Posted on 10/07/2014 12:17:14 PM PDT by right-wing agnostic
Last Friday night a rare dialogue/debate took place on American television. It was rare because it involved criticism of Islam, one of the many taboo subjects that are labeled "politically incorrect." And it took place on the program "Real Time with Bill Maher," a show not generally known for taking politically incorrect positions. But on this night the host, Bill Maher, along with atheism-advocate Sam Harris, had a vigorous debate with Actor Ben Affleck, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, and former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele.
Bill Maher, a man of the left on virtually every issue, began by defending liberalism's honor against liberal hypocrisy on the subject of Islam:
"Liberals need to stand up for liberal principles. ... Liberal principles like freedom of speech, freedom to practice any religion you want without fear of violence, freedom to leave a religion, equality for women, equality for minorities including homosexuals -- these are liberal principles that liberals applaud for [pointing to his audience], but then when you say in the Muslim world this is what's lacking, then they get upset."
Sam Harris then added:
"Liberals have really failed on the topic of theocracy. They'll criticize ... Christians; they'll still get agitated over the abortion clinic bombing that happened in 1984, but when you talk about the treatment of women and homosexuals and free thinkers and public intellectuals in the Muslim world, I would argue that liberals have failed us. And the crucial point of confusion is that we have been sold this meme of 'Islamophobia,' where every criticism of the doctrine of Islam gets conflated with bigotry toward Muslims as people. That's intellectually ridiculous."
Ben Affleck and Nicholas Kristof -- along with, sad to say, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee -- would have none of that.
(Excerpt) Read more at townhall.com ...
The Men Without Burkas get it on!
along with, sad to say, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee
I’d forgotten that the loser Michael Steele was on that show and on the wrong side as usual.
Regarding Maher: Remember that a broken clock is correct twice a day.
Ahmed Ben Affleck displays his ignorance, again.
Bookmark........love Prager.
girly boys fighting alert!
Liberals think their shared hatred will save them from the headsman.
...the religion of peace.
"The fundamental problem for the West is not Islamic fundamentalism. It is Islam, a different civilization whose people are convinced of the superiority of their culture and are obsessed with the inferiority of their power. "The problem for Islam is not the CIA or the US department of Defense. It is the West, a different civilization whose people are convinced of the universality of their culture and believe (in) ....the obligation to extend that culture throughout the world."
---- Samuel Huntington
I'm guessing you left out something significant in the ellipsis, since the second part of this statement is not the least bit true. Western intellectuals and their sheep don't believe in any obligation to extend their culture throughout the world. Far from it.
Isn’t it interesting that Harris and Maher are both aghast that anyone would call them an islamaphobe, yet “homophobe” is a perfectly acceptable term in their minds.
Maher has actually been consistent about this, and has even compared fundamentalist Christianity very favorably to Islam, on a previous occasion going as far as to say, “you can say anything you want about Christians. Try doing the same thing with Islamists and you’ll get your head chopped off.”
But of course the West has been aggressively (or substitute "assertively") extending its culture for 500 years. Every time George W. Bush opened his mouth to talk about Iraq and Afghanistan, he was reminding us that we are extending the ideals of constitutional government, regularly scheduled elections, freedom of the press, speech, religion, all men are created equal--- all these taken as universal norms.
Others want to extend a level of material culture: iPods, WiFi, cars, weapons, beef, beer, running water, flush toilets, Disney World and porn. All those billions in advertising/marketing dollars aren't going for nothing, you know.
“The secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant.” Maximilien Robespierre
“We know that it is wrong to treat our neighbor as we would the devil. We need to be reminded that it is equally wrong to treat the devil as we should our neighbor.” Nicholas Frankovich
Whatever you think about Bill Mahr, his opinion about Islam is spot on.
This is his way of getting in good with big money Muzzies so he can be sure to have no money problems for his campaign when he decides to announce his plans.
JMHo
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