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| November 2001 |
Vol.4, No. 9
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In Brief...World News Review
God Is Back?
Columnist Peggy Noonan wrote a piece for The Wall Street Journal editorial
page of September 28 titled "God Is Back." She was reacting to the many
references to God by politicians and pundits, as well as high attendance figures
for religious services since September 11. However, just the mention of or holding
meetings in His name doesn't mean that God is truly back in the hearts, minds-and
consequently, reflected in the actions-of the Americans, British, Canadians, Australians,
South Africans or other Western peoples.
Seeking to rally support for the U.S.-led war on international terrorism, British
Prime Minister Tony Blair said, "Whatever faults we have, Britain is a very
moral nation with a strong sense of right and wrong. That moral fibre will defeat
the fanaticism of these terrorists and their supporters" ("Blair Rallies
Britain as War Nerves Fray," The Observer, October 28, 2001, emphasis
added throughout).
There is evidence to the contrary.
Less than a week before September 11, The Times of London ran this headline:
"Christianity Almost Beaten Says Cardinal." In the body of the article,
religion correspondent Ruth Gledhill quoted the Archbishop of Westminster: "Christianity
has almost been vanquished in Britain.... Christ (is) being replaced by music, New
Age beliefs, the environmental movement, the occult and the free-market economy"
(September 6, 2001).
Is Britain "a very moral nation"?; According to the leader of the 4.1 million
Roman Catholics in England and Wales: "It does seem...that Christianity, as
a sort of backdrop to people's lives and moral decisions-and to the Government, the
social life of the country-has now almost been vanquished" (ibid.).
Morality isn't a quality that can be turned on or off at will. Neither is the requisite
spiritual strength lying dormant within every citizen of the Western world, merely
because our nations once respected and, more importantly, responded to God. Our nations
do not have moral strength simply because they need to have it. Will our people rise
to the critical occasion? Will they turn back to God and find His strength in this
time of trouble?
The Paradox of
Modern America: Both Strong and Vulnerable
Henry Kissinger's latest book articulates the American dream very well. He
begins the first chapter of Does America Have a Foreign Policy? with the observation:
"At the dawn of the new millennium, the United States is enjoying a preeminence
unrivaled by even the greatest empires of the past. From weaponry to entrepreneurship,
from science to technology, from higher education to popular culture, America exercises
an unparalleled ascendancy around the globe" (2001, p. 17).
But the awful atrocities in New York City, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania show
that Dr. Kissinger's evaluation is only a part of the overall picture. The Spectator
in Britain adds: "There might seem to be no greater paradox in the history
of civilization.
America, the global colossus, leading the world in scientific mastery, the possessor
of unlimited military capability-but unable to defend itself against a handful of
fanatics armed with knives. The gap between mighty America and its puny adversaries
is far smaller than an inventory of American power would suggest" (September
15).
Though the raw capability of the World Trade Center terrorists and their network
was vastly underestimated in this account, the main point is well taken. The Independent
(London) bluntly declared: "For half a century, the U.S. has basked in the
certainty of its commercial and military invulnerability, (but) now the confidence
of the post-war era has been blasted away for ever" (September 12).
In but about an hour and a half the same technology that enables us to telephone
just about anywhere on the earth or board an aircraft to any point on the planet
was turned into an agent of incredible destruction in downtown New York City. Global
mobility provided the means.
Of course this whole story is yet to be played out with all the reactive forces of
American power and intelligence ready to be unleashed. But in the meantime if you
want to know about the often unrealized origins of U.S. influence, wealth and prosperity
and where its precipitous decline in moral values is taking the nation, please request
our free brochure, The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy.
America's Need
to Rediscover Biblical Values
Outwardly one may certainly blame the tragic loss of so many lives on sheer complacency
and a disturbing lack of airport security, but the behind-the-scenes culprit may
be declining American values.
French political writer, Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859), once proclaimed that
"America is great because America is good." Historically, the strength
of the United States has been undergirded by its basic adherence to traditional biblical
values. However, recent decades have witnessed a serious and substantial erosion
of accepted standards even to the point that annual income from pornographic films
now exceeds yearly commercial intake of conventional movies. And tragically, those
who market blue films include corporations that are household names in America.
Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger remarked that "without a moral compass
you cannot find your way through the dilemmas that foreign policy throws up"
(The Sunday Times, September 16). So no aspect of human life is exempt from
adherence to moral standards, not even international relations. Scotland on Sunday
pointed out that though "under attack externally, the U.S. is also undergoing
an internal battle between traditional values and tinsel-town influences" (September
16).
In a sense two nations are simultaneously living under the auspices of the American
flag. One is pioneering, patriotic, law-abiding, church-going and family-oriented.
The other is politically correct, self-indulgent, believes in mollycoddling criminals
and rejects traditional biblical values.
Revisiting the
American Image Abroad
Sometimes perception can be as important as reality. This is especially so in
the way Americans regularly portray themselves to other nations. In this regard the
entertainment industry has a major responsibility. Regrettably restraint and common
sense have not generally prevailed.
Wrote noted film critic Michael Medved: "Unfortunately this obsessive Hollywood
fascination with the dark side of human nature has played a major role in shaping
America's ugly image in much of the world. In recent weeks it has become fashionable
to ask, 'Why do so many people in other countries hate us?' Part of any honest response
involves the movies, TV shows and popular music we export around the globe. It certainly
didn't come as a complete surprise when anti-American rioters in Quetta, Pakistan,
targeted five movie theaters showing U.S. imports."
Especially in developing nations, most foreigners will come no closer to visiting
the United States than the onscreen images they see. Of course, Americans understand
that film fantasies emphasizing excessive violence, illicit sex and various antisocial
attitudes don't really represent everyday life for most citizens (although there
has been parallel growth in the intensity of these evils in society a few steps behind
the films). But those living abroad don't necessarily know this.
Clearly films like Hannibal (1 & 2), Desperado and Natural-Born
Killers portray America, in Michael Medved's words, as "a cruel, godless,
brutal and vulgar society." Yet, at least on the surface, the United States
is the most religiously committed, church-going country in the West. However, many
Hollywood movies consistently downplay or deny the best parts of American national
life. Instead, decadence, deviance and dysfunction dominate many, if not most, American
films aggressively marketed around the world.
In the wake of the tragic events of September 11, many instances of kindness, decency,
patriotism and generosity emerged in many parts of America. Will Hollywood pick up
this banner and begin to make many more decent movies?
Source: USA Today.
Bioterrorism: Americans
Poorly Prepared
A broad range of health officials recently observed that America is poorly prepared
to deal with bioterrorism attacks. Bioterrorism embraces the intentional release
of lethal substances into air, water and food supplies.
Said Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee, "For bioterrorism the number one inadequacy,
if you had to rank them, is the inadequacy of our public health infrastructure. That
is a product of about 15 years of neglect." Obvious lacks include doctors poorly
trained to recognize symptoms which are sometimes similar to normal illnesses, and
poorly equipped hospitals, sometimes even without fax machines to convey or receive
vital information.
Perhaps since its inception the United States has gotten used to an intangible veil
of protection that has somehow surrounded its national life and well being, the presence
of which has enabled the nation to pursue its dreams with relative freedom from threats
and worries. Increasing evidence indicates that this protection is gradually being
withdrawn because of our declining standards and values (see Isaiah 5:4-5).
Source: International Herald Tribune(New York Times news service).
Pontiff Health
Woes Signal Leadership Change
There has been great concern for some time now over the health problems of 81-year-old
Pope John Paul II. A few years ago the Roman Catholic leader was struck by unusual
fevers, stomach viruses and heavy cases of the flu, and many worried he might die
suddenly.
The formerly athletic, but now ailing pontiff is showing the effects of Parkinson's
disease, and some feel he might slip into incapacitation and leave the Catholic Church
in the hands of subordinates. Parkinson's is a disease of the nervous system which
causes uncontrollable shaking and cognitive problems.
Information from inside the Vatican walls hints that he travels the long corridors
not by foot but by electric cart. When meetings prove too long for him, orders are
issued from his quarters by aides who are coordinated by his personal secretary,
Bishop Stanislaw Dziwisz.
There exists no law or regulation within the church to prevent this, and for the
moment, only resignation or death can end a papacy. This pope has made it clear he
does not intend to resign.
Contributors: Cecil Maranville, John Ross Schroeder and Jim Tuck
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