While at my physical therapy, I saw on the Today show this morning a piece on the controversial the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's new introduction of a home economics major for women.  I can see, on first thought, how some might find this frustrating and an affront to what the women's lib movement has accomplished.  However, upon a second glance at the topic, it is ridiculous.

Lets look at a few items.  The first is the issue of a provate institutions right to do what they want.  To put another way, if an institution is private, can it not provide certain products that is deems appropriate?  Private institutions should be given the freedom to offer whatever they like.  While others may not like the product, they cannot, at least should not, be able to dictate whatever they are advocating.  Certainly, there are limits (selling car bombs, or teaching a course on how to blow up buildings, for instance), but by and large, if they are reasonable, they should be allowed. 

Second, lets compare the product here to some similar products.  For kicks, I went to Georgetown's Womens Studies.  Here's a list of classes: http://schedule.georgetown.edu/07C/07C194.html.  I picked one entitle Sexual Politics, and listed the description below.  The subject matter is clearly controversial, and I think such a class is frivolous and will destroy the nation.  But here's the problem, no matter how much I disagree, Gerogetown is free to choose its own courses of study.  No matter how much I disagree, they are free to choose whatever they want, and my opinion is of little value.  So it should be at Southwestern

Third, while the product may be controverisal, if there is a market, it should be offered.  So, if there are young women who choose to take these courses, by all means they should take them, and the folks who don't like it should suck it up and take it.  Its the same thing that I must do to those who take courses in the Georgetown Women's Studies program.

Now, I know there are voices who dispute such programs at Georgetown, but they are ignored.  They do not get put on Today.  They are not subjected to the same scrutiny as this program.  The critics of Southwestern's attempt to do what they feel is best for women and society should take a look at what they feel about liberal womens' studies programs and apply the same here.  This is the logical and tolerant thing to do.  But they will not.  It is very much opposed to what they stand for, and such a program, they say, takes women several steps back from the progress made.   Despite the assumptions that all the "progress" made is positive, their complaints are hypcritical and damaging to everyone involved, including themselves.



http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/religion/stories/081107dnmetseminaryhomeec.1e08bb7c.html

http://www.swbts.edu/

This post is a reflection on my experiences abroad, which have been relatively many, if not recently.  It has been about three years since my wife and I honeymooned en Paris, off the Rue de Rivoli.  But I love to travel.  I talked a bit earlier about my recent family vacation to the beach, which was wonderful.  But here I am going to focus on why travelling further is so much fun.

Travelling abroad is, obviously, a chance to see the world.  We take for granted what is in front of us everyday, and I find it refreshing to see that others have the same (or similar) routines.  Every where you go, life goes on as it normally does.  While great things are in the places we travel to, folks just go on with no excitement.  People get up, eat breakfast, kiss their wives/husbands/kids goodbye and go to work and life as they do hear, only in a different place.  I think it is easy to forget, when we travel elsewhere, that life is as is life is for the locals, whether in France or the Bahamas.  Whether near the Eifel Tower (there are Parisians who have never been up it) or fantastic weather and beaches, life goes on, not matter how new and exciting it is to you.

Another interesting thought about travelling abroad is, well, that of Americans.  I love my country, and I love my people, but we stick out of a crowd when away.  By the time I left France after my internship, I could pick Americans out like clockwork.  Generally louder, heavier set (not fat that I am talking about), brighter and less fashionable clothes (again, generally), baseball caps and tennis shoes, our traits are different.  Watching Americans abroad, as an American, is humurous.  I certainly do not think of us as less than intelligient, but many "locals" do.  Unfortunately, I can see why, and this is best exemplified through this quick story: friends and I were walking down the Champs du Mars, which is kind of like the Mall in DC to the Lincoln Memorial to the Eifel Tower in Paris.  But a few young girls (mid teens and obviously American) had partaken in the more relaxed liquor laws.  We came across them about halfway down the Champs du Mars, and we over heard one yell (remember, we were actually quite close to the Tower), and I quote: "Oh my God!  Its the Eifel Tower! I thought it was in Rome!"  At that moment, I knew exactly where our reputations come from.

Speaking of Americans, I've never had a problem abroad as many of us claim.  This is not to say folks haven't pegged me as a foreigner, but it is to say I've always been able to communicate and haven't experienced what many seem to have experienced: rudeness or smugness or anything.  I think what helps with that is that if you go with the flow, so to speak.  Understand that you are a guest, and "do as the Romans do".  Try to speak the language, and try to get the accent right (actually getting it right can be another issue, but you'll be more accepted if you try).  Don't loudly epxect anyone to do anything for you.  And too often, Americans seem to forget these things.  Perhaps its our nature, but others can find it tiresome.  (Other nationalities have their annoyances, too-- ever try to get a picture of the Venus de Milo right after a group of Japanese tourists?)

And let me chat a moment about language.  There are nuances that make travelling exciting, in the way folks use words.  Saying you are hot in language A often has a very different meaning of "hot" somewhere else.  And even in Britain, we Yanks find those small distinctions to be true.

Beyond the sites and history of a given place, travelling provides much more than an education in history.  Its also a lesson in human nature.  It provides insights into how your culture operates in comparison to another.  Travelling lets you test how you adjust to new things.  Watching yourself in another culture lets you see some of your faults, and perhaps gives an insight on how to improve.  But perhaps most fun, if taken in the right spirit, gives on an appropriate sense of humor to how cultures are different.

We just changed our cable provider and got a whole bunch more channels.  OK, so most of it is indeed junk and we will probably only watch the same things we did before.  While my wife has discovered the Style Channel, one channel we got that is of particular interest to me is the Fox Soccer Channel.  (Where else can you get to see random soccer games from Scotland in 1993?)  But watching this channel gave me a chance to reflect on some things about life and sport.

To start, what a great game soccer is.  I know, I know, many here will probably disagree, finding it boring et al.  But its a game of such ebb and flow, and the unexpected can happen at any moment (what a phrase!), and the crowds are so much more into their game than any other sport.  Its just fun to watch.

Granted, I played the game at a high level growing up, so it certainly brings out those nostalgic thoughts and memories.  But my interest now is a bit more.  Seeing the passion these people (the fans) take to their team, and their country is so much more than anything we can appreciate here in the states.  This is not to say that we are not passionate about our teams (Go Cards!), but that they take it to entirely different level.  See, their teams bring together the communities in ways our baseball and football teams do not, at least no any longer.  Its less about the city than it is about the neighborhood.  There are multiple teams in London, for instance, not even just two.  And these teams are the bond that brings them together.  And isn't that one of the great things about sport, in general, the bonds formed and the shared joys or defeats?  (Any Cubs fans out there?)

Sports are so much more than just men and women playing a game.  The community is involved.  Kids look up to the athletes.  We relate to these people, often out of competition, but just as often, I think, out of a shared pride in the neighborhood or city.  Ever been to a St. Louis Cards game?  Perhaps the best fans in the nation, and you feel it when you get anywhere near Bush on game day.  Same thing in Boston and Chicago.  There's something about that experience that brings folks together.  How about a match at Old Trafford?  Its great, all of it.

I started talking about soccer fans.  But I use them to advocate why sport is great, no matter the sport or locale.  It brings us together.  It gives us an escape, and something to look forward to, a hope.  A hope that someday the Cubs will lose in the Series (at least they may get there, some day), the Browns may win the Super Bowl, or that Fulham will take the Premiership.  Sport, like them or not, you gotta appreciate em.

This is a topic I generally stay away from here at my site.  Many of you know I have not problems discussing elsewhere.  For a minute, though, I'd like to express some of my thoughts regarding it and its implications to us here.

Religion is our life-blood, whether we like it or not.  And our life-blood is how we generally live our lives, our interests, what we watch, play, how we speak, what we read , who we love.  Our religion is much more than who and how we worship.

That said, I worship God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.  I go to church most Sundays (Saturday nights for the time being).  I sing the songs, and read the Bible, and pray.  But that does not make me a Christian.  What makes me a Christian is my attempts to live as Christ did, to accept Him as my savior, the Bible as innerrant and sufficient for all instructio, and that Christ, the Father, and the Spirit are as separate as they are one.  This is what I strive for, and I fall very short of that goal.

But each of us does not strive for the same thing.  Some of us don't care about Christ, or have a radically different view of him.  Some of us don't care about religion.  But does that mean we do not have a religion?  No.  We all do, so the discussion of religion is appropriate for everyone, even those who do not believe in a god, any god.  We all have a religion.

Despite the differences in the who's, what's, and how's of our faiths, we all strive for something.  Whether its simply to be a better person, or to be a better lawyer, engineer, political pundit, or disciple of whatever, we look to do something.  It can be two sided.  A father can love his work, and love his God, but who gets most attention is how to determine his true religion.

I could turn this into an apologetic piece at this point, but that is not my intent.  While I know Christ is the way, others claim to know their way is right.  This leads to many disputes, understandably.  But here's the thing: because religion is a person's life-blood, and a huge part of who they are, we must always treat that religion with respect.  This is because that religion is a reflection of who they are.

I do not advocate accepting all religions as true, nor should anyone, really.  And we should strive to critic and point out where others fail, since we are talking about truth.  But this is their identity, and so we must be aware.  We should listen to Paul when he says to treat others with "gentleness and respect."  I think this is a big reason why.

And if we do so, religion will be a much more pleasent subjct to discuss.  Unfortunately, this is not likely to happen.

Let me preface this with this: I am not a teacher.  I am not inside the school system, so I cannot speak to what is truly happening there.  What I speaking from is the impression the public school systems give me.  That being cleared up, it seems the educational systems throughout our country are failing us, our students, and the future of the country.

Why?  Beyond the fact that reading, writing, and basic math skills seem to be secondary behing sensitivity training, our cultural identity is beign erased because the educators are blinded with the idea of "inclusivity".  Our students are taught more about other cultures than our own.  They are taught how to be Muslims, or how to really come to terms with your sexuality, or how America stole California from Mexico.  In lieue of competition, they are taught that all are winners, and ban dodgeball in the name of self esteem.  To get more time in the classroom, they abolished recess.  Evolution is doctrinely sound, while anything resembling creationism is barred as religious.

Why does this matter?  Oh, this matters greatly.  The messages sent have horrific consequences to us as a people, and this great nation we call America.  While it is important to be aware of others, it is more important to understand how to rationally think and work through issues.  Feelings only get you so far, and feelings did not win the world wars or send us to the moon.  Feelings did not make this country great, nor make us the superpower we have become.  Determination and a desire to succeed is what has done this, and this determination and desire are fixed upon the foundation of solid reasoning skills of reading, writing, and math.

And by taking away competition, we send an even more dangerous message: that its OK to lose.  Sure, life is not set upon winning every "battle" we face, and we need to keep proper persepective.  Success anywhere comes from the burning desire to beat the next guy.  We are teaching our kids to suppress this desire, and by doing so, we let the other guy take the initiative and win.  Look at the WOT.  We don't want to win it.  We don't want to beat the terrorists down.  This message is reinforced through the farcical ideas rpesented in schools.

No recess?  This may be OK for little girls (I doubt it truly is, but they may do better than the boys), but that's exactly it.  Not only do kids need to learn in class, they need to get out and move, especially boys.  How many men here will say that the majority of stuff they actually retain about life came in the classroom?  Probably very few.  We boys like to get out and do stuff.  We like to get down and dirty and push our skills against the next guy.  Ever see a little boy run into his father?  He's testing himself.  And girls, ya'll often learn best by interacting, by relating.  When I look back at my recess days, I see the boys playing sports mostly, climbing things, competing, while the girls sat together talking, or playing "creating" games.  Recess provided this outlet for both to get out and learn by doing, and this is just as important as what is taught in the classroom.

Religion.  No religion is allowed except that which supports the ideas of the school.  In other words, Christianity bad, Judaism tolerated, Islam acceptable, atheists perfect.  OK, I exaggerate somewhat here, but there is a growing trend to allow Islam into schools, and Christianity keeps taking a beating.  And the more that certain religions are thwarted in schools, the way the kids see those religions falls.  They see them as not important, or flawed.  Religion, for better for worse, generally encourages success.  It encourages that its adherents try to do well, behaviorally and intellectually.  And they sacrifice this for the enabling the kids to discover their sexuality.

Our history.  Perhaps nothing more encaptulates it all than this.  We can call it history or civics, but regardless, how these two subjects are taught is a sham.  It is an afterthought, it seems, this topic.  It is glossed over and provided with facts and how bad our country is.  Interest is lost in our past.  And when we lose that, we lose us now.  We lose our identity.  Worse, all too often it seems that when it is given due attention, we focus on how bad the country is, and how false that is!  Sure, we must be honest with our past and look to our mistakes and be sure to make them right or never do them again.  But we also must look at those wrongs in the context of their times and more importantly, celebrate what we did right!

I could go on, but suffice to say, many things that make this country great are being taken away through our schools.  We go down this road at our peril.  Maybe, someday, our educators will realize the danger they have put us in.  Anyone want to place any bets?