Friday, November 8, 2013

Snakes and Cakes

by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist

My first knowledge of American evangelist Billy Graham came while I still in elementary school.  My friend, Denice, was getting out of school for the afternoon so that she could go with her family to the very small neighboring community of Sulphur Springs, Arkansas, to hear Billy Graham speak.  "Who's that?" I asked her, showing my heathen ignorance.

(If memory serves, there was some religious order based in Sulphur Springs that had invited the Southern Baptist road preacher to come for an afternoon of soul-saving and pocket-picking.)

Yesterday the Reverend Mr. Graham made news by celebrating his 95th birthday.  The old gentleman who has spent his life preaching about God's eternal kingdom, doesn't appear to be in a great hurry to get there and experience it firsthand.

The official party took place in a conference center in Asheville, North Carolina.  It was hosted by Graham's son, Franklin, and eight or nine hundred invited guests showed up.  Every table was adorned with a cupcake and a candle.

Guests were a who's who of past, present, and future Fox News personalities.   Todd and Sarah Palin were there, and the unemployed Mrs. Palin managed to get a turn at the microphone.  (No word on whether the Palin's conned some poor schmuck or political organization into ponying up 1st class airplane tickets so that they could fly in the style to which they have become accustomed.)  Donald Trump was also there, though it is unlikely he rode in on a camel and passed through the eye of a needle in order to get to the party.  

Rick Warren, another highly polished television beggar evangelist was also in attendance, as were television personalities Greta Van Susteren, Kathie Lee Gifford, and Glenn Beck.   And, of course, what right-wing media rodeo would be complete without it's most powerful clown:  Rupert Murdock.

A wonderful time was enjoyed by all - and Jesus undoubtedly wept.

1 comment:

Don said...

And when Jesus wept, most civilized societies wept with him.