Mein Kampf with Mein Kampf

Throughout the years I have toyed with the idea of actually reading Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf.  It almost seems sacrilegious to read his writing.  As if reading it would be tipping my hat to him, so to speak; raising my hand and mumbling, "Heil, Hitler!"  Though it may be tipping my hat at his greatness, for though evil, he was great (not all that is great is good), it is most certainly not allegiance.  Hitler was evil, but not the mindless evil I was inclined to believe.

I learned while taking History102 at Pensacola Christian College, that Hitler's reactions were perfectly logical; if what he believed was true.  So my planned journey into Mein Kampf is to understand what he believe and where he wend Biblically wrong.  I have bought the book, and sits on the top of one of my bookshelves, awaiting the day when I take the Nazi by the horns and Kampf with Hitler.

When Justice Fails, God Doesn't

Playing Nazi Zombies with my husband on Call of Duty World at War made me want to research medical experimentation done by Nazis.  Reading about the horrible acts they committed against humanity, their cold and calloused documentation of medical grafts, wounds, etc makes me almost sick.  Some of these doctors never even faced the judgment they should have here on earth.  They escaped death and died naturally many, many years later.

This fact made me angry until I realized that they really did not get away with their atrocities.  There judgment was only delayed.  God is always just, and He gives to each man what he deserves (unless he trusts Christ).  These evil men pay constantly for eternity for that they did to the helpless Jews and other nationalities that they carved, butchered, and experimented on.

Et tu, Hancock?

Ok, so I'm still studying about Samuel Adams, but haven't gotten to the part about why he opposed the Constitution.  But I did just add more fuel to my curiosity - John Hancock, the famous signer of the Declaration of Independence, also opposed the Constitution!  Wow.  Why?  I will get to the bottom of this.

-- Independence Slueth

Samuel Adams: Genius or Hothead?

In one of my attempts to become ever more learned, I recently (as of two days ago) embarked on a quest of reading all the sparks notes available online.  Where did I start?  The first one - Samuel Adams.

I thought it would probably be rather boring to read, but I'm not even half way through, and I am already intrigued by this man who as his cousin John Adams would say that America would probably never have gained her independence if not for him.

I find it ironic that the man who graduated with a master degree from Harvard and virtually led the colonial rebellion against Britain not only was a failure at most occupations he undertook, but also he vehemently opposed the Constitution.  I just scratch my head at that.  How could the man who championed American freedom oppose the foremost document of American freedom?  Is he just a good rabble-rouser with questionable intellect, or could he be more, a genius ahead of his century?

This whole matter will take much more research on my part.

-- Independence Sleuth

Mr. Knightly vs. Edward Cullen

I've been thinking about the Twilight books lately (who hasn't?) and how they compare to acknowledged "great works of literature".  [Disclaimer:  Unlike some other bloggers or commentators, I have read all the Twilight books in their entirety, and thereby consider myself able to knowledgeably comment on them.]  The Twilight series is riveting, entertaining, and almost becoming a classic as we speak.  Why?  I think it is because they accurately portray the feelings of young girls/women today.  They all want an Edward to lift them out of their normalcy, treat them like a goddess, and transform them into a new, perfect being.  Literature gives us an entirely different hero though.  Mr. Knightly from Jane Austen's Emma is every bit as much a heart-throb as Edward Cullen - what makes them different?

I propose that the main difference between Knightly and Cullen is their character.  In education and station they are quite equals: both well-educated, wealthy, and handsome.  But in character, Knightly possesses what Edward lacks.  Girls reading the Twilight books may respect Edward for remaining a virgin until his wedding night (even through Bella's pleas), but he did not remain so out of virtue as much as fear of harming her.  Give her an indestructible vampire body, and I guarantee the story would have gone differently.  Mr. Knightly, however, would never consider a physical relationship with Emma before marriage.  He treated her like a person, and did not become as physically attached as Edward Cullen and Bella became.

Instead of spending his concentration and energy on learning to become physically attached to Emma (as Cullen did with Bella), Knightly concentrated on forming Emma's character.  His "badly done, Emma" did more to transform Emma into a woman with real beauty than all of Edward's flattering words and vampire bite. Knightly did not hesitate to give his opinion to Emma.  He frequently corrected her faults and led her in the right direction, so by the end of the book, he could honestly praise her and offer her his undying love.

It may be argued that Cullen possessed that same undying love for Bella as Knightly did for Emma, but I argue that it is not so.  Both Cullen and Knightly left the woman they loved, but for entirely different reasons.  Cullen left Bella to protect her because he had not previously the character to keep her safe and distant from her.  He acted on impulse and without counsel.  He left Bella vulnerable and in danger from other vampires who now knew about her friendship with the Cullens.  Knightly, on the other hand, left Emma before he promised anything more than brotherly affection for her.  He left to seek counsel from his brother about the wisdom of marrying Emma.  He returned in a few days (unlike the months Cullen was absent) and pledged his love to Emma.

Mr. Knightly and Edward Cullen share little more than education and wealth.  Knightly used his wisdom and character to shape and fashion a normal girl into a wise and beautiful women.  Cullen used his loneliness and and lust to tear a girl down until the only safe course of action was to marry him.  Who is a better role model?