Politicians who call names should watch more PBS Kids

They really, really need to watch the Arthur episode "D.W.'s Name Game."

Here's a transcript.

Here's the 20-second version: Arthur and his little sister D.W. have an episode-long war of words, mostly involving bigger and better adjectives for each other. D.W. has a dream in which she meets The Saurus (get it? he looks like a dinosaur), and she is told the ultimate name to call Arthur. When she uses it, Arthur melts, and she realizes how destructive their game is. She wakes up, and they make up.

Here's a quote:

D.W.: Nobody told me you'd melt! Arthur!
 She scoops him up in her Mary Moo-Cow cup. What's left of him, including the glasses, speaks to her from inside the cup.
 Arthur: Calling people names can be dangerous to their health. 

Quote for the day: T.S. Eliot on politics and atheism

"The more a political creed usurps the place of religious creed, the more risk of its becoming merely a façade. The popular result of ignoring religion seems to be merely that the populace transfer their religious emotions to political theories. Few people are sufficiently civilized to afford atheism."  ~~ T.S. Eliot, "Mr. Barnes and Mr. Rowse," The Criterion, July 1929

Political Power...or Service? (Lydia's Grade Eight)

Book studied: Whatever Happened to Justice?, chapter 26.

"Uncle Eric" has an out-of-the-mainstream view on political power. He says,

"Political power is not the capacity to build a better world. It is [the privilege of using] force on...persons who have not harmed anyone. It is something done to someone....Political power is violence."

He quotes people such as Thomas Bailey Aldrich:

"There is a possible Nero in the gentlest human creature that walks."

And William Hazlitt:

"Power is pleasure."

So here are some things to think about:

Which of the three images from Arthur show actual political power in use?

Is there a legitimate use of political power? Should Christians be involved in their country's government? In the police force? How should they act if they are put into or achieve positions of power? What does the Bible say? (This article is useful.)

"Christianity enhanced the notion of political and social accountability by providing a new model: that of servant leadership. In ancient Greece and Rome no one would have dreamed of considering political leaders anyone's servants. The job of the leader was to lead. But Christ invented the notion that the way to lead is by serving the needs of others, especially those who are the most needy..." ~~ Dinesh D'Souza, What's So Great About Christianity?

Justice, Latin, and Tanzania (Lydia's Grade Eight)

Today's lessons include Whatever Happened to Justice?, Journey to the Source of the Nile, and finishing the week's Latin lesson.

1.  Uncle Eric, Chapter 25, "The Great Mystery." This chapter may seem too "American" at first glance, but it's kind of cool anyway. There's a description of small-L liberals, who "believe in social freedom and economic control." Then a description of small-C conservatives, who "believe your production and trade should be free, and taxes very low, but the government should control licentious things like pornography, drugs, and gambling." So which group would you rather hang out with? But which side would you rather have in power? Because this model "explains only how liberals and conservatives think, not how they behave." What is the problem? "Political power."

2.  Geography, pages 143-148. The group arrives at Lake Tanganyika.

3.  Our Roman Roots, Lesson VI.  Map quiz game on page 41 of the student book. Review the verbs of command (stand up, sit down, etc.).  Review activities for the week, and then do the Lesson VI Quiz (it includes a map, so be prepared!).