Latest Breaking News

cosmicone

(11,014 posts)

61. Most people see comedy as comedy

Mon Oct 27, 2014, 05:07 PM

Oct 2014

are are not swayed by it.

If they were, we would not have had Reagan reelected considering the scathing criticism of Reagan portrayed in Doonesbury and other cartoons as well as skits on SNL and In Living Color.

George W. Bush wouldn't have been reelected upon viewing Fahrenheit 911 or SNL or "Bush or Chimp" cartoons.

I can support equal time for an Islamic viewpoint before or after Bill Maher's speech but I am against censorship. The problem is that Muslims do not actively and visibly stand up to the bad bad things being done around the world in the name of Islam as much as they are out to squelch all anti-Islamic speech.

If there were rallies by Muslim students and leaders against what ISIS or Boko Haram are doing on all the college campuses, no one would give second thought to what Maher says.

There are fewer Jewish people in the US than there are Muslims and I see comedians making fun of Jews all the time. No one has tried to silence them.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

247 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Berkeley Students Call On University To Cancel Speech By �Bigot and Racist� Bill Maher [View all] big_dog Oct 2014 OP

Whether Maher is a bigot and racist may, or may not, pangaia Oct 2014 #1

I think that he poses as more politically informed that he is. nt ladjf Oct 2014 #5

Maher is also a total asshole. Archae Oct 2014 #39

that was a joke....good grief....the man is a comedian. VanillaRhapsody Oct 2014 #84

He thinks he is a comedian. pangaia Oct 2014 #94

He makes millions being one....so yeah I would say he IS one.... VanillaRhapsody Oct 2014 #105

I stand with my assessment, pangaia Oct 2014 #114

But that is ALSO YOUR opinion....and you know what they say about those... VanillaRhapsody Oct 2014 #127

Am I in casting? Nope. check pangaia Oct 2014 #169

Andrew "Dice" Clay thought he could be funny. Archae Oct 2014 #139

and where are they now? VanillaRhapsody Oct 2014 #143

and are you trying to claim that Joan River and Don Rickles weren't funny???? VanillaRhapsody Oct 2014 #144

They were, 40-50 years ago. Archae Oct 2014 #146

they are both dead now.... VanillaRhapsody Oct 2014 #155

Don Rickles is alive Joanie Baloney Oct 2014 #162

My apologies to Don Rickles... VanillaRhapsody Oct 2014 #182

Given what he looked like the last time I saw him on television LostOne4Ever Oct 2014 #184

Spade rules. nt savalez Oct 2014 #207

Well, he makes million$ making people laugh. I like the guy and I think he is right on when it come demosincebirth Oct 2014 #181

I hope so. That doesn't sound like Maher since he believes the overuse of antibiotics which cause still_one Oct 2014 #176

I can live with asshole. pangaia Oct 2014 #91

YOUR opinion...millions of others seem to disagree....and there is no shortage of wannabees! VanillaRhapsody Oct 2014 #107

I am not disgruntled, nor envious, nor a comedian. pangaia Oct 2014 #116

Obviously! VanillaRhapsody Oct 2014 #128

What is obvious? pangaia Oct 2014 #129

exactly..... VanillaRhapsody Oct 2014 #137

It basically means your opinion is just that your Legalequilibrium78 Oct 2014 #151

Well, I guess you put me in my place. pangaia Oct 2014 #163

Millions agree with you. 840high Oct 2014 #158

Thanks for the support..... pangaia Oct 2014 #185

Bill Mahr needs to lay off the WEED, penndragon69 Oct 2014 #57

So what? YOU just HAD had to say that right? VanillaRhapsody Oct 2014 #83

Say what? pangaia Oct 2014 #96

Yeah.....I think it was hypocritical... VanillaRhapsody Oct 2014 #104

Thanks for the correction. pangaia Oct 2014 #111

Like them potatoes - I quit 840high Oct 2014 #157

You know, pangaia Oct 2014 #187

No idea. Maybe he/she 840high Oct 2014 #196

I agree. Bad fit for a UCB commencement. ucrdem Oct 2014 #160

You gotta give Maher this - he knows how to generate publicity. closeupready Oct 2014 #2

Whether or not, I respect the right of any student body Erich Bloodaxe BSN Oct 2014 #3

+1 SoapBox Oct 2014 #7

A friend went to Emory U. The administration got Rush Limbaugh as speaker. merrily Oct 2014 #77

Hooray for them... pangaia Oct 2014 #97

My commencement speaker was Al Haig AndreaCG Oct 2014 #126

My college actually allows the students to vote for the commencent speaker out of a list created by adirondacker Oct 2014 #238

That's terrific! AndreaCG Oct 2014 #239

Correction to my prior comment: Erich Bloodaxe BSN Oct 2014 #245

Funny's funny truthisfreedom Oct 2014 #4

I am sooo tired of how... SkyDaddy7 Oct 2014 #92

And yet right next door at Stanford... SoapBox Oct 2014 #6

Stanford is a private institution and is notoriously conservative KamaAina Oct 2014 #13

I like that appellation heaven05 Oct 2014 #88

I wrote them a letter that they should stop wasting their time asking me for donations BrotherIvan Oct 2014 #69

I don't remember which CA university did it but one had Sarah Palin come to speak. freshwest Oct 2014 #212

This guy only needs to send a letter saying he'll shoot everybody if the event takes place... No? Helen Borg Oct 2014 #8

blasphemy should be outlawed! jonjensen Oct 2014 #9

"we should fight islamo fascist intolerance"?? Rhinodawg Oct 2014 #11

I know, right? LOL closeupready Oct 2014 #32

What is a 'crime' depends upon who controls the legal system. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Oct 2014 #14

It is ironic for you to suggest that Bill would be with those railing against 'the gays' when it Bluenorthwest Oct 2014 #76

I think you're lacking context. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Oct 2014 #131

Well, it's clear you didn't go to Cal KamaAina Oct 2014 #16

Could you rewrite that using cohesive sentences? JaneyVee Oct 2014 #21

So -- which side are you on? immoderate Oct 2014 #25

"education is all about" < How you like this education? <G> n/t jtuck004 Oct 2014 #68

Religious privilege Cartoonist Oct 2014 #10

I agree. I hate this tendency to shun everyone we disagree with. alarimer Oct 2014 #243

right, let's make blashpemy a crime at UC nt msongs Oct 2014 #12

What better way to celebrate the history of the Free Speech Movement which began at Berkeley... Dr. Strange Oct 2014 #18

It doesn't need to be a crime. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Oct 2014 #20

Islam is a race? arcane1 Oct 2014 #15

Yes, it's a half-marathon between Medina and Mecca KamaAina Oct 2014 #17

Ha! arcane1 Oct 2014 #23

Todays winner, ladies and gentlemen! 7962 Oct 2014 #41

Your post made it worth reading the comments rpannier Oct 2014 #86

And they are about to graduate yeoman6987 Oct 2014 #24

Maher uses racist Arab stereotypes to attack Muslims CrawlingChaos Oct 2014 #59

Many, many Muslims are not Arabs. arcane1 Oct 2014 #75

RIGHT, but he focuses on Arab Muslims CrawlingChaos Oct 2014 #112

And although he usually rails against our government spending huge sums on war, truedelphi Oct 2014 #123

I take it they're done celebrating the Free Speech Movement's 50th anniversary. name not needed Oct 2014 #19

They're not restricting Maher's free speech in any way Orrex Oct 2014 #27

Who is this they they speak about. zeemike Oct 2014 #72

Exactly.... VanillaRhapsody Oct 2014 #85

About 36,000 people attend that school. There are 1,500 signatures, the number which are Bluenorthwest Oct 2014 #90

Thanks for that info. zeemike Oct 2014 #193

CANCEL HIM. And replace him with somebody to give a speech about how puppies are cute. Nye Bevan Oct 2014 #22

Sometimes, ideas are beyond disagreeable. alp227 Oct 2014 #34

And all right-thinking people uniformly agree on what's disagreeable. Psephos Oct 2014 #53

Most right-thinking people do agree that bigotry is disagreeable. merrily Oct 2014 #113

Maher is not just an atheist--he's an anti-religion bully. Ineeda Oct 2014 #98

He hates all religions. Ampersand Unicode Nov 2014 #246

They are protesting now, when it makes more sense so to do. Vigorous debates at commencement? merrily Oct 2014 #110

Which bigots should be banned from speaking at public schools? AngryAmish Oct 2014 #26

you're really conflating all these people into one broad brush category? alp227 Oct 2014 #44

That's your opinion. Cal is a public institution. It doesn't have to tolerate hate speech, JDPriestly Oct 2014 #101

This message was self-deleted by its author alp227 Oct 2014 #102

Cal can invite who it will. The commencement speaker at my daughter's graduation was someone I woul JDPriestly Oct 2014 #119

+1000 Rhinodawg Oct 2014 #120

A commencement speech is different from a ban. And it's not a free school. It's their tuition that merrily Oct 2014 #117

If he were only bashing Christians leftynyc Oct 2014 #28

Exactly. n/t arcane1 Oct 2014 #35

You seem unaware of his one size fits all approach to Islam? He is a bigot. No doubt. And it is Fred Sanders Oct 2014 #36

Seriously? Hulk Oct 2014 #49

"their" intolerance? All 1.8 billion of them? merrily Oct 2014 #99

All some folks see is what they want to see, a moloithic religion they do not want to understand. Fred Sanders Oct 2014 #103

Hardly what I want to see. Hulk Oct 2014 #203

Many Americans Want to Know Why Muslims Aren�t Condemning ISIS Violet_Crumble Oct 2014 #210

THIS should be an OP, if you dare...The Uninformed will pillar you....ignorance at DU is aplenty. Fred Sanders Oct 2014 #223

Nobody is saying ALL, or even a large number of Muslims are intolerant. Hulk Oct 2014 #202

Bullshit. Smearing without a shred of evidence. arcane1 Oct 2014 #74

Absolutely nothing leftynyc Oct 2014 #208

Nonsense leftynyc Oct 2014 #209

Except they are not adherents to their religion as Westbotro Church is not to theirs. A matter of Fred Sanders Oct 2014 #222

Have the westboro church leftynyc Oct 2014 #224

I am truly sorry you feel that way, 1.8 billion Muslim souls you see as evil, inhuman enemies. Fred Sanders Oct 2014 #226

What complete bullshit leftynyc Oct 2014 #241

Yes, they would. As long as we're making up stuff, what you make up is not more truthy than what I merrily Oct 2014 #118

He is neither bigot nor racist rock Oct 2014 #29

So Bill Maher using misogynistic slurs isn't bigoted? alp227 Oct 2014 #43

Haven't been to many stand-up comic shows, have you? Psephos Oct 2014 #56

what's the reason? alp227 Oct 2014 #60

Domestic violence joke? arcane1 Oct 2014 #70

So? The tweet is needed on a faulty premise alp227 Oct 2014 #230

The premise: it's wrong to hit a woman except as a last resort when your life is in danger from her arcane1 Oct 2014 #231

Why characterize a woman as "crazy and wanting to kill you"? alp227 Oct 2014 #234

You are waaay over-thinking this. arcane1 Oct 2014 #235

So thinking is taboo in today's knee-jerk-response-in-5-seconds society huh? nt alp227 Oct 2014 #236

No, but explaining lame jokes is a waste of time to those who want to be offended. arcane1 Oct 2014 #237

Really? The birthplace of the free speech movement?? Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #30

because maher was selected as COMMENCEMENT speaker, alp227 Oct 2014 #45

Then either give him the silent treatment ala George H.W. Bush Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #50

Being invited to a university commencement is a big deal for the speaker. alp227 Oct 2014 #52

I get your general point Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #67

"....Maher pulls himself out..." pangaia Oct 2014 #109

But consider this: The commencement is about their years of commitment and hard work to graduate. freshwest Oct 2014 #215

Wasn't the free speech movement about the university banning ALL political activity of students merrily Oct 2014 #93

Islamic exceptionalism cosmicone Oct 2014 #31

Another excellent post, cosmicone! BOOM. 7962 Oct 2014 #40

given that Islam is such a minority religion in America, alp227 Oct 2014 #46

Maher is a comedian cosmicone Oct 2014 #54

But making discrimination funny NORMALIZES it. alp227 Oct 2014 #55

Most people see comedy as comedy cosmicone Oct 2014 #61

So Muslims really need to condemn their own? really? alp227 Oct 2014 #63

Islam is a choice ... GeorgeGist Oct 2014 #82

So? Why should followers of Islam have the burden of condemning the sins alp227 Oct 2014 #89

choice? then why are people whipped to be forced to pray? jonjensen Oct 2014 #100

Does the religion require that? We've know kids have been molested by clergy, but that is not merrily Oct 2014 #125

Not wanting your tuition used to pay someone you believe is a racist is not silencing anyone. Maher merrily Oct 2014 #108

Well ... I was not for Iraq war and my taxes were used to pay for it cosmicone Oct 2014 #132

Tuition and taxes are not the same thing. Neither is your nation's government and a college. And merrily Oct 2014 #135

So what about the rights of students who want to hear Bill Maher? cosmicone Oct 2014 #141

Did you read my post? merrily Oct 2014 #147

Students are not "in charge" of those decisions cosmicone Oct 2014 #149

They should have input and often do. And the SCOTUS has already answered your merrily Oct 2014 #150

I still like New Rules, oldandhappy Oct 2014 #33

I agree. His comedy seems off the last few weeks, maybe all the backlash for his repeated Fred Sanders Oct 2014 #37

Yes. He made these remarks, he later double downed, and closeupready Oct 2014 #42

Not just you. elias49 Oct 2014 #197

Aww, poor babies. NOW they have a problem with him? 7962 Oct 2014 #38

Criticizing religion and being bigoted against religious people are different. alp227 Oct 2014 #47

Well, there are a billion Muslims so I'd hardly call them a "minority". nt 7962 Oct 2014 #62

i'm talking about in AMERICA not the WORLD. nt alp227 Oct 2014 #65

Closer to two billion worldwide, but that doesn't mean there isn't bigotry. merrily Oct 2014 #152

Which is it? LostOne4Ever Oct 2014 #166

Because Islam is a minority in the US, and American Muslims are NOT alp227 Oct 2014 #167

So you are saying that if religion is a minority LostOne4Ever Oct 2014 #172

NO! All religions deserve criticism. But religious PEOPLE not. nt alp227 Oct 2014 #173

Religious people dont? LostOne4Ever Oct 2014 #175

Criticize them then...don't demonize EVERY religious follower for the sins of the bigots. nt alp227 Oct 2014 #177

Who did that? LostOne4Ever Oct 2014 #180

But Maher has a history of being bigoted, beyond mere criticism of Islam. alp227 Oct 2014 #189

None of those quotes are "demonize EVERY religious follower for the sins of the bigots" LostOne4Ever Oct 2014 #199

The original name for his show was Hari Seldon Oct 2014 #48

Well... College is the time to be young and dumb... Oktober Oct 2014 #51

They forgot Misogynist Bill Maher. undeterred Oct 2014 #58

Ummm...how about you just don't go to his speech? Attendance isn't mandatory. Throd Oct 2014 #64

"but it's not racist! I sound like Nick Griffin on Muslims regardless of race!" MisterP Oct 2014 #66

Racist? ConservativeDemocrat Oct 2014 #71

good point. Maher also doesn't have much merit for other religions either still_one Oct 2014 #179

Just a few weak minded students Iamthetruth Oct 2014 #73

Just a few weak minded students AlbertCat Oct 2014 #145

I wouldn't waste my time Iamthetruth Oct 2014 #154

The truth hurts santroy79 Oct 2014 #78

Bill Maher has been a vocal champion for a number of progressive causes 3rdwaydem Oct 2014 #79

There are more scholarly individuals such as Sam Harris MontyPow Oct 2014 #80

Sadly, Maher has a point. I signed a petition today urging Pakistan to spare a Christian woman from catbyte Oct 2014 #81

What do Muslims in the US, Indonesia, the Philippines, England, etc. have to do with her sentence? merrily Oct 2014 #122

No one is hanging anything around the necks of any muslims. cosmicone Oct 2014 #133

isn't it true that heaven05 Oct 2014 #87

Post removed Post removed Oct 2014 #95

Politically correct crybabies bluestateguy Oct 2014 #106

I made a post about this a while back Prophet 451 Oct 2014 #115

I didn't know that converting to Islam made your skin change color. Spitfire of ATJ Oct 2014 #121

I like Maher and think he's right on this Qutzupalotl Oct 2014 #124

The Old Testament is heinous in places, too. Wiping out enemies, even to the point merrily Oct 2014 #134

Granted, but the difference is Qutzupalotl Oct 2014 #164

Actually, a DUer insisted to me only a few days ago that merrily Oct 2014 #168

I will also grant that it is open to interpretation, Qutzupalotl Oct 2014 #170

This other DUer thought "they shall surely die" was quite explicit, too. merrily Oct 2014 #178

I still see a distinction here Qutzupalotl Oct 2014 #188

It's impossible to point to "The Leader of the Muslims" because it is a cellular religion. MADem Oct 2014 #206

Bill Maher is 100% correct. Rhinodawg Oct 2014 #130

Pretending all 1.8 billion Muslims are violent at the drop of a hat is not 100% correct. merrily Oct 2014 #136

Always live your dreams. Rhinodawg Oct 2014 #138

I'd much rather live reason than live bigotry, that's for sure. merrily Oct 2014 #140

Good thing Maher and Harris SPECIFICALLY said not all muslims on that show LostOne4Ever Oct 2014 #159

I watched the video on an earlier thread. The thrust was that it was, at a minimum, most Muslims. merrily Oct 2014 #161

You made up stuff on what Bill Maher, an atheist, said LostOne4Ever Oct 2014 #165

And your bullshit claim is that I said something about him because he is an atheist, not because of merrily Oct 2014 #171

No LostOne4Ever Oct 2014 #174

I don't think I care for Bill Maher as a person, but I do think he is politically rhett o rick Oct 2014 #142

Fareed Zakaria: "Muslims Are Right To Complain That There Is Anti-Muslim Bigotry" applegrove Oct 2014 #148

Blind supporters of the Palestinians on the left are just as bad (doctrinaire), as blind supporters Monk06 Oct 2014 #153

Most likely they both are semites, however, Judism has come to represent both a race and a religion still_one Oct 2014 #183

The word Semite as well as Aryan are terms invented in the eighteenth century to Monk06 Oct 2014 #191

Very interesting, thanks for the education still_one Oct 2014 #195

Judaism isn't a race... Violet_Crumble Oct 2014 #211

It is kind of both, however, there are genetic markers which can identify an Ashkenazi Jewish still_one Oct 2014 #220

Commencement? Maher? UC Berkeley? ucrdem Oct 2014 #156

My sentiments exactly. Show some class, UCB. (nt) Paladin Oct 2014 #217

C'mon, maybe he'll invite his extra special guest and friend Ann Coulter to really rock the house! adirondacker Oct 2014 #240

I like Maher. All performers are full of themselves. That's how they can be performers. Duh. valerief Oct 2014 #186

I see a bunch of DU'ers who are being pretty damn dumb here Scootaloo Oct 2014 #190

Well said - couldn't agree more (nt) CrawlingChaos Oct 2014 #229

These students are exercising their Constitutional rights. I have no problem with that. nomorenomore08 Oct 2014 #192

Was looking forward to seeing big_dog's opinions throughout this thread alcibiades_mystery Oct 2014 #194

The thing that gets stuck in my teeth is that it isn't just Bill Maher Sen. Walter Sobchak Oct 2014 #198

That is what I called Islamic exceptionalism. cosmicone Oct 2014 #200

While I am not a fan I think it is ridiculous to not invite him. hrmjustin Oct 2014 #201

Now that is the truth LostOne4Ever Oct 2014 #204

They still have to pay him. And they are behaving like fucking IDIOTS. MADem Oct 2014 #205

So if they were objecting to an anti-semitic speaker, would you still call them "fucking idiots"? CrawlingChaos Oct 2014 #213

Bill Maher is "anti-semitic" if you want to come down to it. He doesn't like ANY religions. MADem Oct 2014 #216

NOT an "equal-opportunity religion basher". Not even close. CrawlingChaos Oct 2014 #228

He likes the idea of "western democracy" in the region. MADem Oct 2014 #232

A "western democracy" that denies rights based on religion/ethnicity CrawlingChaos Oct 2014 #233

Has everyone here seen Bill Maher's interview with Keith Ellison? CrawlingChaos Oct 2014 #214

How about this supremely ugly moment: AlbertCat Oct 2014 #225

What you have written reveals a great deal about yourself CrawlingChaos Oct 2014 #227

A post on a message board... AlbertCat Oct 2014 #244

.. Elmergantry Oct 2014 #218

Don't forget why Maher got shitcanned by ABC right after 9/11 tularetom Oct 2014 #219

Perhaps they'd feel more comfortable hearing from the editors of Jyllands-Posten or Salman Rushdie? Heywood J Oct 2014 #221

Shameful, seeing radical right-wing students at Cal trying to impose their fanatical beliefs True Blue Door Oct 2014 #242

Maher is the edgy teenager who never grew up. Odin2005 Nov 2014 #247