Bill Maher, Richard Dawkins Rip ‘Regressive Leftists’ Giving a ‘Free Pass’ to Islam

[flamingdem]

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/bill-maher-richard-dawkins-rip-regressive-leftists-giving-a-free-pass-to-islam/



Bill Maher and Richard Dawkins, two of the most famous atheists in the U.S., both ripped “regressive leftists” for failing to understand they are anything but liberal when it comes to Islam.

They first chatted a bit about the stereotype from conservatives that atheists are “humorless and angry” before Maher said he “fucking hate[s]” liberals too. He and Dawkins lamented how PC and close-minded supposedly liberal college campuses are getting these days.

And then Maher brought up the issue he’s gotten plenty of flak on: Islam. He mocked the idea that it’s a “protected species” while Dawkins said it’s ridiculous to decry criticism of a religion as racist.

[delrem]

1. Well, at least he's not saying that white progressives are racists.

We already have what's called a "low bar" there, that they didn't go under. For which, congratulations.
Instead they set another bar, just as low, and went there.

Aren't they daring?
Now, c'mon all you regressive leftists, take the bait!

[cpwm17]

2. Bill Maher's hatred of Islam is just a cover for his racism and support for war.

Religions suck, including Islam. But Bill Maher's open hatred of Muslims is indistinguishable from racism, because it is racism.

[pscot]

23. Islam is not a race

Are you saying Maher is anti-Semitic?

[cpwm17]

27. He hates Semites by birth and language - Arabs.

That's why he gets off on violence against Arabs. Bill Maher loves violence.

But no, he only is against religion - right. He can fool some people who want to be fooled.

[Bluenorthwest]

33. So then do Arabs hate gay people and get off on violence against us, they do violence to us

under their laws regularly, all of their countries have punitive laws against us, many impose public lashings and even the death penalty.
What is your excuse for that? Why is it wrong to be critical of executing gay people and claiming it was for God? Why do some people get a free pass to hate on a full blown, government enforced basis without any criticism?

Seems to me you are so selective in your outrage that it indicates huge bias on your part.

[delrem]

55. So you hate Islam and you hate Arabs. Equally.

Good for you.

But I'll bet my last dollar that you totally support US mercenary "moderate rebels" in the ME.
I'll bet my last dollar that you believe that those "moderate rebels" that the US pays for exist.

[Bluenorthwest]

78. Of course that is not what I said at all and your casual willingness to bear false witness suggests

you function with a great deal of bias. Anyone can read what I wrote, your mendacity is like a billboard.

[smirkymonkey]

64. I could never understand that one either.

[AlbertCat]

37. He hates Semites by birth and yargle bargel boo boo

So you know him personally!

Where did you meet? In NJ? Did you meet his Jewish Mother and Catholic Father? Or at Cornell? Did you buy pot from him?


Telling jokes and pointing out the absurdities... and dangerous absurdities... of Islam (and other religions) is not hatred.

Its like high school! "Richards disagrees with me so he must hate me...."


And Islam get the most flake because of its hatred (real hatred) of the USA and the West..... and Hindus and anybody else it deems not Islamic enough. It's THE religious problem of the world these days. Not Shinto.

I'm sure neither person has a special hatred of Islam, but Islam at this point in time is raising it's ugly head more than it's "Religion of peace" head. Pointing that out is not hatred.

[smirkymonkey]

65. Don't forget their hatred of the Jews (as evidenced in many recent anti-Jewish

hate crimes committed in Europe by Muslims) and Israel. There doesn't seem to be a lot that they tolerate, therefore I see no need to be charitable in return.

[stranger81]

3. Sorry, Bill.

There's nothing progressive about bigotry.

[Yavin4]

40. But you're okay when he rips Christians?

No?

[delrem]

59. He isn't promoting a war against Christians, or Jews, or

anyone except Arabs and Muslims.

OK?

[Yavin4]

60. What war?

What war is he promoting?

[delrem]

63. The US's "war against Islamic terrorism", which has been going approx. 15 yrs now.

Didn't you notice?

Or do you think context doesn't matter?

[Yavin4]

81. Maher supports war against Islamic terrorism?!?!?!

Since when? He's no neo-con. He criticizes Islam like he does all religions. And rightly so.

[delrem]

90. He singles out Islam for rather special treatment.

Don't say he doesn't, because he does.

The WOT has been happening for 15 years now, and Maher (and you) should know that to be true, and that when there's war there's also war propaganda, demonization, jingoism, and lies piled on lies. Any adult should know that, and should know that when such a context exists and is long term entrenched it should be taken into account and words parsed carefully - because it is dangerous. Adding to the wholesale hate with bigoted generalizations of *all* Muslems, all Arabs, and of entire cultures most certainly is contributing to and supporting the WAR against those peoples. There are other ways of speaking, of discussing matters than crude generalization. And don't tell me that the US only targets "extreme terrorists", that when it destroys entire Arab countries it spares the innocent or even tries to, or that when these so-called atheist crusaders target Islam and Arabs that they are being in any way careful and particular in their language.

It's just too damn easy to hate - to generally hate entire peoples.

[Yavin4]

92. He does not hate people. He hates religion.

He put out a documentary slamming ALL religions. He has given Islam a particular emphasis because some of its followers engaged in acts of violence like the Charlie Hebdo massacre.

It's not ignorant to attack a religion when its followers will kill people over a cartoon!

[delrem]

95. Yah. Right.

[cpwm17]

96. No, has said that Muslims are naturally violent

and the way to deal with Muslims (or Arabs, my memory isn't perfect for his quote) is with violence. He blatantly promotes hatred and violence against US victims of war. It's a common theme for him.

[riderinthestorm]

100. Can you provide a link with Maher stating all Muslims are naturally violent?

And also his statements promoting hatred and violence towards US war victims?

Thanks

[cpwm17]

107. I really wish I could find a link to get an accurate quote

but unfortunately most of the content on his shows aren't searchable. It was something I heard him say years ago, I think in the early years after 9-11.

I wrote that he promotes hatred and violence against US victims of war, meaning he promotes hatred against the world-wide Muslim community. These are the same people that the US has long use as cannon fodder, since well before 9-11.

He dehumanizes Muslims. He openly supports Netanyahu and Israel's wars. He has said that he supports the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians that Israel committed at its creation. He is the last person in the world that anyone should listen to concerning Muslims.

[riderinthestorm]

108. You keep reiterating these points without substantiation

I'm not trying to be adversarial, I'm genuinely interested in watching, listening, reading @ what Maher's said.

Until its verified, I'm skeptical. I've also learned from hard experience that context matters.

I see too many assumptions made @ what people have supposedly said that now I don't automatically believe anyone else's summation anymore. From Michelle and Barack Obama (who are the brunt of ridiculous negative spin) to Mother Theresa (whose unjustifiably lionized), I simply refuse to accept this stuff as "truth" until its demonstrably shown.

You need to provide links for your assertions imo.

I don't mean that antagonistically. I ask in the spirit of genuine curiosity. Thanks

[Yavin4]

105. And he never said, "Arabs"

He criticizes followers of Islam.

[olddots]

4. Maher has some good writers on staff

what comes out of his brain is nothing special and alot of the time very lame .

[shenmue]

51. True

[rug]

5. In between saying, "Fuck their culture", Dawkins was plugging his book.

His second book about himself.

[LukeFL]

6. I agree with bill

[melman]

7. They are 100% right

[demosincebirth]

8. I agree with Maher on this issue. He's right-on on this one. Proof is here on DU.

[Democat]

13. Look at this very thread for proof

If Bill Maher had attacked Christians instead, how many "he's a racist hateful bigot" posts do you think we'd see in this thread?

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

15. "Go, Bill, go!!!!!" would be the cry. n/m

[smirkymonkey]

17. Exactly.

[Scootaloo]

79. Maher distinguishes between crazy and non-crazy chrisitans, but all Muslims are evil

We're also not bombing Christian weddings and hospitals full of christians and selling arms to fundamentalist baptist nations so they can perform genocide against Catholic nations... Yeah, it does make a difference.

[Truprogressive85]

9. bigots

No wonder him and Ann Coulter are such good friends


Maybe he should donate to Pam Gellar, or Le Pen,Geert Wilders

[Warren DeMontague]

10. I don't give a free pass to anyone, particularly when it comes to unscientific dogma.

Unfortunately Maher himself succumbs to that, from time to time, on crap like vaccines.

He should stop giving a free pass to the likes of Jenny McCarthy and her chemtrail homeopathy crowd.

That said, he does have something of a point, as illustrated by the people here who just a few months ago were falling all over themselves desperate to figure out a way to outlaw blasphemous cartoons in the US, despite the 1st Amendment.

[Democat]

11. You only need to read DU to see the truth

Religious fundamentalism is not treated equally here at DU.

[Maedhros]

32. Yes - we should all engage in anti-Islamic hate speech.

That's the ticket.

Wow, how HAVE you escaped the ignore list? Your posts are some pretty stupid shit.

/bye.

[Bluenorthwest]

34. I think we should all engage in strong criticism of all bigoted schools of thought.

You seem to think it is wrong to criticize homophobes for their homophobia. It's not. What is wrong is to look at homophobic cultures and excuse them to serve your own agenda. That is very, very wrong.

[Maedhros]

38. No. People such as Maher cross the line from hating dogma

into hating people. I'm not in favor of fomenting hate toward any group, even those with whom I disagree philosophically.

Maher et al. take positions that nestle right in with right-wing xenophobia and bigotry. I can't condone that.

[delrem]

56. Correct.

And let's not forget that all this psychobabble is product of the PNAC wars.

But I'm supposed to think that Maher is funny.

[Bluenorthwest]

77. I don't agree with you and you did not even attempt to support your assertions beyond preaching

them at me with great certainty. I think you are entirely incorrect and that you are promoting the notion that fundamentalist religion should be protected from criticism and allowed to do as it wishes. Kim Davis thanks you for your advocacy but I very much do not agree with you.
How do you feel about entire nations that foment hate against LGBT, then lash them, then stone them to death? Why do you claim that must not be criticized? That's what Bill is doing. He's not lashing bloggers in the public square. That's the Saudis.

[Bluenorthwest]

80. And yet you dismiss the anti gay bigotry of Francis and insist that a homopbobe is the measure of

who is a progressive.

" I don't know if an adherence to Neoliberalism is at the core of the dislike for Pope Francis.

Many see his views on LGBTQ persons and abortion to be deal-breakers, thus they disregard any position (good or bad) that the Pope may take.

In my opinion we should praise good positions and denounce poor ones, rather than praise or denounce personalities."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7203719

Francis openly fosters the idea that LGBT rights are Satan's idea and that we are inherently disordered. But you don't mind that so much and you also suggest that his critics are 'neo liberals' instead of just LGBT and women who don't care for the trash talk.

[Maedhros]

87. I don't think you read my post.

In my opinion we should praise good positions and denounce poor ones, rather than praise or denounce personalities.

That's hardly an "insist(ence) that a homophobe the measure of who is a progressive."

I'm sorry, but you seem to be a person who thinks they can fight hate with more hate, to the degree that you twist the words of others to vainly attempt to make your point. I have no time for that.

/bye.

[Bluenorthwest]

99. There is no love in what you are saying at all. You dismiss anti gay bigotry out of any and all

religions. You discount it. Then you call those who object to being executed or denigrated 'haters'. Francis says LGBT families are a form of 'child abuse in advance' and that our rights are Satan's idea, and you say his 'good parts' must be praised while his vile bigotry be excused, while you use a very different set of standards for Bill criticizing religion. No 'let's praise the good parts'.
So very obviously your idea of offensive bigotry is not consistent. If the denigrated party are LGBT people, it is fine to say horrible things while we still look at 'the good things'. But if religion is criticized, that's just not acceptable in any way. You call them bigots for objecting to the lash.

[smirkymonkey]

66. Do you really think fundamentalist Islam is beyond reproach?

Seriously? If so, then what are you doing on a liberal website.

[Maedhros]

85. Not at all.

I see Maher et al. engaging in a polemic against Muslims. I have Muslim friends and I find it distasteful.

[Bluenorthwest]

101. And yet you fail to speak about LGBT issues in Islam with anything like honesty.

I think some of you forget that the victims of anti gay and anti woman policy in Islamic countries are almost entirely Muslim.
When I advocate for LGBT persons in Muslim countries I am advocating for Muslims. Advocating for Muslims that have scant advocacy in their home countries, I am speaking for the powerless facing the lash and the executioner.
Why aren't you?

[Blue_In_AK]

35. I think Christian fundamentalists receive their fair share of scorn here,

as well they should. But not all Muslims or Christians are extremists and shouldn't be treated like they are. Bill tends to paint Muslims generally with a broad brush. Yes, he ridicules Christian Fundamentalists, but in a joking way, not in the "be very afraid" way that he seems to ridicule all Muslims. I used to love his show, and I can handle a little of this, but when it comes up week after week, it's hard to take. For those of us with Muslim family and friends, it gets really tiresome.

I realize it's his show and he can do whatever he wants, but I don't have to watch.

[TexasBushwhacker]

52. I think his issue with fundamentalist Christians

is that they're often hypocrites. Here's one example:

[ohheckyeah]

12. I agree

with Maher. I don't give the FLDS or Christian Scientists a pass. Why should Islam get a pass? It's nothing against a race, it's against a religion that is anti gays and anti women. It's leaked into the culture and it sucks.

[romanic]

14. Maher was quite a dick about the 14 year old clock kid.

But otherwise I agree with him on Islam being "protected" among some liberals.

[marmar]

16. With Maher it goes beyond angst over a "free pass" for Islam.....

..... He's an outright Islamophobe.

[Nye Bevan]

18. On DU it often seems that there is more criticism of Christians who refuse to bake cakes

for gay weddings than of Islamists who routinely and brutally execute gay people.

ISIS militants have gone on an execution frenzy in Iraq, murdering at least 20 people in a 48-hour period, including two men “found guilty” of being gay.

Photographs of the killings, shocking even by the group’s barbaric standards, have been circulating on social media since last Thursday.

They include images of two blindfolded men being hauled to the top of a seven or eight story tower before being thrown to their deaths, one at a time, as a large crowd watches from below.

One picture is captioned: “The Muslims come to watch the application of the law.”

http://mobile.news.com.au/world/isis-execution-frenzy-gay-men-thrown-from-tower-17-crucified-adulteress-stoned-to-death/story-fndir2ev-1227189884759

So I do kind of see their point.

[flamingdem]

21. gak!

I am afraid to click that link.

[hifiguy]

46. It would be ironic if it weren't so nauseating. nt

[awoke_in_2003]

54. +1000. nt

[smirkymonkey]

67. This is the mark of a very sick culture. No other religion does these things.

I feel like people have every right to criticize this religion and the cultures that support it. It is vile.

[One of the 99]

19. Maher is a bigot and a hypocrite

Bill Maher says Islam and Christianity are ‘warlike religions’ but Israel ‘kicked ass’ in its ‘little war’

[cpwm17]

22. Islamophobes (Muslimphobes would be more correct) are war lovers.

Last edited Mon Oct 5, 2015, 10:11 AM - Edit history (1)

They love violence much more than the average Muslim.

Bill Maher is a Zionist and he loves Netanyahu and his wars. He has claimed that Muslims only know violence and the way to deal with Muslims is with violence. Bill Maher is evil.

This video doesn't cover Muslims, but it does show Bill Maher's support for violence and war, a war that any sane and moral person should not support:

[hifiguy]

45. Somebody needs to straighten this out.

Upthread Maher is called an anti-semite.

[One of the 99]

72. If you read the whole post

they were referring to arabs.

[riderinthestorm]

102. That video has zero content of Maher saying he thinks Muslims are violent

And the only way to deal with them is violence.

Its 7 minutes of a guy ranting at Maher for saying our wars in Korea and Vietnam helped bring down the Soviet Union. That is a valid history point and can be debated on its merits or not but it certainly isn't a video proving your point.

[Kang Colby]

20. I agree with Bill.

All types of religious fundamentalism is awful and should be shunned. But for whatever reason some people find it posh to make excuses for cultures that execute homosexuals and force women to wear ninja costumes in public. A few months ago many around here were making every argument they could to restrict 1st Amendment protections so no one would be offended by cartoons of some sky fairy.

[Rex]

24. Two bigots having a conversations...yawn.

I lost most of my respect for Maher long ago...Dawkins...lawl...who cares what he says.

[Matrosov]

25. He is 100% correct

Look at Democratic Underground even. People criticize Christianity all the time, and rightly so, yet if someone dares criticize Islam in the same manner, suddenly they're bigoted, racist, and so forth.

Perhaps it's an example of the short-sighted 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend' mentality. Many conservative Christians have a hatred for Islam, and apparently because of this some progressives then have the misguided urge to defend Islam.

Religion is a poison, and the Abrahamic religions are the most dangerous ones.

[arcane1]

28. I think a lot of people want to avoid/prevent actual bigotry against muslims

And so they loop in criticism of beliefs in with criticism of race, just in case. An abundance of caution. For there certainly IS anti-muslim bigotry out there, but criticizing a doctrine doesn't fall under that category.

[arcane1]

26. No belief system and no idea should be immune from criticism.

Otherwise, every DUer would be considered a bigot against republicans.

[riderinthestorm]

29. I'm an equal opportunity religious critic.

DU is prime example that many other people are not. Islam is consistently shielded from critique here especially.

[WestCoastLib]

30. They are right

Islam should be mocked, ridiculued, and raked over the coals by progressive people.

[hifiguy]

44. Damn tootin.

Religion and the atrocities and barbarism committed in its name have received free passed for FAR too long.

[rollin74]

31. Maher & Dawkins are absolutely right about this

religious fundamentalist crazies should not be protected from criticism just because they are Muslim

[Binkie The Clown]

36. The poor, defenseless oppressive mysogynists need our protection.

We can't say anything bad about them or they will slit our throats and then cry alligator tears over being victims.

Since when do oppressors need to be defended? And by "liberals", no less.

It's a good thing DU didn't exist during WWII or we'd be hearing about what anti-Germanic Naziphobes we are, and how we must respect the Nazi belief system because... Because why? What the hell is wrong with people who call themselves "liberal" and yet defend intolerant oppressors and misogynists? Really! What's wrong with you people?

[cpwm17]

39. So Muslims are Nazis now.

Since you brought up Nazis, well then the Nazis weren't racist, they just didn't like Judaism. How does that sound to you? - stupid and racist ... right.

There is a big difference in being anti-religion and racist. Bill Maher's a racist. That's why he likes aggressive wars against Muslims.

[Mosby]

42. and yet you called him a "Zionist" like its some sort of slur

Last edited Sat Oct 3, 2015, 06:39 PM - Edit history (2)

Zionism is the national liberation movement for the Jewish people, it has nothing to do with some politician or warmongering.

[delrem]

58. Is Maher a Zionist?

How can someone be a "Zionist" and yet pretend to be atheistic a la Dawkins, and using as the excuse that because he's atheistic a la Dawkins and so in that sense is "equally against all religion" and therefore impartial, be able to criticize "Islam" or "Islamists", or Arabs?

[Binkie The Clown]

47. So Muslims aren't racists.

They just hate everyone who isn't Muslim.

[cpwm17]

48. So the 1.5 billion Muslims in the World hate everybody else.

That sounds like projection.

[Binkie The Clown]

49. It's their religious duty to kill the infidel.

On edit: Pay particular attention starting at 4:15 in the video when the cleric gives his solution to the problem.

[smirkymonkey]

69. That was sickening.

I am beginning to understand why the UK is reluctant to accept more refugees.

[muriel_volestrangler]

83. That's Anjem Choudary, currently awaiting trial for encouraging support of ISIS

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34154616

Born in Britain in the 1960s, so not really relevant to refugees. He is the most extreme Islamist in Britain - good at publicity. The rough equivalent of the Westboro Baptists.

[Blue_In_AK]

62. My son-in-law is Muslim,

and he loves all of us in the family who aren't, especially my daughter, and vice versa. Yours is the broad brush I was talking about upthread.

[GummyBearz]

73. Is this the new

"Some of my best friends are black" type of argument?

I can play a long... I have several good friends from grad school who are muslim, and a few followed me to my startup. Even though they were born in the ME and are muslim, they are the first ones to paint that land and their own religion with a broad brush.

Whenever I hear them bring up god, it is in some form of "thank god I got a work visa and don't have to go back to that shithole".

[Blue_In_AK]

82. Uh, no, not the same.

For one thing, my SIL is Australian by way of South Africa, so not Middle Eastern, and the Islam he was raised with is not the fundamentalist Middle Eastern variety. The point I was trying to make, with which you apparently agree, is that Muslims, like Christians, fall all along a continuum. There are batshit crazy Christians and batshit crazy Muslims. There are good, kind Christians and good, kind Muslims. And, of course, the same can be said for atheists, Buddhists, whoever.

I think we make a mistake when we define people solely by their religion, their culture, their country of origin, their race, or any other classification. And I realize that Bill Maher is talking about the religion itself, not the adherents (or so he says), but sometimes in his comments, the distinction is blurry.

[smirkymonkey]

68. Ummm...Most Muslims hate Jews as well and would wipe them off the planet if they

had their way.

[Duppers]

41. Agreed. I hate misogyny and any organization that

promotes such thought, bar none.

[hifiguy]

43. They have a good point

and a religion is not a race.

[LostOne4Ever]

50. As this last week shows

[font style="font-family:'Georgia','Baskerville Old Face','Helvetica',fantasy;" size=4 color=teal]Criticize Christianity's homophobia/transphobia/misogyny and you are a bigot who doesn't criticize Islam.

Criticize Islam's homophobia/transphobia/misogyny and you are a bigot who doesn't criticize Christianity.

Point out that you did criticize Christianity/Islam and then you are just an anti-religious zealot.

Whatever it takes to take the spotlight off the bigoted doctrines found in both religions promoting hate. Causing fighting homophobia and transphobia and misogyny takes a back seat to religious privilege to way too many people on the left.

I don't care if you are Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Shinto, Taoist, or whatever. I don't care if you are offended. If you or your religion promotes bigotry against Women and the LGBTQ community I am calling it out.[/font]

[awoke_in_2003]

53. ALL religion deserves mocking (and he does do that) nt

[NonMetro]

57. Islam Is An Oppressive Religion Toward Both Men And Women

Mayer and Dawkins are right to call them out on it. People are not free under Islam, and they never will be. Instead, they submit to it and set reason and rationality aside. In this, however, all religions are essentially the same. People submit to it, and many give up thinking for themselves, deferring instead to their holy books or holy men or women for guidance in their lives. The only difference between countries is the degree of tolerance for those who choose a different path. I choose free thought for myself, but this would not be tolerated in many Muslim countries, just as it was not tolerated in Europe in the Middle Ages.

As to the violence perpetrated in the name of Muslims defending their faith, these are acts of desperate people who are oppressed by their religion and their state. They need enlightenment!

As for us, Western people have spent hundreds of years fighting oppressive Christianity, and we currently have freedom from it's most oppressive forms, but it looks to me like people will now spend hundreds more years fighting oppressive forms of Islam!

[flamingdem]

61. We're still fighting "christianity" here when dealing with fundamentalists

who get into government. So we have a while to go but thankfully not 100 years, i hope!

[NonMetro]

84. I just started a thread on why "In God We Trust" needs to go

A government that favors believers has resulted in this present situation. A lot of people call these "culture wars" but really, it's all religious wars, and virtually every social controversy in this country, including the disruption of our government, is caused by religious people who have been emboldened by a government that believes in God, just as they do. We need to reaffirm that our government is secular, and church and state are separate, and we can't resolve these issues before we do.

In a sense, and I know people will find this amusing, we Americans need to "take our country back" from these religious nut cases!

[flamingdem]

86. I agree and think religion is their excuse to gain

power, the Pope called them out on this to some extent..

[smirkymonkey]

70. +1000

[Oneironaut]

71. I agree with Maher and Dawkins. Just as all fiction is equally fake, all religion is equally

ridiculous. It doesn't matter if that religion is a minority in America - it's still a bunch of unproven folk tales. Somehow, we are allowed to bash Christianity all that we want, but Islam is off limits. We can make parodies of Jesus, but drawing Mohammed is off limits (because of "respect," as they say, of course). Laughing at Islam, and, for example, drawing Mohammed with a bomb on his head isn't racist or wrong any more than any Jesus meme floating around the internet.

You have the right to believe in whatever religion you want, and I have the right to laugh at it and mock it. You have the right to laugh at and mock my lack of religion too. It doesn't make me a racist or bigot, as I am not attacking your race.

I'm tired of the perpetual "persecuted victims" in all religions. If you're such a believer, then it shouldn't matter what anybody else is saying.

[restorefreedom]

74. all religions deserve equal scrutiny

that does not in any way change the fact that maher is a bigoted and insufferable bloviator who likes nothing more than the sound of his own voice. he is also an antisemite imo and hates all religion and is a major hawk. he thinks he is one of the cool kids when he is actually one of the bullies everyone avoids at recess and lunch.

[Fumesucker]

91. Maher's mother is Jewish

Which kind of makes Maher Jewish too...

[restorefreedom]

97. could have fooled me

he is so virulently anti religion who knows what he is. and it doesnt seem to stop him being bigoted against pretty much any religion

[riderinthestorm]

103. So because Maher criticises "pretty much any religion" he's a bigot?

Oookkkay...

[restorefreedom]

104. he doesn't have to like religion

no one does. but he takes a very elitist "i know best" attitude which imo is very obnoxious and insufferable. And it doesn't seem to just be religion that he despises, but the people who practice it. since a large percentage of the worlds population follows some type of religion, it's going to make him look like a petty, elitist and bigoted ass, which he kind of is.

[riderinthestorm]

106. Ah, so he rubs you the wrong way and that earns him the bigot label

I have to admit your post gave me a bit of a laugh so thanks for that. ..Maybe someday you'll see that being a snob doesn't make one a bigot but I'm sure its futile to argue that at this point.

[restorefreedom]

110. he seems to play favorites

as in slamming muslims.

better?

[riderinthestorm]

111. Link?

I'd have to see that before I'd believe it.

[restorefreedom]

112. there are plenty more....

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/01/09/bill-maher-doubles-down-on-islam-terrorists-and-the-mainstream-share-a-lot-of-these-bad-ideas.html

http://muslimvillage.com/2015/10/05/113762/dawkins-maher-seen-bigots/

[riderinthestorm]

113. Both of those articles mistake Maher's critique of Islam

as personal attacks.

I presume you're referencing this quote

“What we’ve said all along, and have been called bigots for it, is when there’s this many bad apples, there’s something wrong with the orchard

The "whole orchard" is Islam. That's made manifest in the rest of the comments buttressed by Salman Rushdies follow up.

Every quote I've ever seen ascribed as bigoted by Maher appears to do this - takes the critique of Islam as a personal attack.

[restorefreedom]

114. i did notice that quote

but there were others in those two articles. he appears to think there are inherent flaws (my words not his) in the religion. he may feel there are such flaws in other religions as well, but he seems to have special feelings towards muslims. perhaps others think he is anti christian or anti (whatever).

it is my take on his attitude and words. others may see it differently.

[davidn3600]

75. The problem is the hypocrisy. I agree Islam gets protected status.

Christianity (and even Judaism to an extent) gets totally TRASHED on this forum. It's no holds barred when it comes to attacking Christianity around here, just like other progressive circles.

Yet when it comes to Islam...it's protected. Even though Islam treats women like shit. Islam treats homosexuals like shit. Islam has fundamentalists in their ranks just as Christianity does. And it's bigotry to point this out? It's racist to hold Islam to the same criticism and standards that we demand of Christianity?

I'm agnostic. I don't particularly care for any of these organized religions. And I really don't care what religion other people believe in as long as they don't try to jam it down my throat and expect me to change my beliefs and give up my freedoms. But if you are going to sit here and attack the Vatican, attack the Pope, attack Christians and Jews for what they do and what they believe in, I would expect you to hold Islam to equal standards.

[Yavin4]

93. +1000

Exactly. Esp. when followers of Islam kill people because of a cartoon, and it's bigoted to criticize them?!?!?

[Meldread]

76. I'm a proud liberal.

Being a liberal means that I have a set of values. At the center of those values are a respect for human rights. When I tell the Christian religious right to go fuck themselves, it is because I consider them an enemy of those values, and I get cheers from fellow liberals. When I tell the Islamic religious right to go fuck themselves, it is because I consider them an enemy of those same values, and I get boos and jeers from fellow liberals. However, who is the hypocrite? I know what I believe in and stand for, and I don't give a shit whether your religion comes from the Bible or the Koran, if it's leading you to abuse other human beings, deny other human beings equal rights or basic dignity, then it's going to feel my scorn.

I know where I stand. I stand on the side of human rights and equality. When I criticize the United States, it is not because it happens to be the United States. It is because the United States is acting in a way that deserves to be criticized. When I criticize Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, or other countries of the Middle East, it is because they are acting in a way that deserves to be criticized.

This is how you tell the real liberals from the false liberals. Real liberals are consistent, and have a set of core beliefs that they defend. False liberals only like to appear that they are right on the issues, but they have no real moral core. They are liberals because they want pats on the back for "standing for the right thing." So, they are easily confused (for some bizarre reason) when a real liberal levels legitimate criticism at some outside group of people. They know, on some level, that a fundamental part of liberalism is respect and tolerance for cultural and religious diversity. Yet, for some reason, they haven't quite grasped that there are limits to that respect and tolerance. So, they have a ridiculous knee jerk reaction, whereas the limits of tolerance and respect are obvious for real liberals, because our fundamental principles make it easy to tell who is stepping outside of what should be reasonably acceptable.

False liberals are regressive leftists. They should either be purged from the movement, or revealed for what they truly are--there should be no place at the table for those who do not share real liberal values. They simply drag the entire movement down.

[smirkymonkey]

88. Bravo!

Well said!

[hifiguy]

115. An EXCELLENT post.

[Arkana]

94. Fucking Dick Dorkins needs to shut up and stick to his field.

[leftynyc]

98. Dawkins and Maher are right

And one need look no further than this site right here. Islam consistently gets a pass. And if you don't also trash Christianity - even when the thread has nothing to do with Christianity - you're a bigot. It's nauseating.

[patsimp]

109. Bill Maher is right on this one.