Paul Harvey's Controversial Articles - Part One

Paul Harvey Aurandt (1918–2009) was an American radio broadcaster for ABC News Radio from 1951-2008. Paul Harvey's radio shows included: "News and Comment" and [his famous] "The Rest of the Story" segments, which reached over 24 million people per week. His news and commentaries were carried on 1,200 radio stations, on 400 American Forces Network station and in 300 newspapers.

During Mr. Harvey's radio career, he shared two controversial articles that shocked the nation:  If I Were The Devil and A Letter From God. In today's world, the former - which originally aired in 1964 - can almost be likened unto a prophecy.  The latter - which originally aired in 1989 - caused the most controversy, especially among the Christians. Both documents contain powerful words.

In Part One of this series, it would appear that what Paul Harvey said in 1964 has come to fruition ...

Part One: If I Were The Devil

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 at 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!”

Prophecy or coincidence? Either way, this article is noticeably in tune with events that began occurring in the mid-late 20th century and continues to happen in the 21st century. 

Paul Harvey's Controversial Articles - Part Two