Jonathan Freakin' Carlson......... nothing. I just like the way it sounds.

Jamie freakin' Detweiler. Your powers of projection (The attribution of one's own attitudes, feelings, or suppositions to others) and assumption never cease to amaze me.

Did the people protesting look like bigoted idiots? Quoting from CNN - "A black student filed a complaint with SMU, saying the sale was offensive. SMU officials said they halted the event after 45 minutes because it created a potentially unsafe situation." Hmm. Someone thought they were being bigots. I clearly think they were being idiots.

"Another point that comes to mind...no where in the article does it state the the [sic] race of the protestors...You ASSUMED they are all white..." Really? I did? This is where that whole "projection" thing comes into play. Read my post. Did I ever say they were white? The word "white" occurs exactly twice in my post - both times being quoted by CNN, speaking of the pricing structure. So who's the one doing the assuming here? It certainly isn't me.

And were they Republican? Who else in Texas would be considered a "Young Conservative"? And, from the article, "Similar sales have been held by College Republican chapters at colleges in at least five other states since February." Yes, I know that statement doesn't identify the party affiliations of the SMU students, but it clearly paints the picture. And was it a Democratic or Republican president who filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court opposing affirmative action? I can't recall. My liberal brain, oh so long on opinions but woefully short on facts has failed me again.

I am blown away by the fact that you felt a need to combat my post. It was facts and questions with a minute amount of editorializing. You must be so insecure in your worldview that when you see something even remotely critical of something you think you might agree with but aren't sure you just race to its defense. Why would you do that? You missed the entire point of my post - Who bought the cookies, and what does that teach us about affirmative action?

Here's a clue - there are only two possible solutions, and both are rather interesting.

Oh, nevermind. Quick, to the Rhetoric Mobile! Someone is asking intelligent questions! We can't be expected to come up with answers, so let's just become indignant and make fun of liberals! Rush agrees with it, so it must be right!

In response to Jon's blog. Read it here

A few things in response to this....

Quote from Jon's blog:
"The Young Conservatives of Texas organized the sale as a protest of affirmative action, but instead just looked like bigoted idiots."

Hey Jon....the purpose of the protest was to get nationwide news coverage of their issue. IT WORKED! The purpose was to have blogs all over the country talking about them and their issue....IT WORKED! Both you and Kelly are talking about it, and now its on the Random blog too! They didn't do the bake sale to raise money for thier compassion child sponsorship or something....they did it to GET NOTICED....I'd say it came off exactly as they hoped! :-) I don't think they really care if a liberal democrat in Reading, PA things they are bigots.

Second Quote:
"According to CNN, "A sign said white males had to pay $1 for a cookie. The price was 75 cents for white women, 50 cents for Hispanics and 25 cents for blacks.""

Jon...I would have thought you would have applauded this pricing structure....

Another point that comes to mind...no where in the article does it state the the race of the protestors...You ASSUMED they are all white... Hmm....you assume a conservative group is made up of all white males. That is as much a false stereotype as what you accuse others of, my friend. What if the group was made up of both African-Americans, Latino's and Caucasions. There are MANY minorities who despise affirmative action and the "victim" mentality it propagates.

Third Quote:
"Now, assuming the Young Conservatives stuck to their prices (which is a fair assumption - they're Republican)"

I thought you knew better then that, Jon....It didn't say anywhere in the article that they were Republicans....it said they were conservatives! I wouldn't have thought I would have had to tell you, but there is many times QUITE a difference. Well, but that's a liberal for you...plenty of opinions, usually a little short on the facts.... ;-)

[The preceding smily face was for those out there who can't take intelectual disagreement. For those of you who fit that description as well as the voters of Florida, here is the more literal translation, from the original Latin....."I don't hate Jon. I think he is way wrong on a lot of things, but I don't hate him." If you still have questions call Rev. Al Sharpton...he'll have a support group for you.]

Well...it would seem the Young Conservatives of Texas suceeded at their goal with flying colors. They got a liberal from Reading, PA help get out their message...Impressive my young conservative friends, impressive.

Oh, and I was thinking of changing the URL of this blog.

rg is taken
r=g doesn't work
randomgood is taken
randomisgood is taken
i bet randomequalsgood would work

http://randomsgood.blogspot.com is open

we could also try different urls... cuz swyftx2 is narcissistic of me :)

From kelly: "Hmm... maybe the prime ministers of blogging would like to create a prayer blog..."

Does that sound like an idea that would interest any of you?

Several men are in the locker room of a golf club. A cell phone on a bench rings and a man engages the hands-free speaker function and begins to talk. Everyone else in the room stops to listen.
Man: "Hello?"
Woman: "Honey, it's me. Are you at the club?"
Man: "Yes."
Woman: "I am at the mall now and found this beautiful leather coat. It's only $1,000. Is it okay if I buy it, sweetie?"
Man: "Sure... go ahead if you like it that much. I want you to be happy."
Woman: "I also stopped by the Mercedes dealership and saw the new 2003 models. I saw one that I really liked. It's a beautiful silver."
Man: "How much?"
Woman: "$60,000"
Man: "Okay, but for that price I want it with all the options."
Woman: "Great! Oh, and just one more thing... the house we wanted last year is back on the market. They're asking $950,000."
Man: "Wow, then go ahead and make them an offer, but just offer $895,000."
Woman: "Okay. Thank you darling -- you're wonderful! I'll see you later! I love you!"
Man: "Bye, I love you too."
The man hangs up. The other men in the locker room are looking at him in astonishment.
Then he asks: "Anyone know who this phone belongs to?"

Well put, young grasshopper.

Jon, oooh pick me pick me, i would love to come, "blasting with both barrels in defense of highly educated Christians"..... it is an important discussion. God calls individuals into higher educations for his purposes just as much as he called others into the mission field or other occupations. i think the important part is that for too long Christian have stayed away from higher education - excluding theology and divinity studies. part of this avoidence is the fact that Christians have not been involved in fields such as medical science and research, and when they have they voice some obsurd opinions and fail to show the love of Christ through their intellectuality. therefore making it harder for other Christians to make in roads in these intellectual areas, and even be taken seriously. God has given some people amazing understanding of different fields and those people can impact a larger community of secular intellectuals that laymen may not be able to because of his inablity to speak the same language....

i have lots more to say on this issue, but alas i must get back to the Library to work on my Sr. Thesis... sounds impressive huh?! :)

I'm still waiting for someone to come blasting with both barrels in defense of highly educated Christians... Kelly? Jesse? Jamie? St. Francis? Anyone?

Speaking of homophones, this quiz rocks. I got 7 out of 10.

Oh, and given the subject matter, I can't resist. Christians shouldn’t do there best, they should do their best. Those homophones are killer. :)

Jesse, Jamie,

Good points. Os Guinness writes "We evangelicals need to examine our anti-intellectualism, confess its pervasiveness, repent of its wrongness and seek God's restoration to live up to our name--truly believing people of the gospel who love God not only with our hearts, soul and strength, but also with our minds... Thus, if we take the commands of Jesus seriously, we cannot dismiss the charge of anti-intellectualism as elitism or intellectual snobbery. As God has given us minds, we can measure obedience by whether we are loving Him with those minds, and disobedience by whether we are not."

Jesse said "Most people of this world are unwilling to listen to the uneducated, and believe it or not, the lack of an education (though not considered to be important to some) can create an impermeable barrier between the missionary and those in need." I see your point. But what about this? Acts 4:13 reads "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." Interesting. The intellectual shortcomings of Peter and John pointed those around them to the source of all truth, the source of all learning, Jesus himself. I would much rather people see that I have been with Jesus than see a Masters of Divinity from Yale or a PhD from Oxford. I would be content with a one page Curricula Vitae - Jon Carlson has been with Jesus. Now, I don't believe the two are mutually exclusive. Intelligent people can be with Jesus. But where does the emphasis lie?

One more verse - Ecc. 12:11b "Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body."

BTW well said Jamie :)

mmmm i am hungry for red Jell-O