

Do You Really Have A Choice?

New ideas about feminism and gay rightsThis book, broadly defined, examines the relationship between feminism and lesbianism. Although some have argued that the feminist movement and the movement for glbt rights are synonymous or at least closely aligned, Calhoun reveals places where they are brought into contradiction or tension. One of Calhoun's major arguments revolves around the family -- a place that heterosexual women have traditionally needed freedom FROM but that lesbians are still fighting for freedom TO. She also argues convincingly that fitness for family life is linked to fitness for civic life, and that it is precisely our "unfitness" for family, rather than our sexuality per se, that renders gay and lesbian people second-class citizens today. As someone who has always resisted the idea that marriage and family should be queer movement priorities, I was not an easy sell on this last point, but I found her arguments clearly articulated and ultimately convincing.
The book is academic, but accessible to those with some background in feminist thought. Calhoun is a philosopher, and the style of logical argument she employs may take some getting used to for those outside the discipline. As someone who generally reads social science, I found her style a joy at the beginning (how often are we treated to a feminist writer who clearly explains her assumptions in the first chapter?) and a burden by the end (now I will review where we are in my argument so far, and make my next point). Even so, this slim volume makes a major intellectual contribution to queer theory and it deserves far more attention than it has received thus far. Calhoun gives me hope that academic feminism is still alive and kicking and producing new ideas worth thinking about.


A Good Balance to the Faith Message...Andrew Wommack has done a masterful job of walking the fine line between Grace and Faith. These represent two big "camps" in the Body of Christ. To put it simply, either God does whatever He wants without our doing anything or God only does something when we use our faith like a crowbar.
Neither is correct by itself. Andrew points out that our faith is very important in receiving from God--it is not a matter of waiting on God. By the same token, Andrew shows that grace is important as well because it is the basis for God's provision.
IN summary form, Wommack shows that it's neither totally grace nor totally faith. It is using your faith to appropriate what God has already provided by His grace. And this book brings wonderful balance to this topic.
You can't make God do anything. Unfortunately, for many in the faith movement, this seems to be the idea. That God only moves when we use our faith. Truth of the matter is God has already done His part (grace). We must now do our part and receive what He has already provided (faith)
A wonderfully balanced presentation, the book can be read from cover to cover in less than an hour. But you'll want to take yout time and absorb all of it!
Highly recommended!


Having It All (Ford Super Models of the World,Book 3)

An outstanding contribution to Civil War studies.

A cross-section of wartime opinions and experiences.

Review of The Imperative of FreedomJohn Merrill's The Imperative of Freedom: A Philosophy of Journalistic Autonomy is a harsh commentary on the loss of individual autonomy in journalism. This book explores the philosophical history and present implications of the institutionalism of journalism.
Content: Part one is an in-depth lesson on philosophy, which is intertwined throughout the book. The Imperative of Freedom is broken into two sections, the first section, which outlines the major philosophies that are relevant to journalism. It is further broken down into 10 chapters, making it highly useful for a college textbook.
The thoroughness of philosophical coverage makes it is an excellent introduction to the relationship between and the necessity of philosophy and journalism. Merrill uses easily understandable and fun language with myriad lists and labels. He also includes several helpful diagrams, which clearly demonstrates the philosophies discussed in the book.


The new Katie John!

... and a fine moonlight battle

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