"....it isn't the end of the world!", as Harold Camping's significant other (if such exists) probably isn't saying to him as we speak. Not, I hope, that anyone with the slightest shred of rationality would have expected the world to end today in any case.
Isn't there some law against public nuisance that can be brought to bear to control these fundamentalist loons?
Love & best wishes to all
Sammy B
Hi there, Sammy
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm still here too. I was asleep at the vital moment, so perhaps I missed all the excitement. Cambridge doesn't appear to have suffered the expected highly destructive earthquake, though.
I don't think we need a law against the Harold Campings of the world: their predictions are so evidently falsifiable that I don't think it's necessary to ban them, and if they want to spend their life savings with advertising agencies, that's their business. Unfortunately, I find I agree with James Branch Cabell, and the motto that he gave his character Manuel: Mundus vult decipi (the world wants to be deceived). Despite the fact that Harold Camping (and all the others before him) got this so obviously and completely wrong, there are still people who will accept him saying, "I'm sorry, I made a mistake", and believe him again the next time round.
There are, of course, other fundamental loons whom we do need laws against: the right to free speech does not extend to the right to stir up hatred against others.
Take care
Mark
Hello Mark
ReplyDeleteAnother irritation about Camping is that he, seemingly, was spending other people's money to advertise his apocalyptic claptrap - I read somewhere the other day that he's received $120 million in donations. Free speech is expensive, for some, at least.
Love & best wishes
Sammy B
I have to wonder what all of those broke people who donated all their money to various causes because of this are going to do for lunch money on Monday!
ReplyDeletePeace <3
Jay
It's not 6PM here yet, I'm still worried...
ReplyDeleteHello Jay and Brian
ReplyDeleteWell - here we still are, unraptured or un-Armageddoned, as the case may be. To very few people's surprise, I would imagine. It's just a shame that this nonsense has had such deleterious consequences for some - I hope someone investigates Camping for fraud.
Love & best wishes
Sammy B