Ben Stein's The Real Stars on SpouseBuzz Talk Radio Thursday, November 15 @2:30 EST

Please join us Thursday, November 15th, at 2:30pm EST as SpouseBuzz authors discuss the book of the month Ben Stein's The Real Stars with featured guest Ben Stein, live on SpouseBuzz Radio.

Mr. Stein, wrote a popular column  called Monday Night at Morton's which featured the piece called The Real Stars.  A piece that went viral on the Internet in 2003.  I recall getting the column sent to me in at least 15 emails, while my DH was serving in Iraq.  I, for one was not surprised at the content of the message, but the messenger.  Such support is typically not garnered from the mainstream media, or Hollywood. 

Mr. Stein's biography is one of the most impressive to date.  He is an economist, and an attorney.  He was also a speech writer for  Gerald Ford and President Nixon (although, is quick to point out the "I am not a crook" line was not his).  He continues to be a syndicated writer for the Wall Street Journal, Barron's, The Washington Post and several other publications. 

So what struck a chord with the military audience?

I no longer think Hollywood stars are terribly important. They are uniformly pleasant, friendly people, and they treat me better than I deserve to be treated. But a man or woman who makes a huge wage for memorizing lines and reciting them in front of a camera is no longer my idea of a shining star we should all look up to.

How can a man or woman who makes an eight-figure wage and lives in insane luxury really be a star in today's world, if by a "star" we mean someone bright and powerful and attractive as a role model?

Real stars are not riding around in the backs of limousines or in Porsches or getting trained in yoga or Pilates and eating only raw fruit while they have Vietnamese girls do their nails. They can be interesting, nice people, but they are not heroes to me any longer.

A real star is the soldier of the 4th Infantry Division who poked his head into a hole on a farm near Tikrit, Iraq. He could have been met by a bomb or a hail of AK-47 bullets. Instead, he faced an abject Saddam Hussein and the gratitude of all of the decent people of the world. . . .

We put couples with incomes of $100 million a year on the covers of our magazines. The noncoms and officers who barely scrape by on military pay but stand on guard in Afghanistan and Iraq and on ships and in submarines and near the Arctic Circle are anonymous as they live and die.

I am no longer comfortable being a part of the system that has such poor values, and I do not want to perpetuate those values by pretending that who is eating at Morton's is a big subject.

The Real Stars is a compilation of Ben Stein's essays.  Not only highlighting those in military service, but he speaks candidly about philanthropy work with T.A.P.S., the death of his Father, the American dream, and his obvious love of his family.  He writes about how people can get lost trying to translate what is important to them while working for a goal, and how others manage to stay focused on what is really important. 

I think the contributors at SpouseBuzz will agree, that when we chose The Real Stars as the book of the month we did it for several reasons, but most importantly the book is inspiring.

Please join us Thursday November 15, at 2:30pm EST as SpouseBuzz contributors Andi, Sarah, and I discuss the book, and will be joined by Mr. Stein on SpouseBuzz Radio.  We will be unable to take calls for this show, because of the limited time we have with Mr. Stein, but feel free to submit any questions you would like answered, in the comment section.  We will try and address them as time permits. 

Also feel free to  join us in the chat during the radio program. 

*Due to our featured interview and change in time, there will be no Thursday night program at our regular 9pm EST. 

Comments

[Penny]

*Will he be doing autograph sessions at military bases? (hint hint Ft. Hood!) :D
* What inspired him put the essays together into a book?

~Awesome guest, can hardly wait until tomorrow!

[Maint Toad1]

Awwwk! At 1430 EST?? Glad I saw the post!

Rearranging the calendar now -- I just gotta hear Mr Stein talking to ... US!

Thanks!
Toad

[Erin]

I'm actually not sure how to listen in to the radio show. I've tried before and for some reason I can never get it to work. I would love to listen in though! I was just thinking today about that book ( I haven't read it yet, I'm hoping I get it for my birthday next week..I have the sneaking suspicion that I might have since I dropped hints to EVERYONE so I'm looking forward to reading it!)and how I wish that I could talk to Ben Stein and tell him how much I appreciate what he said in that essay he wrote about who the real heroes are. It's so rare to get that kind of support from Hollywood. I actually got teary eyed just reading over the excerpt that was put on this site. So in case I can't tune in tomorrow, I hope that he knows how much I, and the other wives I know who know about his book, really appreciate him and his kind words. I have one question that you could ask him if you get time...What made him write the essay that he did about the real stars? Was there a specific event on a certain day that inspired him or was it just a general build up of events that led him to write the essay? This question might be answered in the book and I might get my answer next week when I (hopefully!) get it as a b-day present. But I was just curious. I'm really looking forward to hearing what he has to say! And I agree with Penny...an autograph session would be great!

[dizzylizzie]

BRAVO!!!!! finally, someone who gets it. good on you mr. stein. good. on. you!

[Love My Tanker]

I have to miss the live version of the show today, but will listen to the archive. I am very exicted about this show, the book was super.

Please tell Mr. Stein that our military family is grateful for his words and his actions. I have even purchased several of his books to give as Christmas gifts this year. Everyone needs to read this book.

As dizzy said, he gets it and people that get it seem hard to come by in this day and age!

[Semper Fi Wife]

Although the book is small, I could only read one column at a sitting...very often, I was just too teary eyed to continue.
It's a great read!! Thanks to Mr. Stein for writing this book.

[Sarah]

He had a new column up yesterday that begins with "Now for some decidedly non-PC thoughts." And he brags on us again. The man is too wonderful.

Yesterday's article: http://finance.yahoo.com/expert/article/yourlife/53101;_ylt=AgvtY6iJ6DcetmO5QtuoZzy7YWsA

[Some Soldier's Mom]

I love Ben Stein's sentiments for our military!! Finished his "Real Stars" book the week it came out! And in response to his recent column about parents bragging -- WE DO!! WE DO!! There are millions of us who are proud of our children beyond words!

PS Can I get an email invite to the chat room??

[Penny]

2 hrs more! 2 hrs more! (Well.. just about!) Thanks for posting the article Sarah, I loved reading it and sent out the link to many folks to read about :)

[Semper Fi Wife]

What an interview!!!!
If you couldn't listen to it live....make sure you listen to in the archives.
It was so good!!!
Thank you Sarah, AWTM and Andi...

[Butterfly Wife]

I am going to second Semper Fi Wife's comments. A must listen to show. Just excellent, heart-warming, refreshing to hear. I love this man! (Shhh. Don't tell Jack Bauer.)