Bill Maher slanderously attacked the pope and Catholics everywhere, and for that alone he MUST be fired! - He lied when he called Pope Benedict XVI a ?Nazi.? - He lied about Pope Benedict coordinating a cover-up. - Continued bigotry and hate speech toward all people of faith for nearly two decades.
If Bill Maher had said these things about Jews, Muslims or African-Americans, he would have been fired that day!
Call your cable or satellite provider and CANCEL HBO until Maher is fired. Be sure to explain why you are cancelling. No "damage control" apology will suffice!
Sign the petition and demand that HBO get Bill Maher off the air NOW!! "
I don't agree with demanding Bill Maher be pulled off the air because I do believe in freedom of speech, but he better be prepared for the consequences, and he should bring in Catholic Scholars, or Catholic Media person, for example from EWTN, to rebut or have dialouge about these accusations. The other side should at least be heard, but I highly doubt it because it is Bill's show, and if it stirs up controversy then its good for the show and it is good for the network. I understand the ratings and economics, and that's probably why he brings his friends on the show, instead of an objective voice that could possibly make him look "Infallable," on his own show.
I've come out of retirement to comment on about Bill Maher's movie Religiosity or something like that. He stated something to the effect that most religious people are stupid. I partially agree with him, but in this sense. Most mainstream people make statements out of ignorance, including religious people. However, look at who he is interviewing. He is not interviewing noted theologians, priests, bishops, pastors.
Of course in the mainstream people always say what the feel instead of what they can prove. They always lack the empirical evidence. For instance when it come to voting for OBAMA, all I hear is because he wants to change and because he is black and they want to help him make history. They don;t talk about his voting record or his accomplishments.
Faith does not oppose reason, and when people think that is does it is because they are taking their evidence out of context.
For instance, Atheist. They claim they do not believe in God because God cannot be proven. It is like a kaleidoscope, if you only look at one prism and color, you miss out on the entire content of the kaleidoscope. Take all information and form your own opinion. Of course an atheist who solely trusts science is going to say that, if they don't believe in the supernatural or mysticism, same as the fundamentalist who takes the bible literally and does not understand that the bible is a book of faith, not solely history. There are many literary devices going on in the bible. You have to take it on faith, and if an atheist says he does not have faith he is full of crap. He has faith that when he gets in his car, it will start. He has faith that when he gets to a stop light, most people will obey the rules of the road, or he would never get in his car in the first place.
So, instead of making this a blog about attacking, lets have an open discussion before pegging all religious people as zealots and nuts. There are very articulate and learned people who are scientists, politicians, teachers, and journalist. There are even priests who are scientist in the field of stem cell research (skin cell, not stem cell). Those are the people that need to address the religious attacks and questions you may have, instead of assuming that all religious people have faith without reason.
So my new blog will be Faith and Reason. Please ask me questions about the Catholic Church and its teachings. I will explain any misconception or stereotypes, or answer genuine questions. There is just to much division and this is my way of at least shedding some light and educating people, not judging and things of that nature.
I did not write this. This was an email that was forwarded, but I thought it was pretty funny to share.
" >> Okay, here's the plan: >> >> >> >> Back off and let those men who want to marry men, marry men. >> >> >> >> Allow those women who want to marry women, marry women. >> >> >> >> Allow those folks who want to abort their babies, abort their >> babies. >> >> >> >> In three generations, there will be no Democrats!!! >> >> >> >> Damn, I love it when a plan comes together!
Despite the back and forth bantering, attacking, and debating about religion, I do appreciate something great at the core of the discussion and that is everyone appreciates Jesus Christ.
The nice thing is that no one has attacked Jesus Christ as the person and teacher. The people carrying out the message have been attacked, and in some cases they have brought upon themselves with their harsh rhetoric and defense of scandal.
But I am very happy no one has taken a shot at Jesus and to non believers, agnostics, atheists, pagans, and people who despise organized religion, thanks for not going there.
Roland you stated: "Organized religions have been more of a curse than a benefit to civilization. One needs to look only at the present, and not the past to verify this! The conflicts that have taken place recently between Catholic and Protestant in Northern Ireland, the conflicts that have taken place between Sikh, Hindu, and Muslim in India, or the conflicts now being fought between Jew, Christian, and Muslim in the Middle East. The histories of the three Abrahamic religions in particular are covered in blood."
You are talking about extremists. Every single religion you referenced are not this extreme. Yes extremist and fanaticism exist, but is every single person in every single religion this way. Is that why there is an effort and success of Ecumenical cooperation? Of course they were covered in blood, much like early man fighting for survival against other clans? Just like things that are covered in blood that have nothing to do with Religion, but more to do with politics.
Aren't their protestants, catholics, muslims, hindus who can be in a room without killing each other, and focus their conversation about agreement that their is a higher power that we can never understand that teaches us the importance of Morality?
Roland, I just read your Da Vinci code blog. Very entertaining and informative, but totally slanted.
You stated: "to the Crusades where knights bearing the cross of the Holy Roman Empire tried to impose their will on Arabs as well as many of their own countrymen, the Catholic Church has shown that whatever it's original purpose, it wanted above all to maintain control and domination."
Yes, the knights templar became greedy and that is why they were disbanded. Did you forget to mention why this all started? Remember before the Crusades began, That Rome was sacked by Moors. And lets not forget, The Moors were determined to keep Christianity from spreading. However, the Moors felt that the only way to do this was by the sword. They drew the first sword and attacked Antioch and felt it was their duty to cleanse the earth of Christianity.
I am not saying two wrongs make a right. The Christians Retaliated for being attacked first. It might of been best to work things out with the Moors, however, look at the times. It was a savage world at that time, whether it was over Religion or not. Yes they imposed their will, however did they not have an apt teacher?
Again, I am not condoning what the church did, but remember lets not make the Moors of the past seem like boy scouts, just like I don't portray the Knights as boy scouts either.
The reason I started to Blog in the first place was I was sick of Bill on his show generalizing that all organized religion is basically bullshit and how people of faith take the bible literally and it had been genaralized that all people of faith let their faith totally cloud their reasoning.. Plus when he says organized religion does he mean Buddhism and hinduism as well? I felt he needed to be more specific when he was going to go on the attack.
Let me be very clear: I am in no way defending the scandals, the hypocrisy, the judgemental finger pointing, and the idiocy and moronic statements and belief of certain christians and extremist and fanatical assholes who hurt, maim, or kill (that includes dogmatically and verbally)in the name of their religion. Yes, I am aware of the scandals and wars and atrocities brought on by the Catholic Church, including pedophilia.
What bothers me is when this happens (pedophilia and other scandals) it is automatically assumed that every person of faith condones this behavior because it is used in the name of God, Buddha, and Allah. It sickens me. Hence, that all people are that way. There was a blog about Homosexual Evangelicals and the author lumped in Pedophile Catholics.
It sickens the shit out of me that Catholic Clergy men are committing these acts because they are going against the very teachings of Jesus Christ. What sickens me even more is that our Archdioses were willing partipants in relocating these priests instead of excommunicating them from the clergy. I don't believe defending pedohiles of church scandal to be Ok, and believe me most Catholics will tell you they are not Ok with it either, but I am sick of the inference that we condone this shit! It is not Ok that any pedophilia is occuring, but you can't sit here and say that Catholics priests are the only culprits. Just be fair. If you blast one blast everyone who has committed such atrocities. Remember the Church is perfect, but we have imperfect people running the church who are going to do horrific and stupid things instead of striving to do what's right and serving the greater good.
I am only writing to defend the ones who are getting a bad rap for this shit. Maybe I and a small percentage of Christians who are the exception to the rule.
I would prefer people put a disclaimer before making blanketed stereotypes, much like radio DJ Tom Leykis. He says, stereotypes are based on truth, but there is of course exceptions to the rule. If it were expressed in that way, I would and most Christians would feel more comfortable.
On the other side of the coin, I think the big mistake that Christians make is that being a Christian is an all or nothing affair. Their rhetoric about being Christian and Rhetoric toward non believers is very harsh and judgmental. Meaning that if you sin you are wrong and if you are wrong then you are going to hell.
Rational Christians believe in ecumenical cooperation. All you have to do is look at the pope and other people of faith like Muslim Clerics, Christians, Buddhists, Native Amerian Religous leaders who hold conferences to have cooperation. But that is hardly reported by the mainstream. Why? They rather focus on the asshole Christians that make the rest of us look like dipshits.
Religion's central focus is about loving your fellow man even when it is difficult. Instead there are Christians who focus on converting people and when they don't agree they get pissed off and cast them to hell.
To Christians who are that way, who the hell gave you that power?
I am reconsidering my retirement because of the kind words I have received, even from those bitterly disagreed with and it gave me a lot of hope that there are good things in our communities, our country, and around the world to hold on to but all the media wants to do and certain types of people want to focus on is the negative. They want to become part of the problem not the solution.
The nice thing about the people blogging on this site is they are pretty decent even in the heat of battle and we have insulted each other, but I never felt that people crossed the line. That is what happened to me on the Colbert Nation website.
It seemed like it was a bunch of bitter shit heads that wanted to chop you up no matter what, just to hear themselves talk. They in no way wanted to be objective. It got to the point that racial slurs were lobbed at me and I was called an immigrant because of my blog called "No appreciation for Effort." I am a son of an immigrant and I don't mind people thinking I am an immigrant but it was in the maniacal way it was said. Many on that site took it as I was wanting to foster affirmative action. I was just stating that I was proud as a Latino to see some one appointed to such a high position because I was being honest, I hadn't seen the magnitude of effort by the Democratic party. Yes, there were efforts made by Clinton, but not to the extent of Bush,(And that is my opinion based on the number of high office appointees) yet on the Colbert site they looked at people like Condi Rice and Colin Powell as Uncle Toms.
That was sickening and to be honest what was also sickening that it was the first time I ever had racial slurs lobbed at me. It was a bit of a shock because I didn't grow up focused on color, but more on the quality or crassness of the person.
To Arch 24: Thanks for the words, it was nothing you said that caused my initial retirement. It was mainly things written about my posting on the Colbert site. (It made me realize that I was possibly acting this way toward people on the messageboard on this site) They crossed the line. I don't mind people attacking my views. I can handle that. What I can't stand is people attacking my family, my heritage, and who I am as a person because I believe your views are part of who you are not the total person.
So I definitely want to come back but it will certainly be a different me. A bit more constructive, contemplative, and more tolerant of opposing views.
As of after this blog, I am offically retired. I enjoyed my moment in the sun and but the blogs are getting ugly and I am becoming someone I don't like throug these blogs. I appreciate all the comments, even the ones that I disagreee with or the ones that blasted me for blasting them. Arch24, educators have what we call a prep period, since I am a veteran teacher and have a back log of lessons, I can have time to do this, but now I choose to no longer participate.
Billsamoron: Keep up the good work, along with Cleopatra, and txdust. Poolfart and Arch 24, as much as I hate to admit it, I will miss you guys. Take care all, and God Bless.
Hara Estrof Marano wrote a book called "Nation of WImps. Here is an exerpt from her book: "Cell phones function as an eternal umbilical cord," she said during a recent phone interview, "and it's all so misguided. Kids aren't allowed the freedom that allows them to build their own identities. They can't make their own mistakes, and so they miss out on critical life skills. When something difficult arises, there's mom or dad on the cell phone trying to fix everything."
I agree with her that we are becoming a Nation of Wimps. Let me give you a quick perspective as an educator. On the first day of school, I saw something that shocked me. As I waited in the hallway, during the passing period, I saw parents putting their kids books in their lockers. Talk about enabling the kid. This will be the type of parent when their student does not perform well, they will look to blame the teacher and administrators.
Also, I had a parent who wanted to meet with me because her daughter heard me curse. I asked the daughter what I said that shocked her. I was expecting her to say that I slipped and said shit or fuck, but I said "crap" in class and she wanted to have a conference about it, and not about her daughters performance. Not only that I never used it in reference to her daugher or any student.
I think we are becoming wimpy in certain respects, especially in the world of education.
I took a beating on the Stephen Colbert sight for creating a post about Bush's nomination of a Latino Senator for Congress. I can take it, I'm a big buy. I did expect the backlash, but I admit I didn't think I was going to feel like I was swimming in the piranha infested section of the Amazon.
Regardless, I do appreciate the feedback, but it does reinforce three truths (of course this is based on my own personal experience) about most Americans.
1. That the art of listening is quickly disappearing, or in this case the blog world, people do not read and analyze thoroughly what a person states. At times, I have even been guilty of it; on rare occasions of course.
2. Despite the progress of race relations over the last fifty years, we still have issues when it comes to the race.
3. People do not know how to agree to disagree. I was making the effort to even those who were being belligerent, but they were able to push my buttons hard enough for me to stoop down to their level even though I didn't have to make that choice.
So Poolfart: Even though we have our clashes I enjoy them and learn a lot.
Arch 24: Sorry for saying you have a foot disease. I let the heat of the moment get the best of me.
I might be changing my ways. Just a little bit at least.
I do have to say, despite my dislike for Bill Mahr's views and clashes with you on this site, at least all of your are more objective and at least make the effort to be objective. Those guys on Colber's sight can be savages with no mercy.
You can call Bush an idiot, an arrogant asshole. You can call him extremely bipartisan, you can bash him on how he is handling the war and the huge strategic mistakes hehas made. You can call him a liar, but you can't fault him for a lack of effort.
Let me give you a current example. There is a headline on the front page of the newspaper that reads: "Conservatives Wary of Bush Pick for RNC."
Bush picked Sen. Mel Martinez to head the RNC. Boys and Girls, for those of you who are not quick on the uptake: The RNC is an acronym that stands for The Republican National Committee.
I applaud him for picking well qualified Latinos to serve and minorities in general. I love how the Democratic party preaches diversity, yet when was the last time that a minority or Latino for that matter was head of the DNC. Instead they let that wack jog Howard Dean lead, when there is probably plenty of qualified minorities.
I mean, look at he has and Colin Powell. They are the first African Americans to have one of the highest offices in our government. I don't recall any Democracit President elevating a qualified minority that high, when of the strongest bases of the Democratic party seems to be Latinos or African-Americans. Oh wait, like some of my students or friends have said, "he has is not black, she's not even a woman."
Boys and girls the quotes are to indicate that someone else said this. Same was said by people I know about Colin Powell. That is ridiculous. What they mean is much like Adam Corolla said on his show that there is the black man and there is a brotha or a Sistah! I think if people said that instead of they are not really black because the person is educated fine, it wouldn't be so ignorant and I wouldn't feel like carrying out my civic duty to know you up side the head with an intellectual 2x4.
At least Bush has attempted to put qualified minorities in the forefront. And what I hate is that sell out tag. So wanting to assimilate and wanting to mainstream is selling out. I'm not against cultural pride, but at the same time we are in America, and what is wrong with minorities having their own definition of being an American, instead of conforming to everyone else's definition of what an American is. If that defines selling out then, so be it I am a sell out!( I forgot to Mention that I am Latino, proud of my culture but I am an American first that loves this country)
Just like I appreciate the initial effort put forth by the Democrats to encourage bipartisanship dealing with the war and our current corruption problems in Washington. I say that as a Conservative Republican. The goal for Democrats may never come to fruition, they maybe paying lip service, but I can be objective enough to appreciate their effort.
Billy Boy's appearance on Larry King was round tabled on "Scarborough Country" last night. First, how interesting how some of you applauded how Bill blasted Scarborough when he made his appearance. Yes, Scarborough prefaced, before he got into the discussion about Bill Boy's appearance that Scarborough felt that he was always treated fairly. How gracious is that? How many bleeding heart liberals would have take that opportunity to bad mouth? HMMMM?
The topic was how Bill was going to out more gay Republican Senators on his show on Friday, after appearance on Larry King. How Hippocritical. He blamed the Republicans for going after Bill and his trailer trash hussy and "Cigargate," claiming what people do in their private life is their business, yet he wants to out gay Republicans because he has a hair up is ass about Republicans being against Gay Marriage or maybe he just hates all Republicans.
I love how liberals claim their objective, more educated, and are for protecting privacy, but only when it conveniences them, and it is said the loudest by your hero Billy boy, but because he is pissed off at the Republicans, he is going to turn around and get back at them since the Dems have power now?
It sounds like he is kindergarten fighting for the best location for his cot for nap time or getting more peanutbutter on his celery sticks than the kid next to him, but pissed off when the kid on the other side of the room gets more peanutbutter on his celery stick.
Bill Mahr is losing touch and becoming a bitter asshole, and he knows it and that's why he is becoming polarized and lashing out at Republicans, Conservatives, whether they are Democrat or Republican, because it is the left is the last bastion that will listen to him, but people like myself will listen to because we like train wrecks. Nice Hero!
P.S. He didn't even have the balls to go through with his sick plan on Friday's show. Not only a hypocrite, but he can't even walk the walk anymore.
There is an article written by Charles Krauthammer(Man, that's a mouth full!) titled "They're Bummed, that reinforces my brilliant political analysis of last week's elections.
"The Europeans fight goal line to goal line, from a socialist left to ultranationalist right. On the American political spectrum, these extremes are negligible. American elections are fought on much narrower ideological grounds. In this election, the Democrats carried the ball from their own 45-yard line to the Republican 45-yard line. . .The fact that the Democrats crossed midfield does not make this election a great anit-conservative swing. . .Democratic gains included the addition of many conservative Democrats, brilliantly recruited by Rep. Rahm Emanuel with classic Clintonian triangulation."
(Boys and girls, Triangulation means to survey broadly in a triangular fashion.) Parenthetical reference provided by Professor SchoolinU
Let the article continue.
"Hence Heath Shuler of North Carolina, anti-abortion, pro-gun, anti-tax,--and now a Democratic Congressman."
"To muddy even more the supposed ideological significance of this election, consider who is the biggest winner of the night: Joe Lieberman. Just a few months ago, he was scorned by this party and left for dead. Now he returns to the Senate as the Deomcrats' 51st seat--and holder of the balance of power. From casualty to kingmaker in three months. Not bad. His Democratic colleagues who abandoned him this summer will now treat him very well."
Brilliant article. Just because Democrats took over the house and senate, does not mean that Americans want to abandon Conservative views. I have been echoing the same sentiments but with less words, but my opinion does not diminish this great article that exposes the true sentiments of most Americans in this country.
I was impressed and proud of the mainstream media on how they covered veterans day. Especially stories like combat hospital and how the survival rate, no matter how sever the injury or critical the situation is, is 96%. There was a kaleidoscope of stories that showcased how these ordinary men and women are capable of extraordinary acts, and how they showed them all to be true heroes. Kudos to the media, especially CNN and MSNBC.
Tim Russert:
He is one of the top five broadcast journalist in the business and one of the best interviewers of politicians and political analyst. He is not afraid to ask tough questions like these powder puff journalists on the major networks, and he does not give an inch and let them off the hook when they are giving a bullshit answer.
The highlight of the show was the interviews with Senator John McCain and Joe Lieberman. These guys are a ray of hope in this political sewage that is permeating politics in Washington. I love how Lieberman says that despite being an independent, he wants to stay true to his democratic roots, but a democrat like Truman and John Kennedy. He also said something I appreciate. HE said though he is unhappy with the war, that congress and the president either need to send a real military presence to clean up the mess in Iraq or get our troops out, so when the next presidential campaign comes around their taking exit strategy for our troops. It was very honest and Bipartisan which he and McCain were stressing.
Russert then mentioned that he invited Several Democratic leaders, including Nancy Pelosi, but they declined--Interesting.
The President: It maybe too little too late, but the president has taken two steps to try to heal wounds with the congress and clean up the Iraq mess. Jim Baker and many of the staff of W.'s dad have come in and encouraged W. to embrace bipartisanship to get things done. The second, as much as I like Rummy, he did have to go, and now he is gone. Hate the president all you want, him call him an idiot all you want, but at least he is making an effort for damage control.
It gives me hope that both parties are going to work hard to shape a better political landscape. Nothing may change and it may be a bunch of rhetoric, but I appreciate the effort. It's better than doing nothing and bitch and complain about who is the blame. I don't hear too much of that, which reinforces my hope.
To Bill Mahr and you Pope haters
I like how Bill and his clones jumped on the Pope-hating bandwagon when the pope used a quote from a Byzantine Emperor describing Mohammed and muslims, a quote that was taken out of context, and to point it out toward Islamic fundamentalist, which also was not pointed out.
Yes the mass media and Bill Mahr either were not aware, did not care that yesterday, Pope Benedict gave his blessings and best wishes for Ramadan. He opened and closed his homily referencing Ramadan. The first pope to do so. SO before you jump on the pope because of something that was taken out of context, read or hear his entire homily or encyclical before assuming things. Interesting that Bill and the mass media never mentioned that.
For those of you who are separation of church and state hardliners, good news. The pope has reflected on how I feel about Church and State. In a statement made to the press last week: "That the church should stay out of politics and should not be a political agent." Very, very, interesting.
