Beyond Mediocrity Blog

Since officially recognized by President Gerald Ford in 1976, February has been a month dedicated to the achievements and advancements of black Americans. This isn’t necessarily a problem, unless you want to have unity in your nation based on shared values and experiences of simply being American, regardless of skin color. Morgan Freeman, a well-known and accomplished black actor, said in a 60-Minutes interview in 2005 that black history month is an “insult” and “ridiculous.” “You’re going to relegate my history to a month?” he famously quipped. Freeman emphasized the reality that black history is intertwined into American history and criticized the concept for celebrating separation. When I taught history at a Wisconsin private school, I was asked what I was going to focus on for the month of February. When I stated that I would be teaching what was presented in the history book, I was met with criticism. I responded by stating, “Regardless of the month, I am teaching through the...

  While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. And the LORD said to Moses, “Take all the chiefs of the people and hang them in the sun before the LORD, that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel.” And Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you kill those of his men who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor.” And behold, one of the people of Israel came and brought a Midianite woman to his family, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the people of Israel, while they were weeping in the entrance of the tent of meeting. When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand and went after the man of Israel into the cha...