Pantheon

Who:

Talk radio host, passionate moderate, Koran-swearing-in provocateur.

Why:
Many people see being asked about their preferences as an opportunity to impress. Thus, when one is asked about their favorite movie, most people would rather answer with an Amarcord or Seven Samurai than with Bill and Ted's Great Adventure, even though their platinum edition of B and T is never farther than a meter from their DVD player.

Likewise, some people would be slightly embarrassed to name a talk radio host as their favorite "thinker." It would be much better to drop the names of Heidegger or Wittgenstein, no?

Yet, it was talk radio host Dennis Prager who almost single-handedly lifted my political conscience from the deep pit of errors in which it wallowed throughout college (I voted for Dukakis) and a short time afterwards (Perot). I had listened to talk radio a little during that time, but none of them made an impression upon me. Prager, however, was different. He seemed to be at least three layers deeper than droning conventional conservative (concon) mouthpieces like Rush Limbaugh and other con surface dwellers.

I'll expand on this in a future post, but basically, instead of political strategy, scandal, spin, or cheap attention getters (Dubai ports); Prager focuses on the "big picture." Prager is also one of a handful of radio hosts who can discuss practical philosophical issues like happiness and religion.

On lighter matters, Prager introduced me to classical music which I've enjoyed greatly.

Personally, I've met him twice during book signings, and both times he was very gracious. During my deployment to Iraq, the MWR (morale welfare and recreation centers on post where we play ping pong and stuff) posted one of his essays on the bulletin board and, when I encountered it, I felt as though I had bumped into an old friend. During that same time, I would download his shows and listen to them in my little CHU.

Prager ideas that have been incorporated into my world view:

1. People aren't basically good (I listened to Prager before converting to Catholicism).

2. Standards versus Compassion (see here)

3. The nonphysical differences between men and women.

4. The rational case for God (see here).

5. Motivations are less important than deeds.

6. The left’s goal is equality, (which explains a lot, doesn’t it?).

But:

Didn’t Prager insult Islam?

No, it was a smear (here).

Listen to Prager here.

Bill & Ted's Most Excellent Collection