Know The Magicians And Devils Among Us
By Richard Olivastro
September 22, 2009
There is a difference between Magicians and Devils.
Magicians practice a skill most people call "sleight of hand".
Most people permit Devils to practice upon them an art I refer to as 'sleight of mind'.
Magicians hide in plain sight, on stage, in front of their audience.
Devils hide behind their masks, among their targets.
Here are some other differentiators:
Magicians smile while exhibiting their "sleight of hand". Devils smile while spinning their word games loaded with half-truths as they administer their 'sleight of mind'.
Magicians appear on the stage, announced, typically wearing unusual regalia for visual support as part of their intention to entertain. Devils appear on the scene, seemingly out of nowhere, in nondescript costume to tamp attention; and gain better opportunity to infect their target's inner thoughts with their toxic 'slight of mind'.
Magicians present an illusion of pulling a rabbit out of a hat. Devils create illusions that pull hats down over everyone's eyes.
Magicians tie pieces of rope together before our very eyes. Devils tie up people's thoughts with ropes of their rhetoric.
Magicians saw people in two on stage. Devils stage people to be cut apart from each other, their country, and their faith.
Magicians often make people laugh using jokes in humorous situations. Devils make people jokes using serious situations.
Magicians lower people's blood pressure. Devils increase people's blood pressure.
Magicians focus the audience's eyes on their hand movements in order to distract the people's attention to what's happening otherwise onstage. Devils focus the audience's ears using word flourishes and tone changes in order to distract their attention to what's happening otherwise offstage.
Magicians want people to think their eyes were half-shut after the "slight of hand" trick and believe they might see it next time. Devils want people to think their eyes and minds were wide open all along, and their thoughts are their own and not the result of the devil's nefarious 'slight of mind'.
Magicians count on reflecting any visual discernment by the audience of people. Devils count on refracting any verbal discernment by any person, in any audience, at any time.
Magicians can be harmless doing their acts of entertainment. Devils are always dangerous doing their evil acts of deception.
Magicians do not aspire to be devils. Devils aspire to be viewed like magicians with the ability to do anything in order to advance their deception and achieve their ultimate goal.
A magician or any other person -- effective with "sleight of hand" - can make a coin disappear before your very eyes; or, pick your pocket or steal your wallet, before you realize what has happened.
Still, you might be able to get back what was taken away from you if victimized by their "sleight of hand".
A devil or any of his disciples -- effective with words, rhetorical flourishes, etc -- will pick your pocket; steal your soul; and, make freedom disappear before you realize what has happened.
Then, it might be impossible to ever get back what was taken away from all of us because the devils among us were permitted to practice their 'sleight of mind'.
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Richard Olivastro is president of Olivastro Communications, a professional member of the National Speakers Association and founder of Citizens For Change.
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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.
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