I Am Totally Disgusted!

I just read a news story about a 5 year old boy who may have Asperger's Syndrome (a high functioning type of autism). This little boy, Alex Barton, was voted out of his kindergarten class after his teacher had him come to the front of the room and asked every other student why they didn't like him. The teacher then had each student vote as to whether or not Alex should remain as part of the class. They voted him out. What kind of values is this going to teach the children in that classroom? What are these kids going to take away from this? The values are going to be that you can ridicule anyone that doesn't meet your standards for whatever reason. The children are going to take away the idea that anyone with autism of any degree or mental illness of any type doesn't deserve the respect you would give a dog. That teacher should have been fired at the end of the day. I can only give the teacher the benefit of the doubt and say that she was taught that behavior by her parents. That doesn't excuse her actions but it does offer a possible reason for the way she thinks. I am praying for Alex that he is not permanently hurt by this. By God's grace I hope he is able to forgive the teacher and the other students and put this entire incident behind him. Check out the story for yourself : http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/may/24/30gtteacher-lets-students-vote-out-classmate-5/

Saviour Siblings

I saw a TV news article the other day about families who have children that need special treatments requiring genetic material such as stem cells, these families are having other children that will supply the needed material. The article was actually about the UK having passed a law allowing this to happen. I have a son and wouldn't want him to have any disease or condition but if he did I can't say I would have another child to supply what is needed. According to New Scientist (http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn6195-saviour-sibling-babies-get-green-light.html) "One family in Britain, the Hashmis, had earlier received explicit permission from the HFEA (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority)to try and create a baby whose cord blood could be used to treat a sibling with the blood disorder, beta thallassaemia.

Another family, the Fletchers from Northern Ireland, are now hoping the procedure can be used to create a donor for their son, Joshua, who has a condition called Diamond Blackfan anaemia." This would seem in my opinion to create some ethical dilemmas. Under the circumstances what is to prevent one child from using his or her status as a "lifesaver" against their sick sibling? What is to prevent the family from thinking of the "lifesaver" as nothing more than a means to an end. Would these families have had another child if this need didn't exist? Is the need the only reason they had another child? I find it hard to believe that both children would get equal treatment. What are your thoughts?

Myanmar : People Die While The Government Waits

Myanmar is located in southeast Asia between Thailand and India. The population is about 47 million. On May 2nd and 3rd it was struck by a cyclone (what we call a hurricane). While people are dying the military government of Myanmar is dragging their feet in allowing foreign aid and aid workers to reach the people that need help. What is the reason for this? Well, according to Reuters : "Some critics accuse the junta of stalling because they do not want an influx of foreigners into the countryside during the referendum on the army-drafted constitution that looks set to cement the military's grip on power." If I read that correctly, the government is waiting because they don't want anything to jeopardize their attempt to gain more power over the people they are already abusing. Wonderful! Even China which has been notorious for decades because of it's human rights violations didn't hesitate for a nanosecond when aid was offered after their recent earth quake.
The United States has navy ships offshore of Myanmar in international waters just waiting for the order to take their supplies ashore. The government has so far refused to allow that to happen. According to the Associated Press : "A senior British official hinted a breakthrough may also be near that would allow foreign military ships to join the relief effort, but warnings grew of a potential second wave of death among children hard-hit by the lack of fresh water and proper shelter." So assuming some children died in the cyclone, more may die as a result of the government's lack of allowing foreign aid and aid workers into the country. I heard in a TV news report a couple of days ago that the government confiscated some foreign aid items and changed the labels to make it look as though they came from within Myanmar rather than from outside. Is the government so afraid that the people of the country are going to think something bad about it's ability to handle this situation? I can't understand the need to do something like that.
It would seem prudent considering the emergent nature of this situation that all diplomacy should be dispensed with and aid and aid workers should be transported to the areas where they are needed in spite of the government's wishes. Dr.'s are certainly needed in most areas, there must be at least the threat of disease if not actual cases. The government of Myanmar is clearly not putting the welfare of the citizens first and should not be looked to for authority to distribute the supplies so badly needed. This is truly an atrocity and the government should be called on by the UN to account for it's actions.

The State of The Nation and The Reason For It pt. 2

I need to clarify my position related to the first post in my page. I still believe what I said but I left a very important point unsaid. As Christians, the love of Jesus must be prevalent in everything we do. That means that we treat everyone according to what Jesus said in Matt 22:39, "And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (KJV) It is possible to love your neighbour regardless of their lifestyle, their beliefs or even in spite of how they treat you. The reason for this is what Paul says in Eph 6:12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (KJV) I am not saying that there is nothing that can be done about the state of these peoples lives. I am saying that it is our job to show them the love of Jesus and if the opportunity presents itself tell them about the gospel.
God created man and He created laws that man must live by. He created these laws because He is perfect and we are not. He wants us to obey these laws for our own good. God's grace is enormous, tremendous and awesome but no individual or nation or world can disobey God for very long without the consequences of their actions catching up with them. Anyone who disobeys God beyond the point of the grace He appointed for them in that circumstance will suffer the consequences of their disobedience. That goes for me and every other Christian. That will also apply someday to every individual who has heard the gospel and ignored it or who has accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour and isn't living their life according to God's will.
Christian or non-Christian someday we will all have to stand before God and account for everything we have done...especially those things that went against His will.