Bill Maher: Western culture isn't just different, it's better.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

On "The Daily Show," Jon Stewart relatively soft-pedaled his defense of fellow Comedy Central employees, "South Park's" Matt Stone and Trey Parker, against a group of Muslim critics. Over at HBO this weekend, though, Bill Maher wasn't holding anything back. On his show "Real Time With Bill Maher," the show's every-incendiary host opined during his segment "New Rules:"

"When South Park got threatened last week by Islamists incensed at their depiction of Muhammad, it served -- or should serve -- as a reminder that our culture isn't just different than one that makes death threats to cartoonists. It's better." In his defense of the First Amendment and other Americal civil liberties, Maher -- who made the film "Religulous" -- continued: "The Western world needs to make it clear: Some things about our culture are not negotiable. And can't change. And one of them is freedom of speech, Separation of church and state is another."

Completely spot-on observation about real differences in cultures, one that will not play well with PC police. Bill Maher is certainly no friend of religious people; and gives grief equally to Christianity, Judaism, Scientology, and Mormons as you will see. But he specifically singles out Isalm with the recent actions in Afganistan and the Taliban's attack on an all girls school.

Comments

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

So long, Bill Maher. It was nice knowing thee.

[merig00.livejournal.com]

Ooh no we are better than others? What happened to Maher?

[medea34.livejournal.com]

I love bill maher - I don't think there is anything wrong with saying American culture(with it's freedom of expression & theoretical separation of church & state) is superior to a theocracy. Matt and Trey (and any one else) should be free to mock the (IMO) insane beliefs of Muslims, Christians, Mormons, Jews and Any group that asserts that the real world should operate in accordance with the edicts of their imaginary friends.

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

Hey the western world was kind of shitty until we told the Catholic Church to piss off and stop interfering with secular governments. Most of the Islamic world doesn't have any real concept of the separation of church and state and certainly things like freedom of speech and freedom of religion are somewhat alien.

I would argue that the less guided by religious mythology a culture is, the better it is.

[blorky.livejournal.com]

The monologue was very funny, but he did quaintly omit abortion doctor killers from his list of Christian terrorists. No, it's not the same scale as occurs with the excesses of Islam, but the omission was in bad faith, IMO.

[pastorlenny.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the great thing about the western democracies is that we rape and pillage other countries -- instead of just oppressing our own people.

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

Leaving aside that Islam has had separation of Church and state for over 1,000 years while the West has had it for maybe 200 at max.....

Would this be the Western world where in some cases freedom of speech means banning Holocaust denial? The Western world where freedom of religion translates to discrimination against Muslims? The Western world where freedom of speech meant censorship of things like Lady Chatterly's Lover?

[mijopo.livejournal.com]

It's incredible to me that Maher is so sanguine about the state of freedom of speech in America. After all he suffered fairly directly from the post - 9/11 chilling that occurred and it was in reference to him that Ari Fleischer, infamously said, "all Americans that they need to watch what they say, watch what they do".

Bill Maher on America

[verytwistedmind.livejournal.com]

Are we a great country or are we a stupid country? Is the only thing worth preserving in Mr. Maher's overly touted opinion; free speech?

He's like that old joke "Even a broken clock is right twice a day". He's overall opinion of the United States is one of contempt.

I never know what is meant by free speech in this context?

[futurebird.livejournal.com]

Free speech comes with responsibility. If you do something ugly or inconsiderate expect to be called on it. What is frustrating to me is that not all critics of depictions of Muhammad have would threatening violence over it. (Which is stupid, and embarrassing in its own way.) But the conversation only seems to focus on the violent idiots.

There are plenty of people who simply don't understand why simply having respect for others is so difficult. It pains me to see a cultural icon trashed, without pause or consideration. I will not watch or in any way support South Park after they have done this. They are acting like rude little two-year-olds throwing a tantrum. And Maher is worse!

"Free speech Free speech Free speech Free speech!"

It's sickening to listen to people who have the money and power to command the media's lens complain about free speech-- they have more free speech and ANYONE --so many people never have the chance to have their ideas or views thrust into public view so prominently. Well, they have every right to exercise their freedom and earn my contempt, but it's pathetic to complain about "Free speech" when you work in media.

Yet the "other side" of the story remains reduced to a caricature-- as if anyone who could possibly be upset by this must be some kind of backward clueless humorless fundamentalist who wants to blow up the western world. (I'm not saying such people don't exist, they do...)

This isn't about "free speech" what he really wants is the right to talk over everyone else so his is the only voice we can hear.

[medea34.livejournal.com]

bill maher is on the LEFT!!!! a guy who is opposed to government doing anything but what people absolutely can't do for themselves" is considered to be on the LEFT??? a guy who wants to privatize social security is on the LRFT?

i don't think the left can claim someone like bill maher for their side of he fight. i don`t think the right can either. his view points don`t fall along party lines - hence the bizarro voting history (bob dole, ralph nader, john mccain - until sara palin got into the mix).

and i totally love his "tactless, crude, unoriginal, infantile" ass, even though i don't agree with about half of the positions he takes.

[dv8nation.livejournal.com]

I'm with Maher. Western Civ has its flaws, but when you look at the other options they're more messed up. Living in Asia really drove that home for me.