Published
for the (now defunct) Texas Justice Press
Brian
LovettChicago, IL
February 3, 2003
To the extent that the following is not an oxymoron: I had a good day in court today. I am fighting for my fundamental, Constitutional right to be equally involved in my 3-year old daughter Samantha's life.
Today, the court denied my wife's request that I pay her attorneys almost $40,000. My wife's attorneys then basically withdrew their motion to temporarily force me out of Samantha's life when it became obvious that the judge didn't want to have a hearing on Constitutional rights in her courtroom -- which is the ONLY way for a father to fight this corrupt system.
Additionally, Samantha's court-appointed attorney withdrew and waived her remaining fees because, as she said, "it would likely be too difficult to try and get them." She also told the court that never in over 25 years of representing children has she withdrawn from a case, but she did so today because now that I am representing myself (I recently fired my second attorney), she no longer feels that she can "effectively protect" Samantha's best interests.
You do see the irony, don't you? Because I am no longer being held back by "officers of the court" (i.e., attorneys) and am simply arguing for my Constitutional rights, an attorney who is an employee of the State claims she can't effectively protect the rights of a little girl... the very rights guaranteed that little girl by the Constitution I'm defending. The insanity of all this merely needs my report, not my comment.
For anyone who might need clarity on my position, FIT parents ALWAYS act in a child's best interest. Not the State. Not a judge. Not an attorney. FIT parents. Any other intrusion by the State is an infringement on our inalienable right to privacy, not to mention our right to the care and control of our children.
All of today's events are temporary. At the final trial, the judge will VERY likely take Samantha away from me, and will VERY likely take away most of my property (and future income) and give it to my wife and her attorneys. Why? Because the LAW SAYS THEY CAN -- FOR NO OTHER REASON. Not because I've been alleged an abusive father, not because I don't love and care for Samantha, not because I've injured my wife in any way, not because I've broken any laws. They can do this because the State decrees it so. Why does the legislature give the judiciary the power to do this? Money: Illinois gets significant monies from the federal government, and political supporters (e.g., attorneys) get very high-paying jobs for encouraging extremely litigious divorces.
Do you find it too hard to believe that a country with our Founding Fathers could do all this? To you I merely say: Do your homework. Evil like this happens. Think about Civil Rights. For over 100 years after the Civil War, systematic abuses of equality were the normal experience of black Americans. It CAN happen here.
But it stops now. I will not accept someone destroying Samantha's and my lives by pointing a gun at my head. I will not allow my love of my daughter to destroy the principles that make a good life possible for her. As our forefathers did, I am now fighting for America's values with ACTION. I owe that to our Founders for their sacrifices, I owe that to my daughter for how wonderful she makes me feel, and I owe that to myself in the name of humanity and my own happiness. Why am I telling you this? Because we'll all win if you join me.
How do we win? The answer is simple: the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution unambiguously guarantees fit parents equal custody of their children. Join me and the growing number of parents around America who are standing up for the rights bought for us by noble blood of patriots for 227 years. Your children are yours. They are yours by your RIGHTS. But you have to fight for your rights. No one will give them to you.