American Minute with Bill Federer March 2 The Alamo mission at San Antonio was in its 7th day of being assaulted by thousands of Santa Ana's troops. By the 13th day, Santa Ana's "take-no-prisoner" policy had all 189 defenders killed, including Jim Bowie and former U.S. Congressman Davy Crockett. The only Texas army left in the field was Col. James Fannin's. It departed Goliad to rescue the Alamo but was surrounded in open ground and captured. Santa Ana ordered all 350 prisoners executed. When the Mexican officer hesitated, Santa Ana sent another officer who carried out the order. Had Fannin's troops been left in prison, Texas would have been disheartened, but instead Santa Ana's cruelty aroused world outrage. The Texas Declaration of Independence, signed MARCH 2, 1836, stated: "General Antonio Lopez Santa Ana...demanded us to deliver up our arms, which are essential to our defense-the rightful property of freemen-and formidable only to tyrannical governments...has, through its emissaries, incited the merciless savage, with the tomahawk and scalping knife, to massacre the inhabitants of our defenseless frontiers... We fearlessly...commit the issue to the...Supreme Arbiter of the destinies of nations." COME TO WARSAW For World Congress of Families IV May 11-13, 2007 Who We Are: The World Congress of Families (WCF) was founded in 1997 by Dr. Allan Carlson (president of The Howard Center for Family, Religion & Society), when the first Congress convened in Prague. Since then, there have been Congresses in Geneva (1999) and Mexico City (2004). More than 3,000 pro-family activists from over 65 countries are expected in Warsaw this spring for World Congress of Families IV. World Congress of Families fosters an international network of organizations, leaders, legislators, scholars and activists seeking to restore the natural family as the fundamental social unit and seedbed of a civil society. Our Goals: To shift the public policy debate: From "The Family as an obstacle to development" to "The Family as the source of social renewal and progress" From "overpopulation" to "under-population" as the demographic challenge of the 21st century" From "The small family and voluntary childlessness as good" to "The celebration of large families as a special social gift" From "religious orthodoxy as a threat to progress" to "religious orthodoxy as the source of humane values and cultural progress." Some of the Issues We'll Be Talking About In Warsaw: Gender Rights or Family Rights -- Demographic Winter as the New Population Crisis -- The Family Home as the Center of Upbringing and Education -- Family Enterprises and Family Independence -- The Effects of Marital Fidelity and Harmony on the Family -- What's Wrong With Cohabitation? -- The Harm of "Same-Sex Marriage" -- Media and the Family: Threats and Opportunities -- How Abortion Undermines The Family -- The Impact of Pornography on Family Unity. Why Warsaw in 2007? Europe is the battlefield and Poland is pivotal. Through demographic winter and the rule of an anti-family elite, Europe is almost lost to family values. The loss of Europe will have a devastating impact on the family in the Americas, Asia and Africa, as well as in international forums. Poland is a bastion of tradition, faith and family. WCF IV will draw pro-family advocates from across the European continent in what could be the beginning of a pro-family renaissance. A Unique Experience: You'll have an opportunity to make history while meeting people from around the world who share your values, exchanging ideas and strategies, hearing exciting speakers from five continents, helping to devise an international pro-family agenda and experiencing the wonder of Warsaw in the spring. For information visit www.worldcongress.org Media Inquiries - Don Feder (508) 405-1337 or dfeder@rcn.com