Gil writes on the Prager List: DP, 9:15AM, June 8, 1999 "This is
a society that wants not to judge."
verbatim quote.
[This is an excellent precursor for the rest of the show, where judgment
becomes a central theme].
1st hour -- started by the Army's announcement that they were allowing
high priestesses of Wicker to become chaplains
2nd hour -- on the speculation of who Time magazine would name as "Man
of the Century."
3rd hour -- "Zero Tolerance in the news" again.
"I fear multi-culturism for the very reason that it suggests all
cultures are equivalent, because we are expected to welcome their contributions
equally."
Pretty close quote, capturing his meaning.
"On what multicultural grounds can you oppose clitorodectiomies,
slavery, Black lynchings, gassing of Jews, satanic worship." [This
and all that follow
are the best I could do on short notice.]
"It is expected that Time will name FDR as man of the century."
"My choice is Sigmund Freud. Due to his starting us on the road to
thinking about thought."
[Gil's choice is Albert Einstein due to relativity blending with relativism,
a key problem]
"Zero tolerance means zero thought"
15 yr. old girl in Pensacola Fla. is being expelled for up to a year for
bringing fingernail clippers to school.
"Adults are making decisions which are so foolish, I cannot imagine
the children will not be adversely affected."
Principal released the following statement to the press: "Schools
cannot have double std.s for kid's doing well academically."
DP: "A kid's past good performance carries as much weight as a kid
who is the school's worst delinquent."
The father of the girl was quoted, "they're gonna hafta take the
pencils and scissors out of the schools if they are going to be consistent."
Dennis chuckled over that. "Heeee's right!...When was the last time
someone was killed with a nail clipper? Has anyone ever been?..."
"This is just another example of society's hysterical overreaction
to worsening events elsewhere...."
"We suffer from some very bad things, one of which is hysteria...."
"Hysteria leads to other things. Once we become hysterical over second
hand smoke and peanut dust, we are inevitably going to become hysterical
over nail
clippers."
"Get children to think, to make the distinction between dangerous
and undangerous activities...."
[DP summarizing on the day:]
"do you not care about your kid's record? do you not go to your school
and ask about their policy regarding zero tolerance on sexual harassment
like the 1st grade kid giving his classmate a kiss on the cheek; about
their zero tolerance on drugs where a coughdrop will get your kid kicked
out of school; about their zero tolerance on weapons so that a nail clipper
is treated like a deadly weapon.... I suspect that if you do you may find
them instituting a policy declaring zero tolerance on parents."
Luke: I think a large part of the reason that so many despise Dennis
Prager and wish him ill is that he is an informant. He informs us, by
his very existence, of the greater heights and depths that we could be
achieving with our lives and are not. Similar to the role Fortinbras played
to Hamlet.
If you dislike someone and don't know why, if they have not harmed you,
the reason could be that they inform you of what you could be.
6/1/
Larry Hathaway: Let's consider Mr. Huprich's words, "Because talk
radio is a flawed medium for the exchange of ideas, it is easy to take
cheap shots and exaggerate."
What I quite agree with, is that Dennis Prager is able to "take cheap
shots and exaggerate," as a result of working in the medium of talk
radio. So an important issue is this -- to what extent is talk radio EXACTLY
what is quite fitting for Dennis Prager? I say yes, it
is fitting. Prager is inherently a distorter, a windbag. At
KABC, he has found his calling. It's better for Prager-types to be in
American talk radio, than to be in thought police in other times, at other
places. It's healthy to witness the existence of such people, and to witness
those who fall for what's said. While I very predominantly agree with
the general direction of
Dennis Prager's positions, the statements he makes on the radio to support
those positions are erroneous; his style is embarrassing. Faulty reasoning
tends to corrupt his position, just as he's able to identify the faulty
reasoning of the other side. So he's worse than making no contribution.
Look at ChrisDnld to witness DP writ large. At least Dennis Prager is
not as bad as Jerry Springer.
Steve Zimmerman responds to Chris Donald on the Prager List: There is
a huge difference between taking the issues discussed on the radio show
then discussing them fully here, versus assuming anything really
meaninful can be obtained from what is said on the show considering there
is inadequate time to reflect on the input, carefully consider the output,
then express it well. Instead, the show seems to be a series of rigged
sound bites with an occasional miscue.
Contrast that with what we can accomplish here...take the time/effort
to fully reflect on our positions/responses & to call each other some
really
rotten names.
> Unless he believes that Dennis' show offers no
meaningful dialogue or >debate with any regularity. If so, I have no
idea what any of you are doing
>listening or monitoring such a list as this. You should be on a Howard
Stern >list.
"Meaningful" perhaps. "Dialogue"? No way. There isn't
time. DP has an image and reputation to protect and ratings to consider.
The goal in all so-called dialogues is "DP wins", not a careful
examination
of the issues.
But it is "regular".
> This list, and Deitr in particular, criticize mostly
what is >discussed on the show. If you don't take the show's quality
seriously, then >you don't take your time seriously.
Deitr (bless his pointed head!) criticizes DP's positions. Given it's
an atheist commenting on a theist; what do you expect?
I think DP is one of the foremost Jewish non-rabbinic thinkers today.
A talk show is a great way to make money but not one that leads to great
thoughts.
So I debate the show's ideas without regard to DP's position. Whether
I agree or disagree with DP is coincidental.
> It is imperfect. So is live debate before an audience.
So are all >forms of communications.
But some forms are more imperfect than others. Talk shows have a high
IQ ("imperfectness quotient"), IMO.
>But it is by far the best talk show in S. Cal. for
>hearing ethical and moral issues debated by articulate people. There
is >nothing else like it.
I question the use of the word "debate". Time is limited; one
side of the "debate" establishes and enforces the rules. "Debate"
implies some sort
of equality between the debators with a neutral 3rd party involved when
necessary.
It seems more to me that DP articulates some position, then the audience
calls in with their reactions. DP chooses who speaks, defends his position
and usually gets the last word. "Exchange" maybe. "Debate",
no.
Given the rigged, somewhat contrived aspects, it can't really be taken
seriously.
> That said, it remains valuable. In conjunction
with his written work, >it is very valuable learning opportunity whatever
your politics. If you
don't >think so, what are you doing spending your time here?
I believe DP's greatest value (and I'm sure Deitr will heartily agree)
is that DP forces you to examine your position vis à vis his. You'll either
move toward DP's position or you'll understand better why you have your
own. Either way, you benefit.
I don't think a talk show can sufficiently explore a position so that
a reasonable personal re-evaluation can occur. DP's "Ultimate Issues"
was the forum for that.
> And anyone who challenges something Prager says
on his show but is >afraid to call in and challenge him, FREE, live,
is simply cowardly.
I disagree. Calling in with a contrary input, given all I've said above,
puts the caller at a real disadvantage. My Aikido training teaches me
never to enter a fight as the underdog unless your life is in danger and
you have no choice.
Gil from Echo Park:
DP thinks the diamond lane is the high-speed lane because it is the leftmost
lane. If he is wrong, he is furthering the ignorance, and even if he is
right he may be prompting road rage. Especially since his audience is
no longer confined to Southern California. Now he owes it to his audience
to do his homework and clarify this issue. My case follows.
1) Fact: The diamond lane is labeled the "high occupancy lane."
2) Fact: On most freeways this means if you have two or more occupants
in your vehicle you are permitted in the diamond lane. Need to find out:
If there is a minimum highway speed, you may be permitted
to as little as that. It may not be wise, but you could be permitted.
3) Fact: In the normal #1 lane, you are expected, under favorable driving
conditions, to be doing the maximum speed limit (though I've never seen
the
CHP stop anyone for doing less).
4) Important distinction: In southern Cal the diamond lane (AFAIK) is
always in the left most lanes (two left most lanes on the portions of
the Harbor Fwy
& the 5). But in the bay area, on the oddities called expressways,
the diamond lane is in the RIGHTmost lanes -- and the high speed drivers
can make your life miserable entering the expressway. Being in the right
lane, it certainly isn't obvious that "diamond" lane equates
with "speed" lane. See the need for clarification yet DP? The
morons in the Bay Area think they are entitled not to merge with slower
moving entering traffic because they've equated diamond with speed. That
is dangerous as well as inconsiderate and wrong.
5) Fact: Few, even in flowing heavy traffic, stay below 65 mph in a 55
zone. Practical Rationale: it is simply safer to go with the flow than
observe the strict letter of the speed limit. General FWY Rule: If you
keep within 10 mph of the posted limit, you usually
won't be stopped for speeding.
DP's stated problem: That people in the diamond lane are going slower
than the four other lanes on the freeway. He says, being a healthy male,
he likes
to speed. He didn't say that the people were doing less than the speed
limit (It is not clear this is wrong -- see surmise under 2) just that
they impeded
him it REALLY annoyed him. DP thinks their behavior is wrong and his annoyance
is justified. If he is going to go on air with his gripe, why doesn't
he go to the bother to find out like Rantel or Elder would do?
Because their is another perspective, perhaps wrong, but it is a big but.
BUT: Another advantage of the high occupancy lane is not having to put
up with many lane changers, and a usually wider separation from the other
lanes, making for a bit less tension in driving.
Notice: My general displeasure with CalTrans leads me to figure they enjoy
keeping the rights and obligations vague, leaving the QUOTA of occupants
as the only clear distinction (says something about the mind of bureaucrats?).
Particularly on those Bay Area expressways, the behavior of the right
HiOc lane drivers is the same as DP's in the left HiOc lanes and far more
dangerous.
My opinion is that DP has done a disservice by not finding out the facts
and rules of the road as expected by the CHP, and broadcasting his complaint
that
he shouldn't have to do this -- CalTrans and the DMV should make those
rules crystal clear. What I think DP may have done is inflamed the arrogance
of
those who think that if they "went to the bother" (or simply
got lucky this trip) to meet the quota needed to travel in the diamond
lane, then they are ENTITLED to move much more freely, so "who are
these inconsiderate Cretans who think they can cruise below the speed
of the other lanes?"
DP should not have given in to his anger and should have done more preparation
-- especially since he is national.
5/25/99
Shannon: "Yes, I have to confess, this morning I was listening to
Prager's show at home, since the hills in which I live have such poor
reception for KRLA (that's my story and I'm sticking to it). Anyways I'm
glad I did, since it reconfirmed my belief that Prager is a dishonest,
disingenous, prevaricating, egomaniac charlatan. A judge called in and
caught Prager beautifully in one of his typical bombastic rants, this
one involving the supreme court ruling allowing parents
of persitently sexually harrassed students to sue schools. Prager recited
his mantra that this was yet another example of secular, left, liberal
Democratic,
commie, nail in the coffin of freedom and decency, plots that he hangs
onto so dearly. The Judge correctly pointed out that this ruling was made
by conservative judges, and that Prager's pontificating was flawed and
ill-conceived. As an aside, the Judge reminded Prager that he once said
women should vote in line with their husbands. As usual, Prager, spluttering
for an adequate response broke for commercials, promising to continue
with the caller after the break. Liar that he is, the caller was never
heard from again."
I found the 11-12 hour ludicrous, with Prager, who weighs about 250 pounds
on a 6'4" frame, dispensing advice on how to lose weight. What bothered
me was not the topic but Prager phrasing this issue as he usually does
- do you agree or disagree with me. And, "let me tell you how I told
you this so many years ago. I was right. I predicted this."
Yet I remember hearing Prager on tape about nine years ago saying at a
lecture, "it is only fat that makes you fat," in other words,
the opposite of what he is commanding today. I remember how obsessed Prager
was with Dr Barry Sears' THE ZONE in 1994. He sounded like a woman.
Incidentally, I switched to the zone diet at the end of 1998, with good
effect. Thanks Dennis, sorry for mocking you on this five years ago. You
were right.
To keep things in perspective, there is no other talkshow host that I
listen to regularly. And if it was any other host doing this topic, I
would not even listen.
5/24
I think DP is disingenous when he refers to porn use as a person indulging
his fantasies, or as a person's private fantasy life. Today DP talked
about the Harvard Divinity dean who was fired for having
downloaded porno images on to his computer. DP thought it was a frightening
invasion of the dean's private fantasy life. I think DP is describing
porn
use dishonestly. It is not primarily someone's private fantasy life, it
is use of a product that most morally sensitive people think is destructive.
It is not just a person fantasizing in his own mind. He is actively doing
something that supports an industry that most morally sensitive people
think degrades us.
Jason: "I don't think he would have been fired for having one or
two or ten images. When he had filled most of a multi-gig disk, it's pretty
clear he wasn't doing the job he was being paid to do. The fact that a)
it's Harvard and b) the Divinity Dean just made it
national level news. People get fired every day for this sort of thing."
Pete gives these radio host rules:
1. Ratings - above all things, Ratings - You are not a newsman, you are
an ear harvester. You can do anything, as long as it gets ratings.
2. Goading is the key to ratings - You may agitate, invent conspiracies,
play what-if games with people's reputations or any other form of twenty-first
century bear-baiting.
3. Attack, don't build. - You should always have a enemy of some kind.
Demonize things, if you have to. It is easier to be negative than positive.
You then can enjoy being an underdog. You can, however, be
positive on single person human interest stories or silly issues.
4. Even though your popularity is your livelihood thus you are a de facto
role model, you have no responsibility to be a role model. More to the
point, you must attack anyone that could be a role model, unless, of course,
you have or want to have a personal relationship with them or they are
a sponsor or a potential sponsor.
5. Paint with a broad brush - You can stereotype without fear, within
the sensitivities of your sponsors. Politicians are great targets because
they are people who are willing to commit their time to public
service for low pay. They have got to be either crooks or fools. Attack
them. Selfish, impulsive, consumers will understand. This will also discourage
smart people who would like to contribute to society from taking on leadership
roles, leaving more and new fool fodder for you. Do not worry about the
impact you have on society. This is not your responsibility. Remember
- Ratings - above all things, Ratings.
6. Point of View - Your point of view will be determined over time. It
will be made up of those things which get your audience excited and
don't make your sponsors too mad. Don't be confined by any guiding principles
or moral standard as that would limit your options, make potential sponsors
mad and force you to be consistent.
7. Accept all credit, but accept no blame. - Winning awards is recognition
by other ear harvesters. Blame means you are responsible for your actions.
If anything you say could be considered harmful, you can
say that you are not a journalist, you are a talk show host, and as such
shouldn't be taken seriously. Brag that you are not responsible, because
you are, in a word, irresponsible.
8. Your callers only have the right to question your opinion if they do
it in non-threatening manner. Callers may never be uppity with the host.
You are the holder of the cut off switch. You never have to answer your
critics. You are a talk show host. You, on the other hand, have the right
to insult and make fun of your callers. View it not as incivility but
as a way to get people to tune in, which is your sole purpose.
Because, remember - Ratings - above all things, Ratings.
5/17/99
Prager noted today that blacks make up about 90% of the NBA. Is that
good for blacks? Chris Bolton responds:
I think it's a mixed bag. When we see Blacks excelling in sports, Whites
admire and respect them for their talents. Where I lived in Phoenix -
Ahwatukee/Foothills, there were a number of athletes living there. I went
to Church with Jim McMahon's wife. My best friend lived 2 doors down from
the Cardinal's place kicker. I think it would be neat to have one living
close because it would be cool to say,
"Hey, I know ----, I live next door to him and he borowed my hedge
clippers last week."
On the other hand, when we see so many Black athletes getting arrested
for drugs, violence, etc..., it reinforces the stereotype. "You can
take the
nigger out of the jungle, but you can't take the jungle out of the nigger.",
the racist will say.
The same goes with the number of out of wedlock births, the foul language,
athletes who almost need an interpreter because of their poor enunciation,
the gold chains, gangsta image, etc....
We see so many classy Black athletes (and others like Oprah) that do
a lot and don't project a poor image and then there are athletes like
Latrell Spreewell, Dennis Rodman, Charles Barkley, etc... that reinforce
racist images.
You would think that the NAACP and others would encourage high profile
Blacks - athletes, musicians, actors, etc....to learn to speak properly,
be law abiding & moral, etc...since that would do more to reduce racism
than all of the Affirmative Action programs combined.
5/12/99
>Cheating in an ethics class is ironic. Thus it probably warranted
Paul>Harvey's mention but not the hour DP gave it.
Chris Bolton: Having a cheater in an ethics class is like saying there
are sinners in a religion class. He may of had to take the class to get
his degree. I think we as a society will be better of because the irony
will be pointed out to him and he may become more ethical. Church isn't
a museum of saints, but a hospital for sinners. Ethics classes should
not be a gathering of ethical people sitting around and complaining about
the state of ethics in society, but rather a way for the unethical to
improve.
Larry Hath: Here's one caller to KABC who agreed with Dennis Prager,
that conduct in schools is a serious problem ..... with a twist.
TT: for teacher
PP: for Dennis Prager
PP: Anita in West Los Angeles, you’re on KABC.
TT: Hi Dennis, how are you?
PP: Not well.
TT: Yeh, I’m listening to you and I agree with you that this whole
[? ] is a sad commentary on the sign of the times, that things are going
on in schools. But, I work in a west side private Jewish day school and
I also tutor children from other Jewish day schools on the west side and
actually, we’re facing, especially in my classroom, a problem with
behavior between boys
and girls, now, .. I certainly agree with you that, you know, ranging
from the bullet points that you mentioned, the kindergartner looking up
skirts, et
cetera, it’s ridiculous and I’m sure that, 80% of those bullet
points would just be deleted. But we _do_ have a problem and I think that
things have changed since you were a child, even since I was a child,
I’m
30 years old, in the classroom in terms of what children are exposed to
and what they bring into the classroom in terms of language and the treatment
of their peers. The way that we have our young fourth grade boys .. young,
let’s say 20, 30% of them, interacting with our young girls, is a
problem and
it’s something that I’m not 100% sure how to deal with.
Examples: I have parents of some of my female students calling me up
and telling me some of
the things that the boys are saying to them during the day.‘Course
none of this goes on in earshot for me.
PP: Like what?
TT: well, I mean, I certainly couldn’t say it
on the air, but--
PP: Well say the initials. I want to know what is being
done.
TT: Sexual references, that the parents and I sit and try to figure out
where the children even get the material. But _really_... *agressive*,
sexual references, very *suggestive* and intimidating..and.. really SICK!
And
not only to the girls but references that they make to other male students
about what they do with their parents, really like *sick* stuff.
PP: I agree, then why do we have this all under the sexual harassment?You
see this is what has happened. Listen to what’s happened in our lifetime,
it fascinates me. We have a bombardment of _course_ stimulae in
our society right from the media -- _bombardment_.
TT:And they have prayer on[cutoff
by PP]
PP: At the same time, just as society got worse and
courser and bombarded kids with worse and worse messages, like MTV, just
at the same time we removed everything that could make you holy from
the school, mainly God and religion. So, there is no reference point now,
and so instead of having reference to those things,..see, all my teacher
would
have had to say to me if I said something like that?..is,
“Dennis, this is against the Torah.” That’s all he would
have had to say.
TT:[?]
PP: There is *no code* in public school though, you can’t say this
is against WHAT!, so instead of Torah, instead of Old Testament, New Testament,
instead of “Jesus wouldn’t act like this,” now what we
have is
sexual harassment codes. The secular world now realizes it can’t
_live_ without codes, so it makes *up* these codes, which are far worse.
TT: Alright, but I’m telling you that I work in a Jewish day school
and this problem is a real issue, that we’ve had cabinet meetings
to discuss how to handle
this
PP: Well I ...
TT: We *do* have access to that kind of material.
PP: Well don’t
TT: [?]
PP: FINE! [?]
PP:Well, then that’s good, and worse, you
kick’em OUT !! [Dennis' voice rose to a high pitch]
[At this point, the teacher’s determined attempt to state, in effect,
that Prager’s description of a serious problem in public schools
is remarkably similar to hers in Jewish school, was effectively squelched,
at
last, by Dennis Prager’s repeated interjections. (Larry Hathaway
narrates)]
[He finally got’er to “shuddupp”.]
PP: I don’t understand, why does a school have to retain kids who
are incessantly vulgar. But you see, THAT’S the, I don’t understand
it, that’s what I,.. I devoted two shows to that two weeks ago.
TT: [? - ?]
PP: [AGAIN speaking over the teacher’s voice] I will say the words
again, where kids in high schools apparently will greet girls in ‘hey
bitch’. *That’s
not* sexual harassment. That is _vulgar_ human behavior that our school
doesn’t accept.
Hathaway: At one point, the teacher was trying to state that at
her problematic school, there was prayer.
I'm convinced that if five of the school fatal-shootings
episodes had occurred in inner city schools, the pundits' statements would
be different.
Since it appears that more than half of this list's participants have
Jewish ancestors, the question is ---
Would various people have made different comments, if two episodes had
been at Jewish schools or at Catholic schools?
Also, the expression "going postal" originates from repeated
episodes within the US Postal Service. I wonder whether *that* pattern
has turned out to be like an epidemic --- occurances returning to a "nearly-pre-epidemic"
rarity --- or whether the
postal experience has been one of decline, to a less frequent but a definitely-higher
rate.
"There are no atheists -- it's the religion of self worship."
Dr. Barbara Lerner, U Chicago. Author of "The Killer Narcissists."
"Paganism is coming back, but not as a pejorative." - DP
"Our refusal to make moral judgments was summed up by a pastor in
Littleton who called the actions of the monsters 'a mistake'."
DP supported Dr. Lerner's observations with "Eric Harris wrote in
German 'Ich bin Gott.'"
Gil -- it's kinda what I've identified as what Steve Dietrich has been
presenting to us: Ichism. The "I" as the center of the universe.
This is not to be confused with a libertarian individualism either. It's
the individualism that thinks Statism is the road to salvation as perceived
by them. It's the elitist, self-aggrandizing ichies who think they are
better than the rest of us -- and they have been nurtured by our modern
educational system assailed by C.S.Lewis. They believe they are, if not
exactly Nietsche's ubermenschen, the closest thing on the evolutionary
ladder to them. It is also seems to me to be close to the personality
that C.S.Lewis identifies in the last chapter of "The Abolition of
Man." The only
difference, in my opinion, between these killers and those who get to
head governments, is the degree of sophistication of the latter. Can you
all see why the first definition of sophisticated is "adulterated"
and not the more pleasant later definition, "cultivated"? Someone
chose to.
5/4/99
If you're familiar with Prager, then about 50% of his shows (and contents
of his newsletter) are simply repetitions of his familiar values, such
as today he spent an hour on the death penalty. Then from 10AM - 11AM,
he interviewed a woman who's written a book on the female body. She's
the science writer for the NY Times. Several women, including the author,
told Prager that women were as visually stimulated sexually as men are.
Prager's syndication does not yet seem to have picked up any stations.
All the calls are from the LA area.
Gill writes on the Prager List: "Cheating in business ethics class,
San Diego State U. This was mentioned on Paul Harvey yesterday. DP dealt
with it today. DP says he's not surprised. Said something very close to:
Expecting ethical behavior from studiers of business ethics is like expecting
plants to emerge from studiers of botany. I see his point. (Still he probably'd
gain a bit from an intensive course in matchings for similes and metaphors.<G>)
DP says, (ca. 9:55AM) "wrongdoers want to involve as many as possible
to help assuage their conscience. Does that make any sense?" DP has
finally stated what I have said repeatedly about cynics, sophists, and
the immoral in general.
Third hour talked about the death penalty and how the anti-Capital Punishment
crowd are into one thing only -- seeing to it that no murderer will be
harmed. A caller mentioned how one father had removed two of the symbolic
crosses in Littleton in outrage that the murderers be honored. DP restated
how saddened
he was by the sight of it; and gladened someone had the nerve to stand
up for his feelings of righteousness.
Another caller said he viewed the killers differently because they were
kids, under the influence of so much pressure in our culture to not be
able to
recognize right from wrong, and have so few people willing or able to
have led them to the right path."
Prager's radio show on KABC began syndication on Thursday, April 15.
Gil writes about DP on 4/14: Dennis' 2nd Hour sneered at zero tolerance
in schools. He found it laughable among other things. Not enough. I found
it both cowardly and immoral. If DP thought so too, I don't know, though
I was on hold to discuss it, when Clinton interrupted with another justification
for escalating on Serbia. Would anyone here care to either dispute my
assessment or find out why I made the apparent leap to judgment?
Some background on the show.
DP listed a number of instances in which this policy of Zero Tolerance
had been enforced.
The one which instigated today's issue was about a student whose Mom had
placed a small knife in her lunchbox so she could cut an apple. When the
girl found it, she turned it into a teacher because she knew of the school
rules and didn't wish to violate them. The teacher told her that she did
the right thing. She was expelled.
DP laughed "what possible message was the school sending this young
girl?" and other choice observations.
DP listed maybe 8 more instances, all that he held up to ridicule. And
callers did the same. This is fair. But there is so much more here.
I called to try and get DP to develop the charges along the following
outline.
1) the injustice of treating the least guilty as harshly as the most guilty.
2) the injustice and stupidity of ignoring all extenuating and mitigating
circumstances.
3) that it is a form of human sacrifice, when it lets the guilty think
they again have an advantage over innocents. The guilty intend to transgress,
get a payoff and lose; the innocent do not intend to transgress, so get
no payoff, but still lose as if they had intended. But both are treated
the same. Hence the innocent are sacrificed for the sins of the guilty.
4) my speculation that school officials, rather than confront the most
guilty and arrive at a proper solution and punishment, i.e., using judgment,
are fearful of the consequences of such, not the least is that they might
then be called "mean" and "judgmental." For such cowards,
zero tolerance let's them show off they're sternness and of being in command
without having to explain their actions other than say "well, that's
our policy." Disgusting! "Can't make an omelet without breaking
a few eggs." There really ought to be a way to justly visit the same
on them. That, though, is in God's hands.
As for your kids, if you have kids: shouldn't you be prepared to fight
these moral midgets and courageous marshmallows along lines of attack
suggested by my opinion rather than let your kids see you cower and give
them up for victims?
Luke: "I am really tired of Dennis Prager claiming that he did not
talk about Clinton for six years. When Clinton first rose to national
prominence in 1991 running for the Democratic nomination, Prager called
Clinton "a blow dried nothing." Prager criticized him throughout
the Democratic contest, then the 1992 campaign against Bush, then criticized
him for his first budget... Prager has continually criticized Clinton
and I wish that DP would stop lying."
Nelking: "I couldn't agree with you more. I am
also sick of hearing DP's claims that he basically gave the President
a free ride for 6 years. I will admit that he didn't devote entire shows
to ripping himapart, as he does many other people or topics, but he definitly
did get the point across in no uncertain terms that he did not . Also,
in perhaps an even more telling point, I do not believe that in the 6+
years that Clinton has been President, DP ever said anything complimentary
about him or appauded him on anything he did or any decision he made.
Contrary to his firm belief, DP does NOT have any credibility when it
come to discussing any aspect of the presidency. He is simply a shill
for the Republican party. When DP now devotes a whole show to Clinton's
"botched" Yogoslavia policy, who
cares----NOTHING that Clinton did would have pleased DP or elicited any
praise!"
Bigone: "Did you see the fat Jew bastard on Politically Incorrect
last night [4/13/99]? Typical kike, hand flying in the air, talking nonstop,
never letting anyone else get a word in. Tell me what value does that
yenta add to society? NOTHING, he has spent his life yabbering about others'
behavior, morals, on and on. What good is he? Put a shovel in his hand,
work would set him free!"
Dennis Prager says he is ambivalent about the US joining NATO to send
air raids over Serbia.
Prager pointed out how a keen sense of history can prevent people like
the Serbs from fully living in the present. The Serbs, like Jews, blacks,
etc, have long been victims. And a sense of victimhood develops rage and
blurs morality.
Jeff writes on usenet that Prager is better than Rush Limbaugh: "Because
Dennis Prager talks about various issues and though he does criticize
Clinton, he doesn't base his entire show around it. I like Rush
and I think most of his critics overreact to him, but I think Rush's ego
got big once he got really famous with his tv show in 1992 and 1993. He
still can relate to the common man and woman, but I miss the old Rush
who used to actually talk about things outside of Washington, DC.
"I'm sorry to say but Dennis Prager has won me over in the talk-radio
field. Not only that, but I have emailed Rush countless times and never
have gotten
a response. But I emailed Prager and he graciously responded and was very
friendly. Plus, Prager is a very religious man who discusses Judaism at
seminars all over the U.S. and he is a very serious man on the air. Yes,
he jokes at times and is quite funny, but at least his humor is not as
juvenile as Rush's is at times.
"Rush has done a great job at pointing out liberal myths and he definitely
has secured his place in history. I respect the man a lot and I like him
as
a talk-show host and a person, but I am honest enough to point out when
he's making mistakes and making Bill Clinton the primary, if not only,
focus of
your show is not going to get more people to listen to your show.
"I am by no means a Clinton sympathizer. I personally think he should
have been impeached, but that's over and done with. I just think that
Rush discussing Clinton all the time is as bad as MSNBC discussing Monica
Lewinsky 24/7. I mean, a few years ago it was all O.J. on CNN and E! Then
last year on MSNBC it was Monica Lewinsky all the time. There is news
out there that needs to be reported and is not getting reported. Like
this recent Bosnia crisis, for example. People are all shocked and going
"Why is this
happening?" Well, if the damn networks had been doing their job of
reporting the news they'd know that this has been escalating for quite
some time now."
The Dennis Prager Show, currently on AM 790 KABC in Los Angeles, is going
to be nationally syndicated. Listener Shannon Cream responds: "I
fail to see the economic attractiveness of a nationally syndicated Prager
radio show. Dennis is part of a KABC lineup that continues to post increasingly
dismal ratings. His show is niche marketed towards the unhappy; the socially,
and psychically under siege segment of the talk radio listening market.
Dennis is a bright and knowledgeable man, but his show is simply for the
most part, sad. If he were to develop an in studio debate format with
respected principals on topical issues ( I'm not talking about lunatics
from PETA etc), his show might attract an intellectually saavy audience
that wishes to hear informative, entertaining and academically combative
debate. Personally I cannot find anything redeeming in his present show
style of beratement and riddicule of the opposition via continual reference
to inane carictures That is why I choose Michael jackson's show over Prager's.
Dennis should try and cheer up and quit trying to come across as a later-day
Nostradamus... "I've been saying this for years now"...Anyway,
if you manage to proove me wrong, and the nation's radio stations begin
snapping up the DP show, best of luck, I just don't see it happening myself
if his show remains as is."
You can E-mail the lady in charge of syndicating Prager (so far zero
stations have signed up), Stacey Ruben (benc1@concentric.net)
to give your favorite radio station in your area. Let her know the call
letters and station number where you would like to hear the Dennis Prager
Show. For example in Los Angeles we hear Dennis on call letters: KABC
and the station number is 790AM. Remember to include your city and state.
Dennis Prager's website www.dennisprager.com
has been updated, but fans will be disappointed that the What's New page
contains only six pictures of Dennis.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gary Schonfeld,
President
March 18, 1999
(212) 302-1100
MEDIAAMERICA, INC. / JONES RADIO NETWORK LAUNCHES THE DENNIS PRAGER
RADIO SHOW
The Most Important Show in Talk Radio, Now Available in National Syndication
MAI/New York - MediaAmerica, Inc. / Jones Radio Network announced today
the launch of its new syndicated talk radio program, The Dennis
Prager Show. Originating from KABC Studios in Los Angeles, which will
become the flagship station, the Prager Radio Show will air Nationally
from 12 noon - 2pm ET. The National show is expected to launch in
early April.
Dennis Prager is one of America's most respected radio talk show hosts.
He has been broadcasting on KABC since 1982 and had his own daily national
television show 1994-95. A prolific author, Prager has
written four books and hundreds of articles for major publications including
the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, and Commentary. His most
recent book, Happiness Is A Serious Problem (Harper Collins), was recently
# 1 on the Los Angeles Times paperback bestseller list. Dennis also writes
a twice-monthly newsletter, The Prager Perspective. Prager was a Fellow
at the School of International
Affairs at Columbia University. He was named one of the ten most influential
people in Los Angeles by Buzz magazine, and called "one of America's
five best speakers" by Toastmasters.
Prager has a unique ability to talk about virtually every subject, take
strong ethical positions, yet be entertaining. That is why Tom Snyder
has often said: "Dennis Prager is the best radio talk show
host in America."
"I have waited a long time to find the right people to enable me
to take my ideas and values to a National audience. I have found them
and am excited and grateful" commented Prager.
"Dennis' show is the most important show in National Radio syndication.
Dennis Prager's show talks to the heart of the moral issues facing all
of us today. He forces listener's to make critical decisions in their
lives_decisions which make all our lives better.
Dennis serves as the moral compass allowing the listener to think out
their moral positions which effect everyday life. Truth, respect, family,
responsibility, honor, sex, arts and entertainment are all
issues tackled by this valuable and important radio show. If everyone
listened to Dennis, even for a short time, maybe happiness wouldn't be
such a serious problem. We are proud to be syndicating this program
to radio stations throughout the U.S." said Gary Schonfeld, President
of MediaAmerica.
"Yes, there is the small minority of radio hosts - KABC Radio's Dennis
Prager comes prominently to mind - regardless of whether you share his
views, who present ideas rather than banal flaming rhetoric" Howard
Rosenberg, Media critic Los Angeles Times
MediaAmerica, Inc. / Jones Radio Network provides programming to more
than 2,500 radio stations nationwide, reaching 55 million total weekly
listeners. As America's largest provider of 24-hour satellite delivered
must programming, MediaAmerica / Jones Radio Network offers 12 different
24-hour formats and a total of 19 syndicated radio
programs.
Luke Ford responds:
> The Most Important Show in Talk Radio, Now Available in National
Syndication
That's telling it like it is! :)
> Dennis Prager is one of America's most respected radio talk show
hosts.
By who?
By me, yes.
> Prager has a unique ability to talk about virtually every subject,
take > strong
> ethical positions, yet be entertaining.
That's telling it like it is! :) lol
> "I have waited a long time to find the right people to enable
me to take my> ideas and values to a National audience. I have found
them and am excited
> and grateful" commented Prager.
That's amusing. And a little dishonest. Prager has long waited to go national
and this is the first group with the ability to take him national. Whether
they are the right people or not remains to be seen. If they are truly
professional, you'd think they'd be able to capitalize and punctuate a
press release properly before they sent it out.
> Dennis serves as the moral compass ...
You go boy!
***
The Islamic rights group CAIR says: "KABC Radio host Dennis Prager
agreed to broadcast a correction to an inaccurate statement made on his
show on Nov. 4 in which he asserted that most terrorist acts against the
U.S. are committed by Muslim Arabs in the Middle East."
Prager writes an essay in the 3/22 National Review entitled "God
and His Enemies":
"Recently, I spoke to the Jewish community of a small North Carolina
city. When some in the audience mentioned their fear of rising religiosity
among Christians, I asked these audience members if they loved living
in their city. All of them said they did. Is it a coincidence, I then
asked, that the city you so love - for its wonderful people, its safety
for your children, its fine schools, and its values that enable you to
raise your children with confidence - is a highly Christian city?
"Too many Americans do not appreciate the connection between American
greatness and American Christianity. Too many Americans believe that one
can remove the source of greatness and retain the greatness. [In his book,
`America's Real War'] Rabbi [Daniel] Lapin makes this point over and over,
and makes it well. And it is important that it is a rabbi who is saying
this. When a Christian does so he is dismissed as speaking out of self-interest.
. . .
"When Christianity broke down in 20th-century Europe, it was not
replaced by Boy Scouts, but by the greatest murder-machines in human history
- Communism and Nazism."
Actor Charleton Heston in Beverly Hills published this letter to
the 2/28 LA Times:
All applause to Prager for his well-reasoned rejection of political correctness
in our schools, indeed throughout our society. The cultural and social
fabric of the country is fraying around the edges as we split up into
separate little Gypsy camps, each with a different agenda, heading in
different directions.
A while ago, I was at one of those silly "A-list" parties and
fell into conversation on all this with a stunningly beautiful, famous
star (not a bad actress, either) who said, "Well, look what it says
on the dollar bill: 'e pluribus unum.' From one, many."
"Actually, you've got the Latin backward," I replied. "It
translates, 'From many, one.' As in one nation . . . indivisible?"
"No kidding?" she said, amazed. "Well . . . whatever."
And there you have it. We live, increasingly, in a "well, whatever"
nation. God help us all.
3/18
Doug Hill writes on the Prager List: "On Tuesday, 1999-3-16, Dennis
argued that libraries should not give internet access, but just provide
books. The argument seems to be between those who see libraries as primarily
sources for all kinds of information, versus those who see libraries as
first and formost about making books (as opposed to other forms of information)
available.
"DP cited a letter written to the NY Times who described a college
dorm with the rooms wired for internet access. Instead of doing research
on
their computers, the students were playing games, so the author described.
"He argued, and some callers agreed, that the importance of computers
for children's educations has been overrated, and we should emphasize
books
more. This may be so, and if I had to choose one, of course I'd choose
books. But computers sure make writing papers for school easier. Perhaps
it's just the internet that is hyped. Do students need the internet to
write papers. On the down side, there is a lot of
misinformation out there on the net. But on the plus side, perhaps this
means that students who use it will have to learn this, and learn not
to believe everything they read.
"I'd like to add a point of clarification. DP occasionally said things
like "computers don't belong in libraries, books do." Internet
access may not belong there, but computers sure make libraries easier
to use. Computers are great tools to help you find the book you want,
and I'm sure they're even more helpful to the librarians. I sure don't
want to
go back to using card catalogs. "
2/22/99
Dennis Prager published this essay on the Los Angeles Times Opinion page.
It is a condensed version of the full length piece which appears in his
newsletter.
"Ethnic and racial celebrations have no place in American public
school, whose primary tasks should be Americanizing students and giving
them a sound education.
"For public high school principals who agree, here is an address
for them to deliver to their students:
I am your new principal and I am honored to be so. To teach young people
is the greatest calling anyone can aspire to.
I would like to apprise you that as of now, a great deal will change
here. Most of the ideas that have dominated public education in America
have worked against you, against your teachers and against America.
First, I could not care less if your racial makeup is black, brown, red,
yellow or white. I could not care less if your origins are African, Latin
American, Asian, European or if your ancestors arrived on the Mayflower.
The only identity I care about is your individual identity, your character,
your scholarship, your humanity. The only national identity I care about
is American. This is an American public school, and American public schools
were created to make better Americans.
If you wish to affirm your ethnic or racial or religious identity through
school, you will have to go elsewhere--perhaps to a private school--or
perhaps your parents will school you at home. I have great respect for
both options, but the only national identity this school will foster is
American. Therefore we will end all ethnicity-, race- and nationality-based
celebrations. They are divisive and work against the motto of America--e
pluribus unum, "from many, one."
Eltonfan posted this Prager essay on the Prager list with this note:
"Here is Prager's essay as it appeared in today's LA Times. To get
his full essay, you must subscribe to his news letter."
Dennis Prager's "Director for Media Relations," Laurie Zimmet,
replied to Eltonfan: "Whoever you are, please don’t write on
that which you know nothing about. You don't have to subscribe. Any and
all Prager Perspective essays, as well as back issues of his quarterly
journal - Ultimate issues, are sold on an individual basis. I have read
posts from some individuals on this list who would like Dennis to offer
these for free. This is silly. Dennis makes no
money out of this business as is. It takes tremendous assets just to maintain
this business each year. For those who disagree, you are simply wrong.
You
have know idea how we run the business, so to make suggestions is erroneous
and self-aggrandizing on your part. At $2 an issue you can have the
newsletter delivered to your home twice each month. For those who find
Dennis Prager's thoughts on the important issues of our time thought provoking,
I
find $4 a month to be a bargain. I find it humorous that the people on
this list who complain about the cost of the newsletter are the ones who
love to
cut him down and find every little fault with him. For those who actually
appreciate Dennis Prager's writings, you will find this issue, the unabridged
version of his speech he would give if he were a public high school principal,
to be as usual, thought provoking - certainly worthy of discussion on
this
list. I wish you all well and good luck with this list.
Laurie Zimmet
Director / Media Relations for Dennis Prager
www.dennisprager.com (The official webpage for Dennis Prager)
Jason Levine replies: "Nice customer service he [Prager] has, too.
Insulting potential subscribers
always works for me. So we should not subscribe to the newsletter unless
we are psychophantic devotees of DP?
"Laurie, relax a little. I find the tone of your e-mail somewhat
insulting after the perfectly acceptable correction of a list denizen.
Your point was made in the first paragraph. As an official representative
of DP, you shouldn't have to defend him on a non-associated list where
we are perfectly capable of defending him or criticizing him or making
fools of ourselves."
Icini: "Goodness me, Prager's mouth piece Laurie sounds like she
would benefit from a deprogramming session. DP chooses to be public about
his worldview. stinging criticism of him is part of the territory. I am
curious why DP used Laurie to speak for him?"
WillWork4Food's gave this response to Prager's essay on the newsgroup
alt.radio.talk:
"Hey kids. This Prince isn’t your Pal! Where better to discover
the traditions that make this country the home of the free and the brave
than in school? Unless the ‘brave’ you are speaking of is the
member of an American Indian tribe.
"Looking for the breeding ground for democracy? Don’t bother
looking in this school, for you will find only regimentation and an out
moded view of the world reserved for the cloistered monasteries of medieval
times, and today’s prisons. That’s the message that Principal
Prager delivers on your first day orientation.
America is a melting pot, with representatives from all cultures, all
over the world. But you better forget about that here. There is only one
America in His mind, and it doesn’t include any of the culture or
history of your parents or their parents. This America is Principal Prager’s
America. Here you will learn the real meaning of tabula rasa, the blank
slate. Devoid of your cultural or racial heritage, you will truly become
a blank slate, and the Principal will do all of the writing.
Forget that most of your fellow Americans see this nation as an amalgamation
of the heritage’s of all of it’s people. Forget that the great
civilizations, born at the cross roads of the trade routes of the known
world, prospered and grew precisely because they took the useful, the
valuable, the unique of each person that made that journey, of each ethnic
persuasion, of each language, of each culture that entered these burgeoning
city states, and made it their own. Principal Prager will explain to you
that to be an American is to be a nothing, neutral, neutered. And He will
mold you into a that True American. If you bring fluency in a language
other than English to His school, He will assure you that your skills
are appreciated, but not desirable. You will become fluent in English,
period! Oh sure, He recognizes the benefits of fluency, and pines at the
lack of fluency in other tongues for the majority of Americans, but you
won’t learn those tongues here in His school. Learning anything but
English is Un-American.
Principal Prager cares deeply about your individual identity, your scholarship,
and your humanity. He will mold your identity as an American, reinforcing
your individuality by requiring you to dress exactly as your peers and
your teachers dress, all in the same slacks and shirts and blouses and
skirts. You will learn that all Americans dress exactly alike, and that
is part of our greatness! You will learn the meaning of obscenity and
obscene language by never viewing it, or speaking it, or hearing it spoken
at His school. It isn’t clear how you will know obscenity without
seeing it, or hearing it spoken, or reading about it. Perhaps it will
have come from those parts of your heritage that are to be left at the
doors of the school as you enter, those parts that do not contribute to
your being an American. But you won’t find it a part of His school.
Principal Prager will allow you to gather in smaller groups during and
after school, to share common interests and passions. But forget about
the German Club, it isn’t taught anyway. And no Christian Prayer
groups before school. Oh, there is the Theater Club, but He will have
to screen the plays you read to eliminate any reference to race, religion,
ethnicity, sexuality or..... Well, you get the message. You can try out
for the Cheerleader Club, but be prepared to perform in your slacks, skirts,
blouses and shirts. No bare legs in this school!
Then there is the Honor Society, unless of course it is all Asian. It
would have to represent all of the students to avoid any conflicts. School
mascot? Sure, but you will have to ask who it is, because he/she will
look exactly like you, a True American.
Principal Prager’s greatest gift to you is that you will learn to
be yourself, and to appreciate yourself for what you are and what you
do for yourself, by yourself. He will help you by eradicating your heritage,
your ethnicity, your culture, your history, and replacing it with slacks,
skirts, shirts and blouses. No conflicts. No dirty words. Just a True
American. At Principal Prager’s school, you will learn science, but
don’t expect to learn anything about the lung cancer that kills thousands
of fellow Americans each year; you will study biology and human physiology,
but not about human reproduction; about the laws of our land, but not
how to protect yourselves in the work place; about the history of our
great nation, but not about the people who made that history. And nothing
about drugs! You will leave school with the word God on your lips, but
Principal Prager hasn’t revealed to us yet just which God that is.
Maybe there is only one God in America. Hopefully, there is only one Principal
Prager in America.