July 4th observations

Egalitarian and complementarian are two words that probably need retirement. Badly. Complementarianism includes elements of equality; unfortunately, it also includes messages, subtexts, and a history of “women just aren’t as smart, capable, or spiritual as men.” It also has connections to a doctrine called "the eternal subjugation of the Son to the Father," which seems suspect to me, and a way to justify a human position with theology.

Egalitarianism is not logically possible. Why? Because as a marriage evolves, roles must be flexible. And really, what a couple does within its marriage, as long as there is no abuse, is their own business. Only if kept to a very narrow venue—what jobs women can have in the church—is the term relevant, and perhaps not there either.

On another note, this is a neat article:  lhttps://www.cnn.com/2023/07/04/asia/last-battle-american-revolutionary-war-india-intl-hnk-ml/index.html

Even if you don't like its conclusions, it bears reading. I always wondered how the under-resourced American army beat the wealthy British empire. It had to be more than basic scrappiness and General Washington and fighting on their own soil, even though those were advantages. And why the French wanted to help us (hah, not like World War II!) We were taught it was our commitment to the righteous cause of freedom. 

I think it had more to do with God's sovereignty, maybe, than our virtues.  Not to be cynical, but at that time the colonies were not unified enough for that to be the only reason. In later wars we had a better national identity; in World War II we hit that stride and became the heroes we now see ourselves as (or at least my generation does).

And we celebrate all this sacrifice with a cookout.  Hummmmmm.

And I leave with this:https://www.foxnews.com/sports/enes-kanter-freedom-swats-natasha-clouds-trash-us-take-dont-wanna-see-other-side

As the line in Hamilton goes, it takes an immigrant to get the job done, in this case, calling out a foolish athlete.