The Third Leader: Dust to dust...
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.But, no. Perhaps it's the best way to discover that we are on our own. And, certainly, as reported, God hasn't shown much evidence of a sense of humour. (Some observers have pointed out that the whole thing is a bit of a joke, but it now seems to be getting beyond even a bad one.)
I know of only one gag from the Creator in the Bible: when the Chaldeans invade, the Israelites demand to know why God has not done anything; to which He responds that He has: He sent the Chaldeans. Pretty dark, you'll concede; more Lenny Bruce than Ronnie Barker.
This was the epitaph of Dave Allen, the great, teasing unbeliever: "Don't mourn for me now, don't mourn for me never - I'm going to do nothing for ever and ever." You might also remember his artiste's cremation sketch, when the curtains open again for the coffin to take a bow.
Peter Sellers, a rum cove, once phoned Blake Edwards, his director on the Clouseau films, to say that God had just told him how to do a scene. It was a disaster; and prompted from Edwards perhaps the last word on this: "Peter, next time you talk to God, tell him to stay out of show business."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments