“How Have We Allowed the Thought Police to Invade Our Discourse and Dictate What is Deemed ‘To Matter’ In Our Lives?”
November 15, 2021
CINCINNATI, Ohio — The newly-named social media conglomerate “Meta” has announced recently that early next year, it will no longer allow its advertisers to target ads on topics related to politics or other sensitive issues, including religion, health, politics, sexual orientation and others. This new policy will be enforced on all of Meta’s companies, including Facebook, Instagram and Messenger. This decision has been met with concern by many conservative critics, who argue that the new policy veers dangerously towards censorship.
In response to this news, Patti Garibay, founder and executive director of American Heritage Girls (AHG, www.americanheritagegirls.org), one of the world’s largest Christian, scout-type organizations, commented on the growing trend of censorship on many “liberal” social media platforms.
“According to Facebook’s investor page” Garibay commented, “the social media platform was ‘founded in 2004, to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together. People use Facebook to stay connected with friends and family, to discover what’s going on in the world, and to share and express what matters to them.’
“Throw that mission in the dumper and start anew—a new name and a new mission? Not really. Although Meta is waiting in the wings, Facebook continues to target issues that ‘matter to people’ thus negating their own mission and purpose statements; and, they seem to be doing this with great bias.”
Garibay continued, “Using Facebook’s own words, ‘People use Facebook to stay connected with friends and family, to discover what’s going on in the world, and to share and express what matters to them’…unless it is religion, health, politics, race or sexual orientation. Tell me now, what then should matter to people?
“A true alternative in social media begs to be born and adopted by people of faith who believe in the basic ideals of free speech and respectful discourse. Speaking about topics ‘that matter’ in a free society is a hallmark of the very foundation upon which this nation was built.
“How have we allowed the thought police to invade our discourse and dictate what is deemed ‘to matter’ in our lives?”
American Heritage Girls was founded in 1995 by a group of parents who wanted this faith-based, scout-type character development program for their daughters. At AHG, girls ages five to 18 meet together as a single Troop at the same time and then break out into Units by Levels. This gives AHG girls the important social experience of interacting with friends and godly mentors of various ages; members also learn leadership skills within a group setting. AHG Troops are located in local communities across the nation. If none exists in a given area, families can bring the AHG Program to their own area. An American Heritage Girls Troop Development Coach is available to provide resources to potential Charter Organizations and other families to form a new Troop. To hear more about the purpose, mission, and vision of AHG from Founder and Executive Director Patti Garibay, click here.
Today, there are Troops in all 50 states and girls being served in 15 countries around the globe. Girls can join a Troop at any time; if a Troop is not available nearby, they can become a Trailblazer and enjoy the AHG program alongside their parent. A variety of Christian denominations are also represented as Charter Organizations for Troops. Thousands of volunteer members across the country are helping girls grow in their faith, cultivate a heart for service, enjoy the great outdoors, and have more fun than they can imagine.
The “Raising Godly Girls” radio feature and Raising Godly Girls blog shares guidance and biblically based advice on many key topics affecting girls today—including the prevalence of bullying and cyberbullying. It gives parents, educators, and faith community leaders a set of tools, resources, and Scripture-based advice to assist in raising girls after God’s own heart. The “Raising Godly Girls Minute” with Patti Garibay airs on 900+ Christian radio stations across the country.
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To schedule interviews with Patti Garibay, Founder and Executive Director of American Heritage Girls, contactMedia@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Harrison, 610.584.1096 ext. 105, or Deborah Hamilton, ext. 102.
To inquire about airing the “Raising Godly Girls Minute” with Patti Garibay, contact Michael Hamilton, 610.584.1096, ext. 101.
