Friday, June 16, 2006
The Apple Sometimes Falls Faaaaaaar From The Tree
The headline of a recent Middle East Media Research Institute translation reads, "Khomeini Calls for Foreign Military Intervention in Iran." No, not that Khomeini. Ayatollah Hussein Khomeini, the grandson of the Iranian Islamic revolution's founding father, raised eyebrows several years ago by saying he wanted to see the mullahs deposed. Now he is making the case anew, arguing, during a recent interview with the Dubai-based Al Arabiya television news network's website, that "freedom must come to Iran in any possible way, whether through internal or external developments."
His comments have generated a flurry of interest, probably thanks to their shock value. But, for my money, the most noteworthy part of the interview came when Khomeini, who still lives in Iran, explained why he favored American intervention: "If you were a prisoner, what would you do? I want someone to break the prison." Whether or not he intended it this way, Khomeini was offering a succinct, and compelling, defense of idealism in U.S. foreign policy. To be sure, Khomeini is probably wrong to think that an American invasion of Iran is a good idea; it almost certainly is not. (I'll leave aside the question of whether we might have to bomb the country to destroy its nuclear program.) But Khomeini is right to insist that Americans--in thinking through the role we should play in the world--put ourselves in the shoes of those living under tyrannies and ask whether we, if we were living under an oppressive regime, would want a global hegemon to take strong steps to hasten the day of our liberation.
His comments have generated a flurry of interest, probably thanks to their shock value. But, for my money, the most noteworthy part of the interview came when Khomeini, who still lives in Iran, explained why he favored American intervention: "If you were a prisoner, what would you do? I want someone to break the prison." Whether or not he intended it this way, Khomeini was offering a succinct, and compelling, defense of idealism in U.S. foreign policy. To be sure, Khomeini is probably wrong to think that an American invasion of Iran is a good idea; it almost certainly is not. (I'll leave aside the question of whether we might have to bomb the country to destroy its nuclear program.) But Khomeini is right to insist that Americans--in thinking through the role we should play in the world--put ourselves in the shoes of those living under tyrannies and ask whether we, if we were living under an oppressive regime, would want a global hegemon to take strong steps to hasten the day of our liberation.
The Tony Dungy Story
Amazing story.
But this paragraph is very sad:
Perhaps Dungy's only real regret as a father is that he hasn't been there for his children as much as his late parents were for theirs. As well as Tony can remember, Wilbur and Cleomae Dungy, both teachers, attended every event, every game when he was growing up in Jackson, Mich., and were always home on weekends. Tony's career has kept him from doing the same. Still, he's always prioritized his role as a husband and father ahead of his job and encourages -- much the same way mentors Chuck Noll and Dennis Green did with their teams -- his players and staff to do the same.
The bolded line is not really true, though, and Tony - in his more personal moments - would probably acknowledge that. How can your kids and wife be your priority when you're gone for much of the year or holed up in your office studying game film for 15 hours a day. It's an easy trap for all of us to fall into, but we must avoid at all costs.
It always comes down to what's more important: your career success and the money and the ego stroking and the glory OR the daily, monotonous, hard, and wonderfully satisfying routine of the every day father and mother. The latter was good enough for Tony's parents and my parents...and it will have to be good enough for me.
But this paragraph is very sad:
Perhaps Dungy's only real regret as a father is that he hasn't been there for his children as much as his late parents were for theirs. As well as Tony can remember, Wilbur and Cleomae Dungy, both teachers, attended every event, every game when he was growing up in Jackson, Mich., and were always home on weekends. Tony's career has kept him from doing the same. Still, he's always prioritized his role as a husband and father ahead of his job and encourages -- much the same way mentors Chuck Noll and Dennis Green did with their teams -- his players and staff to do the same.
The bolded line is not really true, though, and Tony - in his more personal moments - would probably acknowledge that. How can your kids and wife be your priority when you're gone for much of the year or holed up in your office studying game film for 15 hours a day. It's an easy trap for all of us to fall into, but we must avoid at all costs.
It always comes down to what's more important: your career success and the money and the ego stroking and the glory OR the daily, monotonous, hard, and wonderfully satisfying routine of the every day father and mother. The latter was good enough for Tony's parents and my parents...and it will have to be good enough for me.
Just Shut Up
More ink equals more blood, claim two economists who say that newspaper coverage of terrorist incidents leads directly to more attacks.
It's a macabre example of win-win in what economists call a "common-interest game," say Bruno S. Frey of the University of Zurich and Dominic Rohner of Cambridge University.
"Both the media and terrorists benefit from terrorist incidents," their study contends. Terrorists get free publicity for themselves and their cause. The media, meanwhile, make money "as reports of terror attacks increase newspaper sales and the number of television viewers."
The researchers counted direct references to terrorism between 1998 and 2005 in the New York Times and Neue Zuercher Zeitung, a respected Swiss newspaper. They also collected data on terrorist attacks around the world during that period. Using a statistical procedure called the Granger Causality Test, they attempted to determine whether more coverage directly led to more attacks.
The results, they said, were unequivocal: Coverage caused more attacks, and attacks caused more coverage -- a mutually beneficial spiral of death that they say has increased because of a heightened interest in terrorism since Sept. 11, 2001.
One partial solution: Deny groups publicity by not publicly naming the attackers, Frey said. But won't they become known anyway through informal channels such as the Internet?
Not necessarily, Frey said. "Many experiences show us that in virtually all cases several groups claimed responsibility for a particular terrorist act. I would like the same rule that obtains within a country: Nobody can be called a criminal -- in our case a terrorist -- if this has not been established by a court of law."
It's a macabre example of win-win in what economists call a "common-interest game," say Bruno S. Frey of the University of Zurich and Dominic Rohner of Cambridge University.
"Both the media and terrorists benefit from terrorist incidents," their study contends. Terrorists get free publicity for themselves and their cause. The media, meanwhile, make money "as reports of terror attacks increase newspaper sales and the number of television viewers."
The researchers counted direct references to terrorism between 1998 and 2005 in the New York Times and Neue Zuercher Zeitung, a respected Swiss newspaper. They also collected data on terrorist attacks around the world during that period. Using a statistical procedure called the Granger Causality Test, they attempted to determine whether more coverage directly led to more attacks.
The results, they said, were unequivocal: Coverage caused more attacks, and attacks caused more coverage -- a mutually beneficial spiral of death that they say has increased because of a heightened interest in terrorism since Sept. 11, 2001.
One partial solution: Deny groups publicity by not publicly naming the attackers, Frey said. But won't they become known anyway through informal channels such as the Internet?
Not necessarily, Frey said. "Many experiences show us that in virtually all cases several groups claimed responsibility for a particular terrorist act. I would like the same rule that obtains within a country: Nobody can be called a criminal -- in our case a terrorist -- if this has not been established by a court of law."
Quote of the Day
"Let us resolve to deal with the world as it is but never to accept that we are powerless to make it better than it is - not perfect, but better. America will lead the cause of freedom in our world not because we think ourselves perfect. To the contrary, we cherish democracy and champion its ideals because we know we are not perfect." -- Secretary of State Condi Rice, to the Southern Baptist Association
93-6!
The Senate rejected a call for the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from Iraq by year's end on Thursday as Congress erupted in impassioned, election-year debate over a conflict that now has claimed the lives of 2,500 American troops.
The vote was 93-6 to shelve the proposal, which would have allowed "only forces that are critical to completing the mission of standing up Iraqi security forces" to remain in 2007.
93-6! So what is all of the hubbub about? It appears that the "bring them home" crowd that makes so much noise is just that...all noise.
The vote was 93-6 to shelve the proposal, which would have allowed "only forces that are critical to completing the mission of standing up Iraqi security forces" to remain in 2007.
93-6! So what is all of the hubbub about? It appears that the "bring them home" crowd that makes so much noise is just that...all noise.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Nice Schools
NEW YORK (Reuters) -- New York may be a city of incessant cell phone talkers, but students vowed on Wednesday they would hit the "off" button during classes as they battled a ban on cell phones in schools.
Speaking at a city council hearing where lawmakers introduced a bill aimed at overriding a ban on cell phones enforced under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, high school students and their parents spoke out against the unusually stringent anti-cell phone policy.
"I feel mature enough to be able to turn off my cell phone in class," said LaGuardia High School student Jenna Gogan, 16. "This is about students' safety, because, especially in New York City, many parents need to feel reassured they can contact their kids going to and from school."
Dissent over the ban in New York escalated recently when Bloomberg introduced metal scanners and random checks at some of the city's 1,408 public high schools. The new scanners used to protect the city's 1.1 million students had led to the confiscation of more than 3,000 cell phones and 36 weapons, mostly knives and razor blades.
Ok, if your school needs metal scanners and random checks, the problem of teenagers with cell phones should probably be waaaay down on the list of pressing issues.
Speaking at a city council hearing where lawmakers introduced a bill aimed at overriding a ban on cell phones enforced under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, high school students and their parents spoke out against the unusually stringent anti-cell phone policy.
"I feel mature enough to be able to turn off my cell phone in class," said LaGuardia High School student Jenna Gogan, 16. "This is about students' safety, because, especially in New York City, many parents need to feel reassured they can contact their kids going to and from school."
Dissent over the ban in New York escalated recently when Bloomberg introduced metal scanners and random checks at some of the city's 1,408 public high schools. The new scanners used to protect the city's 1.1 million students had led to the confiscation of more than 3,000 cell phones and 36 weapons, mostly knives and razor blades.
Ok, if your school needs metal scanners and random checks, the problem of teenagers with cell phones should probably be waaaay down on the list of pressing issues.
The Defeatist Terrorists
This document, if correctly translated, is amazing. Apparently the terrorists like our chances of winning. Someone needs to tell the Dems.
Dear God, Make It Stop!!!!
So Mel Gibson makes a great film ("The Passion of the Christ") and lots of money. What happens next? You guessed it...a bad knock off. But this time the story won't be put into the hands of Mel Gibson. This time it's Tim LaHaye's baby.
Using the Bible for its source material, “Resurrection” will tell the story of Jesus Christ beginning the day he died on the cross and ending about 40 days later with his ascension into heaven. According to insiders, Sony’s mid-budget Screen Gems division commissioned a script several months ago from Lionel Chetwynd, the veteran screenwriter, producer and director whose credits include the feature “The Hanoi Hilton” and the Emmy-nominated TV movie “Ike: Countdown to D-Day.”
Set to produce is Tim LaHaye, co-author of the best-selling “Left Behind” series of books. A popular minister and frequent TV news pundit, “Resurrection” will mark LaHaye’s first foray into mainstream filmmaking.
This is the best Sony could do?
Using the Bible for its source material, “Resurrection” will tell the story of Jesus Christ beginning the day he died on the cross and ending about 40 days later with his ascension into heaven. According to insiders, Sony’s mid-budget Screen Gems division commissioned a script several months ago from Lionel Chetwynd, the veteran screenwriter, producer and director whose credits include the feature “The Hanoi Hilton” and the Emmy-nominated TV movie “Ike: Countdown to D-Day.”
Set to produce is Tim LaHaye, co-author of the best-selling “Left Behind” series of books. A popular minister and frequent TV news pundit, “Resurrection” will mark LaHaye’s first foray into mainstream filmmaking.
This is the best Sony could do?
Is This the Equivalent of a Juiced Baseball?
In the opening match of soccer's World Cup Friday, German midfielder Torsten Frings scored an amazing goal from 40 yards out. The ball started off straight and then tailed sharply to the right in the last 10 yards or so. It was an unstoppable shot, but with a different ball it might have been a simple save.
A scientist has explained why a new ball being used in this year's World Cup is frustrating goalies.
The new Adidas Teamgeist football, as it is called, has 14 panels instead of the 26 or 32 that traditionally create the hexagonal pattern.
Fewer panels means fewer seams, which will make the ball behave more like a baseball, says Ken Bray, a sports scientist at the University of Bath in the UK.
Complex whirls of air cause a spinning ball to drift toward the side that's spinning away from the ball's direction of movement [learn why]. A ball that's not spinning can bounce around unpredictably. Pitchers rely on this physics when throwing knuckleballs.
A good knuckleball is crazy because the ball rotates lazily in the air and the seams disrupt the air flow around the ball at certain points on the surface, Bray said.
"With a very low spin rate, which occasionally happens in football, the panel pattern can have a big influence on the trajectory of the ball and make it more unpredictable for a goalkeeper," Bray said last week.
Bray suggests one way to watch for the effect on TV.
"Watch the slow motion replays to spot the rare occasions where the ball produces little or no rotation and where goalkeepers will frantically attempt to keep up with the ball’s chaotic flight path," he said.
A scientist has explained why a new ball being used in this year's World Cup is frustrating goalies.
The new Adidas Teamgeist football, as it is called, has 14 panels instead of the 26 or 32 that traditionally create the hexagonal pattern.
Fewer panels means fewer seams, which will make the ball behave more like a baseball, says Ken Bray, a sports scientist at the University of Bath in the UK.
Complex whirls of air cause a spinning ball to drift toward the side that's spinning away from the ball's direction of movement [learn why]. A ball that's not spinning can bounce around unpredictably. Pitchers rely on this physics when throwing knuckleballs.
A good knuckleball is crazy because the ball rotates lazily in the air and the seams disrupt the air flow around the ball at certain points on the surface, Bray said.
"With a very low spin rate, which occasionally happens in football, the panel pattern can have a big influence on the trajectory of the ball and make it more unpredictable for a goalkeeper," Bray said last week.
Bray suggests one way to watch for the effect on TV.
"Watch the slow motion replays to spot the rare occasions where the ball produces little or no rotation and where goalkeepers will frantically attempt to keep up with the ball’s chaotic flight path," he said.
Quote of the Day
"I now know that if you describe things as better as they are, you are considered to be romantic; if you describe things as worse than they are, you are called a realist; and if you describe things exactly as they are, you are called a satirist." -- Quentin Crisp, The Naked Civil Servant
Darth Vader: Rightwing or Leftwing?
Jonah Goldberg says left:
Darth Vader grew up poor and oppressed — a slave even! He was saved by a progressive organization which took him in out of a mixture of pity and affirmative action. He was admitted thanks to a sort of one-drop-rule quota (his only qualification is that he had the right midichlorian mix in his blood). The organization was comprised of nature-worshipping technocrats who believed that there their Gnostic insight into the nature of the universe gave them the unique privilege to fix everything they laid their eyes on. Their new age faith involved a lot of talk about getting in touch with your feelings and distrusting technology (but Darth never appreciated the hypocrisy of his own limousine liberal bionics). Corrupted by power and other selfish motives, young Darth — then going by his slave name Anakin — embraced the Empire which sought to overturn the planet's-rights system of the republic in favor of centralized planning. He then dedicated most of his career to enforcing a classically progressive, top-down socialism of the "one-best way," breaking contracts with mining companies when it suited him. Late in life, when he realized the unintended consequences of central planning, he recanted. So maybe at the very end he was a neocon of sorts. But by then he changed his name back to Anakin.
Darth Vader grew up poor and oppressed — a slave even! He was saved by a progressive organization which took him in out of a mixture of pity and affirmative action. He was admitted thanks to a sort of one-drop-rule quota (his only qualification is that he had the right midichlorian mix in his blood). The organization was comprised of nature-worshipping technocrats who believed that there their Gnostic insight into the nature of the universe gave them the unique privilege to fix everything they laid their eyes on. Their new age faith involved a lot of talk about getting in touch with your feelings and distrusting technology (but Darth never appreciated the hypocrisy of his own limousine liberal bionics). Corrupted by power and other selfish motives, young Darth — then going by his slave name Anakin — embraced the Empire which sought to overturn the planet's-rights system of the republic in favor of centralized planning. He then dedicated most of his career to enforcing a classically progressive, top-down socialism of the "one-best way," breaking contracts with mining companies when it suited him. Late in life, when he realized the unintended consequences of central planning, he recanted. So maybe at the very end he was a neocon of sorts. But by then he changed his name back to Anakin.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
"Business Is Not A Zero Sum Game"
John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, and a former Leftie:
"At the time I started my business, the Left had taught me that business and capitalism were based on exploitation: exploitation of consumers, workers, society, and the environment. I believed that "profit" was a necessary evil at best, and certainly not a desirable goal for society as a whole. However, becoming an entrepreneur completely changed my life. Everything I believed about business was proven to be wrong.
The most important thing I learned about business in my first year was that business wasn't based on exploitation or coercion at all. Instead I realized that business is based on voluntary cooperation. No one is forced to trade with a business; customers have competitive alternatives in the market place; employees have competitive alternatives for their labor; investors have different alternatives and places to invest their capital. Investors, labor, management, suppliers — they all need to cooperate to create value for their customers. If they do, then any realized profit can be divided amongst the creators of the value through competitive market dynamics.
In other words, business is not a zero-sum game with a winner and loser. It is a win, win, win, win game — and I really like that. However, I discovered despite my idealism that our customers thought our prices were too high, our employees thought they were underpaid, the vendors would not give us large discounts, the community was forever clamoring for donations, and the government was slapping us with endless fees, licenses, fines, and taxes.
Were we profitable? Not at first. Safer Way managed to lose half of its capital in the first year — $23,000. Despite the loss, we were still accused of exploiting our customers with high prices and our employees with low wages. The investors weren't making a profit and we had no money to donate. Plus, with our losses, we paid no taxes. I had somehow joined the "dark side" — I was now one of the bad guys. According to the perspective of the Left, I had become a greedy and selfish businessman. At this point, I rationally chose to abandon the leftist philosophy of my youth, because it no longer adequately explained how the world really worked."
"At the time I started my business, the Left had taught me that business and capitalism were based on exploitation: exploitation of consumers, workers, society, and the environment. I believed that "profit" was a necessary evil at best, and certainly not a desirable goal for society as a whole. However, becoming an entrepreneur completely changed my life. Everything I believed about business was proven to be wrong.
The most important thing I learned about business in my first year was that business wasn't based on exploitation or coercion at all. Instead I realized that business is based on voluntary cooperation. No one is forced to trade with a business; customers have competitive alternatives in the market place; employees have competitive alternatives for their labor; investors have different alternatives and places to invest their capital. Investors, labor, management, suppliers — they all need to cooperate to create value for their customers. If they do, then any realized profit can be divided amongst the creators of the value through competitive market dynamics.
In other words, business is not a zero-sum game with a winner and loser. It is a win, win, win, win game — and I really like that. However, I discovered despite my idealism that our customers thought our prices were too high, our employees thought they were underpaid, the vendors would not give us large discounts, the community was forever clamoring for donations, and the government was slapping us with endless fees, licenses, fines, and taxes.
Were we profitable? Not at first. Safer Way managed to lose half of its capital in the first year — $23,000. Despite the loss, we were still accused of exploiting our customers with high prices and our employees with low wages. The investors weren't making a profit and we had no money to donate. Plus, with our losses, we paid no taxes. I had somehow joined the "dark side" — I was now one of the bad guys. According to the perspective of the Left, I had become a greedy and selfish businessman. At this point, I rationally chose to abandon the leftist philosophy of my youth, because it no longer adequately explained how the world really worked."
Life Is Not Fair
PHOENIX (AP) -- The Arizona Diamondbacks decided Tuesday they would rather eat the remaining $22 million of Russ Ortiz's contract than keep him on their roster.
Ortiz is believed to be the most expensive player to be cut loose in baseball history.
That would be $22 million to do absolutely nothing.
Ortiz is believed to be the most expensive player to be cut loose in baseball history.
That would be $22 million to do absolutely nothing.
George Foster Is Making Sense
From Ron Jackson, Dayton Daily News:
"I would move him to first base," Foster said. "I was with Ken Sr. recently and I know he's discussed it with Junior, but it's an ego thing with him and he doesn't want to go to left or right. That would save his legs, but he's out to prove something; that he can win another Gold Glove in center."
"But there's lot of wear and tear involved with playing center or shortstop. They're demanding positions along with catcher. Junior's a player and he can play the angles and make the adjustment to either corner outfield or first base. As long as you have Junior at first, for instance, you don't need an offensive player in center. It would prolong Junior's career."
Foster helped to power the Big Red Machine teams of the 1970s. He said players were unselfish in that era.
"The beauty of the Big Red Machine was the chemistry," Foster said. "Players made switches for the good of the team or took extra batting practice. You don't see that in today's game as much. Junior and Adam Dunn should take extra BP to learn to break the defensive shift they face."
"I would move him to first base," Foster said. "I was with Ken Sr. recently and I know he's discussed it with Junior, but it's an ego thing with him and he doesn't want to go to left or right. That would save his legs, but he's out to prove something; that he can win another Gold Glove in center."
"But there's lot of wear and tear involved with playing center or shortstop. They're demanding positions along with catcher. Junior's a player and he can play the angles and make the adjustment to either corner outfield or first base. As long as you have Junior at first, for instance, you don't need an offensive player in center. It would prolong Junior's career."
Foster helped to power the Big Red Machine teams of the 1970s. He said players were unselfish in that era.
"The beauty of the Big Red Machine was the chemistry," Foster said. "Players made switches for the good of the team or took extra batting practice. You don't see that in today's game as much. Junior and Adam Dunn should take extra BP to learn to break the defensive shift they face."
If Only They Would Control The Spending
Aided by surging tax receipts, President Bush may make good on his pledge to cut the deficit in half in 2006 — three years early.
Tax revenues are running $176 billion, or 12.9%, over last year, the Treasury Department said Monday. The Congressional Budget Office said receipts have risen faster over the first eight months of fiscal '06 than in any other such period over the past 25 years — except for last year's 15.5% jump.
The 2006 deficit through May was $227 billion, down from $273 billion at this time last year. Spending is up $130 billion, or 7.9%.
The CBO forecast in May that the 2006 deficit could fall as low as $300 billion. Michael Englund, chief economist of Action Economics, has long expected a deficit of about $270 billion this year. Now he thinks there's a chance the "remarkable strength in receipts" will push the deficit even lower.
With the economy topping $13 trillion this year, a $270 billion deficit would equal less than 2.1% of GDP, easily beating the president's 2.25% goal. Bush made his vow when the White House had a dour 2004 deficit forecast of 4.5% of GDP, or $521 billion. The actual '04 deficit came in at $412 billion, or 3.5% of GDP, before falling to $318 billion, or 2.6% of GDP, in 2005.
Tax revenues are running $176 billion, or 12.9%, over last year, the Treasury Department said Monday. The Congressional Budget Office said receipts have risen faster over the first eight months of fiscal '06 than in any other such period over the past 25 years — except for last year's 15.5% jump.
The 2006 deficit through May was $227 billion, down from $273 billion at this time last year. Spending is up $130 billion, or 7.9%.
The CBO forecast in May that the 2006 deficit could fall as low as $300 billion. Michael Englund, chief economist of Action Economics, has long expected a deficit of about $270 billion this year. Now he thinks there's a chance the "remarkable strength in receipts" will push the deficit even lower.
With the economy topping $13 trillion this year, a $270 billion deficit would equal less than 2.1% of GDP, easily beating the president's 2.25% goal. Bush made his vow when the White House had a dour 2004 deficit forecast of 4.5% of GDP, or $521 billion. The actual '04 deficit came in at $412 billion, or 3.5% of GDP, before falling to $318 billion, or 2.6% of GDP, in 2005.
Monday, June 12, 2006
I Am Shocked! Shocked!
COMPTON, Calif. (AP) — The son of the late rapper Eazy-E was arrested for investigation of possessing a concealed weapon, authorities said Sunday.
Eric Wright Jr. — who goes by the name Lil' Eazy-E in his own recently launched hip-hop career — is the firstborn son of Eazy-E, a founding member of the pioneering gangster rap group N.W.A. who died of AIDS in 1995.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies pulled over Wright, 22, for a traffic violation near Compton on Saturday night, Lt. Michael Alerich said.
"Mr. Wright was in possession of a firearm and he was arrested," Alerich said. "Two other guys in the car were also arrested, one for possession of a firearm and the other for a probation violation."
Earlier this year, Wright released his first album, Prince of Compton.
Eric Wright Jr. — who goes by the name Lil' Eazy-E in his own recently launched hip-hop career — is the firstborn son of Eazy-E, a founding member of the pioneering gangster rap group N.W.A. who died of AIDS in 1995.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies pulled over Wright, 22, for a traffic violation near Compton on Saturday night, Lt. Michael Alerich said.
"Mr. Wright was in possession of a firearm and he was arrested," Alerich said. "Two other guys in the car were also arrested, one for possession of a firearm and the other for a probation violation."
Earlier this year, Wright released his first album, Prince of Compton.
Old School Youth Ministry
Now, don’t jump to conclusions. I haven’t uncovered any evidence that St. Ambrose led teens on ski trips in the nearby Alps. Nor is there anything to suggest that St. Basil sponsored junior-high dances in Pontus. (There’s not even a hint of a pizza party.) In fact, if you check all the documentary evidence from all the ancient patriarchates of the East and the West, you won’t find a single bulletin announcement for a single parish youth group.
Yet the Fathers had enormous success in youth and young-adult ministry. Many of the early martyrs were teens, as were many of the Christians who took to the desert for the solitary life. There’s ample evidence that a disproportionate number of conversions, too, came from the young and youngish age groups.
How did the Fathers do it?
They made wild promises.
They promised young people great things, like persecution, lower social status, public ridicule, severely limited employment opportunities, frequent fasting, a high risk of jail and torture, and maybe, just maybe, an early, violent death at the hands of their pagan rulers.
What's funny is that this is exactly what military recruiters typically offer: danger, high risk, maybe even death. But it works. Why? Because man is created with an inborn belief in a higher purpose, a higher cause, a calling. The Church has this bass akwards now. They try to motive youth with video games and candy...that's foolish.
Yet the Fathers had enormous success in youth and young-adult ministry. Many of the early martyrs were teens, as were many of the Christians who took to the desert for the solitary life. There’s ample evidence that a disproportionate number of conversions, too, came from the young and youngish age groups.
How did the Fathers do it?
They made wild promises.
They promised young people great things, like persecution, lower social status, public ridicule, severely limited employment opportunities, frequent fasting, a high risk of jail and torture, and maybe, just maybe, an early, violent death at the hands of their pagan rulers.
What's funny is that this is exactly what military recruiters typically offer: danger, high risk, maybe even death. But it works. Why? Because man is created with an inborn belief in a higher purpose, a higher cause, a calling. The Church has this bass akwards now. They try to motive youth with video games and candy...that's foolish.
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