WEBVTT - Timeless Wisdom - Ultimate Issues: Say Merry Christmas

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Timeless Wisdom with Dennis Prager. Here thousands of

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<v Speaker 1>hours of Dennis's lectures, courses, and classic radio programs. And

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<v Speaker 1>to purchase Dennis Prager's Rational Bibles, go to Dennisprager dot com.

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<v Speaker 2>Believe it or not, this is the Ultimate Issues Hour

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<v Speaker 2>on the Dennis Prager Show. The third hour every Tuesday

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<v Speaker 2>is devoted to a great issue of life. But give

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<v Speaker 2>us the Christmas music. It is, after all, the last

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<v Speaker 2>ultimate Issues hour prior to Christmas. Yes, special time of year.

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<v Speaker 2>And I made the argument in the first hour that no,

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<v Speaker 2>what is this the third hour? Already? Wow? Ghost fast Wow.

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<v Speaker 2>I though it was the second is but of course

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<v Speaker 2>it's the third. I made the argument that you got

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<v Speaker 2>to take these two weeks and relax. It's very important.

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<v Speaker 2>And believe me, I know about the world tensions and

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<v Speaker 2>the domestic tensions. I read them, I write them, I

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<v Speaker 2>talk about them, I live them. I care about them.

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<v Speaker 2>But you have to at some point there is a

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<v Speaker 2>reason to have holidays and Holy days. You have to

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<v Speaker 2>take time off because next year is going to be

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<v Speaker 2>very intense. The whole year. The future of the United

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<v Speaker 2>States will be decided in November of twenty sixteen Ultimate

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<v Speaker 2>Issues Hour. The Ultimate Issue is really a big issue.

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<v Speaker 2>People don't know how big it is. I don't even

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<v Speaker 2>think that many people who do say Merry Christmas to

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<v Speaker 2>people realize how big it is. That's why I want

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<v Speaker 2>you to please see my column this week. It's going

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<v Speaker 2>I don't know about viral, but it's extremely widely reprinted

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<v Speaker 2>on the internet, including Real Clear Politics, which takes what

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<v Speaker 2>it considers the most important left and right articles each day.

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<v Speaker 2>So you can go to National Review, town Hall, RealClearPolitics,

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<v Speaker 2>Dennisprager dot com. And the title that I gave it

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<v Speaker 2>is what title? Because they gave a different title National Review.

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<v Speaker 2>Let me see the title that I gave it is

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<v Speaker 2>saying Merry Christmas is very important. That's exactly what it is.

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<v Speaker 2>It is very important. This is a huge issue, huge.

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<v Speaker 2>That's what I want the people to understand. So I'm

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<v Speaker 2>going to tell you why. Let me begin by reading

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<v Speaker 2>this to you. What I wrote. The nearly universal change

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<v Speaker 2>from wishing fellow Americans Merry Christmas to wishing them happy

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<v Speaker 2>Holidays is a very significant development in American life. Proponents

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<v Speaker 2>of happy Holidays argue that it's no big deal at all,

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<v Speaker 2>and that proponents of Merry Christmas are making a mountain

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<v Speaker 2>out of a mole hill, especially when proponents say that

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<v Speaker 2>the substitution of Happy Holidays is part of a quote

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<v Speaker 2>war on Christianity. But the happy Holidays advocates want it

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<v Speaker 2>both ways. They dismiss opponents as hysterical while at the

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<v Speaker 2>same time relentlessly pushing through it in America of Merry Christmas. So, then,

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<v Speaker 2>which is it? Is the substitution of happy Holidays for

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<v Speaker 2>Merry Christmas important or not? The answer is obvious. It

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<v Speaker 2>is very important. That's why the anti Merry Christmas crowd

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<v Speaker 2>has worked so hard to make this greeting a thing

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<v Speaker 2>of the past, and they have been extraordinarily successful. I

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<v Speaker 2>have been wished Happy Holidays by every waiter and waitress

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<v Speaker 2>in every restaurant I have dined, by every one of

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<v Speaker 2>the young people who welcome me when I go to

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<v Speaker 2>the gym, by every flight attendant and pilot on every

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<v Speaker 2>one of my flights, and by every individual I have

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<v Speaker 2>dealt with on the phone. When I respond thank you

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<v Speaker 2>Merry Christmas, I sometimes sense that I have actually created

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<v Speaker 2>some tension, while many of those to whom I wish

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<v Speaker 2>Merry Christmas may actually be happy that someone felt free

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<v Speaker 2>to utter the SA word. All the sensitivity training that

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<v Speaker 2>they've had to undergo creates cognitive dissonance. Christmas has also

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<v Speaker 2>been eliminated by many, probably the majority, of our elementary schools,

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<v Speaker 2>high schools, and universities. Thus, for example, they no longer

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<v Speaker 2>have a Christmas vacation, but a winter vacation. The opponents

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<v Speaker 2>of Merry Christmas and other uses of the word Christmas

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<v Speaker 2>know exactly what they are doing. They are disingenuous when

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<v Speaker 2>they dismiss defenders of Merry Christmas as fabricating some war

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<v Speaker 2>on Christianity. Of course, it's a war on Christianity, or,

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<v Speaker 2>more precisely, a war on the religious nature of America.

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<v Speaker 2>The left in America, like the left in Europe, wants

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<v Speaker 2>to create a thoroughly secular society. Unfortunately, most people do

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<v Speaker 2>not realize that the left believes in secularism just as

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<v Speaker 2>fervently as religious Christians believe in Christ. That's why Merry

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<v Speaker 2>Christmas so bothers the anti religious left. It is perhaps

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<v Speaker 2>the single most blatant reminder of just how religious America is,

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<v Speaker 2>and it must therefore be removed from public discourse. Here's

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<v Speaker 2>a safe prediction the ACLU and other secular activists on

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<v Speaker 2>the left will eventually move to have Christmas removed as

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<v Speaker 2>a national holiday. The left doesn't announce that its agenda

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<v Speaker 2>is to thoroughly secularize America. Instead, activists offer the multiculturalist

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<v Speaker 2>argument that saying Christmas as in Merry Christmas, or Christmas

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<v Speaker 2>party or Christmas vacation is not quote inclusive unquote. This

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<v Speaker 2>inclusiveness argument plays on American's highly developed sense of decency.

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<v Speaker 2>Most Americans don't want to gratuitously offend other Americans, so

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<v Speaker 2>the inclusiveness argument has been effective. But the argument is preposterous.

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<v Speaker 2>Who exactly is being excluded when one wishes someone marry

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<v Speaker 2>Christmas non Christians. I'm a non Christian, I am a Jew.

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<v Speaker 2>Christmas is therefore no more or religious holy day for

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<v Speaker 2>me than Ramadan. But I am an American and Christmas

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<v Speaker 2>is a national holiday of my country. It is therefore

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<v Speaker 2>my holiday, though not my holy day, as much as

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<v Speaker 2>it is for my fellow Americans who are Christian. Irving Berlin,

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<v Speaker 2>an American Jew, wrote white Christmas as a celebration of

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<v Speaker 2>an American holiday, his holiday. Not wishing me or merry Christmas,

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<v Speaker 2>you are not being inclusive. You are deliberately excluding me

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<v Speaker 2>from one of my nation's national holidays. But even if

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<v Speaker 2>Christmas weren't a national holiday, I would want companies to

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<v Speaker 2>have Christmas parties, schools to continue to have Christmas vacations,

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<v Speaker 2>and pilots to wish their passengers Merry Christmas. Just because

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<v Speaker 2>I don't personally celebrate Christmas, why would I want to

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<v Speaker 2>drop the word Christmas from public discourse When Christmas is

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<v Speaker 2>celebrated by ninety percent of my fellow Americans. It borders

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<v Speaker 2>on the misanthropic not to mention means spirited to want

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<v Speaker 2>to deny nearly all of your fellow citizens the joy

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<v Speaker 2>of having their Christmas parties called Christmas parties, or to

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<v Speaker 2>have to force them to replace Merry Christmas with happy Holidays.

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<v Speaker 2>A majority Christian country that treats non Christians so well

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<v Speaker 2>deserve better. Narcissism, misanthropy, meanness, and ingratitude. That's what the

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<v Speaker 2>leftist campaign against Merry Christmas and Christmas parties boils down to.

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<v Speaker 2>So say merry Christmas and Christmas party. If you don't,

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<v Speaker 2>you're not inclusive. You're letting the real life grinches win.

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<v Speaker 2>There we go I want you to have that. I'd

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<v Speaker 2>like you to read it at your Christmas party, at

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<v Speaker 2>a Christmas table, I should say celebration. No matter what

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<v Speaker 2>your opinion, it would provoke a very interesting discussion. While

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<v Speaker 2>I'm not for debating politics, I think this is a

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<v Speaker 2>this is a good one. It's time to fight back.

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<v Speaker 2>It's one of the stupidest things. And it's the whole

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<v Speaker 2>thing's fraudulent, non inclusive. It's a fraud to my fellow Jews.

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<v Speaker 2>A very simple question, should a you in Israel not

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<v Speaker 2>say Happy New Year during the Russiashana season? After all,

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<v Speaker 2>they the Hebrew iss Shahnatova good Year? So should they

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<v Speaker 2>not say that? After all, almost a quarter of Israel

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<v Speaker 2>isn't Jewish. A fifth of Israel is not Jewish. So

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<v Speaker 2>should they stop saying Happy New Year? When a fifth

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<v Speaker 2>of Israel Israelis don't celebrate it personally? I bet you

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<v Speaker 2>they I bet you it doesn't even occur to them.

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<v Speaker 2>This is an American leftist invention, not inclusive. If you

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<v Speaker 2>don't say Merry Christmas to me, then you are not

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<v Speaker 2>being inclusive. There's nothing more inclusive than trying to bring

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<v Speaker 2>me into your celebration. It's like, uh, it's like, I'm

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<v Speaker 2>not going to celebrate your birthday because it's not my birthday. Hey,

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<v Speaker 2>you're not inclusive. It's not my birthday. It's only yours.

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<v Speaker 2>One eighth Praguer seven seven six. This is worthy of

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<v Speaker 2>an Ultimate Issues Hour. It is an ultimate issue. Please

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<v Speaker 2>get the article and send it along. You're listening to

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<v Speaker 2>the Dennis Prager Show. We continue. One eighth Prager seven

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<v Speaker 2>seven six. Hi, everybody, this is the Ultimate Issues Hour,

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<v Speaker 2>third hour every week Tuesday is on some great issue.

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<v Speaker 2>And I consider the removal of the word Christmas from

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<v Speaker 2>the American public vocabulary to be an ultimate issue. Absolutely.

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<v Speaker 2>Please read my column today saying Merry Christmas is very important.

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<v Speaker 2>That's the title of the column. And it's all over

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<v Speaker 2>the It's not all over, it's in many places on

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<v Speaker 2>the internet, National Review, town Hall, Real Clear, Politics, and

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<v Speaker 2>many other places. It's a national holiday. Anyway, I read

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<v Speaker 2>you the entire piece. I'm not going to re review

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<v Speaker 2>all of the points. I'm going to take your calls though.

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<v Speaker 2>The schools no longer have Christmas vacation, it's winter vacation

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<v Speaker 2>and so on. By the way, even Happy New Year.

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<v Speaker 2>I don't know why they say Happy New Year. Jehovah's

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<v Speaker 2>witnesses don't just celebrate the New Year. To the best

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<v Speaker 2>of my knowledge, they don't celebrate birthdays. If you're going to.

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<v Speaker 2>If inclusivity is your point, then you can't say anything

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<v Speaker 2>about anything. Why even say happy holiday? Not everybody is

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<v Speaker 2>observing any holiday? Right? Why say that inclusive totalitarian notion?

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<v Speaker 2>And it's meaningless inclusive? If you wish me a merry

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<v Speaker 2>Christmas and I happen not to be Christian, how am

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<v Speaker 2>I being excluded? Exactly cold? Somebody tell me that, how

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<v Speaker 2>am I being excluded? Aren't you in including me in

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<v Speaker 2>your celebration? Isn't that the nicest thing you can do?

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<v Speaker 2>Like everything else on the left, it's it's preposterous. It's preposterous. Birmingham, Alabama, Jonathan, Hello, Jonathan, Hey.

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<v Speaker 3>How you doing all right?

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<v Speaker 2>Thank you good?

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<v Speaker 4>You know, Christmas is really just a celebration of the

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<v Speaker 4>Winter Solstice, which is a pagan holiday that is kind

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<v Speaker 4>of scraping it over by Christianity. And this is constantly

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<v Speaker 4>you know, Christmas is constantly through Is.

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<v Speaker 2>There anybody who celebrates Christmas who was celebrating the winter solstice?

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<v Speaker 2>Is there anyone celebrating Christmas today? Who was celebrating the

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<v Speaker 2>Christmas Solstice? Excuse me, the winter solstice.

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<v Speaker 4>Well, it doesn't make it any less true that.

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<v Speaker 2>That's what it's about, but it makes it completely irrelevant.

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<v Speaker 2>It's true, but irrelevant.

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<v Speaker 4>Well, I mean that's just why is it relevant?

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<v Speaker 2>Why is it relevant? Everybody who celebrates Christmas as a

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<v Speaker 2>religious day is not celebing the the place of the

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<v Speaker 2>earth visa vi. The Sun. They are celebrating the birth

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<v Speaker 2>of their savior. So why is it important to note

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<v Speaker 2>that thousands of years ago it was the time of

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<v Speaker 2>the winter solstice. I'm serious, I'm I'm not arguing with you.

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<v Speaker 2>I want to know. Why do you think it's an

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<v Speaker 2>important point?

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<v Speaker 4>Well, I mean it's you know, it's it's recognized, what's

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<v Speaker 4>recognizing what our ancestors went through to get us here.

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<v Speaker 4>At one time, it was a big celebration about the

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<v Speaker 4>harvest or whatever it was about. I'm not a historian,

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<v Speaker 4>but no.

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<v Speaker 2>No, I'm why did you call to tell me that

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<v Speaker 2>it was originally the winter solstice? I'm not I'm not

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<v Speaker 2>challenging you. I don't understand the point of the call.

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<v Speaker 4>I mean, because it was stolen. It's stolen, it's sprayping

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<v Speaker 4>it over by Christians. It's not it's not Christmas. Christmas?

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<v Speaker 2>Who what does it mean? Okay? So are you aware

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<v Speaker 2>of the fact that virtually every Biblical holiday, uh, and

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<v Speaker 2>I'm talking as a Jew about the Hebrew Bible ultimately

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<v Speaker 2>had a corresponding pagan basis. Did you know that the

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<v Speaker 2>whole greatness of Judaism and Christianity is to pour new

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<v Speaker 2>wine into old bottles. Otherwise people wouldn't know what they're

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<v Speaker 2>doing in order to wean away Do you know, for example,

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<v Speaker 2>the greatest I'm sure he wouldn't know, and I don't

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<v Speaker 2>expect you to. The greatest Jewish philosopher whoever lived is

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<v Speaker 2>mimonodes To eleventh century. And his point he completely Orthodox

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<v Speaker 2>jew obviously, and he said the whole reason for the

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<v Speaker 2>sacrificial system in the Bible was to wean away people

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<v Speaker 2>from human sacrifice, the whole. Whether you agree or not,

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<v Speaker 2>the point is that the greatness of elevated religion is

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<v Speaker 2>to take traditional frameworks and fill them with moral essences.

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<v Speaker 2>Concentrates you're concentrating on the bottle, whereas the point is

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<v Speaker 2>to concentrate on the contents of the bottle. That's all

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<v Speaker 2>that matters. All right. That's very important because because I

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<v Speaker 2>see that. I always read comments on my pieces because

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<v Speaker 2>I like to see maybe I did I made a

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<v Speaker 2>wrong point, and maybe I could make the point stronger

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<v Speaker 2>in the next column or on the next show. And

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<v Speaker 2>I get this winter solstice stuff as if it means anything.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh so therefore what so? Therefore America should not have Christmas,

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<v Speaker 2>Christians should not celebrate Christmas? So what it doesn't mean anything? Okay,

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<v Speaker 2>won eight Praeger. But I'm glad you called, Jonathan, and

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<v Speaker 2>I thank you for the call. And Shaska, Minnesota and Karen, Hello,

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<v Speaker 2>Karen of Chaska.

0:16:12.700 --> 0:16:13.740
<v Speaker 5>Hey there is Chaska.

0:16:13.940 --> 0:16:18.260
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, oh one minute, I like getting the right Karen

0:16:18.380 --> 0:16:19.140
<v Speaker 2>of Chaska.

0:16:19.500 --> 0:16:19.700
<v Speaker 3>Yeah.

0:16:19.740 --> 0:16:22.140
<v Speaker 5>This actually has more to do with your last hour.

0:16:22.300 --> 0:16:25.060
<v Speaker 5>But I was listening to it in the discussion about

0:16:25.100 --> 0:16:28.540
<v Speaker 5>whether or not you should tell children that Santa Claus

0:16:28.620 --> 0:16:30.660
<v Speaker 5>is not real at a young age or not, and

0:16:30.660 --> 0:16:33.620
<v Speaker 5>it just struck me that you're breaking your own principle,

0:16:33.620 --> 0:16:37.500
<v Speaker 5>which is tell the truth first and then give your opinion.

0:16:38.140 --> 0:16:41.620
<v Speaker 2>Right, So you should know that my policy for your

0:16:41.700 --> 0:16:45.580
<v Speaker 2>kids is if your child asks you is Santa real,

0:16:46.220 --> 0:16:49.580
<v Speaker 2>then you have to tell them the truth. However, there are.

0:16:49.540 --> 0:16:51.580
<v Speaker 5>Lots of questions in life that they don't ask, but

0:16:51.700 --> 0:16:52.940
<v Speaker 5>you still tell them the truth.

0:16:53.100 --> 0:16:56.620
<v Speaker 2>That's right, but you see it. So I'm curious, as

0:16:56.940 --> 0:16:59.020
<v Speaker 2>as I point out when I do the subject each

0:16:59.100 --> 0:17:02.700
<v Speaker 2>year on Santa Claus, if you read to your child's Pinocchio,

0:17:03.180 --> 0:17:05.980
<v Speaker 2>do you tell your child please know Pinocchio is not real.

0:17:06.020 --> 0:17:08.060
<v Speaker 2>It's a made up figure by the author.

0:17:08.540 --> 0:17:10.340
<v Speaker 4>Yes, okay, you're.

0:17:10.220 --> 0:17:13.300
<v Speaker 2>Real like I do Cinderella, and you tell your kids

0:17:13.379 --> 0:17:15.019
<v Speaker 2>there really was never a Cinderella.

0:17:16.460 --> 0:17:18.500
<v Speaker 5>I'm not aworried that there ever was, so they would

0:17:18.500 --> 0:17:19.340
<v Speaker 5>be still no.

0:17:19.060 --> 0:17:21.180
<v Speaker 2>No, I'm not right. Okay, So this is a story.

0:17:21.659 --> 0:17:24.740
<v Speaker 5>Santa Claus is a story, so I would tell them

0:17:24.739 --> 0:17:26.899
<v Speaker 5>the same. It's a story. It's not real.

0:17:27.060 --> 0:17:30.179
<v Speaker 2>No, that's what I'm saying. Before you read your kids Cinderella,

0:17:30.260 --> 0:17:31.419
<v Speaker 2>you say this is not real.

0:17:35.179 --> 0:17:37.100
<v Speaker 5>I don't know if before I opened the book, I

0:17:37.139 --> 0:17:38.619
<v Speaker 5>would do that. But they would tell at a young

0:17:38.659 --> 0:17:39.859
<v Speaker 5>age that it was a story.

0:17:40.060 --> 0:17:42.460
<v Speaker 2>No, they don't know that that's not true. I'll bet

0:17:42.540 --> 0:17:44.179
<v Speaker 2>you they believe Cinderella lived.

0:17:44.659 --> 0:17:47.219
<v Speaker 5>But I would tell them when they were old enough

0:17:47.260 --> 0:17:49.940
<v Speaker 5>to understand the difference between the truth and a story.

0:17:50.859 --> 0:17:53.299
<v Speaker 2>So all right, So you would, according to you, you

0:17:53.379 --> 0:17:56.460
<v Speaker 2>lie to them until they're older. That's your own that's

0:17:56.459 --> 0:17:58.499
<v Speaker 2>your own accusation against me.

0:17:59.020 --> 0:18:01.739
<v Speaker 5>No, Dennis, because there are lots of things that you

0:18:01.859 --> 0:18:04.340
<v Speaker 5>do in life, you do to teach them things.

0:18:04.419 --> 0:18:07.020
<v Speaker 2>That's exactly right. And that's exactly why I don't think

0:18:07.060 --> 0:18:09.580
<v Speaker 2>there's any reason to tell your kid about Santa until

0:18:09.580 --> 0:18:09.939
<v Speaker 2>they ask.

0:18:10.419 --> 0:18:13.019
<v Speaker 5>Okay, well, sorry, I already did, by the way. I

0:18:13.219 --> 0:18:15.179
<v Speaker 5>was raised in a family where I knew that Santa

0:18:15.179 --> 0:18:18.340
<v Speaker 5>Claus was not real, but we still had christ of

0:18:18.459 --> 0:18:19.499
<v Speaker 5>gifts under the tree.

0:18:20.619 --> 0:18:24.100
<v Speaker 2>Believe that, and I believe that. I believe that, and

0:18:24.139 --> 0:18:27.180
<v Speaker 2>I'm glad you did. I don't know anybody who's been

0:18:27.219 --> 0:18:31.299
<v Speaker 2>harmed by having been raised without being told Santa Claus

0:18:31.580 --> 0:18:35.739
<v Speaker 2>is a myth. Okay, I don't think it's a battle

0:18:35.739 --> 0:18:39.259
<v Speaker 2>worth making. It's not my biggest passion in life. The

0:18:39.260 --> 0:18:42.780
<v Speaker 2>Merry Christmas issue is a big passion. Back in a moment,

0:18:42.899 --> 0:18:45.139
<v Speaker 2>you are listening to the Ultimate Issues Hour on the

0:18:45.139 --> 0:18:46.139
<v Speaker 2>Dennis Prager Show.

0:18:54.780 --> 0:18:57.259
<v Speaker 3>We're riding in a wonderland of.

0:19:00.939 --> 0:19:04.020
<v Speaker 2>Hi, everybody, I'm Dennis Prager. This is the Ultimate Issues Hour.

0:19:04.060 --> 0:19:07.099
<v Speaker 2>The third hour every Tuesday is on an Ultimate Issue

0:19:07.139 --> 0:19:10.459
<v Speaker 2>this week. It is my column. I actually read my column.

0:19:10.500 --> 0:19:13.019
<v Speaker 2>I don't do that. I mean maybe three times a

0:19:13.100 --> 0:19:17.340
<v Speaker 2>year I do that. Maybe that's how significant I consider

0:19:17.419 --> 0:19:20.899
<v Speaker 2>this column. And it's up at my website, National View,

0:19:20.939 --> 0:19:27.259
<v Speaker 2>Real Clear Politics, town Hall and many others. It's as

0:19:27.379 --> 0:19:30.059
<v Speaker 2>you might want to print it out and read it

0:19:30.139 --> 0:19:34.060
<v Speaker 2>at your Christmas dinner. It's it's a it's a it's

0:19:34.179 --> 0:19:38.060
<v Speaker 2>an important I think it's an important piece on why

0:19:38.500 --> 0:19:42.139
<v Speaker 2>it is totally inclusive to say Mary Christmas and completely

0:19:42.219 --> 0:19:50.900
<v Speaker 2>narcissistic to make the substitutions for it. Happy Holiday. Incidentally,

0:19:51.899 --> 0:19:55.259
<v Speaker 2>our our guest here also here is happy holiday in

0:19:55.300 --> 0:20:02.180
<v Speaker 2>the singular, not just happy holidays. CHRISTI in Inglewood, California,

0:20:02.260 --> 0:20:13.139
<v Speaker 2>Dennis Prager High m Okay, Christy. Christy is currently one

0:20:13.179 --> 0:20:17.779
<v Speaker 2>of the volunteers on the Martians Space Cruise and is

0:20:17.899 --> 0:20:23.100
<v Speaker 2>calling from many miles away. Christy, I can't hear a word.

0:20:23.379 --> 0:20:24.019
<v Speaker 6>Can you hear me?

0:20:24.580 --> 0:20:25.540
<v Speaker 2>Now? I can? Great?

0:20:25.739 --> 0:20:29.739
<v Speaker 6>Okay, Hi, thank you for taking my call. I have

0:20:29.859 --> 0:20:32.300
<v Speaker 6>to tell you that you're such a blessing to me

0:20:32.459 --> 0:20:35.499
<v Speaker 6>and my mom, who's almost ninety three. We listen to

0:20:35.540 --> 0:20:38.100
<v Speaker 6>you every morning. I take care of her at home,

0:20:38.219 --> 0:20:41.340
<v Speaker 6>and it's part of our morning routine. And I was

0:20:41.379 --> 0:20:43.539
<v Speaker 6>walking through the dining room and I was hearing you

0:20:43.619 --> 0:20:47.740
<v Speaker 6>explain to that lout caller some thoughts you had about

0:20:47.979 --> 0:20:51.139
<v Speaker 6>the winter solstice and Christmas. And I have to tell

0:20:51.179 --> 0:20:54.060
<v Speaker 6>you, you've never heard anyone explain.

0:20:54.699 --> 0:20:58.340
<v Speaker 2>The give an answer to that.

0:20:58.780 --> 0:21:01.739
<v Speaker 6>Yes, the elevations of paganism.

0:21:01.899 --> 0:21:03.019
<v Speaker 2>That's right, Yep, that's right.

0:21:03.020 --> 0:21:07.940
<v Speaker 6>The way that you did it was truly a special

0:21:07.939 --> 0:21:09.779
<v Speaker 6>moment for me, and I hope it was for a

0:21:09.780 --> 0:21:11.979
<v Speaker 6>lot of other people. You ares just so brilliant at

0:21:12.020 --> 0:21:12.899
<v Speaker 6>explaining things.

0:21:13.379 --> 0:21:17.939
<v Speaker 2>Well, that's very kind of you, you know. Just recently,

0:21:18.139 --> 0:21:21.540
<v Speaker 2>it was very interesting. Recently, a very pre dominant Christians

0:21:21.699 --> 0:21:23.619
<v Speaker 2>looked at me and he said, do you know how

0:21:23.659 --> 0:21:29.459
<v Speaker 2>many people you have brought back to Christianity? And I

0:21:29.939 --> 0:21:31.980
<v Speaker 2>said yes. And the fact is I brought a lot

0:21:32.020 --> 0:21:36.100
<v Speaker 2>of Jews back to Judaism. And because there are great

0:21:36.179 --> 0:21:38.659
<v Speaker 2>arguments to be made, I mean not arguments, there are

0:21:38.659 --> 0:21:42.179
<v Speaker 2>great truths to be told. And the truth is that unfortunately,

0:21:42.820 --> 0:21:47.619
<v Speaker 2>well intentioned clergy just haven't had these answers. There's this thing, Oh,

0:21:47.619 --> 0:21:51.779
<v Speaker 2>it's really the winter solstice is an irrelevant point and

0:21:51.820 --> 0:21:57.820
<v Speaker 2>it's not true. The greatness of religion is to take

0:21:58.139 --> 0:22:02.699
<v Speaker 2>the pagan and elevate it, just as Christy was so

0:22:02.780 --> 0:22:07.859
<v Speaker 2>happy to hear. That's its greatness. If people are celebrating

0:22:07.899 --> 0:22:10.740
<v Speaker 2>a certain date and you can change that date from

0:22:10.780 --> 0:22:17.780
<v Speaker 2>celebrating Zeus into celebrating one God and celebrating love your

0:22:17.820 --> 0:22:24.220
<v Speaker 2>neighbor as yourself, and all the other greatnesses of the Testaments,

0:22:24.739 --> 0:22:28.139
<v Speaker 2>then that's great, isn't it. Isn't that the best thing

0:22:28.260 --> 0:22:33.419
<v Speaker 2>you could do. I mean, just to give you an example,

0:22:33.500 --> 0:22:36.460
<v Speaker 2>let us say it's not a perfect example. Very few

0:22:36.500 --> 0:22:39.580
<v Speaker 2>times is an analogy perfect. Let us say somebody took

0:22:39.659 --> 0:22:42.540
<v Speaker 2>the swastika and made it into a symbol of love,

0:22:43.659 --> 0:22:47.340
<v Speaker 2>an active symbol of love. They have taken it away,

0:22:48.540 --> 0:22:54.340
<v Speaker 2>they have filled it with something beautiful. Okay, let's go

0:22:54.500 --> 0:23:01.060
<v Speaker 2>to uh uh right, let's see, let's see, let's see,

0:23:01.139 --> 0:23:04.820
<v Speaker 2>let's see. Okay, I'm sorry, Rob in Garden City, New York.

0:23:04.859 --> 0:23:07.300
<v Speaker 2>We're not going to talk about Donald Trump this hour.

0:23:10.260 --> 0:23:14.139
<v Speaker 2>I'm only laughing because it's so easy to get politics

0:23:14.139 --> 0:23:17.340
<v Speaker 2>into anything. But now we're just talking about this subject.

0:23:18.179 --> 0:23:21.619
<v Speaker 2>So yeah, call call tomorrow. That is exactly right. Okay.

0:23:21.939 --> 0:23:25.139
<v Speaker 2>So we've opened up a line, folks, and I may

0:23:25.219 --> 0:23:28.619
<v Speaker 2>open up a couple of others. Oh yeah, David, and

0:23:28.699 --> 0:23:31.379
<v Speaker 2>fort Worth notes, those who say Santi is and real

0:23:31.419 --> 0:23:34.820
<v Speaker 2>are misinformed. He was a real person. Okay, But obviously

0:23:34.859 --> 0:23:37.740
<v Speaker 2>the way we refer to Santa Claus today, coming down

0:23:37.780 --> 0:23:40.540
<v Speaker 2>the chimney and bringing you gifts and getting letters into

0:23:40.540 --> 0:23:45.019
<v Speaker 2>the north pole, that's that's the one we're referring to.

0:23:46.580 --> 0:23:47.740
<v Speaker 2>I see no harm done.

0:23:48.139 --> 0:23:48.379
<v Speaker 6>You know what.

0:23:48.419 --> 0:23:52.179
<v Speaker 2>I'm a big believer in folks, really really big believer

0:23:52.300 --> 0:23:56.619
<v Speaker 2>in common sense. Back in a moment. You're listening to

0:23:56.659 --> 0:23:58.859
<v Speaker 2>the Dennis Prager Show, the Ultimate Issues.

0:23:58.580 --> 0:24:09.100
<v Speaker 7>Hour, just to share I love black yours bok.

0:24:09.139 --> 0:24:11.139
<v Speaker 2>Hello, my friends. I'm Dennis Prager and this is the

0:24:11.219 --> 0:24:13.579
<v Speaker 2>Ultimate Issues Hour, the third hour every Tuesday, and some

0:24:13.619 --> 0:24:17.020
<v Speaker 2>great issue. I read to you my column today. Tuesday

0:24:17.100 --> 0:24:20.779
<v Speaker 2>is my column day, nationally syndicated column, and it is

0:24:20.859 --> 0:24:26.459
<v Speaker 2>about why saying Merry Christmas is so important. I do

0:24:26.580 --> 0:24:29.580
<v Speaker 2>consider it an ultimate issue. People like to trivialize it.

0:24:29.820 --> 0:24:32.460
<v Speaker 2>At the same time that they trivialize it, they are

0:24:32.540 --> 0:24:35.980
<v Speaker 2>making war against it. No, no, no, Schools don't have

0:24:36.300 --> 0:24:42.100
<v Speaker 2>Christmas vacations, they have winter vacations. We don't say Merry Christmas,

0:24:42.179 --> 0:24:46.499
<v Speaker 2>we say happy holiday, and we don't have a Christmas

0:24:46.540 --> 0:24:54.019
<v Speaker 2>party at work? We have a holiday party? Holiday party?

0:24:54.820 --> 0:25:00.580
<v Speaker 2>What does that mean? Tell me, isn't there Isn't there

0:25:00.619 --> 0:25:06.779
<v Speaker 2>something more meaningful to the word Christmas party than holiday party?

0:25:07.139 --> 0:25:13.540
<v Speaker 2>I mean? Right? And you know what's happened. You see

0:25:13.540 --> 0:25:18.259
<v Speaker 2>what leftism? Leftism is ultimately a form of narcissism. I

0:25:18.379 --> 0:25:21.379
<v Speaker 2>don't celebrate it, so why the hell should you. I'm

0:25:21.419 --> 0:25:25.219
<v Speaker 2>not religious, so let me tear down the religiosity of America.

0:25:25.459 --> 0:25:27.819
<v Speaker 2>That's what it really is, That's what it is in

0:25:27.859 --> 0:25:31.980
<v Speaker 2>its essence, and I want to fight back. I want

0:25:31.979 --> 0:25:37.139
<v Speaker 2>to fight back. All right, Let's see what else we

0:25:37.219 --> 0:25:43.699
<v Speaker 2>have here, and let's go to Colorado Springs. Pat, Hello, Pat,

0:25:43.699 --> 0:25:44.420
<v Speaker 2>Dennis Prager.

0:25:45.459 --> 0:25:48.100
<v Speaker 3>Dennis, I would love to talk to you one on

0:25:48.100 --> 0:25:49.540
<v Speaker 3>one for about four hours.

0:25:49.939 --> 0:25:53.020
<v Speaker 2>I learned so much from Would you bring a very

0:25:53.020 --> 0:25:53.619
<v Speaker 2>good cigar?

0:25:54.619 --> 0:25:55.500
<v Speaker 3>Absolutely?

0:25:56.020 --> 0:25:56.300
<v Speaker 2>Okay?

0:25:56.340 --> 0:25:56.740
<v Speaker 1>All right?

0:25:56.739 --> 0:26:03.139
<v Speaker 2>Oh? Makes it certainly makes it more tempting. Yes.

0:26:03.939 --> 0:26:07.500
<v Speaker 3>The attack against Merrick Christmas, I think is just another

0:26:07.619 --> 0:26:11.939
<v Speaker 3>indicator of what's going on in the bigger picture. We

0:26:12.060 --> 0:26:15.300
<v Speaker 3>wrestle not against flesh and blood. We wrestle against sprints,

0:26:15.419 --> 0:26:19.739
<v Speaker 3>taalities and powers of darkness. I think we're in a

0:26:19.780 --> 0:26:21.419
<v Speaker 3>spiritual battle in America.

0:26:21.899 --> 0:26:25.579
<v Speaker 2>We are ultimately, There's no doubt in my mind it

0:26:25.699 --> 0:26:29.300
<v Speaker 2>ultimately comes down to the God issue. There is no

0:26:29.419 --> 0:26:31.540
<v Speaker 2>doubt in my mind that that is what is about

0:26:32.020 --> 0:26:36.779
<v Speaker 2>leftism in the final Now, since Marx has been ultimately

0:26:36.859 --> 0:26:41.659
<v Speaker 2>about that. Marx hated religion. It's the opiate of the people.

0:26:42.780 --> 0:26:45.980
<v Speaker 2>God is Man, Man is God. What is it? Man

0:26:46.100 --> 0:26:48.659
<v Speaker 2>is God? That was I believe Marx. God is Man.

0:26:48.699 --> 0:26:52.139
<v Speaker 2>That was Engels. Ever since the beginning, it has been

0:26:53.060 --> 0:26:56.739
<v Speaker 2>they have understood either the left winds or religion wins.

0:26:57.419 --> 0:27:00.459
<v Speaker 2>And that is why Europe has essentially no religion. And

0:27:00.500 --> 0:27:04.300
<v Speaker 2>what is the result. People don't get married, people don't

0:27:04.340 --> 0:27:08.859
<v Speaker 2>have children, people don't have ultimate meaning. The place is soulless.

0:27:09.419 --> 0:27:13.820
<v Speaker 2>I love visiting Europe. I love it. By the end

0:27:13.820 --> 0:27:16.659
<v Speaker 2>of the next cruise, I will have been Europe has

0:27:16.699 --> 0:27:20.139
<v Speaker 2>an incredible number of countries. I will have been to

0:27:20.260 --> 0:27:27.979
<v Speaker 2>every European country except uh, maybe Slovakia because I was

0:27:28.020 --> 0:27:32.340
<v Speaker 2>in Czechoslovakia, but that was before it divided into Czech

0:27:32.379 --> 0:27:37.259
<v Speaker 2>Republican Slovakia and I and we're going to Slovenia correct

0:27:37.300 --> 0:27:43.379
<v Speaker 2>on this cruise. So Slovenia on Albania and Montenegro, So

0:27:43.500 --> 0:27:46.939
<v Speaker 2>what's left. I've been to Croatia, I've been to Serbia,

0:27:48.260 --> 0:27:51.619
<v Speaker 2>So what's left in Yugoslavia the former Yugoslava. I think

0:27:51.659 --> 0:27:53.700
<v Speaker 2>I will have been to every I and I studied

0:27:53.699 --> 0:27:56.379
<v Speaker 2>in Europe for a year. I've been back a dozen

0:27:56.459 --> 0:28:00.540
<v Speaker 2>times at least. But it's solis, folks. It is soulless

0:28:02.699 --> 0:28:06.219
<v Speaker 2>and and that's what the left creates. It's a soulless place.

0:28:06.500 --> 0:28:09.659
<v Speaker 2>Everything is about the material. How much do you make,

0:28:09.699 --> 0:28:13.060
<v Speaker 2>how much time do you have off, what are your

0:28:13.619 --> 0:28:18.940
<v Speaker 2>what is your retirement age? That's it. It's all material.

0:28:18.979 --> 0:28:21.340
<v Speaker 2>It's because because obviously, if there's no God, what is

0:28:21.580 --> 0:28:25.500
<v Speaker 2>Everything is just material? So he the caller is right, Pat,

0:28:25.540 --> 0:28:30.499
<v Speaker 2>You're right, it is ultimately. I've always believed that it

0:28:30.580 --> 0:28:33.179
<v Speaker 2>is ultimately about the God issue. You know how we

0:28:33.300 --> 0:28:35.259
<v Speaker 2>know that at pre University. It's interesting, you know how

0:28:35.300 --> 0:28:37.220
<v Speaker 2>much you know what's get the most hate of our

0:28:37.340 --> 0:28:41.260
<v Speaker 2>videos the ones that advocate God's existence, not the ones

0:28:41.300 --> 0:28:44.900
<v Speaker 2>that advocate small government, not the ones that advocate lower taxes.

0:28:45.660 --> 0:28:47.700
<v Speaker 2>I mean, we have a lot of controversial and not

0:28:47.739 --> 0:28:52.019
<v Speaker 2>even the ones that from the founder co founder of

0:28:52.100 --> 0:28:57.739
<v Speaker 2>Greenpeace who spoke about the UH the lack of threat

0:28:58.300 --> 0:29:02.100
<v Speaker 2>in global warming. Even those didn't get as much hate

0:29:02.780 --> 0:29:08.980
<v Speaker 2>as the completely rational videos on behalf of God's existence.

0:29:11.420 --> 0:29:14.620
<v Speaker 2>That's really what that's really in the final analysis, the

0:29:14.620 --> 0:29:23.259
<v Speaker 2>most angering aspect. Oh Kadoki, Let's go to more of

0:29:23.300 --> 0:29:28.940
<v Speaker 2>your calls, and again, thank you. Pat. Free up a

0:29:29.020 --> 0:29:32.340
<v Speaker 2>line there, dearborn Michigan, Karen, Hello, Karen.

0:29:32.380 --> 0:29:35.660
<v Speaker 8>Dennis Prager, Hi, Dennis, Merry Christmas.

0:29:35.700 --> 0:29:36.099
<v Speaker 2>Thank you.

0:29:37.260 --> 0:29:40.779
<v Speaker 8>I wish I would have had your column read before

0:29:40.820 --> 0:29:43.100
<v Speaker 8>I went into an appointment that I just left about

0:29:43.140 --> 0:29:47.059
<v Speaker 8>an hour ago. I am a Christian. I do have

0:29:47.420 --> 0:29:50.900
<v Speaker 8>a Muslim person that I know through work that I

0:29:50.940 --> 0:29:52.779
<v Speaker 8>needed to visit his house, and he and I have

0:29:52.979 --> 0:29:55.819
<v Speaker 8>had times. He's a very mature gentleman. It's been in

0:29:55.820 --> 0:29:59.740
<v Speaker 8>this country over forty years, and is Muslim. We've had

0:29:59.739 --> 0:30:04.260
<v Speaker 8>discussions in the past, very pleasant discussions about our respective religion.

0:30:04.900 --> 0:30:07.100
<v Speaker 8>But today I visited him in his house and he

0:30:07.260 --> 0:30:09.860
<v Speaker 8>had a Christmas tree front and center in his living

0:30:09.940 --> 0:30:15.180
<v Speaker 8>room window, and I thought he is American, and I

0:30:15.180 --> 0:30:18.980
<v Speaker 8>think that really hones into what your whole column was about,

0:30:18.979 --> 0:30:24.620
<v Speaker 8>that despite our differences, he embraces America well.

0:30:24.700 --> 0:30:27.660
<v Speaker 2>I think it does exemplify that he does exactly. That's

0:30:27.660 --> 0:30:29.860
<v Speaker 2>not to say that every non Christian doesn't have a

0:30:29.940 --> 0:30:34.180
<v Speaker 2>Christmas tree, doesn't embrace America. But it's I understand your point,

0:30:34.219 --> 0:30:37.860
<v Speaker 2>and I agree with you, of course. I mean it's

0:30:37.860 --> 0:30:42.099
<v Speaker 2>his He wasn't converting to Christianity. He was celebrating an

0:30:42.140 --> 0:30:47.020
<v Speaker 2>American holiday, and it is a national holiday, folks. Easter

0:30:47.180 --> 0:30:51.700
<v Speaker 2>is not a national holiday, but Christmas is a national holiday.

0:30:53.340 --> 0:30:57.420
<v Speaker 2>And I honor my fellow citizen. I'm not just Dennis.

0:30:58.300 --> 0:31:01.660
<v Speaker 2>Here's a great here's a great thought for people on

0:31:01.700 --> 0:31:04.539
<v Speaker 2>the left. You're not only you or a member of

0:31:04.620 --> 0:31:07.979
<v Speaker 2>your ethnic group or racial group. You're also an American.

0:31:09.900 --> 0:31:13.459
<v Speaker 2>I know that that's a chakaru, but it's worth thinking about.

0:31:13.820 --> 0:31:25.420
<v Speaker 2>Back in a moment. I get so involved and wrapped

0:31:25.500 --> 0:31:29.420
<v Speaker 2>up in these Christmas songs that I I don't start

0:31:29.459 --> 0:31:33.819
<v Speaker 2>talking on top now, who is that? I know that,

0:31:34.020 --> 0:31:36.259
<v Speaker 2>I know that that's Frank, Yeah, of course, of course,

0:31:36.340 --> 0:31:41.500
<v Speaker 2>exactly what an era? Now, these were the crooners, right,

0:31:41.780 --> 0:31:46.059
<v Speaker 2>it was the krooner era. Yeah, it's like Dean Martin

0:31:46.180 --> 0:31:49.100
<v Speaker 2>was a crooner too, right, It's just I know it's

0:31:49.100 --> 0:31:53.100
<v Speaker 2>just a term, but they but they used it. Well, well,

0:31:53.140 --> 0:31:55.219
<v Speaker 2>not in the crooner era now, so that's why I

0:31:55.340 --> 0:31:58.299
<v Speaker 2>use the word era. Maybe it was an era to

0:31:58.420 --> 0:32:09.299
<v Speaker 2>use era. Hello everybody, I'm Dennis Prager. This is the

0:32:09.380 --> 0:32:12.540
<v Speaker 2>Dennis Prager Show and this is the Ultimate Issues Hour.

0:32:13.420 --> 0:32:18.180
<v Speaker 2>Please get my column today. It comes out on Tuesdays

0:32:18.700 --> 0:32:21.700
<v Speaker 2>on why saying Merry Christmas is so important. It is

0:32:21.739 --> 0:32:27.620
<v Speaker 2>a huge issue in the United States. Huge Ah. Okay.

0:32:27.700 --> 0:32:31.420
<v Speaker 2>Stephanie in Scottsdale, Arizona. Hello, Stephanie of Scottsdale.

0:32:32.180 --> 0:32:34.700
<v Speaker 3>Hello, ooh that was beautiful.

0:32:34.860 --> 0:32:37.940
<v Speaker 9>Hello, thank you.

0:32:39.620 --> 0:32:40.340
<v Speaker 4>I have a question.

0:32:42.140 --> 0:32:47.580
<v Speaker 9>My question is, as a Jew, how do we teach

0:32:47.739 --> 0:32:52.100
<v Speaker 9>our children how to honor Christmas and say Mary Christmas

0:32:52.820 --> 0:32:56.059
<v Speaker 9>without confusing them about the fact that we're Jews and

0:32:56.100 --> 0:33:00.259
<v Speaker 9>we practice Judaism not Christian Now, it's very interesting, Americans,

0:33:00.620 --> 0:33:01.420
<v Speaker 9>we want to honor us.

0:33:01.900 --> 0:33:04.779
<v Speaker 2>Well, you just did it perfectly. Frankly, if you just

0:33:04.860 --> 0:33:08.140
<v Speaker 2>said that, this is one of the great calls of

0:33:08.180 --> 0:33:11.900
<v Speaker 2>my history, you answered the question. I don't have to

0:33:11.900 --> 0:33:15.060
<v Speaker 2>say a word. I can only add an anecdote for you.

0:33:15.140 --> 0:33:17.340
<v Speaker 2>I grew up in an Orthodox Jewish home where we

0:33:17.380 --> 0:33:20.300
<v Speaker 2>wore a yamlda all the time in the house. Okay,

0:33:20.900 --> 0:33:24.660
<v Speaker 2>and on every Christmas Eve, except if it was Friday

0:33:24.739 --> 0:33:28.059
<v Speaker 2>night because we didn't watch television. On Friday night, every

0:33:28.140 --> 0:33:33.900
<v Speaker 2>Christmas Eve, my whole family would gather around the television

0:33:33.900 --> 0:33:37.900
<v Speaker 2>set and watch the Mass from the Vatican. And I

0:33:37.940 --> 0:33:40.259
<v Speaker 2>remember when I was five or six, thinking, look, he

0:33:40.300 --> 0:33:44.979
<v Speaker 2>where's a yamulka two? Looking at the Pope, there was

0:33:45.020 --> 0:33:48.660
<v Speaker 2>never a confusion. I was raised in a home to

0:33:48.780 --> 0:33:53.099
<v Speaker 2>love my fellow American, to love America, and to honor

0:33:54.260 --> 0:34:00.380
<v Speaker 2>the holiday called Christmas, because that's a national holiday of

0:34:01.180 --> 0:34:04.820
<v Speaker 2>the nation that has treated Jews better than any in history.

0:34:05.420 --> 0:34:07.820
<v Speaker 2>Is that a good enough reason to say Merry Christmas?

0:34:08.540 --> 0:34:09.460
<v Speaker 2>I'm Dennis Prager.

0:34:48.180 --> 0:34:52.540
<v Speaker 1>This has been timeless wisdom with Dennis Prager. Visit Dennisprager

0:34:52.580 --> 0:34:56.100
<v Speaker 1>dot com for thousands of hours of Dennis's lectures, courses

0:34:56.140 --> 0:35:00.779
<v Speaker 1>in classic radio programs, and to purchase Dennis Prager's Rational Bibles.