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An Overview of Conditions Around the World
A troubled Russia struggles with an uncertain transition
The close of the Cold War period nearly 10 years ago was more than only a victory
for the Western powers. It brought the end of a political and economic way of life
that had dominated Russia and the Soviet Union since 1917. Subsequently the far-from-smooth
transition from communism to capitalism has been fraught with many pitfalls, and
its eventual success is by no means sure.
Coming to terms with its loss of superpower status, coupled with the loss of satellite
states and the Eastern European empire, has been no easy task. In fact, many things
trouble the Russians: a beleaguered national government; NATO expansion; an economy
in tatters; a culture suffering from severe social strains; the worst potato and
grain harvest in years; and the threat of imminent starvation in the coming months.
This last prospect most concerns Western nations. After all, Russia still has the
world's second-largest nuclear arsenal. As Michael Binyon and Charles Bremmer reported
for The Times (of London), "Russia is on the brink of severe food shortages that
could pose a security threat to the West, intelligence sources have concluded. The
fears confirm Moscow's predictions that supplies could run out in weeks."
However, the security threat is not the only thing to be worried about. The Times
continued: "The worry in Western capitals is that food shortages could lead to demonstrations
and rioting that might topple the government. This could lead to unpredictable political
consequences (including a potential return to communism) as well as the possible
flight of thousands of refugees to the West."
To help meet this threat, the European Union has proposed an emergency food package
of some 285 million British pounds to stave off potential starvation. But even this
solution troubles Western observers. "EU officials have said that if aid found its
way into the wrong hands, it could end up back on world markets, helping no one,"
continued The Times. "Russia must promise not to re-export the food."
Some 70 years of communist rule is not going to be overcome easily. The needed transitions
have caused, and will continue to exact, much suffering. Former Soviet president
Mikhail Gorbachev wrote this year: "Russia's horizons stretch far beyond the desperate
plans of those who see the year 2000 as a life-and-death political watershed." For
everyone's sake, let us hope he is right. (Sources: The Times (London), International
Herald Tribune (London), The Financial Times (London), The Houston Chronicle.)
Vatican seeks assured access to holy sites
As Israel and the Palestinians negotiate on the future of Jerusalem, the Vatican
has requested "internationally guaranteed" access for traditional holy sites.
After a two-day conference on Jerusalem, Vatican foreign minister Monsignor Jean
Louis Tauran told reporters, ". . . We ask that the uniqueness and the
sacredness of the most holy places of Jerusalem be internationally guaranteed."
Israelis and Palestinians are deeply divided on the future status of the city. Palestinians
want the Arab-populated east Jerusalem, location of most of the holy sites, as capital
of a possible future Palestinian state. Israel, which captured all of Jerusalem in
the 1967 war, has made Jerusalem its own capital and repeatedly stated that it will
not allow the city to be divided again. (Source: Associated Press.)
The drive toward a European superstate
Ever since the first postwar steps toward the formation of what we now call the
European Union (EU), occasional setbacks have stood in the way of unity. However,
from the founding Treaty of Rome, in 1957, onwards, the trend has undeniably moved
in the direction of an integrated Europe and, according to Bible prophecy, toward
a European superpower that will astonish the world.
Germany's new chancellor, Gerhard Schroeder, has said to his parliament that Bonn
will use its 1999 presidency of the EU "to drive forward" European integration. William
Hague, British Conservative Party leader, immediately reacted by warning that "the
single currency posed 'risks' to Britain's independence after Gerhard Schroeder . . .
spoke of his ambition of creating a federal Europe on German lines" (emphasis added).
Mr. Hague further responded that the German chancellor "has been honest enough to
admit 'what many fear': that the single currency is an important step on the road
to political union."
Make no mistake. Events in Europe are moving steadily towards what the Bible refers
to as the formation of a "beast" power. Conception occurred many years ago, and the
embryo is fast growing in the European womb. History, however, shows that the eventual
birth will not be easy because serious economic and social strains have almost always
been the precursors of major European dictatorships.
A few leaders in Europe are already talking of a common army (excluding the United
States) that would entail many states in one uniform, perhaps under one flag, and
sending soldiers out to fight under one command. This would require the subordination
of certain sovereignties to a dominant central authority reminiscent of this biblical
passage: "And the ten horns . . . are ten kings who have received no kingdom
as yet, but they receive authority for one hour (a short time) as kings with the
beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the
beast (a supranational political leader)." (Sources: The Daily Telegraph (London);
Revelation 17:12-13).
Pope helps build telescope
"The Pope has asked a team of top astronomers to try to find 'the fingerprints
of God' amid the chaos of the cosmos," writes Jonathan Leake. The Vatican is helping
construct one of the earth's most powerful observatories, on Mount Graham in Arizona.
The purpose is to find star systems and planets capable of supporting life as we
know it.
Although intricate and lawful patterns common to the material universe should direct
our minds to God (Psalm 19:1-7; Romans 1:19-20), the fingerprints of our Creator
are also to be found nearer at handñin His Word, the Holy Bible. (Source: The Sunday
Times (London).)
Growth of British stepfamilies
Numerically speaking, nuclear familiesñthose with children reared by parents in
a lifelong marriageñare apparently on the way out in Britain. "A Family Policy Studies
Institute report claims that by 2010, marriage, divorce and remarriage will be the
normal pattern of domestic life and, assuming that at least one of the remarrying
partners has children, stepfamilies will outnumber nuclear ones."
The numbers of stepfamilies are mushrooming. Of children who are victims of divorce
before age 16, more than half will live in a stepfamily. With the 40 percent divorce
rate in Britain, 18 million children and adults are part of stepfamilies. Sixty percent
of second marriages fail, further complicating the problem.
Lesley White observed: "As lifelong partnership (marriage) fades from absolute convention
to romantic ideal, remarriage is . . . the choice of thoseñespecially womenñwith
economic options and a personal fulfillment to pursue. Even the House of Windsor
(the British royal family), constitutionally obliged to keep the lines of dynasty
pure, has become an extended network of modern parenting arrangements."
This is not good news for Britain. Although we can and should sympathize in individual
cases, the phenomenon as a whole is exacting a fearsome toll on the nation. The National
Stepfamily Association says that "it takes two to 10 years for the stepfamily to
become a cohesive unit." Research by the Family Policies Studies Centre shows that
stepchildren are more likely to leave school with fewer qualifications, experience
worse career prospects, start sexual relationships earlier and run twice the risk
of teenage illegitimacy.
The Bible record shows ancient nations murdering children by making them "pass through
the fire"ñby burning them as a sacrifice to pagan gods. Many modern families are
sacrificing their children to a much more arduous life than necessary. Such difficulties
result from wholesale societal rejection of God's laws of marriage as given in the
Bible.
The apostle Peter spoke of "the restoration of all things" during Christ's coming
millennial reign on earth. Few things are more in need of restoration today than
that basic building block of society, the family unit. (Sources: The Sunday Times
Magazine (London); Deuteronomy 18:10; Acts 3:19-21.)
Teen ethics: a challenge for parents
Almost half of American teens have stolen, and most admit to cheating and lying,
according to a survey of middle- and high-school students. At the same time most
also say that "good character" is important.
The survey, conducted by the Josephson Institute for Ethics, found that 47 percent
of high-school teens admitted to stealing from a store within the last year. Seventy
percent confessed to cheating on a school test, and 92 percent admitted they had
lied to parents. The survey also found that older teens were significantly more likely
to have stolen, cheated and lied than younger teens.
"There's no evidence that they're moral mutants or that they're inherently different
than any other generation, but they are cheating and lying more," said Michael Josephson,
president of the nonprofit Josephson Institute for Ethics. (Michael Josephson was
featured in an interview in the November-December 1996 Good News.)
J. Angelo Corlett, founding editor in chief of the
Journal of Ethics, warns: "It should sound an alarm that people don't take ethics
seriously in our society, and that's been the case for some time." Mr. Corlett added
that the survey reflects parents' ability to instill ethics in their children and
noted that parents who teach strong moral values face powerful outside influences
to the contrary. (Source: USA Today.)
ñJohn Ross Schroeder and Scott Ashley
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Keywords: European superstate teen ethics Jerusalem and the Vatican Jerusalem, modern Russia
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