Uh Oh...A Political Post

I don't like conflict. That's probably why I usually avoid watching political debates. However, this year I have struggled with making a decision and our state's primaries are coming up SOON! So I watched the debates this year. I have also watched several interviews with the candidates on You Tube, plus read a bunch of articles about their views and voting records. I felt it was necessary since I was undecided. I noticed that the candidates had plenty to say about many things. But something bugged me.

I think something needs to be put into perspective.

The candidates and the media talk a lot about foreign policy (and they should). Some focus on how many of our military have been killed in Iraq. There is blame all over the place. I am so thankful for our military. They serve us in ways I'll probably never understand. The sacrifice their families make is enormous. But I do think we need to remember that our nation has a VOLUNTEER military.

I dug around a little on the internet for a few statistics about another issue. Did you know that well over a million babies are killed every single year by abortion? You can look here for one set of statistics. That means since the war on terror began that well over 6 million children have died. About as many Jews who were murdered during the holocaust. They did not have the chance to volunteer.

The candidates want a strong military or a strong economy or any number of other things. Besides the fact that every single one of those babies had value and dignity because they were made in the image of God, do any of the candidates realize that the 40 million babies killed by abortion may have assisted us in building a strong military, a strong economy, or may have figured out how in the world to slow global warming? If you really want to take care of our nation, then life must be valued and protected.

I know many people think Christians are single issue voters. I am not. But this issue is crucial. It comes first. You are automatically eliminated as someone I can support if you are not pro-life. Once you are eliminated, then I can move on to the other issues and the other candidates. And believe me, I have. I have studied the pro-life candidates and their views on foreign and domestic policy, their personal character (yes, that matters too), their ideas about education, the economy, immigration, and a ton of other issues. And I have almost made a decision. Almost.

I thank God that He is in control of this election and our nation no matter who is elected. I pray that my decision will honor Him and that the outcome will bring Him glory.

The Mandatory Preschool Push

I am a regular listener of the Albert Mohler Radio Program. It's a great show for getting a Chistian worldview on the major news stories as well as some stories that don't show up in the major newspapers. Last week he did a show on the problem of manditory preschool and I just wanted to share a little of what I heard because this is a topic that matters a lot to me as a mom and a former preschool teacher in the public schools.

We homeschool our children, but this does not mean we see no value in the public schools, nor does it mean we will never use the schools for our own family. I taught a lot of children who seemed to benefit greatly by being in school because their home life was not so great. I'm not denying that there is a place for public schools in our world. The problem is when politicians look at those very few difficult family and homelife situations and make laws that apply to all of us. There is a big push among many politicians to make school mandatory at age four, possibly even age three. As the mother of a two year old, this really annoys me.

What bugs me is the word "mandatory." In a culture that loves the word "choice," it is frustrating that some people want to take choices away from parents. They want to take our little ones out of our homes and put them in schools in these formative years - for what? So our nation will have higher overall math scores? Really? I'm sorry...I believe in the value of early education, but there is no better learning environment for a three or four year old than at home where she is loved and held and read to and played with. And there is research out there that suggests there is no benefit in this early schooling for long term success anyway. If someone else chooses to send their child to preschool, I think that is great. We actually sent Rachel to preschool two mornings a week when she was three. I have no problem with it as long as the parents made that choice. But we have chosen something else, and that is okay too.

A really big problem with this mandatory preschool push (and Dr. Mohler commented on it as well) is that it sends the message to parents that the government knows best when it comes to children. If you have a problem, look to the government. We have gotten so used to more and more people sending their children away at earlier and earlier ages, that this seems normal. I think that is sad. I used to read a blog called Spunky Homeschool and she had a great article on outsourcing parenthood. She made the point that what used to be normal and expected of moms and dads has been outsourced to the government, primarily through the schools. Mandatory preschool programs seem to be an extension of that.

On a personal note, my daughter will be home with me. Even if there were some law passed at lightening speed before her third of fourth birthday, we will file whatever paper declares her to be a homeschooler...because home is what she needs. She spent the first 11 months of her life in a government institution called an orphanage. We are in no hurry to put her in a different government institution just yet.

A Few Concerns About High School Musical 2

It seems that girls Rachel's age are nuts over High School Musical, including Rachel. She is saving her money for a High School Musical doll. It also seems that girls everywhere are getting all excited about this weekend's premiere of High School Musical 2 on the Disney Channel.

Before I share my concerns, let me say that I liked High School Musical. It was cheesy of course, but there wasn't anything that really upset me in that movie. I'm not crazy about Rachel wanting to own anything with High School Musical all over it. Marketing to kids like that really gets on my nerves...it makes me the bad guy when I have to say that word that nobody seems to know anymore, "no."

Also, before I share my concerns let me share a little of what I want for my girls. I want them to be feminine in the Biblical sense, not in the worldly way. I want them to understand the masculine and feminine roles that God has shown us in His word. I want them to learn to wait on God and trust Him for his provision and His timing. Pretty tall order and something that does not come naturally...for them or their mother. I also want them to care about the boys and men around them and learn how to be beautiful and feminine without being a stumbling block.

That said, here are a few of my concerns from the sequel. First of all it is a summer movie and some of the characters are hanging out and working as lifeguards at the local country club. My guess is this means less than modest attire in many of the scenes. Yes, we swim. I am not anti-swimsuits or anything. But I do try not to put unreal images of beauty in front of my kids if I can help it...or myself for that matter!

Perhaps my bigger concern is the competition for the boy between two girls in this movie. The website says that Sharpay's number one rule is to "get Troy." She seems to do this by offering him opportunities that he otherwise might not have. This puts her and Gabriella in a little competition for Troy. Ick. Maybe the movie won't be so bad, but good grief, this sounds like nothing I want for my daughters. And I know Rachel, she will want to watch it again and again and again.

Because of my "gut feeling" and because my concerns are still there after some time in prayer, I am saying no to High School Musical 2. Or at least, not yet. The movie will still be there later if I find out I am totally wrong, but we can't un-watch it once we have seen it. I keep thinking of things from scripture like be transformed by the renewing of your mind and I will set before my eyes no vile thing and be not conformed to the patterns of this world. Even if this movie is "okay" and my concerns are invalid, will it do anything to draw my child into a closer walk with Christ?

I am not condemning anyone who chooses to watch this movie. We watch more than Veggietales here. Much of it has to do with my own child and her tendencies. I am attempting to explain our seemingly against-the-norm weird choice for our family, and my own blog seemed like the place to do it. Mary Evelyn does not like High School Musical...she says it's too teenagey and we tend to agree. Too teenagey for a 9 and a 7 year old.