Sunshine Is The Best Disinfectant

HT to Cranmer, who never fails to thoughtfully inform on matters of Christian faith in a post-Christian world.

A Christian couple who own a small hotel are under prosecution by the state authorities in the UK, supposedly because they offended a Muslim guest who repeatedly tried to engage them in some sort of religious debate.

Under their own roof, on their own property, in private.

This smells like a set-up, does it not?

OldSouth has no doubt that this nonsense is well on its way to the shores of his beloved United States. (He is grateful to live in Tennessee, whose legislature has already passed a resolution informing Obama's minions that they regard state's rights as supreme, and plan to defend them.)

This is a time to speak up, and to open our wallets.

The link to contribute to their legal defense is here.

We can be sure that if this prosecution is successful, there will be repeat performances here. The Left always watches to see how it's done. They take notes.

Free speech, even behind closed doors, is the constant threat.

On the other hand, if it is a spectacular and humiliating failure(complete with known support from the US), we'll slow them down a bit.

These people operate in the dark. Sunshine is the best disinfectant.

Thoughts for Mid-American Mom and Dad

For parents and their children who are planning for college: an article from 'Inside Higher Education'(a very informative site in general, by the way), discussing the increasingly competitive environment for university admission.

It is a sobering read.

Eight years ago, I sat in meetings with a high-powered university financial administrator of a major public university. He had a certain black humor about his job, as it was his role to inform all the deans and department heads that the day was approaching(he estimated 12-15 years) when his institution would function as a private university. The twin realities of an inexorable shrinkange of the tax base and inexorably growing demand on those dollars(due to promises made by previous legislatures) could lead to no other conclusion. Every dean would have to think and act aggressively about how to attract and retain both development dollars and high-value students to their public, state-supported university.

He said it made him the most hated man on campus.

The only error in his message was the time-line he projected, shortened dramatically by the ongoing shift in the economy. The deans that took him at his word are weathering the storm. One in particular who did not heed advice is no longer a dean, and his successor has been playing 'catch-up' ever since.

So, Mid-American Mom and Dad, who may have gone to college in the 1980's or 1990's: It is a different world that your children are embarking upon.

Math scores really matter.

The ability to write and converse coherently in English really matters.

Grades, SAT, and ACT scores really matter. AP courses really matter.

Whether your kid had a wonderful time in the umpteen kiddie soccer and softball programs now dangled before you does not matter.

University admission, with substantial scholarship assistance, is not a slam-dunk assumption, and your child's competitor may well be sitting in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangalore, or Capetown.

I can assure you, his/her family is paying attention to the list cited above.