MethoBlogroll Mirror Test : On Culture

Street Youth in the U.S.

Perspectives — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:33:25 GMT

The number of youth living on the streets has dramatically increased. As the recession destroys the lives of families, children are running away from dysfunctional parents or being forced by economic stress to leave, and more and more are attempting to...(read more)

An Old BMW “Airhead” Comes to Life

Perspectives — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:14:22 GMT

Nothing recently has caused my heart to soar like the sound of a BMW motorcycle roaring to life after ten years of sitting in the garage. It’s a 1977 R100RS. To my mind a classic. I commuted into New York City from New Jersey on it for ten years...(read more)

Southern Naming Comes Back to Haunt

Perspectives — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:35:11 GMT

It’s coming back to haunt me. Being named ‘”southern,” I was given two names, both of which are abbreviations of full names. I lived with the sing-song “Larry Don” until I was old enough to eliminate one name, and move far enough away so that...(read more)

Did Pres. Obama Borrow a United Methodist Phrase?

Perspectives — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:30:11 GMT

Did President Obama or one of his speechwriters borrow a phrase from The United Methodist Church when he spoke on abortion at Notre Dame’s commencement? I don’t know, but I’m getting blog posts and emails from people who think he did...(read more)

The British Museum Website

Perspectives — Sat, 16 May 2009 12:07:06 GMT

Speaking of institutions, as I did in the previous post, I received a list of recommended websites from StumbleUpon and the British Museum’s site was listed. When I think of an institution, I think of the British Museum. I’ve done research...(read more)

From Instant Gratification to Deferred Gratification?

Perspectives — Thu, 14 May 2009 02:54:29 GMT

Can the U.S. move from a culture of instant gratification to deferred gratification? The question was inspired by a program on NPR this morning. From the car radio I went into a meeting where the same thing was being talked about. There’s a lot...(read more)

Athiests Out of the Closet

Perspectives — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:47:20 GMT

Athiests are coming out of the closet. And in South Carolina, no less; a place noted for the strength of its religious and political values, strongly conservative and deeply held. That’s the gist of the NY Times piece on "emerging" athiests...(read more)

Bono’s Search for the Soul

Perspectives — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 10:50:14 GMT

Rock Singer and humanitarian activist Bono asks about the state of our souls in this time of great change. In a Sunday op-ed he recounts Easter worship on an unnamed island and discusses the need for new beginnings. He writes affectingly about his search...(read more)

Ending Victimization, Claiming Empowerment

Perspectives — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:50:56 GMT

The Taliban have exploited class differences to gain control over the Swat Valley in Pakistan. The Dalit people, known as the "untouchables" in India’s caste-based social system, are throwing off oppressive discrimination to claim liberation...(read more)

Social Ethics, Global Trade and Christian Faith

Perspectives — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:21:17 GMT

A few years ago I said in a meeting of colleagues I thought my denomination needs a global trade specialist. My remarks were met with a chuckle by one person and fell into the bottomless silence of rejection without words. Now we’re in the midst...(read more)

New Media. Who Uses What? Why? And How?

Perspectives — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 12:08:03 GMT

As the young panelists addressing our board meeting discussed how they use new media it became instantly apparent that generational differences in media usage are like chasms in the Arizona desert. Some in our group had never heard of Twitter. Others...(read more)

Twittering, Network TV and Newspapers

Perspectives — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 15:53:04 GMT

As the dean of the school of journalism at Southern Methodist University spoke to our governing board in a classroom on campus about the state of journalism, the announcement was made that the Rocky Mountain News was shutting down. We also talked about...(read more)

Carry the Constitution With You

Perspectives — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:49:59 GMT

I carry a copy of the U.S. Constitution in mini-booklet form with me when I travel. That, and a pocketbook-size scripture, plus miscellaneous reading material. I refer to the Constitution, sometimes out of idle curiosity and sometimes because I need to...(read more)

Exploited Children

Perspectives — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:55:13 GMT

When Nicholas Kristof wrote of his experience with a young woman sold into prostitution in Phnom Penh he reminded me how little distance we’ve covered the past three decades in protecting children from exploitation. Years ago I was sitting in a...(read more)

Publishing, Journalism, Music and New Digital Media

Perspectives — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:56:08 GMT

As a result of the proliferation of digital media, the restructuring of nearly every industry that deals with information–publishing, radio, television, journalism, advertising–is breath-taking. Add to this the effects of digital distribution...(read more)