Saturday, January 27, 2007

Women in the draft

I am considering some very serious issues. Namely, in the case that the draft is reinstated, should women be included in the draft? If not, why not?

At http://www.charmaineyoest.com/2005/05/the_politics_of_the_draft.php I found people who believe that it is morally wrong for women to be required to serve in the military, particularly in combat. Charmaine Yoest believes that the first move toward drafting women would be to allow them to serve in combat. One individual who posted on the article said that women (including his daughter) are already serving in combat, as situations arise that were not necessarily expected. As the article expressed, the issue of women in the draft is important, because, although we do not currently have an active draft, the day may come when it is implemented.

We must consider this issue now, before we are in a situation where our stance is no longer important because the decision has already been made.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Discourse on my philosophy of blogging

My opinion of the value of blogging has changed over the last few weeks. Because I dislike reading on a computer screen, I thought that blogging was not for me. I was wrong. Blogging is actually quite valuable and has a lot of potential benefits. First, it helps me with invention (the rhetorical meaning of the word, that is). When I begin to put my thoughts into words and write them down or type them into my computer, I begin to think more about a subject. New ideas seem to grow directly out of other ideas. (This could be considered the elocutionary aspect of blogging.) Having my thoughts recorded and preserved for future review and remembrance is very helpful when I desire to know what I was thinking or feeling at a certain time or in a particular situation. Writing out my thoughts also helps me to analyze them better and to see the soundness or faultiness of my own reasoning.

Blogging is useful in this class for many reasons. First, it presents us, the students, with the opportunity to share our thoughts with each other without interruption. We are able to say what we believe and then receive feedback from others. Having the benefit of reading someone else's blog before discussing a topic with them allows the reader the benefit of understand the other students thinking before attempting to engage in conversation. The outcome of this thinking is more productive conversations and a better understand of the other persons position.

Blogging is extensively useful beyond this class. I personally am just beginning to understand this. Blogging allows us (students and bloggers) to actively participate in an on-line community where we can use our intellects and connect to other serious minded individuals. We have important things to say and opinions worthy of being shared. In 1 Timothy 4:12, we are told "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." Blogging is a part of speech and is a way in which we can present our views and arguments regarding specific issues. With this in mind, we must be careful that what we say in our blogs does not misrepresent or dishonor Christ.

(As a side note, I see blogging as a way in which someone, a stay-at-home mom or confined individual, can continue to be actively involved in the intellectual world instead of allowing themselves to become isolated and disconnected from the serious discourses taking place.)

Blogging fits into a Christian worldview by allowing Christians to interact with people they likely would never had an opportunity to interact with in the absence of blogging. This interaction has the potential of bringing individuals to a saving relationship with Christ and to bring God glory in intellectual circles. This can be one means of implementing a Christian worldview. As Dr. Olson has pointed out, we are commanded to go into all the world and preach the gospel. All the world includes cyberspace. It is an avenue by which Christians can and should share Christ and a Christian worldview with others.

Blogging is something that I am still figuring out. It provides a place to openly share my thoughts in a format that is understandable and clear (hopefully) to those who are interested. It is also a way to become involved in shaping and forming our dynamic culture and bring sound logic and Christian thinking into the often considered "secular realms." As is apparent by this entry, my opinion about blogs and and the role that they will play in my life is still developing. It is an area that I need to pray about and seriously consider.

All of this being said, I bid you good evening and farewell.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Research: The Draft

I have read several different blogs discussing the draft. The reinstatement of the draft is a hot topic. Some individuals think that talk of reinstating it is only to make people think seriously about our national decisions. Others believe that the draft will be reinstated as history repeats itself.

There is a lot being said against President Bush. Many people refer to him as an idiot and the whole war in Iraq as a gargantuan mistake. While several individuals commented on how people whose children could be called up in the draft wouldn't vote for it, others who would likely be called up themselves thought the draft was a good thing.

My opinion on all of this is "Wow!"-scratch, scratch, scratch. I wonder if the draft really will be reinstated, if it would help our military, if women would be drafted, and how the draft would change young people's lives. I think we are very self-centered (me included) and the thought of sacrificing-possibly one's very life-for the freedom of others is foreign to many of us.

Although I would be exempted from military service due to medical reasons, I still would like to think that I would want to serve my country. I want to serve my country. How can I best do that? How does serving my country fit in with serving God. Will it mean trusting my brother to God as he serves in the military, putting his life at risk? I don't really know. I'm just thinking.

I'm here!

Well, I suppose I have arrived in an arena I would never have imagined I would be-the blogoshpere!

Coming soon, all of Beth's deep dark secrets made easily accessible...not quite.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Your time is valuable, therefore I will try not to waste it.

Have a wonderful day! Num. 6:24-26