It's Still A Wonderful Life
Many of us might feel a bit like George Bailey this year, financially strapped and not sure how we will make it through the tough times. This often leads to desperate thoughts and can affect our entire outlook on life. A reframing of our thoughts away from monetary and economic matters might help remind us as well that there is much good in life and much to be happy about. While some might view happiness as a luxury, Arthur Brooks in “Gross National Happiness” (Basic Books, New York, New York, 2008) argues that individual happiness is important because happiness affects other people. Happier people tend to be more charitable, “have better marriages, are better parents, act with greater integrity, and are better citizens. Happy people not only work harder than unhappy people, but volunteer more, too – meaning they increase out nation’s prosperity and strengthen communities. In short, happy citizens are better citizens.” What makes us happy? Giving to others -- through time, money and talent – tend to make us happier.
Words Associated With Christianity And British History Removed From Children's Dictionary
The publisher claims the changes have been made to reflect the fact that Britain is a modern, multicultural, multifaith society. But academics and head teachers said that the changes to the 10,000 word Junior Dictionary could mean that children lose touch with Britain's heritage. "We have a certain Christian narrative which has given meaning to us over the last 2,000 years. To say it is all relative and replaceable is questionable," said Professor Alan Smithers, the director of the centre for education and employment at Buckingham University. "The word selections are a very interesting reflection of the way childhood is going, moving away from our spiritual background and the natural world and towards the world that information technology creates for us."
Increased Domestic Role for US Military Worries Some
A little-noticed shift in military priorities is seeing expanded deployment of U.S. troops within the United States, potentially reversing centuries-old checks on executive power. The Army Times reports that on Oct. 1, the Army’s First Brigade, which consists of approximately 3,000 troops, began a yearlong deployment with domestic responsibilities; further plans call for a total of 20,000 troops to be deployed domestically by 2011. The troops, based in Fort Stewart in Georgia and directed from a command center in Colorado Springs, Colo., are meant to aid local efforts in case of a national disaster or to help quell “civil unrest and crowd control.” The domestic force is now “under the day-to-day control of U.S. Army North, the Army service component of Northern Command.” Arguing that the troops are meant to supplement local efforts, such as police and National Guard, and not act as a police force, proponents of the move have dismissed worries about martial law or a police state as “civil liberties gone wild,” according to ABC News .
The Home Of The Bruce Collins Show
