The War on Boys: Where Feminists and Men’s Rights Activists Go Wrong
June 30, 2008 | Filed Under Democrats/Leftists, Education, Family, Media Bias, News, Publius Contributor, Security/Safety, Selwyn Duke, Society/Culture | No Comments
By Selwyn Duke
One problem with one-issue activists, it seems, is that they often view matters from only one dimension. This has always been one of the characteristics of feminists. Men get blame for being history’s conquerors and killers, for instance, but no credit for being its innovators and healers. We will hear about how women “create life” while men only destroy it, but forgotten are the fruits of men’s labors. Were it not for male medical advances that virtually eliminated female death during childbirth, many feminists wouldn’t be around to crow about their fecundity.
Given this misandrist atmosphere, it’s not surprising that an opposing group called “men’s rights activists” would arise. They rebut feminist ideology, bring many important issues to light and usually make excellent points. And I tend to like them.
One issue they’re front and center on is the “war against boys.” This refers to the characteristic problems exhibited by modern lads – such as higher dropout rates, worse grades, and lower college attendance than girls and a far greater likelihood that they’ll be targeted by the ADHD police for a pickling with Ritalin – and the causes of these things. As for the latter, men’s rights activists implicate a prevailing anti-male attitude in a highly-feminized society. And I essentially agree with that analysis. Yet, despite this, like the feminists, they go badly astray. In fact, the two groups have more in common than they would care to admit.
Really, this is no surprise, as the problem I speak of isn’t unique to an activist of a given stripe but is one of modernity. To introduce it, I will cite a recent article by one David Kupelian titled “The war on fathers.” It’s an excellent piece by a man who has much of value to say, and I encourage you to read it. Yet it also contains the following line, “. . . young boys . . . don’t naturally thrive when forced to sit still at a desk listening to a teacher lecture for six hours a day . . . .”
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Serving
June 22, 2008 | Filed Under Education, Family, News, Publius Contributor, Religion, Society/Culture, Thomas Brewton | No Comments
-By Thomas E. Brewton
Being a Christian is more than attending church. And it’s not being selective in the ways you choose to follow Jesus.
Sunday’s sermon at Black Rock-Long Ridge Congregational Church (North Stamford, Connecticut) was delivered by Pastor Steve Treash. His subject was “I Serve.”
Christianity is more than just desiring to become a better person. You must be be ready to act when God presents opportunities for you to serve others.
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:25-28)
Again in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi:
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. _
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! _
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:1-11)
Christians must be prepared, indeed eager, to serve at home, in the workplace, and especially in the church.
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Ephesians 4:15-16)
Serve joyfully and with a full heart.
Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free. (Ephesians 6:7-8)
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. (John 13:12-17)
Figuring Out God, Prophecy and other scary words
June 21, 2008 | Filed Under Family, Morals/Sex, Publius Contributor, Religion, Resa LaRu, "Warchick" Kirkland, Society/Culture | No Comments
-By Resa LaRu Kirkland
Reading some scriptures last night–that I’ve read a million times before–seemed to have new meaning with current events. Could this be what we are seeing happen right now?
Here’s what I was reading, and what I thought of it. (Only the Prophet can speak with any authority about God’s direction for His gospel, but we are ALL–as God’s children–entitled to the gifts of prophecy, discernment, and understanding concerning everything else in our lives and the lives of those we love or have responsibility over, so lay claim to it people and use it! NOW!)
Daniel 11: 21-22
21 And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
22 And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.
First of all, let me stress that I do NOT believe that these verses are speaking of the anti-Christ, if there is a single person he is meant to represent. All men who seek to steal your freedom and set themselves above you, anyone who is a respecter of persons and believes you must do as THEY say–and NOT what is right–are anti-Christs. That was the war in Heaven and that is the war now–between those who want free will (Christ’s plan)and those who want force(Lucifer’s plan).
A vile person who shall obtain the kingdom by flatteries, to whom the people will NOT give the honour of the kingdom? Does that mean the majority will not elect him? I’ll get to that in a minute…only a few verses later there seems to be a confirmation of that fact.
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Hispanosupremacists Infiltrate Evangelical Movement
June 19, 2008 | Filed Under Democrats/Leftists, Family, Frederick Meekins, News, Publius Contributor, Religion, Society/Culture | No Comments
-By Frederick Meekins
Minority activists and other guiltmongers often whine that 11 am Sunday morning is often the most segregated hour of the week. I wonder what the we-are-all-one-big family agitators have to say about the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, which bills itself as the National Hispanic Association of Evangelicals.
While prominent Christian leaders are correct that all of mankind descends from one set of parents, interesting, isn’t it, how these speakers only expect Whites of a more Northern European extraction to abide by such radical color-blindness. For if a group of Caucasians a little to wrapped up in their pigmentation ratios established the Nordic Christian Association, it would not be tolerated in contemporary Evangelical circles, and rightfully so.
Yet, in browsing the NHCLC’s website, one finds alliances and linkages with a virtual who’s who of American religion today. On their main page at one time or another have been inks to prominent ministries such as Promise Keepers, Christianity Today, Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse, and Rod Parsely’s Center for Moral Clarity. Unless otherwise stated, usually such prominent banner placements denote a high degree of fellowship between the partners.
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Sexualizing Little Girls is Art?
June 2, 2008 | Filed Under Crime, Democrats/Leftists, Family, Health, Media Bias, Morals/Sex, News, Publius Contributor, Religion, Security/Safety, Society/Culture, The Law, Warner Todd Huston | No Comments
-By Warner Todd Huston
What would you say about photos of naked children — most of them girls as young as 13 — holding each other or by themselves in pensive poses? Would you imagine it to be thoughtful art or would your first thought be that it seemed like uncomfortable porn? Would you think it just a beautiful expression of humanity, or would you get a vague feeling that someone is getting his jollies from these pictures and it might be the so-called artist. And would it seem like a celebration or exploitation of children?
This is the argument currently going on in Australia over an art gallery showing of the work of photographer Bill Henson. Henson’s latest photo series shows several naked girls and boys, some prepubescent, in what some may consider alluring poses (though others might consider them merely thoughtful). The authorities were not amused by the exploitative photos and had them removed from the gallery. Even Australia’s new Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has had his say about this incident describing the photos as “revolting.” He later added that he will not apologize for his comments.
Naturally, several in Australia’s arts community raced to Henson’s defense saying that it is an outrage to have had the gallery showing boxed by authorities. Even actress Cate Blanchett — herself a mother of three — has voiced support of the photographer.
The letter of support scolds all those who are offended by the photos.
The Crime of Being White
May 29, 2008 | Filed Under Democrats/Leftists, Family, Media Bias, News, Publius Contributor, Race, Selwyn Duke, Society/Culture | No Comments
By Selwyn Duke
Just recently I wrote a piece about Keith John Sampson, a college student who was charged with “racial harassment” for reading an anti-Ku Klux Klan book. Not surprisingly, the article evoked a great response, including emails from those with their own stories to tell about persecution inspired by what I will call caucaphobia. A couple of these accounts are so compelling – compared to one even Sampson’s problems pale – that I’ve decided to publish them in this piece (both readers allowed me to use their names; their correspondence has been edited for punctuation, grammar and style). These are the stories the mainstream media won’t tell, straight from the front lines of the culture war. They give voice to a persecution whose name most dare not utter.
First we have Mr. David Gonzalez of Illinois. He wrote:
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