Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: July 5, 2009
MINNOW MADNESS
Ben Justice
The San Joaquin Valley of central California has some of the most fertile soil in the world. Most anything can be
grown here and supplies our country and even around the world with produce. It has been referred to as the
“bread basket” of the country.
Recently, legislation was passed to protect a 2-inch minnow found in the waters of the San Joaquin valley. This
minnow is known as the Delta Smelt minnow and is on the endangered species list. Irrigation ditches flow
throughout the San Joaquin Valley to supply water to farmers who raise produce. The legislation that was
passed, with Nancy Pelosi being the main driver of this legislation, shut down the vital water pumps in this
valley. This has received little attention in the main stream media. However, a special report was given on
“Hannity” that appears on the Fox News Channel. The report stated that farmers are suffering severely and that
upwards of 80,000 jobs have been lost due to the water pumps being shut down to save this 2-inch minnow.
Even the liberal comedian Paul Rodriquez appeared on “Hannity” and expressed his outrage over this. The
farmers are getting zero percent water. Crops are literally dying; trees are dying; humans are being endangered;
livelihoods are being lost; lands are literally turning into waste lands all to save a 2-inch minnow. A reporter
from Fox News was shown walking in a dried-up canal that is normally flowing with the much needed water. The
farmers are suffering from a drought — not a natural drought but a man-made drought.
When I heard this report, I just couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The images that were shown on TV and the
farmers suffering and livelihoods being destroyed was mind-numbing to say the least. The liberal environmental
whackos got their way in this, and now, just to save a 2-inch minnow, people are suffering. As one report put it,
“Man vs. Delta Smelt Fish — Fish Wins!” Of course, such is reminiscent of saving the spotted owl in the
northwest and the snail darter found in TN. What is amazing is that practically all of the proponents to save
these creatures have no problem with ripping a fetus from its mother’s womb and murdering it.
The Bible has an answer to this madness. Paul stated it best in Rom. 1:25 — “Who changed the truth of God
into a lie and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” When
people turn from worshipping and serving the Creator, they worship the creature. When this happens, anything
goes. Common sense is thrown out the window. Right now, in our beloved America, nonsense is ruling America
in many quarters. Nonsense is going to destroy America. The more our society leaves out God the more
nonsense will take over.
You may be thinking, how in the world could such take place in this country? This is analogous to those in the
country of India worshipping cows believing they are their reincarnated ancestors. People are starving, while
they have food right before their very eyes.
Food prices are expected to go up. And, if things don’t change, we will be importing a lot more of our food from
foreign countries. We are already dependent upon foreign oil; now, get ready to be dependent upon foreign grown
food. Considering the sanitation (or lack thereof) of other countries, it doesn’t sound too appetizing
In many ways, this is a political issue, but with practically every issue we face, there is a moral and ethical
element to it also. How moral is it to save a minnow while human beings are suffering? How moral is it to turn
off the water supply to farmers who earn their livelihood raising and selling food for America and the world just to
save a fish? Something is dreadfully wrong when an animal — in this case a 2-inch minnow — takes priority over
human life. If this doesn’t cause outrage and disgust, then I don’t know what will. God warned the children of
Israel in Exodus 20:4-5, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in
heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. (5) Thou shalt not bow
down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers
upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.” People suffer due to the actions
of others. In this case, because people are worshipping and serving the creature, people are suffering. Sin has
consequences, and we will continue to see more of the same if something is not drastically turned around. I fear
for us!