In Bill Maher's own words, policing pc language is the wrong focus

[mnhtnbb]

I have to say that I'm a fan of Bill Maher. Do I agree with everything he says? No. I have seen his stand up show--twice--here
in Durham, NC. Bill's mistake last night--and I saw the show live--was to forget he was on live tv and respond as a stand up comedian.
He did cover the comment immediately: "it's a joke", he told the audience.

I also have lived in Nebraska. I know what Ben Sasse was talking about in terms of working in the fields. Lots of corn needs detasseling,
and it's usually done by teenagers. Nebraska has special rules to allow kids--yes, kids as young as 12--to work at these jobs. But let's not focus
on the child labor involved, let's criticize Bill Maher for his use of language.

http://www.notafraidtosweat.com/faq/

So, Ben Sasse can go fuck himself. Bill's comment might have been not pc in terms of choice of words, but he was right on in terms of the labor that Sasse was inviting him to do.

Bill is right--in the video posted above--we liberals have to focus on the issues and not the choice of words.


On edit: and here's a story about migrant labor working in Illinois to detassel corn.


Farm labor, among the most backbreaking and lowest-paid jobs, is, for many, an honorable career passed from generation to generation.

But it also is subject to conditions not tolerated in most other industries. Agricultural laborers are exempt, in federal and Illinois law, from receiving overtime pay. Children can work in the fields as young as 12.

The composition of the farm labor force, which toils largely out of public view, gives workers little leverage to challenge poor treatment, worker advocates say.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-migrant-farm-workers-corn-detassling-0807-biz-20160805-story.html

[bettyellen]

1. "Not PC" is boundary trampling disrespectful bullsht. Who does "not PC"

Represent but disrespectful childish white men who refuse to listen to POC and women- and treat their concerns with complete disregard. Way to talk to the real base of the party, assholes. We've had enough of the slurs.

[mnhtnbb]

2. I will come down on the side of paying attention to the issues every time.

The invitation to come work in the corn fields of Nebraska should be the focus of the issue
not Bill Maher's characterization of why he would prefer not to do that kind of labor.

But in the moment of live television (have you ever done it? or even taped it?) let's be sure to criticize
Bill's choice of words.

[bettyellen]

4. You don't actually think the use of slurs by powerful men IS an issue? It is.

It's actually a huge cultural issue. Your mistake in excluding it- I get that it's not important for YOU.
That's what I see here, a whole lot of me me me.
WTF happened to solidarity?

[mnhtnbb]

7. WTF happened to Democrats being concerned about child/immigrant labor?

[bettyellen]

8. That isn't the topic. Can you only hold one concern at once for some reason?

Or is this just a desperate ploy to change the topic?
Again, very disrespectful. Not playing this game.

[SaschaHM]

3. If "House n*gger" and Bill Maher is the hill that white liberals want to die on,

then so be it.

But don't come at Black and/or Muslims Democrats/progressives/liberals/allies with this "focus on the issues" bullshit whenever Maher fucks up (and this flap isn't the first). No one is forcing him to say or do these things. No one is forcing you to defend him.

Slurs don't roll off my tongue w/ ease on national television when I'm speaking about "the issues". And I'm sure throwing around "house n*gger" when talking about the issues is really going to bring people to our side.

[Adrahil]

5. Maher shouldn't have said that IMO.

I also don't think it is the end of the world.

[mnhtnbb]

6. I'm not trying to defend him. It clearly was a mistake. I am trying to get people to

realize that the labor Ben Sasse was inviting him to come do is primarily done by kids as young as 12. They are paid very little.
It is not well paid. If they can't find kids to do it, it's done by migrants who come from other states.

It's not all family farms anymore in Nebraska, either. It's corporate owned farms. FFS, isn't labor on farms an issue for Democrats?

I have to agree with Bill Maher that focusing on language is a distraction. How about focusing on the issues of child/migrant farm labor?

[SaschaHM]

9. We could have done that if Maher didn't use the word "House N*gger"...

Racism and the use and acceptance of racist language is an issue to many folks. If I'm called a "N*gger" while I'm walking down the street or trying to shop, that's an issue for me. So why don't you focus on that issue and instead of dismissing it because a white man that you liked used it?

How many votes against child/migrant labor did "House N*gger" get you and Bill Maher?

How about you don't use racist fucking language to describe your issue?

[bettyellen]

11. Exactly right. To say it's "not an issue" reeks of entitlement.

[Quayblue]

19. Thank you.

[bettyellen]

10. "A distraction" I.e. No skin off your nose.

[Major Nikon]

12. Bring out the word police who have zero regard for context

[bettyellen]

13. Bring out the hysterical references to "policing" as if this isn't a result of free speech.

Market forces made Mr. "never apologize" eat his words- that's free speech in all it's glory, LOL.

[Major Nikon]

21. Interesting choice of words

Seeing as how the word "hysterical" is derived from the Greek word for womb. I suppose if someone is looking for reasons to be offended over words, there's an argument to be made there.

[bettyellen]

22. Women are encouraged to use hysterical to describe men w hair on fire....

Love your demo of faux outrage though. And lack of an honest reply - LOL

I see you!

[Major Nikon]

23. So why do you think that is

Perhaps it's because using that word in a different context takes away from it's original meaning, no?

[bettyellen]

24. Your pivot was already rejected. HA

I see you!

[Major Nikon]

25. You stole my line!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doublethink

[bettyellen]

26. No, I think your beloved "word police" must have confiscated it because I want nothing from you....

And that's exactly what I got. Zero regard over here. HA

[Rustyeye77]

14. Great video...thanks for posting.

hes 100% spot on.

[Paladin]

15. Liberals need to quit giving Maher cover for incidents like this.

The fact is, Maher is drifting further and further right as time goes on. His Islamophobia has been over-the-top toxic for some time now. His lectures about how fucked up liberals are, turn up a lot more often than they used to. I stopped watching his show some time ago; don't miss it a bit.

[Rustyeye77]

16. I couldnt DISAGREE more.

sorry

[Paladin]

17. No need to apologize. (nt)

[loyalsister]

18. That was 45's platform

He complained about it over and over, giving cover for his supporters to be as hateful as possible. In that regard this anti-PC thing is a team trump tactic intended to make hate comfortable. Will the new targets be people who think not showing basic respect is a problem?

[pnwmom]

20. In Bill Maher's own words, he APOLOGIZED. He recognized he shouldn't have said it. n/t