# Ben Stein, Jew for Christmas? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 20, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-stein-jew-for-christmas/336491 "2005-12-20T18:58:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-stein-jew-for-christmas/336491/1 "2005-12-20T18:58:15Z")
> [@Stupid forwarded e-mail](#): > > The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary, this past Sunday, 12/18. > > Herewith at this happy time of year, a few confessions from my beating heart: > > I have no freaking clue who Nick and Jessica are. I see them on the cover of People and Us constantly when I am buying my dog biscuits and kitty litter. I often ask the checkers at the grocery stores. They never know who Nick and Jessica are either. Who are they? Will it change my life if I know who they are and why they have broken up? Why are they so important? I don’t know who Lindsay Lohan is, either, and I do not care at all about Tom Cruise’s wife. > > Am I going to be called before a Senate committee and asked if I am a subversive? Maybe, but I just have no clue who Nick and Jessica are. Is this what it means to be no longer young. It’s not so bad. > > Next confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don’t feel threatened. I don’t feel discriminated against. That’s what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn’t bother me a bit when people say, “Merry Christmas” to me. I don’t think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn’t bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it’s just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away. > > I don’t like getting pushed around for being a Jew and I don’t think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can’t find it in the Constitution and I don’t like it being shoved down my throat. > > Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren’t allowed to worship God as we understand Him? > > I guess that’s a sign that I’m getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to. … ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-stein-jew-for-christmas/336491/2 "2005-12-20T19:05:50Z")
Not being anti-Christmas does not make one for Christmas. I like Ben Stein, although I’m often on the opposite side of his political commentary. But I don’t see the big deal here. I think he’s more “pro religious celebration/freedom”. I’m not religious, but I’ve got no problem with that. Just keep it out of my government, thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![Tenar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@Tenar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenar)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-stein-jew-for-christmas/336491/3 "2005-12-20T19:05:52Z")
Go, Ben Stein! I am not a Christian. (At one time, I was going to convert to Judaism, but decided that I didn’t want to do so if I couldn’t do so whole-heartedly, and I’m not whole-hearted about anything, unfortunately.) I waver between agnosticism and deism, for the most part. Guess what? I WANT to see Christmas trees, and I WANT to see menorahs and I WANT to hear something besides “Happy Holidays.” We don’t have to make up for not including EVERYONE at ALL times by excluding all signs of difference! Happy Hanukah, Ben Stein – and Merry Christmas. too, since you have no objections. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-stein-jew-for-christmas/336491/4 "2005-12-20T19:12:18Z")
First, I don’t think Ben Stein had anything to do with this. It’s just not his style. Of course, I could be wrong. Second, whoever did write it is suffering from the same imaginary persecution problems the rest of the whining faithful are suffering from this holiday season. These people are obviously not getting enough from their faith to weather greetings contrary to their personal beliefs, so they turn to the almighty internet for strength. They need to cultivate a heartier sense of faith and get the fuck over themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-stein-jew-for-christmas/336491/5 "2005-12-20T19:14:48Z")
I’m pretty sure Ben Stein knows who Nick and Jessica are. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-stein-jew-for-christmas/336491/6 "2005-12-20T19:19:44Z")
Is it real? Did anyone see it on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary, this past Sunday, 12/18? Nothing on Snopes yet. [I found confirmation he was on Sunday](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1998/07/09/sunday/main13562.shtml) COMMENTARY Contributor Ben Stein finds joy in religion during this holiday season I agree with the content of the article. I say that as an Agnostic with a Tree and a Menorah. We celebrate both Christmas and Chanukah. My daughter and I made a few new ornaments this year. A wooden Snowman and 2 wooden Dradles. I don’t believe in prayer in school, but I don’t believe a Christmas Tree can do any harm. I can even handle the Mangers at a public building. Jim ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-stein-jew-for-christmas/336491/7 "2005-12-20T19:20:59Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > First, I don’t think Ben Stein had anything to do with this. It’s just not his style. Of course, I could be wrong. Seeing as how these sorts of things are often falsely attributed as they make their way around inboxes the world over, I’m inclined to think he didn’t pen it. But then again it has a definite time and place of origin, or so it claims. So it might not be difficult to check out. I just haven’t bothered yet. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-stein-jew-for-christmas/336491/8 "2005-12-20T19:22:57Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > Nothing on Snopes yet. Kind of surprising. I think I’ll start a thread there. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-stein-jew-for-christmas/336491/9 "2005-12-20T19:25:52Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I think I’ll start a thread there. I think I just [did](http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?/ubb/get_topic/f/9/t/002024.html). ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-stein-jew-for-christmas/336491/10 "2005-12-20T19:32:44Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I think I just [did](http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?/ubb/get_topic/f/9/t/002024.html). We tape Sunday Morning every week. It’s probably still on my DVR. I didn’t watch it because we had guests, but I can verify or debunk this one by 7 pm EST, if you want. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-stein-jew-for-christmas/336491/11 "2005-12-20T19:33:23Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Kind of surprising. I think I’ll start a thread there. Well he talked about something to do with Religion at Christmas time, so it might be true. We need to find a doper that watched CBS Sunday Morning. For every 10 people that believes every email without checking, there are the ones who don’t believe any email without checking. I leave it up to Snopes to give us the details, but I would classify it as possible for now. Jim ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-stein-jew-for-christmas/336491/12 "2005-12-20T19:33:36Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > I can verify or debunk this one by 7 pm EST, if you want. That would be great, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-stein-jew-for-christmas/336491/13 "2005-12-20T19:34:26Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > We tape Sunday Morning every week. It’s probably still on my DVR. I didn’t watch it because we had guests, but I can verify or debunk this one by 7 pm EST, if you want. Yes please, ironic and humorous, simul post. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-stein-jew-for-christmas/336491/14 "2005-12-20T19:46:47Z")
I found the “official” Ben Stein website, and I’ll tell you…although the piece appears there, nothing in that site reminds me even REMOTELY that it’s written by Ben Stein. If it is his writing, I’ll have to assume he’s had a stroke. ---
**Author:** ![Borborygmi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/borborygmi/32/217_2.png) [@Borborygmi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Borborygmi)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-stein-jew-for-christmas/336491/15 "2005-12-20T19:55:46Z")
I am a Doper who watched CBS Sunday Morning. The OP is pretty much what he said in his commentary piece. I can’t really concentrate on exact choice of words right now because I’m on a conference call. I don’t remember the word “freaking” coming up, for instance. I enjoyed the CBS appearance, FWIW. ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-stein-jew-for-christmas/336491/16 "2005-12-20T19:58:06Z")
I saw it, and that was exactly what he said. Hope that’s enough of a cite. That being said, Ben Stein (BS as he is known at our house) is just a whore for whoever is paying him, as tempered by the prevailing wind blowing from the right. His ass kissing Wal\*Mart glurge on Sunday Morning lead to them being a sponsor. Actually, Sunday Morning is pretty much all advertisements when it comes to the arts. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-stein-jew-for-christmas/336491/17 "2005-12-20T19:59:28Z")
> [@Borborygmi](#): > > I am a Doper who watched CBS Sunday Morning. The OP is pretty much what he said in his commentary piece. I can’t really concentrate on exact choice of words right now because I’m on a conference call. I don’t remember the word “freaking” coming up, for instance. > > I enjoyed the CBS appearance, FWIW. **TDN** : Can we call this confirmed or very likely? > [@Larry Borgia](#): > > I’m pretty sure Ben Stein knows who Nick and Jessica are. I am fairly sure that portion was “Tounge in Cheek”. Jim ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-stein-jew-for-christmas/336491/18 "2005-12-20T20:03:57Z")
> [@jrfranchi](#): > > **TDN** : Can we call this confirmed or very likely? Provisionally, sure. I’m wondering how much it could have morphed in just two days. And I’m a little surprised it made the rounds so quickly. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-stein-jew-for-christmas/336491/19 "2005-12-20T20:06:18Z")
> [@Larry Borgia](#): > > I’m pretty sure Ben Stein knows who Nick and Jessica are. I’m just going to assume Nick Rivers and Jessica Atreides. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-stein-jew-for-christmas/336491/20 "2005-12-20T20:10:21Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I’m just going to assume Nick Rivers and Jessica Atreides. Nick Nolte and Jessica Lange. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ben-stein-jew-for-christmas/336491.md?page=2)