There’s soooo much good stuff out there, I couldn’t focus on anything specific to serve up to y’all. So here goes another thrilling episode of Todays Interesting Stuff:
First, a three articles on the War and President Bush:
Next, a culture shock moment in Gary, Indiana
A good friend came to visit me a few weeks ago, we traveled down to Lousiville KY to visit some other friends and then on the way back we stopped in Gary, Indiana. This town is a sad testament to Union protectionism gone awry, government social programs working the way they usually do, and the indomitable human spirit being crushed under the weight of it’s own self-worth. We had to stop by this town because Professor Harold Hill, the Music Man, attended Conservatory here, graduating in the class of ‘05 (though it was revealed the conservatory did not open until ‘06). There is definite history here, but most of it has been forgotten. The culture shock came as my friend and I were looking for trinkets of baubles, touristy sorts of things she could get for her boyfriend. Initially we looked downtown, but in that depressed town the populace does not have either the money or the inclination to support anything touristy or sell anything touristy. My friend and I walked into a grocery store, and immediately the eyes of the entire store were upon us. We smiled affably at all, put on our clueless tourist faces and began to scour the aisles for trinkets and baubles. There were none to be found. We were the only two white people within 10 blocks at least. It wasn’t just one neighborhood either, but nearly the entire city. And it’s not inherently wrong or bad that there is a city so different from most other American cities, do not misread me. What struck me was the distrust I felt directed towards myself and my friend, the obviously depressed situation of a significant majority of these people. The friendly clerk at the gas station expressed her own commentary on this sad corner of America, “it sucks” she said, and she lives there.
Feeling Way Too White, from Emily Hauser and the Christian Science Monitor, talks of another Chicago suburb even closer to home for me. It really is the way she says it is.
And finally, the presidential race, particularly among the Republicans, introduces a classic American religion to the political big-shot race
Mormon, Governor, Republican Mitt Romney is running, and running well so far, for the Republican nod to head this greatest nation on God’s green earth. The Mormon bit has not been brought up very often, but I’d assume mostly that is a result of the media hoping against hope that there are big glaring billboard-sized issues they can attack in the as-yet-unnamed Republican nominee for President. A Mormon will have a target the size of a blimp over their heads, and better yet if they’re Republican.
But politics aside, the Mormon faith is an intriguing study, and from my perspective as a born-again Christian, entirely false. The worst bit being the differences between what their holy books teach and what the average Mormon is taught.
Two particularly salient discussions on the topic of Mormonism, one specifically from the political perspective and one specifically from the theological perspective, bring together great minds in a worthwhile discussion.
Mormonism and Democratic Politics: Are They Compatible, is a transcript of a discussion hosted by the Pew Forum.
Are Mormons Christian? Is a debate hosted by BeliefNet between Dr Al Mohler, Dean of Southern Seminary and outspoken commentator on the Christian role in current affairs, and Orson Scott Card, Mormon, Democrat, Science fiction author (one of my favorite), and all around intelligent guy. I highly respect both of these men, Card because I’ve read nearly everything he’s ever published, and Mohler because I have good friends who attend his school and I’ve heard enough about him from people I trust. Note: This debate is rather hard to read, you have to start from the END of the page and read each preceding article in turn to follow the ideas.
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