Dr. Isaam Nemeh

[ShowMe]

The link at the end of Randi's commentary today caught my eye. WKYC is a local station & one I tend to watch since the anchors seem infused with common sense, mostly.

I watched the video that linked to "an appropriate handling of a faith-healing claim..." and something hit me. I had seen something like this on a competitors channel.

Sure enough some digging brought me to this:

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/4280217/detail.html

Click "Dr. Isaam Nemeh" under the "videos" window. Pay close attention around 36%; Trapper Jack, a local radio personality, talks about having his eyesight healed. "I saw everything, better than you do". And this in a pitch black room!

Appearantly God's miracles are only temporary. Close to the end the Trapper Jack mentions "I know one day I'll get my sight back".

In the video Randi linked to Trapper Jack says that "having a blind main be the spokesman for a faith healer is part of the plan".

Sounds like Trapper realized he won't be getting his sight back any time soon.

An interesting progression to a rationalization, captured on film.

[Gr8wight]

Also proof that the believers will believe no matter what. The mother of the little boy states, "even if [the tumor] went away on its own, that's still a miracle." Funny in the context of the piece because the doctor had just finished saying that the specific malady suffered by the child spontaneously clears up before the age of 5 in almost all instances.

[Hastur]

I caught the second part of this (WKYC is my local NBC affiliate) and I was at least impressed they gave Randi more air time than ABC gave him. I used to like Trapper Jack as a kid and it is saddening to see him become like this. Becoming legally blind is bad enough, but to become legally blind and desperate enough to turn to a faith healer? :(

[ShowMe]

Originally posted by Hastur
Becoming legally blind is bad enough, but to become legally blind and desperate enough to turn to a faith healer? :(

I ran both these videos for my wife. On the second viewing of the channel 5 video they mentioned he used to be a "forensic anesthesiologist", but he now has his own practice. It's an acupuncture clinic on the west side of Cleveland.

While he accepts no money for the healing services the publicity "hasn't hurt his private practice". According to the clip he sees about 10 people a day at $250 a person, and is booked into next year.

$2500 a day for sticking needles into people? Wow.

Trapper Jack actually said it best, "Having a blind guy as the spokesman for a faith healer? That's crazy!"

Even as a non-omnipotent being I can tell you that particular plan is pretty freaking stupid.

To be fair at least this guy encourages people to continue with their regular medical treatment. While it would certainly make you wonder why someone who has been healed would need further treatment at least he's not trying to convince them to commit suicide on the installment plan.

Anyone who wants to see how not to do a story on this guy should watch the film I linked to; channel 3 did an excellent job of presenting both side, I think. It's just that the more likely side looked better.

[psy kick]

Clevelander here, too. I was happy to see Randi on tv. They milked that guy for a long time, kept saying when he'd be "appearing".

[Gr8wight]

Originally posted by ShowMe
On the second viewing of the channel 5 video they mentioned he used to be a "forensic anesthesiologist...

What, exactly, is a forensic anesthesiologist? One wonders if dead guys really need to be anesthetised all that often.