O Frabjous Day! Rhetoric!

I brought home some delightful treasures from a nearby college library the other day:

• Classical Rhetorical Theory (Poulakos, Poulakos),
  
• A New History of Classical Rhetoric (Kennedy),
  
• Classical Rhetoric & Its Christian and Secular Tradition (Kennedy),
  
• Classical Rhetoric for Modern Discourse (Mackin),
  
• Medieval Reading (Reynolds), and
  
• Essays on Classical Rhetoric and Modern Discourse (Connors, Ede, Lunsford).

I wasn’t sure where to start (I know I will have to return some books unread and check them out later), so I did an abbreviated inspectional reading on each and decided to start with Classical Rhetorical Theory. And I am so glad I did. This book not only explains the development of rhetoric throughout the classical period and shows the different theories of rhetoric that existed then (The Sophists, Plato, Isocrates, and Aristotle), but is also gives the reader a better historical understanding of the conflicts that informed some of the great classical writings. I will read Plato and Aristotle with a different mind.

The more I read the classics, the more I agree with Solomon that there is nothing new under the sun. We are still dealing with the same ethical issues that the classical Greeks were struggling with (or not struggling with, as the case may be). Classical Rhetorical Theory makes this more apparent to me than ever. Human nature, human sin, and the common grace that grants even pagans some light--we never stop needed the Light that was sent into the world to dispel the darkness.

Does anyone want to read with me?

Giving what you can't afford.

Here is an ethical question for you all. Is it okay to go into debt (or further into debt) to help someone in need?
When I see the suffering of our southern neighbors, I think, "What is a bit more debt if we can help these people?

When you are in debt, you are spending someone else's money. However, there are people who are more than happy to loan it to you with hopes of taking advantage if you can't pay back.

Can a person decide to donate a few thousand borrowed dollars, knowing that he will be responsible to pay back that money with interest? Or, should he assume that God will provide through those who have the money already?

On one hand, any of us who give to charities while carrying mortgages or car loans are giving what we don't have. But mortgages and car loans have become acceptable debt in our culture. Also, mortgages and car loans are, by the wise person, budgeted into what he knows he can reasonably pay each month. If he can reasonably pay back the few thousand dollars as well, would that be okay?

A thousand dollars is a lot of money, but in light of the huge need in the south, it seems almost nothing.

Kelli