Maybe Multiculturalism Isn't so Bad?

The Satanic Temple has decided to place a diorama of the fall of Satan in the Florida Capitol. While certainly making a bold move in the battle for religious liberty that will cause religious folks like me to scurry away in terror, their glorious masterstroke has one flaw. While their desire was to scandalize us with their edgy views, all they've done is provided us with another (albeit tacky) reminder that our God is better than the one they (albeit tongue-in-cheek) serve.

Maybe the Muslims will step up to the plate next and put up a diorama of Lepanto, or Muhammad standing before Christ at the Last Judgment? Tis the season!

#CrimingWhileWhite

Mr. Dragonofski requested a report on #CrimingWhileWhite. As always, friends, your wish is my command. Just so long as it doesn't involve anything too obscene or boring.

While it should come as no surprise to you that I do not possess, do not want to possess, and will not possess a Twitter account, I grudgingly acknowledge it's place in our society as the teeming collective unconscious of the Millennial generation. Its 140 character limit on speech mirrors exactly the average American's shallow engagement on the issues. 

By it's nature, all dialectic is pared away, leaving raw tribalist rhetoric, which is, realistically, the best you can expect people to offer on any discussion of public import. Some may admire Laconic wit, but after considering that its originators built their society around child abuse, one should foster in themselves a healthy distrust for the Lakedaimonians.

Breaking the Silence

If you follow this blog, you might be wondering why I've been so silent lately. The recent elections and the even more recent amnesty would seem to be fertile ground for comment, given what I've written on prior to this. What could be compelling my silence? It's certainly not that I've gained the humility to shut up, not by a long shot...

The Unexpected Enlightenment of Rachel Griffin - L. Jagi Lamplighter

Overall: 8/10

Characters: 8.5/10

Plot: 8/10

Pacing: 6/10

Message: 8/10

It's been a while since I posted, and even longer since I posted a book review, so I wanted to treat you all to the most recent notch on my Kindle: L. Jagi Lamplighter's The Unexpected Enlightenment of Rachel Griffin. While not quite a "Young Adult" any more, I found Ms. Lamplighter's writing more than engrossing enough for any age. Drawn in by the preview, I ponied up my $2.99 and dove right in! I was not at all disappointed in that decision - Unexpected Enlightenment  was well worth it!

In going to write my review, I found that Ms. Lamplighter's husband, John C. Wright (also an author), had posted a link to another review of this book by Pierce T. Oka at Dogma & Dragons. Reading it, I found I agreed with many of Mr. Oka's points, and thus recommend you read his take along with my own to get a fuller picture. That said, let's dive right in!

Idolatry: Hidden but not Harmless

Possibly the most pervasive and dangerous sin in today's world is idolatry. Other sins may be bolder, more in our faces, more glamorous, but it is idolatry that saps the majority of our spiritual strength away right from the heart. If you think yourself immune, then you, more than anyone else, need to read on.

The primary pitfall of idolatry is how easily it slips our notice. Of all of our sins, it is the one we are most likely to justify: to consider to be simply a priority or a preference and not the paramount spiritual danger which it is. We make excuses for the worldly things that eclipse God in our devotion, seeing nothing wrong at all with the way we push Him to the sidelines.

Cowardice

Apparently both the First and Second Amendments no longer apply so long as its utilization is "insensitive." Yes folks, so long as someone "feels threatened," expulsion is on the table. Does that sound like the "Home of Brave" to you?

Now it is true that the US Supreme Court held in San Antonio Independent School Dist. v. Rodriguez  that, "Public education is not a "right" granted to individuals by the Constitution." (Plyler v. Doe, 457 US 202 at 221) Yet, as Brown v. Board of Education states, "Such an opportunity, where the state has undertaken to provide it, is a right which must be made available to all on equal terms." (347 US 483 at 493) As such, even without a positive right to an education, we can still see that educational access is an issue that the Supreme Court doesn't hold lightly.

The Left Eats its Own

Bill Maher continues to face the fallout from expressing his view of Islam. This view, of course, being similar to those held almost unanimously throughout the west prior to the modern era. Coincidentally, this view is also that required to make a serious attempt at a sustainable leftist society. Burkas and beheadings most assuredly don't respect the feminist imperative!

However, these views, while time honored, and useful to the goals of his class, are not the views of Islam sent down by diktat from the high command. As such, Maher is now persona non grata to some of whom he would otherwise be a rockstar. To think, Bill Maher protested against at Berkeley!