So they first explored with the children the issue of ownership. Not all of the students shared the teachers' anathema to private property ownership. "If I buy it, I own it," one child is quoted saying. The teachers then explored with the students concepts of fairness, equity, power, and other issues over a period of several months. At the end of that time, Legos returned to the classroom after the children agreed to several guiding principles framed by the teachers, including that "All structures are public structures" and "All structures will be standard sizes." The teachers quote the children:Perhaps their next project should be a shrugging giant with the earth on his back."A house is good because it is a community house." "We should have equal houses. They should be standard sizes." "It's important to have the same amount of power as other people over your building."
Do you think social justice could help Marine Staff Sgt Eric Alva (you posted about http://king-of-fools.com/blog/weblog/one_last_story/#855_c)
You might remember SSgt Alva lost his leg in Iraq and now he seeks justice by the removal of the DADT (Don’t Ask Don’t Tell) rules from the military. SSgt Alva as a GAY person deserves social justice, don’t ya think and the same rights as all other Americans - don’t you think he has earned the right to marry whom he pleases?
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/IraqCoverage/story?id=2910339&page=1
I think your definition of “social justice” and mine differ so far from each other that it doesn’t matter what answer either of us gives to the ‘gay marriage’ question.
Justice is defined as:
1. ‘the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments’
2. ‘the quality of being just, impartial, or fair’
The “social justice” from the article above seems fixated on a very fixed definition of what is fair - that is everyone gets exactly the same thing. Which is an attitude that I find very unjust. Equality is first and foremost complete impossible, and secondly, not equivalent to justice.
Contribution or effort don’t matter in the Lego scenario. Build the coolest house in the classroom and your reward is that you won’t get to use it much because all of the co-owners are busy playing with it.
Back to Sgt Alva...he is free to marry any woman he wishes. He is not free to marry any man, pig, goat, rock or inanimate object he wishes. Why not? Because marriage has always been defined and recognized as a union between a man and a woman. In this country he is free to pursue a union with a man if he wishes...but call it something else - it is not marriage. The constitution does not include the right to redefine any established institution to match your own whims and create a mock equality.
Is it fair that I’m not allowed in the Ladies room? I’ve heard its bigger and has a couch and smells nicer than the men’s room (although no urinals would be a problem.) 50% of the population is not allowed to go into the ladies room...and why? Is this discrimination? No...because by definition the ladies room is for ladies. (And if men were allowed in, it probably would not be as pleasant as the rumors state.)
The key rights granted in the constitution are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. There is no right to marriage or equal pay with everyone else or unisex restrooms (although I have seen a few of those too - what a country).
I doubt any conversation with you could advance understanding when you equate same sex marriage to that of being with animals.
(oh, on the whole “life liberty and the pursuit of happiness” bit - that is the Declaration of Independence)
Curious. I put forth my argument, and you pick a semantic issue, and huff off. I didn’t equate gay marriage to animals, aside from the fact that both are outside the established definition of marriage. But honestly, neither of us are going to convince each other of much on this topic.
Good call on the declaration. You definitely got me there.
I put forth my argument, and you pick a semantic issue, and huff off. I didn’t equate gay marriage to animals, aside from the fact that both are outside the established definition of marriage.
I see it’s a “semantic issue” and then you repeat the same ridiculous comparison. Over the march of time there have been many “established” norms which now are recognized as reprehensible. Even our Constitution supported slavery and interracial marriage was illegal in several states up to the 1960’s. This conversation is about two consenting adults who chose to obtain government sanctioned and provided rights. The State of Texas’ recent amendment (about gay marriage) struck down even the notion of gay unions along with prohibiting gay marriage in the State.
My comment is more about why… what purpose is there in denying this right to a man who gave so much to his country. If anyone deserves the benefit of the doubt on such a matter would be a hero like SSgt Alva. What is it about gay marriage is such a threat?
(1) Do NOT be knocking the uni-sex bathrooms. As a parent with a herd of children, I am often confronted with “MOM! I can NOT go in there!” thus leaving me standing in the open Women’s doorway trying to watch two groups. The boys outside the door, and the girls in the bathroom. Then I have to clear the Men’s bathroom, give them a time-limit, and wait outside THAT door! (You should have seen the shock on their faces when I explained that I could SO come in Men’s Bathroom if I needed to get them, because I am The Mother) To me, Heaven is a uni-sex family bathroom!
(2) So, how many Legos do y’al have? Mine just discovered the “theme” Legos a few months ago. Especially Knights Kingdom and Star Wars. I continually check out the “sales-n-deals” section of Lego.com. Sometimes, they have SERIOUSLY good stuff. And, do you and yours get “Lego Magazine”? Not Brickmaster, which I think is exspensive, but the free one that you can get if you call the 800-number. Plus, they’ll send you catalogs. At our house, the kids love them so much that I had to call the 800-number and explain that I needed three “subscriptions” because the kids fought over who got to sleep with it under their pillow. Let me assure you, the people at Lego are ALL about customer service
It’s not a threat...and it’s not marriage.
If we take all restrictions off of the Ladies room so men are free (and encouraged) to use it too, then great...but we no longer have a Ladies room. It has become a unisex restroom facility.
The comparison was never equating anything. It is merely to point out that it doesn’t matter what you WANT to marry. If you WANT to marry anything besides a member of the opposite sex, then...you no longer have marriage.
Bottom line...that’s how I feel. You feel differently. Great.
Oh, I see… because you “feel” that way everyone else must be that way too. Or should everything operate on majority rules? What basis do you use to impose your definition of marriage on the rest of the world? You brought up the Constitution and quoted the Declaration of Independence and the whole notion of “that’s the way it has been”, but what compelling reason is there to not allow two adults to enter into marriage? If you believe in the notion of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, why deny that to SSgt Alva. How would his happiness and that of his partner (being married for instance) infringe on your rights? Or is it your right to dictate who gets married that is in jeopardy?
You are free to feel any way you wish. I’ve never told you how to think, my friend. In fact, you are the one who keeps raising the issue because I don’t think the way you do. I said from the start that this hijacked thread would go nowhere, and indeed it has. Time to take it back on topic (which was Legos - in case you have forgotten!).
Yes, Lucy, we get the magazine you mentioned. Now that the boys are older, we have not gotten any new Legos for a long time, but we have three drawers full of them, and when they get pulled out, most everyone participates. (My nephews especially like to come over and play with them.)
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