For the Strength of our Nation

    Both sides too often consider that they have the corner on the for good ideas. They don't see their own holes in their arguments and plans and when they get the opportunity they try to cram weak, foolish, and near tyrannical legislation. Is this the way that things should be?

    The answer to the above question is a resounding no! Yet who is to blame for so low a state that we are in? The answer us the American people we are the ones to blame for so poor a job we have done in governing ourselves. For too long we have been content with what was. We became complacent and we failed to examine out lives and ourselves. We took material goods as a sign that we are a favored people. However once those goods were taken from us we became a straw man.

   It is time for the American people to wake up and ask the big questions on government. They should ask what they can do for this country not what this country can do for them.

    America rise up and shake of the chains that bind you. Today my readers look back on the history of America. Look back to our patriots and remember there sacrifice. Consecrate this day to that sacrifice. Dedicate your lives today to changing the political sphere in your community and your nation. It is only through active and engaged citizenry that a nation can be changed. Today is our time middle of the road Americans. Today is the only time we have for tomorrow is as yet unknown and yesterday has passed us by. The coming storm can be abated if we act united in our purpose.

    We are the nation!

The Quagmire that is Science Education

 

    I have been reading recently a lot of lamentations from science educators that their programs are insufficient in properly instructing students in their respective fields. I have also read that there is a certain deficiency in students learning math as well. To continue on with this general feeling of woe and despair it has been noted that unless we get more math and science in our students brains that our national security will be at risk. What is the solution...more SCIENCE! Yes since forcing something down a students throat has worked so well in the past (that was sarcasm BTW). That approach in my estimation is part of the reason why students are avoiding math and science like the plague because it is forced down their throats constantly. In fact in my experience I have found that all the science education I received was...useless. I was inundated with facts and figures yet what did I truly learn? Nothing! It wasn't until far later in life that I realized what should have been taught and that I had a natural gift for. That is critical thinking and reasoning. That is all science is observing the world around you and drawing conclusions. If educators would focus on teaching these skills through science then there would be more success in these fields.

    I think that it would be safe to say that students know when something is practical in the "real world," or the world in which most students will work with IE not science land. This "real world" tends to mean working at desk jobs where knowing how Saturn got its rings is...irrelevant. For some it will mean hammering in a nail. Knowing what gas is noble is useless. For a lawyer arguing a personal injury case knowing what phylum a certain insect is in is useless. Do you see where I am going with this? Most facts that are taught in science are useless outside of a science class for the majority of the population. However the skills that science requires are necessary for most people to be successful. The most important skill is deductive reasoning. If science classes were designed to develop a students skills in deductive reasoning and showed its application in everyday life then the student would be more likely to engage in the learning process.

    Sure some might say well that still doesn't solve our problems. I would disagree now instead of turning students away from science we are opening their eyes to the wonders of the world around them. Is this not science? With wonder will come discovery which could turn students to a career where there lives are filled with both the awe of wonder and the thrill of discovery.
   
    What is needed is not more classes in science simply a different and better way of relaying the skills that science needs that will be applicable to everyday life. Change in education is needed so why not change here?

The rage of nations

There is a lot of anger in the political arena these days. In fact to me there seems to be so much rage that it could cause one do ask, "Why do the nations so furiously rage together and why do the people imagine a vain thing?" It causes one to ask where has reason gone and when will he be back? Also will he bring compassion come with him or will she stay away as well?

American political discourse has entered into an era of extremism and vanity. It seems that now we vote for the person who only looks good and who gives us promises that stroke out vanity and pride. This extremism will continue to run its course into more hatefilled and eventually violent rhetoric. Such words may not condemn a man but certainly some day the words will poison a heart and blood will spill. How long will this cauldron of hate boil until its contents spill over? The answer is not long enugh.

My fellow Americans something must be done about the insanity and that is to restore reason to his proper place and to allow compassion to return to her throne. We through reason must quell the banshees of extremism and create revolution of reasoning and tolerance where the people not the parties rule.

Sadly as far as I can see there is but one option and that is for the average American to leave their party and creat another one based upon rational thought and cordial but spirited discourse.  This has been happening already in fact over 30% of Americans now consider themselves independents.

I think that it is high time for a new party to emerge.