1 00:00:21,460 --> 00:00:25,820 Speaker 1: Welcome to Timeless Wisdom with Dennis Prager. Here thousands of 2 00:00:25,860 --> 00:00:29,460 Speaker 1: hours of Dennis's lectures courses in classic radio programs. Had 3 00:00:29,500 --> 00:00:39,380 Speaker 1: to purchase Dennis Prager's Rational Bibles, go to Dennisprager dot com. 4 00:00:40,019 --> 00:00:46,220 Speaker 2: It's the Happy, Happy, Happy Happy Hour. Yes, it is, Hey, everybody, 5 00:00:46,260 --> 00:00:51,700 Speaker 2: the Happiness Hour on the Dennis Prager Show, and I 6 00:00:51,820 --> 00:00:54,380 Speaker 2: will I will bring it into the theme of the 7 00:00:54,380 --> 00:00:58,700 Speaker 2: New year. Happy New Year, do everybody January two, two 8 00:00:58,740 --> 00:01:03,660 Speaker 2: thousand and four, or twenty odd four if you prefer, 9 00:01:04,500 --> 00:01:06,900 Speaker 2: Thanks for being with me. Every week at this hour 10 00:01:07,020 --> 00:01:10,060 Speaker 2: I devote to the subject of happiness. I consider it 11 00:01:10,100 --> 00:01:13,740 Speaker 2: to be one of the great powerful ideas of life, 12 00:01:14,460 --> 00:01:17,700 Speaker 2: because happy people make the world better than unhappy people do. 13 00:01:17,780 --> 00:01:20,100 Speaker 2: As a general rule, there are some unhappy good people, 14 00:01:20,140 --> 00:01:23,620 Speaker 2: no question, There's no question about that. But as a 15 00:01:23,620 --> 00:01:26,940 Speaker 2: general rule, the world has made better by happy people, 16 00:01:27,820 --> 00:01:30,819 Speaker 2: not only macro. That is in the larger sense, because 17 00:01:30,940 --> 00:01:39,260 Speaker 2: it's hard to imagine people happy communists, happy Nazis, happy terrorists. 18 00:01:39,420 --> 00:01:41,459 Speaker 2: You know they don't. They don't strike you as among 19 00:01:42,380 --> 00:01:47,620 Speaker 2: the happiest of peoples. The people who are happy don't 20 00:01:47,620 --> 00:01:49,580 Speaker 2: want to hurt other people. It's just that's just the 21 00:01:49,620 --> 00:01:52,020 Speaker 2: way it is. It's it makes sense. You want it. 22 00:01:52,100 --> 00:01:57,180 Speaker 2: You want to spread happiness, not death. It's pretty pretty 23 00:01:57,180 --> 00:02:00,020 Speaker 2: self evident to me. So I am a big believer 24 00:02:00,100 --> 00:02:02,420 Speaker 2: in happiness. Wrote a book on it, which I commend 25 00:02:02,420 --> 00:02:06,780 Speaker 2: to your attention, not often enough in my opinion, because 26 00:02:06,820 --> 00:02:09,900 Speaker 2: I really do believe it can deeply affect your life. 27 00:02:09,940 --> 00:02:13,980 Speaker 2: But I anyway, it doesn't matter. The book is happiness 28 00:02:14,060 --> 00:02:17,300 Speaker 2: is a serious problem, and it took me ten years 29 00:02:17,300 --> 00:02:19,580 Speaker 2: to write, and it is the basis of the program. 30 00:02:20,220 --> 00:02:23,380 Speaker 2: There is a concept of the basis of the of 31 00:02:23,419 --> 00:02:26,780 Speaker 2: the Happiness Hour that is each week, not the program 32 00:02:26,820 --> 00:02:31,500 Speaker 2: every day. There is a concept that we have at 33 00:02:31,540 --> 00:02:34,820 Speaker 2: New Year's known as a New Year's resolution. And I 34 00:02:34,860 --> 00:02:37,019 Speaker 2: am a big fan of these things, and I want 35 00:02:37,020 --> 00:02:43,380 Speaker 2: to tie that in to the Happiness our theme. A resolution, 36 00:02:43,940 --> 00:02:46,739 Speaker 2: a new Year's resolution is a very good thing, even 37 00:02:46,820 --> 00:02:50,220 Speaker 2: if you break it, just as I believe that marriage 38 00:02:50,260 --> 00:02:53,180 Speaker 2: is a good thing, even if you get divorced. There 39 00:02:53,180 --> 00:02:56,780 Speaker 2: are there are Love is a good thing even if 40 00:02:56,860 --> 00:03:01,660 Speaker 2: you if you are rejected. It is good to grow up. 41 00:03:01,740 --> 00:03:06,900 Speaker 2: It is good to grow. It is good to to 42 00:03:07,380 --> 00:03:12,500 Speaker 2: live life to its fullest. Making a resolution is a 43 00:03:12,620 --> 00:03:16,420 Speaker 2: very good thing for happiness, even if you break it, 44 00:03:16,500 --> 00:03:21,580 Speaker 2: because it says to yourself, and that's the theme of 45 00:03:21,620 --> 00:03:30,700 Speaker 2: this hour today. It says to yourself, I can change. 46 00:03:31,540 --> 00:03:34,260 Speaker 2: I can't tell you. I can't overstate the importance of 47 00:03:34,260 --> 00:03:39,300 Speaker 2: that concept. I can change means I am the captain 48 00:03:39,420 --> 00:03:44,860 Speaker 2: of my life now. Anyone with a mind, and that 49 00:03:45,180 --> 00:03:49,060 Speaker 2: everybody listening knows that there are things you cannot control. 50 00:03:49,260 --> 00:03:52,140 Speaker 2: I am not of the of the folks who believe 51 00:03:52,300 --> 00:03:54,300 Speaker 2: that if I am hit by a drunk driver, I 52 00:03:54,380 --> 00:03:58,660 Speaker 2: have somehow brought that upon myself. I do not believe that. 53 00:03:58,700 --> 00:04:03,900 Speaker 2: I do not believe that every victim of a mugging 54 00:04:04,460 --> 00:04:07,980 Speaker 2: has somehow brought it upon him or herself. This is 55 00:04:09,580 --> 00:04:15,340 Speaker 2: I think pure nonsense. However, by and large in life, 56 00:04:16,460 --> 00:04:19,660 Speaker 2: having the notion that you are in charge of your life, 57 00:04:20,659 --> 00:04:23,620 Speaker 2: and I'm not dealing now with and you know, I'm 58 00:04:23,659 --> 00:04:27,099 Speaker 2: deeply religious about God being in the final analysis, in 59 00:04:27,140 --> 00:04:29,700 Speaker 2: the driver's seat and so on. I like the name 60 00:04:29,740 --> 00:04:31,740 Speaker 2: of a book written many years I think has written 61 00:04:31,740 --> 00:04:34,340 Speaker 2: before I was born. God is my co pilot, and 62 00:04:35,180 --> 00:04:38,140 Speaker 2: that that is my theology, that we are in effect 63 00:04:38,180 --> 00:04:42,860 Speaker 2: co pilots of our lives. God and we God and myself. 64 00:04:43,580 --> 00:04:49,860 Speaker 2: But putting that aside for now, this notion that you 65 00:04:50,220 --> 00:04:54,219 Speaker 2: are in charge of your life, that you can make 66 00:04:54,340 --> 00:04:59,100 Speaker 2: things happen to your life, that you can change, is liberating, 67 00:04:59,660 --> 00:05:05,860 Speaker 2: empowering in the best sense of the word, and indispensable 68 00:05:05,940 --> 00:05:10,020 Speaker 2: to your happiness. You can't go through life thinking others 69 00:05:10,140 --> 00:05:13,340 Speaker 2: are controlling you and be happy. It is not possible. 70 00:05:13,660 --> 00:05:18,580 Speaker 2: It is by definition not possible. That is why I 71 00:05:18,620 --> 00:05:23,020 Speaker 2: am so angry about those who want to tell any 72 00:05:23,060 --> 00:05:26,260 Speaker 2: group in America, or any individual in America, you are 73 00:05:26,300 --> 00:05:30,339 Speaker 2: a victim. Walking around thinking you're a victim is a 74 00:05:30,460 --> 00:05:36,060 Speaker 2: guaranteur of unhappiness. It guarantees it can't there's no other possible. Well, 75 00:05:36,100 --> 00:05:39,500 Speaker 2: you can't say I'm a happy victim. It doesn't work 76 00:05:39,620 --> 00:05:42,820 Speaker 2: like that. If I am a victim, woe unto me. 77 00:05:43,580 --> 00:05:51,740 Speaker 2: My life is benighted. You are walking around if you 78 00:05:51,780 --> 00:05:56,180 Speaker 2: feel you are a victim, as incapable of determining anything 79 00:05:56,220 --> 00:06:00,420 Speaker 2: in your life. Others determine. It forces people, whatever it 80 00:06:00,540 --> 00:06:03,900 Speaker 2: might be. That's why I can't believe that anybody who 81 00:06:03,900 --> 00:06:07,500 Speaker 2: walks around with a conspiracy theory that you know they're 82 00:06:07,540 --> 00:06:10,820 Speaker 2: really they're they're trying to get me there's the paranoid, 83 00:06:10,820 --> 00:06:14,900 Speaker 2: a happy person. It's not possible. The people who walk 84 00:06:14,940 --> 00:06:18,979 Speaker 2: around with well, there are nefarious forces in this world 85 00:06:19,020 --> 00:06:24,820 Speaker 2: that are controlling it. These are profoundly unhappy people. Maybe 86 00:06:24,860 --> 00:06:29,340 Speaker 2: you know I'm thinking I'm thinking aloud here, because you know, 87 00:06:29,500 --> 00:06:34,380 Speaker 2: I have always rejected the conspiratorial theories of life. Whenever 88 00:06:34,420 --> 00:06:36,460 Speaker 2: I hear there's a conspiracy, I mean, I'm not saying 89 00:06:36,500 --> 00:06:39,060 Speaker 2: there's never been a conspiracy where ten people get together 90 00:06:39,100 --> 00:06:41,419 Speaker 2: and they conspire to do something. Of course that happens, 91 00:06:41,900 --> 00:06:45,260 Speaker 2: but large world conspiracies never pan out. I don't think 92 00:06:45,260 --> 00:06:48,260 Speaker 2: there was a conspiracy to kill John F. Kennedy, and 93 00:06:48,300 --> 00:06:51,580 Speaker 2: I don't think there's a conspiracy. There were right wingers, 94 00:06:51,660 --> 00:06:54,900 Speaker 2: there were left wingers, all wingers who believe in some 95 00:06:54,940 --> 00:06:58,339 Speaker 2: sort of group that is controlling the world. Anybody who 96 00:06:58,340 --> 00:07:03,140 Speaker 2: believes that is in effect announcing that I know I 97 00:07:03,180 --> 00:07:06,060 Speaker 2: am not in control of my life, so somebody else 98 00:07:06,180 --> 00:07:11,340 Speaker 2: must be. Oh it's the banks, the Jews, this that, 99 00:07:11,580 --> 00:07:16,340 Speaker 2: whatever it is, I am so aware of. I'm so 100 00:07:16,860 --> 00:07:21,100 Speaker 2: I personally feel so helpless and so weak that I 101 00:07:21,180 --> 00:07:25,420 Speaker 2: ascribe the world's the world's events and events that affect 102 00:07:25,500 --> 00:07:30,340 Speaker 2: me to others in control. Then there is the victim 103 00:07:30,460 --> 00:07:36,100 Speaker 2: status of of uh, they're out to get me. Where 104 00:07:36,540 --> 00:07:38,940 Speaker 2: there are kids of color who were raised to believe, 105 00:07:39,060 --> 00:07:43,620 Speaker 2: for example, that this society does not want them to 106 00:07:43,620 --> 00:07:48,020 Speaker 2: get ahead. Even if it were true, it's a lousy 107 00:07:48,060 --> 00:07:51,620 Speaker 2: way to raise your child. Even if it were true. 108 00:07:51,660 --> 00:07:54,980 Speaker 2: It isn't true. But even if it were, how could 109 00:07:55,020 --> 00:08:00,420 Speaker 2: they child grow up and be happy and be and 110 00:08:00,420 --> 00:08:02,660 Speaker 2: be and be in control of his or her life 111 00:08:03,300 --> 00:08:05,260 Speaker 2: to be raised that they all want to get you. 112 00:08:05,300 --> 00:08:09,060 Speaker 2: They they they almost all hate you. Oh, it's so 113 00:08:09,340 --> 00:08:11,940 Speaker 2: sad to me when that is told to a child 114 00:08:12,020 --> 00:08:14,580 Speaker 2: of color in our siety's that to me is a 115 00:08:14,620 --> 00:08:18,300 Speaker 2: form of child abuse. Whether it is a political party 116 00:08:18,300 --> 00:08:20,140 Speaker 2: who was announcing it, or it's a parent who was 117 00:08:20,140 --> 00:08:27,380 Speaker 2: announcing it, it guarantees an unhappy human being. So back 118 00:08:27,420 --> 00:08:30,300 Speaker 2: to the concept of the New Year's resolution, You are 119 00:08:30,340 --> 00:08:33,100 Speaker 2: resolving to change. That is what it means. Now, why 120 00:08:33,140 --> 00:08:36,339 Speaker 2: that is beautiful is very simple. It means I control myself. 121 00:08:37,020 --> 00:08:42,140 Speaker 2: I am in control, I can change, I can do 122 00:08:42,220 --> 00:08:47,460 Speaker 2: something about my life. That's a big statement. The phone 123 00:08:47,500 --> 00:08:51,340 Speaker 2: number is one eight Praeger seven seven six one eight 124 00:08:51,500 --> 00:08:55,180 Speaker 2: p R A. G Er seven seven six. I say 125 00:08:55,220 --> 00:08:57,900 Speaker 2: this almost every happiness hour, and I mean it each time, 126 00:08:57,940 --> 00:09:00,340 Speaker 2: so I feel that I can say it without sounding silly, 127 00:09:00,940 --> 00:09:03,940 Speaker 2: and that is you know, there aren't many more happy 128 00:09:04,100 --> 00:09:06,540 Speaker 2: There aren't many more important topics on this on the 129 00:09:06,580 --> 00:09:09,860 Speaker 2: subject of life and happiness than this one. Are you 130 00:09:09,980 --> 00:09:13,220 Speaker 2: in control of your life? Do you feel it now? 131 00:09:13,460 --> 00:09:15,940 Speaker 2: To feel it doesn't mean as I said, we're not. 132 00:09:16,100 --> 00:09:20,220 Speaker 2: We're not fully in control, of course not. I acknowledge 133 00:09:20,260 --> 00:09:22,420 Speaker 2: that's just a reality of life. As I said, you 134 00:09:22,460 --> 00:09:25,339 Speaker 2: could be hit by a drunk driver. There is ah 135 00:09:25,860 --> 00:09:28,300 Speaker 2: there are There is a god in this world too 136 00:09:28,380 --> 00:09:30,260 Speaker 2: that had that may have a plan. I mean, they 137 00:09:30,300 --> 00:09:35,860 Speaker 2: were there whatever reason. I fully acknowledge that I am 138 00:09:35,900 --> 00:09:38,740 Speaker 2: not entirely in control of the events. But I'll tell 139 00:09:38,740 --> 00:09:42,939 Speaker 2: you what, I am virtually entirely in control, if not entirely. 140 00:09:43,300 --> 00:09:45,260 Speaker 2: And I got this from one of the five books 141 00:09:45,300 --> 00:09:47,940 Speaker 2: that most influenced my life, and Alan, if we don't 142 00:09:47,940 --> 00:09:51,140 Speaker 2: have that list working out on the on the website, 143 00:09:51,140 --> 00:09:55,579 Speaker 2: we got to do that. And that is from Victor 144 00:09:55,660 --> 00:09:59,939 Speaker 2: Frankel's incredible book Man Search for Meaning. This man went 145 00:09:59,980 --> 00:10:02,620 Speaker 2: through a Nazi death camp as one of the few survivors, 146 00:10:02,700 --> 00:10:07,700 Speaker 2: and he made the point that there was only one thing, literally, 147 00:10:07,740 --> 00:10:10,420 Speaker 2: only one thing that the Nazis at the death camps 148 00:10:10,420 --> 00:10:13,140 Speaker 2: could not control. They controlled whether you lived, whether you died, 149 00:10:13,179 --> 00:10:17,380 Speaker 2: whether you ate, whether you starved, whether whether you slept 150 00:10:17,500 --> 00:10:20,700 Speaker 2: or you didn't sleep, whether whether you were relieved you 151 00:10:21,179 --> 00:10:26,459 Speaker 2: didn't relieve yourself. They controlled everything. It was hell, absolute, 152 00:10:26,700 --> 00:10:29,980 Speaker 2: absolute hell. But there was one thing, he said that 153 00:10:30,020 --> 00:10:34,100 Speaker 2: they couldn't control, and that is how we reacted to 154 00:10:34,220 --> 00:10:40,780 Speaker 2: what they did. So he he retained a sense of 155 00:10:40,940 --> 00:10:44,900 Speaker 2: autonomy where in the conditions of the least control ever 156 00:10:44,980 --> 00:10:49,460 Speaker 2: developed in human history, a Nazi death camp. One eighth 157 00:10:49,540 --> 00:10:54,340 Speaker 2: Prager seven seven six is the number. Do you feel 158 00:10:55,140 --> 00:11:00,500 Speaker 2: that you do not control, that you cannot change your life? 159 00:11:00,780 --> 00:11:03,820 Speaker 2: Does this resonate with you what I am saying? One 160 00:11:03,860 --> 00:11:06,580 Speaker 2: eight Praguer seven seven six, This is the happiness Hour. 161 00:11:06,580 --> 00:11:08,060 Speaker 2: I have a lot more to say and will take 162 00:11:08,100 --> 00:11:09,820 Speaker 2: calls as soon as we return. 163 00:11:10,620 --> 00:11:13,940 Speaker 1: This episode of Timeless Wisdom will continue right after this. 164 00:11:18,460 --> 00:11:23,060 Speaker 1: Now back to more of Dennis Praeger. There's a timeless wisdom. 165 00:11:23,460 --> 00:11:26,060 Speaker 2: I can give you so many examples of people not 166 00:11:26,260 --> 00:11:29,140 Speaker 2: feeling that they are in control of their lives, and 167 00:11:29,140 --> 00:11:32,980 Speaker 2: that's the theme of this edition of the Happiness Hour 168 00:11:33,060 --> 00:11:35,059 Speaker 2: based on the fact that it is the second day 169 00:11:35,060 --> 00:11:37,339 Speaker 2: of the new year and people make resolutions, and why 170 00:11:37,380 --> 00:11:42,060 Speaker 2: I'm so in favor of it. It implies I can change. 171 00:11:42,380 --> 00:11:46,940 Speaker 2: That is of staggering significance to your happiness, just the 172 00:11:46,940 --> 00:11:49,300 Speaker 2: belief that you can change even if you violate it. 173 00:11:49,340 --> 00:11:52,059 Speaker 2: As I say, even if you drop the resolution. The 174 00:11:52,500 --> 00:11:57,540 Speaker 2: implication is what is important I can change? You know. 175 00:11:57,700 --> 00:11:59,260 Speaker 2: Let me tell you something, and I'm going to take 176 00:11:59,300 --> 00:12:01,620 Speaker 2: some of your calls here one to eight Praeger seven 177 00:12:01,740 --> 00:12:06,180 Speaker 2: seven six. That's eight seven seven two four three triple 178 00:12:06,260 --> 00:12:11,740 Speaker 2: seven six. I. Uh, I have as many of you know. 179 00:12:11,740 --> 00:12:14,700 Speaker 2: I've been giving lectures my whole life. Actually I started 180 00:12:14,700 --> 00:12:17,660 Speaker 2: at twenty one, believe it or not, giving public lectures. 181 00:12:17,660 --> 00:12:21,740 Speaker 2: So I've given literally thousands and thousands of life probably 182 00:12:21,860 --> 00:12:26,860 Speaker 2: I guess four to five thousand lectures. Uh, it's it's 183 00:12:26,940 --> 00:12:28,900 Speaker 2: a it's a very large number I give. I give 184 00:12:28,980 --> 00:12:31,819 Speaker 2: what now, I mean, it doesn't matter. I lecture a lot. 185 00:12:32,540 --> 00:12:36,020 Speaker 2: There are times when if I get the following reaction 186 00:12:36,500 --> 00:12:39,540 Speaker 2: from a member of the audience, and an older member 187 00:12:39,900 --> 00:12:42,699 Speaker 2: will come of the audience, will come over to me 188 00:12:43,580 --> 00:12:47,620 Speaker 2: and say, you know, it was a great speech and 189 00:12:47,660 --> 00:12:51,340 Speaker 2: so on, but it was wasted on me. It's the you, 190 00:12:51,540 --> 00:12:55,900 Speaker 2: it's the young who should hear it. And I started 191 00:12:55,900 --> 00:12:58,300 Speaker 2: speaking when I was very young, as as I just 192 00:12:58,380 --> 00:13:00,500 Speaker 2: noted to you in my in my you know, in 193 00:13:00,540 --> 00:13:05,180 Speaker 2: my twenties, in my early twenties, and even then I 194 00:13:05,220 --> 00:13:08,380 Speaker 2: hated hearing that because I thought, oh my god, what 195 00:13:08,500 --> 00:13:12,660 Speaker 2: this old person is saying to me is it doesn't 196 00:13:12,700 --> 00:13:17,059 Speaker 2: matter if I change my life. It only matters if 197 00:13:17,100 --> 00:13:19,700 Speaker 2: a twenty five year old, a thirty five year old 198 00:13:19,740 --> 00:13:25,300 Speaker 2: changes his or her life life. But why you can't change. 199 00:13:26,740 --> 00:13:29,380 Speaker 2: You can't change. That's the way I read it. I 200 00:13:29,500 --> 00:13:34,579 Speaker 2: can't change. They can change, or it doesn't matter if 201 00:13:34,620 --> 00:13:38,940 Speaker 2: I change. Whatever the implication, it's ridiculous. You live your life. 202 00:13:38,980 --> 00:13:41,300 Speaker 2: If you change at eighty, then that is a great statement. 203 00:13:42,460 --> 00:13:47,900 Speaker 2: You're in control at eighty or control of twenty. I 204 00:13:47,940 --> 00:13:57,540 Speaker 2: can change, I can master my life, my reactions to it. 205 00:13:57,620 --> 00:14:04,140 Speaker 2: I am in control. These are liberating ideas, massively liberating ideas. 206 00:14:04,460 --> 00:14:08,500 Speaker 2: Let's go to your calls here. Let's go to Solomon 207 00:14:08,500 --> 00:14:12,420 Speaker 2: in Cleveland on WCCD. Hey Solomon, Dennis Prager. 208 00:14:12,980 --> 00:14:16,060 Speaker 3: Hi, it's Marcelle. I just want to say one of 209 00:14:16,060 --> 00:14:16,740 Speaker 3: that happens. 210 00:14:16,420 --> 00:14:20,500 Speaker 2: And I'm sorry, it's not Solomon, it's Marcel. Yeah, oh Solomon, 211 00:14:20,740 --> 00:14:22,340 Speaker 2: last name. Okay, that's what you gave. 212 00:14:22,420 --> 00:14:25,820 Speaker 3: Go ahead, that's right. One of the happiest things that 213 00:14:25,820 --> 00:14:27,980 Speaker 3: had happened to me this year is discovering you on 214 00:14:28,020 --> 00:14:31,620 Speaker 3: the radio, Microm Dved. I just think it's that's the greatest. 215 00:14:31,620 --> 00:14:34,020 Speaker 3: And I'm sixty nine years old. All my life voted 216 00:14:34,020 --> 00:14:36,540 Speaker 3: as a Democrat, and I've changed, and. 217 00:14:36,420 --> 00:14:38,940 Speaker 2: I'm there, you go, there, that's out of you. Well, 218 00:14:40,700 --> 00:14:43,260 Speaker 2: that's that strength. There you go that that is truly 219 00:14:43,300 --> 00:14:45,700 Speaker 2: a change. It's very hard. I take it. You, I 220 00:14:45,740 --> 00:14:49,860 Speaker 2: take it. You're Jewish, yes, So for a Jew at 221 00:14:49,900 --> 00:14:53,140 Speaker 2: sixty nine to change from Democrat to Republican, that is 222 00:14:53,180 --> 00:14:56,860 Speaker 2: truly autonomy. I salute you, go ahead, thank you. 223 00:14:56,940 --> 00:14:59,900 Speaker 3: And that's my resolution for this year, after I've been 224 00:14:59,940 --> 00:15:02,980 Speaker 3: talking about it for many years. As I mentioned to 225 00:15:02,980 --> 00:15:06,980 Speaker 3: the young lady, I'm also a survivor of the Holocaust, 226 00:15:07,060 --> 00:15:10,380 Speaker 3: right of the Holocaust, and I'm also a survivor of 227 00:15:10,420 --> 00:15:13,300 Speaker 3: the October War in Isabel. I thought there, uh huh, 228 00:15:13,620 --> 00:15:17,420 Speaker 3: what is interesting. I finally decided to write my life story. 229 00:15:17,540 --> 00:15:18,260 Speaker 2: Good you should. 230 00:15:18,300 --> 00:15:21,860 Speaker 3: I started yesterday to do it, good man. I'm putting 231 00:15:21,900 --> 00:15:24,940 Speaker 3: my things together, and no matter what's going to happen, 232 00:15:25,580 --> 00:15:28,300 Speaker 3: the world will find out something that I've had one 233 00:15:28,340 --> 00:15:30,420 Speaker 3: of the most amazing lives that anybody could. 234 00:15:30,780 --> 00:15:34,260 Speaker 2: I believe you have and you must write it up. 235 00:15:34,300 --> 00:15:36,140 Speaker 2: I will talk about that after we hang up. But 236 00:15:36,220 --> 00:15:36,460 Speaker 2: go on. 237 00:15:37,020 --> 00:15:39,180 Speaker 3: And the only thing that I was sorry about last 238 00:15:39,260 --> 00:15:43,220 Speaker 3: year is I understand you were speaking in where I 239 00:15:43,380 --> 00:15:46,340 Speaker 3: work and I didn't know anything about you in Cleveland 240 00:15:46,340 --> 00:15:47,620 Speaker 3: at the Jewish Community Center. 241 00:15:47,740 --> 00:15:49,100 Speaker 2: That how painful. 242 00:15:49,580 --> 00:15:54,140 Speaker 3: And my wife runs the restaurant at that really how ironic. 243 00:15:54,660 --> 00:15:59,100 Speaker 2: Well, I'm sure I will be back anyway. God bless you, Solomon, 244 00:15:59,140 --> 00:16:01,780 Speaker 2: Thank you, our Marcel, thank you so much. Are there 245 00:16:01,780 --> 00:16:06,180 Speaker 2: a lot of things to this man exemplifies in that 246 00:16:06,300 --> 00:16:11,100 Speaker 2: minute two minutes what I am talking about. Talk about victims, 247 00:16:11,260 --> 00:16:14,500 Speaker 2: there is no clearer victim than someone who went through 248 00:16:14,540 --> 00:16:17,860 Speaker 2: the Holocaust. The Nazi attempt to exterminate every single Jew 249 00:16:18,300 --> 00:16:21,300 Speaker 2: in Europe and eventually the world, but they in Europe. 250 00:16:21,340 --> 00:16:23,820 Speaker 2: Two out of every three Jews in Europe, nine out 251 00:16:23,860 --> 00:16:26,820 Speaker 2: of every ten in Poland, where there were three million Jews, 252 00:16:26,580 --> 00:16:31,580 Speaker 2: was murdered. It's astonishing. I mean, actually, as I get older, 253 00:16:31,620 --> 00:16:36,100 Speaker 2: the Holocaust gets worse. It's not easier for me to 254 00:16:36,140 --> 00:16:39,620 Speaker 2: read about. It's actually harder. Now. If anybody can see 255 00:16:39,700 --> 00:16:42,700 Speaker 2: himself as a victim, it's someone who who suffered through 256 00:16:42,740 --> 00:16:47,100 Speaker 2: that and miraculously survived, but undoubtedly lost relatives and friends 257 00:16:47,100 --> 00:16:50,140 Speaker 2: and saw evil the likes of which we can't even 258 00:16:50,260 --> 00:16:53,420 Speaker 2: we don't have in our nightmares. And yet here is 259 00:16:53,460 --> 00:16:56,940 Speaker 2: a man who radiates good cheer. He has decided, I 260 00:16:56,980 --> 00:17:00,020 Speaker 2: can't let myself be a victim. I can't. I can't, 261 00:17:00,020 --> 00:17:02,100 Speaker 2: I can't. I will not, will not, will not, will not. 262 00:17:04,780 --> 00:17:08,340 Speaker 2: And that's that he's an admirable man. And he has 263 00:17:08,379 --> 00:17:11,140 Speaker 2: decided at sixty nine most my father decided to write 264 00:17:11,179 --> 00:17:15,660 Speaker 2: his autobiography and did not go through the Holocaust, but 265 00:17:15,700 --> 00:17:21,900 Speaker 2: to write his autobiography at eighty and eighty two, now 266 00:17:21,940 --> 00:17:24,500 Speaker 2: eighty five and writing it, and it's a magnificent work. 267 00:17:25,139 --> 00:17:29,659 Speaker 2: And I tell everybody you should write your autobiography, absolutely, 268 00:17:30,020 --> 00:17:33,020 Speaker 2: because the truth is, while some lives obviously have more 269 00:17:33,060 --> 00:17:37,820 Speaker 2: adventure and more variety than others, every life is amazing, 270 00:17:38,219 --> 00:17:42,340 Speaker 2: every life, Every life is interesting, every single one. That's 271 00:17:42,379 --> 00:17:45,779 Speaker 2: why I consider murder so evil. What you have destroyed 272 00:17:45,780 --> 00:17:53,299 Speaker 2: by killing a human being, the immensity of experience and 273 00:17:53,379 --> 00:17:57,499 Speaker 2: memory and hope and uniqueness of that individual, and you 274 00:17:57,540 --> 00:18:01,100 Speaker 2: have killed that person anyway. Don't get me started on 275 00:18:01,179 --> 00:18:03,539 Speaker 2: non murder. Well, that's not for the happiness hour. For 276 00:18:03,580 --> 00:18:06,500 Speaker 2: the happiness hour right now is you are in control 277 00:18:06,540 --> 00:18:09,139 Speaker 2: of your life. You can change, and you have to 278 00:18:09,139 --> 00:18:11,740 Speaker 2: say that to yourself. It is very easy to walk 279 00:18:11,780 --> 00:18:16,579 Speaker 2: around the victim. My kids know. There's very very little 280 00:18:16,619 --> 00:18:18,939 Speaker 2: that can get me angry at them, very little. The 281 00:18:18,979 --> 00:18:24,219 Speaker 2: truth is when they whine, when they make themselves into victims, 282 00:18:24,619 --> 00:18:27,340 Speaker 2: I lose it. If I don't show, I lose it. 283 00:18:27,379 --> 00:18:30,499 Speaker 2: And sometimes I have I lose it and I can't 284 00:18:30,500 --> 00:18:33,579 Speaker 2: take that. That's the one thing I can't take. I 285 00:18:33,659 --> 00:18:37,060 Speaker 2: don't want my kids to grow up as victims. And 286 00:18:37,379 --> 00:18:42,579 Speaker 2: it doesn't You don't you understand? Everybody can do it. Everyone, 287 00:18:42,820 --> 00:18:47,020 Speaker 2: Everyone can see himself as a victim. There is nobody 288 00:18:47,100 --> 00:18:50,259 Speaker 2: listening to me right now who doesn't have the ability 289 00:18:50,340 --> 00:18:53,859 Speaker 2: to take events in life and see yourself as a victim. 290 00:18:54,219 --> 00:19:03,060 Speaker 2: No one, no matter how wealthy, successful, beautiful, rich, at anything, 291 00:19:04,459 --> 00:19:08,060 Speaker 2: everyone has there. I could absolutely write up a life 292 00:19:08,060 --> 00:19:11,499 Speaker 2: story for anybody listening and go, oh whoe one to me? 293 00:19:11,619 --> 00:19:13,980 Speaker 2: Woe one to me. And I mean that. I mean 294 00:19:14,100 --> 00:19:16,619 Speaker 2: this is not a rhetorical device. I truly believe that 295 00:19:16,659 --> 00:19:18,419 Speaker 2: I could do with my own life. Believe it or not, 296 00:19:19,020 --> 00:19:26,539 Speaker 2: absolutely I could. Dennis Prager victim. All right, when we 297 00:19:26,580 --> 00:19:30,260 Speaker 2: come back, I'll take your calls here. This could change 298 00:19:30,300 --> 00:19:33,020 Speaker 2: your life if you take it seriously. And that's why 299 00:19:33,300 --> 00:19:36,460 Speaker 2: I salute the virtue of the New Year's resolution. It's 300 00:19:36,500 --> 00:19:41,340 Speaker 2: a statement I can change. Want you to say that 301 00:19:41,379 --> 00:19:43,219 Speaker 2: one hundred times and I mean it, or put it 302 00:19:43,260 --> 00:19:46,019 Speaker 2: on your bathroom mirror. We'll be back in a moment. 303 00:19:46,100 --> 00:19:48,940 Speaker 2: You're listening to the Dennis Prager Show one eighth Pringer 304 00:19:49,459 --> 00:19:51,500 Speaker 2: seven seven six, The Happiness Hour. 305 00:19:52,020 --> 00:19:55,420 Speaker 1: This episode of Timeless Wisdom will continue right after this. 306 00:19:59,859 --> 00:20:04,700 Speaker 1: Now back to more of Dennis Prager's timeless wisdom. 307 00:20:04,859 --> 00:20:07,059 Speaker 2: All right, hey, my friends, welcome back. This is the 308 00:20:07,179 --> 00:20:10,300 Speaker 2: Happiness Hour. Every week at this time. The subject is happiness. 309 00:20:11,060 --> 00:20:13,500 Speaker 2: Happy people make the world better. And ask any kid, 310 00:20:13,580 --> 00:20:15,939 Speaker 2: to any of you, any adult, wh what was it 311 00:20:16,060 --> 00:20:19,579 Speaker 2: like growing up with an unhappy parent? And you have 312 00:20:19,699 --> 00:20:22,179 Speaker 2: an idea of how important happiness is. I think we 313 00:20:22,260 --> 00:20:24,219 Speaker 2: have a moral obligation to be as happy as we 314 00:20:24,260 --> 00:20:27,540 Speaker 2: can be. It's not a selfish pursuit at all. I mean, 315 00:20:27,540 --> 00:20:30,179 Speaker 2: it is partially obviously I want we all, most of 316 00:20:30,260 --> 00:20:32,859 Speaker 2: us at any rate, want to be happy for ourselves. 317 00:20:32,899 --> 00:20:35,299 Speaker 2: But in fact it's very altruistic. It is good for 318 00:20:35,379 --> 00:20:38,740 Speaker 2: everybody else if we're as happy as we can be. Anyway. 319 00:20:38,939 --> 00:20:41,539 Speaker 2: That's the reason for the hour every week today. It 320 00:20:41,619 --> 00:20:46,259 Speaker 2: is the concept of the new year's resolution is a 321 00:20:46,260 --> 00:20:48,739 Speaker 2: good one, a great one in fact, because it says 322 00:20:48,820 --> 00:20:52,619 Speaker 2: I can change, and I can change in turn says 323 00:20:52,859 --> 00:20:55,780 Speaker 2: I am in control of my life. That is what 324 00:20:55,899 --> 00:21:01,700 Speaker 2: makes happiness possible to feel that any of you listening 325 00:21:01,859 --> 00:21:05,580 Speaker 2: walking around with victim status one one to me because 326 00:21:05,659 --> 00:21:08,259 Speaker 2: of and you fill it in now. Some people really 327 00:21:08,300 --> 00:21:10,940 Speaker 2: are genuine victims, by the way, but even the genuine 328 00:21:11,020 --> 00:21:16,619 Speaker 2: victim can't possibly be happy if you walk around as 329 00:21:16,939 --> 00:21:19,419 Speaker 2: with a victim mentality. Even if you are, and there 330 00:21:19,500 --> 00:21:23,219 Speaker 2: really are victims, there are people who have terrible diseases 331 00:21:23,300 --> 00:21:27,259 Speaker 2: inflicted upon them that they did nothing to earn. If 332 00:21:27,300 --> 00:21:30,219 Speaker 2: you will, of course, there are real victims. If you've 333 00:21:30,260 --> 00:21:33,299 Speaker 2: been you know, a mugger has come and blinded you, 334 00:21:33,419 --> 00:21:35,699 Speaker 2: then you were a victim of that. Of course that's true. 335 00:21:36,179 --> 00:21:39,059 Speaker 2: But it's still bad to walk around thinking you're a victim. 336 00:21:39,899 --> 00:21:42,059 Speaker 2: You can acknowledge the fact that you are a victim, 337 00:21:42,100 --> 00:21:44,979 Speaker 2: and we should acknowledge it, but to have that as 338 00:21:45,060 --> 00:21:49,939 Speaker 2: your persona, as your personality, obviously you're unhappy. I mean, 339 00:21:49,979 --> 00:21:53,340 Speaker 2: there's just no way around it. On the other side, 340 00:21:53,459 --> 00:21:56,179 Speaker 2: everybody can think of himself as a victim, no matter 341 00:21:56,179 --> 00:21:58,379 Speaker 2: what your life has turned out. There is a way 342 00:21:58,379 --> 00:22:01,139 Speaker 2: to look at yourself as a victim. And then we 343 00:22:01,260 --> 00:22:06,139 Speaker 2: have victim industries, industries telling entire groups of people you're victims. 344 00:22:07,219 --> 00:22:09,739 Speaker 2: And I'm so angry at people who do that because 345 00:22:09,739 --> 00:22:13,379 Speaker 2: they raise children to be unhappy, and they whole and 346 00:22:13,419 --> 00:22:18,100 Speaker 2: whole groups of people. Let's go to more of your 347 00:22:18,859 --> 00:22:24,420 Speaker 2: calls here and the Mike in Sacramento, California on KTKZ. 348 00:22:24,580 --> 00:22:25,739 Speaker 2: Hello Mike, Dennis Prager. 349 00:22:25,859 --> 00:22:28,100 Speaker 4: Hi, Dennis. I might be able to provide a visual 350 00:22:28,179 --> 00:22:30,980 Speaker 4: metaphor for what you're saying. Something I learned a long 351 00:22:31,020 --> 00:22:32,379 Speaker 4: time ago, and I can't tell you them of the 352 00:22:32,379 --> 00:22:34,739 Speaker 4: source because I don't remember, but it was if you 353 00:22:34,780 --> 00:22:36,539 Speaker 4: were to take a piece of paper and draw a 354 00:22:36,540 --> 00:22:39,139 Speaker 4: circle on the piece of paper, and then inside the 355 00:22:39,179 --> 00:22:42,459 Speaker 4: circle write all the things that are easy for you 356 00:22:42,540 --> 00:22:45,339 Speaker 4: to influence all the simple things that take no effort, 357 00:22:45,580 --> 00:22:47,419 Speaker 4: and then outside the circle you put all the things 358 00:22:47,459 --> 00:22:49,619 Speaker 4: that would take a lot of effort, and you would 359 00:22:49,619 --> 00:22:51,379 Speaker 4: need to set goals and you would really need to 360 00:22:51,419 --> 00:22:56,699 Speaker 4: try to exert some force on yourself to achieve those. Well, 361 00:22:56,820 --> 00:23:01,139 Speaker 4: every time you do achieve something outside that circle, it's 362 00:23:01,179 --> 00:23:04,739 Speaker 4: as if you knocked the circle out and made it larger. 363 00:23:05,060 --> 00:23:05,500 Speaker 2: That's great. 364 00:23:05,780 --> 00:23:07,580 Speaker 4: Well, the other things that were outside the circle are 365 00:23:07,619 --> 00:23:09,619 Speaker 4: now easier for you to do, because in fact, what 366 00:23:09,659 --> 00:23:11,300 Speaker 4: you've done is the same thing you've said. You sent 367 00:23:11,340 --> 00:23:13,700 Speaker 4: the message to your brain that I am in control, 368 00:23:13,820 --> 00:23:17,059 Speaker 4: I can do and your expectations get reset, so to speak. 369 00:23:17,219 --> 00:23:19,260 Speaker 2: That's good. I like it a lot. Thank you, Mike. 370 00:23:19,459 --> 00:23:19,779 Speaker 5: Welcome. 371 00:23:19,899 --> 00:23:23,779 Speaker 2: That's right, absolutely right to you. Just That's why I 372 00:23:23,899 --> 00:23:26,859 Speaker 2: used a metaphor earlier. That's how we grow is to 373 00:23:26,979 --> 00:23:31,979 Speaker 2: feel in control of your life. Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, on 374 00:23:32,060 --> 00:23:33,580 Speaker 2: the Patriot in Minneapolis. 375 00:23:33,619 --> 00:23:38,540 Speaker 6: Hih hi, Dennis. I'm calling with agreement because I agree 376 00:23:38,540 --> 00:23:42,699 Speaker 6: with you about the you know, feeling in control, yes 377 00:23:42,739 --> 00:23:45,660 Speaker 6: and resolutions it gives. I think there's power and resolution. 378 00:23:45,739 --> 00:23:47,859 Speaker 6: That's I want to ask you a question, is how 379 00:23:47,859 --> 00:23:52,780 Speaker 6: this principle applies to homosexuality. And you know, first of all, 380 00:23:52,899 --> 00:23:54,899 Speaker 6: I think it would be simplistic to say that they 381 00:23:54,979 --> 00:23:57,419 Speaker 6: chose it outright, or simplistic to say that they didn't 382 00:23:57,459 --> 00:23:59,779 Speaker 6: choose it at all. So there's a middle ground. I 383 00:23:59,859 --> 00:24:03,660 Speaker 6: just emphasized the choice because I think it's more humanizing 384 00:24:04,100 --> 00:24:07,580 Speaker 6: to the person who is a homosexual to emphasize the 385 00:24:07,659 --> 00:24:11,539 Speaker 6: choice factor. And I think that if they feel controlled 386 00:24:11,580 --> 00:24:16,499 Speaker 6: by non non chosen voice forces that may be working 387 00:24:16,540 --> 00:24:17,779 Speaker 6: against their happiness. 388 00:24:17,780 --> 00:24:20,379 Speaker 2: And well, only if they feel that they if they 389 00:24:20,379 --> 00:24:23,499 Speaker 2: walk around as a victim. I happened to be among 390 00:24:23,540 --> 00:24:26,460 Speaker 2: those who believe that there are many cases of homosexuality 391 00:24:26,459 --> 00:24:30,299 Speaker 2: where there is no choice the individual. I knew, I 392 00:24:30,379 --> 00:24:33,899 Speaker 2: knew what many I've known this for many years. Let 393 00:24:33,899 --> 00:24:37,539 Speaker 2: me give you a story here is very important. A 394 00:24:37,580 --> 00:24:41,939 Speaker 2: young man who's deeply influenced by me religiously and philosophically 395 00:24:44,139 --> 00:24:49,139 Speaker 2: said to me that he feels deep homosexual yearnings, but 396 00:24:49,219 --> 00:24:52,580 Speaker 2: he wants to live by the values that I would 397 00:24:52,580 --> 00:24:54,619 Speaker 2: speak of of a family. He wants to bond with 398 00:24:54,659 --> 00:24:58,019 Speaker 2: a woman. And I remember how much effort he made 399 00:24:58,260 --> 00:25:01,500 Speaker 2: to be attracted to women. Everything he could do, from 400 00:25:01,580 --> 00:25:05,379 Speaker 2: analysis to looking at pictures to going out with girls. 401 00:25:05,899 --> 00:25:07,939 Speaker 2: But it didn't do anything for him. It did nothing. 402 00:25:08,899 --> 00:25:11,659 Speaker 2: This guy didn't choose, so I don't want to. This 403 00:25:11,739 --> 00:25:14,220 Speaker 2: hour is not going to be in homosexuality. I devoted 404 00:25:14,219 --> 00:25:16,540 Speaker 2: a whole speech on that subject last week, as many 405 00:25:16,540 --> 00:25:21,379 Speaker 2: of you may recall on the air. But only if 406 00:25:21,379 --> 00:25:24,139 Speaker 2: the almost sexual says I am a victim does this 407 00:25:24,179 --> 00:25:25,739 Speaker 2: Supply here will be back in a moment. 408 00:25:26,379 --> 00:25:29,699 Speaker 1: This episode of Timeless Wisdom will continue right after this. 409 00:25:34,219 --> 00:25:38,899 Speaker 1: Now back to more of Dennis Prager's timeless wisdom. 410 00:25:39,379 --> 00:25:41,979 Speaker 2: All right, my friends, Dennis Prager here the Happiness Hour. 411 00:25:42,580 --> 00:25:47,059 Speaker 2: The theme is based on the fact that this is 412 00:25:47,100 --> 00:25:51,580 Speaker 2: the new year and the New Year's resolution. How powerful 413 00:25:51,619 --> 00:25:54,499 Speaker 2: the idea is because it says I can change. I 414 00:25:54,540 --> 00:25:56,659 Speaker 2: can change means I'm in control of my life, and 415 00:25:56,699 --> 00:25:59,859 Speaker 2: that is a major source of happiness. Thinking that you 416 00:25:59,899 --> 00:26:04,659 Speaker 2: are the victim of forces is a guaranteur of bitterness 417 00:26:04,780 --> 00:26:09,820 Speaker 2: on happiness and often terrible moral consequences in the fact 418 00:26:09,859 --> 00:26:13,819 Speaker 2: that you will lash out almost everybody who does evil, 419 00:26:14,100 --> 00:26:16,939 Speaker 2: I mean real evil. I'm not talking about sinning in 420 00:26:17,020 --> 00:26:22,020 Speaker 2: the normal span of life, but I mean real Almost 421 00:26:22,060 --> 00:26:25,940 Speaker 2: everyone who does that thinks of himself as a victim. 422 00:26:26,979 --> 00:26:30,899 Speaker 2: The Islamic terrorists are a classic example. Ah, we are 423 00:26:31,020 --> 00:26:35,379 Speaker 2: victims of the Christian West. We are victims of the Jews. 424 00:26:36,100 --> 00:26:41,699 Speaker 2: We are victims of imperialism. Therefore we can murder anybody 425 00:26:41,780 --> 00:26:46,100 Speaker 2: we want because we are victims. The victim mentality is 426 00:26:46,179 --> 00:26:51,419 Speaker 2: bred deeply in various parts of the world, all unto us. 427 00:26:51,459 --> 00:26:54,780 Speaker 2: It is embedded by, it is contributed to by many 428 00:26:54,820 --> 00:26:57,899 Speaker 2: in the West, in the intellectual arena, who tell this 429 00:26:57,979 --> 00:27:01,779 Speaker 2: to them. Oh, you are not responsible for your lives. 430 00:27:01,780 --> 00:27:04,820 Speaker 2: It's the big bad West that has kept you down. 431 00:27:06,020 --> 00:27:08,619 Speaker 2: Oh this, you have no idea how common that is, folks, 432 00:27:08,899 --> 00:27:11,099 Speaker 2: as it is to this day. Why is their terror 433 00:27:11,459 --> 00:27:17,100 Speaker 2: because the West have been imperialistic in the Middle East 434 00:27:17,219 --> 00:27:20,739 Speaker 2: and because of I don't know what else the West does. 435 00:27:20,820 --> 00:27:25,940 Speaker 2: I don't know, but something to that effect. The riots 436 00:27:25,979 --> 00:27:28,739 Speaker 2: in Los Angeles which I which I witnessed, there was 437 00:27:28,780 --> 00:27:31,460 Speaker 2: smoke in my house. I was so close to them. 438 00:27:32,260 --> 00:27:37,459 Speaker 2: And everyone who burned a Korean store, or or eluded 439 00:27:37,899 --> 00:27:41,019 Speaker 2: or burned a building or a business thought of himself 440 00:27:41,060 --> 00:27:45,020 Speaker 2: as a victim. I'm a victim of racism, and therefore 441 00:27:45,219 --> 00:27:48,700 Speaker 2: I can I can hurt innocent people because after all, 442 00:27:48,739 --> 00:27:51,580 Speaker 2: I'm innocent and I'm a victim. Not only is the 443 00:27:51,659 --> 00:27:58,779 Speaker 2: victim mentality therefore guarantee bitterness and sadness and unhappiness, it 444 00:27:58,859 --> 00:28:04,219 Speaker 2: is often, it is often the necessary condition for evil doing. 445 00:28:05,459 --> 00:28:09,539 Speaker 2: So this is a very big, very big deal. All righty, 446 00:28:09,780 --> 00:28:14,739 Speaker 2: let's go to Mitch and University Heights, Ohio. Also in WCCD. 447 00:28:15,500 --> 00:28:19,540 Speaker 7: Hi there, Mitch, Hi, Dennis, how are you great? Thank you? 448 00:28:19,659 --> 00:28:21,979 Speaker 7: By the way, your show is probably the most intelligent 449 00:28:22,020 --> 00:28:26,059 Speaker 7: thing in the history of radio, if you think. 450 00:28:25,939 --> 00:28:29,139 Speaker 2: About it, well, maybe it's tied with the Lone Ranger. 451 00:28:30,020 --> 00:28:32,619 Speaker 7: Anyway, I just wanted to say that this American custom 452 00:28:32,659 --> 00:28:36,139 Speaker 7: that a lot of people have of getting absolutely, you know, 453 00:28:36,300 --> 00:28:39,019 Speaker 7: drunk on New Year's Eve, seems to be the exact 454 00:28:40,380 --> 00:28:42,780 Speaker 7: thing that you're talking about. It's sort of like saying that, 455 00:28:43,060 --> 00:28:44,979 Speaker 7: you know what, the year's over. I can't. I was 456 00:28:44,979 --> 00:28:46,739 Speaker 7: going to get drunk and forget all my troubles. I 457 00:28:46,820 --> 00:28:50,980 Speaker 7: think it's it's quite, it's quite. It's it's humorously sad actually, 458 00:28:51,420 --> 00:28:53,499 Speaker 7: And I was actually thinking about it once that if 459 00:28:53,540 --> 00:28:56,900 Speaker 7: you juxtapose that to the idea that's put forth in 460 00:28:56,900 --> 00:28:59,500 Speaker 7: the Jewish New Year on Russia Shana, which is not 461 00:28:59,540 --> 00:29:02,019 Speaker 7: only a new year, so to speak, but it's actually 462 00:29:02,020 --> 00:29:05,380 Speaker 7: the celebrates the creation of mankind and the whole point 463 00:29:05,420 --> 00:29:05,620 Speaker 7: of that. 464 00:29:05,979 --> 00:29:11,220 Speaker 2: Well, you're up to it. You're right, you're one hundred opposite. 465 00:29:11,420 --> 00:29:14,459 Speaker 2: I actually wrote that in my first book, The Comparison. 466 00:29:14,540 --> 00:29:17,100 Speaker 2: But there's one difference I would draw that I think 467 00:29:17,100 --> 00:29:19,620 Speaker 2: you'd be more precise in using. It's not the issue 468 00:29:19,620 --> 00:29:22,100 Speaker 2: of the American New Year versus the Jewish New Year. 469 00:29:22,300 --> 00:29:27,259 Speaker 2: It's the secular new year versus the religious new year. Sure, okay, 470 00:29:28,060 --> 00:29:31,460 Speaker 2: all right, Yeah, that's the you're absolutely he's absolutely right. 471 00:29:31,540 --> 00:29:34,140 Speaker 2: I mean, the purpose of the secular new year is 472 00:29:34,180 --> 00:29:38,180 Speaker 2: basically to get drunk and and and revel, and the 473 00:29:38,620 --> 00:29:42,979 Speaker 2: religious new year is to is to have introspection. I 474 00:29:43,340 --> 00:29:45,420 Speaker 2: thank you for your call, Mitch. That is the uh. 475 00:29:45,620 --> 00:29:48,860 Speaker 2: That is why I was talking earlier about the sense 476 00:29:48,940 --> 00:29:53,219 Speaker 2: of empowerment that a new Year's resolution gives. It does 477 00:29:53,219 --> 00:29:56,060 Speaker 2: give new years more than just getting drunk. By the way, Alan, 478 00:29:56,100 --> 00:29:58,019 Speaker 2: I want to have a subject that I've never done. 479 00:29:58,620 --> 00:30:02,219 Speaker 2: We're going to do this one day. Why do people 480 00:30:02,660 --> 00:30:07,420 Speaker 2: get drunk? I don't mean alcoholics, no, I mean why 481 00:30:07,420 --> 00:30:10,820 Speaker 2: do non alcoholics yearn to get drunk. It's a very 482 00:30:10,860 --> 00:30:14,140 Speaker 2: interesting question. I've never related to that, and I relate 483 00:30:14,180 --> 00:30:16,900 Speaker 2: to a lot of a lot of you know, not 484 00:30:17,020 --> 00:30:19,380 Speaker 2: healthy stuff, but not that one. And I be a 485 00:30:19,500 --> 00:30:21,860 Speaker 2: very interesting hour to have because a lot of people 486 00:30:22,260 --> 00:30:26,219 Speaker 2: will have experience and will be able to enlighten us 487 00:30:26,260 --> 00:30:29,620 Speaker 2: on that. Khalid, Also in Cleveland, this is a riot. 488 00:30:29,660 --> 00:30:31,620 Speaker 2: I'll tell you some days it's just one area, and 489 00:30:31,660 --> 00:30:35,740 Speaker 2: that Cleveland is dominating this hour. Hi, Kaleid Dennis Prager. 490 00:30:35,500 --> 00:30:38,140 Speaker 5: Hello, sir, I just want to point out a couple 491 00:30:38,140 --> 00:30:40,540 Speaker 5: of quick things briefly about I'm an African American. As 492 00:30:40,580 --> 00:30:43,979 Speaker 5: you know, victimology and fortanly runs rampant in our community. 493 00:30:44,060 --> 00:30:47,580 Speaker 2: Yes, and I have to believe so to sadness, yeah, and. 494 00:30:47,900 --> 00:30:51,500 Speaker 5: Mainly because of our leadership or so called leadership, which 495 00:30:51,660 --> 00:30:55,459 Speaker 5: poisons people on a daily basis with victim stories. And 496 00:30:55,540 --> 00:30:58,580 Speaker 5: the datorous thing about victimology is that a victim never 497 00:30:59,420 --> 00:31:00,660 Speaker 5: examines oneself. 498 00:31:00,860 --> 00:31:01,300 Speaker 2: That's right. 499 00:31:01,500 --> 00:31:03,940 Speaker 5: A victim never looks in the mirror and ask what 500 00:31:04,020 --> 00:31:04,900 Speaker 5: am I doing wrong? 501 00:31:04,979 --> 00:31:05,380 Speaker 2: That's right? 502 00:31:05,420 --> 00:31:07,140 Speaker 5: How can I improve myself? Am I thinking? 503 00:31:07,260 --> 00:31:09,300 Speaker 2: Of course? Not? Why should I am a victim? 504 00:31:09,340 --> 00:31:13,019 Speaker 5: And that only leads to decadence and which has you know, 505 00:31:13,180 --> 00:31:16,180 Speaker 5: ripped our community a great deal of not looking in 506 00:31:16,219 --> 00:31:19,420 Speaker 5: the mirror and examining the self inflicted wounds that we 507 00:31:19,500 --> 00:31:22,900 Speaker 5: perpetrate on ourselves on a daily basis. And I think 508 00:31:23,020 --> 00:31:25,420 Speaker 5: that's why victimology, which I hear on a daily basis 509 00:31:25,420 --> 00:31:26,380 Speaker 5: all kind of conspiracy. 510 00:31:26,340 --> 00:31:30,900 Speaker 2: There After the riots, Andrew Hacker, a major major professor 511 00:31:31,020 --> 00:31:33,219 Speaker 2: Queen's College, New York, wrote in The New York Review 512 00:31:33,300 --> 00:31:37,020 Speaker 2: of Books that blacks should know that whites really want 513 00:31:37,180 --> 00:31:42,420 Speaker 2: to exterminate them. That's right, Wow, yep. I mean if 514 00:31:42,540 --> 00:31:44,819 Speaker 2: imagine that, Imagine I'm a black reader of this and 515 00:31:44,860 --> 00:31:47,059 Speaker 2: this is a white guy telling me, my God, he 516 00:31:47,140 --> 00:31:48,180 Speaker 2: must know he's white. 517 00:31:48,739 --> 00:31:51,219 Speaker 5: And lastly, I want to compare our taking to that 518 00:31:51,340 --> 00:31:54,140 Speaker 5: of Arabs in the Middle East, which we have some 519 00:31:54,219 --> 00:31:58,100 Speaker 5: of the similar psychosis I call it when it comes 520 00:31:58,100 --> 00:32:01,579 Speaker 5: to the poison that we receive from a certain segment 521 00:32:01,580 --> 00:32:05,459 Speaker 5: of our community, which only leads to more self inflicted 522 00:32:06,459 --> 00:32:09,060 Speaker 5: pain in anguish. I wanted your garments on that thing. 523 00:32:09,140 --> 00:32:12,140 Speaker 2: Oh, you're You're absolutely right, and I have mentioned that, 524 00:32:12,300 --> 00:32:14,420 Speaker 2: and to hear it from you is actually stronger than 525 00:32:14,459 --> 00:32:17,459 Speaker 2: to hear it from me. Anybody can as I said, 526 00:32:17,500 --> 00:32:19,940 Speaker 2: anyone can walk around with a victim mentality, and I 527 00:32:19,979 --> 00:32:22,100 Speaker 2: know that for a fact, anybody I could if I 528 00:32:22,180 --> 00:32:26,180 Speaker 2: chose to, and I have a blessed life. But it 529 00:32:26,260 --> 00:32:30,540 Speaker 2: is now entire groups of people are taught your victims. 530 00:32:30,700 --> 00:32:34,499 Speaker 2: And Khaleague makes the critically important point there is something 531 00:32:34,660 --> 00:32:37,380 Speaker 2: very comforting in thinking you're a victim, because then you 532 00:32:37,420 --> 00:32:41,499 Speaker 2: don't have to judge yourself. You are then free to 533 00:32:41,540 --> 00:32:44,459 Speaker 2: do anything, because, after all, I am a victim, and 534 00:32:44,500 --> 00:32:47,980 Speaker 2: it's a pain to judge yourself. Final segment coming up 535 00:32:48,219 --> 00:32:51,180 Speaker 2: on the Happiness Hour. You can call in at one 536 00:32:51,300 --> 00:32:54,740 Speaker 2: eight Prager seven seven six or email me through my website, 537 00:32:54,739 --> 00:32:58,620 Speaker 2: of course, Dennispraguer dot com. Taking Control of your Life. 538 00:32:58,860 --> 00:33:02,060 Speaker 2: Got a call coming up about the issue of God 539 00:33:02,100 --> 00:33:06,060 Speaker 2: being your copilot. This is Dennis Prager back in a moment, 540 00:33:06,900 --> 00:33:11,420 Speaker 2: Dennis Prager here. Final segment of this edition of The 541 00:33:11,459 --> 00:33:13,980 Speaker 2: Happiness Hour on the power of the New Year's resolution. 542 00:33:14,100 --> 00:33:17,100 Speaker 2: I'm using that as the as the jumping off point 543 00:33:17,540 --> 00:33:20,099 Speaker 2: for saying you can change. When you say you can change, 544 00:33:20,620 --> 00:33:22,380 Speaker 2: you are in control of your life. You'll be happy. 545 00:33:22,780 --> 00:33:25,739 Speaker 2: The opposite thinking I am a victim is a is 546 00:33:26,020 --> 00:33:28,940 Speaker 2: it guarantees unhappiness. It's got some more calls. Linda in 547 00:33:29,020 --> 00:33:31,299 Speaker 2: Los Angeles, KRLA Highland of Dennis Prager. 548 00:33:31,940 --> 00:33:33,979 Speaker 8: Yes, Dennis, is such a pleasure to talk to you. 549 00:33:34,260 --> 00:33:35,580 Speaker 3: Thank you, Thank you. 550 00:33:36,820 --> 00:33:40,940 Speaker 8: I wanted to add something something to your comment about 551 00:33:40,940 --> 00:33:45,540 Speaker 8: God being your co pilot, and I feel that if 552 00:33:45,580 --> 00:33:52,180 Speaker 8: you allow him to direct your life, you can achieve happiness. 553 00:33:52,540 --> 00:33:54,620 Speaker 8: And let me tell you just a little bit about myself. 554 00:33:55,739 --> 00:33:57,940 Speaker 8: I came down with an illness about six years ago, 555 00:33:58,420 --> 00:34:01,380 Speaker 8: and before that I was very successful. I was living 556 00:34:01,380 --> 00:34:04,140 Speaker 8: in New York, making lots of money and having a 557 00:34:04,180 --> 00:34:07,660 Speaker 8: good time. And when I became ill, I lost everything 558 00:34:08,300 --> 00:34:10,779 Speaker 8: and I didn't know what you know. I you know, 559 00:34:11,060 --> 00:34:13,900 Speaker 8: years went by and I was unemployed and I didn't 560 00:34:13,900 --> 00:34:18,260 Speaker 8: know what to do with myself anymore. But in the interim, 561 00:34:18,380 --> 00:34:22,700 Speaker 8: I discovered God. And that probably would not have happened 562 00:34:23,060 --> 00:34:27,299 Speaker 8: if I had not become ill, you know, because I 563 00:34:27,340 --> 00:34:30,060 Speaker 8: was so wrapped up in my career. Oh, very interesting, 564 00:34:30,580 --> 00:34:31,580 Speaker 8: I didn't have time for him. 565 00:34:31,700 --> 00:34:34,899 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's very it's a very powerful statement that you made. 566 00:34:34,940 --> 00:34:37,339 Speaker 2: I have seen that happen, and not not not only 567 00:34:37,420 --> 00:34:40,459 Speaker 2: Visa VI God, but people being struck by a very 568 00:34:40,460 --> 00:34:44,100 Speaker 2: big blow in life. Actually increasing their happiness. 569 00:34:44,420 --> 00:34:44,899 Speaker 8: That's right. 570 00:34:45,299 --> 00:34:48,860 Speaker 2: It's a very interesting Uh, it's really alan that's worthy 571 00:34:48,980 --> 00:34:52,820 Speaker 2: of another happiness show how big blows can make you happy. Actually, 572 00:34:52,900 --> 00:34:55,580 Speaker 2: in the final analysis, by the way, your your point 573 00:34:55,620 --> 00:34:58,580 Speaker 2: about seeing God directing your life, that's the opposite of 574 00:34:58,620 --> 00:35:03,259 Speaker 2: the victim. You don't understand what I'm saying. Your view 575 00:35:03,339 --> 00:35:06,700 Speaker 2: is the opposite of oh my God woee. To me, rather, 576 00:35:07,339 --> 00:35:11,020 Speaker 2: God is the director of my life, and therefore I 577 00:35:11,660 --> 00:35:15,060 Speaker 2: am great, I am grateful for or I understand what 578 00:35:15,180 --> 00:35:19,460 Speaker 2: I have. I accept it, rather than I am a victim. 579 00:35:20,660 --> 00:35:21,300 Speaker 2: Is that correct? 580 00:35:22,219 --> 00:35:24,939 Speaker 8: That's correct. But let me tell you something. It's not 581 00:35:25,020 --> 00:35:28,779 Speaker 8: just God. It's also the Lord Jesus that I've discovered. 582 00:35:29,460 --> 00:35:32,660 Speaker 8: And you know, one morning when I was praising him. 583 00:35:32,900 --> 00:35:35,819 Speaker 8: When I was praising him, I heard him call me 584 00:35:35,980 --> 00:35:39,499 Speaker 8: by profession, you know. And I had already gone back 585 00:35:39,500 --> 00:35:43,339 Speaker 8: to college, studied law and got in my paralegal certification. 586 00:35:43,420 --> 00:35:44,779 Speaker 8: I thought, this is what I'm going to do from 587 00:35:44,779 --> 00:35:48,460 Speaker 8: now on. And I said God, I said, if this 588 00:35:48,540 --> 00:35:50,700 Speaker 8: is what you want me to do, I said, give 589 00:35:50,739 --> 00:35:54,900 Speaker 8: me somebody in that field who will direct me, guide 590 00:35:54,940 --> 00:35:55,779 Speaker 8: me and help me. 591 00:35:56,060 --> 00:35:57,660 Speaker 2: And there you got it, and you got it. Well, 592 00:35:57,700 --> 00:36:00,739 Speaker 2: God bless you. Indeed lynd to thank you. David says 593 00:36:00,739 --> 00:36:02,540 Speaker 2: we can have a conspiracy view of the world and 594 00:36:02,580 --> 00:36:05,660 Speaker 2: still be happy. God I would. I I'm sorry, David, 595 00:36:05,700 --> 00:36:07,339 Speaker 2: I didn't have that time. John's been on from the 596 00:36:07,339 --> 00:36:11,459 Speaker 2: beginning in Washington State, Ire Subconscious and so on. I'm 597 00:36:11,460 --> 00:36:15,299 Speaker 2: sorry and Elizabeth and others. But folks, the message of 598 00:36:15,299 --> 00:36:19,700 Speaker 2: today you can change, and you should just get up 599 00:36:19,739 --> 00:36:23,140 Speaker 2: and throw your hands in the air and go. Yeah, 600 00:36:23,219 --> 00:36:26,660 Speaker 2: I could, jage. I am the captain of my ship. 601 00:36:26,859 --> 00:36:28,580 Speaker 2: I am happy. Stay tuned. 602 00:36:32,500 --> 00:36:36,860 Speaker 1: This has been timeless wisdom with Dennis Prager. Visit dennisprager 603 00:36:36,859 --> 00:36:40,420 Speaker 1: dot com for thousands of hours of Dennis's lectures, courses, 604 00:36:40,460 --> 00:36:45,100 Speaker 1: and classic radio programs, and to purchase Dennis Prager's Rational Bibles.