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Holiday, Political, and Religious Musings:
I've had a fairly ordinary couple of days. My holiday shopping is done, I even have a Christmas dinner planned since H will be here for once. I forgot that he takes the actual day Christmas more seriously than I; so I'm going to make sure to recognize his day. We're having chicken parmesan.
I didn't do anything special for the Longest Night of the Year. I wrote, went online, talked to some people, had dinner, and watched TV. No big whoop.
It makes me angry whenever I pay attention to the news, so I don't. I haven't noticed that the Patriot Act has been extended for no good reason. I'm trying to let go of my disgust for Bush's absurd and blatantly self-serving pandering. He makes me physically sick to watch anymore. I weep for the country I love. Although, I admit, I have to laugh (again) at the utter ridiculousness of Rick Santorum. Everyone involved in this particular bit of news is so ridiculous, I don't even know where to begin the pointing and laughing.
I know this is a silly seeming topic. Most people I know think it shouldn't be anywhere near a public school; while there are one or two who honestly think they are being discriminated against because thier religious beleifs are not being taught as fact in government funded schools.
I daresay that whether or not "intelligent design" is okay to teach in shcool depends on what subject it is. It would be appropriate for say, a comparative religions class that covers many major theories on how the earth was created. Greeks, Romans, Native Americans also have fascinating creation stories that kids would probably be damn interested in. And learning that different cultures believe different things is important for kids to know. So I totally support teaching basic Christian tenants so long as other faiths are also represented in a respectful, intelligent way. Of course, that's a pretty tall order. Teachers are people, and as we all know, a good percentage of people has great difficulty separating fact from feeling.
However, teaching "intelligent design" in say, a science class is outright absurd. Science is about facts: provable, hard evidence that you can see and hear and touch. That's what science is. And I don't understand how any logical person can miss the difference between science and religion. Faith is a wonderful and important thing, but it's not the same as universal fact.
Then again, I still haven't figured out how some people still cannot accept that not everyone practices the same religion as them...and that that is not illegal, immoral, or wrong.
Could you imagine what would happen if pagans behaved that way? What if we said we were being discriminated against because there was no giant phallus or flaming pentacle in front of city hall? What if we sued a public school because they didn't teach students about Athena, Dionysus, or the divine union of male and female in science class? We'd be laughed out of the city, even a liberal city like Ann Arbor.
I've also been reading a lot of posts from people who "hate Christmas". To them I say, if you hate it so much, why are you paying so much attention to it? Seriously, stores are only slightly more garish and crowded. People are arguing about petty crap and stressing out only a tad more than they usually do. Yeah, that music they play sucks, but (ipods are plentiful and) you don't really have to listen to it.
Problem: I hate my family and dread seeing them.
Solution: Volunteer at a soup kitchen or shelter. Visit a retirement home or hospital.
Problem: I don't know what to buy for my family/friends.
Solution: Donate to charity in their names.
Problem: I can't afford nice gifts.
Solution: Baked goods, a photo in a frame, anything handmade, or time well spent are all things people will treasure.
Problem: Winter Weather in Michigan sucks.
Solution: Well, if your house and all your belongings weren't detroyed by the weather, you're doing better than some.
And for gosh sakes, if you still haven't come out to your families, the big, family, holiday dinner is NOT the right time!!!
I didn't do anything special for the Longest Night of the Year. I wrote, went online, talked to some people, had dinner, and watched TV. No big whoop.
It makes me angry whenever I pay attention to the news, so I don't. I haven't noticed that the Patriot Act has been extended for no good reason. I'm trying to let go of my disgust for Bush's absurd and blatantly self-serving pandering. He makes me physically sick to watch anymore. I weep for the country I love. Although, I admit, I have to laugh (again) at the utter ridiculousness of Rick Santorum. Everyone involved in this particular bit of news is so ridiculous, I don't even know where to begin the pointing and laughing.
I know this is a silly seeming topic. Most people I know think it shouldn't be anywhere near a public school; while there are one or two who honestly think they are being discriminated against because thier religious beleifs are not being taught as fact in government funded schools.
I daresay that whether or not "intelligent design" is okay to teach in shcool depends on what subject it is. It would be appropriate for say, a comparative religions class that covers many major theories on how the earth was created. Greeks, Romans, Native Americans also have fascinating creation stories that kids would probably be damn interested in. And learning that different cultures believe different things is important for kids to know. So I totally support teaching basic Christian tenants so long as other faiths are also represented in a respectful, intelligent way. Of course, that's a pretty tall order. Teachers are people, and as we all know, a good percentage of people has great difficulty separating fact from feeling.
However, teaching "intelligent design" in say, a science class is outright absurd. Science is about facts: provable, hard evidence that you can see and hear and touch. That's what science is. And I don't understand how any logical person can miss the difference between science and religion. Faith is a wonderful and important thing, but it's not the same as universal fact.
Then again, I still haven't figured out how some people still cannot accept that not everyone practices the same religion as them...and that that is not illegal, immoral, or wrong.
Could you imagine what would happen if pagans behaved that way? What if we said we were being discriminated against because there was no giant phallus or flaming pentacle in front of city hall? What if we sued a public school because they didn't teach students about Athena, Dionysus, or the divine union of male and female in science class? We'd be laughed out of the city, even a liberal city like Ann Arbor.
I've also been reading a lot of posts from people who "hate Christmas". To them I say, if you hate it so much, why are you paying so much attention to it? Seriously, stores are only slightly more garish and crowded. People are arguing about petty crap and stressing out only a tad more than they usually do. Yeah, that music they play sucks, but (ipods are plentiful and) you don't really have to listen to it.
Problem: I hate my family and dread seeing them.
Solution: Volunteer at a soup kitchen or shelter. Visit a retirement home or hospital.
Problem: I don't know what to buy for my family/friends.
Solution: Donate to charity in their names.
Problem: I can't afford nice gifts.
Solution: Baked goods, a photo in a frame, anything handmade, or time well spent are all things people will treasure.
Problem: Winter Weather in Michigan sucks.
Solution: Well, if your house and all your belongings weren't detroyed by the weather, you're doing better than some.
And for gosh sakes, if you still haven't come out to your families, the big, family, holiday dinner is NOT the right time!!!