I believe in values. Values are subjective, right? But then, aren't values what people as individuals perceive to be right versus wrong? What if one of my values is that there is not really such a thing as subjective right and wrong? So in my mind, that makes everyone else's values wrong if they're not, well, my values. Having said that, I don't claim to always know which option is right or wrong. Just because I believe that there is one, and only one, answer doesn't mean I know what that answer is.
Just thought I'd clear that up before I launch into this thing.
Dr. Santanu Borah was sensational from the get-go. He was discussion-inciting, attention-paying-inducing, and kind of hilarious. Maybe that last part was because he's Indian, but really he is a very engaging speaker and I was sorry when the fifty minutes were up.
His subject was "Human Values in Globalization and the New Global Order," which meant nothing to me either when I read that; but, as it turns out, it basically relates to everyone who has an opinion. Now, it's hard to have opinions on things you don't know very much about, but don't worry, I manage. Actually, from where I was sitting, it looked like each member of the Freshman chapter of this honorable organization has her own opinion; and under the group debates could be heard muttered rebuttals. What I'm trying to say is, some people got a little PO'd. This is understandable, especially when you see that Doctor Borah defines "values" as:
I thought one of the first global values he brought up was especially fun - military spending. Apparently, the U.S. is spending nearly half its jack on the military, which is more than anyone else on earth. Immediately, I thought, "Well, good!" This way maybe airplanes won't be kissing any important American towers at dangerous speeds at the hands of kamikaze terrorists tomorrow. Also, I like the thought of our country as being one to be reckoned with and such. Then BOOM! Borah busts out our little debt issue. Suddenly my last thought was sent scurrying to the corner because if we owe half the world our money, how invulnerable are we really? Before I can even mull over this, he asks us the infuriating question that simplifies everything: "Good or bad? Should this continue or not?" In the end, I had to go with "no."
Then came GUN-CARRYING RIGHTS. "Yes, no? What do you believe?" See, I don't know, Gucci Mane. Gun control does sound good - the fewer guns, the less shooting. Well, ideally that would be true; nevertheless, gangsters are going to keep packing illegal gats, because what are they going to do with them but break the law anyway? And all the law-abiding citizens who don't want to make the effort to get gun licenses are just going to keep getting shot, because what are they going to do, retaliate with some Nunchakus? What I'm saying is true. The more guns people have, the less violent crimes occur. The hard-hitting question this time was not what did we believe; conversely, the mood shifted when Doctor Borah asked, "Would you be okay, then, with everyone on your campus having access to guns?"
Then we were introduced to the fact that we spend a lot more money on prisons than on schools. "Bars over books," essentially, and guess what? Shanghai is KILLING us in education, alongside several other places that are arguably a lot less opportunistic than the U.S. I'm picking up on a trend in these forums, and the trend is that our nation is becoming really, really thick in the head.
After class I went to the Well, and last night as always I left so glad that I hadn't skipped it. Though he never said he was, the leader, Alan, seemed really tired. It must be exhausting to be the parent of a newborn.
The subject was Noah and the ark. Did you know that he worked on that thing for 80-100 years? I can't imagine working on one thing for eighty years for the sake of anyone or anything - except my God. I learned years ago that He can make your worst nightmare turn into your greatest dream in a single moment.
Anyway, Noah. I've been hearing about that man and his boat since probably December 2nd, 1992, and yet last night I heard something about Noah's ark that gave me a chill. Apparently, the ratio of the build of the boat - height by width by length - was the exact ratio that modern man has discovered to be the perfect ratio to keep a boat afloat. It's not like Noah came up with those perfect numbers himself in that age when people had no experience with boats. God Himself utters the exact blueprint right there in Genesis 6. It takes man thousands of years to figure out what God already told us, and it sends a shiver up my spine every time I hear about it.
Isn't it weird how non-physical circumstances can give you physical reactions? I've been wondering about that lately. Why can being incredibly sad make you lose your appetite or your chest hurt? Why does being scared or shocked at something make your eyes water? The two aren't related at all.
"No guilt in life, no fear in death: This is the power of Christ in me." - Stuart Townend
Just thought I'd clear that up before I launch into this thing.
Dr. Santanu Borah was sensational from the get-go. He was discussion-inciting, attention-paying-inducing, and kind of hilarious. Maybe that last part was because he's Indian, but really he is a very engaging speaker and I was sorry when the fifty minutes were up.
His subject was "Human Values in Globalization and the New Global Order," which meant nothing to me either when I read that; but, as it turns out, it basically relates to everyone who has an opinion. Now, it's hard to have opinions on things you don't know very much about, but don't worry, I manage. Actually, from where I was sitting, it looked like each member of the Freshman chapter of this honorable organization has her own opinion; and under the group debates could be heard muttered rebuttals. What I'm trying to say is, some people got a little PO'd. This is understandable, especially when you see that Doctor Borah defines "values" as:
- Tied to emotion (and therefore neither objective nor permanent)
- Goals you are passionate enough about to strive for
- Transcending actions and situations; abstract (You can't earn enough money to buy what you hope to achieve from living by your values.)
I thought one of the first global values he brought up was especially fun - military spending. Apparently, the U.S. is spending nearly half its jack on the military, which is more than anyone else on earth. Immediately, I thought, "Well, good!" This way maybe airplanes won't be kissing any important American towers at dangerous speeds at the hands of kamikaze terrorists tomorrow. Also, I like the thought of our country as being one to be reckoned with and such. Then BOOM! Borah busts out our little debt issue. Suddenly my last thought was sent scurrying to the corner because if we owe half the world our money, how invulnerable are we really? Before I can even mull over this, he asks us the infuriating question that simplifies everything: "Good or bad? Should this continue or not?" In the end, I had to go with "no."
Then came GUN-CARRYING RIGHTS. "Yes, no? What do you believe?" See, I don't know, Gucci Mane. Gun control does sound good - the fewer guns, the less shooting. Well, ideally that would be true; nevertheless, gangsters are going to keep packing illegal gats, because what are they going to do with them but break the law anyway? And all the law-abiding citizens who don't want to make the effort to get gun licenses are just going to keep getting shot, because what are they going to do, retaliate with some Nunchakus? What I'm saying is true. The more guns people have, the less violent crimes occur. The hard-hitting question this time was not what did we believe; conversely, the mood shifted when Doctor Borah asked, "Would you be okay, then, with everyone on your campus having access to guns?"
Oooooh...
Not really, no I would not. This isn't freakin' the Limestone County rodeo; this is school and furthermore my home. But if I really believe what I say I do - that everyone having guns will keep them all in their holsters - then what's the problem? *sigh* There isn't one. So, less gun control is a yes.
Then we were introduced to the fact that we spend a lot more money on prisons than on schools. "Bars over books," essentially, and guess what? Shanghai is KILLING us in education, alongside several other places that are arguably a lot less opportunistic than the U.S. I'm picking up on a trend in these forums, and the trend is that our nation is becoming really, really thick in the head.
After class I went to the Well, and last night as always I left so glad that I hadn't skipped it. Though he never said he was, the leader, Alan, seemed really tired. It must be exhausting to be the parent of a newborn.
The subject was Noah and the ark. Did you know that he worked on that thing for 80-100 years? I can't imagine working on one thing for eighty years for the sake of anyone or anything - except my God. I learned years ago that He can make your worst nightmare turn into your greatest dream in a single moment.
Anyway, Noah. I've been hearing about that man and his boat since probably December 2nd, 1992, and yet last night I heard something about Noah's ark that gave me a chill. Apparently, the ratio of the build of the boat - height by width by length - was the exact ratio that modern man has discovered to be the perfect ratio to keep a boat afloat. It's not like Noah came up with those perfect numbers himself in that age when people had no experience with boats. God Himself utters the exact blueprint right there in Genesis 6. It takes man thousands of years to figure out what God already told us, and it sends a shiver up my spine every time I hear about it.
Isn't it weird how non-physical circumstances can give you physical reactions? I've been wondering about that lately. Why can being incredibly sad make you lose your appetite or your chest hurt? Why does being scared or shocked at something make your eyes water? The two aren't related at all.
"No guilt in life, no fear in death: This is the power of Christ in me." - Stuart Townend
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