Awake!, September 8, 1972

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Awake! — September 8, 1972

Source: jw.org

Contents

Are We Too Human to Survive?

Pleasing God While at School

Are Insects a Blessing or a Curse?

Is There Anything to Acupuncture?

Why Speak with Enthusiasm?

On Papal Infallibility

St. Lucia—Island of the Twin Pitons

What You Should Know About Tires

A Historic Step Forward in Spain

Traveling in Middle America

‘Knowledge That Increases Pain’—to Be Avoided?

Watching the World

Are You Worried About What Your Children Are Taught in School?

Students Are Interested in the Future!

Are We Too Human to Survive?

Are We Too Human to Survive?

“SIMPLE intellectual honesty compelled us to face up to the strange possibility that we humans are just about at the end of our days, that our problems of survival will not be solved because we are simply too human.” So wrote one of America’s leading authors and editors, R. H. Rovere, at the end of the sixth decade of the twentieth century.

In May 1971 some 800 Australian scientists expressed similar fears and, in January 1972, so did the “Club of Rome,” a group of scientists and industrialists. About the same time British scientists warned in the magazine Ecology that “we may muddle our way to extinction.” And according to Professor Marmor, “never before in its history has man’s very existence hung so precariously in the balance.”

What is the cause of man’s dilemma that seems to threaten his very survival? There are those who claim that man’s biological nature is at fault, that the make-up of man’s mind and body is such as to doom his existence. Others insist that such is not the case but that the trouble lies with the “sacred cows” of free enterprise, nationalism and war. No doubt these “sacred cows” do have a bearing on the matter, even as do overpopulation in certain areas, pollution and depletion of natural resources​—the factors blamed by the Australian scientists.

Human reasoning of itself cannot come up with the solution, because the problem is too big for man to solve. Men may conclude, as some have, that man is heading for extinction, even as hundreds of others of earth’s creatures have become or are becoming extinct; and true it is, there seems to be little hope of men changing their ways. But let us not forget how man came to be upon this planet. He did not create himself, nor is there one iota of proof that he evolved from a lower form of life or creature. He was put here by the Creator of the whole universe. Left to themselves it could well be that men would become extinct. But the Creator is not going to allow such to happen.

God created the earth and man and is concerned with their destiny. His Word tells us that He did not create this earth “simply for nothing” but “formed it even to be inhabited.” And God in his Word not only tells us what his purpose regarding this earth is but further assures us: “My word that goes forth from my mouth . . . will not return to me without results, but it will certainly do that in which I have delighted, and it will have certain success in that for which I have sent it.”​—Isa. 45:18; 55:11.

Well, is man “too human” to survive? How could that be when man was created ‘in the image of God and according to God’s likeness’? The first man had the potential of living forever, and that under paradisaic conditions, for only if he disobeyed his God was he to die. So man had the potential​—mentally, physically, emotionally and morally to live forever.​—Gen. 1:26, 27; 2:16, 17.

Then why is the world in such a mess? Why does it seem that extinction threatens humankind? There are two basic reasons, and they are closely related. One is that man disobeyed God and chose to direct his own way. Yet he had neither the right nor the ability to so direct. (Jer. 10:23) It was even as we read: “The true God made mankind upright, but they themselves have sought out many plans.” (Eccl. 7:29) Going against the expressed will of his Creator and Designer, man was bound to get into trouble, even as would anyone who tried to use a complicated machine contrary to the instructions furnished by the manufacturer.​—Hos. 8:7.

The second basic reason for the future appearing so ominous to man is due to the invisible “ruler of this world” who has deceived almost all of mankind. On the one hand, he frustrates the noble efforts of honest men and, on the other hand, he abets selfish men in their designs. He is none other than the “god of this system of things,” “the ruler of the authority of the air, the spirit that now operates in the sons of disobedience.” He is termed “the great dragon . . . the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan.” Without God, men are pawns in his hands.​—John 12:31; 2 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2; Rev. 12:9.

Even though selfish men blindly threaten their own survival, mankind’s survival is assured because the Creator is more interested in man’s survival than is man himself. Just as a wise and loving father is often more interested in the welfare of his offspring than they themselves are, so the great Creator is more concerned about mankind’s survival than are men themselves. But there the analogy ends; for while earthly fathers often seem helpless in such situations, the Creator, Jehovah God, can and will do something about it, and that in the very near future.

What? His Word tells us in a prophecy that applies to this generation: The time has come “to bring to ruin those ruining the earth.” Those now ruining the earth will themselves be ruined at the “war of the great day of God the Almighty,” Har–Magedon.​—Rev. 11:18; 16:14, 16.

Further, God promises to make this earth a fit place in which to live: ‘The whole earth will be filled with the knowing of God as the waters cover the sea’; ‘men will learn war no more but every man will sit under his own vine and fig tree,’ and even ‘death, sorrow, crying and pain will be done away with.’ The Creator is determined to make this earth a place that will bring glory, not discredit, to Him.​—Isa. 11:9; Mic. 4:1-4; 1 Cor. 15:25, 26; Rev. 21:4.

No, humankind is not “too human” to survive and man’s biological nature is not entirely to blame for the mess in which the world finds itself. This truth is being demonstrated by the million and a half Christian witnesses of Jehovah who live at peace and unity with one another, even under present conditions. With them fellowship has replaced strife, and brotherly love has replaced greed. It is with these that the Creator will begin his ‘new earth in which righteousness is to dwell.’​—2 Pet. 3:13.

Pleasing God While at School

Pleasing God While at School

SCHOOLS are a fine provision. They provide for students useful knowledge on a wide range of subjects. And they teach many important skills. Yet, at the same time, secular schools today are a source of danger to youths who desire to please God by living in harmony with the righteous principles of the Bible.

In many schools drugs are common. Marijuana is smoked in bathrooms and heroin is peddled in hallways. Also, sexual immorality is rampant; unmarried pregnant students now being common in some schools. For Christian youths, schools present other dangers that can adversely affect their standing with God. So a student must be careful if he is to benefit from school, rather than be ruined by its worldly influence.

Right Motive

There are a variety of reasons why persons seek a secular education. Some youths desire a university diploma to set them up for a well-paying job. Others go through the motions of getting educated in order to better their social standing. But what about a youth whose desire is to please his Creator, Jehovah God?

Such a youth appreciates that there is superior knowledge and a finer skill than any offered by secular schools. This is knowledge of Jehovah and his purposes, and the skill of teaching others this knowledge. So a Christian youth’s motive in wanting an education is quite different from that of most of his schoolmates. He is not ambitiously looking for advancement in the economic or social structure of this world. Rather, he desires an education so as to be better equipped for a lifetime of dedicated service to God.

Advantages and Practical Benefit

Thus Christian youths should apply themselves conscientiously to their studies while at school. One of the advantages of doing this is that it broadens one’s ability to think and reason on matters. Also, young persons will find that throughout life it is to their advantage to be proficient in reading and writing. They will also find it helpful to be able to calculate accurately and quickly, to have a general knowledge of human affairs, of history, of geography, of science, as well as to know a language other than their native tongue.

It is certainly of practical benefit to have a good basic education. This will aid Christian youths to talk and serve with understanding in many situations. (1 Cor. 9:19-23) The apostle Paul’s speech on Mars Hill is a fine example of combining Bible knowledge with other things that one has learned. As a result of his wide range of knowledge, Paul on that occasion was able to give a thorough witness about God’s purposes.​—Acts 17:22-31.

In getting an education, it is good to seek knowledge and skills that can be used in supporting oneself financially. Such a course is in keeping with the example set by the apostle Paul, who said: “You yourselves know that these hands have attended to the needs of me and of those with me.”​—Acts 20:34.

So while at school perhaps one can learn some trade or occupation. There may be opportunities to learn carpentry, painting, machine work, dressmaking, cooking or typing. There are many kinds of work for which young Christians can prepare that may enable them to support themselves financially while they direct their main efforts in teaching God’s Word to others.

Keeping on Guard

While seeking to obtain the greatest benefit from school, it is, at the same time, vital to be constantly aware of the dangers. The Bible pointedly warns: “Do not be misled. Bad associations spoil useful habits.” It also says: “Let fornication and uncleanness of every sort or greediness not even be mentioned among you, just as it befits holy people; neither shameful conduct nor foolish talking nor obscene jesting, things which are not becoming, but rather the giving of thanks.”​—1 Cor. 15:33; Eph. 5:3-5.

Even if fellow students are not fornicators or drug addicts, it does not mean that they are good associates. They may tell obscene jokes, talk foolishly and not hesitate to cheat or in other ways be dishonest. Rather than keep company with such persons, the Christian can choose to associate with those who have regard for decency and principle. He should ever be on guard against associations or activities that could cause him to violate Bible principles.

But there are other dangers against which Christian youths must be on guard. These, too, can lead them into a course opposed to that taken by their Master, Jesus Christ, and thus adversely affect their standing with God.

Worldly Politics

The course taken by Jesus was one of nonparticipation in any form of worldly politics. He said of his true followers: “They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world.” In keeping with his own words, Jesus took purposeful steps to avoid being pressured into political office.​—John 17:16; 6:15.

But what is the situation in schools today? Is there a similar danger of becoming involved in worldly politics? Almost everywhere, it seems, students are getting involved in political issues. This has led to demonstrations, rioting and violence in schools throughout the world. Whether school politics are in the form of these eruptions or of a quieter classroom variety, Christians are under pressure to become involved, to participate.

What will Christian youths do? They will want to guide their conduct in harmony with the teachings of God’s Word and the example of Jesus Christ. What matters to them most should not be what other students think, or even what their teachers say, but what their Creator Jehovah God thinks and says.

What is the purpose, for example, of classroom elections of officers or class leaders? These actually serve to train young persons to participate in the machinery of worldly politics. Is this what a Christian youth wants to train for? Would Jesus Christ, who said, “I am no part of the world,” want his true followers to train to participate in worldly politics?

The faithful stand of young Christians in these matters often impresses and gains the respect of teachers and fellow students alike. For example, a youth at a Christian assembly at Asahikawa, Japan, related:

“When I was in my second year in high school the class elected me to their committee. So I explained that Jehovah’s witnesses as Christians cannot take part in worldly politics. My classmates brought up many objections, but finally they reluctantly took me off the committee.

“Shortly afterward the teacher in charge of my class called me and said he wanted to know about my faith. He did not believe that there was any connection between the existence of God and human living. He said that belief in God is only for weak people. However, with full reliance on Jehovah I witnessed to him. Finally he said, ‘I would like to know all about your faith,’ and gladly contributed for some Bible literature.”

Songs and Salutes

Singing songs that exalt people, institutions or nations is common in some schools, and so is the saluting of some national emblem. Christians find joy in singing songs and sharing in other exercises that give praise to Jehovah God. But what about giving praise to men, nations or institutions?

True Christians profit from the example of the three faithful Hebrew servants of God named Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Babylon’s ancient ruler King Nebuchadnezzar set up a huge golden image, and the order was issued to all present: “At the time that you hear the sound of the horn, the pipe, the zither, the triangular harp, the stringed instrument, the bagpipe and all sorts of musical instruments, you [must] fall down and worship the image of gold that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. And whoever does not fall down and worship will at the same moment be thrown into the burning fiery furnace.”​—Dan. 3:5, 6.

These three Hebrews refused to pay homage to this image or emblem to which the State required everyone to give praise. It was not that they were rebellious youths; rather, they simply believed in giving all honor and praise to Jehovah God.

As nationalism increases throughout the world today many young Christians will meet with similar situations. What can a youth do if his Bible-trained conscience does not permit him to salute emblems or sing songs that exalt the nation or his school?

Where such situations are foreseen, it would be proper for a youth to explain his beliefs to his schoolteacher or principal ahead of time. It will impress the teacher if he makes matters plain in his own words. A reasonable teacher, who respects the individual’s conscience, will arrange for a student to be excused from such ceremonies. The experience of a young Christian in Sapporo, Japan, illustrates how such situations may be handled.

“During my second year in middle school, a gymnastic meeting was held, and this included a flag-raising ceremony. Knowing this ahead of time, I immediately went after class dismissal to the teacher’s room and made my position plain to the teacher, telling him that I could not take part in the flag-raising ceremony. The teacher seemed taken aback, and told me that this was not worshiping the flag, but was just a matter of paying it respect.

“I explained that taking one’s hat off and other such services toward the flag amounted to worship, and that I could give this only to Jehovah God. At last, after some discussion, the teacher kindly excused me. At the gymnastic meet, I did not take part in the ceremony, but only in the races. Afterward, I was able to witness from the Bible to my fellow students concerning my reason for not taking part in the ceremony. I was very happy that the teacher showed respect for my stand.”

Physical Culture

While sports are profitable for bodily development, training of the mind and instilling appreciation of spiritual things are of far greater importance, as the Bible says: “Bodily training is beneficial for a little; but godly devotion is beneficial for all things, as it holds promise of the life now and that which is to come.— 1 Tim. 4:8.

However, suppose schools make participation in kendo, judo, boxing or other martial arts compulsory, what should the Christian do? He will want to follow his Bible-trained conscience. The following experience of a young person who graduated from high school in Fukui City, Japan, and became a full-time pioneer preacher illustrates the blessing that can come to one who does.

“I went ahead of time to the physical culture teacher and explained that, since Christians do not strive with one another, I wanted to do extra reading during the judo hour. However, he did not grant this permission. So I explained to him the words of 2 Timothy 2:24, that ‘a slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be gentle toward all,’ and Isaiah 2:4, that ’they will learn fighting no more.’ But still he refused to acknowledge my position, stating that judo was required as a group exercise, and that if I did not take part I would not be able to graduate.

“Being determined, I once again explained my position. I had the teacher read the June 15, 1964, Watchtower article ‘Youths, Keep Your Integrity While at School.’ Appreciating that there was nothing rebellious in my attitude, the teacher then did some investigating. Finally, he told me, ‘It will be all right to refrain. Just put on the judo uniform, and that will be sufficient.’ However, that would have looked to other people as though I were taking part in judo. It smacked of compromise. So I refused to put on the uniform. For a time the teacher insisted, but when he saw my firm stand he did not say anything more. I got very low marks for sports, but this did not prevent my graduating.”

Preparing for a Lasting Future

Young Christians must carefully guard their steps in order to please God while at school. (Ps. 16:8) If they do this, secular education can serve as a valuable aid in helping them to use their lives to honor the Creator, Jehovah God. By balancing secular education with the more important Bible education, young people today, like the youthful Timothy of the Bible, may treasure up “for themselves a fine foundation for the future, in order that they may get a firm hold on the real life.”​—1 Tim. 6:19.

Imperfect man, with his life-span of seventy or eighty years, is able to touch merely the fringe of knowledge. But those entering on the eternity of “the real life” will find it limitless in its educational opportunities. It is well worth while now to reach out, not only for a good secular education, but also for knowledge and understanding of God’s purposes that lead to eternal life.​—John 17:3.

Are Insects a Blessing or a Curse?

Are Insects a Blessing or a Curse?

WHAT comes to your mind when insects are mentioned? Do you think of insects that spread disease, feed on man’s crops and eat holes in his clothing?

Or do you think about the benefits insects bring? Do you think of the services they perform and the products they yield​—shellac, silk and honey, to mention a few?

To some it may seem that all insects are pests and that the world would be better without them. But did you know that, of the more than 800,000 kinds of insects known to man, the vast majority are acknowledged to be beneficial? In fact, many of them do things that are vital to man’s existence.

Pollinating and Building Soil

One such vital service has to do with the relationship of insects to plants. It has been estimated that 85 percent of flowering plants are dependent on insect pollination.

Among the many insects carrying out this function are honeybees, bumblebees, flies, beetles, moths and butterflies. And if such insects did not do their job, many of these plants, perhaps most of them, would die out. That would affect, not only the beautiful flowers that add so much enjoyment to man’s life, but also his food supply. Man would indeed be in big trouble.

Insects also play a beneficial role as scavengers and soil builders. Dead plant and animal matter attracts many kinds of insects. They eat this dead matter and their digestive systems break it down into different chemical combinations. In this way the dead matter is turned into food that can be used by plants.

Not only their excreta, but the insects themselves eventually turn into food for plants. This happens when they die and their bodies decompose, in this way adding fertilizer to the soil.

Insects also help to add to the thickness of rich topsoil. This is done by insects continually bringing up particles of sub-soil to the surface. In the process they dig tunnels in the soil, and this helps too. It enables water to filter down through the soil and it aerates it at the same time.

What About Insects That Eat Plants?

But insects also eat live plants, not just dead ones. Is this not harmful to man’s interests? Not necessarily.

Careful observation and research indicate that insects prefer plants that are in some way deficient from our standpoint. It may be poor soil, the plant’s age or some unfavorable growing condition that was responsible for the deficiency.

When the plant does become deficient, it attracts insects. For instance, Dr. William Albrecht of the University of Missouri conducted a series of tests with spinach. He found that insects known as thrips destroyed the spinach grown on poor soil. But the spinach grown on good soil survived.

Then there was the case of two grapevines growing side by side. One was attacked by Japanese beetles, but the other was not. Yet the leaves of both vines were intermingled. The beetles fed only on the leaves of the older vine, which was not responding well to the nutrition being given to it.

A similar observation was made about two crops of lettuce. One crop had been stunted by unfavorable growing conditions and was attacked by aphids. But no aphids were found on lettuce cultivated under favorable growing conditions in the same soil.

Commenting on why insects prefer plants that we would consider inferior, the book Our Poisoned Earth and Sky states:

“The nutritional needs of insects are very different from those of man and animals. Where man thrives best on a high protein diet, insects go for carbohydrate. They need it more in their system of operation. An insect can jump the equivalent of the Empire State Building in one jump, comparatively speaking, and it needs a lot of carbohydrate for that energy. So when one plant has more carbohydrate than another, an insect will seek it out and prefer it.”

Verifying this observation by scientific research, the book continues:

“As research at the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station has shown, plants which get no organic matter produce an unbalanced amount of carbohydrates at the expense of protein and trace minerals. Insects, it seems, prefer these ‘sweet’ plants and are able to attack them more easily.”

So when insects eat garden plants, might they not be telling us something? Are the plants receiving needed nourishment from the soil? Can something be done to remedy an unhealthy condition in the plants?

Plant Control

Many insects show a preference for a particular kind of plant. Their feeding habits prevent various plants from running riot.

A case in point is the prickly-pear cactus. This plant was unwisely introduced into Australia. There being no insect enemies to keep it in check, the prickly-pear cactus spread rapidly. Within a short time it made millions of acres of land practically unfit for agriculture.

Then, in 1925, 2,750 cactus-moth eggs were sent to Australia from Argentina. Eventually millions of moth eggs were distributed in areas where the prickly-pear cactus had gained a foothold. The hatched caterpillars of the cactus moth did their job well. They burrowed into the joints of the prickly-pear cactus and thus destroyed it. At last this cactus ceased to be a scourge for Australia.

Another example of plant control by insects involves St.-John’s-wort or the Klamath weed. This weed was brought to the United States from Europe. It was first noted in the United States in 1793. By 1940 thousands of acres of rangeland in northern California were ruined by this weed. Later its European insect enemies were introduced. Regarding the effectiveness of this measure Scientific American states:

“The destruction of Klamath weed by the beetles has been attended by the return of desirable forage plants. In California many thousands of acres now have a markedly greater capacity for the support of livestock; land values have risen; expenditures for the control of the weed are negligible.”

But have these insects become a pest since the time the Klamath weed was brought under control? No. Scientific American continues:

“Because stands of Klamath weed are no longer extensive and the infested areas are now widely separated, all of the immigrant insects, totally dependent on the weed for survival, have decreased in numbers. Fortunately their ability to locate new infestations and their high rate of reproduction have prevented any important resurgence of the weed. All indications are that this noxious range plant will be held in check and that its insect controls will perpetuate themselves.”

There is no way of knowing just how many plants could become pests if it were not for insect control. But the foregoing examples well illustrate that man needs the help of insects.

Even insect activities that seem to be destructive can benefit man. In the forests, insects perform vital pruning work. Some attack and kill the lower limbs of trees. This natural pruning gives man better quality lumber. Still other insects kill trees. Thereby they prevent wooded areas from becoming overcrowded. Surviving trees are enabled to grow more rapidly. The activity of forest insects also reduces the fire hazard and makes the forest more suitable as a home for wildlife.

Man Still Has Much to Learn

Man’s knowledge of insects is still very incomplete. Each year from 7,000 to 10,000 new kinds of insects are discovered. The relationship of thousands of insects to plant and animal life is unknown. But what has been learned shows that insects occupy a very important place on earth. Observed Carl D. Duncan, a professor of entomology and botany:

“It is perhaps impossible to visualize adequately the totality of beneficial effects which insects exert directly or indirectly on human welfare, but the benefits are incalculably great.”

Often the negative side of what insects do gets major attention. The fly, for example, is commonly associated with the transmission of disease. But how many persons think about its role as a scavenger and soil builder and maintainer when in the maggot stage? And did you know that the guilt of houseflies has not been fully established? Says Scientific American:

“The list of human and animal diseases they are charged with transmitting now stands at more than 65. . . . Yet the evidence is still only circumstantial. The reputation of the domestic flies is in the position of a man charged with homicide because he is found standing beside the victim with a loaded gun in his hand. In most cases it cannot be proved conclusively that the flies in question fired the gun.”

Insects a Blessing

While some insects may be harmful under the present circumstances, as a whole they are a blessing for mankind. When insects become pests, humans are often to blame. Man has repeatedly failed to maintain a high standard of cleanliness. He has upset the balance between plant and animal life and has polluted air, land and water. Imbalances in his own system may at times make his body attractive to such insects as mosquitoes. Manifestly, insects, governed by instinct, cannot be blamed for what they do because of man’s failings and weaknesses.

Persons who acknowledge the existence of a loving Creator see in insects a part of God’s creation. This prevents them from drawing hasty conclusions about the harmfulness of any creature. They also appreciate that present circumstances cannot be used as a basis for determining what effect insects would have on men free from all bodily imperfections and weaknesses. They are confident that insects will continue to be a blessing for mankind.

Is There Anything to Acupuncture?

Is There Anything to Acupuncture?

“JUST rubbish,” said a British nerve specialist. “Orientals are much more susceptible to hypnotism,” explained an American doctor. ‘It does not fit in with my knowledge of anatomy,’ declared a Texas medical school professor.

On the other hand, a Yale University biologist who had observed it firsthand related: “One had to be very impressed.” A Missouri medical school heart specialist who had witnessed its use stated: “I’m convinced there’s some margin of truth to it.” And a New York ear surgeon who saw it reported: “It works.” “We’d be fools not to look into it.”

Such widely differing comments, ranging from outright condemnation all the way to fervent endorsement, have been made recently to describe acupuncture, the ancient Chinese medical art. But why this sudden interest in acupuncture? Does it really work? If so, how? Is it a case of ‘mind over matter,’ perhaps even being connected with spiritism?

What Is It?

Acupuncture is the art of treating illnesses by means of very thin needles placed in the body at certain well-defined points. It is now also used to induce anesthesia. The name comes from the Latin words acus, meaning “needle,” and pungere, meaning “to puncture.”

The hair-thin needles are usually made of stainless steel, or at times even of gold. While those used in surgery can be longer, the ones used in routine treatment are about one to three inches long. The number of needles used on a patient, where they are inserted, how deep they go, at what angle, and how long they are kept in place, depend upon the nature of the illness or operation. The number of places, or points, where the needles may be inserted vary. Present-day charts show anywhere from 500 to over 800 different points.

How did acupuncture begin? Its origin is shrouded in antiquity. However, tradition has it that several thousand years ago the Chinese noticed that when some soldiers were wounded in battle by arrows, the wounds caused pain to disappear from other parts of the body. Over the centuries, with much experimenting, this way of treating illnesses grew to its present state.

Acupuncture today is most highly developed in the People’s Republic of China. However, its use there as an anesthetic is only of recent origin, dating back to about the year 1957, when it began to be developed. Because the needs of the government-enforced national health care were great, and the number of Western-trained doctors was small, the government ordered that traditional acupuncturists and herbal practitioners also be given physician status. In this way Western-oriented medicine was combined with traditional Chinese medicine. Each would learn from the other.

So doctors cooperated with acupuncturists. Indeed, the doctors unfamiliar with the practice are said to have tried the needles on themselves for a year before undertaking any application on patients. One result of so many more persons learning acupuncture was that, in addition to its normal use for various illnesses, experiments began in its use as an anesthetic.

From the beginning, the experiments applying acupuncture as an anesthesia were successful. And since 1966 about 500,000 such procedures have been performed. While the use of it as an anesthesia is still considered experimental in China, and is given only to patients who want it, acupuncture now has become the preferred method of anesthesia there. It is said that the analgesic effects last up to eight hours or more, after which needles could again be applied to ease pain.

Why the Sudden Interest?

The renewed interest in acupuncture by Westerners is directly related to other events in recent times, especially during the past year. During this time China has allowed groups of Westerners into its country. Among these were scientists and medical authorities who observed Chinese medical facilities and practices. Their experiences were highly interesting.

British doctors visited hospitals in Peking, Shanghai, Canton and Nanking. They related remarkable evidence of effective acupuncture use in major surgery, even brain surgery. In one case, the London Times reported, “it is claimed that no one could have borne the pain of this particular treatment without some form of anaesthetic.” Yet, only acupuncture was used.

The first Americans to observe the use of acupuncture in China were two biologists. In May of 1971, Dr. Ethan Signer of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Dr. Arthur Galston of Yale University watched four operations there. Acupuncture was the anesthetic.

They returned to the United States excited over the ability of acupuncture to deaden pain. Dr. Galston stated: “I had always associated acupuncture in my mind​—as most Americans do—​with a far-out, charlatan procedure.” But what he saw changed his mind. The two biologists suggested that acupuncture deserved more study, and noted that its effects as an anesthetic lasted many hours.

Soon afterward, in July, New York Times columnist James Reston aroused further interest by his own experience. During a visit to China he was stricken with appendicitis. He had to be operated on, and received a usual anesthetic, not acupuncture. But after surgery he suffered from serious gas pains, resulting in extreme discomfort. Curious about the ability of acupuncture to deal with illnesses, he agreed to be treated that way instead of taking drugs.

Reston describes what happened: “Li Chang-yuan, doctor of acupuncture at the [Peking] hospital, with my approval inserted three long, thin needles into the outer part of my right elbow and below my knees and manipulated them in order to stimulate the intestine and relieve the pressure and distension of the stomach . . . there was a noticeable relaxation of the pressure and distension within an hour and no recurrence of the problem thereafter.”

However, Signer, Galston, and Reston were not medical authorities. Hence, their observations were viewed with skepticism. But this changed in the fall of 1971.

Medical Authorities Observe

American visitors to China in September included respected medical authorities. Among them were Dr. Paul Dudley White of Boston, an internationally renowned heart specialist and former consultant to the late President Eisenhower. With White were Dr. E. Grey Dimond, provost for health sciences at the University of Missouri, and Dr. Samuel Rosen, a New York city ear surgeon. Another was Dr. Victor Sidel of New York, chief of the department of social medicine at Montefiore Hospital and professor of community health at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

These four physicians witnessed extensive demonstrations of acupuncture, especially for anesthesia. They were astonished to see major operations where the only pain-killer used was acupuncture.

The Medical Tribune reported: “Dr. White and Dr. Dimond, both cardiologists, watched open heart surgery in Peking with acupuncture anesthesia. They said that the patient was awake, alert, relaxed during surgery, and that the surgery was performed as well as any they had ever seen.”

Dr. Rosen reported observing fifteen procedures. He saw a tooth extraction, tonsillectomy, appendectomy, herniotomy, a brain-tumor operation, removal of a lung, removal of an ovarian cyst, and a Cesarean birth. He said: “When you see these operations, you come out and pinch yourself. You wonder if you really saw what you saw. After you have seen it over and over, you have to give up what you thought in favor of what you saw.”

He also noted that the Chinese surgeon decides if a person is suitable for acupuncture anesthesia. If so, he tells the patient why he believes it is good​—it eliminates the risks that accompany drugs or inhalant gas, it prevents postoperative nausea and vomiting, and shortens recovery time. However, if the patient is extremely nervous, tense, and high strung, he may recommend conventional anesthesia. In any case, should the conventional anesthesia be needed it is kept on hand in the operating room.

Dr. Rosen brought back to the United States a 30-minute film which recorded some of what he saw. It included surgeons removing part of a woman’s spinal cord while she was awake and smiling. It showed a man getting off the operating table after having his appendix taken out and shaking hands with the surgeon. Another patient sipped tea through a straw while surgeons corrected a heart defect. And a mother smiled proudly at her new son moments after he was born by a Cesarean operation. All used acupuncture anesthesia.

President’s China Trip

Then, in February of 1972, President Nixon traveled to China. With him were reporters and his personal medical staff.

Correspondent Robert Martin of U.S. News & World Report was invited to spend several hours in operating rooms of a major Peking hospital. He witnessed surgeons perform a lobectomy on a 28-year-old man, remove a tumor from the thyroid of a 45-year-old woman, and deliver a baby by Cesarean section to a 36-year-old woman.

Martin wrote: “Throughout the three operations, the patients were completely conscious, were able to talk, and occasionally chewed oranges or drank fruit juice. They displayed more nervousness over the presence of foreign watchers than because of pain or discomfort.” He concluded: “There is no doubt, once you have seen it yourself: Acupuncture is effective in surgical anesthesia.”

Dr. Walter Tkach, personal physician to President Nixon, was also given intense exposure to acupuncture anesthesia. He saw the removal of a cataract, the excision of a thyroid tumor, and the removal of an ovarian cyst. In all the patients, insertion of the needles was done quickly. The needles were twirled between the acupuncturist’s thumb and forefinger. And when insertion was complete, the needles were attached to an electrical device to vibrate them, instead of its being done by hand.

Dr. Tkach related this about his experience: “I was impressed from the beginning. And frankly I was astonished when each of the patients got up from the operating table with little or no help and walked unassisted to the carts that were to take them back to their rooms; I have seen nothing like that in 25 years of association with surgery. The clincher came nearly an hour after we left the OR [operating room]. We were in a room when the door opened and all three patients were ushered in. They were comfortable and able to drink tea with us and answer our questions.”

Dr. Tkach concluded: “There is something important here we should take a good look at.” He also said: “I know that I would not hesitate to receive the procedure myself.”

How Widespread Elsewhere?

While China sees the most widespread use of acupuncture, it is also used in other lands, particularly in other Oriental countries and in Europe. In France there are said to be about 700 doctors who use it. A reporter for Saturday Review wrote: “I found acupuncture to be almost a part of the dove-gray Paris air. Every day I met someone who was either going or had gone for needle therapy.”

In the United States, there are only a few American doctors who use acupuncture. Dr. William Gutman of New York, one of the few American M.D.s using it, says he finds it helpful in a variety of ailments. He names arthritis, neuralgia, sinus infections, rheumatism, bursitis and others. He said: “I get cases that do not respond to common treatment but do respond to acupuncture.” However, he cautions: “I would exclude from acupuncture treatment cancer and tuberculosis, and I would also exclude venereal disease.”

Dr. Jean-Claude Darras of Paris, acting head of a French acupuncture institute, tells his students that acupuncture is not a cure-all. He says that it cannot rejuvenate worn-out organs, although he claims it can regulate them to work more efficiently. It cannot heal lesions or remove cancerous growths, although it can help to prevent them, he states. But he says that with proper training and experience, doctors using acupuncture to treat illnesses can expect a 60-percent rate of cure with functional ailments, which is the majority of cases a physician treats in general practice.

In New York city, a Chinese acupuncture specialist, Dr. C. C. Ting, the former head of the Chinese Medical College in Hong Kong, demonstrated the art to an amazed audience of 550 at St. John’s University. Three volunteers, all laymen, were used. One was Barbara Grimaldi of the St. John’s University staff. Ting delicately inserted a needle about an inch and a half into her right shoulder. The New York Times reported: “After a couple of minutes, Dr. Ting plucked the needle from Miss Grimaldi’s shoulder. ‘It was as though I had had Novocain at the dentist’s,’ she said.” Later Ting explained that acupuncture was not a panacea for all disease, and that each case had to be evaluated carefully in the light of both Western medicine and Chinese experience.

‘Mind over Matter’?

The key question about acupuncture is this: How does it work? Is it really ‘scientific,’ or is it a case of ‘mind over matter’? Could it even be associated with spiritism?

As yet no one really knows how acupuncture works. Even its most ardent supporters admit that they do not know the precise scientific explanation.

Because of this, some have suggested that acupuncture is related to hypnosis. American orthopedist Dr. Robert Kerland compared acupuncture to drinking from the water of Lourdes, or having Oral Roberts touch people who then scream “I’m cured.” Others suggest that the Chinese have been brainwashed by Mao Tse-tung’s thoughts.

Many, however, disagree. Dr. Rosen notes that the Chinese have produced general anesthesia in animals by using acupuncture. “I do not think that cats and dogs read the quotations of Chairman Mao,” said a Chinese acupuncturist. Dr. Darras said that the French have also conducted experiments on animals to show that acupuncture success cannot be attributed to suggestion or hypnosis.

Dr. Gutman of New York, when asked about the matter, replied: “A psychological factor is involved in any medical treatment. That’s why there are clinical trials with placebos. Since acupuncture has been successfully used, particularly in China, in pediatrics [children] and in veterinary medicine [animals], . . . the psychological factor, if any, is only a small part of the effect, as in any other therapy.”

Dr. Rosen, noting the skepticism regarding acupuncture, stated: “There is a lot of skepticism about how aspirin works too, but people still take aspirin when they have a headache.” He noted that “our Chinese colleagues also had been skeptical but that they finally had to bow to the evidence of their senses.”

Medical World News says: “Research in the Soviet Union and other countries indicates that reflexes between points on the skin and internal organs are involved.” Dr. Ting told the New York Times: “We believe that the needle point desensitizes certain nerve centers and promotes a flow of health.” Other explanations involve nerve connections and electrical impulses.

In the Easton, Pennsylvania, Express Dr. Lawrence Lamb, commenting on acupuncture, said: “We are always learning new things about the body, and even new ways in which things are relayed by the nervous system. There are many feedback mechanisms from the skin itself that cause all sorts of problems. A good example is letting the skin be chilled or cooled and ending up with a stiff neck.”

More Knowledge Needed

Thus, at this point, there is no agreement on how acupuncture works, or the extent to which it does. It is agreed that much more research needs to be done on it in the Western world, especially in the United States.

Prevention magazine put it this way: “One of the reasonable demands of the public upon the medical establishment is that they investigate, carefully and in good faith, the possible uses of acupuncture. In a world full of pain and suffering, we cannot afford to ignore any promising therapy simply because the AMA [American Medical Association] does not understand it.”

Dr. Gutman says: “One requirement for everyone who wants to call himself a true scientist is open-mindedness. It should be pointed out that one of the few giants of medicine​—Semmelweis, discoverer of the cause of childbed fever and father of modern antisepsis—​was condemned and persecuted by the medical profession of his time.”

Hence, for most of the world outside China, acupuncture is still in an experimental stage. At this point there does not seem to be any evidence that it is based only on ‘mind over matter,’ or that it is associated with hypnotism or spiritism. But much more remains to be learned.

Why Speak with Enthusiasm?

Why Speak with Enthusiasm?

IN 1917, during the first world war, the Premier of France, René Raphaël Viviani, visited America, giving a speech at Columbia University in New York city. Even though he spoke in French, a listener who did not understand the language said that he was enthralled by the speech. “I was stirred and thrilled by the marvelous qualities of its delivery,” he explained.

On the other hand, you have probably listened to talks that you did not find inspiring at all, even though you understood every word of the speaker. An American attorney said: “I have listened to many prominent men of this country deliver speeches with deadly monotony. It was embarrassing to the listeners. They could not stay awake.”

Why may a speech be interesting, even stirring to a person, when the person does not even understand the words? Yet, why are some talks that are given in a language you clearly understand so boring they almost put you to sleep?

What Makes a Speech Interesting

The answer lies largely in the way in which the talk is delivered. Once an older woman impressed this fact indelibly on a young minister. He asked her for her observations on a speech that he had just delivered. She acknowledged that his material was fine, but said to him: “If you are not excited about what you have to say, how do you expect us to be?”

The woman really summed up what makes a speech interesting. It is the excitement or enthusiasm of the speaker about his material. If he really puts his heart into the talk, then his live, enthusiastic delivery will capture the audience. They will sit up and listen. But the speaker who lacks enthusiasm will find it much harder to hold his audience, regardless of the excellent material he may present.

Surely, then, you will want to speak with enthusiasm. But what if one’s speech is lacking in this quality? What is usually the reason? How can one develop enthusiasm?

A Natural Quality

Happily, enthusiasm is a natural quality that is possessed by most persons. It is especially seen in children. When you pass a school yard sometime, stop and listen to the lively cries, laughter and conversation of the youths. There is no dullness or monotony in their speech!

Or perhaps you have listened to the enthusiastic appeal of a young child. “Please, mommy!” the child may plead. “Let me go with the other girls. We won’t stay long. I promise to clean up my room when I get back! Won’t you please let me go?” Not only the voice, but the eyes and face, too, mirror the appeal for the mother’s permission. And if mother is hesitant in granting it, a tear may spontaneously well up in the child’s eye, adding emphasis and strength to the appeal.

Adults normally do not lose altogether this natural enthusiasm. Have you listened to a man who enjoys fishing tell about his fishing trip and his huge catch? Or have you heard a group of women discussing an approaching wedding or some other social event? What uninhibited enthusiasm both men and women can show when they are speaking with their close friends! The gestures, facial expressions, changes in volume and pitch, changes in rate of utterance, changes in emphasis, all occur naturally. But when a person gets up before a group of these same friends to give a speech, what happens?

You know. That natural, enthusiastic way of speaking so often vanishes, and the person’s speech is dull and lifeless. Why? What has changed? Really, very little.

There may be a few more of the speaker’s friends gathered together, and they are sitting in rows. The real change, however, is unseen. It is in the speaker’s mind and attitude. He may become self-conscious. He may feel as if he is on the spot, apparently thinking that his friends now are somehow his critics. If so, he loses confidence in his ability to express himself and, as a result, loses his natural enthusiasm.

Developing Enthusiasm in Speech

The first requirement, then, for developing enthusiasm in giving a talk is to get a correct estimation of your audience. Remember, they have not become your foes simply because they sit in rows. They are not critics. Rather, they are friends who have come to listen and to learn from what you have to say.

So to develop enthusiasm, put your heart into what you tell the audience. Believe in the things you say. Or to put it another way: Speak only about things in which you believe. This is essential, since a person cannot speak with genuine enthusiasm about matters in which he does not believe.

A third, closely related requirement is to be interested in the message you have to deliver, to be really filled with the ideas and to have a desire to communicate them. For example, consider the man interested in fishing.

You could hardly expect him to relate to his friends the plans for the coming wedding of his wife’s sister with the enthusiasm he would tell them about his latest fishing trip. He is not fascinated with the details of wedding arrangements. It is not his interest. Ah, but the flick of the fishing pole that sends the bait out over the water, the strike of the fish, the battle to pull it in, all this is of consuming interest to him. So he can talk enthusiastically about this subject.

Another requirement for enthusiastic delivery is to be well prepared, to know your subject. The man telling his fishing experience knows it well. No doubt he has rehearsed the episode many times in his mind. He is confident that no one else knows the story as well as he does. This is vital to his enthusiastic delivery. If a person has only a slight knowledge of his subject, he will find it very difficult to speak with enthusiasm.

Yet another requirement for speaking enthusiastically is to be convinced that your audience should hear what you have to say. If you earnestly believe that their responding to your message is a life-or-death matter, it can help you to speak from the heart with enthusiasm. The desire to get the message across can become so great that you lose all thought of self and think only of the message.

A speaker with such motivation can be compared to a man who discovers an apartment house on fire in the middle of the night. The man has but one thought​—to tell the people of their danger. It is a life-or-death matter! So he may run into the building and bang on doors, saying: “Wake up! Your house is on fire! Get out right away!” How does he speak the message? With enthusiasm, of course.

Recreating the Ideas and Emotions

However, a speaker may seem to meet all the above requirements. He may not be afraid of his audience; he may believe in what he has to say; he may have genuine interest in his subject; he may be well prepared; and he may even be convinced that for his audience to respond to his message is a life-or-death matter. Yet he still may fail to speak with enthusiasm. Why? What may be the problem?

The trouble may be that he is not actually thinking of what he is saying. He is not totally involved in it. He needs to relive or recall his feelings on the subject, to get emotionally involved, and not simply to repeat words. For example, the fisherman, when telling his story, puts himself mentally right out there hip deep in the rushing stream. He recalls the excitement of the strike of the fish, and the battle to bring it in. This reliving of the experience, recreating the ideas and emotions while speaking, is what contributes to his enthusiastic delivery.

A speaker on the public platform needs to do the same thing. He may, for instance, be giving a talk on the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ, a subject he has perhaps spoken on many times. But at the time of giving the talk, he needs to be totally involved in the idea of what Jesus’ sacrifice really means to himself and his audience. He needs to recall his feelings of gratitude to Jehovah God and Christ Jesus for this marvelous provision. He needs to think of the grand prospect of life it opens up for mankind​—eternal happiness in perfect health in a restored earthly paradise! How his heart is moved as he speaks!​—John 3:16; Rev. 21:3, 4.

When this occurs, the speaker does not lapse into merely uttering words or even ideas. His emotions also are involved. Not only his whole mind, but his whole heart, too, is wrapped up in the subject. Thus, even though he may have expressed the same thoughts many times before, he speaks with enthusiasm.

Love for the Audience

What will especially help a person to speak in this way is having love for his audience. With this quality, he will not deliver his material matter-of-factly, in a you-can-take-it-or-leave-it manner. He will instead have an attitude similar to that of a parent toward his child.

Perhaps a child has run across a street without looking. The parent knows the danger of doing this. So he speaks earnestly to the child, putting into his voice and way of speaking a note of urgency. If the child fails to pay attention, or treats the matter lightly, the parent makes further efforts. With added conviction and enthusiasm he tries to impress upon the child the danger of crossing streets without looking.

A public speaker should similarly be moved by an earnest desire to convey to his audience information that will benefit them. So he watches their reaction to what he is saying. If they seem unconvinced or for some reason have failed to get a point, then with added enthusiasm and expression he endeavors to convince them or help them to understand.

Importance of Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is the very life of a talk. Never underestimate its importance. Without enthusiasm a speech is dead and the audience is likely to be unmoved and unconvinced. I. M. Flapan, former director of New York School of Public Speaking, observed:

“Most intelligent people would like to believe that the world can be moved by reason and logic. The sad truth is, the world is moved by feelings and emotions. A speaker who appeals to you with real warmth, sincerity and enthusiasm will almost always carry his audience with him.”

Enthusiasm convinces. James C. Cropsey, a late justice of the New York Supreme Court, said that when a lawyer with whom he disagreed presented his arguments with earnestness and enthusiasm, he would listen with a great deal of attention. It would cause him to think that perhaps the lawyer might be right after all.

Consider also the example of the Samaritan woman to whom Jesus Christ spoke at a well-side one noon, as related in the Bible. Using his miraculous powers of perception, Jesus told the woman details of her personal life. She thus believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah or Christ, and so went into the city and reported these matters. The Bible account says: “Many of the Samaritans out of that city put faith in [Jesus] on account of the word of the woman who said in witness: ‘He told me all the things I did.’”​—John 4:6-39.

Think of that! Many people put faith in Jesus simply on the word of the woman​—an immoral woman at that! (John 4:18) Imagine with what excitement and enthusiasm she must have related the things Jesus said. Indeed, enthusiasm convinces, it gives credibility to what one says.

So speak with enthusiasm. Fill your mind and heart with your subject. Be convinced that what you have prepared is the truth. Then let an overwhelming desire to communicate these ideas cause you to put your heart into your speech. If you thus speak with enthusiasm, your audience will not only listen but also be convinced and act on what you say.

On Papal Infallibility

On Papal Infallibility

● Papal infallibility is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church. But not all Catholics are convinced of the matter. Said Francis Simons, Catholic bishop in Indore, India: “The apostles themselves, when demanding faith, appealed to evidence, to what they had heard and seen; they never laid claim to a personal, inherent, subjective endowment of infallibility which would operate and give them certainty even independently of the evidence. Nor is there any divine promise or assurance that the church received such an endowment by virtue of which she can have certainty about Christ independently of the assured contents of the apostolic witness. As soon as she leaves the sure foundation laid by the Apostles, she is subject to the ignorance and errors of her age, which extend, as experience has shown, even to her understanding of the scriptures.”​—Quoted in Commonweal, Sept. 25, 1970, pp. 479, 480.

St. Lucia—Island of the Twin Pitons

St. Lucia​—Island of the Twin Pitons

By “Awake!” correspondent in St. Lucia

ONE of the loveliest of the West Indian islands is St. Lucia​—a mass of mountains, rising steeply from the waters, their summits bathed in mist. This most mountainous of the Windward Islands is noted for its unique natural feature, the twin Pitons. These are two gigantic pyramids of rock rising abruptly from the sea. Clothed in vegetation, the twin peaks are each over 2,400 feet high and are entirely detached from all neighboring mountains. They have long served as a sailor’s landmark to an island that was for more than two centuries the scene of many a battle between the French and the English.

St. Lucia, in fact, has changed hands no less than fourteen times. She has been under British rule since 1803. Now St. Lucia is one of the self-governing West Indies Associated States, associated with Britain. But the French influence is still present. A visitor readily notices the French influence in the language and names, intermingled with the English. For example, Londonderry is a village in the hills behind Anse de la Rivière Dorée, and the Pitons are called Gros Piton and Petit Piton.

Although English is the official language, patois, a colorful French dialect, is frequently used in everyday conversation. It is not a written language, but still it is surprising how the patois has managed to survive. Despite the fact that some persons display a slight resentment toward patois, fearing it will spoil the children’s English, there are very few people on the island who cannot speak it.

True, the patois does have a tendency to affect the English, especially when it comes to idiomatic expressions. For example, a very common greeting is “kumõ yay?” The answer invariably is “mwẽ la, tee bwẽ.” If literally translated it comes out like this, “How are you?” “I’m there, little well.” So, often in conversation when one asks someone in English, “How are you?” the answer comes back, “I’m there.” Another common idiom is, “Come, let me tell you that.” So, it is easily seen that the English has a distinctive flavor.

As a visitor enters the capital, Castries, he cannot help but notice that all the houses have galvanized roofs, many of them painted red. This makes for real contrast with the green foliage that surrounds most homes. In the distance one might hear the music of a steel band hammering out lively melodies on instruments made from discarded oil drums.

At one time St. Lucia was a “sugarcane” island, but now bananas provide the main source of income. It takes nine months to a year for a banana tree to mature from a seedling and to produce a stock of bananas. Then the tree is cut down, but care is taken so as not to destroy the sprout or sucker that is growing up because, in due time, it also will produce a stock of bananas.

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