Bill Maher on PC atheists.......

[Brian37]

[Raven]

As tends to be the case with Bill Maher, I both agree and disagree with him. Yes, the kind of stuff that goes on in these Islamic theocracies is pretty unreal. That such actions as genital mutilation and "honor" killings should be be routine in these places is deeply disturbing. It's wrong and there is nothing relativistic about it. I see nothing there to be PC about. It isn't OK that people be treated like that just because that is what happens in their culture, and we shouldn't judge. Bullshit. Wrong is wrong. The rest of the planet is living in the twenty first century, they need to do so also.

But there isn't a lot about it that we can do of a practical nature. If people are going to insist on living with these barbaric ancient values, what can other nations really do about it? They can have whatever laws they want. And in the backwater tribal areas people are going to do as they always have until they themselves decide different. We can get outraged all we want, but I rather think that they could not care any less.

Some of the PC stuff he mentioned was a bit much, but you will always have those who try too hard I suppose. But such issues as getting served by this or that business? Yes, that does count. Used to be in this country once you could not get served a cup of coffee in this country if your skin was the wrong color. It took a quite a lot of doing to get that changed. The LGBT community should not have to settle for second class status in this society. Maher should not belittle that. Those are our issues, fortunately we live in a country that does not have the problems of "honor" killings and genital mutilation others do. Does that mean we should not address what issues we do have? I don't think he'd want us to. They are real, and they do matter, and they are ours so we can actually address them.

[Mudhammam]

As tends to be the case with Bill Maher, I both agree and disagree with him. Yes, the kind of stuff that goes on in these Islamic theocracies is pretty unreal. That such actions as genital mutilation and "honor" killings should be be routine in these places is deeply disturbing. It's wrong and there is nothing relativistic about it. I see nothing there to be PC about. It isn't OK that people be treated like that just because that is what happens in their culture, and we shouldn't judge. Bullshit. Wrong is wrong. The rest of the planet is living in the twenty first century, they need to do so also.

But there isn't a lot about it that we can do of a practical nature. If people are going to insist on living with these barbaric ancient values, what can other nations really do about it? They can have whatever laws they want. And in the backwater tribal areas people are going to do as they always have until they themselves decide different. We can get outraged all we want, but I rather think that they could not care any less.

Some of the PC stuff he mentioned was a bit much, but you will always have those who try too hard I suppose. But such issues as getting served by this or that business? Yes, that does count. Used to be in this country once you could not get served a cup of coffee in this country if your skin was the wrong color. It took a quite a lot of doing to get that changed. The LGBT community should not have to settle for second class status in this society. Maher should not belittle that. Those are our issues, fortunately we live in a country that does not have the problems of "honor" killings and genital mutilation others do. Does that mean we should not address what issues we do have? I don't think he'd want us to. They are real, and they do matter, and they are ours so we can actually address them.

Pretty sure you largely missed his point.

[Minimalist]

Yes, the kind of stuff that goes on in these Islamic theocracies is pretty unreal.

It's the 'rearrange-the-deckchairs-on-the-Titanic' analogy, Raven.

The damage control team looks at the situation and says:

1. We can't stop the flooding.
2. There aren't enough lifeboats.
3. We can rearrange the deckchairs. Let's get busy.

You are correct. We can't do much to make backwards tribal morons less tribal or less moronic. That does not mean we should not denounce it in the strongest possible terms.

[Mudhammam]

He said nothing that could be remotely construed as belittling the efforts and victories acquired in expanding civil liberties and equality before the law. He was pointing out the hypocrisy that is prevalent with many of the same "liberals" who champion Islam as a religion of peace and suppress the critical voices.

[The Grand Nudger]

fortunately we live in a country that does not have the problems of "honor" killings and genital mutilation others do.

Oh? What, praytell, is circumcision...... or a "crime of passion"?

[Brian37]

I agree with Bill, do not get angry at the wrong people for getting angry at the right people.

Now he does have a case about minorities too. Yes, go after the bigots, but use your own voice, but don't forget that making demands of silence and setting up taboos is not the way to solve issues of bigotry.