Ben Stein

I'm writing about Ben Stein because I like him and for those that have not been introduced to him perhaps this can be used as a primer.

I thinks he's a great American in a country where that label might be overused. He's kinda famous, but not in a Jessica Simpson way or even in a John Edwards way although he does have some attributes in common with both of them. He is a movie star of sorts - not as pretty as Jessica, but he understands what "chicken of the sea" is and while Edwards thinks corporations are evil - Ben Stein takes a more conservative view, but believes corporations have a moral as well as ethical obligation to do what's right for America.

So who is Ben Stein and what does he say that makes him likable? He's well educated, articulate and spouts common sense of the sort that would make Will Rogers proud. He's an Ivy League school graduate and a lawyer which means that he had two strikes against him when I first read some of his writings. But even bearing those millstones he makes sense. He is a movie star, writer, college professor, financial wizard, but most of all he is grateful for the opportunities that are afforded to all in America. Perhaps his strongest point is that he possesses the knack of assessing situations with a perspective that a lot of Americans possess, but don't necessarily articulate.

This quote from one of Ben Stein's writings is what I'm talking about.

"Why do we spend so much of our day agonizing about movie stars, and big busted blondes, alive and dead? Is it to escape thinking about the real problems we have? If so, it's a mistake. Not too many real problems go away by being ignored.

Is it because we're too stupid to know what's important? When the barbarians were at the gates of Rome, did the Romans gossip about Roman actresses?

Our enemies are serious about beating us. Except for the men and women in uniform, not too many of us seem serious about beating them.

Time to pay a lot more attention to the real stars ... the ones in our military wearing battle dress uniforms over body armor in Iraq and Afghanistan ... and a lot less about how much time Paris Hilton spends in jail."

Ben Stein is rich and has a beach house in Malibu. Perhaps the geeky equivalent to Charlie Sheen of "Two and a Half Men" fame. Except he is moral, is concerned about important issues in America and and uses his brain to think instead of his reproductive parts. Actually Ben Stein is nothing like Sheen at all and other than the fact that they apparently live in the same community they are polar opposites. Sheen uses his wealth and power to condemn America and Ben Stein uses his monetary largess and informed insights to build a stronger and more caring nation.

I don't know if many people would consider Ben Stein a role model, but I would. He has successfully used his talents to benefit others as well as himself. As a frequent television commentator on financial matters and as a college professor he has demonstrated a willingness to share his knowledge and ideas with others in a way that provides positive direction. Is he right all the time? Absolutely not and in some cases I completely disagree with his position. Nevertheless, his ideas are based on an interpretation of facts that can be generally accepted by all.

Obviously this is not an depth biography about Ben Stein. Really, it's just a little commentary about a fellow that frequently appears on television and no doubt is listened to by many and influences many others. I wish America had many more personalities in the style of Ben Stein.