Information Related to "World News Review Nov 2001"
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November 2001

Vol.4, No. 9

Contents

Political Correctness Hides the Truth
by Melvin Rhodes

Restoration...A President Who Prays
by Darris McNeely

War on Terrorism Is Spiritual Warfare
by Don Ward

Beware of Prophecies!
by Cecil E. Maranville

What Do We Do Now?
by John Ross Schroeder

In Brief...World News Review
by Cecil E. Maranville, John Ross Schroeder and Jim Tuck

This Is the Way... Running Toward the Flame
by Robin Webber

In Brief...World News Review


God Is Back?

C
olumnist 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

O
utwardly 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

S
ometimes 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

T
here 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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Keywords: American power American morality America's image bioterrorism papacy 

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