February 22

Page Two

Throughout the world it is becoming more difficult for a family to live on just one income. Yet when the wife goes to work the family often pays a price. What costs are involved? Are the benefits worth the costs of a wife’s working? Helpful information on these questions is presented in the following articles

It Costs to Work! 3

A Wife’s Income​—Is It Worth the Cost? 4

Working at Home​—Is It for You? 8

‘My Wife Had to Go to Work’ 10

‘My Wife Quit Her Job’ 11

It Costs to Work!

“I DIDN’T want my wife to work,” a husband admitted. “But when ‘ends aren’t meeting,’ you have to compromise. So she started working, and that’s made things a little easier.”

Throughout the world couples are saying that it is difficult to live on one income. In Australia, France, and Sweden the cost of food and housing virtually doubled between 1975 and 1982. In the United States the cost of feeding a family of four rose from about $67 a week in 1975 to over $100 in 1983! The cost of owning and operating an automobile in the United States nearly tripled between 1970 and 1981.

On and on the dreary statistics go. And when salaries do not keep up with inflation (as is often the case), couples may feel that they have but one alternative: Have the wife get a job. Best-selling author and social analyst John Naisbitt claims that if present trends continue, “85 percent of American women will be working” by the year 2000.

All too often, though, a second income falls short of being a financial panacea. For one thing, women are generally paid much less than men are.a True, some struggling couples welcome whatever the wife can earn. However, the authors of Making It Together as a Two-Career Couple further tell us: “One of the cold facts of life that many dual-career couples fail to comprehend is that it costs money to earn money. . . . Unless they are aware of this hard reality, couples tend to hold unrealistic expectations about the amount of disposable income they will have when both are working.”

So subtract from a woman’s wage income taxes, child-care costs, food-budget increases (two-income couples rarely have time to bargain-shop and often eat either restaurant or convenience foods), transportation, clothing, and miscellaneous expenses​—and there often isn’t that much left from the wife’s salary. That’s why Joanne, a bilingual secretary and translator, quit her job. She explains: “My husband and I both . . . figured out that it would hardly be worth it.”

Families are finding out that a wife’s salary also costs in other ways. And some wonder if it is worth it.

[Footnotes]

A Wife’s Income​—Is It Worth the Cost?

“WHEN I was home all day,” one working wife recalled, “I used to keep our home so clean that I used to have to find things to do around the house. I was so picky. For instance, we had this shag carpet in our living room, and if someone walked over it, I would rake it afterward so that the strands would stand up just right.” She adds with a laugh, “But I’m not that way now that I’m working.” Her husband, though, is perhaps not so amused. Somewhat wistfully he adds, “Well, when your shag carpet is ‘standing up,’ it really does look nice.”

This little exchange illustrates a point Professor William Michelson made in his extensive study of working women:a While many a wife can juggle a job and home duties, her doing so nevertheless “entails trade-offs and costs.” The above couple learned that a working wife simply may not have the time​—or energy—​to devote to the home that she had as a full-time housewife. And for some this is a very costly trade-off.

Many women frankly find great satisfaction in providing their families a clean home and tasty meals. And rightly so, for the Bible commends the “capable wife” who is diligently “watching over the goings-on of her household.” (Proverbs 31:10, 27) As one woman said, ‘When I make something that is nice for supper or take some extra time to do something for my family, and my 15-year-old says, “Mom, you really outdid yourself,” that is so much better, that is worth so much more, than a raise from any job or any profession that anybody could give me. That feeling is terrific.’ So both wife and family may feel a sense of loss if she has to go to work.

Marital strain might be another work expense. Wives often resent having to bear an unfair share of the housework. Husbands may likewise resent being asked to help. Some even complain, as did one husband: “I feel left out a lot of the time. She comes home tired and upset. She’s always busy with the children. We don’t share enough together. I appreciate that she had to do what she’s doing, but that doesn’t make me feel any happier about it.” Work fatigue can even hinder a couple’s enjoyment of marital intimacies.​—1 Corinthians 7:3-5.

Another costly trade-off is pointed to by one husband who said: “You trade off being there for the kids. Our kids beat my wife home by a couple of hours. They aren’t left alone, though, because their grandmother is there with them. But my wife does lose those hours with them. And she could accomplish so much with them by way of training if she was just there.” Not all working couples, though, have a grandmother or a friend who can care for their children. Adequate day-care services are often hard to find​—and costly. Newsweek magazine therefore reported “an explosion in the number of children who spend at least part of every weekday without any adult supervision.”

No wonder, then, that in a recent survey of over 200,000 Americans (57 percent of whom were dual-income families), 69 percent felt that a wife’s working had “a detrimental effect on family” life.

Needs Versus Wants

Of course, a wife’s working doesn’t always have dire consequences. Many couples do admirably in caring for their jobs, home, and children. Still, a couple may be uneasy about the wife’s working, feeling it is causing problems for the family. If such is the case, please recall the advice Jesus gave at Luke 14:28: COUNT THE COST!

In short, this means taking a hard look at one’s financial situation and then weighing the pros and cons of the wife’s working. Does it really take two incomes to cover the basic needs​—modest housing, nutritious food, adequate clothing, and so forth? Or does a second income simply allow more wants​—frills such as lavish housing, restaurant meals, entertainment, or stylish clothing?

Many couples simply do not know the difference between needs and wants. And what results? Says the book The Individual, Marriage, and the Family: “Inevitably, families who have incomes of $12,000 per year believe that if they earned but $4,000 more their financial needs would be satisfied, while families with incomes of $16,000 feel themselves just as economically oppressed as those earning $12,000 and are convinced that if they were earning $20,000 they would be satisfied. Incomes of $20,000, $40,000, and even $60,000 still do not seem to provide enough money for the family to do everything it wants; for as income increases, the family’s perceived needs and its spending increase even faster, so that high-income families are often in deeper debt than medium-income families, who are more in debt than low-income families.”

A survey conducted by the magazine Psychology Today similarly revealed “that those who are most satisfied with their financial situation are not necessarily those with the highest income . . . Inflation is, then, partly in the eye of the beholder.”

Working for elusive wants is therefore like walking a treadmill. King Solomon said: “I have noticed something else in life that is useless. Here is a man who lives alone. He has no son, no brother, yet he is always working, never satisfied with the wealth he has. For whom is he working so hard and denying himself any pleasure? This is useless, too​—and a miserable way to live.” (Ecclesiastes 4:7, 8, Today’s English Version; italics ours.) How much income, then, should a family strive to earn? The Bible gives this helpful rule of thumb: “So, having sustenance and covering, we shall be content with these things.”​—1 Timothy 6:8.

“Sustenance and covering” means neither all the latest conveniences nor abject poverty. (Compare Proverbs 30:8.) So we need not conclude that the man who can afford a nice home or television is necessarily a rank materialist. A problem does arise, though, when couples strive to own such things at the expense of marital satisfaction, their spirituality, or the spirituality of their children. When extra cash is this costly, a couple should start to ask themselves if it is really worth it.

Many have concluded that it simply isn’t. Free-lance writer Christine Davidson, for example, decided she had ‘had it’ with trying to care for a job and a family. Quitting her teaching job has meant less family income. “We’re broke​—all the time,” she says. “We cannot pay a small bill and buy our children sneakers the same week. But it’s OK because I can give my kids something else now. I have stopped saying, ‘No, not this afternoon, I have to work’ or ‘No, not now, I’m too tired.’” Could it be that the added attention she can now give her children is worth more than a paycheck?

‘More Than Making Beds and Cooking’

Of course, not all wives can just up and quit their jobs. And some even say they’d feel bored or “unfulfilled” if they had to be home all day. Said one working wife: “I need more in my life than making beds and cooking.”

Such ones, therefore, might consider part-time work. Professor William Michelson observed that part-time work not only provides extra income but also “enables women to arrange their various responsibilities more easily . . . with less time pressure and tension in the process and advantages for taking care of children.” Some imaginative women are even starting successful business enterprises that allow them to earn money at home. (See below.)

However, the thirst for “fulfillment” will never be fully quenched by either housework or secular work. Jesus said: “Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need.” (Matthew 5:3) It is only when this need is cared for that a woman or a man feels truly complete. Many Christian women therefore welcome the chance to be free from secular work so that they can have a fuller share in serving God. Among Jehovah’s Witnesses, some are even able to do this by spending up to 60 or even 90 hours a month teaching the Bible to others. This challenging work brings them a feeling of fulfillment that no secular job could ever provide!

Make the Best of Your Situation!

Each family, though, must decide what will work best for it. The interviews starting on the following page show how two couples​—who are Jehovah’s Witnesses—​reached quite different conclusions due to completely different circumstances. So it would be wrong to pass judgment on the decisions of others in this regard or to make unfair comparisons.​—Romans 14:4.

Today’s economic realities may leave many couples little choice but to have two incomes. Yet the challenges working couples face are not at all insurmountable. (The February 8, 1985, issue of this journal showed how Bible principles can help working couples.) And since the Bible commands Christians to ‘provide for their own,’ there is no reason for one to be burdened with guilt simply because it takes two incomes to do so.​—1 Timothy 5:8.

Granted, the situation of today’s working wife is not ideal. But, then, neither is the situation of the working father. His job, too, separates him from his family for hours at a time. So for ideal conditions we must await God’s New Order promised in the Scriptures. (2 Peter 3:13) There, satisfying work will occupy the entire human race. (Isaiah 65:21-23) No longer will couples have to struggle to provide for their families. For God promises an abundance of good things​—physically and spiritually—​for those blessed with life at that time.​—Isaiah 25:6.

But in the meantime, do not allow yourself to be consumed by the anxieties of life and the pressures of making a living. ‘Buy out time’ for your mate and for your children. (Ephesians 5:16) Never be so busy that you do not have time to worship together as a family. During these pressure-filled days, the wise thing to do is to focus your efforts on laying “a fine foundation for the future, in order that [you] may get a firm hold on the real life.”​—1 Timothy 6:19.

[Footnotes]

[Box/​Picture on page 5]

Advantages Disadvantages

Less financial strain Less time for housework

Husband works less overtime Additional taxes

Wife utilizes job skills Possible marital strain

[Pictures on page 6, 7]

Are the benefits of a job worth sacrificing time with your family?

[Picture on page 9]

Two-income families still need to make time for family study

Working at Home​—Is It for You?

MANY women who need extra income, but who do not want to abdicate their role as housewives, have tried an interesting alternative: working at home. In Japan over one million people engage in such work. Women are making kimonos or other clothes, hemming handkerchiefs or embroidering. Some are even assembling electrical parts for appliances or cars. And if you think we have exhausted the possibilities, here are some more: preparing food for restaurants; affixing strings to umbrellas; typing; making artificial flowers; making paper bags, labels, or bags and boxes for fruit.

Before jumping at the chance to do such work, though, consider a few cautions: Beware of any advertisements that promise instant wealth. Be careful, too, when a considerable investment in machinery or tools is required. Such companies often ‘regret to inform you that they cannot provide you with work at the present time’​—after you have spent your money. Or they may fail to pay you the promised wage for so-called inferior work.

Be aware, too, that when you work at home you usually are not covered by insurance if an injury occurs. And there is the Christian obligation to pay taxes, so if you’re working for yourself, keep good records for tax purposes. (Matthew 22:21) Also, a self-employed person working at home should always inquire of local authorities as to zoning ordinances, mercantile regulations, education or licensing requirements, or other legal requirements.

Finally, realize that working at home takes self-discipline. Such work can be tedious and tiring. And there is the temptation to let household responsibilities slide so as to keep on working. But when properly controlled, working at home can be a practical way to balance financial and home obligations.

‘My Wife Had to Go to Work’

Awake!: What do you do for a living, John?

John: I keep records at a manufacturing plant.

Awake!: And you, Carrie?

Carrie: I take care of elderly people, working for them in their own homes.

Awake!: What made you start working?

Carrie: The economy. The rent and food started to go up, and we couldn’t seem to make ends meet.

John: Around here a couple needs at least $1,200 to $1,400 a month to live. Our rent is over $400 a month. Food runs about $50 a week. And we have car, clothing, and cleaning bills.

Awake!: So Carrie went right to work?

John: Not right away. I tried working some overtime. At times I worked 10 or 11 hours a day​—5 or 6 hours on Saturday.

Carrie: Yes, it was very hard for both of us. We never had any time together. He’d come in, eat his supper, and go right to bed. And we still weren’t making ends meet.

John: I knew I couldn’t keep that up for long. You see, I started studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. But as I progressed, I began to realize I didn’t have the time for all this work. I needed time for spiritual activities such as Christian meetings. So I decided the overtime had to stop. We waited, though, until our daughter got a bit older. I definitely wanted Carrie home until she was through school. But when she got into high school, Carrie did some part-time work in department stores. And later on we decided it would be practical for her to get full-time work.

Awake!: Did you resent having to work, Carrie?

Carrie: No. I could see the strain on John. So I was glad to be able to help out.

Awake!: How has your working affected your relationship?

Carrie: Well, now that John’s not working overtime as much, we have a bit more time for each other.

John: In that sense, Carrie’s working has improved things a bit, since it has relieved some of the financial burden. But we are careful not to neglect each other.

Carrie: We enjoy sitting down and discussing things together. We shop together. And we plan our weekends so that we can work together in the door-to-door preaching work​—we especially enjoy that.

John: That’s our best time together.

Awake!: What about the housework?

Carrie: We share the load. Each of us has his own responsibilities. I do the cooking, and fortunately John’s not hard to please when it comes to meals. If I’m tired and just make a salad, he’s satisfied. Our daughter does the dishes, and John does things like mopping and waxing.

Awake!: Isn’t that hard to do after a day’s work?

John: Yes it is. But usually we get the work done. I know, though, that I wouldn’t have to do many of these domestic chores if Carrie stayed home all day.

Awake!: Do you think it’s a good idea for both the husband and the wife to work?

John: Not if you don’t have to. It’s not good for a couple to be so dependent upon the wife’s income. What if she gets sick or pregnant? And the extra pressure can be a real strain on a young couple. We therefore hope that one day we can change our present situation and both work part time. This way we’d be able to spend several hours each day in the Christian ministry.

‘My Wife Quit Her Job’

Awake!: Has your wife ever had to work?

Cleve: She worked about a year after we got married. Then she got pregnant and had to quit.

Awake!: Did she go back after the baby was born?

Cleve: It’s funny. After she stopped working, I found I didn’t really miss her money.

Jeane: [Laughing] Cleve never really saw much of it anyway! I used to buy shoes, dresses, whatever​—he didn’t mind. Of course, I always made sure our bills were paid. But if I wanted two or three dresses, I would just buy two or three dresses.

Awake!: Did you therefore have to work a lot of overtime?

Cleve: I remember one time I needed some money for car repairs. So I put in for some extra work. I was working all sorts of hours and making extra money. Yet in six months I wasn’t able to save one penny.

Awake!: What happened?

Jeane: It seemed like the more he made the more we’d spend.

Cleve: The money just disappeared. Besides, all that overtime was interfering with my Christian meetings. So after six months I quit the overtime, and in a couple of months I saved up enough money to fix the car anyway.

Awake!: Jeane, have you ever gone back to work?

Jeane: Yes. Last summer I decided I needed more money, and I got a job working at a day-care center. But I worked for only three months. I noticed a change in my little six-year-old girl. Cleve was working nights and taking care of her during the day. And then one night I had to work late.

Cleve: I had fallen asleep, and when I woke up I couldn’t find her. I called for her. No answer. I checked the windows, the doors, the hallways​—I looked under the beds—​I was in a panic! And then she came out of the closet laughing. I was too shaken up even to punish her.

Jeane: When I heard about this and thought about the way my baby was clinging to me, I began to realize that she was simply starving for my attention. So I decided it wasn’t worth it to work. What money I was making was being eaten up by taxes, lunches, and clothing expenses anyway. So I quit.

Awake!: But still, wasn’t quitting a financial sacrifice?

Jeane: Jehovah God has always taken care of us. And we feel that Jehovah has given parents the responsibility to care for their children. We could see that our baby simply wasn’t being taken care of and that I needed to be with her more. That was more important to us than some job.

Cleve: And again, that extra money really didn’t help us that much. We’re content with what we have. We’re not rich, but we’re not poor either. I see guys on my job who work seven days a week sometimes. I’ve tried it. It doesn’t work for me.

Jeane: I know times are bad, but we really believe the Bible’s promise in Matthew 6:33 that if you seek first the Kingdom, God will provide for you.

Awake!: So what do you now do with your time?

Jeane: For the last three months I’ve been devoting 60 hours a month to teaching people the Bible. It’s a real joy!

Awake!: So you think mothers should stay home?

Jeane: If possible. A grandmother just isn’t a substitute for a mother.

“Greater Love Has No Man Than This”

FRANÇOIS, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses living in Paris, France, is well acquainted with the words of Jesus Christ: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12, 13, Revised Standard Version) But little did François realize when he awoke on the morning of last September 22 that those words of Jesus would take on new meaning for him before the day was through.

That evening, as is his custom, he went to the meeting of the Paris Center Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. For the past 25 years the congregation has met in a rented hall situated on the fourth floor of an old office building. The building is located on an attractive square at the end of the famous Avenue de l’Opera, near the Louvre Museum.

Serving as an attendant, François stood near the entrance door ready to welcome any latecomers. The speaker was about halfway through his Bible discourse, when suddenly François smelled something burning. Then he observed a wisp of smoke coming under the entrance door. François opened the door and saw a green suitcase just outside​—with smoke coming out of it.

Grabbing the suitcase, François rushed down the three flights of stairs but tripped as he reached the foot of the stairway. The suitcase dropped, opened, and an orange plastic petrol can fell out. Quickly he closed the smoking suitcase and, carrying it in his arms, ran out of the building and rushed across the street, narrowly avoiding being struck by a passing car. He threw the suitcase into the water basin of the fountain in the square. Then he ran back to get the petrol can, fearing that it might be a bomb too, and rushed back to the fountain and also threw it into the water.

By this time two of the elders of the congregation, who had left the meeting to see what was going on, joined him at the fountain. Since smoke was still coming out of the partly submerged suitcase, one of the elders said that they should immediately phone the police. They had walked only a few steps from the fountain when the bomb exploded. The windows facing the square were shattered, and several people were injured slightly by the falling glass. François and the elders with him were spattered with mud and water from the fountain but were uninjured. The parapet of the fountain apparently screened them from the blast.

Upstairs in the Kingdom Hall across the street the windows were broken, and some in the audience were thrown to the floor by the blast. But not a single person in attendance was injured. Most of the flying glass was stopped by the heavy curtains.

The speaker for the evening encouraged those present to keep calm. After a fervent prayer of thanks had been offered to Jehovah for his protection, the meeting continued. Soon the police and the fire brigade were on the scene. However, they waited until the meeting was over before making their inquiry and before cleaning up the broken glass in the hall.

The officials congratulated the Witnesses for their composure, and particularly François for his brave act. They were unanimous in saying that those present probably owed their lives to his presence of mind and quick action. If the bomb had exploded on the wooden staircase outside the door and the can of gasoline had set the place on fire, they would have been trapped by the flames.

The bomb attack was widely reported by the French media. Even a Swiss newspaper reported on it, under the headline “Astounding Composure.” As for François, he asked for and received police protection from the TV and press reporters who wished to put him in the limelight. When questioned, he humbly stated: “I realized that our lives were in danger. So I thought it was better for me to die alone than for all of us to be killed.”

One of the policemen told him: “It’s a miracle that you are still alive. Your God must have protected you. You are a genuine witness of Jehovah.”

At the time of writing, the police were still trying to find out who was responsible for the bomb.

I Was a Rastafarian

MY HAIR was long and my eyes had a dirty reddish color from smoking marijuana. I had no use for such things as a hair comb, paper plates or cups, not even for the name given me by my parents! ‘But why reject such practical and useful things,’ you ask? Because I was a Rastafarian. Rastafarianism is a religious movement native to the island of Jamaica. Let me explain how I became a Rastafarian and what they believe.

It all started one day when I was sitting under a tree reading my Bible and smoking a ganja (marijuana) cigar. A Rastafarian approached and joined me in smoking. As we engaged in conversation, he stressed that there was a way for man to keep on living without dying. I wanted to hear more. So he shared basic Rastafarian beliefs with me.

Rastafarian Beliefs

Later I learned that there are different groups of Rastafarians, each with its own ideas. But basically they all agree on one thing​—that the late emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ, that he was the King of kings and Lord of lords and the conquering “Lion that is of the tribe of Judah.”​—Revelation 5:5.

My tutor associated with the Rastafarian group that called itself Creation Heights, so I began to associate with that group too. We viewed ourselves as part of creation​—just as the animals and plants are. Lightning, thunder, and other natural phenomena were viewed by us with reverence and awe​—as though God were speaking.

We refused to eat meat, fish, or anything of that sort, the idea being that these things die and rot, and so would those who eat them. On the other hand, vegetables, such as spinach, keep growing after their stalks are cut. So those who feed on such things have the potential for everlasting life, we thought. Only if a person committed some grievous sin would he experience death.

My group saw the white man as part of creation but inferior to the black man, who is ‘lord of creation.’ However, some Rastafarian groups deeply hate the white man due to the evils of the slave trade and the murder, rape, and ill-treatment of black slaves by whites. Such Rastafarians believe that the enslaving of blacks must be avenged by revolution and bloodshed, and eventually all black people must return to their homeland in Africa, from which they were taken without their consent.

The philosophy that I embraced was to me a simple one. There is no leader except the “divine” Haile Selassie, whose precoronation name was Ras Tafari (hence the name Rastafarian). My goal in life was to have the correct view of creation and the knowledge that I am God’s son. It was to use to the maximum only what God had created and to the minimum what man has produced. That is why I had no use for a hair comb​—it was made by man. So I allowed my hair to grow just as the trees grow leaves.

By the same reasoning, I did not use plates or cups​—cleaned-out gourds replaced them. Things made of paper were also disposed of, and this included the Bible. I believed that the things made by God were mine and were free, regardless of who possessed or controlled them. Thus, the crops of others really belonged to me, I thought. Those who claimed possession and placed a price on them had no right to do so.

A Language Barrier

My new way of life created a language barrier with non-Rastafarians. As far as we were concerned, even the names given us by our parents should be rejected as products of the industrialized world. Thus the personal pronoun “I” took on special meaning. God was the first “I” and each Rastafarian was also “I.” To differentiate one person from another, adjectives describing size, height, and so forth, were attached to “I.” Thus, because I was small in body size, I was called “small I.” Even the names of food items were changed by substituting the letter “i.” So “banana” became “ianana.”

The English language was changed by us in other ways too. For example, from our point of view one cannot “come back,” meaning return, as it is impossible to backtrack time. So “coming back” became “coming forward.” Words also were changed to conform to our thinking. “Oppressor” became “down-pressor,” because “up,” the sound of the first syllable, implies something good, elevating, whereas “down” would conform to the meaning of oppressor. Eventually, with this type of indoctrination, I could hardly speak even the simplest sentence in standard English, even though I had spent five years at Cornwall College in the town of Montego Bay!

This new philosophy put me at odds with my parents because I became disrespectful and cursed them in the foulest of language. My appearance and conduct were bringing reproach on the family. Finally, my father told me I had to leave home. So I packed a few belongings and left to pursue the way of life I felt sure would truly satisfy me.

Gathering the ‘Fruits of Creation’

Thereafter, I became a heavy smoker of marijuana. Under its influence I dismissed the cares of life. I would sit and meditate until I felt as if I were merged with the natural surroundings, becoming a part of creation. The desire to sit and meditate led to laziness. I gave up my job as a musician so as to spend more time in the hills to commune with God; there I shared a hut with two other Rastafarians.

As time passed, money began to run low. So we began to collect some of our “Father’s creation” from the people who, according to our beliefs, had improperly claimed and put a price on it. Thus at night we raided nearby farms. These raids were reported to the police, and we and the police became sworn enemies. We saw them as foes who wanted to chase us off “creation.” In the daytime they would surround our hut, shoot at us, beat us, and warn us to get out of town. But at night it was different​—we took the offensive to gather the ‘fruits of creation.’

On one occasion I was arrested and charged with kidnapping but was later freed. This emboldened me and made me more confident that I was a ‘son of God.’ However, I was arrested a second time on five different charges​—robbery with aggravation, common assault, possessing stolen goods, possession of ganja, and driving a defective vehicle.

This time it seemed that God had forgotten me, for I was severely beaten by the police and was put in jail for three months without bail. In time I was brought to trial. But many influential people who knew me pleaded for leniency on my behalf, and that saved me from prison. However, a couple of close Rastafarian companions were less fortunate. One was sentenced to four years at hard labor, and another was placed under restriction to remain in his home district at all times. Later, two other fellow Rastafarians were found dead, tied up in crocus bags; apparently they had got involved with foreign drug traffickers.

Questioning My Beliefs

These troubles caused me to wonder whether my beliefs were right. Added to this, some of my fellow Rastafarians came up with a new idea​—they were no longer sons of God, but each was God himself. I refused to accept that. This and other disagreements bred strife among us. So finally I decided to return home​—but I was still a Rastafarian in my thinking. I kept in touch, on and off, with fellow Rastafarians.

Now I desired to talk to someone, but non-Rastafarians could not understand my language. I recalled the comfort I once got from reading the Bible, so I began reading it again. As I read, I came across scriptures that set me to thinking. For example, in Psalm 1:1, I read: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly.” (King James Version) I saw my Rastafarian companions as “ungodly” because of their new claim to godship. Also, in 1 Corinthians 11:14, I read: “Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?” But I had long hair.

Gradually I began to question my beliefs still more. A desire began to grow in me to worship the true God, in the right way. I became convinced that Rastafarianism had failed to satisfy my needs: my need for a clear understanding of who the Creator is, my need for a sure basis for everlasting life, my need for a genuine brotherhood based on love and understanding, and my need to understand the reason for the inequities of the world’s social system.

Finding Satisfying Answers

However, I did not know where to turn for real satisfaction. Sometimes I would sit and cry for help, begging the Creator, whoever he was, to come to my assistance. Then one day two of Jehovah’s Witnesses called at my parents’ home and began talking about the Bible. I did not pay much attention until mention was made of Armageddon.

“I know all about that,” I told them. “And I’ll live to witness it.”

“Do you believe in being a witness for Jehovah?” one of them asked.

“Who is Jehovah?”

With that, he promptly turned to Psalm 83:18, which reads: “That people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah, you alone are the Most High over all the earth.”

For the first time the name Jehovah’s Witnesses had meaning to me. I had formerly dismissed the Witnesses as just another church society, all of which I had written off as false. But now I gladly accepted the book The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life from them. I started reading it immediately.

The chapter “Who Is God?” interested me very much. I can remember sitting and repeating the name “Jehovah” over and over again out loud, just like a baby learning a new word. In time, my need to know who the true God is was satisfied.

Then the chapter “Righteous Rule Makes Earth a Paradise” satisfied the need I felt for a righteous, equitable system of things on earth. How thankful I was to learn that soon the whole earth will become a paradise with a clean, unpolluted atmosphere! And I was thrilled at the prospect of living forever with no need to migrate to some isolated hills to get away from wicked civilization!​—Psalm 37:9-11, 29; Luke 23:43; Revelation 11:18.

Thus I came to the conclusion that the course I had chosen as a path to worship God was unsatisfactory. So I asked one of my relatives to cut my long hair, and I began to sever all ties with my Rastafarian associates. But this was not easy. They viewed me as a traitor and threatened to kill me. However, that did not deter me. I felt that nothing could stop me from studying the Bible, for I had found something that truly satisfied my needs.

After cleaning myself up I found my way to the local Kingdom Hall. Shortly afterward, a pioneer (a full-time preacher of Jehovah’s Witnesses) arranged to study the Bible with me regularly. He was very kind and patient. He had to be. At times he couldn’t even understand me because of my Rastafarian vocabulary!

Having found the truth that satisfied my spiritual needs, I felt obligated to share this good news with my parents. My mother responded favorably and was soon attending the meetings at the Kingdom Hall with me. My father, too, was quite impressed by the change in my appearance and personality. About six months after I began studying, I dedicated my life to serve Jehovah God and was baptized. I had the added joy of seeing my mother get baptized a few months after me.

When I think back and realize that two of my close Rastafarian companions were murdered and others are still in prison, I am thankful to Jehovah that today I serve him! Sharing the truth of God’s Word with others and associating with loving Christian brothers and sisters have indeed given me a happy, satisfying way of life now. In addition, I have the wonderful hope of everlasting life in a righteous New Order in which all mankind’s needs will be forever satisfied. (Psalm 145:16)​—Contributed.

[Blurb on page 15]

I believed that the things made by God were mine and were free, regardless of who possessed them

[Blurb on page 17]

I was thrilled at the prospect of living forever

Young People Ask . . .

How Can I Stop Watching So Much TV?

DO YOU turn on the TV the minute you get home? Does it stay on until bedtime​—or the wee hours of the morning? Do you sit mesmerized, watching programs that you don’t even like​—or that you know you shouldn’t watch? Do you watch, even when you have pressing matters to care for​—like homework?

If so, beware! For these are but a few of the telltale signs of what some have called TV addiction.a Not that TV can’t be beneficial. Says 12-year-old Debbie: “I watch TV because it entertains me, it teaches me and it relaxes me.” Nevertheless, too much of even a good thing can be harmful. And much of what appears on the tube is far from good. Escalating violence and sexual immorality have expanded the borders of TV’s ‘vast wasteland.’ Cable television is even bringing pornography into homes. How, then, can a youth become moderate in habits when it comes to watching TV?

Easier Said Than Done

“I find television almost irresistible. When the set is on, I cannot ignore it. I can’t turn it off. . . . As I reach out to turn off the set, the strength goes out of my arms. So I sit there for hours and hours.” An immature youth? No, this was the pitiful plight of a college English instructor! Consider also the ordeal of some youths who agreed to a “NO TV WEEK”:

“I’ve been having a state of depression . . . I’m going out of my mind.”​—12-year-old Susan.

“Today I cheated like crazy . . . I saw about twenty shows​—well, maybe not that many. I don’t think I’ll be able to kick the habit. I love TV too much.”​—13-year-old Linda.

“The pressure was on terribly. I kept on having the urge. The hardest time was nighttime between eight and ten o’clock.”​—11-year-old Louis.

True, amid all these ‘withdrawal pangs’ the youths found some very positive substitutes for TV. One girl recalled: “I talked to my mom. She became a much more interesting person in my view, because my attentions were not divided between her and the television set.” Another girl passed the time trying her hand at cooking. A young boy named Jason even discovered it could be fun to go “to the park instead of TV,” or to fish, read, or go to the beach.

Nevertheless, most of the youths celebrated the end of “NO TV WEEK” with a mad dash for the TV set. This is not to say that giving up TV is impossible. One family made the decision to sell their set and they report: “Not having a TV has been like a complete recovery from a long, burdensome illness.” Many, though, may not feel that it is necessary in their case to eliminate TV completely. For them the question is . . .

How Can I Control My Viewing?

Writer Linda Nielsen observes: “Self-control begins by learning to set goals.” To control your TV viewing you will therefore need to establish reasonable limits on your viewing time. The book Breaking the TV Habit suggests that you begin by analyzing your present habits.b Perhaps for a week you can keep track of what shows you watched and how much time you spent each day in front of the tube. Then take a hard look at what shows you’ve been watching. “Does not the ear itself test out words as the palate tastes food?” asks the Bible. (Job 12:11) So use discernment (along with the advice of your parents) and test out what shows are really worth seeing.

Some determine in advance what shows they will watch and turn on the TV only for those shows! Others take sterner measures, establishing no-television-during-the-school-week rules or one-hour-a-day limits. (Some educators recommend that ten hours a week be the limit on TV viewing for school-age youths.) The important thing is that you do set limits on your viewing. But what if a silent TV set proves just too much of a temptation? One family solved the problem this way: “We keep our set in the basement to have it out of the way . . . In the basement there’s less of a temptation to just flick it on when you enter the house. You have to make a special trip down there to watch something.” Keeping your set in the closet, or merely leaving it unplugged, may work just as effectively.

‘But what if I get bored?’ you might ask. Well, turning off the TV will free you to do many things that you cannot do when you’re glued to a TV. (See top of page 20.) Still, TV does have potent drawing power. It thus takes powerful motivation to pull away from it. In a previous article, we met a young man named Wyant who had such motivation. Let’s therefore continue our conversation with him.

‘I Kicked the TV Habit’

Awake!: You obviously were a real TV addict, weren’t you?

Wyant: Yes. When I was younger, I’d watch TV from the moment I got home till bedtime. But I started breaking away from TV after I entered high school. You see, some years ago my family started studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. But we did not get very far in our studies, and by the time I started going to high school, we had stopped going to Christian meetings entirely. So I didn’t quite fit in with the Witness kids in school. As for the other kids, the only things they were concerned about were sex and sports. I knew enough about the Bible, though, to know I couldn’t fit in with them either.

Awake!: So what did you do?

Wyant: It dawned on me that I had to go one way or the other. So I sought out the association of the Witness youths. As a result, I started to make spiritual progress. I began studying the Bible again and attending Christian meetings.

Awake!: But what did this have to do with your TV viewing?

Wyant: As my appreciation for spiritual things grew, I realized that many of the shows I used to watch really weren’t for Christians. Too, I felt the need to do more study of the Bible and to prepare for Christian meetings. That meant cutting out most of the TV viewing. It wasn’t easy, though. I used to love those Saturday-morning cartoons. But then a Christian brother in the congregation invited me to go with him in the door-to-door preaching work on Saturday morning. That broke my Saturday morning TV habit. So eventually I learned really to tone down my TV watching.

Awake!: What about today?

Wyant: Well, I still have the problem that if the TV is on, I cannot get anything done. So I leave it off most of the time. In fact, my TV broke down a few months ago and I haven’t bothered to get it fixed.

Did you notice what was behind Wyant’s remarkable changes? It was his “appreciation for spiritual things” that grew as he studied the Bible. Too, Wyant had the assistance of Christian friends who helped him see the value of having “plenty to do in the work of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58) He became so busy, he didn’t have time for unprofitable TV shows.

You, too, will find that drawing close to God and busying yourself in his work will help you overcome an addiction to TV. (James 4:8) True, limiting your TV viewing will mean missing some of your favorite programs. But why must you use TV ‘to the full,’ slavishly following every single program? (See 1 Corinthians 7:29, 31.) Better it is to “get tough” with yourself like the apostle Paul who once said: “I pummel my body and lead it as a slave.” (1 Corinthians 9:27) Isn’t this better than being a slave of a TV set?

[Footnotes]

[Box on page 20]

Things to Do When the TV Is Off

Talk with friends

Play records

Engage in outdoor sports

Play indoor games

Visit local places of interest (museums, zoos, aquariums, etc.)

Learn to play a musical instrument

Learn to cook

Learn to sew

Help with household chores

Write letters

Learn basic auto repair

[Picture on page 19]

When a television is placed in an inconvenient location, there is less temptation to turn it on

China Clay​—Lowly but Valuable

By Awake! correspondent in Great Britain

ASKED what china clay is used for, you would probably answer, ‘In the manufacture of chinaware, of course.’ And you would be right. But did you know that it is also used in making rubber and plastics, textiles and paints, pencils and wallpaper, electrical insulators and drainpipes, insecticides and fertilizers, and it is often found even in medical preparations that you buy from the pharmacist? What a versatile commodity! But where does it come from? How is it prepared? What are the qualities that make it suitable for such diverse uses?

Where and How Formed

China clay is also known as kaolin, which is derived from the Chinese words “kao” (high) and “ling” (ridge), meaning the hills of Kiangsi province where it was first found. For centuries the Chinese had been using china clay along with china stone to make their exquisite pottery. Marco Polo brought some pottery samples back to Venice in 1295 and called them porcellana​—porcelain.

It was not until the 18th century, however, that Western potters learned the Chinese secret of making porcelain. Deposits of china clay have since been found in many Western countries. Today, it is produced mainly in the United States, France, Czechoslovakia, Germany, the Soviet Union, and Cornwall in England.

How these deposits of china clay were formed is not really known. One theory says that when pressurized, hot, acidic gases or fluids from the core of the earth forced their way through the granite, they reduced the hard rock crystals to fine, white china clay and other minerals. Another theory has it that, after some erosion, acidic surface water soaked through the weathered granite over a long period of time, removing some constituents and leaving the soft, white china clay mixed with residual quartz and mica. In reality, it may well be that both processes played a part in producing china clay.

In a China-Clay Pit

Today, the world’s most productive china-clay pits are in Cornwall and Devon, England. About 2.5 million tons are extracted from the open pits every year, and three quarters of it is exported to some 60 countries around the world.

In the Cornish pits, china clay is extracted with water. High-powered water jets soak and break up the semi-decomposed granite, and the china clay is washed out along with coarser and heavier particles, sand, and mica. The sand and mica are separated and are used in making building blocks and precast concrete products. The china clay, still in suspension, is blended for consistency and refined. A series of drying steps remove the remaining water.

The Many Uses of China Clay

Strange as it may seem, china clay owes its versatility, not to any complex or rare quality, but to the very lack of such. Its chemical inertness, its basic purity, its fineness, and, not to be overlooked, its low cost, make this humble, lowly substance extremely useful.

For example, you probably are aware that paper is made from wood pulp and other fibres. But did you know that a great deal of paper is “filled” with china clay? Fibres by themselves are not packed densely enough to give the paper a good printing surface. So the space between the fibres is filled with fine, white china clay. This increases the opacity of the paper, prevents the print on the other side of the page from showing through, and results in a clean page with sharp reproduction.

In some popular magazines the paper could be about one-fifth clay. The glossy paper used in more expensive magazines is indebted even more to this earthy substance. The gloss is actually china clay mixed with some type of adhesive and applied to the surface of the sheet.

Since china clay is often far cheaper than wood pulp, adding it to the fibres may lower the cost of the paper substantially. No wonder that the paper industry is actually the largest user of china clay today.

On the other hand, many people may think that chinaware and porcelain are made of china clay exclusively. Actually, they contain perhaps only from 10 to 60 percent china clay. The balance is made up of sand, flint, quartz, and so on. The purpose of the clay is mainly to allow the article to be molded, or formed, and to impart whiteness when fired.

Did you know that china clay may not only be under your feet in the earth but also in those rubber soles or boots that you rely on to keep your feet dry? Added to natural or synthetic rubber, china clay not only brings down the cost but also increases the mechanical strength and resistance to abrasion. The result is cheaper and more durable footwear. Similarly, china clay is used in paints as an extender. Its fineness makes the paint spread easily and smoothly, and it helps to hold the colour pigments in suspension by preventing them from settling quickly to the bottom.

You may be surprised at our earlier remark about china clay in medicine. Yes, because it is completely inert and extremely fine, it is useful when simply stirred into water or used as a base or vehicle for other active ingredients in pills or powders. It is even used in some toothpastes, soaps, and cosmetics.

We have only touched on some of the main uses of this humble product. Have you been surprised at its versatility? Who would think that something so lowly and so abundant would turn out to be so useful! Here we have further evidence of a loving Creator who made provision for the human family, yes, equipped the earth with everything we need.

How Many Lives Have You Lived?

By “Awake!” correspondent in India

PULLING aside his cotton garment, the Indian householder exposed a leg very badly disfigured in an advanced stage of elephantiasis. He then pointed to his leg, saying: “This is my karma from my previous life.”

By those words, the man revealed the popular belief among Hindus that their present life is a mere link in a long succession of rebirths. They believe that their present lot in life is the harvest of what they sowed in previous lives and that they are now sowing what they will reap in a future rebirth.

A Widespread Belief

The belief in reincarnation, however, is by no means limited to India. It exists “in almost all regions of the world,” wrote Hindu leader S. Radhakrishnan. Throughout the world​—in Africa, Asia, North and South America, islands of the Pacific, and Europe—​people believe that human souls migrate into sharks, alligators, tigers, bear cats, weasels, mice, and even insects such as wasps and dung beetles! Neither is reincarnation limited to animal forms. Barren women in Africa and India invoke trees believed to be inhabited by souls of the dead. Similar customs also existed in ancient Europe.

But how did belief in reincarnation, or transmigration of the soul, get started? Why do people believe in it? And how has this teaching affected people’s lives?

Identifying the Source

If the human soul were to migrate from one life form to another, it would need to be deathless. Thus, the theory of reincarnation is based on the doctrine of the immortality of the soul, and its origin must be traced only to those peoples or nations that held such a belief. On this basis, some think that it originated in ancient Egypt. Others, however, hold that it got started in old Babylonia, where history’s first mystery religion began. To create prestige for its dubious religion, the Babylonian priesthood advanced the doctrine of transmigration of the soul. They could thus claim that their religious heroes were reincarnations of notable, though long dead, ancestors.

It was in India, however, that the belief came to full flower. The Hindu gurus were grappling with the universal problems of evil and of suffering among humans. ‘How can these be harmonized with the concept of a righteous Creator?’ they would ask. They tried to resolve the conflict between God’s righteousness with the unforeseen calamities and inequalities in the world. The result was their “law of karma”​—the law of cause and effect. They worked out a detailed ‘balance sheet’ whereby merits and demerits in one life are rewarded or punished in the next.

“Karma” simply means “action.” A Hindu is said to have “good karma” if he conforms to social and religious norms, or “bad karma” if he does not. His action, or “karma,” would determine his future in each successive rebirth. The ultimate goal, however, is to be liberated from this cycle of transmigration and be united with the Universal Spirit. This, it is believed, is achieved by striving for socially acceptable behavior and special Hindu knowledge.

Fruitage of Reincarnation

The philosophy of life of one who believes in reincarnation is typified by the observation of Indian philosopher S. N. Dasgupta: “An action in this life cannot ordinarily be expected to ward off any of the evils of this life which one is predestined to undergo in accordance with the karma of a previous birth.” The result is a fatalistic outlook on life in general and on social evils and injustices in particular.

The law of karma has also helped to preserve the caste system of Hindu society. How so? Since this belief teaches that one’s present station in life is the result of one’s karma, or action, in previous existences, it is considered unchangeable in the present life. But Swami Nikhilananda explains: “By discharging the duties determined by his caste, a man becomes qualified for birth in a higher caste in a future life.” Therefore an individual belonging to a lower caste is fearful of rebelling against the rules and customs of his caste. Additionally, there is fear of punishment and ostracism, since anyone breaking or transgressing any of the rules and customs of his social class may be punished or even be disowned by his kinsmen. Due to such fears, millions are locked into the poverty-stricken class of “untouchables,” or outcasts, with no civil rights or privileges. While efforts of modern legislators have met with some success in limiting mistreatment of the so-called untouchables, deeply entrenched religious customs die hard in such a tradition-bound society.

Reincarnation​—Is It Credible?

But why are there suffering and inequalities among humans? Is reincarnation the only explanation or even a credible one? Consider the man with elephantiasis mentioned at the beginning. Because he had no knowledge of the cause of this disease, he thought that his suffering was due to his karma. But if he did not happen to live in an area infested with mosquitoes that can infect people with elephantiasis, or if he knew something about the mosquitoes and had taken preventive measures, would he not have been spared the dreadful disease? So his suffering is due, not to his karma, but to “time and unforeseen occurrence.”​—Ecclesiastes 9:11.

In recent times Mohandas Gandhi and other leaders tried to counter the effects of the karma-rebirth idea by declaring: “Untouchability is a crime against God and man.” The efforts of Gandhi and other like-minded persons brought a measure of improvement to the lives of the “untouchables.” Does this not show that life as an “untouchable” is not due to one’s karma and thus unchangeable? Really, it shows that such an oppressive way of life is the result of an inherited social system that can be improved or even changed. Thus, the fate of a baby “untouchable” is really man-made, not divinely ordained.

What about the greed and corruption in the commercial world? An unscrupulous businessman chooses to bribe or to blackmail. But does he have to do it? Is not his lawlessness the result of wrong use of his free will? So the idea of “karma-rebirth” is not needed to explain why humans suffer. Reasoning people discern that accidents, heredity, and misuse of free will are logical causes of many of life’s evils and inequalities.​—Romans 5:12; Ecclesiastes 7:29.

Reincarnation​—Is It True?

The doctrine of reincarnation has as its foundation the belief in the immortality of the soul. If earthly souls are not immortal, then the rebirth theory drops in ruins. But where can we turn for accurate knowledge on this issue? While nearly all the major religious writings teach the immortality of the soul in one form or another, the Bible does not.

Regarding what the human soul is, the Bible says: “Jehovah God proceeded to form the man out of dust from the ground and to blow into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man came to be a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7) Thus man​—the living, breathing being—​is a soul. He does not have one, separate and distinct within him, ready to leave the body at death.

As to what happens at death, Genesis 3:19 tells us: “In the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are and to dust you will return.” Hence, at death humans “return,” not to a new life or a rebirth, but “to dust.” The Bible clearly teaches that the human soul dies. It does not transmigrate. “The soul that is sinning​—it itself will die,” the Bible emphatically states.​—Ezekiel 18:4, 20.

Hope for the Dead

Since the soul dies, what hope is there for the dead? Rather than leaving sinful humans to work out their own destiny by undergoing countless rebirths, filled with suffering and pain, the Bible answers: “There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.”​—Acts 24:15.

In his infinite wisdom and love, the Creator remembers the life pattern of dead ones. He does not do this as a basis to judge and punish them, as the law of karma would have us believe. Rather, he does so in order to resurrect people, bringing them back from the dead with the same personalities and characteristics that they had before they died. Those who are resurrected to life on earth will then be judged on the basis of their life course after their resurrection. Then, as humans, they will have the prospect of life again​—in a restored earthly paradise, concerning which the Bible assures us: “Death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”​—Revelation 21:4.

[Blurb on page 24]

Gandhi declared: “Untouchability is a crime against God and man”

[Picture on page 23]

What did this man do to deserve this?

Electricity​—A Useful Friend That Demands Respect

ELECTRICITY is virtually indispensable to our modern civilization. Nearly everyone makes some use of electricity every day. But due to its potential danger, it demands respect. Treated properly, electricity is an extremely useful friend. Ignore its properties, and the results can be shocking, even fatal!

In your home there are two types of electricity. The most common type comes from a power station’s generator and reaches your house by means of wires. The other type you use in your house is produced by batteries.

Generated Electricity

First, let’s talk about the generated electricity. The wires in your house carry alternating current, usually 110-120 volts or 220-250 volts or both. ‘For what reason should I care about that?’ you may ask. For one, your home appliances are designed to work only at a specific voltage, or pressure. Appliances generally have labels indicating their operating voltage. You must match the voltage of your appliance to that of the electrical outlets. If the voltage does not match, your appliance will be damaged or will not operate properly.

Also, by knowing the voltage of your appliance, you may be able to calculate the amount of current it uses in terms of amperes. Often the label on your appliance lists not only the volts but also the watts, or power, used. Some more recent appliances use the term “volt-amps” instead of watts. To calculate the amount of amperage your appliance requires, divide the watts, or volt-amps, by the volts. For example: AMPERES = WATTS, or VOLT-AMPS, divided by VOLTS.

Safety Hints

‘Why is this information useful?’ you wonder. It is because each electrical wire in your house is designed to carry a maximum number of amperes of electricity safely. So if you decide to plug in your electric toaster and electric iron in the same outlet and at the same time, you may overload the wires. The fuse or circuit breaker in your fuse box will then abruptly stop the electricity flowing to those appliances until you correct the problem. Or much worse, if you have the wrong kind of fuse and it fails to stop the flow of electricity, the wires could become so hot that a fire could start in the walls of your house.

‘How can I know the safe amount of amperes, or current?’ you next ask. Look in your fuse box. Each fuse or circuit breaker should indicate how many amperes can safely flow through the wires to each area of your house.

Extension cords can be helpful and are often used. With some cords you can plug in as many as four items. Is it always wise to do this? No, for the same reason given for not plugging in a toaster and an iron in the same wall outlet. Too many amperes of current could be drawn, with bad results. And it is not wise to put an extension cord under a carpet where there is traffic. Why? Because in time a wire in the extension cord may get broken, causing a short circuit. Short circuits can ignite fires.

Electricity takes the path of least resistance. Water is a conductor, and so are you. So beware of standing in a wet bathtub while at the same time handling any appliance or radio that is plugged into your house current. Caution should also be exercised whenever you operate power tools, such as an electric saw or a lawn mower, out of doors. The ground connection, the third pin on the power plug, should never be cut off or otherwise defeated.

Batteries

Batteries are the other source of electricity in your house. Most likely you have small ones in your camera, watch, or wall clock. Your portable radio and tape recorder also have them; so does your flashlight. If you wish to listen to music while in the bathtub, you can safely turn on a radio that is operating solely on batteries.

It is not recommended to keep dead batteries in equipment, for this could cause damage. Some batteries are rechargeable, but be careful. Some manufacturers state that their batteries may explode if recharged.

Electricity is your friend. Enjoy its many benefits, but respect it.

[Box on page 26]

Volts, Watts, Amperes

A volt is the unit of electromotive force that moves current through a wire. Simplified, voltage indicates pressure.

An ampere is the unit of electrical current; it is the amount of current flowing in a circuit. Simplified, amperes indicate rate of flow.

A watt is the unit of electrical power, the rate at which work is accomplished. Simplified, watts express the amount of power consumed by any electrical device.

To illustrate: The water used to water a garden enters the house system under pressure (voltage) from the mains. The water flows through the hose at the rate of so many gallons a minute (amperes). The amount of power (watts) used is the pressure (voltage) multiplied by the rate of flow (amperes).

[Box/​Picture on page 27]

Plug Repair​—How to Do It

Appliance plugs may need repair or replacement due to a broken wire. Plugs vary in design in different parts of the world, but if the plug is like the one illustrated, it is done this way:

● Push wires through plug.

● Carefully strip off about one-half inch of wire insulation with a knife.

● Tightly twist together the loose wire strands of each wire.

● Tie wires in an underwriters knot. (See illustration.) This prevents strain on wires when pulling plug from outlet.

● Pull cord until knot sits in base of plug.

● Wrap exposed end of wires around screws beneath screw heads in the same direction that screws will tighten. Ground wire should be attached to third screw.

● Tighten screws firmly into screw terminals.

From Our Readers

Getting a Job

I followed your suggestion in the article “How to Cope With Unemployment.” (July 22, 1984) Being the mother of a toddler, I needed a job that didn’t take up too much time and that was close to home. After reading your article I decided to do general housekeeping in other people’s homes. I advertised in local grocery stores. I now have three housecleaning jobs that are very close to home. Thanks so much for the fine suggestion.

P. S., Illinois

“Young People Ask”

Thank you for the articles “Young People Ask.” Does that sound strange coming from a 47-year-old woman? I had a very troubled childhood and teen years, and I didn’t understand why I felt as I did until you published these articles.

N. W., Texas

Your timely articles “Young People Ask” have been a great help to me as parent of a 17-year-old son. I know what I require of him but have difficulty in articulating my reasons to him. Your articles give me the needed words to guide him during these troublesome years. Though the articles are directed to the young folks, we mature ones are also helped. What I would give to have had this counsel when I was 17!

S. S., Alabama

Respect for the Handicapped

I was really impressed with the article “Don’t See the Wheelchair​—See Me!” (June 8, 1984) I have a friend who is confined to a wheelchair. Your article showed me the importance of treating everyone who has a handicap with respect and talking directly to them. Thank you for the advice.

L. L., Washington

College or Trade Education

In your article “Go to College . . . or Learn a Trade?” (October 22, 1984) I sense the misimpression that you can only learn white-collar professions in college. This is not true. Any kind of blue-collar trade you can think of has to be learned in a school. In many college programs the students are taught anything from fast-food cooking to welding or electronics. It is a lot cheaper to attend these programs than to go to a trade school. College can be an inexpensive tool to learn a skill or a trade.

P. M., California

The article in question did not particularly criticize a college education, but it emphasized that there can be many advantages to learning a trade rather than being prepared for a white-collar profession. While some college-certificate programs may provide good training in various trades, it seems that often the main thrust of college or university teaching programs, as well as the college environment, tend to work against good spiritual goals as outlined in the Bible, such as increasing one’s faith in God and his purposes and maintaining fine, chaste conduct. The decision as to whether to get a college education or not is a personal one, but we believe it advisable to warn of the potential dangers involved.​—ED.

Watching the World

Backwoods Crop

● What was once known as a mom-and-pop enterprise has become a $10-billion-a-year business largely run by ex-convicts and hard-core individuals. What is it? The growing of marijuana, reports The New York Times. Areas leading in its production are northern California, Hawaii, Oregon, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Washington, and Idaho. The largest growers use wilderness areas, mostly public lands, to cultivate an extraordinarily potent marijuana hybrid​—worth $2,000 to $3,500 per plant—​known as sinsemilla. Growers in northern California have shot hikers and hunters who have walked unsuspectingly through their patches and have maimed some with booby traps. “The killing and maiming of people occurs almost every day in the county,” said The Ukiah Daily Journal, one of the region’s largest newspapers. Regarding the growers, John Rooney, director of the Idaho Department of Law Enforcement, says, “These aren’t hippie types anymore, but hard-core people who treat it as a business, and they’re serious and very protective of their investment.”

Firewood Scarcity

● “Firewood, the cooking and heating fuel of the poor, is in short supply and getting scarcer in many regions,” says the magazine Science in summarizing a recent report by Earthscan, part of the London-based International Institute for Environment and Development. The scarcity​—first called to public attention a decade ago—​continues despite the efforts of many Third World countries and aid agencies to promote tree planting and other schemes. The projected demand indicates “a need from anywhere from a fivefold to, in some parts of Africa, a 20-fold or greater increase in the area planted” with trees. “For those who are really poor,” concludes Earthscan, “the depletion of formerly free firewood supplies means that fuel joins food, water, and housing on the list of basic needs that are satisfied inadequately and with great trouble.”

Space Race

● Last November, two days after the space shuttle Discovery blasted into space to recover two errant satellites, a less-heralded Ariane V 11 rocket rose from the jungles of French Guiana and hoisted two telecommunications satellites into orbit​—one of them for an American company. Time magazine called the mission “ominously successful.” Why? Because this and other successful missions have made the Ariane space rocket​—a product of the European Space Agency—​the space shuttle’s chief competitor for profits in space. What makes Ariane so attractive is its higher rate of successful satellite launchings compared to those of the shuttles. Also, the price for launching satellites with Ariane rockets is competitive, a matter of significance, especially since shuttle fees for launching satellites are scheduled to increase by 80 percent next October.

Big-City Prostitution

● “Large groups of prostitutes once strolled a 5 1/2-mile (9-km) strip of Hollywood’s Sunset Boulevard,” reports The New York Times. “But on a recent Friday a police patrol sighted just three, down from about 80” eight months previously. Arrests dropped from 30 or 40 a night to about 7. What has happened? Besides an efficient police detail patrolling the streets, the use of computers has thwarted attempts by prostitutes to use aliases. The computers match physical descriptions, criminal histories, aliases, and fingerprints. Identifying repeat offenders has resulted in longer jail sentences.

● In New York City, police made 17,000 arrests for prostitution last year, mostly on the street. But only 5 percent of the arrests resulted in jail sentences. Almost half of the prostitutes were released within hours, and the rest were fined. According to the report, prostitution is “flourishing indoors almost without impediment.” Some prostitutes work out of brothels hidden behind the doors of luxury apartments. Others work for escort services or for themselves through referrals. They advertise in sex tabloids, on late-night cable television, and in the telephone directory under escort services.

● In Melbourne, even though prostitution occurs in massage parlors that have been issued a permit to operate in business and industrial districts, procuring a prostitute on the street is still illegal. In West Germany, brothels and street soliciting are legal in “controlled zones.” In Hamburg, Amsterdam, and Zurich thousands of tourists are attracted to red-light zones each year. Says the owner of a very popular brothel, “As long as the world is around, there will be prostitution.”

Boom of Illegitimate Babies

● “More than one of every three babies born in New York City [in 1983] were born out of wedlock,” reports The New York Times. That ratio is triple what it was 20 years ago. This worries city planners, says the report, “not for moral reasons,” but because they believe that these children “are more likely to lead lives of poverty and to have a harder time educating themselves, finding work and assuming adult responsibilities.” The dramatic increase in immorality, experts say, is due to a higher percentage of low-income families living in New York City and to a more tolerant attitude among people in general toward having out-of-wedlock children. Sociologist Kenneth B. Clark cites another reason. “Young people have practically nothing else to do,” he said. “They’re unemployed. There are very few pleasures in life for them besides sex and drugs.”

Resurrected Rumor

● “In 1982, the rumor got its first big boost from Protestant fundamentalists,” says The Wall Street Journal. “This time, the largest single source group . . . has been Roman Catholic nuns and priests.” What is the rumor? That the president of Procter & Gamble, the nation’s largest manufacturer of household products, declared himself a Satan worshiper and that the company’s “man in the moon” logo contains the sign of Satan. Two years ago, P&G went to great lengths publicizing denials, tracing sources, arranging for testimonials from church leaders, and filing six lawsuits before the story died. But last September the story gained new life. A nun in western Pennsylvania received in her mailbox a leaflet containing the story​—sender unknown—​and sent out copies to others. As a result, in October 1984 alone, P&G received over 5,000 inquiries in its offices. When told that the rumor was untrue, many who spread it were very apologetic. “But some who believe the rumor are loath to give it up​—whatever the evidence,” says the report.

Canine CPR

● “Your dog stumbles from his feeding dish and faints dead away. What are you going to do?” poses The Wall Street Journal. Resuscitate him, says Dr. Gabor Vajda, a Phoenix, Arizona, veterinarian who has trained some 200 pet owners and veterinarians in “canine CPR” (canine cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Clients are taught how to breathe life back into their dogs by blowing short breaths into their nostrils. Furthermore, an educational-equipment manufacturer has produced a canine version of the Resusci-Annie doll​—used in some CPR courses—​called Resusci-Dog. It is complete with “fur, wiring and all kinds of stuff,” says a company representative. In regard to clearing an animal’s air passage, Dr. Vajda says, “Never use your fingers to dislodge food.” Dogs bite.

European AIDS

● “AIDS cases have increased nearly 100% in 8 months” in ten European countries that regularly provide data, reports the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, up from 215 cases reported in 1983 through October to 421 cases through July 15, 1984. “Of the patients from the 10 European countries, 87.4% were male homosexuals, 3.4%, hemophilia patients, and 1.4%, drug abusers,” says the report. But in almost all patients from the Caribbean and Africa that were observed in Europe, no known risk factors could be detected.

‘Quake-Proofed’ Town

● The town of Ech-Cheliff (formerly El Asnam), Algeria, has been destroyed by earthquakes at least six times. Its earliest destruction, according to legend, was in the fifth century. Twice it was destroyed in the 19th century. The same town was destroyed again in 1936, then in 1954​—leaving 470,000 of its inhabitants homeless. The most recent quake, which occurred in 1980, left 3,000 dead​—largely due to the collapse of multistory concrete apartment buildings put up after the 1954 quake. This time the town has been rebuilt using 23,000 single-story prefabricated homes built on shallow foundations. “If the earth moves again,” says Rachid Artouf, the chief administrative officer at Ech-Cheliff, “the houses will just bounce around like metal boxes.” He is confident that this will minimize casualties.

Dangerous Fakes

● Not only has the production of counterfeit products become a $19-billion-a-year business, says the U.S. Customs Service​—up from $4.5 billion four years ago—​but a higher percentage of today’s counterfeit products are potentially deadly. “It’s one thing to talk about counterfeit [name brand] shirts, they don’t result in harm to your body,” says James Bikoff, president of the International Anticounterfeiting Coalition in San Francisco. “The same doesn’t go for counterfeit brake linings, hospital heart pumps and drugs.” In England a series of deaths was caused by counterfeit brake shoes that failed. Also, counterfeit drugs have been responsible for at least 12 deaths. The American Medical Association has issued a warning about counterfeit tranquilizers and amphetamines that are substandard.

Noncomic Comics

● “The new adult comic books are anything but comic,” says the Toronto Star. “With nudity and explicit violence dominating the art work and storylines that owe more to de Sade than Disney, they’re breaking all the old taboos and raising the spectre of censorship.” Often printed in striking color on high-quality paper and selling for an average of $2 a copy, these comics are meant for readers in their late teens and in their 20’s. But young children purchase them too. One Toronto storeowner, concerned about the possibility of authorities censoring these magazines, refuses to stock some of these titles. He gave as his reason “the amount of violence and blood and ripping and tearing and disregard for humanity” that they contain.

“Catch-All Description”

● “PMS [premenstrual syndrome] has become a catch-all description for the mood disturbances [of many women] . . . prior to the onset of menstruation.” That is how the Globe and Mail of Toronto, Canada, summarizes one of the points made by Dr. Anthony Clare, a professor of psychological medicine, at a recent PMS symposium in Toronto. “The number of women with orthodox PMS, with symptoms of such severity that require medical treatment,” asserted the doctor, “is about . . . 5 per cent.” He added that many women who complain of PMS are actually suffering from stress, role conflicts, or marital problems that may become aggravated by, or attributed to, the menstrual cycle. Though PMS was first identified in 1931, Dr. Clare says its cause “is as cloudy and elusive as ever.”

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