Abortion Is a Symptom, Not the Problem

I abhor abortion. I would love for the United States Supreme Court to rule Roe vs. Wade unconstitutional.

I would love it even more if the United States Congress would pass a law outlawing almost all abortions, the President would sign it into law, and the Supreme Court would uphold it.

Abortion Is a Symptom, Not the Problem

But, abortion is a symptom, not the problem. The problem is that persons who don’t want children engage in casual sex without using contraceptives effectively and consistently. 

If persons practiced sexual abstinence before marriage, monogamy after marriage, and married couples desiring no children used contraceptives effectively—perhaps using both birth control pills and condoms—undesired pregnancies would decline dramatically. Few would want abortions.

Even persons who are pro-choice would prefer to avoid the pain, expense, and health risks of an abortion. But, they frequently lack the self-control to avoid casual sex, often lack the discipline to use contraceptives properly. Furthermore, they are often unwilling to carry the unwanted child to term, then give it up for adoption.

With the passage of strict abortion laws in various states recently, most notably Alabama,[1] the United States Supreme Court will almost certainly eventually be making some decisions (and/or deciding to allow lower court decisions to stand) that will impact abortion.

While we pro-life persons wait for the possibility of overturning Roe vs. Wade, we need to take actions to help with the necessary things that will need to occur if it is overturned. We need to do a better job of educating persons about the importance of abstinence before marriage, monogamy afterward, and proper use of contraceptives. You can read more about abstinence and contraceptives in another article I wrote[2].

Hypothetical and Actual Situations

Even if abortion is made illegal, when undesired pregnancies occur, there will be negative consequences. If a 15-year-old high school couple or a 20-year-old college couple face an unplanned pregnancy, it may negatively affect their future plans. And, what about the rare (I hope) case of a 10-year-old victim of rape? These are hypothetical situations, but there are true cases like them.

In such situations, a supportive family, helpful religious leaders, community support, better adoption procedures, government programs, etc., can help. But, in the case of that 10-year-old who is raped, she may carry the memory of that rape all her life. Carrying a baby to term is risky at that age[3], though some children have successfully done so. Indeed, there is apparently one case of a child five-years-old successfully giving birth in Peru[4]. But, the joy of feeling a baby moving around inside one ought to come after marriage, not as a rape victim during one’s childhood, a victim whose baby may serve as a reminder of a horrible rape experience.

Personally, even in cases of child rape victims, I’d prefer the innocent baby be born instead of being murdered while in the womb. But, I certainly wouldn’t penalize a child for desiring an abortion in such a case, and I’d have a hard time penalizing her parents if they desired her to have one (and would hope a parent wasn’t involved in the rape). Many abortion laws, including the one Alabama recently passed, only set penalties for those performing abortions, not the female seeking the abortion. But, I would even have a hard time severely punishing a medical doctor who performed an abortion on a pregnant 10-year-old.

Personally, though, I think most abortions occur not as a result of rape, but as a result of consensual, casual sex—sex engaged in without using multiple methods of effective contraceptives consistently and properly.

Closing Thoughts

I’ll state in closing, yes, we need to overturn Roe vs. Wade. Even better, we need to pass a law making most abortions illegal nationally, instead of returning the issue to the states, as overturning Roe vs. Wade would do.

But, we also need to greatly reduce (if not eliminate) rape, incest, and casual sex. Providing better education, better supervision of young people, and better prosecution of adults who prey on children are some things we can do.

Greedy, selfish sexual lust that leads to engaging in casual sex without the disciplined self-control to use multiple contraceptive methods consistently and effectively is the problem. Abortion is only a symptom of this underlying problem.

ENDNOTES:

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[1] “Alabama abortion bill passes: Read the bill”; Al.com, Alabama Media Group; May 15, 2019; last updated May 16, 2019, webpage accessed May 18, 2019; https://www.al.com/news/2019/05/alabama-abortion-ban-passes-read-the-bill.html

[2] Gibson, James Edwin; “Want No Children, Practice Abstinence or Use Contraceptives”; Google Blogger; December 13, 2015; webpage last updated May 18, 2019; webpage accessed May 18, 2019; https://oneopinionsomeviews.blogspot.com/2015/12/want-no-children-practice-abstinence-or.html

[3] Pappas, Stephanie; “Doctors Appalled by 10-Year-Old Giving Birth”; LiveScience; April 9, 2012; webpage accessed May 18, 2019; https://www.livescience.com/19584-10-year-birth.html

[4] “Six decades later, world’s youngest mother awaits aid”; TelegraphIndia.com (posting of Reuters article of August 26, 2002); August 27, 2002; webpage accessed May 18, 2019; https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/six-decades-later-world-s-youngest-mother-awaits-aid/cid/1560903 (You can also access numerous other articles online about this case.)

NOTE:

This piece being submitted to Google Blogger on May 19, 2019 is virtually identical to one the author submitted to Craft News Report (a website operated by the author’s friend Paul Craft) on May 18, 2019. That article was adapted and updated from various other articles the author has written on the subject over the years, as well as from a chapter in his book True Christianity: It May Not Be What You Think.

Trump Raising Tariffs Vs. Freer Trade: Which Is Best? An Opinion

Completely free trade with no tariffs is best in an ideal world. But, we don’t live in an ideal world. And, for better or worse, President Donald Trump is a decision maker who seeks to make decisions that change things. He often plays “hardball”—sometimes successfully, sometimes not.   

Friday, May 10, 2019, President Trump took action to raise tariffs on imports to the United States from China according to numerous news reports, such as the ones linked in this sentence from CNN,1 Reuters,2 and CBSNews.3 China responded by raising tariffs on some imports to China from the United States.

Raising Tariffs Vs. Free TradeAre tariffs a good thing? Other things being equal, I strongly prefer free trade without any tariffs. Tariffs typically raise prices for consumers and decrease the quantity and variety of good available. Tariffs also reduce the amount of trade between countries, because the higher prices typically result in persons buying fewer imports.

Furthermore, many products must be imported. For example, bananas are probably my favorite fruit. And, here in the United States, we don’t grow bananas, so they must be imported. I would be upset if a high tariff created a banana shortage or higher prices for them. Of course, bananas from other countries are not part of the trade dispute with China, but the United States does import a huge quantity of a wide variety of items from China. Look at the labels on many items you purchase to get an idea.

As stated earlier, tariffs often have negative effects. When the United States, China, and other nations set tariffs, they limit trade, which typically results in fewer items being available for purchase and their prices being higher.

Trump’s Logic in Raising Tariffs on Imports from China?

Perhaps only President Trump knows his complete logic in raising tariffs on imports from China. But, my guess is that Trump feels that China needs us more than we need them.

Therefore, by raising tariffs, which make Chinese exports to the United States more expensive and will likely lead to a decrease in Chinese sales, Trump can pressure the Chinese government to make a fairer trade agreement with the United States and reduce the unfair trade practices China has allegedly (almost certainly?) been engaging in with the United States and many other countries.

A post from the President on Whitehouse.gov4 nearly a year ago discusses some of these allegedly unfair practices. Furthermore, other nations, such as Japan and members of the European Union, are also upset about Chinese trade practices, as noted by numerous articles, including a 2018 Financial Times piece.5

A main goal of the increased tariffs is probably to get China to reach a trade agreement with the United States that makes the international trade between the country fairer, more beneficial to the United States than it is now. 

Free Trade Agreements

Ideally, I would love to see completely free trade between all countries, as long as products are produced and transported safely and fairly. However, the governments of some nations do not do regular inspections in factories and other production facilities to help ensure quality and safety, do not take steps to prevent copyright and patent infringement, etc.

Nations and groups of nations negotiate, approve, and enforce trade agreements to help progress toward fair, free trade. The United States and China are seeking to find enough common ground to achieve a trade agreement between the countries. I hope they do. But it isn’t easy.

You are probably familiar with the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which took effect between the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 1994. While I believe this helped improve trade between the countries and was a good thing at the time, it had numerous weaknesses which I won’t take time to detail here.

Furthermore, the NAFTA document was 2,000 pages long according to an article on thebalance.6 Like many other “free trade” agreements, it contains numerous provisions that show favorable treatment to various groups in the three countries. I would think that a true free trade agreement would be only a few pages long. Would you want to be a businessperson seeking to establish, maintain, or expand an international business and supposedly be responsible for reading and adhering to this lengthy agreement?

Even reading the sections pertinent to a particular business would be time consuming. I wonder if anyone has actually read the entire agreement. One of President Trump’s campaign pledges was to replace NAFTA, and a proposed revision to it is currently going through the ratification process. 

A Chinese fair/free trade agreement likely won’t be a simple document either, if one is produced from ongoing negotiations. But, it can be a big step in the right direction. 

Closing Thoughts

As I see it, one of the biggest successes of modern society is the widespread trade between countries around the world that enables the economies of various nations to produce and sell more goods than they otherwise could—while allowing citizens around the world to enjoy a wider variety and greater quantity of products than ever before. And, trade agreements are helping gradually improve work conditions and quality of products worldwide, while continuing the expansion of trade, as I see it.

However, in the short term, higher tariffs on goods coming to the United States from China (and vice versa) may decrease this trade between the two nations. The Chinese may suffer more than the United States, which will (I’m guessing Trump hopes) give the Chinese government incentive to reach an agreement with the United States (or better yet with some other countries around the world, too) that leads to fairer, freer trade between the countries. If such a trade agreement is reached, and it leads to even more trade between the countries, it will be a win-win situation. And part of that win-win situation could be Chinese consumers benefitting from more United States products appearing in Chinese stores at cheaper prices.

President Trump seems to have a history of making quick decisions to help institute changes he wants. Some decisions work out; some do not. Time will tell if his gamble in raising tariffs on Chinese imports will work.

My optimistic guess is that Trump’s “hardball” pressure will help lead to a trade agreement between the two nations that benefits both countries. In an ideal world that agreement would come without a tariff increase, but my sometimes idealistic outlook is perhaps less constructive than Trump’s more pragmatic approach in our real world.

ENDNOTES:           

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1 Pham, Sherisse; The US just raised tariffs on Chinese goods. China says it will hit back”; CNN; May 10, 2019; webpage accessed May 11, 2019; https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/10/business/china-us-tariffs-trade/index.html

2 Lawder, David and Pamuk, Humeyra; “Trump ratchets up tariff threat after talks show no progress”; Reuters; May 10, 2019; webpage accessed May 11, 2019; https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-china-tariffs/trumps-tariff-hike-on-200-billion-of-chinese-goods-takes-effect-idUSKCN1SG08X

3 “Trump’s tariffs on China: How do they work and what do they aim to achieve”; May 11, 2019; webpage accessed May 11, 2019; https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tariffs-on-china-what-are-they-and-how-do-they-work-and-what-do-they-aim-to-achieve/

4 Trump, President Donald; “President Donald J. Trump Is Confronting China’s Unfair Trade Policies”; White House website; May 29, 2018; webpage accessed May 12, 2019; https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-confronting-chinas-unfair-trade-policies/

5 Mitchell, Tom; “Trade wars: China fear an emerging united front”; Financial Times; September 11, 2018; webpage accessed May 12, 2019; https://www.ft.com/content/ee361e2e-b283-11e8-8d14-6f049d06439c  

6 Amadeo, Kimberly; “What Is the North American Free Trade Agreement? Six Things NAFTA Does”; Webpage updated October 31, 2018; webpage accessed May 11, 2019; https://www.thebalance.com/nafta-definition-north-american-free-trade-agreement-3306147

DISCLOSURE:

The author’s second job is as a part-time store clerk at a retailer. This retailer will probably be impacted by the increase in tariffs on imports from China due to many of its products coming from China.

NOTE:

This piece being submitted to Google Blogger on May 13, 2019 is updated from one submitted to Craft News Report (a website operated by the author's friend Paul Craft) on May 12, 2019.

Raise the Minimum Age to Buy Tobacco to 21, But Enforcement Won't Be Easy

Recent Action

A bipartisan effort is underway in the U.S. Congress to raise the minimum age for buying tobacco and vaping products to 21 according to an April 30 CNBC piece,1

a May 3, 2019 Sinclair Broadcast Group article accessed on ABC’s website,2 and other sources. The issue gained much national attention after an April press release3 from U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell from my home state of Kentucky announcing he planned to introduce a bill in the U.S. Senate this month (May) to raise that age to 21.

Twelve states and numerous communities already have a minimum age of 21 for purchasing tobacco products according to a list on TobaccoFreeKids.org4.

Retailers are also taking action. “Effective September 1, 2019” Walgreens will require tobacco purchasers at its stores to be at least 21 according to a Walgreens press release5. CVS stopped selling tobacco in September 2014, and one year later CVS released results of a study conducted by the CVS Health Research Institute indicating positive results from the decision. An article on CVS’s website6 discusses this.

My Views

I strongly support raising the age to 21 for purchase of tobacco and vaping products. I also support offering help to current users to quit the habit. A law raising the limit could be set to take effect six months after passage, giving time for current users to seek help quitting the habit. During this six months, the government could offer cessation help (via websites with tips, brochures, etc.).  Much of this is already available, but it is underused. Religious organizations, other nonprofit organizations, and communities could offer support groups, too; again, some already do, but the resources are often unused.

Better education of young people and quality enforcement of the law are keys to its success. Most current users began using before age 18 as stated on a Centers for Disease Control webpage7, as well as many other places. The underage users likely obtained their products from older relatives or friends, in addition to making purchases from retailers who sold them illegally.
       Many persons under age 18 have older friends age 18, 29, or 20 who could and would give or sell them tobacco and vaping products. If we prevent persons under age 21 from using such products, by the time individuals reach age 21 they may have the good judgement not to ever try them.  
     But, enforcement is key, and it needs to be accompanied by help overcoming addiction. Parents, teachers, community leaders, religious leaders, nonprofit organizations, etc., can all play a role in helping persons avoid using, or stop using, tobacco and vaping products.
      I think it can be much easier to get persons to quit using them if they've only tried them a few times or for a few months or years than if they have been a user for decades. Let's seek to help young people who are current users to quit before they become hooked more strongly.
     Personally, over the long term, I’d love for tobacco products and vaping products to be illegal. As I see it, if tobacco was a new product it would not be legal. But, millions of people are addicted, so making it illegal probably isn’t feasible in the short term.

It Won’t Be Easy

In 1604 King James I of England wrote a treatise criticizing tobacco in which he stated, among many other things, that smoking tobacco is “a custom loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs, and in the black stinking fume thereof nearest resembling the horrible stygian smoke of the pit that is bottomless,” as quoted from a Library of Virginia website8, and available from many other sources, too.

In the hundreds of years since King James I, many others have sought to discourage tobacco use. Its use is now in decline in the United States and many other nations. Still, it remains an addition for millions. And vaping is adding to the problem.

Vaping is attracting millions of young people. Teenagers and preteens need educated better about the dangers of vaping. Better education, accompanied by passing and enforcing a law raising the minimum age for vaping and tobacco use to 21, can help enormously in preventing young people from ever starting the habit. But, getting current users under age 21 to stop and preventing access to potential future users won’t be easy. Passing the law may be easy compared to the enforcement of it.

ENDNOTES:

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1 LaVito, Angelica; "US lawmakers push bipartisan bill to raise the federal minimum buying age for tobacco to 21"; CNBC website; April 30, 2019; website accessed May 11, 2019; https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/30/lawmakers-push-bill-to-raise-federal-minimum-tobacco-buying-age-to-21.html

2 Macaluso, Michelle; “Bipartisan push in Congress to raise the national smoking age”; Sinclair Broadcast Group; May 3, 2019; website accessed May 5, 2019; https://abc3340.com/news/nation-world/bipartisan-push-in-congress-to-raise-the-national-smoking-age

3 “McConnell Announces Bill to Raise Minimum Age to Buy Tobacco to 21”; Senator Mitch McConnell’s website; April 18, 2019, website accessed May 5, 2019; https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=C7912202-0742-4404-8775-8836F261DDEF

4 “States and Localities That Have Raised the Minimum Sale Age for Tobacco to 21”; Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids; data accurate as of May 1, 2019; website accessed May 5, 2019; https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/assets/content/what_we_do/state_local_issues/sales_21/states_localities_MLSA_21.pdf

5 “Walgreens to Implement New Tobacco 21 Policy to Further Prevent Youth Access to Tobacco Products”; Walgreens website; April 23, 2019; website accessed May 5, 2019; https://news.walgreens.com/press-releases/general-news/walgreens-to-implement-new-tobacco-21-policy-to-further-prevent-youth-access-to-tobacco-products.htm

6 “We Quit Tobacco, Here’s What Happened Next”; CVS website; September 1, 2015; website accessed May 5, 2019; https://cvshealth.com/thought-leadership/cvs-health-research-institute/we-quit-tobacco-heres-what-happened-next 

7 “Youth and Tobacco Use”; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Page last reviewed February 28, 2019; webpage accessed May 5, 2019; https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/youth_data/tobacco_use/index.htm

8 “King James I, A Counterblaste to Tobacco, 1604, Section VIII, The uncleanliness of tobacco use”; Library of Virginia website; accessed May 5, 2019; http://edu.lva.virginia.gov/dbva/files/original/2e14513db1261cffc5307218fe4347c9.pdf

DISCLOSURE:
The author’s second job is as a part-time store clerk at a retailer whose products include cigarettes and cigars. His retailer sells to persons over age 18.

NOTE:

This piece was last updated on May 11, 2019. The original Google Blogger post on May 5, 2019 was virtually identical to one the author submitted to Craft News Report ( a website operated by his friend Paul Craft) earlier the same day. The author has long felt a need to help current tobacco users quit and to help prevent young people from starting the habit.

Sports Betting and Other Gambling in the United States

Gambling is big business in the United States, though accurate figures are not available on how many billions of dollars each year are spent on it. Furthermore, it is likely to get bigger due to the Supreme Court ruling last year (2018) that struck down a law that had basically made sports gambling illegal outside of Nevada. Articles on Forbes.com¹, WashingtonPost.com², and BusinessInsider.com³ are three of many that discuss the Supreme Court’s decision.

Since that Supreme Court decision, several states have legalized sports betting and many others are considering it. A recent ESPN.com⁴ article discusses the status of sports betting in each state.

Gambling in General

Some view gambling as fun entertainment or an easy way to make money. I strongly disagree.

Even small friendly bets with friends can lead to disputes. For example, one person may be unwilling (or unable) to pay when they lose a bet. An argument may also occur over the exact terms of the bet. A friendship can be weakened or destroyed as the dispute over money escalates.

Gambling too often leads to disagreements and lost money as I see it.

The only way one person can win gambling is for someone else to lose. That does not seem good to me. No useful product or service is produced by gambling that makes it worthwhile in my opinion. Perhaps much worse, the minority of people who become compulsive gamblers cause significant problems for themselves—and in some cases problems for their families and friends, as well as others.

It’s true that some people likely gamble just for entertainment. Also, even persons buying losing lottery tickets may be happy in some way during the time between when they buy the ticket and the time they learn the results of the drawing—joyfully visualizing their potential winnings and how they can use them. Still, over the long term I feel these people would be happier not gambling in most cases.

Sports Betting

Legal and illegal betting on sports adds up to billions of dollars in the United States. I wonder how many persons caught up in the emotion of the moment wager large sums of money on particular sporting events—money they need for food, rent, etc.

Also, there is the risk that an individual or a group of people might seek to alter the outcome of games to increase chances of winning. For example, someone could bribe players or coaches to not try to do their best. History records some cases of players taking such bribes to alter the outcome of games. Other types of scandals have occurred, too. A USAToday.com piece⁵ discusses what it calls the “11 biggest scandals in sports gambling history.” Numerous other articles also discuss sports gambling scandals.   

Organized Gambling

Organized gambling seems to do much more harm than good. It seems especially sad that so many state governments are in the business of running lotteries, encouraging people to buy tickets.

Many years ago, the state government in my home state of Kentucky initiated a state lottery to supposedly improve the state's finances. I feel that the state is in worse economic shape now than before the lottery—and likely has more compulsive gamblers, too. I think the lottery is partially responsible for this. In addition, I am ashamed of some of the advertisements run on television and radio to promote the state lottery.

Conclusion

I urge those who gamble with their money to please consider choosing alternative forms of entertainment and to find more ethical ways to seek to make money than by gambling.

It would be great if persons voluntarily greatly reduced the amount of money spent on gambling. As an alternative, Congress could pass laws making gambling illegal, and law enforcement officials could do a better job of enforcing laws against illegal gambling. But, this is easier written about than achieved.

ENDNOTES:

¹ Edelman, Mark; “Explaining the Supreme Court’s Recent Sports Betting Decision”; Forbes.com; May 16, 2018; website accessed April 27, 2019; https://www.forbes.com/sites/marcedelman/2018/05/16/explaining-the-supreme-courts-recent-sports-betting-decision/#b16f8d5537cb

² Maese, Rick; “What the Supreme Court’s sports gambling decision means”; WashingtonPost.com; May 14, 2018; website accessed April 27, 2019; https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2018/05/14/what-the-supreme-courts-sports-gambling-decision-means/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.6ab70f378926

³ Lauletta, Tyler; “The Supreme Court has overturned the federal ban on sports betting—here’s what that means for the immediate future of gambling in America”; BusinessInsider.com; May 14, 2018; website accessed April 27, 2019; https://www.businessinsider.com/supreme-court-sports-betting-decision-what-it-means-2018-5

⁴ Rodenberg, Ryan; “State-by-state sports betting bill tracker”; ESPN.com; April 24, 2019; website accessed April 27, 2019; http://www.espn.com/chalk/story/_/id/19740480/gambling-sports-betting-bill-tracker-all-50-states

 ⁵ Chase, Chris; “11 biggest scandals in sports gambling history”; USAToday.com; May 16, 2018; website accessed April 27, 2019; https://ftw.usatoday.com/2018/05/11-biggest-scandals-in-sports-gambling-history

NOTE:

This piece being submitted to Google Blogger on April 27, 2019 is almost identical to one the author submitted to Craft News Report (a website operated by his friend Paul Craft) earlier on the same day. That article was adapted and updated from a chapter in the author’s book True Christianity: It May Not Be What You Think. The author has also written on the subject for other websites over the years.

Happy Easter, Everyone--or Almost Everyone!

Easter is a holiday that perhaps almost everyone (maybe everyone?) can enjoy. It offers so much.

I am writing this less than a week before April 21, 2019, which is Easter 2019 for the majority of Christians. Eastern Orthodox Christians will celebrate Easter a week later on April 28, 2019. I won’t go into why it’s different, but a Birmingham Mail article¹ and a GreekReporter.com article² are two of many online articles that discuss this.

Secular Easter

As a child, I loved Easter. Milk-chocolate rabbits, marshmallow rabbits, and Easter baskets filled with goodies made it nice. Coloring Easter eggs, then hiding and hunting them added to the fun.

As an adult, I still enjoy hiding and finding Easter eggs, eating tasty candy in moderation, and experiencing other secular aspects of the holiday.

However, Easter is made up of much more than the activities I described earlier in this article.

Like many others, I often omitted the main thing. The Easter story about Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection is what Easter is really all about.

Christian Easter

After I became a Christian, I more fully realized the importance of Easter to believers. Christian congregations around the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. In fact, some Christians use the term "resurrection Sunday" to describe Easter Sunday.

While resurrection from the dead may seem scientifically impossible, think about it. We know CPR can revive people considered dead. Also, there are documented stories of persons in hospitals or funeral homes that were pronounced dead by medical professionals, but these “dead” individuals were later found alive. You can do a Google search to find numerous online articles about these cases. Furthermore, in the plant kingdom we know that a seed “dead” for years can grow a huge tree when planted in the soil, watered, and given sunlight.     

However, even among Christians, there is disagreement over whether or not Jesus actually rose from the dead. However, Christians who don’t believe in a literal resurrection are in the minority. A 2017 BBC survey³ found ¼ of British Christians did not believe in the resurrection. A 2016 Rassmussen^® Reports survey⁴ indicated that about ¾ of American adults believed in the resurrection, including both Christians and nonChristians.

Regardless of your personal beliefs, Easter Sunday offers a marvelous opportunity for those who have not been to church in a long while (or ever) to visit. Even if you are a nonbeliever, you may find the atmosphere, decorations, music, fellowship, and message enjoyable. Many churches offer special services and are especially welcoming to visitors at Easter.

But congregations of Christians typically welcome visitors to any of their services on any day. You don't need to wait for next Easter (or Christmas or any other special occasion) to visit.

Beginning a New Life 

Indeed, any day is a great day to celebrate Easter, to begin a new life, to be born again. Any time is a wonderful time to resolve to turn one's life around. One can decide at any time to sincerely pray to God, to renounce one's sins, and to seek to live a new life. We can't do it on our own, but we can all live a new, joy-filled Christian life under the direction and control of the highest righteous power, God.

We can repent of our sins and live a new life in obedience to God anytime. Happy Easter, everyone!—regardless of what day you’re reading this.

ENDNOTES:

¹ Bentley, David; “When is Greek Easter 2019? Dates for Greek Orthodox Easter and why it’s different”; BirminghamLive (the digital version of the Birmingham Mail); https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/when-greek-orthodox-easter-2019-9002486  ; April 2, 2019; website accessed April 16, 2019.

² Smith, John; “Why Orthodox and Eastern Easter Are on Different Dates”; Greek Reporter; https://greece.greekreporter.com/2019/04/14/why-orthodox-and-western-easter-are-on-different-dates/;  April 14, 2019; website accessed April 16, 2019.

³ “Resurrection did not happen, say quarter of Christians”; BBC; https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-39153121; April 9, 2017; website accessed April 18, 2019.

⁴ “Three quarters of Americans Believe Jesus Rose From the Dead”; Rasmussen^® Reports; http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/general_lifestyle/march_2016/three_quarters_of_americans_believe_jesus_rose_from_the_dead; March 24, 2016; website accessed April 18, 2019.

NOTE:

This piece is being submitted to Google Blogger on April 18, 2019. But, it is adapted and expanded from an article the author wrote for another website in 2013. The author has also written on the subject for other websites over the years.

This particular article was last updated on April 19, 2019. 

WikiLeaks, Freedom of Speech, and Freedom of the Press

Many of us in the United States pride ourselves on our nation’s reputation for freedom of speech and freedom of the press. But, to what extent do we really have it?

Current efforts by the United States to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the U.S. to face charges are leading to discussions about how much freedom of the press is proper.

Also, is the real reason that the U.S. seeks to prosecute him, the fact that he and WikiLeaks exposed much wrongdoing by the government?

I remember some years ago when the United States government repeatedly denied reports of abuse at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Then, when photos were publicly released showing the abuse, the government seemed to first seek to prosecute the person who took the photos. It seems the government, both then and now with Assange, perhaps seems to convey the message that persons who document government wrongdoing will face more severe charges than those who commit the wrongdoing. I strongly oppose the commission of wrongdoing and its cover up.

In a column posted yesterday (April 12, 2019) Guardian columnist Owen Jones wrote persuasively¹ opposing the extradition of Assange and supporting freedom of the press for those exposing wrongdoing. I urge you to read his column.

While many elected and appointed officials in the United States are urging the prosecution of Assange, the United States government itself often seeks to crack passwords and access confidential documents of other governments around the world. The National Security Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, the United States military, and other U.S. government agencies are guilty and have been guilty of many of the same things they accuse Assange of doing—and worse.

United States Government Wrongdoing

The United States government has interfered in numerous other nations’ elections, as reported by the New York Times², The Atlantic³, and numerous other sources. The United States has also been involved in numerous military actions in various countries, as noted by Global Policy Forum⁴, a Congressional Research Service piece on FAS.org,⁵ and a huge number of other sources. Furthermore, many (most?) of those military actions were apparently not justified.

How much spying, election interfering, and military action has the United States taken against other countries that we don’t know about since it hasn’t been exposed by WikiLeaks or anyone else?    

The United States government often does things in secret that it seeks to cover up. In recent years the organization WikiLeaks has published a huge quantity of secret documents exposing much wrongdoing. Some of the information it released (such as Social Security numbers and credit card numbers) should have remained secret as I see it, but a huge amount of the material it released has exposed wrongdoing that otherwise might not have come to light.

Closing Thoughts

If what Assange and WikiLeaks did was wrong, much of what the United States government does and has done is wrong, too. Also, if Assange was wrong, were all the major media outlets that republished information leaked by WikiLeaks in the wrong, too?

Personally, I think WikiLeaks was guilty of doing wrong by leaking Social Security numbers and credit card numbers. And, some of the other information it released likely would better have been kept out of the public eye. However, the huge amount of leaked information that led to the exposure of wrongdoing, as well as corrective action in at least some cases, make the good outweigh the bad as I see it.

If the United States is to truly have freedom of speech and freedom of the press to a reasonable extent, I think persons who publish the truth and expose wrongdoing need to be protected from unreasonable prosecution. When (and if) Assange goes to trial, I hope that he faces only reasonable charges. And, perhaps most importantly, I hope those guilty of even greater wrongdoing face reasonable charges, especially if they haven’t repented.

I will close by asking readers to please note that I am focusing on Assange with regard to WikiLeaks and freedom of the press. Allegations he committed sexual abuse are another story that I don’t seek to address here. My focus is on freedom of the press and freedom of speech, both of which need to be allowed within reasonable limits—perhaps especially when they expose wrongdoing.  

ENDNOTES:

¹ Jones, Owen; “Whatever you think of Julian Assange, his extradition to the US must be exposed”; TheGuardian.com; https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/12/julian-assange-extradition-wikileaks-america-crimes; April 12, 2019; website accessed April 13, 2019.

² Shane, Scott; “Russia Isn’t the Only One Meddling in Elections. We Do It Too”; New York Times; https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/17/sunday-review/russia-isnt-the-only-one-meddling-in-elections-we-do-it-too.html; February 17, 2018; website accessed April 13, 2019.

³ Beinart, Peter; “The U.S. Needs to Face Up to Its Long History of Election Meddling”; The Atlantic; https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/07/the-us-has-a-long-history-of-election-meddling/565538/; July 22, 2018; website accessed April 13, 2019.

⁴ “U.S. Military and Clandestine Operations in Foreign Countries – 1798-Present”; Global Policy Forum; https://www.globalpolicy.org/us-westward-expansion/26024-us-interventions.html; December 2005; website accessed April 13, 2019.

^{5 “}Instances of Use of United States Armed Forces Abroad 1798-2018”; Congressional Research Service (accessed on Federation of American Scientists website ); https://fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R42738.pdf; updated December 28, 2018; website accessed April 13, 2019.

NOTE:

This piece being submitted to Google Blogger on April 14, 2019 is virtually identical to one the author submitted to Craft News Report (a website operated by his friend Paul Craft) on April 13, 2019. But, the author has long felt the need to support freedom of speech and freedom of the press within reasonable limits. In past years he has written other articles on the subject for other websites.