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October 11, 2009

We've Killed All the Prophets


In the spirit of The Screwtape Letters, the following is presented for your consideration. I'd like to offer a couple of caveats, though, before you dive in. First, if you see yourself in some manner in the following, take heart. We are all there in some measure. We are all fallen. Indeed, that's one of the issues that the postmodernists use to divide and conquer us. That is, in pointing out our failings, they encourage us to give up or to pursue strategies with the same effect.

So, if you see yourself, join the club and learn. The important thing, though, is to see the adversary. Oh, and one more thing ... these guys are prone to extremism, but listen, learn, and grab a fighting hole.

Now, friends, here's what I overheard from a post-modern ghoul who was lecturing a cowering, confused crowd:

We've killed all the prophets. That's so much better, no? Oh, it's so glorious to be rid of their moralizing, demonizing and sermonizing. Now, we can get on with life.

Of course, long gone is the scourge that is prayer in schools and even innocuous "moments of silence". Oh, but we've come so far since 1963, have we not? Things are so much better now that roaming bands of emos can rightfully pursue moral anarchy as the true religion of our public schools ... and do so in peace. Oh, to be rid of the foul stench of shackling standards. Now we can get on with experiencing, loving, with life ... be free ...

To hump who we want, when we want ... hump what we want ... hell, hump the air like a dog. Let people watch. What do we care? Film a woman in her hotel room and put her naked body on the internet, and news outlets will send it along for prurient interest in the name of the public good and the "need to know." We rule. We have won.

Indeed, we are free to screw and spew forth human lives like stray cats and discard them as we wish, with no restrictions whatsoever, as we finally and rightfully decide matters of life and death without consequence. Does this shock you? Oh, but you must be infected by that wretched remnant. Time will heal you. And our intellect will divine how this transformation has occurred.

Haven't you heard? The prophets are dead, man! And we? We are on to a better place. Time to live a little. No, a lot.

To quote them ... "Thank God" they are gone. Ha! Now, that is funny. They used to lecture us and sternly warn that thinking is a moral exercise. But we thought better, and we slaughtered them all when you weren't looking. In truth, though, many of you were looking, but you didn't want to be made fun of by the enlightened in your midst. And we thank you for that. We needed you at a crucial juncture and you have our deepest gratitude for standing up for your right not to be embarrassed by standing for the quaint concept that was "moral principle".

After all, what we did was fair, in our estimation. And we acted in the common good. For who were the prophets to stand in judgment of us? We are greater, both in stature and in number. Plus, we like ourselves better, and we just think that we all need to give the Roman Polanskis of the world a little break. So now, we live in freedom from the ir tyranny.

Remember, judge not. We judge, and rightly. You judge not.

Yea, though we walked through that valley where extremists once prowled, we feared not their righteous extremism. For we stood as humans without god in that valley ... and we won.

In juxtaposition to the extremists, we laud the Holy Moderates, who in truth are extreme in their passivity, indecision, and cowardice. They have served us well, these dolts who we will make pliable and contort into the shape of their own weakness and guilt for our own purposes before we discard and flush them away.

As they swirl down the toilet, we hear again the long-ago voices of those who would challenge us, as if there were some standard of morality that transcended mere men, and argued that we cannot use men as the the tools for our crucial advancement that they are. But are such critics mad? Rather, were they?

Don't bother us free thinkers by arguing again that thinking is a moral exercise. Silence! And at once! Or we'll send you to speak with a "Blessed Independent". This blessed one is not just any independent. We speak of the super-virtuous, super-righteous, he that could not stain himself by any alliance with mere Republicans. Oh, we love him so, for claims to be supremely loyal to the conservative side but he criticizes only the Republican Party. It is principle, don't you know. You must be hard on those with standards, we explained. He got it. And bless him, indeed, for his "tough love". Verily, he scoffs at and looks down on mere conservative partisans and moralists from his lofty peak at the very edge of where oxygen hovers on the outskirts of the earth's atmosphere. He is far too high, grandiose and righteous to be weighted down with affiliation to any party or movement, at least not one that could win an election. No, he is not like us or of us. Still ...

We love our "Blessed Independent". Indeed, he is a hilariously useful idiot, and in truth is independent only from productive social co nnections and coalition-building while dependent upon strokes to his pathetic ego and the continual genuflecting to his "supernova" of an intellect. He controls the entire electorate, don't you know? (Actually, we do now.) As the Emperor in Star Wars said, "Powah!!!!!!" Thank their god he is able to save conservatives from their partisan predilections and the general sense that they need winning coalitions to, you know, win. If you had his omniscience and personality disorder(s), you could see all this so very clearly, too.

We learned long ago to grind the prophets' progress to a halt by merely pointing out the imperfections all the institutions that they held dear -- the family, their faith, and their slobbering love for their "shining city on hill", whatever the hell that is. And of course, now that the prophets are dead, we can ensure that they will not form coalitions with others who might be like-minded but otherwise "imperfect".

Let us be very, very clear: We will damn sure make sure that the Republican Party is not resurgent and a vehicle for conservatism.

And another thing we want to make sure all of you continue to do ... In all things, to show your "independence", open-mindedness, fairness, likeability, coolness, metrosexuality and all-around-"mainstreamedness", by all means continually throw in a gratuitous slap at Republicans whenever you discuss American politics. You are so "with it", man. You might even get on Joe Scarborough's show, if you keep it up. You can bend over together. People like you and think you are smarter when you do this. If they look at you like you are sucking up, just ignore them. That's not what they are really thinking. They will be your friends. Geez, we want to be like you. Actually, we are. Or is it vice-versa. It's all good. Your insecurity draws you like a magnet to our power and confidence. Oh, to feel you rub against our sides and cuddle .... mmm, mmm, mmm. Delicious.

Mmm ... mmm ... mmm ... Barack's the man with the health care plan ... retreatin' his ass out of Afghanistan ... mmm ... mmm .... mmm.

A prophet (were he alive) might slap you up side the head and ask you if you weren't more interested in your own self-image and popularity by repeating the inanity you routinely spew in the guise of "independent analysis". I mean clearly, there is not a dime's worth of difference between having Newt Gingrich vs. Nancy Pelosi in charge of the House. But let's not dwell on the past. Or the present ... I mean, clearly a Republican Congress would have us on the precipice of health care reform, too, and would be acquiescing to surrendering in Afghanistan. Clearly. From us, let me just say, thanks for your efforts.

You know, we think it's only fair to give you an example of our "Blessedly Independent" friends ... so we are clear what we are after. Check out this "blessed" one. So intelligent. So self-important. So right on with his principled grievances that warrant giving nuclear weapons to Iran and/or quadrupling the deficit in 9 months. So useful. He and his ilk have helped us tremendously by such making our case to break down conservatives' -- and America's -- will to fight us. We love it when the genius pundits say about the foibles of Bill Clinton and others, that "they all do it". I mean, they do, you know. You recall Pres. Reagan's dalliances with young women servicing him in the Oval Office, do you not? He was just better at hiding it than Mr. Pasty White Blabbermouth. He reminds us that courage is/was a moral virtue, too. Good riddance.

And when some smarty pants pipes up about the earliest snow on record or baseball playoff games being snowed out and such maybe ... maybe not being consistent with global warming, we shout him down and laugh about his usage of anecdotal arguments ... never mind that we use anecdotal arguments somewhere every day during every summer. In a big country, it's always hot somewhere in the summer, you idiots. The prophets used to scowl at us and moralize about our inconsistencies. But now their cowardly descendants are so civil ... yes, beautiful civility. We love it so, especially for the idiots.

Now that we have elevated civility to its "rightful" place at the top of our adversaries list of virtues ... it's an absolute, you know ... we are free to roam and, well, be who we are. But remember, it's for your own good. And ours. Judge not. Live in peace. Why all the tumult?

We laugh (and we win again) when people reduce every public figure and politician to the level of a David Letterman, who bangs his girlfriend while on a cruise with his wife and son. You go, Dave. They all do it, after all. Who is that hick hypocrite Sarah Palin to complain? She is not perfect. Her daughter was screwing that redneck hockey jock in high school like two dogs in heat. Put down your stones, Sarah Palin. C'mon. Be like the prophetless class. No stones. Hear, hear.

Don't you see the glorious perversion that we can pursue now that the prophets are dead? We do whatever we want. By contrast, we demand unattainable standards of them and their institutions. They wring their hands and seek perfection, egged on by the Blessed Independents in their midst on the one hand and the humbled by the Holy Moderates on the other. Thus, they are paralyzed. There is no prophet to save them now ...

Ha! Ha! Got a Maine sister in the Senate, lads. You can't support a party that tolerates that sort of imperfection. Never mind that every Republican in the Senate is against the president's health care plan. Don't you know she's "pro-choice"? C'mon. That's a violation of your conscience. (So, we don't have one. It doesn't stop us from pricking yours!) Don't you know that if the Demo-controlled congress passes health care and Obama signs it that it's still the Republicans' fault?

Give me two Blessed Independents on the case, and I win ... every time. Your party and candidate voted with us, once ... I think, maybe ... where's a moderate ... he would understand and endorse your candidate ... oh, wait ... now, your candidate is ours since the Holy Moderate praised him once. You see, all we have to do is obfuscate and scatter. Join us. It's great fun. ... It's easier. Aren't you tired of fighting? Join us.

The Bush Administration was wrong on immigration so they did nothing right, don't you know? Let us incessantly recount that beautiful untruth forever!! And ever! Amen. Don't you remember? Bush spent a lot. So, it was about a burgers-worth for Obama, but it was evil and a violation of conscience. You should have voted for Gore, and then Kerry. Or not voted at all. Better to sit on principle than to stand not perfectly upright. Don't be a judgmental hypocrite.

You must play by the rules ... always. We cheat ... always. Plus, we define your rules and success. We can't help but win.

Now that the prophets are dead, that is.

You know, I am beginning to think they were right. Thinking is moral. But the moralists are dead. So, let's not be troubled with their baggage, shall we?

Now, we are free to elect a postmodern leftist president for the first time in American history. We got a Holy Moderate through the Republican primaries (under the guise that the Blessed Independents would carry the day, of course) and then we goaded the opposition into settling for nothing less than perfection in the general election ... and now we have our wish. That's so funny. America got that whole process bass-ackward, just like we like it. It almost makes us believe in god, but not quite.

I mean, the world is safe now. Al Franken is our 60th vote in the Senate, thanks to great work by the Blessed Independent candidate in Minnesota. It really doesn't get much better, folks. Oh yes, it does. ACORN helped Franken steal the election, too. But we know that criticizing such public service groups is racist and uncivil. And aren't you on the right tired of playing that race card? Look in your hearts. Every one of you is prejudiced against some one or thing. You know it. So, be quiet and listen to us. Let you without sin cast the first stone at us.

Barack Obama has his Peace Prize. Hold on ... that's stretching it a bit, even for us. That's some funny caca, right there. But let's shoot straight, or as straight as we can.

Now, leftists who would rather shit on the Lincoln Memorial rather than celebrate America ... are celebrating worldwide. Do you get our drift?

As America grinds toward bankruptcy, it is urged to spend more in the name of "compassion" ... urged on by misplaced guilt and the inability to argue its case. Ah, we are almost there.

America's troops fight an enemy that claims to fight for a prophet, and they might, for all we care (we are neutral with respect to the jihadists' prophet, though, you see, although we approvingly note how correct the jihadists are in their critique of America). But because America's prophets are dead, its leaders can't define the mission against the supposed prophet-soldiers. And we know what happens when one side fights with a mission and the other one does not.

Glory ... glory!! It almost makes us want to sing that song.

But we won't. Wait ...

For we feel a chill.

We fear, for we know ... for some reason we fear that prophets still live. If there is a God, we fear for all we have gained and have.

For if we did not kill them all, surely he and his ilk will return with a righteous vengeance.

We must go now, just in case ...

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Stemwinder? More like a piledriver. Anyone reading this will have been treated to a Civics lesson con gusto.

Rhod said...

Lewis lives in Texas...we call him DC.

I remembered this:

In his introduction to the 1970's reprint of The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis wrote that the path to hell was soft underfoot, the slope gentle, with the biggest evils done in carpeted, well-lighted offices where "getting along" was the main virtue.

The enormities, like a Hitler, will never triumph for long, because the evil is obvious and dramatic. The subtle and more effective way to corrupt large numbers of people is to confuse or dilute the conscience.

Screwtape recommends to his student that he subvert the ordinary man by urging the man to think of himself as tolerant and broad-minded, a good fellow. (Indifference raised to the status of a virtue.)

Such a man, cannibalized in hell, makes a small meal for the devils, but there are lots of them at the table. Not very filling, but a reliable meal.

It's working.

Velcro said...

"People like you and think you are smarter when you do this. If they look at you like you are sucking up, just ignore them. That's not what they are really thinking. They will be your friends. Geez, we want to be like you."
That sorta sounds like an old SNL character - Stuart Smalley - who was played a little too well by, of all people, Al Franken.

Reasonable, tolerant people are the ones who pave the way for the Hitlers...right, Mr. Chamberlain?

Velcro said...

Forgot to say excellent post, DC!

Anonymous said...

Thanks Nick, Rhod, and Velcro for your kind comments. I've been thinking about this for a while. All of us have. Nick's "pussification" post is another slice of this argument. Rhod has said it differently, brutally, better in other ways, as well.

We can't go on ignoring our history and the virtues that made us great. We need to go back to basics. A lot of life is hard ... but simple. Stand up for what you know is right. Honor your parents. Keep your word. Finish what you start. And, as mentioned in the post, have the courage to stare adversaries in the eye and fight ... for what we believe and know to be true.

As we have said before, as long as there is enough in us, there is enough of us.

Kid said...

To briefly over-simplify: In order for the libs to truly get what they want, which is to do anything they please anytime they please without guilt, they must establish the idea that morals don't matter; yesterday doesn't matter and may not have even happened or can be re-written and what's the fuss, and tomorrow for sure doesn't matter.

In order to live that way and defend it - (why do they need to defend it?) - they must dismantle all manner of tradition, morals, values, virtues, religion, heritage, patriotism, and family.

Anything that even hints that they should follow the beat of any drum at anytime in their self-gratifying lives.

Anonymous said...

You got it, Kid.

TS/WS said...
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Doom said...

Bah, these fools have cheered every time they have killed a prophet, thinking that would end it. They really cheered at Christ's death. But they cheer the way a man whistles past a grave. Even their layers of lies cannot cut through the certainty that they are already dead.

I used to let that stuff bother me. Then I realized, as you said, this was meant to divide and conquer. And, perhaps it works in politics. But it doesn't work in a right man's or woman's heart. If I die tonight, whether it be government thugs who break in or simple thugs or a heart attack, I am satisfied. Though a quick confession might not hurt. I best get on that.

If it is their time, again, to rule, so be it. They rule the dead. My King rules the living. Let them eat earth. Not even that is theirs. Sad, really.

Anonymous said...

Actually, you are a lot cheerier than you let on, Doom. In the end, without sadness and their can be no joy. The reality that the postmodernists deny holds together (in reality) the world.

As long as we keep up the fight, we'll be okay. Thanks for checking in.

WomanHonorThyself said...

take heart..things can only get better my dear!.Busy weekend for a change..hope youre doin well!!:)

Anonymous said...

Woman H.T.,

I appreciate your optimism, but as the last elections shows ... things can always get worse.

Okay, Nick ... time to raise the curtain and the spirits around here. I note that comments are substantive but sparse (kinda like the prophets).

Maybe a few of the readers are changing their registration from (Blessed) Independent?

Anonymous said...

Big stuff on my end, DC. My input is sparse and I've severely sprained my optimism muscle. Life will settle down to semi-normalcy soon.

Plus, It's difficult to paint a cartoon on this door after DC has nailed his 95 rants onto it.

Great post.

T. F. Stern said...

Ah, but they haven’t killed all the prophets. Interestingly, the Sunday School lesson this past week had to do with the importance of having a living prophet, a man who has the authority to speak to the inhabitants of this planet in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Let me point you in his direction; Thomas S. Monson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the living prophet for the entire world in our day. He holds all the keys to the priesthood. He does not sit in judgment of our failures; instead he offer advice to any and all who will listen. These words of admonition are simple and direct encouragement to become better people, individually and collectively. They involve things such as obeying the commandments, being able to follow the Golden Rule and other simple yet proven guidelines which will enable individuals to follow the pathway back to our Heavenly Father.

No, they haven’t killed all the prophets. The Great Deceiver, the Father of Lies, Satan himself would have many believe that all the prophets are gone, that there is no reason to obey the commandments, to do what ever makes you feel good; but somewhere in each of us is the power to stand up to such a liar, to make a stand for what is righteous and good. The words of our modern day prophet are not hard to find or understand. Take a little time to find what has been recorded, not a thousand years ago; but this past weekend at General Conference. and perhaps the future will look a little brighter.

Kid said...

Actually, Mr Stern, I never met a Mormon who didn't look down on me and find some way to inject a better than thou attitude in even the briefest of encounters.

I don't find any value in people who feel that way and act that way personally. But best to ya and good luck.

Anonymous said...

Kid, as a lifelong introvert and underachiever, everyone I meet seems to have that better than thou attitude.

Anonymous said...

Well, actually, although I am a Christian, my idea of "prophets" was metaphorical and represents all who hold to those transcendent values that have made America great.

Nick, cue the band or cartoon or something.

Love you man. "95 rants?" That's hilarious.

I gotta admit. I got a kick out of Kid's remarks, too. Sorry, Stern. I've had folks say the same thing to me about evangelicals like me, and I think there has been truth in the criticism.

Actually, thought, I am pretty cheery and I get beat up around here for being the optimistic one.

TS/WS said...
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Doom said...

Oh, I hate to add again, but I fear you may have misunderstood something important. When I said, "Sad, really."... hehe I was talking about them. *grins* Really really.

Anonymous said...

They Say ... Hey, I explained the metaphorical use of "prophets" in the comment above yours. Lighten up. Even so, you don't want to debate the definition of prophet, promise.

Doom, I got it. You are a wily one so it's hard to keep up sometimes.

anon said...

I've read this about a hundred times now and I'm still stuck with "Wow."

Amazing piece of work, I'm awestruck, Sir.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Powdergirl, very much, for your kind comments. It has kinda been brewing for a while. Even today, I heard a notable radio type talking about how he was tired of picking the "lesser of two evils" and was demanding some sort of perfect candidate to stand up and be Mr. Smith. I agree that we need more courageous politicians, but they will come when we put them there.

In truth, we are Mr. Smith. We have to realize that our choices in this fallen world are imperfect, by definition. As we are witnessing in D.C. right now, there are grave consequence for acting upon the absurdity that "things can't get worse." They get that way by the day.

TS/WS said...
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Red said...

"Actually, Mr Stern, I never met a Mormon who didn't look down on me and find some way to inject a better than thou attitude in even the briefest of encounters."

---------------------------

Hey Kid (and all those who find themselves turned off by the church in general), sorry you have had those experiences but don't let it turn you off to investigating the church should you decide to do so one day. My experiences have been the complete opposite. So much so that I was baptized and confirmed as a member of the LDS church last year. Good people. I hope you have better experiences meeting people who are christian and caring and genuine rather than people who play-act.

Bottom line: People are people. Christians aren't nor should they be viewed as people who have carte blanche to the Kingdom of God. Rather they are people who have to work that much harder at being better then they were the day before. Every day is a struggle. And at the end of the day what matters is what goes on between you and the Lord Almighty. No one else is privy to that relationship. That is for you.

Kid said...

Red, I appreciate your comments, and I can appreciate your thoughts.

For clarification, I lived in Tempe, AZ for 20 years on the border with Mesa which has an extremely heavy Mormon population. SO I'm not talking about my experiences with one or two people, we're talking hundreds.

Anyway, regardless what one feels about religion, they'd have to be deaf, dumb, and blind not to see the constant struggle between good and evil on this rock floating through space.

I do have a long history with religion. I think religions do more good than harm, and I also believe there is no One True religion. At this point, I am not orthdox anything from a practicing standpoint. I think 'man' has basterdized the 'word' over the centuries and I have my own relationship with God, don't think I'm better or worse than anyone else, and I'll prove that to anyone who meets me.

I'm happy things are going well for you.