« Fireside Chat with Dennis Prager

Fireside Chat Ep. 189 — The Problem with Being Easily Offended

2021-06-04 | 🔗
"Americans have been TAUGHT to be offended by things that normally would never be seen as “offensive” or are in any way intended to be, and it is a pitiable way to go through life. Dennis wonders: Have we reached the point of no return? Subscribe so you never miss a new Fireside Chat! 👉 https://www.prageru.com/series/fireside-chats/ 0:00 Welcome To Episode 189! 1:42 Our Society Is Increasingly Offended 3:15 Deciding To Not Be Offended 8:35 You Are Being Taught To Be Offended 13:00 Dennis’s Love Of Fountain Pens 17:57 How Important Is Intent And Motive? 21:58 Otto Almost Returned 23:14 Are We At A Point Of No Return? 25:53 Changing God’s Gender"
This is an unofficial transcript meant for reference. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
Everybody Dennis Prager here welcome to the Fireside chats Otto the great african. Dog is I prevent deleting today because he was big into the vat he added, actually a schedule surgery, nothing terribly serious happily, but needed one boy. for whatever reason they couldn't find a vein, and so he got a little worked up. He's very rarely worked up as you who know folks, some of you, actually I've thought he's a stuffed animal in the past, so though, and worked up usually go in the same sentence, That's the reason for a little hyper ventilating, but nevertheless good good chap that he is he. into position in any event, for the fireside chats, so I'm this Prager. I welcome you to number one hundred
and eighty nine, Amy my aim. We are eleven away from the two hundredth. We should do something special on the two hundred. You don't know what Well, this is an opportunity for me to simply talk to you about. What's, on my mind, very on rehearsed, spontaneous not really off any prompter or anything else, and who have a chance to ask me things that are on your mind. So We will begin with a couple of comments, I want to specialise in taking your questions cause it's been a few were few weeks since I've got to take a lot of questions, but there something I do want to share with you, and that is the
Increased number of Americans who feel hurt feel better offended. The. We have gone from a very strong people. Look at that this is rare, but now you understand. Why we'll let a man he wants to go out and who knows why I'll fix never gotten out of his bed pretty rarely here. All right. I know that this sort of a hole in all of our lives right now. but we will endure people. I'm gone from being a strong people, Americans pretty hardy people, by the end of the war is illegal land of the free and home of the brave. That's enough! national anthem of the United States if,
So much is it true as it is. that's the self perception that a mirror. Since I had of themselves, free was certainly true and brain was often true, if you're easily offended You'Re- probably not going to be terribly brave. This notion of easily offended is can bring down the society and an obviously brings now me individual, and I will be very candid with you: I am attacked as many of you may know, and if you don't know you can easily find it on the internet put in Emmy exploited. with my name, tens of thousands. Sins of hits will come up the worst expletive you condemn hedge or or Emmy you, no moron fool Idiot fashion. You know nothing
offend me. They have no impact on me, but I have better example of how early in my life, I struggled with so many of the issues that I've worked. I worked through a lot of issues when I was young. That's a big events. that I have em. I don't take credit for that's my nature, and What a very very early age had to work through or or forced myself to work through. Big issues is an example that I remember very well. I was Early twenties I've always had an interest in photography to this day. am I love of cameras. I love taking good pictures, and I were with a friend, fairly new friend in my life, to wake I'm restore in New York City. I lived in New York City till I was twenty five years old and we went to a camera store and when we left the can restore heel, he said
wow I really Jude him down. That's a A saying used not much usually often many of you probably never heard it, but it's used and its it's obviously an offensive term with regard to some stereotypes about Jews being cheap or whatever it might be. I had never heard the phrase before and I knew it wasn't. A complementary freddy's. And my mind, did a real, fast debate. How should I react to his saying that, and In effect, how offended should I be as adieu and my The second one was much simpler.
I wasn't defended in the least in the least because he wasn't directing its turn me. We are taking a fence hassle, Have something to do with sir? Lobbies intention if they want to offend you, correct whether you were offended had should depend, on a whole host of things, one of the person in and to do. and what really offensive, etc I'll get to that, but way I immediately assume this guy, if I'm his friend he's not an anti semite. Ok, That was the very first thing that was in my mind the guy's not. They came from rule. Canada probably ever met a Jew before me in his life. We did. It was
pretty rare and certainly in rural Canada, you're not going to find many Jews, if any at all in some places in Canada. So, it wasn't a friendly. The least I was I was struck by this by the phrase which, he had never heard and then later learned it was. It was not on an uncommon phrase. As to how I reacted wretch respect. I I I I could have said you know it's it's it's really it Its origins are Anti jewish, it's probably best not, use the phrase but I didn't say anything I just let it pass because in I didn't want to be his moral instructor at the time and I'm not saying I was right in areas like twenty one years old, you don't you don't always make the best choices, but I didn't make
good choice in not being offended Gimme another Another example, a guy called my show once is also bad. My being a Jew, he said you know, Dennis Mr pray you're out of one of these are maybe neither you know a Jews control, Hollywood, so I know he wanted to get a rise out of me. I mean why. Why else would he say it? and I remember I said something to the effect that you know to tell you the truth: Jews Disproportionately represented in Hollywood, what's your point and he had no point: this point was to royal me up, was in fact to probably be offended. I mean I said: can you name one example of all these Jews in Hollywood, doing anything to benefit Jews? What was that
pro jewish film. You saw what was the last pro Israel film, you saw, it was probably exit. which was released, the nineteen sixty of the guy dumbfounded lady had. He had no point to demand nothing. So you have to. ask Yourself- and this to think people no longer say you choose. This is my point. you choose whether or not to be offended. It is a choice. It is not being given. guy guy makes a comment on how you look you're a woman, and he makes it I met on how you look why we you'll be offended. I mean if he says you look ugly, that I understand that, but very few guys say too, boy. You really look ugly today
She usually some compliment, but you have been taught if you're female to be offended at any any comment. Eight about your looks, even if its positive, this bizarre only the steadiness did he say to offend you. What's offensive Maybe you would say you know the office is not the place to make such a com, which is probably true, but it's offensive why You were offended because you were taught to be offended. That's the reason Since it is very important that the EU at an end, are Indians, American Indians native Americans. Are they offended by the name? till now, the Washington Redskins Washington Post, which had been for a year,
constantly editorializing against the main Washington Redskins did a massive survey of American Indians found. Ninety per cent didn't give a hoot about the name Redskins the white left these at the Washington Post WAR offended broken Indians were not. Why is it offensive baby, think it's racist, it wasn't meant to be racist, it wasn't racist. Somebody wants for my shown, he said when I defended the Washington Redskins name in Cleveland Indians name, but the Cleveland Means, dropping the name, we're just their logo. And I remember which in any event the Guy calls up. We said, really you don't think it's a problem the Cleveland Indians on the Washington, Redskins larger thing, There were two means the Jews forget my response. I am very proud of it I said to the guy sir for three:
thousand years. Jews have been looking for fans who be one of the good. Moments in jewish history: let's go Jews, yea Jews by Jus, paraphernalia get a jewish hat. People were people America is so easy. Go easy, live in that the long milking for problems. They are looking to be offended because baby life is boring to them. The left is enough offence giving industry, that's all who should be offended all any if you're, not if you're, not a wide heterosexual, christian male, new, be offended by breathing. life. Here is a living offence to you all make on happy people and make relations between people a worse. It just creates tension,
again my my messages, you choose whether to be offended You are female I remain of American you're, a black american you're, a Jew, your you, you ve chosen and it's a very bad choice: God to go through life, constantly thinking, you're offended I pity you, when I pity the society all can ok, let's take the key. Genes and we begin with a video question- Here we go, take it away. Ok, my name is car, I'm twenty LOS Angeles. And you can transfer to start counting from so my question to you is
I can show some and gives information about them why I have lived a full a twenty year old has been inspired into fountain pen I have a crusade on on behalf of fountains pens. You are so much fun to write with their so beautiful they, the richness of the ink flow from it. Most of you have never even seen one level on written with one fact a lot. A lot of people. Don't even write with anything me for a buck by the way to very good thing to write the you actually remember better. I always one give a speech? I write very few notes. Those people are unaware that I even have any notes. Cases are usually on the back of a business card, but I never type them out and then
Print them out, I always write them out, be as I remember better what I've written than what I have printed. This is this is tests have been done, that when head right, something you are much more likely to remember it, but knowing that this was the question, I chose a few of my favorite pens very quickly and they're all from different countries nearly so this is my current beauty. Can we zoom in because these are you see it? This is. Stunningly gorgeous pen from France and rights. like a dream, this is one of them Which is blue, a beautiful american pen, also rights a dream, and that is black and perhaps my all time, Favorinus from Switzerland
is a very ef. I probably guess I would say masculine penance it sort of like armoured steel and it's it's this pen I have the same pen about twenty years ago and I I left it in a New york. Taxi am its expensive and I could have bought a replacement. I'm revealing up something about myself, which may or may not elevate me. In your eyes, but I'm just I'm not telling it to you as a good or a bad thing. I'm just telling you what I did. I did not by the replacement for another Five to ten years. I don't remember Hallo, because I didn't I wanted to sort of pay the price of losing it. Not interesting.
But anyway now I have it it's a magnificent pens from Switzerland this I'm is from ITALY. The Italians have a natural ability to make beautiful things have some partiality to blue in many of these two or three more to show you this week, Is a lavender purple. I guess yes, purplish Japan, and make the mid the mid is one of the of the ink comes out of on top here. they're, usually gold on the best pens and their steel on less expensive pens. The Japanese japanese light letters. Have you ever seen their very, very complex there, there their character They're, not letters so ain't, a job but these pen has to be very ray precise and fine, pointed to be able to write japanese characters.
So in a certain sense the Japanese probably make the best nibs for because the japanese language, to more the stunning blue one from Germany. And finally, we my final one from This also is from Germany. This is Porsche design, then interesting, Porsche design. Can I give you these to hold for me so anyway enjoy yourself. They go from twenty dollars to two thousand dollars and you go on the internet then go to the idea. Was a pen store? Ok that was that was by the way, I'm my happiness hour on my radio show and I've written the book on happiness. I point out the more things that bring you joy and a happier, a human being. You will be- and I am
I spent a lot of things. Bring me joy. Ok though, I double click here, the I do MAX Christina Right is that the first one year thirty years old, Lynchburg Virginia high Dennis I Christine I've been listening to the fireside chats for about. six months. But I've been working through them, mostly chronologically. how do you weigh the importance of a person's motive? Slash intention behind an action against the good, Miss Slack, evil less of it. how do you weigh their intention? Against the net result of it, aside from knowing where human and inherently fallible, how do you reconcile well intended efforts that have have bad consequences Well, I could spend obviously of the whole opening comments on on this on this particular matter, so that there is there's a difference that, for example, let us say I bought you a Christmas gift and I have only
good intentions and it not something you wanted at all. what matters then, is that intended to give you a nice gift. So. Their intention is ninety percent. That's a non issue, but there is remember is not evil its disappointment down your part, but no evil was done, but when a good intentions and evil is the result. I have contempt for those people It does not in any way excuse the evil of one of the result that they intended well the twentieth century is filled with people with good intentions who did massive evil. The biggest example as communism communism killed. One hundred million people not combatants this is innocent civilians all because people were at times,
succeeded by equality or equity, as they now put it. In the name of equity, in the name of progress Our people have been slaughtered than in the name of anything else. That's something. All your meant! Well, you know many p. Oh gave secrets the stolen one of the second greatest mass murderer in history. They gave him Nuclear secrets thanks the atom bomb. That's how the Toby Union develop the atom bomb. Because of wise in Britain and the United States who thought oh, what a beautiful thing that they're making in the Soviet Union a world of equality. No freedom, no liberty, no rights gulag, We need a forty million people murdered by Stalin, but hey what the hell equality. That is why wisdom is more important than intentions. Intentions are nothing compared to wisdom. We,
This, then, is the knowledge of the consequences of your actions. That's what matters, what matters in America today. All. These all anti racism, anti racism, the amount of evil being done in the name of anti racism is incalculable, plus just that the gigantic lie of it. The deprivation of real education from children? All the old at all, it is, is a is a facade to teach America hatred and to bring down the system of liberty that has made this the freest country in the history of the world, so intentions are, are on especially specially macro. what social issues are largely irrelevant, who intends badly in very few people, intend abandoned tensions.
she think about it, who wakes up in the morning and goes on. Other data do evil very few people. The vast majority of bad things have been done with good intentions. Ok, very important question. Obviously,. Next mic. Thirty, seven Springfield Virginia was the other one Virginia too Virginia in a row did and this thanks for your fireside chat and your calming voice of reason from the Did you say and in the tone can see why auto sleep so soundly during your discourse. That's hilarious! Autos. I must say Otto sleeps as he coming back in you see what happens This is funny. You saw him walk out. Maybe this will the first time. Both oh leaving an auto coming
The answer is, oh, my god he's staying at them, ok, airy comes, ladies and gentlemen. I present to you out o Prager. this is all because he was at the vet today. This is, as As you all know, he would be sleeping right now and probably snorri, All right is, it is what it is. Megan. That's the famous Megan arm now he's gone. This is a typical Behavior buddy, was traumatized that the vat? Ok? Anyway, I see why Otto sleep so soundly during your discourse. They sleep soundly during everybody's discourse. I don't take any credit with my coming tone. you keep fighting for America, but you also seem to notice that we're on a point of no return. One is that point official with that call for
session and how would secession look in your point of thanks in advance, and God bless. I didn't say word a point of no return. I just want to make that clear. We're not on a point of no return but we are at a tipping point. There is no question about that. This the darkest period in american history since the civil war. That's that's a hundred and fifty years ago, more than a hundred fifty years ago,. It's almost unbelievable for me to say, but the the forces undoing the american revolution? of liberty, of of individualism of e of limited government they they are in retreat And it always begins with freedom of speech, because the left is suppresses supreme of freedom of speech wherever it gets into power from the russian Revolution to your local university there was no
instance, in history of the left being empower and free speech being allowed. There is no instance, and America is no different. Liberals love free speech. Conservatives love free speech. The left has never allow for what, at what point? Could you see secession? Well, there already is something akin to that taking place with rate many conservatives, people who do believe in freedom a going to leaving a blue states and going to read states. That's that's one example of of this happening, me Californians, where I live or moving to Texas, for example, or Florida and just stay, they want freedom. So it's This shift is already somewhat taking place. The problem is the people say from New York Jersey, Connecticut going to Florida.
They flee the consequences of the left. And then they re elect the left where they go. It's not intelligent right, that's exactly what is that? What happens? People bring the values that they fled from with them some say Some Latin Americans do that the human, the human being, is a problem. All right, Molly Thirty, Kansas City, Kansas aid Dennis Sonata. We even though I'm an avid podcast listener. I've never actually seen Otto, but he sounds pretty great he's not here now right does God have engender. If so, As gods, gender does the gender of God matter. Why or why not? I ask because I work at a small private christian university. many- are university struggles to navigate our world and social pressures this year, our queen,
air performed rendition of the twenty third som, but switched gods Jane. There are two female he to show. And so on, Welsh, make. It may lie in pastures, green. I have my own thoughts when I'm curious about yours. Thank you for your time, and God bless you in yours. Any One who says she, instead of he with a biblical a phrase: is doing something unethical. There was religion, nothing, you can't change. What was written wanna make up a new som using she. That is perfectly in your right, but two. Take something that says he and change it. It would be, like painting over a Michelangelo painting, because you do not like that there's a mail there
and I am making it into a female. There is no difference check. During a painting The same is changing literature, that's what they're It is immoral what they ve done, forget religion. It has nothing to do with religion. You can't bastardize a text. But the arrogance of these people so arrogant, G idle like what the original says. So I will change it write your own, but you can't change what the original says, but that that your church in nowhere. Where would they be, then I guess, I guess presume Kansas than us: more church in Kansas would do this shows you how much leftism has infected Norman of christian life as it has jewish life and catholic life.
Does God ever gender? No God does not have a gender. However Ghali's depicted in male form is no neuter in Hebrew, so either the pic male or female. If you read me rational Bible, and I have a lot of dignity, but I beg you to read it. not for my sake, but because, if that's the wisest books ever written with idle and in Genesis called the rational Bible, My commentary on the first five books third book is coming out dude around me, but genesis is been published and I have a very long essay on why God is depicted as male and female and I'll give you one hint. because God is a moral authority, and God says being good and be compassionate.
Men are more likely to listen to a male saying, be good and compassionate than to a female. It's just it's more effective They ask single mothers were ass, Mary mothers for that matter,. Anyway that have an essay on why God is depicted as male. In my genesis commentary the rational Bible, but their God, God himself does not have a gender, such God. God does not have male organs, which God has not physical sorts it sort of irrelevant, but changing the words of the text is, is profoundly wrong. How's, our timing. Well, the inner clock is still working goes fast. I hope you think that
good. Then I think that, but I hope you think that to show my friends I was, on behalf of Otto, but I guess that's instinctive Otto, who is a little hyper from his visit to the vat, is not for me to say in his name anyway, it's great to be with you, I'm tennis player and I'll see you next. We thank you for watching this video to keep Prager you videos free, please consider making a tax, deductible donation.
Transcript generated on 2021-07-05.