By johninnc
This is a follow-up to an article we ran in 2015.
From Wikipedia: Who Said That? is a 1947-55 NBC radio-television game show, in which a panel of celebrities attempts to determine the speaker of a quotation from recent news reports.
The twin “emergencies” of COVID-19 and civil unrest have made strange bedfellows of politicians, public health “experts,” Hollywood luminaries, and prominent pastors. Following are quotes from various organizations and individuals that are attempting to influence contemporary society in one way or another on these issues. I thought it might be both entertaining and thought provoking to guess, and then to reveal the sources of each of these quotes.
I will publish the the answer key as the first response to this article.
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- Wear a mask. It’s so much easier to wear a mask than to wear a ventilator. Wear a mask. Social distance yourself, even from people you know and love. If they don’t live with you, keep your distance.
- I think we have to recognize we are in a very special moment right now that the answer is not just for this to go off the radar screen, go back to talking about COVID-19, to talk about world peace, the environment, … politics is going to be coming up here this fall. I believe if we miss this moment we would have failed in our generation.
- We know that, when you do it properly, you bring down those cases. We have done it. We have done it in New York.
- What we don’t like is when people protest against things that we’re not that upset about. Then we get kind of bent out of shape and we really don’t like property damage. That’s understandable. There are people all over the world that are being persecuted in ways that are real and violent and bloody, and way worse than losing your favorite Arby’s. So it’s OK, they had insurance, they can build a new Arby’s. Stop staring at what’s happened and look at the issues behind. Ask the question, what would make you so upset that you would be willing to do that?
- Now as you would imagine, that was not a casual decision. In fact, back in May when we announced a possible August 9 reopening, the COVID numbers were actually moving in the right direction. That has changed. Consequently we cannot guarantee your safety and that’s a big part of this decision.
- And, oh by the way, let’s not respond by saying ‘all lives matter.
- In any case, the important point is there is not one “expert opinion” from the scientific community on the coronavirus, from which it is “crazy” to depart. There are many studies and many scientists with many opinions.
- I don’t think that the people posting ‘All Lives Matter’ should be canceled. I think they should be educated.
- Science says don’t wear a mask. Except that you absolutely should wear a mask. Even though it isn’t recommended by medical scientists using data from other respiratory disease outbreaks. But it’s still helpful. Or actually it’s not really, according to the Centers for Disease Control in 2017. Yet you should still wear a mask, or else. Who knows?
- This site is not managed by a medical professional and does not make any claims as to the effectiveness of the resources, suggestions, or other information that is presented herein.
We realize that during times of chaos and confusion people look for leaders and credentialed experts to guide their decisions. Having said that, it is good to be mindful of the possible motivations of those providing advice, or even premises that they may have accepted without challenge. And, it is always good to remember that truth cannot be reliably measured by popularity.
Notes From A Retired Preacher 
Holly, agree that Jesus wants his sheep to be taken care of. I was thinking of how so many in the world of churchianity (many of whom we have written about at ExPreacherman)are teaching mostly rubbish.
John, I’m glad you posted that passage from John 10, it kind of harmonizes with John 21, and His desire for His sheep to be taken care of.
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?
He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.
He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?
He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.
He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?
Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me?
And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.
Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
John 10:12-13: But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
Johninnc, I completely agree, used to be so called science was supposed to be unbiased. Now somehow, it is driven by Politics, Hollywood and sports figures.
The politics involved in medical choice has gone beyond what the typical standard is legally speaking. I won’t go into that because of the nature of this blog. But there is a spiritual battle being waged, and the wave seems strong, but I know who it is who holds the future. When things may seem bleak, He has a way of saying “Peace, be still”.
I’m praying for so many affected and devastated by these shut downs and praying that those who do not know Him will find Him in all this sorrow and fear.
Holly, the only “science” that I dispute is political science. Medical knowledge, even in cases in which there is a consensus based on replicable controlled studies, cannot tell people what their values should be, nor how they wish to live their lives.
One of the first steps toward reaching a goal is to have one. The goal with the coronavirus seems ill-defined, and our betters in government and their monied sponsors seem to be motivated to continue tightening the screws until what is left of our individual choice and liberty is gone.
It seems to me that we have allowed medical science, which should be our servant, to be selectively used as our master.
Johninnc,
Interesting you should say that. I’ve been chastened by some of these same men who seem to feel that they have the right answer. At the same time they do not feel like I can question their viewpoint since they believe it is the majority viewpoint of ‘intelligent thinkers’. This same Free Grace guy told me that people without medical knowledge were just buying things naively somehow. I’m not liking this type of thinking too much, but one thing I notice, if they ever used the Word, it seems conspicuously absent now from their pages.
Plenty of posts on Martin Luther, the Reformation (yes, the Free Grace guy) and Star Wars and childish Memes etc., but the Word… not so much.
Jason, it is interesting that there are still people and places that don’t trust or buy into the dominant narrative. Almost all of the world’s money and power are aligned in lockstep on current “social justice” issues and the pandemic. This has seemed to subsume our “Christian leaders,” to the extent that what we hear from them is virtually indistinguishable from what we hear from the worldly powers. There is very little tolerance for any dissenting thought.
Popular ideas are not necessarily wrong, but their popularity does not make them right. God gave each of us a brain, so I think He wants us to use it. This world, not so much.
Jason, Vischer’s comment is all too common. It is childish and naive, and is wrapped in the sanctimonious social justice mantra.
One of these countries is Madagascar. They rejected the WHO and are recommending a locally grown herb, artemisia. A pro-black intellectual, PLO Lumumba, stands with them. Some African countries are importing their “Covid Organics” package. President John Magufuli of Tanzania defends the right to assemble. Meanwhile, our leftist politicians have nothing better to do than to sprinkle racism over everything and cherry pick who is allowed to protest during a plandemic. Strangely, People’s Forum in NYC is closed because of the lockdown. Apparently, they aren’t marxist enough. I only mention them because I had attended an event held there to expose a humanitarian crises in the Congo that has persisted unabated since 1961. (It might be ending now since they got a new leader, but it’s too early to tell.) I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone. The CIA did evil in the name of fighting communism, and now Commie Racist China is dividing and conquering. The Democrats can be anticommunist when convenient. They remind us constantly that Russia was once commie, and Antifa is as commie as all get out.
Phil Vischer’s comment is something Wurmbrand would say. Puke.
Holly, the furor that is unleashed on anyone who challenges the dominant narrative is amazing.
FGA President on my page
The mask is not designed to protect the mask wearer… never was. It is to contain “spray” to avoid passing something along to others. And since it is possible to be asymptomatic and still have it (i know someone who experienced this, so it us a real possibility, not “the press”). Wear the masks for “the other guy.”
If they are covering their nose and mouth, they reduce the “spray” from breathing, sneezing, coughing, singing. If they do not, that person is not helping.
NOTE THE CONTRADICTION HERE:
But NEVER have the masks been touted as protecting you. (The N95 may, I’m not sure). But articles saying the mask >>does not protect the >>wearer are red herrings.
I provided an article on my page from the NIH saying masks are basically to let others know that YOU are sick (they back away). You only have to read a mask box to see what is said on the side regarding it not protecting you from any infection or virus.
I had more similar conversations with this same man who thought I was taking pot shots at him regarding hydroxy possibly being efficacious when I suggested he do his own research.
Look it up for yourself. Look up the world charts on countries and see the death rate per million. Then just for FUN, look up what the lower death rate countries are doing for treatment.
How hard can that be?
Rob, I thought Phil Vischer’s comment was both naive and dismissive of serious crime. The fact that a destroyed business had insurance simply means that its replacement cost is absorbed by multiple policy holders (i.e., the general public) vs. a single business owner. The overall damage from the destruction and its replacement cost will be passed onto all policy holders. Meanwhile, as the Arby’s is being rebuilt, they may have to lay off some of their workers, etc. I would think Vischer would be able to explain this concept to his youthful audience in one of his cartoons.
You are right that he was callous and ridiculous, and it makes me wonder what it would take to make him realize how idiotic his statement really was.
I have heard or read this same type of comment from other professing Christians. The generic form is something like “it may be unfortunate that people are looting and destroying property, but the people doing it are really angry.” It’s really just a sign to me that they are hearing warped social justice messages from the pulpit.
When we see comments from churches and well-known “Christian leaders” that are virtually indistinguishable from what we are being fed by politicians, corporations, media, and Hollywood elites, it should at least give us some pause. When all of the world’s power and money are aligned behind something, it is at least possible that it is not of God.
Imagine if the domestic terrorists went to Phil Vischer’s home and did major damage. Would he be as callous as he was in his ridiculous, virtue-signaling comment?
fryingpan, btw, Andy Stanley is misusing his position to bully anyone who doesn’t agree with the “scientific” consensus du jour by implying that they have a theological problem that causes them to not agree with “the science.”
Here is a quote from an interview Stanley did with a friend of his who survived coronavirus:
“But if our worldview is too small to reconcile everything with, the problem is our worldview and, for Christians, that oftentimes intersects with a problem with our theology,” said Stanley.
Hall felt that much of the resistance to medical advice on COVID-19 and politicizing of the issue revealed “what may be America’s fundamental character flaw,” which he defined as “we have a difficult time considering other people before ourselves.”
“Put a mask on,” he advised. “Care about your neighbor.”
My comment: Telling people that the reason they may disagree with “the science” oftentimes intersects with a problem with their theology is misusing his position to bully people into going along with something, whether they believe it or not. This is an attack on the freedom of conscience from a leading pastor. It is shameful. Bullying people into submission is more characteristic of worldly deception than it is of Godly pastoring.
fryingpan, I understand your sentiment. I think there is more political science and pseudoscience guiding policy decisions than anything approaching the scientific method.
The 9th one was the only thing that REMOTELY resembled any kind of sentiment I’ve had over the past 4 and half months or so . . .
1. Bishop T.D. Jakes
2. Dan Cathy, CEO of Chick-fil-A
3. Dr. Anthony Fauci
4. Phil Vischer, creator of Veggie Tales
5. Pastor Andy Stanley
6. Pastor J.D. Greear, President of the Southern Baptist Convention
7. Dr. Will Jones, from an article entitled “Is it really crazy to ignore ‘the science’ on coronavirus?”
8. Actor Ashton Kuchter
9. Joy Pullman, from an article entitled “Why We Can’t Trust Anything ‘The Science’ Says Anymore”
10. Disclaimer at the bottom of the “Mask Up For America” website