RedWolfJC Speaks His Mind

Rants:

12/09/01

I Just got an e-mail from a short sighted individual, at least I believe so. This person, who will remain nameless, challenged my statements and that of the ALA, listed below. He mentioned that although people are constantly fighting and complaining that the new Harry Potter books, which by the way are all on the new top 10 banned books list, that everyone has ignored the most banned book in schools today, one that never makes the list. This book he referred to is the Holy Bible. Now normally I would dismiss this claim as more right wing religious propaganda from some born again Christian fanatic. But I actually thought about it for a minute, and then I did realize he had a point. So rather than disregard his point of view, I will express my reasoning for why his argument is invalid.
1. The bible is not banned at any school, least of all most private schools. The subject of Christianity as a religious faith is what is banned. Teaching of Christianity as expressed in the Holy Bible as FACT, is also banned.
2.Myself as well as most High School students who took Mythology did in fact study the bible, within the context of the course. Maybe that isn't the case in all high schools, but that is my personal experience.
3. There were copies of the Holy Bible in our library in high school, as well as the Qur'an, and various other holy books. These books were not "Burned" either physically or metaphorically by school administrations.
4. On a personal note, I prefer not to have the Bible in school, because if my memory serves, I don't remember Huck Finn causing the inquisition of Jews in Spain, or Harry Potter being the influence on several invasions of the middle east during the Crusades. These books may be controversial, have bad language, and deal with sensitive topics, but I've never heard of anyone killing someone in the name of one of these books.
So thats my argument, agree, disagree, I'd like to know, just pop me an e-mail if you wish.

12/08/01
21 years ago today, John Lennon was gunned down by a crazed fan (or by the government if you believe in conspiracy theories) George Harrison passed on recently from cancer. Yesterday was Pearl Harbor day. Peace and Love to all, and remember those who have gone on into the next world in your prayers.

11/12/2001

I know I'm cheating here, it's not really my birthday, but I haven't had time to post my birthday rant yet, so I'm a little late. This year I intend to be quite brief (unlike previous years). My whole life is going to change very rapidly, and very quickly. There are huge issues going on in the world and in my life. I will graduate from this grand school in May! wow only 6 more months. I can't go into details right now on other life changing situations, but I promise they are big and will not disappoint. As far as the site update goes, it's still on the way, I'm working on it, trying to get all of the bugs out. hopefully you all will think it's a change for the better.
Until my next rant, I bid you farewell.
JC

09/16/2001

I can't even describe what I feel today. I am amazed at the outpouring of support throughout the world. Seeing political leaders reduced to tears. Seeing the makeshift shrines set up at various embassies throughout the world. Seeing the candelight vigils on TV. Standing with 10,000+ of my fellow students at Illinois State, a school which could barely bring in a couple hundred for an anti-racism rally. 10 years ago, I was in my dorm room here at ISU when the Gulf War broke out. Fast Forward 10 years and I'm sitting in my apartment at the same school watching the first shots of what could become World War Three. It's all so incredible, unbelievable, tragic. The tears have seldom stopped in this past week. I do hold comfort in knowing that so many others share in the same agony that I am going through. It's all wrong, we've gone so far, yet it's all the same. I never knew the cost of Freedom could ever be so much. I apologize for the unfocused ranting, but circumstances have prevented me from having much rational, organized thought, so I am writing what i feel as I go along. I will write more later.
...Even now...The world is bleeding...
JC

09/11/2001 Tragedy Strikes...

The Images still fresh in my head, awakening to my roommate exclaiming, Oh my God! They just started World War Three. Seeing not one but two giant buildings reduced to dust right on the television screen as it was happening. Watching Peter Jennings exclaim, oh God there's another one. All of it. Indescribable. Images forever etched into my mind, losing the innocence that i never knew I still had. Hearing voices in my head, thinking of the screams as those planes rammed right into the buildings. Wondering why. Wondering how. Just wondering. Asking myself if I could have made a difference. Asking how there could be so much hate. Knowing only one thing, that I would never forget this moment as long as I live...
May God have mercy on us all.

06/21/2001

Carroll O'Connor 1924-2001
John Lee Hooker 1920-2001

R.I.P.

...and the rest is silence...

05/07/2001
FINALS WEEK! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!
So the end of the semester is here, and I'm freaking out over studying and sheeeeit, so right now I'm taking a break. While looking over the old webpage, I suddenly figured out that this site is in need of some serious renovation. Any Ideas? E-mail me and let me know what you want to see here. In the meantime, I split off the mp3 of the month into it's own web page. I've been planning on revamping the whole site for a while, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. However, I am working on a new format, and i will have a beta version up soon for feedback, so stay posted.
Until Finals week is over, I will be missing for a while. The good news is that Saturday, I leave the Dorms, and make the move to my apartment. YAY!

04/06/01
And now for some cheese:

The Cracked Pot A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole, which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master�s house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master�s house. Of course, the perfect pot was always proud of its accomplishments.

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of it's own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you." "Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to the master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get a full value for your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and that cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still leaked out half of it's load and so again the pot apologized to the water bearer for it's failure.

The water bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were only flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about you flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flowers seeds on your side of the path, and every day when we walked back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being the way you are, He would not have this beauty to grace his house." Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father's table. In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste. Don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and you too can be the cause of beauty. Know that in our weakness we find our strength.

-Anonymous

I know it's a bit cheesy, but I kind of like it.
Thanks to Gunnar for passing that on

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