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Ben Stein's Diary
A Vegas Veterans Day
Too much whining, not enough gratitude.
Friday
Here I am in
Las Vegas. It is jammed tonight with men and women here to gamble,
to watch a boxing match, to get married. Someone has put it out
there that 11/11/11, which this is, is a super lucky day to get
married. There were apparently dozens of marriages in this hotel,
The Wynn’s, today.
I got up early to do my usual Fox show, Cavuto on Business, from a studio here in Vegas, came back to my room and slept, slept, slept. I have been traveling like a madman lately. That’s worn me out. Plus, I have had some really bad stomach problems lately and they wear me out.
Plus, some people whom I thought were close friends, well, one close friend, has been causing me a lot of anguish. It is extremely hard when people close to you turn on you. Hey, at any rate, today is Armistice Day and it’s pretty silly of me to complain about a mean-spirited former friend when I compare what our brave soldiers, Marines, sailors, Air Force people, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine went through in World War II and in every other war — including the ones we are fighting now.
Yes, people are always trying to get money out of me, but that’s nothing compared with having people trying to kill me. Yes, out there in Iraq and Afghanistan, terrorists are trying night and day to kill our brothers, sisters, children, friends, compatriots. We really have little to complain about back here in the homeland. I walk around the casino here at Wynn’s and I am stunned at how many drunk, laughing young men and women are here. Their brothers — often literally their brothers — are being rocketed and sniped at just to help other people to be free and to keep the terrorists off balance. The rest of us are whining in Vegas.
Think of what it was like to be a merchant marine sailor in WWII and be torpedoed and freeze to death on the Murmansk run. Think of what it was like to be a prisoner of the Japanese in a death camp or the hold of an unmarked prison ship. Or of what it would have been like fighting the Chinese at Cho-Sin or the North Vietnamese at Khe Sanh. Think of the courage of these men and their families.
Yes, think of their families: the military wife is the backbone of freedom and human dignity for the whole world. We owe them everything.
From here in Vegas, my wife and I, on bended knee, send our thanks to those who serve and to their families. In a military family, make no mistake, the whole family serves.
Meanwhile, the election goes on. Democrats hurl accusations at Herman Cain. I feel bad for him. I have had allegations thrown at me and I know how it feels… not great. I like him. He just does not seem like a mean guy. Maybe I’m wrong, but I do find it sort of amazing that the Democrats can cheer the rafters down for Bill Clinton, proved to have had a sexual relationship with an intern at the White House, alleged to have had dozens of liaisons with women in Arkansas.… and just a whisper about Herman Cain gets them up in a dither.
Well… politics, right?
In the meantime, let me just tell you what I have told you, dear readers, many times before. I am not a saint. I am a pitiful fat old sinner who has done just about every bad thing a person can do. Just about every sin. I am not better than anyone else, including people in prison. I am just a person with every bad instinct and no better than Herman Cain or anyone else. Just bear that in mind. I try to be amusing and interesting, but I am not a particularly great person.
Especially not compared with the merchant marine on the Murmansk run.
Speaking of which, a few days ago I spoke at a Marine Birthday Ball in Rosemont, Illinois. The event was at a Crowne Plaza hotel and it was a fine hotel. But the event was overwhelming. There were about 1,000 Marines and their families at the ball. They were fit, brave, modest, good looking, with amazing stories about their deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The room just glowed with bravery.
Back in my room, I watched a documentary about World War II, Behind Closed Doors. The parts about the astounding cruelty of Stalin towards the Polish patriots just made me want to cry. The Poles are among the world’s smartest, bravest, best-looking people. They are never given the credit they deserve for their heroism and intelligence, but we who know even a little bit about Poland know of their suffering and their courage, and we rejoice at their freedom. They paid for it in blood.
And here we sit at Wynn’s.
About the Author
Ben Stein is a writer, actor, economist, and lawyer living in Beverly Hills and Malibu. He writes “Ben Stein’s Diary” for every issue of The American Spectator.
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Appleby| 11.14.11 @ 6:59AM
I lost my job last Friday, so now I have lost my health, my avocation (our racing website went dark a week ago today, after 10 years of very fine madness) and my job. I cant wait to see what catastrophe comes next. I am not young and these are hard times. My sainted Daddy went to war as soon as he was able; he weighed 98 lb. and the lower limit was 105, and they winked and let him in anyway. That was the first time in his life he ever had his own bed. He risked absolutely everything to be in the front lines weather station guiding American aircraft into the battles, and at least once having a German throw a grenade into his position and -- having never pitched anything in his shot life -- picked it up and threw it back and blew up the Germans instead of himself and crew. I think of him when I see the Occupy Mommys Basement crowd sprawled in a city park demanding Good Jobs.
I am glad you are still a rich man travelling the world to let us poor peons know that all is well with the 1%. Daddy risked everything at the cusp of his life so you could succeed, and he would appreciate your thanks.
Vern Crisler | 11.14.11 @ 8:48AM
Come on, Appleby. Don't take out your unemployment worries on Ben. I know it's bleak out there in Obama's economy, but that sort of resentment of wealth is just what we find with the Occupy crowd.
Anthony| 11.14.11 @ 9:24AM
Keep the faith Appleby, you're a good person who is strong, smart, and determined. You'll make it through this, because it's in your nature to make things work out in the darkest of times!!
Unlike many, you're a doer, not a whiner. My best wishes for you!!!
Occam's Tool| 11.14.11 @ 11:32AM
Appleby: you are a sweetie. I hope things turn around very soon for you, as you deserve it. G-d Bless.
Ben can irritate, a great deal.
Franco| 11.14.11 @ 9:01AM
More goop from Ben Stein, whining in reverse as always. We're just manufacturing more and more jihadis and Taliban over there in the Hindu Kush. Don't feel particularly safe because of that.
Denver Todd| 11.14.11 @ 9:19AM
Appleby, your post had an uncharacteristic tone for you.
Stefan Stackhouse| 11.14.11 @ 10:19AM
Say what you will about Ben Stein, he is front and center with the appreciation for our men and women in uniform (present and former), and is far more vocal about this than just about any other public figure I can think of.
Occam's Tool| 11.14.11 @ 11:32AM
Uh, nope. Gary Sinise comes to mind immediately.
The Bruce| 11.14.11 @ 8:47PM
Exactly, and while Stein may be "vocal" in his support of the troops, guys like Sinise and O'Reilly are actually out there doing things for the troops (raising millions for the Wounded Warrior Project, for starters).
gustavo| 11.14.11 @ 12:40PM
The Polish also were on the front lines fighting the encroachment of Islam, the first time. The watchman on the wall in Krakow is a good example.
Scott| 11.14.11 @ 3:08PM
Thank you, Mr Stein, and by the way, Air Force "people" collectively are airmen.
GF Founder| 11.14.11 @ 3:31PM
Dear Ben, While I sincerely appreciate the contents of this article, I only take this moment to say how much more I appreciate your public expression of humility and honesty about yourself in this article. It is a trait rarely found in successful businessmen or celebrities as yourself.
gary siebel| 11.14.11 @ 4:16PM
You undercut your entire story line by staying at the Wynn.
Perhaps at heart you really are an elitist pig.
Bill A | 11.14.11 @ 5:04PM
I know a man from a local business. I had known him many years when I saw him one day wearing a WWII hat. I asked him what service he had been in. He replied Merchant Marine. He had made seven trips to Murmansk. Having read a bit about that, I asked how he had done it, the odds were long. His simple reply, "I don't know. We just did it". That simple reply was so astonishing compared to this narcissistic age we live in.
Grethel| 11.14.11 @ 8:44PM
Have you seen Cavuto's interviews with Steve Wynn. And the Frank Luntz panel that Steve Wynn spoke for. Mr Wynn is anguished and angry for his employees whose quality of life is nose diving as well as for his country. He is one CEO who has shown his face while decrying the absolute chaos the Obama has spilled all over our economy....while admitting with pain that he voted for him.
Ben may have stayed at the Wynn because of his speaking engagement, regardless, Steve Wynn is a good person, and so is Ben.
gary siebel| 11.15.11 @ 6:10PM
Apparently you are uninformed about Mr Wynn. If he is so "anguished," as you claim, about his employees, why did he try to give his dealers the shaft?
Furthermore, he is on record as saying he would prefer to be located in China -- Macau, of course, which is just rolling in the money. But last I checked it was the commies still in charge there, and the main means of business is accomplished through corruption. Mr Wynn therefore apparently prefers corruption to the rule of law.
Chinese dissidents should be grateful they have not yet figured out how to transplant eyeballs, or someone would no doubt be sacrificing theirs so that Mr Wynn could enjoy his expensive paintings.
marty g | 11.14.11 @ 10:29PM
Ben tells it like it is, like it or not. By his example and butting some strong anti-semitism Ben has succeeded in America, an example for ALL of us. He has compassion and heart mixed with a dose of humor. One of the few relevant commentators today.
Konnie| 11.15.11 @ 12:03AM
Appleby, prayers and all good wishes go with you...I have had hard times, but if you have those you love around you, treasure that. I know I do.
POST American| 11.15.11 @ 12:21AM
------------AND NOW, about that, again
'overlooked', 60th Anniversary of the
cosmically important, yet unfolding,
Globalism, RED China and EUGENICS 'unfriendly'
--------------KOREAN WAR----------------
William (Bill) Benton| 12.9.11 @ 7:06PM
Keep up the good work, Ben. Every one of us is a sinner. Bill.