Saturday, May 28, 2005
Modern Marx
Karl Marx once said, "Capitalism places value on what a person has rather than on what he or she is." Maybe this is the reason why we have so many problems in our schools right now. If a child does not value what he is, he will not value what he learns, what he creates, or what he becomes. Schools are full of designer clothes, cell phones, CD players, and gameboys. The students focus on who has what, who can conquer which date, and a myriad of other things having absolutely nothing to do with the expansion of their minds. Schools can make all the dress code rules they want and take away all electronic devices, but when parents send kids to school with these things and we have to take them, it makes teachers the bad guys. Capitalism will ultimately be the downfall of American society. We are going the way of Rome. Forget about what you have. Focus on who you are.
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11 comments:
Polanco Consulting? Another new name. New career? I see you are working hard this weekend
Hi. Thank you for your comment on my blog. I hope you can take the time to read this. It's interesting because we are coming from the topic of Christianity from completely different viewpoints; me from within, you from without... Your comment sort of illustrates my frustration...the fact that you, as a non-Christian, when touching the subject, naturally first think of George W. Bush and the abortion debate; it's really so sad to me that these have become the public icons of Christianity, when there is so much more to it than all of this politics. Christ truly is misrepresented. I agree with you that the abortion debate is approached wrongly, but I think I have different reasons for that...the same goes for homosexual marriage or any of the other "big" issues that Christians have spoken out on. My opinion on abortion isn't really that important. I think it is wrong, but whether abortion is spirtually or ethically right or wrong is a much different debate than whether it should be legal or illegal, and I don't know where the government should begin and end on that matter...like you said, we do have free will; but at the same time there is law, and we can't just go steal or murder in cold blood, so it is a tough issue which generally comes down to point of view. It doesn't concern me as much on this "moral law" level, (like it or not, it is legal) but I, as a human, just find it a tragedy that people come to the decision to have an abortion, and I wish it didn't happen. But I also feel it is wrong how, many Christians today, have become so politically active in trying to preserve their majority and have the government speak for them. It's a dangerous thing and I feel a waste of time and resources. It's as if many care more about the government supporting them and mandating that all think as they do than they do about actually helping and relating to people with real issues. Central to faith in Christ, is the belief that there is a tranforming power and love through Christ, rather than everyone first follow a certain moral code no matter what there belief. I feel we (Christians) should not care so much about government and our place in it. We should spend our time getting involved in our communities and showing love and compassion and share the hope we have found with others and help those in need with understanding, and let Christ take care of people's lives how he sees fit. In the Gospels, Christ himself did not get involved in politics and didn't take sides, nor did he expect people to have a certain ideology or be perfect before he would help them or love them, and He truly transformed people's lives for the best in a gentle patient way. I think many Christians in America are simply spoiled by the ease and comfort of religious freedom we have and have assumed that the Christian view is and should be the majority in our political landscape. It's a strange thing about the faith that the genuine thing seems to thrive most when it is unpopular and under persecution, and exists as a sort of alternative to popular culture; not as a norm of culture; but we don't know what that is like in America, so the faith, by and large, has become stagnant, gimicky, and overbearingly political. I pray that somehow you may see examples of who Christ really was and is and what this faith is really all about. I'm afraid you won't really find it from the "Conservative Christian" leaders on television or in most mega churches or in the President of this country.
If you have any interest in reading material, I recently read a surprisingly great book called Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller I highly recommend it. It has wonderfully solid and fresh views on what Christianity should be all about. Please feel free to continue reading my blog and commenting all you want. Please say anything that is on your mind. I greatly enjoy discussion, critical thinking and hearing different viewpoints. Thanks!
I've recieved a job offer from the President of an Educational Research company after he ead my site, so I thought I should look a little more professional. Thanks Michelle! My life is my work!
Josh,
I read every comment on my blog, and thank you for engaging in this discussion with me. When I think of Christians, I don't automatically go to GW. I do think about my moving into my dorm room when I went away to college. The first person I met introduced herself and then immediately asked if I was Saved. As a Buddhist, I obviously wasn't, and it was a very lonely semester. Almost everyone on my wing was Born Again and I just didn't fit in. Subsequently, I have only met one devout Christian who didn't think it was her personal mission to bring me to the light of Christ. My issue with Christians (and yes, I'm aware I'm generalizing) is that they don't respect my religion and my intelligence. They assume I haven't read the Bible and that if only I could see that Jesus bin Josef died for me, I would be saved from an eternity of damnation. Honestly, spending eternity with Christians like that would be worse than any hell Dante could dream up.
I agree that Christians, and those of all religions, need to be more involved in their community. We have become a culture of individuals, and while that has its advantages, the disadvantage is that we no longer love, or even know, our neighbor. A good place to begin involvement is the school system. We could use tutors, mentors, and TA's, as long as they are fair and balanced in their treatment of students with various religious beliefs.
Having said that, I can't thank you enough for approaching me as an intelligent but differently minded individual. I, also, spend a lot of time studying religion, and I find it imperative o be able to converse with people who can discuss without judging. Welcome, and I hope you will continue to engage in debate/discussion with me. Par of the American problem is that subjects like religion and politics are off-limits in polite society. Also, thanks for the book suggestion. I'm a huge reader and always open to new things.
I don't want to change the topic on this board Jess, but...
I AM HAPPY FOR YOU< CONGRATS!
Hope you try to stick with us on Suarkrauts blob and/or The Classroom when you can. As you already know I have so many questions and concerns about my incoming kindergartener.
Thank you, AGAIN.
I can't take the job, it's too far away and too much traveling for a pregnant lady, but nice to be asked, and I figure a slight change to my image may help with other jobs closer. Blogging is my hobby, of course I'll stick with you!
I sent you an email so as not to bog this blog down.
It's kind of strange, but it seems to me that Marxism puts just as much value in what a person has just as Marx claimed capitalism did. Marxism says that the sole problem (or the main problem) with humanity is poverty. But when Marxism is put into action, it always fails to accomplish what it claims to do.
Gabriel,
Thank you for joining us. I completely agree with your comments. We must remember that power currupts, and no government ever turns out as planned. That doesn't necessarily mean its beginninng ideals weren't wonderful. Marx puts a lot of value on what a person doesn't have, rather than what they do. I may be worng, but I think his point is that a person without the basic needs of a society cannot be a constructive and contributing member of society because people place so much value on what they have. Most governments fail to accomplish what they set out to do.
Thanks for your response. I apologize if anything I said may have seemed presumptive. It is generally easy to make assumptions and I try to not do that, but still do sometimes. I fully understand your position and how you feel. I think, as I'm sure you are aware, alot of Christians who, like me, have grown up in Evangelical Protestant churches have been almost instilled with this pressure to go out and simply "win lost souls" and get people to come to church. The problem is, in many cases, Christians forget to love, serve, and care and become friends with people and instead end up viewing people as targets in some kind of "Christian sales quota". I believe it is primarily important that we love each other and earn each others respect and trust. You can't do that without listening and respecting other's beliefs and who they are and engaging in getting to know people and care about them. So, I agree with you're feeling there. I am glad that we have the oppurtunity to speak openly and respect one another.
I also agree wholeheartedly with what you had to say in this post about Capitalism.
Josh -
I think we're all presumptive when it comes to things we feel passionatly about. No need to apologize. I make the same mistake often. It's nice to see people starting to clarify statements that could be misunderstood rather than sticking to their guns and exacerbating the problem. Thanks for your comments on Christianity. Every nice Christian I meet helps me ammend my opinion, and I enjoy talking to people whose beliefs are different from mine.
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