Marxism

So I thought I would switch it up a bit for this post and move from Polititcs to...well I guess it's still politics, just really old politics mixed with some economy and history. I have a paper due in a few weeks (30 pages!) which I have decided to write on Marx. Rather I have decided to write on one of his philosphies. I tried to read his book The German Ideology to help me decided and found that it was not the most enjoyable read. I have had a few different ideas lately but am leaning toward writing on his ideas about religion. Does anyone have an opinion regarding his many ideas and philosophies? Perhaps you might toss one out that I have not thought of, thought I will probably still write on religion.
This semester has been very interesting and enlightening thus far. Unlike previous semesters where I was taking mostly GE's, most of my classes this semester are for my major. The most difficult part so far has to be that most of the others in the class are in their senior year and have quite a head start in understanding the various terms and principles of Anthropology. However, as I look back I have begun to realize that this presents a unique opportunity as it forces me to adapt and to match what my peers are doing. Despite any difficulties the past 2 months (almost) have been very fun and have really shown me that I am in the right place studying the right discipline. I hope that everyone else is having an equally enjoyable semster thus far.

Eanie meanie miney mo....

Tonight Lauren and I went have dinner with her aunt and uncle and to see a cousin of hers who is visiting from out of town. As can be expected at one of her family get-togethers the topic turned to politics. Throughout the whole presidential election I have been sitting on the fence waiting to see if anyone would knock me off (yes I realize that I will at some point need search the candidates stances on issues). Tonight Marcus, Lauren's cousin, was talking about some of the key issues and his support for Obama while Laurens aunt Karen was arguing in favor for McCain. There were two things that stood out to me during the conversation. First, Obama would be the better presidential candidate because of what he brings to the table in the form of financial support. Almost the entire world would vote for Obama if given the chance. Considering our current reputation in the world would this be what our country needs? Second, Is a better international reputation worth electing a man who supports such things as gay marriage? Yes, I know he says he believes they are wrong personally and instead believes in allowing the people to have the choice, however, in my opinion this means he supports it. In other words, could a stronger economy and stronger relationship with other nations outweigh the possible repercussions of a degrading moral society? My initial thought is that it cannot. To me it seems that no matter the cost as a nation we must maintain our morals.
Something else that was discussed tonight was abortion. I must say that my mind was opened to understand more about this highly debated subject. As it may, or may not, be widely known the church has a stand point regarding abortion within its handbook of instructions. As far as I can remember (and I am not acting as a spokesman nor an authority of the church) it discusses the only acceptable circumstances regarding an abortion specifically in cases where the mother's life is at risk and where rape and incest have occurred. Someone, and I won’t point out whom, in case he or she would not like it to be known, said that it would be impractical for the churches stance on abortion to be made into a law. The reason behind this is that one would need to prove that they had been a victim of rape or incest before they would be allowed to undergo the procedure. This would require that the suspected perpetrator would have to be brought to court, and as far as I can remember from what was spoken the court could be pushed out so far that the pregnant woman would be too far along or even have come to full term before the court procedures were concluded. And so an interesting idea was brought forward, if abortion were legal would we be able to teach people correct principles so that they could govern themselves, or should we? The other thought was whether or not the church would be able to fulfill its standpoint regarding abortion if it were illegal all together. On the other hand should people be given the choice? Would it be better to legalize abortion and allow people to make their own decision while trying to teach correct principles thus allowing the church to fulfill one of its doctrines regarding abortion? Or should abortion be regulated to try to prevent people from committing sin before given the opportunity (which is not off base as we already see many people commit abortion due to the inconvenience of the pregnancy). If we did ban it all together would we not just find more underground hospitals willing to do perform the illegal procedures and people willing to stick coat hangers into themselves to abort unwanted babies? It is really an interesting topic and one that will continue to be debated for years to come but which I will have to think more about.
For those of you (if anyone actually reads this) who are interested I still have not decided on who I would like to vote for, though for moralities sake I am leaning more toward McCain while my more logical and practical side is leaning toward Obama. I was pointed to a website: factcheck.org for more information regarding the things the candidates have said about each other and their own stand points on the issues.

The first of many?

And so it starts... What starts, my blog? I'm the type of person who usually likes to keep his personal life personal. Perhaps that is part of my problem, one of my failings, but whatever the reason I feel a need to blog. I'm not sure if I have something to say that needs to be said but I do have lots that I would like to say from time to time. Perhaps this need is derived from what I see happening in the world. Perhaps its just because I am getting older and am starting to find grey hairs all over my head! Now keep in mind I am only 25 years old. By the way, it might be worth mentioning that the URL for this blog, (my blog?) is Chinese for "half-crazy person", as far as I have found it translated. I thought it befitting my current state of mind, not that I am really crazy (or am I) but that I feel like I really don't understand what is going on around me. Anyway, back to the world. I can't say I am afraid of what is happening so much as I am saddened by what I see in the state of our country and its people in particular. I believe that the current state of our country is directly a result of the people. We as a people have allowed the moral and economical decline within this great nation. I am a religious person and as such I believe in a higher authority and that as a follower of that higher authority there is a way in which I should conduct myself in this world. I believe that higher authority understands life better than I do and trust in His judgment when faced with decisions. It is unfortunate that those of us who follow God have allowed those who follow after the logic of men to have the louder voice in this country. I don't think that there are necessarily more of these people only more speaking out. I believe they are the most outspoken people in this country and unfortunately or fortunately the loudest get heard. So maybe what we need to combat this downward spiral is to be more outspoken. Perhaps this is why I have decided to start a blog? Whatever the reason I have started it and try not to think of how people will criticize and judge me based upon what I write.