Kudos To Keira Knightley!

The Axiom Of Respect

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Treating Themselves And Others

Respectfully And Respecting

Only Those Who Earn It

Kudos to Keira Knightley for “refus[ing] to have her breasts enhanced in publicity photos for her upcoming movie.” (“Keira Knightley Refuses Breast Enhancement In Publicity Photos“) It is wonderful to hear about a celebrity who is comfortable being herself, especially in light of today’s intense focus on the superficial.

This is an excellent example of an admirable public action. In our discussion of individuals who are worthy of respect, it is important to remember the difference between individuals and their admirable surface attributes and public actions. According to Magna Sententia, “having respect for others is holding them in esteem based on your personal experience with, or observation of, their conduct and character.” In other words, you can’t have true respect for someone unless you know them personally.

However, as long as you keep this distinction in mind, it is perfectly healthy and reasonable to admire public figures for their surface attributes and/or public actions: Enjoy your favorite ball player for his talent; appreciate your favorite politician for the job he/she is doing; love your favorite singer for his/her music; and admire Keira Knightly for “‘insist[ing] that her figure stay in its natural state.’”

The caution: don’t let this admiration bleed over into respect for the whole individual unless you personally know the individual well and believe he/she is worthy of respect!

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Another Star (Shia LaBeouf) Arrested For Bad Behavior

The Axiom Of Respect

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Treating Themselves And Others

Respectfully And Respecting

Only Those Who Earn It

Another young star, another accident, another “arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.” (“How Will Incident Affect LaBeouf’s Career?”) Every day, the media is inundated with tabloid news about the irresponsible, imprudent actions of actors, singers, athletes, and politicians. Foolhardy celebrities behaving disrespectfully, and many times recklessly, are so prevalent in today’s society that no one bats an eye. Why do we, as a society, continue to respect people based solely on their surface attributes?

Before we can improve our society, we first have to get our priorities straight. Always separate the performance from the actor! There is a huge difference between liking someone’s art and thinking that their art makes them a good person. In fact, you can be an exceptional artist and an incredibly terrible person.

How can we teach our children to have high standards of behavior if we also teach them (through our example) that it is okay to admire celebrities who behave badly? It’s time for us to quit confusing artists with their work and to begin looking at the people in our lives who really matter. The example we set for our children needs to be that we must act appropriately, take a stand, and respect only those who earn it.

When will we stop worshiping celebrity and start honoring those worthy of honor?

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Botox & Spray Tans? A Simple “I Do” Will Do

The Axiom Of Realistic Expectations

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Having Realistic Expectations

For Themselves, Their Lives, And Others

We have never understood the reasoning behind large, elaborate weddings. Considering that 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce, we just don’t get why brides put themselves (and their partners, friends, and family) through the anguish of planning and preparing these extravagant affairs, as well as the debt that follows.

So you can imagine our shock last week when we read the New York Times article, “It’s Botox For You, Dear Bridesmaids,” which describes the hot new pre-wedding practices of Botox, chemical peels, teeth whitening, breast implants, and professional spray tans. You’ve got to be kidding! Ladies, we need to stop this madness. . . . It is ridiculous, and we are making fools of ourselves!

Weddings are a celebration of the joining of two lives. They are not about where your wedding and reception are held, who designs your dress, who caters your rehearsal and wedding dinner, where you go on your honeymoon, what gifts you receive, who you invite, who attends, or the flowers you choose. They are not about the price tag, and they are certainly not about making your bridesmaids get breast implants before the big day.

Weddings today have become a mockery: They are so completely superficial that it is no wonder there are marriages that last a month. Fine, dress up in a beautiful gown (that you can afford!) to honor the day. Invite family and friends to witness the joining of your two lives. However, understand that your true focus must be on what really matters, what is the true purpose of the day: promising to love and cherish your partner until death do you part.

A 50 percent success rate is a failure: Would you purchase a car if it worked 50 percent of the time? Would you make it through school if you passed 50 percent of your classes? Would you travel on an airplane if 50 percent of the flights arrived safely? Of course not! Then why busy yourself with frivolous details when it would be better for you to concentrate on whether or not you should be getting married in the first place. It’s time to start thinking clearly: Two loving and committed people are the recipe for a good wedding, not Botox and spray tans.

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Magna Sententia Overview

Click on the following link to listen to Anna and Ellie give an overview of their new book, Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society:

Magna Sententia Overview

Find out more about Magna Sententia.

Economics 101: Why Increasing The Federal Minimum Wage Is A Bad Idea

The Axiom Of Responsibility

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Taking Responsibility

For Themselves And Their Children

The federal minimum wage is the minimum price set for labor. It is mandated by the government, which means that it is a legislated price for labor and no employer can legally hire an employee to work below this wage.

We can all sympathize with our fellow Americans who have looked forward to yesterday’s federal minimum wage increase (“Surviving (Or Not) On Minimum Wage”). Living day after day on the brink of homelessness is stressful and demoralizing, especially when there seems to be no way out. However, please understand that raising the federal minimum wage is not the answer. In fact, increasing the minimum wage only hurts the very people it claims to help. Here’s why:

The federal minimum wage really only affects the market for unskilled labor, the very ones who need income the most severely. Unfortunately, there are many in our society who fall into the category of unskilled laborers, or take jobs that do not require skilled labor, such as those who are uneducated or have been out of the job market for a long period of time, as well as high school and college students.

When the federal government sets a minimum wage, numerous businesses (especially small businesses) cannot afford to hire as many workers, so unskilled laborers have a more difficult time finding a job, or they are forced to work a reduced number of hours with no benefits because their employer cannot afford to pay all of these costs. The end result is more unemployed unskilled laborers, not more unskilled laborers with higher incomes.

Undoubtedly, this debate leads to the thought that if there were no federal minimum wage, workers would be taken advantage of and be expected to work for peanuts. With the current unskilled labor pool, the free market actually prevents this from happening: The basic laws of supply and demand do not allow it. The smaller the number of unskilled laborers (or individuals willing to work in jobs that don’t require skill), the higher the wage they can demand, and employers have to be competitive. If unskilled laborers are unwilling to work for peanuts, then employers will have to raise their wages in order to obtain employees.

The federal minimum wage does not guarantee unskilled laborers a living wage: In truth, for many it guarantees them either no wage at all or limited hours with no benefits since businesses cannot afford the high cost of labor.

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Message Ban Won’t Solve Teacher-Student Sexual Misconduct

The Axiom Of Respect

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Treating Themselves And Others

Respectfully And Respecting

Only Those Who Earn It

In order to prevent teacher-student sexual misconduct, “two Mississippi school districts have banned text messaging and online social networking communication between faculty and their young pupils.” (“Following Sex Scandals, Districts Impose Message Ban”) Regrettably, these school districts are only treating the symptoms of the problem, not providing an adequate solution.

The real problem: The depraved character of teachers who have sexual relationships with their students, and their lack of respect for their position.

Teachers, administrators, librarians, and anyone else who works with children must be the adult in these relationships, and as adults, they must behave so that the line of inappropriate behavior is never crossed. Children are just that, children: They are not mature enough to judge if a relationship is going too far or becoming inappropriate. The adult in the relationship, and only the adult, bears the responsibility of setting the tone of, and creating limits within, the relationship.

There are many legitimate reasons for students and teachers to utilize text messaging and other advanced communication technologies, such as text messaging your math professor if you are stuck on a problem, or a journalism instructor keeping in contact with her students who are out in the field working on a story. Why should education be hampered because of a few irresponsible and perverted teachers?

The answer to teacher-student sexual misconduct is heavy punishment: Make teachers who are found guilty of sexual misconduct with their students suffer severely.

Additionally, there are actions parents and communities can take to decrease the likelihood of teachers acting inappropriately with their students: School districts must be vigilant in hiring only quality teachers with clean backgrounds; teachers must honor their positions; parents must teach their children not to get too close to their teachers; and parents must also have a close enough relationship with their children to know when a relationship with their teacher is getting out of hand.

With freedom comes responsibility. Don’t take away the freedoms of all because of the actions of a few.

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Mothers & Daughters & Age, Oh My!

The Axiom Of Responsibility

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Taking Responsibility

For Themselves And Their Children

Yesterday while I was running errands, I witnessed yet another 40-something woman hauling her mother around begrudgingly. The tension between these two women was so thick, I could have cut it with a knife, and unfortunately, this dismal duo was no different from others I see regularly at restaurants, doctors’ offices, pharmacies, movie theatres, grocery stores, and salons.

By her demeanor and tone, the daughter was clearly annoyed at the fact that her mother didn’t have the mental and physical acuity of times gone by, and consequently, she spoke to her mother with such a bite, I was surprised to see she wasn’t breathing fire! She moved her mother (and her mother’s oxygen tank) with quick jerks and starts, all the while frowning and sighing as though she were trying to move a stinky, dead horse. In this case, the mother was completely compliant, but on other occasions I’ve observed elderly women bossing their caretaker daughters around like army sergeants.

Why are these women putting themselves through such agony? There is no way this daughter or her mother is happy, and I would bet that the daughter’s frustration with her mother is carried over to her other relationships, as no one can change his/her moods like the flip of a switch.

Every time I see one of these miserable daughters, I want to go up to them and say, “Please don’t do this to yourself. Your mother is responsible for herself, even in her golden years. Life is too short, time is too precious, and your other relationships are much too important to continue living like this!” And to the mothers, I want to shout, “Love your daughter enough to do whatever you need to do to take care of yourself, even if that means taking a cab, finding a volunteer from your church to help you, utilizing community services for the elderly, or doing your nails at home.”

Warning to all 40-somethings: Prepare now for your future so that you have the funds to be independent and self-reliant when you’re older. Please, don’t burden your children or family!

We can help one another out, but not to the point of losing ourselves or being utterly miserable. It is almost impossible to be healthy and happy under the great pressure of caring for our parents, raising our own families, meeting our financial responsibilities, as well as maintaining our marriages, partnerships, and friendships. For the good of the family, parents and their adult children alike must take responsibility for themselves!

Anna Sherise
Co-Creator of Magna Sententia
Co-Author of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Michael Savage, Why So Much Hate?

The Axiom Of Respect

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Treating Themselves And Others

Respectfully And Respecting

Only Those Who Earn It

Michael Savage should be ashamed of himself. (He probably isn’t, but he should be!)

With his recent disparaging comments directed at autistic children and their parents (“Protesters Decry Radio Commentator Michael Savage’s Remarks About Autism”), Savage provides an excellent example of what it means to be rude, self-righteous, and . . . let’s use a Savage word here . . . an idiot:

In no way is Savage an expert on autism, and on his radio program, he announced, “In 99 percent of the [autism] cases, it’s a brat who hasn’t been told to cut the act out.” This isn’t just ignorant, it’s downright hateful. It doesn’t matter what his supposed point was (he claims he was trying to “boldly awaken parents and children to the medical community’s attempt to label too many children or adults as ‘autistic’”), there is no way his statements could have been respectful in any context. They only display his own lack of empathy.

The real point is this: As Americans, we must come to the understanding that attacking one another is getting us nowhere. We must try to show some compassion toward one another and not be so ridiculously judgmental.

Which leads us to the question: How in the world did Savage become “talk radio’s third most popular personality” with 8 million listeners? Why do you Savage listeners out there continue to support someone who treats others so disrespectfully time and time again? (If you listen to him for any length of time, you know that autistic children and their parents are only the most recent victims of this . . . shall we use another word of his . . . moron.) For instance, not too long ago he ranted about homosexuals in such a vile, degrading manner that you’d think another round of Salem Witch Trials was just around the corner. (Yes, we used to listen to him on the rare occasion. No, we don’t listen anymore.)

Be cognizant of whom you support, and make sure they are worthy of your time and/or money.

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Scott Peterson: No Blogs, No Sympathy, Just Your Life

The Axiom Of Responsibility

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Taking Responsibility

For Themselves And Their Children

Sharon Rocha has every right to be outraged that Scott Peterson has the ability to blog while in prison on death row (“Laci Peterson’s Mom Outraged Over Son-In-Law’s Blog”). In fact, every American should be outraged! When you are convicted of murdering your wife and unborn son, you should lose your right to communicate with the outside world, family blog included.

In order to have an orderly society where taking responsibility for your actions is paramount, we as Americans must alter the manner in which we treat our criminals: The amount of tax dollars we waste on feeding, clothing, educating, and attempting to rehabilitate people who have committed horrendous crimes is ludicrous. When a person is convicted of a violent crime, as Scott Peterson was, he/she should be put to death in a timely fashion.

According to the Wikipedia entry on capital punishment, “opponents of capital punishment argue that it has led to the execution of [the] wrongfully convicted, that it discriminates against minorities and the poor, that it does not deter criminals more than life imprisonment, that it encourages a ‘culture of violence’, that it is more expensive than life imprisonment, and that it violates human rights.”

First of all, no justice system is perfect, and the reason America upholds the ideal of “innocent until proven guilty” (which in our criminal courts translates into “guilt beyond a reasonable doubt” and almost endless appeals) is to try to limit the number of individuals who are wrongly convicted. Therefore, the severity of punishments should be based on an assumption of guilt, not on an assumption of innocence.

Secondly, a violent crime is a violent crime whether it is committed by the rich or the poor, a minority or a white male. Yes, minorities and the poor are less likely to have highly-skilled attorneys, but our focus should be on making it harder for the rich to get away with crimes, not on lessening punishments for violent offenses.

Studies are easily manipulated, and there are many statistics supporting both sides of this issue. Whether capital punishment does, or does not, deter violent crime and/or create a “culture of violence” is difficult to measure because there are numerous variables involved and there will always be biased surveys, questioners, and respondents.

Additionally, capital punishment does not have to be expensive: Those who have committed violent crimes violated the human rights of their victims. (Which human rights of Laci and Conner did Scott Peterson honor?) America doesn’t owe convicted violent criminals a peaceful life or a peaceful death.

What is most important is the stance we want to take on violent crime: Capital punishment as a consequence of violent crime clearly sends the message that we as Americans abhor these crimes and will not stand for them (not to mention that it can bring great relief to the victim’s family and loved ones). This is not cruel or inhumane; this is called paying the price of your behavior.

The price for murder ought to be your own life, period. No blogs. No sympathy. Just your life.

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society

Moving Forward As Americans: A Case Against The N-Word

The Axiom Of Realistic Expectations

Individuals Demonstrate Valid Behavior

By Having Realistic Expectations

For Themselves, Their Lives, And Others

In light of the new development that Rev. Jesse Jackson was caught on camera using the N-word prior to his FOX News interview (“Jackson Also Used N-Word In Taped Conversation Critical Of Obama”), it is the perfect time to discuss the negative effects of groups using derogatory terms about themselves.

After reading many articles and listening to several discussions, it seems to us that some members of the African-American Community feel it is perfectly acceptable for them to use the N-word among themselves because it is a term that has been a part of their lives for generations and it is part of their culture. This is their prerogative.

However, the way we talk about ourselves serves as an indicator of how we will allow others to treat us, and the African American Community as a whole is no different: African Americans must realize that by choosing to use a derogatory racial slur about themselves, they also perpetuate its use by others.

One of the wonderful aspects of American culture is the great number of vastly diverse cultures that comprise it, and living in America, you are sure to be exposed to many different foods, traditions, ideas, viewpoints, as well as various types of music, art, and dance. Thus, even though it is extremely offensive, the use of the N-word by non-African Americans will never completely stop until it is banned by our entire society.

If we as a nation want to move forward, leaving the times of discrimination and inequality behind us, we must shed some of our ways that no longer serve or unify us. Degrading racial slurs and slang terms no longer serve or unify us. We invite every American to work with us as we attempt to bring our country together, and to do this, we have to acknowledge our differences, learn from past mistakes, and work together for a successful and united future.

Anna and Ellie Sherise
Creators of Magna Sententia
Authors of Magna Sententia: The Logical Cure for Our Society