Movie Review: The Hobbit: Unexpected Journey

I've always been a huge LOTR fan. I love the characterizations, the plot intricacy, the attention to detail. I also loved the movies by Peter Jackson. Sure, they had "Hollywood" elements in them, but for the most part they were exceptional. When I heard the Hobbit was coming out, I had mixed feelings. Each LOTR book is quadruple the size of the Hobbit. Yet the Hobbit is as long as the entire trilogy? The Hobbit was a children's bedtime story. Jackson turned the Hobbit into a long epic?

My doubts increased as the reviews started to pour in. People dissed the directing pace and the higher frame rate. LOTR fans disliked how the movie deviated from the text and added extraneous information. I went to see the Hobbit fully prepared that it may not measure up to the excellent first trilogy.

I was very surprised...

...It was MUCH better than most people are giving it credit for. I'll share some of my thoughts under a few general points:

Movie Review: Lincoln

So for Thanksgiving, I went and saw the movie "Lincoln". It is absolutely brilliant. I'm speechless.

Tuesdays with Lewis: Atheism and Evil

“My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust?”

Some of C.S. Lewis’s most profound observations appear as he dissects atheism. Lewis systematically dismantles all the popular arguments, including the classic “why is there evil?” one. Personally, I have sometimes struggled to answer friends who have challenged me with this argument. In Mere Christianity, Lewis offers an elegant answer that strikes at the premise behind the question. We cannot argue against God’s existence by citing the injustice inherent in the universe.

Search the internet for arguments in support of God’s existence and we will invariably find a common response: “But if God existed, why is there so much evil?” This question seems to have influenced hundreds of people to reject Christianity and theism. People look around and see death, destruction, and pain everywhere. How could God allow such a cruel existence? Thus, atheists believe in a random and non-spiritual universe devoid of meaning or overarching purpose. If the world governs itself by self-interest, survival instincts, and probabilities, atheists can accept both the beauty and evil of the world together.

Yet Lewis cuts to the heart of the argument by questioning the terms people use. After all, we cannot label something as evil without also identifying good. Even those opposed to Christianity would agree with the above statement. However, when we extend the same label to the universe, we arrive at a contradiction in the atheistic worldview. If we condemn the universe as unjust and cruel, we compare it with some “ideal” or “good” universe. Since no man living has witnessed such a universe, we must conclude that this standard is a universal ideal hidden in our nature.

If we truly consist of just molecules, we would not possess ideals. Man’s highest ideals should consist of their instincts: wealth, power, and pleasure. I do not deny that many men do indeed pursue their survival instincts. However, all men speak of their emptiness and yearning for a greater purpose than selfish desires. Even atheists desire to engage in philanthropy, altruism, and legacy-building. This desire to find meaning cannot stem from a purely natural universe.

Ultimately, only God can reveal their emptiness to someone who does not believe. Even so, their plaintive cry against injustice may serve to unearth their longing for justice and higher standards. As Lewis says, atheism disproves itself.

Tuesdays with Lewis

“One of the marks of a certain type of bad man is that he cannot give up a thing himself without wanting every one else to give it up. That is not the Christian way. An individual Christian may see fit to give up all sorts of things for special reasons--marriage, or meat, or beer, or the cinema; but the moment he starts saying the things are bad in themselves, or looking down his nose at other people who do use them, he has taken the wrong turning.” - C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Some of C.S. Lewis’s most profound observations appear as he dissects morality. Lewis deals with the touchy subject of social mores. Many Christians have bitter disagreements about alcohol, movies, and other such topics. Christians who hold strict positions accuse their freer brethren of indulgence and sin. Those who hold different views accuse their opponents of legalism and pharisaical behavior. Personally, I have sometimes struggled to find the fine line between these camps. In Mere Christianity, Lewis slices to the heart of the dispute, arguing that while we can make a decision to abstain, we must not look down on others who do not.

First, Lewis declares the Bible asks for temperance instead of absolute abstinence (78). Paul wrote, “All things are lawful, but not all things are helpful” (1 Cor. 10:23). When it comes to “gray areas” such as entertainment, alcohol, or modesty, Paul asks us to judge not by law but by the Spirit. If all things are indeed lawful, the Bible must call for wisdom in judgment and moderation in participation. For various reasons, Christians have come to different conclusions on such topics, ranging from complete freedom to complete abstinence.

Lewis now brings down the hammer: Christians who judge others for their stance commit sin themselves. As the Bible says, “Judge not lest ye also be judged” (Mt. 7:1). As Lewis points out, all of us find ourselves blind to sin in our lives. While the Bible calls us to hold our brethren accountable, others may draw different conclusions in the same area. Although Lewis charges us to avoid causing others to stumble, he asks us to also avoid condemning others for their prayerful decision on the matter.

Personally, Lewis’s charge to “believe the good of others . . .and make others as comfortable as you can” has helped me immensely (95). For instance, I believe in a stricter form of courtship, while my friends engage in dating in high school. Rather than condemning them, I probed deeply into their position, asking them to defend their view from a Biblical perspective. After many friendly yet intense discussions, I still don’t agree with them, but I respect their decisions as their personal convictions based on their spiritual journey. When meeting other students who identify as homosexual, I treat them with courtesy and respect, without offering condemnation and without hiding my own conviction. After all, they do not have the same standard as I do. Rather, I have tried to share the love of God with them. Instead of condemning them under a standard they do not recognize, I try to bring them under my standard first, before challenging them directly.

Although I know many Christians who would disapprove of my actions, I believe they represent what Christ would want me to do. Lewis offers practical advice about morality – advice that if followed, could change the way Christians interact with the world. Many people reject Christ because they see condemnation instead of love, legalism instead of grace, and hypocrisy instead of honesty. Christ has called the Church to love without compromise, grace without excess, and transparency without indulgence. Following the middle path between these two extremes is hard, but it bears much fruit in the end.

Update on the Blog

Right now, I know I haven't finished up the Israel trip recap. I'll try to get that done soon.
But in reality, the real reason the blog has been inactive is a combination of factors. I've been super busy with schoolwork. I've been narrowing down my college choices and working on my Common Application in my free time. Recently, I've been very busy with college essays and a very intensive 1-semester C.S. Lewis writing course that has me writing four essays per week. I'll try to post when I can but no promises from here on out. :D

Grading Obama's Foreign Policy

I'm a co-writer for an excellent election blog being written by Meghan O'Neil, Jon Hixson, and myself. Today, I published the first in a series of posts. You can read it here:

Part 3: The Galilee

Our breakfast was very...unique. There was a peas/carrots quiche, four types of fresh yogurt, curds, honey, rye bread, a salad bar, and three types of semi-raw fish. With the skin still on it. They had a poached-eggs consistency. I did try it but its not something I'd eat again. :) I wish I had pictures, but I didn't manage to snap one at the hotel. After breakfast, we took the bus from Nazareth to the beautiful resort town of Tiberias. Tiberias, named for the Roman emperor Tiberius, was the ancient capital of the king Herod Antipas, who ruled over the Galilee. Now in peak season, this resort would be bustling with people, but we had arrived in the offseason, early in the morning. This was part of the view we got as we walked down to the seaside...

The boat we traveled on was supposedly a replica of an ancient Galilean fishing boat. 

Part 2: From Mt. Nebo to Nazareth

"And Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And The Lord showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, and the Plain, that is, the valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. And The Lord said to him, "This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there."

This is the view from atop Mt. Nebo in Jordan. This isn't the Promised Land - it's the 'plains of Moab'.

Day 1: Jordan

I'm going to get through our entire trip and do a daily post. Here's Day 1 of our trip to the Holy Land.

We flew from India early in the morning to Doha on Qatar Airways.This is the plane we boarded in Doha. The country is completely desert. Seriously, the entire landscape is sand. It was blisteringly hot (110 degrees). Qatar Airways is the number one airline in the world, and it shows in the comfort of the seats, the attention of the staff, and the food (they serve even on 3-hour flights).

Five interesting/hilarious/crazy...

5 Things you should know about Jordan...

1. It's dry and hot. Most of it is a rocky desert. Houses are made of stone. There are hardly any trees.

2. Natural resources are few. In the Middle East, you either need water or oil. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE - all have oil. So their populations all get free government handouts, healthcare, etc. Cities like Dubai or Abu Dhabi surpass anything you can find in the US. But Jordan has neither water or oil. Thus, the people are poor and area is dry.

3. They are ruled by King Abdullah, a guy who's half British. According to our tour guide, he's pretty awesome and everybody loves him, but then again, our guide is required to say that to tourists. He's married to a lady whom the British call the third-most beautiful woman in the world. :P

4. It's famous for the city of Petra, an ancient wonder of the world - an entire city cut into the side of a cliff. We didn't go there because it was out of the way.

5. They've had many wars with Israel and probably will again. But according to our guide, "Israel and us are good friends now". Another required statement. :)

5 Things you probably don't know about Israel...

1. It's GREEN. Everywhere you look, there's fruits, vegetables, olive trees. It's actually quite nice. Sure, it's arid as you come near the Dead Sea area, but Northern Israel is positively beautiful.

2. The Old City, the area of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus, is tiny. It's possible to walk across the whole width in a couple hours fairly easily. Considering the size of our American suburbs and small towns, Jerusalem wasn't very imposing physically.

3. It's got great food. Very few places in the world can compare to the quality of the produce in Israel. The vegetables and fruits are absolutely amazing. Plus I love love Middle Eastern food. :)

4. It's really tiny. While it may have taken a day for Jesus to travel from Nazareth to the other side of Galilee, it's just a couple of hours drive for modern tourists. Bethlehem is practically a suburb of Jerusalem in modern terms. It's literally a 30 minute drive...driving at 40 mph.

5. The Dead Sea isn't all its cracked up to be. I'll explain in a later post. :P

5 Hilarious Holy Sites I saw...

I'll count these down to number 1.

5. The place where Jesus ate fish with his disciples after the resurrection. Yup, it's a big limestone rock...just like any other limestone rock. Not sure how they found that one.

4. Joseph's carpenter shop. We know this because...because it's a cave in the ground.

3. The Tomb of King David. The crusaders were really awesome because wherever they went they messed stuff up. They ruined great archeological sites by building churches and believed anything people told them. So when they discovered "the Upper Room", they excavated right underneath to build cellars for the monastery that was going to be built there. They found a big sarcophagus with menorahs on the side. Obviously, this was King David's tomb. Today, archeologists are clear that this couldn't have been King David's tomb. It's not the right place or the right time period.

2. The tomb of the Virgin Mary. According to Orthodox, this is where the Virgin Mary was buried. But after three days, she rose again and went up to heaven. Catholics disagree. This is instead the spot that the Virgin Mary was assumed. The Assumption of Virgin Mary is when she just went up into heaven the way that Jesus did. Both churches agree that as she went up (either after resurrection or not), she left her girdle, symbol of virginity, behind. :P

1. Mary's Milk Grotto: So supposedly, this site in Bethlehem is where Mary nursed Baby Jesus. You go into this little cave with tons of pictures of Mary nursing Jesus and you can light a candle of course. The cave's rock is white, supposedly because as Jesus was nursing, Mary spilled some milk...and...yeah...it turned the entire cave white. But that's not the best part...nowadays...Catholics come from all over to buy packets of powdered milk-rock to ingest, in the hopes of regaining...uh...fertility.

No joke.

5 Best places I went to...

5. The Shepherd's Fields in Bethlehem: I don't know if these are real or not. All I know was that there was a huge archeological excavation of some caves that had been used by early Christians. The excavations are open to the public so naturally, I went with a friend to explore. We used our cellphones as flashlights, crawled through tunnels, found ancient carvings, and generally had a blast.

4. The Via Dolorosa: You can't help but grasp the deep cruelty and beauty of the crucifixion of Jesus as you trace his steps from Pilate's court to the cross and tomb. It's tough to describe it. You need to go to understand.

3. The Mount of Olives. This is the place where Jesus will come back. That's pretty mind-blowing.

2. The Way of Hosannas: The route Jesus took to arrive in Jerusalem for his final mission. You walk along that route, come up onto the side of the Mount of Olives, and suddenly, the entire city of Jerusalem is in front of you and you're directly overlooking the Temple Mount. There's a church there to commemorate the place where "Jesus wept." It's a deeply moving experience.

1. Simon Peter's House: Archeologists have done extensive studies and concluded that this excavation in Capernaum is indeed his house. This is the place where Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law, where the paralytic was lowered through the roof, where Jesus stayed. When you go to this town, largely intact from the time of Jesus, the Bible becomes tangible. The bedtime stories become historical accounts. You aren't just an believer anymore, you're now a witness as well.

Live Blog: My Trip to India

11:08 AM: Arrived at Charlotte CLT Airport. Checked everything in and waiting for our noon flight to LaGuardia. :) I'll add an entry on this post every time I get a chance. :)











11:27: Boarding call. :) Ok we're in Abu dhabi. Sorry for not updating sooner. I have to brush my teeth after 20 hours in planes. :)

The Adventure Begins

Monday morning, I'm leaving to visit India, Jordan, Israel, and Egypt! I've been to India many times, but this will be my first trip to the others! I'm busy packing but once the trip has started I'm hoping I can keep you guys posted with photos of our travels as well as pictures of interesting landmarks and things. Any requests for photos? (Elephants, the Dead Sea, etc.)? :)

In honor of the trip, I've changed the blog's background temporarily. :)

Any comments?

Pray for us!

Book Review: Truman

Truman wasn't the greatest president. He wasn't the smartest. He had no elite education. He was a failure in his civilian career. He made quite a few mistakes in office. But his saving grace was this: he was a man of conviction. In everything that he did, Harry S. Truman endeavored to do it well.

As a bankrupt farmer boy, Truman had great ambition. He wrote to his fiancee that his goal was to be the governor of a state, a seemingly unimaginable position for someone like him. He had never been in "high society". He was a very poor speaker. He had no political connections. His farm soon failed. He tried shopkeeping and failed at that too.

David McCullough is one of the best historians of our time and his book Truman is a massive masterpiece. His strong opinions shine through but without bias towards conservative or liberal viewpoints. He clearly detests Joe McCarthy or J. Edgar Hoover, but avoids making judgments about Eisenhower (a Republican) and his rivalry with Truman (a Democrat).

10 Problems with the Avengers

Instead of writing another review about how awesome the Avengers is, I thought it would be more fun to examine some logical flaws in the plot that you might have overlooked. :) Also, I thought it would be fun to borrow a bit from Mark Twain's critique of the Deerslayer series.

WARNING: This may contain spoilers!

Thoughts from the Shower: Compassion and Political Philosophy

The Tuesday series now has a name! Or at least a working name! If you can think of a witty way to integrate the concept (random profundities that reveal themselves to me while showering), I'll use your name.


I've decided to write this article in the form of a mini-play, so enjoy!

Did Miracles End with the Apostles?

I've grown up in churches that believed, at least in theory, that miracles happen even in the present day. However, through the last few years, reading theology books and discussing the topic with others, I came to realize that my assumption was a point of controversy in the church. There are many people who do not deny the reality of miracles but relegate them to the time of the apostles and the first-century church. Today, I'd like to address this "error" and examine this phenomenon in a bit more depth.

1. Is there Biblical Support for the Charismata ending?

But it's a handy term referring to all of the "gift": tongues, prophecy, miracles, signs, exorcism, etc. The Bible itself talks about all of these things happening during the time of the Apostles. They healed the sick (the cripple), cast out demons (Paul and the sons of the rabbi), prophesied over people (Ananias and Sapphira), and spoke in tongues. But according to those terming themselves cessationist, all of these died out with the closure of the Biblical canon. In other words, when the Bible came into its final form, the gifts simultaneously ceased in manifestation.

However, what Biblical support is there for this position? Did not Jesus command the disciples to do all of these things in the Great Commission? Did Paul or any apostle even hint at the cessation of the gifts? Why then did Paul write for so long about how we must utilize spiritual gifts if these sections are irrelevant for the last 1800+ years? The only passage that I have ever heard quoted is 1 Cor 13:8-12:

I'm Back!

It's been a long time since the last post. Since February, I've won three debate tournaments, competed in Science Olympiad, finished 3 AP exams, got elected president of the honor society, and had amazing experiences in every way - spiritual, intellectual, and physical. I'll probably do some hindsight posts eventually.

It's the time of year when TV networks reevaluate their show lineups and cancel series and revamp others.  For now, everything is in flux for next year till the fall. The one constant for this blog will always be the successful "Conversing on Controversy". We'll be doing that every Thursday without fail. Everything else is up in the air.

This is going to be the "Great Summer Experiment". I'm going to try different things so prepare to be surprised. From June 20th through August 1st, I'm going to Minnesota for Debate Nationals and then India and Israel. I'll do my best to keep you posted about my travels as well as hopefully photo-blog it.

Tuesdays are random, but I'm going to try doing op-eds. As always, I'm open for guest posts so feel free to chime in. If you are a fellow blogger and would like to do a blog v. blog debate, I'd be delighted.

It's Time

The debate year is officially starting. Tomorrow, I head to Maryland for the first qualifier of the year, in Annapolis with my uber-talented partner Susanna C. I'm very excited!

Pray for me:

- That I'll be able to finish all my school before leaving. :)
 - That God'll give me strength and guidance throughout the tournament
- That I can be a witness through my apologetics speeches, my speech on John Paton, and in my overall behavior

I promise that I'll write a long tournament recap on Monday when I get back to make up for the last two weeks of low activity. :) We'll return to our regularly scheduled programming soon.

My Creative Project: It's finally HERE!

Hey Guys,

This has been a short story I've been working on intermittently for the last two months. It's a project for AP Literature. Please read and leave a comment on the story if you like it. Suggestions for improvement are welcome:

http://danielscreativeproject.blogspot.com/

Read this letter and never forget

I couldn't resist. This is too compelling. This was taken from the blog "Letters of Note" which can be found using a cursory Google search. It is the copy of a letter sent to...well, I'll just cut and paste the entire article.

Two week break

SAT's went great! Thanks to everyone who prayed for me. But I have a lot of work heading into the Maryland NCFCA speech and debate qualifier. 25 Apol speeches to write, 1 BN to write and memorize, 1 debate case to memorize and rewrite, another debate case to research, neg briefs and strategy sessions, and of course, schoolwork to catch up on and work ahead for.

So I'll be taking a two-week hiatus and I'll write a tournament recap in a couple weeks.

But...I'll still try to put up the Morning After. The message today was really impactful.

Book Review: Doctor in the House

Doctor in the House: A Physician-Turned-Congressman Offers His Prescription for Scrapping Obamacare -- and Saving America's Medical System by Michael Burgess
This is a cool book about a TX doctor who decided to become a politician, not for the money, but out of a sense of civic duty. Michael Burgess provides a short autobiography and then a detailed critique of Obamacare from a doctor's perspective. Frankly, I'm surprised more people haven't consulted the doctors about all of this. After all, they will be affected the most.

Blog Update

So we're very close to 3000 hits which is pretty good. But this week, I'm going to be skipping Thursday-Saturday because of the SAT on the 28th. Please pray for me as I prepare and for me on Saturday morning.

Thanks!
Daniel

Conversing on Controversy: Replacement Theology

NOTE: This is the fourth article in my weekly series. To see the others, click the conversing on controversy tag. This would have originally been published on Thursday, but I did a Tebow special.

So...this week we're discussing RC Sproul Jr.'s explanation of replacement theology. Although he doesn't use the term, he admits that people could describe him that way.

What is Replacement Theology?

Tim Tebow: A Modern-Day Eric Liddell

NOTE: I still plan to run the CoC series but I'm delaying it till tomorrow and using today to talk about Tebow, and give you some articles that really impacted me. So don't worry, we'll discuss replacement theology tomorrow.


We all know who Eric Liddell is. He's the flying Scotsman. The man who wouldn't run on Sunday. Who didn't put his country first when it came to putting his God first. The one immortalized in Chariots of Fire. The guy who was a missionary to China and died serving God.

Movie Review: Hurt Locker

The Hurt Locker is a great movie, possibly the best movie so far, about the Iraq war. I don't know if it's in the list of classic war movies (see Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down, Full Metal Jacket), but it is the best recent war movie. Hurt Locker follows a sergeant who has chosen to be on the bomb squad. His duty is to disable roadside bombs, suicide bomber jackets, human cavity bombs, etc. He doesn't really know why he enjoys his duty but he does, even though it creates so much stress and depression for him. He could die at any time. His colleagues die in explosions or get injured by friendly fire. But at the end, he realizes that the one thing he cares about in life is his job. And so, he reenlists for another year. For him, the war is a adrenaline drug. It keeps him going.

5 Reasons why Barack Obama will be our president till 2016

I'm offering 5 bold reasons why Obama is going to win reelection. If you disagree or agree, let me know why in the comments!
1. Obama the Campaigner is 10 times better than Obama the President.
I do not mean to insult Obama's time in office. But let's face it: he's an incredible campaigner. We've never seen a political machine of his size. His fund-raising capabilities are unsurpassed. He has vast grass-roots support and unity within the minority communities. He is a charismatic speaker and campaigner. He doesn't make gaffes. He looks presidential. His campaign staff is filled with smart, capable people who know how to win.
So far, we haven't seen any scandals, any ethical issues, any major problems that have stuck to Obama himself. Notice what Republicans say: "the Obama administration". This implies guilt by association. But it also admits that it has been hard to attack Obama directly. Now, I will admit that Obamacare was controversial and Solyndra or the EPA policies have been unpopular. But overall, he's not guilty of large-scale corruption, ineptness, or indecisiveness.
And I predict right now: He's going to rejuvenate his supporters with a stellar campaign once it gets going. The crowds will appear and he'll gain steam as soon as the Republicans pick a nominee. Why?

The Morning After: Open Theology

The guest pastor gave an incredible message about experiencing God's love, but it's one of those messages I'd rather just post an mp3 of so you guys can really appreciate it. My notes won't do it justice. So...I'm going to compensate by giving you my rebuttal of Open Theology (my Apol notes). What do you guys think? I was able to sweep firsts in a room with this one.

Friday Links: "Inaugural Edition"

So I'm going to rename this series "Friday Links". It'll just be a collection of links that I'm reading:

So...first...two blogs that I recommend you guys read:

CoC: Calvinism vs. Arminianism

NOTE: This is the third article in my weekly series. To see the others, click the conversing on controversy tag.


So...I don't feel qualified to really discuss this topic so I'm going to refer you all to an AMAZING explanation of it:

Movie Reviews (2 for 1!): Ocean's Twelve & North by Northwest

Okay so I grouped these both together because they were equally awful. I honestly have no clue why North by Northwest is an "American classic". If it truly represents the epitome of American cinema, that's pretty sad. Cary Grant may be a good actor but this is truly a silly role.

The movie simply has no believability. Cary Grant wears the same impeccable suit the entire time he's chased by assassins, the police, and the CIA. His dialogue is stilted. The plot-line takes FOREVER to develop and tries too hard to be funny. The story is implausible and unbelievable. Let me give you a couple examples:

How to Fix American Carmakers

For years, we have been hearing the laments about the fall of the auto industry. The bankruptcy of GM and Chrysler had corresponded with the unemployment in the northern midwest. Detroit is one of the poorest cities in America. To remedy this, the government has practically taken over GM. Chrysler is releasing ads about "buying American" and "made in Detroit". American engineering has begun to be improved. However, the auto trade deficit continues to increase. The top brands in America are Japanese and Korean. The world´s largest auto manufacturer is Japanese. What are the reasons? 

The Morning After: First Things First

Sorry this is late: I've been busy and didn't get a chance to post till now.
So this week, we talked about the famous Matthew 6:33 verse: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.


There are three things that our pastor challenged us to seek God first in:

My Week: Getting back to school...

So this was a more quiet week. We got a new electric keyboard!! I'm having fun trying out different jams and sounds. Maybe I'll record one of my covers some day and post it. :) It depends if you guys want to hear it :P.

Operation Sandwich

So today, I organized a community service project with my honor society to make and pack 600 sandwiches and take them downtown to the shelter! Here's how we did it:

CoC: The Civil War and Slavery

NOTE: This is the second article in my weekly series. To see the first, click the conversing on controversy tag. This article is a reprint of a research paper that I wrote last year. I can't find my final draft so this is my second one. 
This topic is, ahem, very controversial in my neck of the woods so I want to emphasize that I don't mean to offend anyone and that I personally am not a fanatic about either side. However, after studying the time, I'd like to set the record straight based on how I see it. Some statements that may seem a little strong are meant to spark debate. Just as in a debate people take extreme positions, I'm trying to remain consistent here with a basic thesis. In reality, my views are not so black-and-white about the subject.

The Civil War must qualify as one of the most divisive topics in American history. Historians do not quibble over what happened in most cases, but rather the motivation. On this point, scholars divide sharply. No modern consensus exists upon the cause of the war. Many in the South still call it the War of Northern Aggression and justify the South both morally and legally. Due to the books written by Southern apologists, U.S. textbooks now fudge the subject and no longer say that slavery caused the war. These scholars now portray Lincoln as a calculating, racist politician who trampled on the rights of the states. More confusion exists about the war now than existed in its own time. By looking at the historical facts however, it becomes possible to clear things up and set the record straight. After careful historical review, it becomes clear that the North, led by Lincoln, walked the narrow line between idealist goals like abolition of slavery and practical concerns like preservation of the Union, while the South supported neither.

I got a lot of response....

So...basically I got so much response to my Belief of Conservatism op-ed that I'm going to have a follow-up this coming Tuesday! Stay tuned...

Movie Review: Shawshank Redemption

This is a movie about hope. About a man who refused to be bowed down by his circumstances. By the unfairness of life. By the institution. The Shawshank Redemption is a movie about Andy Dufresne. Andy is a well-off banker who is withdrawn and quiet. His wife finally fesses up to cheating on him and openly drives to her lover's house. Andy follows them there, drunk and contemplating murder. He loads his revolver, steps out of the car...and then? According to the prosecutor, Andy is a criminal. A man who committed cold-blooded murder. Witness the facts: Two dead victims, riddled with 12 bullets, a broken bottle nearby with fingerprints on it, revolver bullets, and tire tracks that match Andy's. It doesn't help that after leaving the place, Andy throws the gun in the ocean. He claims he thought better of his actions and simply drove home, but the judge doesn't listen. A double life sentence. In the Shawshank prison. The movie chronicles Andy's life in prison, as told from "Red's" perspective.

The Fundamental Belief of Conservatism

A friend once asked me, "What's the difference between a conservative and liberal?" Aren't they just stereotypes? Arbitrary labels? I didn't have a clear response but after thinking about it, now I do. Thus, this post.

The key difference is that at the heart of it, liberals are fundamentally pessimistic while conservatives are fundamentally optimistic.

Bear with me...

The Morning After: Holy Dissatisfaction

What I learned from Sunday's sermon:

1 Samuel 14

 ¹ One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.

So what struck me about this passage was Jonathan's complete trust in God. He didn't care about the circumstances. He's the only guy in the entire army with a weapon. Can you imagine? An entire country without weapons. To give some background, the Philistines are occupying Israel and none of the Israelites have iron weapons. In essence, they are utterly defenseless. Jonathan was showing incredible courage to go up in broad daylight to the Philistine outpost. He's the prince of Israel! The heir! Imagine how excited the Philistines would be! Here's one guy with one of the only two weapons in Israel and he's the prince to boot!

My Week: My Winter Break

So...for Christmas, we all sat around, sang songs (us kids played piano, Dad played guitar), ate a great breakfast (Mom made blueberry muffins) and watched some holiday basketball. Interestingly, we don't have any holiday traditions. No lights or Christmas tree. No yule log or *gasp* presents. Instead, my parents buy us stuff when we need it year-round. The presents tradition is hokey. Maybe I'll write a post eventually about that.

Because of all the great sales, we usually get some great 'presents' anyway. This year though, my laptop pretty much died. So...I got