I said to my wife one Thursday; “We need to go to a movie this weekend.”
“Speed Racer!” she said.
Yes, I was raised on "Speed Racer," often running home from school to catch an episode, but that wasn’t it.
“Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed,” a Ben Stein thriller, is the must see I was talking about. An extremely well thought out argument, in words and images, on the topic of Darwinism. From the cell and basic starting points of life he analyzes the science, clearly illustrating that the door to an intelligent cause is far from closed. Mr. Stein then takes the debate into the field of metaphysics where the majority of the battle truly rests. Where science began.
But most importantly he describes how scientific theories relate to our daily life. Beginning with how established scientist were discredit and faced discrimination for a purely scientific conclusion, that an intelligent cause is a viable theory. And continuing to Darwinist influences on movements in Europe and the United States that history has judged as evil, if not insane.
Few seem interested in commenting on the movie. A testament to the controversy surrounding the issue. Nothing from ‘Ebert and Roeper’ and the review in the Chicago Tribune credited to an Orlando newspaper. The review being more a reinforcement of the movies premises than an intelligent critique.
The dangers in how we use science parallel dangers in how we use religion. You would think that the Soviet Union, the birthplace of the communist state, would have been a big proponent of Darwinism. Not exactly. They held to the Lamarckian view of evolution. The theory that actions, responding to ones environment, stimulate change; genetic alteration. Hence justifying labor camps for anyone who didn’t fit the communist mold. This is my own observation outside of Mr. Stein’s scope, but in an age where scientific theories, such as global warming, are being used to argue for drastic changes in how we all live “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” is of immense relevance.
Ben Stein asks himself what he can do in this fight for freedom. He made the movie. What can you do?
As Speed says in his new movie when asked by his father if he believed driving a car could change the world; “Maybe not, but it’s the only thing I know how to do, and I gotta do something.”
Go see the movie. It might not be around much longer.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Less Than Five Months Away
The thing that bothers me most about the Bush administration, along with the devaluation of the dollar, is their unrelenting devotion to corn based ethanol as a viable energy alternative. Its failure as a fuel, whether in its lack of efficiency, or embedded energy greater than that produced, negates its value as an energy resource. Ethanol depletes our water supplies, is detrimental to the environment and contributes to global warming through changing land use to meet demands for corn. Most disturbing is its effect on global food supplies and contribution to inflation worldwide. While some farmers are happy with the rising price of corn others are in distress over growing feed costs, creating a no gain sum as a voting block.
I recently came across this article on China's precarious economic circumstance and had to ask if this is the goal of our ethanol or monetary policy. China has built a vast navy. Is building extravagant embassies among the Pacific Island Nations, more impressive than any complex in those nations, while buying all their available land as it looks to the oceans to quench its thirst for energy and raw materials. It has been fanatical in its desire to keep its people fed, as hunger has been the most persistent cause of revolt throughout its history. To this end it has turned to South America, buying vast tracts of land, pursuing their ideological goals of world domination in the process.
Food alone will not be enough to assuage the desires of China’s massive population. They have raised their material standard of living; many have gained access to higher education, not dreamed of in the past for some classes, and acquired a taste for western culture as well as products. Now facing the potential of massive inflation its people, appeased by ever improving conditions could find their lifestyle quickly slipping away. And what buried resentments exist over the brutal crack down at Tiananmen Square in June of 1989?
With the 2008 Olympic Games now less than five months away the Tibetan people, suffering cultural genocide, are protesting in the streets not only in their homeland but also around the world, calling for the nations of the world to boycott. But would attending the Olympic Games be more counter-productive for China than a boycott?
The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres recently played an exhibition game in China, playing to a 3-3 tie. Afterwards when Dodger pitcher Chan Ho Park was approached by a group of Korean fans for autographs the Chinese security forces quickly blocked their approach refusing to allow any autographs be given despite promises to the contrary. If you think this an isolated incident you are truly ignorant of the nature of communism. Expect this scenario to be played out a thousand times over for the entire world to see during the Olympic Games and outright detention and arrest for media personnel.
Add to this the ecological nightmare of China as the world debates the effects of greenhouse gases on our environment. (Some athletes are expected to fly in only for their event and fly out immediately afterwards because of the air quality in Beijing.) The working conditions that the Chinese might find improving yet abhorrent to the rest of the world, the quality of it products and produce literally killing people around the world and China’s complicity with North Korea in the suppression and murder its own people on display for the world to see.
The 2008 Olympic Games will be a showcase for China. A showcase of what an atheistic communist regime looks to bring to rest of the world. A system of tyranny that many in the free world thought left in the scrap heap of history, what others hope will never return and still others fight to be free of. Their arrogance, greed and faith that fear and intimidation are the ways of the world will hopefully be the downfall of the communist party in China. How to make it happen with minimal cost to life and how to use the Olympic Games to promote this down fall are questions I hope governments, religious leaders and athletes around the world are asking. One thing we can all do is pray. Recognize the threat and opportunity before us and pray every day.
I recently came across this article on China's precarious economic circumstance and had to ask if this is the goal of our ethanol or monetary policy. China has built a vast navy. Is building extravagant embassies among the Pacific Island Nations, more impressive than any complex in those nations, while buying all their available land as it looks to the oceans to quench its thirst for energy and raw materials. It has been fanatical in its desire to keep its people fed, as hunger has been the most persistent cause of revolt throughout its history. To this end it has turned to South America, buying vast tracts of land, pursuing their ideological goals of world domination in the process.
Food alone will not be enough to assuage the desires of China’s massive population. They have raised their material standard of living; many have gained access to higher education, not dreamed of in the past for some classes, and acquired a taste for western culture as well as products. Now facing the potential of massive inflation its people, appeased by ever improving conditions could find their lifestyle quickly slipping away. And what buried resentments exist over the brutal crack down at Tiananmen Square in June of 1989?
With the 2008 Olympic Games now less than five months away the Tibetan people, suffering cultural genocide, are protesting in the streets not only in their homeland but also around the world, calling for the nations of the world to boycott. But would attending the Olympic Games be more counter-productive for China than a boycott?
The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres recently played an exhibition game in China, playing to a 3-3 tie. Afterwards when Dodger pitcher Chan Ho Park was approached by a group of Korean fans for autographs the Chinese security forces quickly blocked their approach refusing to allow any autographs be given despite promises to the contrary. If you think this an isolated incident you are truly ignorant of the nature of communism. Expect this scenario to be played out a thousand times over for the entire world to see during the Olympic Games and outright detention and arrest for media personnel.
Add to this the ecological nightmare of China as the world debates the effects of greenhouse gases on our environment. (Some athletes are expected to fly in only for their event and fly out immediately afterwards because of the air quality in Beijing.) The working conditions that the Chinese might find improving yet abhorrent to the rest of the world, the quality of it products and produce literally killing people around the world and China’s complicity with North Korea in the suppression and murder its own people on display for the world to see.
The 2008 Olympic Games will be a showcase for China. A showcase of what an atheistic communist regime looks to bring to rest of the world. A system of tyranny that many in the free world thought left in the scrap heap of history, what others hope will never return and still others fight to be free of. Their arrogance, greed and faith that fear and intimidation are the ways of the world will hopefully be the downfall of the communist party in China. How to make it happen with minimal cost to life and how to use the Olympic Games to promote this down fall are questions I hope governments, religious leaders and athletes around the world are asking. One thing we can all do is pray. Recognize the threat and opportunity before us and pray every day.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Happy Valentine's Day
There will be no Valentine's Day in Saudi Arabia and if you live in Kuwait, Pakistan, Malaysia or India the holiday has been disparaged for many years. Catholic Schools in Australia have often had a problem with the Holiday.
There are problems with the modern common practice of Valentine's Day. Is it really something children should celebrate? Especially as public school administrations work to eliminate abstinence education in our schools?
The heart of the issue is the dignity of women. The great contradiction being those cultures which hold women in the lowest esteem protest the loudest and seek authoritarian control while the United States, the greatest advocate of freedom in the world, allow special interest groups to dictate the morals of their children. Morals that do not reflect our Christian culture or any religious culture. That conflict with the values of most all the families in this nation. And then we wonder why the rest of the world accuses us of spreading depravity.
There are problems with the modern common practice of Valentine's Day. Is it really something children should celebrate? Especially as public school administrations work to eliminate abstinence education in our schools?
The heart of the issue is the dignity of women. The great contradiction being those cultures which hold women in the lowest esteem protest the loudest and seek authoritarian control while the United States, the greatest advocate of freedom in the world, allow special interest groups to dictate the morals of their children. Morals that do not reflect our Christian culture or any religious culture. That conflict with the values of most all the families in this nation. And then we wonder why the rest of the world accuses us of spreading depravity.
Friday, February 01, 2008
The Candidate of Change
When Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee won the Iowa caucuses of their respective parties my first reaction was to go to Barack Obama’s web site and find exactly his stand on the issues. The first black candidate for President put forth by a major party, a landmark event if it comes to pass. When I reviewed the site of the candidate for change I asked, “Where’s the change?” In fact Obama’s stance on the issues represent the most liberal wing of the democrat party. Those who have fostered the divisive partisanship that keeps our country from advancing into the new century. Change?
We had a candidate of real change. His name was George W. Bush and since being elected he has been an example of the change others only talk about. A successful Governor of Texas recognized for working well with democrats. Though criticized for creating his education bill with Senator Kennedy and his flub of nominating Harriet Meyers for the Supreme Court they are examples of his willingness to reach across the aisle and take the views of others seriously even if they don’t agree with his own. A man putting to work all the resources before him, including his Vice President breaking the mold.
The real change we need is not something new but something old, something eternal. Integrity, good character and moral fortitude are being reestablished in the White House. What our founding fathers hoped would guide this nation. For anyone to call for change and then ridicule and besmirch our sitting President is hypocrisy not to mention an illustration of ignorance of the change that is needed. Or is it political expediency, the same old same old?
On the issues, the first initiative in office by President Bush was to spend months creating a comprehensive energy policy that would have increased our domestic oil and natural gas production and allowed the building of new refineries among other things. If not opposed by the democrats we would be far from an energy crisis today. President Bush showed himself quite capable in addressing all the issues facing this nation. Though no one can agree with all his stances there is plenty of detail to talk about. Of course President Bush is not running for President. But rather than stand on the merit of their own views the democrats have chosen to exalt themselves by belittling those around them recognizing President Bush as their greatest target.
Senator Obama brings much to the table despite his inexperience. Transparency is a powerful stand he can build on. His personal background, his interracial family and experience as a minority, gives him an insight we should all value. He has worked hard to take the high road in the political bickering among his own party. I could never vote for him based on his liberal policies but if he were to win the Presidency would have hope for a return to civility and accountability in government, real change. At least until this most recent democrat debate.
More than the typical one line attacks on President Bush, including his energy policy; the debate was a wink-wink nod-nod for the party to fall in line. Not quite a love fest, the orchestrated rekindling of friendship between the candidates was nothing less than a concession by Obama to the Clintons, with the final question on a shared ticket the crescendo. Planned to head off any divisions in the party that could jeopardize the black and women voting blocks. The equivalent of a good old-fashioned purge or Cultural Revolution one might have found under a communist regime where the party, the gathering of the enlightened, the elite, is most important. With government as the tool.
We had a candidate of real change. His name was George W. Bush and since being elected he has been an example of the change others only talk about. A successful Governor of Texas recognized for working well with democrats. Though criticized for creating his education bill with Senator Kennedy and his flub of nominating Harriet Meyers for the Supreme Court they are examples of his willingness to reach across the aisle and take the views of others seriously even if they don’t agree with his own. A man putting to work all the resources before him, including his Vice President breaking the mold.
The real change we need is not something new but something old, something eternal. Integrity, good character and moral fortitude are being reestablished in the White House. What our founding fathers hoped would guide this nation. For anyone to call for change and then ridicule and besmirch our sitting President is hypocrisy not to mention an illustration of ignorance of the change that is needed. Or is it political expediency, the same old same old?
On the issues, the first initiative in office by President Bush was to spend months creating a comprehensive energy policy that would have increased our domestic oil and natural gas production and allowed the building of new refineries among other things. If not opposed by the democrats we would be far from an energy crisis today. President Bush showed himself quite capable in addressing all the issues facing this nation. Though no one can agree with all his stances there is plenty of detail to talk about. Of course President Bush is not running for President. But rather than stand on the merit of their own views the democrats have chosen to exalt themselves by belittling those around them recognizing President Bush as their greatest target.
Senator Obama brings much to the table despite his inexperience. Transparency is a powerful stand he can build on. His personal background, his interracial family and experience as a minority, gives him an insight we should all value. He has worked hard to take the high road in the political bickering among his own party. I could never vote for him based on his liberal policies but if he were to win the Presidency would have hope for a return to civility and accountability in government, real change. At least until this most recent democrat debate.
More than the typical one line attacks on President Bush, including his energy policy; the debate was a wink-wink nod-nod for the party to fall in line. Not quite a love fest, the orchestrated rekindling of friendship between the candidates was nothing less than a concession by Obama to the Clintons, with the final question on a shared ticket the crescendo. Planned to head off any divisions in the party that could jeopardize the black and women voting blocks. The equivalent of a good old-fashioned purge or Cultural Revolution one might have found under a communist regime where the party, the gathering of the enlightened, the elite, is most important. With government as the tool.
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