The American Spectator : Liberty Weekend

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Liberty Weekend

From the July 2009 - August 2009 issue

Off to meet the chancellor of Liberty University, Jerry Falwell, Jr. From our July-August issue.

Friday
Here I am riding through the lovely Virginia countryside in the back seat with my trusty driver, Bob Noah, at the wheel. You have to go out a long way actually before you get to the open spaces, but that’s progress, I guess. What were once verdant farms and trees are now hideous residential developments. For some reason, money, I am sure, builders now build homes that are quite tall but very narrow. I guess that’s to give the illusion of spaciousness. Specious spaciousness, as one might say. I don’t care for them, but then, tastes vary.

We stopped somewhere about 60 miles south of D.C. at a Super Target. Wow, what an immense store. Very clean and neat. Lots of friendly people. Just to my untrained eye, it did not seem as if the prices were a super steal. Frankly though, it was a pleasure just to be in such a clean store. It was almost like a museum of cleanliness. Plus it was very well lit. I love Wal- Mart but they could learn from this Super Target. How much trouble would it be to keep the Super Wal- Marts as shiny as this store? I am not an expert in retailing, so maybe I am missing something. Maybe Wal-Mart would not seem like a bargain if it were not a little untidy. Plus, no store has more helpful people than Wal-Mart. Not even Super Target, which has pleasant, friendly people indeed.

Anyway, back into the car and down southwest toward Lynchburg, Virginia, where I am giving the commencement speech at Liberty University. We passed through Charlottesville, home of Mister Jefferson’s University, and ran into colossal traffic. Then ever southwestward, until we passed the adorable town of Lovingston, Virginia.

There was a sign pointing out the “Historic District,” so we went over to the courthouse for Nel son County. It was a lovely old building, like a Holly wood set of a courthouse, only better. I kept thinking if I looked hard enough I would see Gregory Peck arguing for the life of a wrongly accused black man. But, no, it was empty in that courthouse. What would it be like to be a lawyer in Lovingston, Virginia? Actually, it sounds good to me. Near the courthouse, there was a statue of a Confederate soldier, that was, oddly, looking north. In my idiocy, I thought they always looked south. Maybe they always look north. There was a sign about a terrible hurricane, Camille, that caused immense loss of life and property damage in Lovingston. Many beautiful azaleas grew near the Confederate soldier statue.

As we looked for more historical mementos, we came upon a little knot of young girls, including one with neon pink hair. I went over and talked to them and to their boyfriends or brothers or whoever they were, sitting in a car and a truck. The girls were adorable. They said there wasn’t much to do there except hang out at the local coffee house. I took their pictures and then we went on our way. I sure hope they find something interesting to do.

We got to Lynchburg around nightfall. Wow. It is a confusing place. Very hilly, like Knoxville, Ten nessee, and many confusing intersections and interchanges. We found our hotel, a huge structure on the side of a mountain, and then went off to meet the chancellor of the university, Jerry Falwell, Jr., his wife, and their small party.

We met them at an aptly named restaurant called “Ham’s.” Everyone was super cheerful and friendly. Jerry is a handsome devil, movie-star quality, and his wife, Becki, is simply beautiful. Their son Trey, a college student, is also handsome, helpful, and amazingly strong. I had to ask him to ratchet his handshake down a bit lest he kill me.

Jerry and Becki have been together since they were teenagers. You can see how much in love they still are and it’s touching. Everyone was super pleasant and had a lot to say.

I contrast this with a faculty dinner or two I have had at colleges and universities in New England, where I felt as if I were caught in a spiderweb of suspicion and entrapment. These were really, really, open, friendly people. The owner of Ham’s came over and visited with us. He was super friendly, too. This is friendly countryside.

Liberty, it turns out, is the largest Evangelical Baptist university on earth. It was founded, of course, by Jerry Falwell. He was from Lynchburg, where his family had long owned a large dairy operation. The kids come from all over the nation and the world to study and learn to follow Christ.

They make no bones about it. This is a school for believers.

As far as I can tell, it’s working great. Jerry, Jr., took over after his father’s totally unexpected death recently. He had been a quiet fellow but learned to go on stage occasionally and now he’s a pro.

I also met Jerry’s brother, pastor of the Thomas Road Baptist Church, a huge enterprise of worship right next to the school. He is also handsome and friendly.

It all seems extremely cozy and I like it.

After dinner, Trey led Bob Noah and me to the nearby supermarket to buy some midnight snacks. He is a very friendly, capable young fellow. There is a lot to like about this school. I felt warm and cozy just being there.

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Letter to the Editor View all comments (31) | Leave a comment

Tim| 7.22.09 @ 9:42AM

John 3:19-21 (New International Version)

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

PHIL| 7.22.09 @ 11:37AM

Every year the WSJ runs a ermont Royster collumn "In Hoc Anno Domini" which puts it very well. Yes there is light in the world.
I also wanted to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Stein for his comments on Beck's show the other day in defense of Richard Nixon. Mr. Stein is right President Nixon WAS a great man. I had the privilage of working for him during 1968. He steered our nation through its most serious Civil unrest since the 1861 war. Becaus of Mr. nixon our nation, untill now, survived as a constitutional government.

ncatty| 7.22.09 @ 11:57AM

Next time Ben, stop and see Poplar Forest, Jefferson's "retreat", just a few miles from Lynchburg.

Roger McKinney| 7.22.09 @ 1:26PM

Ben I love you to death and appreciate your views on religion and Darwinism, but I sure wish you would reconsider your Keynesian economics.

As for Nixon being a great man, Phil, I have to disagree. The price controls he implemented and taking the dollar off gold, which caused the explosion in oil prices, were just plain stupid.

Chuck Sampson| 7.22.09 @ 1:34PM

Ben Stein is the best writer for American Spectator. "mud struck by lightning" I am going to use that phrase whenever I can. God bless you Ben Stein.

I think Richard Nixon was a great President who unselfishly let go of power and resigned when he could have easily fought on and dragged the nation through years more of turmoil.

He was right about the Democrats being traitors and supporters of one world communist domination. They were back then, and they are now.

Actually his resignation after Watergate was the second time RN graciously put aside his own personal ambition for the good of the county. In 1960, when he lost to JFK by less than a few hundred thousand votes, he could have demanded a recount and dragged out the election for several more months.

It had been reported by the MSM at the time that several thousand dead people had voted in Chicago and other places around the country. RN, unlike Al Gore and all the other members of the ME FIRST generation, decided to accept defeat and allow a smooth transition of power for the sake of the country.

It seemed to me that whatever faults RN had-paranoia, somewhat foul mouthed at times, and a regrettable lack of understanding when it came to economics-hubris and selfishness were not among them.

PHIL| 7.22.09 @ 1:40PM

Roger,
Correct about wage and price controls. Not every decision must be correct although it hurts when one is wrong. Still his stewardship of the nation during a time of crises (real not contrived) puts him in the top category of national leaders. The foreign policy measures he pursued remade the world and allowed for the eventual triumph of freedom over Soviet tyranny. The list goes on and his successes clearly overmatch what wrong decisions and failures there were.
Historical judgement is always a balance and, on balance, the Nixon administration deserves far more cudos than criticism.

Liberal Reader| 7.22.09 @ 1:44PM

Chuck --

Nixon was right: the Democrats are to a man no-good communists and traitors to their country. There are about 70 million Americans registered Democrat and every last one of them is a terrorist-sympathizing traitor.

The main stream media is in cahoots with them too, along with ACORN and the communists that infect the State Department. There's a Muslim in the White House that isn't even an American citizen, he's Kenyan.

And Republicans won't do anything about it. They won't stand up for their country, because they're going down stream. I'm sick and tired of liberals taking my money, my light bulbs, my truck, my job, my guns, my dog, my wife, my wife's dog, and my children - everything.

David T.| 7.22.09 @ 2:20PM

Great piece, as usual, Ben. I appreciate your good words. I am almost persuaded that thou art a Christian. One quibble with your analysis of the financial debacle: Chris Dodd and Barney Frank deserve as much blame as anyone for the problems we're facing. Please don't let them off the hook next time.

Tim| 7.22.09 @ 3:11PM

" I'm sick and tired of liberals taking my money, my light bulbs, my truck, my job, my guns, my dog, my wife, my wife's dog, and my children - everything. "

I am tempted to shoot back, but he's probably off sodomizing sheep or listening to NPR.
Whatever.

Aaron| 7.22.09 @ 4:05PM

Mr. Stein, great article. Only the church you refer to is "Thomas Road Baptist Church" and not "Liberty Road." FYI.

Chad| 7.22.09 @ 5:46PM

Ben, I was one of the graduates you addressed. Thank you for such a stirring speech. What an improvement from the previous four years I had attended! Lynchburg certainly is a beautiful place, and I've been blessed to have spent the past four years of my life making memories in the university, the sweeping planes and the Blue Ridge Mountains. I hope you can go back and visit!

Old Texican| 7.22.09 @ 5:46PM

No Liberal Twerp!
Most of you are NOT communists!

MOST of you are simply ignorant...and worse...stupid! ...but you give right wing nuts a balance. (smile)

One simple question. If you answer it honestly I shall quit making fun of you....mostly...unless you are stupid in the future.....fair?

Do you, or have you ever run a business?

PCP Smoker| 7.22.09 @ 7:22PM

Why is Ben Stein still writing a column? I got bored with his stuff back in the 1990's. Time to pack it Ben. I heard David Frum's New Majority is looking for a guy just like you.

SEagan| 7.22.09 @ 8:34PM

the last sentence of the article was my favorite!
good stuff!

Jerry Sloan| 7.23.09 @ 2:49AM

Ben,

So you like it when Jerry Falwell called people liars.

Jerry once called me a liar and offered me $ 5000 to prove he said what I quoted him saying.

I proved I was correct. He refused to pay me. I sued him for breach of oral contract. The judge agreed I had quoted him accurately and order him to pay.

Jerry appealed the jusdgment on the basis that the judge was Jewish and predjudiced against him.

The appeals court of 3 judges denied his appeal as "frivilious" and sanctioned him for wasting the court's time.

So I proved him to be a liar in 2 courts before 4 judges.

Itchybite| 7.23.09 @ 9:01AM

Mr. Sloan, Sam, or whatever, some of us in Lynchburg are familiar with you, your rants and, your history. What you think of Jerry Falwell is immaterial.

Wills Kitchen| 7.23.09 @ 9:03AM

Ben I loved your speech at graduation and I've always enjoyed your clear eyes commercials. As for the more cynical and unhappy commentators, I say come and visit Liberty sometime. Just come and walk the campus in the midst of a normal class day. I'll bet you'll leave appreciating the clean, righteous atmosphere, and students, Liberty produces.

Chuck Sampson| 7.23.09 @ 2:38PM

Liberal Reader

Sorry, I shouldn't painted with such a broad brush concerning Democrats.

I meant to say all Democrats who voted for Eugene McCarthy, Jimmie Carter, Bill Clinton, and Al Gore.

I meant to say all Democrats who don't believe that Keynsian economics is anything less than a revamped, modernized version of Das Kapital.

I meant to say all Democrats who ignore the Constitution when it suits their black and white ideology. Which is the basically the US is evil, the rich are even more evil, and its the Government's fault my life sucks.

I meant to say all Democrats who believe that they have the right to take the money other people have earned to pay for their and other people's phony baloney, meaningless, unproductive academic and/or bureaucratic jobs.

I meant to say the Democrats who believe in war as long it gets them elected and then when they find out supporting a war isn't politically advantageous, suddenly become peaceniks and start complaining how that dumb ol Bush tricked them into voting for it.

That's the Democrats I was talking about. Next time I'll be more specific. Thanks for the correction.

SEagan| 7.23.09 @ 9:57PM

right on sampson! i think you were very specific!

Tish| 7.23.09 @ 11:15PM

Southerners are generally polite because until the current generation, youngsters got whacked if they weren't polite. For many years, nobody had much in the way of material things, so manners mattered, and they were enforced, regardless of gender, race, age, or size.

jim kilpatrick| 7.24.09 @ 8:23AM

Nixons worst mistake was ramping up the "War on Drugs". This"War" has made things infinitly worse. It has corrupted law enforcement,filled our jails with non-violent people,made drugs cheaper and more potent.increased crime in our cities, and made drugs more available to children. The prohibition of alcohol in 1920 made thugs rich and this drug war has done the same. Prohibition never works and always makes matters much worse.

A patriot| 7.24.09 @ 11:15AM

Ben:
Right on!!!!! I have enjoyed you every time I have ever seen you on TV. I am in an industry, entertainment, that just loves Mr. Obama. I have actors and singers who work for me on an independant level, who are afraid to express their true opinions because they fear they will not get hired because they "don't understand". The Hollywood mentality has definitely permeated our little world here in Cincinnati. I would not say all Democrats are totally out of the loop, but I would say most are really Progressives and would love to have a State-run Theater situation. Work for all!!!!! I just love it when I am categorized as a "terrorist" or a racist or a hate monger or whatever comes to someone's lips, when I attend a Tea Party to show my disagreement with Mr. Obama's policies.

So, yes, Ben Stein, keep up the great work. Your humor keeps us all sane.

A patriot

Yale-Columbia man| 7.24.09 @ 7:43PM

Just a word in defense of the late, great Brewster. I only met him once, my freshman year, when he and his wife stopped to pick me and a roommate up on the side of the road as we were walking to the Yale Bowl for a football game. We did not have our thumbs out, he just stopped. So he could be a regular guy, Ben, just like you (or at least so you seemed at the Columbia alumni dinner I once attended).

PS I hope I do not speak ill of the dead to add that neither Brewster seemed entirely sober that long-ago midday Saturday.

Finn| 7.25.09 @ 1:51AM

Sometimes Ben Stein has some really interesting things to say. Not today.

The last line is particularly stupid, as though motorcades were invented by Obama; not to mention it replicates the "Obama as deity," thought propaganda, a type of mocking that probably defies scriptural references on how we should treat both leaders and our fellows (whether we like them or not).

Bleeding Heart| 7.27.09 @ 7:27PM

Loved the entire thing - until the very last sentence when you showed yourself to be a blasphemer and a jealous one at that. Your writing tends to do that -- it can be really good for a page or two and then there's this *whining* line (or three) and whatever middle ground I could've found with you is gone.

For eight years I was admonished to respect a man who told all of us that *GOD TOLD HIM* to be president. Now the Right keeps calling Obama "savior" and "god." You guys would be really funny if you weren't so darn scary.

RAYGUN9| 8.9.09 @ 1:16PM

From Ferris to current day admonitions, Stein is one of those rare, smart, compassionate people who truly gets it- He's also the coolest geek on the planet - Keep it up Ben - when I read you I still have hope.

RAYGUN9| 8.9.09 @ 1:16PM

RAYGUN9| 8.9.09 @ 1:20PM

Bleeding Heart - your name says it best - you whining, liberal ignorant slut. You ignore the unprecedented growth under Bush after inheriting a recession from Slick Willy and 911. If he could have somehow found a way to stop the lunies that pushed Freddie and Fannie we wouldn't be in this mess.

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