for yourself?&nbsp;Yes, extremely difficult things may happen in life, but it's amazing when we can realize how much of our experience of those hard things — and of life in general — is actually up to us. We don't always have control over what happens to us, but we can always control how we choose to view it, and harnessing that power can change everything for us.&nbsp;The more happiness you choose to create, the more it keeps growing. I truly hope you can allow yourself to go on a journey of discovering what brings you true happiness that stands the test of challenging times!&nbsp;****Previous columns:<ul><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-we-are-on-the-verge-of-losing-all-our-freedom-here" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘We are on the verge of losing all our freedom here’</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-i-want-to-run-away" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘I want to run away’</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-when-we-heard-about-the-return-of-covid-my-daughter-lost-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘When we heard about the return of COVID, my daughter lost it’</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-covid-was-a-nightmare-not-again" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘COVID was a nightmare – not again!'</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-my-kids-are-obsessed-with-screens" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘My kids are obsessed with screens’</a></li><li>‘<a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-why-would-i-want-to-stay-home-with-my-kid" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Why would I want to stay home with my kid?’</a></li><li><a href="https://www.frontline.news/post/back-to-center-i-let-myself-be-talked-into-a-medical-procedure-i-didn-t-want" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘I let myself be talked into a medical procedure I didn’t want'</a></li><li><a href="https://www.frontline.news/post/back-to-center-i-encountered-a-slew-of-racist-hate-messages-online" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘I encountered a slew of racist hate messages online’</a></li><li><a href="https://www.frontline.news/post/back-to-center-i-want-to-take-our-family's-health-back-into-our-own-hands" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘I want to take our family’s health back into our own hands'</a></li><li><a href="https://www.frontline.news/post/back-to-center-even-though-things-are-better-with-covid-my-friends-are-still-on-medication" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘Even though things are better with COVID, my friends are still on medication’</a></li><li><a href="https://www.frontline.news/post/back-to-center-I-am-awake-now-but-I-wasn-t-always" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘I am “awake” now, but I wasn’t always'</a></li><li><a href="https://www.frontline.news/post/back-to-center-my-daughter-is-worried-for-her-friends-who-got-the-covid-shot" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'My daughter is worried for her friends who got the COVID shot'</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-how-can-people-call-themselves-christians-and-believe-that-these-things-are-okay" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘How can people call themselves Christians and believe these things are okay?’</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-i-m-alone-for-the-holidays-for-the-very-first-time" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘I’m alone for the holidays for the very first time'</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-what-s-a-formerly-proud-american-to-do-these-days" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘What’s a formerly proud American to do these days?'</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-how-can-i-extend-forgiveness-for-all-the-covid-atrocities-when-it-still-hurts-so-much" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘How can I extend forgiveness for all the COVID atrocities when it still hurts so much?’</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-i-long-to-help-my-daughter-connect-with-god-in-these-times" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'I long to help my daughter connect with God in these times'</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-is-it-irresponsible-to-think-of-having-another-child-in-today-s-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Is it irresponsible to think of having another child in today's world?</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-i-want-my-son-to-have-strong-male-role-models" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘I want my son to have strong male role models’</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-our-son-has-secretly-been-in-the-process-of-gender-transition">‘Our son has secretly been in the process of gender transition’</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-i-wonder-if-the-sacrifices-i-and-my-fellow-soldiers-made-were-worth-it" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘I wonder if the sacrifices I and my fellow soldiers made were worth it’</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-i-know-scripture-approves-of-2nd-amendment-rights-but-the-idea-leaves-me-uneasy" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘I know Scripture approves of 2nd Amendment rights, but the idea leaves me uneasy’</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-i-was-an-approval-seeking-people-pleaser" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘I was an approval-seeking people-pleaser’</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-god-is-a-god-of-justice-right-wheres-my-justice" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'God is a God of justice, right? Where’s my justice?'</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-ive-tried-my-best-to-be-faithful-and-live-a-holy-life-now-i-dont-know-what-to-believe" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘I’ve tried my best to be faithful and live a holy life; now I don’t know what to believe’</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-kids-gravitate-toward-honest-answers-even-when-theyre-tough-answers" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'Kids gravitate toward honest answers, even when they’re tough answers'</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-i-used-to-be-a-pretty-positive-person-but-the-world-is-different-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'I used to be a pretty positive person, but the world is different now'</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-do-i-have-an-obligation-to-say-something-to-my-friend-who-is-about-to-inject-her-one-year-old" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'Do I have an obligation to say something to my friend who is about to inject her one-year-old?'</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-how-do-i-respond-to-wild-hatred" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'How do I respond to wild hatred?'</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-all-my-friends-have-abandoned-me" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘All my friends have abandoned me’</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-who-am-i-to-build-a-better-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘Who am I to build a better world?’</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-the-world-does-not-have-to-understand-or-approve-of-your-choices" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'The world does not have to understand or approve of your choices'</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-i-get-tired-and-overwhelmed" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'I get tired and overwhelmed'</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-i-vacillate-between-feeling-inspired-and-useless" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'I vacillate between feeling inspired and useless'</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/back-to-center-i-pity-the-people-creating-the-lies" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘I pity the people creating the lies’</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/post/back-to-center-the-anger-and-hurt-feelings-are-costing-you-too-much/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘The anger and hurt feelings are costing you too much’</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/post/back-to-center-people-who-once-treated-each-other-with-so-much-love-and-kindness-are-now-at-odds/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘People who once treated each other with so much love and kindness are now at odds’</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/post/back-to-center-struggling-with-my-relationship-with-god-since-covid/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘Struggling with my relationship with God since COVID’</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/post/back-to-center-i-have-lost-confidence-in-our-healthcare-system-including-my-own-personal-doctors/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'I have lost confidence in our healthcare system, including my own personal doctors'</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/post/back-to-center-can-you-forgive-yourself-for-the-years-you-couldnt-be-there-with-your-daughter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'Can you forgive yourself for the years you couldn’t be there with your daughter?'</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/post/back-to-center-my-wife-is-willing-to-take-the-sacrifice-for-her-sister-and-im-sick-to-my-stomach-thinking-about-it/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'My wife is willing to take the sacrifice for her sister and I'm sick to my stomach thinking about it'</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/post/back-to-center-i-deeply-regret-taking-the-vaccine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'I deeply regret taking the vaccine'</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/post/back-to-center-married-39-years-and-i-thought-we-were-on-the-same-page-when-it-came-to-things-that-mattered-most/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'Married 39 years and I thought we were on the same page when it came to things that mattered most'</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/post/back-to-center-how-do-i-repair-this-relationship-or-accept-that-i-may-never-see-my-son-again/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">‘How do I repair this relationship or accept that I may never see my son again?’</a></li><li>‘<a href="https://frontline.news/post/post/back-to-center-how-can-i-stop-fear-from-controlling-my-every-thought-and-ruining-my-dreams/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">How can I stop fear from controlling my every thought and ruining my dreams?’</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/post/how-can-i-pursue-my-dream-to-find-the-person-to-marry-when-its-so-hard-to-connect-with-new-people-because-of-covid/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'How can I pursue my dream to find the person to marry, when it's so hard to connect with new people because of COVID?'</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/post/how-can-i-feel-safe-these-days/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'How can I feel safe these days?'</a></li><li><a href="https://frontline.news/post/post/advice-column-premier-back-to-center/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Advice column premier: Back to Center</a></li></ul>Sarah encourages you to reach out to her with requests for advice! Please send your questions to <a href="mailto:advice@frontline.news">advice@frontline.news</a>. &nbsp;Anonymous and secure.<figure class="image image-style-align-right image_resized" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/aflds/image/upload/v1698315112/Sarah_Perron_headshot_432d4a8554.jpg"></figure>Sarah Perron is a Certified Transformational Life Coach. Her passion is to help people create a powerful vision for their lives, identify and eliminate anything that holds them back, and step into their own unique greatness and mission in the world. She believes deeply in the power of coaching to bring fresh perspectives, ideas, and motivation to anyone who wants to thrive in life. Sarah works with clients one-on-one and in group coaching programs and presents exciting workshops on self-development topics. You can follow her on her YouTube channel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTlPdMbwe8QAfP5NUR3GRRQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Find Your Fire</a>.You are invited to book a complimentary coaching call with Sarah! Please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalendly.com%2Fsarahperroncoaching%2F45min&amp;data=04%7C01%7Csones%40aflds.org%7C31d93fd5f0224c8ae79008da065d1c0c%7Cb86874a894e144f8891fcd4fa7ac80e6%7C1%7C0%7C637829294605931269%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&amp;sdata=ypWrVm9gI8jDagbivpnoHD1M%2F%2F4CKS4v1YoGUWUGpMQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://calendly.com/sarahperroncoaching/45min</a>&nbsp;to choose a time that's convenient&nbsp;for you. She looks forward to meeting you!&nbsp;&nbsp;

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'I feel like there's bad news everywhere I look these days'

Back to Center: 'How can anyone possibly be happy?' 

Dear mothers-to-be,You are carrying the most precious cargo in the universe, and you know it.&nbsp;You've seen the events of the past few years and understand that when it comes to your and your baby's health blind trust is not an option.Something different is needed now.&nbsp;More of you are deciding you're not willing to just <a href="https://frontline.news/post/study-shows-increase-in-pregnant-women-being-mindful-about-vaccine-choices" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">take a cocktail of cold and flu season vaccines</a> because you're being told it's the right thing to do for you and your baby.You're stopping. You're thinking.&nbsp;Because not so long ago the world was handed a vaccine, was clubbed over the head with “safe and effective”…and, well…So, if you're feeling a little more cautious now about injections that were once considered “standard,” that's okay. If you feel a little more wary of the word “vaccine,” that's okay. Go right on thinking it through.It's sad to feel that trust has been broken and that what's truly safe is not so clear anymore. &nbsp;But broken trust can become a powerful opportunity. We get shocked into realizing that we are the ones who need to take responsibility for our lives. Much as we might wish we could go on auto-pilot — because it's easier — we suddenly see that we need to do the work of gathering the knowledge that will help us protect ourselves, because we just can't leave such a precious thing as our own lives, and the lives of our babies, to others.So, go get your own answers. And whatever you learn, don't underestimate the power of your motherly intuition. Tune into your heart, your inner wisdom — what's the right thing to do here for you and your baby?&nbsp;If in the end, you decide you really do want that vaccine bundle, it's your choice and you own it. Don't take anyone's word for it — you go and find out what you think about it. Once you've done that no one will be able to make you feel badly about your choice.If you've taken the time and energy to think your decisions through for yourself, you have won. You've refused to give away your power of choice, your brain, your right to ask questions, your freedom.&nbsp;You know what's truly “safe and effective”? A mother who knows the power of a pregnant pause.&nbsp;

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Vaccines

Medical

When it comes to vaccines, more expectant mothers are stopping to think for themselves

A pregnant pause

A 2023 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7239a4.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reveals</a> that more American women are being mindful about their choices around receiving vaccinations during pregnancy.The CDC now recommends four vaccines for pregnant women — flu, COVID, pertussis (whooping cough), and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). RSV was added in September of this year, making the list of vaccine recommendations in pregnancy the longest it has ever been.&nbsp;The report is based on a survey of close to 2,000 women who were pregnant during the 2022 cold and flu season up until April 2023. Nearly 25% of these women described themselves as being “very hesitant” about receiving the flu and Tdap vaccinations. This shows a considerable jump in caution around vaccines from 17.2% who expressed concerns during the same season in 2019-2020.Maternal-fetal medicine specialist at UCLA Health Dr. Neil Silverman <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/covid-flu-rsv-vaccines-urged-pregnancy-fewer-want-cdc-finds-rcna119749" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">observes</a>, “We are meeting more resistance than I ever remember. We didn't get this kind of pushback on this scale before the pandemic."NBC News concurs, reporting that since the pandemic “skepticism about vaccines has ballooned and spread to common flu shots.”Ob/Gyn and global health and immunization expert at the University of Washington Dr. Linda Eckert is seeing the same caution in her practice: “There's a bias that some patients have, more than they used to, about how they feel about a vaccine." She says that more pregnant women now don't even want to discuss it when she recommends a vaccine to them.&nbsp;Some health professionals affirm mothers' increasing mindfulness around vaccinations in pregnancy. Dr. Jodie Dionne, associate director of Global Health in the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Center for Women's Reproductive Health is encouraging: "That instinct [to question vaccine recommendations] is a good one. It's protective mothering. We actually want women to question what they're putting in their body."In general, women are primed by healthcare providers, pregnancy resources, and society to be <a href="https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/pregnancy-precautions.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">cautious</a> about what they consume and are exposed to during pregnancy to safeguard the health of both mother and baby. Warnings against drugs, alcohol, certain foods and drinks, and environmental factors such as gasoline fumes, pesticides, and household cleaners are commonplace.

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Pushback_Resistance

'That instinct is a good one. It's protective mothering.'

Study shows increase in pregnant women being mindful about vaccine choices

When it comes to educating children, I am all for exposing them to different ideas and points of view. I want my children to learn to look at the world from different angles, evaluate, and determine for themselves what they believe is true.What I'm not okay with is using education as a vehicle for forcing an agenda on kids.Oklahoma State School Superintendent Ryan Walters isn't okay with this either, and has been <a href="https://frontline.news/post/oklahoma-state-superintendent-fights-to-keep-woke-textbooks-out-of-schools" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">working intensively</a> to keep textbooks with woke content out of his state's public schools.&nbsp;Some believe that Walters' actions are <a href="https://ktul.com/news/local/eight-math-textbook-publishers-withdraw-from-oklahoma-textbook-committee-vote" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">inhibiting students' right</a> to learn and explore. Oklahoma State Representative John Waldron comments, “In the marketplace of ideas, we’re gonna have access to fewer ideas in the forms of textbooks for our students. He is shutting down this marketplace and narrowing it down to only the choices he approves of. That kind of political oversight over free ideas does not belong in a democratic society.”But where Waldron sees narrowness and tyrannical oversight, I see a person who is out to protect children.&nbsp;These children are sitting down to learn math, not Critical Race Theory. They don't need to be taking in these controversial ideas as they work on multiplication or learn how to read graphs. This is a curriculum that neither they nor their parents signed up for.You want to teach Critical Race Theory, fine . . . but say outright that that's what you're going to do and frame it as one way of looking at things, not as the absolute truth. Present it to children who are old enough to understand something about the idea and debate its merits — not by sneaking it into their math books, but through an honest, open conversation.But we're dealing with something quite different here — with, as Walters said, people who are “on a spiritual warpath for our kids.” They don't play by the rules, they don't want to have a reasonable conversation about it. They want our kids to fall in line with their warped view of the world and are waging an unbridled multi-front campaign to make it happen.That's why the only option for educators and parents who truly care is to protect — to circle the wagons around our children and push these harmful agendas away, as Walters is striving to do, “Don't allow the left to capture these kids.” It's not undemocratic — it's looking out for the most vulnerable among us.Someday our kids will be old enough to think critically about things like Critical Race Theory, if they want. For now, focus on protecting them from those who want to take control of their minds.&nbsp;Let them learn math.

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Education

Don't let our young children fall prey to the 'woke' agenda

Protect

Oklahoma State School Superintendent Ryan Walters is leading a focused effort to keep textbooks containing “woke” ideology out of the state's public schools.An increasing number of states are heightening their vigilance against controversial ideologies that are creeping into textbooks for standard school subjects such as math.&nbsp;Superintendent Walters <a href="https://ktul.com/news/local/eight-math-textbook-publishers-withdraw-from-oklahoma-textbook-committee-vote" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">observes</a>, “When we’re looking at a math textbook, we’re talking about math. And again, what we’ve seen from so many different textbooks across the country is that instead of focusing on students’ mastery of the subject matter, they push a left-wing worldview.”In October, eight math textbook publishers withdrew their books from consideration by the Oklahoma Textbook Committee. Walters believes their withdrawal is an indication that those textbooks <a href="https://washingtonstand.com/news/oklahoma-superintendent-spearheads-initiative-to-keep-ideology-out-of-school-textbooks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">do not meet the standards</a> required by an Oklahoma state law passed in 2020 which “requires an extra layer of review by experts to determine if the textbooks are of poor quality or contain controversial ideologies such as CRT [Critical Race Theory] and social emotional learning (SEL).”&nbsp;Walters declares, “We are not going to allow indoctrination in the classroom. We’re not gonna do business with companies that are pushing left-wing indoctrination on our kids and any vendor that does business with the state of Oklahoma and education, they’re gonna abide by those rules.”In an interview on Washington Watch with Tony Perkins, Superintendent Walters explains his opinion that there is a deeply sinister motivation behind the messaging included in the textbooks in question:<blockquote>We're never going to be held captive by woke companies trying to dictate to our state what our education system's going to look like. This is a path for other states to follow. Guys, lead on this issue. Don't allow the left to capture these kids. They are truly pushing state-sponsored atheism in our schools by pushing all this indoctrination in math classes. I mean, what in the world can be their explanation for pushing this in math classes? And it shows you their end goal here, by the way. So, if they're willing to cut off customers . . . they're willing to say we're not going to do business in red states, they're actually hurting their bottom dollar, but they don't care. They are on a spiritual warpath for our kids. Their mission is to create socialist left-wing idealogues out of our kids. . .&nbsp;The radical left-wing ideology – this ‘woke’ mind virus – it's a cult. Look at their belief system. They will hurt themselves, they will damage their family, they will damage their shareholders for this crazy belief system that they hold dear. We have to push back.</blockquote>Walters rallies other states to <a href="https://sde.ok.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">follow</a> Oklahoma's example, encouraging them that they can take a strong stance against liberal educational agendas and successfully protect their children's learning experience:&nbsp;<blockquote>We've got to see states fight back. You can win. I’ve gotten so much correspondence from Oklahomans around the state thanking me for driving out these woke vendors…</blockquote><blockquote>We have a path forward to put parents back in charge of their kids’ education, put God and prayer back in schools, drive the teachers’ unions out. … [W]e just launched the biggest tutoring initiative in the nation today to get our kids back on track with reading. You can do these things, but you have to beat back the unions [and] the woke ideology, embrace parents, and protect religious liberty in our schools, and we can get education back on track.</blockquote><div class="raw-html-embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c54uj23xHAE?si=HwDXjDZZTblyPYz9" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

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'We are not going to allow indoctrination in the classroom'

Oklahoma state superintendent fights to keep 'woke' textbooks out of schools

The world is a loud place to be right now.Everyone wants to say what they think about wars, politics, who's right, who's wrong, how we got here, where to go next. Read it, listen to it, take it with you on your phone. Opinions, speculation, truth, lies, all swirling and whirling together, everywhere, all the time.So much noise.&nbsp;But maybe because there's so much noise, when we witness someone back up their words and beliefs with an unequivocal, heartfelt action, we are profoundly moved.&nbsp;Moved in a millions-of-views kind of way.&nbsp;Enter the cowboys.&nbsp;You may be one of the millions who saw the now-viral shares on social media about four young men from Arkansas and Montana who got on a plane last week and <a href="https://frontline.news/post/american-cowboys-fly-to-israel-to-lend-hand-in-wartime" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">flew to Israel</a>. They went to volunteer with a project that's raising money for and distributing supplies to vulnerable communities and farms during the war.According to cowboy Ezekiel Strain, when they learned of the war in Israel, they “dropped everything” and got in motion to get there, because going to help out was “the important thing to do.”&nbsp;Who does that? Who just drops everything to follow their convictions halfway across the world? Who so deeply desires to help others that they would willingly run toward a country at war where terrifying atrocities were perpetrated barely a month ago?It seems to me that to do what these cowboys have done, you have to have such a strong sense about what you believe is right that you can't help but do something. You have to be confident that your individual actions matter and have the power to make a difference. You have to have a big priority on loving and serving others.&nbsp;You've got to be someone who “puts their hands where their mouth is,” as one interviewer <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu5ABQEFQF4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">put it</a>.&nbsp;I think the cowboys went viral not only because of their sweet, humble charm or the novelty of their hats, boots, and big belt buckles. I think people see that they believe in something they did something real about it — and not for the attention, but because it was the right thing to do.I think we like that.Maybe this world needs a little less talk and a little more action.What are you and I going to do about that today, partner?&nbsp;

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In a world of talk, the profound power of action shines through

'Put your hands where your mouth is' - Opinion

Four American cowboys arrived in Israel last Monday to offer their help and support to small Jewish farms and communities during the war. Many of these farms have been experiencing a shortage of workers and resources since the October 7th islamic attack.&nbsp;The young men – John Plocher, Ezekiel Strain, Yosef Strain and Luke Hutslar from Arkansas and Montana, respectively – have been to Israel several times to volunteer, but this time, it's been a wildly different experience.&nbsp;A traveler at JFK airport spotted the cowboys en route to Israel, took their picture, and posted it on X:&nbsp;<div class="raw-html-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">American farmhands and cowboys on their way to Israel to help farmers in Israel after the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hamas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hamas</a> attack. Many lost their lives and/or farm workers. That's love! Thank you. <a href="https://t.co/mTILqBpedR">pic.twitter.com/mTILqBpedR</a>— Lenny Ben-David (@lennybendavid) <a href="https://twitter.com/lennybendavid/status/1721481158234398878?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The post went viral overnight, with several million views on social media.&nbsp;By the time the young men arrived at Ben Gurion airport in Israel, so many people were familiar with the post that they were recognized by fellow travelers.&nbsp;<div class="raw-html-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">RIGHTEOUS COWBOYS These young men from Arkansas and Montana landed today in Israel. After labourers were forced to abandon the area near the Gaza Strip, they came to help farmers in the South who were worried about losing their livelihoods. Thank you, guys. Y'all are heroes. <a href="https://t.co/pLNlfP9R29">pic.twitter.com/pLNlfP9R29</a>— (((Emanuel Miller))) (@emanumiller) <a href="https://twitter.com/emanumiller/status/1721632929426579838?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The men are volunteering in Israel with HaYovel, “an organization that brings Christians to Judea and Samaria, the Biblical heartland of Israel, to <a href="https://theisraelguys.com/cowboys-in-israel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">serve the land and people</a> in volunteer service.” As participants in HaYovel's “Operation Ittai” campaign, they are helping the communities and farms of Judea and Samaria <a href="https://serveisrael.com/operation-ittai/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">acquire the supplies</a> they need to increase their security during the war:<blockquote>Operation Ittai’s mission is to equip and defend the 200 communities in Judea and Samaria, airlifting critical and essential supplies and equipment that they have been forced to do without since most of Israel’s military has been called to the war fronts. These supplies are basic and essential needs and none of the products are purchased unnecessarily or in excess. The primary supplies we’re helping these farms and communities obtain are flashlights, helmets, bulletproof vests, drones, and other necessary needs for these under-equipped communities.&nbsp;</blockquote>Since arriving in Israel, the cowboys have been flooded with requests for interviews and appearances. When asked in an interview with The Israel Guys what it's like to have become an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu5ABQEFQF4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">overnight sensation</a>, Ezekiel Strain of Augusta, Montana said with a chuckle, “It's definitely not what I was expecting!"Internet stardom aside, Strain continued about the group's very serious motivation in coming to Israel: “When we heard war broke out, we dropped everything and decided that's the important thing to do – to stand with Israel, to support Israel, to do anything we can to help out.”The group is currently building a warehouse to store supplies acquired through Operation Ittai that will be distributed to the communities of Judea and Samaria.When asked what his message to the nation of Israel is right now, cowboy Luke Hutslar from Huntsville, Arkansas declared, “Am Yisrael Chai ('The People of Israel live'). We support you 100%.”<figure class="image"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/aflds/image/upload/v1699882332/i_Stock_1413733826_5bf9b52b9b.jpg"></figure>

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Four young men putting boots on the ground to help small communities and farms in need

American cowboys fly to Israel to lend hand in wartime

A six-year legal battle came to a close this year when a district court ruled in favor of Country Mill Farms' right to sell at a local farmer's market from which they had been ousted due to their traditional views on marriage.&nbsp;Steve and Bridget Tennes are the owners of Country Mill Farms in Charlotte, Michigan. Steve grew up on the farm, and returned as an adult with his wife and children to continue the family business. The Tenneses take great pride in providing fresh, delicious produce to their customers, and are active members of their community.“Our family farm here is very personal to us,” Steve said. “One of the things we really <a href="https://adflegal.org/article/sweet-victory-city-cant-discriminate-against-christian-family-farm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">enjoy about our family farm</a> here is [that] we are able to raise our . . . children here at the farm in accordance with our faith.”The Tenneses are devout Catholics, and regard the work they do on their farm as a way of living out their faith. They provide friendly service to all customers regardless of background, donate large quantities of apples to area food banks, provide comfortable, high quality housing on the farm for seasonal workers, and participate in the Farmer Veteran Coalition, which helps veterans become farmers following their service (both Steve and Bridget are U.S. veterans).Despite their esteemed place in the community, the Tenneses became the target of discrimination by the nearby city of East Lansing in 2016, when someone posted a question on the farm's Facebook page asking Steve to describe his beliefs about marriage. Steve answered he believes that marriage is between one man and one woman, consistent with the teachings of the Catholic church. He said he "<a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/catholic-orchard-owner-speaks-out-court-win-liberal-city-barred-him-farmers-market" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">honors his religious belief </a>when hosting and participating in weddings at Country Mill.”Less than two days after Steve's reply, city officials from East Lansing, where the farmer's market is located, started pushing the Tenneses to pull out of the next upcoming market.&nbsp;Country Mill Farms had been a beloved vendor at the East Lansing farmer's market since 2010 with no prior complaints made against them. Customers loved their fresh produce and impeccable service so much that the vendor selection committee invited them back to the market year after year.&nbsp;When Steve persisted in attending the market, city officials went a step further, creating a new policy that effectively prohibited Country Mill Farms from selling at the farmer's market in the future. &nbsp;The city officials prevented the vendor selection committee from inviting Country Mill Farms to the market in 2017, and when Steve applied on his own, the city pulled his application from the review process.&nbsp;Country Mill Farms is located 22 miles outside of East Lansing, unquestioningly outside their jurisdiction.&nbsp;The Tenneses proceeded to file a lawsuit against the City of East Lansing in partnership with Alliance Defending Freedom (ADL).ADL comments, “The city had <a href="https://adflegal.org/article/sweet-victory-city-cant-discriminate-against-christian-family-farm" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">banned</a> Steve and Bridget from the farmer’s market not because of something they did, but because of their beliefs about marriage.”In an interview with Fox News Digital, Steve reflects on his choice to file the lawsuit:<blockquote>This was a tough decision we had to make seven years ago when we were faced with the choice of providing for our family like we always had, or walking away from our religious beliefs. And as parents and as veterans, that was a very tough decision to make.</blockquote>While a court ruling allowed the Tenneses to continue selling at the market while the lawsuit proceeded, the case took six years to come to a close. In August 2023, the district court ruled in favor of the Tenneses and allowed them to return to the farmer's market without discrimination or restriction.The ADL explains the verdict:<blockquote>The court said East Lansing officials tried to force the Tennes family to choose between their beliefs and ‘a government benefit for which they were otherwise qualified,’ which is a clear First Amendment violation.</blockquote><blockquote>The reason is simple: denying a person an equal share of the rights, benefits, and privileges enjoyed by other citizens because of [his] faith discourages religious activity,' the court wrote in its ruling.</blockquote>Steve realizes that this win is about something much bigger than his own family:<blockquote>We're glad that we were able to go forward with this and the court has come out with a strong ruling that helps not just our family, but really people of all backgrounds and beliefs to realize that the government can't choose to punish some people just because they don't like their beliefs.</blockquote><div class="raw-html-embed"><iframe aria-label="video embed" src="//video.foxnews.com/v/video-embed.html?video_id=6335339651112&amp;loc=cdpn.io&amp;ref=https%3A%2F%2Fcdpn.io%2Fcpe%2Fboomboom%2Findex.html&amp;_xcf=" width="466" height="263" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>&nbsp;<div class="raw-html-embed"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MZNryzWIMGE?si=7RX2JdqeoqQWb8Ed" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Government harrassment

'The government can't choose to punish some people just because they don't like their beliefs'

Orchard owners penalized for their traditional views on marriage, win legal battle

The world can feel like a pretty scary place these days. Whether your family is experiencing war in Israel right now or a conflict or personal challenge elsewhere, emotions may be running high. The job of a parent is especially complex in situations such as these — you have your own fears and concerns to <a href="https://frontline.news/post/dear-fathers-and-mothers-of-israel" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">manage</a>, but also need to give attention to the little people in your charge who are having their own not-so-simple experience of the crisis. It can be hard to know what to say or do to help our children feel safe and deal with their fear, anger, grief and other difficult feelings in a healthy way.Below are two activities you can do with your children to help them navigate their emotions during a crisis. These activities can be used with a wide range of ages, from young children to adults. Feel free to adapt them as needed to meet your individual children (or yourself) at their particular level.Safe Space VisualizationIt's never too early to teach children the power of our thoughts. The thoughts we choose to hold in mind, whether positive or negative, determine how we experience reality. We can focus on thoughts that empower, strengthen, and build a sense of safety and calm, or on thoughts that invite fear, anxiety, and a sense of helplessness to take root — we have the power to choose! Especially in the midst of a crisis, we want to help our children (and ourselves) consciously create a safe and positive inner environment.A great way to do this is to help your children create their own personal visualization. You can encourage them to use this visualization any time they feel worried or unstable to fill them with a sense of calm and safety.Below is a step-by-step guide to creating the visualization:First, set the mood. Sit together with your child in a comfortable, distraction-free place. Ask her to close her eyes and take some slow, deep breaths.&nbsp;You will be asking your child the following questions to help create the visualization. Write down her answers as you go along.&nbsp;<ul><li>Choose a place you love and feel safe in. It could be a special room at home, a beautiful park in the neighborhood, a relative's house, a place your family visited on vacation, etc. &nbsp;</li><li>Describe this place using your five senses. What does it look like? What sounds do you hear there? What smells do you smell? What does it feel like to touch the things you find in that place? Is there anything to taste there? Describe your surroundings in as much detail as you can. Imagine yourself in that setting, enjoying everything about it. &nbsp;</li><li>Is there anyone or anything you want to bring into your special place with you?&nbsp; &nbsp;</li><li>Now, imagine that your special place is surrounded by a huge, glowing bubble. This bubble protects you and your place from anything bad or sad. It keeps out anything you don't want to come in there with you. What things do you want the bubble to protect you from? Imagine those bad things bouncing off the surface of the bubble and floating away, not able to come inside. You are surrounded by warmth, light, and safety. &nbsp;</li><li>How do you feel in this special place? &nbsp;</li><li>What will you take with you from this place when you leave to remind you of how it makes you feel?</li></ul>Now, take your child's answers you've written down and turn them into a narrative in which you describe your child walking to this special place, observing its qualities, envisioning the protective bubble and the bad things it repels, and how it makes her feel to be there. For example, “You are walking down the path through the woods on your way to the special park you love. You see beautiful trees with bright green leaves all around you. You arrive and sit down on the comfy bench that gives you a view of the whole park. You notice the sound of birds singing in the trees, see the bright sunshine sparkling on the blue waters of the pond,” and so on. Follow it all the way through to the end, with your child leaving her special place to go back home, emphasizing that she can return there any time she likes.You can keep this visualization in written form to read aloud to your child (bedtime is a nice time to do this), or you can even record yourself reading it so she can play it back whenever she wants. The hope is that she will become familiar enough with the visualization and the practice of using it as a tool for emotional support that she will choose to access it for herself when she feels the need.Draw Your FeelingsArt is another wonderful way of processing difficult feelings, especially if your child is bottling them up more than talking about them. Get out some paper and something to draw with, and walk through the following “Draw Your Feelings” experience together:<ul><li>Encourage your child to draw a picture of how he's feeling right now. Don't worry about naming the feeling, which isn't always easy for kids — just focus on the picture. For example, he might draw a big, black, heavy-looking rock.&nbsp; &nbsp;</li><li>Ask, “Do you feel this rock in your body? Where is it?” The answer might be, “In my throat” or “In my stomach.” Ask your child to put his hand where the “rock” is and breathe into it, relaxing the muscles around it, and connecting with the feeling of it. &nbsp;</li><li>Ask further questions like, “What does the rock want to tell you?" "Why is it sitting there in your throat?" and "Is there anything you want to tell the rock?” &nbsp;</li><li>Then, “What do you want to do with this rock?” Your child can describe the action to you, or draw another picture. Maybe he wants to throw it into the ocean and watch it sink, sit on top of it, or smash it to bits. Help him to visualize doing the action he's chosen. Ask, “How do you feel after doing that to the rock?" &nbsp;</li><li>Finally, "What will you do if the rock comes back again?”&nbsp;</li></ul>The idea is to help your child understand that he can have power over his negative feelings. We are not our sadness, fear, or anger. They are simply visitors who come to us during times of crisis and pain. We can host them for a time, receive their messages for us, and make conscious decisions about how we want to interact with them. They don't have to become permanent residents within us.While there is much in life that is out of our control, one thing we can control is our own conscious efforts to create a healthy space within ourselves to feel, process, and be held through trauma. May you be filled with the strength and resilience you need to be there for your children as you walk through the difficult times of life together.

Sarah Perron

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