A recent cheating scandal has hit a high school in Ohio. The graduating class of Centerburg High School has ninety-seven graduates. Hooray for them. It is an accomplishment. Unfortunately it has been reported that up to half either knew of or were involved in a cheating scandal.
One of the students broke into the school's computer and was able to download tests. These reportedly were then distributed around the school. This happened months ago and it was deemed no one in particular could be held responsible. In the last week of school the school board cancelled graduation for all involved. It has become an outrage in the town. So much so that the town held their own graduation ceremony for the students in a public park. They took matters into their own hands and celebrated with the kids.
The school board held their first open meeting the other day since the cancelling of the graduation. Although it was not violent (they were prepared with deputies), the school board and the principle took their lumps from those attending. There were some supporters but most unleashed their fury on the board with calls for them not to be re-elected for the next term. They were told the board brought disgrace on this class and the community.
Ahem, let me enlighten the parents. Initially on the surface I was surprised the ceremony was cancelled. My thoughts were, how could they punish the entire class for the actions of just a few? If the board knew of this for months, why is it that this was not brought out sooner? It is obvious they were not able to track down the actual student who did the deed and it seems it was a wide-ranging coverup by the students.
On second thought, I applaud the board for doing what they did. I heard the parent's comments on the news and they were not pleasant. My question for you is where were you when your son or daughter didn't come forth and own up. The board did not bring this down on the students, the students did this to themselves. If I were part of this class I would be furious with my fellow students. Don't blame the board, blame the students and blame the parents for not digging deeper into this themselves. Children of that age aren't going to tattle on their fellow students. It isn't in their makeup. They are slaves to peer-pressure. I blame the parents for not pushing this forward. Why did you not demand answers before?
For those who blame the school board for this, you've just told them to ignore the next scandal that comes around. You left the dirty work for someone else to do and then complained about it. You can't have it both ways. Think that will make Centerburg look great in the news?
Ramblings of a 60 Year Old Man - My thoughts on just about anything, in no particular order; Robert Thomas - author.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Up, down, unlock, click...nope!
I am, by unanimous acclamation the repairman, builder and general overall tool man in my family. It is always something I have loved to do. When Beloved Father was dismantling something in the garage, I was there to hand him the proper tool. When he paneled the basement in glorious faux-wood 1970's paneling, I was there to hold the board while the electric saw sailed swiftly through the wood.
In contrast, my three brothers, Larry, Curly and Moe couldn't drive a nail with a Buick. Although they are generally three of the most intelligent men I know, they completely lack the 'tool' gene. Fortunately for Baby Sis (although an engineer herself) she married Mr. Krinkles who is also a whiz at anything mechanical. The talents of Brother 5 are still under scrutiny at the moment.
I took this love of building into school and applied it to architecture for three years before running out of money. Hence the retail career. I have always strived to learn more along the way including playing with electricity and plumbing, sometimes to My Beloved's dismay. But never-the-less, I could still build a house for you.
Even in my early years of driving I would do most of the repairs on my fine Torino by myself with advise along the way from Father and the auto-parts store clerks. I gave that up when engines became so complicated you couldn't get your hand into anything and you had to take off five pieces to get to the spark plugs. Sometimes you just have to let the pros do it. Fortunately my son is a mechanic.
So what is the point of all this, you ask? Namely, the person who invented the damned 'pack-and-play' should be shot, drawn-and-quartered then drug out to a field and beaten with a hose! I hate the thing! It doesn't work! UP, down, spin, lock, unlock and clip...aaaarrrrrrgggggg! The sides don't latch, they buckle, the ends lock but the sides don't then the sides lock and the ends don't!
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUME!
Wow, I feel somehow better now.
In contrast, my three brothers, Larry, Curly and Moe couldn't drive a nail with a Buick. Although they are generally three of the most intelligent men I know, they completely lack the 'tool' gene. Fortunately for Baby Sis (although an engineer herself) she married Mr. Krinkles who is also a whiz at anything mechanical. The talents of Brother 5 are still under scrutiny at the moment.
I took this love of building into school and applied it to architecture for three years before running out of money. Hence the retail career. I have always strived to learn more along the way including playing with electricity and plumbing, sometimes to My Beloved's dismay. But never-the-less, I could still build a house for you.
Even in my early years of driving I would do most of the repairs on my fine Torino by myself with advise along the way from Father and the auto-parts store clerks. I gave that up when engines became so complicated you couldn't get your hand into anything and you had to take off five pieces to get to the spark plugs. Sometimes you just have to let the pros do it. Fortunately my son is a mechanic.
So what is the point of all this, you ask? Namely, the person who invented the damned 'pack-and-play' should be shot, drawn-and-quartered then drug out to a field and beaten with a hose! I hate the thing! It doesn't work! UP, down, spin, lock, unlock and clip...aaaarrrrrrgggggg! The sides don't latch, they buckle, the ends lock but the sides don't then the sides lock and the ends don't!
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUME!
Wow, I feel somehow better now.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
What to do with Cooperstown
I listened to a debate this morning on the radio about baseball and how players from different eras should be viewed. It will likely always be an ongoing argument with no one making the definitive decision as to how players should be elected to the hall. As it is, major league baseball doesn't actually control the Baseball Hall of Fame nor make very many good decisions on virtually anything. As I see it, Cooperstown should not only be that, a hall of fame but should also encompass all of baseball history. It should be more than just a row of players with their plaques on the wall.
Baseball needs to show it's history through the development of the country, the good and the bad. It should include the 'live ball and dead ball' eras, high mound and low mound, segregation and the Negro leagues as well as the 'war years'. Because of how different players can be from decade to decade there is no actual way to compare Bob Gibson to Tom Glavine to Ty Cobb. Babe Ruth was an imposing presence in his day at six-foot two and 215 pounds, but compared to today's athlete he would be very, very average. I would guess he would average about .260 and hit 15 home runs per year. Those numbers help you make your way around the league as a journey-man or get you sent back to triple A.
The current debate concerns the players in the 'steroid era'. Actually, under the rules for many of those years the players were not breaking any of the rules set out by baseball and the collective bargaining agreement. If that's the case, let them all in. Mark McGwire should take his place right next to Johnny Bench. And yet, each era should be marked with the qualifiers to those eras and how they should be viewed in context. Cooperstown is more of a museum and should be treated as such. Put in the good with the bad but make it known, Black-Sox scandal and all.
But let's make no mistake, a hall of fame should contain the best players and should not be a popularity contest by baseball writers. Any writer who arbitrarily does not vote for someone on the first ballot just because they believe no one should be elected on the first ballot (or any other highly biased view) should have their voting privilege terminated.
Even Pete Rose deserves his spotlight in the hall whether you like him or not. He had the most hits in baseball history and if that stat doesn't get you in the hall you might as well tear it down. Perhaps they could bronze an ace of spades next to his name. It's all to be viewed in context.
Baseball needs to show it's history through the development of the country, the good and the bad. It should include the 'live ball and dead ball' eras, high mound and low mound, segregation and the Negro leagues as well as the 'war years'. Because of how different players can be from decade to decade there is no actual way to compare Bob Gibson to Tom Glavine to Ty Cobb. Babe Ruth was an imposing presence in his day at six-foot two and 215 pounds, but compared to today's athlete he would be very, very average. I would guess he would average about .260 and hit 15 home runs per year. Those numbers help you make your way around the league as a journey-man or get you sent back to triple A.
The current debate concerns the players in the 'steroid era'. Actually, under the rules for many of those years the players were not breaking any of the rules set out by baseball and the collective bargaining agreement. If that's the case, let them all in. Mark McGwire should take his place right next to Johnny Bench. And yet, each era should be marked with the qualifiers to those eras and how they should be viewed in context. Cooperstown is more of a museum and should be treated as such. Put in the good with the bad but make it known, Black-Sox scandal and all.
But let's make no mistake, a hall of fame should contain the best players and should not be a popularity contest by baseball writers. Any writer who arbitrarily does not vote for someone on the first ballot just because they believe no one should be elected on the first ballot (or any other highly biased view) should have their voting privilege terminated.
Even Pete Rose deserves his spotlight in the hall whether you like him or not. He had the most hits in baseball history and if that stat doesn't get you in the hall you might as well tear it down. Perhaps they could bronze an ace of spades next to his name. It's all to be viewed in context.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Please "sin" with your government's blessing!
We awoke this morning to news of a proposal being floated by team officials of the Columbus Blue Jackets, our local National Hockey League team, that, in all honesty, not only asks for you to "sin", but also to possibly put your health at risk, thus seeming to ensure a dwindling fan base, but with the approval of your state and county government.
Say what?
The Jackets have been around for 9 years now, and have begun to hemorrhage money, about 11 million dollars a year, on average. In order to reduce their debt burden, they have asked state legislators to give permission to Franklin County commissioners to impose what is normally referred to as a "sin" tax, an extra amount levied on beer, wine, alcohol, and cigarettes, in order to fund the county's purchase of Nationwide Arena, where the Jackets play, after which the county would then (according to the team) negotiate more favorable lease terms for the team to use the building as their home and offices. Team officials say the current lease terms are too restrictive and are contributing to the outgo of team money.
The team officials do not want you to ask the most pertinent question: If the lease terms were that bad, why did you sign the lease? Did you only agree to this (supposedly) bad deal in order to assuage your massive egos just so you could say, "We have an NHL team here in little old Columbus! We're Major League!"?
Nationwide owns the building, and so did not have to pay for naming rights, thus denying themselves a potential revenue stream. Jackets personnel say they get very little from parking; maybe they should have bought up all the parking lots in the Arena area 9 years ago. The average game night parking cost is $20, far higher than the day-to-day rate for those same spots, but the team is not seeing any of it come their way. And 15 of the luxury boxes were sold in advance to help cover construction costs; perhaps you can charge higher prices for whatever amenities you provide for the luxury suite owners?
The arena has a 99% property-tax abatement, but it does provide at least a million dollars per year to the Columbus Public School system, a cost that would have to be borne by the county should this proposal go through. The dirty little secret about that million dollars: it does not directly cost Nationwide a penny, as it comes from a ticket tax surcharge and a portion of their employees' city income tax.
Originally I thought that the voters would have to approve this madcap scheme, but, from what I heard on the radio today, that may not be an option, as the team officials know that such a proposal is likely to be shot down by the voters, which is why they asked for the county to be given special permission to impose such a tax. If that happened, it almost certainly would face a court challenge and/or a referendum vote.
If you argue that only those who smoke and drink will assume the burden for this tax, consider this: if the revenue stream does not live up to projections, how long would it take for the county to raise other fees and taxes to cover the deficit and keep the money flowing in? What cuts to other services would have to be made in order to keep millionaire athletes playing for dear old Columbus?
If being a team owner/operator wasn't such a great deal, why did you get into the business in the first place? Why should the taxpayers bail you out, especially when you recall that the voters here voted down 56-44% a proposal to have taxpeyers pay for the arena to be built? Voters in Cleveland and Cincinnati voted differently when asked to build sports stadiums, but, as for Columbus, as the old commercial used to say, "That's a whole 'nother smoke".
So, if you are a Blue Jacket fan or a county commissioner, are you ready to ask the people of Franklin County to put their health further at risk with governmentally-approved "sinning", just so Columbus can remain a "Major League" city?
Say what?
The Jackets have been around for 9 years now, and have begun to hemorrhage money, about 11 million dollars a year, on average. In order to reduce their debt burden, they have asked state legislators to give permission to Franklin County commissioners to impose what is normally referred to as a "sin" tax, an extra amount levied on beer, wine, alcohol, and cigarettes, in order to fund the county's purchase of Nationwide Arena, where the Jackets play, after which the county would then (according to the team) negotiate more favorable lease terms for the team to use the building as their home and offices. Team officials say the current lease terms are too restrictive and are contributing to the outgo of team money.
The team officials do not want you to ask the most pertinent question: If the lease terms were that bad, why did you sign the lease? Did you only agree to this (supposedly) bad deal in order to assuage your massive egos just so you could say, "We have an NHL team here in little old Columbus! We're Major League!"?
Nationwide owns the building, and so did not have to pay for naming rights, thus denying themselves a potential revenue stream. Jackets personnel say they get very little from parking; maybe they should have bought up all the parking lots in the Arena area 9 years ago. The average game night parking cost is $20, far higher than the day-to-day rate for those same spots, but the team is not seeing any of it come their way. And 15 of the luxury boxes were sold in advance to help cover construction costs; perhaps you can charge higher prices for whatever amenities you provide for the luxury suite owners?
The arena has a 99% property-tax abatement, but it does provide at least a million dollars per year to the Columbus Public School system, a cost that would have to be borne by the county should this proposal go through. The dirty little secret about that million dollars: it does not directly cost Nationwide a penny, as it comes from a ticket tax surcharge and a portion of their employees' city income tax.
Originally I thought that the voters would have to approve this madcap scheme, but, from what I heard on the radio today, that may not be an option, as the team officials know that such a proposal is likely to be shot down by the voters, which is why they asked for the county to be given special permission to impose such a tax. If that happened, it almost certainly would face a court challenge and/or a referendum vote.
If you argue that only those who smoke and drink will assume the burden for this tax, consider this: if the revenue stream does not live up to projections, how long would it take for the county to raise other fees and taxes to cover the deficit and keep the money flowing in? What cuts to other services would have to be made in order to keep millionaire athletes playing for dear old Columbus?
If being a team owner/operator wasn't such a great deal, why did you get into the business in the first place? Why should the taxpayers bail you out, especially when you recall that the voters here voted down 56-44% a proposal to have taxpeyers pay for the arena to be built? Voters in Cleveland and Cincinnati voted differently when asked to build sports stadiums, but, as for Columbus, as the old commercial used to say, "That's a whole 'nother smoke".
So, if you are a Blue Jacket fan or a county commissioner, are you ready to ask the people of Franklin County to put their health further at risk with governmentally-approved "sinning", just so Columbus can remain a "Major League" city?
Wew
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Passionate fans
One of the things I began to do as my family moved along into the late 1990s was to pick a team from the English Premier League, almost at random, to follow once we finally got the internet.
We call it soccer, they call it football or footie over there.
My interest was sparked by the arrival of the Columbus Crew and the MLS in the US. I decided I needed to learn a little more about the game even though I had begun to play it, watch it, occasionally referee it (kids games, when the official failed to show), and eventually coach it.
I knew absolutely nothing about the league, other than many people considered it to be the best in the world. Also, not being able to read Spanish, Italian or German was a factor in my deciding to follow along with the English league. I came to find out that not only is there a Premier League, but there are numerous other divisions below it, similar to baseball's minor leagues, in which teams all over England play. Then, below the professional teams, there are also an almost innumerable amount of amateur/semi-pro teams going, and all highly organized into leagues, and playing not only for league championship trophies, but also for numerous Cups as well.
The most amazing thing I found was at every level of the professional game not only is there a season-long competition to win the league title, but there is also a dog-eat-dog effort to achieve "promotion" and avoid "relegation". In the professional level, when a team wins the league title, it automatically gets promoted to the next-higher professional level. A team can also gain promotion by winning a playoff between (normally) the four teams which finish 2-5 in the league standings, or table. The promotion battles are tremendous fun to a fan, and for the lucky supporters are exhilarating.
Last Monday I watched a review show of the wrap up to the Premier League's season, in which the games that were featured were all concerned with the teams who were fighting to stay up (avoid the drop/go down/be relegated) in the Premiership, and not have to play the next season in a lower-tier of the football pyramid, as it is known. Staying up is literally worth millions of dollars (well, pounds actually) to each club. The focus of the show on these relegation battles brought home to me just how passionate the fans are about their football clubs. The agony on their faces as their club gave up a goal or just missed a score was incredible to see. These people have followed their hometown teams all their lives, and almost live and die with each win and loss throughout the year. The history of their clubs lives on at each match, as almost all the fans spend the entire match singing and chanting the songs they have grown up with since they were children.
Thousands of fans at these matches had earphones, listening not to the call of the games they were watching, but tuned in to other teams' games to keep abreast of the action as their lads fought to stay in the top flight league. In one case, a packed stadium at Hull City remained so even after their game ended as they were awaiting word of a hoped-for loss by a rival, after their club had kept them on edge by playing to a draw. The players also stayed out on the pitch (field to us) to await their fate. When word finally came with the hoped-for result, meaning they were staying up, the fans exploded with relief, and the video board proudly showed "WE ARE STAYING UP!" After waiting 104 years to play in the top English division, Hull City survived by a whisker to stay and play there again next year.
One of the largest clubs, Newcastle United, with some of the longest-suffering fans in the sport, had their hopes dashed after losing their last game. They were going down, and the tears streaming down the faces of their fans said it all. Even the players were hanging their heads at what had happened. Supporters till the bitter end, the Newcastle fans then stood and sang to their players, and displayed "We will support you forever" and "Newcastle till I die" banners as they began to second level of English football next season. And it begins again in August.
It was a great reminder about how much passion those fans put into following their teams, a level any team of any sport in the US cannot hope to match.
We call it soccer, they call it football or footie over there.
My interest was sparked by the arrival of the Columbus Crew and the MLS in the US. I decided I needed to learn a little more about the game even though I had begun to play it, watch it, occasionally referee it (kids games, when the official failed to show), and eventually coach it.
I knew absolutely nothing about the league, other than many people considered it to be the best in the world. Also, not being able to read Spanish, Italian or German was a factor in my deciding to follow along with the English league. I came to find out that not only is there a Premier League, but there are numerous other divisions below it, similar to baseball's minor leagues, in which teams all over England play. Then, below the professional teams, there are also an almost innumerable amount of amateur/semi-pro teams going, and all highly organized into leagues, and playing not only for league championship trophies, but also for numerous Cups as well.
The most amazing thing I found was at every level of the professional game not only is there a season-long competition to win the league title, but there is also a dog-eat-dog effort to achieve "promotion" and avoid "relegation". In the professional level, when a team wins the league title, it automatically gets promoted to the next-higher professional level. A team can also gain promotion by winning a playoff between (normally) the four teams which finish 2-5 in the league standings, or table. The promotion battles are tremendous fun to a fan, and for the lucky supporters are exhilarating.
Last Monday I watched a review show of the wrap up to the Premier League's season, in which the games that were featured were all concerned with the teams who were fighting to stay up (avoid the drop/go down/be relegated) in the Premiership, and not have to play the next season in a lower-tier of the football pyramid, as it is known. Staying up is literally worth millions of dollars (well, pounds actually) to each club. The focus of the show on these relegation battles brought home to me just how passionate the fans are about their football clubs. The agony on their faces as their club gave up a goal or just missed a score was incredible to see. These people have followed their hometown teams all their lives, and almost live and die with each win and loss throughout the year. The history of their clubs lives on at each match, as almost all the fans spend the entire match singing and chanting the songs they have grown up with since they were children.
Thousands of fans at these matches had earphones, listening not to the call of the games they were watching, but tuned in to other teams' games to keep abreast of the action as their lads fought to stay in the top flight league. In one case, a packed stadium at Hull City remained so even after their game ended as they were awaiting word of a hoped-for loss by a rival, after their club had kept them on edge by playing to a draw. The players also stayed out on the pitch (field to us) to await their fate. When word finally came with the hoped-for result, meaning they were staying up, the fans exploded with relief, and the video board proudly showed "WE ARE STAYING UP!" After waiting 104 years to play in the top English division, Hull City survived by a whisker to stay and play there again next year.
One of the largest clubs, Newcastle United, with some of the longest-suffering fans in the sport, had their hopes dashed after losing their last game. They were going down, and the tears streaming down the faces of their fans said it all. Even the players were hanging their heads at what had happened. Supporters till the bitter end, the Newcastle fans then stood and sang to their players, and displayed "We will support you forever" and "Newcastle till I die" banners as they began to second level of English football next season. And it begins again in August.
It was a great reminder about how much passion those fans put into following their teams, a level any team of any sport in the US cannot hope to match.
Candle scents for the real world
I enjoy the scents of the different seasons. It is one of the many things I enjoy about the area of the country where I live. Spring rolls into summer that 'leafs' into fall and then the snows and warmths of winter. When they are not always available by natural means, several companies offer many of your favorite smells through candles. It is nice to have the warm scent of pine indoors during the Christmas season. Combine that with cinnamon apple and the like and you just want to sit in front of a roaring fire with a glass of wine or a sip of bourbon. The most common problem I see with many of these scents is they just smell like perfumes and nothing very real. If candles are to be named by their scents they should actually smell like what they are. Does 'Ocean Breeze' really smell like the ocean?
The following is a list of scents that could easily be used from the real world, although you may not want most of them.
For that county living feel:
Wet Barn; manure field; wet dog; DDT (although that would later have to be banned); fresh hay; Rendering plant; Skunk (or any roadkill); Well water; Egg farm; Drainage ditch.
Urban scents:
Jersey shore (commonly known as dead fish); Tagger; Rusty Chevy (although any vintage American auto will do); Lawn fertilizer; Gasoline; Restaurant cooking grease; Septic field; Damp basement; South-side (my family will know what this means).
Unfortunately most of the smells we recognize aren't pleasant although every once-in-a-while you get that one scent that takes you back...like stale pink bubble-gum in a pack of baseball cards.
The following is a list of scents that could easily be used from the real world, although you may not want most of them.
For that county living feel:
Wet Barn; manure field; wet dog; DDT (although that would later have to be banned); fresh hay; Rendering plant; Skunk (or any roadkill); Well water; Egg farm; Drainage ditch.
Urban scents:
Jersey shore (commonly known as dead fish); Tagger; Rusty Chevy (although any vintage American auto will do); Lawn fertilizer; Gasoline; Restaurant cooking grease; Septic field; Damp basement; South-side (my family will know what this means).
Unfortunately most of the smells we recognize aren't pleasant although every once-in-a-while you get that one scent that takes you back...like stale pink bubble-gum in a pack of baseball cards.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Religion shouldn't be a death sentence
Although I never intended this blog to be an ongoing comment on religion and religious beliefs, it does seem to be happening on a regular basis. But, this is a 'ramble' in no particular order.
Growing up in a fairly structured Catholic environment I had little exposure to other belief systems in my formative years. As I grew older I have had dealings with others of differing faiths. Many of the initial beliefs are similar on the surface but due to the 'structuring' of their rules, that is when we hit the speed bumps. Although I have no formal instruction I do have a sense of right and wrong which is the foundation of what a belief system is founded on. Too often that structure is muddied by arcane and nonsensical rules.
Take the case recently in the news with the mother from Minnesota who fled the state with her child. The young man is in need of medical care to treat a treatable form of cancer. It is sad when a child or anyone is subjected to disease or something else out of their control. The mother fled to avoid a court order to have the child treated with chemotherapy. This is a treatment which by modern scientific methods has shown to be effective although it is not a guarantee of a cure. Apparently the parent's religious beliefs do not lend themselves to treatment from modern medicine. My question is why?
At what point does a religion impose a date on progress and say everything after that is bad or against our beliefs. Amish and other sects of that nature can't drive automobiles or use phones etc. However, Mennonites seemingly covered by similar rules of avoiding progress can't drive but can ride in cars and can use power tools. What's the logic in that? At what point does one pick an arbitrary date and say modern medicine can't save a child? Do sulfur drugs constitute an acceptable cure while penicillin does not? Why does an acceptable form of treatment have to be 'natural'? There are a myriad of things in nature that are deadly. Most need to pull their heads out of the sand and understand 'natural' has nothing to do with 'better' or 'more pure'.
The driving force in christian religions is to strive to be Christ-like. And yes, for the religiously ignorant, Catholics are Christians. That should not leave out the options of a better world through technology and science. Science should be used in a way to enhance our values, not act as a barrier to them. A belief structure is not dependent on convenience or modernization. The same beliefs that were true in biblical times will be true in the year 3000 and it shouldn't matter if you are riding in a horse and buggy or a flying Jetson's car.
Progress is the natural state of mankind. Religion should be the guidepost not a barrier by timid religious leaders holding on to their power base.
Growing up in a fairly structured Catholic environment I had little exposure to other belief systems in my formative years. As I grew older I have had dealings with others of differing faiths. Many of the initial beliefs are similar on the surface but due to the 'structuring' of their rules, that is when we hit the speed bumps. Although I have no formal instruction I do have a sense of right and wrong which is the foundation of what a belief system is founded on. Too often that structure is muddied by arcane and nonsensical rules.
Take the case recently in the news with the mother from Minnesota who fled the state with her child. The young man is in need of medical care to treat a treatable form of cancer. It is sad when a child or anyone is subjected to disease or something else out of their control. The mother fled to avoid a court order to have the child treated with chemotherapy. This is a treatment which by modern scientific methods has shown to be effective although it is not a guarantee of a cure. Apparently the parent's religious beliefs do not lend themselves to treatment from modern medicine. My question is why?
At what point does a religion impose a date on progress and say everything after that is bad or against our beliefs. Amish and other sects of that nature can't drive automobiles or use phones etc. However, Mennonites seemingly covered by similar rules of avoiding progress can't drive but can ride in cars and can use power tools. What's the logic in that? At what point does one pick an arbitrary date and say modern medicine can't save a child? Do sulfur drugs constitute an acceptable cure while penicillin does not? Why does an acceptable form of treatment have to be 'natural'? There are a myriad of things in nature that are deadly. Most need to pull their heads out of the sand and understand 'natural' has nothing to do with 'better' or 'more pure'.
The driving force in christian religions is to strive to be Christ-like. And yes, for the religiously ignorant, Catholics are Christians. That should not leave out the options of a better world through technology and science. Science should be used in a way to enhance our values, not act as a barrier to them. A belief structure is not dependent on convenience or modernization. The same beliefs that were true in biblical times will be true in the year 3000 and it shouldn't matter if you are riding in a horse and buggy or a flying Jetson's car.
Progress is the natural state of mankind. Religion should be the guidepost not a barrier by timid religious leaders holding on to their power base.
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