War! What is it good for?

Is war ever necessary? Well that's a very hard question to answer. Having never been involved in a such a situation where I would really be thinking about this in a literal sense(the current war has had little to do with my everyday life) and never have been making the decision myself (thank goodness!), I can only answer from an outsiders point of view. I think it's too complicated of an issue to just answer yes or no. There is no doubt that war is awful and that it kills and hurts many people, but a lot of wars have been to bring about a change for the better or, in cases like WWII, to defend our country. In my personal opinion wars like the one we're fighting now, against terror, might be necessary, but at the moment it's hard to tell whether they're really better off. Iraq needed reform, but was this war the best way to go about it? War is dreadful, but what is the alternative? Letting brutal dictators stay in power? Letting our enemies attack and take over? The idealist side of me wants to say that there is no reason for war, that if everybody could just come together and find a point of agreement, then there would be peace. In all reality though, it seems like war is something that human nature will revert to for ages to come.

Dearest and most high King John II of Portugal,

I, Vasco da Gama, am attempting to find a more direct route to India as to eliminate the dangerous and taxing Silk Roads. It is my desire to take the voyages and explorations of Bartolomeu Dias a step farther by not only rounding the Cape of Good Hope but also seeing what lies beyond. It is my greatest hope that this venture will prove to be a prosperous one for myself as well as your majesty. If I reach India, which I expect I will do, I will be able to establish direct trade in the nation and sell Indian spices here in Europe for a profit, that of which you would also benefit. It is also my thought and wish that once there is an established and safe route to India, missionaries can be sent to spread our sacred faith to the heathen nation. I am hoping to take my leave and set out on my expedition in early July of this year, 1497, with four carrack ships and large crews to man the vessels. I plan on using new technology that is now offered as well; the newly designed carrack ships that travel more easily through ocean waters and the recently improved magnetic compasses that can accurately point the holder in the proper direction. All of these things which are needed to make my voyage possible, are costly, which brings me to the reason I am writing this letter, you see, it is my greatest wish that you would be so gracious as to fund my endeavor. My plans and dreams are useless without your help. I promise to bring glory along with economic prosperity to our great nation of Portugal if you so choose to offer your funding.

Sincerely, and Hopefully, yours,

Vasco Da Gama,
January 4, 1497

Into the fair unknown!

There are many possible discoveries to make on this voyage into space. With so little known, the possibilities are endless! There could be plant life forms on undiscovered planets that contain medicinal properties that could cure diseases thought to be incurable! There could be life in this great unexplored space, people or aliens that have advanced far beyond us here on earth, we could learn so much! Although the risks of mechanical problems, hostile environments that we're unprepared for, and things we can't even think of, are weighing heavily on the minds of everybody, the potential payoff is to great to pass up.

What modern invention has had as great of an effect on the spread of knowledge as the printing press?

Why, the radio of course! The printing press was influential in a time of great change, The Protestant Reformation. It helped spread new ideas and controversial thoughts. The radio did the same in World War II and in the years after(I believe Radio Free Europe still broadcasts today). Western radio signals could be picked up in communist countries to help spread outside information in a place where the news was controlled by the government, free speech was nonexistent, and propaganda was everywhere. People anywhere could gather around their radios at night to hear the news and get informed, much like people could read a press printed pamphlet written by Martin Luther back during The Reformation.

CARPE DIEM!

I agree with this famous Latin saying, but only to a certain extent. Seizing(plucking) the day and making the most of your time here on earth is a great idea, but people can take it too far. It's one thing to take chances on things that might reap a benefit or at least be semi-harmless fun, but taking absolutely every chance that comes your way regardless of risks, is dangerous. I think that there is a healthy balance between taking risks and having fun and also staying on the safe side and being responsible. That being said, I wish I could lead a more Carpe Diem way of life, it just seems like it would be so much more interesting and exciting, don't you think?

Impressions of Local Religious Centers

The first place we visited on our field trip was the Al Huda Islamic Center. As you can see in the picture we all removed our shoes before entering to show respect. The Mosque was very simple, a basic and open room void of furnishings so that the congregants could gather and pray, which involves kneeling on the floor. There was a small semi-ornate platform that the Imam stands and sits on when leading prayer services. The Mosque's Imam, Hisham Ahmed, greeted us at the door and showed us around the building, he was very nice and helpful. Hisham Ahmed seemed to be very laid back and not put out by our visit, rather he seemed glad to answer our questions and share his faith. I got to ask quite a few questions, but I thought the most interesting answers were when the Imam told us that gender and race had nothing to do with how close you were to God, that he hoped any number of the women in the Mosque would be closer to God than himself. The second thing the Imam talked of that I found interesting was that there was a specific point on the compass that Muslims use to figure out which direction faces Mecca, so they can do the five ritual prayers no matter where they are. Overall I thought The Mosque was a a very peaceful and welcoming place and I found it very interesting.


The second place of worship we visited was The Congregation of the Children of Israel. The Synagogue was very beautiful and, in contrast to The Mosque, was very ornate and was pretty heavily decorated. Rabbi Gerson was kind enough to show us around, tell us about Judaism and their traditions, and also let us have a look at one of The Synagogue's Torah scrolls. Rabbi Gerson was very nice and I enjoyed listening to him speak. He answered my question about yarmulkes being for men only, and some other questions too. I thought it was interesting that the congregation was so big, all the things he told us about the many holidays they celebrate, and the symbolism of having the small hut outside to celebrate Yom Kippur and as a way of remembering the 40 years that Moses and the Jews spent in the desert Sinai. My impression of The Synagogue was that it was a place of worship, fellowship, and peace, but also a place celebration and family. The Synagogue seemed very vibrant and full of life to me, I enjoyed our visit very much.

Our final visit was to St. Joseph's Catholic Church. We were greeted by the Pastor, Father David McGuinness, and Benedict who were both very informative and welcoming. The building was not as ornate as The Synagogue but was more decorative than The Mosque. There were lovely stained glass windows depicting scenes from The Bible and statues of The Virgin Mary and other saints, along with many crucifixes that were placed throughout the church. Benedict gave us a tour of the sanctuary and talked at length about Catholicism and their traditions and masses. I thought it was interesting that they out the leftover communion crackers, or, after Transubstantiation, the remnants of Christ's broken body, into a special container called a Tabernacle. There wasn't a chance to ask any of the questions I had prepared for the field trip but Benedict gave us plenty of information and things to think about. The church was very large and I absolutely loved the extremely high ceilings, although I thought the pews at The Synagogue were more comfortable. I like Catholic churches because they always seem like such sacred, holy, places and I feel like I'm in the presence of God when I'm there.

I should really be finishing my religion post but...

Foster's Home is on!