In this monologue, Dennis Prager advises parents on how to explain the U.S. killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani to their children. He frames Soleimani as a morally reprehensible terrorist responsible for deaths across the Middle East and argues that the strike was a justified moral act. Prager criticizes mainstream media for presenting the event in neutral terms that omit moral judgment. He provides a brief historical backdrop of U.S.-Iran tensions, citing the 1979 hostage crisis and Iran’s tyrannical regime. The segment then shifts to parenting guidance, citing psychologist Paul Coleman’s recommendations for addressing children’s fears—searching for hidden questions, maintaining routines, and validating emotions. Prager diverges from this approach, arguing that children should be taught to master and sometimes dismiss feelings that don’t make sense, warning that over‑validation can lead to inhuman behavior. The overall narrative blends political commentary with contrarian parenting advice, urging parents to present a clear moral narrative and to cultivate emotional resilience in their kids.
Chapters
See, by not noting that he was a terrible human being, that he was responsible for the deaths of Americans and especially Iranians and Iraqis and Yemenis and Lebanese, and he was the chief of terrorism in the world. That was, uh, that is part of the Iranian regime. It, it doesn't help kids think in a moral sense. We, we kill the killer, we kill the murderer. So what will you say to your child? They call Qasem Soleimani was a top military leader in Iran, a country in the Middle East. How about a country whose regime is a tyranny whose regime gathers millions of its citizens to scream death to America. Well, before, way before the current president was president. And is the only country in the world to threaten genocide, to announce genocide. And the annihilation of a country in its attitude toward Israel. Is it that if kids are not given a moral explanation for what happened, then they really are confused? The killing of Soleimani was a moral act against an immoral person. Why did the US take action against Soleimani? President Donald Trump has called Soleimani a terrorist. Trump says Soleimani ordered attacks on American military and diplomats. Trump says Soleimani ordered attacks on American military and diplomats and was planning attacks against Americans in the Middle East. For this reason, Trump I don't know, do you talk to your kids with just the last name of a president? Mr. Trump or President Trump or the president? I think that that would be more appropriate. I wonder if they did, if they had Trump for kids, how to talk to your kids for time for kids, that they do the same with President Obama. For this reason, Trump ordered the US military to kill Soleimani. The drone attack took place at an airport in Baghdad in Iraq. An Iraqi leader was also killed. Why don't the US and Iran get along? These are questions that the piece poses and then gives answer to— answers to. The US and Iran have a difficult relationship. Do you notice how neutral this whole thing is? There's no good and bad. There's no right and wrong. It's just we have a difficult relationship. It's been this way for many years. In 1979, Iran took 52 American diplomats and citizens hostage. They were released after 444 days. We have a difficult relationship. We don't have a difficult relationship with free countries. We have a difficult relationship with tyrannies. If my child is feeling worried, what should I do? Psychologist Paul Coleman, author of Finding Peace When Your Heart Is In Pieces spoke to Time's Belinda Luskum, or Luskum. He suggests following these safe steps. Search for hidden questions or fears. Ask what else is in their mind. Act. Keep routines going— homework, bedtime rituals, and so on. Feel feelings. Let them know their feelings make sense. Says Coleman. Let them talk it out and show that you understand. My parents did not make sure, uh, let me know that my feelings always made sense. May I suggest to parents that you not take that approach? Sometimes your feelings— you too, not forget a 10-year-old Sometimes our feelings don't make sense. That is one of the most important things to know in growing up and mastering life. Frequently our feelings don't make sense. If you feel, I mean, it doesn't, it's not a good general lesson. You don't ridicule your kids' feelings if they don't make sense, but you have them master it. I feel like I don't want to go to school. Well, that makes sense. It does. It makes perfect sense that you feel that you don't want to go to school. But I think most parents will say, so what? Mastering feelings, negating feelings, working against feelings is what most of us have to do much of the time. Feelings make us human, but if we, if we live and act on our feelings, we will be inhuman.
