Dear Mr. Cavey,

Thank you for dropping us a note and letting us know your feelings. It is always good to know that the work we are doing is not in vein. It is good to know that there are still some people out there to whom we need to get this message to, that there are still some people who believe everything they were told while in "the Program." Unfortunately, the sad truth is, you and I and many other people were told lie after lie after lie while being involved in "the Program."

I'd like to start by putting your fears to rest.

1) I assure you that we aren't as you wrote, " a left wing liberal Democratic Party socialist propaganda website. " We are actually a group of real people who were in the program, lived the program and thankfully survived the program. We are a group of people who have children and grandchildren of our own that we are very concerned about. We don’t want them to suffer the same abuses that we did.

2) I assure you that you will not be able to identify one child or parent in any of these pictures who did not grant permission. Our purpose is not to expose those people who were in the program and victims of the program. Our purpose is to stop “The Program” under all of the names it goes by today, thereby putting a stop to all of the severe child abuse that goes on within the walls of “The Program” and continues to haunt most into their adulthood.

In your note your wrote “It'as obvious to anyone with a minimal amount of brain cells that the "medical people" who trash Straight do so because it cuts into their practice.”

I was wondering if you could elaborate on who you are referring to in this sentence. I could respond better if you could be more specific as to whom you are referring and exactly what you are trying to say.

In your note you wrote “You people are the same morons who are backing the liberal "patients bill of rights"

No, we are not those people. We are a different bunch of people, with a completely different agenda as I stated earlier in this letter.

In you note you wrote “If you are so damned concerned, why not make drug treatment affordable to those who need it. 30 day programs don't work and you idiots know it, but you don't have the guts to offer anything else.” In this statement you bring up a very good point. Why not make drug treatment affordable to those who need it? I think we should! I’ve often wondered why the majority of Straight clients were young, affluent white kids, didn’t you? One of our goals is to not only steer people away from seeking help that is in reality abusive, but also to help them find affordable and effective treatment along with an effective assessment of children to determine if drugs is actually the problem that they have. And as I’ve done my research, what I have found is that there is no general consensus among the medical professionals as to (1) how to determine if someone has a drug problem and (2) if it is determined that someone has a drug problem, how to administer effective treatment. This is definitely something that needs to be addressed.

You wrote in your note “You so carefully neglect those kids who made it and live productive lives. Not one word about those kids and their families.” Oh this is so untrue! Everything we write about is referencing both those who have made it and live productive lives as well as those who may not have fared so well on the outside. I am a “kid who made it and lives a productive life” and these issues affect me as much as those who “didn’t make it.” However, I’m also here to speak for those who committed suicide after being in the program. They have no longer have a voice to be heard.

You wrote “If the Republicans are to blame, then it just makes me that more proud to be a Republican.”

No one said the Republicans are to blame. There is plenty of blame to go all around regardless of political affiliation. It just so happens the founders of Straight are high contributors to the Republican party, and personal friends with the Bush Family, this is no secret.

You wrote “You people are the same pack of idiots who would murder your unborn children because it's "conveninet" and turn around and hide behind the pretense of protecting" the childern" by tearing down an organization which works. You are a fear mongering pack of bastards.”

Sorry, you have mistaken us for another group of people once again. We aren ’t the same pack of idiots who would murder our unborn children because it’s “convenient” as a matter of fact, we have never even discussed this issue. My guess is that we (those at whom your letter was directed) all have differing opinions on this issue. I am against the murder of unborn children. I was also repulsed when girls who came into the program pregnant were coerced into getting abortions. If you are against murdering unborn children as it sounds by your letter, why was it ok for Straight staff to force the teenage girls in the program to murder their unborn children?

Now, with that all said and done, let me leave you with these 2 final questions,

(1)If the program works, what does it succeed in doing?

(2) How did you come up with the conclusion that we are a fear mongering pack of bastards.

Once again, I’m glad you wrote so we can clear up some of your misconceptions and if you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to write back.

Sincerely,

Kathy Martin-Moya

The Conference Web Page http://www.trebach.com/conferenceform.htm#registration