Truly, the Right Perspective for the New Year

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in. My Best Regards.

Honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein

A Perfect Example of Insanity

Here is a headline from the WNDU (South Bend, IN.) online news: BMV letter over driver's license data worries immigrants.

Here is the text of the story:

The Bureau of Motor Vehicles' recent letter notifying more than 200,000 people that information on their driver's licenses doesn't match a government database has left some immigrants fearful that they'll lose their licenses.

Director Rebecca Griffy says Heart and Hands, a Plymouth nonprofit that helps Latinos and immigrants, has been "bombarded" by callers worried about losing their licenses.
Those fears are real because any recipient of the BMV letter who cannot resolve the mismatched data issues will have their licensed revoked.

Griffy says undocumented residents often use false Social Security numbers. She says that if they lose their license it could hurt the economy by keeping people from working and shopping.

Seriously, Americans have lost their minds. This is insane.

First, the headline is wrong. It should read "BMV Letter Over Driver's License Data Worries Illegal Aliens". Legal immigrants have no reason to worry. Legal immigrants to the U.S. have valid SSNs and driver's license numbers. Legal immigrants are employed legally. End of story. No fear for jobs or the economy.

The problem, as we all know, is illegal aliens. People illegally in the United States, for whatever reason, who have either stolen a legal person's identity and/or falsified legal employment and driver's license information now have a legitimate reason to worry. And worry they should. I personally don't care why they are here illegally. I do care that they are breaking America's laws. That's the point. That's why they should be worried. Forget about the economy. There are plenty of legal Americans who will work. Enforce the laws. Don't write new ones. Just read the laws, and then enforce them!

And just as a side note....anyone who knowingly employs or enables an illegal alien should also have to face the consequences.

Ignoring this situation is insanity, pure and simple.

Christmas Q&A

I'm a copycat, but this sounded like fun, so I'm going to play along!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both. I wrap most things, but sometimes I like to mix in some pretty bags. Plus, if I have an older grandparent I will use the bags because they are easier to open.

2. Real tree or artificial? Fake tree here. With two tree-climbing cats, a rambunctious dog and a three-year-old, the pine needles and sap would be too much.

3. When do you put up the tree? As soon after Thanksgiving as possible. This year, we're doing it today.

4. When do you take the tree down? Oh, sometime in January or February....whenever I get tired of keeping the pets and Emily out of it.

5. Do you like eggnog? Never had it, don't intend to try it!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Hmmmm...probably my first real bicycle. It got a TON of use.

7. Do you have a Nativity scene? Yes. I bought one last year that has scripture verses on each character. Hard to explain.

8. Hardest person to buy for? My mother-in-law. Great mom-in-law, couldn't ask for better, just tough to shop for!

9. Easiest person to buy for? Emily, hands down.

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Hmmm.....a globe.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, hopefully before Christmas!

12. Favorite Christmas movie? Chevy Chase in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Absolutely hilarious!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually around October/November. I like to be done by December, but it rarely happens.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Christmas cookies...the batter in particular!

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? I prefer clear.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Impossible to say. I like them all...seriously. But anything by Josh Groban, particularly "O Holy Night".

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel...always. This year we go to Delaware, next year to Greentown. We switch off.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? I think so.

20. Angel on the treetop or star? Star.

21. Open presents on Christmas eve or morning? Both. We open presents from one side of the family the night before, toys from Santa Christmas morning and more presents from the other side of the family later on Christmas.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Stores ignoring Christmas and making it a "holiday". Also rude people.

23. Corniest family tradition you do, or miss doing? We give batteries in everyone's stocking. Silly, I know.

24. Ugliest Christmas decoration ever invented? Upside down Christmas trees. Why?

25. Theme trees or homey? Either. I like both...someday I'd like to have one of each!