Paul Harvey 1965 If I Were the Devil

Paul Harvey said these words back in 65. It's interesting how they are so true today.... Makes you wonder.......

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 it's real estate and 4/5 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 wanted until I had killed

the incentive of the ambitious.

And what'll 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 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 on what he's doing.

Paul Harvey.