tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61643588863236594742024-03-13T08:53:25.544-07:00Musings by Dr. PeglerDr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-66164275190947103522022-11-27T14:15:00.001-08:002022-11-27T14:15:44.782-08:00Restitution by ordinary Americans to Indigenous Americans<p>This month, November, observes Indigenous Peoples here in the USA - <a href="https://www.ncai.org/initiatives/native-american-heritage-month" target="_blank">Native American Heritage Month</a>. Such an observance is long past due. There's lots to mourn, and lots of celebrate. And lots of work still to do.</p><p>Recently I have been reading a lot about justice, restitution, Native (Indigenous) Americans and the dominant (white) culture here in the United States. I was already familiar with the pattern of land grab, treaties, deceit, violence and more land grabs that been the pattern of dealing with the indigenous peoples during the last centuries in the USA. I hadn't known as much about the situation in the last century, but more recently I have read about the boarding schools, the reorganization of tribes to steal yet more land from them, the violence toward natives, and the poverty on the reservations.</p><p>Much of the reading I've been doing has been simply educational - telling the stories of the injustices and current problems. But what I'm looking for is an answer (or answers) to this question: </p><p><i>What can I, as an ordinary American with little power and voice, do to help find justice for those who have been oppressed by my culture and perhaps by my own ancestors? How can I help to make up for the injustices of the past and those of the present?</i></p><p>Hopefully this is a question that many dominant (white) culture Americans would like to have an answer to, not just towards the Native peoples, but also towards other groups as well.</p><p>I've found few suggestions other than the suggestion to educate myself and speak up to politicians about issues of importance to indigenous peoples in this country. But surely there must be more. </p><p>As I was thinking about this over the last few weeks, I thought of the mill levy. If you own property in the US, chances are you know about mill levies. A mill levy is a tax of one dollar per $1000 of value usually paid to a government entity. It is usually paid on real estate such as a house or other property. Similar taxes are levied on vehicles. You pay a certain amount per $100 or $1000 of value of the property.</p><p>What if we non-Indigenous people paid a "tax" similar to a mill levy to various Indigenous groups that would help them in health care, food, food sufficiency, culture and language preservation and growth, and land acquisition? </p><p>For example, if I paid $1 per $10,000 value on my house, and my house were worth a half a million dollars, then I would pay $50. That's not much, but it's a beginning. And if that were multiplied by tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands or millions of people who were giving money to Native groups then think of the impact - financial, emotional, social, and spiritual. </p><p>Those giving the money would be acknowledging the faults of the dominant culture that they are part of (whether or not their own ancestors participated in the evils of the past), and the role that culture has played in harming other people. As they give the money to various organizations, they must also give up control of their money to the receiving group to use as they see fit. Of course, the recipients must be honest and use the donated funds ethically. But they should be in charge of their own resources to meet their own needs as they deem best.</p><p>So where would an interested person give? A lot would depend on your own interests and geography. A Christian might give to various Christian groups that work with Native Americans or to various Native American ministries. People interested in language and cultural preservation might give to some groups, and those interested in meeting physical needs might give to health, housing or food organizations. The link immediately below has a tremendous wealth of resources about various tribes and tribal governments and how to contact them. If you live in an area with a lot of Native American people, either on a reservation or off, then directly contacting them might be a first place to start. Or one might want to give one's "rent" to a nation that used to live where you do now.</p><p><a href="https://nativemi.org/all-things-native/">https://nativemi.org/all-things-native/</a></p><p>Christian groups</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://firstnationsversion.com/about/" target="_blank">Rain Ministries</a></li><li><a href="https://indigenouspathways.com/" target="_blank">Indigenous Pathways </a></li></ul><p></p><p>Language preservation (a few samples I found. There are a lot of others as well.)</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://www.native-languages.org/" target="_blank">NativeLanguages.org </a> Scroll down a ways</li><li><a href="https://lakhota.org/" target="_blank">Lakhota language</a></li><li><a href="https://www.stjo.org/programs/lakota-language/" target="_blank">https://www.stjo.org/programs/lakota-language/</a> </li><li><a href="https://www.plumsite.com/palace/native.htm" target="_blank">Native American Language </a>resources</li><li><a href="http://www.endangeredlanguagefund.org/general-resources.html" target="_blank">Endangered Language Fund</a></li><li><a href="https://navajo.unm.edu/resources/" target="_blank">Navajo Language Resources</a></li><li><a href="https://www.st-stephens.net/Immersion-Program" target="_blank">Northern Arapaho Immersion</a> program</li></ul><p></p><p>Cultural preservation</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://nativeamericatoday.com/heritage-and-cultural-organizations/" target="_blank">Native America today</a></li><li><a href="http://log.nativehope.org" target="_blank">Native Hope</a></li></ul><p></p><p>Health</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.nativehope.org/our-work" target="_blank">Native Hope</a> </li><li><a href="http://nativepartnership.org" target="_blank">Native Partnership</a> </li></ul><p></p><p>Housing</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.nativehope.org/our-work" target="_blank">Native Hope</a></li><li><a href="http://Southwestindian.com" target="_blank">Southwestindian.com</a> </li></ul><p></p><p>Food</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://tankafund.org/" target="_blank">Tanka Fund</a></li><li><a href="https://nativefoodalliance.org/our-programs-2/indigenous-seedkeepers-network/" target="_blank">Indigenous Seeds</a></li><li><a href="https://www.allianceofnativeseedkeepers.com/" target="_blank">Alliance of Native Seedkeepers</a></li><li><a href="https://sierraseeds.org/indigenous-seedkeepers-network/" target="_blank">Indigenous Seedkeepers Network</a></li><li><a href="http://Southwestindian.com">Southwestindian.com</a> </li></ul><p></p><p>Under no circumstances do I think that paying a 1/10 of a mill levy is enough to make restitution for what has been lost and for the current conditions of many Native Americans. No, it's just a beginning. Hopefully others will see the vision and begin to do this and increase this amount so that real help can be given.</p><p><br /></p>Dr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com0Centennial, CO, USA39.5807452 -104.877172611.270511363821157 -140.0334226 67.890979036178848 -69.7209226tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-81808721241639515522020-03-28T09:54:00.001-07:002020-03-28T09:54:44.867-07:00Science, the Bible and Adam and EveGiven my theological training and study and my background in science and teaching science, I have developed a real interest in human origins. One of the major sticking points in holding both science and the Bible to be true has been the historicity of Adam and Eve. Traditional understandings of them claim that they must have lived in the Middle East around five to ten thousand years ago and that they, and they alone, were the first humans and that all of us descend from them and only them originally. Furthermore, Adam and Eve were directly created by God and placed in the Garden of Eden. The entire Earth was idyllic. <br />
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Scientific understanding, however, is rather different. At no time in the last several hundred thousand years has the human population fallen to less than about ten thousand individuals. There is no way that we are all descended from only two individuals, especially two people who lived less than fifteen thousand years ago! Furthermore, rather than being a direct creation by God, humans and great apes share a common descent from ancestors who lived several million years ago. The Earth has always been pretty much as we know it today as far as weather, climate systems, biological and geological processes.<br />
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So how should we deal with these conflicting claims? Some will jettison the understanding in my first paragraph above, and others will jettison the second. There are other solutions which involve God picking a pair of evolved people and dealing with them in a special way. But all of these solutions run into the problem that humans today are not descended from <i>only </i>two people at any point in time. <br />
<br />
So along comes a book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Genealogical-Adam-Eve-Surprising-Universal/dp/0830852638/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=" target="_blank"><i>The Genealogical Adam & Eve</i> </a>by S. Joshua Swamidass. Dr. Swamidass proposes that both the ideas of science and the traditional understandings of the Bible are true. How?<br />
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The first thing that we need to realize is that we are descended from people that we have no DNA from. That is, they are <i>genealogical </i>ancestors, but not <i>genetic </i>ancestors. The amount of DNA that is passed along is cut in half every generation, until finally a given DNA piece that you have will vanish from nearly all of your descendants. That is what makes doing DNA tests interesting, but frustrating. You are related to people that you share no genes with.<br />
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Now, given this fact (which the author explains in detail), we can be descended from people that we have no genes from. When, though, could these people have lived? The author explains mathematical models that show that all people alive in the first century AD could very well (and almost certainly are) descended from a pair of people alive a few thousand years before, and that if they lived in the Middle East, it is even more likely. He deals with objections such as genetic isolation in the Americas, and in Australia and Tasmania, showing that it is likely that even these people are not as isolated as one might think and that these people too are likely descended from a pair of people who lived a few thousand years ago. The rest of humanity at Adam and Eve's time would have been descended from animals.<br />
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Now, there is no scientific way of proving that this pair existed and who they were, but there is no scientific way of proving that they did not, and in fact it is likely that they did exist. <br />
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Dr. Swamidass has thus shown that both positions could very well be true. This has a lot of interesting ramifications.<br />
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First, Adam and Eve are now a theological "problem" rather than a scientific one.<br />
Second, what are the theological questions that follow?<br />
There are a lot of them, and the author answers some of them in more details, but for most of them, he lays out the questions in the hope that others will fill in the questions or add to the discussions that will hopefully follow. (<a href="https://peacefulscience.org/genealogical-adam-eve/" target="_blank">See his website here</a>)<br />
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What is the relationship between Adam's contemporaries and God? The author differentiates between biological humans and "textual" humans.<br />
What is the nature of the "Fall"? How does sin affect biological humans who are not textual humans? How is sin transmitted?<br />
How do we deal with texts that appear to teach that Adam and Eve were the ancestors of all people of all time?<br />
How does this affect the Atonement and our understanding of what Jesus did and why he came?<br />
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Not everyone thinks that this approach solves the problems; <a href="https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/genealogical-adam-eve-swamidass/" target="_blank">see this review for example</a>. But I think that Dr. Swamidass' approach opens many doors for fruitful discussion and thought. Has he solved the questions that are raised, theologically and textually? No. But I think that he has shown that one can hold to both a traditional understanding of Adam and Eve and to a scientific understanding of the origins of humanity. <br />
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Hans Madueme, the author of the review I linked to in the paragraph above, holds to the traditional understanding of the Genesis text. I don't think that he deals with the scientific problems in his review. He critiques Swamadass on the basis of Biblical texts that appear to indicate that Adam and Eve were the ancestors of <i>all</i> humans <i>everywhere</i>, <i>every when</i>. Madueme is unwilling to re-examine his traditional understanding of the text in the light of genetic and evolutionary evidence that points against it. <br />
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Is it time to re-examine our understanding of the text, just as our spiritual ancestors did in a shift away from a geo-centric model of the solar system and universe?Dr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-70971441547439902792019-12-03T08:46:00.003-08:002019-12-03T08:46:56.285-08:00Group Identity and the GospelToday we live an age where our culture is pushing and demanding identity politics. We are to find our identity in our sexuality, our ethnic backgrounds, in a group that has or is experiencing real or imagined suffering. Rather than find common ground with others, we simply find those who hold similar views to ourselves and view those that not as we are as strange, different, or even evil.<br />
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Of course, many of the claimed sufferings of individuals or groups in the past and the present are real and should be addressed. Slavery and its long-lasting effects, racism against indigenous peoples and against Hispanics and Asians in this country need to be addressed. Poverty and oppression are real problems. Women have been the recipients of oppression and sexual abuse as well. These problems are even worse in other parts of the world. (Although perhaps conveniently ignored by the identity culture.)<br />
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But the tendency to divide and sub-divide into splinter groups to address these issues or cast blame or complain about past or current abuses is not helpful. While I believe this tendency is not helpful from a social viewpoint, it is also counter to the Gospel and counter Christian, which is what I would like to address.<br />
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I'm currently a book, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Romans-Eastern-Eyes-Message/dp/0830852239/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=jackson+wu+reading+romans&qid=1572108103&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Reading Romans with Eastern Eyes</a></i>. The author has many years of experience with Eastern Asian cultures and has written much about honor and shame in Christian and in Asian contexts. In this book he shows how Paul, the author of Romans, wishes his readers to find their honor and acceptance in God through Jesus and in the Christian community rather than in their ethnic identity as Jew or Greek. The Jews were the descendants of Abraham and the recipients of God's promises to him, as opposed to the Gentiles. The Greeks were civilized and looked down on the surrounding nations, the barbarians. The Romans saw themselves as cultural Greeks and therefore looked down on other nations as well.<br />
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Part of the reason we seek to find our identity in various groups is that it is within those groups that we find our "belonging" or "honor" or "face." It is within those groups that we find acceptance and approval and we seek those groups to bolster our esteem.<br />
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The danger for the church in Rome was that the Jews would look down on the Gentiles, and the Romans would look down on the Jews. They found their acceptance, approval, and honor in their own group and in putting down the other group(s).<br />
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So too American (and probably others as well) Christians are tempted today to find their acceptance and honor and approval in following a certain political group (and opposing the other groups), in one's own ethnic group or sexuality or in some other characteristic. In other words, it is about one's identity. <a href="https://hotair.com/archives/john-s-2/2019/11/05/alternative-identity-politics/" target="_blank">This article</a> talks about going beyond identity politics, to finding one's acceptance as an individual, rather than as a group. But that is not enough<br />
<br />
W. in his book on Romans points out that for Christians, finding our identity in an ethnic group, sexual group or any other groups is completely against the Gospel. "Glory is not rooted in group identity" (page 114). As Christians, our acceptance and approval don't come from our political alliances, the groups that reinforce our sexual identity or from our ethnic identity. Rather, our glory -- our acceptance and approval -- come from being in Christ, allying ourselves with him, and in our future glorification and resurrection.<br />
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I believe that as human beings, we desperately want to belong, to find acceptance, and to have face/honor/recognition. Where will we find these things? Our culture increasingly says in identity politics, others say these will be found as individuals. God says that we find these things in following Jesus and that he will give these things to Jesus' followers.<br />
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Where will you find your acceptance?<br />
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What are the ramifications for Christians today? We must refuse to be drawn into the game currently played in our culture and on social media. Although there are worthy goals on both sides of many of the debates today, the whole game is couched in terms that we Christians cannot accept. There is something more important than our sexuality, history, and skin color.<br />
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First, our acceptance and face/recognition has to come from God and his standards be reinforced by the Christian community. <br />
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Second, as Christians it is our task to reinforce each other in these standards. This is one of the most important functions of the church.<br />
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Third, we should not encourage Christians, nor should we ourselves, be involved in identity politics. As Lisa Spencer wrote in a recent article, <a href="https://theothoughts.com/2019/12/01/choose-this-day-whom-you-will-serve-jesus-or-skin-color/" target="_blank">Choose this day whom you will serve: Jesus or Skin Color</a>?<br />
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<br />Dr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-77402955689343715112019-01-29T08:51:00.000-08:002019-01-29T08:51:47.253-08:00The inability of the Left to make important distinctionsMAGA hats are racist. MAGA hats are divisive. MAGA hats are a vehicle of white supremacy.<br />
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Here are a few recent examples.<br />
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"<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/21/opinions/maga-hat-has-become-a-potent-racist-symbol-bailey/index.html" target="_blank">Why Trump's MAGA hats have become a potent symbol of racism</a>" is the title of one article written in just the last few days.<br />
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"The MAGA hat, like the Confederate flag, wouldn't elicit outraged reactions if it were only a piece of cloth that harkened back to bygone days never to be relived. But it isn't. It is a signifier for those who believe America was great during some point in the past they dare not name, knowing if they do, it would reveal a time when it was worse for people of color. When was America "great"? When millions of black people were slaves? When hundreds of thousands of black men were sold to US companies via convict leasing? Maybe during the heart of Jim Crow, the height of lynching, or when black people struggling with drug addictions were viewed as criminals to be controlled, not fellow human beings needing help?"<br />
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"<a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2018/06/06/you-can-read-white-rage-their-maga-hats/BTe3xOOf6M1UYwOnF07GXM/story.html" target="_blank">You can read the white rage in their MAGA hats</a>"<br />
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<a href="https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/426344-alyssa-milano-calls-the-red-maga-hat-is-the-new-white-hood" target="_blank">"Alyssa Milano: 'The red MAGA hat is the new white hood'" </a><br />
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<a href="https://hotair.com/archives/2019/01/23/cnn-commentator-covington-im-triggered-maga-hat-kkk-hood/" target="_blank">Triggered over a MAGA hat.</a> by a CNN commentator!!<br />
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<br />
So what do I mean by the inability of the Left to make important distinctions?<br />
<ol>
<li>They can't see how America was ever great if it was flawed, such as in treatment of the indigenous peoples or in slavery. By this measure, no one and no nation is ever great, nor could be. Rome wasn't great. Because only perfection is great, but nothing human is perfect. They can't recognize that people and nations can be great and yet flawed. Our Founding Fathers were great people for the most part. But some of them supported slavery and others didn't but were slave owners. The Greatest Generation was just that, but by today's standards we couldn't call them great because they didn't get rid of Jim Crow and racism. Martin Luther and Martin Luther King, Jr. were great, but both deeply flawed. The first was anti-Semitic, and the second an adulterer. I would argue that the ability to make distinctions is the sign of maturity. We should be able to recognize that Rome was great, but had serious flaws. We can acknowledge the great good that MLK Jr. did, but not ignore the sins and flaws in his life.</li>
<li>They can't see how people can wear a MAGA hat for different reasons. There are undoubtedly racists and white supremacists who support Trump. But those on the Left assume that anyone who wears such a hat or supports Trump is a racist or white supremacist, just because some of his supporters are. But not all of his supporters are. There are a lot of reasons why people supported Trump or would like to make America great again. But the Left wants to associate all or most of his supporters with those groups. This is utter nonsense and shows the lack of intellectual sophistication on the Left. </li>
<li>Anything that the Left disagrees with is reaaallllyyyy bad. Like Hitler bad. Or KKK bad. Just because something is bad, doesn't mean it's totally, terribly, completely evil. Really? You can't make distinctions about how bad things relative to other things? Everything is equally good or equally bad?</li>
<li>The Left doesn't get that Trump doesn't care about words. He uses them, but they don't mean that much to him. What he cares about is getting things done, and words help him get there. Results are what matter. To the Left, results mean very little. What does matter is words, and process, and feelings. This is why Trump's gotten so much done. If results mattered to the Left they would abandon many of their policies (such as the war on poverty) and try something else.</li>
<li>The Left can't distinguish between legal and illegal immigration. If you are against the latter, you be against all immigration. And you are a racist. Really?</li>
<li>If I disagree with something, then I hate it. Really? You don't see the difference between hate (see my previous post) and disagreeing? Hate means a strong dislike and a desire for bad things to someone or an idea. </li>
</ol>
<div>
Is this an unwillingness or an inability?</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Are those on the Left unwilling to make such distinctions? If so, are they lazy, or evil?</li>
<li>Are they unable to? If so, then are they mentally deficient, or merely uneducated?</li>
</ul>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Friends and others on the Left. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Grow up. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Develop some mental muscle and the ability to distinguish between things, ideas, and people.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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If you are on the Right, you are probably agreeing with me at this point. If you are a moderate Democrat, you are perhaps annoyed at my painting all Democrats with the same brush and not making any distinctions. You might even accuse me of doing the same thing that I'm accusing the Left of doing. And you would be mostly correct. First, how do you like my doing what the Left does most of the time? Second, please call out those on the Left when they are over top and when they fail to make distinctions. Then we can make distinctions where they need to be made and begin to respect each other's views and each other.<br />
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thank you!<br />
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Dr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-22731004741993244652019-01-21T10:13:00.000-08:002019-01-21T10:13:24.994-08:00We are a hate filled nation, not a loving nationYesterday <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcnn.it%2F2Dnp52R%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2ibX6QfGFOqOaxkllYEXQfqv8LGMY4b7XBK9iz3tG2DTUENGI_Noyk4c0&h=AT1Z_tf0IYMPL93M9D1-TAvyf5bCQrZ4mklOwPgUiibbGi5_WVv49ThMhNvl5NGneKh1TFzoAuGH4UsHfelbs4B5gzscoZDxUiYW9vTNnHetZPeIjlLxnlEZQj-S9rPHVt4vgBbASWrwmjCyxb7_HlV9eZ2ZR_Z-WS3pxq4E8FYYVWXucuRzEUTZP8WBa36GLLE-zntUy-d_wDQ76nH0_hWP2SQE9IbL1ro5dMJ9coAxy-XauQGP1iuUTpWUB5GWjhNjy4L_t3Xko8t_oyHi4ubA-UOPQWuI8mxJRez55wmM0IO2655BbFXQybYfULgVgHrVeP1nDdKWuqRRZpCr1Nx7HqhOhBoqWaTns_gy9LipYsiOi3Pe9LvGgNKj2UFfbI8EvmSSz0idL2vc2v4QIOIKzToPvg3oLnXbvpiiNWc-h3cfkOSitBfhEiD9d1TSVoy-oaXovLf3ELjvZYr1OhvnfX0E3wBzDYp0AgFKmoRgKwzVcPeRlDcjFUM-f1jAiNR1owpsQLQZ9xlBxMq1uj1MrPxQS-AWx4p7YwmEZ81OQQuEiFx26Sx2f_pbOthlbCgrdi054m7c9359G-hT-3-1wgpnqFaseM6z28WDyq9jsUSAbA1Y36Mgz-s" target="_blank">a story hit social</a> media. <br />
"Teens in Make America Great Again Hats Taunted a Native American elder at the Lincoln Memorial"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://external.fapa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQA_LxWodCGL6iEt&w=540&h=282&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.cnn.com%2Fcnnnext%2Fdam%2Fassets%2F190119191611-01-maga-teens-tribal-elder-0119-super-tease.jpg&cfs=1&upscale=1&fallback=news_d_placeholder_publisher&_nc_hash=AQC96YrHIVVIX46l" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="540" height="166" src="https://external.fapa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQA_LxWodCGL6iEt&w=540&h=282&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.cnn.com%2Fcnnnext%2Fdam%2Fassets%2F190119191611-01-maga-teens-tribal-elder-0119-super-tease.jpg&cfs=1&upscale=1&fallback=news_d_placeholder_publisher&_nc_hash=AQC96YrHIVVIX46l" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
and later in the day <a href="https://cnn.it/2FMliO9?fbclid=IwAR0SXBkT_9TNHPZv4ho92LQeeUQzosKOj89A2g7HIjnSXIbkgICQ_L5FuoM" target="_blank">the other side.</a> <br />
"Teen in confrontation with Native American elder says he was trying to defuse the situation"<br />
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and <a href="https://hotair.com/archives/2019/01/21/covington-catholic-incident-caps-bad-week-media/" target="_blank">a summary and analysis</a>.<br />
<br />
The teens in question, students at a Catholic school in Kentucky, were in Washington DC for the Pro-Life March and were waiting for their bus to pick them up in the late afternoon. Exactly who said and did what, and in what sequence, is still open to question. Who was in the right or wrong isn't really my concern at this point. I would instead like to make a different point.<br />
<br />
This episode (and others like it such as those involving Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, and Henry Louis Gates Jr.) show that as a nation we are quick to judge and condemn and slow to forgive. We don't want the whole story; we want the story that fits our narrative. We want to feel righteous and condemn others. <br />
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I was introduced to the story above yesterday by feeds on Facebook from two of my younger friends (both young enough to be my children). In both cases the individuals who posted the story condemned the young man in the picture and his classmates. I pointed out that this was a rush to judgement and that we should wait for the entire story to come out. This morning there was much more on the second side, casting major doubts on the first narrative. No doubt there will be more information that comes out, and who knows what the final verdict will be? One of my two young friends is still inclined to believe the first narrative, and the second apologized for rushing to judgement so quickly. (hooray for him!)<br />
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So how do love and hate fit in with this? I think that the famous love passage from St. Paul will shed some light on this.<br />
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<i>First Corinthians 13</i><br />
<i>4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. NIV, from https://www.biblegateway.com on January 21, 2019</i><br />
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My two young friends (and a whole lot of other people) did not exhibit love in this situation. They were easily angered, and kept a record of wrongs. They seemed to delight in the "fact" that the young man was a racist and was disrespectful. It didn't seem to occur to them that this was a sad thing, and might not even be true. Lewis' comments below shed light on this. <br />
<br />
<i>C S Lewis on </i><br />
<i>“Suppose one reads a story of filthy atrocities in the paper. Then suppose that something turns up suggesting that the story might not be quite true, or not quite so bad as it was made out. Is one's first feeling, 'Thank God, even they aren't quite so bad as that,' or is it a feeling of disappointment, and even a determination to cling to the first story for the sheer pleasure of thinking your enemies are as bad as possible? If it is the second then it is, I am afraid, the first step in a process which, if followed to the end, will make us into devils. You see, one is beginning to wish that black was a little blacker. If we give that wish its head, later on we shall wish to see grey as black, and then to see white itself as black. Finally we shall insist on seeing everything -- God and our friends and ourselves included -- as bad, and not be able to stop doing it: we shall be fixed for ever in a universe of pure hatred.”</i><br />
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<i>― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity found on https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/170990-suppose-one-reads-a-story-of-filthy-atrocities-in-the on January 21, 2019</i><br />
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What do the Leftists and Progressives think of Trump supporters? Do they think that MAGA supporters are as bad as possible? Yes, I think that overall they do. Are people on the Left frequently looking for reasons to be offended by those on the Right? Yes. Democrats think the worst of Republicans. I don't think that the reverse is true, but it is rapidly become so. As a nation we are increasingly acting out of hateful attitudes and motives. We see the worst in the other side, and we only want to see the worst. <b>We want to be offended by the other side.</b><br />
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What's the remedy for this? I'm reminded of Jesus' words of the second greatest commandment. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><u>"Love your neighbor as yourself."</u></i></b></span></div>
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Love is wishing the best for another person, and the best love is actively working toward that best.<br />
Hate is wishing the worst for another person, and the worst hate is actively working toward that end.<br />
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By those definitions,<br />
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<ul>
<li>When we get angry at another motorist, are we acting in love?</li>
<li>When we react negatively toward people we disagree with, do we wish them the best in spite of our disagreement, or do we hope the worst for them? Is this love, or hate?</li>
<li>When people threaten others professionally, or their lives, or in other ways because of disagreements, are we acting in love or hate?</li>
<li>When we look for reasons to be offended, are we acting in love?</li>
</ul>
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What can you and I do about this situation? </div>
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<ul>
<li>Practice thinking the best about others and giving them the benefit of the doubt.</li>
<li>Encourage others to wait for a more complete picture before rushing to judgement.</li>
<li>Call people out on truly hateful attitudes, words and actions. </li>
<li>Differentiate between disagreement and real hate.</li>
<li>Pray for those we disagree with.</li>
<li>Actively do good things for others.</li>
<li>Stop looking for reasons to be offended by what others say and do</li>
</ul>
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Our culture can be improved if we act more out of love, and less out of hate.</div>
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Dr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-4130376141146925532018-12-23T11:37:00.000-08:002018-12-23T11:37:08.730-08:00My Etsy siteYes, this is a shameless advertisement for my shop. I know it's a little late for Christmas gifts this year, but I have an Etsy site with a lot of handmade wood craft items and forged items. I also have some other items that might interest a local person, but are too expensive to ship. My wife also has a lot of soaps, shampoo bars, and lotion bars, although she's sold out of most items at the moment. <br />
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My Etsy shop<br />
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/PeglerCraftsandForge" target="_blank">Pegler Crafts and Forge</a><br />
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Here are some pictures of items I've made that you might think of for yourself, or gifts that are on the Etsy site. For other items, such as pens and pencils (mechanical pencils), please check out the Etsy shop above.<br />
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Here are the log slice lamps that I've made. They are mostly around 20 inches tall, and are made of birch, walnut, juniper, aspen. They aren't plugged in in the pictures below, but they can be plugged into a 120 v wall outlet. No batteries. These would be expensive to ship, so if you are in the Front Range of Colorado and are interested, let me know.<br />
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<br />Dr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-9229035026289887142018-12-04T08:33:00.000-08:002018-12-04T08:33:24.887-08:00all things work together for goodRomans 8:28 English Standard Version (ESV)<br />
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.<br />
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Romans 8:28 American Standard Version (ASV)<br />
28 And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose.<br />
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Romans 8:28 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)<br />
28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.<br />
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This verse has become very meaningful to me recently. My children still aren't reconciled to me, my parents moved across the country in their 80s, my job is in jeopardy as I write this. Much of this is my own fault, as well.<br />
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Some observations about what Paul writes: <br />
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<ol>
<li>Paul does not say that the good things will work together for good.</li>
<li>Paul does not say that the things I've done right will work together for good.</li>
<li>Paul does say <i>all things</i>. That includes the things that I've done well, the things that I've done badly or for the wrong motives. It includes even sin and the effects of sin.</li>
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God is bigger than our mistakes and our errors and our sins, and he will work these things out for good. This is not an excuse for doing things poorly or sinning, but it is a great comfort to know in times of difficulty, even difficulties that are of our own making.</div>
Dr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-53090955662904966772018-11-22T12:27:00.001-08:002018-11-22T12:27:54.768-08:00The joy of dogsAbout two and a half years we had to put down our dog of 12+ years. She couldn't move much and was gaining weight. Her mind was still good, but her body was failing.<br />
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It was one of the saddest things and hardest things I've ever done.</div>
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Then I had a new family and my wife, Ariane, had a dog, Guinness, that she had had for 13 years or so. He too was getting older and a few weeks ago we had to put him down as well. He was 15. It was very hard.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kawDbbkhHuY/W_cKR5f7g3I/AAAAAAAAG_U/VRP1onMS29guXDXjjEvfJ5mJrQpzOneogCLcBGAs/s1600/2017-12-19%2B16.01.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kawDbbkhHuY/W_cKR5f7g3I/AAAAAAAAG_U/VRP1onMS29guXDXjjEvfJ5mJrQpzOneogCLcBGAs/s200/2017-12-19%2B16.01.04.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pVp1GBZWt3k/W_cKVCgyaJI/AAAAAAAAG_Y/RTZXrclxLVAarVdmmrXP69FnUFDGUOAzwCLcBGAs/s1600/2018-10-20%2B08.52.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pVp1GBZWt3k/W_cKVCgyaJI/AAAAAAAAG_Y/RTZXrclxLVAarVdmmrXP69FnUFDGUOAzwCLcBGAs/s200/2018-10-20%2B08.52.03.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g4MLvLz2Ks0/W_cKVOEkEnI/AAAAAAAAG_c/kT29WJUge3ogsvg1UzCF3CzkyzW9o2rJACLcBGAs/s1600/2018-10-20%2B08.52.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g4MLvLz2Ks0/W_cKVOEkEnI/AAAAAAAAG_c/kT29WJUge3ogsvg1UzCF3CzkyzW9o2rJACLcBGAs/s200/2018-10-20%2B08.52.43.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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The following quote was sent to me by a friend who has had many dogs over her life on the death of our first dog, Ginger. </div>
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<span style="color: white;">“The misery of keeping a dog is his dying so soon. But, to be sure, if he lived for fifty years and then died, what would become of me?” – Sir Walter Scott</span></div>
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Last Spring we began to think about getting another dog because we knew that Guinness would not live too much longer We were able to find a local family that had two adult Miniature Schnauzers (Ariane loves the breed.) and on Father's Day Weekend picked up our two new puppies.</div>
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<b>They were so small!</b></div>
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<b>They have grown, and are a delight and joy and a comfort in hard times.</b></div>
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Dougal (Dougal Frederick MacGyver Schnauzer Pegler) is a love dog. He loves to love and to be loved. His biggest problem is whether to choose a walk, food, or love. Walks usually win. Piglet loves to eat, but she too is becoming more affectionate. She is huge for her size (20 pounds) and last night we wanted to see if she would work for a Thanksgiving meal main dish. So that's why she's in the roasting pan!!<br />
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They are a great joy and loads of fun for us and for the girls. Puppies and young children were made for each other!<br />
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<br />Dr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-35719705739416190162016-04-12T07:59:00.000-07:002018-12-04T08:34:00.504-08:00On the joys of creating things<br />
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<br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5dzHcCN7gN1ZVo5QzFEam9MZk0/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">This is a pdf booklet of some of the items that I have made.</a><br />
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5dzHcCN7gN1ZVo5QzFEam9MZk0/view?usp=sharingDr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-69117562997386375692016-03-22T07:55:00.002-07:002016-03-22T07:55:25.001-07:00Why have children?Last week some of my high school students asked me, "Why have children?" Tomorrow is my son's birthday.<br />
<br />
So, some thoughts on why we should have children beyond the obvious - to carry on the species.<br />
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First, children are a delight. Not all the time or every one of them, of course. But overall children are wonderful. Their enthusiasm, energy, questions, and delight in the world are contagious and help us older people enjoy life. They remind us that God has given us every gift to enjoy in this life. They are full of laughter, joy and they are care free. (Yes, I know there are exceptions. I'm speaking in generalities.)<br />
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Second, children are precious. The energy, love, and resources that go into bearing and nursing every child (hats off the women at this point!!) make every child extremely valuable. I don't understand Obama or the "pro-choice" (which really means pro-killing your own child) point of view. Punished by having a child? No, children are a reward. Yes, they will consume resources and they will cause pollution. But people also create solutions to these problems. <br />
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Third, children help give us purpose in our lives. Now that my children are grown and adults I find it easy to plod along without seeing a trend in life or a reason to continue every day. Children's growth and maturing help us to anticipate every new day and celebrate milestones more often than occur in middle aged and older people.<br />
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Fourth, children are trainable and moldable. Adults are called on to give something back as we model good lives and train and teach children the skills and knowledge that they will need to be good people when they are adults.<br />
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Fifth, children are our gift to the future. Most of us will leave little impact on the world and the world will take little notice of our existence here once we are gone. It is unlikely that we will cure cancer or poverty or even save someone else's life. Perhaps the major way that most of us can impact the future is to have children and raise good quality children. Some people ask why we should have children when the world's future looks so dark. To me the dark times are the times when good people should have children. Otherwise, what hope does the future have?<br />
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Sixth, children teach us to be less selfish. Women in particular give up a lot for their children. When we give up our bodies, energy, time, money, and other resources for other people we become better people. Children teach us to be better people. <br />
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So have children (but to give them the best future possible, get married to their other parent). Enjoy them and train them. Thank God for them.<br />
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Dr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-30295069615468598042015-06-24T09:51:00.000-07:002015-06-24T09:52:29.881-07:00The Poverty of Nations: Chapter 4 Economic SystemsI'm currently reading <i>The Poverty of Nations </i>by Wayne Grudem and Barry Asmus that was published about a year ago. It was on my reading list, and my daughter bought it for me for Christmas. I've begun to read it and will give a summary as I go.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2014/12/curing-poverty-introduction.html" target="_blank">Introduction was here</a><br />
<a href="http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2014/12/curing-poverty-chapter-1-goal.html" target="_blank">Chapter 1 was here</a><br />
<a href="http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2015/01/im-currently-reading-poverty-of-nations.html" target="_blank">Chapter 2 was here</a><br />
<a href="http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2015/03/chapter-3-economic-systems-that-do-not.html" target="_blank">Chapter 3 was here</a><br />
<br />
Now for chapter 4.<br />
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This chapter is a description of the free market and its advantages.<br />
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First comes the definition.<br />
Economic production and consumption are determined by the free choices of individuals rather than governments and there is private ownership of the means of production.<br />
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This system leaves people free to choose to work, and where to work. They are free to keep the rewards of their labor and talent. <br />
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They quote Adam Smith:<br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana; font-size: 9px;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-small;">That system of laws, therefore, which is connected with the establishment of the bounty, seems to deserve no part of the praise which has been bestowed upon it. The improvement and prosperity of Great Britain, which has been so often ascribed to those laws, may very easily be accounted for by other causes. That security which the laws in Great Britain give to every man that he shall enjoy the fruits of his own labour is alone sufficient to make any country flourish, notwithstanding these and twenty other absurd regulations of commerce; and this security was perfected by the revolution much about the same time that the bounty was established. The natural effort of every individual to better his own condition, when suffered to exert itself with freedom and security is so powerful a principle that it is alone, and without any assistance, not only capable of carrying on the society to wealth and prosperity, but of surmounting a hundred impertinent obstructions with which the folly of human laws too often incumbers its operations; though the effect of these obstructions is always more or less either to encroach upon its freedom, or to diminish its security. In Great Britain industry is perfectly secure; and though it is far from being perfectly free, it is as free or freer than in any other part of Europe. <i> An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations</i> IV.5.82 </span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 9px;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: xx-small;">http://www.econlib.org/library/Smith/smWN15.html#IV.5.82 accessed on June 24, 2015</span></span><br />
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The authors point out that except for oil rich countries all countries with a high per capita income have a free market system. <br />
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Grudem and Asmus also discuss biblical support for a free market economy. These points include the Biblical teaching about private property, but stewardship for what we do possess. The fact that we are all created in God's image means that we should all have equal rights before the law.<br />
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The foundation of a free market is private ownership of property. Governments should not over regulate property use. Clear titles to land, property (including intellectual) are important so that people can actually keep and use their own property. Without titles, there is no guarantee that my property today will be mine next week. Furthermore, when I have a title to my property I can use it as collateral for loans.<br />
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Getting titles for poor people for property they already own would go a long way to helping lift people out of their poverty.<br />
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The authors cite a study by Hernando de Soto, <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Capital-Capitalism-Triumphs-Everywhere/dp/0465016154/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1435164347&sr=8-1&keywords=de+soto+capital" target="_blank">The Mystery of Capital</a>.</i> De Soto concludes that without legal protection for property poverty cannot be eradicated. There is no third way between capitalism and socialism.<br />
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There is a role for government in all this, but it is limited to preventing and punishing fraud and criminal behavior. The government also must ensure low tax rates and a stable currency.<br />
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In this time when capitalism and free markets are under attack this chapter sorely needs to be read by Americans and Europeans or we may lose the wealth that our ancestors have bequeathed us. <br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_987905574"></span><span id="goog_987905575"></span><br />Dr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-59942087558783886352015-05-24T16:51:00.000-07:002015-05-24T16:51:04.359-07:00Adam and Sin and the Origins of HumanityTime for another book review post. This one is on a topic that interests me deeply because of my background in both science and Bible. These two areas seem increasingly at odds regarding human origins.<br />
<br />
The book I've finished reading recently is <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lost-World-Adam-Eve-Genesis-ebook/dp/B00U073NUW/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1432483243&sr=1-1&keywords=the+lost+world+of+adam+and+eve" target="_blank">The Lost World of Adam and Eve</a></i> by John H. Walton. In his work Walton argues that the story of Genesis is not the story of the creation of the world and of humanity, but rather of how God brought order to the world and gave humanity a priestly job to do. If this is true, then the debate between evolutionary science and the Bible is done and gone. A helpful analogy that Walton uses is that of building a house (creation) and taking a house and making it a home (ordering). In our scientific age we focus on the former, but Walton argues that in the light of the ancient world's literature it is more likely that the author of Genesis is actually focusing on the latter.<br />
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Whether you agree with Walton, his arguments should be taken seriously and read carefully. Walton writes well and is very interesting to read. I look forward to thinking through the implications of Walton's thoughts.<br />
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Rather than reviewing Walton's entire book, I want to focus on chapter 19 where Walton has an excursion by NT Wright. In this chapter Wright argues that Paul is more interested in the effects of sin on the cosmos and humanity than in the origins of humanity.<br />
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Wright points out that Adam plays a very small role throughout the Old testament and through Jewish literature. Wright argues that throughout Romans (6:6, 7:7-12, 1:18-25, 8:17-30) Paul compares the glory and position that Adam had and lost with the glory that humans will have once again. The point of Romans is not how people get saved, but the renewal of all creation (8:17-26 compared with Psalms 2 and 8) and the role of God's redeemed people in bringing in that renewal through the work of the crucified and resurrected Messiah. 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 also underscores this. Jesus is the second Adam, doing what the first Adam did not - being an obedient human at the helm of the universe (p. 174). God has not abandoned his plan for his creation. Although sin blocked his purposes, through the crucified and resurrected Jesus these purposes will be brought to fruition. Sin and death will be defeated and humanity will praise and worship and work for the true creator God throughout the entire world for eternity.<br />
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Adam and Israel repeat the same story. Although appointed to be priests representing God to the world, they fell into sin and idolatry and needed rescuing. Just as Israel was chosen from all the nations of the world to be priests and to bless the world, so too it is possible that God chose Adam and Eve from all the other humans alive at that time (p. 177) to be priests for him and bless the world.<br />
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If Walton and Wright are right (pun intended) then science and the Bible are speaking of very different concerns. The Bible is concerned with describing how God brought order into the world and made it a fit place for his presence with humans as his priests. Science is concerned with the nitty-gritty of how the cosmos and then life arose. The Bible is concerned first with how the earliest humans of importance failed in their task and alienated humanity from God and then with how God moved to bring humanity back into relationship with him so that he could continue with his plan of having an ordered creation on Earth with human beings running things for his honor and glory. Science describes how the world that God created actually works in its running but has nothing to say about the purpose for its existence or how that purpose was at first thwarted then redeemed.<br />
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<br />Dr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-44131778080387842792015-03-08T19:49:00.002-07:002015-03-08T19:49:36.369-07:00Chapter 3 Economic Systems that do not lead to prosperityI'm currently reading <i>The Poverty of Nations</i> by Wayne Grudem and Barry Asmus that was published about a year ago. It was on my reading list, and my daughter bought it for me for Christmas. I've begun to read it and will give a summary as I go.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2014/12/curing-poverty-introduction.html" target="_blank">Introduction was here</a><br />
<a href="http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2014/12/curing-poverty-chapter-1-goal.html" target="_blank">Chapter 1 was here</a><br />
<a href="http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2015/01/im-currently-reading-poverty-of-nations.html" target="_blank">Chapter 2 was here</a><br />
<br />
Now for chapter 3.<br />
It's also helpful to look at which systems don't work and why they don't. Although the right system in and of itself does not bring a nation out of poverty, the wrong system will doom a nation. A poor system will not lead to lasting solutions to poverty.<br />
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The authors describe nine systems and critique each to show how they do or do not lead to the creation of more wealth.<br />
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<br />
<ol>
<li>Hunting and gathering systems do not leave enough time and energy to devote to economic development and specialization. Plus, there simply aren't enough of these resources left to support a nation in this fashion.</li>
<li>Subsistence farming does not leave enough energy and time to devote to specialization and development. All one's time and energy are spent on producing enough food to feed one's self and a few others. Again, there aren't enough resources in the world to support a large population in this fashion.</li>
<li>Slavery. Living off the lives of others is not going to lift a nation out of poverty. Enslaved people never do their best. Plus such a system is dehumanizing.</li>
<li>Tribal ownership. If everyone owns it, then no one does. Commonly owned property is usually treated more poorly than property that individuals own.</li>
<li>Feudalism In this system too much of the return to the labor goes to the land owner and not enough to those at the bottom of society. </li>
<li>Mercantilism Although it seems that this method would increase a nation's wealth, it would not do so over the long haul. Large companies and monopolies are favored against consumers. The producer os favored rather than the consumer. The government picks the winners and losers. </li>
<li>Socialism and communism misunderstand how goods are valued. They are valued by how much someone else wants them, not by the resources and the time put into creating them. Communism reduces the incentive to work. The problems of tribal ownership also haunt communism and socialism to some degree. The history of communism also indicates that it is an evil system, with close to 100 million human beings killed by their own governments during the twentieth century.</li>
<li>Welfare state and equality This system can't be sustained on a large scale and for very long. Sooner or later someone has to pay the bills. The incentive for hard work is also removed. </li>
<li>Free market system This system is the one that the authors describe as the one that is most likely to lead to the reduction of poverty. It is important to understand what they mean by a free market system. It is where the individuals can freely choose what to buy and not buy, what to purchase and not purchase, where to invest and not to invest.</li>
</ol>
<div>
The next chapter describes the free market system</div>
Dr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-55633855544788973522015-01-11T12:46:00.001-08:002015-03-08T19:14:02.501-07:00Curing Poverty - chapter 2I'm currently reading <i>The Poverty of Nations</i> by Wayne Grudem and Barry Asmus that was published about a year ago. It was on my reading list, and my daughter bought it for me for Christmas. I've begun to read it and will give a summary as I go. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2014/12/curing-poverty-introduction.html" target="_blank">Introduction was here</a><br />
<a href="http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2014/12/curing-poverty-chapter-1-goal.html" target="_blank">Chapter 1 was here</a><br />
<br />
Now for chapter 2<br />
In this chapter the authors discuss approaches that will not lead to prosperity.<br />
They list the following:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Foreign Aid</li>
<ol>
<li>Foreign aid does not work because it does not build the structures that bring and keep people out of poverty. Instead this aid tends to become a good that those in power use to enrich themselves or to stay in power. It encourages corruption. It eliminates the incentives for hard work, education, and working for one's own success. Furthermore, the history of foreign aid is that it does not work. Why does it continue? Because bureaucracies are more interested in perpetuating themselves than in finding solutions that work. The authors also point to many of the civil wars in Africa that came about because of conflicts over the control of foreign aid money. </li>
<li>Emergency aid given to non-government agencies is often useful, but must be done with care.</li>
<li>The Bible teaches help for the poor, but not handouts. In the Old Testament the poor were given opportunities to glean for themselves, but not to simply receive handouts.</li>
</ol>
<li>Wealth redistribution</li>
<ol>
<li>Some countries have large differences between the wealth of a few and the wealth of the vast majority of citizens. Latin America in places, North Korea, parts of Africa and Russia are cited as examples. In these cases, simply redistributing the wealth will not raise people out of poverty in the long term because there are problems in society that need to be addressed.</li>
<li>Some countries have wealthy people because those people have worked hard or created services and goods that others will pay money for. To redistribute these people's wealth is stealing.</li>
</ol>
<li>Depletion/over use of natural resources</li>
<ol>
<li>Depending on a few natural resources for a nation's wealth is a mistake. The authors point to Spain in its dependence on the gold of the New World and OPEC nations today. It is too easy to depend on the wealth that the resource brings and not use the resources to continue to build wealth. Norway is a positive example of using oil, but many other nations have not been so successful.</li>
</ol>
<li>Blaming poverty on external factors</li>
<ol>
<li>The authors discuss colonialism and contend that although both harmful and beneficial, colonialism is only partially responsible for the poverty of most of today's poor nations. Colonialism has created the conditions that have lead to poverty in some nations, and has led to creating structures in other countries that have led to wealth.</li>
<li>Blaming the past does not create solutions for the further. While it may be wise to look at the mistakes of the past, staying mired in the past will not lead to solutions in the future.</li>
<li>World Bank and similar agencies. Should these loans be forgiven? If so, then we are back to simply giving foreign aid - see above. How will the conditions that gave rise to the lack of ability to repay be changed? If they are not, then forgiving debt will not actually change the situation in any country.</li>
<li>The section on commodities in the world market was very interesting. I would suggest that you read it for yourself (pages 92-99). The authors do not favor the "fair-trade" movement. Nor are they in favor of market manipulation through subsidies and tariffs by large companies or more powerful nations.</li>
<li>Multinational corporations: Again, this is a more complicated section and needs to be read in its entirety. The authors speak out against monopolies of labor because that artificially lowers or raises the cost of labor. When companies compete with each other for the cost of labor, then everyone benefits. Employees should be treated fairly and honestly.</li>
</ol>
<li>What does cause poverty? This is complicated and people on both sides of this issue are often too superficial in their understandings.</li>
<ol>
<li>War, crime, disease, accidents, disasters can all cause or contribute to poverty. This is often beyond the victim's control. </li>
<li>Laziness by the poor person</li>
<li>Other factors?</li>
</ol>
</ol>
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<br />
<a href="http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2015/03/chapter-3-economic-systems-that-do-not.html" target="_blank">The next chapter deals with systems that do NOT lead to wealth.</a>Dr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-22763827406835298412014-12-29T19:05:00.003-08:002015-01-11T12:48:14.673-08:00Curing Poverty Chapter 1: The goalI'm currently reading <i>The Poverty of Nations</i> by Wayne Grudem and Barry Asmus that was published about a year ago. It was on my reading list, and my daughter bought it for me for Christmas. I've begun to read it and will give a summary as I go. <a href="http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2014/12/curing-poverty-introduction.html" target="_blank">In the last post I introduced the book.</a> <br />
<br />
Chapter 1<br />
Per capita income must increase for a nation to become wealthier. More goods and services need to be created. That is, goods that have a monetary value must increase in number. If people bake bread at home and eat it, per capita income does not increase.<br />
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This measure does not give any indication of how well the wealth is distributed in a country, however. We do not know whether the wealth is in the hands of a few, or in many hands. For a nation to become more wealthy, the wealth needs to benefit many people. <br />
<br />
Wealthier nations are able to afford cleaner water, air and better medical care. So while more wealth is not the only answer to better lives, it is a necessary starting point.<br />
<br />
The rest of the book is a description of how the GDP (gross domestic product) can be increased. But in summary, a country needs to continually produce more goods and services each year. The country will have to figure out for itself what those goods and services need to be. <br />
<br />
The authors interact with other goals that have been suggested about how to eliminate poverty. These include more aid, more equal distribution of wealth, discovering new natural resources, debt forgiveness, better trade terms, more fair trade goods, and restraining multinational corporations. the authors show briefly why these are not adequate for lifting a nation out of poverty. More substantial objections will be explored later in the book.<br />
<br />
Of particular interest in terms of current American cultural and political thought is the morality of profit. The Occupy Wallstreet movement is in the recent past, and many in America have recently begun to think that profits are evil. The authors point out (p. 53) that ". . . profit is not immoral, but is a measure of <i>morally positive value</i> that has been added to the nation." When two or more parties agree mutually to buy and sell and one makes a profit, then the other has agreed that the value is fair and that they are willing to pay it. Profits then reflect an increase in value over raw materials because of human talent, training, and hard work.<br />
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How then can a nation increase the amount of goods and services that it produces? How can more garments be produced? More food, refrigerators, or whatever? This will be dealt with in the rest of the book.<br />
<br />
Grudem and Asmus point out several historical examples of nations that have become more wealthy. Britain, Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea, all come to mind. They mention the Industrial Revolution and how it eventually benefited England, but they don't mention the social destruction that went along with it as well. I hope that they address these factors as the book unfolds.<br />
<br />
Biblically, the authors point to the wife of Proverbs 31 who seems to be an entrepreneurial capitalist. They also point to the Creation mandate of Genesis 1 where Adam and Eve are commanded to subdue the earth and implies that they were to use the resources of nature for their own benefits. The New Testament also points to the importance of working.<br />
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<a href="http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2015/01/im-currently-reading-poverty-of-nations.html" target="_blank">Chapter two: Wrong Goals: What won't work </a>Dr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-78287968920337136852014-12-27T19:54:00.001-08:002014-12-29T19:07:00.432-08:00Curing Poverty IntroductionEvery year especially at the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season I give thought to those who are less fortunate than I am materially. There is so much food, so many things in my life, and yet there are many around the world who have little or not enough of food, water, and other things that make life more enjoyable.<br />
<br />
I give thought to what I can do to help those people. I have been interested in micro finance and have contributed money that way in the past. And yet I have read<a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2011/may/stayingonmission.html" target="_blank"> articles</a> that lead to me believe that those avenues may not be as helpful to lifting people out of poverty as we would hope.<br />
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So it was with great interest that I became aware of a book <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Poverty-Nations-Sustainable-Solution/dp/143353911X/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1419736584&sr=8-1" target="_blank">The Poverty of Nations</a></i> by Wayne Grudem and Barry Asmus that was published about a year ago. It was on my reading list, and my daughter bought it for me for Christmas. I've begun to read it and will give a summary as I go.<br />
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Within my lifetime (55 years) the Western world has given at least 500 billion dollars to Africa, yet that continent remains mired in poverty. What has happened? Surely that much money should have raised the average African to at least being out of poverty. But that's not what has happened. In this book, the authors show how nations (not individuals) can leave poverty behind them. They examine these factors (seventy nine total) and show both economically (Barry Asmus) and Biblically (Wayne Grudem) why these principles work. <br />
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Introduction<br />
The authors want to provide a sustainable solution to poverty for nations. It is important that the solution last - so it must be sustainable. The authors realize that within nations there will be inequality of wealth, and that some nations will be wealthier than others. That is the way life is, but it is important (and Biblical) that people not be left in poverty. The focus of the book is on "national laws, national economic policies, and national cultural values habits because we are convinced that <i>the primary causes of poverty are factors that affect an entire nation</i>." (p. 26)<br />
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It is important that these changes come from within the poor nation itself. Outsiders cannot impose solutions, nor should they act in ways that will lead to dependence by the poor nation (paternalism). <br />
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The authors recognize that wealth is not all that there is to life. Many poor people may be better adjusted and happier than many wealthy people in their own countries or in other countries. It could also be argued that although we in the USA may be very wealthy materially, that we are in fact very impoverished spiritually and in our relationships. Nevertheless, it is not good that there are so many poor people in the world who are unable to feed themselves and their families, or who are stuck with the barest essentials while others have so much more.<br />
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Why don't economists agree on the solutions(s) to poverty? The authors list six reasons and interact with them.<br />
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<ol>
<li>Some do agree with our authors, and they list several works that could be read.</li>
<li>Some economists are "professional donors." That is, they give away others' money and have a stake in the system continuing as it is.</li>
<li>Pure economists only address economic concerns and do not address cultural, moral, or spiritual values. The authors of this book believe that all these factors are important for lifting people out of poverty.</li>
<li>Some people do not believe that certain cultural values are better or worse than others. All cultural values are equal. </li>
<li>Some people believe that wealth comes becomes of accidents of geography. The book<i> Guns, Germs, and Steel</i> is one such approach.</li>
<li>Planners (I am so glad they included this part) believe that government experts can adequately plan economies and thereby create wealth. If it hasn't worked well before (or at all) it is because the wrong experts have been in place. Sounds like the current administration in Washington!! </li>
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So what can I, as an American do? First, it is my hope that by reading this book and summarizing it for you, I can raise your awareness of the issues. Perhaps an influential person in a poor country will read these posts, and then read the book and take action in their own country. Second, you and I can influence our leaders in the West and businesses that deal with poor countries to put in place policies that will actually benefit these poorer nations. We can also encourage the elimination of policies that do not help and may actually keep poor countries in poverty. Third, as we work through the book, hopefully there will be other ways that we can help that become more obvious. Lastly, we in the West are not guaranteed to remain prosperous. We may be leaving some of the principles that have helped us create our wealth. So it would be wise of us to examine our own culture to see what we can do to not squander the wealthy inheritance that we have been given.<br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIjRjVTxEaY" target="_blank">Dennis Prager interview</a> with Wayne Grudem on the topic and the book.<br />
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<a href="http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2014/12/curing-poverty-chapter-1-goal.html" target="_blank">Chapter 1 is next</a>Dr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-9122411611473569252014-07-30T09:46:00.001-07:002014-07-30T09:46:49.661-07:00Washington DC visitMy wife and I returned a couple of days ago from a trip to the nation's capital. We had smooth connections and uneventful transportation going and coming. Our daughter, a veteran of many European travels, arranged the travel and hotel for us. Hooray for Alison! <a href="http://www.goldentulipbethesda.com/en" target="_blank">Nice hotel</a> in Bethesda as well with easy connections downtown. <br />
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We used the <a href="http://www.trolleytours.com/washington-dc/?gclid=CKbPyqCz7b8CFWELMgodCiwANw" target="_blank">Old Town Trolleys</a> for two days there as we went through the actual city and to Arlington. The guides are knowledgeable, friendly and interesting. The price I thought was reasonable. You can get on and off at any stop. You really get to know the town well.<br />
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We also used the <a href="http://www.viator.com/Washington-DC/d657-ttd" target="_blank">Viatour</a> buses. Again, the guides were friendly and knowledgeable. The buses were comfortable. The first tour was to Gettysburg. We were able to see and learn a lot. The only downside was the lack of time to sightsee the shops in the town itself. Oh well. Didn't need more souvenirs anyways! The other Viatour was to Mt. Vernon and Arlington. The only downside again was the lack of time at Mt. Vernon. Three hours was not enough! If you go, make it at least five hours.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The side of the building is marked with bullet holes, even 160 years later.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Devil's Den at Gettysburg</td></tr>
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My wife and I were impressed by the simplicity and character of the Washington family, especially in contrast with many of today's leaders who seem eager to live like kings at public expense. <br />
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I really liked the Mall. At one end is the Lincoln Memorial, at the other the Capitol. They speak together of sacrifice, unity, and freedom in the Lincoln Memorial and the power invested in the people of the country in the Capitol Building. Off to the side is the White House, speaking of the power of the Presidency but also the fact that presidents come and go, and that they are secondary to the people and the history of the nation. They should serve with humility, not with arrogance. <br />
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In the center of the Mall is the Washington Memorial, drawing attention to the founding of the country and its leader at that time. In between the two ends are many memorials to the men and women who fought and died, and to those who helped lead the country through difficult times to better times.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WW II memorial</td></tr>
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Washington DC is a sobering place to go, a place for respect, thought, and reflection. We have strayed far from the ideals of our founders, and are far from liberty and justice for all. Yet we continue to strive for those ideals, and hope to leave the country in good shape to our children.<br />
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On a lighter note, I saw the insect below at Mt. Vernon. It was as big as my thumb! Lots of beautiful trees as well - Cedar of Lebanon, Cypress, and others I don't know.<br />
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In light of some of today's controversies such as the Hobby Lobby birth control mandate and the redefinition of marriage, I found the following quotes by our founders enlightening. How far we have come! Notice how the recent attempts by Obama and the LBGT community to force their views clearly go against what the founders intended.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.31999969482422px;">"Almighty God hath created the mind free. All attempts to influence it by temporal punishments or burthens...are a departure from the plan of the Holy Author of our religion...No man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship or ministry or shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief, but all men shall be free to profess and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion. I know but one code of morality for men whether acting singly or collectively." Thomas Jefferson memorial</span><br />
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While we are contending for our own liberty, we should be very cautious not to violate the rights of conscience in others, ever considering that God alone is the judge of the hearts of men, and to him only in this case they are answerable.</div>
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GEORGE WASHINGTON, letter to Benedict Arnold, Sep. 14, 1775</div>
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A collection of quotes attributed to U.S. President </div>
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George Washington.</div>
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Dr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-17083262310279189882014-07-11T19:16:00.004-07:002014-07-11T19:18:31.385-07:00America: the MovieToday my wife and I went to the theater and watched <a href="http://www.dineshdsouza.com/movies/america/" target="_blank">America </a>narrated and directed by Dinesh D'Souza. <br />
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It's about an hour and a half long - plus the trailers of course!<br />
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It's worth seeing. The first part of the movie explores 5 or 6 common criticisms of America including the treatment of the Native Americans, slavery, imperialism, capitalism, and the Mexican-American War. Most of the remainder of the movie responds to these accusations.<br />
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If you are well familiar with American history you will recognize that the gist of D'Souzas arguments are well done, although short. They would probably not convince someone on the Left because they are short answers and the accusations against America deserve longer, more careful responses. Furthermore, history is more complicated than that one view of America is right and the other view is wrong.<br />
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Nevertheless, the movie is a good introduction to the answers to those accusations and hopefully the beginning of helpful dialogue.<br />
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Some important things to consider.<br />
First, all the indictments of America are actually indictments against all of humanity. There isn't an empire in world history that isn't guilty of all or most of the accusations made against America (maybe couched in slightly different terms). Most world empires are far worse than we have been.<br />
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Human beings, the world over, are nasty creatures - prone to treat their fellow humans with cruelty and evil. This sad fact is true of every society that I have heard of. And as we saw after World War II, evil runs through every human heart. Part of the American genius was to recognize this human weakness and write into our Constitution and laws safeguards against evil and power hungry humans. We are forgetting this at our peril today and allowing too much power in the hands of the President at the expense of Congress. Too much power is in Washington compared to the states. And too much is in the hands of large businesses who are accountable to few, and certainly not the voting public.<br />
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Second, America is guilty of many sins - including some of those described in the movie. What those critics of America forget, and the movie reminds us, is that these are not uniquely American faults. Those who would criticize America alone for these faults are ignorant or hypocritical. Nor should we expect that America will be a perfect nation now or in the future. Searching for such perfect has led many people down many terrible roads. Communism and the Nazis come to mind.<br />
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The high point of the movie for me as an American and as a Christian was in the description of Saul Alinsky's methods. <br />
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One of Alinsky's methods to help refashion America was to polarize the country and to not allow for forgiveness or reconciliation. Sound like where we are? People are more and more nasty to each other, the two major parties are moving further and further apart. Yet when I talk to ordinary people who claim to be Liberals or on the Left, or who don't like Conservatives, it's amazing that we have so many things in common and so many similar goals.<br />
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Yes, there are hard core people on the Right and the Left who won't move at all. But can I hope that those more in the middle can at least talk to each other and not see each other as evil monsters? Perhaps we can love each other in spite of our differences and find solutions to benefit the entire country?<br />
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As Christians reconciliation is our task. (See NT Wright's book <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Surprised-Hope-Tom-Wright/dp/0281064776/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1405130791&sr=1-4&keywords=surprised+by+hope" target="_blank">Surprised by Hope</a></i>) We are heralds for a God who has gone to and is going to great lengths to reconcile a nasty, sinful human race to himself and then to restore and transform this world for them.<br />
<a 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" 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" 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As Americans let's reconcile and forgive each other -- or at least talk to each other! As Christians, let's do the same. For the future of our nation and for the sake of the kingdom of God.Dr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-46635806945292508452014-07-07T09:27:00.003-07:002014-07-07T09:27:57.981-07:00Some thoughts on immigration reformRight now in the news there's a lot of talk about comprehensive immigration reform. The President even threatens to take care of it himself if Congress won't. Many people are very upset about the influx of children onto the borders and then further into the country. Others say that we should welcome them all. And then there's the question about what we as Christians should do toward immigrants, especially those who are here illegally.<br />
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I doubt that most Americans know what the laws actually are for those who want to immigrate or what the reality is for those who come here, legally or illegally. If we don't know these facts, how can Americans lobby our representatives for good reforms?<br />
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I also doubt that most of us have thought through what we want our laws to be and what the goals of immigration reform would be. What do we want America to be like relative to immigrants:<br />
<ul>
<li>A source of cheap labor? </li>
<li>A drain economically? </li>
<li>A refuge from tyranny and violence? </li>
<li>A place to escape grinding poverty? </li>
<li>An attraction to the world's brightest and best?</li>
</ul>
Do want to welcome everyone? Can we? What benefits should immigrants receive? What would they owe us in return? What do we do about those who are already here? We hear of "amnesty" but it is not defined.<br />
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I wish someone out there - (news media do your job!!!) - would tell the stories and make suggestions for change that is in as many people's best interests as possible and is feasible. <br />
<br />
Then we can move beyond rhetoric and get real things done for the sake of real people and a real country, not just for political points for our side and against the other side.<br />
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<br />Dr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-11338921703984500802012-12-24T08:29:00.002-08:002012-12-24T08:29:20.329-08:00Guns and Violence in the USAIn the wake of the school killings in Connecticut a week ago, there has been much discussion about how to prevent similar events in the future. I've been thinking about this myself, naturally. I teach in a school, care about my students and their safety, I'm conservative, and I believe that the Second Amendment helps prevent the government from becoming tyrannical.<br />
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In my opinion, there are two general areas that we need to discuss and then two areas under each general topic.<br />
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First, we need to talk about the <i>kind of people</i> that are carrying out this violence.<br />
<ul>
<li>We need fewer evil people in society. We, as Americans need to be better people. We also need fewer mentally/emotionally disturbed people who are willing to be violent. </li>
<ul>
<li>First, how do we reduce the number of evil people? </li>
<ul>
<li>By evil I mean people who are normal mentally/emotionally but who choose to carry out acts of violence against others who are not threatening them. We live in a society that romanticizes violence in games, movies, and literature. We also live in a culture that promotes coarseness towards other people and that promotes nastiness toward other people. The last fifty years have seen the deliberate dismantling of the structures in society that promote goodness and kindness in people. Religion is being pushed out of the public square into people's private lives. (Yes, people individually can be good and moral (in a social sense) and not be religious, but as a culture and society the lack of religion seems to bring about moral decay.) Certainly it doesn't help when religious values and individuals are excluded from public interaction through censorship or mocking. Nor does it help when the media and other forms of entertainment (and the government itself at times) deliberately pursue attitudes and actions that are eventually destructive of lives and societies. These attitudes and actions include violence, unkindness, drug use, sexual promiscuity to just name a few.</li>
<li>We need instead to discourage violence and nastiness in language and actions wherever they occur. This includes games, movies, TV shows, internet interactions (have you read the comments on youtube?) and encourage polite, kind interactions and disagreements. Let's show each other that we can disagree - severely, loudly, angrily, but still not threaten other's lives, property or value as humans. Let's also address gang and similar violence. Maybe we should send in the National Guard and simply wipe out the gangs as if they were foreign intruders on our soil. (In some cases they are.)</li>
<li>We need to encourage religion and its social value. We need to encourage civic organizations - Boy and Girl Scouts, Big Brothers, Elks, Rotary etc. Some won't like their stance towards homosexuals or whatever. So? The good that they do in training people to be socially good and virtuous outweighs any discrimination.</li>
</ul>
<li>Second, how do we reduce the number of fewer mentally/emotionally disturbed people who are willing to be violent?</li>
<ul>
<li>I don't know. This is one area where we need to be willing to spend more money. I've had students who were inexplicably angry. Some were angry enough to become violent. Such young people need help and their families are not always able to recognize it or obtain help for them. So we as a society need to be willing to pay for this. We need to be less stigmatizing about people who are receiving help for mental/emotional issues. If we don't take care of this issue, there will probably be more deaths in the future. On the other hand we can't simply refer every troubled person or have them branded as a potential killer. </li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
Second, we need to talk about <i>how </i>the violence is carried out. In this area we need to distinguish between reducing the deaths in any violent episode and also how to reduce the number of episodes.<br />
<ul>
<li>How to reduce deaths in any episode I think that we need to recognize that there will always be violence in this world, and that some of it will be awful. Even <a href="http://frontpagemag.com/2012/dgreenfield/europe-has-same-rate-of-multiple-victim-shootings-as-the-united-states/" target="_blank">Europe has mass shootings</a>.</li>
<ul>
<li>Nevertheless, at this point those in favor of gun rights must realize that guns kill more than baseball bats and knives and that guns that shoot more bullets and guns with bigger magazines will probably kill more people in the same amount of time than guns that shoot more slowly or must be reloaded more often. So these two areas need to be addressed. Do ordinary citizens really need large magazine semi-automatic weapons?</li>
<li>Our society needs to really look at the statistics related to gun ownership. If there are more guns in society are we ordinary citizens safer or less safe? I've read articles on both sides that cite statistics that claim the opposite from each other. To me at the present time it seems that either there should be no guns at all for anyone, or ordinary people should be allowed to possess and bear arms at (nearly) all times. Since the former isn't going to happen, it makes more sense that ordinary people be encouraged to own and use firearms safely and responsibly.</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://pjmedia.com/blog/a-gun-crime-proposal-that-might-actually-help/">http://pjmedia.com/blog/a-gun-crime-proposal-that-might-actually-help/</a></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<li>How to reduce the number of episodes of mass shootings</li>
<ul>
<li>Bad guys intent on killing must be kept away from innocents. But gun-free zones are usually a misnomer. If there are to be gun free zones, then they must constructed so that <i>absolutely no one can get inside with a gun</i>. A sign won't work. The bad guys won't pay attention, and then he has an open field on the unarmed innocents inside. True gun free zones must be sealed and guarded. Schools either need one guarded entrance with a metal detector, or they need some sort of armed presence in the school or both. This was actually proposed by Clinton over a decade ago. We do it in airports, don't we?</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2012/12/21/this-post-is-going-to-be-very-confusing-to-some-people/">http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2012/12/21/this-post-is-going-to-be-very-confusing-to-some-people/</a></li>
</ul>
<li>Or the innocents need to be able to shoot back and defend themselves. By now it should be obvious that even the most dedicated and alert police force can't usually stop these incidents, but can only mitigate them and help clean up afterwards. Trained, responsible people need to be able to defend themselves and others. These people in schools need to be willing to die, either at the hands of the bad guys or through law enforcement who don't know that the person is a school employee.</li>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.gopusa.com/commentary/2012/12/18/sowell-invincible-ignorance/">http://www.gopusa.com/commentary/2012/12/18/sowell-invincible-ignorance/</a></li>
</ul>
<li>In most times of British history until more recent times and during Viking times slaves were not allowed to carry weapons, let alone use them. Only freemen were allowed to. A disarmed population is the sign of either an immature population or a population of effective slaves, living at their masters' mercy and whim. And an immature population that refuses to grow up will soon be an enslaved one for the safety of everyone.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
So, can we grow up and use firearms responsibly, take care of the ill among ourselves and become a more virtuous nation? Or will we stay immature in our love of violence and ignoring those who need help while we continue to insist that merely limiting guns (or magazine size) will solve all the problems? No, it's more complicated than that latter approach and it's time that we realized it.<ul><ul>
</ul>
</ul>
Dr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-24340257807297574232012-11-23T09:08:00.002-08:002012-11-23T09:08:26.936-08:00The Fiscal Cliff, what should we do?It's coming! Not Christmas, or New Years. Taxes and the Fiscal Cliff! It seems that with the House of Representatives controlled by Republicans but the White House and the Senate by Democrats that we are headed for gridlock and disaster through sequestration and the expiration of the Bush tax cuts enacted a decade ago.<br />
<br />
What should Conservatives do? I think that Republicans and Conservatives should give in. I do think, however, that we should fight for a higher limit on taxable income such as $500,000 or $750,000 rather than the $250,000 that the White House wants.<br />
<br />
Why? Elections, we are told, have consequences. So let's permit the Democrats to have their own way with the economy. Then THEY OWN IT. If their ideas and efforts succeed, we are wrong and the county is better off. Hurrah! If it fails, then we can legitimately say "We told you so!" (Not that the media or the Democrats will listen. They will still find a way to blame Conservatives.) <br />
<br />
But, we should insist on a few things ourselves.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>a movie excise tax. Since Obamacare placed a 2.3% excise tax on medical devises, we should insist that a similar tax be placed on movies. and DVDs, and music, and video games. It used to be a 20% excise tax. 2.3% doesn't seem so bad.</li>
<li>and sports All of it</li>
<li>and a 75% tax on actors and sports figures who make over $1,000,000 a year. After all, let them pay their fair share, since they don't do anything really important like the police, firefighters, nurses and teachers, right? Or plumbers, and electricians, and everyone else who has real jobs.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here are some more great tax the rich (friends of the Left) ideas:</div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.humanevents.com/2012/11/09/taxing-big-blue">http://www.humanevents.com/2012/11/09/taxing-big-blue</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Contact your conservative congress people with the message above and the link as well.</div>
Dr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-22681870590140642042012-11-04T15:44:00.001-08:002012-11-04T15:49:37.797-08:00Elections: Your side won, now what?<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, the election is just around the corner - mere days away. In a week or less you will (we hope) go to bed knowing who won, or you will wake up the next day and find out. (Unless it's really close. I sure hope that doesn't happen!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So - your side won! Congratulations! (Maybe!) Now what?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">First, no <i>gloating</i>. I'm writing this first draft about three weeks before the election, but I'm betting that at least 40% of the population will vote for the loser in the presidential election. That means that four out of every ten people you might meet are delusional idiots - right?! Hopefully not. They may have different values than you, or be less informed, but their hopes are being dashed. They are fellow Americans. They are people you should care about. Some of them even hold their views as a result of intelligent thought. (Imagine that!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Second, your candidate(s) won't solve all (or perhaps any) of the problems we're facing in this country. Our problems are huge. Support your candidate(s), but be aware that given the need to get laws through legislative bodies, special interests, changing circumstances and so on, that many of those hopes and promises will be modified or left unfulfilled. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Third, be humble. Your ideas and values may be wrong. You may be able to learn from those on the other side of the political spectrum.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Fourth, be loving toward those who lost. Your turn to lose will come; I can guarantee it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Fifth, don't forget to continue to support those who are newly elected. Let them know when you support them and disagree with them. Let them know why. They are our servants, not our bosses. Pray for them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Sixth, don't write off your side if your candidates have to go against what they said they would do when they ran for office. Sometimes politicians change their points of view or actions because they want to get political favors. But sometimes the necessities of governing mean that they must do things they didn't want to do at one point.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lastly, we must decrease the amount of distrust we Americans have for people who hold other political views. "We must all strive for unity, peace, and a re-examination of how we can learn to live with each other better at both a national and international level." (</span><a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/adrianwarnock/2012/10/us-presidential-elections-a-nation-divided/">http://www.patheos.com/blogs/adrianwarnock/2012/10/us-presidential-elections-a-nation-divided/</a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As we pray for our leaders, let's also <i>actively work</i> toward being understanding and kind toward others.</span>Dr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-33812965911111930202012-11-04T15:43:00.004-08:002012-11-04T15:43:48.554-08:00Elections: Your side lost, now what?<br />
So, the election is just around the corner - mere days away (Won't you be glad when it's over!). In a week or less you will (we hope) go to bed knowing who won, or you will wake up the next day and find out. (Unless it's really close. I sure hope that doesn't happen!)<br />
<br />
So - your side lost! I'm sorry! (Maybe! Depends on whether I won, right?!) Now what?<br />
<br />
First, no <i>nastiness toward the winners</i>. I'm writing the first draft of this about three weeks before the election, but I'm betting that at least 40% of the population will vote for the loser in the presidential election. That means that four out of every ten people you might meet are delusional idiots - right?! Hopefully not. They may have different values than you, or be less informed, but they are fellow Americans. They are people you should care about and treat with kindness and dignity. Some of them even hold their views as a result of intelligent thought. (Imagine that!) Also, about four out of every ten people agree with you (more or less)! Maybe next time your side will do better!<br />
<br />
Second, your candidate(s) wouldn't have solved all (or perhaps any) of the problems we're facing in this country. Our problems are huge. Some, perhaps much, of what the winning side wants may not get done.<br />
<br />
Third, be humble. Your ideas and values may be wrong. You may be able to learn from those on the other side of the political spectrum. <br />
<br />
Fourth, be loving toward those who won. Your turn to win will come; I can guarantee it, even if I don't like it.<br />
<br />
Fifth, don't forget to continue to support those who are newly elected. Let them know when you support them and disagree with them. Let them know why. They are our servants, not our bosses. Pray for them. Governing well is difficult.<br />
<br />
Sixth, be glad that we live in a land where rulers and governors at all levels come and go and no one has to go into exile or is shot or imprisoned because they were on the losing side. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
May that long continue.</div>
<br />Dr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-89628548986152612792012-10-22T19:52:00.000-07:002018-12-04T08:34:02.671-08:00Political Concept GroupRecently I've been having several discussions on Facebook with different people about politics, truth in politics, public policy and social issues. Some of the people agree pretty closely with me, others are very (almost uncomfortably for me) liberal. Once we get past the sloganeering that many (most?) of us are at times prone to do, we have some interesting discussions. I learn a lot about how others think, and why they value what they do. I learn that many of them share my concerns and that we could work together. And then some idiot politician says something stupid, and I feel like we're back to square one. So, I’ve been thinking about forming a new group on Facebook.<br />
<br />
What I have in mind for this group is that we discuss truth and facts in the political and social realm and their implications for public policy.<br />
<br />
I don’t want posts straight from either of the major parties. I don’t want sloganeering, but rather questions and discussions about what is true and what isn’t true about what the candidates and parties claim. I want us to discuss the implications of these truths and falsehoods related to such issues as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the debt, the deficit, defense spending, cultural values, (abortion, homosexual marriage) and so on. I hope that even though we may disagree with each other we will at least understand where people we disagree with are coming from. Most Conservatives and Republicans aren't evil or stupid. Neither are most Liberals and Democrats.<br />
<br />
I’m hoping that we can call out politicians on either side when they make stupid claims, statements, or utter falsehoods. Or when they stretch the truth. I hope that we can do it in such as a way that we aren’t playing “gotcha” with each other. I would like us to link to articles that are thoughtful and fair. We will try and present others’ views as fairly and accurately as possible and then discuss them.<br />
<br />
One of my online Facebook friends/debaters suggested that we call such a group as this the “Concept Party”. I ended up with “Political Concept Group - A Via Media.”<br />
<br />
You may still believe that your party is better than mine, your candidates more ethical and better than mine. Fine. But let’s realize that we have many of the same goals for ourselves and for the country (for those in the USA. For those who aren't there are still lots of common areas such as debt, poverty, abortion, homosexual marriage and so on). We’ll treat each other with respect, and not be nasty about each other as people. And we’ll try to not be nasty about positions that we disagree with. We won’t call each other racists, Nazis, fundamentalists etc unless it’s <i>really </i>warranted. If you think a policy has racist implications, then spell out those implications without assuming that the person is a racist. Maybe the person who holds that view is a racist. Maybe you see something he’s missed. Maybe you’re missing something.<br />
<br />
Some of us will be Christians, some not. Let's all remember to treat each other as we would like to be treated. Let's be up front about our own biases and positions.<br />
<br />
Interested? Know someone else who holds some of these same values? Let me know. I’ll moderate and control the group for a while at least. People who engage in name calling or simple sloganeering will be gently admonished and given a chance to moderate their statements and/or apologize and interact with the group before being blocked. Those who persist in acting this way will be blocked at some point.<br />
<br />
Here’s an article that got me to sort of wanting to do something.<br />
<a href="http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/lies-damn-lies-and">http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/lies-damn-lies-and</a>Dr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6164358886323659474.post-63701417456263519322012-10-22T17:32:00.001-07:002012-10-22T17:32:27.012-07:00VSL Learners: SummarySome last thoughts on the topic, right at the end of the grading period and before the elections! It will be a relief to be done with the class, the elections, and getting grades in! I will almost feel carefree!<br />
<br />
The biggest thing I've learned is that there are people out there who really do think, learn, and store information in a very different way than I do. Although, to be honest, I've been doing some self-reflection lately and I realize that I do store more information in pictures than I though. People, maps to name a couple. I also find myself moving more in the VSL direction as I age. Is this a function of aging, or of the increasingly visual society that I am part of? I don't enjoy reading as much (this could be because I've read all of the good books, though) as I used to. My attention span isn't what it was. and so on. And my typing is getting worse and wlsrs. or worse or something. slepping too. I mean spelling.<br />
<br />
The last few weeks as I teach I've come to realize how much I rely on speaking. At times I can see my class s l i p p i n g away from me. I'm not always sure what to do to get them back, but I'm working on it! Twenty-five years of teaching don't change over night! I also wonder how much of middle school students' inability to follow verbal directions is because of their visual nature. Their auditory learning ability isn't as well developed. Anyway, I'm going to keep working on this area. I play to use even more visuals, writing things down so they can see them. I already have the students get up and move around after about 30 minutes of sitting, especially when they are taking notes. <br />
<br />
I am, of course, fortunate that my students can move around so much because I don't have a very crowded room. I also plan so that many days the students are actively doing things and after a few introductory minutes they are not sitting as much. This teaching style is almost natural for me.<br />
<br />
Many of the other suggestions I already do, but could do more of. We have a cell rap - music for the parts of a cell - and I could have the students make their own in different content areas such as atomic makeup. I try and give the students different options on how they present their knowledge. <br />
<br />
Some criticisms of the class and the readings<br />
My biggest criticism is that the bulk of the thoughts we interacted with came from Dr. Silverman either directly or indirectly. This makes me wonder about its validity. Is this VSL stuff just a fringe idea, or is it one that is new enough there isn't enough work and research? Or were we not exposed to other scholars in the field?<br />
<br />
Some of the suggestions of Dr. Silverman are over the top. VS people aren't going to bring in a utopia, merely new combinations of strengths and weaknesses, good and evil. And since people are on a continuum that describes how they learn, most people would be helped by the techniques we've studied, but it wouldn't be a revolution in society or education. Nor does the workplace require a new set of skills, it probably requires additional skills on top of the old ones.<br />
<br />
I've enjoyed reading all the notes and discussion from my colleagues at the school where I teach. I wish I could share them all with you. I hope that if you've read all of the other entries that you found them useful and interesting. In case you haven't read them:<br />
<br />
<br />
Part one:<br />
<a href="http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2012/09/education-post-visual-spatial-learners.html" target="_blank">Education post: Visual-Spatial Learners: Identification</a><br />
http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2012/09/education-post-visual-spatial-learners.html<br />
<br />
Part two:<br />
<a href="http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2012/09/education-post-visual-spatial-learners_12.html" target="_blank">Education post: Visual-Spatial Learners: Gender Differences</a><br />
http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2012/09/education-post-visual-spatial-learners_12.html<br />
<br />
Part three:<br />
<a href="http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2012/09/education-post-vsl-reading-and-writing.html" target="_blank">Education Post: VSL, Reading and Writing</a><br />
http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2012/09/education-post-vsl-reading-and-writing.html<br />
<br />
Part four:<br />
<a href="http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2012/09/vsl-learners-part-4-handwriting.html" target="_blank">VSL Learners, Part 4 Handwriting difficulties</a><br />
http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2012/09/vsl-learners-part-4-handwriting.html<br />
<br />
Part four: (second part)<br />
<a href="http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2012/09/part-4-second-part.html" target="_blank">This week we look at handwriting, spelling, and taking notes.</a><br />
http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2012/09/part-4-second-part.html<br />
<br />
Part five:<br />
<a href="http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2012/10/vsl-learners-part-5-math.html" target="_blank">VSL Learners Part 5, Math!</a><br />
http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2012/10/vsl-learners-part-5-math.html<br />
<br />
Part six:<br />
<a href="http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2012/10/vsl-learners-part-six-using-visual.html" target="_blank">VSL Learners: Part six Using Visual-Spatial Strengths to Learn New Material</a><br />
http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2012/10/vsl-learners-part-six-using-visual.html<br />
<br />
Part seven:<br />
<a href="http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2012/10/vsl-learners-part-seven-organization.html" target="_blank">VSL Learners: Part seven Organization!! Yikes!</a><br />
http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2012/10/vsl-learners-part-seven-organization.html<br />
<br />
<br />
Part eight:<br />
<a href="http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2012/10/vsl-learners-part-eight-creating-visual.html" target="_blank">VSL Learners: Part eight: Creating a visual-spatial classroom</a><br />
http://peglermusings.blogspot.com/2012/10/vsl-learners-part-eight-creating-visual.html<br />
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Dr. Peglerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15318236471903655420noreply@blogger.com0