F IPd

Help for B attered

Women 3-12
Women worldwide are
battered by their husbands
or partners. Some are
murdered. How can they
protect themselves?
Average Printing 20,682,000
Published in 86 Languages

Maybe This Time Hell Change 3

Why Do Men Batter Women? 5
Viennas Beloved
Giant Wheel 19 Help for Battered Women 9
Many cities have a huge Ferris Sometimes I Think I Am Dreaming! 11
wheel. Viennas is special. The Experiment Has Failed 13
Why do Austrians love it?
CarthageThe City That Nearly
Toppled Rome 14
Use Medicinal Drugs Wisely 25
The Matatu Kenyas The Bibles Viewpoint
Colorful Carrier 22 Gods Use of Force
Is It Justified? 26
Every culture has its own
forms of public transporta Watching the World 28
tion. What makes the From Our Readers 30
matatu different? Mans Tyranny Over Man 31
How Should Children Be Disciplined? 32
 Maybe This Time
Hell Change
OXANA* is a vivacious, attractive m oth self, she says. One tim e he put scissors to
R er of four children, m arried to a well-
respected surgeon in South America. My
my throat. A nother tim e he threatened me
with a gun, pointed it at my ear, and pulled
husband is charm ing with the ladies, popu the trigger! Fortunately, there was no bullet,
lar with the m en, she says. But there is a but I nearly died from fright.
dark side to Roxanas mate, one that even A Legacy of Silence
their close friends do not see. At home, hes
Like Roxana, m illions o f wom en world
a monster. Hes intensely jealous. wide are suffering at the hands o f violent
Roxanas face is etched with anxiety as she men.* M any o f them rem ain silent about
continues her story. The problem began af their ordeal. They reason th at reporting the
ter wed been m arried for ju st a few weeks. m atter will prove futile. A fter all, many an
My brothers and my m other visited us, and
I had such a good tim e talking and laugh *We acknowledge that many men are also victims of vio
lence. But studies indicate that women are more likely to sus
ing with them . But when they left, my hus tain injuries that are far more serious. Hence, these articles
band violently threw me onto the sofa, wild discuss abuse in which the victim is female.
with rage. I couldnt believe what was hap
pening.
Sadly, that was ju st the beginning of Rox
anas ordeal, for over the years, she has been
battered repeatedly. The abuse seems to fol
low a predictable cycle. Roxanas husband
beats her, then he apologizes profusely and
promises never to do it again. His conduct
im provesat least for a while. T hen the
nightm are starts all over. I keep thinking
that maybe this tim e hell change, Roxana
says. Even when I run away, I always go
back to him .
Roxana fears th at one day her husbands
v io len ce w ill e s c a la te fu rth e r. He has
threatened to kill me, the children, and him
*Names have been changed in this series.
abusive husband has simply denied charges ceiving from her w ell-respected husband.
with such statem ents as My wife is excit One of our acquaintances said to me: How
able or She tends to exaggerate. can you accuse such a fine man? A nother
It is sad th at m any women live with a con said that I m ust somehow be provoking him!
stant fear of attack in the one place they Even after my husband was exposed, some
should feel the safesttheir own home. Yet, of my friends began avoiding me. They felt
sym pathy is all too often shown to the per that I should have put up with it because
p etrato r instead of the victim. Indeed, some th ats the way m en are.
cannot bring them selves to believe th at a As A nitas experience shows, m any find it
m an who appears to be an upstanding citi difficult to grasp the grim reality of spouse
zen w ould beat his m ate. C onsider w hat abuse. W hat drives a man to be so cruel to
happened to a woman nam ed Anita when the woman he claims to love? How can vic
she spoke up about the abuse she was re tims of violence be helped?

The B road S co p e of D om estic V io len ce

According to the United Nations Declaration on the
Elimination of Violence Against Women, the term violence
against women can refer to any act of gender-based
violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical,
sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including
threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of
liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life. This
violence includes, among other things, physical, sexual
and psychological violence occurring in the family and in
the general community, including battering, sexual abuse
of female children, dowry-related violence, marital rape,
female genital mutilation and other traditional practices
harmful to women."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------A w a k e ? --------------------------------------------------------------------------
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a peaceful and secure new world that is about to replace the present wicked, lawless system of things.
U n le s s o th e r w is e in d ic a te d , New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures With References is used.

y % a / / ( I S S N 0 0 0 5 - 2 3 7 X ) is p u b lis h e d s e m im o n t h ly by W a tc h to w e r B ib le a n d T ra c t S o c ie ty of N e w Y o rk , In c .; M . H . L a r s o n , P r e s id e n t; G. F. S im o n is ,
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4 Awake! November 8, 2001

 Why Do Men Batter Women?
OM E experts say that women are more violence is less frequent or less intense than
S likely to be killed by their male partners
than by all other types o f perpetrators com
anothers does not m ake it excusable. There
is simply no such thing as acceptable bat
bined. In an effort to stem the tide of spouse tering. W hat factors, though, m ight cause
abuse, num erous studies have been conduct a m an to abuse physically the woman he
ed. W hat kind of man batters his wife? W hat vowed to cherish for the rest of his life?
was his childhood like? Was he violent du r
ing courtship? How does the b atterer re The Family Connection
spond to treatm ent? N ot surprisingly, a num ber of physically
One thing experts have learned is that not abusive men were themselves raised in abu
all batterers are alike. At one end o f the sive families. M ost batterers were brought
scale is a m an whose violence is sporadic. He up in domestic war zones, writes Michael
does not use a weapon and has no history of Groetsch, who has spent more than two de
abusing his mate. For him, a violent episode cades researching spouse abuse. As babies
is out o f character and seems to be m otivat and young children, they grew up in hos
ed by external factors. At the other extreme tile surroundings where em otional and phys
is a man who has developed a chronic pat ical violence were norm al. According to
tern of battering. His abuse is ongoing, and one expert, a male who is raised in such
there is little, if any, sign o f remorse. an environm ent can absorb his fathers con
However, the fact th at there are different tem pt for women very early in life. The boy
kinds of batterers does not mean that some learns that a man m ust always be in control
forms o f battering aren t serious. Indeed, of women and th at the way to get that con
any type o f physical abuse can cause injury trol is to scare them, hurt them, and demean
even death. Hence, the fact that one m ans them. At the same time, he learns that the

A batterer who has assaulted his wife is no less a

criminal than a man who has punched a stranger.
fe When Men Batter Women

W ould you w elcom e m ore inform ation? W rite Je h o va h s W itnesses at the appropriate address.
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Awake! November 8, 2001 5

one sure way to get his fathers approval is to
behave as his father does.
The Bible makes clear that the conduct
of a p arent can have a significant im pact
on a child, either for good or for bad. (Prov
erbs 22:6; Colossians 3:21) O f course, the
family environm ent does not excuse a m ans
battering, but it may help to explain where
the seeds o f a violent tem peram ent were
sown.
Cultural Influence
In some lands beating a woman is consid
ered acceptable, even normal. The right of a
husband to beat or physically intimidate his
wife is a deeply held conviction in many so
cieties, states a United N ations report.
Even in lands where such abuse is not con
sidered acceptable, m any individuals adopt
a violent code o f conduct. T he irratio n al
thinking of some men in this regard is shock
ing. According to South A fricas Weekly Mail
and Guardian, a study in the Cape Peninsula
found that the m ajority of men who claimed
that they do not abuse their mates felt that
hitting a wom an was acceptable and th at
such conduct does not constitute violence.
Evidently, such a warped view often be
gins in childhood. In Britain, for example,
one study showed that 75 percent of boys
aged 11 and 12 feel that it is acceptable for a
man to hit a woman if he is provoked.
No Excuse for Battering
The above factors may help to explain
spouse abuse, but they do not excuse it. Put

M A C H IS M O Hong Kong: The number Peru: Seventy percent of all

A G lo b a l P ro b le m
Latin America has given
the word machismo to the
English-speaking world. It re
fers to aggressive mascu
line pride and implies an abu
sive attitude toward women.
But machismo is by no means
confined to Latin America, as
the following reports indicate.
Egypt: A three-month study
in Alexandria indicated that
domestic violence is the princi
pal cause of injuries to women.
It is the cause of 27.9 percent
of all visits by women to local
trauma services Resume 5 of
the Fourth World Conference
on Women.
Thailand: In Bangkoks larg
est suburb, 50 percent of
married women are beaten
regularly Pacific Institute for
Womens Health.
of women who say they have
been beaten by their part
ners has soared by more than
40 per cent in the past year.
South China Morning Post,
July 21, 2000.
Japan: The number of wom
en seeking shelter rose
from 4,843 in 1995 to 6,340
in 1998. About one-third
said they were seeking shel
ter because of violent behavior
by their husbands.The Japan
Times, September 10, 2000.
Britain: A rape, beating or
stabbing occurs in a home
somewhere across Britain
every six seconds. According
to a Scotland Yard report, po
lice receive 1,300 calls from
victims of domestic violence
every daymore than 570,-
000 a year. Eighty-one per cent
are female victims attacked
by males.The Times, Octo
ber 25, 2000.
crimes reported to police in
volve women beaten by their
husbands Pacific Institute for
Womens Health.
Russia: In one year, 14,500
Russian women were killed by
their husbands, and a further
56,400 were disabled or badly
injured in domestic attacks.
The Guardian.
China: It is a new problem.
Its rapidly increasing, especial
ly in urban areas, says Profes
sor Chen Yiyun, director of the
Jinglun Family Center. Pres
sure from neighbours no lon
ger checks domestic violence.
The Guardian.
Nicaragua: Violence
against women in Nicaragua is
soaring. One survey claimed
that last year alone 52 per cent
of Nicaraguan women suf
fered some form of domestic
violence at the hands of their
men. BBC News.

Awake! November 8, 2001

 R isk In d ic a to rs
According to a study directed by Richard
J. Gelles at the University of Rhode Island,
U.S.A., the following are risk indicators for
physical and emotional abuse in the domestic
setting:
1. The man has previous involvement with
domestic violence.
2. He is out of work.
3. He uses illegal drugs at least once a year.
4. When he lived at home, he saw his father
hit his mother.
5. The couple are not married; they cohabit.
6. If employed, he has a low-paying job.
7. He did not graduate from high school.
8. He is between 18 and 30 years of age.
9. One or both use violence toward children
in the home.
10. Income is below the poverty level.
11. The man and woman are from different
cultural backgrounds.
simply, beating ones m ate is a gross sin in
G ods eyes. In his Word, the Bible, we read:
Husbands ought to be loving their wives
as their own bodies. He who loves his wife
loves himself, for no m an ever hated his own
flesh; but he feeds and cherishes it, as the
Christ also does the congregation.Ephe
sians 5:28,29.
The Bible long ago foretold th at during
the last days of this system o f things, m any
would be abusive, w ith no n a tu ra l af
fection, and fierce. (2 Timothy 3:1-3;
New English Bible) The prevalence of spouse
abuse is simply another indication that we
are living in the very time period designated
by this prophecy. But what can be done to
support victims o f physical abuse? Is there
any hope th at batterers can change their
course of behavior?

"j

Domestic violence
can seriously affect
children
 CORRECTING M ISC O N C EPTIO N S
Battered wives are responsible for if the man would only stop drinking, the
their husband's actions. Many batterers violence would cease."
deny responsibility for their actions, claim Currently, many researchers consider
ing that their wives provoke them. Even drinking and battering to be two distinct
some friends of the family may buy into problems. After all, the majority of men
the idea that the wife is difficult to deal with substance-abuse problems do not
with, so no wonder that her husband loses beat their mates. The writers of When
control now and then. But this amounts to Men Batter Women note: Battering is
blaming the victim and justifying the ag fundamentally perpetuated by its success
gressor. Really, battered wives often make in controlling, intimidating, and subjugat
extraordinary efforts to pacify their hus ing the battered woman.. . . Alcohol and
bands. Besides, beating ones partner is drug abuse are part of the lifestyle of the
batterer. But it would be a mistake to as
never justified under any circumstances.
sume that the drug use causes the vio
The book The BattererA Psychological
lence."
Profile states: Men who are sent by the
courts to treatment for wife assault are Batterers are violent with everyone.
addicted to violence. They use it as a re Often the batterer is capable of being a
lease from anger and depression, a way delightful friend to others. He puts on
to take control and resolve conflicts, and what can be called the Jekyll-and-
a tension reducer.. . . Often, they cant Hyde personalities. This is why friends of
even acknowledge their role or take the the family may find the stories of his vio
problem seriously." lence unbelievable. Yet, the truth is, the
wife beater chooses brutality as a way to
Alcohol causes a man to beat his wife. dominate his wife.
Granted, some men are more violent
Women do not object to being mis
when they have been drinking. But is it
treated. Likely, this idea stems from not
reasonable to blame the alcohol? Being
understanding the helpless situation of a
intoxicated gives the batterer something
woman who has nowhere to run. The bat
to blame, other than himself, for his be
tered wife may have friends who will take
havior," writes K. J. Wilson in her book
her in for a week or two, but what will she
When Violence Begins at Home. She con do after that? Finding a job and paying
tinues: It appears that, in our society, rent while caring for children are daunting
domestic violence is more comprehensi prospects. And the law may forbid running
ble when inflicted by a person who is in off with the children. Some have tried to
toxicated. An abused woman can avoid leave but were hunted down and taken
seeing her partner as abusive, instead back, either by force or by charm. Friends
thinking of him as a heavy drinker or an who cannot understand may mistakenly
alcoholic." Such thinking, Wilson points believe that such women did not object to
out, can give a woman the false hope that the mistreatment.

8 Awake! November 8, 2001

 HAT can be done to help women who
W are victims of violence? First, one has to
understand what they are going through. Of
ten the harm inflicted by batterers is more
than physical. Verbal threats and intimida
tion are usually involved, so that the victim
is made to feel worthless and helpless.
C o nsider Roxana, w hose story was re
counted in the opening article. Sometimes
her husband uses words as weapons. He
calls m e d e m e a n in g n a m e s, R oxana
confides. He says: You didnt even finish
school. How could you care for the children
w ithout me? Youre a lazy, hopeless mother.
Do you imagine that the authorities would
let you keep the children if you left me?
Roxanas husband m aintains his control
by keeping a tight rein on money. He does
Awake! November 8, 2001
not allow her to use the car, and he calls
throughout the day to check on w hat she
is doing. If she expresses a preference, he
throws a fit of rage. As a result, Roxana has
learned never to express an opinion.
As can be seen, spouse abuse is a com
plex subject. To be o f support, listen with
compassion. Remember, it is usually quite
difficult for a victim to talk about what has
been happening to her. Your goal should be
to strengthen the victim as she deals with the
situation at her own pace.
Some battered women may need to seek
assistance from the authorities. At times, a
point of crisissuch as the intervention of
the policecan cause an abusive m an to see
the seriousness o f his actions. Admittedly,
0 on p a g e 12)
9
 Sometimes I Think I Am
Lourdes gazes at the city from her apart
ment window, her fingers covering her trem
bling m outh. She is a Latin-American wom
an who suffered at the hands of Alfredo,
her violent husband, for over 20 years. Al
fredo was m otivated to change. Yet, it is still
difficult for Lourdes to speak of the physi
cal and emotional pain she endured.
It started just two weeks after our wed
ding, Lourdes says in a low voice. Once,
he knocked out two of my teeth. Another
time I ducked, and his fist smashed into a
wardrobe. But the names hurt even more.
He called me useless rubbish and treated
me as if I had no intelligence. I wanted to
leave, but how could I with three children?
Alfredo touches Lourdes shoulder ten
derly. I am a senior professional, he says.
I felt hum iliated when I was issued a sum
mons and handed a protection order. I tried
to change, but soon I was acting the same
way again.
How did things change? The lady at the
corner shop is one of Jehovahs Witnesses,
explains Lourdes, now visibly more relaxed.
She offered to help me understand the
Bible. I learned that Jehovah G od values
women. I started attending the meetings of
Jehovahs Witnesses, even though at first it
made Alfredo furious. It was a new experi
ence for me to spend time with friends at
the Kingdom Hall. I was amazed to discov
er that I could have my own beliefs, express
them freely, and even teach them to others.
I realized that G od valued me. This gave
me courage.
There was a turning point that Ill never
forget. Alfredo was still attending Catholic
Awake! November 8, 2001
/
Mass each Sunday, and he was protesting at
what I was doing with Jehovahs Witnesses.
I looked him straight in the eye and said
calmly but confidently: Alfredo, what you
think is not what I think. And he didnt hit
me! N ot long after, I was baptized, and he
has never hit me again in the five years
since.
But greater changes were to come. Al
fredo explains: About three years after
Lourdes was baptized, a colleague who is
one of Jehovahs W itnesses invited me to
his house, and he explained fascinating
things to me from the Bible. W ithout telling
my wife, I began to study the Bible with
him. Soon I was accom panying Lourdes to
the meetings. M any o f the talks I heard
there were about family life, and these
often left me feeling em barrassed.
Alfredo was im pressed to see congre
gation members, including men, sweeping
the floor after the meetings. W hen he visit
ed their homes, he saw husbands helping
their wives wash the dishes. These small
incidents dem onstrated to Alfredo how true
love acts.
Shortly after, Alfredo was baptized, and
now he and his wife serve as full-time m in
isters. He often helps me clear the table af
ter meals and make the beds, says Lourdes.
He commends me on my cooking, and he
allows me to make choicessuch as what
music I would like to listen to or what items
we will buy for the house. These are things
that Alfredo would never have done before!
Recently, for the first time, he bought me a
bouquet of flowers. Sometimes I think I am
dreaming!
11
( C ontinuedfrom p a g e 9)
however, any m otivation to change often
vanishes once the crisis has passed.
Should the battered wife leave her hus
band? The Bible does not treat m arital sepa
ration lightly. At the same time, it does not
oblige a battered wife to stay with a man
who jeopardizes her health and perhaps her
very life. The C hristian apostle Paul wrote:
I f she should actually depart, let her remain
unm arried or else make up again with her
husband. (1 C orinthians 7:10-16) Since the
Bible does not forbid separation in extreme
circumstances, what a woman does in this
m atter is a personal decision. (Galatians 6:5)
N o one should coax a wife to leave her hus
band, but neither should anyone pressure
a battered woman to stay with an abusive
man when her health, life, and spirituality
are threatened.
Is There Hope for Batterers?
Spouse abuse is a brazen violation of Bible
principles. At Ephesians 4:29, 31, we read:
Let a rotten saying not proceed out of your
m outh . . . Let all malicious bitterness and
anger and wrath and screaming and abusive
speech be taken away from you along with
all badness.
N o husband who claims to be a follow
er of Christ can really say that he loves his
wife if he abuses her. If he were to m istreat
his wife, o f what value would all his other
good works be? A sm iter does not quali
fy for special privileges in the Christian con
gregation. (1 Timothy 3:3; 1 C orinthians 13:
1-3) Indeed, any professed Christian who re
peatedly and unrepentantly gives in to fits
of anger can be disfellowshipped from the
Christian congregation.G alatians 5:19-21;
2 John 9, 10.
Can violent men change their behavior?
Some have. Usually, however, a batterer will
not change unless he (1) admits that his con
duct is im proper, (2) wants to change his
course, and (3) seeks help. Jehovahs Wit
12 Awake! November 8, 2001
nesses have found that the Bible can be a
powerful influence for change. M any inter
ested ones who study the Bible with them
have developed a strong desire to please
God. Concerning Jehovah G od, these new
Bible students learn that anyone loving vio
lence His soul certainly hates. (Psalm 11:5)
O f course, for a batterer to change his behav
ior involves more than not hitting. It also en
tails learning a whole new attitude toward
his wife.
iere is no room foi
a despot, tyrant,
or bully in the
Christian family
When a man gains knowledge of God, he
learns to view his wife not as a servant but as
a helper and not as inferior but as one to
be honored. (Genesis 2:18; 1 Peter 3:7) He
also learns compassion and the need to lis
ten to his wifes viewpoint. (Genesis 21:12;
Ecclesiastes 4:1) The program of Bible study
that Jehovahs W itnesses offer has helped
many couples. There is no room for a des
pot, tyrant, or bully in the C hristian family.
Ephesians 5:25, 28,29.
The word of G od is alive and exerts pow
er. (Hebrews 4:12) Thus, the wisdom con
tained in the Bible can help couples to ana
lyze the problems they face and give them
the courage to deal with them. M ore than
that, the Bible contains the sure and com
forting hope of seeing a world w ithout vi
olence when Jehovahs heavenly King rules
over all obedient m ankind. The Bible says:
He will deliver the poor one crying for help,
also the afflicted one and whoever has no
helper. From oppression and from violence
he will redeem their soul. Psalm 72:12,14.
 The E xp erim en t Has Failed
N THIS world, a rapidly shrinking global village, it

I is said that the chasm between the haves and

have-nots is increasing. Commenting on the ef
forts to build a global economy, one international
activist group declared: After 50 years of this ex
periment, it is breaking down. Rather than leading
to economic benefits for all people, it has brought
the planet to the brink of environmental catastro
phe, social unrest that is unprecedented, econo
mies of most countries in shambles, an increase in
poverty, hunger, landlessness, migration and social
dislocation. The experiment may now be called a
failure.
What went wrong? When men pursue selfish
aims, they are bound to cause harm. Investor-
financier George Soros notes: Markets reduce
everything, including human beings (labor) and na
ture (land), to commodities. Human imperfection
is also responsible. Echoing the opinions of philos
opher Karl Popper, Soros says: Our understanding
is inherently imperfect; the ultimate truth, the per
fect design for society, is beyond our reach.
Economic inequalities are hardly new. Eight cen
turies before Christ, a Bible writer spoke of those
who are defrauding the lowly ones, who are crush
ing the poor ones. (Amos 4:1) After observing sim
ilar injustices, an ancient statesman wrote some
3,000 years ago: Man has dominated man to his
injury. Ecclesiastes 8:9.
What is the solution? Can human agencies solve Should we despair? No. A righteous world gov
the deep economic inequalities through inter ernment is around the corner! It was the theme
national cooperation? We do not have adequate of Jesus preaching. He called it the kingdom of
international institutions, says Soros, for the God, and he taught his followers to pray for it.
protection of individual freedoms, human rights, (Luke 11:2; 21:31) Gods Kingdom has been estab
and the environment, or for the promotion of social lished in the heavens, and it will soon remove all in
justice not to mention the preservation of peace. justice from this earth. (Revelation 11:15, 18) In
Most of the institutions we do have are associa stead of being a temporary experiment in rulership,
tions of states, and states usually put their own in Gods Kingdom will last forever. (Daniel 2:44) It will
terests ahead of the common interest. The United permanently solve the problems of poverty and op
Nations is constitutionally incapable of fulfilling the pression. What a magnificent prospect for the poor
promises contained in the preamble of its charter. and the oppressedactually, for everyone!

Awake! November 8, 2001 13

 CARTHAGE
The City That Nearly
Toppled Rome
BY A W A K E ! WRITER IN FRANCE
N TH E north coast of Africa, on the outskirts o f Tunis, cap

O ital of Tunisia, lie the ruins of the ancient city o f Carthage.

The tourist might be forgiven for missing them altogether,
for there is not much to catch the eye. Yet, this site holds the remains
of one of the greatest cities of antiquityone that came within a
hairbreadth of defeating the might of Rome. According to Roman
historian Livy, this combat between the two richest cities in the
world held kings and peoples in suspense, for the issue at stake was
nothing less than world domination.
The Citys Foundation
In the second millennium B.C.E., the Phoenicians were confined
to a thin strip o f land along the M editerranean C oast, stre tc h
ing north and south of modern-day Lebanon. G ood seafarers, they
The remains of the turned their attention to the west in search of gold, silver, iron, tin,
Roman thermal baths
and lead. For these, they traded wood (such as the fam ous cedar of
Lebanon), cloth dyed purple-red, perfume, wine, spices, and other
m anufactured items*
As they traveled west, the Phoenicians established settlem ents
along the coasts of Africa, Sicily, Sardinia, and southern Spainper-
the Biblical Tarshish. (1 Kings 10:22; Ezekiel 27:2, 12) Ac
cording to tradition, Carthage was founded in 814 B.C.E.,
some 60 years before its nemesis Rome. A specialist
in N orth African antiquity, Serge Lancel, notes:
The founding of Carthage, around the end of
*The name Phoenician comes from the Greek word P h o in ix ,
meaning purple-red and also palm tree. From this came
M ED ITER R A N EA N the Latin word P o e n u s , giving us the adjective Punic, mean
ing Carthaginian.

CARTHAGE
(ruins) SEA
 The transport of cedars of
Lebanon by Phoenician ships
M u s e e du Louvre, Paris
the ninth century BC, was for many hun
dreds of years a determining factor in the
political and cultural destiny of the western
M editerranean basin.
The Beginnings of an Empire
It was on a peninsula shaped like a giant anchor
thrown out to sea, as historian Franfois Decret de
scribes it, that Carthage began to carve out an em
pire. Building on the foundation laid by its Phoeni
cian forebears, Carthage developed its commercial
netw ork prim arily involving the im portation of
metalsinto a giant trust, enforcing its monopoly by
means of its powerful fleet and mercenary troops.
Never content to rest on their laurels, the C ar
thaginians were constantly on the lookout for new
markets. About 480 B.C.E., the navigator Himilco is
thought to have landed in tin-rich Cornwall, in Brit
ain. Some 30 years later, Hanno, a m ember of one of
the leading families of Carthage, is said to have led an
expedition of 60 ships, bearing 30,000 men and wom
en, to form new colonies. Passing through the Strait
of G ibraltar and sailing down the African coast, Han
no may have reached the G u lf of G uinea and even the
shores of Cameroon.
As a result of such a spirit of enterprise and keen
business acum en, C arthage reputedly becam e the
richest city in the ancient world. By the beginning
o f the third century [B.C.E.], its technical know-how,
its fleet, and its commercial establishment . . . put
the city in the forem ost place, says the book Car
thage. O f the Carthaginians, Greek historian Appian
declared: In power, they equaled the Greeks; in rich
es, the Persians.
In the Shadow of Baal
Though scattered throughout the
western M editerranean, the Phoeni
cians were united by their religious
beliefs. The C arthaginians inherit
ed the Canaanite religion from their
Phoenician forefathers. For centu
ries C arthage sent a delegation to
Tyre each year to sacrifice at the tem
ple of M elqart. In Carthage the chief
deities were the divine couple Baal-
Hammon, meaning Lord of the Bra
zier, and Tanit, identified with As-
tarte.
The most notorious characteristic
of C arthaginian religion was child
sacrifice. D iodorus Siculus reports
that in 310 B.C.E., during an attack
on the city, the Carthaginians sacri
ficed over 200 children of noble birth
to appease Baal-Hammon. The Ency
clopedia o f Religion states: Offering
up an innocent child as a vicarious
victim was a suprem e act of propitia
tion, probably intended to guarantee
the welfare of family and com m uni
ty alike.
In 1921, a rc h a e o lo g ists d isco v
ered what came to be called the To-
phet, after the Biblical expression
used at 2 Kings 23:10 and Jer
emiah 7:31. Digs revealed m ul
tiple levels of urns containing
the charred remains o f animals
Glass pendants were worn
as good-luck charms
M u s e e du Louvre, Paris
 The Carthaginians placed had brought not only Africa* but
funerary masks in tombs also large parts of Spain under their
to ward off evil spirits
M u s e e du Louvre, Paris
rule, and th at they were the m as
ters of all the islands in the Sardin
ian and Tyrrhenian Seas. If the C ar
(used as substitute sacrifices) and
thaginians gained control of Sicily,
young children, buried under ste
they would prove the most vexatious
lae with votive inscriptions. It is es
tim ated th at the Tophet contains and dangerous of neighbours, since
the remains of over 20,000 children they would encircle Italy on every
who were sacrificed during just one side and threaten every part of the
200-year period. Some revisionists country. Certain parties in the Ro
today claim that the Tophet was simply the funeral man Senate, motivated by com m er
site of children who were stillborn or died too young cial considerations, were pressing for
to be interred in the necropolis. However, as notes intervention in Sicily.
Lancel, quoted earlier, the reality of Carthaginian The Punic Wars
hum an sacrifice cannot be categorically denied. In 264 B.C.E., a crisis in Sicily pro
Sparring for Supremacy vided the R om ans w ith a pretext
With the decline of Tyre in the sixth century B.C.E., * The name Africa was given by the Cartha
Carthage took up the mantle of leader of the western ginians to the territory surrounding Carthage. It
later came to designate all known regions of the
Phoenicians. But the rise of Carthage to preeminence continent. The Romans kept this name when they
was not w ithout opposition. Early on, Punic and made the territory a Roman province.Diction-
naire de IAntiquiteMythologie, litterature, civili
Greek m erchants sparred for control of the seas, and sation.
about 550 B.C.E., war broke out. In 535 B.C.E., the
Carthaginians, helped by their Etruscan allies, drove
the G reeks from the island of Corsica and took con
trol of Sardinia.* As a result, conflict between Car
thage and G reece for control of Sicilyan island of
key strategic im portancewas all the more bitter.
At the same time, Rome was beginning to flex its
muscles. Treaties between Carthage and Rome guar
anteed the trade prerogatives of Carthage and made
Sicily off-limits to the Romans. But as Rome subjugat
ed the Italian peninsula, the increasing influence of
Carthage on Italys doorstep was seen as a threat. The
second-century B.C.E. Greek historian Polybius com
mented: The Romans saw . . . that the Carthaginians
* The close relations between Carthaginians and Etruscans, lasting
several centuries, led Aristotle to comment that the two nations seemed
to form but one state. For more information on the Etruscans, see the
November 8, 1997, issue of Awake!, pages 24-7.

Child murder was part of the

Canaanite worship inherited by
the Carthaginians. This is a grave
marker for a sacrificed child
16
Ruins ofthe Punic city, lost to the
Romans in 146 B.C.E.
for intervention. In violation of an
agreement, Rome sent a detachm ent
of troops, sparking what is called the
First Punic War. This conflict, char
acterized by some of the largest na
val battles of antiquity, dragged on
for more than 20 years. Finally, in
241 B.C.E., the Carthaginians were
defeated and forced to abandon Sici
ly. Rome also snatched Corsica and
Sardinia from their grasp.
To com pensate for these losses,
Hamilcar Barca, a Carthaginian gen
eral, set out to reconstitute the pow
er of Carthage by building an empire
in Spain. A New CarthageCar
tagenawas fo u n d ed on S p a in s
southeast coast, and w ithin a few
years, the mining riches of Spain had
refilled the coffers of Carthage. Inev
itably, this expansion led to conflict
with Rome, and in 218 B.C.E., war
broke out again.
At the head of the Carthaginian
arm y was one o f H a m ilc a rs
sons, Hannibal, m eaning Favored
by B aal. Leaving C a rta g e n a in
May 218 B.C.E., he set off on an
epic march through Spain and Gaul,
crossing the Alps with his army of
A fricans and S p a n iard s to g e th e r
with nearly 40 elephants. C aught
off guard, the Romans suffered sev
eral crushing defeats. On August 2,
216 B.C.E., at the battle of Cannae
one of the most terrible disasters
that the Rom an arm y ever experi
enced Hannibals army wiped out
a Roman force twice its size, killing
nearly 70,000 of the enemy while los
ing only 6,000 men.
Rome was nearly within reach! But refusing to give
up, the Romans harassed Hannibals troops in a war
of attrition for the next 13 years. W hen Rome sent
an army to Africa, Carthage was abandoned by her
allies and defeated in Spain and Sicily. Hence, Car
thage was forced to recall Hannibal. The following
year, in 202 B.C.E., the Roman General Scipio Africa-
nus defeated Hannibals army at Zama, southw est of
Carthage. The Punic city, forced to surrender its fleet,
was denied military independence and was fined a
huge indemnity to be paid over a period of 50 years.
As for Hannibal, he later fled into exile, and about
183 B.C.E., he com m itted suicide.
Delenda est Carthago!
Peace brought renewed prosperity to Carthage, to
the point that it offered to pay the indemnity in just
ten years. Such vitality, as well as political reforms,
was considered extremely dangerous by the implaca
ble enemies of Carthage. For nearly two years, right
up to his death, the elderly Ro
man statesman Cato concluded
every one of his speeches be
fore the Senate with the slo
gan: Delenda est Carthago!,
meaning Carthage m ust be de
stroyed!
Finally, in 150 B.C.E., an al
leged breach o f tre a ty gave
the Romans the excuse they were
Hannibal is regarded as
one of the greatest
military strategists
who ever lived
A lin a ri/A rt Resou rce, NY
seeking. A war, described as a war of ex A theater, an am phitheater, huge therm al
term ination, was declared. For three years baths, an 82-mile aqueduct, and a circus capa
the Romans laid siege to the citys 20 miles ble of holding 60,000 spectators were built
o f fortifications, p a rt o f which were over to satisfy the dem ands o f its 300,000 in
40 feet tall. Finally, in 146 B.C.E., a breach habitants.
was made. Roman troops, advancing through Christianity came to Carthage about the
narrow streets under a hail of projectiles, middle of the second century C.E. and ex
engaged in savage hand-to-hand com bat. perienced rapid growth there. Tertullian, the
In gruesom e confirm ation o f the ancient renowned church theologian and apologist,
record, archaeologists have found hum an was born in Carthage in about 155 C.E. As
bones under the scattered stone blocks. a result of his writings, Latin becam e the
After six terrible days, some 50,000 fam official language o f the W estern C hurch.
ished citizens who were holed up in the Byrsa Cyprian, third-century bishop of Carthage
the fortified hilltop citadelsurrendered. who devised a seven-grade hierarchical cler
Others, refusing execution or slavery, shut gy system, suffered m artyrdom in the city,
themselves in the temple of Eshm un and set in 258 C.E. Another N orth African, Augus
it on fire. The Romans torched what was left tine (354-430 C.E.), called the greatest think
of the city, Carthage was razed and ceremo er of Christian antiquity, was instrum ental
nially cursed, and all hum an habitation was in fusing church doctrine with G reek phi
forbidden. losophy. The influence of the N orth African
Thus within 120 years, Rome brought the church was such that one cleric declared: It
imperialistic goals of Carthage to ruin. His is you, O Africa, who advances the cause o f
torian Arnold Toynbee stated: W hether the our faith with the most ardor. W hat you de
coming Hellenic universal state should take cide is approved by Rome and followed by
the form of a Carthaginian Empire or a Ro the earths masters.
man Em pire was the real issue of the Hanni- However, the days of Carthage were num
balic War. Had Hannibal won, comments bered. Once again, its fate was inextricably
the Encyclopedia Universalis, he would sure linked with that of Rome. As the Roman Em
ly have founded a universal empire similar to pire waned, so did Carthage. In 439 C.E.,
that of Alexander. As it was, the Punic Wars the city was c a p tu re d and p lu n d ere d by
marked the debut o f Roman im perialism , the Vandals. The Byzantine conquest of the
which ultimately led it to world domination. city a century later provided a brief stay of
The African Rome execution. But it was unable to resist the
Carthage met a seemingly irrevocable end. Arabs who swept through N orth Africa. In
Still, just a century later Julius Caesar de 698 C.E., the city was taken, and after that, its
cided to establish a colony there. In his hon stones served to build the city of Tunis. In fol
or it was called Colonia Julia Carthago. Ro lowing centuries the marble and granite that
man engineers, shifting perhaps four million had once adorned the Roman city were plun
cubic feet of earth, leveled off the top of dered and exported, being used to build the
the Byrsa to form a huge platform and to cathedrals of Genoa and Pisa, in Italy, and
efface all traces of the past. On it temples possibly, even Canterbury, in England. From
and ornate public buildings were erected. As being one of the richest and most powerful
time passed, C arthage becam e one of the cities in antiquity, from being an empire that
most opulent cities of the Roman world, the nearly ruled the world, Carthage was finally
second-largest city in the West after Rome. reduced to an unrecognizable heap of rubble.
18 Awake! November 8, 2001
Viennas Beloved
GIANT
W'h e e l
BY AWAKE! WRITER IN AUSTRIA

HE picturesque city of Vienna lies spread out in the

T foreground, and the hills of the Vienna woods rise

in the distance. The stage is set so perfectly that
you can almost hear the lilting strains of Strauss waltzes
in the air. A young man has purposely chosen this set
ting, but now he struggles to calm his pounding heart as
he proposes to his sweetheart. They are 200 feet above
the ground. How is that? He is not the first and certainly
will not be the last to visit Viennas beloved Riesenrad, or
giant wheel, on such a special occasion.
The giant wheel, located in a large park in Vienna
called the Prater, has been a cherished city landmark
for over 100 years. You only know Vienna if you have
seen it from the giant wheel, proclaims the invitation
posted at the attractions entrance. But its existence
longer than that of any other giant Ferris wheel in the
world has not been without difficulties. How did this
steel colossus come to be? How did it survive the storms
of time?
The First Ferris Wheel
To trace the history of the giant wheel, we must go
back to the 19th century and the Industrial Revolution.
During that time steel became the industrial building ma
terial of choice. Steel skeletons of daring design sprang
up in various world capitalsthe steel-and-glass Crystal

Built: 1897
Height: 212 feet construction: 430 tons
Wheel diameter: 200 feet Speed: 1.7 miles per hour
Weight of wheel: 245 tons
Source: The Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel,
by Helmut Jahn and Peter Petritsch, 1989, page 39
Palace in London, the Palm House in Vienna,
and the Eiffel Tower in Paris. However, the city
most notable for this form of architecture was
Chicago, and it was there, on the occasion of
the 1893 World's Fair, that American engineer
George Ferris built the first giant wheel.
Ferris sensational wheel was 250 feet in di
ameter and bore 36 cars, each able to carry
40 passengers aloft for a magnificent 20-minute
view of Chicago and its surroundings. For many
visitors to the fair, it was by far the most memo
rable attraction. But Chicagos Ferris wheel
eventually lost its novelty, and after being moved
twice, it was demolished in 1906 for scrap.
Nevertheless, the idea of a giant wheel had al
ready begun to fire imaginations elsewhere.
The Giant Wheel Comes to Vienna
Enthusiasm about Chicagos giant wheel
apparently ran high in the mind of engineer and
retired British naval officer Walter Basset. In
1894 he initiated design on a great wheel to be
erected in Earls Court in London, and he later
built other wheels in Blackpool, England, and
in Paris. Meanwhile, Viennese entertainment
entrepreneur Gabor Steiner had been seek
ing new attractions for Vienna. One day a rep
resentative of Walter Basset suggested to Stei
ner that they become partners in erecting a
giant wheel in Vienna. The men quickly
came to terms, and a suitable
site for the new sensation
from England was found. But what about obtain
ing a building permit?
When Steiner submitted his construction
plans to the city, an official looked at the plans,
looked back at Steiner, and looked again at
the plans. He then shook his head and asked:
Do you really think, Mr. Director, that you can
find someone who will permit you to build this
monster and accept responsibility for it? Stei
ner pleaded: But wheels like this exist in Lon
don and Blackpool, and they function without
any problems! The official refused to be con
vinced. The English can do as they like, he re
plied, but Im not going to risk my hide. Un
daunted, Steiner persevered and finally received
permission to build.
The erection of the gigantic steel structure
was sensational in itself. Curious onlookers
gathered daily at the construction site to ex
change observations about its progress. After
only eight months, it was finished. On June 21,
1897, the last blows of the hammer were deliv
ered by Lady Horace Rumbold, wife of the En
glish ambassador to the Viennese Court. A few
days later, the giant wheel went into operation.
As Steiner later recalled: Everyone was delight
ed, and the ticket offices were stormed.
The Giant Wheels Ups and Downs
Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir appar
ent to the Austro-Hungarian crown,
enjoyed surveying the empires
A view of the northeastern skyline
of Vienna from the giant wheel
capital from atop the giant wheel. His assas
sination in June 1914the prelude to World
War Ialso affected the giant wheel. Not only
was it robbed of its famous guest but it was
also closed to the public when it became a mili
tary lookout. The giant wheel resumed opera
tion in May 1915. The country was by then suf
fering an iron shortage, however, and standing
there for all to see was the giant wheel, just
waiting to be dismantled! The wheel was sold in
1919 to a Prague merchant, who was to disman
tle it within three months. But dismantling the
complicated structure would have been more ex
pensive than the iron was worth. So the already
famous landmark narrowly escaped a death
sentence and continued to entertain an appre
ciative public.
The war and the collapse of the Austro-
Hungarian monarchy brought serious changes
to Vienna. In the 1930s, the economy wors
ened, and the political situation became precar
ious. Steiner, once a celebrated man, had to flee
for his life because of his Jewish descent. Still,
in 1939 and 1940, the giant wheel saw record
numbers of riders. World War II, which had bro
ken out in the meantime, seemed to drive peo
ple into a pleasure-seeking frenzy. But in Sep
tember 1944, alarming news spread through
the citythe giant wheel was on fire! A short cir
cuit on the neighboring roller coaster started a
fire that spread to the giant wheel, destroying six
of its cars. But the worst was yet to come.
Awake! November 8, 2001
In April 1945, during the waning days of World
War II, the wheel again caught fire. This time all
30 cars were consumed along with the control
facilities. The only thing that remained was the
wheels burned-out iron frame. But even this did
not mark the end of the wheel. While blocks
of houses lay in ruins after the war, the giant
wheel, although only a steel skeleton, stood
defiant. Once again it was found that disman
tling it would be too expensive. Was there an
alternative?
Yes! It was once again restored, although for
safety reasons only every second car was re
placed. From May 1947 until today, it has con
tinued making its rounds, slowly taking its de
lighted passengers up and down. Through films
such as The Third Man, with its unforgettable
theme music played on the zither, the giant
wheel has also become recognizable far beyond
Vienna.
Viennas giant wheel has survived, while
those originally erected in Chicago, London,
Blackpool, and Paris have all become scrap
iron. It remains a witness to the postwar gener
ations strong will to rebuild and has become
a symbol of Vienna. Should you ever visit Vien
na, you will surely want to take a ride on the
giant wheel. While there, perhaps you will also
catch sight of an older man telling his grandchil
dren how, high atop the giant wheel, he tried to
quiet his pounding heart as Grandma agreed to
marry him.
21
 BY A W A K E ! WRITER IN KENYA

V IS IT O R to K enya is never

A short o f superlatives when de

scribing his trip . A n e le p h a n t
m atriarch, a m ajestic lion, and a crim son
sunset are vivid images th at rem ain with
the traveler. Here, the beauty is vast and
varied. However, on the m any roads in the
area, there is an attraction o f another kind
the versatile matatu. This nam e refers to "6 o
-
a group of public tran sp o rt vehicles. Their o-
fascinating characteristics have made them
a m ost p o p u lar m eans o f transportation in
Kenya.
The origin o f the m atatu is as interest
ing as its m ode o f operation. The first of
its kind was a dilap id ated Ford T ham es nal cost o f three 10-cent coins per trip,
model, a rem nant o f the fleet used by Brit may explain why the vehicles got the nam e
ish soldiers in E thiopia during the second m atatufrom a Swahili word tatu, m ean
world war. In the early 1960s, a N airobi res ing three. Since then, the m atatu has u n
ident used this jalopy to ferry some friends dergone a com plete m etam orphosis, with
to the center o f the city, asking them to current models bearing little resem blance
contribute a m eager 30 cents each for the to their rattling predecessors. Yes, todays
fuel.* S oon th e re a fte r, o th ers to o k note m atatu is a flashy vehicle described by one
o f the financial gain th at the old vehicles Kenyan daily new spaper as a jet-shaped
could bring. Thus, m any were converted and rainbow coloured projectile. This is
into 21-passenger carriers, with three paral not the product o f the cottage industry o f
lel w ooden benches serving as seats. This the W s !
form at is sim ilar to th at of the old boleka- Riding in a m atatu can be an exhilarat
jas o f Nigeria. Each person paid the origi- ing experience, especially when the driv
er hacks his way through heavy city traffic!
*The shilling, Kenyas basic monetary unit, is divided into
100 Kenya cents. One dollar (U.S.) is worth approximately Let us take a short trip around N airobi in a
78 shillings. matatu and sample this feeling.

22 Awake! November 8, 2001

 Fascinating Attraction site, In te rn et, and D ot C om . O thers
O ur journey will start at a yard where doz such as M eek and M issionary indicate
ens of these vehicles are parked waiting to desirable hum an qualities or achievements.
disperse in different directions. It is one The closest rival to the m atatus scintillat
oclock in the afternoon, and the area is a ing appearance is the jeepney o f the Philip
beehive o f activity, with people trying pines. Interestingly, the jeepney is also a by
to locate the p a rticu la r m atatu th at product of the second world war.
will take th em to th e ir destin atio n . The wooing of passengers creates quite a
Some of the passengers are scene. Despite the visible signs on vehicle
heading up-country, a jo u r windshields indicating their routes, conduc
ney th a t w ill take sev er tors shout at the top o f their voices while
al hours. O thers are going drivers honk m elodious tunes. Do not be
a few miles away from the surprised to see signs on som e m atatus for
city center, perhaps to have a Jerusalem or Jericho. Should you board
quick meal. The m atatu comes in handy. one of these, you will end up, not in the M id
Have you noticed th at m ost o f these vehi dle East, but in eastern suburbs o f Nairobi
cles are sporting several bright colors? Well, bearing these Biblical names. W ith the con
this is m ore than a m eans of enhancing their ductors attem pting to usher custom ers into
appearance. There are custom ers who opt alm ost every matatu, it is little wonder that
to ride in the m ost attractive matatu. A clos many are having a hard tim e choosing the
er look at the vehicles also reveals several one to use!
names painted on the sides. Some of these Welcome aboard the Strawberry! Perhaps
describe c u rre n t th em es for exam ple, the ride will prove to be as sweet as the fruit.
El N ino, M illennium , The Web It appears that m any prefer this particular
matatu, since it has taken only a few m in
utes to fill. Low m usic coming from small
speakers hung in the ceiling soothes the pas
sengers. However, do not think that this is
true of all matatus. Some have been known
to have huge loudspeakers under the seats,
from w hich earsplitting m usic em anates.
Well, it is now over ten m inutes since all the
seats were taken. Yet, our m atatu has not
moved an inch. W hy the delay? The aisle be
tween the rows o f seats has yet to be occu
pied by standing passengers. Soon there is
hardly any space left for one to turn. In fact,
the m atatu will probably stop several times
along the way to collect m ore passengers.
Finally we are on the move. Total strang
ers share in anim ated conversation, mainly
on the topics of the day. It is like a m arket
place. Beware, though, of paying too much
attention to the discussion. Some have been
known to miss their destination because of
being so involved in such discussions.
We m entioned that a m atatu is versatile.
It is not tied to one p a rticu la r route. To
beat a self-im posed deadline, a driver will
use any available space including pavement
m eant for p e d e stria n sat tim es m iss
ing som e by inches. M eanw hile,
the conductors jo b is not easy. He is trying
to collect fares from the noisy passengers,
some of whom are less than cooperative.
Yet, he rarely entertains petty squabbles. Ei
ther the passenger pays or the m atatu stops
imm ediately and he is told to alightsom e
times in an unkindly manner! The conduc
tor alerts the driver of those wishing to dis
em bark, while at the sam e tim e he is on
the lookout for others desiring to board. He
signals the driver by whistling, tapping the
roof, or ringing a bell strategically located
near the door. Though there are designated
stops for all public service vehicles, the m a
tatu can stop anywhere at any time, either to
pick up or to drop off passengers.
Having left the city center, we are now in a
small suburb, where the m ajority of the pas
sengers are getting off. It is tim e for the m a
tatu to make a return trip to the yard it cam e
from. It will pick up m ore people along the
way. These will have the same experience
we did. W ithout a doubt, our ride in the
Strawberry, albeit bumpy, was enjoyable.
Here to Stay
With an average o f 30,000 vehicles, the
m a ta tu tra n s p o rt in d u stry in K enya
has transform ed itself from the war rem-
nant it was decades ago to a vibrant,
m ultim illion-dollar empire. Its versatil
ity, however, has created some problems.
For example, drivers have been accused of
failing to adhere to traffic laws governing
other road users, and m any regulations have
been enacted by the authorities to tam e the
industry. Occasionally the sector has react
ed to such m aneuvers by withdrawing ser
vices, thus inconveniencing thousands o f
people who rely on m atatus daily. W hile
not all may like the m atatus operating sys
tem, these vehicles do provide an alternative
mode o f quick transportation for the low-
incom e earners o f this region.

Use Medicinal
Drugs W isely
BY A W A K E ! WRITER IN SOUTH AFRICA
HEN your doctor prescribes medicinal

W drugs, he no doubt does so with good in

tentions, basing his prescription on his
diagnosis, medical knowledge, and experience.
Nevertheless, the patient should not expect his Drugs affect each individual differently. Your
doctor to accept total accountability for his well doctor cannot predict exactly how a given drug
being. The patient remains responsible for what will affect you. If you become alarmed by unex
he takes into his body. pected side effects, consult your doctor.
When taking prescription medicines, consider Find out how long you will need to take the
the following practical guidelines from a medical medication. Also determine if it is potentially ad-
doctor: dictive.
All drugs have side effects. You have a right Beware of deciding to stop taking medica
to know what medication is being prescribed and tion on your own, perhaps because you are feel
what its possible side effects are. If your doctor ing better. Coming off medication too soon may
does not provide this information, do not hesitate exacerbate your condition. Rather, consult your
to ask. In most cases the benefits will outweigh doctor first.
the side effects. But you need to be informed so Always take prescription medication under a
that you can make an intelligent decision. doctors supervision.
 Gods Use of Force
Is It Justified?
HE deadly use of force has been a con
T stant feature of m ans history. By one es
timate, probably 170,000,000 people have
been m urdered in the 20th century by their
own political regimes. As the Bible so ac
curately points out, men have consistently
dom inated other men to their injuryEccle
siastes 8:9.
In view o f m ans misuse o f violent force,
some may question G o d s use of force to de
stroy his enemies. Did not the Jews, under
G ods direct orders, attack and kill the Ca-
naanite inhabitants o f the Promised Land?
(D eu tero n o m y 20:16, 17) A nd does not
G od him self say that he will crush and put
an end to all opposing rulerships? (Daniel
2:44) Some sincere individuals have won
dered if G ods use of force is always justi-
Abuse of Force
It is vital to understand that the abili
ty to use force is a critical elem ent o f gov
ernm ent. An adm inistration th a t cannot
enforce its decrees is, in effect, powerless.
For example, how many people despite re
ports of police abuses would be willing to
forgo the protection provided by a police
force? And what person would sanely argue
against the necessity o f a justice system with
teeth.
M ohandas Gandhi, who was renowned
for his abhorrence of violence, once stated:
Suppose a man runs amuck and goes furi
ously about, sword in hand, and killing any
one that comes in his way, and no one dares
capture him alive. Anyone who dispatches
this lunatic will earn the gratitude o f the
com m unity and be regarded as a benevo
lent m an. Yes, even G andhi saw the
need for force under some cir
cumstances.
 Obviously, the ability to apply force is a
necessary element o f any stable society. In
general, when people decry the use of force,
they are actually criticizing the abuse o f
force.Ecclesiastes 4:1-3.
All His Ways Are Justice
H istory provides no evidence th at G od
ever abused his power. He does not rule by ar
bitrary force. He wants us to worship him out
of love. (1 John 4:18, 19) In fact, G od does
not use force if there is a just way to avoid it.
(Jeremiah 18:7, 8; 26:3, 13; Ezekiel 18:32; 33:
11) And when he chooses to use force, he al
ways gives plenty of warning so that whoever
wants to can take corrective steps. (Amos 3:7;
M atthew 24:14) Are these the actions of an
arbitrary, cruel God?
G ods use of force has nothing in common
with the unjustifiable abuse of power by hu
mans. All his ways are justice, says Moses
about Jehovah, a G od of faithfulness, with
whom there is no injustice. (Deuteronomy
32:4) Unlike governments of hum an tyrants,
G ods government is not based on who has
the bigger stick. In every case, he has used
force in harmony with his perfect love, wis
dom, and justice. Psalm 111:2, 3, 7; M at
thew 23:37.
For exam ple, w hen G od destroyed the
wicked in the Flood, it was after many years
of warning. Anyone could have availed him
self of the provision of the ark and survived.
Only eight did. (1 Peter 3:19, 20; 2 Peter 2:5)
In Joshuas day, Israel executed G ods judg
m ent on th e c o rru p t C anaanites, a ju d g
m ent pro n o u n ced over 400 years earlier!
(Genesis 15:13-21) In all that time, the Ca
naanites could not have remained ignorant
of the powerful evidence that the Israelites
were G ods chosen people. (Joshua 2:9-21; 9:
24-27) Yet, no Canaanite nation other than
the Gibeonites sought mercy or availed itself
of the opportunity to sue for peace. Rather,
Awake! November 8, 2001
the Canaanites chose to harden their hearts
against G od.Joshua 11:19,20.
God Has the Authority
When attem pting to understand G ods use
of force, we must begin with a basic truth
about our position before God. We are the
clay, and you are o u r P otter, hum bly ac
knowledged the prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 64:8)
Obviously, as the C reator of the universe,
God can use force in any way he wishes to. In
recognition of G ods authority, like Solomon
we can say: The word of the king is the pow
er of control; and who may say to him: What
are you doing? Ecclesiastes 8:4; Romans
9:20,21.
Because of G ods position as the om nipo
tent Creator, earthly life is his to give and his
to take away. Indeed, hum ans lack the per
spective legitimately and knowledgeably to
question G ods use of force. Man m ust learn
to conform his thinking to G ods. Are not
the ways of you people the ones that are not
adjusted right? Jehovah asked.Ezekiel 18:
29; Isaiah 45:9.
It is Jehovahs sense of justice and his love
for people th a t will move him to rid the
earth of those who abuse power and violent
ly tram ple on the rights of others. This act of
force will establish ideal conditions on the
earth for all peace-loving hum ans who want
it. (Psalm 37:10, 11; N ahum 1:9) Thus G ods
government will be justified and forever vin
dicated.Revelation 22:12-15.
IN OUR NEXT ISSUE
Who Will Protect the Web of Life?
How Do I Deal With Angry People?
Stories of Faith From
a Historic Prison
27
 Medical Records
Include Television Habits?
A childs medical records
should include his television
habits, recommends a group
of pediatricians in Spain. Ac
cording to the Spanish newspa
per Diario Medico, the doctors
feel that they should know how
many hours a day a child pa
tient watches TV as well as the
kind of programs he sees and
in whose company. Why? Be
cause a survey conducted by
the pediatricians revealed that
TV viewing leads to a sedentary
life-style, increased aggressive
ness, the desire to buy things,
impaired school performance,
and the possibility of becom
ing a TV addict. The pedia
tricians recommend that par
ents not install a television in
the childrens bedroom or in a
place where [the children] can
control the programs, says
the report. Moreover, watch
ing television during mealtimes
should be avoided, and parents
should limit the childrens tele
vision viewing to less than two
hours a day, although less than
one hour a day would be pref
erable.
Chinas Population Growth
C hinas population has
grown to 1.26 billion people
and is getting older, better ed
ucated and more urbanized,
says abcNEWS.com. According
to Zhu Zhixin, director of the
National Bureau of Statistics,
the population has grown by
132.2 million since 1990. The
lower growth rate of 1.07 per
cent a year is attributed to Chi
28
nas single-child birth-control
policies instituted since the
late 1970s. Officials are con
cerned, however, because the
1999 survey revealed 117 males
born for every 100 females,
possibly as a result of selective
abortion of girls. Sociologists
fear the skewed birth ratio will
lead to a shortage of brides,
worsening prostitution and the
kidnapping and sale of women
for marriage, the report says.
Underground Treasure
Researchers led by Brazilian
hydrogeologist Heraldo Cam
pos have completed a seven-
year project to map South
Americas largest groundwater
reservoirs. The Guarani Aqui
fer, situated under parts of
Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and
Argentina, has a total surface
area of approximately 500,000
square miles and holds an esti
mated 10,000 cubic miles of wa
ter. According to a Global En
vironment Facility report, the
reserve volume today would be
enough to supply the entire
population of Brazil for 3,500
years. In the future this un ly discovered species digest and
derground treasure may also
be tapped to combat desertifi
cation, and because of the wa
ter temperature, it may be used
as an alternative energy source.
By mapping the aquifer, re
searchers hope to protect its
Awake! November 8, 2001
recharge areas from pesticide
and fertilizer contamination.
Increase in Skin Cancer
There has been a dramat
ic increase in melanoma, the
most serious of skin tumors, ac
cording to Spains El Pais Digi
tal news service. By the middle
of the 20th century, melano
ma occurred in 1 out of every
1,500 people. But by the year
2000, this number had soared
to 1 out of every 75 individuals,
mainly because of the tanning
fashion. At a convention of the
European Society for Medical
Oncology, Professor J. Kirk
wood stated that 40 percent of
melanoma tumors involve ge
netic factors, while the remain
ing 60 percent involve excessive
exposure to the sun. Wom
en between the ages of 23
and 50 are the most affected.
Kirkwood explained that dur
ing childhood and adolescence,
mutations in skin pigment cells
can be triggered by solar radia
tion, although cancer may not
appear until many years later.
The skin keeps a memory of
the solar radiation received,
Kirkwood noted.
Sugar Into Plastic
Scientists at Brazils Insti
tute of Technological Research
have discovered a new species
of bacteria capable of convert
ing sugar into plastic. Previous
convert sugar only after it has
been broken down into smaller
molecules, but the great po
tential of this [newly discovered
bacterium] lies in its ability
to metabolize sugar directly,
says engineer Carlos Rossell.
When overfed, the bacteria use
the extra sugar to manufacture
minute grains of biodegrad
able plastic, which scientists re
lease by using a solvent. Ac
cording to the researchers, one
kilogram [2.2 pounds] of plastic
can be obtained from three ki
lograms [6.6 pounds] of sugar,
says the newspaper 0 Estado de
S. Paulo.
Dietary Fat Dulls the Mind
A fatty diet can clog your
brain as well as your coro
nary arteries, says New Scien
tist magazine. To understand
the effects of a high-fat diet on
the brain, researchers in Cana
da fed one-month-old rats a
diet rich in either animal or
vegetable fat until they were
four months old. A control
group was fed a low-fat diet.
Both groups were then given
learning tasks. The results? The
rats on the two high-fat diets
performed much more poorly
than the lean rats. Researcher
Gordon Winocur said: High-
fat diets impair performance
on virtually all our measures.
Its remarkable how impaired
these animals are. According
to the report, the researchers
feel that fat prevents the brain
[from] taking up glucose, possi
bly by interfering with the ac
tion of insulin, which helps reg
ulate blood sugar levels.
Torture for Sale
Trade in tools of torture is
on the rise, says an article
in the German newspaper Siid-
west Presse. According to
the human rights organization
Amnesty International, 150
companies around the world
have allegedly joined this grue
some trade, including 30 in
Germany and 97 in the Unit
ed States. Their wares include
not just leg irons and ser
rated thumb cuffs but high-
voltage electroshock devices.
One company in the United
States was said to offer remote
ly controlled belts that send up
to 50,000-volt electric shocks
through the victims body. Such
high-tech tools are preferred
by torturers, since they hardly
leave any traces on their vic
tims.
In his study of crab spi
ders, German researcher Pe
ter Jaeger of Mainz University
has identified 50 new varieties
which flourish in the snow and
ice of the Himalayas, at alti
tudes of up to 3,800 meters
[12,500 feet], says the news
paper The Asian Age. Though
they can be up to four cm
[1.6 inches] in size, the giant
crab spiders pose absolutely no
danger to humans. They lurk
in crevices in the rocks or un
der tree bark and feed on in
sects, which they are able to
locate easily because of their
sensitive hearing. But why do
these spiders not freeze in win
ter? Unlike their relatives in
warmer climates, the Himala
yan species are equipped with
a biological antifreeze, says
Jaeger. They store highly-
concentrated alcohols in their
body fluids and this enables
them to survive temperatures
below freezing.
Awake! November 8, 2001
Sniffing Out Diseases
A sniffing test may help in
the early diagnosis of diseas
es such as Parkinsons or Alz
heimers, reports the German
science magazine natur & kos-
mos. A failing sense of smell
appears early in the progres
sion of Parkinsons disease
and is among the most com
mon symptoms. Thanks to the
work of Professor Gerd Ko-
bal, a practical method of test
ing the level of deterioration
in a patients sense of smell
has now been developed. While
the more obvious Parkinsons
symptoms, such as tremors and
muscular rigidity, appear at a
later stage, dysfunction in the
sense of smell can be detect
ed months or even years earli
er, thanks to the newly devel
oped sniffing test. This opens
the way for treatment that may
delay the progression of this
presently incurable disease.
Food Waste
An incredible amount of
food is wasted at marriage re
ceptions and other extravagant
parties, says the Mainichi Dai
ly News of Japan. A government
survey on food waste revealed
that households wasted, on av
erage, 7.7 percent of their food,
food retailers wasted 1.1 per
cent, and restaurants discard
ed 5.1 percent of unprepared
food. However, lavish parties
with buffets dumped 15.7 per
cent of their food items, and
almost 24 percent of the food
prepared for m arriage ban
quets was either left over
or discarded, comments the
newspaper. Only food manu
facturers report almost zero
food waste.
29
 F R O M O U R R E A D E R S

A rtic le Saves Life We called on a m an You should not, in an effort to prom ote your
n am ed Lenny w ho said th a t the article view of the Bible, use fearmongering tactics
DengueA Fever From a Bite (July 22, to scare people. Risks should be presented in
1998) saved the life of his niece. She had been their proper context. For example, electricity
running a fever for days, and rashes had de can be relatively safe if handled with care.
veloped; but her parents dismissed it as m ea Yet, m any people are ele c tro c u te d every
sles. Remembering the article, Lenny found year. Does this mean that we should all get
the magazine and reread the section describ paranoid and live in fear of electricity? The
ing the symptoms of dengue. He then talked fact is, all countries will need m uch more
his nieces parents into taking her to the hos electricity in the future, and nuclear reactors
pital. D octors there confirmed that she in are emerging as the cleanest and safest m eth
deed had dengue hemorrhagic fever. Lenny od to supply it. We do not need to fear nucle
praised Awake! for helping him to save his ar energy.
niece, and he later agreed to a home Bible R. S., Canada
study.
J.M.L., Philippines These are complex issues, and we appreciate
this readers candor. Nevertheless, we do not feel
Marfans Syndrome In the article Coping that our article used fearmongering tactics."No
W ith M arfans SyndromeWhen Joints Dis attempt was made to terrify our readers. Nor
locate (February 22, 2001), Michelle says did we condemn nuclear energy. Instead, we
that she takes m orphine daily. How can an highlighted the legitimate concerns that many
addictive drug be used by a Christian? have regarding nuclear power, pointing to God's
S. D., United States Kingdom as the ultimate solution to the energy
shortage.ED.
I t would be wrong for a Christian to use drugs
simply for the thrills or the highs they produce. Insurance As an insurance agent, I really
However, one who accepts a painkilling narcotic appreciated the featured series Insurance
under the direction o f a physician because o f Do You Really Need It? (February 22,
some medical problem could hardly be called a 2001) For most consumers, insurance can be
thrill seeker. O f course, even in circumstances very confusing. It is difficult to understand
like that, a Christian must carefully weigh the why you pay for something you may never
possibility o f addiction and other harmful side use. I therefore appreciated your illustration
effects from taking such a medication.ED. regarding carrying a spare tire. Thank you
for this well-written information.
Michelles experience has encouraged me. C. P, United States
Although she is in constant pain, I admire
the fact that she doesnt allow her circum Sneaking Out Thank you for your article
stances to stop her from serving Jehovah Young People A s k ... W hats So Bad About
wholeheartedly. Sneaking Out? (February 22, 2001) It sad
J. G .,G uam dens me to see how naive some young Chris
tians are. One young girl sneaked off to go to
R adioactive Fallout I was disappointed a party and was raped. No one came to her as
with your article Radioactive FalloutA sistance. Please keep warning our youths!
M atter o f C oncern. (F ebruary 22, 2001) J. N., U nited States

30 Awake! November 8, 2001

 HE course of history confirms the it cannot be dismissed as merely the inevita

T truth of Ecclesiastes 8:9: Man has

dom inated man to his injury. Or as
the C atholic Jerusalem Bible expresses it,
man tyrannises over man to his hurt. M il
ble consequence o f the clash of competing
ways o f life.* He admitted: This agency set
out to destroy all things Indian. This agen
cy forbade the speaking o f Indian languages
lions o f people have suffered injustice, and . . . and made Indian people ashamed of who
this has been so under nearly all the differ they were. Worst o f all, the Bureau of Indian
ent forms o f governm ent that man has expe Affairs comm itted these acts against the chil
rienced. A rem inder of this suffering came in dren entrusted to its boarding schools, bru
a speech by the assistant secretary for Indian talizing them emotionally, psychologically,
Affairs of the U.S. D epartm ent of the Interi physically, and spiritually.
or on the occasion o f the 175th anniversary He concluded by saying: Let us begin by
of the establishm ent o f the Office of Indian expressing o u r profound sorrow for what
Affairs. this agency has done in the p a s t.. . . Never
He said that rather than a celebration it again will we be com plicit in the theft of In
was a time for sorrowful truths to be spoken, dian property___Never again will we attack
a time for contrition. He admitted that the your religions, your languages, your rituals,
first mission of the institution in the 1830s or any of your tribal ways. Significantly, he
was to remove the southeastern tribal nations said: Together, we m ust wipe the tears of
the Cherokee, the Creek, the Choctaw, the seven generations. Together, we m ust allow
Chickasaw, and the Sem inolefrom their our broken hearts to m end. Vital Speeches
lands. By threat, deceit, and force, these o f the Day, O ctober 1,2000.
great trib al nations were m ade to m arch T he only tru e and lastin g so lu tio n to
1,000 miles to the west, leaving thousands m ans inhum anity to m an is G o d s King
of their old, their young and their infirm in dom, which will restore justice for all and
hasty graves along the Trail of Tears. will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and
He continued: Yet in these more enlight death will be no more, neither will m ourning
ened times, it must be acknowledged that the nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The for
deliberate spread of disease, the decimation mer things have passed away.Revelation
of the mighty bison herds, the use of the poi 21:3,4.
son alcohol to destroy mind and body, and *The history of the American Indians confirms that the
the cowardly killing of women and children tribes were often in conflict among themselves, so that fight
ing for territory, horses, and buffalo became constant.
made for tragedy on a scale so ghastly that T h e P e o p le C a l l e d A p a c h e .

Indian: A rtw ork ba se d on p h o tograph by Edw ard S. C urtis; M ap: M o u n ta in High

M a p s C o p y rig h t 1 9 9 7 D igital W isdom , Inc.; In d ian dw ellings: L e s lie 's
 I
How Should Children
Be Disciplined?
'Problems occur when children are told that they In the Bible, correction is consistently linked
are great no matter what they do," says Canadas with love and mildness, not with anger and bru
National Post newspaper. Some parents believe tality. The skillful counselor should be gentle
that this approach builds self-esteem in their chil toward all, . , . restrained under evil, instruct
dren. However, according to psychologist Roy Bau- ing with mildness those not favorably disposed.
meister. high self-esteem is fine when its based (2 Timothy 2:24, 25) Therefore, parental correc
on genuine achievement, but parents should con tion should not be merely an emotional outlet for
centrate on teaching children self-control." the parent. In no way does the Bible endorse us
A parent who fears to correct his or her child ing tactics that can harm a child.
when the child takes a false step is doing the
young one harm. After all, correction is a meth
od of instruction. As such, it teaches an erring
child to avoid repeating mistakes. Of course, par
ents need to keep from giving correction in a way
that is harsh and out of proportion to the wrong
that has been committed. (Jeremiah 46:28) They
should make sure that correction is not excessive.
The Bible states: You fathers, do not be exasper
ating your children, so that they do not become
downhearted. Colossians 3:21.

The Secret of
FAMILY
HAPPINESS

gOl-E 1 1 /8