Sound of Silence
American Communications
If America collaspses where is the world to turn to for truth and posterity?
Here is an apt description of political communications in our governments and our citizens in America. The song “Sound of Silence” was written by Simon and Garfunkel. But I believe it lacks the tone that fits the lyrics of the song. “Disturbed” I believe captured the tone that easily brings out the complete message of the song.
Lyrics
Hello darkness, my old friend
I’ve come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains Within the sound of silence
Here we see the beginning off a troubling view of today’s society. In the scripture below Jesus uses the metaphor of darkness as the sign of enlightenment. This song is used to show that although we see, we have lights, we have internet, we have highways, we have freedom, and we have many resources; we really have nothing that brings us together or promises a bright future for America.
(Matthew 4:16-17 WEB) 16The people who sat in darkness, saw great light; and to them who sat in the region and shades of death, light hath arisen. 17From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Where and how do people meet and discuss facts and solutions they can all agree on? Can disagreements be areas of further discussion or points that result in rancorous charges that fully divide two sides of what was a united group on some issues of agreement? Don’t our communities and nation deserve better than this? Shouldn’t we be pulling together to solve problems we’ve created for ourselves over the last 50 years? Where are the healthy (mind, body, and soul) men that can lead our families, churches, and communities out of the chasm that we’re headed for as a nation?
In restless dreams, I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
‘Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence
People of faith and discernment may at times feel alone. But just as Jesus admonishes us to persevere in prayer, the light will come and the believer will experience even greater works of the Lord. Just like the blind men below experienced a healing that gave them eyesight, when we walk with the Lord and experience darkness, Jesus promises to come along side.
(Matthew 9:29-31 WEB) 29Then he touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith, be it to you. 30And their eyes were opened; and Jesus strictly charged them, saying, See [that] no man know [it]. 31But they, when they had departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
Why Jesus told them not to tell anyone about their healing is a matter of debate. I believe their testimony would trigger the wrong reaction to the news of thinking of Jesus as just a miracle worker. But Jesus was about people opening their eyes to who Jesus truly was. And just as His Disciples had not figured that out until after His Resurrection and Ascension; it’s easy to see how the people would miss the point.
.There’s still three more parts to this song – let’s see where it leads us.
And in the naked light, I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never shared
And no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence
No one dares to speak out against the darkness in America.
Conservatives say we’re not patriotic if we don’t hold America up to the rest of the world as a shining light. Liberals, absent any moral base, advocate for programs after programs against those “other people”.
WELL – how really good is America compared to other industrialized countries?
- The study shows two of the world’s largest economic powerhouses, the United States and China, dominate the markets in adult-oriented Internet sites and adult products, respectively. The report shows China saw estimated revenues of $27.4 billion in 2006, mainly for being one of the largest producers of sex toys, Ropelato said. The other top-ranking countries for adult-related revenues were South Korea and Japan. The United States hosted a whopping 244 million adult Web pages, compared to second place Germany, which hosted only 10 million pages. About 12 percent of all total Web sites on the Internet are considered pornographic in nature. TopTen Reviews compiled statistics from more than 10,000 sources, including the pornography industry, media reports and anti-pornography organizations. The report paints a picture of an exploding industry.
- The United States is grappling with one of its worst-ever drug crises. More than 1,300 people per week die from opioid-related overdoses, a toll that has spiked across the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, millions more Americans suffer from opioid addiction. The crisis has reached such a scale that it has become a drag on the economy and a threat to national security. Analysts say the problem started with the overprescription of legal pain medications, but note that it has intensified in recent years with an influx of cheap heroin and synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, supplied by foreign-based drug cartels.(Proverbs 31:8-9 WEB) 8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. 9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
- The United States is again ranked as one of the worst countries in the world for human trafficking. According to a recently released report by the State Department, the top three nations of origin for victims of human trafficking in 2018 were the United States, Mexico and the Philippines. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered the Trafficking in Persons report, which is created annually by the State Department to document human trafficking in the year prior, and highlighted the growing focus that government agencies and nonprofit organizations have dedicated to stopping human trafficking. The Department of Justice provided more than $31 million for 45 victim service providers that offered services to trafficking survivors across the country. It was a demonstrable increase; the DOJ only provided $16 million to 18 organizations in 2017, according to the report. At the heart of the human trafficking trade in America is simple economics: Supply and demand.
- In practice, however, unions are significantly more fragile in the United States than in most other developed countries. There is no other place in the developed world where marriages and cohabitations are more likely to come to an end in a short period of time: In the United States, about 23 percent of marriages and 55 percent of cohabitations end in divorce or separation within five years. Additionally, children in the United States experience a higher rate of parental partnership transition and turnover: Eight percent of children living with their mothers encounter three or more maternal partnerships by the time the children are 15 years old. This figure represents three times as many children as the second-place country in this category, Sweden, where 2.6 percent of children go through the same experience. This high frequency of turnovers and transitions is a distinctive aspect of American families.
- Violent death is a serious public health problem in the United States. Among 15- to 24-year-olds, homicide is the second leading cause of death and suicide is the third leading cause; for 25- to 34-year-olds, suicide is the second leading cause and homicide is the third leading cause of fatality, following unintentional injuries for both groups. The United States is known to have higher levels of violent death, particularly homicide, compared with other developed nations. Although the United States does not appear to have higher rates of nonlethal crime, the rates of lethal violence and especially gun violence are much higher than in other high-income countries. There are many more guns and less strong gun laws in the United States than in other developed nations.
These are the concerns that Americans should focus on. Until the Churches bring about the restoration of civility in our society, it will only get worse. What is the solution I propose => Christians being CHRIST DISCIPLES. We are often the part of the SILENCE. Where are the Christian men in all of this. Human trafficking gets little mention. I would think the majority population would be up in arms thinking that white children were victims of this. But then the majority of whites are enabling drug use in their families. And how many children don’t have a stable two parent home? Aren’t these the concerns of Christians?
Notice the first word in this next stanza. It is important to weigh he significance of that word in our minds!
“Fools” said I, “You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you”
But my words, like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence
All of the trends I mentioned above are being dropped down a well of silence. And they could inadvertently be the very words of God.
(Romans 1:18-22 WEB) 18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness, and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. 19Because that which may be known of God, is manifest in them; for God hath shown [it] to them. 20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21Because that when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools:
Any doubt?
And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
Then the sign said, “The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
In tenement halls”
And whispered in the sound of silence
I can remember from the 50’s thru the 70’s seeing the graffiti on the restroom walls. A lot of it was hateful or vulgar. Now FaceBook fills that purpose. The glamor and glitz that attract people now are far more prevalent than the constructive information that would heal the many social wounds of America. But if people have money in their pockets ((or credit) they’re satisfied. Buying toys that half of them will not be used, getting them involved in computers almost before they can talk, being able to stay ahead of the Jones’s, or for young men in the city to buy their $50,000 truck (on credit), etc. is all they look for.
And all these concerns I bring up – that’s other people’s problems that they brought on themselves – it’s not our responsibility (not). And as far as the enabling thing – my child knows how to stay out of trouble – besides there’s Narcan.
Now their God’s are not neon lights but their phones – and ANYTHING is available on their phone. I wonder how many parents are concerned? How many children of single parents get little supervision from their parents, which could be four or more in some cases.
I’ve already written about what and how to fix in America. Will we look in the well to see what we’ve ignored?
(Revelation 3:17-18 WEB) 17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness may not appear; and anoint thy eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see.
And see what the city of Laodicea was like before the book of Revelations was written.
(Colossians 2:1 WEB) For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and [for] them at Laodicea, and [for] as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;
(Colossians 4:13, 15-16 WEB) 13For I bear him testimony, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them [that are] in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. … 15Salute the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. 16And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the [epistle] from Laodicea.
- This is what the city of Laodicea was like.
- But posterity ruined them.
- Is it ruining America?
- Is the dollar our God?
Jef4
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