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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBill Maher slams Berkeley protesters: Who said you only had to hear what didn’t upset you?
Thoughts? I hear repugnant rethug views all the time. He could be right.
Bill Maher slams Berkeley protesters: Who said you only had to hear what didn’t upset you?
Arturo Garcia
31 Oct 2014 at 23:26 ET
Real Time host Bill Maher struck back on Friday at University of California-Berekeley students protesting his appearance at the school next month, pointing out that even Reza Aslan says he is not bigoted.
“He and I disagree on stuff,” Maher argued. “But he’s always welcome on this show. That’s how it’s done, kids. Who ever told you you only had to hear what didn’t upset you?”
Maher argued that the opposition to his appearance came from people “who had never been to Berkeley.” But as the campus paper reported, it was actually students who organized a Change.org petition accusing him of “hate speech.” The speech is also being protested on Twitter through use of the #NoMaher tag.
“Right, because Islam is a race,” Maher said mockingly on Friday. “This is the level of logic we’re dealing with. By the way, even Reza Aslan, my most strident critic, has gone to pains to say he doesn’t think I’m a bigot.”
Maher also groused that his views on Islam only became an issue following his argument with actor Ben Affleck during a panel discussion on the show earlier this month.
“He’s an A-list movie star, so now our very deep media started to care about it,” Maher complained.
He also said that he planned to follow through on his appearance after the school refused to disinvite him earlier this week. He also asked “liberal, in the truest sense of the word” college students to weigh in on the issue.
“My reputation isn’t on the line,” Maher said. “Yours is.”
Watch Maher’s statement, as posted online on Friday, below.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/10/bill-maher-slams-berkeley-protesters-who-said-you-only-had-to-hear-what-didnt-upset-you/
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hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)He hates all religion and has been trashing believers for years. Imo he paints with a broad brush.
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)you know - they don't want regulation and I have no problem with them skipping inspecting his meat, just inspect mine. I find listening to his pompous ass it just to tiring. If it sounds like I don't like him - bingo, I never forgave him for the whole Nader fiasco and how he played up to Nader's ego so Nader acted the spoiler and the ugly American image returned under the guise of GWB. . I don't listen to him when I can avoid it, someone dragged me into listening to his racist/not a racist complaint and I found it a lot worse than he does for other religions. Not all religions are equally mocked by him. And not all people are equally mocked, See Mahr wants to be one of the cool kids so he is a bully to anyone he thinks is not cool and the cool kids will back him for that. Ugh. the man does so much damage. Once in a rare while he will say something insightful and I am supposed to forgive all his egregious behavior because of that, Nope, not me. I am one of the always uncool kids who was bullied a lot until I turned all Hulk on my number one bully.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)He says hurtful and cruel things at times. As I said he paints with a broad brush.
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)and don't think it has to do with my religion, I have had my problems with different religions and consider myself an atheist, although some have questioned that because I do believe that you can affect another person by holding their hand and thinking of positive things. But that is more attitude not religious who ha
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)He has valid points at times on religion and as a believer I think that is healthy. He just takes it to a level that is mean.
Cha
(297,196 posts)which my sister is one. Have the Faith and treat others with grace and dignity. 
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)
Cha
(297,196 posts) 
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)a lot of what he brings to the table is counter productive.
I can respect someone with a religion that is not destructive and if they honor what is claimed in that religion and thus I have friends who are pretty much all religions out there, including one witch, but a very nice one.
But what Mahr brings is usually stereotypical and not original, frequently his description of a religion is only on the most extremist ends and it just does not bring understanding or even fair discussion.
But then I am starting for not liking him or his ways and still resent Nader. so take it from there.
whathehell
(29,067 posts)If that counts for anything. 
Nuclear Unicorn
(19,497 posts)Have you read DU lately?
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)`insults not required. We are supposed to be in this together
ETA - but I find some very insightful people here as well and I can learn from them.
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)targets.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)snooper2
(30,151 posts)hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)We all have our opinions.
Reter
(2,188 posts)It's like their biggest issue.
MontyPow
(285 posts)He buys into the meme that Islam is more violent than Christianity. Of course, he's a resident of a Christian nation that has never been the victim of Christian violence on the scale that the rest of the world has experienced at the hands of Christian nations.
I don't hold any religion above any other. They all blow.
Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)Doesn't he know about all the stonings and beheadings perpetrated by Episcopalians and Methodists? And what about the Fatwa that the Pope issued on the guy who created Piss Christ?
Rhinodawg
(2,219 posts)Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)A category of atheists that profess to "hate all religions" but in reality hold Christianity and Judaism at the head of the pack, and regard Islam as some evil cult practiced by monstrous sub-humans, and other faiths are simply funny dances you see in the occasional national geographics.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Hitchens called Christianity, Judaism, Islam - the axis of evil. The vast majority of his debates as an atheist against monotheists were with Christians. His disdain for that religion was unabashed.
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)Islam was a chunk of his rationale for our "need" to go slaughter a bunch of Iraqis, you know.
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)Those who don't want to hear him can get their diplomas and then leave.
(Thinking back, that should be the way it is with all speakers. You shouldn't have to sit through interminable dull speeches in order to get your moment onstage. Do the 'walks' first, then let whoever wants to hang around do so, and whoever wants to leave do so.)
bravenak
(34,648 posts)Then trash him, if necessary. I listen to all types of folks with repugnant views, it doesn't infect me one bit.
djean111
(14,255 posts)Not a good forum for Maher, IMO.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)of Muslims. But he's right on so many things. I don't know anyone I agree with on everything, even myself.
aint_no_life_nowhere
(21,925 posts)She accused him of being anti-Islamic in the absolute the way some are anti-black or anti-Semitic. I never heard Maher accuse all Arabs or Moslems of being like Isis or being evil. From my recollection of his show, he's accused those Islamists who want death to those who leave the faith of being wrong. When he asked the lady tonight who challenged him whether she could go back to Gaza, change her faith, and be accepted she dodged his question and said she could go back to Lebanon or Jordan. Her non response implied that she could not go to Gaza, change her faith, and avoid problems. As I recall. all Maher said originally was that something like 90% of Egyptians would want death to those who leave the faith. I don't know if that's true or not, but if it is, then I don't want to be in the same country as them. If that's true, then Islam does have something to explain about alleged intolerance. When his guest admitted (by failing to address his point regarding certain Islamic countries) that she could not be accepted as a secular Moslem as she describes herself, that Maher won the entire debate tonight.
applegrove
(118,642 posts)of Egyptians wanted death for people who leave their religion. I saw that on the news three years ago and fell off my chair. It was a scientific poll too. Maybe it is all 'talk'. Who knows but if the number was 10% that would still be to high. How do you get numbers like that down? A discussion needs to happen within islam. All Maher was trying to do was point out the need for the discussion. I live in Ottawa and I will say the events of the last two weeks have brought muslim leadership out to the forefront to deal with the jihadist issue, homegrown or not, and it has been a teachable moment for all of us in Canada. I would much have preferred if a professional joker and religious contrarian had spoken and got the discussion going instead of terrorists.
scarystuffyo
(733 posts)that sounded bigoted
applegrove
(118,642 posts)critisizes Christans. Christians are more used to it. I would hazard to guess that was with all the varied conflict in the middle east, and terrorism in the last three decades, many feelings must be raw. When people are scared they are hard to connect to, especially with crticism.
Skidmore
(37,364 posts)slamming the Abrahamic religions' fundamentalists. He always leaves out one and all three are complicit in the hot mess of the Middle East.
applegrove
(118,642 posts)He's the palace joker telling the truth to the powers that be.
merrily
(45,251 posts)to people who actually commited violent acts over a cartoon they find offensive,, as though the two were the same thing and prevalent throughout Islam--something he backpedaled after challenge to Arab Muslims. That is dishonest--and if it is only Arab Muslims, is his real objection to the religion?
Affleck objected to that kind of broad brush attempt to smear all Muslims with the very small percentage that has acted out and Affleck was right
If you poll evangelicals about whether they think doctors who do abortions deserve to die, you might get an even higher figure than 60%, but only very few evangelicals have killed anyone over abortions, or tried to or even thought about doing that.
Muslims are all over the world, living among all kinds of religions and atheists. They are not engaging in mass murders. And it's not as though they are not being reviled, discrimination against, etc. all over the world. And it's not as though they have no political reasons to be angry about the US. The West has invaded, bombed and occupied their nations for years.
For that matter, even in Muslim nations, even Arab Muslim nations, Jews, Christians, Bahai and others have lived side by side for millenia. Yes, things have gotten worse of late. Hasn't everything? Haven't all kinds of divisions, including those between Democrats and Republicans?
There are problems, yes. Name a modern group of 1.8 billion in which there have been no problems. But to blame it on Islam is to imply that 1.8 billion people share in those problems. They don't.
BTW, attempting to convert someone in Israel is against the law. I am not sure what the penalty is I doubt it's death, but there must be some penalty for vioating the law. So, it is not as though Muslims are unique in not wanting people converted away from their religion.
.
truedelphi
(32,324 posts)Paid to speak at Berkeley?
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)He's in no need of a gig.
truedelphi
(32,324 posts)That has never stopped her or her husband from loading up on more monetary goodies should the speaking gig arise. (Or the spare post office bit of property, etc.)
So again, is he doing this pro bono? Or what?
scarystuffyo
(733 posts)
LittleGirl
(8,287 posts)We are away from home and can't watch HBO and I'm really sad about that. This made my day. Thanks again.
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)they enjoy speaking to them. Schools bring people students don't like all the time, if it is their money, the schools should listen.
Dr. Strange
(25,921 posts)Apparently Bill only became a bigot in the past two months.
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)If they chose them they they have to deal with a cancelled contract, it is a matter of contract law then.
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)hollysmom
(5,946 posts)except some of us realize it and some don't - he doesn't.
kiva
(4,373 posts)Should it be a majority? Because, honestly, there are student bodies out there who would vote for people I wouldn't choose to be in a room with, much less serve as a captive audience.
There's a reason most graduation speakers are bland and boring.
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)if they have a cancellation policy they can go to the next step - but first determine if he can be cancelled at all.
tammywammy
(26,582 posts)
Union Scribe
(7,099 posts)Who ever told you you only had to hear what didn’t upset you?
And who ever told Bill that people who don't like what he has to say have to pay him to say it?
babylonsister
(171,065 posts)
JVS
(61,935 posts)
former9thward
(32,003 posts)It is rare that someone with "academic achievement" is a speaker. Many politicians are speakers who have no real academic achievement.
Blue Idaho
(5,049 posts)Don't piss on the campfire. Commencement is not about the invited speaker it's about the graduating class. Period.
merrily
(45,251 posts)I hear things all the time that upset me, including having the Chief of Staff for a candidate I supported, donated to and voted for, refer to people like me as retards Doesn't mean I am a bad person unless I flew Rahm in from Chicago to dine in my home.
Besides, students have no free speech obligations when it comes to commence speakers. The First Amendment binds government, not students.
Besides, the first Amendment also protects not having to listen to things you don't want to be subjected to.
Maher needs to get over himself.
SickOfTheOnePct
(7,290 posts)"Besides, the first Amendment also protects not having to listen to things you don't want to be subjected to. "
Wherever did you get that idea?
VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)Please tell me you know this
Sivafae
(480 posts)VanillaRhapsody
(21,115 posts)Or we would have even more problems than we have at all public schools...do you want them teaching "the War of Northern Agression at all schools..for example
Cha
(297,196 posts)Condescending bullshite..
Maher argued that the opposition to his appearance came from people “who had never been to Berkeley.” But as the campus paper reported, it was actually students who organized a Change.org petition accusing him of “hate speech.” The speech is also being protested on Twitter through use of the #NoMaher tag."
"Ben's an A-List Movie Star.." Good.. I love Ben Affleck!
Mahalo babylonsistah~
Stonepounder
(4,033 posts)you really don't know what the other side is saying. If you really don't like a speaker, don't go to listen to him. We liberals get outraged when pro-life pickets try and prevent women from entering Planned Parenthood centers because the pro-lifers 'don't agree' with Planned Parenthood. Berkley of all places! The home of the 'Free Speech Movement'. It is one thing to refuse to engage with someone who can only parrot FOX talking points, it is something else entirely to refuse to read William Buckley Jr because you don't agree with him, or to talk to a Conservative who is willing to listen to you and to defend his beliefs and force you to defend yours. If you don't want to listen to Bill Maher, don't. But don't deny him the opportunity to speak because you don't agree with him.
merrily
(45,251 posts)Even the Supreme Court has ruled that is not a fair price to make students pay in the name of the First Amendment.
Besides, their money pays all college speakers. Why do they have to pay someone they don't want to hear? Clearly, this is not a matter of not knowing what the "other side" is saying. They don't want him there exactly because they know what he said on his show.
We liberals get outraged when pro-life pickets try and prevent women from entering Planned Parenthood centers because the pro-lifers 'don't agree' with Planned Parenthood
Not even remotely comparable. These students are paying Maher and not trying to bully anyone out of seeking health care.
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)Some colleges do have speakers whose fees are paid by alumni, rather than tuition, at least some of the time. When Hillary Clinton was getting flack for charging some school something like 150k or so for a speech a number of months ago, it was revealed that the fee was being paid by an alumni association, not the school itself.
(I don't know who picked up the associated costs, such as site rental, cleanup, etc. That could have been the university.)
That being said, I still think his speech (and any guest speakers speeches) should be at the end, so that those who don't want to hear him can get their diplomas and then simply take off.
Orsino
(37,428 posts)Dumbass is feeling a little sensitive, perhaps.
Stonepounder
(4,033 posts)Of course you have a right to protest against someone you disagree with. That is completely different from trying to not let him/her speak at all.
Orsino
(37,428 posts)That's not the same as silencing him, when Homeboy has a damned TV show.
alp227
(32,020 posts)Seriously. "Disagreement" is the most dishonest euphemism to describe harmful speech & other forms of intimidation.
MoonchildCA
(1,301 posts)...the students have it too, and that have every right to protest against him.
I like Bill Maher, and I would be happy to listen to him speak, but I hate the way he paints all Muslims with one big brush. He is bigoted in that regard, and though some of what he says has some merit, he really does a disservice to so many.
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)Free speech only applies to hate speech, and never to the people disagreeing with hate speech.
At least when the target of the hate is an acceptable one on DU. Like Muslims. or women. or brown people.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)That group appears to be an acceptable target of hate speech at DU.
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)"Zionist" is the same as "anarcho-primitivist" or "teabagger" or "apolitical" as far as qualifying for hate speech goes.
Oktober
(1,488 posts)... Who have been told from birth how awesome they are and how the world should conform to their needs.
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)Yeah, he certainly acts like a 'special snowflake' a lot.
Oktober
(1,488 posts)alp227
(32,020 posts)Sometimes, y'know, a special snowflake may actually have a speck of TRUTH to their "whining". Maher is an un-intellectual bigot. Look up his history of problematic statements about women and religious people as well as anti-science POV's.
Oktober
(1,488 posts)The desire to shut up anyone who doesn't conform with your personal beliefs is a sure sign of a special snowflake.
alp227
(32,020 posts)Those ideas are dangerous. Like opposing equal rights for people of different sexual identity/religion/etc. Or Holocaust denial. Or rape apologetics. I could go on. Stop it with framing bigoted views as "views that can be disagreeable". It's dishonest and annoying.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)when he is critical of governments which oppress and punish LGBT people and those of other religions. If opposing equal rights for LGBT is beyond mere disagreement, then Bill is doing the right thing by taking a stand against lashing gay people or jailing us.
What exactly are you doing? You seem to be upset about Bill criticizing those who not only oppose equal rights for LGBT but who punish us harshly and even put us to death.
alp227
(32,020 posts)ALSO quotes maher:
http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2014/oct/06/bill-maher-islam-ben-affleck
BuelahWitch
(9,083 posts)They just don't want him to speak at their graduation.
He can spew his POS bigotry anywhere else.
MisterP
(23,730 posts)ancianita
(36,053 posts)apparently. Interesting.
Maher doesn't need the money. And Berkeley has many speakers to choose from when it sends its invitations. This university is historically a rabble rouser's place; it's where students started their "free speech movement."
I'm glad he's going. Dealing with difference peacefully is what adults do. Toward that end, this commencement speech will be a good experience for Berkeley students.
merrily
(45,251 posts)Berkeley's free speech movement was the students protesting Berkeley's blanket prohibit of all political activity on campus by students. That was a free speech issue. This is not.
ancianita
(36,053 posts)the view of the majority of graduating students? 1700 is a lot of signatures, and I don't know if graduating students were polled. Can't find that info. I've never heard of that done, though it doesn't mean it can't or shouldn't be done. The whole idea of what public figures are worthy to be speakers on the "elevated platform of commencement" sounds as if it needs a bigger participation process on campus than it apparently has.
If I knew these protestors' views represent a majority of the graduates, I'd go with having the university respect their wishes.
But that the loudest voices should prevail is not a convincing argument. Nor should 1700 out of 36,000+ students presume to make claims about what Berkeley stands for without further discussion among themselves and with the university administration. Nor should they set about bullying the administration, the speaker, or dramatizing it at the expense of others at the commencement.
I'm not trying to disrespect the protesters' views, it's just that their chance to enter a selection process of any model seems to have passed, pretty much. If that process is still possible, and they want to decide on speakers, they've probably got planning committees; if not, they could well form them, get a speaker budget and make arrangements according to their preferences.
It isn't just their commencement; they don't get to dictate terms because they pay for the ceremony; commencements are voluntary affairs, anyway. Commencements are also for their families' and the larger academic community.
merrily
(45,251 posts)majority of graduates felt. Not even a majority of students because staying clear of a commencement is not the same sacrifice for a freshmen and her family as it is for a graduate.
However, on reflection, I am not even sure of that. This is not a matter of someone with a different view about global warming or Obamacare. It is about something perceived as bigotry, which is vile We can discuss and debate whether it was bigotry or not. However, as I posted elsewhere on this thread, a friend's graduating class protested Limbaugh as commencement speaker--and a majority of that class was probably Republican. For a number of reasons other than simply different politics, Limbaugh was a poor choice for the university in the first place--and that is the issue here.
Think back to your own commencement. For most students, it may be the biggest even in their lives to that point.) You might have been willing to suffer though his supposedly small government views, if a speaker made a rational, reasoned case for them But, would you have wanted to risk Limbaugh's slut shaming views? His mocking of a Parkinson's sufferer, makiing a plea for people to vote for those they thought most likely to fund research? There is a difference between having William F Buckley as a commencement speaker and Limbaugh as a commencement speaker.
And Maher is also not one who presents his views without sarcastically dismissing, and demeaning contrary views as though they were garbage for which one should have only contempt.
As I have also posted elsewhere on this thread, this is not one speaker of many in a lecture series. You get one college graduation commencement celebration in your life; and you do want it to be celebratory, not an exercise in tolerance of bigoted comments. Not something you may feel you must protest against, perhaps by booing or walking out of your own commencement, as Whoopi and Behar once walked off the stage of The View when O Reilly went a bridge too far, in their opinion. If I thought even one of of my commencement speaker's comments was bigoted, I would not feel free to sit still and let it seem to be okay with. I'd have to boo, at the very least. Meanwhile, I'd probably be sitting tensed, waiting to see if a bigoted comment would be made or not.
That's okay at a political event or one of many lectures in a college lecture series, but not appropriate or okay for a commencement ceremony. Not in my opinion, anyway.
Please also see my Reply 41
ancianita
(36,053 posts)I totally hear you on the salient issues that surround commencement speaker choices, which is why I suggested that the university rethink its selection process. It's a powerful thing to have to make decisions in large groups. How it's done should validate the thinkers about to commence civilization building. That's democracy.
To that end, a better process has to be implemented by this university.
Commencement is not defined as celebratory, from my experience in sponsoring them at the high school level and attending my two kids' commencements. They are dignified events. The celebrating doesn't start in the auditorium or in the march. The celebrations are afterward -- in the homes, party halls, etc.
What students, families and the academic community look for in commencements is recognition, gratitude and other forms of validation for all the hard work, great people and experiences that led them collectively to this moment.
And that is why speakers don't speak to the values laundry list you have here, in my experience. They speak to guiding visions for individuals lives, to larger goals for the nation, etc., and about how to enable those who work with them and come after them.
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)The decision to choose Maher in the first place was handled by a group of students called 'The Californians', which looks to basically be along the lines of student governments at most colleges. While it looks like membership is open to any student in good standing, I know that at schools I attended, only a tiny fraction of students ever took part.
So he probably wasn't chosen by 36000+ students, or likely even 1700 students. He was probably chosen by a committee of 5-20 students or so. So 1700+ students is going to be more representative of the student body than his choice in the first place.
On the other hand, if they really wanted to make sure they represented the student body, they should have asked students not simply to sign a petition to drop him, but to choose between 'keep' or 'drop' and track the overall disposition of every student who replied.
ancianita
(36,053 posts)including the student body at large. It can be done.
What you describe doesn't seem to be working, and so revisiting the decision making process would be more in line with the democratic goals of the university community. One would think that its leadership would support a new model that students can live with.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)figure they invited was Danny Glover in 2007 but Danny had to cancel because of a labor dispute with Union workers on the campus. The following year another speaker refused to speak because of the same labor dispute.
Puzzledtraveller
(5,937 posts)MontyPow
(285 posts)Ykcutnek
(1,305 posts)He could read a list of my own opinions from a teleprompter and find a way to piss me off.
bananas
(27,509 posts)merrily
(45,251 posts)As far as his political knowledge, he is like Joy Behar. She thinks she knows everything about politics--and she does know a fair amount as to the things that she's lived through that were part of the national conversation as they were occurring. However, her knowledge of other matters ranges from non-existent to superficial. For one glaring example, she was totally clueless about the relation between Bubba and the economic crash of 2008. However, she's never uncertain that her knowledge is complete and her opinion has the weight of supreme law. Maher is not much above that.
Ben Affleck is an A list actor? (Critics might argue that hes an A list director and a C list actor, but okay, let's give Bill A list actor.)
Bill Maher has had a huge megaphone for decades. And? This reminds me of Bill talking about the rich as though he isn't one of them. Ridiculous.
closeupready
(29,503 posts)But I agree, neither is competent to act as peace broker relating to a controversy like this.
He's just a DB. Why anyone cares what he thinks is beyond me, but if Berkeley students don't want him, replace him with someone else, period.
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)A nice man who happens to gt raked over the coals every time he shows up because people liek maher or Fox news commentators simply can't conceive of a Muslim who isn't killing everyone. So of course he's going to say he doesn't think Maher is a bigot; Aslan wants to avoid a slapfight first because Aslan is a nice guy, and second becuase if he did otherwise, the media would tear him apart for daring to be a Muslim who says "nasty" things about maher. He'd be cast as a frothing Jihadist who wants to "silence criticism of islam."
I'm not Reza aslan. I have no pretensions of being a nice person. And I think Bill Maher should choke on his own self-importance. Beign able to squeeze a giggle out of an audience isn't proof that he has something worth saying - Jeff Dunham manages it too.
merrily
(45,251 posts)Students are not at commencement to browbeat anyone or raise ratings or turn a profit or get aggravated. They want to be congratulated and inspired, and hopefully not bored, by someone whose life and views they can respect, if not all agree with.
My friends class refused to have Rush Limbaugh as the commencement speaker after the University hired him--and that was in Emory University in Georgia. I am very sure many in the graduating class were Republicans, maybe even a majority. I don't blame any of the graduates in the least for nixing Limbaugh.
oberliner
(58,724 posts)Now that is a statement I can whole-heartedly agree with
dembotoz
(16,802 posts)sometimes he will offend us
merrily
(45,251 posts)this is not about having one speaker of many in a college lecture series.
djean111
(14,255 posts)Maher's wittle feelings were hurt, methinks.
He was a bit brutal to Clay Aiken later - complaining about Dems who are not running on an Obama/liberal platform (Aiken's district is heavily gerrymandered towards the GOP, he is running against Ellmers) - but he threw in some Idol and gay insults, which don't exactly help matters, his insults will likely be embraced by Ellmers.
Boom Sound 416
(4,185 posts)You're mortal.
Don't pick on a captive audience
CincyDem
(6,356 posts)I wish I could find the story, maybe someone else has seen it.
A student group was responsible for picking the speaker. They picked him early in the school year. The school agreed, as they have always done.
After Affleck-gate, a different group of students pushed for cancellation basing this request on the opinion he expressed during the Affleck discussion. The administration's response was, effectively, "are you kidding? You want Berkeley to dump someone because they said something disagreeable? Are you kidding? At Berkeley ?".
As to being forced to listen, who listens at these things. I've heard Bud Selig, Al Gore, Captain Sullenberger (Sully), and some guy who runs the Coal Lobby. Some were good, some were not. And the fact that I'm not a big fan of coal...well...screw it...I'm a fan of not paying tuition anymore and those speeches usually make the end of that bill.
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)
BuelahWitch
(9,083 posts)Whether The Californians make up more people than the ones who are protesting is not clear. They organize school events, how many people would that be?
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)As a former Cal student, I loathe the fauxgressive contingent who parasites off its historical reputation to promote idiotic prejudices and knee-jerk emotionalism devoid of reason and reflection. I would call these people Berkeley's calumni.
They don't give a single, solitary, flying fuck about civil rights - they're utterly superficial, and cases like this demonstrate how ludicrous, reckless, and irresponsible they are. They have no conscience.
Meanwhile John Yoo still has a faculty position at Berkeley, but Bill Maher telling the simple truth to Ben Affleck they get worked up about.
Who are these morons, and how did they get into UC Berkeley?
superpatriotman
(6,247 posts)Best post on the thread
PasadenaTrudy
(3,998 posts)UCB is not what it once was. I know someone who recently got admitted, and I cannot believe they took her. Won't go into it, but, wow.
Also, I still love Maher, and I'm a childfree atheist feminist.
whatchamacallit
(15,558 posts)is shite.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)That how you represent your values?
Violet_Crumble
(35,961 posts)Whiny Bill needs to suck it up. They've got the right to voice their opinions, something he seems to think applies to him and not them.
True Blue Door
(2,969 posts)Their "protest" is a demand to punish someone for expressing his opinion - a liberal opinion. That's how fucked up these people are.
Rhinodawg
(2,219 posts)Marr
(20,317 posts)on the side of gays, minority groups, women, intellectuals, etc. living in the oppressive religiously-dominated systems commonly found majority Muslim countries.
LWolf
(46,179 posts)Unless attending his appearance is compulsory.
I don't have a problem with them protesting. Who says he doesn't have to "hear" them speak?
Rex
(65,616 posts)You got turned down Bill, don't take it personally - move on right? There are plenty of other schools out there.
joeybee12
(56,177 posts)I'm sure they hear repugnant views all the time, they just don't have to pay their money to hear them or be forced to hear them...but no, DU's islamaphobes and homophobes will rally to this asshole's defense.
ecstatic
(32,701 posts)and respectful to his fans, many of whom he regularly mocks and stereotypes. We watch his show because there's a huge void when it comes to liberal programming, but over the years, Maher has become a little too comfortable with insulting women, gays, blacks, Christians, Muslims, etc. Mostly we just give him a pass, but maybe it's time we put our foot down.
Dear Maher: You don't always have to say exactly what you're feeling, especially if it's going to hurt people's feelings. Your comments about Islam did absolutely nothing to further the discussion nor is it usable policy What is your end game? To convince the government to start rounding people up? If there's no perceivable benefit to making a hateful comment, then you probably shouldn't make it.
B Calm
(28,762 posts)matter with Kansas, look at the PC police.
alp227
(32,020 posts)Demanding that people be seen as people no matter their religion, race, mental condition, or sexual identity? Not dehumanizing entire classes of religious people for the sins of a few?
Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)from hearing words that they may not agree with?
antiquie
(4,299 posts)By Public Affairs, UC Berkeley | October 29, 2014
UC Berkeley issued the following statement today (Wednesday, Oct. 29):
For many years it has been the responsibility of UC Berkeley undergraduates, through a committee known as the “Californians,” to select speakers for the university’s commencement ceremonies. In August the “Californians” chose Bill Maher as the speaker for the December commencement ceremony. However, last night the “Californians” reconvened without administration participation and came to a decision that the invitation should be rescinded.
The UC Berkeley administration cannot and will not accept this decision, which appears to have been based solely on Mr. Maher’s opinions and beliefs, which he conveyed through constitutionally protected speech. For that reason Chancellor Dirks has decided that the invitation will stand, and he looks forward to welcoming Mr. Maher to the Berkeley campus. It should be noted that this decision does not constitute an endorsement of any of Mr. Maher’s prior statements: indeed, the administration’s position on Mr. Maher’s opinions and perspectives is irrelevant in this context, since we fully respect and support his right to express them. More broadly, this university has not in the past and will not in the future shy away from hosting speakers who some deem provocative.
Finally, the unfortunate events surrounding the selection of this year’s winter commencement speaker demonstrate the need to develop a new policy for managing commencement ceremonies. The new process will ensure that these events are handled in a manner commensurate with our values and enduring commitment to free speech. We will be announcing the new policy as soon as it is ready.
Categories: Campus news, Campus Notices, News
Tags: Chancellor Dirks
ucrdem
(15,512 posts)"We're going to rub your faces in this AND use the excuse to claw back a symbolic privilege" 
LittleBlue
(10,362 posts)The kids should be free to form their own view without being forced to listen to him.
If they want a comedian, bring someone who is actually funny like Dave Chappelle
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)The last show business figure asked, Danny Glover, refused to speak at all. Because Berkley had labor disputes and Danny is pro Union. 2007.
LittleBlue
(10,362 posts)The college said it won't honor the vote.
Drunken Irishman
(34,857 posts)They knew Maher when they selected him originally I'm sure. I'm guessing no one thought to disinvite him after all his rants on conservatives or Christians. That's the kicker in all of this, I guess. People are upset he attacked Muslims - but he's been just as brutal and hateful to other groups, too.
alp227
(32,020 posts)Sen. Walter Sobchak
(8,692 posts)This is just a handful of douchebags looking for an opportunity to shout "LOOK AT US, LOOK HOW TOLERANT WE ARE! LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME, YOU OVER THERE WITH THE STARBUCKS CUP, RESPECT MY TOLERANCE, WE'RE BETTER AND MORE TOLERANT THAN YOU" with a megaphone.
It's the same ideological one-upmanship we see here on various subjects.
Voice for Peace
(13,141 posts)a lot of the time my impression of him is an egomaniacal asshole
who thinks he is smarter than everyone else, or at least as.
Arrogant.
And actually, kids, stick to your guns. It is his reputation
on the line. He is a bully.
hedgehog
(36,286 posts)"it's the only religion that acts like the mafia that will fucking kill you if you say the wrong thing, draw the wrong picture or write the wrong book. '
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2014/10/03/bill_maher_vs_ben_affleck_on_islam_mafia_that_will_fucking_kill_you_if_you_say_the_wrong_thing.html
“vast numbers of Muslims want humans to die for holding a different idea,” ... they have “too much in common with ISIS.”
http://thinkprogress.org/world/2014/10/04/3576082/batman-stands-up-for-muslims/
would we be defending his right to speak at Berkley?
noiretextatique
(27,275 posts)i defend his right to free speech, and i defend the student's rights to respond to what he said. tough shit, maher.
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)Early on I understood where he was going is it isn't an isolated band of criminals or isolated ideas but that there are more support for their brand than someone totally clueless that viewed the entirety of the faith as just some people doing their own things. He acts like this falls under the same umbrella when he should be directed these sort of comments to Wahhabi Islam which features more of the orthordox, fundamentalist, right-wing sects of the faith where you find this sort of wanting humans to die stuff. You start looking at Christianity through the same lens and you'll find a lot of the same shit. You may not find the same scale of violence (not much since the 1st, 2nd, and 50's-70's KKK) but he made those specific comments addressing the support of other Muslims and you'll certainly find the same type of support. Pat Robertson suggested we should go ahead and assassinate Hugo Chavez since he seemed to be under the impression that he already was a target and the reasons given, with irony, because he is using Veneuzuela as a launching pad for Communism and the Muslim sect I mentioned.
His guest shown he did have a much lesser understanding when he (paraphrasing - a long the lines with what he said) that those countries, cultures, faith had a problem with us over there after he made the claim that we need to be over there but that our precence was disliked because of "infidels near holy sights" - does Iran 1957 ring a bell? If anyone has shown more hypocrisy in that region.. look at the Yemen civil war. Whose side are they fighting? US claims to dropping drones on Al-Qaeda in Yemen, there are have been many claims they have also targeted the rebels up against the regime allied by Saudi Arabia & Egypt who were allies of the US at the time of the claims. But when you look at what it is ISIS wants, it is another Saudi Arabia(when it comes to penalties and no man-made law only Sharia law type of thing). There have been Muslims fighting the Wahabbi terrorists at one time or another in the region but US aids the other side whenever it is convenient.
Just some general thoughts I had in my head and not entirely directed to you -- Maher makes some good points but he gets locked into this Islam tunnel vision that leads me confused on what it his point his. An acknowledgement? The 4th ranked person in terms of media coverage of the debate made the point that all sorts of notable people of the faith speak out to mess less press. Maher knows there are vast numbers of Muslims that don't do or support those things but leads me confused where he sees a problem which implies a solution or compromise typically but I'm not hearing what that is from him.
When you have a faith which includes ISIS, Ice Cube, and Muhammed Ali under the Islam umbrella it is pretty obvious followers have vastly different views on practicing.
noiretextatique
(27,275 posts)they have every right to respond to you...deal with it.
Nevada Blue
(130 posts)at the university level, where can it be heard?
Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)BubbaFett
(361 posts)you really need to look at yourself.
No one is guaranteed to be free from discomfort.
What a sorry lot.
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)Someone of whatever background the person is claimed of being bigoted against says whoever it is isn't bigoted.
At any rate, that same guy still slams his arguments but if you look at Maher's long history of public comments, I'm sure you can find something bigoted. I think he made a book before beginning of Iraq war in the style of a children's book where TSA is holding up & searching "grandma" while the stereotypical terrorist looking dude is being checked through. IOW, arguing against random checks and in favor of racial profiling.
Orrex
(63,208 posts)Check out entry #4. Why wouldn't a university want to pay top dollar to hear Bill ranting?
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)A conversation with a woman who was friendly and far more considerate relative to the average but only known for a few days was based on a prior comment I made in-relevant to a separate issue about prior service to the military. First book she recommended was non-political about a service-members deployment & after though I forgot the title did seem interesting, second book was written by the guy with the most confirmed sniper kills that died on a gun range. I knew who he was, I seen the threads here. Seemed like kinda of an ass to me but did seem interested in support for returning veterans which was one that killed him for some reason I'm not entirely clear on.
Then she was selling Zero Dark Thirty which I already seen and told her I disliked it with the comment that I felt it was "torture porn". She said something about you don't think things went down as they did in the movie? Oddly, later that very same night I saw on Rachel Maddow explaining with the graphic behind her "Torture did not lead to info that led to Bin Laden(paraphrasing)" but I went into general opposition reasons.
She then said "we should bomb there whole country." I said about relatives who lose loved ones to those bombings, wouldn't they be motivated to join or get revenge like terrorists? She said, so what? They can't take us -- so she went to the "might is right" but for what purpose? I don't know what religion was but I knew which humans had less value in her eyes.
Point is, while some members under the Islam umbrella may say yes on a poll to whether somebody draws Muhammed deserves death, someone told me they support mass graves for no reason except probably racist reasons.
leftyladyfrommo
(18,868 posts)That's what college is supposed to be all about. You are supposed to broaden your horizons not shut them down tighter. Students need to learn to challenge their own opinions on things.
tammywammy
(26,582 posts)He's said pretty repugnant things in the past, especially about women. And the students had no problem selecting him then. And his views on religion aren't hidden.
I kinda view this as the students getting who they selected. Maybe if they had done any sort of research before choosing him they wouldn't be so fucking shocked at his views. I agree with the university that they have to live with their choice.