“Derailment Epidemic”
By Jim Schneider, Executive Director
VCY America
2023 has seen a host of train derailments. And while derailments happen every year, this year has been notable for trains derailing carrying hazardous materials. Much attention was given to the February 3, 2023 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio in which 38 cars left the tracks. Being transported on this train was vinyl chloride. Some of the railcars burned for more than two days in a “controlled burn” while releasing hydrogen chloride and phosgene into the air causing the evacuation of many from their homes.
Just a week earlier on January 28th, another train derailed in Keachi, Louisiana spilling more than 10,000 gallons of acid products. March 17th in Anacortes, Washington another train derailed spilling in excess of 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel. Nine days later near Wyndmere, North Dakota 31 cars derail with some of them carrying liquid asphalt. Four days after this in Raymond, Minnesota another train derailed carrying ethanol. A fire breaks out from this derailment.
April 15th saw another train derailed in Rockwood, Maine causing a fire. Aboard this train were hazardous materials involved in the fire. Less than two weeks later in De Soto, Wisconsin yet another train derailed causing paint to be spilled into the Mississippi River.
Carrying hazmat materials, another train derailed June 24th at the Yellowstone River near Reed Point, Montana. Petroleum products were among the materials reportedly leaked.
In addition to these train derailments carrying dangerous chemicals, multiple other trains including both passenger and freight have derailed all over the United States.
These derailments are a picture of what’s presently occurring in our society. The morals and values our country once held are being derailed. The result is that hazardous materials are being spewed into the air and wreaking havoc.
John Adams, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, one of the framers of the Constitution, and the second president of the United States said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Perhaps this best explains the derailment in modern society. The moral and religious train has derailed.
The morality of our nation is falling apart at the seams. School districts are secretly informing children how they can receive the “gender affirming care” they desire and happily directing them down the pathway of no turning back and facing a life of regret. Secret information and new personal pronouns are being provided and practiced in a way to keep parents out of the loop. The state has become the surrogate parent.
The latest films produced by Hollywood are filled with mindless indoctrination. Entertainers act as pied pipers leading lambs to the slaughter. Corporate America has bent over backwards to see which of them can be the wokest of all. The military is suffering from a recruiting shortage as they enact policies that cut at the very heart of military readiness and military cohesion.
On another matter, Maine just became the latest state to allow the killing of a pre-born child for any reason up to the time of birth if the abortionist deems the abortion “necessary.” Maine now joins six other states that allow for abortion up to birth. Another derailment.
Indeed, the derailments across our society are many. So much cleanup awaits, meanwhile lives are being wrecked.
But it’s not only the morality of the nation that is running off the tracks; religion itself has taken a wayward path. We are in a time where people want to have their spiritual ears tickled rather than sit under sound Biblical preaching. The latest fads, the trendiest services, the hottest entertainment, and the lack of standing on biblical authority all work together to derail the spiritual train. Sermons get shorter, messages become watered down, and entertainment increases all for the purpose of getting more people to walk through the doors. Sadly, the religious/spiritual train is experiencing derailments all over the country.
It is said that the right investments in maintenance can help keep a train from derailing. What are we doing to maintain the moral and religious beliefs upon which our nation was founded?
It is imperative to get back to constitutional principles, such as the separation of powers and not overreaching where the Constitution does not allow. We must put forth candidates that will follow the Constitution. And it is imperative for citizens to be informed and vote.
But more importantly, believers in Christ must get serious and recognize that we are in a spiritual battle. We must move beyond “playing church” and forming religious clubs and societies to give us a spiritual persona. Rather we must be engaged in churches which uphold the authority of God’s Word and be active agents as salt and light.
It is critically important to reckon with the words written by Jeremiah, “O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name’s sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee.” (Jeremiah 14:7)
Unless proper maintenance is conducted, more and more derailments will occur, noxious odors will be spewed into the air and precious lives will be lost. There is much at stake.
It is time for spiritual maintenance. It is time for self-examination. It is time for repentance. It is time for change. It is time for commitment. The question remains: are you willing to take appropriate action? Or are you standing by and waiting for the next derailment?
