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yourdarkdesire -> Reap What You Sow (9/22/2009 10:47:31 AM)

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, bejewelled 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 celebrities 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 these celebrities 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 Hurricane 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 a few years ago) 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 okay..

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 yet?

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



DomKen -> RE: Reap What You Sow (9/22/2009 10:52:02 AM)

Ben Stein was the star of Expelled. A movie that perhaps lied at a faster pace than Glenn Beck, if such a thing is possible.



SpinnerofTales -> RE: Reap What You Sow (9/22/2009 11:08:55 AM)

So let's understand this. Let's think about this as Ben Stein said. The God who he believes created the entire universe, the God who supposedly loves the human race above all else, the God of infinite kindness and mercy, has responded to the growing secularism of the United States by throwing a hissy fit worthy of a three year old denied his nap.

Of course, what Mr. Stein fails to mention in his opinon is that there have always been natural disasters. It isn't as if there were never major hurricanes in the past. It wasn't that this one was the worst we had seen. The only difference between this hurricane and all the others was the fact that the government didn't properly install the levees that were supposed to keep New Orleans safe. I doubt whether allowing prayer in our schools was going to alter that fact.

Perhaps it wasn't our banning prayer from schools. Perhaps it was, as Reverend Fred Phelps claims, that god was punishing us for allowing homosexuals in our midst.

And let's not forget the thought provoking idea of spanking. Yes, nothing says love like giving your kid a good whacking when he acts up. That is what a good, gentle God is waiting for.

So, personally, I have thought about Mr. Stein's letter. I think it's bullshit.

I did like him on "win Ben Stein's Money" though.




dcnovice -> RE: Reap What You Sow (9/22/2009 11:19:28 AM)

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/confessions.asp



rulemylife -> RE: Reap What You Sow (9/22/2009 11:26:20 AM)

Well to begin with, this is from 2005.

Took you a little while to get around to posting it huh?

And only the first part was actually written by Ben Stein, and it was heavily edited by the author of your post.

Everything after the fourth paragraph was never said by him but is instead a hodgepodge of other people's quotes and outright lies.

But don't let that stop you from "passing it on". 


. snopes.com: Ben Stein's 'Confessions for the Holidays' •••




Arpig -> RE: Reap What You Sow (9/22/2009 12:03:09 PM)

Funny how a nice bit about religious toleration has been twisted into just the opposite eh?



MarsBonfire -> RE: Reap What You Sow (9/22/2009 8:44:38 PM)

Didn't Ben used to write speeches for Nixon?

It doesn't surprise me that he's for a lot of that "good ol' days" crap. Lately, he's been far more vocal and cranky about how the world is headed for hell in a handbasket. Yeah, but then the administration he worked for did so much to foster trust in the officials we elect. I wonder if he had any input on the infamous Nixon "hit list?"

Next up: The right reverend Dobson with a quote about how God loves his creation Man, but wants us all to shun and commit violence against our homosexual neighbors.



DarkSteven -> RE: Reap What You Sow (9/23/2009 6:57:54 AM)

I agree with most of the stuff that Stein wrote.  I'm a Jew, and I accept the fact that I'm a minority and have to deal with Christians.  However, for him to pretend that there's no basis for the separation of church and state is disingenuous.

I strongly disagree with the bullshit about Katrina.  The Jewish stance as I take it is that God has granted us life and granted us a mostly good world to live in.  We do not have the right to demand that he grant us a trouble-free existence.

And Anne Graham's response pisses me off.  It's like those alleged Christians who told others who got sick that it was a sign that their faith wasn't strong enough.

Folks, bad things happen.  And to good and bad people alike.



chiaThePet -> RE: Reap What You Sow (9/23/2009 7:07:39 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: MarsBonfire

Next up: The right reverend Dobson with a quote about how God loves his creation Man, but wants us all to shun and commit violence against our homosexual neighbors.


My God taught me to love my neighbor.

The fact that he has heaving pecs and washboard abs is just a plus.

chia* (the pet)



Arpig -> RE: Reap What You Sow (9/23/2009 7:08:18 AM)

DS, everything after this line "But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to." is bullshit added on by somebody else, and not Stein.



yourdarkdesire -> RE: Reap What You Sow (9/23/2009 7:21:14 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: rulemylife

Well to begin with, this is from 2005.

Took you a little while to get around to posting it huh?



This was something that was just passed on to me.  I only posted it because I found it to be an interesting point of view - regardless of the author ..... so you can keep you sanctimonious sarcasm to yourself thanks



Kirata -> RE: Reap What You Sow (9/23/2009 7:41:25 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: dcnovice

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/confessions.asp

Thanks

K.



rulemylife -> RE: Reap What You Sow (9/23/2009 8:58:28 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: yourdarkdesire

This was something that was just passed on to me.  I only posted it because I found it to be an interesting point of view - regardless of the author ..... so you can keep you sanctimonious sarcasm to yourself thanks


No, unfortunately I can't.

Because it really irritates me when people post lies and nonsense because either they are so gullible they believe anything that is printed is the truth, or they are too lazy to verify it is true.

Not to mention the fact that a chain e-mail should have been your first clue.

And that is exactly how we get so much disinformation being spread about lately on other issues like health care, because people believe the first thing they see and don't bother to investigate further.





Raiikun -> RE: Reap What You Sow (9/23/2009 9:10:32 AM)

I think you missed the point...yourdarkdesire stated "I found it to be an interesting point of view - regardless of the author" it was made clear it was irrelevent to her wether or not Ben Stein actually said it all on CBS.

So thus she wanted to share the point of view, while you're arguing about it not being said by Ben Stein.



mnottertail -> RE: Reap What You Sow (9/23/2009 9:20:29 AM)

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

-------------------------
Well, the first sentence is about what I am going to do, you are going to know I did it, and the last sentence can go fuck itself, it does not follow from the premises. And honestly and respectfully, Ben Stein wouldn't write shit like this. That's an overview of where I'm at.

Thanks,
Ron



rulemylife -> RE: Reap What You Sow (9/23/2009 9:20:44 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Raiikun

I think you missed the point...yourdarkdesire stated "I found it to be an interesting point of view - regardless of the author" it was made clear it was irrelevent to her wether or not Ben Stein actually said it all on CBS.

So thus she wanted to share the point of view, while you're arguing about it not being said by Ben Stein.


Yes, an interesting point of view that was fraudulently signed:


My Best Regards,  Honestly and respectfully, Ben Stein


It may just be me, but I find liars and plagiarists to be less than honest and respectful, and somehow, not sure why, I don't find their points of view to be particularly convincing.



Raiikun -> RE: Reap What You Sow (9/23/2009 9:26:33 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Multiple Sources

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, bejewelled 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 celebrities 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 these celebrities 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 Hurricane 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 a few years ago) 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 okay..

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 yet?

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.  


There, fixed then. This seems to be what she wanted to share.



rulemylife -> RE: Reap What You Sow (9/23/2009 10:19:11 AM)

Now fix it for the thousands of people that have already received the fraudulent e-mail and believe its claimed source.




pahunkboy -> RE: Reap What You Sow (9/23/2009 10:44:15 AM)

At one time I firmly believed in sep of church and state.

I no longer have this outlook.

The foundations have been trying to wreck education.  An educated masses- would not have fallen for a financial collapse.   So let a person be free while robbing them.

I think the UN should be deleted.   World government is not the answer.




Kirata -> RE: Reap What You Sow (9/23/2009 11:16:55 AM)

~ FR ~

Given that the topic title recalls the aphorism that we reap what we sow, and the message repeats it (whether or not you like the context), does anyone have any thoughts on that? My problem with it is, I've never found it to have any damn meaning except the meaning the person employing it wants it to have.

K.



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