http://www.newsleader.com/news/stories/20040626/opinion/724498.html

Coronation in Washington flabbergasts
Editorial


OUR VIEW

For sheer unadulterated weirdness, there's not much that can top a bit of news out of DeeCee that managed to remain off almost everyone's radar for three months. Considering the events that occurred on March 23 in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, we're both amazed that the secret was kept for so long and unsurprised that nobody wanted the news to get out.

The Rev. Sun Myung Moon, eccentric billionaire, publishing mogul and head of the Unification Church, declared himself to be the Messiah at a ceremony attended by at least a dozen members of Congress -- Republicans and Democrats. Moon's startling declaration came after a coronation ceremony in which he and his wife, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, donned elaborate gold crowns.

According to news reports from The New York Times and elsewhere, one congressman, Rep. Danny K. Davis, Democrat of Illinois, assisted in the coronation by bearing a pillow carrying one of the crowns. Had he known what the Rev. Moon would do next, he might have reconsidered.

Although delivered in his native Korean, Moon's statement was given in translated form to those present. It declared that emperors, kings and presidents had "declared to all heaven and earth that Reverend Sun Myung Moon is none other than humanity's Savior, Messiah, Returning Lord and True Parent."

We can't endorse any of the Internet sites on which one might find the video of the coronation of the Rev. Moon and his wife (featuring beaming members of the congressional delegation.) But they, like the truth that "The X Files" used to say was "out there" exist -- for those who wish to search for it.

"Out there" is an apt description of what happened in Washington on that day in March. It's also a fairly good way to explain the convenient lapses of memory almost everyone associated with the event is suffering from at present.

Some random quotes taken from The New York Times story:

"I remember the king and queen thing ... but we have the king and queen of the prom, the king and queen of 4H, the Mardi Gras and all sorts of other things. I had no idea what he was king of."

-- Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett, D-Md.

Yes, and there was Wonderland, too, wasn't there?

"I never saw Reverend Moon present during the time I was there ... I did not stay for any formal program."

-- Sen. Mark Dayton, D-Minn.

With a few edits and the addition of the words "Miss Lewinsky," this could be reminiscent of something.

Truly incredible. The only thing more incredible will be the rationalizations the spin doctors manage to manufacture for this one. 

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