WEEP FOR THE FALL: 'MAJOR TURNING POINTS IN THE DOWNFALL OF A ONCE GREAT NATION'
Cynthia Nuara
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4a).
I chose to stop at “weep” since I’m going to discuss “major turning points” in the downfall of a once great nation. But first I want to mention a recent development concerning Israel that just occurred on Tisha B’Av, the saddest day in the Jewish calendar. As I’ve previously pointed out, the destruction of both temples occurred, and many calamitous edicts have been issued against the Jewish people on this very day in history. Yet another edict has now been added to the list.
On Tisha B’Av (July 16), the European Union announced that they have officially redrawn Israel’s Borders to 1949 Lines. For the first time, the EU has formally forbidden trade with Israelis and Jews living and doing business in the lands liberated in the 1967 Six Day War. Israel’s relationship with the EU has now reached unprecedently, strained levels.
After a hasty and urgent meeting at his bureau, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement blasting the European Union over its decision. He said, “Israel will not tolerate external edicts on our borders.” Deputy Foreign Minister Ze’ev Elkin said that the EU decision is “very worrisome.” A senior source in Israel’s Foreign Ministry said that the new EU decision is dramatic, and can be called “a true earthquake.”
TURN! TURN! TURN!
In 1958, several parents filed a lawsuit over the following simple and gentle prayer that was recited in New York public schools:
“Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our country.”
They claimed that this prayer violated their religious beliefs and their First Amendment rights, since the government, in their opinion, was establishing and promoting religion.
The state courts ruled that, since the prayer was voluntary, it was constitutional.
On appeal, the state’s ruling was: overturned by the Supreme Court. On June 25, 1962 it ruled that prayer in schools was unconstitutional. This was an abomination to many religious individuals and free-speech advocates.
Associate Justice, Potter Stewart, was the only dissenter. He argued that the majority had “misapplied a great constitutional principle” and could not understand “how an ‘official religion’ is established by letting those who want to say a prayer say it…I think to deny the wish of these school children to join in reciting this prayer is to deny them the opportunity of sharing in the spiritual heritage of our Nation.” A majority of the American public agreed with Stewart.
Some of you may remember the song, which was recorded that same year (1962) by Pete Seeger, “Turn! Turn! Turn!” (To Everything There Is a Season). The words to this song were taken almost verbatim from the Bible, in Ecclesiastes. Others may best remember the late 1965 version recorded by the Byrds that became an international hit.
Judy Collins and Pete Seeger together in the 60s singing “Turn! Turn! Turn!” (To Everything There Is a Season) www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BPcpYLyQJs
The Byrd’s perform the song on “The Ed Sullivan Show” (1965)www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpugLrjWFhQ
What did our founding fathers have to say regarding government and religion? Here is a sample:
“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Our Constitution was made for a moral and religious people… it is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”─President John Adams
“Do not let anyone claim tribute of American patriotism if they even attempt to remove religion from politics.” ─President George Washington’s Farewell Address to the Nation
“The First Amendment has created a wall of separation between church and state, but that wall is a one directional wall; it keeps the government from running the church, but it
makes sure that Christian principles will always stay in government.” ─President Thomas Jefferson’s address to Danbury Baptists
“It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians; not on religion but on the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
─Patrick Henry
“Does the Flag Still Wave?” (If you haven’t seen this Hal Lindsey Report yet that he shows every July 4th holiday, it is a must see!)