August 8

Page Two

Humans have been experimenting with governments for many centuries. But all too often, after weighing these governments in the balances, what do we find? Is there any reason for being optimistic that better government is on the way? In searching for reliable answers, let us turn a spotlight on government.

[Picture Credit Line on page 5]

Cover (Napoleon): Painting after David, Musée national du château de Versailles et de Trianon, France.

Human Rule Weighed in the Balances

Part 1a​—Turning a Spotlight on Government

DRAMATIC political changes in Europe during 1989 turned the world spotlight on the subject of government in a unique way. A newsmagazine noted that “1989 will be remembered not as the year that Eastern Europe changed but as the year that Eastern Europe as we have known it for four decades ended.”

Going even further, Francis Fukuyama of the U.S. State Department’s policy-planning staff recently wrote that “what we may be witnessing is not just the end of the cold war, or the passing of a particular period of postwar history, but the end of history as such: that is, the end point of mankind’s ideological evolution.”

This view, while highly controversial, nevertheless focuses our attention on some very important questions. For example, what can be said for the centuries of human rule that lie behind us? Has mankind reached that point in time where he can speak about “the end of history as such”? Just what does the future hold for governments? And what effect will these future events have upon us as individuals?

How People Feel About Government

Millions of people are clearly disillusioned with their political leaders. This is true not just of those living in Europe but, to varying degrees, of citizens everywhere. Let us look, for example, at the countries of Latin America.

A noted German trade journal described the political situation there at the end of 1988 as “little more than a heap of ruins.” Going into specifics, it said: “Argentina’s . . . economy is coming apart at the seams. Brazil threatens to become ungovernable. Peru is at the end of its tether. Uruguay is muddling through. Ecuador is trying to size up what is undeniably an emergency situation. Colombia and Venezuela . . . are maintaining a fragile democratic tradition. In Mexico the stability of a ruling party that has governed unchallenged for 50 years . . . is disintegrating for all to see. The 1980s are already being dismissed as a ‘lost decade.’”

In some places the popularity of politicians has dropped to an all-time low. When the people of Austria were asked to rank 21 occupations in order of prestige, they listed politicians in 19th place. Public opinion polls in the Federal Republic of Germany reveal that 62 percent of its citizens who were questioned admit to having little confidence in politicians.

Professor Reinhold Bergler, director of the Institute of Psychology at the University of Bonn, warns that “young people are on the verge of turning their backs on the state, politics and politicians.” He says that 46 percent of these young people view politicians as persons who “shout their mouths off,” and 44 percent view them as being corruptible.

An American polltaker, writing in the 1970’s, noted: “There is a belief that the (political) process is so unresponsive and dishonest that it cannot be used by voters for their purposes.” Thus, the number of persons in the United States who feel that politicians “don’t really care what happens to you” has steadily risen from 29 percent in 1966 to 58 percent in the 1980’s. The German newspaper Stuttgarter Nachrichten justifies such an evaluation, saying: “Too many politicians have first their own interests in mind and then, just possibly, those of their voters.”

Understandably, political apathy is growing. In 1980 only 53 percent of U.S. citizens eligible to vote went to the polls. This was reportedly the fifth voting decline in a row. By 1988 the number of voters had dropped to only 50 percent.

Politicians recognize the problem. A well-known world leader confessed: “There’s a lot of hypocrisy . . . in political life.” Explaining why, he said: “It’s necessary in order to get into office and in order to retain office.” The speaker? Former U.S. president Richard Nixon. In view of the scandals that shortened his presidency, few persons will doubt that he knew what he was talking about.

Political inadequacies make honest people wonder whether good government is even possible. Might we not be better off without any government at all? Could ‘no government’ perhaps be the answer?

[Box on page 4]

“When there is no skillful direction, the people fall.”​—Proverbs 11:14

Human Rule Weighed in the Balances

Part 1b​—Do We Really Need Government?

ANARCHY: the absence of any form of political authority, resulting in a society of individuals without government, who claim total freedom for themselves.

GREEK philosopher Aristotle called all forms of human government inherently unstable and transitional. He claimed, according to one writer, that “the stability of all regimes is corrupted by the corrosive power of time.”

In view of such conditions, it is not surprising that some people have advocated having no government at all, or at least as little government as possible. But advocating ‘no government’ is in reality calling for anarchy, a term taken from a Greek word meaning “having no ruler.”

The word “anarchy” was used in 1840, exactly 150 years ago, by Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, a French political writer. But the philosophy of anarchism was clearly outlined 200 years earlier by Englishman Gerrard Winstanley. As explained in The New Encyclopædia Britannica, “Winstanley laid down what later became basic principles among the anarchists: that power corrupts; that property is incompatible with freedom; that authority and property are between them the begetters of crime; and that only in a society without rulers, where work and its products are shared, can men be free and happy, acting not according to laws imposed from above but according to their consciences.”

But does not experience teach us that every group needs a framework within which to operate? “From earliest times,” notes The World Book Encyclopedia, “some kind of government has been a vital part of every society.” It explains that “every group of people​—from a family to a nation—​has rules of conduct to govern the lives of its members.” How else could it accomplish its purposes for the benefit of all its members?

Most people will therefore readily accept the notion that certain institutions have a legitimate right to exercise authority and to make decisions for the common good. With no government to make decisions for the community, every individual would be left to follow the dictates of his own conscience, as Winstanley suggested. Would this promote unity? Or is it not more likely that each individual would tend to pursue his own interests, often to the detriment of the equally legitimate rights of others?

Experiments in anarchy have failed to improve the lot of mankind. Efforts of 20th-century terrorists to destabilize society, to destroy what they perceive to be destroying them, have fared no better.

Simply stated, having ‘no government’ invites chaos. The question is therefore not ‘government or no government?’ but, rather, ‘what kind of government for the best results?’

The Origin of Human Rule

God-rule was the original pattern set for man in the garden of Eden over six thousand years ago. The Creator stressed mankind’s dependency upon him and upon his direction of things in harmony with a principle later expressed in the Bible: “It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.” (Jeremiah 10:23) Or as a Chinese proverb asserts: “Without the assistance of Heaven man cannot walk an inch.”

The first human pair concluded otherwise. They chose to walk “without the assistance of Heaven” and were subsequently forced to walk their way out of the Paradise that God had given them. Later, as the human family grew, the need for rules of government to ensure peace and order within this arrangement also grew. Once God-rule had been rejected, human rule, of a necessity, moved in to fill the vacuum.​—Genesis 3:1-5.

All Alike​—Yet Different

From this inauspicious beginning, human governments have taken many forms. Whether they are very simple or extremely complex, all of them have certain similarities. Here are a few:

Governments care for the needs of their subjects. A government that fails to do this loses its legitimacy.

Governments set out a code of conduct, which if not adhered to by their subjects, results in punishment. This code is composed of rules and laws, as well as of traditions developed over the centuries. Citizens for the most part obey the code of conduct either because they discern the benefits derived from doing so, because they feel ‘it is the thing to do,’ because they are subjected to peer pressure, or simply because they will be punished if they do not.

Governments perform legislative, executive, and judicial services by means of some type of organizational setup. Laws are made, justice is administered, and policies are implemented.

Governments maintain strong economic ties to the world of commerce.

Governments also often ally themselves with some form of religion, some more closely than others. They do this to grant their rule a certain legitimacy​—‘the blessing of heaven’—​that it otherwise would not have.

Of course, governments also differ. Political scientists classify and categorize them in a number of ways. “There is, for example,” writes The New Encyclopædia Britannica, “the classical distinction between governments in terms of the number of rulers​—government by one man (monarchy or tyranny), government by the few (aristocracy or oligarchy), and government by the many (democracy).”

Sometimes governments are classified in terms of their key institutions (parliamentarism, cabinet government), according to their basic principles of political authority (traditional, charismatic), according to their economic structure, or in terms of their use or abuse of power. “Although none is comprehensive,” notes this reference work, “each of these principles of analysis has some validity.”

But regardless of how we classify them, the vital thing to remember is that the various forms of human rule​—without exception—​are now being weighed in the balances. This will have far-reaching consequences for all of us.

[Box on page 6]

Writing of the governmental authorities that rule down to this present time, the apostle Paul wrote: “Let every soul be in subjection to the superior authorities.” (Romans 13:1, 7) Thus, Christians who follow the Bible’s guidance conscientiously obey all laws of the land in which they live, unless called upon to break God’s laws, which are supreme.

[Picture on page 7]

Government is necessary​—even as is traffic control—​to prevent chaos

Human Rule Weighed in the Balances

Part 1c​—Human Rule Weighed in the Balances—​Why?

“Awake!” is pleased to announce a series of articles on “Human Rule Weighed in the Balances”

NO ONE can deny the influence that governments​—to confine our discussion to politics—​have had on world history and upon each of us individually. The language you speak, the standard of living you pursue, the type of work you do, the social system you enjoy, possibly even the religion you profess, have been at least partially dictated to you by the whims of political change.

Since government is necessary, who of us does not desire to live under a form of government that will satisfy our needs in the best possible way? But what kind of government is the best? And do we even have any choice in the matter of rulership?

Awake! is pleased to announce a series of articles on “Human Rule Weighed in the Balances.” These will continue in future issues of this magazine. During the remainder of 1990, it will deal with the historical background of monarchies, aristocracies, oligarchies, and plutocracies. It will delve into the broad spectrum of democracies, along with the many different kinds of republics. It will put the spotlight on autocracies, dictatorships, and totalitarian governments such as Fascism and Nazism of World War II vintage. Socialism and Communism will also be considered.

The intricacies of human rule are many and complex, so not all there is to know about government can be presented. The articles are not designed to be a comprehensive handbook on politics. They will not endorse or promote the interests of human governments in general or any one form in particular. Any comparisons between various forms will not be for the purpose of advocating one above the other. Awake! will closely adhere to its guidelines set out on page 5, where we read: “It probes beneath the surface and points to the real meaning behind current events, yet it always stays politically neutral.”

The articles “Human Rule Weighed in the Balances” are designed to be part of that process of probing “beneath the surface.” They will point to “the real meaning behind current events,” events that indicate that human rule is facing a crisis.

The book The Columbia History of the World describes the crisis this way: “The state in which we find government, religion, morality, social intercourse, language, the arts, and that ultimate basis of civilized life, public hope, permits us to form at least a tentative conclusion about the magnitude of the present epoch. Government is first in the list and first in importance. . . . [There] is contempt for law, for the State that enforces it, and for the governors that still believe in both. . . . The present outlook contrasts sharply with that of a century ago . . . In many parts of the world forces are ready at a word to storm city hall, break up a public hearing, ravage a university, or detonate an embassy. . . . The rage for absolute freedom is virulent. . . . In short, the one political and social ideal, the one motive power of the time is Separatism, no matter what other rags of older philosophy it masquerades under. If this is not yet Breakdown, it is undeniably Breakup.”

Will “Breakup” soon lead to “Breakdown,” and if so, with what consequences for the world in which we live? Of a truth, human rule is on judgment but not just by humans who have been weighing their governments for thousands of years and repeatedly finding them wanting. This time the Creator of the universe himself is calling for a reckoning. Does the record of human rule over the centuries justify its being permitted to continue? Or will its being weighed on divine judgment scales show it must go? And if so, with what can it be replaced?

The series of articles “Human Rule Weighed in the Balances” will enhance your knowledge of government. And it will fill you with hope because you have every reason to be optimistic. Better government is on the way. And best of all, you can live to enjoy it!

[Pictures on page 9]

When the record of human rule is weighed in the balances of divine justice, will God’s judgment be favorable?

[Credit Line]

WHO photo/​PAHO by J. Vizcarra

Young People Ask . . .

How Can I Pick a Decent Movie?

A VETERAN film star of yesteryear was quoted as saying: “People . . . ask me why I never go to movies now. There are so many degrading movies.” She chose to eliminate moviegoing entirely as a source of entertainment.

A teenage girl named Denise is of a similar mind, but she suggests a somewhat less drastic solution. “There is usually not much to watch,” she explains, “because it’s mostly violence. So I’m very particular about what I watch.”

No doubt you too enjoy a movie from time to time. It is therefore understandable if you are not disposed to write off movie-viewing entirely as a form of recreation. But as shown in our previous issue​—and a look at the entertainment pages of any newspaper will confirm this—​there are precious few films being produced today that are fit for a young Christian to watch.a This is not a matter to be taken lightly, for the movies you see are a reflection of what values you treasure. They tell much about the kind of association you delight in, the type of language you tolerate, the sexual morals you espouse.

The Bible urges us to “hate what is bad.” (Psalm 97:10) Can you really do so if you regularly seek out doses of satanic gore, mayhem, and violence, or graphic displays of sexual immorality? Hardly. The youth who truly treasures godly principles seeks to follow the Bible’s counsel at Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are of serious concern, whatever things are righteous, whatever things are chaste, whatever things are lovable, whatever things are well spoken of, whatever virtue there is and whatever praiseworthy thing there is, continue considering these things.” This does not necessarily mean that you must stay away from all movies, but it means that you must be very selective about what you watch. How can you do this?

Ratings​—An Infallible Guide?

In the United States, movies are rated according to standards set by the Motion Picture Association of America. A letter symbol designates whether the film is deemed appropriate for viewing by the general public, whether parental guidance is suggested, or whether it should be restricted to viewing by adults. How a movie deals with sex and violence, alcohol and drug abuse, obscene language, and the like, is usually the basis for determining its rating.

While such rating systems are admittedly flawed, and often inconsistent, they do give a prospective viewer at least some idea of the contents of a film and whether or not it is appropriate for viewing. If a similar system exists in your land, you will no doubt find it useful. Your parents may likewise use the ratings in setting guidelines regarding which films you may view.

Ratings can be misleading, however. Remember: Those determining the ratings may not subscribe to Bible-based values. And with the world’s deteriorating moral values, many films that would have been considered shocking just a few years ago are now thought of as acceptable for general audiences.

Young DeMarlo found this out when he attended a film he thought had an acceptable rating. It turned out to be filled with “cursing and violence.” So while published ratings may be helpful, they should not be the sole basis for deciding what to watch. The Bible cautions: “Anyone inexperienced puts faith in every word, but the shrewd one considers his steps.”​—Proverbs 14:15.

Checking Out a Film

What are some other guidelines you can use? Movie reviews and advertisements can also give you some idea of the contents of a movie. But again, caution is needed. A movie review merely reflects another person’s opinion. And an advertisement may deliberately conceal the fact that a movie has offensive scenes.

A teenager named Connie says: “I’ve found that knowing who the principal actors are in the movie often gives you some idea of what the movie is likely to portray.” Christian peers who share your Bible-based values may know if a certain film is acceptable. And a theater manager or a person at the ticket booth may likewise give candid information. Generally, though, people tend to tell you what they really enjoyed about a movie. Why not ask what is bad about it? Be specific. Inquire as to whether there are scenes of gory violence, explicit sex, or demonic possession.

Your parents may also be a good source of advice. Says young Vanessa: “I consult my parents. If they think it’s all right for me to watch, I’ll go see it.”

The same would apply to renting videotapes. In addition, scrutinize the box or cover carefully. Is there anything about the illustrations and words that would suggest that the film is unacceptable? Then put it back! It may also help to talk to a store clerk who has already seen the film. Proverbs 14:16 says: “A wise man is cautious and turns his back on evil; the stupid is heedless and falls headlong.”​—The New English Bible.

Walking Out, Turning It Off

What if you have already rented a videotape, however, and find that its contents are objectionable? The solution is simple: Turn it off! This may not be easy. You may find yourself emotionally involved with the plot or characters. You may be very curious as to how the film ends. But turning your back on evil is clearly the smart thing to do.​—Compare Matthew 5:29, 30.

The situation can be a bit touchier if you are in a theater with friends and a movie turns sour. A teenager named Joseph faced this very situation. Ads for a recent film billed it as a “must-see.” However, Joseph recalls: “Within the first five minutes there were three scenes of violence and nudity.” Joseph politely informed his friends of his intentions and walked out. Did he find this embarrassing? Says Joseph: “No, not at all. I thought of Jehovah first and of pleasing him.”

Admittedly, peer pressure against taking such a stand can be great. Pressure may even come from youths who have been raised by Christian parents, but such youths have had their consciences seared by watching too many questionable films. (1 Timothy 4:2) They may accuse you of being unbalanced or too righteous. But rather than give in to peer pressure, “hold a good conscience.” (1 Peter 3:16) What really counts is not what your peers think of you but what Jehovah thinks of you! And if your friends hassle you for following your conscience, it’s time to find some new friends. (Proverbs 13:20) You are the ultimate guardian of your eyes, ears, and figurative heart.​—Compare Job 12:11; 31:1; Proverbs 4:23.

Keeping a Good Conscience

Young Georgia was in the habit of sneaking into movies that were supposedly restricted from her age-group. As time passed, however, she began to desire a good relationship with God. She stopped seeing questionable movies and found other fun things to do with her Christian friends. Says Georgia: “I no longer have something weighing on my conscience. And now I can really sleep because I’ve got a real clean feeling inside.”

Do you want to be clean in the eyes of the Examiner of hearts, Jehovah God? (Proverbs 17:3) Then be careful of what you take into your heart. Avoid unnecessarily exposing yourself to uncalled-for violence, to sexual exploitation, or to filthy language; these can only dull your sense of what is right and corrupt your heart. Be like the psalmist who prayed: “Make my eyes pass on from seeing what is worthless.”​—Psalm 119:37.

By being careful and selective, not only can you protect yourself from harmful influences but you can enjoy that “clean feeling” young Georgia talked about. And no Hollywood special effects can match that feeling!

[Footnotes]

[Blurb on page 11]

Many films that were shocking a few years ago are now considered acceptable

[Picture on page 10]

Your parents may know if an advertised movie is objectionable

Crossword Puzzle

Clues Across

1. Daniel’s Babylonian name (Daniel 4:8)

8. He was given his name because of his unusual hairy appearance at birth (Genesis 25:25)

9. To fail to perform (Luke 11:42)

10. A Judean site (1 Chronicles 4:12)

11. A Gadite who lived in Bashan (1 Chronicles 5:13)

12. These were made from “massive trees from Bashan” in Ezekiel’s dirge picturing Tyre as a pretty ship (Ezekiel 27:6)

14. An ingredient of the sacred incense used exclusively at the sanctuary (Exodus 30:34-38)

16. A Nethinim family head (Ezra 2:47)

18. Lives (Luke 12:28)

21. What Jesus is repeatedly called in Revelation (Revelation 5:12)

22. Solemn attestation of one’s words being true (Hebrews 6:17)

24. A son of the Horite sheikh Shobal (Genesis 36:23)

26. A descendant of Reuben after whom a boundary stone was named (Joshua 15:6)

28. Calamity by sword was prophesied against this place in Moab (Jeremiah 48:2)

30. A site near Ramah noted for its great cistern (1 Samuel 19:22)

32. Female sheep (Isaiah 53:7)

33. Jesus spoke of one of high value (Matthew 13:46)

34. To run away from (1 Corinthians 6:18)

35. A son of Zophah of the tribe of Asher (1 Chronicles 7:36)

36. A Bible book written by Jeremiah

Clues Down

1. It contains the account from Joseph’s death to the construction of the tabernacle [3 words]

2. The people in Christendom led by the clergy

3. Reubenite father of David’s warrior Adina (1 Chronicles 11:42)

4. He was called “the father of us all” because of his great faith (Romans 4:16)

5. Jesus invited himself to this man’s house and there gave the illustration of the minas (Luke 19:5-28)

6. Place mentioned in the area covered by the 12 spies sent to Canaan (Numbers 13:21)

7. Mordecai’s father (Esther 2:5)

13. Obstinacy (Job 9:4)

15. Island mentioned in Paul’s travels on his third missionary tour (Acts 21:1)

17. The first musical instrument mentioned in the Bible (Genesis 4:21)

19. Ninth letter of the Greek alphabet

20. Indicative of God’s power [2 words] (Deuteronomy 3:24)

23. One of three weapons carried by Goliath (1 Samuel 17:45)

25. This will come after the “good news of the kingdom” is preached (Matthew 24:14)

27. Disciple (Luke 6:40)

28. A maternal ancestor of Jesus (Luke 3:31)

29. Men from this “house” shared in making Abimelech king (Judges 9:6)

31. A son of Ram of the tribe of Judah (1 Chronicles 2:27)

CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS PAGE 27

Answers Across

1. BELTESHAZZAR

8. ESAU

9. OMIT

10. RECAH

11. ZIA

12. OARS

14. ONYCHA

16. GAHAR

18. EXISTS

21. LAMB

22. OATH

24. SHEPHO

26. BOHAN

28. MADMEN

30. SECU

32. EWE

33. PEARL

34. FLEE

35. BERI

36. LAMENTATIONS

Answers Down

1. BOOK OF EXODUS

2. LAITY

3. SHIZA

4. ABRAHAM

5. ZACCHAEUS

6. REHOB

7. JAIR

13. STUBBORNNESS

15. COS

17. HARP

19. IOTA

20. STRONG ARM

23. JAVELIN

25. END

27. PUPIL

28. MENNA

29. MILLO

31. EKER

The Bible’s Viewpoint

Has Science Made the Bible Obsolete?

HAS science, with its advanced understanding of the universe, turned the Bible into a collection of myths and legends? Many people today think so. Do you?

Perhaps, like many, you were taught to think that way from your youth up but never really questioned the idea. We invite you to question it now. Consider just one example, a statement made in the Bible about the natural universe. Not only did this statement flatly contradict what the experts of that day were saying but it contradicted what scientists were still saying millenniums later.

A Matter of Gravity

What is the earth resting on? What holds up the moon, the sun, and the stars? These questions have intrigued humans for thousands of years. In regard to the earth, the Bible has a simple answer. At Job 26:7 it says that God is “hanging the earth upon nothing.” In the original Hebrew, the word for “nothing” (beli-mahʹ) used here literally means “not any thing,” and this is the only time it occurs in the Bible. The picture it presents of an earth surrounded by empty space is recognized by scholars as a “remarkable vision,” especially for its time.a

This was not at all how most people envisioned the cosmos in those days. One ancient view was that the earth was supported by elephants standing on the back of a giant turtle.

Aristotle, a famous Greek philosopher and scientist of the fourth century B.C.E., taught that the earth could never hang in empty space. Instead, he taught that the heavenly bodies were each fixed to the surface of solid, transparent spheres. Sphere lay nestled within sphere. The earth was innermost; the outermost sphere held the stars. As the spheres revolved one within another, the objects on them​—the sun, the moon, and the planets—​moved across the sky.

The Bible’s statement that the earth actually ‘hangs upon nothing’ predated Aristotle by over 1,100 years. Yet, Aristotle was considered the foremost thinker of his day. His views were still taught as fact almost 2,000 years after his death! As The New Encyclopædia Britannica says, in the 16th and 17th centuries C.E., Aristotle’s teachings “ascended to the status of religious dogma” in the eyes of the church.

Sixteenth-century philosopher Giordano Bruno dared to challenge the concept that the stars “are as it were embedded in a single cupola.” He wrote that it was “a ridiculous notion which children might conceive, imagining perhaps that if [the stars] were not attached to the celestial surface by a good glue, or nailed with stoutest nails, they would fall on us like hail.” But disagreeing with Aristotle was a dangerous game in those days​—the church had Bruno burned alive for spreading his unorthodox ideas about the universe.

In the Cosmic Soup

With the invention of the telescope, astronomers in growing numbers began to question Aristotle. If the sun, the moon, and the stars were not attached to spheres that spin around the earth, then what could hold them up and move them around? Seventeenth-century mathematician René Descartes thought he had the answer. He agreed with Aristotle that the space between us and the other heavenly bodies could not be empty. So he postulated that the universe was filled with a transparent fluid​—a sort of cosmic soup.

This theory seemed to solve two problems. For one, it provided something to ‘hold up’ the heavenly bodies; they were all suspended in the soup! For another, it helped explain the motions of the planets. Descartes held that the planets were caught in the grip of whirlpools, or vortices, in the fluid, which made them swirl around in their orbits. This “Theory of Vortices,” as it was termed, may strike us as rather fanciful today. But it was the dominant theory in the study of the universe for more than a century in some countries.

Many scientists preferred it to the newcomer: Isaac Newton’s law of universal gravitation, published in 1687. Newton asserted that the planets did not need mechanical, tangible objects or substances to hold them aloft. It was the force of gravity that governed their motions and held them locked in their orbits. In effect, they hung in empty space upon nothing. Many of Newton’s colleagues scoffed at his notion of gravity. And even Newton himself found it hard to believe that space was a void, largely empty of substance.

Nonetheless, Newton’s views eventually won out. Today, it is all too easy for us to forget that this question of what holds up the planets stirred heated debate among learned and brilliant scientists some 32 centuries after the Bible stated with elegant simplicity that the earth is ‘hanging upon nothing.’ How could Job have known to phrase things just that way? Why would he say that nothing of substance holds up the earth, when it took the “experts” well over 3,000 years to arrive at the same conclusion?

Why Is the Bible So Ahead Of Its Time?

The Bible gives the logical answer. At 2 Timothy 3:16 we read: “All Scripture is inspired of God.” Thus the Bible is not the product of human wisdom but, rather, an accurate transmission of the Creator’s thoughts to us.

It is vitally important that you find out for yourself whether the Bible’s claim is true. (1 Thessalonians 2:13) In that way you could gain access to the thoughts of the Being who designed and created us. What better source could there be to tell us what the future holds and how to lead a happy, productive life in this troubled world?

[Footnotes]

[Picture Credit Line on page 14]

By permission of the British Library

The Flying Doctor​—Saving Lives in the Outback

By Awake! correspondent in Australia

IT happened over 80 years ago, in the early 1900’s. Jimmy, a young stockman, was mustering cattle near Hall’s Creek in the far north of Western Australia. Suddenly, his horse stopped short. Jimmy was thrown to the ground and was seriously injured.

A slow trip in a buggy took the badly injured lad to Hall’s Creek, where the postmaster also served as a “bush doctor.” But his only credentials were that he had attended a series of first-aid lectures before leaving Perth some years earlier. The nearest trained medical doctor was hundreds of miles away.

The postmaster tapped out an urgent message by telegraph, only to learn that the doctor had been called away and might not be back for several days. In desperation, the postmaster then telegraphed the doctor who had been his first-aid instructor in Perth​—more than 2,000 miles [3,200 km] away. Over the telegraph line, the doctor gave step-by-step instructions. With great trepidation, the postmaster managed to carry out a primitive operation on the injured stockman, using a sharp knife and a razor.

The doctor immediately set out from Perth on the long trip to Hall’s Creek. It took him 12 1/2 days to reach this isolated country town, traveling first by cattle boat up the West Australian coast, then over rough tracks by car, and finally by horse and sulky. The doctor dragged himself into the post office, exhausted. His first words were: “How’s the patient?”

“He died yesterday,” the postmaster said sadly.

This kind of heartbreaking experience caused many thoughtful people to begin grappling with outback Australia’s greatest challenge​—distance! How could people who needed urgent medical help be reached quickly during emergencies?

Conquering Distance

At the turn of the century, the hardship faced by people in the isolated outback areas was appalling. There were only two doctors for an area of 695,000 square miles [1,800,000 sq km], an area roughly equal to three times the size of France! However, some began to envision a time when there would be a health network covering the entire outback area. How so? By using a combination of airplanes, radios, and medicine. As one man pointedly said: “The alternatives are an aeroplane or a grave.”

Back then, aviation was virtually untried and of questionable safety, and radio was in its infancy. As the years passed, however, air travel became more realistic and wireless made rapid progress. But another hurdle loomed: how to get power to operate a two-way radio in the outback. This paved the way for the invention of . . .

The Ingenious Pedal Wireless

In the late 1920’s, a young radio engineer devised the idea of using a person on bicycle-type pedals to power a generator. The generator required no batteries, was manufactured at a reasonable cost, and made radio transmission possible over a range of 300 miles [480 km]. The pedal wireless was used extensively in the outback for many years.

At first, spoken messages could not be sent or received. Telegraphic Morse code​—with its dots and dashes—​had to be used. The difficulty of sending messages by those unfamiliar with Morse code was overcome by the ingenious invention of a special keyboard using a typewriter connected to the wireless transmitter. “Bush” typists were able to punch out messages with one finger. For example, striking the “A” key resulted in the Morse signal “dit-dah” being sent, and so forth. In later years, a telephone-type arrangement was used, making the use of Morse code unnecessary.

Eventually, the pedal wireless was replaced with more up-to-date equipment, and what is known as the single sideband mode of radio transmission was introduced. A number of bases were modernized with this equipment. Today, more than 2,600 outstation transceivers communicate with these bases regularly.

The Flying Doctor Becomes a Reality

In May 1928 the Aerial Medical Service got under way. The first aircraft used could carry a pilot, a doctor, either a nurse or a sitting patient, and a stretcher. The single-engined de Havilland DH-50A biplane had a cruising speed of only 80 miles [130 km] per hour, but it was a start, and it certainly beat horse and buggy! In 1941 the name was changed to the Flying Doctor Service. Then in 1955 the official name became the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Financial problems were present from the start, especially during the worldwide economic depression of the early 1930’s. Gradually, however, federal and state government subsidies were obtained on a regular basis, along with money received from trusts and public appeals. To this day, the Flying Doctor Service depends largely on donations from business firms and individuals, for although outback patients are expected to contribute for visits and treatment, the amounts they can give are little more than token payment for the expenses incurred.

Some Early Hazards

Today, modern aircraft and equipment have made flying so much easier and safer, but in the early days pilots risked their lives to land at remote outback locations. Many landing strips were rough and not long enough for safe landings and takeoffs. Often, the pilot had to come in low and circle the landing strip to frighten off horses, kangaroos, cattle, sheep, and even emus before touching down. When night landings were necessary, crude homemade flares had to be lighted. Later, as cars and trucks became more plentiful, headlights were used to light up the “runways.”

In those early days, navigation was sometimes a challenge. Because of unreliable maps, or none at all, pilots often had to recognize landmarks from the air​—perhaps a clump of timber, a boundary fence, a dirt road, a water hole, or a river.

No More Than Two Hours Away

As the years passed, the Flying Doctor Service grew until today there are 13 bases throughout the scattered outback areas of Australia, as well as one in Tasmania. (See map.) At each base there is always one flying doctor on hand, and some of the larger bases may have three or more. There is always one pilot present, and some bases have up to three pilots on call. Nurses are usually available from local hospitals near the bases.

There is now a fleet of 32 aircraft that averages 6,500 flights a year and carries upwards of 9,000 patients to hospitals annually. In addition, some 90,000 patients consult with the flying doctor and are treated by him. This thorough coverage of the outback means that the flying doctor can reach any patient in Australia within two hours.

Even Dental and Heart Care

Nowadays, even the teeth of those living in the sparsely settled Australian outback can be given regular checkups and skillful attention. Dental work is not done by the flying doctor himself but by dentists who travel regularly in flying-doctor planes. Each year between 5,000 and 6,000 patients receive treatment from the visiting dentists.

What about heart care? The magazine Australasian Post tells the intriguing story of an elderly woman in the tiny New South Wales town of Tibooburra (population 150). She had her heartbeat checked by radio. The nearest flying-doctor base was at Broken Hill, 210 miles [340 km] away. When chest pains developed and would not go away, the patient was attached to an electronic device that transmitted electrical signals from her heart to the Broken Hill Base Hospital, so that treatment could be prescribed.

A Unique Service

As for area covered and availability, the Australian Flying Doctor Service is indeed unique. But some other countries have similar arrangements to care for those living in sparsely settled areas. For example, Canada has efficient air ambulance services. Among these is the Saskatchewan Air Ambulance Service inaugurated in 1947. East Africa began to enjoy the benefits of a joint British and American enterprise in 1961.

However, for its extensive coverage of over two thirds of this vast land area of almost 3,000,000 square miles [7,770,000 sq km], the Australian Flying Doctor Service stands out. As yet, there is no parallel in any other part of the world.

It is not surprising, then, that the official brochure of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia concludes by saying: “The Flying Doctor Service makes available, regardless of creed, colour or race, a unique humanitarian service that was without precedent when it started more than 50 years ago, and today still has no equal in the world.”

[Map on page 18]

The 14 bases of the Flying Doctor Service in the scattered outback of Australia and Tasmania (For fully formatted text, see publication)

Mt. Isa

Charters Towers

Charleville

Broken Hill

Pt. Augusta

Ceduna

Kalgoorlie

Meekatharra

Carnarvon

Alice Springs

Pt. Hedland

Derby

Wyndham

Hobart

[Picture on page 17]

The type of plane used in the early days of the Flying Doctor

Vinegar​—The Tangy Acid

By Awake! correspondent in France

The use of vinegar dates back a long time. Roman legions drank a mixture of vinegar and water. Their name for vinegar was acetum.

WE TODAY use the term “acetic acid” to describe vinegar’s key element, as vinegar is obtained by the acetic fermentation of alcoholic liquids such as wine.

Our English word “vinegar” comes from two French words: vin (wine) and aigre (sour). But just how does wine become sour and turn into vinegar?

A Product of Bacteria

If you leave an opened bottle of wine in a warm room for several weeks, a film forms on the wine’s surface. That film is made up of closely packed cells, microorganisms that are present in the air. They have settled on the wine because it is a good environment in which to multiply.

Let’s taste a drop. How disappointing! Our wine has fermented and is now sour. It has turned to vinegar. What caused it to sour? A microscopic creature called Acetobacter aceti. You can offer him any amount of wine, ale, or cider; and as long as it does not contain more than 12 percent alcohol, he thrives.

Scientists qualify him and his family as aerobes, meaning that they cannot survive without oxygen. That is why this tiny individual can work only at the surface of the liquid, for if he sinks, he will die of asphyxia. That would end the process of converting the alcoholic beverage into vinegar.

Acetobacter aceti and his friends get together in such large numbers on the wine’s surface that they form a slimy membrane called mother of vinegar. Sensitive to cold, a temperature of about 86 degrees Fahrenheit [30° C.] suits him ideally.

Now that you know a little more about vinegar, let’s visit a traditional vinegar factory in Orleans, the capital of the vinegar industry in France.

The Orleans Process

We enter an enormous warehouse containing casks, barrels, and vats of all shapes and sizes. Some are made of oak and others of stainless steel. A number are used to stock the wine as it arrives. This is where the master vinegar-maker mixes and blends his vintages and adjusts the alcohol content to 8 or 9 percent. Other containers serve to stock and mature the vinegar. Lastly, we come to the most important part, where 60-gallon [225 L] barrels are used to transform wine into vinegar.

The huge barrels are set up on their sides in rows. This allows for a maximum surface of the liquid inside to be exposed to air. Air enters through the “eye,” or small hole, toward the top of the barrel. This hole also enables the vinegar maker to check on fermentation. To allow for all of this, the barrels are filled to only four fifths of their capacity. The wine is poured in at a temperature of about 86 degrees Fahrenheit [30° C.], and a small amount of vinegar bacteria is added. The bacteria go to work, and three to four days later, mother of vinegar covers the surface of the wine.

Within two to three weeks, the first batch of vinegar is ready. About 50 quarts [50 L] are drawn off through the spigot near the bottom of the barrel. This is replaced with the same amount of wine, care being taken not to break up the film of bacteria on the surface.

About three weeks later, the same amount of vinegar can be drawn off again, and so forth. Using this method, an average of two or three quarts [liters] of vinegar per barrel are produced daily. This may seem little, but the factory we are visiting has 2,500 barrels, bringing the annual production to several hundred thousand gallons.

Various other processes are now necessary, depending on the quality desired. For instance, impurities are eliminated and the vinegar is filtered in order to clarify it. The vinegar is then aged in huge oak barrels for several months. Then it is put into bottles and sent all over the world.

The Orleans process is still used to make vinegar, but other methods have been developed over the years to improve and speed up acetification even more. This is the case with the submerged fermentation process. Air is constantly pumped through, and the resulting millions of air bubbles provide the bacteria in the alcohol solution with oxygen for their rapid development. Thus more vinegar is produced in less time.

Varied Uses

Vinegar has a long history. It is mentioned in the Bible in both the Hebrew and the Greek Scriptures. (Numbers 6:3; John 19:29, 30) Its medicinal value has been recognized for centuries. Hippocrates gave it to his patients. It has been inhaled as a stimulant and restorative, like smelling salts. Diluted in water, it has been used as a mild antiseptic. In the home, vinegar is used in water solutions to wash salad ingredients and as a general household cleaner.

But vinegar is used mainly for culinary purposes. Since it prevents microorganisms from developing, it is used for pickling meat, fish, fruit, and many vegetables, such as onions, gherkins, and cauliflower. And vinegar enhances the flavor of salads, sauces, stews, and other dishes.

So the next time you sit down to a meal, remember that its flavor may have been improved by that tangy acid, vinegar.

A Singing Career That Brings Lasting Happiness

EARLY in my life, I dedicated myself to a singing career. In time I established a reputation as a fado singer in Lisbon. This is Portugal’s unique, nostalgic type of music. Soon I was performing in other cities of Portugal as well as on the country’s principal radio station, Emissora Nacional.

Then my impresario arranged a tour in Spain, which included cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Zaragoza, and Bilbao. After a performance in France, I spent over two years in Angola, Africa. There I sang in one city after another, and in 1972 I was chosen as “Queen of Fado.”

However, being a soprano, classical music was really my main interest. So back in Lisbon, I started musical studies in this type of music. Yet, although fully absorbed in my singing career, I was not really happy. Inside of me there was a spiritual void. I wanted to feel close to God, but I did not know how to approach him.

In 1973 I was in Brazil on a singing tour. One evening, after a TV presentation, those of us who performed were invited to a cocktail party. Before long my Brazilian impresario’s wife had us expressing our thoughts about distressing social conditions and world events. I was impressed by her openness in confidently suggesting that God might have an answer worthy of our consideration. I let it be known that I believed in God. Before the evening was over, she kindly offered me a book entitled The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life. Only later did I realize that she was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

My Last Record

Shortly thereafter, I went back to Portugal to make my third record, with full intentions of returning to Brazil to continue my tour. Little did I realize that this would be my last record.

While I was in Lisbon, a young woman called at my home and began speaking about the blessings that God’s Kingdom rule would bring to this earth. I listened carefully as she read from the Bible the most interesting and welcome changes that God has promised those who yearn for righteousness.

What I was hearing had a tremendous impact on me. I had been longing for the very conditions she was describing from the Bible. It was very comforting to me because although still young, I was already divorced, my husband having run off with another woman.

You can imagine my surprise when next this lady offered me the same book that I had received in Brazil! The conversations that followed quickened in me the realization that there was something more precious in life than fame or wealth. I was determined to learn more about the wonderful promises found in the Bible.

A Big Decision

My weekly study of the Bible was a most enjoyable experience. Quickly I began to develop a close personal relationship with my Creator, Jehovah God.

To be sure, there were trying moments after I decided to give up my lucrative career as a professional singer. A lot of pressure was brought upon me to return to Brazil. Then I was offered a contract to perform in Porto in northern Portugal. The idea was that by getting me away from Lisbon, I might change my mind and continue my singing career.

However, my decision had been made. I decided to go to France to live with my married sister so I could be completely free from attempts to lure me back to the entertainment world. But as it turned out, she and her husband fiercely opposed my newfound faith. They would not even allow me to have my weekly Bible study in their home. Undaunted, I traveled 20 miles [30 km] round-trip so I would not miss my study. Finally, they asked me to leave their home.

Being on my own now, I found employment with a wealthy woman. She was planning a three-month vacation on her privately owned Greek island, and I was invited to accompany her. But I saw the potential danger in being isolated from Jehovah’s people, so I decided not to make the trip.

Instead, that summer I attended the Portuguese sessions of the 1974 district convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Toulouse, France. Over 12,000 were present. There, I was baptized in symbol of my dedication to Jehovah God. That was my first convention, and interestingly, it was the last convention that the Portuguese Witnesses had to attend abroad because their large conventions were banned in Portugal. After that year they were permitted to have their conventions in Portugal.

A New Career

Preconvention activity for one month at Toulouse had a profound effect on me. What a unique privilege it was to enjoy daily contact with stalwart Christian brothers and sisters who had maintained their integrity for years under the Salazar dictatorship in Portugal!

The result of close association with those in the full-time ministry created in me a strong desire to become a full-time minister like them. Thus, six months after I was baptized, I began that ministry in Portugal. Shortly thereafter, I was invited to serve in a special assignment. And who was to be my partner? Maria Eulalia da Luz, the same Witness who had offered me the Truth book in Lisbon!

Revolutionary Territory

Southern Portugal was our first special assignment. This was a region that had been dominated by the Communist Party after the 1974 revolution. A hysterical spirit permeated the small towns where we preached in Baixo Alentejo Province. Soon we were the target of fierce opposition.

Attempting to discourage us, men frequently stoned our rented house, resulting in many a sleepless night. Next, a bomb exploded, destroying the lock on the main door. Unbelievably, a man who had opposed our work then rented us a better house, recognizing that it was dangerous for us to be so isolated. One day opposers knocked down the front door while we were away. Imagine our surprise when we returned to find our new landlord guarding the house! We thanked Jehovah for His protection.​—Psalm 145:18, 19.

Despite such opposition, our work there proved to be very fruitful. By the time we left the area, we were happy to see two new congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses formed, each having a lovely Kingdom Hall.

A Real Challenge

In 1977 our assignment was changed to the Madeira Islands. Although the scenery is breathtaking in this semitropical land, we found ourselves facing mountainous terrain that was physically exhausting.

In this assignment we were now meeting people who were exactly the opposite from those in our previous one. Religious devotion was centered around “saints.” There was much illiteracy, and superstition was a powerful influence in the lives of the people. We were actually seeing the effects of the spiritual “heavy loads” that false religious leaders place on the shoulders of people. This created in us a powerful motivating force to bring spiritual refreshment, at all costs, to these “toiling and loaded down” souls.​—Matthew 11:28, 29; 23:4.

We often heard people say that being Catholic, they did not need anything from us. I asked if they still recited the wonderful “Our Father” prayer. When they answered affirmatively, I mentioned how we all longed for God’s will to be done on earth, since man is not accomplishing much good these days. When they agreed, I asked if they wondered what God’s will is for us. Often, this method won a hearing ear, and a friendly conversation was under way.

One day I was talking with a lady who showed interest in the Kingdom message when suddenly I was jolted by firecrackers exploding all around me. The man assailing me was the ill-tempered son of the interested lady. Furiously, he threw a book at me, hitting my legs. Brandishing a sickle used in the banana harvest, he threatened to kill me, raising the sickle over my head. Suddenly, out from the banana groves came another man, the only person he respected and feared. He shouted in an authoritative voice: “What are you doing?” and prevented the wild man from attacking me.

On two other occasions in this assignment, my life was threatened, and each time I saw Jehovah’s protective hand over me. (Psalm 68:19, 20) Actually, this territory proved to be quite receptive to the good news about God’s Kingdom, and when we left, there were many more attending our meetings.

In another area in the Madeira Islands, I started studying the Bible with a lady whose husband was not favorable toward us. But he had great respect for the Bible. He was a baker working nights, and unbeknownst to us, after waking up, he would eavesdrop on our weekly study. His interest became greater with each study, but he was confused about God’s name being Jehovah.

He decided to investigate this matter for himself in his own Bible but could not find the Bible. He wanted to discover the truth about God’s name and anxiously wanted to find his “old, genuine Bible” to settle the matter. Not long after, during a thorough cleaning at the bakery, his precious Bible was found. Eagerly he looked up several references, and there it was. Unmistakably, the personal name of God was indeed Jehovah! (Psalm 83:18) In a short time, he made outstanding progress and was baptized. Today he serves faithfully in the congregation.

Latest Assignment

Presently, I am serving in northern Portugal in the city of Braga. For years this has been a religious center with a prominent Catholic shrine and university. But who could have imagined that the day would come when many churches would find their membership declining? Yet, this is now happening.

We meet many people who believe in evolution and who readily profess to be agnostics. The publication Life​—How Did It Get Here? By Evolution or by Creation? with its facts in support of creation is a powerful instrument in “overturning reasonings and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God.”​—2 Corinthians 10:5.

The Best Career

Looking back over the past 15 years, I have no doubt that I chose the best career, using my voice not for entertaining but for talking to others about God’s marvelous promises. The warm invitation to use one’s voice to declare the “good news” comes from Jehovah himself and is open to all who will accept it.​—Matthew 24:14; Romans 10:13-15.

What a grand opportunity has been given us to try to reach the hearts of those who are toiling and loaded down, encouraging them to ‘come and take life’s water free’! (Revelation 22:17) It is the message itself from God’s Word that touches a sensitive cord in the hearts of humble people. My partner in the full-time ministry and I feel privileged to continue using our voices, not for fame or wealth, but for praising God and bringing eternal blessings to others.

I feel that the “singing” career I now have is far superior to my former singing career, for I am doing as the psalmist said: “Sing to Jehovah, bless his name. From day to day tell the good news of salvation by him.” (Psalm 96:2)​—As told by Madalena Ferraz Martins.

[Picture on page 24]

Madalena Ferraz Martins and her partner in the full-time ministry, Maria Eulalia da Luz

A Lead-Laden World?

AN OFFICER in the U.S. Air Force went through sudden and unexplainable personality changes. He lost 30 pounds [14 kg] and could not sleep. His wife became anemic and dehydrated. What was happening? Dishes the two had bought in another country were improperly glazed. They were leaking lead into the couple’s food.

In another case, a baby girl had almost stopped growing and could not digest her food properly. Why? The tap water in her home was contaminated with lead. A two-year-old boy got lead poisoning from the soil in his own backyard. Gasoline fumes from a nearby highway had tainted the dirt with lead.

How Serious a Problem?

Man has known for centuries that lead is poisonous. Some historians even think that lead poisoning contributed to the downfall of the Roman Empire. The Romans’ extensive use of lead in their wine vessels, utensils, cosmetics, and especially their wine, may have caused widespread physical and mental problems.

What about today? “In a sense we are all lead poisoned,” answers Dr. Donald Louria in the Cecil Textbook of Medicine. People of today’s industrialized nations have about a hundred times more lead in their bodies than did people living before industrialization. However, doctors assure Awake! that thus far this has not been proved to be the cause of widespread illness in the population in general.

Lead is particularly dangerous to children. They absorb it more readily than adults do, and it can impair their mental growth and abilities, perhaps permanently. For instance, each year lead poisoning may lower the intelligence of some 140,000 American children by up to five IQ points.

Low levels of lead have seeped into millions of households through the drinking water because lead pipes were commonly used until the 1940’s. Even copper pipes used since then were connected with solder containing lead, although a few years ago in some places laws were passed requiring lead-free solder. Water fountains in schools and offices have been noted as sources of lead. If the local water is corrosive, it will dissolve lead in plumbing and carry it out through the tap and into your glass.

Soil and dust also carry lead. Crumbling paint chips and industrial smelters of lead have played a part. A big culprit is gasoline. In the 1920’s, lead was added to gasoline to prevent engine knocking. So cars and factories have spewed millions of tons of lead into the air, and it has settled into the dust and dirt of our planet. Lead-bearing dust may even come to rest on some of our food.

Any Hope?

In the 1960’s and ’70’s, a clear alarm was sounded against the dangers of lead, and many important reforms have since been enacted. The lead content in paint has been greatly reduced. A number of countries have made progress in phasing out leaded gasoline​—with marked results. In the United States, for instance, the lead level in human blood went down, on the average, by over a third. In Europe, it is predicted that almost all gasoline there will be lead-free by the year 2000.

As a result of such reforms, cases of drastic lead poisoning have gone down. Why, then, is there still cause for alarm? Because scientists now see as dangerous the levels of lead that they once considered safe. And by no means has man stopped putting lead into the environment. The FDA Consumer cites one recent report that estimates that man still spews 400,000 tons of lead into the atmosphere every year.

What about the future? Will man continue to lead-coat the world? Happily, we do not have to wait despairingly for humanity to repair the vast damage it has done to the earth. Man’s ever-reliable Creator promises to “bring to ruin those ruining the earth.”​—Revelation 11:18.

But what about now? What are some practical steps you can take to safeguard yourself and your family?

Ways to Protect Yourself

Water: If you have solid reasons to be concerned about your tap water, you may want to have it tested. If your house pipes are leaching lead into the water, a special filter or a distillation system may be needed to remove it. Standard charcoal filters do not remove lead. Still, you can reduce the lead content by letting the water run for several minutes, especially after it has been sitting in the pipes for a time. Do not use hot tap-water for drinking or for food preparation, as it carries more lead.

Food: Earthenware dishes with lead-based glazes are a hazard when they have not been fired at high enough temperatures. Since many countries do not have laws governing their ceramic production, exercise caution if you buy pottery from such a country. Using earthenware to store food is more dangerous than using it to serve food, since more lead leaks out with time. If you suspect a ceramic item of lead contamination, you may want to use it just as a decoration and not for food storage.

Washing fruits and vegetables removes about half of the lead dust that may have settled on them. And good nutrition is another preventive measure. A good balanced diet normally supplies the proper levels of zinc, iron, and calcium, and these can help keep down the body’s lead levels. Take care that your children do not put any lead products, such as lead toys and paint dust, in the mouth. They should not be playing where lead dust could be ingested.

Thus, while we anticipate a permanent solution to the lead problem in God’s new world, there are some immediate steps we can take to protect ourselves.

Watching the World

DIM OUTLOOK

“The world is still a dangerous place,” states The Economist. “The end of the cold war and the new relaxation between East and West have tempted some to believe that peace is the order of the day. It is not. Rid of one big source of tension, the world still has lots of little ones: neither hatred, intolerance nor aggression, nor even the clash of ideas, died in tumultuous 1989. . . . In some ways 1989 may have made the world, or parts of it, more dangerous.” Why? Because “as the influence of the superpowers declines, the unpredictability of the regional powers grows,” says The Economist. “And hitherto passive peoples may now be infected by the example of those who won their freedom in 1989.” Many of the ingredients of quarrels​—border disputes, religious and ethnic rivalry, age-old animosities, clashes over ideology and principle—​exist worldwide. Some smaller nations possess or are working to get nuclear and chemical weapons, making it “a little more likely that one day the war will turn from words to something more deadly.”

LANDMARK COURT DECISION

Three years ago a 28-year-old woman in her 26th week of pregnancy lay heavily sedated and dying of cancer. The hospital, fearing legal liability if no effort was made to save the fetus, sought a judicial ruling as to what should be done. The judge, endeavoring to balance her interests with that of the unborn child, ordered that a cesarean section be performed. That was improper, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals in the United States recently ruled. The patient’s own preference, as determined from all available evidence, is the only factor to be considered. “The right of bodily integrity belongs equally to persons who are competent and persons who are not,” the court’s opinion said. “Further, it matters not what the quality of a patient’s life may be; the right of bodily integrity is not extinguished simply because someone is ill, or even at death’s door.” The court said that a judge should “pay special attention to the known values and goals of the incapacitated patient, and should strive, if possible, to extrapolate from those values and goals what the patient’s decision would be.” Both the woman and her baby died.

THE HIGH COST OF ALCOHOLISM

In 1987 Brazil was the world champion consumer of distilled spirits, averaging about 14.3 quarts [13.5 L] per person, according to the Brazilian newspaper O Globo. But the price was high. In 1988 the cost of alcoholism in Brazil was estimated at $18.9 thousand million (U.S.). The newspaper O Estado de S.Paulo reports: “The 12 million Brazilian alcoholics cause the country damages amounting to 5.4% of the gross national product due to health leaves, early pensions, or job-related accidents.” Of course, the total cost is even higher, since it is impossible to place a monetary value on the emotional damage caused not only to the alcoholics but also to their spouses and children.

ASTROLOGY THRIVING

“Men or women, corporate presidents or working class, almost one person in two believes in the supernatural. A veritable religion feeding a thriving market,” says the French magazine L’Express, reporting on the fascination the French have for the supernatural, including astrology, witchcraft, telepathy, and spiritism. France has over 40,000 professional astrologers, serving from 10 to 12 million clients. Even large, established corporations have engaged astrologers to draw up “personality assessments” prior to hiring, to determine if a prospective director or executive is suitable for a position and whether his “astral theme” is compatible with the existing staff.

PUTS ‘EYES’ IN THEIR EARS

A new entertainment system has been designed to enable the blind to get more enjoyment from cinema, television, and theater. Reporting on the debut in Europe, the International Herald Tribune of Paris says that the system uses the art of “talking pictorially.” In addition to the regular audio program, special open headphones allow the visually impaired to hear a second synchronized sound track in which the action is narrated between dialogues. It also describes the characters, their clothing, their gestures, and their expressions, thus helping blind persons to visualize what they cannot see. The system will be made available in specially equipped theaters and broadcast by FM radio to accompany television programs.

MOST EXPENSIVE AIRCRAFT

The president of the United States will soon be using “the most expensive transport aircraft ever produced,” reports Time magazine. Dubbed a “flying Taj Mahal,” Air Force One, ordered several years ago, was designed to be the roomiest, safest, and best, with “more self-sufficiency, range (7,140 miles [11,500 km]), comfort and convenience than any other airplane ever built.” The plane sports a presidential suite with twin beds and a shower-tub, six additional lavatories, 85 telephones, provisions for a minihospital, a six-cubic-foot [0.2 cu m] safe, a television system that can view eight channels at once for scanning crowds, two galleys with refrigerator-freezers that can hold provisions for the 23 crew members and 70 passengers for a week, as well as the latest in antimissile devices, communications gear, and many other executive amenities. “Americans are spending the better part of a billion dollars to get their President airborne, and then it will cost around $6,000 an hour to keep him aloft,” says Time. “That is more than the gross national product of Greenland.”

MONKEYS FOR HIRE

Faced with a severe shortage of manual labor, a Korean farmer just outside of Seoul has put monkeys to work picking pine nuts on his farm. Japan’s Mainichi Daily News reported that the 20 monkeys employed “were found to work so diligently in the farm after a short period of training that each monkey performed the equivalent of five workers’ work in a day.” Local government officials say they will import more monkeys this year from Thailand for employment on other farms. Although foreign manual workers are banned in the Republic of Korea, evidently foreign monkeys are not.

OPERATION QUESTIONED

Radial keratotomy, an operation that was developed in Japan and the Soviet Union to correct nearsightedness, has been criticized by many ophthalmologists as “variable in its effects and potentially damaging to healthy, though myopic, eyes,” reports The New York Times. The procedure, which costs from $1,500 to $3,000 an eye and can be done under local anesthesia in a doctor’s office in less than half an hour, involves changing the shape of the cornea by cutting shallow slits in a pattern resembling the spokes of a wheel. If the operation is a success, light rays will focus correctly on the retina and produce a clear image. But a long-term study has shown that “significant undercorrection or overcorrection of the vision problem occurred in 45 percent of eyes operated on. And in a significant minority of patients, the changes progressed in ensuing years and made the problem more difficult to correct than before.” In addition to the unpredictable results, a number of patients complained of problems with glare that “severely disrupted their ability to drive at night.”

SCHOOL DRESS CODES

“Students have been beaten, shot and robbed of their leather and goose-down coats, thick gold chains, designer shoes and other prized items,” reports The Wall Street Journal. “A high-school student in New York was killed for his bomber jacket. Another, in Detroit, was found dead with his coat and shoes missing.” Because of increased violence and robberies, officials in principal cities across the United States have been invoking dress codes banning trendy clothing items or requesting the wearing of school uniforms. Some have required students to carry see-through book bags to combat the carrying of concealed weapons to school. “Yet many students, confident that if something violent happens it will happen to somebody else, resist dress codes as a blow to their culture and their freedom to express themselves in fashion,” says the Journal. In explanation, one school official says: “Our entire society has become extremely materialistic. Greed is reflected from the highest public office to the streets.”

From Our Readers

Muscular Dystrophy Thank you for publishing the encouraging experience “I Live With Muscular Dystrophy.” (January 8, 1990) I am a quadriplegic and dependent upon others in my daily life. But with support from my wife and others in the congregation, I am able to serve as an auxiliary pioneer minister. By using a phone directory that lists people according to street address (available at a public library), I am able to witness by telephone to people who live in security apartments.

B. W., United States

Modeling Career I was fascinated by the article “Young People Ask . . . What About Modeling Careers and Beauty Contests?” (January 8, 1990) It was only in the strength of Jehovah that I was able to give up such a career. Until a few months before my baptism, I was a photo model. But although I kept bad association to a minimum, the pressure was enormous. A model is made fun of, ignored, and even forced to run around half naked due to a lack of changing facilities. Added to that is the loneliness when living for weeks on end in a hotel. The fashion world looks great, but it is full of greed, rivalry, immorality, materialism, and drugs.

J. Y. A. M., Federal Republic of Germany

Avoiding the Occult Your article, “Young People Ask . . . Why Should I Avoid the Occult?” (March 8, 1990) made me more aware of the power Satan has over people and the subtle tactics he uses to arouse curiosity. I used to feel that there might be some good left in the demons, since they were once angels. The article clearly showed me that they are worthy only of their impending destruction. Thank you again.

R. S., United States

Prostate Problems Your article on prostate problems (April 8, 1990) interested me, as my father needed prostate surgery. Although the article was very informative, the closing comments bothered me. You say that many men seek sexual arousal through pornographic literature. This insinuates that all men who have prostate problems are looking at films or literature of a pornographic nature.

N. R., Federal Republic of Germany

We did not mean to imply that prostate problems are necessarily the result of unchristian conduct. Prostate problems are common among older men​—including faithful Christians—​for a number of reasons. But since unfulfilled sexual arousal appears to be involved in causing or at least aggravating the problem in some men, it was deemed appropriate to caution our readers against the snare of pornography.​—ED.

Through a Child’s Eyes Your article (January 22, 1990) was written with so much understanding that I felt moved to place as many copies as possible in schools and hospitals and with all the mothers I know. The headmaster of the school my sons attend very much appreciated the article, and one of my sons’ teachers had words of praise for the way the subject was handled. I too have four children and know how difficult it is being a parent. Articles like this aid us in helping our children.

M. P. R., Italy

The Ear Since I like articles dealing with the human body, I was very pleased with your article about the ear. (January 22, 1990) I have been studying your magazines for a long time because they include everything that a person wants to know​—both the layman and those with a doctorate.

H. V., Brazil

The 1990’s​—A Decade of Uncertainty

THE dawn of the 1990’s has brought with it new hopes for world peace. But it has also brought with it unparalleled uncertainty and confusion.

For example, there is great uncertainty over what will happen in nations that are abandoning centrally planned economies that have failed. A number of these lands are moving into free-market capitalism. But many nations that are already capitalist have widespread poverty and unemployment, high inflation and debt. Even the United States has a huge internal debt​—some three million million dollars—​and is also the largest debtor nation in international trade.

One result of the world’s economic woes is noted by a New York Times editorial, which said: “There are more desperately poor people in the world than ever before.”

Partly because of growing uncertainties, many have retreated into selfishness: the me-first attitude, material greed, the desire for instant gratification regardless of consequences. Rampant drug abuse is an evidence of this. Christopher Lasch, a professor of history at the University of Rochester, put it this way: “The moral bottom has dropped out of our culture.”

Internationally acclaimed economist Arjo Klamer states: “Artists, economists, businessmen and families have lost faith in modernist certainties. . . . Disillusionment turned out to be an emotion shared by people across fields and disciplines.” Stating that “confusion prevails,” he added: “Fragmentation. Emptiness. Irony. Chaos. These are some of the words in vogue. They define the intricate web of post-modernism in which modern people are lost.”

It is painfully evident that this world’s political, economic, and social systems do not have permanent remedies for today’s immense problems and uncertainties. But this very situation was foretold in Bible prophecies for our time. Note a few examples: “In the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here.” “On the earth anguish of nations, not knowing the way out . . . while men become faint out of fear and expectation of the things coming upon the inhabited earth.”​—2 Timothy 3:1; Luke 21:25, 26.

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Fotografía de Publicaciones Capriles, Caracas, Venezuela

Why Does God Permit Suffering?

Bad news is a fact of life, but why is it so prevalent? Why is there so much suffering? How can its existence be reconciled with belief in a loving God? Will suffering ever end?

The answers to these and other important questions are found in the Bible. The answers involve you and your family. They involve your happiness. You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth is a book that gives hope by pointing you to the Bible’s answers.

The book’s 256 pages, the same size as this magazine, are filled with over 150 teaching illustrations, most in beautiful color. If you wish to receive a copy, please fill in and mail the coupon below.

I would like to receive the 256-page hardcover book You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth. (Outside the U.S.A., write to local Watch Tower branch for information. See page 4.)

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U.S. Army