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By Paul Harvey (1918 - 2009)
If I were the prince of darkness, I would want to engulf the whole world
in darkness.
I'd have a third of its
real estate and four-fifths of its population, but I would not be happy
until I had
seized the ripest apple on the tree — thee.
So, I would set about however necessary to take over the United States.
I'd subvert the churches first, and I would begin with a campaign of whispers.
With the wisdom of a
serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: "Do
as you please."
To the young, I would whisper that the Bible is a myth. I would convince
them that man created God instead of the other way around. I'd confide that
what's bad is good and what's good is square.
And the old, I would
teach to pray after me, "Our Father, which art
in Washington ..."
And then, I'd get organized. I'd educate authors in how to make lurid literature
exciting so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting.
I'd threaten TV with dirtier movies and vice-versa.
I'd peddle narcotics to whom I could. I'd sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen
of distinction. I'd tranquilize the rest with pills.
If I were the devil, I'd soon have families at war with themselves, churches
at war with themselves and nations at war with themselves until each, in
its turn, was consumed.
And with promises of higher ratings, I'd have mesmerizing media fanning
the flames.
If I were the devil, I would encourage schools to refine young intellect
but neglect to discipline emotions, just let those run wild until before
you knew it, you'd have drug-sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse
door.
Within a decade, I'd have prisons overflowing. I'd have judges promoting
pornography. Soon, I could evict God from the courthouse and then from the
schoolhouse and then from the houses of Congress.
In His own churches, I would substitute psychology for religion and deify
science. I'd lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls and church
money.
If I were the devil, I'd make the symbol of Easter an egg and the Symbol
of Christmas a bottle.
If I were the devil, I'd take from those who have and I would give to those
who wanted, until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious.
And what'll you bet I couldn't get whole states to promote gambling as the
way to get rich?
I would caution against extremes in hard work, in patriotism, in moral conduct.
I'd convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is
more fun and that what you see on TV is the way to be.
And thus, I could undress you in public and lure you into bed with diseases
for which there is no cure.
In other words, if I were the devil, I'd just keep right on doing what he's
doing.
Paul Harvey, good day ...
Editor's Note: Originally created in 1965, this Paul Harvey commentary was
updated through the years until the above final version aired in 1996.