Showing posts with label Arutz Sheva. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arutz Sheva. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Notes on PCG's Trumpet Weekly (2016)

Continuing from previous posts (2007-8, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015) let us continue surveying the articles within the issues of PCG's Trumpet Weekly.

(Note: With the recent redesign of PCG's website in March 2017 The Trumpet Weekly is no longer available. PCG seems to have decided to no longer produce The Trumpet Weekly or retain it on their website.)

Even though there was so much discussion regarding the presidential elections there was little discussion of the election itself.

It is continuously insisted that Chancellor Merkel will lose power in Germany possibly due to the refugee crisis or because of various acts of violence that occurred. Back in 2009 the PCG leadership began to fixate on Karl-Theodor zu Guttenburg as possibly being the man fated to conquer the United States. Consequently PCG's leaders have constantly insisted that Merkel will soon lose power with the implication that zu Guttenburg is fated to take over.

Black Lives Matter protesters are constantly portrayed in a very bad light. They are even denounced as "a Marxist organization" seeking to ultimately bring about "a violent overthrow of the government" in the October 7 issue in an article infused with modern day McCarthyism. In the December 2 issue it is insisted that Black Lives Matter activists plan to "resurrect the revolutionary Marxism of the Black Panther Party."  But curiously Jeremiah Jacques stated that "Black Lives Matter is a grassroots movement" in the February 6 issue.

The Trumpet Weekly's discussion of the Middle East is very much focused on demonizing Iran. Even when the murderers and terrorists of ISIL lose more and more territory in Iraq PCG's writers constantly bewail it as a sign of Iran gaining greater power over Iraq. Back in 1994 PCG's leader, Gerald Flurry, proclaimed Iran to be the "King of the South" therefore PCG's leaders are incentivized to promote this distinct doctrine of theirs to "prove" that Gerald Flurry can see the future.

The various dreadful terrorist attacks that have occurred in Europe (often inspired by ISIL) tend to be presented as a sign that Europe will soon go berserk and transform into an unstoppable military power fated to conquer the United States.

There are also instances of crass sexism to be found as well. The June 24 issue condemns the alteration of the Canadian national anthem to contain gender neutral language as adopting "political correctness" and wandering away down "a slippery slope." Also the October 28 issue contains a headline concerning President Sisi having lower approval ratings: "Sissy ratings for Sisi."

Every now and then they discuss Pope Francis and present him in a manner designed to discourage optimism about him.

The March 18 issue denounces Turkish President Erdoğan as "one of the most evil leaders of a major nation in the world."

The June 10 issue features an article by Andrew Müller scare mongering about the Bilderburg Group, an organization that often gains the attention of conspiracy theorists.

The June 17 issue features a particularly chilling sign of the Islamophobia that so often taints their views about events in the Middle East. The issue features a little article scare mongering about a man suffering from severe mental illness who attacked a woman in France but the issue emphasizes in the article's headline that he happens to be a Muslim downplaying the serious issue of mental illness.

Let us take a look at what PCG's leaders said in their Trumpet Weekly in 2016.

******

January 1: "Germany, Migrants and Angela Merkel's Big Lie" by Brad MacDonald. Here MacDonald scare mongers that Chancellor Merkel has lied to the German people about accepting the refugees and implies that discontent with the arrival of the refugees will cause her fall from power.

"Government Gives IRS Authority to Take Away Your Passport" by Robert Morley. Here Morley scare mongers that the IRS had been given the authority to annul passports of tax dodgers. Considering that PCG does not pay taxes because it is viewed as a religion by the authorities it seems strangely hypocritical for PCG to complain about that.

Fox News and Breitbart are cited in this issue.

January 8: This issue opens with a dire picture of a nuclear explosion.

"A Black Eye for America's Nuclear Agreements" by Jeremiah Jacques. Here the agreement with Iran is compared with previous agreements made with North Korea in attempts to prevent their acquisition of a nuclear weapon. It is insisted that a similar outcome will occur with Iran. This article, like many made by PCG, serves to reinforce PCG's demonization of Iran.

"Sunni-Shiite Showdown" by Callum Wood. Here Wood exploits the execution of Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia and the subsequent suspension of diplomatic relations with Iran by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Sudan to once again make a dire proclamation that PCG's prophecies will soon be fulfilled. PCG's leaders are but false prophets. Their words will not be fulfilled.

"How the World Changed in 2015 in Asia" by Jeremiah Jacques. Here Jacques scare mongers about various moves by Russia and China to present them as threats to the United States even though PCG teaches that a German led Europe is fated to destroy the United States.

"AIIB Gaining Momentum Into 2016" by Callum Wood. Here Wood exploits the establishment of a bank to scare monger about China.

Breitbart is cited in this issue.

January 15: "'Cologne has Changed Everything'" by Richard Palmer. Here the acts of criminals who attacked women in Cologne is exploited to scare monger about immigrants.

"Iran Goes Bombastic--and Ballistic" by Anthony Chibarirwe. Here Chibarirwe scare mongers about Iran conducting tests with ballistic missiles and condemning the Obama Administration for not imposing sanctions in response.

It is mentioned that a far right group in Germany named the Oldschool Society plotted to acquire explosives to attack a refugee center. Thankfully they were caught before this was carried out.

It is mentioned that the Israeli consulate recommended to French Jews to not wear kippot in public.

The Washington Times and Washington Free Beacon are cited. The Washington Times is owned by a certain controversial religion originating from Korea.

Also cited in this issue is Caroline Glick, a columnist for The Jerusalem Post who is often cited by PCG's writers.

January 22: "Iran's Implementation Day: A Landmark for the Middle East" by Joel Hilliker. Here Hilliker bewails the implementation of the nuclear agreement with Iran. He emphasize the date of January 16 promoting PCG's dogma that significant things are bound to occur on the anniversary of HWA's death. This is measured using the Gregorian calendar not what COG groups call "God's sacred calendar,"

On page 8 it is mentioned that the leader of the Jewish community in Hamburg, Germany stated that Jews in Germany no longer feel safe.

The Washington Times is cited. The Washington Times is owned by a certain controversial religion originating from Korea.

Caroline Glick is cited again as well.

January 29: "Are Italy's Banks About to Explode?" by Richard Palmer. Here Palmer bewails the state of Italian banks.

"The Communist Manifesto Ranks Third in Assigned University Texts" by Kieran Underwood. Here a survey by Open Syllabus Project ranked The Communist Manifesto as being the third most commonly assigned book in University courses. This serves to cast suspicion upon educational institutions for PCG's followers.

On page 12 Al Gore is mocked for saying the world needed to stop producing excess carbon dioxide by that time. This minimizes the issue of climate change.

Quotes Melanie Phillips, a British columnist often cited by PCG's writers.

February 5: "Pope Apologizes for Killing Protestants" by Richard Palmer. Here Palmer exploits Pope Francis' address concerning the persecution of Protestants in times past to scare monger that the Roman Catholic Church is pushing for unity. It is often taught among the COGs that ecumenism is a plot by the Roman Catholic Church to implement a forced merger with the Protestant churches as part of the rise of the final Pope fated to support the European strongman said to conquer America.

"Oregon Standoff Spotlights Growing Divide on Issue of Federal Law Enforcement" by Andrew Müller. Here Müller talks about the infamous armed stand off of Ammon Bundy in Oregon. Surprisingly he refers to Black Lives Matter as "a grassroots movement".
Although Black Lives Matter is a grassroots movement with a plethora of different ideas, the main demand of its activists seems to be greater federal oversight of allegedly racist local police forces. (p. 11.)
This issue contains more scare mongering against Japan. PCG has a long history of demonizing Japan. This idea dates back to the old WCG.

February 12: "Why is Germany Eliminating Paper Money?" by Robert Morley. Here Morley condemns proposed reforms in Germany that called for abolishing the 500 euro note and limiting cash transactions to 5000 euros. It is denounced as inconvenient for those who wish to keep physical cash and do not trust banks to remain stable.

"Stabbings Continue in Jerusalem" by Brent Nagtegaal. Here Nagtegaal mentions a stabbing in Agron Street in Jerusalem in which two Israeli police officers were attacked and three Palestinians were shot to death. He denounces the people for stoically carrying on with their lives instead calling upon them to repent.
Joshua didn’t tell the Israelites to carry on with their lives and their plans. He stopped everything and led the Israelites to examine themselves, obey God and remove the sin. After that, Israel defeated Ai without losing a single warrior.... Although Joshua lived around 3,500 years ago, the passing of time does not invalidate the lesson. If it was true then, it is true now. God loves the nation of Israel and longs to heal its people if only they would turn to Him. (p. 3.)
It is mentioned in another article that Louis Farrakhan had accepted an invitation to speak at Iran's 37th annual celebration.

February 19: "Former German Vice Chancellor Expects Global Chaos and War" by Brad MacDonald. Here MacDonald exploits a dire article by former German Vice Chancellor Joschka Fischer to imply that severe crises will soon occur.

Page 12 contains scare mongering about attempts to accommodate transgender people's access to public toilets by respecting their gender identity.

February 26: "Iranian Elections: A Litmus Test for the Nuclear Deal" by Brent Nagtegaal. Here Nagtegaal mentions an Israeli academic with a pessimistic view of elections then under way in Iran. It is stated that powerful clerics in the Guardian Council have vetoed many moderates from participating in the election.

"Why is the Pope Pro-Putin?" by Richard Palmer. Here Palmer exploits a meeting between Pope Francis and the Patriarch of Moscow, Kirill to scare monger that Pope Francis is too closely aligned with Putin.

This issue cites Arutz Sheva, a far right media outlet that caters for national religious Israeli Jews. It is headquartered in Beit El, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank near Ramallah. It is often cited by PCG's writers.

March 5: "The Suddenly Poor Life: Millions Will Lose Their Pensions" by Robert Morley. Here Morley notes pension cuts by the Central States Pension Fund to scare monger that pensions will be cut by the time his audience reach retirement.

"Germany's Bundesbank Chief Pushes Communal Eurozone Treasury" by Robert Morley. Here Morley exploits a fall in share price for Deutsche Bank to scare monger that the banking crisis will prompt the European Union to transform into the feared military power fated to conquer the United States.

It is mentioned that Trump's call for the construction of a wall has caused many Latinos to be afraid. Also a violent clash in which six Black Lives Matter protesters were injured by far right extremists in a protest in Anaheim, California is mentioned.

This issue cites The Washington Times. The Washington Times is owned by a certain controversial religion originating from Korea.

March 11: This issue opens with a picture of Houthi militiamen in civil war ravaged Yemen holding pictures associated with Hezbollah.

"Saudi Arabia's Lebanese Gambit" by Brent Nagtegaal. Here Nagtegaal discuss Saudi Arabia's withdrawal of funding for the Lebanese army expressing frustration with the election of a government they perceived as being allied with Hezbollah.

Washington Free Beacon is cited three times.

March 18: "The Fall of Merkel and Rise of a New Germany" by Stephen Flurry and Richard Palmer. Here Stephen Flurry and Palmer discuss the rise of right wing populism in Germany to imply that Chancellor Merkel will soon lose power. Since 2009 PCG's leaders have constantly scare mongered about Karl-Theodor zu Guttenburg insinuating that he may be the one fated to conquer the United States. To keep this possibility seem realistic they constantly insist that Merkel will soon lose power.

"Putin's Billion Dollar Bargain in Syria" by Brent Nagtegaal. Here Nagtegaal discuss President Putin's statement that Russia had succeeded in its intervention in Syria. Here the intervention is presented as a billion dollar arms expo by Russia to gain more customers in the arms industry.

"Europe Tiptoes in Libya's Mess" by Kieran Underwood. Here Underwood discuss speculation that special operatives from Europe have gone to Libya in order to combat ISIL's lackeys in Libya.

"Germany's Dodgy Deal with Turkey" by Richard Palmer. Here Palmer discuss a deal between the European Union and Turkey on how to manage the arrival of refugees into European Union territory. Incidentally Palmer describes President Erdoğan "one of the most evil leaders of a major nation in the world."
In making this deal, the EU is cozying up to one of the most evil leaders of a major nation in the world. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is the type of strongman that EU officials used to love to hate. (p. 6.)
In this issue Garry Kasparov is quoted while criticizing Senator Sanders.

March 25: With this issue this publication stops simply quoting articles from various media outlets but instead merely quote them within articles written by PCG's anonymous writers.

"Belgium Attacked--Europe 'Under Attack'" by Robert Morley and Richard Palmer. Here Morley and Palmer discuss the attacks by ISIL's lackeys in which 32 innocent people were murdered in Brussels, Belgium. The article cites an article by the left leaning media outlet, Vox.

"Putin's Approval Rating Fall Back to 'Pre-Crimea' Level" by Jeremiah Jacques. Here Jacques discusses a poll by the Levada Center indicating that President Putin was getting to be slightly less popular among the Russian population.

"Can Americans Finally Trust Communist Cuba?" by Andrew Müller. Here Müller discusses President Obama's visit to Cuba. He implies that Cuba is plotting to bring about the downfall of the United States which is about as likely a possibility as an ant cutting down a sequoia.
The Castro regime in Cuba has a half century of history of collaborating with Russia, Iran, Syria, North Korea and a myriad of authoritarian regimes that seek the downfall of America. (p. 8.)
"Danger: China Is Buying the Chicago Stock Exchange" by Robert Morley. Here Morley scare mongers about China citing a proposed bid to buy the Chicago Stock Exchange by the Chongching Casin Enterprise Group.

April 1: "President Obama: Capitalist or Communist, 'Just Decide What Works'" by Andrew Muller. Here Müller indulges in some classic McCarthyite red baiting by exploiting a speech President Obama gave in Buenos Aires in which he encouraged people to use their own initiative is reinterpreted to imply that he sympathizes with Communists.

"Rule of the Sea: China Pushes Boundaries" by Callum Wood. Here Wood discusses a clash between ships belonging to China and Indonesia in the South China Sea.

"America's Junk-in-the-Trunk Economy" by Robert Morley. Here Morley scare mongers that there is too much debt in the United States citing a report by Standard & Poor's.

Page 7 contains an article portraying some Germans as calling for Karl-Theodor zu Guttenburg to work in government again.

There is more scare mongering about Japan on pages 8-9. PCG has a long history of demonizing Japan. This idea dates back to the old WCG.

Pages 11-12 condemns Black Lives Matter protesters citing the violence in Chicago.

The Washington Times is cited on page 6. The Washington Times is owned by a certain controversial religion originating from Korea.

April 8: "President Obama's Rapid Transformation of the Criminal Justice System" by Stephen Flurry. Here Stephen Flurry condemns President Obama for commuting the sentences of 248 prisoners. The article also includes scare mongering about illegal immigrants.

"More Missiles, Less Talk" by Callum Wood. Here Wood discusses tensions concerning Iran's tests of ballistic missiles. This article serves to reinforce PCG's demonization of Iran.

"The Kremlin Cracks Down on Religious Liberty" by Andrew Müller. Here Müller asserts that Russia's government is cracking down on religions viewed as foreign.

April 15: "Germany is Taking Over the Dutch Army" by Richard Palmer. Here Palmer scare mongers about parts of the Dutch army merging with Germany's even though they have been allies as fellow members of NATO for decades. For decades HWA and now his imitators in PCG have direly insisted that Germany is destined to conquer the Untied States just before Christ's return.

"Egyptians Unhappy With Sisi’s Decision to ‘Sell’ Red Sea Islands" by Brent Nagtegaal. Here Nagtegaal discusses opposition within the Egyptian public against President Sisi's decision to cede two islands to Saudi Arabia.

"Western Media Calls to End U.S.-Egypt Alliance" by Callum Wood. Here Wood discusses the New York Times' editorial calling for a reassessment of the United States' alliance with Egypt and a call by an Egyptian NGO for the overthrow of President Sisi.

"President Obama’s ‘Worst Mistake’" by Anthony Chibarirwe. Here Chibarirwe discusses President Obama's statement in an interview with Fox News that his worse mistake was intervening in Libya without sufficient planning for what happened after the fall of the Gaddafi regime.

"Is Hungary Right About Europe Having Hundreds of No-go Zones?" by Kieren Underwood. Here Underwood discusses the Hungarian government staring up a website which inaccurately claimed that there were 900 "no go zones" supposedly made by Muslims in Europe. This claim is of course completely wrong.

"New ‘Praetorian Guard’ Seals Putin’s Hold on Power" by Andrew Müller. Here Müller discusses the establishment of the National Guard in Russia which would answer to President Putin personally.

April 22: "Bought Out: China’s Attack on Agriculture" by Callum Wood. Here Wood scare mongers about various acquisitions of agricultural properties in New Zealand by financial firms based in China.

"Germany Thinks Cyber" by Josué Michels. Here Michels mentions an advertising campaign by the German Bundeswehr to get more personnel in their information technology sector.

"More Than Half of Russians Want the Soviet Union Resurrected" by Jeremiah Jacques. Here Jacques mentions a poll which states that many Russians regret the collapse of the Soviet Union.

"Philippine and American Officials Worry Over the Scarborough Shoal" by Kieran Underwood. Here Underwood discusses concerns over a border dispute between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea after plans for an artificial island were posted on a military website.

"Africa Sees 10-fold Increase in Number of Children Used for ‘Suicide’ Bombings" by Jeremiah Jacques, Here Jacques mentions the terrorists of Boko Haram's use of children as suicide bombers. May the day of Boko Haram's fall soon dawn.

On page 6 it is that "As Islam continues to attack Europe" which falsely equates Muslims in general with extremists such as Al Qaeda and ISIL. That is Islamophobia.

Pages 11-12 contain an article scare mongering about Senator Sanders.

On page 12 it is mentioned that a school in Virginia was being prosecuted for allegedly discriminating against a transgender woman.

On page 12 it is mentioned that Vice-President Biden had criticized the Israeli government during a speech to J Street.

April 28: "President Obama Confirms: The Special Relationship Is Dead" by Stephen Flurry. Here Stephen Flurry criticizes President Obama's comments concerning the referendum on whether or not Britain is to remain in the European Union.

"More Troop Deployments to Syria" by Anthony Chibarirwe. Here Chibarirwe mentions President Obama's announcements that more American troops were to be sent to Syria to fight the terrorists and murderers of ISIL.

"Europe’s Right-wing Reaction to the Migrant Crisis" by Kieran Underwood. Here Underwood mentions the increasing strength in Europe of right wing parties opposed to accepting more refugees and immigrants.

"Catholic and Protestants Unite Politically" by Josué Michels. Here Michels mentions an assembly of 270 clergy including Catholics and Protestants discussing how to counteract Al Qaeda like extremism. Within Armstrongism it has often been insisted that ecumenism will lead to the Catholic Church seizing control of the Protestant churches.

"Not Combat Ready: U.S. Marine Corps" by Andrew Locher. Here Locher discusses problems regarding the maintenance of the airplanes of the US Marine Corps.

"Canada to Legalize Weed by Next Spring." Here proposed legislation in Canada to legalize marijuana is mentioned.

On pages 9-10 an article scare mongers about Julius Malema citing an Al Jazeera interview.

On page 12 it is mentioned that Boris Johnson had stated that President Obama had an "ancestral dislike of the British Empire."

On page 12 it is mentioned that there were large protests in South Carolina opposing a proposed law perceived as being against the LGBT community.

May 6: "President Obama and America’s Love Affair With Europe" by Stephen Flurry and Richard Palmer. Here Stephen Flurry and Richard Palmer scare monger about a speech President Obama made in Germany in which he spoke complementary words towards Germany and the European Union.

"Will Oman Become Beholden to Iran?" by Brent Nagtegaal. Here Nagtegaal suggests that Oman is become beholden to Iran. This article serves to reinforce PCG's demonization of Iran.

"Journalists Arrested in Egypt’s Increasingly Frequent Protests" by Kieran Underwood. Here Underwood discusses protests in Egypt regarding the two islands ceded to Saudi Arabia.

"Anticapitalists Riot in May Day Protests" by Andrew Müller. Here Müller scare mongers about protests marking May Day. Parts of this passage were later reused in an article for the June 3 issue.
During the past century, it has been common for far-left radicals to protest, riot and attack police officers every International Worker’s Day. More recently, however, such violent protests have become common during other times of the year. Just last week, demonstrators rolled over cars, broke windows, and threw bricks in protest against a speech given by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in Costa Mesa, California. Such wanton displays of violence are eliciting comparisons to Weimar-era Germany, when left-wing socialists and right-wing nationalists warred against each other in violent street clashes.  
Increasingly, people seem to be abandoning the rule of law for the law of the jungle. This way of handling things will not bring peace or human rights; it can only lead to revolution and war. Left unchecked, this escalating civil unrest will completely transform both America and Europe! (p. 10.)
May 13: This issue features a photo of Iranian soldiers in camouflage on parade.

"Iran’s War of Terror in Africa" by Anthony Chibarirwe. Here Chibarirwe scare mongers about Iran's supposed influence in Africa. This article serves to reinforce PCG's demonization of Iran.

"Transatlantic Trade Agreement Threatens U.S. Sovereignty" by Andrew Müller. Here Müller condemns negotiations seeking to produce the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

On page 4 it is mentioned that Hamza bin Laben, a son of the justly loathed Osama bin Laden, had released an audio message calling upon sympathizers to join jihadists in Syria absurdly stating that this would help bring about the "liberation" of Jerusalem. That is an absurd claim. The State of Israel has a qualitative military edge over its neighbors so the jihadist insurgents would not have a chance of defeating the State of Israel. Furthermore the Salafi-Jihadists in Syria have fought against the Assad regime and rivals among themselves. While the possibility is certainly a concern in the current dire situation so far they do not have a track record of attacking the State of Israel.

On page 12 it is asserted that Caitlyn Jenner is thinking about transitioning to be male.

May 20: "Gambling With Libya’s Future" by Brent Nagtegaal. Here Nagtegaal discusses moves to end the arms embargo on Libya for the Government of National Accord.

"EgyptAir Flight MS804 Disappears Over Mediterranean" by Brent Nagtegaal and Callum Wood. Here Nagtegaal and Wood discuss the crash of EgyptAir Flight MS804 in which 66 people were killed.

"How Iranian Hard-liners Stirred Up Anti-U.S. Sentiment Over the Nuclear Deal" by Kieran Underwood. Here Underwood discusses Iranian hard liners' annoyance regarding the nuclear deal. This article serves to reinforce PCG's demonization of Iran.

"Israeli Prime Minister Condemns Iran for Preparing Another Holocaust" by Brent Nagtegaal. Here Nagtegaal mentions Prime Minister Netanyahu's condemnation of "a Holocaust-themed cartoon competition hosted by Iran" and his statement that Iran is preparing another Holocaust.

On page 9 it is stated that Russia was building a military base in Palmyra, Syria.

Pages 11-12 contains an article discussing a speech Senator Sanders gave in Puerto Rico and the dire financial situation there.

On page 12 it is mentioned that Eric Fanning became US Army Secretary. It is stated that he is gay. PCG and the other COGs have a long history of vilifying the LGBT community.

May 27: "Is Croatia Embracing Its Nazi-Era Past?" by Richard Palmer. Here Palmer discusses the appointment of Zlatko Hasanbegović as culture minister in Croatia who is asserted to be a sympathizer for the Ustasha. PCG has a long history of demonizing Croatia and condemning secession from Yugoslavia as "evidence" that Europe will soon turn into a German led military superpower fated to conquer the United States.

"China Harasses U.S. Surveillance Plane" by Callum Wood. Here Wood mentions tensions in the South China Sea including one incident when Chinese planes followed a US drone.

"Israel’s ‘Most Right-Wing and Extremist’ Government." Here the appointment of Avigdor Lieberman as Israeli Defense Minister is discussed. Lieberman is often discussed in Max Blumenthal's 2013 book, Goliath: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel.

On page 4 it is mentioned that Iraqi forces had advanced into Fallujah to liberate it from the terrorists and murderers of ISIL.

On page 12 it is mentioned that Texas, Alabama, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Tennessee, Arizona, Maine, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Utah and Georgia had sued to prevent the federal government from enforcing a directive to allow transgender people to use the bathroom aligned with their gender identity. It is also mentioned that a detention facility for transgender inmates had been constructed in Dallas.

June 3: "Is Europe Finally Ready for an Army?" by Richard Palmer. Here Palmer scare mongers that the European Union is plotting to create a European army after Britain's future withdrawal from the European Union.

"The Danger of Deploying the German Army at Home" by Josué Michels. Here Michels discusses a proposal to let German soldiers train with police which was not passed.

"State Department Admits to Lying About the Iran Nuclear Deal" by Stephen Flurry. Here Stephen Flurry condemns the State Department as lying about how negotiations with Iran started.

"The Riots Against Donald Trump Are More Dangerous Than People Realize." Here protests against Trump that turned violent are portrayed as extremely dangerous. It contains the following passage which is largely burrowed from an article in the May 6 issue.
Regardless of who becomes the next president, it is undeniable that a spirit of violence is replacing civilized political discourse in America. Increasingly, people seem to be abandoning the rule of law for the law of the jungle. This way of handling things will not bring peace or human rights; it can only lead to revolution and war. (p. 11.) 
June 10: "Is Germany About to Side With Russia Against America?" by Richard Palmer and Josué Michels. Here Palmer and Michels scare monger that Germany will turn against the United States and ally with Russia.

"What’s the Bilderberg Agenda?" by Andrew Müller. Here Müller discusses the annual meetings of the Bilderberg Group which is presented as an attempt to create a united Europe. The Bilderberg Group is often cited by conspiracy theorists as an alleged center of the supposed conspiracy that allegedly rules the world.

"Hiroshima and America’s Dangerous Amnesia" by Stephen Flurry. Here Stephen Flurry condemns a speech by President Obama as presenting World War II in a manner too sympathetic to the Japanese.

"Radical Australian Prisons" by Callum Wood. Here Wood scare mongers about Al Qaeda like extremists in Australian prisons.

June 17: "Major Terrorist Attack Strikes America" by Callum Wood. Here Wood discusses the massacre in Orlando in which 49 innocent people were murdered.

"Retaking Fallujah" by Callum Wood. Here Wood condemns the pro-government militias in Iraq as yearning for revenge against the population of territory formerly controlled by the terrorists and murderers of ISIL. He cites what happened after Tikrit was liberated from ISIL.

"Iran Wants to Use More Afghan Refugees in the Battle for Syria" by Kieran Underwood. Here Underwood mentions the Fatemiyoun Brigade, a militia drawn from the Hazara community in Afghanistan to fight to protect the Assad regime in Syria.

"The EU-Turkey Deal Is Bad but Worse Is Yet to Come" by Josué Michels. Here Michels discusses widespread frustration with the deal between the European Union and Turkey regarding refugees,

"Ethiopia and Eritrea Fighting Again" by Callum Wood. Here Wood exploits a flare up in tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea after an exchange of fire in the Tsorona area to scare monger that Iran is aligning itself with Eritrea. PCG constantly demonizes Iran in order to promote Gerald Flurry's proclamation in 1994 that Iran is the "King of the South."

"The Orlando Killer’s Security Job" by Andrew Müller. Here Müller criticize those who advocate for gun control measures after the massacre in which 49 innocent people were murdered.

One feature of Islamophobia is simplistically equating all Muslims as representing a single political interest. On page 6 PCG's tendency to view them in this way is shown once again in an article discussing the refugee crisis in Germany.
Germany is growing more suspicious of Islam, and a small minority hold far-right opinions, such as the desire for a führer, (p. 6.)
Shouldn't they write, "Germany is growing more suspicious of [Muslims]"?

Also a violent criminal act committed by a man suffering schizophrenia who heard voices in his head is singled out because he happens to be of Muslim heritage. Shamefully the serious issue of mental illness is ignored to scare monger against Muslims. In my opinion this is Islamophobia and fake news.
Teenage girl stabbed by Muslim in France: A teenage girl was stabbed in Rennes, France, by a Muslim man on Tuesday. The man said he heard voices telling him to sacrifice for the Muslim month of Ramadan. The attacker was known to have psychiatric problems and missed his Schizophrenia treatment on Tuesday. The jihadist said he had been inspired by the Islamic State and encouraged people to follow his example on a live Facebook video after the killing. (p. 7.)
Shame on PCG for making his religion an issue when he seems to be suffering severe mental health issues.

June 24: "Today’s Headline Out of Britain Was Written Over 40 Years Ago!" Here it is enthusiastically insisted that HWA predicted Brexit conveniently ignoring the many false predictions HWA made over fifty years of scare mongering. Brexit is many things but it is not confirmation that HWA was right. HWA insisted in his last book, Mystery of the Ages, that Christ would return within twenty years, in other words by 2005.

"EU Extends, Upgrades Libya Naval Mission" by Brent Nagtegaal. Here Nagtegaal mentions the European Union's expansion of Operation Sophia in Libya. PCG insists that the European Union will one day soon be transformed into a military superpower fated to conquer the United States.

"Bahrain Faces Renewed Uprising" by Callum Wood. Here Wood mentions the Bahraini government revoking the citizenship of Sheikh Isa Qassim, a Shiite sheikh.

"Germany to Work With China on Economic Colonization" by Richard Palmer. Here Palmer talks of Germany's economic relations with China scare mongering that they are working together to economically "colonize" Africa.

"China Buys Panama’s Largest Port" by Callum Wood. Here Wood mentions the purchase of Margarita Island Port by Landbridge Group, a company based in China.

"A Major Problem with U.S. Gun Control Proposals" by Sam Livingston and Andrew Müller. Here Livingston and Müller condemn calls for restricting access to certain types of guns and tracking gun ownership.

"Canada Votes to Make National Anthem Gender Neutral" by Tyrel Schlote. Here Schlote presents a change in Canada's national anthem to make it gender neutral as a sign that Canadians are embracing "political correctness" and going down "a slippery slope" with this change. What crass sexism this is.

"America Needs to Change the Way It Views Child Care" by Kieran Underwood. Here Underwood comments on calls for child care workers to be paid more. He calls for parental child care to be increased.

On page 12 wildfires in California are mentioned. Left unmentioned is the fact that PCG's leaders have often scare mongered that California has been cursed by (PCG's) God for being the location of the headquarters of Tkach's WCG.

July 1: "Brexit Exposes UK’s Many Infirmities" by Brad MacDonald. Here MacDonald portrays Britain as being a complete mess and that those who campaigned for Britain to withdraw from the European Union as wrong for hoping that this move will lead to better times.

"Why the Israel-Turkey Détente Is Doomed" by Brent Nagtegaal. Here Nagtegaal comments on the deal made between Turkey and the State of Israel regarding the incident in which Israeli personnel shot to death ten Turkish men including a US citizen on the Mavi Marmara in 2010 who were protesting against the State of Israel's blockade against the Gaza Strip. At the time PCG's leaders condemned the protesters as wanting to die as martyrs and being connected with Iran, Hamas and Al Qaeda. As part of the deal the State of Israel agreed to pay $20 million to the families of those who died.

"Funding Hezbollah Reveals Iran’s Interests" by Callum Wood. Here Wood mentions Hassan Nasrallah's statement that Hezbollah is funded directly by Iran. He cites an article from Arutz Sheva, a far right media outlet that caters to national religious Israeli Jews. It is based in Beit El, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank near Ramallah. It is often cited by PCG's writers.

"Russia Humiliates America, Again" by Richard Palmer. Here Palmer discusses Russian bombing of the New Syrian Army, a now disbanded anti-ISIL militia force, which is presented as evidence of Russian willingness to buck American power and a sign of American weakness.

On page 12 it is mentioned that transgender persons are now allowed to openly serve in the US armed forces.

July 8: "War on Police in Dallas" by Stephen Flurry. Here Stephen Flurry discusses the massacre of five police officers in Dallas. He condemns Black Lives Matter protesters and President Obama for supporting them and accuses them of using "rhetoric that incites race riots and war" alluding to PCG's false prophecy of "race war."

"Russia Sends Largest Warship to Syria" by Callum Wood. Here Wood mentions Russia's deployment of the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier to Syria.

"Today’s Supreme Court Would Frighten Alexander Hamilton" by Kieran Underwood. Here Underwood condemns the Supreme Court for supposedly leaning to the left after Justice Scalia's death and insists that Alexander Hamilton would agree with him. Little did they know that Republican legislators would simply block President Obama's attempts to nominate a new judge.

The Washington Times is cited on pages 3-4. The Washington Times is owned by a certain controversial religion originating from Korea.

The issue contains this paragraph discussing Israeli government approval of 800 housing units in the West Bank, territory viewed by the international community as not belonging to the State of Israel. The 161 nation states that recognize the State of Israel only recognizes its right to rule its 1949-67 borders.
U.S. accuses Israel of systematically taking Palestinian territory: The United States State Department accused Israel on Tuesday of “systematically seizing” Palestinian land in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. The accusation came after Israel green-lighted the construction of 800 housing units in response to two recent Palestinian terror attacks against Jews. State Department spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. opposes Israel’s decision to build the units. He described it as only “the latest step in what seems to be the systematic process of land seizures” and “settlement expansions.” Kirby said such moves by the Israeli government are “fundamentally undermining the prospects for a two-state solution.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was not the new construction that is preventing peace, but Palestinian incitement against Israel. (pp. 4-5.)
July 15: "Nice Attack: ‘We Should Learn to Live With Terrorism’" by Richard Palmer. Here Palmer exploits the massacre in Nice in which 86 innocent people were murdered by an individual with a history of domestic violence and violent behavior to present the extremist suggestion of throwing Muslims into enclosed ghettos citing the Israeli government's separation barrier in the Palestinian West Bank. This idea is eerily similar to how Jews were viciously confined in ghettos in medieval Europe.

"United States Withdrawal Threatens Bahrain" by Brent Nagtegaal. Here Nagtegaal scare mongers that Iran is trying to take over Bahrain.

"Israel’s NGO Transparency Law." Here the passing of a controversial law which was widely condemned as a tool to intimidate human rights NGOs by the Israeli Knesset is mentioned.

"German Report: Iran Still After Nuclear Technology" by Callum Wood. Here Wood cites a report by Germany's internal intelligence agency to insist that Iran has intensified efforts to acquire technology related to ballistic missiles since the signing of the agreement. He also states that the United Nations and the P5+1 nation states had said that Iran was living up to the agreement.

The issue also contains a rare acknowledgment of the problem of Islamophobia but it is presented as a problem "over there" in Europe. Ironically this is in the same issue in which Palmer contemplated throwing Muslims into religiously segregated ghettos.
Islamophobia surges in Europe: According to a poll released Monday by the Pew Research Center, unfavorable views of Muslims among Europeans have surged in 2016. More than 60 percent of the populations in Hungary, Italy, Poland and Greece had unfavorable opinions of the Muslims in their country. In Greece, this percentage represented an increase of 12 percentage points over 2014. (p. 8.)
On page 9 it is speculated that Prime Minister Abe might build up Japan's military forces. PCG has a long history of demonizing Japan. This idea dates back to the old WCG.

On page 12 Louis Farrakhan is linked in a sensationalist manner with Micah Johnson, the murderer of five police officers in Dallas. Here is the article in full.
Louis Farrakhan and Micah Johnson: Just hours before the shooting in Dallas last week, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan posted a video inciting racial violence. In the video, which was posted on Twitter, Farrakhan said, “When you are willing and not afraid anymore to pay the price for freedom—don’t let this white man tell you that violence is wrong.” During a standoff with the police, the Dallas shooter said he “wanted to kill white people—especially white police officers.” The shooter’s Facebook profile revealed loose ties to Farrakhan’s Nation of Islam organization. Farrakhan is an influential black leader with close ties to another influential black leader, Jeremiah Wright.
Shame on PCG for making such a serious and grave accusation with such flimsy evidence.

July 22: "Turkey Enters a Dark New Age" by Brent Nagtegaal. Here Nagtegaal complains that the attempt coup in Turkey had failed.

"Syrian Rebels Who Beheaded Child Were Part of U.S.-Vetted Alliance." Here the infamous execution of Abdullah Tayseer Al Issa, a 12 year old Palestinian boy, by the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement is mentioned.

"China’s Conquest of New Zealand" by Chris Eames. Here Eames exploits an economic downturn in New Zealand farms to imply that the United States and the Commonwealth of Nations are cursed for not obeying (PCG's) God.

"Chinese Nuclear Bomber Flies Over South China Sea" by Callum Wood. Here Wood mentions China sending a bomber on a flight over the Scarborough Shoal as part of the dispute over the South China Sea.

"Iran’s Past and Future Presence in Latin America" by Anthony Chibarirwe. Here Chibarirwe mentions some of the fallout over the bombing of Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina in Buenos Aires in 1994 in which 84 innocent people were killed and the death of an Argentine prosecutor who was investigating the bombing.

"Black Lives Matter, KKK, Revolutionary Communist Party Protest in Cleveland." Here protests in Cleveland on the occasion of the Republican National Convention are mentioned in a sensationalist manner.
It is hard to believe that in the most prosperous country of the most prosperous era in the world, where free speech—including outright lies—is protected vehemently by the Constitution, rioting and violence are becoming popular methods of dissent. Increasingly, people seem to be abandoning the rule of law for the law of the jungle. This way of handling things will not bring peace or human rights; it can only lead to revolution and war. (p. 11.)
July 29: "Terrorism Spills Blood on the Streets of Germany" by Brad MacDonald and Richard Palmer. Here MacDonald and Palmer mention various attacks by ISIL sympathizers in Germany. Tensions within German society regarding the acceptance of refugees are mentioned.

"Netanyahu’s Dangerous Arab Outreach" by Brent Nagtegaal. Here Nagtegaal mentions that some governments in the Middle East are becoming more friendly towards the Israeli government due to a shared concern about Iran. He states that this is dangerous since this is motivated by fear of Iran and could end once the problem goes away.

"German Terrorist Attacks: ‘We Are Not at War’" by Richard Palmer. Here Palmer talks of German attempts to keep the people calm after various attacks by extremist sympathizers of ISIL.

"Broken: America’s Latest Failed Supercarrier" by Callum Wood. Here Wood exploits problems with the $12.9 billion USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier to imply that the United States has lost divine favor.

"Russian Hackers Leak E-mails From the Democratic National Committee." Here the hacking of files of the Democratic National Committee is mentioned. It is stated that it is widely thought that the hackers were Russian spies.

August 5: "Not All Catholics Agree With the Pope" by Richard Palmer. Here Palmer cites Bishop Andrea Gemma's disagreement with Pope Francis' comments after the murder of Jacques Hemel by ISIL terrorists in Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray, France on July 26, 2016 to insist that readers should not take any hope in Pope Francis' conciliatory attitude.

"Space Warfare: No Longer Just Science Fiction" by Callum Wood. Here Wood discusses the possible consequences of warfare in space.

"Black Lives Matter Tells America What It Wants" by Kieran Underwood. Here Underwood discusses the platform of the Black Lives Matter movement. PCG continuously presents Black Lives Matter protesters in a very negative manner. Often PCG's writers allude to PCG's false prophecy of "race war" while discussing them.

On page 5 it is mentioned that the terrorists and murderers of ISIL had released a video threatening to attack Russia. While mentioning this threat it is hysterically insinuated that Europe will soon attack. This alludes to their dogma that a future, militaristic Europe will attack and swiftly conquer Iran shortly before Christ's return.
A growing number in Europe believes the West needs to respond to Islamic terror with a crusade of its own.... (p. 5.)
August 12: "Meet Europe’s Favorite Genocidal Warlord" by Richard Palmer. Here Palmer discusses aid money sent by the European Union to Sudan.

August 19: "The Coming Arab Takeover of East Jerusalem" by Brent Nagtegaal. Here Nagtegaal scare mongers that municipal elections in the Palestinian territories will cause Hamas to ascend to leadership of the Palestinians in the West Bank. The municipal elections were later postponed as is later mentioned in the September 9 issue.

"Rocket Launchers in the South China Sea" by Callum Wood. Here Wood mentions Vietnam placing rocket launchers near the Spratley Islands as part of a border dispute with China. This is presented as a sign that Asian nations no longer trust the United States saying that this contradicts the American government's will.

"Race Riots Erupt in Milwaukee." Here the riots in Milwaukee after the shooting to death of Sylville Smith who is not named in PCG's article.

August 26: "Russia and Iran: The Middle East ‘Axis of Evil’" by Callum Wood. Here Wood mentions Russian bombing of rebel held areas in Syria on August 16, 2016. He mentions Iran permitting Russian military aircraft flying from Iran.

"Chinese Investment: A Threat to Australian Security?" by Callum Wood. Here Wood mentions Australia's decision to not let a Chinese firm to purchase a majority share in Australian assets.

On page 12 white lives matter protesters in Houston are mentioned.

September 2: "Is Assad Finally on the Way Out?" by Brent Nagtegaal. Here Nagtegaal exploits the Euphrates River offensive by Turkish forces and Free Syrian Army units into Syria to fight the murderers and terrorists of ISIL and to counteract the Syrian Kurds of Rojava on August 24, 2016 to insinuate that the Assad regime will soon fall. Back in 2011 Gerald Flurry proclaimed that several nations in the Middle East would ally with the end time European Empire against Iran. This is a new doctrine of his.  He called them the "Psalm 83 nations." He proclaimed that Syria would be one of these "Psalm 83 nations" and would break away from Iran.

"Meet Iran’s United Shia Liberation Army" by Callum Wood. Here Wood discusses the establishment of the United Shia Liberation Army to scare monger about Iran supposedly rising to greater power to prop up Gerald Flurry's doctrine that Iran is the "King of the South." This article serves to prop up PCG's demonization of Iran.

"Germany’s Nuclear Future" by Josué Michels. Here Michels scare mongers about President Obama's decision to upgrade nuclear weapons placed in Germany to imply that Germany cannot be trusted to hold those weapons  for the United States.

"False Alarms, True Terror" by Jeremiah Jacques. Here Jacques presents the United States as suffering from the curses they proclaim will lead to America's conquest by the end time European Empire citing instances of panic.

September 9: "Germany, Political Crisis and Superman" by Brad MacDonald. Here MacDonald argues that the immigration issue in Germany may prompt Germans to turn against Chancellor Merkel. Since 2009 PCG's leaders have insinuated that Karl-Theodor zu Guttenburg may be the leader fated to conquer the United States. Consequently PCG's leaders constantly insinuate that Chancellor Merkel will soon be removed from power.

"France’s Burkini Ban of Desperation" by Kieran Underwood. Here Underwood discusses the banning of the burkini, a swimsuit for devout Muslim women, in thirty towns in France including Nice and Cannes. It is presented as a reaction to the massacre in Nice.

"Could World War III Start With a Currency War?" by Robert Morley. Here Morley scare mongers that economic moves could spark World War III.

"Palestinian Court Delays Municipal Elections." Here an Associated Press article is cited mentioning that the Palestinian High Court postponed the municipal elections.

"Why Russia Is Tampering With the U.S. Election." Here a Haaretz article is cited to argue that hacking attacks against the Democratic National Committee widely attributed to Russian hackers are a plot to sow distrust of democratic processes.

September 16: "Ethiopia On the Brink?" by Callum Wood. Here Wood exploits ethnic tensions in Ethiopia to scare monger that Iran is somehow plotting to take over Ethiopia.

"America’s Empty Threat to North Korea" by Kieran Underwood. Here Underwood bemoans the United States' supposedly weak reaction to North Korea's fifth nuclear test.

"The Philippines and China: An Alliance in the Making?" by Callum Wood. Here Wood states that the Philippines is moving towards closer with relations with China citing President Duterte's call for American forces to withdraw from Mindanao.

"Is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Eying a Comeback?" Here articles from Al Monitor and Middle East Eye are cited to scare monger that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was planning to return to politics. Later Ahmadinejad chose to not run for public office as is mentioned in the September 30 issue.

PCG constantly bellyached that President Obama treated the Israeli government so dreadfully. They even compare him with Antiochus Epiphanes, the one who placed an idol in the Temple and tried to suppress Judaism with much violence provoking a revolt led by the Maccabees. President Obama treats the State of Israel so terribly that he even made an agreement for the federal government to pay $3.8 billion of foreign aid per year to prop up the State of Israel's military for ten years. That is about 195 times more than PCG's annual income of $19.5 million in 2012.
Israel-U.S. aid package precursor to peace push: An agreement has been finalized between Israel and the United States for the biggest military aid package in history. The new $38 billion arms deal for Israel is to carry out over 10 years, in $3.8 billion annual installments, up from the current arms deal of $3.1 billion per year. Concessions were required from the Israeli government in accepting the deal, such as that the money would only be used to purchase U.S. military hardware and not to develop Israeli hardware. Analyzing the deal in the Times of Israel, Raphael Ahren wrote that “handing Israel the largest-ever military aid package gives Obama much more potential room to support Palestine-related initiatives, say at the United Nations, right after the presidential elections (when such moves can no longer harm Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate). Before the deal was finalized this week, usually well-informed Israeli sources predicted that [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu would not sign the deal before Inauguration Day. To do so, they argued, would enable the current administration to deflect any criticism of potential moves on the Palestinian front with the argument that it had taken very good care of Israel’s security needs.” (pp. 4-5.)
September 23: "The Inevitable Decline of Merkel’s Popularity" by Kieran Underwood. Here Underwood exploits elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to insist that Chancellor Merkel is on the way out due to opposition to her immigration policy. Since 2009 PCG has insinuated that Karl-Theodor zu Guttenburg will be the leader fated to conquer the United States consequently PCG's leaders are constantly insisting that Chancellor Merkel will soon fall from power.

"Another Merkel Defeat Points to an Ungovernable Germany" by Richard Palmer. Here Palmer scare mongers about election results for Die Linke (The Left), the successor party to the Socialist Unity Party which autocratically ruled over East Germany.

On page 12 it is mentioned that the US navy had been ordered to train its personnel on how to behave towards transgender people and let them use the bathroom they identity with; it is insisted that Britain's impending withdrawal from the European Union had no major adverse effect on the economy; and it is mentioned that a poll stated that 49% of Australians in a poll support a ban on the immigration of Muslims.

September 30: "Is the Global Economic Crisis About to Hit Germany?" by Richard Palmer. Here Palmer exploits financial troubles at Deutsche Bank to scare monger that economic catastrophe may soon come to Germany. It is insinuated that such economic troubles may prompt Germany to create a militaristic European entity fated to conquer the United States.

"Iran Deepens Infiltration of Latin America" by Anthony Chibarirwe. Here Chibarirwe continues PCG's demonization of Iran by mentioning the death of Alberto Nisman and scare mongers about Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif's visit to Latin America.

"The REAL Power in Iran" by Callum Wood. Here Wood cites Ahmadinejad's decision not to run a campaign for the presidency to present Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei as the real power in Iran.

"Silencing Christian Chaplains" by Andrew Müller. Here Müller bemoans the supposed persecution of Christian chaplains in the Army Chaplain Corps.

"Israeli Leader Shimon Peres Dies." Here the funeral for former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres is mentioned. PCG's leaders loathed Peres for trying to make peace with the Palestinian Authority. One article from 2001 by the late Ron Fraser even labelled Peres as "one foxy old socialist ... set to worm his way back into prime focus". That hostility is still present among PCG's leaders even upon the occasion of his death.
Jerusalem was in lockdown on Friday after many of the world’s most prominent leaders attended the funeral of renowned Israeli leader Shimon Peres. While most of the worldwide press chose to praise the former prime minister and president, a few railed against his unbridled push for peace at all costs with Palestinians. (p. 5.)
"Guttenberg: Back in the News." Here an article from Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung is cited to insist that Karl-Theodor zu Guttenburg will soon rise to political prominence.

"President Obama to Admit 110,000 Refugees." Here an executive order by President Obama is to allow 110,000 refugees to enter the United States is condemned. Citing the National Review it is mentioned that some have accused the Obama Administration of favoring Muslim refugees are favored ahead of Syrian Christian refugees. However it has proven to be quite difficult to prove such an accusation.

"Baby born with DNA from three parents." Here a medical procedure made to prevent inherited diseases from being passed onto to children is mentioned.

October 7: "Archbishop of Canterbury Prays With Pope for First Time in 500 Years" by Richard Palmer. Here Palmer comments on a joint prayer held by Pope Francis and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, in Britain. PCG and the COGs in general have a long history of condemning any form of ecumenism as being a plot by the Roman Catholic Church to seize control of the Protestant churches.

"Canada’s Military—A Shameful Shadow of Its Once Glorious Past" by Jerry Ozipko. Here Ozipko condemns Canada's supposed lack of a sufficient military force commenting on the upcoming retirement of Canada's last destroyer, HMCS Athabaskan, in spring 2017.

"Could Communism Be Making a Comeback?" Here Black Lives Matter protesters are absurdly demonized as "a Marxist organization" plotting to eventually implement "a violent overthrow of the government." What a disgusting accusation. The spirit of McCarthyism is alive and well in PCG's headquarters. Note the attempt to defend McCarthyism in the opening sentence. Note the vague phrases designed to induce panic in the readers of this passage. What disgraceful words.
Many today ridicule prior generations’ concern over Communist ideals. But current trends are bringing that concern back into focus. The famed 1960s Communist agitator Angela Davis is a hero to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and many of the 13 guiding principles of the movement have collectivist roots. With this in mind, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Black Lives Matter is a Marxist organization. The only surprising thing is the type of communism this movement is starting to advocate. ... 
Marxist ideologues first corrupt, pollute and agitate from within. But their final phase is a violent overthrow of the government. They aim to destroy the system, because they can’t build another one until that happens. The Black Lives Matter movement, despite its leaders harboring such radical ideas, is rapidly moving from the fringes into mainstream America. To whatever degree this kind of dangerous thinking moves along with it, this nation will suffer for it! (pp. 11-12.)
Shame on PCG for making such wild, venomous accusations against what a PCG article in the February 6 issue admitted was "a grassroots movement."

And shame on them for obliquely trying to rehabilitate McCarthyism.

[Improperly observed Feast of Tabernacles break.]

October 28: "Houthi Rebels Challenge U.S. Navy in Red Sea" by Abraham Blondeau. Here Blondeau comments on Houthis in Yemen launching missiles against a ship of the US navy ships to bluster against Iran again.

"The LGBT-Islamist Alliance" by Andrew Müller. Here Müller scare mongers that there is an alliance between leftists, LGBT persons and Islamists, Accusing the left of being somehow aligned with Muslims is a common trope of Islamophobic polemics.

"Sissy ratings for Sisi." Here a headline appealing to crude sexism is used to mention that President Sisi's approval rating in polls had lowered. It is wrong to use language demeaning to women. What crass sexism.

November 4; "UNESCO Wants to Stop Archaeology in Ancient Jerusalem" by Brent Nagtegaal. Here Nagtegaal condemns a resolution by UNESCO. Among other things he scare mongers that "UNESCO and its Arab sponsors are resolved to shut down all archaeological excavations in and around the Old City of Jerusalem." (p. 2.) This suggests that the resolution may affect PCG's sponsored excavations. However that eventuality seems rather unlikely at present. The 161 nation states that recognize the State of Israel view East Jerusalem as occupied territory because it was acquired during the Six Day War of 1967.

"Pope Francis Commemorates the Reformation That Divided Christianity" by Kieran Underwood. Here Underwood exploits a speech Pope Francis made in Lund, Sweden commemorating the start of the Protestant Reformation to scare monger that ecumenism will result into a forcible takeover of the Protestant Churches by the Roman Catholic Church.

"The Vatican: Venezuela’s Last Hope?" by Josué Michels. Here Michels cites the Vatican's attempt to mediate between the government and the opposition in Venezuela to scare monger about the power of the Catholic Church.

"Holding America to Ransom" by Callum Wood. Here Wood condemns the payment of $400 million to Iran as part of the nuclear deal as a ransom payment even though the amount of money was to resolve a debt dating back to the time of the Shah.

"Oil pipeline protesters burn vehicles, set roadblocks." Here the protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline going to Sioux land is mentioned.

November 11: "What the Trump Victory Means" by Joel Hilliker. Here Hilliker discusses Trump's victory in the presidential election and insists that no one can solve the pressing problems facing the United States because PCG's leaders (supposedly) already know what will happen: that the United States is doomed to be conquered with much bloodshed by a German led European military power.

"Iran Victorious in Lebanon’s Presidential Election" by Callum Wood. Here Wood discusses the rise of Michel Aoun to the presidency of Lebanon. This is presented as a boon for Iran and Hezbollah. This article serves to reinforce PCG's demonization of Iran.

"November 9 and the Onslaught Against Israel" by Callum Wood. Here Wood scare mongered that President Obama would try something against the State of Israel before leaving office even though he had such a limited amount of time to do so.

November 18: "What Donald Trump Means for Asia" by Tyrel Schlote. Here Schlote discusses reactions to Trump's victory in Japan, the Philippines and China.

"The War Against Houthi Implements of War." Here a Saudi airstrike against a ship sending weapons to the Houthis in Yemen is mentioned to reinforce PCG's demonization of Iran.

"New Zealand Hit by Severe Earthquake" by Christopher Eames, Here Eames discusses a magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Kaikoura, New Zealand on November 14.

"Marijuana Wins Big on Election Night" by Andrew Müller. Here Müller mentions that voters in California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada had legalized recreational marijuana.

November 25: "Israel, the UN and Man’s Last Best Hope" by Christopher Eames. Here Eames denounces the United Nations citing its resolutions concerning the State of Israel as evidence of its moral failings.

"Japan Deploys Soldiers Authorized to Use Force for First Time Since World War II" by Jeremiah Jacques. Here Jacques mentions that 350 Japanese soldiers will be sent as peacekeepers to civil war ravaged South Sudan by the middle of December. PCG has a long history of demonizing Japan and claiming that Japan will rebuild its military. This theme dates back to the old WCG.

"A ‘Disturbing Development’ in Teenage Depression" by Kieran Underwood. Here Underwood discusses the rate of major depressive episodes among youths.

December 2: "The West’s Love Affair With Communist Dictator Fidel Castro" by Stephen Flurry. Here Stephen Flurry condemns reactions concerning Fidel Castro's death which he views as insufficiently hostile such as that of Prime Minister Trudeau.

"Iran Considers Establishing Foreign Naval Bases" by Callum Wood. Here Wood cites an interview with an Iranian general to scare monger that Iran is contemplating establishing naval bases outside of Iran.

"Philippines’ Duterte Says He’ll Kill Human Rights Activists. Who’s Next?" by Jeremiah Jacques. Here Jacques mentions President Duterte's threat of violence against human rights activists.

"Is The Royal Navy Obsolete?" by Richard Palmer. Here Palmer discusses the British navy's announced withdrawal of its naval missiles by 2018 which is denounced as "a new level of ridiculousness."
The navy that brought us the aircraft carriers with no planes is about to reach a new level of ridiculousness. The Royal Navy is about to become the navy with no missiles—meaning it could soon be beaten by every significant navy on the planet, and perhaps even by ships 100 years old. (p. 10.)
"How to Deal With ‘Fake News.’" Here the problem of fake news is discussed.

"Black Lives Matter Mourns Fidel Castro." Here a column by Black Lives Matters activists concerning the death of Fidel Castro is condemned. It is asserted that Black Lives Matter activists are plotting to "resurrect the revolutionary Marxism of the Black Panther Party." (p. 12.)

December 9: "Italian Referendum: Is This the Big One?" by Richard Palmer. Here Palmer discusses the referendum in Italy which rejected proposed constitutional changes and resulted in Prime Minister Renzi's resignation.

"Looming Crisis in Algeria" by Callum Wood. Here Wood scare mongers that Algeria is heading to internal crisis if President Bouteflika should pass away.

"Germany Hardens on Immigrants and Islam" by Richard Palmer. Here Palmer discusses Chancellor Merkel's criticism of the burqa. Palmer also makes this curious comment about Yugoslavia which seems to imply that it existed only five years ago.
Until five years ago [2011], with the exception of Yugoslavia, no country in Europe had a ban on the burka. (p. 5.)
Actually the name Yugoslavia was dropped in 2003 and it was then renamed Serbia and Montenegro. Later in 2006 Montenegro voted for independence in a referendum. So Yugoslavia did not even exist five years ago.

"More Unsurprisingly Average U.S. Schooling Results" by Kieran Underwood. Here Underwood bewails that students in the United States have lower test scores than other countries.

"Rebels’ Chances to Unseat Assad About to Fall With Aleppo." Here the impending capture of Aleppo by the Assad regime after four years of brutal conflict and much loss of life since July 19, 2012 is mentioned.

December 16: "When the Debt Storm Bursts It Will Be Too Late" by Robert Morley. Here Morley scare mongers that the federal debt will cause some sort of catastrophe for the United States.

"German Minister Transfers Weapons to Jordan" by Brent Nagtegaal. Here Nagtegaal scare mongers about Germany selling armored vehicles to Jordan. PCG teaches that Germany is fated to soon conquer the United States.

"Can Air Strikes Prevent War With Hezbollah?" by Callum Wood. Here Wood discusses reports of Israeli air strikes in Syria to prevent Hezbollah from acquiring advanced weaponry. It is speculated that Hezbollah will turn its attention to the State of Israel once the cataclysmic war in Syria comes to an end.

"China Says It Should Be Ready to Invade Taiwan After Trump Says U.S. Isn’t Bound by One-China
Policy" by Jeremiah Jacques. Here Jacques discusses political tensions over Taiwan.

"Japan Increases Its Military Spending Again" by Tyrel Schlote. Here Schlote scare mongers that Japan is spending more money on building up its military. PCG has a long history of demonizing Japan. This idea dates back to the old WCG.

"Are Millennials Giving Up on Democracy?" by Abraham Blondeau. Here Blondeau cites a report published in July to present Millennials as being less attached to democracy compared with the older generation.

"Assad Gains Aleppo but Loses Palmyra." Here the capture of Aleppo by the Assad and the seizure of Palmyra by the murderers and terrorists of ISIL are mentioned.

"Migrant Murderer Heats Up Immigration Crisis." Here the murder of a woman named Maria K. in Freiburg, Germany allegedly by a migrant from Afghanistan is mentioned.

December 23: "Berlin Attack: Was This Germany’s 9/11?" by Brad MacDonald. Here MacDonald discusses the terrorist attack in Berlin on December 19 in which twelve innocent people were murdered by an ISIL sympathizer. It is insisted that issues such as the refugee crisis and acts of violence such as this will cause Germany to turn into an extremist military power fated to conquer the United States.

While talking about this act of mass violence MacDonald promotes the idea that Christmas came from Babylon.
The Christmas tradition is rooted in ancient Babylon, but was perpetuated particularly well by the Germans. (p. 2.)
This idea comes from Alexander Hislop's anti-Catholic polemic of the 1850s, The Two Babylons, a book that has been utterly discredited. This claim is nonsense.

"The Middle East’s Forgotten Civil War" by Anthony Chibarirwe. Here Chibarirwe discusses the cataclysmic civil war still underway in Yemen. One airstrike by the Saudi led coalition on October 8, 2016 on a funeral which killed about 140 people is mentioned.

"Europe: United in Terror" by Josué Michels. Here Michels scare mongers that Chancellor Merkel is unable to lead Europe to deal effectively with the problem of violence inspired by the terrorists and murderers of ISIL. PCG has taught since 2009 that they suspect Karl-Theodor zu Guttenburg will be the one fated to conquer the United States consequently the PCG leadership are quite eager to see Merkel leave power.

"CNN Fans Hatred Toward Police." Here widespread concern about police brutality is blamed on media outlets such as CNN and activism about this issue is presented as a sinister plot to bring local law enforcement agencies under the control of the federal government.
Many self-serving politicians are trying to use accusations of racism against local police as an excuse to centralize all policing authority, thus taking more power to itself. Such political posturing in no way helps the black community. (p. 11.)
"Facebook fights ‘fake’ news." Here it is mentioned that Facebook is taking steps to deal with the problem of fake news.

December 30: "America’s ‘Shameful Ambush’ of Israel at the UN" by Brent Nagtegaal and Kieran Underwood. Here Nagtegaal and Underwood condemn the United States abstaining from voting on a resolution of the United Nations Security Council which condemned the State of Israel's settlements on land acquired by the Six Day War of 1967.

"Austrian Cardinal: ‘We Can’t Accommodate All Refugees’" by Andrew Müller. Here Müller discusses a statement by Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, archbishop of Vienna, calling for the economic situation in the countries of origin of the refugees should be improved so that they can live in the lands of their nativity,

"Japanese PM Visits Pearl Harbor in Historic First" by Jeremiah Jacques. Here Jacques discusses Prime Minister Abe's visit to Pearl Harbor and scare mongers about hardliners in Japan who minimize the wrongs that were committed by Japan up to 1945. PCG has a long history of demonizing Japan despite their close alliance with the United States since the end of World War II. This idea dates back to the old WCG.

******

And so we see that PCG continues to promote their message of doom and gloom to their readers. What a dreary and despairing world PCG's leaders presented to their readers in this Trumpet Weekly publication of theirs.

But there is no need to fear their dire predictions. PCG's leaders are but false prophets whose predictions will never be fulfilled.

Friday, December 2, 2016

Traditions Concerning Hebron

Recently Arutz Sheva, a right wing media outlet that caters to national religious Israeli Jews, published an article seeking to justify the presence of Israeli settlers in Hebron, the traditional site of Abraham and Sarah's graves by mentioning various traditions concerning the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. (Arutz Sheva, November 25, 2016.)

One particularly tragic trouble spot in the Holy Land is Hebron. Because the State of Israel acquired Hebron as a result of the Six Day War of 1967 the international community, including the 161 nation states that recognize the State of Israel, view Hebron as occupied territory ruled by, but not a part of, the State of Israel.

Hebron has been partitioned with Israeli settlements built within the city and Hebron being occupied by Israeli soldiers who are there to protect the settlers living in the midst of thousands of Palestinians. In 1977 Israeli settlements were established in the midst of Hebron despite the objections of the Palestinian population and the international community's view of Hebron as occupied territory. Normally Israeli settlements are built away from Palestinian towns but this settlement is built within the city yet kept separate from the surrounding city being guarded by Israeli soldiers.

The settlers are attracted to Hebron because it is the site of a shrine of Abraham and Sarah's graves, the Cave of the Patriarchs. For centuries the shrine had existed as a Muslim mosque until 1994 when a fanatical settler named Baruch Goldstein went on a murderous rampage in it murdering 29 innocent Palestinians. (It was after this massacre that Hamas began to target civilians with suicide bombers thus Goldstein's wicked deeds helped pave the way for so much more violence and suffering.) After this massacre the mosque was partitioned to allow the Israeli settlers to have a presence in the shrine.

Despite the severe problems in Hebron the settlers are still motivated to live in their settlements despite everything.

One tradition asserts that the Cave of the Patriarchs originally contained the graves of Adam and Eve because it had a connection with the Garden of Eden. Another tradition maintains that Jewish souls and prayers proceed through the Cave of the Patriarchs. These traditions were mentioned in a recent Arutz Sheva article justifying the presence of Israeli settlers in Hebron.
The Pirkei D'Rabbi Eliezer says on this Parsha that Abraham was directed to the Mearat Hamachpelah when the three Angels came to visit him after his circumcision. 
In Parshat Vayera when the Posuk says "Abraham ran to the cattle" for the Angels, it implies he was running after a wayward calf. This calf was apparently found by Abraham in the Mearat Hamachpelah [Cave of the Patriarchs]. At that time Abraham discovered the graves of Adam and Chava [Eve] there and smelled the sweet aroma of Gan Eden [the Garden of Eden]. This is why Abraham was so determined to purchase the Mearat Hamachpelah. 
The Yalkut Reuveni quoting the Zohar HaChodosh says that the Mearat Hamachpelah is the Gateway to Gan Eden. Abraham obviously discovered this and wanted to secure the location for Sarah and his Family. The Megaleh Amukot also quoting the Zohar Hachodosh says that all Jewish Souls who leave this world must first go through the Mearat Hamachpelah-the Doorway to Gan Eden. Adam and Chava are buried in the Mearat Hamachpelah based upon our Kabbalah. 
It is brought down in the Yalkut Reuveni that when Chava died, Adam (who was familiar with the smell) smelled Gan Eden in that "Cave" and buried her there. He started digging in the "cave" to try to reach Gan Eden for the sake of Chava but a Bat Kol [divine voice] told him to stop. Adam's son Seth buried Adam in the Mearat Hamachpelah. The Mearat Hamachpelah is not only a direct gateway to Gan Eden but acts as a "router" for our prayers according to the Megaleh Amukot in the name of the Zohar Hachodosh. Just as Jewish Souls who leave this earth go through the Mearrat Hamachpelah so do our prayers. Gan Eden can be construed to be a "parallel universe". (Arutz Sheva, November 25, 2016.)
May peace soon come to the Hebron and the Holy Land.

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

HWA Ruined the Abstention from Unclean Meats

Recently Arutz Sheva's CEO related a story of what happened to him while he was serving in the Israel Defense Force.
At some point during my mandatory military service, I and several other soldiers were sent from our base to another, small base. Three of us were religious and the rest – secular. Once we arrived, we realized that the kitchen was not kosher. There was no doubt about it. 
We did what naïve religious soldiers do in such situations. We called our company commander, vowed that we would not set foot in the dining room until it had been made kosher by a certified representative of the Military Rabbinate, whose job itis to see that the IDF kitchens are kosher, and asked him to supply us with an alternative food source.
The officer then ordered them to eat there anyway. Following his religion the soldier refused.
Now it was his turn to be shocked. "Are you refusing an order? If you do not enter the dining room, I will court martial you," he threatened. 
"I am not refusing anything," I replied. "But I will not go into the dining room, even if you decide to court martial me and my comrades."
Fortunately that threat faded away.
It was not easy, but it was very clear to us. An order that contravenes halakha [commandment] must not be followed, and if the price to pay is a military trial and punishment, so be it. Halakha comes first. The end of the story, by the way, was that we received combat rations that very evening, the kitchen was made kosher the next day, thanks to us, and the threat of a court martial was not mentioned again.
Reading this story I could not help but think of how cruel and oppressive it was that HWA ordered his followers to adhere to his understanding of what meats were not to be eaten. His followers have often requested that staff at restaurants make their food in a particular way. They think that doing so will adhere to what HWA and Co. have taught.

But among observant Jews they simply do not eat any meat that is not kosher. If such persons see that a dining room does not meet kosher standards they simply not eat there at all. Jews wishing to observe these religious traditions have an entire community to help them observe these religious traditions. There are institutions to help them observe these religious traditions that are precious to them.

But when HWA ordered his followers he probably did not know about these things. HWA's followers had no supporting community like that to help observe such things. HWA blithely took his selective ideas to his followers. Any differences between what Jews observed and what HWA taught were dismissed as added traditions that HWA's followers did not need to observe. In doing so they were imitating Jewish practice but only to a small degree as decided by HWA. This practice is mutually demeaning to HWA's followers and to Jews whose precious religious traditions had been crudely imitated in a demeaning fashion by HWA without their permission.

It is terrible that HWA imposed this burden upon his followers by culturally appropriating the abstention of unclean meats as decided by himself. There is no need for HWA's followers to observe these things. It is clear that HWA was never used by God. Also it seems to me that it would be more respectful to Jews to simply leave this practice alone and leave it for them to observe alone.

Arutz Sheva Writer Talks of "Barbarians" in the Middle East

One media outlet that the COGs tend to use is Arutz Sheva.  It is a right wing media outlet that caters for national religious Israeli Jews. It is based in Beit El, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank. It caters to a particular audience that most Jews are not a part of.

It is often quoted by PCG and to a somewhat lesser extent by UCG, LCG and RCG. It is never criticized by the COGs. The COGs trust Arutz Sheva. They have never bothered explaining to their readers the political stances Arutz Sheva tend to take. Unfortunately the COGs tend to only quote what they find useful for their purposes. Anything else is ignored. Let's take a look at what else is written in this media outlet that the COGs' 1% are not inclined to discuss.

One Arutz Sheva columnist recently wrote an article that mentioned a 2014 novel which discusses the genocide against Armenians, Assyrians and other minorities in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Using this novel the author comments about current affairs in the Middle East. Alas, many collaborated in the frightful acts associated with the genocide. This post focuses the Arutz Sheva columnist's discussion of present events.
The powers-that-be's apathy allowed what has happened over the past few years in the Middle East to Yazidis, Christians and other hapless minorities. It is the only way to understand the world's standing by, Obama welcoming Muslim migrants but not rescuing or opening the doors to Yazidis, the Pope's deafening silence, the West's late intervention. 
Actually there are reasons why the Christians of those areas are less inclined to be refugees fleeing to Europe.

The author takes a swipe at the idealistic regard for the common humanity of all humankind.
Any naïve and liberal humanistic thoughts of the brotherhood of man should disappear after reading this book – a true story, except for details of conversations and some names - of a well-to-do Assyrian Christian family living in a close knit, religious community in the beautiful plain of Urmia at the outbreak of WWI. 
The author declares that the Middle East has been a home to "barbarians ... since the beginning of time."
The eye opener, for my Western eyes at least, is the part played by the Kurds. They are the mass murderers in this book, the wild savages who join the Turks and mercilessly torture and slaughter anything in their path. During WWI they were on the other side, murdering peaceful Assyrians, but today they are fighting ISIS, so we talk sympathetically about giving them a country. While independence for the Kurds may be a feasible plan, it is important to realize how the Kurds themselves are seen here to be no different than all the other barbarians the region has spawned since the beginning of time.
Then the author manages to praise earlier immigrants to America while lambasting present day immigrants to America at the same time.
The family story taking place within the historical saga is heartbreaking, because Joe David is actually setting down the life story of his own mother, the young girl who is the main character in the book and whose sheltered life is cruelly destroyed. She ... manages to reach the United States – and for the right reasons - quite a different kind of migrant from those we witness today – becomes a patriotic American in heart and soul and raises her courageous, moral voice to fight for freedom and affect US history.
The author expresses hope that president elect Trump will stand up against such "barbarians".
President elect Trump will soon have to deal with the barbarians who have risen once again in the Middle East –  ISIS, Hamas and all the rest. Hopefully, he has learned the lessons of history and will be a leader who remembers those innocents of every origin whose lives are on the line.
And who are "all the rest"? Is it proper to be so vague about accusing people in the Middle East of being "barbarians"? Would that include Kurds today? Many of the Kurds today fight against the criminal network known as ISIL. However the vast majority of Kurds today were born after the genocide against the Assyrians and had nothing to do with it.

Should the COGs' leaders trust a media source like this?

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Jewish Sabbath Boundaries (Eruvin)

The followers of HWA so often insist that to be a Christian it is necessary to observe certain Jewish rituals and traditions but the followers of HWA tend to know so little about the traditions of various forms of the Jewish religion. How many of them know what an eruv is?

When HWA began to adopt certain Jewish practices as part of his own syncretistic religion it is quite evident that he had little understanding of the Jewish practices and concepts he was adopting. It seems likely he adopted many of these ideas from a Church of God (Seventh Day) minister named G. G. Rupert.

The Seventh Day Baptists and Seventh Day Adventists adopted the Seventh Day Sabbath as their own. But they did not adopt the annual Sabbaths described in Leviticus 23. But Rupert did. It seems likely HWA was imitating Rupert in adopting these days instead of getting them from the Bible. 

So HWA did not bother consulting any Jewish person when he adopted these days and began to use them in his own religion. HWA taught his followers to rest on the Sabbath from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. He said it was forbidden for them to work in that period of time. But what is "work" exactly?

Any Jewish religious practice he decided not to adopt he dismissed as merely extra-biblical traditions that his followers were not required to observe.

So HWA taught his followers not to work on the Sabbath. But how do Jews view this matter?

Last month Arutz Sheva, a far right Israeli media outlet that caters for national religious Israeli Jews and which is based in Beit El, an Israeli settlement in the Palestinian West Bank, published the following story.
According to residents of Kfar Bilu, the town council refuses to install an eruv, a boundary that allows observant Jews to carry certain objects in public areas, and use strollers and canes, on Shabbat. The residents claim that the council fears a proliferation of religious residents.

Gal Taib, a disabled veteran and a resident of Kfar Bilu, is unable to leave his home on Saturdays due to the lack of an eruv. "I am confined to a wheelchair. I became observant several years ago and it bothers me that there is no eruv in our town, since I am in a wheelchair and I cannot leave the house without an eruv," he said. (Arutz Sheva, June 16, 2016.)
This is one aspect of Judaism that HWA, as far as I know, never mentioned to his followers, namely the eruv. Here is how Wikipedia introduces the relevant article.
An eruv ([ʔeˈʁuv]; Hebrew: עירוב‎‎, "mixture", also transliterated as eiruv or erub, plural: eruvin [ʔeʁuˈvin]) is a ritual enclosure that some Jewish communities, and especially Orthodox Jewish communities, construct in their neighborhoods as a way to permit Jewish residents or visitors to carry certain objects outside their own homes on Sabbath and Yom Kippur. An eruv accomplishes this by integrating a number of private and public properties into one larger private domain, thereby avoiding restrictions on carrying objects from the private to the public domain on Sabbath and holidays.

The eruv allows these religious Jews to, among other things, carry house keys, tissues, medicines, or babies with them, and use strollers and canes. The presence or absence of an eruv thus especially affects the lives of people with limited mobility and those responsible for taking care of babies and young children. (Eruv, Wikipedia.)
Here is one writer explaining the religious requirements for an eruv.
Some community leaders are taking this situation as an opportunity to remind themselves what life is like without an eruv. Others, however, are concerned about whether or not a generation of Orthodox Jews who have been brought up carrying on the Sabbath thanks to an eruv will remember to avoid carrying — and thereby keep the Sabbath holy.
Of the varied forms of work that observant Jews avoid on the Sabbath, one of the most basic is carrying. Jewish law prohibits carrying any object outside of a private area to an open or public space. In other words, you can carry a glass of water around your living room, but not out of the front door.
This law poses obstacles to the fundamental ways we operate in the world, prohibiting the carrying of house keys, a cane or medication, or even an infant. Jews have developed ways around the law, such as belts and jewelry that incorporate keys. However, for many elderly and sick people, and especially for women and children, the proscription of carrying on the Sabbath symbolizes a virtual house arrest for 25 hours a week.
Rabbinic Judaism developed a solution about 1,800 years ago. Drawing from passages in Jeremiah and other parts of the Bible, Jewish sages in Roman Palestine came up with a the concept of an eruv, a symbolic border resembling a series of doorways (two uprights connected by a crossbeam), which mixes or fuses private spaces into one shared space by enclosing a neighborhood or a city.
Within an eruv enclosure observant Jews can carry keys, push a baby carriage or hold a baby, or bring food to someone’s home. Moreover, an eruv makes it possible for observant Jews both to follow Sabbath laws and to enjoy the Sabbath, one of the requirements for correct Sabbath observance. (Zachary Paul Levine, Eruv: The (Nearly) Invisible Borders That Define Religious Jewish Life, Huffington Post, April 7, 2013.)
Many cities and communities all over the world have eruvin.

Now of course many Jews do not observe this particular religious practice. Some are not even religious at all.

It turns out in traditional Jewish law there are thirty-nine activities which are forbidden to be done by a Jew on the Sabbath.
Halakha (Jewish law), especially the Talmud tractate Shabbat, identifies thirty-nine categories of activity prohibited on Shabbat (Hebrew: ל״ט אבות מלאכות, lamed tet avot melakhot‎‎), and clarifies many questions surrounding the application of the biblical prohibitions. Many of these activities are also prohibited on the Jewish holidays listed in the Torah, although there are significant exceptions permitting carrying and preparing food under specific circumstances.

There are often disagreements between Orthodox Jews and Conservative Jews or other non-Orthodox Jews as to the practical observance of the Sabbath. It is of note that the (strict) observance of the Sabbath is often seen as a benchmark for orthodoxy and indeed has legal bearing on the way a Jew is seen by an orthodox religious court regarding their affiliation to Judaism. (Activities prohibited on Shabbat, Wikipedia.)
In the Old Testament it is stated that "work" is forbidden on the Sabbath. The Hebrew word used for "work" is melakha. Turns out when it is said that "work" is forbidden on the Sabbath it does not mean exactly what we might think.
Though melakha is usually translated as "work" in English, the term does not correspond to the English definition of the term, as explained below.
The Rabbis in ancient times had to explain exactly what the term meant, and what activity was prohibited to be done on the Sabbath. The Rabbis noted Genesis 2:1-3:
Heaven and earth, and all their components, were completed. With the seventh day, God finished all the work (melakha) that He had done. He ceased on the seventh day from all the work (melakha) that he had been doing. God blessed the seventh day, and he declared it to be holy, for it was on this day that God ceased from all the work (melakha) that he had been creating to function.
Specifically, the Rabbis noted the symmetry between Genesis 2:1–3 and Exodus 31:1–11—the same term melakha ("work") is used in both places, and that in Genesis 2:1–3 what God was "ceasing from" was "creation" or "creating".
The Rabbis noted further that the first part of Exodus 31:1-11 provides detailed instructions for the construction of the Tabernacle, and that it is immediately followed by a reminder to Moses about the importance of the Shabbat, quoted above. The Rabbis note that in the provisions relating to the Tabernacle the word melakha is also used. The word is usually translated as "workmanship", which has a strong element of "creation" or "creativity".
From these common words (in the Hebrew original) and the juxtaposition of subject matter the rabbis of the Mishnah derive a meaning as to which activities are prohibited to be done on the Sabbath day.
Genesis 2 is not pushed aside by the commandments to construct the Tabernacle. The classical rabbinical definition of what constitutes "work" or "activity" that must not be done, on pain of death (when there was a Sanhedrin), is depicted by the thirty-nine categories of activity needed for the construction and use of the Tabernacle. (Activities prohibited on Shabbat, Meaning of "Work", Wikipedia.)
HWA knew little, if anything, about these matters. Yet he insisted on imposing his fragmentary knowledge of these things upon his followers and his imitators continue to do so to this day.

The COGs, if they happen to be of white British or American descent, claim to be Israelites and common brothers and sisters of Jews sharing a common ancestor in Jacob. But this dogma of British Israelism is not true. Europeans are not related to Jews in that way. They are stealing the Jews' identity for themselves.

Long ago, even before the New Testament was written, it was decided by the early Christians that it was not necessary for Christians to observe various Jewish practices. As is well known Christianity initially began among Jews and later non-Jews started joining. The question arose: Should they be circumcised? Should they observe the Jewish religious law that these Jews who were the first Christians had been observing all their lives? It was decided early on that these non-Jewish converts to Christianity did not need to observe the Jewish religious law. Galatians, for instance, was a polemic condemning those who told the early Galatian Christians that they needed to be circumcised. In the context of the New Testament to not be circumcised meant to not observe the Jewish religious law.

But HWA did not understand these things. He incorrectly insisted that various Jewish religious practices were in force among Gentile Christians in the New Testament and that it was only after the New Testament was written that these things were removed from Christian religious observance by Simon Magus and men inspired by Satan who allegedly took over the church and created what would become the Roman Catholic Church. This is nonsense. The break with Jewish religious practices occurred within, not after, the New Testament era. The fact that the New Testament says so little about observing Jewish religious practices indicates that is what happened.

HWA had no idea of the traditions that surround these Jewish practices. The COGs are in no position to insist they understand these things better than everyone else. HWA messed around with religious ideas that he knew little about.

Sadly HWA's ignorant exploitation of Jewish religious teachings and their very identity through British Israelism have caused some to blame Jews for following some of the various teachings that HWA and his imitators imposed on them. No Jew asked for or gave permission for their religious teachings and even their very identity to be exploited by HWA in his creation of his syncretic religion, Armstrongism. We should place responsibility on HWA and those who promote his idiosyncratic views.