Ben Shapiro: Intelligent Conservative

[Joshua_B]

I really like this guy. He's intelligent, well-educated, and doesn't seem to care in the slightest what others think of him. He graduated from UCLA in 2004 at age 20, and finished his time at Harvard Law School in 2007. He was a friend and protege of the late Andrew Breitbart, and now runs the former's website as Editor at Large. So far, he's written five books, including...

• Brainwashed: How Universities Indoctrinate America's Youth (2004)
• Porn Generation: How Social Liberalism Is Corrupting Our Future (2005)
• Project President: Bad Hair and Botox on the Road to the White House (2008)
• Primetime Propaganda: The True Hollywood Story of How the Left Took Over Your TV (2012)
  http://www.amazon.com/Primetime-Pro...4247860?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385235618&sr=1-2
• Bullies: How the Left's Culture of Fear and Intimidation Silences Americans (2013)

Ben also co-hosts "The Morning Answer", a weekday radio show with Brian Whitman and Elisha Krauss. He's been interviewed by many in the news world, including Piers Morgan, Dennis Miller, Glenn Beck, and Bill O'Reilly. Here's a short clip, discussing his latest book with Miller...

 

[SV Fan]

I seen this guy a couple times on TV a couple times, I will give him this he knows(and is smart in that sense) how to bilk people out of their money like many other right wing entertainment complex types.

 

[The Question]

I haven't read the book, but most of the arguments he makes in that video seem pretty flimsy to me.

 

[Joshua_B]

I haven't read the book, but most of the arguments he makes in that video seem pretty flimsy to me.

If you want a more detailed look at his stance on several issues, here's a lecture he gave at the Young America's Foundation, to illustrate his ten principles for debating the Left...

 

[Feenix]

I really like this guy. He's intelligent, well-educated, and doesn't seem to care in the slightest what others think of him. He graduated from UCLA in 2004 at age 20, and finished his time at Harvard Law School in 2007. He was a friend and protege of the late Andrew Breitbart, and now runs the former's website as Editor at Large. So far, he's written five books, including...

• Brainwashed: How Universities Indoctrinate America's Youth (2004)
• Porn Generation: How Social Liberalism Is Corrupting Our Future (2005)
• Project President: Bad Hair and Botox on the Road to the White House (2008)
• Primetime Propaganda: The True Hollywood Story of How the Left Took Over Your TV (2012)
  http://www.amazon.com/Primetime-Pro...4247860?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385235618&sr=1-2
• Bullies: How the Left's Culture of Fear and Intimidation Silences Americans (2013)

Ben also co-hosts "The Morning Answer", a weekday radio show with Brian Whitman and Elisha Krauss. He's been interviewed by many in the news world, including Piers Morgan, Dennis Miller, Glenn Beck, and Bill O'Reilly. Here's a short clip, discussing his latest book with Miller...

Ah, yes, universities are brainwashing our youth because they're teaching things contrary to what Mr. Shapiro believes. He wouldn't call it brainwashing if students were learning about Creationism and right wing conservatism

I like how he uses his university degree to show that he's intelligent and then bashes the university saying that it indoctrinates youth. If he felt that strongly about it, he would have dropped out and went somewhere that taught more of the things he thinks are important (like ChristiN morality and divine creation).

 

[Joshua_B]

Ah, yes, universities are brainwashing our youth because they're teaching things contrary to what Mr. Shapiro believes. He wouldn't call it brainwashing if students were learning about Creationism and right wing conservatism

I like how he uses his university degree to show that he's intelligent and then bashes the university saying that it indoctrinates youth. If he felt that strongly about it, he would have dropped out and went somewhere that taught more of the things he thinks are important (like ChristiN morality and divine creation).

Sadly, Shapiro's not a Christian; he's an Orthodox Jew.

 

[Feenix]

Sadly, Shapiro's not a Christian; he's an Orthodox Jew.

He's still religious. The point is that he's already been indoctrinated in the fallacies of religion and he took that with him to university and when very religious people are met with viewpoints and data that contradicts their ridiculous beliefs, they call it brainwashing and the leftist, liberal agenda instead of seeing it for what it is - education. This guy is a joke.

A review of his book:

To right-wing paranoid conservatives, anyone getting a good education is being brainwashed. How this author can associate a college education with brainwashing is puzzling to me. There is no tolerance among right-wing extremists for anyone to get a different viewpoint and this is what this book is all about.
The truth, as any non-paranoid person knows, is that these colleges provide people with the tools to choose a perspective for themselves. These young college students are not being held against their will to learn what they learn! They choose courses, a wide variety of different subjects. The right-wing extremists don't want them to have any choices other than what suits their agenda.

This book is deceptive because what it is really saying is a good education is a dangerous thing, because it thwarts the brainwashing efforts of the GOP's propaganda machine. If people can think for themselves, they will see through the right-wing conservative agenda! Maybe that's why the latest Newsweek poll shows young people turning away from Bush.

Don't underestimate the intelligence of college students to choose for themselves what to believe! How dare this author suggest they don't have the capacity to choose for themselves with regard to their education! So there are different viewpoints offered at colleges all across this country -- what are you wingnuts going to do about it!

 

[SV Fan]

If you want a more detailed look at his stance on several issues, here's a lecture he gave at the Young America's Foundation, to illustrate his ten principles for debating the Left...

I watched the first 10 minutes it was sort of funny, he whines and cries how bad the left is for calling people on the right bad then he precedes to tell us how bad the left is. Pot meet Kettle

 

[Joshua_B]

He's still religious. The point is that he's already been indoctrinated in the fallacies of religion and he took that with him to university and when very religious people are met with viewpoints and data that contradicts their ridiculous beliefs, they call it brainwashing and the leftist, liberal agenda instead of seeing it for what it is - education. This guy is a joke.

Never condemn someone based on what others say about them; stick with what they actually talk about and believe. Religion and an open mind are not mutually exclusive.

 

[Joshua_B]

I watched the first 10 minutes it was sort of funny, he whines and cries how bad the left is for calling people on the right bad then he precedes to tell us how bad the left is. Pot meet Kettle

I thought that too at first, but there's one important difference: attitude. In that particular lecture, he's demonstrating how to confront the Left instead of acting like civility's the highest aim.

 

[Feenix]

Never condemn someone based on what others say about them; stick with what they actually talk about and believe. Religion and an open mind are not mutually exclusive.

For Ben Shapiro, they are mutually exclusive. The point is that this whining little kid will call anything that doesn't line up with his beliefs "brainwashing."

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

I think colleges should offer various perspectives, improve critical thinking and allow students to arrive to their own conclusions about partisan beliefs.

But conservatives don't want this. They want any left-wing indoctrination replaced with right-wing indoctrination.

No thank you.

 

[SV Fan]

I thought that too at first, but there's one important difference: attitude. In that particular lecture, he's demonstrating how to confront the Left instead of acting like civility's the highest aim.

Here is the problem both sides are guilty of "bullying" (as he puts it), to act like one side is bad and we are angels is a bunch of BS. His 10 rules for debating the left could simply be put as 10 rules of debating PERIOD no matter what side a person is on. To try make this a left/right issue is just pandering to his base that somehow the right are victims and we need to fight back. the arguement the left are a bunch of bullies might work if the right for the most part had clean hands when it came to debating but trying to take the moral high road when you just as bad comes off hypocritical.

Instead of 10 rules how to win a debate how about how to debate certain issues with a pro positive Conservative Agenda using facts and non negative rhetoric against the other side. Basically a book about how to win debates to me is saying style is more important then substance, but hey what would you expect from a lawyer.

 

[Kelly]

I don't think anyone needs to worry about colleges becoming too conservative...lol

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8427-2005Mar28.html

The Washington Post did not do the study, the findings, by Lichter and fellow political science professors Stanley Rothman of Smith College and Neil Nevitte of the University of Toronto, are based on a survey of 1,643 full-time faculty at 183 four-year schools. The researchers relied on 1999 data from the North American Academic Study Survey, the most recent comprehensive data available.

College faculties, long assumed to be a liberal bastion, lean further to the left than even the most conspiratorial conservatives might have imagined, a new study says.
By their own description, 72 percent of those teaching at American universities and colleges are liberal and 15 percent are conservative, says the study being published this week. The imbalance is almost as striking in partisan terms, with 50 percent of the faculty members surveyed identifying themselves as Democrats and 11 percent as Republicans.

 

[Joshua_B]

For Ben Shapiro, they are mutually exclusive. The point is that this whining little kid will call anything that doesn't line up with his beliefs "brainwashing."

Not true; he mainly uses that term to describe deliberate attempts by leftists to whisk students away from reason toward logical contradictions. For example, Ben mentions how leftists often describe conservatives as "anti-science", but then pass laws against 4D ultrasounds because they don't want the mothers to see the babies being killed.

I think colleges should offer various perspectives, improve critical thinking and allow students to arrive to their own conclusions about partisan beliefs.

But conservatives don't want this. They want any left-wing indoctrination replaced with right-wing indoctrination.

I'm a conservative, and I just want both sides represented equally in every regard. Many leftists crusade every day against any form of thinking which leads to any kind of support for Judaism or Christianity.

Here is the problem both sides are guilty of "bullying" (as he puts it), to act like one side is bad and we are angels is a bunch of BS.

He never says conservatives are angels; in fact, he openly admits no one knows everything, because we're not divine. That particular lecture is about accurately framing your opposition in every scenario. If you watched the first ten minutes, then you heard most of his Obama / Romney comparison.

The argument the left are a bunch of bullies might work if the right for the most part had clean hands when it came to debating but trying to take the moral high road when you just as bad comes off hypocritical.

Something can be perceived as hypocritical without actually being that way; it all depends on intent, clarified over time. Later in that video, Ben says, "At some point, ignorance becomes sin. Don't be afraid to label bad policies for what they are, and don't be afraid to label what the other side is doing for what they are doing...because they're sure as hell going to label you." He then quotes Obama by saying, "the only way to fight a bully is to punch them back twice as hard".

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

I don't see a problem with the majority of professors being democrats.

How many students become life-long democrats because they took a history class in college?

If it were a high percentile the vast majority of Americans would be card-carrying democrats. That is not the case.

 

[SV Fan]

I don't see a problem with the majority of professors being democrats.

How many students become life-long democrats because they took a history class in college?

If it were a high percentile the vast majority of Americans would be card-carrying democrats. That is not the case.

Personally I would like to see the splits by subject they teach. lol

 

[Joshua_B]

Leftists get far more press than conservatives in this country, because most of the powerful institutions have become corrupted by anti-religious "inclusive" thought. The hypocrisy in such a belief is clearly seen through the exclusion of religion for everything else.

 

[The Question]

Leftists get far more press than conservatives in this country, because most of the powerful institutions have become corrupted by anti-religious "inclusive" thought. The hypocrisy in such a belief is clearly seen through the exclusion of religion for everything else.

Absolutely none of that is true. That is what a paranoid majority says when they see other groups gaining the same rights they always had and conflate it with their rights being infringed upon.

 

[Joshua_B]

Absolutely none of that is true. That is what a paranoid majority says when they see other groups gaining the same rights they always had and conflate it with their rights being infringed upon.

How many unafraid, flat-out conservatives do you see get any kind of respect on major news networks? Even Fox News, the so-called "conservative center", doesn't do enough to battle the constant onslaught against classic American values by the mass media. I don't want a theocracy, but I don't want secular humanists running everything either.

Ben's said things similar to this, and so have others: America's current political state is largely the church's fault, because we allowed this to happen through fear. Even before Darwin published "On the Origin of Species", different denominations were kowtowing to ideas like naturalism, uniformitarianism, and moral relativism. Now, some of us are trying like crazy to regain the influence and respect we once had...but after 150 years of backing down, its an uphill struggle for sure.

People in governmental power used to hold the Bible up as the infallible standard by which all citizens willing to honor God should live. They knew dissenters would always be there, but all our laws back then were in some way derived from Scripture. Folks like George Washington, John Adams, Patrick Henry, John Jay, and Noah Webster recognized that natural human instincts couldn't always be trusted, because we are fallen. Most of those who helped found the United States believed religion was absolutely necessary for peace, both personal and national.

Yes, terrible things have been done in the name of Christ, but the same has happened from every other faith, too. That's why its so important to look at how those who started those belief systems lived their lives, instead of later effects. Doing otherwise is like demanding everyone take the tires off their cars, because one exploded on its first day of use 50 years ago.

 

[The Question]

How many unafraid, flat-out conservatives do you see get any kind of respect on major news networks? Even Fox News, the so-called "conservative center", doesn't do enough to battle the constant onslaught against classic American values by the mass media. I don't want a theocracy, but I don't want secular humanists running everything either.

Ben's said things similar to this, and so have others: America's current political state is largely the church's fault, because we allowed this to happen through fear. Even before Darwin published "On the Origin of Species", different denominations were kowtowing to ideas like naturalism, uniformitarianism, and moral relativism. Now, some of us are trying like crazy to regain the influence and respect we once had...but after 150 years of backing down, its an uphill struggle for sure.

People in governmental power used to hold the Bible up as the infallible standard by which all citizens willing to honor God should live. They knew dissenters would always be there, but all our laws back then were in some way derived from Scripture. Folks like George Washington, John Adams, Patrick Henry, John Jay, and Noah Webster recognized that natural human instincts couldn't always be trusted, because we are fallen. Most of those who helped found the United States believed religion was absolutely necessary for peace, both personal and national.

"People in governmental power used to hold the Bible up as the infallible standard by which all citizens willing to honor God should live."

True. But the thing is that not everyone believes in the Bible. Wether or not they should is a theological argument that I'd be perfectly willing to have, but even if they shouldn't they still have a right to work in and have a voice in government. It's a democratic republic, that means that everyone deserves representation, even the people you don't agree with.

Yes, terrible things have been done in the name of Christ, but the same has happened from every other faith, too. That's why its so important to look at how those who started those belief systems lived their lives, instead of later effects. Doing otherwise is like demanding everyone take the tires off their cars, because one exploded on its first day of use 50 years ago.

What you call a "constant onslaught against classic American values" is, in actuality, people accepting the notion that the way straight white Christian men live their lives isn't the only valid way to live your life.

You see, you're proving my point exactly. There is no threat of secular humanist running things in any of our lifetimes. Christianity is still the overwhelming majority in this country. It's still nearly impossible to hold public office in most parts of the United States if you're not a Christian. Christianity isn't under attack, it isn't being persecuted. What's happening is that non Christians are finally gaining a voice and gaining some power and autonomy for themselves. Christianity isn't being oppressed, what's happening is that other groups are becoming less oppressed. Muslims, Pagans, Transexuals, Homosexuals, Bisexuals, Asexuals, Atheists, Agnostics, and a whole host of other marginalized groups have more respects and more rights than they ever had before. They are not, however, taking rights away from you. You're fine. You're not being asked to give anything up or live your life any differently. The only thing anyone's asking of you is to not throw a fit when other people follow a lifestyle that you wouldn't choose for yourself.

As for flat out conservatives on the major news networks? People seem to love John McCain. Hell, I'm about as liberal as you can get without being an anarcho-marxist, and I love John McCain. That guy's great. He's a total class act. I didn't vote for McCain in '08, but if he'd one I would have been 98% okay with that.

And as for Origin of the Species: Macro-Evolution is real. It has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt. The fact that you think otherwise is only an indication that you don't understand science. Deal with it.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

I'd rather live in a secular society that allows freedom of religion because generally speaking theocracies have a low tolerance for unsanctioned beliefs whether they be secular, atheist, agnostic, or a less popular religious affiliation.

In short, most secular societies have far more freedoms than any theocracy.

 

[Joshua_B]

What you call a "constant onslaught against classic American values" is, in actuality, people accepting the notion that the way straight white Christian men live their lives isn't the only valid way to live your life.

I didn't say anything about ethnic concerns, or any kind of exclusivity for men. There are many people of both genders and many nationalities, who trust in Christ as Lord and hold conservative values.

You see, you're proving my point exactly. There is no threat of secular humanist running things in any of our lifetimes. Christianity is still the overwhelming majority in this country.

Maybe in terms of individuals, but most of them don't participate in any kind of political debate. Those in power are largely atheistic or staunchly anti-Christian, especially with regard to education, politcs, and entertainment.

It's still nearly impossible to hold public office in most parts of the United States if you're not a Christian.

Source?

Christianity isn't under attack, it isn't being persecuted. What's happening is that non-Christians are finally gaining a voice and gaining some power and autonomy for themselves. Christianity isn't being oppressed, what's happening is that other groups are becoming less oppressed. Muslims, Pagans, Transexuals, Homosexuals, Bisexuals, Asexuals, Atheists, Agnostics, and a whole host of other marginalized groups have more respects and more rights than they ever had before. They are not, however, taking rights away from you. You're fine. You're not being asked to give anything up or live your life any differently. The only thing anyone's asking of you is to not throw a fit when other people follow a lifestyle that you wouldn't choose for yourself.

If by "throw a fit" you mean completely ceasing all challenges to issues I find morally and/or spiritually reprehensible, then your statement is correct...but such a request is impossible. The Constitution says that in the eyes of both God and U.S. law, all people are created equal...it does not say the same for all desires or behaviors.

As for flat out conservatives on the major news networks? People seem to love John McCain. Hell, I'm about as liberal as you can get without being an anarcho-marxist, and I love John McCain. That guy's great. He's a total class act. I didn't vote for McCain in '08, but if he'd one I would have been 98% okay with that.

I voted for McCain in 2008, but mostly because I didn't trust Barack Obama. I look at the issues during elections, not just the speeches.

And as for Origin of the Species: Macro-Evolution is real. It has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Give me one example of genetic mutation adding new information, enabling one distinct creature's transformation into a separately distinct creature.

 

[Feenix]

Give me one example of genetic mutation adding new information, enabling one distinct creature's transformation into a separately distinct creature.

Now I know you're a troll. Evolution deniers are the stupidest people on the planet. Your obvious lack of basic common sense about science screams troll to me.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

I have a question for Joshua. Ben Shapiro is Jewish. Because he doesn't believe in your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, do you think he's going to the fiery pits of Hell when he dies? No evasive non-answers please." Yes" or "no" is fine.