I haven't read World magezine in months, but just decided to see what was in it this week... I was surprised to read an article about a fellow PHC alumnus, written by current PHC student!
Military: Fade to gray
Proposed military guidelines could muzzle evangelical officers and chaplains
by Les Sillars, Stefanie Hausner
Shortly after Kevin Radman arrived at the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Va., last summer, his sergeant instructor ensured that each member of the unit had access to a chapel service. "He did not ask how many people were religious, he asked what sort of religion you were," recalls Mr. Radman, now a second lieutenant. The sergeant needled the lone candidate who said he was an atheist. He'd better find God, he said, because "you need to find something to hold on to."
OCS is not exactly Bible camp. But for 2nd Lt. Radman, who expected and found a fair bit of "drinking, womanizing, and swearing," he also discovered "good people" at OCS. "They firmly believe in helping people," he said. "Integrity and honesty are huge. They're very aware of those virtues." He figures that the Marine Corps "wants you to have religion because they're asking you to kill people and so they want you to have moral principles," he says. "They recognize that people need an internal [compass], something to help them through this stuff."
Five of 35 classmates, 2nd Lt. Radman estimates, attend a Bible study and "talk about God on the weekdays." There is no hard line between official business and personal interaction, he says, but clearly "you can't be proselytizing [subordinates] here. This is your job. But if you're just a genuine guy trying to share what you believe, then that's OK. Between peers you can say whatever you want."
Traditionally an American military officer can make three kinds of statements about faith and religion: "I believe" is acceptable and "you will" is not, particularly to subordinates.
In the huge gray area in the middle are things that imply "you should." This gray area is important because, since Vietnam, religion has become a widely accepted part of everyday military life and conversation. This shift is partly the result of increasing numbers of evangelical Christian chaplains and officers who see talking about their faith as both a central part of who they are and a right protected by the Constitution.
But the gray area could be shrinking. In the wake of a lawsuit over alleged religious intolerance at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, the Air Force is now considering new guidelines for public prayer and "sharing of faith" that some worry could be construed in ways that would muzzle outspoken evangelical chaplains and officers.
Read the rest of this article
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Maximus (the Gladiator, NOT the salon!) Still... it's ironic, don't ya think?
You scored as Maximus. After his family was murdered by the evil emperor Commodus, the great Roman general Maximus went into hiding to avoid Commodus's assassins. He became a gladiator, hoping to dominate the colosseum in order to one day get the chance of killing Commodus. Maximus is valiant, courageous, and dedicated. He wants nothing more than the chance to avenge his family, but his temper often gets the better of him.
Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0 |
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Movie Reviews
I meant to write a review of Pride and Prejudice after seeing it when I went home for Veterans' Day weekend, but somehow time got away from me and I never got around to writing it. When I went home for Christmas, I went to see Narnia with my family. So I figure it's about time to write the reviews...
Pride and Prejudice
I liked it, but I think it had more do do with my love of the story itself than any admiration for the acting or creative license taken. Though I thought Keira Knightly did a good job as Elizabeth, my favorite actress for this part will always be Greer Garson, who's quick wit and sharp tongue in the 1940 version of Pride and Prejudice is the reason I fell in love with Jane Austen's books. No one can ever play Mr. Darcy the way Colin Firth did, so Matthew MacFadyen did not have a chance with me. The background and landscape were done much better than the A&E version and Mr. Darcey's proposals to Elizabeth were done in a more romantic setting. I was not quite sure why the movie was rated PG. The only part of the story that is at all risqu'e is the Lydia affair, which this version barely addresses. I suppose to be politically correct, they did not want to get into the fact that an unmarried woman, living with a man is wrong. This change is actually detrimenal to the story because it changes Mr. Darcy's actions from great sacrifice to a kindness, of which any rich man is capable. Like I said in the beginning, I liked it, but it does not compare with the book.
Narnia
C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite authors, so when I heard Disney was making a movie of "The Lion, the Which, and the Wardrobe," I was both excited and disappointed... excited because I love to see a good book turned into a good movie, and disappointed because I hate to see a good book turned into a bad movie. I was afraid that Disney would destroy the whole thing by taking out the whole spiritual side of the story. In the end, I was pleasantly surprised that all the important parts were left in, though some of my favorite scenes were left out. The death and resurrection of Aslan were done very well, and the idea of the innocent dying to save the sinner was crystal clear. For those looking for spiritual meaning in the movie, it will be evident. However, for those who are merely going for the sake of entertainment, the deeper meaning will be lost on them. It will be just another movie about witches and supernatural powers, like Harry Potter, or anything else in that line.
Pride and Prejudice
I liked it, but I think it had more do do with my love of the story itself than any admiration for the acting or creative license taken. Though I thought Keira Knightly did a good job as Elizabeth, my favorite actress for this part will always be Greer Garson, who's quick wit and sharp tongue in the 1940 version of Pride and Prejudice is the reason I fell in love with Jane Austen's books. No one can ever play Mr. Darcy the way Colin Firth did, so Matthew MacFadyen did not have a chance with me. The background and landscape were done much better than the A&E version and Mr. Darcey's proposals to Elizabeth were done in a more romantic setting. I was not quite sure why the movie was rated PG. The only part of the story that is at all risqu'e is the Lydia affair, which this version barely addresses. I suppose to be politically correct, they did not want to get into the fact that an unmarried woman, living with a man is wrong. This change is actually detrimenal to the story because it changes Mr. Darcy's actions from great sacrifice to a kindness, of which any rich man is capable. Like I said in the beginning, I liked it, but it does not compare with the book.
Narnia
C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite authors, so when I heard Disney was making a movie of "The Lion, the Which, and the Wardrobe," I was both excited and disappointed... excited because I love to see a good book turned into a good movie, and disappointed because I hate to see a good book turned into a bad movie. I was afraid that Disney would destroy the whole thing by taking out the whole spiritual side of the story. In the end, I was pleasantly surprised that all the important parts were left in, though some of my favorite scenes were left out. The death and resurrection of Aslan were done very well, and the idea of the innocent dying to save the sinner was crystal clear. For those looking for spiritual meaning in the movie, it will be evident. However, for those who are merely going for the sake of entertainment, the deeper meaning will be lost on them. It will be just another movie about witches and supernatural powers, like Harry Potter, or anything else in that line.
My Latest Favorite Song =)
I'd like to dedicate this song to my dear sisters (C&S, you will understand why when you read the words ;o) ... the 100 proof attitude power is totally you, S... C, I leave you to figure out which parts were meant for you =P)
Just the Girl
She's cold and she's cruel
But she knows what she's doin'
She pushed me in the pool
At our last school reunion
She laughs at my dreams
But I dream about her laughter
Strange as it seems
She's the one I'm after
Cause she's bittersweet
She knocks me off of my feet
And I can't help myself
I don't want anyone else
She's a mystery
She's too much for me
But I keep comin' back for more
She's just the girl I'm lookin' for
She can't keep a secret
For more than an hour
She runs on 100 proof attitude power
And the more she ignores me
The more I adore her
What can I do?
I'd do anything for her
Cause she's bittersweet
She knocks me off of my feet
And I can't help myself
I don't want anyone else
She's a mystery
She's too much for me
But I keep comin' back for more
She's just the girl I'm lookin' for
The way she sees it's me
On her caller ID
She won't pick up the phone
She'd rather be alone
But I can't give up just yet
Cause every word she's ever said
Is still ringin' in my head
Still ringin' in my head
She's cold and she's cruel
But she knows what she's doin'
Knows just what to say
So my whole day is ruined
Cause she's bittersweet
She knocks me off of my feet
And I can't help myself
I don't want anyone else
She's a mystery
She's too much for me
But I keep comin' back for more
Cause she's bittersweet
She knocks me off of my feet
And I can't help myself
I don't want anyone else
She's a mystery
She's too much for me
But I keep comin' back for more
Oh, I keep comin' back for more
She's just the girl I'm lookin' for
Just the girl I'm lookin' for
I'm lookin' for
I'm lookin' for
I'm lookin' for
I'm lookin' for
Just the girl I'm lookin' for
~ The Click Five
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Memories... =)
I came across some PHC quotes that were sent to me last year around this time...
Dr. Stacey
...on his grading philosophy:
“How else did you lose your hair?” – John Grosjean
“Not the same way you lost your high grade.”
Dr. Stacey
...on his grading philosophy:
“How else did you lose your hair?” – John Grosjean
“Not the same way you lost your high grade.”
“If I say, “this paragraph is incomprehensible,” it doesn’t mean I despise you.”
...on military strategy:
“What’s the point of having a big navy if you don’t shoot things?"
...on his previous employment:
“I used to teach Introduction to American Government to dumb kids at bad colleges.”
...on color:
"I can't even tell you what the color of my car is. It's not red; it's not orange. Some girl probably came up with the name!"
...on his students:
"Your feelings are irrelevant to me."
...on military strategy:
“What’s the point of having a big navy if you don’t shoot things?"
...on his previous employment:
“I used to teach Introduction to American Government to dumb kids at bad colleges.”
...on color:
"I can't even tell you what the color of my car is. It's not red; it's not orange. Some girl probably came up with the name!"
...on his students:
"Your feelings are irrelevant to me."
...on freshmen
“They really exist for our pleasure”
...on his neighbors:
“If you can’t love them, then move. That’s what I say.”
...on pop-quizzes
“I was thinking of giving a quiz today, but everyone showed up.”
Dr. Noe
...on freshmen:
"Freshmen have fragile egos. They crush like eggs."
Dr. Smith
...on children's stories:
"[the Three Little Pigs] is actually prejudiced against wolves. You've got to look for these things in children's stories. They corrupt them early."
"[the Three Little Pigs] is actually prejudiced against wolves. You've got to look for these things in children's stories. They corrupt them early."
...on diamond rings:
"Now I know that all you guys are not thinking about this, but an engagement ring is NOT a substitute for a glass cutter. Not that I speak from personal experience, or anything."
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