Is Formal Education Everything?

Tonight (February 24), President Obama made a state, which to me, was a very critical statement in his speech before both Houses of Congress and to the United States. He said, in essence, that dropping out of high School is no longer an option for Americans. If an American drops out of high school, he or she not only fails themself, but they also fail this country, the United States of America. He also said that he believes and wishes that every American attend at least one year of some kind of continuing education, either college or some sort of professional school.

His basis for these statements rest in his belief that for America to succeed economically, Americans must be formally and professionally educated. Why? Simple, in his speech he mentions that it is no longer enough for someone to simply have a High School diploma, for now, in today’s society, a college degree is now seen as the prerequisite for many jobs. Though this is true, there are many types of jobs that are available where this type of education is not necessary. However, it is his claim that for one to be successful, fulfilled and economically stable, and therefore, for this country’s economy to be stable, everyone must be “educated.”

First, let me say that I am a firm believer in formal education as well as continued education. I believe that, though not necessary for all, it is a right of passage for many, as well as a doorknob for many possible doors for people’s futures. However, I am also a firm believer that not everyone is cut out for continuing education, and I also do not necessarily believe it is a person’s “right” to that education. Before I cut into the “high school” remark, let me touch on continuing education.

Before I thoroughly anger the masses, let me clarify the term “right.” Do I believe everyone who qualifies for a type of continuing education should have the chance? Yes, as long as someone truly does qualify, and is also willing to put the effort into completing the task at hand. I see far too many people who ride the “college wave” who put no effort into the education aspect of the college experience, and not only waste their time and their respective professors time, but also the institutions time and money, and therefore the tax payers money. In fact, I know of individuals who go to college, not to learn, but so that they can receive government grants so they can but a new car, etc. Is this the opportunities that the President wants people to take? Next, I know of valedictorians from high school who could not even write a five paragraph essay in a English introduction class, and they thought it was funny! Amazingly enough, they were in college because of scholarships and government grants. Did they complete college? Though they may be back now, when I was in school with them they were dropped because they could not maintain a 2.0 GPA (a C average). Being an American, or even a high school graduate does not simply, in and of itself, give you the right to continue your education. Having the personal fortitude to study, learn, and make the effort gives you the right to at least try, but even in these cases, not everyone can make the cut. With the attitude that everyone has this right, the problems trickle down even into elementary education, where in some cases it is possible to actually hold some people back because others cannot keep up. President Obama even said he wanted to close the “achievement gap,” how so? Does this mean we must dumb down elementary, etc, education so everyone can be on the same page? Is this how we are going to lead the world in the coming years in education?

Now to the high school remark. I found this utterly repulsive, in fact, it was the only part of his speech in which I simply could not find anyway to agree with the President. Is he saying that if you have dropped out of high school – for any reason, that you truly are a failure? I hope not. I know plenty of people who either did not complete high school and went onto successive work, or in the end, got their GED and went on to successive work. I know people who cannot do high math equations, or write the perfect paragraph, or even speak straight (our former President anyone?) and who still maintain successful and fulfilling lives. The hallmark of President Obama’s economic plan is to create jobs by creating projects, like new railways, buldings, improving roads, etc, and many of these people who do this type of work already do not necessarily have a high school education, or a professional education. Granted, the engineers do, but there are those in the grunt work force who do not, and they hammer nails just as well, and probably better then those who have a PhD.

Education is important, but it is not truly the answer. Also, education comes from many places, not just formal schools. I, myself, was home schooled. Granted, it was through an accredited program, yet from fifth grade on not one professional teacher taught me a class. My parents helped of course, but essentially myself, and my brothers, made it through the curriculum ourselves. Now wait, the litmus test… My brother is about to graduate the University of Georgia, I believe Magna Cum Laude, with a dregree in International Affairs. I am currently a Junior with a 3.7 GPA as a History and Classics major, I also served in the United States Marine Corps as a Signal Intelligence Operator for five years. My little sister, who will be eleven this year, is at least a year ahead in all of her studies, and is an A student, likewise my youngest brother has been very successful in his studies – all home schooled, and no, my mother does not grade the majority of their work, Roman Catholic priests, monks and nuns do, and believe me, as hard as my mother can be at times, her grading does not even compare to theirs. Beyond the realm of home school, their are also people out there who have dropped out of high school, have found work, and are successful. In fact one friend of mine told me that if he had NOT dropped out of high school, he has no idea where he would be, and that by doing so he is working in an area where he is truly happy and successful, in other words, he is fulfilled. Granted, some people drop out because, as the President so eloquently pointed out, they are losers, but their are also those out there who drop out because its necessary, or for some other honorable reason. Likewise, there are many out there who do get their high school diploma, and never go to college, many of these can be found in the military, and many of these lead successful military careers of twenty or more years, enabling them to retire as well as opening other doors. Some never even go to high school, and work on farms, or work in the family, and help maintain a tradition that goes back generations. Are these people stupid or failures? I do not think so, for these people, though not formally educated in the American system, receive an education that is far more valuable to them then any the government could provide.

I hope I have made some sense with this post, though I will admit I am still a little flustered concerning the above mentioned statement. However, I want to finish this post with an interesting note on two people in history. There is a great chance that the greatest historical figure in the history of Western Civilization, and more so in the world, received not type of formal education. In fact, it is speculated that this individual was quite possibly not even literate, or if this person was, not fully, and only versed in what he needed to know. Likewise, the education that he received would have have only been toward his particular trade, which some people know as carpentry, or which a few professors I have had call him a “tecton,” which simply means someone involved in manual labor. This person is Jesus Christ. The other person, though both religious and historical claims was not literate at all, yet was able to marry into a wealthy family and take over and run a very successful merchant caravan business. Then, at the age of forty, he drew himself into seclusion where he claimed that a certain angel gave him “recitations” to share with the people around him, 114 in all were recorded and eventually put in book form. This man could neither read or right, and yet his 114 recitations became not only the basis of a modern language, but also form one of the most beautiful books of poetic prose known to man. The language is Arabic, and the man was Mohammad. These two men, whether or not you follow either one of them, either founded, or led to the founding, of the two greatest religions on this earth. Their words have been studied for centuries, and the codes of morality have led to the majority of legal systems and codes in today’s modern societies. Neither one of these men went to high school, nor received a diploma. Both of these men worked with their hands, and lived simple lives. Would President Obama consider them failures?

From the Qur’an (#2)

The Qur’an makes the effort is clearly made to show the relationship of this text with the previous texts of the Judaic and Christian traditions. The end of this means is the text referring to Islam, or the Submission, as the fulfillment of prophecy from God, or Allah, to the “people of the book.”
The Second Surah, is dedicated to the people of Israel, or the Jewish people, while the Third is intended more for those of the Christian faith (Qur’an pgs. 16, 125). The First Surah contains references to Adam, Moses and Abraham (2:31, 33-24, 53). This is done to insure that those who come in contact with the text, or prophecies, would be forced to recognize a relationship between this text and the Jewish text of the Torah. This is also done for the later Christian additions to the Old Testament. The Christians likewise make references to the Torah and Old Testament through out the Gospels and Epistles of the New Testament. Along with references to early Jewish patriarchs, it is made clear within the text that the people of Israel, though having been given a mandate by Allah, had failed (2:39, 54, 61).
The Third Surah opens with passages condemning those who reject the faith (3:10-11, 21) Then moves to the promises to the family of Imran, of whom Mary the Virgin is a daughter (3:42). Like Christianity, Mary give birth to the Christ as a virgin, yet, the text dismisses the claim of Christianity that Christ is the Son of God (3:47, 55)
The text makes clear that those who believe in the Qur’an, and the Jewish scriptures, as well of those of the Christian faith, will “have their reward,” but it is also clear, as mentioned before, that the ones who followed the prophecies from before had failed, and that this text should be the new standard of judgment for those who follow God.
The reason for this failure was different for both the Jews and the Christians. The Jews had strayed from Allah, as pointed out numerously in the Second Surah. This was done by not following the earlier prophets, by not accepting Jesus as a prophet, and by what some believed to be the claiming of Ezra as the Son of God. The Christians, though at first seeming to follow the prophet Jesus Christ, later, fell in to blasphemy by declaring the Jesus was the son of God, and not just a messenger of the Word.
By looking at the text, it is clear to see that Islam and the Qur’an were not meant to replace either the Jewish or Christian faiths, but to bring them back into the fold of true belief in God. Though this would seemingly mean the “end” of both Judaism and Christianity, the Qur’an does not explicitly say this. The Second and Third Surahs are written not to condemn these two faiths, but to correct them, much in the tradition of both Judaism and Christianity which had come before Islam. However, though the effort of the text might be correction towards the true, and new, faith, it also spells out eternal damnation for those who do not repent and return to Allah.

All Citations are from “The Meaning of the Holy Qur’an” Yousef Ali version.

New Blog/Website

I have created a new blog/website specifically for my books and articles. This site will include the articles, etc by be from this site, but in a more organized and accessible fashion. Likewise, it will include links to my books etc.

New Site: Alicea: Books & Articles by Jared Holloway

Do We Truly Understand Islam?

After serving in the United States Marine Corps for five years, going to college now for three years, watching the news, politicians, religious leaders, and so on, I ask myself, do people truly understand what Islam is all about, and beyond that, and perhaps more importantly, the different nuances and such that make up Islam as a whole.

I am not going to answer questions or try to explain anything in this post, I am saving that for later, but here are some questions that arise in my head:

Do people realize that Islam simply means “Submission?”

Do people realize that Muslims believe that thge Qur’an is THE WORD of God (Allah), not the inspired word. Arabic is considered the language of the angels, the words recited (Qur’an means “Recitation”) to Muhammad, by the angel Gabriel, are the EXACT words of Allah, word for word, in Arabic. Because of this, any “translation” of the Qur’an in any language other then Arabic is not considered a translation, but a “definition” of the meaning of the Qur’an.

Do people understand the difference, and the conflict between Sunni and Shia Muslims? To compound this even more, the conflict between the Wahhabi and the Shia, as well as the Wahhabi and the Sufi?

Do people even understand what a Sufi is? Or a Wahhabi?

Do people realize that there is more then one “version” of Islamic Law? That the Qur’an is not the only authoritative text from the period, but you also have numerous Hadithe? Therefore it is never enough to say to a Muslim that “this or that” is not in the Qur’an so how can you justify it?

Do people realize that once Muhammad had “cleaned” up Yathrib (Medina) from the “traitorous” Jews, that Muslims, Jews, and even Christians lived in relative peace – North Africa can be seen as an exception, however, many conversions were not forced, and those not converting at first were allowed to follow their own religious practices, and yes I also acknowledge the conquest of the Holy Land – until the Crusades – and that the Crusades truly had nothing ot do with liberating the Holy Land, but that the Eastern Emperor wanted his power back, and the Pope wanted a foothold in the East again since the Church has split (officially) forty years prior.

Do we understand that Islam is a religion of “peace,” at least as much as Judaism and Christianity are. Do we understand that the “average” Muslim is probably less “extreme” then the average Christian – i.e. “fundamentalist?”

Do we understand that Muhammad’s intentions were a) to bring the Arabian Peninsula together b) to get rid of paganism and c)to promote the worship of the “One God,” which in Arabic is Allah (in Hebrew El)? He understood that paganism was being used to exploit the people of Mecca and the surrounding area, i.e. the rich get richer, the poor get poorer – ironic since his wife was one of the richest people, due to her inheriting her former husband’s caravan company, which Muhammad ran even more effectively… then left at the age of 40 to go “into the mountains”

Anyways, I think I could go on and on. Am I saying that I “believe” in Islam, no, because I do not. However, I believe that many people do not have a correct understanding of what Islam is truly about. It would be like someone not knowing what Christianity was all about and then trying to understand Catholics based on Southern Baptists, and Presbyterians based on Ethiopian Orthodox. Then, on top of that, trying to make them conform to ideals which run contrary to their entire belief system, and trying to force Catholics to live with Baptists and Baptists with Episcopalians and Episcopalians with Evangelican Charismatics.

Islam is complex, and yet at times more simpler then Christianity to understand. One must just be willing to do the research, the reading, and ask the questions that are necessary. One must be willing to look beyond their preconceptions and their own prejudice, their own pre conceived notions and “understandings.” One must be willing to take blame and responsibility and place it on more then one group.

New Books: Update – Now on Amazon

These books, published over the last month, are now being featured on Amazon.com

Rain in Alicea: Collected Poems (1998 – 2008)

As Raindrops Fall: Collected Poems

Skies Over Alicea: Collected Poems (1998 – 2008)

Luna: The Moon in Pictures

Apologetics & Treatises: Populist Christianity

“Winners and Losers” – The Final Stimulus Bill – from CNN.com

CNN reports on the “winners and losers” of the final stimulus bill being voted on by the Senate today. Information taken from:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/13/stimulus.winners.losers/index.html

Winners:
# High-speed and inner-city rail: Went from $300 million in House bill to $2.25 billion in Senate to $8 billion in final version. There also is a $6.9 billion provision for public transit.

# Amtrak: Picked up $500 million from both House and Senate versions to total $1.3 billion. The bill stipulates that no more than 60 percent can go to the Northeast Corridor.

# National Institutes of Health: Ends up with $10 billion in the final bill. The House proposed $3.5 billion and the Senate wanted $10 billion — $8.2 billion goes to the NIH director for his discretion.

# Government oversight: Board to oversee stimulus bill spending will get $84 million to do the job. House bill allocated $14 million while the Senate bill called for $7 million. There is also more than $100 million more for various inspectors general in different agencies.

# NASA: Banked just more than $2 billion, including $400,000 for science/global-warming research.

This is nice, but what about the losers??

Losers:
# Veterans: Nearly all items for Veterans Affairs were reduced and the $2 billion the Senate wanted for VA construction was wiped out altogether. The VA did get one thing: $1 billion for medical facilities renovation and retooling.

# Military construction: Cut and put into a general pot, a change from targeted money for each branch of the services. Army construction alone went from $600 million in the Senate and $900 million in the House to $180 million in the final bill. But negotiators compromised over a general military construction fund — the House wanted $3.75 billion while the Senate allocated $118 million and settled on $1.45 billion for all services.

# FBI: Senate had allocated $475 million but all was cut out of final bill.

Now I guess that the VA, and care for veterans (which I am one) does not produce enough jobs… I also suppose construction on military installations also do not create enough jobs… even though many military buildings worldwide, but especially within the United States are in terrible condition. For instance, the barracks that I lived in when I was in the Marine Corps and Stationed on Camp Lejeune, NC ( 2000 – 2005 ) were practically already condemned. So I suppose it is not important to ensure that the people who are defending this country receive updated facilities.
Now, the FBI, I do not know where the money would have gone, but the FBI is one of the leading agencies heading the fight against terrorism in this country, pretty sure they could use some money, but then again, I guess it would not create any new jobs.

However, we can all rest easy, the Pandemic Flu Research was able to squeeze in some money in the bill… so we shouldn’t have a flu plague. That is a relief. And though I fully support NASA, could the money given to them be used in a better area? I mean, people cannot afford houses on this planet, much less on the Moon or Mars. There is also money going to foreclosure stabilization and homelessness prevention… which I can also see going hand in hand.

Lastly, my favorite one is the money going into the oversight of all of this… it is ironic that it is going to cost (at least) $84 million, plus another $100 million more just to OVERSEE this how process.

New Books…

I have completed the publishing criteria for these books. Three are new, and one is an updated and revised version of another that was previously published.

Rain in Alicea: Collected Poems ( 1998-2008 )
Includes both “As Raindrops Fall” and “Skies Over Alicea.”

Skies over Alicea: Collected Poems ( 1998-2008 )

Luna: The Moon in Pictures
These are pictures of the Moon that I took last year ( 2008 ) in book form.

As Raindrops Fall: Collected Poems
In the previous version (green cover) there were several typos that should have been corrected, but were not. This edition includes the corrections

Concerning “Apologies and Treatises: Populist Christianity,” there were also some typos that should have been corrected, but were not. Note however, unlike in the poetry, were it causes a problem in meaning and understanding, it does not do so here. However, I am working on a “volume 2″ which will include notes on the corrections, as well as new material, however, at this time, there is no intent on including the entire book.

Lastly, All the books will also be available on Amazon.com. Right now, only “Apologies and Treatises” and the old version of “As Raindrops Fall” are currently listed there.