by David Gelernter, The Weekly Standard
A report just issued by the Bible Literacy Project suggests that young Americans know very little about the Bible. The report is important, but first things first: A fair number of Americans don't see why teenagers should know anything at all about the Bible.
America's earliest settlers came in search of religious freedom, to escape religious persecution--vitally important facts that Americans tend increasingly to forget.
Most historians look to the British and Continental philosophers of the Enlightenment, Locke especially, as the major intellectual influence on America's Founding Fathers and revolutionary generation. Yet the Bible itself, straight up, was the most important revolutionary text of all. Consider the seal of the United States designed by a committee of the Continental Congress consisting of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. Their proposed seal shows Israel crossing the Red Sea, with the motto "Rebellion to kings is obedience to God."
Teachers don't necessarily believe that Bible literacy has declined in recent decades. They describe a complex picture; naturally, individuals differ. (One teacher said that "Pentecostal kids or religious Muslim kids" seem better-informed than the others.)
The article also has an excellent summary of American history, and the history of the English bible.
https://www.weeklystandard.com/david-gelernter/bible-illiteracy-in-america
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Progress Report
I saw the surgeon again the last week of April. At our February appointment, he noticed signs of bone loss. Now he says things look much better and he's no longer worried. He says I can take up just about any exercise except jogging.
(Apparently I misheard him in February when I thought he said jogging would be good. Mary correctly remembered that he had specifically ruled out jogging then, as he did again in April.)
He especially suggested that I get back on my bicycle, or continue to use the stationary bicycle. He also says that just about anything at the gym is OK, as long as I take time to warm up first.
Mary and I attended the Silver State dancing festival in Reno on May 7. This was the first time we tried to round dance. Our rationale was that if I was unable to round dance, we could still square dance. I did not have any problems with my hip. The only problem we had was a lack of stamina. We slept in Sunday and came home instead of dancing the final sessions.
I went to the gym on May 5. I started with the treadmill, like usual, but I also did the 360s (walking sideways and backwards) like we did in physical therapy. Also some stationary bicycle. I was unable to do the stairmaster, again due to lack of stamina. This is always a problem when I start exercising again after a hiatus.
I was able to do lots of weight machines but I started really low. Also, the physical therapist suggested that I do about 50% more reps with the bad leg; in practice I did alternating sets of both legs together, then just the left leg, for five sets total instead of the usual three.
We hope to start dancing again soon with a class to build up our stamina. We hope to spend a week at McCloud, possibly in June but probably in August.
(Apparently I misheard him in February when I thought he said jogging would be good. Mary correctly remembered that he had specifically ruled out jogging then, as he did again in April.)
He especially suggested that I get back on my bicycle, or continue to use the stationary bicycle. He also says that just about anything at the gym is OK, as long as I take time to warm up first.
Mary and I attended the Silver State dancing festival in Reno on May 7. This was the first time we tried to round dance. Our rationale was that if I was unable to round dance, we could still square dance. I did not have any problems with my hip. The only problem we had was a lack of stamina. We slept in Sunday and came home instead of dancing the final sessions.
I went to the gym on May 5. I started with the treadmill, like usual, but I also did the 360s (walking sideways and backwards) like we did in physical therapy. Also some stationary bicycle. I was unable to do the stairmaster, again due to lack of stamina. This is always a problem when I start exercising again after a hiatus.
I was able to do lots of weight machines but I started really low. Also, the physical therapist suggested that I do about 50% more reps with the bad leg; in practice I did alternating sets of both legs together, then just the left leg, for five sets total instead of the usual three.
We hope to start dancing again soon with a class to build up our stamina. We hope to spend a week at McCloud, possibly in June but probably in August.
A Shocking Experience
We had an interesting tip at Silver State in Reno last weekend. We took an hour out of round dancing to dance in the A2 hall. We were right in the front. Bronc Wise was calling. We were dancing with Wayne and Donna and two other couples we did not know.
The floor was some kind of rubber material. Mary and I were wearing our round dance shoes. (Since the entire hotel is carpeted, it was easy to put on dance shoes in the room, then go anywhere we wanted, including the restaurants.)
Anyway, I found that we were getting shocks from each other while we square danced. Or more accurately, everyone was getting shocks from me (and from whoever I had most recently touched). Figuring that the round dance shoes were a problem, I took them off. One at a time. While Bronc was calling and we were dancing.
It didn't help. It made things worse. We almost started dancing "no hands." I figured the socks were the problem. So I took them off. Again while dancing. Bronc never missed a beat and neither did our square, but I was rushing to catch up for a few calls.
Now things were impossible! The shocks were the worst! What could I do? We were all laughing and screaming at the same time. No one wanted to touch me. Now the hard part. I decided to put the shoes back on, but there was no time to put on the socks first. I got one shoe on, still dancing, carrying the other shoe with me. I couldn't get it on. Dancing with one shoe on, one shoe half on, both laces untied.
But this solved the problem ... no more shocks. Don't ask me to explain why. Polyester socks, maybe?
I guess it wasn't that bad. One of the couples had so much fun they got in our next square ... which wasn't nearly as exciting, but still fun.
The floor was some kind of rubber material. Mary and I were wearing our round dance shoes. (Since the entire hotel is carpeted, it was easy to put on dance shoes in the room, then go anywhere we wanted, including the restaurants.)
Anyway, I found that we were getting shocks from each other while we square danced. Or more accurately, everyone was getting shocks from me (and from whoever I had most recently touched). Figuring that the round dance shoes were a problem, I took them off. One at a time. While Bronc was calling and we were dancing.
It didn't help. It made things worse. We almost started dancing "no hands." I figured the socks were the problem. So I took them off. Again while dancing. Bronc never missed a beat and neither did our square, but I was rushing to catch up for a few calls.
Now things were impossible! The shocks were the worst! What could I do? We were all laughing and screaming at the same time. No one wanted to touch me. Now the hard part. I decided to put the shoes back on, but there was no time to put on the socks first. I got one shoe on, still dancing, carrying the other shoe with me. I couldn't get it on. Dancing with one shoe on, one shoe half on, both laces untied.
But this solved the problem ... no more shocks. Don't ask me to explain why. Polyester socks, maybe?
I guess it wasn't that bad. One of the couples had so much fun they got in our next square ... which wasn't nearly as exciting, but still fun.
Tuesday, May 3, 2005
Club of the week: Lucky Steppers
The Lucky Steppers square dance club has been a fixture on the square dance scene since 1958. They meet in Santa Cruz on Thursday nights. The club is well known for hosting a series of slab dances in Ben Lomond (in the Santa Cruz mountains) every summer.
According to club president DeAnne Alcorn, the club started when one of the charter members was going stir crazy with two kids at home, and her husband needed to learn to have fun. They knew and contacted Harold Furlong, who was a young, avid dancer and caller. They got a group together and after 15 weeks were declared accomplished square and round dancers.
Harold Furlong called for about ten years, after which Ernie Trimpey called for a short time. Harold Fleeman has been calling for the club since 1967, which might make him the longest-lasting caller in the area.
The club currently has about 30 members. They try to hold a beginner class every year, which is not always easy. In a situation that has become increasingly typical, last year they had several false starts before getting a full square of beginners. The club accepts all beginners, of any age, singles or couples. The club is always supportive of the newer dancers. Caller Harold Fleeman and several dancers attended the Sunnyvale Singles Spring Fling newer dancer hoedown recently.
Thursday evening club nights start with a round dance teach by Sue and Phil Harris. The remainder of the evening is split between the square dance teach and club-level dancing.
Lucky Steppers hosts several dances every year. In July and August they host the popular series of slab dances in Ben Lomond. These include the club's anniversary dance in July, and a special A2 level dance in August. In 2005, the anniversary dance takes place on July 23, and the other dances take place on each of the four Saturday evenings in August.
The club also invites everyone to their annual Toy Dance, this year to be held Thursday, December 1, 2005. All proceeds go to the Salvation Army.
During the class season, Lucky Steppers sponsors a September-level newer dancer hoedown and a January-level hoedown. This year, the January class hoedown takes place on May 7, 2005 at John Muir School in San Jose.
http://www.mixed-up.com/lucky/
According to club president DeAnne Alcorn, the club started when one of the charter members was going stir crazy with two kids at home, and her husband needed to learn to have fun. They knew and contacted Harold Furlong, who was a young, avid dancer and caller. They got a group together and after 15 weeks were declared accomplished square and round dancers.
Harold Furlong called for about ten years, after which Ernie Trimpey called for a short time. Harold Fleeman has been calling for the club since 1967, which might make him the longest-lasting caller in the area.
The club currently has about 30 members. They try to hold a beginner class every year, which is not always easy. In a situation that has become increasingly typical, last year they had several false starts before getting a full square of beginners. The club accepts all beginners, of any age, singles or couples. The club is always supportive of the newer dancers. Caller Harold Fleeman and several dancers attended the Sunnyvale Singles Spring Fling newer dancer hoedown recently.
Thursday evening club nights start with a round dance teach by Sue and Phil Harris. The remainder of the evening is split between the square dance teach and club-level dancing.
Lucky Steppers hosts several dances every year. In July and August they host the popular series of slab dances in Ben Lomond. These include the club's anniversary dance in July, and a special A2 level dance in August. In 2005, the anniversary dance takes place on July 23, and the other dances take place on each of the four Saturday evenings in August.
The club also invites everyone to their annual Toy Dance, this year to be held Thursday, December 1, 2005. All proceeds go to the Salvation Army.
During the class season, Lucky Steppers sponsors a September-level newer dancer hoedown and a January-level hoedown. This year, the January class hoedown takes place on May 7, 2005 at John Muir School in San Jose.
http://www.mixed-up.com/lucky/
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