Are we really a model for good democracy?

With all of the election energy flowing it is probably treacherous to ask the question John Stossel raised in his October 20/20 piece “Voting for Dummies” : Is the American public qualified to vote for a leader? I think that the founding fathers had the right idea. There should be conditions set forth to be a voter. As to what those conditions are….. that is for someone smarter than me to answer. I am not doctor, lawyer or a soldier. I do not study politics. I am, by all accounts, an average person-neither exceptional nor deficient. I am an average American. I teach high school. I see the new crop of young voters walking through my door on a daily basis. Some of these voters cannot read, pronounce the word “accepted”, or follow...

Should we leave Chrisitanity in the Dust?

[/kml_flashembed] So I found this video on Youtube (yes there are 6) and for some reason it really got under my skin. I admit that it’s really frustrating at times to be a part of a “religion” that so many people call their own and then miss represent, but I am not sure if we should just leave the name behind. There is a world wide unity around the name of Christian. Also I think its assinine (yes I know it has 1 s but I think 2 makes a better point) to think your better then another Christian because you don’t wear a suit to church and you call yourself a “Christ Follower”,...

Relating to Fathers

So the last couple years have been pretty interesting. My relationship to my dad, which has always been pretty good, has gone through some challenges. As I have grown up, I have come to realize that some of my issues come out of never really connecting on a deep level with my father. He loved me well throughout my childhood, but overall, I would say that he loved in a somewhat shallow fashion. Now, to be fair to my dad, this is actually better parenting than most can claim these days. This leaves me in an interesting place. I love my dad unconditionally, and I know that he loves me unconditionally. There is no fear of losing a relationship. BUT there is a distinct lack of knowing my father deeply. We never interacted on that level and now that we are trying to...

A Culture Apart

Below is an edit of a 3 minute video I was recently sent. The laugh track was added by “The Soup” who got hold of the video (and is also the source of this edit). I think the 30 seconds sums it up but is tainted by the laugh track. If you want to see the original, entire video view below. I have mixed emotions about this My first impulse is that of shock and awe. Laughter crept in but then suddenly anger and embarrassment. The question sprang from my lips,”What are you doing??!!?” Why does this performance bother me? I had to wrestle with this...

The part of me I don't want to see

What should we do with and/or too the aspects of our life that hurt us or aren’t good for us? I’ll be the first to admit that it’s really hard to change patterns that we create, or turn away from things we find comfort in or things we use to numb ourselves, but what if they aren’t good for us?