Saturday, January 2, 2010

Late Christmas Message


I know this is old but I liked it; from Ben Stein on CBS:

"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…

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…

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves…

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell."

You can read the whole thing here, or for something different visit GNN for an interesting tale of a Norwich clergyperson and Global Warming.

Cheers,

LSP


PS. "Downtown" Norwich was once described to me as "hell with the lid off" - but don't let that put you off.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm something of an atheist, having had religion rammed down my throat.

But non-extremist religion has been a force for good in the world and it pains me to see it being trashed by Marxist types, who regard the family and belief in anything other than the State as a threat.

Keep up the good fight, LSP.

May 2010 be all you wish it to be.

Teresa said...

Great post!
"Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell."

This statement is so true. God and morality is replaced with moral relativism and society wonders why kids are growing up to be criminals.

We need to bring God back into public schools and that would give kids a sense of what is right and wrong.

LSP said...

Thanks Fausty - all the best for 2010.

LSP said...

Teresa - I couldn't agree with you more; Stein seems to strike a nerve.

Amusing Bunni said...

I've always liked Ben Stein! Thanks for Posting this Parson! I hope your Christmas was wonderful, and you have the Best most Happy New Year, 2010 ever.
God Bless you and your family.

Snarky Basterd said...

Ben Stein is a VERY intelligent, and funny, man. And very, very truthful.

Incidentally, the "racy" parts of Atlas Shrugged are a bit much even for me. I'm about halfway through the book, though, and they seem to have tapered off ... but it could have to do with the state of the world at that point in the book.

Anyway, it's extremely terrifying to watch fiction become reality.

darlin said...

Awesome post LSP. It is so true that the world is going to "hell in a hand-basket." I agree that it's time to bring God back into not only childrens lives in the schools, it's time to bring God back into families, into communities and into society as a whole. I will continue to do my part through setting the best possible example I can.

Stein sure does strike a nerve.

Anonymous said...

I think Stein speaks for Americans of all stripes, including those who choose not to believe, like Fausty.

Some people just like to stir the pot and create crises by pitting all those religious people against one another. I think overall it has not worked. We don't have religious strife in this country, thank God.

The Conservative Lady said...

I think Ben Stein is right on the money. Unfortunately, God has been taken out of the schools and everywhere else in the public domain. Home is where children must be taught about God and morality. Parents have this responsibility and must be diligent about it more than ever since they are the primary teachers of their children. With the basics taught at home, children will be able to make good decisions no matter what they face in life.

tom said...

Re: Norritch description

Blues guitarist acquaintance of mine is from East St. Louis, Illinois and likes to say of his home town: "I can not prove The Blues were born there, but that is where their mother got pregnant. Likely in the back of a stolen car."

Elizabeth Mahlou said...

I've seen this before, but it is worth reading again -- and never too late.

Happy New Year!

LSP said...

I'd certainly second the fiction/reality point, Snarky. Curious book, Atlas...

Well said Darlin! Example is key.

Silverfiddle - Viz. Religious strife - the US seems to have done pretty well avoiding it, contrary to the expectations & wishes of some. Lets hope that continues.

I agree TCL. It's strange, don't you think, that American Christians have let themselves be legislated out of their children's education. We need to take that back.

God bless.

LSP said...

Nice one, Tom. Gotta love the Blues.

Happy New Year Elizabeth! Thanks for dropping by.