WEBVTT - Why Don’t We Respect Authority Anymore?

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<v Speaker 1>Today's episode of Timeless Wisdom.

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<v Speaker 2>Not only is the issue, this is the Ultimate Issues Hour.

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<v Speaker 2>Not only does the issue and I'm Dennis Prager, thank

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<v Speaker 2>you for being with me. Not only does the issue

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<v Speaker 2>try take three, not only does the How else can

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<v Speaker 2>I interrupt myself? It's it's a little sad when you're

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<v Speaker 2>not interrupted by others but yourself.

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<v Speaker 1>That's coming off on Timeless Wisdom. But Dennis Prager. Welcome

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<v Speaker 1>to Timeless Wisdom with Dennis Prager.

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<v Speaker 2>Here.

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<v Speaker 1>Thousands of hours of Dennis's lectures courses in classic radio

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<v Speaker 1>programs had to purchase Dennis Prager's Rational Bibles. Go to

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<v Speaker 1>Dennisprager dot com.

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<v Speaker 2>To be or not to be? That is the question?

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<v Speaker 3>Where was God? Isn't God supposed to be good, supposed

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<v Speaker 3>to love us?

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<v Speaker 4>Does God want us to suffer ten years?

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<v Speaker 3>You're not finished yet?

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<v Speaker 2>Why did you go come here? Who are you?

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<v Speaker 1>Rufs?

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<v Speaker 2>I am God? Bingo yazi?

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<v Speaker 4>Is that your final answer?

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<v Speaker 5>Our surveyces God bingding mingingding dingdingding.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, it was nice to meet you God. Thank you

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<v Speaker 2>for the Grand Canyon and good luck with the apocalypse,

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<v Speaker 2>and welcome everybody. This is Dennis Prager The Ultimate Issues Hour.

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<v Speaker 2>The hour each week I devote at this time to

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<v Speaker 2>some great issue of life, and I am going to

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<v Speaker 2>bring to you an issue today that explains a great

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<v Speaker 2>deal about what is happening in society. And the topic

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<v Speaker 2>for today is AUTHORI authority, the breakdown of authority. Now

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<v Speaker 2>that's the issue. If you want, in a nutshell, what

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<v Speaker 2>is ailing America, it is the breakdown of authority. Many

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<v Speaker 2>of you have a big kick out of my interview

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<v Speaker 2>with my father on his birthday, and I've asked him

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<v Speaker 2>on a number of occasions on his birthday, and he's

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<v Speaker 2>now eighty nine years old, so he's seen a lot

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<v Speaker 2>of life. And I asked him, what is the greatest difference.

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<v Speaker 2>In fact, one of you asked him, what is the

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<v Speaker 2>max What is the greatest difference between the America you

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<v Speaker 2>grew up with in an America today? And he says,

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<v Speaker 2>and he said, authority, the breakdown of authority. And he's right.

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<v Speaker 2>Think about it, folks, think about every area of life

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<v Speaker 2>outside of government, interestingly, and we'll get to that in

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<v Speaker 2>a moment, but every area of life authority has broken down.

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<v Speaker 2>The authority of parents, the authority of teachers, the authority

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<v Speaker 2>of God, the authority of religion, the authority of text,

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<v Speaker 2>all of them. All of them have been attacked and undermined.

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<v Speaker 2>You can now when I think about the ability of

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<v Speaker 2>a child to curse a teacher, I hear that, in

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<v Speaker 2>a sort of disbelief, there are kids who get up

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<v Speaker 2>and curse teachers. I went to a school where you

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<v Speaker 2>stood when the principal walked in. You actually stood up.

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<v Speaker 2>And I didn't have any particular fondness or respect for

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<v Speaker 2>this principle, but that was the principle, and you stood

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<v Speaker 2>up and off issue teachers called by their first name.

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<v Speaker 2>The moment teachers were called by their first name, authority

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<v Speaker 2>began to be chiseled. There is a huge, a huge

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<v Speaker 2>difference between or conflict between, I should say, authority and equality,

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<v Speaker 2>because someone who is equal to you cannot have authority

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<v Speaker 2>over you. So the rampant egalitarianism of our society has

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<v Speaker 2>removed any concept of authority. If the teacher is my equal,

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<v Speaker 2>dresses like me, talks like me, I called by her

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<v Speaker 2>first name, she calls me, or he calls me by

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<v Speaker 2>his or her first name, then we're all equals. And

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<v Speaker 2>then that is, by the way, that is what has

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<v Speaker 2>happened the age of stupidity, as I call it, ushered

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<v Speaker 2>in by the baby boomer. Baby Boomer generation ushered in

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<v Speaker 2>this age wherein kids were said to know as much

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<v Speaker 2>as adults. The vote was changed from twenty one to eighteen,

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<v Speaker 2>even though you and I know that the average eighteen

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<v Speaker 2>year old doesn't know anything about how society should be governed.

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<v Speaker 2>In fact, there are people in the California Legislature who

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<v Speaker 2>would like to extend the age to fifteen. By golly,

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<v Speaker 2>why not eleven. The notion of authority has been attacked

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<v Speaker 2>the most severely of all the notions, and it causes

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<v Speaker 2>a terrible breakdown in society. For whatever reason, people don't

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<v Speaker 2>like it, although ironically they're very happy with it in

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<v Speaker 2>the form of the government. The government's authority is okay,

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<v Speaker 2>but no other authority is okay. I gave you the

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<v Speaker 2>example of teachers. You call a teacher by his or

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<v Speaker 2>her first name, kids can say anything they want. Teachers

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<v Speaker 2>have lost their authority in the classroom. And next let's

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<v Speaker 2>go to parents. Parents too have lost their authority in

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<v Speaker 2>our culture. Look at the movies. In the way parents

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<v Speaker 2>are so often depicted in these films is as boobs

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<v Speaker 2>as dummies? Is the kid is the wise one. By

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<v Speaker 2>the way, I must tell you every movie I see

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<v Speaker 2>where little kids utter these brilliant phrases, they're witty and

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<v Speaker 2>so on, I immediately I am turned off to that film.

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<v Speaker 2>So it's not real. There's no sense of reality to it.

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<v Speaker 2>And it is a way of saying kids are wiser

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<v Speaker 2>than parents. They're not. They're not. Overwhelmingly they are not.

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<v Speaker 2>And so and parents themselves have too often colluded in

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<v Speaker 2>this in allowing their authority to break down, with society

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<v Speaker 2>helping them all along the way. Other adults, I mean

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<v Speaker 2>my God, other adults authority, adults as authority figures. Every

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<v Speaker 2>adult is known by their first name. That was an

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<v Speaker 2>immediate drop in a authority. Who are you to tell

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<v Speaker 2>me what to do? That notion to another adult, You're

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<v Speaker 2>not my parent? Who are you? Who are you to

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<v Speaker 2>tell me what to do? And so other parents certainly

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<v Speaker 2>have lost their authority, So parents and teachers. God has

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<v Speaker 2>lost authority. God God has lost authority in two ways. One,

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<v Speaker 2>there are many many more secular people and God, and

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<v Speaker 2>for many many people, God is not an authority figure.

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<v Speaker 2>God's a lover. God is love. A lot of religious

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<v Speaker 2>people say that, well, then where is the authority. Love

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<v Speaker 2>is not authority. Love is love. God. God is your pal.

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<v Speaker 2>God is the guy. God is you know who you

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<v Speaker 2>have a relationship with, which is fine, that's fine. I'm

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<v Speaker 2>not against a relationship with God. But the rhetoric of

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<v Speaker 2>our time, even in the religious world, is undermining of

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<v Speaker 2>divine authority. Religion is presented today, or God is presented

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<v Speaker 2>as a as a sort of Palin Heaven, My Palin Heaven,

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<v Speaker 2>Hello be thy name, and so Palin Heaven doesn't make demands.

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<v Speaker 2>Religion is is a place to make you comfortable. Church,

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<v Speaker 2>synagogue is a place to make you comfortable. It's not

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<v Speaker 2>a place to hear about the authority of this is

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<v Speaker 2>right and this is wrong. I'll never forget One clergyman

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<v Speaker 2>was spoke about God not being judgmental many years ago

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<v Speaker 2>in a newspaper column that I had read, God is

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<v Speaker 2>not judgmental. God doesn't make moral judgments. That was It

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<v Speaker 2>was one of the great moments of my life that

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<v Speaker 2>this this, And it was a woman clergyman. And I

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<v Speaker 2>say that because it's not It's not odd. Women are

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<v Speaker 2>more of the of the compassion variety of the religion

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<v Speaker 2>should should be comforting and healing that rhetoric, than then

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<v Speaker 2>the masculine rhetoric of this is right and this is wrong.

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<v Speaker 2>That's masculine rhetoric. In the feminization of society and religion

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<v Speaker 2>that has taken place. Masculine rhetoric of right and wrong

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<v Speaker 2>has been replaced with how do you feel about it?

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<v Speaker 2>I'm not comfortable with it? So the all authority has

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<v Speaker 2>broken down except for government. And by the way, you

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<v Speaker 2>must know this, since without authority there is utter chaos.

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<v Speaker 2>The human being needs authority. The more you break down parental, teacher,

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<v Speaker 2>and religious authority, the more strong you build up. The

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<v Speaker 2>more strongly you build up government authority. You must know

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<v Speaker 2>that this is rarely pointed out. Government increases in its

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<v Speaker 2>domination of societal life as the other elements decrease their power.

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<v Speaker 2>The less power that God, religion, and parents have, the

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<v Speaker 2>more power the government will have. Lines are full already,

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<v Speaker 2>and how have you announced the number? I guess a

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<v Speaker 2>lot of you have either questions or thoughts on this

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<v Speaker 2>is a very big ultimate issue, the question of authority

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<v Speaker 2>one eighth Praeger, seven seven six. In case you can

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<v Speaker 2>get in one eight pr Ger seven seven six. A

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<v Speaker 2>number of years ago I wrote a column for the

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<v Speaker 2>for the Los Angeles Times on the subject that it

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<v Speaker 2>is not belief in God that divides people's values, it

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<v Speaker 2>is whether or not they believe in a divine text.

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<v Speaker 2>Jews and Christians who believe in a divine text, I'll

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<v Speaker 2>have far more in common than Jews who believe in

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<v Speaker 2>a divine text have with Jews who don't believe in

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<v Speaker 2>a divine text, or Christians who believe in a divine

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<v Speaker 2>text have with Christians who don't believe in a divine text,

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<v Speaker 2>because only divine texts have authority. Man made texts have

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<v Speaker 2>no authority. Thank your calls, and much more to offer

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<v Speaker 2>you on this edition of the Ultimate Issues Hour on

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<v Speaker 2>the Dennis Prager Show.

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<v Speaker 1>This episode of Timeless Wisdom.

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<v Speaker 2>We'll continue right after this.

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<v Speaker 1>Now back to more of Dennis Prager's Timeless Wisdom.

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<v Speaker 2>You're listening to the Dennis Prager Show, and every week

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<v Speaker 2>at this hour, I have the Ultimate Issues Hour, an

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<v Speaker 2>hour on some great issue of life, and this one

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<v Speaker 2>is on authority. The breakdown of authority is the breakdown

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<v Speaker 2>of society, and that is what we are seeing in America.

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<v Speaker 2>Parental authority, teachers, authority, police authority. I didn't mention that

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<v Speaker 2>one earlier, the contempt with which police are held in

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<v Speaker 2>many places. They should be feared police. Sorry, folks, they

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<v Speaker 2>should be feared. By the way, so should parents in

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<v Speaker 2>a certain way. When you're young. It's good for a

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<v Speaker 2>kid to say if I did that, my father would

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<v Speaker 2>kill me or my mother would kill me. I want

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<v Speaker 2>kids to to say that. They need it terribly. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>if that's the only emotion a kid has to a parent,

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<v Speaker 2>that's not good. But we've gone way, way, way, way

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<v Speaker 2>overboard in the other direction. Parental, teacher, police, Where is

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<v Speaker 2>my list here? What else did I say? Oh? Of course?

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<v Speaker 2>And God and religion and text? So the you know,

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<v Speaker 2>and the reason And that's the key here. What is

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<v Speaker 2>the reason? Because people don't like to have any authority.

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<v Speaker 2>The human being rebels against authority. We want to do

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<v Speaker 2>what we want to do. Like the Swedish woman that

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<v Speaker 2>I interviewed and played you the interview I played it

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<v Speaker 2>for you. You believe in any religion? No, you believe

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<v Speaker 2>in God?

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<v Speaker 6>No?

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<v Speaker 2>So where do you get your notions of right and wrong?

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<v Speaker 2>My heart? That's it. Her authority is her heart. Doesn't work, folks,

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<v Speaker 2>it doesn't work. Let's go to your calls here and

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<v Speaker 2>we begin in Evergreen, A, Colorado, and Yvette, Yvette Dennis Prager,

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<v Speaker 2>thank you for calling.

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<v Speaker 7>Thank you, Hi, I was calling about your authority issue.

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<v Speaker 7>We have two children who we have raised to address

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<v Speaker 7>adults as mister or missus. Many times the adults will

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<v Speaker 7>respond by saying, oh no, please have your child call

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<v Speaker 7>me Kathy or Tom.

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<v Speaker 2>I know, and there's nothing. There's nothing you can do?

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<v Speaker 7>Then really, oh no, Actually we've come up with an answer.

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<v Speaker 2>People, what is your answer? I'm very curious.

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<v Speaker 7>We say to them, I'm sorry. I don't mean to

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<v Speaker 7>be disrespectful to you, but we are trying to teach

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<v Speaker 7>our children that time has not made them equal to

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<v Speaker 7>you and that your life experiences are valuable.

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<v Speaker 2>Do you actually say that to these people?

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<v Speaker 5>Oh?

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<v Speaker 8>Yes?

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<v Speaker 2>Do they stay friends?

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<v Speaker 8>Oh?

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<v Speaker 3>Yes?

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<v Speaker 7>And you know, it's funny because many other parents that

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<v Speaker 7>we spend time with also share these views. But very

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<v Speaker 7>often we'll run into people who either I work with

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<v Speaker 7>or my husband works with, or even people who don't

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<v Speaker 7>have kids have never really given much thought to these issues.

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<v Speaker 7>And the comment that we often hear from them is, oh,

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<v Speaker 7>it makes me feel old, And I.

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<v Speaker 2>Say, you know, that's right.

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<v Speaker 7>Two years old. You're old.

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<v Speaker 2>That's right exactly.

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<v Speaker 7>You're older than my nine year old.

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<v Speaker 2>Yes, I'll never forget. Thank you well said you Vet.

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<v Speaker 2>Your kids are lucky. I will never I wrote this

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<v Speaker 2>up actually about twenty years ago. Who was the it was?

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<v Speaker 2>It was a great uh what was the Boston Celtic

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<v Speaker 2>star bird, Larry Bird? Larry Bird? It was by just

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<v Speaker 2>cheer coincidence. I just remember is Larry Bird mentioned once

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<v Speaker 2>when he was still a player that some kids said

0:15:25.120 --> 0:15:29.880
<v Speaker 2>mister to him, and he felt so odd that a

0:15:29.960 --> 0:15:34.040
<v Speaker 2>child would say mister because it meant he was older,

0:15:34.080 --> 0:15:38.560
<v Speaker 2>and so on. It's this my generation has not wanted

0:15:38.600 --> 0:15:40.880
<v Speaker 2>to grow up. I'm not I'm not picking on Larry Bird,

0:15:40.880 --> 0:15:43.800
<v Speaker 2>who you know, supposedly a terrific guy in many ways,

0:15:43.800 --> 0:15:47.040
<v Speaker 2>but or a terrific guye period. But I just happened

0:15:47.040 --> 0:15:49.600
<v Speaker 2>to remember that particular quote that I cited one eight

0:15:49.680 --> 0:15:53.120
<v Speaker 2>Prager seven seven six one eight p R A G

0:15:53.280 --> 0:15:57.920
<v Speaker 2>E R seven seven six. My friends, I say this

0:15:58.000 --> 0:16:00.520
<v Speaker 2>about many of these ultimate issue subjects. There is none

0:16:00.600 --> 0:16:03.880
<v Speaker 2>more important. There may be some that are as important,

0:16:03.880 --> 0:16:06.160
<v Speaker 2>but there is none that are more important than the

0:16:06.240 --> 0:16:09.080
<v Speaker 2>question of authority. I want you to ask about your

0:16:09.080 --> 0:16:11.520
<v Speaker 2>own life? What has authority over you? What do you

0:16:11.600 --> 0:16:14.680
<v Speaker 2>recognize you have a religion that has authority over you?

0:16:14.720 --> 0:16:16.200
<v Speaker 2>Do you have a god that does? Do you have

0:16:16.200 --> 0:16:18.400
<v Speaker 2>a teacher that does? You have a parent who does?

0:16:19.480 --> 0:16:25.680
<v Speaker 2>Or is it only the government? Is that it? One

0:16:25.720 --> 0:16:29.120
<v Speaker 2>eighth pr A g Er seven seven six run in

0:16:29.240 --> 0:16:31.000
<v Speaker 2>Los Angeles, Dennis Prager.

0:16:30.760 --> 0:16:32.680
<v Speaker 6>Hi, Hi Dennis, how are you today?

0:16:32.720 --> 0:16:34.600
<v Speaker 2>I'm well, thank you, Dennis.

0:16:34.640 --> 0:16:37.800
<v Speaker 6>When I was many years ago as a young professional CPA,

0:16:38.400 --> 0:16:42.160
<v Speaker 6>I was given a huge amount of responsibility, but because

0:16:42.360 --> 0:16:44.800
<v Speaker 6>it was not an owner in the company, I was

0:16:44.800 --> 0:16:48.680
<v Speaker 6>not given the corresponding authority, and I realized that to

0:16:48.800 --> 0:16:53.400
<v Speaker 6>have responsibility without authority is really really tough, and I

0:16:53.400 --> 0:16:56.440
<v Speaker 6>think that directly applies to the issues you're speaking of today.

0:16:56.680 --> 0:17:01.200
<v Speaker 6>How so well, I think parents, teachers have the responsibility,

0:17:01.840 --> 0:17:04.439
<v Speaker 6>but like you say, their authority has been taken away.

0:17:04.760 --> 0:17:08.360
<v Speaker 2>Oh, it doesn't work. You mean, the responsibility can't be

0:17:08.720 --> 0:17:10.919
<v Speaker 2>lived out if you don't have Yes, that's.

0:17:10.840 --> 0:17:15.560
<v Speaker 6>Right, exactly, the teacher can't, that's right, correspondent.

0:17:15.520 --> 0:17:19.280
<v Speaker 2>Well said Ron, It's exactly right. A teacher can't do

0:17:19.320 --> 0:17:23.280
<v Speaker 2>a job without without authority nobody or parent. A parent

0:17:23.320 --> 0:17:27.879
<v Speaker 2>can't do his job or her job without authority. But

0:17:28.240 --> 0:17:31.959
<v Speaker 2>the age of egalitarianism has and the age of stupidity

0:17:32.000 --> 0:17:36.359
<v Speaker 2>have coincided to make what I am talking about possible.

0:17:36.560 --> 0:17:41.720
<v Speaker 2>That there is no more authority, And frankly, I much

0:17:41.800 --> 0:17:46.160
<v Speaker 2>rather have people have have multiple authorities than just the government.

0:17:47.000 --> 0:17:49.159
<v Speaker 2>It's very scary to me that the government has all

0:17:49.200 --> 0:17:53.879
<v Speaker 2>the authority in a human's life. I wish that there was.

0:17:54.359 --> 0:17:57.360
<v Speaker 2>I wish that there had been a more religious authority

0:17:57.400 --> 0:18:02.080
<v Speaker 2>in Nazi Germany might not have had the catastrophes of

0:18:02.119 --> 0:18:07.840
<v Speaker 2>World War two on the Holocaust. Oh, okay, let's go

0:18:07.920 --> 0:18:13.040
<v Speaker 2>to Sarasota, Florida and Lyle. Hello, Lyle Dennis Prager.

0:18:16.160 --> 0:18:17.840
<v Speaker 5>Question that I have. I was brought up a very

0:18:17.840 --> 0:18:20.159
<v Speaker 5>stretch household. I don't know if you're familiar with the

0:18:20.160 --> 0:18:21.119
<v Speaker 5>men in I background or not.

0:18:21.400 --> 0:18:23.119
<v Speaker 2>Yes, yes I am.

0:18:23.160 --> 0:18:26.240
<v Speaker 5>You know father's father is the law, second of command.

0:18:26.840 --> 0:18:30.119
<v Speaker 5>But my mom also taught us to ask questions, to

0:18:30.240 --> 0:18:34.200
<v Speaker 5>question authority, not to follow blindly. What age do you

0:18:34.359 --> 0:18:36.840
<v Speaker 5>do you say, like, as my wife and I are

0:18:37.920 --> 0:18:40.880
<v Speaker 5>starting a family, what age do you start telling your child?

0:18:40.920 --> 0:18:44.040
<v Speaker 5>As Okay, to question authority, still give the respect.

0:18:43.680 --> 0:18:47.560
<v Speaker 2>But well, I want before I answer you. I am

0:18:47.680 --> 0:18:51.520
<v Speaker 2>very curious. Do you like the type of adult you

0:18:51.600 --> 0:18:52.119
<v Speaker 2>have become?

0:18:54.200 --> 0:18:57.200
<v Speaker 5>Yes, I think that I'm that I'm a well rounded adult, right,

0:18:58.040 --> 0:18:59.520
<v Speaker 5>I don't follow blindly, you know.

0:18:59.680 --> 0:19:01.919
<v Speaker 2>No, no, no, no, that wasn't my question at all. I just

0:19:01.960 --> 0:19:04.800
<v Speaker 2>want to know. See, a lot of people who are

0:19:04.920 --> 0:19:11.639
<v Speaker 2>raised in strict homes may have had various painful experiences,

0:19:11.720 --> 0:19:15.440
<v Speaker 2>but they end up often liking the way they turned out.

0:19:16.880 --> 0:19:21.040
<v Speaker 5>Yes, I think that I've become mature adult. You know,

0:19:21.040 --> 0:19:22.199
<v Speaker 5>I'm happy with the way that I was.

0:19:22.359 --> 0:19:24.280
<v Speaker 2>Okay, good, No, I just wanted a note. I mean,

0:19:24.320 --> 0:19:26.919
<v Speaker 2>you know, it may have been too strict for my taste,

0:19:26.960 --> 0:19:29.719
<v Speaker 2>but you came out all right. Anyway. The answer to

0:19:29.800 --> 0:19:36.640
<v Speaker 2>me is questioning is not a problem. Defying is a problem, definitely.

0:19:36.840 --> 0:19:39.159
<v Speaker 2>And that's what I think a lot of people have

0:19:39.280 --> 0:19:44.840
<v Speaker 2>confused on both sides of the issue. I take there.

0:19:44.880 --> 0:19:48.480
<v Speaker 2>I take my lead from the Bible. Abraham challenged God,

0:19:48.880 --> 0:19:52.359
<v Speaker 2>but he didn't defy him. We'll be back in a moment.

0:19:52.400 --> 0:19:54.160
<v Speaker 2>You're listening to the Dennis Prager Show.

0:19:55.840 --> 0:19:59.199
<v Speaker 1>This episode of Timeless Wisdom will continue right after this.

0:20:04.720 --> 0:20:08.280
<v Speaker 1>Now back to more of Dennis Prager's Timeless Wisdom.

0:20:08.440 --> 0:20:10.720
<v Speaker 2>Hi, everybody. This is the Ultimate Issues Hour the Dennis

0:20:10.720 --> 0:20:14.879
<v Speaker 2>Prager Shows, and it is an hour each week devoted

0:20:14.920 --> 0:20:17.480
<v Speaker 2>to some great issue of life. Authority is the issue.

0:20:18.720 --> 0:20:23.840
<v Speaker 2>And you can almost define the problems of society today

0:20:24.119 --> 0:20:29.040
<v Speaker 2>by the breakdown of all authority except government, teachers authority,

0:20:29.119 --> 0:20:35.399
<v Speaker 2>parents authority, God's authority, religion's authority, scripture's authority, police authority.

0:20:35.440 --> 0:20:41.639
<v Speaker 2>They're all they have all been undermined systematically. So and

0:20:41.720 --> 0:20:45.440
<v Speaker 2>the reason for it is to a increase governmental authority

0:20:47.680 --> 0:20:50.520
<v Speaker 2>and b to enable one to have to listen to

0:20:50.560 --> 0:20:53.920
<v Speaker 2>no one but one's own self. That is the general

0:20:54.040 --> 0:21:00.320
<v Speaker 2>human desire. I want to be accountable to nobody, just

0:21:00.440 --> 0:21:03.960
<v Speaker 2>my own heart. All right, let's take some more of

0:21:04.000 --> 0:21:08.360
<v Speaker 2>your calls. One eighth Prager seven seven six and Ethan

0:21:08.600 --> 0:21:11.520
<v Speaker 2>in prosper Texas. Hi, Ethan, Dennis Prager.

0:21:11.800 --> 0:21:13.560
<v Speaker 8>Hi, Dennis, thanks for taking my call.

0:21:13.680 --> 0:21:14.480
<v Speaker 2>Thank you for calling.

0:21:14.880 --> 0:21:17.480
<v Speaker 8>I wanted to talk to you talk from the perspective

0:21:17.520 --> 0:21:21.639
<v Speaker 8>of a teacher. I've moved to Texas, but I'm a

0:21:21.680 --> 0:21:25.520
<v Speaker 8>transplant from LA where I taught in several private schools

0:21:25.560 --> 0:21:28.840
<v Speaker 8>in West Los Angeles. And of all the private schools

0:21:28.840 --> 0:21:31.159
<v Speaker 8>that I taught at, one of them did have the

0:21:31.200 --> 0:21:34.160
<v Speaker 8>students address their teachers by the first by their first name,

0:21:34.800 --> 0:21:39.119
<v Speaker 8>and I found that the students' respect for authority was

0:21:39.200 --> 0:21:41.200
<v Speaker 8>by far the lowest in that school.

0:21:43.040 --> 0:21:46.040
<v Speaker 2>It's it's inconceivable otherwise. Can you imagine in the in

0:21:46.080 --> 0:21:50.280
<v Speaker 2>the military, instead of saying a general, you said Fred.

0:21:51.480 --> 0:21:53.360
<v Speaker 8>Well, you know, and it's just a it's just such

0:21:53.400 --> 0:21:57.919
<v Speaker 8>a basic opportunity to uh, to give children a chance

0:21:57.960 --> 0:22:01.320
<v Speaker 8>to respect authority. I use a title, you know. And

0:22:01.720 --> 0:22:04.080
<v Speaker 8>you had a caller earlier that was talking about how

0:22:05.160 --> 0:22:09.600
<v Speaker 8>she wants her children to call other adults by surnames

0:22:09.600 --> 0:22:14.879
<v Speaker 8>outside of school, and we don't do that, but we

0:22:14.960 --> 0:22:18.240
<v Speaker 8>do require our children to use a title. So you know,

0:22:18.440 --> 0:22:22.560
<v Speaker 8>our neighbors are miss Audra and mister Greg and mister

0:22:22.640 --> 0:22:24.800
<v Speaker 8>Chris and miss Ashley.

0:22:24.920 --> 0:22:26.959
<v Speaker 2>Well, what I mean, you don't, so you do require it.

0:22:27.560 --> 0:22:29.639
<v Speaker 8>We require that they use a title. We don't require

0:22:29.720 --> 0:22:31.240
<v Speaker 8>them to use the surname.

0:22:32.400 --> 0:22:35.680
<v Speaker 2>The important Oh, I see, it would be like doctor

0:22:35.720 --> 0:22:37.320
<v Speaker 2>Bob right.

0:22:37.359 --> 0:22:39.159
<v Speaker 8>Well, no, no, no, no, no no. When they go to the doctor,

0:22:39.240 --> 0:22:41.480
<v Speaker 8>they they I'm just talking about like neighbors.

0:22:41.640 --> 0:22:44.720
<v Speaker 2>So if the neighbor is a doctor, it's doctor Bob right.

0:22:45.160 --> 0:22:48.399
<v Speaker 2>I understand, Okay, that's a big help. Anyway, that's a

0:22:48.440 --> 0:22:50.879
<v Speaker 2>big help. I'll tell you what else has even been dropped.

0:22:50.960 --> 0:22:55.080
<v Speaker 2>Uncle and ant. That's so, you know, you call your

0:22:55.160 --> 0:22:57.240
<v Speaker 2>uncle and ant by their first name and say instead

0:22:57.240 --> 0:22:59.520
<v Speaker 2>of you know, instead of of of uncle, Jim, it's

0:22:59.560 --> 0:23:03.200
<v Speaker 2>it's just Jim. I never called any of my uncles

0:23:03.280 --> 0:23:05.800
<v Speaker 2>or aunts anything but uncle this or aunt that. Never

0:23:06.000 --> 0:23:10.320
<v Speaker 2>never maybe later in life, and even then both for

0:23:10.359 --> 0:23:12.520
<v Speaker 2>the most part, I would give them the honorific of

0:23:12.520 --> 0:23:18.359
<v Speaker 2>of you know, uncle Murray, but not anymore because that's

0:23:18.440 --> 0:23:22.520
<v Speaker 2>that's you see, that separates. It's not an equal. The

0:23:22.600 --> 0:23:25.159
<v Speaker 2>moment I give you a title, I'm no longer your equal.

0:23:25.440 --> 0:23:31.040
<v Speaker 2>You're my aunt or you're my uncle. This if I,

0:23:31.040 --> 0:23:35.880
<v Speaker 2>if I had to give one show to summarize the

0:23:35.880 --> 0:23:39.440
<v Speaker 2>the the great divide in America, it's it's between those

0:23:39.440 --> 0:23:44.399
<v Speaker 2>who wish to abolish all of these authority labels and

0:23:44.440 --> 0:23:47.720
<v Speaker 2>all of these authority sources of authority, and those who

0:23:47.760 --> 0:23:53.000
<v Speaker 2>want to retain them. Yep, this is this is this

0:23:53.080 --> 0:23:55.040
<v Speaker 2>is the big one. This is the big one of

0:23:55.080 --> 0:23:58.480
<v Speaker 2>the ultimate issues. To understand what's happening, and that's part

0:23:58.480 --> 0:24:02.639
<v Speaker 2>of the hatred against again religion se Why is it

0:24:02.680 --> 0:24:05.760
<v Speaker 2>about conservative religion that divides it from liberal religion. I'll

0:24:05.760 --> 0:24:09.199
<v Speaker 2>tell you the answer is authority. Liberal religion is of

0:24:09.240 --> 0:24:13.520
<v Speaker 2>the heart. Conservative religion is of authority. There's divine authority,

0:24:14.119 --> 0:24:16.680
<v Speaker 2>whether you agree or not. And I don't always agree

0:24:16.720 --> 0:24:19.800
<v Speaker 2>even but still at least there is the concept this

0:24:19.920 --> 0:24:22.960
<v Speaker 2>is a sin, this is not a sin, this is right,

0:24:23.520 --> 0:24:27.080
<v Speaker 2>this is wrong. God said do this, God said don't

0:24:27.080 --> 0:24:32.080
<v Speaker 2>do that. People know that. Instead, it's toll in your heart.

0:24:32.119 --> 0:24:35.119
<v Speaker 2>It's what you feel is right. And then you apply

0:24:35.240 --> 0:24:40.920
<v Speaker 2>to the religion and everybody's happy. Authority has been broken down.

0:24:41.200 --> 0:24:43.400
<v Speaker 2>Now this isn't to say that all authority is good,

0:24:43.440 --> 0:24:46.200
<v Speaker 2>my friends, of course not. There have been terrible authorities,

0:24:46.280 --> 0:24:49.480
<v Speaker 2>terrible or authority has been used terribly. There are parents

0:24:49.520 --> 0:24:54.000
<v Speaker 2>who abuse their children. There have and are religious teachings

0:24:54.000 --> 0:25:01.640
<v Speaker 2>that inflict terrible a cruelty. Yes these are true. But

0:25:01.920 --> 0:25:06.359
<v Speaker 2>the answer to bad authority is good authority, not no authority.

0:25:08.560 --> 0:25:11.800
<v Speaker 2>But if you went to graduate school, that may have

0:25:11.840 --> 0:25:14.840
<v Speaker 2>been a little too profound. We'll return in a moment

0:25:14.920 --> 0:25:18.040
<v Speaker 2>one to eight Praguer seven seven six The Dennis Prager Show,

0:25:18.080 --> 0:25:19.320
<v Speaker 2>The Ultimate Issues Hour.

0:25:21.400 --> 0:25:24.760
<v Speaker 1>This episode of Timeless Wisdom will continue right after this,

0:25:30.240 --> 0:25:34.480
<v Speaker 1>now back to more of Dennis Prager's timeless wisdom.

0:25:35.000 --> 0:25:37.040
<v Speaker 2>Doesn't get more important than this. I know I say

0:25:37.040 --> 0:25:41.119
<v Speaker 2>that often and I always mean it. Not only is

0:25:41.160 --> 0:25:43.480
<v Speaker 2>the issue this is the ultimate Issues hour. Not only

0:25:43.480 --> 0:25:45.879
<v Speaker 2>does the issue and I'm Dennis Prager, thank you for

0:25:45.920 --> 0:25:53.080
<v Speaker 2>being with me. Not only does the issue try take three?

0:25:53.960 --> 0:25:59.520
<v Speaker 2>Not only does the how else could I interrupt myself?

0:26:02.200 --> 0:26:05.439
<v Speaker 2>It's a little sad when you're not interrupted by others

0:26:05.480 --> 0:26:13.199
<v Speaker 2>but by yourself. Who do you get annoyed at? Not

0:26:13.240 --> 0:26:16.879
<v Speaker 2>only does the issue of authority explain how much is

0:26:17.160 --> 0:26:20.199
<v Speaker 2>gone awry in our society, it also explains and this

0:26:20.280 --> 0:26:23.240
<v Speaker 2>is maybe worth doing a Happiness hour on, because if

0:26:23.280 --> 0:26:25.399
<v Speaker 2>I am convinced, if you didn't grow up with authority,

0:26:25.800 --> 0:26:30.920
<v Speaker 2>you're not going to be happy. Life will be chaotic. See,

0:26:30.960 --> 0:26:34.560
<v Speaker 2>because the heart is a lousy guide. A lousy guide.

0:26:37.000 --> 0:26:38.960
<v Speaker 2>Somebody had to be an authority in your life. A

0:26:39.000 --> 0:26:43.600
<v Speaker 2>teacher if not a parent, a clergyman if not a teacher, somebody,

0:26:43.840 --> 0:26:49.000
<v Speaker 2>somebody God if not any of them. But you need

0:26:49.040 --> 0:26:56.560
<v Speaker 2>some authority or you are going to go crazy. And

0:26:56.600 --> 0:26:59.760
<v Speaker 2>we have broken them all down here, folks. All that

0:27:02.359 --> 0:27:05.800
<v Speaker 2>and the notion of question authority is fine. But the

0:27:05.800 --> 0:27:08.400
<v Speaker 2>people who put that bumper sticker up really don't mean

0:27:08.520 --> 0:27:12.720
<v Speaker 2>question authority. They mean DeFi authority. I'm all for questioning authority.

0:27:12.760 --> 0:27:16.199
<v Speaker 2>It's a very healthy thing. Your children, I think, can

0:27:16.359 --> 0:27:20.080
<v Speaker 2>question you. They just have to know that your answer

0:27:20.200 --> 0:27:23.239
<v Speaker 2>is the final answer, and sometimes you should change your

0:27:23.240 --> 0:27:25.760
<v Speaker 2>mind if in fact there is a good argument. But

0:27:25.840 --> 0:27:31.080
<v Speaker 2>that ends it. That ends it, okay. One to eight

0:27:31.160 --> 0:27:36.120
<v Speaker 2>Prager seven seven six Slinas, California. Danny, Hi, Danny, Dennis Prager,

0:27:38.600 --> 0:27:39.960
<v Speaker 2>A little bitter, Yes, sir.

0:27:40.119 --> 0:27:40.840
<v Speaker 3>How are you doing, sir?

0:27:40.960 --> 0:27:41.800
<v Speaker 2>I'm well, thank you.

0:27:43.000 --> 0:27:45.040
<v Speaker 3>I've been listening to you for a long time and

0:27:45.720 --> 0:27:48.439
<v Speaker 3>one of my greatest accomplishments is getting my daughters to

0:27:48.480 --> 0:27:48.919
<v Speaker 3>listen to you.

0:27:49.640 --> 0:27:51.439
<v Speaker 2>Oh that's terrific. How old is she?

0:27:51.760 --> 0:27:53.199
<v Speaker 3>Well, I have four daughters.

0:27:53.400 --> 0:27:55.800
<v Speaker 2>Oh my god, you have any sons? Do you have any.

0:27:55.560 --> 0:27:59.840
<v Speaker 3>Sons grown up? Except one twelve year old at home?

0:28:00.119 --> 0:28:02.359
<v Speaker 2>So which which one did you get to listen?

0:28:03.359 --> 0:28:06.520
<v Speaker 3>My oldest and the other ones listened periodically, But my

0:28:06.560 --> 0:28:10.280
<v Speaker 3>oldest is the one that she's made me a grandfather,

0:28:10.440 --> 0:28:14.040
<v Speaker 3>so she's really appreciated the many of the topics you've

0:28:14.040 --> 0:28:14.560
<v Speaker 3>had in your.

0:28:14.480 --> 0:28:16.800
<v Speaker 2>Program, wonderful, All right, go ahead by friend.

0:28:16.880 --> 0:28:19.360
<v Speaker 3>Well several years ago, I guess, well, the last time

0:28:19.359 --> 0:28:22.200
<v Speaker 3>the Cincinnati Reds won the World Series. The following year,

0:28:22.240 --> 0:28:25.680
<v Speaker 3>they came to visit the San Francisco and I took

0:28:25.800 --> 0:28:28.560
<v Speaker 3>my kids and my oldest daughter, she was about nine

0:28:28.600 --> 0:28:32.040
<v Speaker 3>at that time. We got there early watch batting practice,

0:28:32.200 --> 0:28:36.280
<v Speaker 3>and when when the balls were being shagged by the

0:28:36.320 --> 0:28:39.280
<v Speaker 3>catcher at that time, it was the starting catcher, the

0:28:39.360 --> 0:28:41.479
<v Speaker 3>kids would go crazy and start calling him by his

0:28:41.480 --> 0:28:44.000
<v Speaker 3>first name. And I remember that I began to call

0:28:44.080 --> 0:28:46.640
<v Speaker 3>him by his last name, but I always begin with mister.

0:28:46.840 --> 0:28:51.080
<v Speaker 3>I can't remember his name. But he immediately caught his attention,

0:28:51.480 --> 0:28:53.960
<v Speaker 3>and he threw the ball in my direction, which my

0:28:54.040 --> 0:28:56.200
<v Speaker 3>daughter got really excited, and she grabbed my arm and

0:28:56.240 --> 0:28:59.200
<v Speaker 3>we missed the ball, and and so I said, well,

0:28:59.240 --> 0:29:01.000
<v Speaker 3>you know the great t you know. She just looked

0:29:01.040 --> 0:29:03.240
<v Speaker 3>at me and she's saying, oh, daddy. Well, the next

0:29:03.240 --> 0:29:06.000
<v Speaker 3>ball that got hit to him, he came around, grabbed

0:29:06.000 --> 0:29:09.320
<v Speaker 3>the ball, open up the back door of the back

0:29:09.360 --> 0:29:11.680
<v Speaker 3>there with a fence, I guess the home run fences,

0:29:12.080 --> 0:29:14.080
<v Speaker 3>walked around up to the bleachers and handed me to

0:29:14.240 --> 0:29:16.920
<v Speaker 3>hand me the ball, No kidding, in front of my daughter. Yeah,

0:29:16.960 --> 0:29:19.040
<v Speaker 3>and he signed it too, and it was a great.

0:29:20.400 --> 0:29:22.440
<v Speaker 2>When Barry Bonds hits his what.

0:29:22.480 --> 0:29:23.840
<v Speaker 3>I was older than that catcher too.

0:29:24.200 --> 0:29:26.280
<v Speaker 2>When Barry Bonds hits another home run, what to do

0:29:26.360 --> 0:29:28.680
<v Speaker 2>is mister Bonds, mister Bonds, you know what.

0:29:28.720 --> 0:29:31.400
<v Speaker 3>That's that's all it takes. Everybody wants a little bit

0:29:31.400 --> 0:29:31.920
<v Speaker 3>of respect.

0:29:32.040 --> 0:29:34.640
<v Speaker 2>Yes, it's very good. Thank you very much, Daddy. That's

0:29:34.760 --> 0:29:38.600
<v Speaker 2>that's true. It doesn't happen much. Folks. I want you

0:29:38.680 --> 0:29:42.280
<v Speaker 2>to ask yourselves this question. What are what do you

0:29:42.440 --> 0:29:48.160
<v Speaker 2>recognize as authorities over yourself? Everybody will say the government

0:29:48.480 --> 0:29:53.239
<v Speaker 2>except anarchists. Can you name another one? Police? And that's right,

0:29:53.320 --> 0:29:55.080
<v Speaker 2>that's a that's a that's a hand of the gun,

0:29:55.240 --> 0:29:59.400
<v Speaker 2>arm of the government. But it's very it's very interesting.

0:30:00.400 --> 0:30:02.760
<v Speaker 2>Kids should be asked this question, and adults should be

0:30:02.760 --> 0:30:15.040
<v Speaker 2>asked this question. Okay, and let's go two Glendale, Arizona

0:30:15.160 --> 0:30:17.000
<v Speaker 2>and Jack. Hello, Jack, Dennis Prager.

0:30:17.520 --> 0:30:21.080
<v Speaker 4>Yeah, that's me Jack and Glendale. Okay, anyway, yeah, mister Prager,

0:30:21.120 --> 0:30:22.640
<v Speaker 4>thank you very much for taking my call.

0:30:22.640 --> 0:30:25.280
<v Speaker 2>Thank you. Notice how it's all become, mister Prager this hour.

0:30:26.360 --> 0:30:27.160
<v Speaker 2>It's very cute.

0:30:27.240 --> 0:30:29.080
<v Speaker 4>Well, no, that's how I'm from old school. I do

0:30:29.160 --> 0:30:31.440
<v Speaker 4>that anyway, But you are, I tell you, one of

0:30:31.480 --> 0:30:34.240
<v Speaker 4>the few public figures that I really respect so deeply.

0:30:34.360 --> 0:30:36.160
<v Speaker 2>Thank you. I try to earn that thank you.

0:30:36.280 --> 0:30:37.000
<v Speaker 4>Yes, sure you do.

0:30:37.400 --> 0:30:37.800
<v Speaker 8>Anyway.

0:30:38.240 --> 0:30:40.240
<v Speaker 4>What I was talking wanting to talk to you about

0:30:40.280 --> 0:30:42.160
<v Speaker 4>is an insight if I may be so bold as

0:30:42.160 --> 0:30:45.320
<v Speaker 4>to say, as I told your screener about this idea

0:30:45.400 --> 0:30:48.760
<v Speaker 4>of authority and how the left al was accused of

0:30:48.560 --> 0:30:51.160
<v Speaker 4>the right of wanting to force our values on them,

0:30:51.200 --> 0:30:53.480
<v Speaker 4>and you know what authority do you have? How dare you?

0:30:53.520 --> 0:30:57.160
<v Speaker 4>And all this? And it confuses us because we feel like,

0:30:57.160 --> 0:30:59.080
<v Speaker 4>wait a minute, we're not trying to force our values

0:30:59.120 --> 0:31:01.720
<v Speaker 4>on you. You're and force your values on us. And

0:31:02.320 --> 0:31:06.240
<v Speaker 4>I realized that it's not that they feel we're telling

0:31:06.280 --> 0:31:07.880
<v Speaker 4>them what to do, even though they say that they

0:31:07.880 --> 0:31:09.920
<v Speaker 4>don't even know that. They don't even understand their own minds.

0:31:10.200 --> 0:31:12.520
<v Speaker 4>What they're objecting to is us telling them what not

0:31:12.640 --> 0:31:14.959
<v Speaker 4>to do. That's why they want to take the Ten Commandments.

0:31:15.440 --> 0:31:17.080
<v Speaker 4>It says, thou shalt not thou shalt.

0:31:17.160 --> 0:31:19.240
<v Speaker 2>Well, let me let me try. Let me intervene for

0:31:19.280 --> 0:31:21.400
<v Speaker 2>a moment here, Jack, and thank you for your call.

0:31:22.240 --> 0:31:25.200
<v Speaker 2>I think we need to all be very very honest

0:31:25.200 --> 0:31:27.200
<v Speaker 2>on this. I think we need to be very honest

0:31:27.240 --> 0:31:31.440
<v Speaker 2>on every issue. The right wants many of its values imposed,

0:31:31.480 --> 0:31:35.680
<v Speaker 2>and the left want many of its values imposed. I mean,

0:31:35.720 --> 0:31:39.920
<v Speaker 2>that's just the way it is, and it's perfectly understandable.

0:31:39.960 --> 0:31:43.280
<v Speaker 2>People want their values involved. The idea that I am

0:31:43.320 --> 0:31:46.240
<v Speaker 2>a politician and I have a value, but I don't

0:31:46.320 --> 0:31:48.760
<v Speaker 2>want the society to live by that value is a

0:31:48.760 --> 0:31:54.080
<v Speaker 2>little absurd to me. I don't even understand that. Imagine

0:31:54.120 --> 0:31:57.200
<v Speaker 2>someone in the Democratic Party. Look, I personally think that

0:31:57.320 --> 0:32:01.320
<v Speaker 2>racism is wrong, but I have no desire to impose

0:32:01.360 --> 0:32:04.880
<v Speaker 2>on the society my belief that racism is wrong. You're

0:32:04.920 --> 0:32:08.240
<v Speaker 2>perfectly free to run a racist restaurant. If you don't

0:32:08.280 --> 0:32:11.360
<v Speaker 2>want blacks in your restaurant, go ahead. That that would

0:32:11.440 --> 0:32:15.560
<v Speaker 2>not be said the left. The left imposes values all

0:32:15.560 --> 0:32:19.160
<v Speaker 2>the time. The right imposes values all the time. And

0:32:19.320 --> 0:32:21.280
<v Speaker 2>I think there are more imposed from the left. But

0:32:21.320 --> 0:32:26.520
<v Speaker 2>they both impose, and that's perfectly legitimate. That's that's exactly

0:32:26.880 --> 0:32:32.600
<v Speaker 2>what we don't want is personal necessarily personal religious ones.

0:32:33.520 --> 0:32:36.240
<v Speaker 2>When Catholics tended not to eat meat on Fridays, a

0:32:36.280 --> 0:32:41.080
<v Speaker 2>Catholic politician who ban meat meat restaurants on Fridays. Obviously

0:32:41.120 --> 0:32:43.280
<v Speaker 2>that would be over the line, but that's not an issue.

0:32:43.280 --> 0:32:47.320
<v Speaker 2>We'll be back in a moment. Final segment here of

0:32:47.360 --> 0:32:49.959
<v Speaker 2>the Ultimate Issues Hour. I hope you've taken this in

0:32:50.120 --> 0:32:52.960
<v Speaker 2>because this is the great dividing line in the civil

0:32:53.000 --> 0:32:57.280
<v Speaker 2>war of our country. This is the the great determiner

0:32:57.360 --> 0:32:59.920
<v Speaker 2>of how a civilization will proceed. This is the Ultimate

0:33:00.000 --> 0:33:03.000
<v Speaker 2>Ishoes Hour. Each week, this one has been devoted to

0:33:03.240 --> 0:33:09.320
<v Speaker 2>authority and the breakdown and the vehemence of the attacks

0:33:09.400 --> 0:33:17.920
<v Speaker 2>on authority. Parental teacher, God, religion, texts. The breakdown of

0:33:17.960 --> 0:33:25.400
<v Speaker 2>these authorities has resulted in the society we have today.

0:33:26.080 --> 0:33:28.560
<v Speaker 2>You may like the breakdown, you may not like it,

0:33:29.160 --> 0:33:32.280
<v Speaker 2>but you have to acknowledge that that's what has happened.

0:33:33.360 --> 0:33:35.440
<v Speaker 2>There are many reasons for it. One is that there

0:33:35.520 --> 0:33:39.040
<v Speaker 2>is a natural human proclivity to hating authority. You're not

0:33:39.080 --> 0:33:41.200
<v Speaker 2>going to tell me what to do. You're not going

0:33:41.240 --> 0:33:46.040
<v Speaker 2>to tell me I'm right or wrong. Right, that's the

0:33:46.160 --> 0:33:49.200
<v Speaker 2>natural human inclination. I am my own authority, have a

0:33:49.280 --> 0:33:54.680
<v Speaker 2>nice day. That's what moral relativism is. What's right for

0:33:54.760 --> 0:33:56.400
<v Speaker 2>me is right for me, and what's right for you

0:33:56.480 --> 0:33:58.720
<v Speaker 2>is right for you, there's no moral authority over any

0:33:58.760 --> 0:34:02.200
<v Speaker 2>of us to which the religious person answers, or at

0:34:02.280 --> 0:34:06.400
<v Speaker 2>least the religious ones deeped in the religions of America

0:34:06.440 --> 0:34:10.920
<v Speaker 2>and some other places has been that there is a

0:34:10.960 --> 0:34:13.640
<v Speaker 2>God who says thou shalt and thou shalt not. That's

0:34:13.640 --> 0:34:17.000
<v Speaker 2>why the Ten Commandments is such a huge issue to me.

0:34:17.080 --> 0:34:19.400
<v Speaker 2>It all boils down to the Ten Commandments, not because

0:34:19.400 --> 0:34:24.160
<v Speaker 2>there aren't other commandments, but because that is the statement

0:34:24.280 --> 0:34:27.600
<v Speaker 2>of there is an authority or not in your life

0:34:27.840 --> 0:34:32.279
<v Speaker 2>that is higher than you. The great dividing line is

0:34:32.360 --> 0:34:37.600
<v Speaker 2>that question. But if the Ten Commandments are just suggestions

0:34:37.719 --> 0:34:41.520
<v Speaker 2>of an archaic system written all by men with no

0:34:41.600 --> 0:34:47.000
<v Speaker 2>authority over anybody else, then that's a very different view.

0:34:48.440 --> 0:34:51.520
<v Speaker 2>But I will tell you that putting the religion part aside,

0:34:51.640 --> 0:34:56.200
<v Speaker 2>the breakdown of parental authority and the breakdown of teacher

0:34:56.280 --> 0:35:00.719
<v Speaker 2>authority is a major These are major factors in the

0:35:00.800 --> 0:35:05.080
<v Speaker 2>chaos in which we live. Why children are out of

0:35:05.160 --> 0:35:09.440
<v Speaker 2>control and they know it, and while they seem to

0:35:09.480 --> 0:35:12.280
<v Speaker 2>love it, they don't thrive on it. They're not happier,

0:35:12.480 --> 0:35:17.480
<v Speaker 2>they're not healthier, and they don't grow up into better adults.

0:35:18.520 --> 0:35:21.319
<v Speaker 2>Kids need love is all we have heard, and that

0:35:21.400 --> 0:35:25.719
<v Speaker 2>is true. Kids need love, But I'm coming around to

0:35:25.800 --> 0:35:29.560
<v Speaker 2>the belief that kids may need authority even more than

0:35:29.560 --> 0:35:34.440
<v Speaker 2>they need love, and that was a long time coming

0:35:34.520 --> 0:35:39.120
<v Speaker 2>in my own realization in life. Always amazes me that

0:35:39.200 --> 0:35:42.840
<v Speaker 2>no matter how many years I live, I keep learning

0:35:42.920 --> 0:35:46.040
<v Speaker 2>huge lessons. I thought in my twenties that I had

0:35:46.080 --> 0:35:49.520
<v Speaker 2>learned all the huge lessons there were to learn, and

0:35:49.560 --> 0:35:53.040
<v Speaker 2>that I'll learn little lessons from then on. That was

0:35:53.080 --> 0:35:56.160
<v Speaker 2>a big mistake, which is good for you and good

0:35:56.160 --> 0:35:58.759
<v Speaker 2>for me. Otherwise my show wouldn't have much to teach you,

0:35:58.760 --> 0:36:02.319
<v Speaker 2>wouldn't The Ultimate Issues hour on the Dennis Prager.

0:36:02.080 --> 0:36:06.800
<v Speaker 1>Show tomorrow on Timeless Wisdom with Dennis Prager.

0:36:07.160 --> 0:36:09.920
<v Speaker 2>Why do I do this every week? I do this

0:36:10.040 --> 0:36:14.120
<v Speaker 2>every week because happy people make the world better.

0:36:14.480 --> 0:36:18.200
<v Speaker 1>Join us tomorrow to hear more on Timeless Wisdom with

0:36:18.360 --> 0:36:22.600
<v Speaker 1>Dennis Prager. This has been Timeless Wisdom with Dennis Prager.

0:36:23.000 --> 0:36:27.680
<v Speaker 1>Visit Dennispragger dot com for thousands of hours of Dennis's lectures, courses,

0:36:27.719 --> 0:36:32.360
<v Speaker 1>and classic radio programs, and to purchase Dennis Prager's Rational Bibles.