Dennis Prager Divorcing

Dennis Prager.com ^ | December 30, 2005

[onedoug]

Deenis Prager on now discussing his own impending divorce....

[mcg1969]

He has always been a little focused on the male sex drive, porn, etc.

I suppose you think that people who say they're against homosexuality are repressed gays, too?

[Misterioso]

Here, here...

There, there. Typical.

[Jeff Chandler]

All the pious phonies I've ever run across think of themselves as "basically good".

Perhaps. I never thought of Dennis Prager as a phony. He is genuine, if somewhat pompous. But then so is Rush, and he's the best. It takes an enormous ego to be successful in broadcasting. A shrinking violet would never make it. I can't help but think that such an ego would be incompatible with a successful marriage, unless the partner was a total wimp.

I like Prager. He is always very thoughtful about the issues. I don't agree with all his views, the permanence of marriage being one of them, which make the pious phony comment not only mean, but wrong. Dennis was never a "marriage is forever" believer-same with Rush.

I have found that the folks who would take glee at the personal stumbling of conservative such as Dennis and Rush and Bennett do not like the conservative messages they broadcast, so try to use their humanity as proof of some sort of hypocrisy.

[mcg1969]

Yaelle---I'm just now tying your two threads of conversation together. I know I'm presuming much when I say this, but do make sure you're not projecting your horrible ex-husband's traits onto Dennis Prager. You may not be, but just in case... Not all men are like your ex. Don't be so quick to assume the worst.

[Yaelle]

You are right. I have nothing against attractive women, wink. But I guess what I am miffed about is the way he has always preached against putting children first, and now here he is, taking all these calls, blessing the people who think divorce is good for kids. It isn't. If he didn't have kids, he could divorce and remarry all day.

Living by your values doesn't mean living by your lust. I just hope they tried everything to save the marriage first, and it wasn't HIM CHEATING that broke them up. I'm sorry, but he is known around here as a moral example, and I would be disappointed if he didn't at least behave like a mensch. But I do not know the story. I could be way off base.

[taxesareforever]

From one of his articles in 2002:

Divorce is a good example of where conservatives can show their compassion. Let's vigorously promote marriage but have no more knee-jerk condemnations of divorce. It is these condemnations, more than divorces, that are made too easily.

My take on this is that divorce is not a BIG issue for Dennis. Sounds like condemnations of divorce are a BIGGER issue to Dennis. I do believe he has this backwards.

[mcg1969]

There, there. Typical.

How surprisingly self-aware of you.

[Nonstatist]

Two divorces, though.. Wow! And I know his first wife is still very involved in religious organizations, etc., so it's probably "difference of opinion" stuff..

I must say, however, that thats a tough resume for a "professional moralizer" to have.

[mcg1969]

Well, perhaps we should consider taking Jesus' approach to divorce. He affirmed the sanctity of marriage, and the sinfulness of divorce, in no uncertain terms. And then he proceeded to reveal his deity to the Samaritans through a multiply divorced woman who was living "in sin" with her fifth relationship.

[mcg1969]

I must say, however, that thats a tough resume for a "professional moralizer" to have.

Nonsense. If only perfect people could moralize then we'd have lost our last moralizer 2000 yeras ago.

[Yaelle]

I don't think I am projecting. I know divorce has to happen sometimes. But I believe he is rationalizing when it comes to the harm of divorce on kids. I love men and am married to a great FReeper of a guy.

[mcg1969]

I must say, however, that thats a tough resume for a "professional moralizer" to have.

Moses was a murderer; and the Apostle Paul was complicit in murder. So I guess we should ignore them too.

[Yaelle]

Exactly. That is why he is taking all these "puff-me-up" calls. He wants to be Mr. Morality L.A. but he will not accept condemnation for not staying with his wife until the kids are up and out.

[mcg1969]

I am glad to hear that! I was responding in particular about your quickness to suggest that he might be leaving his wife for another.

I respect your disagreement with Dennis on the effect of divorce on children.

[HitmanLV]

Again, things are seldom as simple and straightforward as one spouse cheating and the other spouse being a shocked, innocent victim cold-cocked by reality.

A cheater is easy to deride - they break one of the big promises they made in their lives. That being said, the simple fact that someone was alienated by their spouse and took up with someone else doesn't necessarily mean that the cheated-upon spouse is entirely innocent, or even deserving of undue sympathy.

Very few people set out to cheat on their spouses. Almost every person who tells a jealous spouse to 'trust me,' is more likely than not sincere - when they say those words. The decision is seldom to cheat on their spouse, but much more often to indulge in their lust for someone else. It's a bad thing, I agree. It's not a 'good guy-bad guy' thing where the cheater is automatically the bad guy, I am afraid.

This is a minefield because a lot of people can't cope with the fact that someone can rightfully reject their current spouse because of deficiencies in their character, and yet execute that rejection in a very bad way by indulging in extramartial relationship with someone else.

I have always suspected that there is almost no clarity on this issue because people can't cope with the fact that they aren't being a good spouse themselves, and can't cope with the idea of being (rightfully) rejected themselves. Just my gut feeling on the matter.

I think divorce is bad for kids, but I never thought it was bad for marriage. I think Dennis has taken a similar posture over the years.

I admit, I am in nyc and not listening to his show today. I'll be sure to catch it next week, though.

[Misterioso]

How unsurprisingly ignorant you are>

[mcg1969]

Well by all means, Misterioso, you are welcome to actually join the discussion instead of just launching attacks on Dennis and myself.

[HitmanLV]

Not at all. The fact that a person is in a bad marriage that is worth getting out of doesn't necessarily compromise their ability to see moral issues clearly.

I think the main problem is that a lot of folks look at divorce as immoral. That clearly isn't necessarily so. There's the disconnect.

[Yaelle]

I suppose you think that people who say they're against homosexuality are repressed gays, too?

Nope! LOL.

Dennis has devoted many shows to the science that a man's sex drive is all but uncontrollable. He is fascinated by it. I always figured that his first marriage broke up by his cheating. He on the one hand loves Judaism and moral values, and on the other, seems to want external proof that when he goes wrong, it's still OK.

[HitmanLV]

Actually, Dennis has made it very clear many times that he thinks a good woman's consistent presence in their life has a civilizing and domesticating effect on men.

I think he is right.

I never got the sense his first marriage broke up because he cheated. Where did that come from?