Opus 2012-74, Headlines: Bible and Constitution

Over a year ago I was listening to a pod-cast and heard E.J. Dionne quoted as saying that people tend to quote the Constitution as if it were holy scripture.  At this point I don’t remember the pod-cast or the source of the quote but it seems consistent with what he usually says.

Sounds logical to me.

People who believe the Bible believe in absolute truth.  They believe that words have meaning and the meaning is not what you want it to be but what it is.  Thus when the KJV says “Thou shalt not kill” it means what it says.  Of course, being people of truth who are not afraid of the truth, we look a little further and see that the real translation is “Thou shall not murder.”  That is not a minor nuance but a difference between truth and opinion.  The Bible means what it says.

These tend to be the same people who believe that the Constitution means what it says.  This is not because the Constitution is inerrantly inspired by God but because words have meaning.  Thus when the Constitution says, “Congress shall make no law...” these people tend to believe that it means, “Congress shall make no law....”  To us it seems simple.  To judges it seems confusing.

Don’t be confused by the mention of Bible believers.  I did not say “Christians” or “church members.”  Just as there are many people who call themselves “American” who reject the clear declarations of the Constitution, there are people who call themselves “Christian” who reject the clear teaching of the Bible.  In both cases the clarity is not convenient so it is rejected.  Whether these people are really “Americans” or “Christians” is between them and God.  I will be on the same side of the eternal bar of justice that they are on so my opinion is not vital.

So, yes.  People who can’t understand what the Constitution says seem to be the same people who can’t understand what the Bible says.  It is not a total overlap but it is a major factor.

homo unius libri

Opus 2012-73, Are There Any Universal Truths?

I am visiting my children and staying in their homes.  It gives a feeling of accomplishment when you see your children maturing and taking on life.  My daughter was making sure that I had everything I needed and in the conversation she said, “Here is your towel.  I know you like the big thick ones...”

Doesn’t everyone?  Do you know anyone who likes to use a small, thin towel to dry off after a shower?  I will acknowledge there may be some who have never really thought about it.  Some may notice the towel is small and don’t get worked up, but is there anyone who really prefers a thin rag over a luxurious mini-rug?

I find that hard to believe.  But it brings up the question in my mind.  Are there actually people who prefer such a thing?  Have I come across one of the few universals in our world?  Is there hope for us as human beings finding any common ground?

Philosophy is the love of wisdom.  Common wisdom has to be generated somewhere.  It can start anywhere, even in the bathroom.

homo unius libri

Opus 2012-72, Setting an Example

In one sermon Alistair Begg, shared how he was very grateful to his parents for forcing him to go to church as a child when he did not want to go.  By being forced to go he learned the things he needed to learn and is the person he is today.  Parents might be encourage or corrected by that.  We are to supply them with what they need, not what they want.

It reminds me of an episode in my life.  The church we attended had an evening service.  We, of course, attended.  At one point my father decided he was going to stay home in the evening.  I don’t remember the reasons.  He worked six days a week in hard labor in spite of the fact that he had a bad limp from childhood polio.  Maybe he was just tired.  It didn’t matter.  My brothers and I saw this as an opportunity to pressure my mom into letting us stay home.  We wanted to watch TV.  We wanted to play.  Dad was staying home, why couldn’t we?

To his eternal credit he saw the example he was setting and started attending again in the evenings.  It certainly took the wind out of our sails.

Parents, live as examples.  Your children are watching you.  Other people’s children are watching you.  God is watching you.  It may not be what you want to hear, but it is the truth.

homo unius libri

Opus 2012-71, Observations

Teachers, like many workers, are subject to evaluation.  As a permanent employee I am to be observed every two years by a qualified administrator.  There are forms to fill out, hoops to jump through and a dog-and-pony show to put on.  Although I kick and squirm, if you pin me down I will admit that the concept is not bad.

I just went through my observation.  It went well.  I had the assistant principal come to my best class, which isn’t saying much.  They were intimidated by her presence just enough to make it a great teaching time.  It was the kind of day that made people go into education and stay.  It is the kind of day that we rarely see anymore.  The difference between a day of teaching and a day of babysitting is sometimes a very subtle attitude shift in just a few of the students.  That little change makes them listen instead of tune out.  It makes them think before they speak which means the questions they ask actually have something to do with the topic.  It makes them hold back on questions they know are stupid.  It keeps them from shouting answers.

It would not take much to begin to turn education around.  All it would take is a little respect for authority and fear of consequences.  The change would not happen over night but it would begin and move in the right direction instead of consistent degeneration like we have now.

Is is not happening and with the current “self-esteem” culture in control of education it will not happen.  It is hidden behind words like “rigor” and “standards based” but in reality the major goal of education is to have kids feel good about themselves and educators to not be hassled.

How do we change it?  First, be willing to look beyond the jargon of the educator class.  Assume they are hiding something.  If you are wrong you lose nothing.  Second, understand that the best intentions of change and reform are stopped by the courts and liberal judges who agree with the educators.  Understand that those judges are appointed by politicians that are elected by you.  After you check out your own attitudes the next real step is to clean house because nothing will happen as long as we are paying people to pass laws that go against what we feel must be done.

Elections matter.  You may not have been thrilled with George W. Bush but think about how the country would be different if Al Gore had appointed three more liberal judges of the ilk that Obama has been able to dig out from under some rocks.

When in doubt, vote the suckers out.

homo unius libri

Opus 2012-70, New Terms: BISS

Are you familiar with these “words”?

TMI
TLDR
LOL
OMG
KISS

They are part of the texting culture.  It has a whole vocabulary of its own that is designed to shorten the number of keys the sender must hit.  It also reflects the truncated vocabulary of the younger generation.  Why learn real words when you can make up your own?

To this sub-culture I offer BISS.

I don’t remember ever seeing it used anywhere else but since I don’t text-message except in response to my children in special circumstances, I am not an authority.  It is possible that someone else has already claimed it or given it another meaning.

For me it means:  Because I Said So

If you have ever been an authority figure working with labor adverse populations you have used this without knowing it.  Parent/child, teacher/student, sergeant/recruit, the applications are almost unlimited.  It also puts you on a level playing field.  I was always frustrated when kids could get by with a one syllable “Why” and I was required to use at least two syllables with “Because.”  Now I do not need to put out more effort than the sloth.

On occasion a person will ask “Why” and really want to know.  I will leave it up to your discernment to respond at more length in those situations.

homo unius libri

Opus 2012-69, Headlines: The Media Justice System Strikes Again

You have all heard about the shooting in Florida.  I don’t watch TV or listen to the radio but everyone I know is telling me all about it.  The “facts” fly fast and furious.  The source of the facts are a bunch of race-baiters in the news and the political class that are trying to stir up the country for their own gain.  The media wants to increase ratings and doesn’t care about the truth.  Think Haditha.  Think Duke University.  Think Afghanistan.  Think.  I put that last in to wake you up.

The political class wants to stir up class warfare and racial hatred so that they can have an issue in the next election.  I am sure that if we look back in history we can find other examples, but this is the government we have and it is ugly to watch in real life.

What do we really know?  A man was shot and killed.  Beyond that all is rumor and gossip.  It is time to step back, take a deep breath and let the justice system take its course.  We don’t need a media lynching.  We don’t need a media whitewash.  What we need is a careful investigation, due process and the belief that a man is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Or did I miss something?

homo unius libri

Opus 2012-68, Should-a-Beens: Sarah Palin and Russia

Here is another headline I would like to see,

“Talking Heads Admit Russia Is Close to Alaska”

Remember how Sarah Palin said, “I can see Russia from my front porch”?  Then you have an interesting memory because she did not say that.  It was Tina Fay on Saturday Night Live in a parody of Palin.  To be honest, it was funny on SNL.  I like Palin.  It was still funny.  Humor is good and poking fun at politicians is healthy.  What is sick is allowing the media to convince us that Palin said it.

It might be a good time to go back and read the entire interview, not just the edited version and see what she really said.  Then the L.A. Times and the networks could send a team of reporters up to Alaska armed with maps and atlases.  They might charter and airplane and fly out over the Bering Straits and discover what the governor of Alaska, and any middle school student who has been paying attention, knows:  Alaska is close to Russia.

When I see that headline, maybe I will be willing to get a subscription to the Times.

And maybe not.

homo unius libri