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By Shlomoh Sherman
September 2, 2020


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Shlomoh Sherman - September 2, 2018 at 8:28 PM  

Shlomoh Sherman - September 2, 2015 at 3:09 PM
Responding to my daughter who forwarded me an article from Prager U

I have a problem with Prager. Several in fact.
The article at how-do-you-know-whats-right-and-wrong-left-right-differences-part-vii/ at the Prager website says:

"For conservatives, the answer is, and has always been, that there are moral truths ’objective moral standards’ to which every person is accountable. In America, this has meant accountability to the Creator, the God of the Bible, and to Judeo-Christian values."

Yes, there are moral standards, and each person has his/her own idea of what those standards may be. For many in America, they claim that the standards they follow are those espoused in the Bible, or for Jews, the TORAH. But the Bible-TORAH does not have one set of standards. Much of what comes out of Scripture appears ambiguous because the standards are often at variance with themselves.

The dichotomoy that the Prager group presents between so-called conservatives and so-called liberals is a false one - it's as though ALL liberals think one way and ALL conservatives think another. This is especially the case when people use the definite article.

The definite article is all-inclusive. "The Democrats" means every single Democrat in the world. "The Conservatives" describes every single conservative. When one hears "THE Jews or THE coloreds", it's equivalent to the phrase "You people".

Secondly, and more importantly, there is no actual thing as "Judeo-Christian values". Judaism and Christianity, at heart, are so diametrically opposed on the most important ideas and issues that they contradict each other rather than compliment each other. Conservatives have picked up this expression from early 20th century Anglo-Saxon Protestants who were affecting a nice politically correct idea for their own ends. No serious Jew or Christian belives in this false proposition.

"For the Left, the answer has always been ... that there is no transcendent source of morality."

Who is THE Left? I am somewhat left of center on many issues as I am right of center on others. Most people I know fit neither the idea of a Leftist or Rightist and most people I know share values from both Left and Right. And besides, if you want to get "reliigous" about it, remember the admonition if PIRKE AVOT, "Do not judge another until you have stood in his place."

"As a rule, leftists fear and have contempt for people who base their values on a transcendent source such as religion and the Bible. Such people, in the Left's view, can't think for themselves’ they need a God and a religion to tell them what's right and wrong."

This is utter crap. Many leftists, and centrists among whom I count myself, do not fear or have contempt for people whose source of morality is Divine. True Liberals allow people to think for themselves and allow them to respect the Bible. What we fear and have contempt for is those whose Source is other than our own, FORCING their values in all respects on the American Constitution. The Constituion has stated that there must not be a relgious test when seeking political office. Yet since the rise of the Religious Right, every candidate is put to the test, being asked, Do you believe in God? Do you go to church? My answer would be, if I were running, Its none of your damn business. I am not running to be your rabbi.

"What would you say if you found out that our public schools were teaching children that it is not true that it's wrong to kill people for fun or cheat on tests? Would you be surprised? I was.

"Our public schools teach¦ there are no moral facts. And if there are no moral facts, then there are no moral truths."

I would say that public schools have fallen down but I don't belive that public schools teach those things. Moreso likely, ONE teacher expressed those opinions, not the school system. And I am sad that public schools no longer allow prayer or Bible reading, even when the students themselves may want it.

"Many liberal parents and teachers do not tell their children what is right and wrong. Rather, they ask their children and students, How do you feel about it?"

This is utter propaganda. Parents of every political bent try to teach thier children right and wrong.

"Conservatives' commitment to a standard of true and false means identifying terrorists as Islamic"

Just because the current president is a dope, don't attribute that to "THE liberals" Anyone with a brain knows who the terrorists are.

"In his Farewell Address, President George Washington's most famous speech, the first president perfectly expressed the conservative view on the need for God and religion for moral standards and for societal standards generally:
<i>Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports¦ these firmest props of the duties of Man and citizens.</i>"

Well Washington was a wise man and merited his image on the One Dollar bill. On the other hand, putting God's name on the bill is not only unconstitutional but a violation of the Third Commandment.

In general, Proger U has some informative videos which are of good quality but they also employ the worst kind of respresentatives. I am thinking specifically of Jonah Goldberg, one of the most disgusting and nasty conservatives that I have ever heard lecture. This man has no consideration or respect for people who think differently from him, and he insults them. He is what I call a pig and should not be a respresentative for an organization such as Prager U

YITGADAL VE YITKADASH SHEMAY RABBA hummmmmm


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