Paul Harvey – “If I were the Devil” appeared in his newspaper column in 1964:
If I Were the Devil If I were the Prince of Darkness I would want to engulf the whole earth 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.
So I should set about however necessary, to take over the United States.
I would begin with a campaign of whispers.
With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whispers to you as I whispered to Eve, “Do as you please.”
To the young I would whisper “The Bible is a myth.” I would convince them that “man created God,” instead of the other way around. I would confide that “what is bad is good and what is good is square.”
In the ears of the young married I would whisper that work is debasing, that cocktail parties are good for you. I would caution them not to be “extreme” in religion, in patriotism, in moral conduct.
And the old I would teach to pray — to say after me — “Our father which are in Washington.”
Then I’d get organized.
I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting so that anything else would appear dull, uninteresting.
I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies, and vice-versa.
I’d infiltrate unions and urge more loafing, less work. Idle hands usually work for me.
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 would encourage schools to refine young intellects, but neglect to discipline emotions; let those run wild.
I’d designate an atheist to front for me before the highest courts and I’d get preachers to say, “She’s right.”
With flattery and promises of power I would get the courts to vote against God and in favor of pornography.
Thus I would evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse, then from the Houses of Congress.
Then in his own churches I’d substitute psychology for religion and deify science.
If I were Satan 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 give to those who wanted until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. Then my police state would force everybody back to work.
Then I would separate families, putting children in uniform, women in coal mines and objectors in slave-labor camps.
If I were Satan I’d just keep doing what I’m doing and the whole world go to hell as sure as the Devil.
Entries Tagged 'Musings' ↓
Commentator Paul Harvey – If I were the Devil
February 19th, 2023 — Musings, National Politics, Nationwide, New York
Unforseen events have kept me quiet for almost a year
February 19th, 2023 — Musings, National Politics, Nationwide, New York
I’m back to posting my political views here. I welcome comments, be they with or against me.
My next post is an article commentator Paul Harvey published in 1964 as well on his radio show. Outlined as follows
“If I Were the Devil” is a form of social criticism, an essay that postulates what steps the devil might take in order to corrupt human civilization (and the United States in particular) and lead it down the path of darkness — before delivering the catch that all the steps listed are phenomena that are already taking place in the world today. It was written and popularized by national radio commentator and syndicated columnist Paul Harvey, who from the mid-1960s onwards featured it in both media many times over the course of his long career, periodically updating it to incorporate current trends:
What Else is New?
May 27th, 2022 — Musings
The current hysteria over the current Covid 19 outbreaks has called for universal vaccinations banning unvaccinated from travel & etc. What we don’t hear, is a call to block the hundreds of housands of illegal aliens who break into this country every day. It’s a certainty that the vast majority or perhaps all of those illegals are un vaccinated. Just more of the double standard they’ve been spouting that illegals are more important to the left then American citizens and legal residents.
Main Stream Media’s and The Radical Left’s Cognitive Assessment
January 27th, 2017 — Bloggernity, Musings, Nationwide, New York
Main Stream Media’s and The Radical Left’s Cognitive Assessment
Personality disorder evidenced by Severe Histrionics Instantly Trump Faces Out Recurring Biased Reporting  And Inaccurate News  Sources – Otherwise known as S.H.I.T. F.O.R.  B.R.A.I.N.S.
 Histrionics – Can’t be cured, but treatment may help
Definition – exaggerated dramatic behavior designed to attract attention.
synonyms: dramatics, theatrics, tantrums; affectation, staginess, artificiality
mickey1943 RIP
January 26th, 2017 — Musings
Sorry to say I hadn’t posted in quite some time and sad to say mickey1943, who made many posts on this blog, keeping it current, passed away, and it’s been quiet until now. Now it’s quiet no more.
Given the fracture in our country today there’s so much to write about I don’t know where to start, I hope to keep abreast of current events and hold the liberal’s feet to the fire!
“Educated” at a Liberal College
December 22nd, 2011 — Musings, National Politics, Nationwide
I’m writing today to thank the person or persons who angrily vandalized my car, in the middle of a Sunday afternoon, while parked at the Dion Tack Shop on Rte 116 in Amherst, MA! As it was the only car damaged sometime between 10AM & 3PM on a Sunday, in a rural area devoid of street punks, side walks and foot traffic, I have no doubt it was targeted by a patron because of the “Tea Party Patriot” bumper sticker on my rear window and not because it bore a Connecticut license plate! Connecticut being more “liberal” than Massachusetts if that’s possible. Thank you for proving once again that you who claim the high road and accuse those having opposite political views of being intolerant and hateful, will stoop to the level of street punks.
I also thank you for demonstrating that nearby Amherst, Smith and Hampshire Colleges have only NOT instilled civility in the populace but encourage such actions through infiltration by radical, left wing professors of the Bill Ayers persuasion. People have had enough and this nation has woken up, our difference is that we’re not street punks or paid protesters of the Obama and union supported occupy wall street ilk but hard working, self made people in a country where the freedom to excel also gives you the freedom act as you do. I believe you’re actually doing good for the country by demonstrating who and what you are, keep it up you’re precisely what’s wrong with this country!
Our current, but soon to be former leadership encourages actions such as yours by painting the opposition with your own attributes. Being greedy, self centered, misguided, intolerant, hateful and racist are just a few epithets the left wing loves to use. By your actions you’re proving your hypocrisy by committing those very acts and acting under those persuasions.
Happily, your message is getting through as the local police and those we’ve spoken to show no surprise that someone from your region of left leaning, ultra liberal colleges would commit such acts against a fellow citizen, but no one would expect one of us to act accordingly. Therein lies the difference between you and us and one that I’m proud of.
Weekley Video
December 21st, 2011 — Musings
Most open and transparent administration in history?
December 20th, 2011 — Musings, National Politics, Nationwide
During the presidential campaign, Obama released just one brief document detailing his personal health, while GOP opponent John McCain released what he said was his complete medical file totaling more than 1,500 pages. The Obama campaign eventually released some routine lab-test results and electrocardiograms for Obama.
Obama refused to offer his official papers as a state legislator in Illinois and did not produce correspondence, such as letters from lobbyists and other information, from his days in the Illinois Senate.
Obama did not release his client list as an attorney or his billing records.
Obama declined to release his college records from Occidental College, where he studied for two years before transferring to Columbia University.
Obama’s campaign refused to give Columbia University, where he earned an undergraduate degree in political science, permission to release his transcripts. Such transcripts would list the courses Obama took, and his grades.
Obama’s college dissertation, reportedly titled “Soviet Nuclear Disarmament,†has disappeared from Columbia’s archives.
Obama did not agree to the release of his application to the Illinois state bar, which would clear up intermittent allegations that his application to the bar may have been inaccurate.
Obama has not released records from his time at Harvard Law School.
During his campaign for president, Obama promised he would make his White House “the most open and transparent administration in history.â€
Arizona Shootings
January 11th, 2011 — Musings, Nationwide
The tragedy in Arizona has affected the victims, their families and the Nation in profound ways, however we mustn’t ignore or lose sight of a different and far reaching impact, that of main street media coverage. When first hearing of the shooting I immediately thought how the left along with the help of the lap-dog media would react, and voila! Remember these were the same folks who were certain the murders Major Hassan committed had no connection to radical Islam.
Much factually based information has come forth via talk radio, unbiased commentators and even reluctantly by the mass media which fully obliterate accusations the media leveled immediately after the shootings. Were these nebulous connections based on known fact or a result of a long term plan? My belief is the attack on our free speech along with renewed calls for more gun control was SCRIPTED long before the tragic shootings, lying in wait for a convenient but inevitable act, remember “never let a good crisis go to waste”. Every talking head had the same spin, hardly a coincidence, all that’s been said to impugn and silence patriotic Americans was written long in advance, lying in wait for when the moment arose. As usual though, as more information bubbles to the surface regarding the actual event the connections drawn become more outlandish.
Never mind that the murdered Judge was appointed by George H. W. Bush, or that the carnage included the young the elderly, women and men, Christians and Jews, and a Congresswoman who herself was targeted by the far left for defeat in favor of one further to the left! Ignore the fact that the act was committed by a Marxist, Skinhead, Anti-Semite having a shrine to the occult in his back yard whose favorite books include Mein Kampf and the Communist Manifesto, blueprints for the left wing! All that aside, media’s certain the “target” was the Congresswoman and plainly is the fault of conservative valued free speech, and the right of law abiding citizens to arm themselves in defense against that very sort of act.
The left openly opined for the death of President Bush, said nothing when his image was burned in effigy or against the plethora of “kill Bush” sentiment. Their embrace of overt malice towards their opposition while inventing an unfounded connection between the Tea Party, Sarah Palin and talk radio to a deranged individual simply proves once more who and what they are, and they’re no friend of the American people. God help us.
To Be President Someday
March 22nd, 2010 — Musings, National Politics
Author Unknown,
Found in the Otis Gazette
“I recently asked my friend’s little girl what she wanted to be when she grows up. She said she wanted to be president some day.
Both of her parents, liberal Democrats, were standing there, so I asked her, ‘If you were president what would be the first thing you would do?’
She replied, ‘I’d give food and houses to all the homeless people.’
Her parents beamed.
‘Wow….. what a worthy goal.’ I told her, ‘But you don’t have to wait to be president to do that. You can come over to my house and mow the lawn, pull weeds and sweep my yard, and I’ll pay you $50.’
‘Then I’ll take you over to the grocery store where homeless guys hang out, and you can give them the $50 you earned, to use for food and a new house.’
She thought that over for a few seconds, then looked me straight in the eye and asked, ‘Why doesn’t the homeless guy come over and do the work, and you can pay him the $50?’
I said, ‘Welcome to the Republican Party.’
Her parents still aren’t speaking to me.”