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Computers In School
I do not know about anyone else but I am sick to death of
all the technology in school. For many years books, pencil, and paper were enough to drum science, art, chemestry, algebra,
and other topics into the minds of the awaiting student, at least until the laptop computer came along.
I suppose I would not be adverse to them if it were not for
the problems the computer can inspire. Now, I am not talking about the memory, the programs, or the accidental erasure of
a homework file. My complaint is of a much more serious nature.
It seems that the people programming the computers are not as adept
at keeping some programs locked, as the students themselves are at bypassing those locks. I know from experience how much
trouble a kid can get into when he lets his friends bypass the security lock on his computer and get access to instant messanger
sites.
I know some kids in my son's school who illegally bypassed
the security locks on their computers, activated Instant Messaging and were discussing porn fasntasies. This all happened
in the school and none of the teachers knew about it. There were about ten kids involved in this little "porn session."
When one of the parents found out and informed the principal, he simply had the blocks reinstated on the computers and called
it good. No serious punishment was handed out by the school. Not good at all.
While it is true that the computers are only tools and have no
control over themselves, I believe that they possess quite a temptation to some students in the schools who can
outwit the schools computer programmers and turn on programs that are not allowed to be used.
Note passing has been going on since there has been pencil and
paper. However, a sharp teacher can normaly catch the note in transit. It is a lot harder to catch a kid using systems
he is not suppossed to if the teacher does not inspect every computer, which they can not do. and therein lies the
problem.
Drunkenness
How many people like to embibe in their favorite entoxicating liquor? Way
to many. Here are a few facts I came up with:
*More than 100,000 U.S. deaths are caused by excessive alcohol consumption
each year. Direct and indirect causes of death include drunk driving, cirrhosis of the liver, falls, cancer, and stroke.
*Youth
who drink alcohol are 50 times more likely to use cocaine than those who never drink alcohol.
*Traffic crashes are the greatest single cause of death for persons
aged 6–33. About 45% of these fatalities are in alcohol-related crashes.
*Underage drinking costs the United States more than $58 billion every
year — enough to buy every public school student a state-of-the-art computer. (So they can use the computer to get into
trouble in school.)
*Alcohol kills 6½ times more youth than all other illicit drugs combined.
*Concerning
the past 30 days, 50% of high school seniors report drinking, with 32% report being drunk at least once.
What does Scripture say about this problem?
Proverbs 23:31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is
red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine,
nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Romans 14:21
Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with
wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.
Unfortunately, more people like the liquid "spirits" over the
presence of the Holy Spirit. So sad.
Immigration
This will not be a popular subject for many and I doubt that my opinion on
this matter will win me any support of any kind.
To keep this short and sweet, I believe that anyone who is here illegally
needs to go back home, either by force or on their own. We only have so many resources available and there are many AMERICAN
people already waiting for aid, and who need it far more then an illegal immigrant who can not speak the english language.
For those people who want to go through the system, lean english, live here,
work hard, and contribute to this society, welcome to America.
For those who are living here under an assumed name, and falsified credentials
and are a drain our economy, you need to vacate this country.
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Church
I am a believer in going to church. There are many scriptures in the
bible that support going to church. (Matthew 18:17; Acts 2:47; and Acts 11:26)
But is it doing anybody any good to not apply the lessons learned in church?
Webster’s New Dictionary defines church as “the whole body
of Christians.” Church is not the building in which believers congregate. The church is the congregation itself. The
believers in the building comprise the church.
So, if a believer goes to church and learns about submission, or about
charity, or about love, faith, and fellowship, then this person admits that they do not always apply what they learned, then
why go to church at all?
2 Timothy 2:15 tells us to “Study to show
thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
So, we as Christians are to check ourselves out, we are to take a close
look at the spiritual relationship that we have with God and make sure it is up to God’s standards, not our own. But
how can a person judge their spiritual life to be acceptable or not if they do not know how, or choose to not apply the very
thing they need to make themselves right in God’s eyes?
To make this very clear, I am not saying don’t go to church.
I am not saying that all Christians choose to be or even want to be lackadaisical in their spiritual life. I am merely asking
why go if you do not follow the precept’s that you learn? Isn’t that a bit hypocritical towards Christ?
Going to church to worship with other believers is a fundamental
part of having faith. Church offers the chance for believers to learn, to grow, to pray for not only yourself, but for the
needs of others.
I would heartily encourage any who read this to attend church.
When people gathered to hear Christ, church was in session. When Jesus gave the sermon on the mount, church was in session.
When Christ said: "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of
such is the kingdom of heaven. in Matthew 19 verse 14, there was a church service going on.
Hebrews 11:1 states Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It
is this faith in Christ that will encourage people to attend church and grow spiritually.
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Privacy?
Ted Koppel is going to be doing a news broadcast for the Discovery
Channel. He will be focusing on the war on terror and the issues of liberty vs security. The liberty part of this can
affect our right to privacy.
Privacy is a very sensitive issue these days. With cameras at every
intersection, in every store, in every office building, and with cameras on our phones and cameras above the earth capable
of watching our every move, and with Bush insisting on spying on the average citizen, privacy has gone from a right to a luxary
these days.
I hate the fact that there is not a computer, or phone, or bank
account in the USA that the government can not tap into. It is being done because of the "war on terror" but a person
would be a fool to think it did not happen long before September 11.
Everything involving security since Sept 11th has been about monitoring.
The government has been intrusive and blamed it on the war on terror. We as a nation are being watched by one type security
or another. Our countenances, and who we are, are quietly being filed away in the governments computers to be used at
a later date if need be.
September 11 was the catalyst that finally allowed the government to
reach deep into who we are. And despite the objections of some, that spying is unconstitutional, it will continue because
our elected president supports it.
We all keep hearing on the news about how some sacrifices need to be
made for security. I guess we are just supposed to be like Russia during the cold war and let the government dictate all we
do. Maybe then the war on terror will end? War, hatred, bitterness, thievery, and every other negative aspect of human society will
never end, even if personal liberties are outlawed. Watching us will not quell who we are deep down.
This is supossed to be a free and democratic society. But we have all
branches of government, including our own local towns and cities, shoving cameras in our faces and saying it is for the
greater good and we need to just live with it. Where is the democracy there? Where is the democracy in Bush pushing his spy
program when the courts say it is unconstitutional?
Unless I missed something, the USA was the VICTIM of the attacks, why
are we being watched? Why are we getting our fredom revolked when it was foreigners with a grudge against us who killed our
fellow citizens? Does spying on the victims of an attack make any sense?
Does the public know where all the billions of dollars are going that
are earmarked for defense? How many spy satellites are orbiting this earth and looking down on us? I guess democracy
is not in the picture when the publics security comes into play. Why doesn't the public have a say in OUR SECURITY? I
mean, the many (us) are supossed to use the few (elected officials) to decide how we want this nation to grow and develop.
Is everyone satisfied so far? Smile into your web-cam or nearest hi-tech device for the government when you answer.
I'll tell you, I kinda wish
the government was monitering my site. I would be interested in how my ranting rates. I only give me a two star rating, but
then I am my own worst critic. 
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