This has been on my heart for the last couple of days. A very strong urge to post. Below and before the speech is my humble opinion. My beliefs and thoughts about the current state of our nation.
I think it's very important to learn from people of older generations. 1965 was quite different from today, to say the least. I think the words from Paul Harvey were prophecy. In the first paragraph you'll see the words "spiritual condition". My belief is that this country must face a "near death experience" before she finally wakes up to the truth. The truth is, we are the greatest country in the world, but ambition and drive have been stripped from our children. They have become lazy, entitled, confused about identity, having no self respect or respect for others, they don't respect veterans, cops or our flag, and they're rude to be quite honest. They erase history without even learning it. They put personal opinions as gospel and won't have a healthy debate. Criticizing anyone for disagreement. For the most part, parents have been complacent. Yes, there are some that are not and do instill good values, but what I'm saying is that there aren't enough non-complacent. People tend to forget that these kids will run this country some day. The kids won't know what's important and instead worry about inclucivity. They'll worry about people's feelings and about the color of one's skin rather than who's actually qualified for the job. Just look at the current administration and it won't take you long to see.
My generation, I'm afraid, is the last of its kind. I've taught my son the best I know how about right and wrong. About helping people. Doing good deeds. Being honest at all times. He gets it, thank the good Lord, but most others don't. Read the speech and you'll see where this country is headed if we don't get a handle on it.
To my surprise, I've asked a lot of people if they've heard of Paul Harvey and his speech and they all say "no". Hell, there are actually people out there that don't even know of the Bill of Rights. Can you believe that? It's true!
Read the speech here and take it seriously. It's what's literally happening before our eyes.
Here's an audio version:
In 1965, Paul Harvey broadcasted “If I Were the Devil.” It is really amazing to realize over 47 years ago how accurately he “prophesied” the future spiritual condition of the United States. Many of his statements were considered ridiculously outlandish at that time in history. Yet, we find ourselves today…
PAUL HARVEY’S ‘IF I WERE THE DEVIL’ TRANSCRIPT
If I were the devil … If I were the Prince of Darkness, I’d want to engulf the whole world in darkness. And I’d have a third of its real estate, and four-fifths of its population, but I wouldn’t be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree — Thee. So I’d set about however necessary to take over the United States. I’d subvert the churches first — I’d 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 would 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 pedal 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 that 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 intellects, but neglect to discipline emotions — just let those run wild, until before you knew it, you’d have to 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, then from the schoolhouse, and then from the houses of Congress. And in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion, and deify science. I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls, and church money. If I were the devil I’d make the symbols of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle.
“If I were the devil I’d take from those who have, and give to those who want until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious.
And what do you bet I could get whole states to promote gambling as the way to get rich? I would caution against extremes and hard work in Patriotism, in moral conduct. I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun, that what you see on the TV is the way to be. And thus, I could undress you in public, and I could 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.”
Thank you for stopping by!
2 comments:
This is the 1996 version of the essay. Metal detectors did not exist in schools in 1965, nor did drug-sniffing dogs. This is an up-dated version Mr. Harvey did. He even changed the ending from the original. It's still good. It's still true. But's it's not the original from '65.
Yes, it still remains very true. I was not aware of any changes to the speech. Mainly because of the original audio of Harvey reciting it himself. Thank you for the input.
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