Welcome to PulsePoint for 1st August 2024 – the latest media stories and research related to family and society that you need to know about – issues from both New Zealand and overseas that the Family First team have been monitoring and researching over the last week. It’s time to cut through the spin and uncover the real issues.
In this episode of PulsePoint, we’ll update you on these topics:
1. The disastrous opening of the Olympic Game 2024 mocking the Last Supper. 00:54
2. An independent review shows that restricting puberty blockers DOESN’T lead to suicide. 03:20
3. Switzerland is to soon use the first suicide pod for assisted dying. 05:03
4. Who is JD Vance? 06:14 5. Will barbie dolls save babies from abortion? 09:05
6. Finally, grieving the victim of the attempted Trump assassination. 10:20
You can check out all these stories and more on our website FamilyFirst.nz. We’ll keep watching the news… so that you don’t have to.
Welcome to PulsePoint – the LATEST media stories AND research related to family and society that YOU need to know. It’s time to cut through the spin and uncover the REAL issues.
- The Opening of the Olympic Games is usually a family affair.
This time it was France’s turn – in was held in Paris and I believe the Olympic committee has failed this year.
From a golden calf to death riding a pale horse, to a beheaded lady singing, to something that looked like the grim reaper taking children through a dark tunnel (Many people call this “grooming”), and finally the blatant mockery of Christ’ Last Supper.
Thomas Jolly, the ceremony’s artistic director, has pushed back against criticism, claiming the mockup of a famous Christianity image is all about inclusivity. “In France, people are free to love how they please, are free to love whoever they want, are free to believe or not believe,” Jolly said.
He said he just wanted everyone to feel represented – except Christians of course in this case.
The response has been significant,
Broadcaster Piers Morgan said Btw, what the f*ck was all this about? A drag queen mockery of the Last Supper at the Olympics? Would they have mocked any other religion like this? Appalling decision.
Speaker of the House in the US Mike Johnson said
Last night’s mockery of the Last Supper was shocking and insulting to Christian people around the world who watched the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The war on our faith and traditional values knows no bounds today. But we know that truth and virtue will always prevail. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)
Dutch politician, Geert Wilders who in 2009 was charged by a Dutch court with inciting hatred toward Muslims (and acquitted 2.5 years later) said
So mocking Christianity is ok but when I publish some Muhammad cartoons the left cries blasphemy and radical imams issue fatwas. Double standards of the worst kind.
Interestingly it resulted in large outdoor church services in Paris
And because of the world response, the Olympic committee was forced to rightly apologise
- The BBC has reported that an independent review has debunked claims that restricting puberty blockers at a London gender identity clinic led to an increase in suicides among young patients.
Professor Louis Appleby who is a professor of psychiatry and experienced suicide researcher from the University of Manchester was asked by Health Secretary Wes Streeting to examine the data following claims made by campaigners of a rise in suicide rates since puberty-blocking drugs were restricted at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust in 2020.
Prof Appleby’s review concludes “the data does not support the claim”, and he added the way the issue had been discussed on social media was “insensitive, distressing and dangerous”.
He said “One risk is that young people and their families will be terrified by predictions of suicide as inevitable without puberty blockers.”
One of the key weapons used by trans activists is to claim that if young people are not given puberty blockers, they’ll commit suicide.
IMAGE IN FILES
We know that the recent CASS report destroyed that suicide trope – better a live son than a dead daughter – which is used to manipulate parents – as did recent studies from Sweden and Finland.
And now this one.
When you hear the suicide claim made by activists as justification for chemicalising and confusing young people, don’t accept it. It has no credibility. In fact, the opposite may be true. We should give confused young people the counselling and healing of the mind that they need.
- Switzerland is preparing to use the Sarco,(Video) a portable suicide pod that allows individuals to die without medical supervision. Dubbed as the Tesla of assisted suicide, the futuristic looking #D printed capsule was first unveiled in 2019 in Switzerland amid controversy.
It fills its chamber with nitrogen and rapidly reduces oxygen levels once a button is activated from the inside.
Developed by Philip Nitschke of Exit International, nicknamed Dr. Death, this device has come under fire for glamorising suicide with calls for a ban with opponents of it referring to Article 115 of the Swiss Criminal Code, which says that assisting suicide is a crime if done for “selfish” reasons.
Legal challenges and ethical concerns persist, with opponents citing potential misuse and legal repercussions under Swiss law.
Our euthanasia and assisted dying law, the End-of-Life Choice Act 2019, is currently undergoing a review where the public will have an opportunity to give their opinion on changes to the Act.
- Ohio Senator JD Vance has been announced as the running mate for Donald Trump at the upcoming presidential election. He’s only been in the Senate since 2022.
Is he a friend or foe of social conservatives?
According to the Family Research Council
they congratulated Vance, noting that “Senator Vance was one of only five senators who received a perfect score on FRC Action’s scorecard for votes taken in 2023.” That’s a scorecard similar to our Value Your Vote.
You can always judge the policies and character of a person by seeing who hates them.
Planned Parenthood Action labelled Vance as an “unqualified, anti-abortion politician who won’t protect any of your rights.”
On the issue of children being transgender, Vance has opposed experimental transgender medical interventions for minors
Last July, Vance introduced the Senate version of the Protect Children’s Innocence Act to make interventions such as “puberty blockers,” cross-sex hormones, and transgender surgeries a felony when performed on minors.
Vance also said
I’ll stop calling people “groomers” when they stop freaking out about bills that prevent the sexualization of my children.
He strongly opposes sexuality and gender indoctrination in schools and is opposed to passports having a category for non-male or female.
Following the Ohio vote which legalised recreational marijuana in his state, Vance told Politico that he’s “not a fan of recreational marijuana.” He argued that legalization increases youth use and traffic fatalities, despite contradictory research on those issues.
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Finally, on his faith Vance has admitted that his Christian faith has grown in recent years.
When he entered Yale Law School in 2010, Vance revealed, “I would have called myself an atheist.” In 2015, he began seeking clarity about his Christian views. Have a watch of his recent comments here
On his twitter account it says
Christian, husband, dad. U.S. Senator for Ohio.
JD Vance appears to be a supporter for the values that you and I care about. You can read and watch more about his views on the latest edition of McBlog.
- Earlier this week, Mattel, the multinational toy manufacturing company established in 1945, announced the release of two new dolls: a Blind Barbie and a Barbie doll with Down syndrome.
Part of its “Fashionistas” line, the creations are intended to help dispel myths and connect with children living with disabilities.
Krista Berger, Senior Vice President of Barbie and Global Head of Dolls, says:
“We recognize that Barbie is much more than just a doll; she represents self-expression and can create a sense of belonging,” she said. “We proudly introduce a new blind Barbie doll and black doll with Down syndrome to our Barbie Fashionistas line, reinforcing our commitment to creating products that represent global belonging and inclusivity in the doll aisle.”
Sadly, NZ’s abortion law and screening facility can lead to abortions for disabilities including Down syndrome babies right through to birth.
On one hand, the statement from the Barbie official has all the markings of modern-day corporate speak – but could the company’s decision to release these particular dolls end up saving innocent preborn lives?
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6.And finally, Corey Comperatore tragically lost his life shielding his wife and daughters from a bullet aimed at former President Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania.
Remembered as a devoted family man, dedicated engineer, volunteer firefighter and community leader, Corey’s daughter Allyson described him as a real-life superhero for his sacrificial act.
In his obituary, she describes him as “a man of God, who loved Jesus fiercely, and also looked after our church and our members as family.” His death has devastated his family and community.
Yet, his bravery and selfless act to protect his family reminds us that healthy masculinity, emphasising protection and selflessness, protects the family and the greater good of communities and society.
May his bravery and selfless act of love encourage men to lean into their God-given roles as protectors and providers.
And THAT’S the latest episode of PulsePoint. You can check out ALL these stories AND MORE on our website familyfirst.nz. We’ll keep watching the news… so that you don’t have to.
See you next time.
