Why Values Matter More Than Race | Dennis AMA

Life Audio.

On today's episode of Timeless Wisdom.

I just wanted to know, uh, you— well, you mentioned earlier in the week that you commonly receive standing ovations when you give speeches. I just wanted to know how you stay humble given that. I'm the one with the question about does God have a favorite race, and the reason I ask that is because I as a Hispanic have noticed through life And I don't want you to— when I ask this question, I want you to think of the numbers, not the ones that make it, because there's always one or two that are going to succeed no matter what. But I want you to look at the overall picture and the numbers that we represent. Dennis, I am driven crazy by the professionals that I listen to on the radio. You do a good job of this, by the way. You do a good job in the good way, not the bad way.

Right, I understand.

But I listen to people on radio, I stopped watching television, and I've become hypersensitive to speech. And what I hear when I listen to people who are professionals is, I mean, you know, um, that's right.

That is correct.

Why is speech— what happened? Because it used to be that talk radio, the people who did talk radio really took pride in what they said.

That's coming up on Timeless Wisdom with Dennis Prager. As prices keep rising, Social Security is even more important to older Americans. I counted on it to pay for groceries and prescriptions. Everything costs more now. AARP is fighting to protect the Social Security Americans earn through a lifetime of hard work.

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I earned it. Join us to stand up for Social Security. Visit aarp.org/socialsecurityvoter. Paid for by AARP. Welcome to Timeless Wisdom with Dennis Prager. Hear thousands of hours of Dennis's lectures, courses, and classic radio programs, and to purchase Dennis Prager's Rational Bibles, go Go to DennisPrager.com. You, you make this hour. You can start right now. Don't wait for me to say a word. Anything you want to talk to me about that I have covered, that I did not cover, anything personal. Do you want to know about digital cameras? Do you want to know about the meaning of life? Do you want to know why I smoke a pipe and cigar? Anything that you have ever wondered, Or not wondered, but might start wondering right now. If you are new to the show, is there something you want to know about me? If you are old to the show, is there something you'd rather not know about me? Anything. 1-8-PRAGER-776. 1-8-P-R-A-G-E-R-776 is the number. Digitized, that is 1-877-243-7776. Alrighty, so let's, uh, let's go to your calls. Whatever is on your mind. And let's begin in Hastings, Minnesota with Charlotte. Hello, Charlotte.

Well, hi.

All right, what's on your mind?

Well, I'm wondering if you ever procrastinate about things and what you procrastinate about.

The, the more correct question for me is, is there anything I do not procrastinate regarding? Let me tell you something. I am such a natural procrastinator that the reason that I take on so many projects Mm-hmm. And therefore have done a relatively, I guess, a lot of work in my life, is that I know that if I don't take a time-bound project, I will never do anything. I will spend my day just having fun. And so that's the reason I write a column every week. I can't procrastinate. I mean, it's owed Monday at noon. I have no choice. If I book contract, it is owed. In fact, on my happiness book, I gave Random House all their money back, which of course I had spent already, because I didn't have the book ready.

When you were in college, did you wait till the night before to write your paper?

Uh, if not the actual morning of the paper, that is correct.

Okay.

I remember, in fact, writing a paper— this is very funny. Well, it's both fun, it's, it's interesting. I wrote a paper, and this was June— I know it'd be June 4th, 1967. I was in college, and I know the date because I spent the entire night writing a paper. Remember that, you know, June is when college ends, so the final paper was due. And I listened. I was then into classical music, so I listened all night to the classical radio station that had no news. So all they did was play music. I did not know the Six-Day War had just broken out in the Middle East.

Oh.

Which was June 5th. So I just, you know, wrote my paper right through it and woke up to see that, you know, this huge war had broken out in the Middle East. Which then preoccupied me. But, uh, yes, I did at the last moment. And, and, uh, that's why I have taken on so many tasks in life, in order to undo my natural laziness.

I get so mad at myself because I procrastinate about paying my bills. It's not that I don't have the money to pay the bills.

Oh, I hate, I hate it.

It's just not a fun thing to do.

Charlotte, I, I, I really am not kidding. There is a certain number of bee stings I'd rather have than pay bills. That is how much I hate that. I am totally with you, folks.

You—

that is the thing. Most of us are like that. We, you know, you— if you think you procrastinate, welcome to the human race. I'd like to know the people who don't. I'd like to know people who, uh, who, uh, do, you know, prepared their paper at college the day, the day they got the assignment or whatever it was, you know, got it in 2 weeks early. These are, these are supermen to me. Supermen and superwomen. Okay, thank you. That was enjoyable. And in Simi Valley, California, it's Tracy. Tracy, Dennis Prager, hi.

Hi, Dennis.

Hi.

Um, I have an ethical problem. I saw a personal ad for the husband of a woman I know from my synagogue, and I keep debating whether or not to let her know or not.

How did you know it's him? People don't put their real names in.

Uh, they don't have names. They, they put weird names like that.

So how do you know it's him?

Because his picture is there.

Oh.

2 pictures, actually.

On a singles website?

Yes. It's, uh, you know, one of those online dating services.

Boy, he's got a lot of, uh, nerve. I mean, forget, forget the adultery part. He has a lot of nerve.

Yeah.

That, I mean, that's really, uh, that's astonishing, actually.

Yeah, I showed the picture to my husband and he agrees that it's him.

Well, I would— what I would do is— I, in general, I don't think it's right to tell the spouse those things. It's— you are playing a role that is so devastating That it may not be your place to, but it, it, it is not— doesn't mean you shouldn't speak to him. And I think you could say, look, whatever is going on in your marriage is your business and not mine, or— but, but that is publicly humiliating to your wife.

The problem is I, I don't know him very well. I know her because she goes to— she's very active in the temple. Um, he doesn't— he's not active in the temple, and I don't know him very well. I've seen him a few times.

Well, then I would send him, you know, it's easy, probably, I don't know if you can email him or something, just say, and you know, I would in that case where if I, I think I would, where if I knew the person even tangentially, I would say, you know, again, I'm not going to get involved in your marriage and in its problems, but I will say That by your posting your picture, you are humiliating your wife, and that just seems— that is wrong. See, there are a lot of different elements to the whole infidelity question anyway, and the public humiliation to me is the most serious one, interestingly.

Yeah.

So that's— I would contact him, not her.

Okay.

Okay?

Okay, well, your opinion is the same as Rabbi Brusky's from Chabad.

No kidding?

Yeah.

Wow. Well, then I'm more convinced it's right, because I so respect him.

Okay.

Okay, thank you so much.

Okay.

Oh, how interesting. That is very interesting. I wonder what others would think about that. 1-800-PRAGER-776. All right. And let's go to, uh, we go to Phoenix. And is it Megan or Megan?

Megan.

Megan, thank you for calling.

Um, my question is, and you were talking about situational ethics the other day.

Yes, I was.

And I just was wondering your interpretation of Abraham sacrificing or being obedient to take Isaac up for sacrifice.

I will be happy to tell you my take.

Okay.

I have not only no problem with that story, it is one of the great epic stories of history and one of the great moral revolutions. What God asked Abraham to do— and remember, it is critical to remember this— the very first sentence of the story says, and the Lord tested Abraham. In other words, the reader is told from the outset God never wants human sacrifice. So we know that from the first sentence of the story. All right, that's critical that people know that. Number 2, why would God even test him with something so terrible? The answer is, at that time, child sacrifice was the way in which pagans, non-monothéists, showed their devotion to their gods. What God was saying to Abraham is, are you prepared to show me the loyalty and devotion that pagan worshippers are prepared to show their gods?

Okay.

For Abraham, in that time, That was normal. But the story teaches that the God of Abraham does not want us to sacrifice children. We show our loyalty to God by doing what God wants, which is primarily being good to other people.

Okay, but it's not about obedience.

Oh, it was about obedience. Sure it was. Absolutely, it's about obedience to God.

The question, or the situation we're talking about with Nazi Germany, I mean, we have a command to not bear false testimony.

Right, that's correct.

So in that circumstance, okay, are we to be obedient to that command?

But there is a— but God— oh, I see. God— but God has a hierarchy of commands. That is very important that you know that. God wants us to save, to preserve innocent life, even before he wants us to always tell the truth.

But he commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.

Only, only to test him to see if he was as obedient to him as the pagans were to their gods. That's all. Because those— that was the way in which one showed obedience to a god in those times. Gee, I hope that's clear. And if it's not, stay on. We'll be back in a moment. 1-800-PRAGER-776. What's the stupidest thing I have ever done? Okay, I'll think of that during the break. You're listening to The Dennis Prager Show. This episode of Timeless Wisdom will continue right after this.

When someone you love is hurting, what do you do? We're often quick to say, if there's anything I can do, just let me know. But what if we stopped waiting to be asked and simply showed up? On the If There Is Anything I Can Do podcast, Pam McConnell shares real stories, biblical wisdom, and practical ways to walk alongside people through grief, loss, and life's hardest moments. Learn how to show up and make a difference. Subscribe now and klovpodcast.com, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Now back to more of Dennis Prager's timeless wisdom. Howdy y'all, this is Dennis Prager and it is the, uh, the Dennis Prager Show. I'll get to, uh, even though I— the person hung up, which is— that's, that's a first. I say I'm gonna get to a call and they still hang up. Who knows? Maybe there was an emergency in his or her life. Anyway, I want to explain something about the last call. It's very important. People get tripped up on this because I, I explain that, of course, I believe in moral absolutes, but I also, of course, believe in situational ethics. They're not contradictory. And a lot of people get, get confused by that. You can see my write-up on it in the— it was The Case for Judeo-Christian Values, Part 11, I believe. Now, I give the example: it's wrong to lie almost all the time, but the situation will determine it. If you know where a Jewish family is hiding during the Holocaust and the Nazi comes over to you and says, where is the— where is the Jewish family hiding? You can, uh, you can lie. You have to lie to save their lives. I mean, that, that's obvious. But then you'll say, well, then how do you know? Because God doesn't want us to lie. Well, the answer is that God himself has a hierarchy of values. For example, it says honor your father and mother. Well, what if your father and mother tell you to go and murder? Well, then, hey, do I have to honor my father and mother? Of course not. You show them honor in whatever way you do, but you don't have to listen to them because there's a hierarchy of values. I'm telling you, the more I live, the more I want to write a book titled God Has Common Sense. I think we often act, a lot of religious people act as if he doesn't. Okay, let's continue here. Oh yeah, so anyway, the caller who wanted to know what is the stupidest thing I ever did? And I really have knocked my brain here to think of what might qualify. And I've certainly made mistakes. The stupidest thing I— well, I voted for Carter. That may be the stupidest, in terms of just stupid, that may be the stupidest thing I ever did. He truly harmed this country. I can't say that about many presidents. He's a very, very big fool in my eyes, and I hate to say— I hate to use the word because it's an ad hominem attack, and I admit it. He may be a very sweet man personally. That's not my point. And you know, this is the man who sat next to— had sat next to Michael Moore and said Michael Moore is a Vile, vile propaganda work was one of the 2 greatest films he ever saw. He is a very foolish man. So I voted for him the first time. It was probably stupid that I never bought stocks and listened to my grandfather, God bless him, although it certainly saved me a lot of time and a lot of loss of money. I think it's a good idea to have a lot of money in cash. Perhaps, but a lot of aggravation probably also I would have made had I been wiser. I don't know. That might be one of— I don't know if it's— it might qualify. I can tell you the stupidest question on the radio I ever asked. I think it was the— there might be a few rivals to that. The trucker who called my show And I was— I asked him, what are you hauling? I remember he was in Arizona. He was a very, very, very dear man. So I just wanted to converse with him, and I said on the air, so what are you hauling? He said, oh, 2 tons of celery. And then I said, my God, what does that smell like? You want to hear it? Oh, you actually have it? 45,000 pounds of celery?

Yes, sir.

That's awesome. What does it smell like?

Um, smells like celery. Dennis Prager, 9 to noon.

He was so sweet. He didn't want to hurt my feelings. Why did I think they smelled like tulips? Anyway, uh, you know, live radio will always have some embarrassing moments. That was one of the great ones. And we continue. And in Glendale, California, Eric. Eric, Dennis Prager, thanks for calling.

Hi, Dennis.

Hi.

I just wanted to know, uh, you— well, you mentioned earlier in the week that you commonly receive standing ovations when you give speeches. I just wanted to know how you stay humble given that.

Well, I, I have a real problem in that if I answer you, people will say, how could a guy be humble and then say he's humble? So I'm really stuck. Uh, it's But I will answer you anyway, because it's a very fair question. I know, I know that I am not arrogant. I know it. I have a lot of self-confidence, but I know that I'm not arrogant. And I'll tell you exactly, there are a number of ways that I— that these things do not affect me. Number one, I believe, for example, if a standing ovation, it is entirely to what I put out. It is the ideas, it is the values. People are Are responding to what I said. Now, they're responding to me too, I know that.

Mm-hmm.

But, but that's that. But I'm not there, and this is the biggest thing. I'm not in this for popularity or for praise. Everything I do, and this will sound almost weird to some people, and I don't know how to put it better, but I try to do everything because Uh, yeah. Well, see, no, I mean, I'm afraid about the way it'll sound, but I, I, I don't know how to put it any other way. I want to do what God wants me to do. And so I, I really— I, I make a little prayer before every speech, uh, that, uh, that may I, may I just, uh, do what you want me to do. Not may I be successful, not may I be popular, not may I be loved, not may they make clap for me. But I just— that, and that, that is a way, a very big way. If you believe you're just a vehicle, then you don't, you don't start thinking I'm, you know, I'm, I'm the be-all and end-all. Secondly, I'm very secure, so I don't— people who need ovations and who need praise, and we all need it to an extent, I mean, I mean, let's be honest, it's a wonderful thing.

Yeah.

But I mean, who need it in a large sense, They're not secure. The Hollywood actor or actress who lives for their name in lights and to be stood, you know, get a standing ovation at the Academy Awards, they're not secure. I feel for them. They're not happy. Number 3, and this is a factor too, although not as big as the first one, but it's a big one. I have been in public life since I'm 21. I have not, I have not been an adult and not been in public life. I gave my first public lecture at 21. So, and nothing has ever come overnight, so I never had to deal with what some people in public life do, instant fame. Mine has always been so gradual that I, you know, it's like the lobster is being boiled and doesn't know it. I just, it just happened. But the other thing is, I'm just Dennis. I'm just Dennis. It never occurs to me to think beyond that. I am gifted with the ability to touch people. It's a gift. I didn't do a damn thing to get it. I was born with it. It was given to me. I believe by God. If one doesn't believe in God, then it was by nature. But I didn't do anything to earn it. So all I have is to use it responsibly, and that's it. That's, that's, that's what I'm here for.

That's a good perspective.

Okay?

Yeah, thank you, Dennis.

You're very, very kind to ask it. Thank you very much. This episode of Timeless Wisdom will continue right after this.

Thank you, Dennis, for your life and philosophy. I gave my life to Jesus years ago, and I've been praying for you earnestly. Keep fighting, keep the faith. I believe God has more for you to do. God bless you, Dennis. Yeah, this is David. Longtime listener in Whittier, California. Thank you so much for your show. So glad that you are doing better. God bless you. You have been in my prayers.

Hi, Dennis Prager here. Well, as you know, I've been off the air since my injury in November 2024. Thank you for your prayers. Believe me, I've missed talking to you. I'm starting the Ask Me Anything episodes on the Timeless Wisdom Podcast, and I'd love to hear from you. Whether your question is about faith, morality, politics, history, relationships, happiness, or even my life, give me a call and leave a voicemail. The number is 877-243- 7776. That's 877-243-7776. Please include your first name and where you're calling from. I will answer as many questions as I can on future episodes of the podcast. Obviously, I can't respond to every question, but I will listen or read every question. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for listening. Now, back to more of Dennis Prager's timeless wisdom. Orange, California, and George. George, Dennis Prager, hi.

Hi, Dennis, glad to talk to you.

Thank you.

What I wanted to ask you is, I know your feelings, and anybody who listens to your show knows your feelings about TV as a waste of time.

Yes, I'm sure.

But what I wanted to ask you about is reading Fictional novels.

Yeah. Well, I don't think that's a waste of time at all. There is— there are novels. First of all, no matter how trashy a novel, it's 4 light-years above television. So, I mean, so, so there's no comparison. However, within the world of novels, there is pure entertainment, and there is entertainment with insight into the human being. So I would— those who read for only entertaining novels, you know, I have no judgment to make. It's still so much ahead of anything that is so often done by others to entertain themselves. On the other hand, given the number of great novels that also deliver insight into human nature, one would hope that they would vary their reading to that as well. I have definitely paid a price not reading novels. I do not consider it a terrific part of my life. When I read novels in college that were good, they were awesome and they stayed with me much more than nonfiction. Anybody who wants to understand the Soviet Union will do best by reading We the Living by Ayn Rand or the 2 Orwell books, Animal Farm and 1984. than any nonfiction book. So I, I know the power of a great novel, but, but for what I do in the limited time that I have, I have to read nonfiction. Okay?

I thought about if I spend 4 hours reading a novel, that 1 hour I should take out and read something self-improving or something.

Well, 1 hour on nonfiction would be good. I think over You know, not doing any nonfiction is a loss. And some nonfiction is written in a way, like McCullough writing on Truman, it's written like a novel. Alrighty, Garrett. Garrett in Fort Worth, how are you? Dennis Prager. Hello, Garrett in Texas. Come in, Garrett.

You got me.

Okay, great.

Hey Dennis, thanks a lot for taking my call.

Thank you.

Why do we call some of the villains of the past and present some of them by their last name— Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin— and other ones once in a while, and it makes me sick, Saddam, Osama, like their brother Bob or our best friend Bob.

It's a great question, and I think I have an answer. It's entirely dependent upon which works. For example, let's take Stalin. Nobody is going to say, hey, you know what Joseph did? No, I mean, you can't, you know, Joseph killed 40 million people? Joseph who? So it doesn't work. Hitler and Stalin are distinctive enough names. Saddam Hussein, the reason I am convinced is Hussein doesn't tell you— Hussein in the Arab world is almost like Smith. So it doesn't tell you enough. But Saddam is more specific. Now, bin Laden is an interesting one. I have never called him Osama. I find that ridiculous. I do say bin Laden or Osama bin Laden. So that's an interesting one. I don't know how many people call him Osama. I think he's referred to as bin Laden.

Right.

So it depends on the distinctiveness of the name. That is what— that generally is how we— whether we call them by the first or the last. That's why I gave the— you know, Mussolini, is enough of a name. What are we going to say, Benito?

Yeah, right.

You know, Benito, he ran a fascist country. You know, you can't do that. So I think there is reason. But Saddam, it's because of his last name.

Understood.

It's too common, and he was confused with King Hussein. That was the other reason. Remember, he was in power when King Hussein was the King of Jordan.

Understood.

This episode of Timeless Wisdom will continue right after this.

When someone you love is hurting, what do you do? We're often quick to say, if there's anything I can do, just let me know. But what if we stopped waiting to be asked and simply showed up? On the If There Is Anything I Can Do podcast, Pam McConnell shares real stories, biblical wisdom, and practical ways to walk alongside people through grief, loss, and life's hardest moments. Learn how to show up and make a difference. Subscribe now at kcm.org. If there is anything I can do. klovpodcast.com, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Now back to more of Dennis Prager's timeless wisdom.

Hello. You know, I've been wanting to call you for like a month, and I always put it off and I put it off. But you know, it's gotten to the point now where I know that you, uh, have a lot of, you know, religious, uh, programs and beliefs and stuff like that that you talk about all the time. This is the perfect person to ask. I'm the one with the question about, does God have a favorite race? And the reason I ask that is because I, as a Hispanic, have noticed through life— and I don't want you to— when I, when I ask this question, I want you to think of the numbers, not the ones that make it, because they're always— there's always one or two that are going to succeed no matter what. But I want you to look at the overall picture and the numbers that we represent. I've noticed that in my race, which is Hispanic, Everywhere I go, it seems like we're the housekeepers. We're the we're the people that work in the fields. We're the people that that do all the labor and everything. And and and and I stop and think, you know, when I was growing up, I wanted to be successful. I wanted to have my own business and be something and then have nice things in life. But you know, now that I'm fifty, I I'm fifty years old and I have some debt. I mean, quite a bit of debt. And I stop and think, golly, you know. If I pay it off by the time I'm 60 or 65, see, my dream never happened. I just carried that debt, and I stopped and think, golly, what I didn't want to become, I just, by some force or something, I just became that. Like my dad did, like my parents. I mean, everybody in my family has just seemed to fall into that same situation.

How many generations are you in America?

Oh, gosh. Well, I— you know what, my mom is from Monterrey, Mexico. My dad is from, from the United States, of course. Now, I don't know how far back, but I would say the grandparents came from Mexico. And, uh—

Do you have children?

We have children, yes, we do. Now, I am stressing education to them. I want them to be very successful. But I stop and think sometimes, why is it that no matter how hard I've tried to become successful, I feel like there's some There's some things in our culture or something that do not permit us to go. Like, let me give you an example. I, no matter how hard I wanted to study and be really good at math, I could never grasp math.

Me neither. Me neither, Vincent. I could never grasp math.

Well, see, I could never grasp math.

Anything beyond early algebra and geometry, and I was a lost case.

Right. Well, you know, and then I look at television, and I look at— I look at the Academy Awards, I look at programs like that, and it's always white people honoring white people, and I stop and think, God, I tell my son, you know what, son, it's very important that you study, because I can guarantee you that as soon as the Academy Awards is over, all the Hispanics are going to come out and start cleaning up the place. You know, because that's just the way I have become.

All right, let me, let me, uh, this is a very touching call, but I have a lot of things to say to you. It's just, I, I just have so much to say, and yet I want to get so many calls, so that's why I'm torn. So let me just give you a couple of ideas. First of all, Hispanic is not a race. There's no such thing as a Hispanic race. You mean Latino?

I meant the Mexican Americans.

Yeah, you mean— well, first of all, it's a culture. Okay? It's not a race. It's a culture. Cultures do have values, and values help determine— they're not alone, but they help determine the level of success, socioeconomic success, that people will generally have. Values are critical. Now, so there's no such thing as a race that is destined to be cleaning up after another race. There's no such thing. And believe me, the number of people who could call and say the same thing— Turks in Germany can call up a German show and say the same thing. Blacks could have said the same thing. Gee, well, you know, look at our position.

Right.

in the United States, at least historically. You will find this fascinating, but you know what? The vast majority of Jews who came over— and Jews are a very successful ethnic group— but when they first came over, they were overwhelmingly tailors and sold men's and women's clothing. Were they destined to be tailors? No. The next generation was imbued with the deep, deep desire to get ahead and learn, and the American dream became available to most American Jews. So there is, you know, the Irish could argue the same thing. Are they destined to be whatever profession that the Irish flocked into? Everybody could ask this question.

Right.

The United States, America shatters all of that stuff. You make what you want of your life. And your children will probably do socioeconomically even more than you might have.

Right.

Because you have had the value of stressing education and achievement.

Yes, well, you know, I do stress education to the kids and I remind them of what is out there, you know. Golly, if you don't, you know— I mean, I try to get them to stay motivated and all that other stuff, but, you know, like, another thing I was going to tell you, you talked about the Jewish people becoming very successful and all, but, you know, the one thing that separates the Jewish people from, let's say, my race Is that I've noticed that they help each other. I mean, if they're down, they help each other.

That's a value. You're right. You know what? That's a very powerful— this is a very powerful call. I love your honesty. That's why I love your call. I have to let you go only because of time. It's a wonderful call. You're right. That is a— that is— and people know I am very honest and open and critical. I mean, my, you know, just— I had a show about, you know, Jews and not having a mission or sensing a mission. And I'm very critical on that problem, that religious Jews tend to be more isolated from the world and the Jews who have a mission tend to not be religiously inclined at all. But this is a great trait that Jews have. There is a very deep sense that, at least among Jews who identify as Jews, of helping each other. That is absolutely right. If there is, you know, there is a destitute Jew in Argentina, the Jews of Australia will get money for that Jew. That is true. In fact, I asked this question during, during the Reagan era constantly. Why does every synagogue have a Save Soviet Jewry sign and I never see on churches Save Soviet Christian signs? And people know my great admiration for America's Christians, but that's— values is everything, Vincent. It's everything. Not race, not ethnicity. Values are everything. That's why I am the opposite of the left who think that economics is determinant. Values are determinant. This episode of Timeless Wisdom will continue right after this.

When someone you love is hurting, what do you do? We're often quick to say, if there's anything I can do, just let me know. But what if we stopped waiting to be asked and simply showed up? On the If There Is Anything I Can Do podcast, Pam McConnell shares real stories, biblical wisdom, and practical practical ways to walk alongside people through grief, loss, and life's hardest moments. Learn how to show up and make a difference. Subscribe now at klovpodcast.com, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Now back to more of Dennis Prager's timeless wisdom. Uh, Lancaster. There we go. Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Chris. Hello, Chris. Dennis Prager.

Yeah. Hi, Dennis.

Hi.

Thanks for taking my call.

Thank you.

I'm calling about my son. Who's graduating from high— well, we hope he's graduating from high school this year.

Yeah.

And he's been accepted to a college, and we're trying to decide what he should do for a year. And here's the issue: my son is profoundly ungenerous. He doesn't put himself out for other things and for other people.

Right.

He has good qualities, but this is— I mean, to the point where it's a very serious problem. And so I am seeking things for him to do, or a thing for him to do, that would get him out of himself, expose him to some genuine need. I mean, I've thought of the Army, the Peace Corps if it still exists. I'd like it to be something Jewish because he is Jewish, and I think there's, you know, it's good to tap into your tradition. Mm-hmm.

Well, if you are Jewish and you want to combine the two, why doesn't he volunteer in some of the hospital-type or other type social-type services in Israel for victims of terror?

That's pretty darn good.

Yep, that'll, uh, that will—

That'll give him a dose of reality.

Yes, exactly.

Which is what I'm looking for.

Okay, let me know what happens.

Thank you very much.

You're welcome very much. Thank you. And, uh, over to, uh, Howard in Philadelphia. Hello, Howard. Dennis Prager.

Dennis, I am driven crazy by the professionals that I listen to on the radio. And you do a good job of this, by the way. You do a good job in the good way, not the bad way.

Right, I understand.

But I listen to people on radio. I stopped watching television, and I've become hypersensitive to speech. And what I hear when I listen to people who are professionals is I mean, you know, um.

That's right, that is correct.

Why is speech— what happened? Because it used to be that talk radio, the people who did talk radio really took pride in what they said, and they weren't sloppy. And I think we've gotten sloppy. Not just talk radio, but everybody.

I listen a lot to talk radio, and by and large, I'd say, well, I would say 50% of the broadcasters do not do many ums. About 50% do more than they should. I had to learn not to. And I'll tell you how you teach yourself. This is a good— this is an excellent thing for everybody listening because almost everybody has to speak publicly in some way, even if it's just at a table at a dinner party. People— you know why people do um? I— do you know why?

Yes, they're thinking. I wanted to put a plug in for—

But wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, hold on a second. They're thinking.

Um.

I know. No, that doesn't explain why they're saying um. That explains why they're not saying anything. But why are they saying um while they're thinking? And I'll tell you, I have figured it out. It is because people fear that if they— if there is no audible noise, people will stop listening. It is a psychological thing and a very understandable one. That is— that's right, they're wrong. Quiet is actually a— quiet can actually be an attention demander.

Yes. And so I'm not a professional speaker, Dennis, but I do speak publicly and I do speak often. And the pause, I think, is the most profound, most powerful thing to use in a speech, providing it's not overused as a gimmick.

If it's a natural pause— when it's a gimmick, I can't stand it. But, but if it's, if it's natural, I, I had to teach myself the following. Dennis, it's okay not to have a sound going over the air. And so, but it's very hard to learn not to say, um, well, um, you know, um, there were about 100 people there. You know, it just comes out very naturally. But you are right, and I am very aware of it when I speak. I don't— I have— I I'd say I mastered it 90%, not 100%, and I'm very aware of it when I listen.

I have one more word, Dennis, that is starting to drive me crazy, and you tell me if you think that it's being too picayune to mention it. The word actually. It just seems to me that everybody throws it at the end of a sentence. I went out to dinner, actually. I actually spoke to him. And I'm thinking in my mind, well, you actually spoke to him As opposed to what? Speaking to him?

That's interesting. Well, you might be picky on this. I don't know. I have not noticed that actually has been overused. You know has, and of course the, the great killer today, like. That is something I've worked on with my kids, and actually they have, they have pretty much extirpated it from their vocabulary. Anyway, it's a good call, Howard. I appreciate it very much.

It's like—

Tomorrow on Timeless Wisdom with Dennis Prager. See, the rhetoric, and this is what is so important, and believe me, I need to tell you folks, I've come a way on this, a ways, as they say, on this journey, because I was raised— I don't mean in my family, I mean in my educational system— to believe that abortion was just A woman doing what she wants with her own body, a woman just, quote unquote, ending her pregnancy. Who are we to tell a woman you have to be pregnant? And I had, I had essentially bought all of that. This is something I'll never forget. I have to give him credit here. It was in a dialogue with Jerry Falwell, and he made a very telling point, and it had an impact on me. I was in my 20s. And he— it had an impact on me. He said, when a woman is pregnant, do we, do we ever say to her, how's your fetus? Or do we say, how's your baby? Join us tomorrow to hear more on Timeless Wisdom with Dennis Prager. Visit DennisPrager.com for thousands of hours of Dennis's lectures, courses, and We want to take just a second to thank the team at Life Audio for their partnership with us on the podcast. Go to lifeaudio.com to find dozens of other faith-centered podcasts in their network, including shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more.

When someone you love is hurting, what do you do? We're often quick to say, if there's anything I can do, just let me know. But what if we stopped waiting to be asked and simply showed up? On the If There Is Anything I Can Do podcast, Pam McConnell shares real stories, biblical wisdom, and practical ways to walk alongside people through grief, loss, and life's hardest moments. Learn how to show up and make a difference. Subscribe now at klovpodcast.com, YouTube, or wherever you listen to podcasts.