Oct 14, 2004
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Kenneth R Gregg - 10/13/2004
Reminds me of a joke:
A powerful senator dies after a prolonged illness. His soul arrives in Heaven where he is met by St. Peter.
"Welcome to Heaven," says St. Peter." We seldom see a high official around these parts, so we're not sure what to do with you."
"No problem, just let me in," says the guy.
"I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in Hell and one in Heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."
"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in Heaven," says the senator.
"I'm sorry but rules are rules."
And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down to Hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a club and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with
him. Everyone is very happy and in evening attire. They run to greet him, hug him and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine
on lobster and caviar.
Also present is the Devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, is time to go. Everyone gives him a big hug and waves while the elevator rises.
The elevator goes up,, up and the door reopens in Heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.
"Now it's time to visit Heaven.", he says.
So 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.
"Well then, you've spent a day in Hell and another in Heaven. Now choose your eternity."
He reflects for a minute, then the senator answers, "Well, I would never have said it, I mean Heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be
better off in Hell."
So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down to Hell.
Now the doors of the elevator open and he is in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags.
The Devil comes over to him and lays his arm on his neck.
"I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and club and we ate lobster and caviar and danced and had a great time. Now all there is, is a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable."
The Devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning. Today you voted for us!"
David T. Beito - 10/13/2004
The parallels are actually quite close. Like Benny Hinn, Edward appears to view his candidate as a kind of miracle worker e.g. vote for JFK and he will heal the sick and lame through federal manna. I suspect that people, like Reeves, will walk about the wheelchair but to link this to the agenda of one particular candidate in this way is crass and insulting to the voters. It reeks of the kind of exploitation of Paul Wellstone's memory (that helped to to doom Mondale's campaign).
Most importantly, Edwards' statement dramatically overstates the differences between Bush and Kerry on the issue of stem cell research. Both support significant increases in federal subsidies for stem cell researchy.
The relatively minor Bush/Kerry differences relate to incredibly misleading claims about the still unproven potential of fetal stem cell research, a technology Bush would allow to continue but not subsidize.
In other words, Kerry, like Hinn, is a bit of a snake oil salesman who oversells his product.....but then that seems to be true of most politicians these days. Edwards is only a bit more obvious than the rest of them.
Derek Charles Catsam - 10/13/2004
David --
There have been tremendous advances in the medical science surrounding spinal cord injuries -- advancements coming largely in the last ten years, and not coincidentally tied to Reeves' own work since his injury. We are closer now than ever to, in fact, seeing a day when someone suffering an injury such as reeves' could walk again. That you are this derisive of a candidate who is aware that such feats are possible does not exactly redound to your ability as a thinker. I imagine you join Carl Everett in denying that man was ever actually able to walk on the moon. I'm not sure if this is a result of really sloppy thinking or overzealous politics, but either way, equating Edwards' comments with the inanity on the fiundamentalist right is pretty damned dumb.
dc