The American Academy of Pediatrics was at the forefront of National TV-Turnoff Week April 24-30, 2000. A list of reasons for cutting down on children’s television viewing was given:
• A major portion of TV programming is lacking in intelligence.
• Messages aimed at children can expose them to violence, sex, alcohol abuse, and poor eating habits at an early age.
• In the first two years of life, children need an environment of human interaction, rather than passive interaction with TV, for healthy brain growth and development of appropriate social, emotional, and cognitive skills.
• Late-night TV and violence cause emotional stress, leading to abnormal sleep patterns, nightmares, and difficulty concentrating, especially in school.
• Children do not get exercise while watching TV, leading to obesity.
New guidelines from the Academy tell parents they should not allow children under 2 years of age to watch TV at all; and TV, computer games, and the Internet should not be used as babysitters. Regardless of how good the programming may be, television hands children (and adults, too) all the answers, promoting passive learning and short attention spans. As a result, children have difficulty concentrating and working hard to solve a problem, being prone to give up easily.
We can be a blessing to our friends and neighbors by inviting them and/or their children to our homes for special activities that are fun, challenging, and truly educational. Becoming friends with them and being ready to listen and help will build lasting relationships that create opportunities for sharing the Saviour with them.
| ABORTIONS REDUCED IN POLAND |
Poland outlawed abortions in 1993, and the number of cases dropped from 160,000 to 250 per year. Dr. Jack Willke, of the Life Issues Institute, said, “There are fewer gynecologic admissions to Polish hospitals today than there were when abortion was legal. There are fewer women dying of gynecologic problems.”
Lek Koleski, a Polish member of the board of directors of the International Right to Life Committee, said abortion restrictions have helped educate women. “One year we had abortion on demand again, and only 1,200 women wanted abortions on demand that year. That means that the previous years had educated people not to use this way of reducing the number of their children.”
| ACCOLADES FOR A WANING POPE |
On May 23, 2000, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to grant the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian honor, to Pope John Paul II. CWNews.com reported: “The proposal passed 416-1 to honor the Holy Father who has used his office as leader of the world’s one billion Catholics to promote ‘the freedom and dignity of every individual human being’ and ‘using his moral authority to hasten the fall of godless totalitarian regimes.’ The proclamation recognizes the Pope’s role in the fall of Communism in his native Poland which led to its subsequent collapse throughout Eastern Europe.” The one vote against was from a representative who always voted against spending US $30,000 for the medal, regardless of to whom it was granted.
On April 3, 2000, according to Nando Media and Agence France-Press, “Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev … characterized Pope John Paul II as ‘the most important socialist in the world,’ lauding him for making the plight of the poor and solidarity key themes of his papacy. ‘Globalization can also have destructive effects, but we must pursue, as the pope says, its positive aspects,’ the former Soviet leader said in a speech to students of Rome’s Sapienza University.”
A special highlight for the pope was his visit to Israel in March. He captured the world’s attention with his personal pilgrimage, replete with political overtones, according to the editors of ReligionToday. “The trip is groundbreaking in its ecumenical spirit. John Paul is trying to bring together Eastern and Western Christian churches as he visits sacred Christian sites; is visiting Judaism’s holiest place, the Western Wall, and paying respect at the Holocaust memorial; and speaking to Palestinians about statehood.
“…The pontiff says he wants to help in the complicated dialogue among Jews, Muslims, and Christians, who coexist warily. The goal is lasting peace and justice, he said.”
Journalists speculate about who will replace the ailing 80-year-old pope. Scholars and church officials agree that the cardinals who choose the next pope will seek someone who is old (in his 70s, so he will have a shorter tenure and accumulate less power), European, conservative (but not as conservative as the present pope), media-savvy and diplomatic, and healthy. Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria (who is black, but at the age of 67 perhaps too young) and Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini of Italy (a Jesuit) are the names most frequently mentioned.
Regardless of who will be the next pope, the present pope, particularly in his push for honoring the Sunday, has helped set the stage for the final conflict between those who honor the God of heaven as revealed in the Bible and those who do not–between the powers of light and those of darkness. Let us use the little time of grace still given to us and make our calling and election sure! Who will stand on the Lord’s side?
Thank you to all who contributed items for On the World Stage. We appreciate every item submitted but reserve the selection of items to the editorial staff of The Sabbath Watchman. |
