American Commission on Violence on Television
In 1968, President Johnson established a Commission to study and advise on violence on television and a draft Report has been issued. It concludes that violence on television encourages real violence, especially among children of poor and disorganised families. It recommends a sharp reduction in the volume and type of violence portrayed on television. The Report states: “Violence on television encourages violent forms of behaviour, and fosters moral and social values about violence in daily life which are unacceptable in a civilised society.” It further observes: “The image of the adult world which most children get from television drama is by and large an unwholesome one.” It is a pity that there is to be no enforcement of recommendations for the eliminating of this evil state of affairs; but broadcasting companies concerned are to be left rather to voluntary action. When civil authorities in America or Britain do not refer to the moral law and Christian principles in their governing, then there is a reluctance to legislate even to prevent the children of a rising generation from being polluted with the kind of entertainment provided by adults which encourages positive wickedness. There are those in Britain who wage a constant campaign against any form of restriction or censorship upon obscenity or violence included in different forms of entertainment. Satan indeed has his willing servants in the entertainment world. Then as a consequence, increased crime becomes a national menace.
The London Squatters
The country has read in the press details regarding the hundreds of young men and girls who occupied property in London and had to be ejected by the police. Their leaders were only too ready to make known their views in relation to the society in which we live. They are against all institutions, like the family, school, detention centres, and so on, which they say compel them to be a normal part of “straight society”. As to their dislike for detention centres, these are the centres to which many of these ‘irresponsibles’ should be sent for protracted periods of discipline and instruction in personal cleanliness. When police and officials entered one of the buildings recently occupied by these young people, they found themselves ankle-deep in filth and there was refuse in every room and obscene writings and drawings on every wall. A security guard refused to take his dog into the building because he said the conditions were too filthy. One of their ‘speakers’ said when threatened with eviction that they would meet violence with violence. The violence they were to oppose was of course the officers of the law in the discharge of their duty. Here we have a view of man without God, without the influence of the Word of God and defiant as to the claims of the law of God. From a gospel and Christian standpoint such young people are to be pitied — and how much they need the mercy and compassion of the Lord Jesus, who can have compassion on the ignorant, and them that are not of the way!
A strange suggestion at Conference on Alcoholism
A conference was held in Glasgow in September on alcoholism. One speaker suggested that the brewery industry might be asked to finance a long-term research programme covering both medical and sociological aspects of alcohol in relation to crime. £10,000 was suggested as a contribution to such a project. It does seem strange to us to ask for money from such a source, from whence drink is provided at a price, paid by the regular drinker. Half the male offenders in Scottish prisons were there either directly or indirectly because of the influence of alcohol. Certainly research is needed as to how alcoholics can be prevented from returning to the use of alcohol. If this had general success the brewers’ money spent on advertising drink would be lost cash. The saving influence of the gospel of God’s grace in and upon the hearts of men is what will certainly deliver men from drunkenness and crime and from every other evil. The hearts of God’s people, when they sit down and think of such social and moral misery, yearn for a day of power to bring all classes in our nation back to the reading of the Bible in the home, to experience its blessed influence in the divine kindness.
The United Nations Organisation
At a recent meeting of the United Nations organisation, Mr Stewart, our Foreign Secretary, made a strong speech on the Rhodesian situation, in condemnation of the ruling party there and their racial policy. The nations who continue to assist Rhodesia in the economic field and do not apply sanctions to Rhodesia, were castigated. Good and well! Yet we can never remove from our minds, when thinking of the United Nations Organisation, of its complete and utter lack of decision and action on the brutal and overwhelming oppression of Czechoslovakia by Communistic Russia. When a real active stand cannot be taken by U.N.O. on such an invasion of a small nation, for one reason or another (a nuclear war) — then this massive organisation is a useless and worse than useless instrument for peace in the world. What has it done about the Nigerian War? Yet it interferes with the people of Gibraltar who wish to stay British. It issues statements about Arab and Israel conflicts. It is a forum for talk and talk only and some of it dangerous talk. God is not in this organisation. The Lord Jesus Christ, the King of Nations and the Prince of Peace is not recognised by this gathering of representatives of many nations, great and small. It does not enjoy the divine blessing. We were indeed disappointed to hear that a wealthy American lady had recently left in her will, no less a sum than £160,000 for U.N.O. What a waste of money, which might have been devoted to some other really worthy purpose!
Drought in South West Scotland
In these modern times homes and places where large industrial concerns require immense quantities of water daily, a protracted period of dry weather causes great anxiety. At the end of September it was stated that there was the prospect of 50,000 people being rendered idle, in Renfrewshire and North Ayrshire, unless the water supply improved in two or three weeks. It was thought necessary to stop domestic supplies in some areas. This situation should remind men of how dependent we are upon the providence of God in sending rain and providing ample supplies of water to which we are so accustomed. God is speaking to us in such shortages: but do we recognise that every good and perfect gift cometh from Him? We are so materialistic today that God does not come into our thinking in face of such problems as the above. Yet, in Him we live and move and have our being. And how despised the water of life in Christ Jesus is by the most. “If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink.”