It bugs me to hear some people that I agree with on an issue debate using certain arguments. Even if they are right in their thinking and even if they have a good argument lets use the best argument possible to defeat something we do not like. Lets not argue that the new healthcare bill will drop or deplete some of the current benefits of Senior Citizens. Lets talk about the effects of healthcare on all of society in terms of rationing care and the effects on the production of new drugs and medicines. We know the rationing and lessening of production can be traced back to socialized government ran healthcare systems which do not motivate innovation of new drugs. Lets argue whether it is constitutional for the federal government to even take on such a task instead of talking about the deficit although that is a very important problem.
When arguing against gay marriage lets not only argue about the morality, but the Constitution. Does the Constitution of the U.S. say anything about marriage? No. So lets leave it up to the states. Do the state constitutions say anything about it? if not lets put it to a vote. If it is not in a constitution of any sort then judges should have zero say so. Lets not just talk about rights and equal rights and blah blah blah this is evil sin and so forth. Good argument. I believe homosexuality is not right in the eyes of God. But that argument does not work with all people. So lets educate ourselves better so that people don't close off their ears to us immediately. Lets try to debate them over on the obvious issues of Constitutions and what "rights" are truly granted in any constitution (most rights are protected and not granted since our founders believed our rights were 'inalienable' meaning cannot be created nor destroyed). Then when we have shown ourselves to not me radical theocratic then we can witness and maybe when them over on the morality issue. I'm not talking about the pulpit either. I'm all about preaching right and wrong from there. But in the public forum lets try to win as many on the issues as possible and not shun anyone out by jumping straight to the Christianity argument although I totally agree with it.
I'm just saying as Christians lets show that we love our country that God has blessed so much with and because we love it we know more about it and as Christians we read more than just the Bible because we are well rounded individuals. How many of us really do this?
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Learning on the job something I already believed...
I have had the impression that if you teach kids and expect a lot and quite frankly demand a lot, you will get a lot out of the kids as long as you explain why you expect a lot. Today's education "experts" would disagree with that notion and thus one education "expert" at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga told me to find a new hobby and give up being a teacher. I told her off and told her I disagree with the liberal mindset of teaching and we'll see how I do. Now I lost my first teaching job but the reports were that my kids liked me and well they scored higher on the standardized test than the other social studies teachers at my school and to be honest... I thought a lot of my social studies department there. So I am proud of that. I lost my job because I was tough on basketball kids most people believe. I said I would not change my mentality although I will continue to try and improve my coaching methods.
And now I have a bunch of middle school basketball players. They have not won a game in over a year and only won one or two a couple years before and have not won more than one or two for a few years now. We still have not won a game (of course we have only played three legit games). But I came down hard on these guys. I demand a lot. Throughout practice I just send the guys running all the time because they are not being productive at that time. I'm not punishing them I'm "disciplining" them. And our practices are physical now. I yell a lot. I encourage too but there is not a lot of that going on because we have not been executing what I want. But our boys are practicing and playing hard. I asked them today if they have liked recent practices because I have picked it up a notch and have gotten that much tougher. They said yes we love it.
Don't tell me today's kids are different. Don't tell me you have to be soft on these kids and can't expect a lot. That is insulting to them and I have told them that. In fact I tell them the more I yell at them the more they should feel flattered. Because that means I expect a lot from them... And lately and I believe in the future... I will be getting a lot..
And now I have a bunch of middle school basketball players. They have not won a game in over a year and only won one or two a couple years before and have not won more than one or two for a few years now. We still have not won a game (of course we have only played three legit games). But I came down hard on these guys. I demand a lot. Throughout practice I just send the guys running all the time because they are not being productive at that time. I'm not punishing them I'm "disciplining" them. And our practices are physical now. I yell a lot. I encourage too but there is not a lot of that going on because we have not been executing what I want. But our boys are practicing and playing hard. I asked them today if they have liked recent practices because I have picked it up a notch and have gotten that much tougher. They said yes we love it.
Don't tell me today's kids are different. Don't tell me you have to be soft on these kids and can't expect a lot. That is insulting to them and I have told them that. In fact I tell them the more I yell at them the more they should feel flattered. Because that means I expect a lot from them... And lately and I believe in the future... I will be getting a lot..
Monday, November 9, 2009
The Quiet Majority
Today nearly nothing makes me more angry than to hear someone say that their voice means nothing. Now this statement can be true in many instances. But when that voice is part of a major majority group who is afraid to speak up, than that "quiet majority" appears to be a minority and people in charge making decisions may decide to make the "loud minority" that appears to be the majority happy. I have explained this effect on my life just a year ago.
Most people in the country would not mind if Rush Limbaugh had owned just some 5% of the St. Louis Rams. But because that was a quiet majority and the loud minority said "NO!" the NFL pressured the other people in the group to get rid of Rush. I was watching a NFL program the other day and the music they played, licensed by the NFL, was a song from Marylin Manson. So it is ok to have a man who publicly urinates on the Bible, a book that a large majority in America form their religion from not to mention our laws are in large part based from, to have his music used for the NFL but someone who vocalizes something that many people were debating next to the water cooler can not own just 5% of one franchise?
Most people in America are against Gay marriage and recently that was proven on the Ballot in Maine a state that is not necessarily one of the more conservative states. In fact I don't know of one state where "marriage" has been allowed when put up for a vote. But in states where they allow judges and legislatures vote they often choose the side of the minority. This because that minority is the loudest.
I doubt most Americans would care if we stereotyped people at airports when checking baggage. In other words for those people who are much like the groups who have committed terrorist attacks against our nation, maybe pay closer attention to them. Most do this anyways. In fact I believe it was Jesse Jackson who has said that he is nervous walking on the side of a street in a city at night when he hears footsteps behind him... until he turns around and sees that it is a group of "white" people and he is relieved that is was not "black" people. That might sound racist but Jackson was stereotyping the situation but since he is Black himself he is not portrayed racist.
Most would not have mind if a member of the U.S. military would have reported that the recent man who murdered over a dozen people and injured nearly three dozen had said controversial statements. But many would be afraid since the man is Muslim that they would be shun down for being "racist" and those in charge are probably hesitant to investigate the situation due to the same charges. In fact there was an investigation that was going on. I wonder if that investigation was ever at all held up in delay due to not wanting to offend someone due to their religion or ethnicity? Either way I doubt the majority of Americans would have mind. But since us majority of conservative Christians choose to be silent... we look like a minority. So speak up!
Most people in the country would not mind if Rush Limbaugh had owned just some 5% of the St. Louis Rams. But because that was a quiet majority and the loud minority said "NO!" the NFL pressured the other people in the group to get rid of Rush. I was watching a NFL program the other day and the music they played, licensed by the NFL, was a song from Marylin Manson. So it is ok to have a man who publicly urinates on the Bible, a book that a large majority in America form their religion from not to mention our laws are in large part based from, to have his music used for the NFL but someone who vocalizes something that many people were debating next to the water cooler can not own just 5% of one franchise?
Most people in America are against Gay marriage and recently that was proven on the Ballot in Maine a state that is not necessarily one of the more conservative states. In fact I don't know of one state where "marriage" has been allowed when put up for a vote. But in states where they allow judges and legislatures vote they often choose the side of the minority. This because that minority is the loudest.
I doubt most Americans would care if we stereotyped people at airports when checking baggage. In other words for those people who are much like the groups who have committed terrorist attacks against our nation, maybe pay closer attention to them. Most do this anyways. In fact I believe it was Jesse Jackson who has said that he is nervous walking on the side of a street in a city at night when he hears footsteps behind him... until he turns around and sees that it is a group of "white" people and he is relieved that is was not "black" people. That might sound racist but Jackson was stereotyping the situation but since he is Black himself he is not portrayed racist.
Most would not have mind if a member of the U.S. military would have reported that the recent man who murdered over a dozen people and injured nearly three dozen had said controversial statements. But many would be afraid since the man is Muslim that they would be shun down for being "racist" and those in charge are probably hesitant to investigate the situation due to the same charges. In fact there was an investigation that was going on. I wonder if that investigation was ever at all held up in delay due to not wanting to offend someone due to their religion or ethnicity? Either way I doubt the majority of Americans would have mind. But since us majority of conservative Christians choose to be silent... we look like a minority. So speak up!
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