In this episode of The Ben Shapiro Show, Shapiro delves into the Western response to the death of Ebrahim Raisi, the former president of Iran. He critiques the secular belief that institutions alone shape human behavior, contrasting it with the Judeo-Christian view of an innate human struggle between good and evil. Shapiro argues this perspective explains why individuals can corrupt institutions, as exemplified by Western dealings with groups like Hamas and the failures of bodies like the UN and ICC.
The episode also examines the underlying philosophical divide between secular and religious worldviews on human nature. Shapiro posits that the West's approach to malign actors stems from a naive assumption that providing aid or adhering to international institutions can transform destructive ideologies, ultimately undermining Western values.
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Western leaders and institutions offered rare expressions of condolence following the death of Ebrahim Raisi, the former president of Iran. The UN Security Council held a moment of silence for Raisi, while the US Senate chaplain offered a prayer - a stark contrast to how the West responded to the deaths of other dictators like Pol Pot.
Ben Shapiro critiques the secular belief that all humans are inherently good, with evil arising solely from systems. He advocates for the Judeo-Christian view of an innate human struggle between good and evil, as articulated by Thomas Aquinas. According to Shapiro, this religious perspective explains why bad actors often corrupt institutions.
Shapiro argues the West naively assumes the UN and ICC can effectively address human rights violations, while these bodies can be manipulated by malevolent actors. He criticizes the secular philosophy for disregarding individual contributions to sin.
Shapiro points out Western efforts, like aid sent to Hamas-controlled Gaza, being exploited - countering beliefs that providing resources can transform such groups despite their destructive ideologies.
He also notes the ICC attempting to equate Israel's defensive actions against Hamas with Hamas' terrorist attacks - falsely implying moral equivalence between a democracy and terrorist organization.
According to Shapiro, such actions exemplify a willingness to appease or align with dangerous actors, corroding Western values and positions.
1-Page Summary
In an unprecedented set of events, Western leaders and institutions have offered expressions of condolence and sympathy following the death of Ebrahim Raisi, the former president of Iran.
Shapiro notes the peculiarity of Western responses to the death of Ebrahim al-Risi, illustrating that expressions of lament are uncommon for such figures. The UN Security Council held a moment of silence for Ibrahim Raisi, and the Senate chaplain in the United States also held a moment of prayer, signaling a remarkable departure from usual diplomatic practices.
The State Department of the United States, the EU, and NATO each issued statements of condolence. NATO’s press secretary, Farah Dakhlala, issued a heartfelt statement of condolence for the death of President Raisi who perished in a helicopter crash. Charles Michel, President of the European Council, offered sincere condolences for the death of President Taherisi and the Iranian foreign minister Abdoulayehan, as well as other members of their delegation.
Reactions and responses from Western leaders and institutions to the death of Ebrahim Raisi, the former president of Iran
Shapiro critiques the secular and Judeo-Christian views of human nature and addresses how these perceptions shape the expected role and function of international institutions like the UN and ICC.
Shapiro argues against the secularist view that posits humans as inherently good beings and suggests that evil is purely a systemic issue. He believes that this belief is flawed and leads to the misconception that by simply reorganizing international structures, it is possible to convert bad actors into benevolent ones. This secular perspective often downplays the role of individual actions in favor of systemic explanations for sin.
In line with his critique of the secular standpoint, Shapiro points out that this view naively presumes that institutions like the UN can be reformed to foster global goodwill. However, he notes the hypocrisy of such institutions, highlighting that in 2023 the UN General Assembly passed more resolutions against Israel than any other country, suggesting that these bodies become platforms for specific agendas.
Shapiro delves into the traditional Judeo-Christian doctrine, which articulates that everyone harbors an innate battle between the urge to do good (Yeitzer Hatov) and the impulse towards evil (Yeitzer Hara). He extends this notion to Christian theology, following Thomas Aquinas’s teachings, which state that while humans were created good, they became inclined towards sin after the original sin, a condition believed to be rectified by Jesus' death.
Shapiro advocates for this religious perspective, as he believes it presents a more accurate understanding of human nature that ...
Underlying beliefs and assumptions about human nature and the role of international institutions that lead to these responses
Shapiro discusses recent events that suggest a troubling tendency within Western institutions to engage in moral equivalency or to appease groups with dangerous ideologies and practices, particularly in the context of relations with Raisi-led Iran and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
Shapiro points out a notable instance of Western efforts going awry with Israel's shipment of thousands of tons of aid into Gaza, a war area controlled by an enemy, which is unprecedented in the history of warfare. Moreover, he highlights the inefficiency and counterproductiveness of such aid, as he mentions the American initiative to build a pier off the coast of Gaza, intending to facilitate the shipment of aid directly into Gaza. However, these efforts were undermined by Hamas, as indicated by a startling statistic—eleven out of sixteen trucks meant to deliver supplies were cleaned out, halting aid deliveries. This example embodies the West's naivete in believing that providing resources to Hamas can somehow transform their stance, despite their explicit goal of Israel's destruction.
Shapiro turns to the actions of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has attempted to issue arrest warrants for Israeli political and military leaders on the same bill as leaders of Hamas. In doing so, the ICC implies a false equivalence between the actions of a democracy that is defending itself and those of a terrorist organization.
Moreover, the ICC has indicted Isr ...
Examples of the West's naivete and willingness to appease dangerous actors like Raisi and Hamas
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