1 00:00:21,500 --> 00:00:25,820 Speaker 1: Welcome to Timeless Wisdom with Dennis Prager. Here thousands of 2 00:00:25,860 --> 00:00:29,340 Speaker 1: hours of Dennis's lectures, courses, and classic radio programs. And 3 00:00:29,500 --> 00:00:40,860 Speaker 1: to purchase Dennis Prager's Rational Bibles, go to Dennisprager dot com. 4 00:00:41,300 --> 00:00:43,620 Speaker 2: Believe it or not, this is the Ultimate Issues Hour 5 00:00:43,659 --> 00:00:47,140 Speaker 2: on the Dennis Prager Show. The third hour every Tuesday 6 00:00:47,860 --> 00:00:51,819 Speaker 2: is devoted to a great issue of life. But give 7 00:00:51,900 --> 00:00:55,580 Speaker 2: us the Christmas music. It is, after all, the last 8 00:00:55,700 --> 00:01:02,540 Speaker 2: ultimate Issues hour prior to Christmas. Yes, special time of year. 9 00:01:02,820 --> 00:01:07,300 Speaker 2: And I made the argument in the first hour that no, 10 00:01:07,420 --> 00:01:11,179 Speaker 2: what is this the third hour? Already? Wow? Ghost fast Wow. 11 00:01:11,260 --> 00:01:12,820 Speaker 2: I though it was the second is but of course 12 00:01:12,820 --> 00:01:16,140 Speaker 2: it's the third. I made the argument that you got 13 00:01:16,180 --> 00:01:18,899 Speaker 2: to take these two weeks and relax. It's very important. 14 00:01:18,940 --> 00:01:21,179 Speaker 2: And believe me, I know about the world tensions and 15 00:01:21,220 --> 00:01:25,100 Speaker 2: the domestic tensions. I read them, I write them, I 16 00:01:25,180 --> 00:01:28,580 Speaker 2: talk about them, I live them. I care about them. 17 00:01:29,100 --> 00:01:32,180 Speaker 2: But you have to at some point there is a 18 00:01:32,260 --> 00:01:36,660 Speaker 2: reason to have holidays and Holy days. You have to 19 00:01:36,700 --> 00:01:41,780 Speaker 2: take time off because next year is going to be 20 00:01:41,900 --> 00:01:45,580 Speaker 2: very intense. The whole year. The future of the United 21 00:01:45,620 --> 00:01:50,140 Speaker 2: States will be decided in November of twenty sixteen Ultimate 22 00:01:50,220 --> 00:01:53,300 Speaker 2: Issues Hour. The Ultimate Issue is really a big issue. 23 00:01:53,300 --> 00:01:55,340 Speaker 2: People don't know how big it is. I don't even 24 00:01:55,340 --> 00:02:01,260 Speaker 2: think that many people who do say Merry Christmas to 25 00:02:01,300 --> 00:02:04,580 Speaker 2: people realize how big it is. That's why I want 26 00:02:04,580 --> 00:02:06,980 Speaker 2: you to please see my column this week. It's going 27 00:02:07,100 --> 00:02:12,059 Speaker 2: I don't know about viral, but it's extremely widely reprinted 28 00:02:12,100 --> 00:02:16,980 Speaker 2: on the internet, including Real Clear Politics, which takes what 29 00:02:17,060 --> 00:02:21,220 Speaker 2: it considers the most important left and right articles each day. 30 00:02:21,940 --> 00:02:26,220 Speaker 2: So you can go to National Review, town Hall, RealClearPolitics, 31 00:02:26,300 --> 00:02:31,540 Speaker 2: Dennisprager dot com. And the title that I gave it 32 00:02:31,580 --> 00:02:35,380 Speaker 2: is what title? Because they gave a different title National Review. 33 00:02:35,500 --> 00:02:37,780 Speaker 2: Let me see the title that I gave it is 34 00:02:37,820 --> 00:02:43,220 Speaker 2: saying Merry Christmas is very important. That's exactly what it is. 35 00:02:43,340 --> 00:02:49,340 Speaker 2: It is very important. This is a huge issue, huge. 36 00:02:49,460 --> 00:02:52,980 Speaker 2: That's what I want the people to understand. So I'm 37 00:02:53,020 --> 00:02:58,620 Speaker 2: going to tell you why. Let me begin by reading 38 00:02:58,860 --> 00:03:02,500 Speaker 2: this to you. What I wrote. The nearly universal change 39 00:03:02,500 --> 00:03:06,780 Speaker 2: from wishing fellow Americans Merry Christmas to wishing them happy 40 00:03:06,780 --> 00:03:12,540 Speaker 2: Holidays is a very significant development in American life. Proponents 41 00:03:12,580 --> 00:03:15,459 Speaker 2: of happy Holidays argue that it's no big deal at all, 42 00:03:16,380 --> 00:03:19,139 Speaker 2: and that proponents of Merry Christmas are making a mountain 43 00:03:19,260 --> 00:03:22,820 Speaker 2: out of a mole hill, especially when proponents say that 44 00:03:22,860 --> 00:03:25,820 Speaker 2: the substitution of Happy Holidays is part of a quote 45 00:03:25,900 --> 00:03:31,260 Speaker 2: war on Christianity. But the happy Holidays advocates want it 46 00:03:31,340 --> 00:03:38,940 Speaker 2: both ways. They dismiss opponents as hysterical while at the 47 00:03:38,980 --> 00:03:43,540 Speaker 2: same time relentlessly pushing through it in America of Merry Christmas. So, then, 48 00:03:43,580 --> 00:03:47,100 Speaker 2: which is it? Is the substitution of happy Holidays for 49 00:03:47,180 --> 00:03:51,900 Speaker 2: Merry Christmas important or not? The answer is obvious. It 50 00:03:52,020 --> 00:03:56,580 Speaker 2: is very important. That's why the anti Merry Christmas crowd 51 00:03:57,220 --> 00:04:00,100 Speaker 2: has worked so hard to make this greeting a thing 52 00:04:00,180 --> 00:04:05,780 Speaker 2: of the past, and they have been extraordinarily successful. I 53 00:04:05,860 --> 00:04:09,500 Speaker 2: have been wished Happy Holidays by every waiter and waitress 54 00:04:09,620 --> 00:04:13,220 Speaker 2: in every restaurant I have dined, by every one of 55 00:04:13,220 --> 00:04:15,300 Speaker 2: the young people who welcome me when I go to 56 00:04:15,340 --> 00:04:19,099 Speaker 2: the gym, by every flight attendant and pilot on every 57 00:04:19,099 --> 00:04:22,260 Speaker 2: one of my flights, and by every individual I have 58 00:04:22,380 --> 00:04:26,140 Speaker 2: dealt with on the phone. When I respond thank you 59 00:04:26,180 --> 00:04:30,419 Speaker 2: Merry Christmas, I sometimes sense that I have actually created 60 00:04:30,460 --> 00:04:34,260 Speaker 2: some tension, while many of those to whom I wish 61 00:04:34,300 --> 00:04:38,940 Speaker 2: Merry Christmas may actually be happy that someone felt free 62 00:04:38,980 --> 00:04:43,340 Speaker 2: to utter the SA word. All the sensitivity training that 63 00:04:43,340 --> 00:04:48,940 Speaker 2: they've had to undergo creates cognitive dissonance. Christmas has also 64 00:04:48,980 --> 00:04:52,580 Speaker 2: been eliminated by many, probably the majority, of our elementary schools, 65 00:04:52,660 --> 00:04:55,900 Speaker 2: high schools, and universities. Thus, for example, they no longer 66 00:04:55,940 --> 00:05:01,060 Speaker 2: have a Christmas vacation, but a winter vacation. The opponents 67 00:05:01,100 --> 00:05:04,219 Speaker 2: of Merry Christmas and other uses of the word Christmas 68 00:05:04,780 --> 00:05:09,060 Speaker 2: know exactly what they are doing. They are disingenuous when 69 00:05:09,060 --> 00:05:13,620 Speaker 2: they dismiss defenders of Merry Christmas as fabricating some war 70 00:05:13,660 --> 00:05:19,260 Speaker 2: on Christianity. Of course, it's a war on Christianity, or, 71 00:05:19,300 --> 00:05:22,539 Speaker 2: more precisely, a war on the religious nature of America. 72 00:05:23,540 --> 00:05:27,700 Speaker 2: The left in America, like the left in Europe, wants 73 00:05:27,740 --> 00:05:33,460 Speaker 2: to create a thoroughly secular society. Unfortunately, most people do 74 00:05:33,540 --> 00:05:37,260 Speaker 2: not realize that the left believes in secularism just as 75 00:05:37,260 --> 00:05:42,140 Speaker 2: fervently as religious Christians believe in Christ. That's why Merry 76 00:05:42,220 --> 00:05:46,140 Speaker 2: Christmas so bothers the anti religious left. It is perhaps 77 00:05:46,140 --> 00:05:50,300 Speaker 2: the single most blatant reminder of just how religious America is, 78 00:05:51,140 --> 00:05:55,659 Speaker 2: and it must therefore be removed from public discourse. Here's 79 00:05:55,660 --> 00:05:59,020 Speaker 2: a safe prediction the ACLU and other secular activists on 80 00:05:59,060 --> 00:06:03,300 Speaker 2: the left will eventually move to have Christmas removed as 81 00:06:03,340 --> 00:06:08,420 Speaker 2: a national holiday. The left doesn't announce that its agenda 82 00:06:08,620 --> 00:06:13,420 Speaker 2: is to thoroughly secularize America. Instead, activists offer the multiculturalist 83 00:06:13,540 --> 00:06:18,500 Speaker 2: argument that saying Christmas as in Merry Christmas, or Christmas 84 00:06:18,580 --> 00:06:26,300 Speaker 2: party or Christmas vacation is not quote inclusive unquote. This 85 00:06:26,460 --> 00:06:31,780 Speaker 2: inclusiveness argument plays on American's highly developed sense of decency. 86 00:06:32,740 --> 00:06:37,580 Speaker 2: Most Americans don't want to gratuitously offend other Americans, so 87 00:06:37,700 --> 00:06:43,900 Speaker 2: the inclusiveness argument has been effective. But the argument is preposterous. 88 00:06:44,700 --> 00:06:48,060 Speaker 2: Who exactly is being excluded when one wishes someone marry 89 00:06:48,100 --> 00:06:54,220 Speaker 2: Christmas non Christians. I'm a non Christian, I am a Jew. 90 00:06:55,180 --> 00:06:57,740 Speaker 2: Christmas is therefore no more or religious holy day for 91 00:06:57,820 --> 00:07:01,380 Speaker 2: me than Ramadan. But I am an American and Christmas 92 00:07:01,420 --> 00:07:05,020 Speaker 2: is a national holiday of my country. It is therefore 93 00:07:05,180 --> 00:07:08,580 Speaker 2: my holiday, though not my holy day, as much as 94 00:07:08,580 --> 00:07:12,500 Speaker 2: it is for my fellow Americans who are Christian. Irving Berlin, 95 00:07:12,620 --> 00:07:17,100 Speaker 2: an American Jew, wrote white Christmas as a celebration of 96 00:07:17,140 --> 00:07:22,380 Speaker 2: an American holiday, his holiday. Not wishing me or merry Christmas, 97 00:07:22,420 --> 00:07:26,700 Speaker 2: you are not being inclusive. You are deliberately excluding me 98 00:07:27,780 --> 00:07:32,780 Speaker 2: from one of my nation's national holidays. But even if 99 00:07:32,860 --> 00:07:36,380 Speaker 2: Christmas weren't a national holiday, I would want companies to 100 00:07:36,420 --> 00:07:41,300 Speaker 2: have Christmas parties, schools to continue to have Christmas vacations, 101 00:07:41,340 --> 00:07:45,940 Speaker 2: and pilots to wish their passengers Merry Christmas. Just because 102 00:07:46,020 --> 00:07:49,100 Speaker 2: I don't personally celebrate Christmas, why would I want to 103 00:07:49,140 --> 00:07:53,220 Speaker 2: drop the word Christmas from public discourse When Christmas is 104 00:07:53,260 --> 00:07:57,660 Speaker 2: celebrated by ninety percent of my fellow Americans. It borders 105 00:07:57,660 --> 00:08:02,260 Speaker 2: on the misanthropic not to mention means spirited to want 106 00:08:02,300 --> 00:08:05,140 Speaker 2: to deny nearly all of your fellow citizens the joy 107 00:08:05,180 --> 00:08:09,860 Speaker 2: of having their Christmas parties called Christmas parties, or to 108 00:08:09,940 --> 00:08:13,980 Speaker 2: have to force them to replace Merry Christmas with happy Holidays. 109 00:08:15,300 --> 00:08:18,940 Speaker 2: A majority Christian country that treats non Christians so well 110 00:08:20,140 --> 00:08:28,620 Speaker 2: deserve better. Narcissism, misanthropy, meanness, and ingratitude. That's what the 111 00:08:28,700 --> 00:08:32,780 Speaker 2: leftist campaign against Merry Christmas and Christmas parties boils down to. 112 00:08:34,220 --> 00:08:38,900 Speaker 2: So say merry Christmas and Christmas party. If you don't, 113 00:08:38,939 --> 00:08:43,500 Speaker 2: you're not inclusive. You're letting the real life grinches win. 114 00:08:46,980 --> 00:08:50,339 Speaker 2: There we go I want you to have that. I'd 115 00:08:50,380 --> 00:08:53,820 Speaker 2: like you to read it at your Christmas party, at 116 00:08:53,860 --> 00:08:58,860 Speaker 2: a Christmas table, I should say celebration. No matter what 117 00:08:58,980 --> 00:09:02,819 Speaker 2: your opinion, it would provoke a very interesting discussion. While 118 00:09:02,860 --> 00:09:05,220 Speaker 2: I'm not for debating politics, I think this is a 119 00:09:05,340 --> 00:09:09,140 Speaker 2: this is a good one. It's time to fight back. 120 00:09:10,580 --> 00:09:13,700 Speaker 2: It's one of the stupidest things. And it's the whole 121 00:09:13,700 --> 00:09:20,460 Speaker 2: thing's fraudulent, non inclusive. It's a fraud to my fellow Jews. 122 00:09:20,740 --> 00:09:24,580 Speaker 2: A very simple question, should a you in Israel not 123 00:09:24,820 --> 00:09:30,940 Speaker 2: say Happy New Year during the Russiashana season? After all, 124 00:09:31,060 --> 00:09:34,980 Speaker 2: they the Hebrew iss Shahnatova good Year? So should they 125 00:09:35,020 --> 00:09:37,740 Speaker 2: not say that? After all, almost a quarter of Israel 126 00:09:37,820 --> 00:09:42,740 Speaker 2: isn't Jewish. A fifth of Israel is not Jewish. So 127 00:09:42,780 --> 00:09:45,300 Speaker 2: should they stop saying Happy New Year? When a fifth 128 00:09:45,340 --> 00:09:49,620 Speaker 2: of Israel Israelis don't celebrate it personally? I bet you 129 00:09:49,740 --> 00:09:52,100 Speaker 2: they I bet you it doesn't even occur to them. 130 00:09:53,340 --> 00:09:59,620 Speaker 2: This is an American leftist invention, not inclusive. If you 131 00:09:59,700 --> 00:10:03,140 Speaker 2: don't say Merry Christmas to me, then you are not 132 00:10:03,300 --> 00:10:07,140 Speaker 2: being inclusive. There's nothing more inclusive than trying to bring 133 00:10:07,220 --> 00:10:15,819 Speaker 2: me into your celebration. It's like, uh, it's like, I'm 134 00:10:15,860 --> 00:10:20,900 Speaker 2: not going to celebrate your birthday because it's not my birthday. Hey, 135 00:10:21,220 --> 00:10:23,980 Speaker 2: you're not inclusive. It's not my birthday. It's only yours. 136 00:10:26,140 --> 00:10:28,820 Speaker 2: One eighth Praguer seven seven six. This is worthy of 137 00:10:28,860 --> 00:10:32,220 Speaker 2: an Ultimate Issues Hour. It is an ultimate issue. Please 138 00:10:32,540 --> 00:10:36,380 Speaker 2: get the article and send it along. You're listening to 139 00:10:36,420 --> 00:10:39,300 Speaker 2: the Dennis Prager Show. We continue. One eighth Prager seven 140 00:10:39,420 --> 00:10:49,540 Speaker 2: seven six. Hi, everybody, this is the Ultimate Issues Hour, 141 00:10:49,700 --> 00:10:53,900 Speaker 2: third hour every week Tuesday is on some great issue. 142 00:10:53,900 --> 00:10:58,980 Speaker 2: And I consider the removal of the word Christmas from 143 00:10:58,980 --> 00:11:03,099 Speaker 2: the American public vocabulary to be an ultimate issue. Absolutely. 144 00:11:04,140 --> 00:11:10,740 Speaker 2: Please read my column today saying Merry Christmas is very important. 145 00:11:10,940 --> 00:11:14,620 Speaker 2: That's the title of the column. And it's all over 146 00:11:14,740 --> 00:11:17,660 Speaker 2: the It's not all over, it's in many places on 147 00:11:17,700 --> 00:11:23,060 Speaker 2: the internet, National Review, town Hall, Real Clear, Politics, and 148 00:11:23,140 --> 00:11:28,300 Speaker 2: many other places. It's a national holiday. Anyway, I read 149 00:11:28,300 --> 00:11:30,220 Speaker 2: you the entire piece. I'm not going to re review 150 00:11:30,260 --> 00:11:32,660 Speaker 2: all of the points. I'm going to take your calls though. 151 00:11:34,140 --> 00:11:38,780 Speaker 2: The schools no longer have Christmas vacation, it's winter vacation 152 00:11:39,340 --> 00:11:41,420 Speaker 2: and so on. By the way, even Happy New Year. 153 00:11:41,460 --> 00:11:43,580 Speaker 2: I don't know why they say Happy New Year. Jehovah's 154 00:11:43,580 --> 00:11:46,060 Speaker 2: witnesses don't just celebrate the New Year. To the best 155 00:11:46,060 --> 00:11:50,980 Speaker 2: of my knowledge, they don't celebrate birthdays. If you're going to. 156 00:11:51,060 --> 00:11:54,020 Speaker 2: If inclusivity is your point, then you can't say anything 157 00:11:54,060 --> 00:11:59,459 Speaker 2: about anything. Why even say happy holiday? Not everybody is 158 00:11:59,500 --> 00:12:07,660 Speaker 2: observing any holiday? Right? Why say that inclusive totalitarian notion? 159 00:12:07,780 --> 00:12:11,740 Speaker 2: And it's meaningless inclusive? If you wish me a merry 160 00:12:11,820 --> 00:12:14,540 Speaker 2: Christmas and I happen not to be Christian, how am 161 00:12:14,580 --> 00:12:18,380 Speaker 2: I being excluded? Exactly cold? Somebody tell me that, how 162 00:12:18,420 --> 00:12:21,460 Speaker 2: am I being excluded? Aren't you in including me in 163 00:12:21,500 --> 00:12:24,020 Speaker 2: your celebration? Isn't that the nicest thing you can do? 164 00:12:29,140 --> 00:12:37,700 Speaker 2: Like everything else on the left, it's it's preposterous. It's preposterous. Birmingham, Alabama, Jonathan, Hello, Jonathan, Hey. 165 00:12:37,740 --> 00:12:38,820 Speaker 3: How you doing all right? 166 00:12:38,900 --> 00:12:40,300 Speaker 2: Thank you good? 167 00:12:40,900 --> 00:12:44,140 Speaker 4: You know, Christmas is really just a celebration of the 168 00:12:44,140 --> 00:12:48,220 Speaker 4: Winter Solstice, which is a pagan holiday that is kind 169 00:12:48,220 --> 00:12:51,380 Speaker 4: of scraping it over by Christianity. And this is constantly 170 00:12:51,460 --> 00:12:54,380 Speaker 4: you know, Christmas is constantly through Is. 171 00:12:54,340 --> 00:12:58,020 Speaker 2: There anybody who celebrates Christmas who was celebrating the winter solstice? 172 00:12:59,780 --> 00:13:03,140 Speaker 2: Is there anyone celebrating Christmas today? Who was celebrating the 173 00:13:03,220 --> 00:13:05,380 Speaker 2: Christmas Solstice? Excuse me, the winter solstice. 174 00:13:06,100 --> 00:13:07,939 Speaker 4: Well, it doesn't make it any less true that. 175 00:13:07,900 --> 00:13:10,460 Speaker 2: That's what it's about, but it makes it completely irrelevant. 176 00:13:10,860 --> 00:13:12,220 Speaker 2: It's true, but irrelevant. 177 00:13:13,340 --> 00:13:15,780 Speaker 4: Well, I mean that's just why is it relevant? 178 00:13:15,780 --> 00:13:19,059 Speaker 2: Why is it relevant? Everybody who celebrates Christmas as a 179 00:13:19,140 --> 00:13:22,700 Speaker 2: religious day is not celebing the the place of the 180 00:13:22,740 --> 00:13:26,020 Speaker 2: earth visa vi. The Sun. They are celebrating the birth 181 00:13:26,060 --> 00:13:30,140 Speaker 2: of their savior. So why is it important to note 182 00:13:30,380 --> 00:13:33,420 Speaker 2: that thousands of years ago it was the time of 183 00:13:33,420 --> 00:13:36,660 Speaker 2: the winter solstice. I'm serious, I'm I'm not arguing with you. 184 00:13:36,740 --> 00:13:38,580 Speaker 2: I want to know. Why do you think it's an 185 00:13:38,580 --> 00:13:39,340 Speaker 2: important point? 186 00:13:39,900 --> 00:13:42,059 Speaker 4: Well, I mean it's you know, it's it's recognized, what's 187 00:13:42,179 --> 00:13:44,579 Speaker 4: recognizing what our ancestors went through to get us here. 188 00:13:44,780 --> 00:13:47,220 Speaker 4: At one time, it was a big celebration about the 189 00:13:47,260 --> 00:13:49,380 Speaker 4: harvest or whatever it was about. I'm not a historian, 190 00:13:49,420 --> 00:13:49,940 Speaker 4: but no. 191 00:13:49,780 --> 00:13:55,380 Speaker 2: No, I'm why did you call to tell me that 192 00:13:55,460 --> 00:13:59,540 Speaker 2: it was originally the winter solstice? I'm not I'm not 193 00:13:59,700 --> 00:14:02,340 Speaker 2: challenging you. I don't understand the point of the call. 194 00:14:02,780 --> 00:14:05,620 Speaker 4: I mean, because it was stolen. It's stolen, it's sprayping 195 00:14:05,740 --> 00:14:09,819 Speaker 4: it over by Christians. It's not it's not Christmas. Christmas? 196 00:14:09,900 --> 00:14:14,340 Speaker 2: Who what does it mean? Okay? So are you aware 197 00:14:14,380 --> 00:14:18,260 Speaker 2: of the fact that virtually every Biblical holiday, uh, and 198 00:14:18,300 --> 00:14:21,460 Speaker 2: I'm talking as a Jew about the Hebrew Bible ultimately 199 00:14:21,540 --> 00:14:27,180 Speaker 2: had a corresponding pagan basis. Did you know that the 200 00:14:27,180 --> 00:14:31,140 Speaker 2: whole greatness of Judaism and Christianity is to pour new 201 00:14:31,180 --> 00:14:34,980 Speaker 2: wine into old bottles. Otherwise people wouldn't know what they're 202 00:14:35,020 --> 00:14:38,500 Speaker 2: doing in order to wean away Do you know, for example, 203 00:14:38,540 --> 00:14:40,620 Speaker 2: the greatest I'm sure he wouldn't know, and I don't 204 00:14:40,620 --> 00:14:43,260 Speaker 2: expect you to. The greatest Jewish philosopher whoever lived is 205 00:14:43,340 --> 00:14:50,740 Speaker 2: mimonodes To eleventh century. And his point he completely Orthodox 206 00:14:50,860 --> 00:14:56,820 Speaker 2: jew obviously, and he said the whole reason for the 207 00:14:56,900 --> 00:15:00,660 Speaker 2: sacrificial system in the Bible was to wean away people 208 00:15:00,660 --> 00:15:05,460 Speaker 2: from human sacrifice, the whole. Whether you agree or not, 209 00:15:05,700 --> 00:15:12,860 Speaker 2: the point is that the greatness of elevated religion is 210 00:15:12,900 --> 00:15:18,340 Speaker 2: to take traditional frameworks and fill them with moral essences. 211 00:15:19,980 --> 00:15:24,780 Speaker 2: Concentrates you're concentrating on the bottle, whereas the point is 212 00:15:24,820 --> 00:15:29,740 Speaker 2: to concentrate on the contents of the bottle. That's all 213 00:15:29,820 --> 00:15:35,380 Speaker 2: that matters. All right. That's very important because because I 214 00:15:35,380 --> 00:15:37,780 Speaker 2: see that. I always read comments on my pieces because 215 00:15:37,780 --> 00:15:39,420 Speaker 2: I like to see maybe I did I made a 216 00:15:39,460 --> 00:15:41,660 Speaker 2: wrong point, and maybe I could make the point stronger 217 00:15:41,740 --> 00:15:44,580 Speaker 2: in the next column or on the next show. And 218 00:15:45,020 --> 00:15:47,940 Speaker 2: I get this winter solstice stuff as if it means anything. 219 00:15:48,020 --> 00:15:51,980 Speaker 2: Oh so therefore what so? Therefore America should not have Christmas, 220 00:15:52,580 --> 00:16:02,620 Speaker 2: Christians should not celebrate Christmas? So what it doesn't mean anything? Okay, 221 00:16:03,180 --> 00:16:05,700 Speaker 2: won eight Praeger. But I'm glad you called, Jonathan, and 222 00:16:05,740 --> 00:16:11,220 Speaker 2: I thank you for the call. And Shaska, Minnesota and Karen, Hello, 223 00:16:11,300 --> 00:16:12,180 Speaker 2: Karen of Chaska. 224 00:16:12,700 --> 00:16:13,740 Speaker 5: Hey there is Chaska. 225 00:16:13,940 --> 00:16:18,260 Speaker 2: Yeah, oh one minute, I like getting the right Karen 226 00:16:18,380 --> 00:16:19,140 Speaker 2: of Chaska. 227 00:16:19,500 --> 00:16:19,700 Speaker 3: Yeah. 228 00:16:19,740 --> 00:16:22,140 Speaker 5: This actually has more to do with your last hour. 229 00:16:22,300 --> 00:16:25,060 Speaker 5: But I was listening to it in the discussion about 230 00:16:25,100 --> 00:16:28,540 Speaker 5: whether or not you should tell children that Santa Claus 231 00:16:28,620 --> 00:16:30,660 Speaker 5: is not real at a young age or not, and 232 00:16:30,660 --> 00:16:33,620 Speaker 5: it just struck me that you're breaking your own principle, 233 00:16:33,620 --> 00:16:37,500 Speaker 5: which is tell the truth first and then give your opinion. 234 00:16:38,140 --> 00:16:41,620 Speaker 2: Right, So you should know that my policy for your 235 00:16:41,700 --> 00:16:45,580 Speaker 2: kids is if your child asks you is Santa real, 236 00:16:46,220 --> 00:16:49,580 Speaker 2: then you have to tell them the truth. However, there are. 237 00:16:49,540 --> 00:16:51,580 Speaker 5: Lots of questions in life that they don't ask, but 238 00:16:51,700 --> 00:16:52,940 Speaker 5: you still tell them the truth. 239 00:16:53,100 --> 00:16:56,620 Speaker 2: That's right, but you see it. So I'm curious, as 240 00:16:56,940 --> 00:16:59,020 Speaker 2: as I point out when I do the subject each 241 00:16:59,100 --> 00:17:02,700 Speaker 2: year on Santa Claus, if you read to your child's Pinocchio, 242 00:17:03,180 --> 00:17:05,980 Speaker 2: do you tell your child please know Pinocchio is not real. 243 00:17:06,020 --> 00:17:08,060 Speaker 2: It's a made up figure by the author. 244 00:17:08,540 --> 00:17:10,340 Speaker 4: Yes, okay, you're. 245 00:17:10,220 --> 00:17:13,300 Speaker 2: Real like I do Cinderella, and you tell your kids 246 00:17:13,379 --> 00:17:15,019 Speaker 2: there really was never a Cinderella. 247 00:17:16,460 --> 00:17:18,500 Speaker 5: I'm not aworried that there ever was, so they would 248 00:17:18,500 --> 00:17:19,340 Speaker 5: be still no. 249 00:17:19,060 --> 00:17:21,180 Speaker 2: No, I'm not right. Okay, So this is a story. 250 00:17:21,659 --> 00:17:24,740 Speaker 5: Santa Claus is a story, so I would tell them 251 00:17:24,739 --> 00:17:26,899 Speaker 5: the same. It's a story. It's not real. 252 00:17:27,060 --> 00:17:30,179 Speaker 2: No, that's what I'm saying. Before you read your kids Cinderella, 253 00:17:30,260 --> 00:17:31,419 Speaker 2: you say this is not real. 254 00:17:35,179 --> 00:17:37,100 Speaker 5: I don't know if before I opened the book, I 255 00:17:37,139 --> 00:17:38,619 Speaker 5: would do that. But they would tell at a young 256 00:17:38,659 --> 00:17:39,859 Speaker 5: age that it was a story. 257 00:17:40,060 --> 00:17:42,460 Speaker 2: No, they don't know that that's not true. I'll bet 258 00:17:42,540 --> 00:17:44,179 Speaker 2: you they believe Cinderella lived. 259 00:17:44,659 --> 00:17:47,219 Speaker 5: But I would tell them when they were old enough 260 00:17:47,260 --> 00:17:49,940 Speaker 5: to understand the difference between the truth and a story. 261 00:17:50,859 --> 00:17:53,299 Speaker 2: So all right, So you would, according to you, you 262 00:17:53,379 --> 00:17:56,460 Speaker 2: lie to them until they're older. That's your own that's 263 00:17:56,459 --> 00:17:58,499 Speaker 2: your own accusation against me. 264 00:17:59,020 --> 00:18:01,739 Speaker 5: No, Dennis, because there are lots of things that you 265 00:18:01,859 --> 00:18:04,340 Speaker 5: do in life, you do to teach them things. 266 00:18:04,419 --> 00:18:07,020 Speaker 2: That's exactly right. And that's exactly why I don't think 267 00:18:07,060 --> 00:18:09,580 Speaker 2: there's any reason to tell your kid about Santa until 268 00:18:09,580 --> 00:18:09,939 Speaker 2: they ask. 269 00:18:10,419 --> 00:18:13,019 Speaker 5: Okay, well, sorry, I already did, by the way. I 270 00:18:13,219 --> 00:18:15,179 Speaker 5: was raised in a family where I knew that Santa 271 00:18:15,179 --> 00:18:18,340 Speaker 5: Claus was not real, but we still had christ of 272 00:18:18,459 --> 00:18:19,499 Speaker 5: gifts under the tree. 273 00:18:20,619 --> 00:18:24,100 Speaker 2: Believe that, and I believe that. I believe that, and 274 00:18:24,139 --> 00:18:27,180 Speaker 2: I'm glad you did. I don't know anybody who's been 275 00:18:27,219 --> 00:18:31,299 Speaker 2: harmed by having been raised without being told Santa Claus 276 00:18:31,580 --> 00:18:35,739 Speaker 2: is a myth. Okay, I don't think it's a battle 277 00:18:35,739 --> 00:18:39,259 Speaker 2: worth making. It's not my biggest passion in life. The 278 00:18:39,260 --> 00:18:42,780 Speaker 2: Merry Christmas issue is a big passion. Back in a moment, 279 00:18:42,899 --> 00:18:45,139 Speaker 2: you are listening to the Ultimate Issues Hour on the 280 00:18:45,139 --> 00:18:46,139 Speaker 2: Dennis Prager Show. 281 00:18:54,780 --> 00:18:57,259 Speaker 3: We're riding in a wonderland of. 282 00:19:00,939 --> 00:19:04,020 Speaker 2: Hi, everybody, I'm Dennis Prager. This is the Ultimate Issues Hour. 283 00:19:04,060 --> 00:19:07,099 Speaker 2: The third hour every Tuesday is on an Ultimate Issue 284 00:19:07,139 --> 00:19:10,459 Speaker 2: this week. It is my column. I actually read my column. 285 00:19:10,500 --> 00:19:13,019 Speaker 2: I don't do that. I mean maybe three times a 286 00:19:13,100 --> 00:19:17,340 Speaker 2: year I do that. Maybe that's how significant I consider 287 00:19:17,419 --> 00:19:20,899 Speaker 2: this column. And it's up at my website, National View, 288 00:19:20,939 --> 00:19:27,259 Speaker 2: Real Clear Politics, town Hall and many others. It's as 289 00:19:27,379 --> 00:19:30,059 Speaker 2: you might want to print it out and read it 290 00:19:30,139 --> 00:19:34,060 Speaker 2: at your Christmas dinner. It's it's a it's a it's 291 00:19:34,179 --> 00:19:38,060 Speaker 2: an important I think it's an important piece on why 292 00:19:38,500 --> 00:19:42,139 Speaker 2: it is totally inclusive to say Mary Christmas and completely 293 00:19:42,219 --> 00:19:50,900 Speaker 2: narcissistic to make the substitutions for it. Happy Holiday. Incidentally, 294 00:19:51,899 --> 00:19:55,259 Speaker 2: our our guest here also here is happy holiday in 295 00:19:55,300 --> 00:20:02,180 Speaker 2: the singular, not just happy holidays. CHRISTI in Inglewood, California, 296 00:20:02,260 --> 00:20:13,139 Speaker 2: Dennis Prager High m Okay, Christy. Christy is currently one 297 00:20:13,179 --> 00:20:17,779 Speaker 2: of the volunteers on the Martians Space Cruise and is 298 00:20:17,899 --> 00:20:23,100 Speaker 2: calling from many miles away. Christy, I can't hear a word. 299 00:20:23,379 --> 00:20:24,019 Speaker 6: Can you hear me? 300 00:20:24,580 --> 00:20:25,540 Speaker 2: Now? I can? Great? 301 00:20:25,739 --> 00:20:29,739 Speaker 6: Okay, Hi, thank you for taking my call. I have 302 00:20:29,859 --> 00:20:32,300 Speaker 6: to tell you that you're such a blessing to me 303 00:20:32,459 --> 00:20:35,499 Speaker 6: and my mom, who's almost ninety three. We listen to 304 00:20:35,540 --> 00:20:38,100 Speaker 6: you every morning. I take care of her at home, 305 00:20:38,219 --> 00:20:41,340 Speaker 6: and it's part of our morning routine. And I was 306 00:20:41,379 --> 00:20:43,539 Speaker 6: walking through the dining room and I was hearing you 307 00:20:43,619 --> 00:20:47,740 Speaker 6: explain to that lout caller some thoughts you had about 308 00:20:47,979 --> 00:20:51,139 Speaker 6: the winter solstice and Christmas. And I have to tell 309 00:20:51,179 --> 00:20:54,060 Speaker 6: you, you've never heard anyone explain. 310 00:20:54,699 --> 00:20:58,340 Speaker 2: The give an answer to that. 311 00:20:58,780 --> 00:21:01,739 Speaker 6: Yes, the elevations of paganism. 312 00:21:01,899 --> 00:21:03,019 Speaker 2: That's right, Yep, that's right. 313 00:21:03,020 --> 00:21:07,940 Speaker 6: The way that you did it was truly a special 314 00:21:07,939 --> 00:21:09,779 Speaker 6: moment for me, and I hope it was for a 315 00:21:09,780 --> 00:21:11,979 Speaker 6: lot of other people. You ares just so brilliant at 316 00:21:12,020 --> 00:21:12,899 Speaker 6: explaining things. 317 00:21:13,379 --> 00:21:17,939 Speaker 2: Well, that's very kind of you, you know. Just recently, 318 00:21:18,139 --> 00:21:21,540 Speaker 2: it was very interesting. Recently, a very pre dominant Christians 319 00:21:21,699 --> 00:21:23,619 Speaker 2: looked at me and he said, do you know how 320 00:21:23,659 --> 00:21:29,459 Speaker 2: many people you have brought back to Christianity? And I 321 00:21:29,939 --> 00:21:31,980 Speaker 2: said yes. And the fact is I brought a lot 322 00:21:32,020 --> 00:21:36,100 Speaker 2: of Jews back to Judaism. And because there are great 323 00:21:36,179 --> 00:21:38,659 Speaker 2: arguments to be made, I mean not arguments, there are 324 00:21:38,659 --> 00:21:42,179 Speaker 2: great truths to be told. And the truth is that unfortunately, 325 00:21:42,820 --> 00:21:47,619 Speaker 2: well intentioned clergy just haven't had these answers. There's this thing, Oh, 326 00:21:47,619 --> 00:21:51,779 Speaker 2: it's really the winter solstice is an irrelevant point and 327 00:21:51,820 --> 00:21:57,820 Speaker 2: it's not true. The greatness of religion is to take 328 00:21:58,139 --> 00:22:02,699 Speaker 2: the pagan and elevate it, just as Christy was so 329 00:22:02,780 --> 00:22:07,859 Speaker 2: happy to hear. That's its greatness. If people are celebrating 330 00:22:07,899 --> 00:22:10,740 Speaker 2: a certain date and you can change that date from 331 00:22:10,780 --> 00:22:17,780 Speaker 2: celebrating Zeus into celebrating one God and celebrating love your 332 00:22:17,820 --> 00:22:24,220 Speaker 2: neighbor as yourself, and all the other greatnesses of the Testaments, 333 00:22:24,739 --> 00:22:28,139 Speaker 2: then that's great, isn't it. Isn't that the best thing 334 00:22:28,260 --> 00:22:33,419 Speaker 2: you could do. I mean, just to give you an example, 335 00:22:33,500 --> 00:22:36,460 Speaker 2: let us say it's not a perfect example. Very few 336 00:22:36,500 --> 00:22:39,580 Speaker 2: times is an analogy perfect. Let us say somebody took 337 00:22:39,659 --> 00:22:42,540 Speaker 2: the swastika and made it into a symbol of love, 338 00:22:43,659 --> 00:22:47,340 Speaker 2: an active symbol of love. They have taken it away, 339 00:22:48,540 --> 00:22:54,340 Speaker 2: they have filled it with something beautiful. Okay, let's go 340 00:22:54,500 --> 00:23:01,060 Speaker 2: to uh uh right, let's see, let's see, let's see, 341 00:23:01,139 --> 00:23:04,820 Speaker 2: let's see. Okay, I'm sorry, Rob in Garden City, New York. 342 00:23:04,859 --> 00:23:07,300 Speaker 2: We're not going to talk about Donald Trump this hour. 343 00:23:10,260 --> 00:23:14,139 Speaker 2: I'm only laughing because it's so easy to get politics 344 00:23:14,139 --> 00:23:17,340 Speaker 2: into anything. But now we're just talking about this subject. 345 00:23:18,179 --> 00:23:21,619 Speaker 2: So yeah, call call tomorrow. That is exactly right. Okay. 346 00:23:21,939 --> 00:23:25,139 Speaker 2: So we've opened up a line, folks, and I may 347 00:23:25,219 --> 00:23:28,619 Speaker 2: open up a couple of others. Oh yeah, David, and 348 00:23:28,699 --> 00:23:31,379 Speaker 2: fort Worth notes, those who say Santi is and real 349 00:23:31,419 --> 00:23:34,820 Speaker 2: are misinformed. He was a real person. Okay, But obviously 350 00:23:34,859 --> 00:23:37,740 Speaker 2: the way we refer to Santa Claus today, coming down 351 00:23:37,780 --> 00:23:40,540 Speaker 2: the chimney and bringing you gifts and getting letters into 352 00:23:40,540 --> 00:23:45,019 Speaker 2: the north pole, that's that's the one we're referring to. 353 00:23:46,580 --> 00:23:47,740 Speaker 2: I see no harm done. 354 00:23:48,139 --> 00:23:48,379 Speaker 6: You know what. 355 00:23:48,419 --> 00:23:52,179 Speaker 2: I'm a big believer in folks, really really big believer 356 00:23:52,300 --> 00:23:56,619 Speaker 2: in common sense. Back in a moment. You're listening to 357 00:23:56,659 --> 00:23:58,859 Speaker 2: the Dennis Prager Show, the Ultimate Issues. 358 00:23:58,580 --> 00:24:09,100 Speaker 7: Hour, just to share I love black yours bok. 359 00:24:09,139 --> 00:24:11,139 Speaker 2: Hello, my friends. I'm Dennis Prager and this is the 360 00:24:11,219 --> 00:24:13,579 Speaker 2: Ultimate Issues Hour, the third hour every Tuesday, and some 361 00:24:13,619 --> 00:24:17,020 Speaker 2: great issue. I read to you my column today. Tuesday 362 00:24:17,100 --> 00:24:20,779 Speaker 2: is my column day, nationally syndicated column, and it is 363 00:24:20,859 --> 00:24:26,459 Speaker 2: about why saying Merry Christmas is so important. I do 364 00:24:26,580 --> 00:24:29,580 Speaker 2: consider it an ultimate issue. People like to trivialize it. 365 00:24:29,820 --> 00:24:32,460 Speaker 2: At the same time that they trivialize it, they are 366 00:24:32,540 --> 00:24:35,980 Speaker 2: making war against it. No, no, no, Schools don't have 367 00:24:36,300 --> 00:24:42,100 Speaker 2: Christmas vacations, they have winter vacations. We don't say Merry Christmas, 368 00:24:42,179 --> 00:24:46,499 Speaker 2: we say happy holiday, and we don't have a Christmas 369 00:24:46,540 --> 00:24:54,019 Speaker 2: party at work? We have a holiday party? Holiday party? 370 00:24:54,820 --> 00:25:00,580 Speaker 2: What does that mean? Tell me, isn't there Isn't there 371 00:25:00,619 --> 00:25:06,779 Speaker 2: something more meaningful to the word Christmas party than holiday party? 372 00:25:07,139 --> 00:25:13,540 Speaker 2: I mean? Right? And you know what's happened. You see 373 00:25:13,540 --> 00:25:18,259 Speaker 2: what leftism? Leftism is ultimately a form of narcissism. I 374 00:25:18,379 --> 00:25:21,379 Speaker 2: don't celebrate it, so why the hell should you. I'm 375 00:25:21,419 --> 00:25:25,219 Speaker 2: not religious, so let me tear down the religiosity of America. 376 00:25:25,459 --> 00:25:27,819 Speaker 2: That's what it really is, That's what it is in 377 00:25:27,859 --> 00:25:31,980 Speaker 2: its essence, and I want to fight back. I want 378 00:25:31,979 --> 00:25:37,139 Speaker 2: to fight back. All right, Let's see what else we 379 00:25:37,219 --> 00:25:43,699 Speaker 2: have here, and let's go to Colorado Springs. Pat, Hello, Pat, 380 00:25:43,699 --> 00:25:44,420 Speaker 2: Dennis Prager. 381 00:25:45,459 --> 00:25:48,100 Speaker 3: Dennis, I would love to talk to you one on 382 00:25:48,100 --> 00:25:49,540 Speaker 3: one for about four hours. 383 00:25:49,939 --> 00:25:53,020 Speaker 2: I learned so much from Would you bring a very 384 00:25:53,020 --> 00:25:53,619 Speaker 2: good cigar? 385 00:25:54,619 --> 00:25:55,500 Speaker 3: Absolutely? 386 00:25:56,020 --> 00:25:56,300 Speaker 2: Okay? 387 00:25:56,340 --> 00:25:56,740 Speaker 1: All right? 388 00:25:56,739 --> 00:26:03,139 Speaker 2: Oh? Makes it certainly makes it more tempting. Yes. 389 00:26:03,939 --> 00:26:07,500 Speaker 3: The attack against Merrick Christmas, I think is just another 390 00:26:07,619 --> 00:26:11,939 Speaker 3: indicator of what's going on in the bigger picture. We 391 00:26:12,060 --> 00:26:15,300 Speaker 3: wrestle not against flesh and blood. We wrestle against sprints, 392 00:26:15,419 --> 00:26:19,739 Speaker 3: taalities and powers of darkness. I think we're in a 393 00:26:19,780 --> 00:26:21,419 Speaker 3: spiritual battle in America. 394 00:26:21,899 --> 00:26:25,579 Speaker 2: We are ultimately, There's no doubt in my mind it 395 00:26:25,699 --> 00:26:29,300 Speaker 2: ultimately comes down to the God issue. There is no 396 00:26:29,419 --> 00:26:31,540 Speaker 2: doubt in my mind that that is what is about 397 00:26:32,020 --> 00:26:36,779 Speaker 2: leftism in the final Now, since Marx has been ultimately 398 00:26:36,859 --> 00:26:41,659 Speaker 2: about that. Marx hated religion. It's the opiate of the people. 399 00:26:42,780 --> 00:26:45,980 Speaker 2: God is Man, Man is God. What is it? Man 400 00:26:46,100 --> 00:26:48,659 Speaker 2: is God? That was I believe Marx. God is Man. 401 00:26:48,699 --> 00:26:52,139 Speaker 2: That was Engels. Ever since the beginning, it has been 402 00:26:53,060 --> 00:26:56,739 Speaker 2: they have understood either the left winds or religion wins. 403 00:26:57,419 --> 00:27:00,459 Speaker 2: And that is why Europe has essentially no religion. And 404 00:27:00,500 --> 00:27:04,300 Speaker 2: what is the result. People don't get married, people don't 405 00:27:04,340 --> 00:27:08,859 Speaker 2: have children, people don't have ultimate meaning. The place is soulless. 406 00:27:09,419 --> 00:27:13,820 Speaker 2: I love visiting Europe. I love it. By the end 407 00:27:13,820 --> 00:27:16,659 Speaker 2: of the next cruise, I will have been Europe has 408 00:27:16,699 --> 00:27:20,139 Speaker 2: an incredible number of countries. I will have been to 409 00:27:20,260 --> 00:27:27,979 Speaker 2: every European country except uh, maybe Slovakia because I was 410 00:27:28,020 --> 00:27:32,340 Speaker 2: in Czechoslovakia, but that was before it divided into Czech 411 00:27:32,379 --> 00:27:37,259 Speaker 2: Republican Slovakia and I and we're going to Slovenia correct 412 00:27:37,300 --> 00:27:43,379 Speaker 2: on this cruise. So Slovenia on Albania and Montenegro, So 413 00:27:43,500 --> 00:27:46,939 Speaker 2: what's left. I've been to Croatia, I've been to Serbia, 414 00:27:48,260 --> 00:27:51,619 Speaker 2: So what's left in Yugoslavia the former Yugoslava. I think 415 00:27:51,659 --> 00:27:53,700 Speaker 2: I will have been to every I and I studied 416 00:27:53,699 --> 00:27:56,379 Speaker 2: in Europe for a year. I've been back a dozen 417 00:27:56,459 --> 00:28:00,540 Speaker 2: times at least. But it's solis, folks. It is soulless 418 00:28:02,699 --> 00:28:06,219 Speaker 2: and and that's what the left creates. It's a soulless place. 419 00:28:06,500 --> 00:28:09,659 Speaker 2: Everything is about the material. How much do you make, 420 00:28:09,699 --> 00:28:13,060 Speaker 2: how much time do you have off, what are your 421 00:28:13,619 --> 00:28:18,940 Speaker 2: what is your retirement age? That's it. It's all material. 422 00:28:18,979 --> 00:28:21,340 Speaker 2: It's because because obviously, if there's no God, what is 423 00:28:21,580 --> 00:28:25,500 Speaker 2: Everything is just material? So he the caller is right, Pat, 424 00:28:25,540 --> 00:28:30,499 Speaker 2: You're right, it is ultimately. I've always believed that it 425 00:28:30,580 --> 00:28:33,179 Speaker 2: is ultimately about the God issue. You know how we 426 00:28:33,300 --> 00:28:35,259 Speaker 2: know that at pre University. It's interesting, you know how 427 00:28:35,300 --> 00:28:37,220 Speaker 2: much you know what's get the most hate of our 428 00:28:37,340 --> 00:28:41,260 Speaker 2: videos the ones that advocate God's existence, not the ones 429 00:28:41,300 --> 00:28:44,900 Speaker 2: that advocate small government, not the ones that advocate lower taxes. 430 00:28:45,660 --> 00:28:47,700 Speaker 2: I mean, we have a lot of controversial and not 431 00:28:47,739 --> 00:28:52,019 Speaker 2: even the ones that from the founder co founder of 432 00:28:52,100 --> 00:28:57,739 Speaker 2: Greenpeace who spoke about the UH the lack of threat 433 00:28:58,300 --> 00:29:02,100 Speaker 2: in global warming. Even those didn't get as much hate 434 00:29:02,780 --> 00:29:08,980 Speaker 2: as the completely rational videos on behalf of God's existence. 435 00:29:11,420 --> 00:29:14,620 Speaker 2: That's really what that's really in the final analysis, the 436 00:29:14,620 --> 00:29:23,259 Speaker 2: most angering aspect. Oh Kadoki, Let's go to more of 437 00:29:23,300 --> 00:29:28,940 Speaker 2: your calls, and again, thank you. Pat. Free up a 438 00:29:29,020 --> 00:29:32,340 Speaker 2: line there, dearborn Michigan, Karen, Hello, Karen. 439 00:29:32,380 --> 00:29:35,660 Speaker 8: Dennis Prager, Hi, Dennis, Merry Christmas. 440 00:29:35,700 --> 00:29:36,099 Speaker 2: Thank you. 441 00:29:37,260 --> 00:29:40,779 Speaker 8: I wish I would have had your column read before 442 00:29:40,820 --> 00:29:43,100 Speaker 8: I went into an appointment that I just left about 443 00:29:43,140 --> 00:29:47,059 Speaker 8: an hour ago. I am a Christian. I do have 444 00:29:47,420 --> 00:29:50,900 Speaker 8: a Muslim person that I know through work that I 445 00:29:50,940 --> 00:29:52,779 Speaker 8: needed to visit his house, and he and I have 446 00:29:52,979 --> 00:29:55,819 Speaker 8: had times. He's a very mature gentleman. It's been in 447 00:29:55,820 --> 00:29:59,740 Speaker 8: this country over forty years, and is Muslim. We've had 448 00:29:59,739 --> 00:30:04,260 Speaker 8: discussions in the past, very pleasant discussions about our respective religion. 449 00:30:04,900 --> 00:30:07,100 Speaker 8: But today I visited him in his house and he 450 00:30:07,260 --> 00:30:09,860 Speaker 8: had a Christmas tree front and center in his living 451 00:30:09,940 --> 00:30:15,180 Speaker 8: room window, and I thought he is American, and I 452 00:30:15,180 --> 00:30:18,980 Speaker 8: think that really hones into what your whole column was about, 453 00:30:18,979 --> 00:30:24,620 Speaker 8: that despite our differences, he embraces America well. 454 00:30:24,700 --> 00:30:27,660 Speaker 2: I think it does exemplify that he does exactly. That's 455 00:30:27,660 --> 00:30:29,860 Speaker 2: not to say that every non Christian doesn't have a 456 00:30:29,940 --> 00:30:34,180 Speaker 2: Christmas tree, doesn't embrace America. But it's I understand your point, 457 00:30:34,219 --> 00:30:37,860 Speaker 2: and I agree with you, of course. I mean it's 458 00:30:37,860 --> 00:30:42,099 Speaker 2: his He wasn't converting to Christianity. He was celebrating an 459 00:30:42,140 --> 00:30:47,020 Speaker 2: American holiday, and it is a national holiday, folks. Easter 460 00:30:47,180 --> 00:30:51,700 Speaker 2: is not a national holiday, but Christmas is a national holiday. 461 00:30:53,340 --> 00:30:57,420 Speaker 2: And I honor my fellow citizen. I'm not just Dennis. 462 00:30:58,300 --> 00:31:01,660 Speaker 2: Here's a great here's a great thought for people on 463 00:31:01,700 --> 00:31:04,539 Speaker 2: the left. You're not only you or a member of 464 00:31:04,620 --> 00:31:07,979 Speaker 2: your ethnic group or racial group. You're also an American. 465 00:31:09,900 --> 00:31:13,459 Speaker 2: I know that that's a chakaru, but it's worth thinking about. 466 00:31:13,820 --> 00:31:25,420 Speaker 2: Back in a moment. I get so involved and wrapped 467 00:31:25,500 --> 00:31:29,420 Speaker 2: up in these Christmas songs that I I don't start 468 00:31:29,459 --> 00:31:33,819 Speaker 2: talking on top now, who is that? I know that, 469 00:31:34,020 --> 00:31:36,259 Speaker 2: I know that that's Frank, Yeah, of course, of course, 470 00:31:36,340 --> 00:31:41,500 Speaker 2: exactly what an era? Now, these were the crooners, right, 471 00:31:41,780 --> 00:31:46,059 Speaker 2: it was the krooner era. Yeah, it's like Dean Martin 472 00:31:46,180 --> 00:31:49,100 Speaker 2: was a crooner too, right, It's just I know it's 473 00:31:49,100 --> 00:31:53,100 Speaker 2: just a term, but they but they used it. Well, well, 474 00:31:53,140 --> 00:31:55,219 Speaker 2: not in the crooner era now, so that's why I 475 00:31:55,340 --> 00:31:58,299 Speaker 2: use the word era. Maybe it was an era to 476 00:31:58,420 --> 00:32:09,299 Speaker 2: use era. Hello everybody, I'm Dennis Prager. This is the 477 00:32:09,380 --> 00:32:12,540 Speaker 2: Dennis Prager Show and this is the Ultimate Issues Hour. 478 00:32:13,420 --> 00:32:18,180 Speaker 2: Please get my column today. It comes out on Tuesdays 479 00:32:18,700 --> 00:32:21,700 Speaker 2: on why saying Merry Christmas is so important. It is 480 00:32:21,739 --> 00:32:27,620 Speaker 2: a huge issue in the United States. Huge Ah. Okay. 481 00:32:27,700 --> 00:32:31,420 Speaker 2: Stephanie in Scottsdale, Arizona. Hello, Stephanie of Scottsdale. 482 00:32:32,180 --> 00:32:34,700 Speaker 3: Hello, ooh that was beautiful. 483 00:32:34,860 --> 00:32:37,940 Speaker 9: Hello, thank you. 484 00:32:39,620 --> 00:32:40,340 Speaker 4: I have a question. 485 00:32:42,140 --> 00:32:47,580 Speaker 9: My question is, as a Jew, how do we teach 486 00:32:47,739 --> 00:32:52,100 Speaker 9: our children how to honor Christmas and say Mary Christmas 487 00:32:52,820 --> 00:32:56,059 Speaker 9: without confusing them about the fact that we're Jews and 488 00:32:56,100 --> 00:33:00,259 Speaker 9: we practice Judaism not Christian Now, it's very interesting, Americans, 489 00:33:00,620 --> 00:33:01,420 Speaker 9: we want to honor us. 490 00:33:01,900 --> 00:33:04,779 Speaker 2: Well, you just did it perfectly. Frankly, if you just 491 00:33:04,860 --> 00:33:08,140 Speaker 2: said that, this is one of the great calls of 492 00:33:08,180 --> 00:33:11,900 Speaker 2: my history, you answered the question. I don't have to 493 00:33:11,900 --> 00:33:15,060 Speaker 2: say a word. I can only add an anecdote for you. 494 00:33:15,140 --> 00:33:17,340 Speaker 2: I grew up in an Orthodox Jewish home where we 495 00:33:17,380 --> 00:33:20,300 Speaker 2: wore a yamlda all the time in the house. Okay, 496 00:33:20,900 --> 00:33:24,660 Speaker 2: and on every Christmas Eve, except if it was Friday 497 00:33:24,739 --> 00:33:28,059 Speaker 2: night because we didn't watch television. On Friday night, every 498 00:33:28,140 --> 00:33:33,900 Speaker 2: Christmas Eve, my whole family would gather around the television 499 00:33:33,900 --> 00:33:37,900 Speaker 2: set and watch the Mass from the Vatican. And I 500 00:33:37,940 --> 00:33:40,259 Speaker 2: remember when I was five or six, thinking, look, he 501 00:33:40,300 --> 00:33:44,979 Speaker 2: where's a yamulka two? Looking at the Pope, there was 502 00:33:45,020 --> 00:33:48,660 Speaker 2: never a confusion. I was raised in a home to 503 00:33:48,780 --> 00:33:53,099 Speaker 2: love my fellow American, to love America, and to honor 504 00:33:54,260 --> 00:34:00,380 Speaker 2: the holiday called Christmas, because that's a national holiday of 505 00:34:01,180 --> 00:34:04,820 Speaker 2: the nation that has treated Jews better than any in history. 506 00:34:05,420 --> 00:34:07,820 Speaker 2: Is that a good enough reason to say Merry Christmas? 507 00:34:08,540 --> 00:34:09,460 Speaker 2: I'm Dennis Prager. 508 00:34:48,180 --> 00:34:52,540 Speaker 1: This has been timeless wisdom with Dennis Prager. Visit Dennisprager 509 00:34:52,580 --> 00:34:56,100 Speaker 1: dot com for thousands of hours of Dennis's lectures, courses 510 00:34:56,140 --> 00:35:00,779 Speaker 1: in classic radio programs, and to purchase Dennis Prager's Rational Bibles.