Current Events & Trends
Beyond Today Magazine
Beyond Today Magazine: November–December 2016
Course Content
How valuable is freedom when an individual can cause so much harm working alone?
In September a man placed bombs at several locations in New Jersey and Manhattan. After collecting fingerprints, police used the cell phone alert system to get word out about the main suspect. A tip came in, and the suspect was captured after a shootout. A few police were injured, and the man was ultimately captured.
Following this situation, police in other major American cities began making a plea for more involvement from its citizens in reporting suspicious activity.
A major part of maintaining the freedoms enjoyed in Western nations is these freedoms not being abused. With increasing numbers of individuals committing terrorist acts, freedom as we know it is questioned. The value of freedom begins to be measured against the value of security.
Many Western nations have had decades of relative internal peace. Immigration and the spread of ideas counter to Western freedoms raises the question: How valuable is freedom when an individual can cause so much harm working alone?
The apostle Paul foretold that the last days would be “brutal” (2 Timothy 3:3). Will that brutality cost us our freedom? (Source: The Wall Street Journal.)
Rudy Rangel was born and raised in Granite City, Illinois. He attended Southern Illinois University to study mass communication, graduating in 2008 with a bachelor of science degree. He also trained as an electrician.
Rudy currently lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was hired by the United Church of God in 2009 and works as production supervisor at the home office.
Rudy loves music, reading, writing, film and volunteering at United Youth Camps. Out of all these things, his favorite thing to do is play with his daughter and son and spend time with his wife. He also loves pizza.
