Posted on 02/18/2015 8:06:57 PM PST by Wiz-Nerd
My dear Wormwood,
These days I scarcely know where to turn next in the public prints, there's such an abundance of cheery news from the upper regions. Clearly you have things well in hand up there. War and the threat of war, aggression everywhere and suffering galore to go with it. Diplomats holding endless meetings that amount to a green light for more invasions and ever more power for those out to squelch freedom in the world. Congratulations and keep up the good work.
It may be only a matter of time before our devilish friends in Teheran get their own nuke, and won't that be even more fun?
Aggression hasn't paid off so well or had so many enablers since Neville Chamberlain, and there's scarcely, if you'll forgive me for mentioning his name, a Winston Churchill in sight. Names and appearances may change but appeasement never seems to, and neither does its inevitable failure to avert disaster.
There may be a new cast in the same old roles, but the script remains essentially unchanged. The familiar historical pageant is being replayed everywhere up there from Ukraine to Syria, which more and more come to resemble the fiery scenes down here. Can't you detect the sweet smell of sulfur even from up there? It's perfume to those of us down here below.
I can't tell you how happy the little imps and junior demons are. We haven't had so much to celebrate since Peace in Our Time -- that is, war and catastrophe in our time -- was all the rage. It may be called something else of late -- co-existence, detente, reset ... but it seems to be having the same welcome results. Nothing promotes our cause like appeasing evil.
Even the Prince of Darkness, I've heard at court, is pleased with our progress. And I'm most pleased with you, dear nephew. You're really coming along, and I hope to put you in for Demon First Class as soon as I hear of an opening on the promotions list. You do me and the family proud.
I know Uncle Vicious and Aunt Nag would be so proud of their little boy if they were still around and hadn't been seduced from these dark regions by some strange light from above that intruded on our lovely darkness. The Enemy never tires of laying traps for even the worst of us. I myself live in daily terror of salvation. But so far, so damned, I am happy to report.
Every time one of our agents in those awful azure regions up there makes DFC, we throw another big load of coal on the fire, and I hope you can hear the crackle and hiss even up there. It's music to our ears--like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in reverse, praising the Prince of Darkness instead of The Enemy, who always bears watching, especially when we seem (and only seem) to be getting the upper hand.
If you’ve never heard it, the audio version as read by John Cleese is AWESOME.
I’ve read it myself, but might try that someday.
He captures Screwtape’s personality perfectly.
Need to look that up now.
I’m reading this book now...a little at a time...it’s a hard, fascinating read.
I had to read a few pages and then put it down and think for awhile.
the “preface” keeps me questioning
“readers are advised to remember that the devil is a liar.
Not everything that Screwtape says should be assumed to be true even from his own angle.”
how to get thru this book ? just shoot me.
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