U.S. History Question #7

"It is the weak man who urges compromise, never the strong man."

"All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue, and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter."

"The compromise will always be more expensive than either of the suggestions it is compromising."

When is compromise healthy? When is compromise dangerous?

World Cultures Question #7

Consider all of the people and cultures that we have talked about in class this year...


What tendencies or sinful temptations are all humans susceptible to?


Give at least three specifc examples that we have studied in class this year.

U.S. History Question #6

Was the abolitionist John Brown a hero or a villain?

Pick a side of the argument and make a case why he should be remembered as a hero or a villain.

World Cultures Question #6

Matthew 7:13-14 says, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

Answer both of the following questions...

What does this verse mean?

What does passing through the small gate and taking the narrow road look like in your own life?

World Cultures Question #5

Record your answers and your parent's answers to the following questions...



What is "racial profiling"?


Should "racial profiling" be used in airport security?

Are there any benefits to "racial profiling"?

U.S. History Question #5

“…for, between the Christianity of this land, and the Christianity of Christ, I recognize the widest possible difference--so wide, that to receive the one as good, pure, and holy, is of necessity to reject the other as bad, corrupt, and wicked. To be the friend of the one, is of necessity to be the enemy of the other. I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ: I therefore hate the corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of this land. Indeed, I can see no reason, but the most deceitful one, for calling the religion of this land Christianity. I look upon it as the climax of all misnomers, the boldest of all frauds, and the grossest of all libels.” - Frederick Douglass



One of the darkest blemishes in American history is the stain left by slavery. Slavery survived in America for over 200 years. How could it have lasted so long in a country that claimed to be Christian. In fact, there were some Christian leaders, such as R.L. Dabney (Stonewall Jackson's chief of staff and chaplain), during the time of slavery in America that failed to acknowledge the evils of slavery because it was so engrained in Southern culture.

Discuss the following questions with a parent and give both of your answers...


What practices or ways of life are present in our culture today that we generally accept and never really think twice about that are actually an abomination to God?

Why is nothing done to stop them?

World Cultures Question #4

Click on the following link and read the article.

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/sep/14/local/la-me-0914-religious-banners-20110914

Then answer the following question...

What is more accurate...America is a land of freedom FROM religion? Americans have freedom OF religion?

U.S. History Question #4

"If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter." -George Washington


"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29

Should freedom of speech always be ensured or are there limits to free speech?

What are those limits?

Should an individuals desires and rights always be the priority or are there times when the greater good of the people should be the top priority?

U.S. History Question #3

"Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorius triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat." -Theodore Roosevelt

"The aim of the wise is not to secure pleasure, but to avoid pain." -Aristotle

 Which of the quotes do you think is a better model of how to live your life? Why?

World Cultures Question #3

What a person achieves, accomplishes, or accumulates is more important than the way they conduct themselves.

Do you agree with this statement?


Give some examples from American culture that prove the previous statement to be true or false.

U.S. History Question #2

James Madison once wrote, "Since the general civilization of mankind, I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations."



Discuss the following quote with a parent and answer the following question...

What does this quote mean?

 Give an example of this concept in U.S. History or an analogy from your own life to illustrate this point.

World Cultures Question #2

Discuss the following questions with a parent and respond in the comments section...

 How much of your life is devoted to being entertained? Can you be entertained too much? Does the Bible say anything about entertainment?

Stay posted

Stay posted for Blog Question #2.

In with the old and out with the new

I am a creature of habit so we are going to be using my traditional blog from here on out for my history classes. Please make yourself familiar with this blog if you aren't already familiar with it.

World Cultures Question #13

Consider all of the parts of the world we have studied this year in World Cultures...

In what ways are people from various parts of the world similar?

In what ways are people different?

Give specific examples.

U.S. History Question #13

As you consider and think about all of the people, events, ideas, and documents we have studied this year in U.S. History, answer the following questions...

What has suprised you the most about the history and people of the United States?

What has disappointed you the most about the people or events of the United States?

What person, idea, or event do you admire the most?

U.S. History Question #12

Watch the following videos and answer the questions below...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yJRci2pARk&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X-qns-dM0U&feature=relmfu

There are two basic ways to handle solving our country's debt/deficit...cut government spending and raise taxes.

What are the positives and negatives of cutting government spending?

What are the positives and negatives of raising taxes?

World Cultures Question #12

After hearing the story of Shahbaz Bhatti I have to admit that my initial response was anger and hatred for the people who killed him. It got me to thinking, "As a Christian, what should our attitude toward Muslim terrorists and other Muslims be like? What is the proper balance of righteous anger and Christ-like love?"

Click on the following link and read the story, then answer the same questions I asked myself...

http://pressrepublican.com/0205_columns/x977551641/Shahbaz-Bhatti-a-modern-martyr

As a Christian, what should our attitude toward Muslim terrorists and other Muslims be like?

What is the proper balance of righteous anger and Christ-like love?

World Cultures AND U.S. History Question #11

Click on the following link and read the article...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=6136707

Then answer the following questions...

1. The boy wrestler issued this statement regarding his decision not to wrestle, "As a matter of conscience and my faith I do not believe that it is appropriate for a boy to engage a girl in this manner." Is his view of women truly Biblical?

2. Do you agree with the writer? Why or why not?

3. Would the writer have the same opinion if the boy was a follower of another religion?

U.S. History Question #10

Matthew 7:3- "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"

1 Peter 3:8-"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble."

Since the founding of our country Americans have debated the idea of whether the United States should be involved in foreign affairs around the world. Whether or not America should be isolated or not is a major issue and one American citizens, Presidents, and Congressmen have often struggled with and continue to battle in the history of our country. In various cases Americans were told that policing the world was a strategic and moral "must": we were "saving the world" and defending our own national security. In other cases people argue that America has enough of its own problems and should worry about its own domestic issues before it tells everyone else what to do.

Consider the verses above and use your knowledge of history to answer the questions below...

Does America have something great to offer other countries in order to help them out?

Should America act as the world's caretaker and police and enforce its value on other countries OR only worry about the problems inside the country?
 

World Cultures Question #10

Follow the link below and read the article and then answer the questions listed below in the comments section of this blog.

http://www.worldmag.com/articles/17627

How does/could the current situation in Egypt affect the United States?

What is the Muslim Brotherhood?

U.S. History Question #9

In Matthew 5:44 Jesus says, "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you."

Zechariah 7:9-10 says, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”



Discuss with your parents the following questions...
In what ways have American churches failed to obey these verses from God's word?

 

How do you think this has affected the growth of government social reforms and programs?

 

 

World Cultures Question #9

Acts 2:44-45 says "All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need."

This verse from Acts is often used by people to prove that communism is based on Christian principles. 

Is there any truth to the idea that Christianity teaches communism? Why or why not?



Also, ask your parents or grandparents about their memories of the Soviet Union and the Cold War.



Record their answers along with your answer to the first question.

U.S. History Question #8

Is voting a right or a privilege?

Should there be limits to who can vote in the United States of America?

Why or why not?

"Voting is a civic sacrament."

World Cultures Question #8

Record your answers and your parent's answers to the following questions...


What is "racial profiling"?

Should "racial profiling" be used in airport security?

Is there any Biblical evidence to support your answer?