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Bill Maher and Sam Harris arguing with Ben Affleck about Islam

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by AroundTheWorld, Oct 4, 2014.

  1. AroundTheWorld

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    <iframe width="640" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/XduMMteTEbc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

    ‘It’s gross, it’s racist’: Ben Affleck and Bill Maher clash over criticizing Islam

    ll Maher and author and neuroscientist Sam Harris battled actor/director Ben Affleck on Real Time on Friday concerning Maher’s recent remarks criticizing Islam.

    “Why are you so hostile about this?” Maher asked Affleck.

    “It’s gross, it’s racist,” Affleck replied.

    “It’s so not,” Maher insisted, though Affleck compared it to using the term, “Shifty Jew.”

    “You’re not listening to what we are saying,” Maher insisted.

    “You guys are saying, if you want to be liberal, believe in liberal principles,” Affleck said, referencing Maher’s monologue last week. “Like, we are endowed by our forefathers with inalienable rights, all men are created equal.”

    Harris, who had complained about criticism of the Muslim religion being dismissed as Islamophobic, countered that liberals should be allowed to criticize bad ideas.

    “Islam is the motherload of bad ideas,” Harris argued.

    “Jesus,” Affleck said in frustration.

    “That’s just a fact,” Maher said, backing Harris up.

    Journalist Nicholas Kristof then cut in, telling Maher he was painting an “incomplete” picture of the religion by failing to account reformers like activist Malala Yousafzai.

    “Or how about the more than a billion people who aren’t fanatical, who don’t punish women, who just want to go to school, have some sandwiches, and don’t do any of the things you say all Muslims do?” Affleck said.

    But Harris countered that the strongest voices in Islam belong to not only extremists, but conservative Muslims who, while criticizing terrorist groups, still follow practices that keep other members of their communities “immiserated.”

    “It’s the only religion that acts like the mafia,” Maher said. “They will *****ing kill you if you say the wrong thing, draw the wrong picture, or write the wrong book.”

    Former Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele pointed out that Muslim clerics from several countries have condemned the actions of groups like the Islamic State, without getting much attention for it.

    “Where was the coverage?” Steele asked. “Where was that story to create a different picture?”

    Affleck then rebuffed Maher’s attempt to laugh the discussion off.

    “I’m simply telling you, I disagree with you,” Affleck said, before Maher cut him off.

    “I know, and we’re obviously not convincing anybody,” Maher said.

    Maher did not address criticism directed toward him by religious scholar Reza Aslan, who said on CNN that his views on the religion were “not very sophisticated.”

    http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/10/...-and-bill-maher-clash-over-criticizing-islam/

    -------------------------------------

    Maher and Harris are right. Ben Affleck comes off as a huge douche and dumbass.

    Some of the best comments on Youtube:

     
  2. Dave_78

    Dave_78 Member

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    Affleck did swing and miss on this. I laughed when he challenged Sam Harris' credentials on the matter. It was a bad showing for Bruce Wayne and he was too stupid to realize it.
     
  3. downbytheriver

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    Afflech is doing the typical hollywood shtick. Act all high and mighty while not really grasping the complexities and minor details of the issue. Doesn't stop hollywood bs artists from running their mouths. IS THE AMERICAN PUBLIC SMART ENOUGH TO GRASP THIS????!
     
  4. downbytheriver

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    Wow, afflack is so out of his league here. Sam Harris repeatedly mentioned it's not about the jihadists and extreme's, but the so called conservatives (distanced from isil) who harbor all these wrong views about the world. the religion is flawed. He needs to get away from his "yes" group of celeb worshippers and live in reality for a while.
     
  5. what

    what Member

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    Obviously Bill Maher and Sam Harris's goal was to attack liberalism by saying if you support Islam you support the killing of women and the mafia. How could anybody find that NOT offensive.

    Besides that, Bill Maher lampoons Christianity regularly so it is clear that he has very little respect (if any) for religion in general. Valuing Bill Maher's opinion on this subject is dicey at best.
     
    2 people like this.
  6. AroundTheWorld

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    what?
     
  7. rhino17

    rhino17 Member

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    I don't necessarily disagree with anything he is saying, but Bill Maher comes across as an absolute douchebag in almost any scenario, so I would bother watching
     
  8. what

    what Member

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    I don't agree with your premise that Harris and Maher are right and that Affleck, as you so eloquently put it, "comes off as a huge douche and [sic] dumbass."

    Is that simple enough?
     
  9. AroundTheWorld

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    what?
     
  10. Bandwagoner

    Bandwagoner Contributing Member

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    Maher takes the douche award and he always will but Affleck just puts his fingers in his ears and hums. You can see it plainly towards the end of the video.
     
  11. fchowd0311

    fchowd0311 Contributing Member

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    Affleck is way over his head againt Sam Harris.
     
  12. txppratt

    txppratt Contributing Member

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    hollywood douchebaggery
     
  13. Bobbythegreat

    Bobbythegreat Member
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    The easiest way to look smart is to argue with Ben Affleck
     
  14. RedRedemption

    RedRedemption Contributing Member

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    This is why I completely lost interest in politics, the most prevalent figures on either side of the political spectrum are the loudest and most belligerent, condescending, assholes you can find.
     
  15. Sweet Lou 4 2

    Sweet Lou 4 2 Contributing Member
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    <object width="640" height="360"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/PzusSqcotDw?hl=en_US&amp;version=3&amp;rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/PzusSqcotDw?hl=en_US&amp;version=3&amp;rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="360" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
     
  16. Exiled

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    Maher was raised as A Jew but could't take it..,he pash all religions..but some ignorant bring the Muslims part only!
     
  17. Deji McGever

    Deji McGever יליד טקסני

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    Part of the problem is inviting Hollywood actors on shows like this in the first place. It's not like we are watching a real debate of ideas...it's fodder for a very down-market television audience that's not very politically aware. Of course he's out of his league trying to argue with Sam Harris...but I'd much rather see an Egyptian intellectual in that role and seeing a grown-up discussion instead to looking for 15 second soundbites to get Bill Maher's audience to clap.
     
  18. Nook

    Nook Member

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    Your Jew hatred is showing through. Bill Maher was raised Catholic, he didn't even know of his mother having Jew blood until later.
     
  19. Nook

    Nook Member

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    In general I agree with you but I have seen Paul Newman and more recently George Clooney school "experts".
     
  20. Bandwagoner

    Bandwagoner Contributing Member

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    You were able to understand his post? Is he saying Maher only hates Islam?
     

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