| The folowing articles are a series of 'Best of' from the former OpenDoor Newsletter. I have moved them here from the old site so that they can be available for people to read. -RP January 22, 2006 - Thomas Jefferson said, "God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever." Those words were written nearly 200 years ago. 200 years ago? What could have possibly been wrong with America so soon after the War for Independence? I'm not sure, but it bothered Jefferson tremendously. Maybe God gave him a glimpse of what America would become. What would he tell us, if he could be here today? He would probably weep, because he would know that the judgment of an Almighty God is about to fall on our nation and her people. America's Course The judgment of God is real, and it is on the way. I'm afraid that there is nothing to stop it, because God has had His fill of our ungodly and bloody culture. If God destroys America for no other reason, then I believe it will be because of abortion. Our Government, our leaders, our states, cities and counties all drip with the blood of 45 million innocent children. How much longer can this go on without the wrath of God descending down upon us? Since the earliest days of the colonies, preachers have warned us that God would judge us, just as He judged Israel. Fear of judgment led to two "Great Awakenings" with thousands being saved and having changed lives. But, I do not think that any of those earlier Americans ever foresaw the evil that has gripped our country for the last thirty-three years. In the last half of the 20th century and now the early years of the 21st century we have allowed our nation to move in a very wicked direction. Christians have failed time and time again to take a stand and do right. We allowed prayer, God and the Bible to be removed from our schools. In the early 1970s Christians stood by, as the murder of babies became a "legal" practice. Since then, we have done virtually nothing to change any of this. Most Christians seem blind and deaf to the evils of our society, and choose to join it rather than stand against it. As Christians, we often think that judgment will not come to America until after we are gone. I believe this high-minded notion is our downfall. Judgment is coming, and it will come upon us before the Rapture of the Church. "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end of them that obey not the gospel of God?" (I Peter 4:17) The Curse of Abortion But, why would God judge an entire nation for the iniquity of abortion? The Bible is very clear in this matter. Judgment is referred to throughout Scripture, and why judgment comes. "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood." (Proverbs 6: 16 and 17) It bears worth repeating, what can be more innocent than an unborn child? Nothing, yet we think that God is going to let us "slide by" - on something that He hates? He promises to judge those that are oppressed in Psalm 103:6, "The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed." The oppressed in America are those that we have forbidden the right to be born. We have become a nation that condones this brutal slaughter, and thousands make their living by working in facilities where children are murdered. "Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person." (Deuteronomy 27:25) The entire abortion industry is cursed, according that that verse. It is logical to assume that a nation that makes it possible for thousands of people to spend their lives murdering innocent children is cursed as well. The curse against America may now be so great that judgment cannot be avoided. "And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood." (Isaiah 1:15) "But whoso shall offend on of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 18: 6 and 10) Our Saviour is saying here that if we offend a child that is saved, then it is better that someone puts a two ton stone around our necks and throw us in the ocean. If He feels that way about a saved child, I wonder how much it grieves Him to see the horrible murders of those unborn little ones? Their Cry Unto God "And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? And he [God] said, What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground." (Genesis 4:9 and 10) We have come full circle. The generation of Cain is slaughtering the generation of Abel. Americans today are just as callous toward those aborted babies as Cain was when he killed Abel. We no longer care; it's just a part of modern life. Like Cain, America too is cursed with a curse. God told Cain that Abel's blood had cried unto Him from the ground. I wonder how loud the sound of 45 million voices of spilled blood has become. How long will God allow those voices to continue before He judges their murderers? I am afraid that He has had enough, and His judgment is coming upon our nation. He has allowed us thirty-three years to correct this, yet Christians refuse to do anything. The Slaughter could end today, if our president or Congress wanted it to end. The "right" of abortion is not a law passed by the legislative branch. Roe v. Wade is nothing more than an opinion piece written by a group of immoral Supreme Court justices. Our president could end abortion by simply declaring that Roe v. Wade is not a law and that abortion is murder. But that will not be done. George W. Bush has proven over and over that he has no intentions of doing anything about abortion. The Republican Party has used abortion to get votes from Christians. Republicans have played their part so well that most Christians are deceived into thinking that the GOP is anti-abortion. If the truth were known, nearly every Republican politician and official is pro-abortion. The GOP has no plans on over-turning Roe v. Wade - getting re-elected is more important than saving lives. We know politicians do not care, but what about Christians? Do we pray that God will change the hearts and minds of our leaders? Do we pray that God would open the eyes of other Christians to this great evil? Most of us have quit praying, stopped caring, and go about our lives as if nothing is wrong. On January 22, 1973, thirty-three years ago today, the most evil ruling ever to be handed down by any court throughout the history of mankind was made by the United States Supreme Court. In the infamous Roe v. Wade ruling, the Supreme Court decided that women have the right to murder their children. Since that day, in the ensuing thirty-three years, 45 million have been slaughtered, that is 1/3 of my entire generation. We may not hear their voices and cries, but God does. The time for judgment is drawing near. God has had enough, and His judgment is on its way. Editor/RP |  | ||
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Saturday, December 09, 2006
Why Judgment IS Coming To America
Whatever Happened To The Word 'Sin'?
Sin is a word that you do not hear people use much anymore. Preachers and religious leaders have even begun to quit using it. People no longer know its meaning, and with the onslaught of terms such as, 'disease', 'mental disorders', 'antisocial behavior', etc., people no longer even comprehend the concept of sin.
Many researchers believe that a loss of the Protestant vocabulary in the United States has led to the ignorance of sin. Once our vocabulary was based largely on the Bible. A lot of words and phrases that people used on a day-to-day basis were Biblical terms. 'David and Goliath', 'skin of the teeth', 'fire and brimstone', 'four corners of the earth' and 'the ends of the earth' are all among many Biblical terms that people used. These are some of the more familiar to us still today. Sin and the concept of sin were also part of that. The use of other versions besides the KJV, have lead to people who are churchgoers to lose this vocabulary. We have gradually seen a replacement of these terms in our language.
To illustrate this, things that were once considered sins, are now mental disorders or maybe genetic flaws. A person is no longer a drunk or even an alcoholic, but some one who has difficulty with alcoholic beverages due to family history, or social or mental issues. A murder is someone who kills only because of his genetics or because he is mentally disturbed. Homosexuals are born that way. And rapists and child molesters simply cannot help themselves. People are no longer responsible for what they do and the crimes they commit. It is always another's fault, their childhood or their social and economic circumstances.
People can no longer be held accountable for what they do, because they cannot help themselves. A wave of degradation is heading toward us that will soon overtake everything we have built and accomplished. People no longer sin that is just their nature. And since there is no God, no one will ever be held responsible for what they do, so they think.
Editor/RP
Many researchers believe that a loss of the Protestant vocabulary in the United States has led to the ignorance of sin. Once our vocabulary was based largely on the Bible. A lot of words and phrases that people used on a day-to-day basis were Biblical terms. 'David and Goliath', 'skin of the teeth', 'fire and brimstone', 'four corners of the earth' and 'the ends of the earth' are all among many Biblical terms that people used. These are some of the more familiar to us still today. Sin and the concept of sin were also part of that. The use of other versions besides the KJV, have lead to people who are churchgoers to lose this vocabulary. We have gradually seen a replacement of these terms in our language.
To illustrate this, things that were once considered sins, are now mental disorders or maybe genetic flaws. A person is no longer a drunk or even an alcoholic, but some one who has difficulty with alcoholic beverages due to family history, or social or mental issues. A murder is someone who kills only because of his genetics or because he is mentally disturbed. Homosexuals are born that way. And rapists and child molesters simply cannot help themselves. People are no longer responsible for what they do and the crimes they commit. It is always another's fault, their childhood or their social and economic circumstances.
People can no longer be held accountable for what they do, because they cannot help themselves. A wave of degradation is heading toward us that will soon overtake everything we have built and accomplished. People no longer sin that is just their nature. And since there is no God, no one will ever be held responsible for what they do, so they think.
Editor/RP
'Mad Scientist' Experiments
This is another article from the old newsletter. It was written last year, but is still very relevant in regards to the on-going abortion holocaust. -RP
October 29, 2005--
Abortion is the vilest action ever committed by humanity. Unfortunately, most Christians act as if it does not even exist. It gains the most attention during an election cycle or maybe during the confirmation process of a federal judge. Other than that, abortion is out of sight and far from our minds. Abortion is very wicked, very evil and horrible. We pray for and expect the blessings of God upon our nation and homes, but in reality the wrath of God is what is hanging over the head of our country.
I have a difficult time looking at any pictures or the websites that depict the horrors of abortion. Normally, I find myself gagging after a few seconds and abruptly leaving the website or turning away from the picture. I cannot bear the thought or knowledge of such evil. I cannot comprehend how some one can willingly destroy the life of a child with no afterthought.
The only thing that could possibly be worse than murdering a baby would have to be doing experiments on the dead body of that same murdered child.
In an article that appeared in the New Zealand Herald earlier this month, it was revealed that the United States is not the only nation that likes to use aborted children for 'mad scientist' experiments.
Outrageous, you say? Think about this. 'Researchers' in New Zealand prefer to buy American aborted babies--there are more of them. Yes, you read correctly, they buy them. You see, most American hospitals and abortion clinics do not cremate or 'properly dispose' of aborted babies like we are told. Instead, they sell them to 'interested buyers'. Most of those buyers are from foreign universities, which conduct any imaginable experiments on the bodies of these children.
What is even worse is that the so-called researchers in New Zealand never buy any aborted New Zealand children because it would be too 'controversial'. It's nice to know that politics fits into the picture somewhere.
The Auckland University in New Zealand had been keeping its experiments from the public, but an anti-abortion group exposed the university this month [October 2005]. The university has defended their experiments and promised to continue the research.
These experiments are conducted under the auspices of medical research. People want to justify slaughter by using the propagandist philosophy that it will help others. No matter what your intentions are, it still does not make any of this right.
We have become willfully ignorant of the evils of abortion. We believe whatever the media, politicians and scientists tell us. America is as guilty as Germany ever was. An entire generation of Americans, 40 million strong, has been wiped out, all under the guise of convenience and now, medical research.
New Zealand is not the only country where these experiments are taking place by using aborted American children. Russia, the United States and other countries that have not been disclosed as of yet, all use murdered children to perform their evil experiments. And it's all perfectly legal.
If the blood of Abel cried unto God from the ground, imagine what the cries of these children must sound like in the ears of Almighty God--40 millions cries, and growing!
'I fear for America that God is just and that His judgment cannot sleep forever.'
--Thomas Jefferson
Editor/RP
October 29, 2005--
Abortion is the vilest action ever committed by humanity. Unfortunately, most Christians act as if it does not even exist. It gains the most attention during an election cycle or maybe during the confirmation process of a federal judge. Other than that, abortion is out of sight and far from our minds. Abortion is very wicked, very evil and horrible. We pray for and expect the blessings of God upon our nation and homes, but in reality the wrath of God is what is hanging over the head of our country.
I have a difficult time looking at any pictures or the websites that depict the horrors of abortion. Normally, I find myself gagging after a few seconds and abruptly leaving the website or turning away from the picture. I cannot bear the thought or knowledge of such evil. I cannot comprehend how some one can willingly destroy the life of a child with no afterthought.
The only thing that could possibly be worse than murdering a baby would have to be doing experiments on the dead body of that same murdered child.
In an article that appeared in the New Zealand Herald earlier this month, it was revealed that the United States is not the only nation that likes to use aborted children for 'mad scientist' experiments.
Outrageous, you say? Think about this. 'Researchers' in New Zealand prefer to buy American aborted babies--there are more of them. Yes, you read correctly, they buy them. You see, most American hospitals and abortion clinics do not cremate or 'properly dispose' of aborted babies like we are told. Instead, they sell them to 'interested buyers'. Most of those buyers are from foreign universities, which conduct any imaginable experiments on the bodies of these children.
What is even worse is that the so-called researchers in New Zealand never buy any aborted New Zealand children because it would be too 'controversial'. It's nice to know that politics fits into the picture somewhere.
The Auckland University in New Zealand had been keeping its experiments from the public, but an anti-abortion group exposed the university this month [October 2005]. The university has defended their experiments and promised to continue the research.
These experiments are conducted under the auspices of medical research. People want to justify slaughter by using the propagandist philosophy that it will help others. No matter what your intentions are, it still does not make any of this right.
We have become willfully ignorant of the evils of abortion. We believe whatever the media, politicians and scientists tell us. America is as guilty as Germany ever was. An entire generation of Americans, 40 million strong, has been wiped out, all under the guise of convenience and now, medical research.
New Zealand is not the only country where these experiments are taking place by using aborted American children. Russia, the United States and other countries that have not been disclosed as of yet, all use murdered children to perform their evil experiments. And it's all perfectly legal.
If the blood of Abel cried unto God from the ground, imagine what the cries of these children must sound like in the ears of Almighty God--40 millions cries, and growing!
'I fear for America that God is just and that His judgment cannot sleep forever.'
--Thomas Jefferson
Editor/RP
Iftaar and the Koran in the White House
November 13, 2005--
On Monday, October 17, 2005 President George W. Bush did what no other American president has ever done. No left-wing liberal has ever done what the so-called conservative president has. The Bush administration officially recognized and celebrated the Islamic religion.
The president held an Iftaar, a Muslim dinner-celebration that is to be held on the high day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The dinner was held in no less of a prestigious place than the State Dining Room.
When I first read the reports of this event, I was a little reluctant to believe everything that I heard. Then I read the president's speech as is listed on the official website of the White House. After reading that speech, I can only doubt the president's salvation. While that may sound negative, is definitely politically and religiously incorrect, there is no way that a child of God can say the things he said in that speech.
At the beginning of the speech, President Bush noted that it was an 'honor to host and Iftaar in the State Dining Room.' He even told those at the dinner that he was pleased to celebrate an 'honored tradition of the Muslim faith.' Excuse me, Mr. President, but I believe that Islam is a works based religion, not one of faith. Of course there is only one religion that is truly one of faith, all the rest are works religions. The President wished everyone a 'Ramadan Mubarak', whatever that means, and I honestly have no idea, nor do I care to know. That wonderful greeting had me wondering if George Bush had converted to Islam.
The president proceeded to thank the 'Imam' (another word that I am unclear of the meaning) for attending and for leading them in prayer! You know, Christians are not allowed to pray at any event that is remotely connected to the government. Yet, the government officially sanctions a Muslim religious dinner, and the head Muslim leads everyone in prayer to his moon god. Whatever happened to the liberals' cry of separation of church and state? Where is the ACLU? Oh, I'm sorry, that only applies to fundamental Christianity.
The president went on to describe a brief 'history' of Ramadan. He said that this month (Ramadan) 'commemorates the revelation of God's Word to the Prophet Muhammad in the form of the Koran.' By that statement Bush officially recognizes Islam as being a religion of God, just a different form.
The president then stated that Islam is a religion of compassion. I have not seen compassion in Islam, not when the Koran calls for the murder of innocent people that it calls infidels. The president is delusional.
'We [the American people--how dare he speak for us!] have great respect for the commitment that all Muslims make to faith, family and education.' I do not have any respect for a religion that encourages death and destruction on those that it calls infidels.
The president went on to babble about how Americans want to learn and know more about Islam, Arabs and the Middle East. Then President Bush dropped a verbal nuclear bomb: 'And for the first time in our nation's history, we have added a Koran to the White House Library.' Which garnered a lot of applause. Why? What purpose will it serve? Will it make Muslims like us better and stop blowing us up? I doubt that. Bush is just trying to turn the USA into a Disneyland for all religions of the world. Everyone is welcome here, except Bible-believing Christians.
The president said, 'we cannot carry the message of freedom and the baggage of bigotry at the same time.' The only message the president has been carrying is that of democracy, nor freedom, the two cannot co-exist. The part about bigotry was aimed at those of us who believe that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven that all other religions will send you to Hell. Those who believe such Biblical nonsense have no place in America or the world. I'm sorry, but I am not bigoted, only speak the TRUTH.
The president went on to state that he believes that Muslims that kill others follow a different set of ideal than what the rest of Islam follows. He said that those extremists warp the true meaning of jihad and murder anyone they think are infidels or heretics. In reality, it is the president's thinking that is warped and distorted. Jihad is a 'holy war' that is called for in the Koran to exterminate any and all infidels--those that do not follow or believe in the teaching of Islam. The president then quoted from the Koran, and called Islam a noble faith.
President Bush ended his speech by stating how much confidence he has in the future of the USA and that of the Muslim world. He also said 'the spread of freedom and justice and tolerance in the broader Middle East will lead to the peace that we all seek.' This is the Bush version of the New World Order, the one that his father always speaking so lovingly of. With the direction he has taken our nation down, I have no confidence, unless we are able to turn things around, instead of going in his version of 'forward'.
President Bush closed with these heretical statements: '...we renew the ties of friendship that bind all those who trace their faith back to God's call on Abraham. ...I wish you a blessed Ramadan, and may God bless you all.' The God, Jehovah that called on Abraham was not the same god that Muhammad served. To say such is not only heresy, but also blasphemy.
This comes from a man that is supposed to be a born-again Christian! God have mercy on America!
Editor/RP
On Monday, October 17, 2005 President George W. Bush did what no other American president has ever done. No left-wing liberal has ever done what the so-called conservative president has. The Bush administration officially recognized and celebrated the Islamic religion.
The president held an Iftaar, a Muslim dinner-celebration that is to be held on the high day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The dinner was held in no less of a prestigious place than the State Dining Room.
When I first read the reports of this event, I was a little reluctant to believe everything that I heard. Then I read the president's speech as is listed on the official website of the White House. After reading that speech, I can only doubt the president's salvation. While that may sound negative, is definitely politically and religiously incorrect, there is no way that a child of God can say the things he said in that speech.
At the beginning of the speech, President Bush noted that it was an 'honor to host and Iftaar in the State Dining Room.' He even told those at the dinner that he was pleased to celebrate an 'honored tradition of the Muslim faith.' Excuse me, Mr. President, but I believe that Islam is a works based religion, not one of faith. Of course there is only one religion that is truly one of faith, all the rest are works religions. The President wished everyone a 'Ramadan Mubarak', whatever that means, and I honestly have no idea, nor do I care to know. That wonderful greeting had me wondering if George Bush had converted to Islam.
The president proceeded to thank the 'Imam' (another word that I am unclear of the meaning) for attending and for leading them in prayer! You know, Christians are not allowed to pray at any event that is remotely connected to the government. Yet, the government officially sanctions a Muslim religious dinner, and the head Muslim leads everyone in prayer to his moon god. Whatever happened to the liberals' cry of separation of church and state? Where is the ACLU? Oh, I'm sorry, that only applies to fundamental Christianity.
The president went on to describe a brief 'history' of Ramadan. He said that this month (Ramadan) 'commemorates the revelation of God's Word to the Prophet Muhammad in the form of the Koran.' By that statement Bush officially recognizes Islam as being a religion of God, just a different form.
The president then stated that Islam is a religion of compassion. I have not seen compassion in Islam, not when the Koran calls for the murder of innocent people that it calls infidels. The president is delusional.
'We [the American people--how dare he speak for us!] have great respect for the commitment that all Muslims make to faith, family and education.' I do not have any respect for a religion that encourages death and destruction on those that it calls infidels.
The president went on to babble about how Americans want to learn and know more about Islam, Arabs and the Middle East. Then President Bush dropped a verbal nuclear bomb: 'And for the first time in our nation's history, we have added a Koran to the White House Library.' Which garnered a lot of applause. Why? What purpose will it serve? Will it make Muslims like us better and stop blowing us up? I doubt that. Bush is just trying to turn the USA into a Disneyland for all religions of the world. Everyone is welcome here, except Bible-believing Christians.
The president said, 'we cannot carry the message of freedom and the baggage of bigotry at the same time.' The only message the president has been carrying is that of democracy, nor freedom, the two cannot co-exist. The part about bigotry was aimed at those of us who believe that Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to Heaven that all other religions will send you to Hell. Those who believe such Biblical nonsense have no place in America or the world. I'm sorry, but I am not bigoted, only speak the TRUTH.
The president went on to state that he believes that Muslims that kill others follow a different set of ideal than what the rest of Islam follows. He said that those extremists warp the true meaning of jihad and murder anyone they think are infidels or heretics. In reality, it is the president's thinking that is warped and distorted. Jihad is a 'holy war' that is called for in the Koran to exterminate any and all infidels--those that do not follow or believe in the teaching of Islam. The president then quoted from the Koran, and called Islam a noble faith.
President Bush ended his speech by stating how much confidence he has in the future of the USA and that of the Muslim world. He also said 'the spread of freedom and justice and tolerance in the broader Middle East will lead to the peace that we all seek.' This is the Bush version of the New World Order, the one that his father always speaking so lovingly of. With the direction he has taken our nation down, I have no confidence, unless we are able to turn things around, instead of going in his version of 'forward'.
President Bush closed with these heretical statements: '...we renew the ties of friendship that bind all those who trace their faith back to God's call on Abraham. ...I wish you a blessed Ramadan, and may God bless you all.' The God, Jehovah that called on Abraham was not the same god that Muhammad served. To say such is not only heresy, but also blasphemy.
This comes from a man that is supposed to be a born-again Christian! God have mercy on America!
Editor/RP
Imaginative Gamers or Prophecy?
Originally published in the OpenDoor Newsletter December 2005. -RP
Here's the storyline:
"Following a great increase in terrorism, internal strife, and ultimately the nuclear destruction of Washington, DC, the United States shatters into a half-dozen nation-states that descend into war."
In this game, the United States is divided into seven separate territories.
The first of these is Pacifica, made up of the states of Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado.
Next is the Californian Commonwealth made up of California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah.
The third of these "nation-states" is the Republic of Texas, which consists of parts of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri.
To the North of the Republic of Texas is the Great Plains Federation. The GPF includes all or parts of Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and North and South Dakota.
In the southeast arises The Confederacy, which is made up of Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky.
The last of the new nations is the New England Alliance - parts of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire - which is actually more than just New England.
Then we have the European Union Occupation territory. This area is made up of all of Maryland and Delaware, and parts of Virginia, West Virginia, and New Jersey.
Around 1982 there was a book out that predicted something similar to this, but that the USA would split based on economic reasons, rather than political ones. So, is this just an inventive game, or an unconscious prophecy of things to come? Most Prophecy experts and Bible scholars agree that the United States of America are not mentioned in Biblical prophecy. Could this game be giving us a hint of the reason why? Is this just a game, or is it possible that this is an unconscious prophecy of things to come?
Editor/RP
Freedom Quotes Vol 1.
From time to time I will place some great quotes from those who have struggled to preserve Liberty, Freedom and Independence; some past, some present. Often these quotes are only one or two sentences. Short, maybe, but they can teach us a lot, and inspire us to continue the struggle for which many gave their lives.
Editor/RP
"If we do not defend ourselves none will defend us; if we yield we will be more and more pressed as we recede; and if we submit we will be trampled underfoot."
~John C. Calhoun
Editor/RP
"If we do not defend ourselves none will defend us; if we yield we will be more and more pressed as we recede; and if we submit we will be trampled underfoot."
~John C. Calhoun
"History has well substantiated the fact that, under the right conditions, fallen and foolish man has always given up independence and freedom, for even the illusion of peace and security. If society's great international architects can manufacture the precise conditions as in their adventures in Europe, all vestiges of freedom will fall in America."
~ Samuel L. Webster, 1935
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Truth in advertising
Finally! Someone in the government decided to be honest! Or is this a Freudian slip?
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Government plans to "regulate" colloidial silver off the market
Originally published December 4 2006 at http://www.newstarget.com/021231.html
Nanomaterials -- products and materials changed or created at the atomic and molecular level -- are quickly gaining popularity for their multitude of uses, and while the Environmental Protection Agency is preparing to regulate popular nanosilver antibacterial products, ostensibly to protect consumers, critics say the move is a thinly veiled attempt to solely regulate nanosilver as a health supplement.
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EPA uses nanotech regulation ploy to target colloidal silver while ignoring all other nanotech particles
by Ben KageNanomaterials -- products and materials changed or created at the atomic and molecular level -- are quickly gaining popularity for their multitude of uses, and while the Environmental Protection Agency is preparing to regulate popular nanosilver antibacterial products, ostensibly to protect consumers, critics say the move is a thinly veiled attempt to solely regulate nanosilver as a health supplement.
Nanosilver is used to kill harmful bacteria in food storage containers, shoe liners, washing machines and even bandages. Particles of nanosilver and other nanomaterials can be as small as one-millionth the size of a pinhead. However, the EPA, citing pressure from silver industry workers and environmental groups such as Natural Resources Defense Council, is investigating whether silver ions could pose an environmental threat by killing beneficial bacteria in the environment, or even harming humans. The agency also received a letter from Chuck Weir, chairman of a California wastewater treatment plant advisory group known as Tri-TAC, which claimed "silver is highly toxic to aquatic life at low concentrations and also bioaccumulates in some aquatic organisms, such as clams."
Silver was brought under close EPA scrutiny when washing machine manufacturers began making models that were lined with silver ions or sprayed them onto the clothes as an antibacterial agent. Last year, the EPA decided that the machines should not be regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, since they were considered devices rather than pesticides. Recently, however, the agency re-examined its decision and reversed it.
"We took a second look at the release of silver ions, and it was very clear that this is a pesticide and not a device," Jim Jones, director of the EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, told the Washington Post. "Our original determination proved not to be a correct one."
Under the regulations, any silver product that claims it has antibacterial properties must prove the product is safe to be released into the environment. Mike Adams, a consumer health advocate and proponent of colloidal silver, suggested the regulations might work better were they aimed at antibiotics and pharmaceuticals.
"Isn't it interesting that the EPA chooses to completely ignore the environmental safety of all the millions of tons of pharmaceuticals flushed down toilets every year while selectively targeting silver products?" he said. "Why isn't the EPA concerned about the environmental toxicity of pharmaceuticals?"
A major point of contention for silver proponents is the fact that only products making antibacterial claims are subject to regulation. Jones' commented that, "Unless you're making a claim to kill a pest, you're not a pesticide." This decision has caused a severe backlash since it was announced Nov. 22, but not from washing machine manufacturers. Advocates of the use of silver in health have expressed outrage that the EPA has become involved and made this a safety issue, as their decision directly affects sellers whose silver products claim any antibacterial benefits.
"People have used silver flatware, and in the past silver coins, for thousands of years, releasing silver into the environment with no question of harm," said New Jersey lawyer Ralph Fucetola, who runs the Committee for the Responsible Use of Silver in Health (CRUSH) and the www.SilverFacts.com website. "The EPA will require proof of the safety of silver in the environment only if the companies make germ-killing claims," said Fucetola. "They are only concerned about safety if the public is being given information about benefits."
Fucetola, who is known as the Vitamin Lawyer for his work in the realm of dietary supplements, said CRUSH was developed to prevent irresponsible use of silver in health -- with special focus on ingested silver -- from both sides of the equation; both entities that would off-handedly disparage silver's benefits and those who would exaggerate them for profit.
"This is not a regulation designed to protect the environment from nanotechnology, it's a stealth ploy that selectively attempts to remove colloidal silver from the marketplace," Adams said. "Silver was gaining momentum in the marketplace as a safe, effective and natural antibacterial element. It cannot be patented and directly competes with antibiotics, antibacterial cleaners and other products from powerful corporations. That's why Big Business had to knock colloidal silver off track and regulate it out of the marketplace."
Fucetola noted there is a conflict between the EPA's decision and its own safety data on silver.
"EPA public records show that for ingested silver there is a safe level of use, known as the Reference Dose (RfD), determined by science as the safe daily amount for consumers," he said. "The guidelines make it clear that the only concern for the RfD is for the potential for the skin discoloration known as argyria. You would have to consume so much silver that it would discolor your skin before there would be any safety concerns."
Agyria, the most common health concern associated with silver, is a permanent yet medically benign conditioned marked by discoloration of the skin, usually brought on prolonged exposure to large amounts of the substance.
The EPA considers silver a water contaminant, but its Office of Drinking Water decided in the early 1990s that the effects of silver exposure in drinking water were cosmetic, and therefore downgraded the substance from a primary contaminant level to a secondary contaminant level. Additionally, the U.S. Centers for Disease control reports that spills of silver less than 1,000 pounds are not required to be reported to the EPA.
"If the EPA were to take the position that all nanosilver products had to qualify as 'safe and effective,' it would be acting contrary to its own long history of determining scientifically valid RfDs," Fucetola said. "Silver is spread throughout the environment already. Taking silver from the environment, using it and having some of it return to the environment is no different than the use of any other metal from the environment, whether iron, copper, or whatever."
Another factor that is drawing anger from silver proponents is the seeming focus of regulations on nanosilver to the exclusion of other nanomaterials. Indeed, the majority of nanomaterials will not be subject to EPA scrutiny, as they do not make any antibacterial claims.
"Consider this," said Adams. "Out of all the countless nanotechnology particles used in sun lotion, clothing and cookware, the EPA has decided to regulate only one -- colloidal silver, which is a naturally-occurring mineral. In doing so, the EPA ignores all the synthetic nanoparticles introduced into the environment through consumer products made by Big Business."
"'Nanosilver’ is the sexy new term for ionic silver," said Jay Newman, CRUSH member and president of supplement maker Invision International, in a press release. "Yet the imperative for an efficient delivery mechanism for human use is still the bottom line."
Newman said in a NewsTarget interview that free silver ions are needed to have an antimicrobial effect, but the ions will automatically bond with chlorine if they find their way into common drinking water, thereby rendering the ions inert.
"Our patented Silver100 is a perfect case in point, where it took many years of development and achieved patent protection because it has a specific molecular structure to control the release of silver ions in microbial forms," he said. "Once that occurs, the silver ions do not hang around. That's just the way the chemistry works.
"All appearances are that the EPA has been succumbing to corporate pressure of vested interests that do not want to see the word get out that silver has these benefits," Newman said. "I remain optimistic that the EPA will have the ethics and responsibility to let science prevail and that this will go away as quickly as it emerged."
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Rush Limbaugh Crosses the Line
Though it has been several years since I degraded my intelligence so far as to listen to the Rush Limbaugh show, it was brought to my attention (by a friend from Alabama) last night that Limbaugh has finally crossed the line. Apparently Rush was on another of his many rants about how great Abraham Lincoln was, and how wrong the South was in the conflict commonly called the American Civil War. I listened to Limbaugh a great deal in the late 1990s and up until about 2002. I finally became fed up with his bobble-head attitude that every thing that Bush and the GOP do is holy. Limbaugh has on numerous occasions claimed that those that expose the corruption in the GOP are liberals and working for the Democrats. As John Stossel would say, “Give me a break!” Limbaugh has also stated many times that he would like to see America be taken over by a “conservative” dictatorship, even going so far as to say that he could straighten out the country within two years if he were named the dictator! Not likely El Rushbo.
While the world’s most lovable moron was spouting his claims that Lincoln was the greatest leader of mankind, one patriot from Louisiana had had enough, and called Limbaugh on his idiocy. The transcript is available online at RushLimbaugh.com. Limbaugh has kept up his long-standing habit of labeling anyone who disagrees with him as being a “Kook”. He places a wide swath of people in this category including, but not limited to: socialists, communists, liberal Democrats, Libertarians, Constitutionalists, people who believe the Southern version of history and Fundamental Christians (the biggest “kooks” of all). The transcript to this conversation was placed in the “From Across The Fruited Plain” category of Limbaugh’s website, and is entitled “Confederate Kook Still Smarts Under Civil War ‘Occupation’”. How noble of the lovable little hairball, I mean fur ball! Name-calling is never too low for the great man behind the golden microphone.
The patriot from Louisiana immediately called into question Limbaugh’s blatant disregard for the Constitution by praising Lincoln’s tactics in the so-called Civil War. Limbaugh was quick to point out that the Constitution was not, and probably is not, important, that the preservation of the union was. I find that interesting. A man, who claims to love freedom and independence, would rather have a despotic empire as long as the “union” is still intact. When Limbaugh was asked again about the Constitution, he conveniently avoided the question, and like a politician, replied with his own question, not on the same topic of course.
Later in the call Rush began to sing Lincoln’s praises once more. Limbaugh even said that Lincoln did some things that he wished Bush would do. Like suspending the writ of habeas corpus, running people out of the country that are opposed to Bush’s policies and wars, and arresting those civilians. Sounds more like El Rushbo is a Nazi to me. Lincoln arrested people in the middle of the night, held them in prison without charge or cause, and never brought them to trial—all so that he could get his way of “preserving the Union.” Anyone who thinks that Lincoln was a great president, and the hero of America needs to read Thomas Di Lorenzo’s book, The Real Lincoln, and find out the truth about the “Great Emancipator”. Lincoln’s Gestapo tactics were reminiscent of King George III, whose tyranny Americans had desperately sought to avoid.
Rush Limbaugh has finally crossed the line that should be visible to all Americans, especially Southerners. He is no friend of freedom, liberty, the Constitution or the Bill of Rights! He is fan of tyrants, and a lover of despotism, and should be treated as such. Fellow patriots: whether the intentions are good or not, a dictatorship is still wrong, and always brings tyranny.
Editor/RP
Notes:
“Confederate Kook Still Smarts Under Civil War Occupation”, transcript 12/04/06, www.rushlimbaugh.com
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