Publick Edukashun Four ME!

In case you didn't see it, the Associated Press ran an article this week entitled, "Union-Run Charter School Draws Scrutiny," that talks about how one of the New York educrat unions is operating a charter school project in a Brooklyn-area elementary school with predictable results -- the unionized charter operation has not improved the quality of education. So what do the educrats say in response? "See, we told you that charter schools don't work." Well, yes, they don't work when you use the same failed methodologies and incompetent staff, i.e. keeping all of the elements that contribute to public schools failing. At least the charter laws allow school boards to terminate the contracts of under-performing schools--an option that is rarely available for union-controlled, non-charter schools.

This is only one example (the only union-run charter school in the country, I believe), and thus makes it hard to draw too much from this single case, but I think it shows two things:

1) Educrats cannot compete in a competitive education market;

2) Unionized education is an utter failure; or from another perspective, a complete success. It has been the educational goal for many since the time of Horace Mann to denude education of any thought of the transcendent, and they have succeeded. Now that the results are in, what do we do?

If al-Qaeda wanted to improve their public-relations image in the U.S., they could do America a favor by bombing the next NEA and AFT conventions. That would be a good start.

Cathedrals of England, Ireland and Scotland: A Music Video

Sorry for the weeklong absence. Having finished the book and getting it to the publisher early last week, I would be lying if I said that I've been doing anything of consequence since then. I have been catching up on some overdue reading, however.

To make up for my delinquency, I would like to announce the premiere of my first pictoral music video, Cathedrals of England, Ireland and Scotland. (UPDATE: It seems the best way to see the video is to download it by right clicking the link and hitting "Save Target as" to download it onto your hard drive. I just tried the link, and it was fine, though it seems that just clicking the link does not open your media viewer. The file is @ 50mb.)

Just click on the link and enjoy @ 8 relaxing minutes of incredible Church architecture and dazzling scenery of the Isles. And for anyone who might be skeptical, yes, these are all my own pictures taken in 2002 while I was living in London. I've passed out a couple of DVDs with this presentation to select group of friends, but this is the first real public performance. Maybe here over the weekend I'll post my second effort of a pictoral music video on the Washington National Cathedral, one of my favorite cathedrals in all the world.

Thanks to Joey Jr. for the server space. Hopefully I won't chew up too much of his bandwidth.

What I'm listening to: Wicked Tinkers, Hammered. This Irish/Scotch trio of pipers and drums mix some peppy contemporary grooves. Their song, The Farmer, is an absolute hoot (if I can say that without sounding too old). Music to accompany some fine single malt scotch (my favorite, Glenmorangie with a port wood finish).

Sophie Scholl: The Final Days

You have probably seen the TV commercials about the new movie opening this weekend, End of the Spear, detailing the martyrdom of five missionaries fifty years ago in Ecuador that was recounted in Elisabeth Elliot's Through Gates of Splendor. Let me tip you off to another MUST SEE movie coming out in February here in the states, Sophie Scholl: The Final Days.

This German-language film is the German entry for the Best Foreign Film Academy Award this year. It is the true story of one of the few resistance movements in Nazi Germany, Die Weiße Rose (The White Rose), which was led by a small circle of University of Munich students.

The heart of the group was composed of 22-year old Sophie Scholl, her older brother, Hans, and a friend, Chrisoph Probst. For a one year period in 1943-1943, they secretly published a series of fliers critizing the Nazi war effort in the wake of the German Army defeat at Stalingrad.

In February 1943, Hans and Christopher covertly painted anti-Hitler slogans around the University, which roused the attention of the Nazi authorities. Then on February 18, Hans and Sophie were distributing the sixth flier around the campus when they were spotted by a custodian who contacted the Gestapo, and the Scholls were immediately taken into custody. After six days of extensive interrogation, Hans, Sophie and Christoph appeared before Hitler's "Volksgerichtshof" (People's Court) on February 22nd, presided over by famous Nazi "hanging judge", Roland Freisler. Promptly convicted of treason against the Nazi state, the three were transported back to the prison, given a final moment together, and all three executed by guillotine. Eventually, three others would sacrifice their lives for their involvement in the White Rose resistance: Willi Graf, Alexander Schmorell, and Kurt Huber.

The upcoming movie recounts the last six days of Sophie Scholl's life reconstructed on new documentary evidence about their trial and last days in custody. If you click to the movie link above, you can see a trailer for the film. The movie opens in late February. Be warned, there is no happy ending here. Another warning: the movie is in German with English subtitles. That notwithstanding, it is a MUST SEE movie. Especially for your teenagers.

A few quick thoughts: One of the most important themes I gather from this story is that we can be pushed into such a position culturally that our only weapon is our refusal. The story of the White Rose is also a testament to the thousands of little compromises by conscientious German citizens that allowed the Nazi regime to accumulate so much political, social, educational and religious power that resulted in the death of tens of millions during World War II. If you think it can't happen here, you're not paying attention. I'm reminded of Patrick Henry's famous "Give me liberty, or give me death" speech. At one point he asks, "is life so dear, or peace so sweet to be purchased at the price of slavery and chains?" The legacy of the White Rose martyrs is that it is not.

Three books I own and have read on the topic are: A Noble Treason: The Revolt of the Munich Students Against Hitler, by Richard Hanser; At the Heart of the White Rose, by Inge Jens; and The White Rose: Munich 1942-1943, by the sister of Hans and Sophie Scholl, Inge Scholl. All are recommended.

Below is a photo of Sophie and Hans Scholl with Christoph Probst.

Evangelical Cultural Bankruptcy, Redux

A few weeks ago I posted on WORLD Magazine's selection of artist Makoto Fujimora as their "Daniel of the Year." (Evangelical Cultural Bankruptcy, Exhibit A) At the instigation and invitation of WORLD's letters editor, I submitted my comments as a letter to the editor. Well now my letter to the editor appears in the most current issue of WORLD.

Who was it that said never pick a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel? But it's not like I'm that discriminating on who I pick fights with anyways.

When Jabez Just Isn't Enough

Some people are going to crow over this (e.g. the Moscow cult), but what is evangelicalism going to make of The Prayer of Jabez author Bruce Wilkinson's abandonment of his ambitious effort to care for 100,000 orphans in the tiny African nation of Swaziland? The whole story can be found in this Wall Street Journal article, In Swaziland, U.S. Preacher Sees His Dream Vanish (link will expire in a few days).

Wilkinson's message in Jabez was a mix of Pentacostal prosperity theology and Norman Vincent Peale's power of positive thinking. Now it has been found wanting. What are we to do when God's plans don't align with our own? Mind you, most of evangelicalism would reject the idea that God has plans at all, because were all free and autonomous, and He wrings His hands waiting to see what we'll do.

God gave a vision to Joseph, and almost immediately he was set upon by his brothers and put on a long, confusing trip towards providence. I'm sure that many times, Joseph had given up in despair. He decided to make the best of his circumstances, regardless of where he was, but the vision he had been given in his youth seemed way too far off to be part of God's larger plan.

Was Wilkinson right to cut and run from this project that so many in Swaziland had hoped for? I can't throw stones, because I've been in similiar situations and the cut and run option seems the most attractive at the time. But how much damage has been done to the cause of Christ in this situation, such that the borders haven't been enlarged, but diminished?

Finally, why is it that the Church has a million different ways to interpret success and prosperity, but has very little room for tragedy, discouragement and disappointment (which seem more common)? What comfort did the disciples have between Good Friday and Easter Sunday?

(Hat tip: Bayly Blog)

Jesus, CEO

Just a quick update to point readers to an article in this week's The Economist on the trend of American evangelical churches being driven by market forces, not gospel mission, Jesus CEO. What's their primary example? Willow Creek. Well worth the read.

As I mentioned last week in a post entitled "A Look in the Cultural Mirror" on a New York Times article concerning "Christian" movie reviewers, it is always helpful to see these articles where secular culture mirrors the image of the church right back to us. We may not like what we see.

Eagle Over the Ice

Eagle Point Park, Clinton, IA. This bald eagle had a nest in the trees to the left. As you might gather from the picture, there was a tad bit of chill in the air that day (as I recall, it was below zero that day). I have some additional pictures of the bald eagles from around the cabin I was staying in across the river (the Misssissippi, that is). Maybe I'll post a few of those next time.

I'm still laboring away on the book manuscript, and it might be next week before I have time sufficient to post again. In the meantime, take a look at my previous photo essays or my previous Islamofascism posts linked on the sidebar to the right.

Mississippi River Freezing

Thomson, IL, January 2004. What was amazing was that it only took a single evening for the entire river to freeze. That meant that the bald Eagles in the area came to feed at the open hole in the ice right by the cabin I was staying in (thanks, Bill). Maybe tomorrow I'll give you a picture of one of the eagles.

If you're wondering (or maybe not) why I've been sparse on posting for the past week, I have a book to finish by this time next week. Things are on schedule, but postings might be rare until I get it done this coming weekend.

And GO BUCKS! BEAT THE PUGILENT CELTS!