Here's a Little Perspective on Jim Carrey's 'Bizarre' Interview

September 14, 2017

The Glenn Beck Program

Yesterday, I started to talk about Jim Carrey and I want you to know, there are two things that I want to try to bring to you every day. One is the facts. What are the facts?

Two, perspective. If you know what the story is, is there a different way to look at it? Everybody has an opinion.

I could tell you my opinion, which generally ends up with something that sounds a lot like, "And that's why I know I'm right." I'm more interested in perspective. Because the groups are all just changing words and trying to reword the same opinion. And it's not getting us anywhere.

I would like to start with --- wait a minute --- have you tried looking at it this way? That's perspective.

So this perspective on Jim Carrey, I think, is really important. Because I think what Jim Carrey is going through and what we have just witnessed, that the press spent a day, last week, celebrating on the right, "He's a Jesus guy! He's our Jesus guy! Look, he's found Jesus! How great is this!"

Okay. That's good. That's a good opinion on what happened.

Then two days ago, the left was very angry. And the right was celebrating, "Look, he's just punched the left. The phony phone phony phone phones. He's busted them in the face. Look at this. He went to Fashion Week, and he's telling all those phonies -- he's telling them off!"

Okay. Again, a valid opinion.

But I don't think that's what this means at all. And I think what we can learn from these two pieces of audio are life-changing.

So first, let me give you the facts. Here's the first cut. This is what he said this weekend, edited, or just a couple of days ago, edited at a Fashion Week.

REPORTER: I ran into Jim Carrey. Wait. Tell me, is it true you're wandering the streets, you need a date in the party? What's up?
JIM: No, no, I'm doing just fine. I just -- you know, there's no meaning to any of this. So I wanted to find the most meaningful thing that I could come to and join. And -- and here I am.
VOICE: They're celebrating --
JIM: I mean, you got to admit, it's completely meaningless.
VOICE: Well, they say they're celebrating icons. Do you believe in icons?
JIM: Celebrating icons. Boy, that is just the absolute lowest-aiming possibility that we could come up with. It's like icons. Do you believe in icons? I don't believe in personalities. I don't believe that you exist. But there is a wonderful fragrance in the air.
VOICE: You don't believe certain icons have the power to make change, to think differently, to be bold, to inspire others? Artistry? You're one of them.
JIM: Yeah. No, I don't believe in icons. I don't believe in personalities. I believe that peace lies beyond personality.

Okay. That's an edited version. And it got weird. Really weird beyond that. In fact, the headline was, 'Jim Carrey gets really bizarre at New York Fashion Week.' So before we get to perspective: One more fact. Here's what the right was celebrating last week. Here is an edited version of what came out last week as he was speaking to Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles.

JIM: I really want to speak the fact that I've had some challenges in the last couple of years myself.
And, ultimately, I believe that suffering leads to salvation. And, in fact, it's the only way. That we have to somehow accept, not deny, but feel our suffering and feel our losses. And then we make one of two decisions: We either decide to go through the gate of resentment, which leads to vengeance, which leads to self-harm, which leads to harm to others, or we go through the gate of forgiveness, which leads to grace. And your being here is an indication that you've made that decision already. You've made the decision to walk through the gate of forgiveness, to grace, just as Christ did on the cross.

So now perspective. What the hell just happened to Jim Carrey? I thought he was the Pet Detective guy. Who is this guy? Is he crazy at Fashion Week? Or has something happened to him?

If you look at both of these side by side, you will see all of our futures, and he said there, "You have a choice." Just like Berkeley has a choice today when Ben Shapiro gives his speech. Let him speak. Let him speak, and move on. Or let yourself give in to anger and violence and hatred, and it will be destruction.

Jim Carrey has been going through multiple massive struggles in his life, which I believe is healthy. I've never learned anything when I was happy.

So when you're content, you generally don't learn a lot. It's when you have real struggle in your life that you learn.

What the media is missing is, in this audio clip, from Homeboy Industries, he called the audience heroes. You're a hero to me.

Who is he talking to? He was talking to a group of people who had formerly been in jail or in prison. They were incarcerated, and they were involved in gangs.

This is a rough crowd that he's talking to. And he calls them his heroes. Why?

Because what he said was, we have two choices: Something happens, and we have two choices. And we can fall in with anger and vengeance and hatred which leads to self-harm, or we can surrender, which leads to forgiveness and grace.

He said to the guys at Homeboy Industries, of former gang members in jail, "You guys are heroes because you've chosen grace, and you are here with the odds stacked against you, and you are determined to go a different way."

So he's just a met hero. Several heroes, just the week before, who were actually doing something and have nothing. And have nobody heralding them. Nobody helping them. The world looking down on them.

They have everything stacked against them. And they're determined to stand. And then he gets on a plane and he goes to New York. He goes to Fashion Week. And what does he walk into? A Fashion Week tent that is celebrating, quote, "icons." Celebrity fashion icons.

And I have to believe that he had exactly the same experience that I had on this radio program just a couple of weeks ago. A couple of weeks ago, it was right after I had to lay off a lot of people and make really, really tough decisions. And I have not been that torn apart in I don't know how long. And I made those decisions. And then I got on to a plane, and I went to Mexico to work with O.U.R., Operation Underground Railroad. And I sat down with people who were actual former slaves, actual chain-around-the-neck, chain-around-the-hands or, the wrists, chained to a wall, a floor, or a bed, for up to two years. One of them beaten every day with a broom handle. Beaten so badly, every time the broom handle would break.

And this person wasn't talking at all about being oppressed. Wasn't even asking for help.

None of them were crying anything. They weren't even crying for help. They were telling me, my life is a blank piece of paper. And I am its only author.

No, wait a minute. Hang on just a second. What about the guy who beat you with a broom handle, and that was actually a woman. What about that person? Does that person not have any authorship in your life? No. Because if I choose to give that person authorship, my life story changes. That is something that they chose to do. And it has only made me stronger. And I come back, after two days in Mexico, I haven't paid attention to the news over the weekend. And I sit in this chair, and I hear the complaints and the audio and the news of how these statues have to be pulled down because, my gosh, what oppressors. These guys who have no effect on your life. None. It's a stupid freaking statue. It has no effect on your life, unless you choose. And I did a monologue on the air. And I've done several of them since. And I don't know if you've heard them. But I have said, "All of this is meaningless. All of it is meaningless."

What are we doing? What am I doing?

You know what got me there? Pain. Struggle. Everything the world wants to take away from you. We are either popping a Xanax, an opioid, Prozac. We're escaping through hatred. We're escaping through Facebook.

I'll be real honest with you: Every weekend, I have people say to me, how do you go to so many movies? Why do you go to so many -- I have to admit, to escape. I want three hours a week where I escape. That is my vice. I escape once a week at a movie theater.

We all have a choice. And I think Jim Carrey has made his choice. And everyone in the media has missed it. And that is, I choose a different kind of hero. I choose a hero who has actually seen suffering and has seen the worst of the worst. And now is not asking for a handout or anything else who is choosing to stand. And they're going to author their own story. That is a life worth living. That is an icon.

This article is based on Glenn's radio monologue delivered on September 14, 2017.

What our response to Israel reveals about us

JOSEPH PREZIOSO / Contributor | Getty Images

I have been honored to receive the Defender of Israel Award from Prime Minister Netanyahu.

The Jerusalem Post recently named me one of the strongest Christian voices in support of Israel.

And yet, my support is not blind loyalty. It’s not a rubber stamp for any government or policy. I support Israel because I believe it is my duty — first as a Christian, but even if I weren’t a believer, I would still support her as a man of reason, morality, and common sense.

Because faith isn’t required to understand this: Israel’s existence is not just about one nation’s survival — it is about the survival of Western civilization itself.

It is a lone beacon of shared values in the Middle East. It is a bulwark standing against radical Islam — the same evil that seeks to dismantle our own nation from within.

And my support is not rooted in politics. It is rooted in something simpler and older than politics: a people’s moral and historical right to their homeland, and their right to live in peace.

Israel has that right — and the right to defend herself against those who openly, repeatedly vow her destruction.

Let’s make it personal: if someone told me again and again that they wanted to kill me and my entire family — and then acted on that threat — would I not defend myself? Wouldn’t you? If Hamas were Canada, and we were Israel, and they did to us what Hamas has done to them, there wouldn’t be a single building left standing north of our border. That’s not a question of morality.

That’s just the truth. All people — every people — have a God-given right to protect themselves. And Israel is doing exactly that.

My support for Israel’s right to finish the fight against Hamas comes after eighty years of rejected peace offers and failed two-state solutions. Hamas has never hidden its mission — the eradication of Israel. That’s not a political disagreement.

That’s not a land dispute. That is an annihilationist ideology. And while I do not believe this is America’s war to fight, I do believe — with every fiber of my being — that it is Israel’s right, and moral duty, to defend her people.

Criticism of military tactics is fair. That’s not antisemitism. But denying Israel’s right to exist, or excusing — even celebrating — the barbarity of Hamas? That’s something far darker.

We saw it on October 7th — the face of evil itself. Women and children slaughtered. Babies burned alive. Innocent people raped and dragged through the streets. And now, to see our own fellow citizens march in defense of that evil… that is nothing short of a moral collapse.

If the chants in our streets were, “Hamas, return the hostages — Israel, stop the bombing,” we could have a conversation.

But that’s not what we hear.

What we hear is open sympathy for genocidal hatred. And that is a chasm — not just from decency, but from humanity itself. And here lies the danger: that same hatred is taking root here — in Dearborn, in London, in Paris — not as horror, but as heroism. If we are not vigilant, the enemy Israel faces today will be the enemy the free world faces tomorrow.

This isn’t about politics. It’s about truth. It’s about the courage to call evil by its name and to say “Never again” — and mean it.

And you don’t have to open a Bible to understand this. But if you do — if you are a believer — then this issue cuts even deeper. Because the question becomes: what did God promise, and does He keep His word?

He told Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you.” He promised to make Abraham the father of many nations and to give him “the whole land of Canaan.” And though Abraham had other sons, God reaffirmed that promise through Isaac. And then again through Isaac’s son, Jacob — Israel — saying: “The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I give to you and to your descendants after you.”

That’s an everlasting promise.

And from those descendants came a child — born in Bethlehem — who claimed to be the Savior of the world. Jesus never rejected His title as “son of David,” the great King of Israel.

He said plainly that He came “for the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” And when He returns, Scripture says He will return as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah.” And where do you think He will go? Back to His homeland — Israel.

Tamir Kalifa / Stringer | Getty Images

And what will He find when He gets there? His brothers — or his brothers’ enemies? Will the roads where He once walked be preserved? Or will they lie in rubble, as Gaza does today? If what He finds looks like the aftermath of October 7th, then tell me — what will be my defense as a Christian?

Some Christians argue that God’s promises to Israel have been transferred exclusively to the Church. I don’t believe that. But even if you do, then ask yourself this: if we’ve inherited the promises, do we not also inherit the land? Can we claim the birthright and then, like Esau, treat it as worthless when the world tries to steal it?

So, when terrorists come to slaughter Israelis simply for living in the land promised to Abraham, will we stand by? Or will we step forward — into the line of fire — and say,

“Take me instead”?

Because this is not just about Israel’s right to exist.

It’s about whether we still know the difference between good and evil.

It’s about whether we still have the courage to stand where God stands.

And if we cannot — if we will not — then maybe the question isn’t whether Israel will survive. Maybe the question is whether we will.

When did Americans start cheering for chaos?

MATHIEU LEWIS-ROLLAND / Contributor | Getty Images

Every time we look away from lawlessness, we tell the next mob it can go a little further.

Chicago, Portland, and other American cities are showing us what happens when the rule of law breaks down. These cities have become openly lawless — and that’s not hyperbole.

When a governor declares she doesn’t believe federal agents about a credible threat to their lives, when Chicago orders its police not to assist federal officers, and when cartels print wanted posters offering bounties for the deaths of U.S. immigration agents, you’re looking at a country flirting with anarchy.

Two dangers face us now: the intimidation of federal officers and the normalization of soldiers as street police. Accept either, and we lose the republic.

This isn’t a matter of partisan politics. The struggle we’re watching now is not between Democrats and Republicans. It’s between good and evil, right and wrong, self‑government and chaos.

Moral erosion

For generations, Americans have inherited a republic based on law, liberty, and moral responsibility. That legacy is now under assault by extremists who openly seek to collapse the system and replace it with something darker.

Antifa, well‑financed by the left, isn’t an isolated fringe any more than Occupy Wall Street was. As with Occupy, big money and global interests are quietly aligned with “anti‑establishment” radicals. The goal is disruption, not reform.

And they’ve learned how to condition us. Twenty‑five years ago, few Americans would have supported drag shows in elementary schools, biological males in women’s sports, forced vaccinations, or government partnerships with mega‑corporations to decide which businesses live or die. Few would have tolerated cartels threatening federal agents or tolerated mobs doxxing political opponents. Yet today, many shrug — or cheer.

How did we get here? What evidence convinced so many people to reverse themselves on fundamental questions of morality, liberty, and law? Those long laboring to disrupt our republic have sought to condition people to believe that the ends justify the means.

Promoting “tolerance” justifies women losing to biological men in sports. “Compassion” justifies harboring illegal immigrants, even violent criminals. Whatever deluded ideals Antifa espouses is supposed to somehow justify targeting federal agents and overturning the rule of law. Our culture has been conditioned for this moment.

The buck stops with us

That’s why the debate over using troops to restore order in American cities matters so much. I’ve never supported soldiers executing civilian law, and I still don’t. But we need to speak honestly about what the Constitution allows and why. The Posse Comitatus Act sharply limits the use of the military for domestic policing. The Insurrection Act, however, exists for rare emergencies — when federal law truly can’t be enforced by ordinary means and when mobs, cartels, or coordinated violence block the courts.

Even then, the Constitution demands limits: a public proclamation ordering offenders to disperse, transparency about the mission, a narrow scope, temporary duration, and judicial oversight.

Soldiers fight wars. Cops enforce laws. We blur that line at our peril.

But we also cannot allow intimidation of federal officers or tolerate local officials who openly obstruct federal enforcement. Both extremes — lawlessness on one side and militarization on the other — endanger the republic.

The only way out is the Constitution itself. Protect civil liberty. Enforce the rule of law. Demand transparency. Reject the temptation to justify any tactic because “our side” is winning. We’ve already seen how fear after 9/11 led to the Patriot Act and years of surveillance.

KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / Contributor | Getty Images

Two dangers face us now: the intimidation of federal officers and the normalization of soldiers as street police. Accept either, and we lose the republic. The left cannot be allowed to shut down enforcement, and the right cannot be allowed to abandon constitutional restraint.

The real threat to the republic isn’t just the mobs or the cartels. It’s us — citizens who stop caring about truth and constitutional limits. Anything can be justified when fear takes over. Everything collapses when enough people decide “the ends justify the means.”

We must choose differently. Uphold the rule of law. Guard civil liberties. And remember that the only way to preserve a government of, by, and for the people is to act like the people still want it.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Stand with Voddie Baucham’s family in this time of loss

In the quiet aftermath of a profound loss, the Christian community mourns the unexpected passing of Dr. Voddie Baucham, a towering figure in evangelical circles. Known for his defense of biblical truth, Baucham, a pastor, author, and theologian, left a legacy on family, faith, and opposing "woke" ideologies in the church. His book Fault Lines challenged believers to prioritize Scripture over cultural trends. Glenn had Voddie on the show several times, where they discussed progressive influences in Christianity, debunked myths of “Christian nationalism,” and urged hope amid hostility.

The shock of Baucham's death has deeply affected his family. Grieving, they remain hopeful in Christ, with his wife, Bridget, now facing the task of resettling in the US without him. Their planned move from Lusaka, Zambia, was disrupted when their home sale fell through last December, resulting in temporary Airbnb accommodations, but they have since secured a new home in Cape Coral that requires renovations. To ensure Voddie's family is taken care of, a fundraiser is being held to raise $2 million, which will be invested for ongoing support, allowing Bridget to focus on her family.

We invite readers to contribute prayerfully. If you feel called to support the Bauchams in this time of need, you can click here to donate.

We grieve and pray with hope for the Bauchams.

May Voddie's example inspire us.

From isolation to connection: Overcoming loneliness

Loneliness isn’t just being alone — it’s feeling unseen, unheard, and unimportant, even amid crowds and constant digital chatter.

Loneliness has become an epidemic in America. Millions of people, even when surrounded by others, feel invisible. In tragic irony, we live in an age of unparalleled connectivity, yet too many sit in silence, unseen and unheard.

I’ve been experiencing this firsthand. My children have grown up and moved out. The house that once overflowed with life now echoes with quiet. Moments that once held laughter now hold silence. And in that silence, the mind can play cruel games. It whispers, “You’re forgotten. Your story doesn’t matter.”

We are unique in our gifts, but not in our humanity. Recognizing this shared struggle is how we overcome loneliness.

It’s a lie.

I’ve seen it in others. I remember sitting at Rockefeller Center one winter, watching a woman lace up her ice skates. Her clothing was worn, her bag battered. Yet on the ice, she transformed — elegant, alive, radiant.

Minutes later, she returned to her shoes, merged into the crowd, unnoticed. I’ve thought of her often. She was not alone in her experience. Millions of Americans live unseen, performing acts of quiet heroism every day.

Shared pain makes us human

Loneliness convinces us to retreat, to stay silent, to stop reaching out to others. But connection is essential. Even small gestures — a word of encouragement, a listening ear, a shared meal — are radical acts against isolation.

I’ve learned this personally. Years ago, a caller called me “Mr. Perfect.” I could have deflected, but I chose honesty. I spoke of my alcoholism, my failed marriage, my brokenness. I expected judgment. Instead, I found resonance. People whispered back, “I’m going through the same thing. Thank you for saying it.”

Our pain is universal. Everyone struggles with self-doubt and fear. Everyone feels, at times, like a fraud. We are unique in our gifts, but not in our humanity. Recognizing this shared struggle is how we overcome loneliness.

We were made for connection. We were built for community — for conversation, for touch, for shared purpose. Every time we reach out, every act of courage and compassion punches a hole in the wall of isolation.

You’re not alone

If you’re feeling alone, know this: You are not invisible. You are seen. You matter. And if you’re not struggling, someone you know is. It’s your responsibility to reach out.

Loneliness is not proof of brokenness. It is proof of humanity. It is a call to engage, to bear witness, to connect. The world is different because of the people who choose to act. It is brighter when we refuse to be isolated.

We cannot let silence win. We cannot allow loneliness to dictate our lives. Speak. Reach out. Connect. Share your gifts. By doing so, we remind one another: We are all alike, and yet each of us matters profoundly.

In this moment, in this country, in this world, what we do matters. Loneliness is real, but so is hope. And hope begins with connection.