Did anyone see Ben Stein on campus yesterday?
Anyone?
Anyone?
Well-known by college students as Ferris Bueller's wackyteacher, Stein gave his opinion on current issues and advice aboutlife to a packed auditorium in the Michael D. Rose Theatre lastnight.
The University of Memphis Honors Program, the Memphis EconomicsClub and the Student Activities Council sponsored the talk.
Stein became an instant celebrity in the popular '80s movieFerris Bueller's Day Off.
But, he is equally famous for other things on his resume, whichinclude economist, author, speechwriter for Presidents RichardNixon and Gerald Ford, and host of Win Ben Stein's Money.
"Don't learn any useful skills. Just spend all your timewatching re-runs of the Simpsons," Stein said jokingly.
Laughter filled the house as Stein gave pointers from hishumorous book, "How to Ruin Your Life."
"Don't work at all if you don't feel like it," he said. "Andassume that you are the center of the universe."
Stein said sarcastically to always remember that the world needsyour opinion to run properly.
"And don't save any money," he said. "That's for nerds andlosers. You'll always have friends you can borrow money from. Ifyou do borrow money, don't pay it back."
The night was packed with jokes and some economic advice butmostly Stein encouraged people to enjoy life.
"Stop and smell the roses," he advised. "You're going to beyoung a very short time and old a very long time."
Stein used his son, Tommy, as an example of how a lazy personcan become a success by changing his or her mindset.
"He was the world's laziest human being that still had a pulse,"he said.
Stein and his wife, sent their son to boarding school and afterovercoming some initial difficulty, he flourished.
"Very little happens in life that I can't profit from or learnfrom," Stein said.
Stein has compiled a list of things that he said will lead to asuccessful life.
He advised people to save money, fall in love for life, neversteal, work hard in school and tell their parents they lovethem.
"We all want God to do good things for people we love," hesaid.
He said he learned that lesson from President John F.Kennedy.
"I learned that here on Earth, God's work is our work," hesaid.
"And be grateful for everything that happens to you day by day,"he said. "Because you live in the most perfect country in theworld."
He asked for a moment of silence for American and British troopsfighting in the war against Iraq.
Stein urged people to be thankful for freedom and to rememberthose "who are offering themselves up on the alter of liberty."
Audience members asked Stein his opinion of the war and theeconomy.
The economy is not as weak as many think, Stein said. But, thereare areas suffering.
"Politics are being played," he said. "It will take longer torecover without a tax cut. But (the economy) always doesrecover."
Stein said he supports President Bush and the effort of the U.S.in Iraq.
"But the behavior of the French and Germans has been sooutrageous that it's hard to assign words to it," he said.
Many respect Steins opinions, even if they don't agree withhim.
"Ben Stein has to be one of the best political minds in theworld," said senior political science major Will Radford after thetalk last night.
Radford said he disagrees with Stein on most of his politicalviews.
"But I very much respect him," he said. "I've been a huge fanfor a long time."
