PROFESSIONAL WISE ASS
LOOSES COOL AGAIN
If TV whiner Bill Maher had said about a Muslim and
Mohamed what he said about Tim Tebow and Jesus,
there would be a fatwa issued and a price on his head.
If you've not seen the tweet in question you
can read about it here.
Fortunately we live in a democratic republic where even
insensitive and offensive comments are tolerated.
I don't care for Maher, don't think I'd like to spend anytime with him, though I watch his HBO program REAL TIME.
Why do I watch a smug and self absorbed, sometimes humorous and occasionally clever, tiresome, trite, smarmy, pretentious, pseudo hip master of snark?
For the sometimes and occasional referenced above plus
the better moments which almost always come from
one of his panel of guests. He at least invites
differing points of view and he lampoons political
pomposity and fools. He also explores the edges of
social humor. Years of journalism have prepared me to know
it is important to consider a divergence of views.
Nothing is gained by burying our heads in the sand.
I am comfortable enough with
my views and beliefs not to be rocked
by coarseness, vulgarity and mocking.
It is here on this point that the wise ass betrays
his own Achilles heel. Often, usually always with
religion, spirituality or faith he is a tired old act, sure not to
listen nor conceptualize on a deeper scale. He
insults, demeans and belittles. He is as
tiresome as the nutty old Madeline Murray-Ohare
got to be, like a rusty old gate making a useless noise.
Still there is a place for him in the public square, even
if it is to be pitied. And there is a place for those
who wish to boycott his network.
What there is no place for is intolerance.
Even the Jesus who Maher demeaned said
we should forgive our enemies.
DAY BOOK
LOOSES COOL AGAIN
If TV whiner Bill Maher had said about a Muslim and
Mohamed what he said about Tim Tebow and Jesus,
there would be a fatwa issued and a price on his head.
If you've not seen the tweet in question you
can read about it here.
Fortunately we live in a democratic republic where even
insensitive and offensive comments are tolerated.
I don't care for Maher, don't think I'd like to spend anytime with him, though I watch his HBO program REAL TIME.
Why do I watch a smug and self absorbed, sometimes humorous and occasionally clever, tiresome, trite, smarmy, pretentious, pseudo hip master of snark?
For the sometimes and occasional referenced above plus
the better moments which almost always come from
one of his panel of guests. He at least invites
differing points of view and he lampoons political
pomposity and fools. He also explores the edges of
social humor. Years of journalism have prepared me to know
it is important to consider a divergence of views.
Nothing is gained by burying our heads in the sand.
I am comfortable enough with
my views and beliefs not to be rocked
by coarseness, vulgarity and mocking.
It is here on this point that the wise ass betrays
his own Achilles heel. Often, usually always with
religion, spirituality or faith he is a tired old act, sure not to
listen nor conceptualize on a deeper scale. He
insults, demeans and belittles. He is as
tiresome as the nutty old Madeline Murray-Ohare
got to be, like a rusty old gate making a useless noise.
Still there is a place for him in the public square, even
if it is to be pitied. And there is a place for those
who wish to boycott his network.
What there is no place for is intolerance.
Even the Jesus who Maher demeaned said
we should forgive our enemies.
DAY BOOK
REFLECTIONS ON SANTA ROSA CREEK
See you down the trail.
Oops, maybe I shouldn't admit this but I like Bill Maher's whining. Mrs. Chatterbox and I even saw his act in Vegas not long ago and he was superb, although less political than he is on TV.
ReplyDeleteComedy is such a subjective thing, and I think it takes tremendous courage to stand on a stage and try and make people laugh. He seems to be more even with his political criticisms lately and has been hitting on Obama quite a bit. Not something you ever heard Denis Miller doing with George W.
Like Stephen Hayes, I have found Bill Maher on occasion to be humorous, especially on his old ABC-TV network show. Sadly, things have evolved, not just with Maher, but also with Letterman, Leno and Fallon into a meaner, more personal tone that in my opinion is to meant to inflict pain at the target and the target's supporters rather than just generate laughs with a zing or a snappy comeback. While it is a reflection on the tone of American society in general, it is also the calculated desire of those whom make such utterances to call attention to themselves. Not only are comedians guilty of ramping up the intensity of their hatred of those with whom they disagree, so are many so-called "objective" journalists when called upon to play pundits. In Bill Maher's case, I think he wants to replace the late departed Christopher Hitchens...but the difference is the Hitchens was trying to generate a debate of thought...not pandering for laughs.
ReplyDelete