June 08, 2007
Rambling on the “Shamnesty bill,” classical education, and the value of rhetoric
Yesterday I had to stay home and watch my son. That in and of itself is a blessing, but he added to the blessing by allowing me to turn on C-span and watch the debate in the Senate over Bush’s “shamnesty” (as Malkin refers to it).
I must say that Senator Edwards is fun to listen to. Eloquent, passionate, and sometimes just plain pithy. By the time he was done with his speech I was impressed. Didn’t agree with him, but I could see why anybody would want him to argue on their behalf. I was once again reminded that it doesn’t matter how much you know if you can’t say it. Rhetoric is important.
The other side of the aisle just didn’t match up.
But, wait. From Edwards’ own side of the aisle came an extemporaneous speech from Byron Dorgan that showed contempt for the back-room shananigans of the bill’s framers and a remarkable clarity of thought.
I was impressed. Thought to myself, “I wish I had recorded this to show Jennie.”
Apparently, even Michelle Malkin was impressed with this Democrat. And that’s saying something.
The point of the story is this: One of the goals of classical education is to develop people who not only have knowledge, but have the ability to persuade and argue their case. That would be rhetoric.
The problem with most Christian education is that most of its product is unthinking and the thinking part of its product can’t articulate its way out of a wet paper bag. It would probably be a good exercise for our young people to listen to the Senate debate a bill from start to finish. They would see the incredible power of knowing how to talk.
Posted by Bob Bixby at June 8, 2007 10:12 AM | eMail this entry! | 289 Words
This entry was posted in the following categories: Politics and Culture
Hi Bob,
Great comment on Christian education. We need to teach proper concepts of rhetoric in the secondary schools. I also have to add that I was given a marvelous education at BJU in the 70’s as a Public Speaking major (now known at BJU as Rhetoric and Public Address). I am forever grateful that I had professors who matched critical thinking and the ability to communicate sound thought in an appealing and dynamic fashion. It has served me well in Court and in seminars. Being on the debate team didn’t hurt either!
At any rate, I agree that we need to emphasize proper concepts of rhetoric in Christian secondary schools.
Posted by: Chuck Hervas at June 8, 2007 10:57 AMNow you’re talking. You’re on the right track about classical education. At our school students are required to study Rhetoric (They even have to read Aristotle’s _Rhetoric_ in 11th grade).
You better be careful, though, if you keep moving down this track, you might end up accepting the cultural mandate, the validity of infant baptism, real wine for communion, and some other wonderfull things.
Posted by: Keith at June 8, 2007 12:45 PMBob, the greatest compliment I received recently is after I went mano-a-mano with a self-avowed athiest, naturalistic evolutionist. At the end he told me I was the first Christian he had ever met who could argue for what he believed and not just quote the Bible. Now, I believe the Word is “alive and powerful and able…” but I also believe that we really need to be serious about being ready to answer every man with our hope. I want to continually refine that ability for the sake of the Gospel. Thanks for your musings: they are part of that refining process!
Posted by: Jon Bell at June 9, 2007 07:55 AMBob, the greatest compliment I received recently is after I went mano-a-mano with a self-avowed athiest, naturalistic evolutionist. At the end he told me I was the first Christian he had ever met who could argue for what he believed and not just quote the Bible. Now, I believe the Word is “alive and powerful and able…” but I also believe that we really need to be serious about being ready to answer every man with our hope. I want to continually refine that ability for the sake of the Gospel. Thanks for your musings: they are part of that refining process!
Posted by: Jon Bell at June 9, 2007 07:56 AMBob, the greatest compliment I received recently is after I went mano-a-mano with a self-avowed athiest, naturalistic evolutionist. At the end he told me I was the first Christian he had ever met who could argue for what he believed and not just quote the Bible. Now, I believe the Word is “alive and powerful and able…” but I also believe that we really need to be serious about being ready to answer every man with our hope. I want to continually refine that ability for the sake of the Gospel. Thanks for your musings: they are part of that refining process!
Posted by: Jon Bell at June 9, 2007 07:56 AM
