In our household recently, there has been a lively debate over the manner in which one is to consume barbecued ribs. We decided to voice our respective opinions on this blog and allow our readers to share their opinions in the form of comments and votes in our poll (on the right).

Tad:
There is nothing more American than barbecue ribs. They are enjoyed often at picnics, barbecues, restaurants, and even inside cooked in an oven. This great American food can only truly be enjoyed to its fullest in a somewhat messy fashion; they must be picked up with the hands and eaten. Now this is most likely too messy for some, for instance the snobbish French. But in our American culture without divisions between classes, poor and rich alike can enjoy this delicacy the way God intended it to be enjoyed. We are above thinking that such things are barbaric and instead understand the efficiency and the necessity of eating ribs in this fashion. May God Bless the USA and ribs.

Aliesha:
For me, the idea of consuming barbecued ribs conjures up images of wild animals picking at the carcasses of other animals. Say, this image, for example.Actually, maybe this one is more accurate…
At any rate, I find the act of picking up barbecued ribs with one’s hands and picking the meat off with ones teeth an uncouth practice. I prefer to eat my ribs with a knife and fork, which is less messy and still makes me feel like a human being created in the image of God.

Your turn:
Leave a comment and vote in our poll on the right! (Poll open until 2/8/10.)

You may have already heard about this, since it is literally all over the news, or you may be like me and rarely check to see what is going on in the world. I’m trying to do better about checking headlines at least once a day, as depressing as they sometimes are.

But last night I came across a story that intrigued me.

Focus on the Family has purchased a 30-second ad in the Super Bowl this year (fyi, last year, 95.4 million people watched the Super Bowl). The ad shares a story about Tim Tebow, Heisman trophy-winning college football legend. Tim Tebow and his family have been long-time supporters of Christian principles and the sanctity of human life, and they have used their own family’s story as a testimony to others. Nearly twenty-three years ago, Pam Tebow was encouraged by doctors to abort her unborn son, her fifth child, but she refused, and gave birth to Tim Tebow. The ad is expected to share “one of their personal stories,” said Gary Schneeberger, spokesperson for Focus on the Family.
The ad focuses on a theme of “Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life,” according to Focus on the Family’s January 15 press release. The ad never mentions the word “abortion,” and centers primarily on Tim Tebow’s story.

As of Tuesday, over 30 liberal woman’s organizations have written to CBS protesting the ad. Terry O’Neill, president of NOW, stated that the ad is “extraordinarily offensive and demeaning.”

CBS has found no basis for rejecting the ad, so they still plan on airing it as scheduled.