I grew up in a family of conscientious objectors. The thought of doing violence against another human being was so reprehensible to my folks that we were never even allowed to play "Cowboys and Indians" and the very thought of even holding a toy gun, let alone buying one, was anathema to my parents’ philosophy.

I suspect there are many who claim to be advocates of "Family Values" who would find such a value system foolish, maybe even unpatriotic. But such are our differences.

Growing up, there was a family who lived next door whose fights between husband and wife were so vocal and threatening that I would cower in my bed with the covers pulled up around my ears, certain this would be the night someone would finally kill someone else.

It may have been fine for them but it is not the sort of family values I’m interested in passing on to my kids.

My mother worked outside the home not because she had to but because she sought an additional dimension to her life beyond the challenge of raising four boys. I continue to be awed by her determination and courage to enter the market place when all her friends remaind at home.

It will come as no surprise that I can’t imagine a more wonderful mother for me. She was certainly as caring and loving and supportive as any of my friends’ moms but her values were different than theirs.

So who determines what are the "real" family values?

Personally, the last people I want doing it are politicians.