Hell or Hades

In the Bible, Gehenna was the valley of Hinnom near Jerusalem where offal was thrown and fires kept burning to purify the air. By extension it is known as the place of torment. In the New Testament it refers to Hell, the abode of evil spirits and a place of eternal punishment. A common synonym is the inferno. The Greek word for this Underworld is Hades or Tartarus; the Roman is Dis. Here are two modern references to this negative land of deprivation. The recent ex-Czech Prime Minister called President Obama’s economic prescription "a road to hell." America’s deceased ex-President Ronald Reagan identified Hades as "hotel room without a book to read." Obviously perspective, personality and philosophy determine one’s definition of Hell. Is the suffering experienced from the death of economic and personal freedom (seen by the Czech. Prime Minister) as pursued now by Obama equal to the pain from the emptiness of intellectual pursuit (as seen by Reagan)? The pocketbook vs. brains? Books vs.chains? It has been said that Hell is of one’s own making. If true, Oh Americans, it’s time for a consideration of our future.