[Al Simmons]

Wow. In just over a paragraph, Ben's NAILED it. 'Nuff said.

[NEBUCHADNEZZAR1961]

Pi$$ on anyone who defends Stalin and his friends. Hope you and Stalin are having a nice discussion where you are Miller.

[spinestein]

OUCH!!!

[GeronL]

he had a child with Down syndrome whom he consigned to an institution and never once visited.

That about tells you what sort of non-person Arthur Miller was

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

He berated capitalism for its hard-heartedness yet he had a child with Down syndrome whom he consigned to an institution and never once visited.

How very sad. :(

[Jeff Chandler]

he had a child with Down syndrome whom he consigned to an institution and never once visited

Compassionate Liberalism.

[silent_jonny]

Damn!

[Goodgirlinred]

Great article. I find it sad that Miller put his child in an institution and never visited. Wonder about the mother?

[southernnorthcarolina]

An honest obit: almost a lost art.

Political correctness and social grace means that one mustn't speak ill of the recently departed, and certainly mustn't publish anything negative, especially, of course, when the deceased is a liberal.

Stein is dead on the money here. It may be crass to say this of an obituary, but this one was a breath of fresh air.

[conservative cat]

He berated capitalism for its hard-heartedness yet he had a child with Down syndrome whom he consigned to an institution and never once visited.

I had never heard that. How incredibly sad and hypocritical.

[King Prout]

you keep a "nailed it" pinglist, do you not?

I think this qualifies for a moral clarity ping.

[Poser]

Well put Ben!

[Tolik]

....But Arthur Miller, the demigod of artistic integrity, prided himself on defending the system of Stalin and the Gulags and the worst mass murders of all time against the system of Jefferson and Washington and Eisenhower. He considered himself above mass culture and celebrity and yet married Marilyn Monroe. He berated capitalism for its hard-heartedness yet he had a child with Down syndrome whom he consigned to an institution and never once visited.

Ben Stein Nails Arthur Miller !

This ping list is not author-specific for articles I'd like to share. Some for perfect moral clarity, some for provocative thoughts; or simply interesting articles I'd hate to miss myself. (I don't have to agree with the author 100% to feel the need to share an article.) I will try not to abuse the ping list and not to annoy you too much, but on some days there is more of good stuff that is worthy attention. I keep separate PING lists for my favorite authors Victor Davis Hanson, Lee Harris, David Warren, Orson Scott Card. You are welcome in or out, just freepmail me (and note which PING list you are talking about).

[BJClinton]

That'll leave a mark.

[hopespringseternal]

He berated capitalism for its hard-heartedness yet he had a child with Down syndrome whom he consigned to an institution and never once visited.

We go to church with a down syndrome man, and he is a riot. I will say this: He is the only guy who can get away with running up to anyone and giving them a kiss.

We can't sit too close to him because my daughters and he start trying to entertain each other.

Yeah, he is a handful for his parents, but they love him and he does bring them a lot of joy along with the hardship.

[cynicom]

Brilliant, masterpiece and Miller do not go well in any story.

As for Monroe, he bought something that was umpteenth handed used goods. An indication of his true character. May he and Stalin spend their days holding hands as the fire burns.

[Mr. Silverback]

Ben stein really is one of the smartest human beings around, and I never, ever could have written this as well, or as suscinctly.

[Old Professer]

Oh Ben, I wish you were here to read what I must say, I studied the craft which you so facilely flick off like careless ashes on a long-forgotten cigar, hoping to drop that one silent brand that smolders up like passion in the steamy back pews of a stodgy protestant drip-dry baptismal edifice on the edge of sanity; then somewhere you changed course and the glare of incandescent lime and the chorus of thrill-trilling sycophants soared upward through your very core until it overpoured your tired old brain and made you ecstatic and wizen all at the same, wrong time.

It has nothing to do with celebrity; it is all about endurance. You will not be forgotten, you may not be so lucky.