Things that are bugging me this week

Now I have a few things that are really getting under my skin this week, so here goes:

Some Roman Catholic priest who is about to retire wants us to change God's name to Allah. Here is a quote from the article: "Allah is a very beautiful word for God. Shouldn't we all say that from now on we will name God Allah? ... What does God care what we call him? It is our problem," Muskens told Dutch television." Story here. The last time I checked, God cares very much what we call Him. So much so that He revealed His names to us in His word. He named Himself. There is an amount of reverence and awe that should be spoken when talking of God's name. We all tend to take His name in vain by not treating it the way it should be treated. Of course this is just an attempt by a priest to accept all faiths in a form of universalism and uniting everyone together because it is about how life is lived instead of the correctness of the faith. Wow, he is misguided.

Keeping on the name theme, there is a new trend for married couples to create new last names instead of the wife giving up her name and taking on the man's name. I think this further shows the breakdown of the family. In the past, family names were important and reputations were made on the name. Just go to a small town, mention a last name, and see the response you get. Or, better yet, go into a church and mention a last name. However, when families are so broken and dysfunctional, it is hard to maintain the last name and family reputation. It is also hard for a bride to understand that she is entering into a family. I could go on, but it would take too much room to fully develop this. Needless to say, I think it shows a tremendous lack of respect to our family lines to treat the family name in this way. It also passes on a lack of concept of family to children who will be taking on these new last names.

Also bothering me today is the media attention that little things get and the warnings that are issued constantly. Just moments ago there was a warning that roller coasters make hearts race to unsafe levels. Isn't that the point? Isn't that part of the thrill of the ride? Isn't that why they put those heart problem warnings on the rides already?

What is the deal with the facination surrounding the late-teens/early-20s celebrities who are ruining their lives with drugs, sex, alcohol, and eating disorders? Do I really need to know every time Lindsey Lohan leaves rehab to go get a tan? Yet that seems to be news here recently. Maybe we should stop making it look like they are on vacation and start addressing the real problems behind these sad excuses for celebrities. What does it tell our kids when you can get the attention you crave by making a huge deal out of something that should be dealt with privately? Even worse, you can watch those who are becoming celebrities do some of the same stuff on MTV's Real World and The Hills/Laguna Beach. Too many girls are learning that it is cool to be social, to be social you must act the way these girls do, and girls are supposed to fight with girls "because that is how girls are." I am glad that some of my youth still watch Hannah Montana and High School Musical instead, and I dread the day that they trade the Disney Channel in for MTV.

Well I guess that is enough for today. More to come soon, although probably not a rant this time.