IF I WERE THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS

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 
populations, but I would not be happy until I had seized the ripest apple
on the tree,  Thee.

So I should set about, however necessary, to take over the United States. I
would 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'd confide that
what is bad is good and what is good is square.

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 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.

I would soon have families at war with themselves, churches at war with
themselves, and nations at war with themselves, until each in it's turn was
consumed, and with promise of higher ratings I'd have mesmerizing media
fanning the flames.

I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, but neglect to 
discipline emotions; just let those run wild until before you knew it, you
would have to have drug sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every school
house 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'd substitute psychology for religion and deify 
science.  I would lure Priest and Pastors into Mis-using boys and girls
and church money and make the symbol of Easter an egg and the symbol of 
Christmas a bottle.

I'd take from those who have and give to those who wanted, until I had killed
the incentive of the ambitous.

What do 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 would convince the young that marriage is old fashion, 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 Prince of Darkness, I'd just keep right on
doing what he is doing!


"REPRINT FROM PAUL HARVEY NEWS (3-3-93)"