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alp227

(32,025 posts)

52. Being invited to a university commencement is a big deal for the speaker.

Mon Oct 27, 2014, 04:53 PM

Oct 2014

Last edited Mon Oct 27, 2014, 09:45 PM - Edit history (2)

I think it's more powerful to deny the speaker his resume padder than protest. Does UC Berkeley REALLY want to endorse a trashy, vulgar, anti-science moron like Maher?

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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