Values affirmative of
the traditional family and orthodox Christianity
under fire in Kitsap County
[Excerpted from Washington for
Traditional Values’ "Values Reporter" - Winter Edition]
In a news release Wednesday, October 1st, Washington for Traditional
Values Vice-President Sidney Turbyfill challenged the Kitsap County Commissioners
to "do the right thing" and stand in defense of Mick Sheldon,
a member of the county’s taxpayer-funded Council for Human Rights. "We
are increasingly disturbed by what we see coming out of Kitsap County,"
states Turbyfill. "There’s a real sentiment that ‘political correctness’
has superseded the freedom of speech rights of the First Amendment, especially
as related to traditional views of morality -- values affirmative of the
traditional family and orthodox Christianity."
At issue was an apparent secretive move to oust Sheldon from the Council
for his outspoken views in letters to the editors of area papers. Most
recently, Mr. Sheldon’s letter went head-to-head with one from Michael
Sondheimer over Sondheimer’s co-opting the Council to chastise the Republican
Party for its opposition to legislative privilege for homosexuals.
Council member Sheldon confirmed that votes were being counted to support
his removal, saying, "At this point, I have no idea if I’ll be allowed
at the next meeting or not." Turbyfill responded in the news release,
"I find it outrageous that a group that should be a role model for
tolerance would round up a ‘lynch mob’ against one of its own members."
Clashes between gay rights activists and Evangelical Christians have plagued
the Council since Sheldon was first brought on board along with Jim Craswell,
son of former Senator Ellen Craswell. Their appointments set off a flood
of letters denouncing their inclusion.
In July of 1996, gay activist Michael Sondheimer subjected the Council
to a verbal assault. Craswell and Sheldon "took a walk" from
the meeting, declaring that it was a hostile environment towards people
of faith. The council ultimately responded by establishing rules and procedures
for civility within their meetings.
In March of ‘97, Sheldon was formally reprimanded for a letter to the editor
which carried his name and Council position in the tag line, an apparent
violation of the Council’s own rules. Sheldon took a leave of absence for
the summer, in an attempt to let emotions cool off within Council ranks.
August saw Sondheimer requesting the Council to take issue with the Republican
Party’s stand on homosexuality. Sheldon and Craswell opposed the obviously
partisan action. After much debate including letters to the editor, the
Council unanimously sided with Sheldon and Craswell.
In a late September response to Council Co-Chair Sean Green, Craswell indicated
he had reviewed Sondheimer’s and Sheldon’s most recent editorial exchange,
and viewed them as "fairly balanced point and counterpoint" discussions
of Sondheimer’s request. Craswell went on record as opposing any effort
to remove Sheldon.
The move to dump Mick was simply a desperate, last-ditch effort by elements
of the liberal, left fringe to regain a "lock-hold" on the Kitsap
County Council for Human Rights.
In Areopagitica [1644], John Milton wrote:
Though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, so Truth be in the field, we do injuriously, by licensing and prohibiting, to misdoubt her strength. Let her and Falsehood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worse, in a free and open encounter?
Contact: Sidney Turbyfill
(425) 821-3341
E-Mail: Sid Turbyfill