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historian


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Ben Stein on Christmas
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The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
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My confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year.

It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.

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Duke of Mirth


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I've been a big Ben Stein fan for years. A college buddy's brother was a student at Pepperdine where Stein taught so I got exposed to a lot of his no nonsense approach to life through him. A lot of people think he is an actor but the man's credentials are impressive.

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Jason (Formerly salesortonscom)

As I walk through this earth, nothing can stop, the Duke of Mirth!
Mahonri


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I've listened to his economic commentary and most always agree with him.

Good man.

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PollyAnna


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I agree too... He is very balanced in his opinions... I have known many others like him in my life, of many differing faiths. They do stand out as individuals. IMO, it does not require embracing someone else's beliefs in order to be willing to look outside your own beliefs and accept theirs for what they are... theirs, and not a treat to yours. Our societal pendulum swings pretty violently at times. There is much religious intolerance. Supposedly PC answers are sometimes less than nice...

I very much appreciate when someone that believes very differently than I do is willing to allow me to publicly practice something as personal and important as religion, and not take offense.

It not about "one" person.

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Cat Herder


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A wise man, no doubt...

But, to me personally, he has been more defined by his cameo role in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and his game show "Win Ben Stein's Money" (which I saw a couple times).

I haven't really ever seen him much anywhere else.

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Ros


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Bravo, Ben!!

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PollyAnna


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Wiki, has a good article about him on it...  His father Herbert Stein was someone my father read the opinions of, both being products of the Great Depression...   Herbert Stein is responsible for one of my daddy's favorite quotes, called Herbert Stein's Law:

If something cannot go on forever, it will stop.

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