If I were the Devil

Dana Mathewson forwards this:

“If I were the devil, 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 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, “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”. And the old, I would teach to pray.
I would teach them 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 visa 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 that war with themselves,
churches that war with themselves, and nations that war with themselves;
until each in its turn was consumed. And with promises of higher ratings
I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flame.

If I were the devil I would encourage schools to refine our 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, and 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
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, and patriotism,
and 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 to devil I’d keep on doing what he’s doing.

Paul Harvey, good day.”