27 January 2008

Odio Latinam et alterae litterae

Interesting as such chaps as Julius Caesar and Cicero and Augustus were, they certainly had a horrid taste in language. And, whatever other reasons the Reformers may have had for calling the Roman church the Beast of Revelation, I am beginning to be convinced that they would almost be justified in such an accusation solely because of the preservation and propagation of the Latin language by that body...

P.S. Ignore the fact that half the words I just used are of Latin derivation.....I did it again. Humbug.

P.P.S. Paganini's 24 Caprices for Solo Violin never cease to amaze me (I have the recording by Midori). The variation among them, the different effects achieved, especially by the double stops so often employed, and just the sheer imagination--and in many cases, the sheer speed with which the performer's fingers must be moving--are fantastic. They are very emotive works, from the fierceness of the Gypsy-inspired No. 10, to the contemplative mood of No. 6, to the mischievous good humor of no. 17, to the technical artistry of No. 5.

Nos. 5, 9, 10, 14, and the ever-popular 24 are my personal favorites.

24 January 2008

Fifth and final section of The Thread Upon the Loom is posted. Comments and literary criticism, from those so inclined, would be appreciated!

For the fun of it, I'm posting an essay I wrote for the Scholarships for Military Children program (through the Base Commissary). The question was "Should all able-bodied citizens be required to serve at least two years in the military? Why or why not?" As this is something about which I've thought a bit and upon which I hold a rather strong opinion, it seemed easy enough...until I saw the word limit. 500 words is not nearly enough space to give the question an adequate treatment. So I left implicit my exemption of women and only hinted at a militia force. I think that service should be required in either the state militia (i.e., the National Guard) or the federal military, preferably the militia. Finally, I merely present it as an ideal. I do not know that it would be either possible or desirable to implement this as the American culture stands now. But if everyone had been eligible for the states' militias and trained for that end from the beginning, this whole problem would have been avoided. Ah, hindsight. Anyhow, enjoy, and I'd appreciate your thoughts or arguments.

For the Sake of Freedom

For a land that takes pride in its freedoms, universal compulsory military service would seem a contradiction. Such a requirement is, however, the best preserver of those very freedoms held so dear. It is my thesis that all able-bodied men should be required to serve at least two years in the state militia (the National Guard) or in the federal military.

The central idea of the social-contract theory of government on which America is founded is of people banding together for mutual defense from enemies foreign and domestic. The individual is helpless against his gathered enemies without a community, and he must do his part to protect himself and to honor and protect those who have protected him. Though some would object that the choice to serve should be left to the individual, this undermines the very foundation of government. Our constitutional republic is founded on the premise of working for the mutual good, and this necessitates some sacrifice. One who refuses to participate in the common defense quite simply refuses to actively participate in society. He wishes to reap the benefits while providing nothing for its maintenance.

Another objection to compulsory service is the potential for abuse. The Founding Fathers, however, reduced this possibility by vesting the powers of declaring war and of commanding the army in separate branches. As Congress is itself a representative of the people and the states, and the President is elected by the electoral votes of the states’ people, and the American soldier swears allegiance to the Constitution—not Congress or the President, the American system largely avoids the potential that the military would be used as a tyrannical force.

Another major problem is that some would claim exemption on the grounds that their religious principles do not allow them to kill in any fashion. In the first case, they can be easily granted a non-combat position. A continued objection to non-combat service on the grounds that it contributes to the war effort would be invalidated by the fact that even as civilians they would contribute whenever they pay taxes. America at war necessarily involves all Americans; those who wish are free to petition their elected representatives to end it, but until it is ended, they all must work corporately or corporately fail.

Requiring military service of all men may be difficult to implement at first, but would ultimately cause more people to embrace their duty to their country and their fellow citizens with greater fervor and patriotism. All Americans must be willing to sacrifice for their own families and for each other, and they must be raised valuing the merits of sacrifice. An expectation of future military service will help achieve that goal.

21 January 2008

Third section posted on poetry blog. :-)

Thoughts for the day:

I’m beginning to learn that, much as I admire Mr. Spock (from Star Trek), he is not the best role model for interpersonal relationships. Yes, I realize that it is rather late to be learning that, but bear with me.

As strongly as I believe that reason (based on God’s revelation) is to be preeminent over the passions, the fact remains that humans are passionate beings, and I must be able to touch not only the mind, but the heart, if I am to effectively communicate. This also means that I must learn to speak from the heart, not just the mind.

As well reasoned as my responses to a given problem may be (I’m not saying that they always are), sometimes that is not what is needed. Sometimes I just need to be still and listen. When I am faced with problems of my own, I take consolation in understanding the situation to the best of my ability and thinking and acting according to that. But when others are suffering, they are not always looking for such a theological/philosophical answer. Sometimes they just need a shoulder to cry on. But when they come to me, I am at a loss because I want to answer them but don’t know how to do so sensitively. The one time that I think I’ve responded halfway decently to someone else’s struggles was when I shut up and let them just talk out their own feelings.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the sun…A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain…a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak.” May I learn the wisdom of knowing the times and seasons....

17 January 2008

Okay....how does one indent his lines in blogspot? That is starting to get on my nerves, especially when I try pasting something over from Word. Assistance would be appreciated.

In any case, I posted one of my Theology papers over on my theology blog, being a fair summation of my views on the whole "speaking in tongues" thing. I have gone a little more conservative since writing that, to the point that I'm pretty much a charismatic in name only, as I don't believe I'm gifted in any of the spiritual gifts, and most of the public uses I've seen were unbiblical at one point or another. Also, I don't see any biblical support for the idea of private prayer languages that Pentecostals so often vaunt, and I have begun leaning towards cessationism based, not on the typical 1 Corinthians 13 argument, but on Zechariah 13. I still haven't figured out exactly what period of time Zechariah refers to when he says that prophecy will end: the continuation from 12 suggests after Israel as a nation turns to the Lord and possibly Armageddon, but 13:7 is a clear prophecy of Christ's death--on the other hand, Paul clearly writes on prophecy in his letters immediately after Christ's death. In any case, the consequences (13:3) are dire enough to make me say "better safe than sorry" until I'm a bit more sure. But, like I said, it's a moot point for me, since I'm 99% certain that I'm not gifted with any of the spiritual gifts that are so often debated.

In completely different news, the moonlight on the snowy fields was beautiful tonight. Almost as beautiful as our Nebraska sunsets. :-)
First section of "The Thread Upon the Loom" posted on my poetry blog (see link in sidebar). I've completed 4 of the five sections, and will post one a day. I should have the 5th completed by the time the rest are posted. Enjoy!

Also, there has been some debate regarding Huckabee and homeschooling. One source that I've cited (thanks to a buddy) says that he supported legislation against it, but a general PHC email exchange led to another source that puts some more perspective on his actions.

Now I can't say I'm for or against Huckabee...to be perfectly honest, I don't know enough about the various Republican candidates. He, Thompson, and Romney all seem viable to me, in one way or another, though naturally they all have their problems. So I don't want to get into a discussion about the elections, I am simply balancing my stance on a particular issue one side of which I have addressed before. :-)

Sola Gratia,
Colin

16 January 2008

First post

Well, friends, after various peregrinations upon the far-ranging expanse of the World Wide Web, I have come to settle upon this particular thread for my personal blog. I deleted the xanga after a consideration of some of the advertisements...blogspot is noticeably free of those. I shall keep the other blogs I started, that those who are interested solely in my literary criticisms, literary endeavors, and venturings into the realm of theology and philosophy may follow my progression there without being distracted by accounts of my personal life, which will tend to be less formal. Comparatively less formal, anyway.

News of the past week or so:

--First day of school classes today! Latin 3, US History 2, Freedom's Foundations (Political Philosophy) 2, Geometry, and Rhetoric. Rah! This should be an interesting semester.

--Working on scholarship applications for the fall, and information on the Simultaneous Membership Program with ROTC and the VA National Guard.

--FINALLY finished The Pickwick Papers yesterday, after starting it over the summer, returning it to the library, and not having time during the fall semester to read the copy I later bought. Grand book, and remarkable debut...I may post on some of my favorite parts later on. :-) Will be starting Martin Chuzzlewit soon, though my goal of reading all of Dicken's novels before I graduate is looking grim. I have 8 to go (I've read 7, I think), and only 2 1/2 years. It's possible, I suppose, but a full Dickens novel every quarter is somewhat daunting.

--STILL slogging away at Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion. Also started John Owen's The Death of Death in the Death of Christ, pretty much the definitive work of the Reformed church on particular redemption and why they believe it. I've been dabbling in Spurgeon's "All of Grace," and "John Ploughman's Talk"; both are short books, but they are more tracts than doctrinal treatises, so are having a harder time holding my interest right now.

--Received my Geneva Bible from Vision Forum!!!! I caught it on sale for half-price, with the black leather binding. It is a work of art, and a piece of history. And the leather smells wonderful. :-)

--I picked up two tapes for 75 cents each at the Salvation Army store yesterday, while waiting for my sisters to finish dance lessons. Steve Taylor's I Predict 1990 (yes, it's old), and One Bad Pig's Smash; punk/pop/rock (how DO you categorize Steve Taylor? He even has one song where he sings to an orchestra playing a piece by Rachmaninov...) and metal respectively, with lyrics generally satirizing the vanity of worldly philosophy from a biblical perspective. Not the greatest art of all time, but, hey, it was 75 cents and something for my car's tape player. :-)

--Inspired by a phone call from my old trumpet instructor, a conversation with Tim B., and my little sister's first flute lesson, I have picked my trumpet back up and am playing it again. I was happy to discover that alot of my old range remained, but, naturally, I had none of the endurance necessary. I was able to hit a high C (above the staff) a couple times, but I couldn't hold it for any length of time. That will require practice to get my lip back in shape; in the meantime, I'm mostly playing songs out of my hymnal, just for fun. I have no idea what I'm going to do in the future with my trumpet, but the same goes for my guitars, come to think of it.

In other news, there's another poem on the poetry blog, and I am getting close to completing my mini-epic. It's not long enough to be a true epic, but not short enough for me to just call it a poem (it's about 340 lines right now, with 20-60 left to go)...Anyway, I'll be posting that up by section in the next few days.

Sola Gratia,
Colin