The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

POLITICAL-BIBLICAL ALLEGORY-VARIANT

IN 1956, DURING THE ADMINISTRATION OF PRESIDENT
EISENHOWER, I OVERHEARD THE FOLLOWING POLITICAL ASSESSMENTS
BY A SOUTHERN, WHITE OWNER OF A SMALL, NOT VERY
PROSPEROUS (GREASY SPOON) RESTAURANT:
FIVE THOUSAND YEARS AGO, MOSES SAID TO THE CHILDREN OF
ISREAL, "PICK UP YOUR SHOVELS, MOUNT YOUR ASSES AND
CAMELS AND I WILL LEAD YOU TO THE PROMISED LAND."
FIVE THOUSAND YEARS LATER FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT SAID:
"LAY DOWN YOUR SHOVELS, SIT ON YOUR ASSES, LIGHT UP
A CAMEL, THIS IS THE PROMISED LAND." NOW THE REPUBLICANS
ARE SAYING, "STEALING YOUR SHOVELS, KICKING YOUR ASSES,
RAISING THE PRICE OF CAMELS AND STEALING THE PROMISED
LAND."

Submitter comment: THIS UTTERANCE CAME, OF COURSE, DURING A PERIOD OF
ECONOMIC RECESSION AND WAS TOLD SO THAT EVERYONE IN THE
RESTAURANT WOULD HEAR. THE PROPRIETOR ENJOYED THE
STORY MUCH MORE THAN THE CUSTOMERS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE

Date learned: NOT GIVEN