Dear visionaries, Afternoon, kids! No need to worry — I’ll keep it brief. Kudos to Robert for doing a decent job of reading/hearing what we have actually been saying. Non-kudos to Susan for linking me to a web site I had never heard of, and for a tightly-reasoned argument that did everything but what it …
Simplistic Categories
Dear visionaries, A brief response to Larry. The reason Tom’s newspaper response did not interact with the controversy and criticism is that from the outbreak of this controversy in the paper, the facts have been consistently misrepresented. Our private school found itself in an editorial inkbath created by journalistic ineptitude, and in contrast to this, …
A Political Agenda?
Dear visionaries, There are two ways to find out our “agenda” for the future of the fair town of Moscow. One of them would be to go back into the 20/20 archives and reread all our previous discussions on this subject. We haven’t changed our minds since then. Another cool way to find out would …
Relativism and the Mistreatment of Women
Dear visionaries, Susannah’s questions presuppose a foundational solidarity and allegiance between all men, based on gender alone, and a solidarity of all women, based on gender alone. But there are other factors affecting what she lists, things like suspect statistics, Hinduism, famine, wars, etc. But when it comes to those things that really are done …
Comparisons
Dear visionaries, This all-male school board thingy is turning into the Energizer Bunny of topics. Oh, well. William asked why, given my theology, I would seek a woman’s input or opinion on this or any other matter. Given the rhetorical distance between our camps, this kind of assumption is certainly a natural one, but I …
Keeping the Kids in Line
Dear visionaries, Steve notes that the initial question asked of me has gone unanswered in the flurry of discussion. “What should we tell our daughters?” We should teach them what we believe, which is that men are called by God to sacrifice, love, lead, provide, protect and honor, and women are called to answer this …
No Cheese Atall
Dear visionaries, In making the Nazi connection, Anne failed to mention that when I was in the Navy (and Germany also had a Navy, did it not?) I owned a Volkswagen. I think that Will missed one of my key points. I said that I actually think this is appropriate. I believe that some of …
Help From the Outside
Visionaries, Ralph raised a couple questions based on the reports in the newspaper that our private Christian school was limiting board membership to men only. First, the board has not voted on that proposition. The board approved presenting the proposed change to the school’s constituency, and then collecting feedback. According to our by-laws, the board …
Grenade Attack
Visionaries, The grenade attack over the weekend in Kuwait has led to the detainment of a suspect, an American Muslim soldier. The news media reports that authorities are still baffled over the apparent lack of a motive. But in the meantime, because we cannot afford any more attacks like this, we need to call upon …
Style Over Substance
The story is told of the preacher who had prepared a manuscript of his sermon, and in the margin of one section he had scribbled a note to himself. “Argument weak. Shout here.” The phenomenon can be seen in many settings. Lousy rock bands often invest significantly in dry ice and laser light shows. All …