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Ben Stein's Diary
Christmas for Me
Its highest values should come as no surprise. Then off to a sendoff of U.S. Marines at Camp Pendleton.
Wednesday
I stayed up way too late last
night. How could I not? I was out in the desert. It was a cold but
crystal clear night and the stars were painted on the sky. The moon
was dazzlingly nearby. I swam at about midnight in my wonderful
pool. As I kicked up the water, steam billowed out of it. The moon
shot moonbeams into the mist through the palm fronds. All around
me, our hundreds of Christmas lights shone green, blue, red,
orange, yellow into the steam. It was as if there were a swimming
pool on a Scottish moor but lined with Christmas lights.
As I swam, I could see meinen wifey wandering around inside the house. It was a perfect sight.
However, this morning, I was tired and in an embarrassingly bad mood. When my wife pointed it out to me, I apologized at once. That’s a simple rule of a marriage: when you’re acting like a jerk, stop it and apologize. Schnell.
We went to a glorious 12-step meeting and really felt lifted up by it. Then, we had lunch outdoors at Pacifica in Palm Desert, and then shopped at Brooks Brothers and noted with pain how fat I am. Then we headed home where I took a long nap listening to Mozart’s Requiem and Laudate Dominum, on my ancient Sony headphones.
Outside, the Christmas lights flickered. My fire roared in my fireplace — and I needed it, it’s cold as can be here — and the lights on my mantel blinked. In the center of the mantel is a photo of my late Pointer, Brigid.
My wife and I celebrate Christmas big time. I am sure we have more decorations than anyone within miles of here has.
Why?
On a superficial level, it’s because the lights and tree and fire are festive. That’s innate. Man loves colored lights and fires. When I was a child in Maryland, the Gentiles had festive lights and we Jews had zilch. Forget that. That’s the past. Back in 1957, I saw no reason why the Gentiles should have all of the fun and I still don’t. Having those lights and a tree — that’s what I always wanted. To have colored lights and to be a part of the dominant culture.
But I love Christmas for much more basic reasons. The New Testament is totally different from the Old Testament. It’s not about battles or migrations or plagues as the Old Testament largely is. The Old Testament is about the emergence of a people of faith in a God who favored that people. It also has magnificent codes of conduct for us humans, but also some extremely savage codes of conduct.
The New Testament is about man reforming himself and trying to get control of his barbarous, cruel nature. There are no battles or plagues. There is only real violence against one man. And there is only one real message: try to arrange your relations with your fellow man based on love and empathy rather than hate or envy or sadism.
We used to say in law school that the development of capitalism was because the law allowed a change from status to contract. That is, you were no longer stuck where you were born. You could contract to do certain things that brought you out of your status and raised you up to a higher status.
The New Testament is about the change from status to contract. You can be saved if you simply make a contract to believe in God and (some add) if you act right. It has nothing to do with how you were born or into what tribe.
This is a revolutionary, stupendous freeing of the human spirit. This is why Christmas is such a joyous time for people, whether Jews or Christians, or anyone else, who wants to believe that we humans can be forgiven and go on to lead lives of triumph no matter what has happened in our past.
That, and not shopping at all, not the retail numbers, is why Christmas is such a great time.
Just for example, I got a text from a pal this morning who is in financial extremis and in many other ways as well. “Help,” she said, “I feel as if I am drowning and my whole life has been ruined.”
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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Texas Jayde| 12.16.11 @ 7:03AM
beautiful, ben. merry Christmas!
PCC| 12.16.11 @ 10:54PM
I doubt Mr. Hitchens welcomed anyone calling him "Chris".
R.I.P.
Jack in Wi.| 12.16.11 @ 8:57AM
Christmas honors the Prince of Peace Ben. He taught the brotherhood of all men. That has always been the true Christian message. That includes Jews, Muslims, Protestants, Catholics, Atheists, Hindus, Buddists, and everyone else. War is not the answer. Sendingthose poor marines out to die in an endless war with no real justification is not the waychristians should opperate. I suggest a good reading of the Christian Just War Theory, by the many great theologians.
It is also never to late to convert. Jesus was sent for the Jews,first. Those that have come to believe in him should get baptised, and come fully home to the One True Messiah of all mankind. May I suggest you read about the life of Rabbi Zolli. He was the Chief Rabbi of Rome who converted to Catholicism in 1945. He loved Jesus, just like you do. His conversion story is a real inspiration to me, and to many others.
Alan Brooks| 12.16.11 @ 9:05PM
Agreed, AS does not forgive Islam, nor N. Vietnam- none of them. During the Vietnam War they acquiesced in the drafting of hundreds of thousands to be sent to 'Nam.
AS are not patriots, they are nationalists.
Occam's Tool| 12.18.11 @ 8:29PM
Jack, screw you, you antisemitic toad.
You seek to make my 8 year old live under the burkha, you gutless 4-F coward.
Ben, this was one of your better ones. Very nice.
Brubaker| 12.16.11 @ 9:27AM
Thank you, Ben, for yet another exquisitely thoughtful column. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
crookedwren| 12.16.11 @ 9:39AM
Not status but contract. Love that, Mr. Stein.
One of my favorite memories at Christmas is two friends and I leaving a quiet Christmas morning service at St. John the Divine. It was lovely, cold, and clear, not a bit of traffic anywhere to be seen, a bit of a feat in Manhattan. Two elderly ladies, Jewish, I'm sure, were out walking their little four-footed companions. They smiled great smiles and wished us all "Merry Christmas!"
George| 12.16.11 @ 9:48AM
Ben, thank you for your humanity. As a military physician, I also thank you for your patriotism. Your Jewish Momma would be proud.
Bill| 12.16.11 @ 9:54AM
Nice speech to the Marine mothers.
I think Christopher Hitchens was struggling to find the truth; that makes him OK in my book, a superior person. I don't think he reached truthful conclusions in the religious arena, but perhaps he had roadblocks built up in him from his childhood and youth that blocked his way. He was still trying to find the truth, and I believe God will give him some credit for that.
emilio lizardo, PhD| 12.16.11 @ 9:57AM
gratuitous pissing on Christopher Hitchens' still warm corpse. Reprehensible. Hitch wrote more eloquently and courageously than any of Ben has in any of his silly and maudlin puff pieces. And of course Hitch would have taken umbrage at any one of Nixon's sycophants- like Ben. And I have never seen anyone mop the floor with Christopher Hitchens, especially the clergy.
ben stein| 12.16.11 @ 11:14AM
With all due respect, my comments abiut Chris Hitchens were overwhelmingly sympathetic, especially since he was an explicit Jewish anti-Semite. Maybe you did not read all of what I wrote.
Bill| 12.16.11 @ 11:26AM
When I studied The Bible As Literature at NYU a good many years ago, they taught it similarly to the way you interpreted it, as a story of the evolution of religious belief among Jews to the point where God made Himself accessible to all persons.
I liked the status to contract analysis.
emilio lizardo, PhD| 12.16.11 @ 4:16PM
A nd with all due respect, I'll grant you that Hitchens loathed Judaism and Zionism. But you want an anti-Semite? Look no further than your old pal Tricky Dick, who is enjoying the Holiday Season right now where it never gets cold....
SeymourGlass| 12.16.11 @ 7:27PM
emilio: just out of curiousity, what's your degree in? In, uh, all due respect, of course.
emilio lizardo, PhD| 12.17.11 @ 10:24AM
Particle physics, Univ Rome "La Sapienza" 1962
SeymourGlass| 12.17.11 @ 10:48AM
Indeed? I suppose that's what qualifies you to know Nixon's final destination.
emilio lizardo, PhD| 12.17.11 @ 11:55AM
No the degree just indicates I am a really smart MF. I am thinking it was the carpet bombing of a defenseless and neutral Cambodia and the deaths of innocent civilians that earned him his flame suit. Dontcha think?His buddy Kissinger will look good similarly clad when Yahweh calls...
SeymourGlass| 12.17.11 @ 12:04PM
Such a smart MF that you can gaze into the soul of others. Remarkable.
Margie| 12.17.11 @ 1:57PM
No, that seems to be your "job."
Alan Brooks| 12.17.11 @ 4:57PM
One thing for sure:
Conscription will not happen again, if any of you try, it will be the end of you and perhaps the dissolution of America. You got away with it last time because youth could be coerced more readily way back when.
From now on you fight your own wars and die in them.
W| 12.18.11 @ 6:53PM
Emilio,
Smart people do not need to put PHD or JD or MD after their name unless they are insecure.
chuck| 12.18.11 @ 8:34PM
and if you refer to yourself as a smart MF, you most certainly are not.
Occam's Tool| 12.18.11 @ 8:48PM
W, I think Lizardo screwed the pooch on his comments here today (and I think you deserve a wish of a Merry Christmas), but you must realize his name is a joke, right?
Dr Lizardo from "Buckaroo Bonzai, Adventures across the Eighth Dimension?" The villian of that movie?
I saw it for the first time with my fellow Medical Students---Richard Noel (now President of the Texas Psychiatric Association) and Peter Gonzalez---alll three of us are now psychiatrists. The night we saw it, we had just completed our first dreaded "Black Monday"---all exams in all classes at UTMB in the first two years are given all at once every 6 weeks, in a sadistic frenzy.
At any rate, after we had had our brains totally fried, it was a perfect time to see this surrealistic film. When they got to the part where the rock star/physicist/race car driver/neurosurgeon hero was performing brain surgery with his sidekick played by Jeff Goldblum, and he got to the part where he said "don't touch that---you never know what it's connected to," Pete, Dick, and I couldn't stop laughing---we had just finished our first anatomy exam, and that was precisely the point!
By the way, W, you are wrong on one thing---minor point---MDs work so much harder than JDs in their training, and so much harder than PhDs in our practice, that I never allow myself to be referred to as "Mr." anything. First name basis is OK---I don't criticize my patients for doing that or get huffy. But if you want to be formal, be properly formal. I am on call 1 in 2 (actually a little over) on average, and am on site in my hospital about 50-60 hours week even not counting call. I must avoid intoxicants of any sort because even when not on call, I am sometimes used as emergency back up. I am never allowed, as a rural specialist, to forget what I am.
Therfore, I always have MD at the end of my real signature.
W| 12.18.11 @ 9:49PM
Occam,
I do agree with you that MD work harder than JD and have lots more responsility. I speak from personal experience. My point was why put a PHD on a screen name? But in real life, you are correct.
I come across people with a PHD in education and they INSIST on being called "Doctor."
I was aware of the movie, never saw it, and didn't know about this name although it does sound weird.
If I dont get another chance, Happy Channakha.
FARMER| 12.19.11 @ 1:43AM
I may be like some those you are paid to treat in your rural practice. Although unlettered, I live in the bag of skin you work on and I care for little except positive outcomes, and the willingness of doctors to respect those they treat. I suggest that you value your epithet more than your patents do.
W| 12.18.11 @ 9:42PM
emilio,
Stick to particle physics because you don't know "cazzo" about Nixon and Vietnam.
Cambodia was not neutral. North Vietnam had the Ho Chi Minh trail through Camobodia supplying weapons and soldiers to kill Americans. Cambodia allowed it. LBJ was a coward to not bomb the trail in Cambodia which would have saved American lives and shortened the war.
Nixon was a patriot to bomb the trail in Cambodia, and should have bombed it sooner and more.
Tim the Enchanter| 12.19.11 @ 1:14PM
Most of the Ho Chi Minh trail was in Laos.
W| 12.19.11 @ 5:07PM
The exit at the end led into the heart of S.Vietnam. Do you believe it was not good military tactics to bomb it?
W| 12.19.11 @ 10:41PM
The important part, the bottom end, was in Cambodia.
Occam's Tool| 12.18.11 @ 8:33PM
Tricky Dick saved millions of Jews. What he said was immaterial to his great actions.
Margie| 12.19.11 @ 8:58PM
Occam,
Have you ever read Monica Crowley's book on Nixon?
Really interesting. She just came out with a new one as well.
For years I knew nothing about Nixon except for what my Democrat parents told me~ they hated Republicans and Nixon to them was "a crook". et al.
I was A-political and a very late bloomer to the world of politics. Listening to Rush made me want to care.
Then, I saw Monica C. on C-Span doing an interview and talking about her first book.
Wow, was it enlightening, and Monica is a very lovely person. Honest and sincere. From there, I learned tons about the parties. I became a registered Republican in '92 and have voted STRAIGHT Repub ever since.
I learned that Nixon was a very smart man, that he became paranoid during the whole fiasco and that led him to his sin, but he was not a horrible person, and had a lot of excellent qualities. Faithful to his wife, for one.
Monica has a radio show. WABC in NYC if you can get it, or look it up.
Here's that interview she gave:
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/74188-1
Oh, and thanks for the kind shout out.
Stormzeye| 12.17.11 @ 11:17AM
Ben, I've been a critic of your subject matter over the years. I sometimes found them frivolous and a bit self-indulgent. I must commend you on this piece however. It was from a very deep part of your heart (perhaps where Brigid resides) and it was evident in the speech you gave to our Marines. Love and gratitude were beautifully expressed.
The blessings of our God upon you during this season of the Nativity.
Occam's Tool| 12.18.11 @ 8:32PM
Hitch's views on Jews were reprehensible, and disgusting. He was one of those people whose behaviors and views, like Clint and Jack here, led to the suicide of his mother. His views on Islam were correct, but he was not 1/10,000th of the writer his brother is.
Vern Crisler| 12.16.11 @ 10:16AM
Ben, you said, "The New Testament is about man reforming himself and trying to get control of his barbarous, cruel nature. There are no battles or plagues. There is only real violence against one man. And there is only one real message: try to arrange your relations with your fellow man based on love and empathy rather than hate or envy or sadism."
I would suggest that this is also the message of the Old Testament as well. The idea that there is some big difference between the NT and the OT is based on evolutionary thinking.
Christian theologians define the real difference as "redemptive-historical." The Old Testament was preparatory, like a woman in birth pangs -- a metaphor used by St. John. It was not an evolutionary struggle from barbaric thinking to civilized thinking, as liberal theologians used to claim.
I had hoped Hitchens would realize his errors before he died, but like one of the thieves on the cross, he chose to rail against the Savior rather than humbly confess his own moral pollution and need for divine grace.
It was a relation of pure grace, not a contractual relation at all, for the other thief on the cross, since there was nothing he could provide. All he asked for was to be remembered, and Jesus granted him grace. That's the real meaning of Christmas, the birth of the SAVIOR.
RCV| 12.16.11 @ 11:30AM
Beautiful, Ben, beautiful. Thanks once again.
JesseV| 12.16.11 @ 12:11PM
Merry Christmas to you and yours Ben
solidground| 12.16.11 @ 12:38PM
Good diary entry as usual, Ben, and Merry Christmas to you.
Just one word of advice, though: If you're noticing yourself getting fatter, substitute a little exercise for those naps. It'll do wonders, not just for your waistline but also your energy level.
Paul McGrath| 12.16.11 @ 12:47PM
Merry Christmas Mr. Stein. Great article as usual. The marines and marine wives must think you're some kind of saint.
Brian B| 12.16.11 @ 1:12PM
I've read Ben for many years and unlike many here have a great fondness for him even when I frequently disagree with him, as today.
The New Testament is about precisely the opposite of man attempting to reform himself and to live by moral rules.
The very essence of the Gospel is that man is utterly incapable of reforming himself and, even if capable of presenting a false front of morality to others, is in fact a seething mass of internal sins.
Christmas is wonderful because it marks the emergence of the One who, if we accept Him, will reform us Himself and forgive our inability to follow after Him sinlessly.
And no I'm not talking about our current president.
Margie| 12.16.11 @ 2:24PM
Well said, for apart from Him we can do NOTHING. (Jn. 15:5).
"For by Grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God--" Eph. 2:8.
"But we believe that we shall be saved through the Grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will." Acts 15:11.
Jesus IS the Grace of God.
"For the Law was given through Moses; Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ." Jn. 1:17.
The Apostle Paul said that he preached the "Gospel of the Grace of God. (Acts 20:22).
And, dear Ben Stein, my Christmas prayer for you is the same as Paul's was to those who were destined to believe in Him for eternal life, when he said to them:
"And now I commend you to God and to the Word of His Grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified." Acts 20:32.
chuck| 12.17.11 @ 9:34AM
Margie,
I wrote this as a reply to one of our "discussions" several days ago, but was unable to post it before. Please consider what I have to say.
Margie,
You asked me "who's side are you on?". Here is your answer.
Before I get started, let me say this. You probably will not agree with what I believe, but that's okay, they are my beliefs. If you can respect them, fine, if not, that's also fine. It really does not matter to me. If you want to respectfully disagree, then we can agree to disagree. If you want to say God is going to send me to Hell, that fine too. I'll take it up with Him at Judgment Day.
I am on the side of all God-loving people who try their best to live according to the tenets of their faith, and want to peacefully coexist with everyone. You say there is only one path to God, that is through Jesus Christ. This is the path I have chosen. I also believe there are many paths to God, and He doesn't care what long and winding path you take, as long as you end up with Him. Do you really believe all the good, decent people in the world, whose religions do not recognize Jesus as the Savior are condemned to hell? How about those who never heard of Jesus? I find it hard to believe that a just and caring God would do that. I asked a former friend, who was very religious about this, and he answered that Jesus said they will know me when they see me. Maybe, I don't know. Ironically shortly thereafter he disappeared owing me several thousand dollars. But that is neither here nor there, although it throws his religious fervor into some doubt.
I posted before that my wife is a Jew. Our wedding included the passage from Ruth, "your God is my God". I believed it then, and 25 years later, I believe it now. If you think I can join you in believing that God will condemn all non-Christians to hell, then you are wrong. I simply can not do that. I certainly do not believe that.
I wrote to you about harsh words, here is what I meant. God-loving versus God-fearing. I prefer loving the goodness of God, and the positives of having His presence in my life. Your posts are along the lines of God-fearing, do this, believe this, or face the penalties of hell. Both sides are accurate, but I believe stressing the positives are much more effective than stressing the negatives. Is the glass half full, or half empty?
God commands us to forgive. "forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have sinned against us". We are to forgive, not for the sake of the person who wrong you, but for your own sake. By forgiving, really forgiving, you can than move forward, putting any hurt and bitterness behind you. The best thing you can do is to forgive Ken, not just mouthing the words, but from the very depth of your soul, forgive him. You will find the burden lifted from yourself.
My wife is a Jew, and her family has always treated me as a part of that family. While we are worlds apart on our political beliefs, they are amongst the kindest, most compassionate, giving people I've ever known. The matriarch of the family was such that when she wanted to do something for you, you could not argue, nor say no, you simply had to say thank you, because she was going to do it anyway. She was born in Poland, came to this country as a small girl, literally with what they carried with them. With hard work, and determination, she and her family were very successful. A true American story. She passed a few years ago. The God that I know and love would certainly welcome this wonderfully, caring soul into His Kingdom.
I would ask that you consider what I've written. I rarely talk about my beliefs, because while religion is meant to bring us to, and understand God, it all to often divides us humans.
chuck| 12.17.11 @ 9:37AM
BTW,
Have a Merry Christmas, and the best to you and yours in the coming year.
Margie| 12.17.11 @ 11:11AM
"He who has the Son has life; he who has not the Son of God has not life." 1 Jn. 5:12.
And a Merry Christmas to you, too.
Alan Brooks| 12.16.11 @ 9:30PM
"Christmas is wonderful because it marks the emergence of the One who, if we accept Him, will reform us Himself and forgive our inability to follow after Him sinlessly."
Jesus was gay, that's why he hung out with his male disciples so much.
chuck| 12.17.11 @ 9:08AM
Do you have any positive aspects, or are you just a completely negative, useless human being. The only positive use I can see of you is how NOT to be.
However, I will pray for you, and may you have a Merry Christmas.
Occam's Tool| 12.18.11 @ 8:35PM
Chuck and Mr. Hawk, I love reading the stuff you guys write. Merry Christmas.
Margie, even when I disagree with you, you are a sweetie. G-d Bless, and Merry Christmas.
Mike Hawk| 12.17.11 @ 10:03AM
You agnostics and atheists can stay away. Go sit and molder is your cynicism and cry. We the faithful will celebrate (and probably pray for you).
Stormzeye| 12.17.11 @ 11:04AM
Your comments reveal your true nature: Your are a disgrace to all carbon-based sentient life forms.
Stormzeye| 12.17.11 @ 11:05AM
My insight was directed at the one who calls himself Alan Brooks.
Margie| 12.17.11 @ 11:17AM
Brooks,
You DO NOT want to be found by God mocking God.
I hope you repent. (Repent means change of mind).
angee woodman| 1.1.12 @ 4:36PM
it never said wed live a sinless life you idiot but that we would have a RELATIONSHIP with him..
wally| 12.16.11 @ 2:21PM
God Bless Ben Stein. Merry Christmas to all.
Lori| 12.16.11 @ 8:13PM
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanakuh to all. I wish everyone, whether they are Christian or Jew would be as respectful of other peoples beliefs as Ben Stein is.
chuck| 12.17.11 @ 9:10AM
Well said, ditto that.
Naturalborn Texicanette| 12.16.11 @ 9:53PM
You are NOT amusing, Alan...................go away.
Ed| 12.17.11 @ 11:12AM
Pray for Progs like Alan Brooks and wish them a Merry Christmas -- it will drive them nuts!
Margie| 12.17.11 @ 11:15AM
God is no respecter of persons, and neither is His Son.
Christians are not either, for if we were, we wouldn't preach the Gospel.
The truth is hate only to those who hate the truth.
"For God so loved the world that e gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
He who believes in Him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the Name of the only Son of God." Jn. 3:16-18.
And that, my dear friends, is the Gospel of God.
POST American| 12.17.11 @ 10:53PM
----Grat piece!
MEANWHILE, that NDAA law passed
and is due to be signed by Obama on the very
222 Anniversary of the ratiifcation of the Bill of Rights.
Study it and learn for yourself, it authorizes
the siezure and 'disappearance' of American
citizens here and worldwide.
The ONLY other nation ---in history! to have
carried such a law openly on the books
is ---NORTH KOREA.
Further, it might be noted that South Korea,
which has had airplanes blown from the sky
by genuine terrorists -----has, in three decades,
NEVER instituted such an outrage.
Remember too, they're dealing with their own people.
And, here, remember, this is on top of already
in place, full-spectrum 'SIR---veil--ANTS'
that has eavedropping on cellphones, PCs
and GPS devices etc.
--This issue would seem to take precedence
over our routine, RED China wampum saturated
seasonal CON--cerns.
------------------------------------------REALLY!
Jeff| 12.18.11 @ 11:11AM
Ben, Thank you for the wonderful thoughts on Christmas from another perspective.... I would also thank you for the description of your visit to Pendleton, but as you said, the real thanks go to our service people and their families for the sacrifices they make.....
OryGun| 12.18.11 @ 2:41PM
Thanks, Ben for another good article from the heart! Merry Christmas!
OLDRAY| 12.18.11 @ 3:19PM
BEN... Beautiful Thank You.
dentist in wasilla | 12.20.11 @ 2:44AM
Every one believes in God either directly or indirectly. According to old testament people believes in god directly but as new testament they feel the power of God in themselves.
angee woodman| 1.1.12 @ 4:33PM
I think you need to go back a read your bible. The jews had a disconnect with God because he was unobtainable. Jesus death made God obtainable so they could experience God for all the goodness he provides in this world. God is everywhere
Rug Cleaning | 12.23.11 @ 2:05AM
Wonderful thought Ben.. God is everywhere and everyone believes in God...
angee woodman| 1.1.12 @ 4:30PM
Yup that was what was so important about Jesus dying for us..God knew the laws were not working so he sent Jesus to write a new contact by dying for a sins
ICOFP | 6.14.12 @ 3:43AM
I've full faith in god and i know whatever god will do will be right for me.