+Eirikr Sanford Exactly, I felt the same way. I really enjoyed her presence on the show, I hope Bill brings her as a Panel guest in future episodes. Man, if only others felt and thought the way she does, violence would go down drastically.
I think there are more of us who feel the same way then we all think. However, the weapons used against us is to make us feel like we are alone or uncommon or we don't have a voice at all. through the internet and other means, people are beginning to wake up to the reality that we are being played and constantly another layer of veil is placed over our eyes. that's a true crime against humanity, which is to keep the dark and alone to our own thoughts and our own demise.
Yes it seems that this is happening more and more, but thankfully we do have our weapons, that being the internet and our own voice. We can spread the truth and show people what is really going by using facts and proof. Both of which the righties don't seem to understand very much. We have to pass on this information to the next generation as well. It's imperative that we have our voices and opinions be heard. The lies have to end now.
+Fabricio Beninkoff I have hope for the people on the right. There are being opened to what's been really going on and how they were duped. how they were misled to vote for policies that would directly benefit themselves, it was an atrocity. I do not say that the people on the left have all of the ideas. Far from it. but I have seen how the people on the right have systematically voted for policies which directly hurt them all for an American dream, but what they realized is not their American dream... But the American dream of the dupers. They really created this fake wealth in the rights' mind... And had them voting as if they Are billionaires. I don't like labels. but the American people will see how they were played on the left and on the right, and then realize we are an American family and we need to get rid of the cancers and the viruses in our political systems, then we can start building bridges between our races and cultures and religions and make amends for what happened. then we can move on and say the sins of our fathers would not be the sins of our grandchildren. Once that happens, we are free
Agree or disagree with the panels points, Bill Maher's show is one of the few programs to have well-spoken conversations from diverse perspectives. It's an under appreciated show that deserves more views.
Never liked hecklers in a theater. They are the same people who go home and complain about how the studio ruined the film. Can you make up your mind already?
+playyourpart They certainly had chemistry going on, probably the THC. But yeah, i heard Maher say to her that he thought she would be a great co-host and i was thinking exactly that. Seeing them together was like a couple of playful teens :) She turns him into a "Tickle-me" Bill, and he can give her some logic and stability, i think theyd be nice together. haha, never thought id be saying this.
+rdelrosso2001 I saw her on The Young Turks I think a few years ago, she is very intelligent and has some great views on alot of issues currently at the forefront of the worlds problems. She's also got an earring in her nose! :D
+iviewthetube Guardian had a piece on this. Some closet Drumpf supporters wrote in telling why they're voting for him. Most were single issue, but all were vacuous in their reasoning. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/03/secret-donald-trump-voters-speak-out
+Kaimosae My breaking point was the "Assad must go" campaign. I normally had voted Democratic, but after the mess that Kerry, Hillary, McCain had produced in Syria, that was the last straw. I am voting anti-establishment. I am voting Donald Trump.
+iviewthetube vote Sanders if you want anti-establishment. Trump's gonna fuck up the US and might even bring about the Apocalypse (by antagonizing Russia or China). It's NOT worth it!
Maybe I'm the only one, but up until now, I'd never heard of Raheel Raza. I'm glad she was there though, what a great human being. Sharp mind, nice personality, what's not to like?
+gespilk Well firstly, I agree with whatever she's said here on Real Time. Prima Facie, she seems nothing like a career-obsessed manufactured career politician like Clinton. Secondly, you mind substantiating your claim, bud?
***** I wouldn't go that far but I feel she's more of the same corporate bs that the other side up holds. However, if she's nominated (I hope not) , I'll still vote for her. The others guys are just loons. I believe Bernie had this. The media is working overtime to make us think she's a done deal which makes me think she's scared.
One of my favorite panels this season: no yelling, they listened to each other, and no right wing bullshit -- even from the right winger. Ari Shapiro is HOT and SMART, Donna Edwards is HOT and SMART, and Matt Lewis seems smart (but he's Republican, so maybe not so smart).
+ulfragnarsson Indeed. Every single time I see a photo of someone I've been listening to on the radio for ages...it's a weird sort of discombobulation.
+Mani M -- I love Sarah, too; but in other appearances she hasn't been as on-target as tonight. She nailed it when she explained her support for Hillary and then joining the Bernie camp. That's exactly how it happened with me. Tonight, some of her momentary comments really astounded me, like when Bill was wrapping to go to new rules and she made one last comment, then looked at him and said, "Sorry. Go!" No forethought, it was just perfect for the moment. I want to have her babies.
+Mani M Im not really a fan or follower of her, but i do think shes funny and attractive. I liked seeing Bill and Sarah together, and it was nice to hear that Maher said she would be a great co-host, right before they went into the "New Rules" segment, because thats what i thought too.
+Mani M Sarah......isn't funny at all to me. I know comedy is very subjective; I don't like Jim Carey, Steve Martin, or Will Ferrell's stand up either. OTOH, Carlin almost always cracked me up, as did Hackett, Pryor, and unfortunately, Cosby.
I support Sanders but will vote for Trump if he is not the Dem nominee. If I cant send a fixer to DC I have no problem sending a destroyer. Voting for the establishment is no longer an option.
I agree as an independent. Cant vote for establishment. Especially the ultimate evil Hillary. Only choice is independent Trump. Bernie is awesome but his tax plan would destroy the future of this country.
+Carlo Von Sexron Say that to my murdered aunty and her children; the perpetrators of that murder being extremists allowed in legally by liberal bigotry - clearly demonstrated in your hateful comment.
Donna Edwards is the fucking shit. I've never met her before or known about her, but her attitude is absolutely stellar. This woman needs more exposure ASAP.
Jonathan Cassidy All you had to do is tell me to vote Trump and that tells me everything I need to know about your thoughts. You want to use the documents of this country to defend yourself but will vote for a man that has no respect for those same documents or of his promises in actions being unconstitutional or even legal in most cases. You are foolish
Sounds like a good argument for National Healthcare then no problems you go to who you want an it is always covered because it is The Healthcare of the Nation and there would be nothing else. Donald is an embarrassment to this nation has no integrity and no experience for the job plain and simple he is not qualified and never was. NEXT.
I may be a humble Canadian, but in my view, President Obama is President until he is not. And he *remains* President until the next President is sworn in. Period.
I'd like to know why Bill spent the whole show talking about 'Hillary" instead of Bernie. Anyone catch that? I thought people might have something to say here. Has he given up on Sanders already? Come on Bill, we need your efforts
Ryou kagamine Then he should! After all, he IS the last mainstream show with the kind of clout he has, and now he owns Vice, he should get with it and get more info out.
carpo719 I feel the exact same way. People assume Hillary is going to win due to on going media coverage they've put putting up. though With states like California it's going to a landslide victory for Bernie all the way. I really hate how the media just keeps on pushing him to the side.
+Nauseum Bob Saget, Pauly Shore, Dane Cook, and countless other comics try much harder, fail much harder, and never get the shit that Silverman gets online (mostly concerned with her looks or ethnicity).
FungusMossGnosis ugly people are objectively funnier than good looking people. Self-deprecation coming from a pretty girl is a pretty tough bill sell. Those guys aren't funny either though, I'll give you that.
Nauseum You definitely have something there, yes, harder for attractive people to be unselfconsciously funny. Although Maria Bamford and Nick Thune are pretty damned funny. There are other exceptions.
+30stmFantasy interestingly enough, and probably why it's such a 'debate' is because it Beats the facial recognition lock down of 1984;)) so i'm going to start..lol
+30stmFantasy If I want to wear a mask in public I should be able to. If I want to wear a shirt with a swastika on it I should be able to. If I want to walk around naked I should be able to. This authoritarian idea that the government has a right to say what I can wear is horrible. If I want to wear a cradle of filth Jesus is a cunt tshirt I should be able to, if you want those kind of stupid clothing laws move to England were people actually get arrested for wearing cradle of filth tshirts, you would love there anti-freedom policies.
+bucket foot5 No thanks - I like it here where people show their face! I don't give a shit what people wear but when a Muslim covers their face, then that gives everyone the right to cover their face. Not good.
While I think Elisabeth Warren would be a great choice for Vice President, Donna Edwards would also be a great choice. I'd like to see her run for President. She's a very smart person and also seems to be a very nice person.
Bernie isnt done yet. I wish people would stop acting like he is. It will be over after 15th if loses on that date then its over. I learned a lot of the delegate process this election cycle. I will take that away no matter what.
+James Pazzaglia Bill has the mainstream media's mindset. Because he lost the southern states, ope, let's start talking about Hillary as the inevitable nominee. He DEFINITELY has a chance. Yes, fingers crossed for the next two weeks and beyond.
JD HIs guaranteed states already out of the way? You do know the primary is only just getting into his territory, right? But please tell me how much you know about politics and the importance of super-delegates, sir. HAHA
Honestly its people like this that make me mad. I used to be one of them though till I actually looked at the process. Republicans are no better they are going to steal trumps nomination. I dont like him but he is going to have the most delegates. In the end it wont matter because they will do the first vote at the convention he will not have a super majority which lets them do another vote where delegates can change there vote. There is going to be shady shit going down in Ohio. Dems are just kind of open about it with the super delegates. lol
+fourdeck33 Yes, it would and it' would dispel all this Bernie bro nonsense. Actually, in 2008, Hillary accused Obama supporters of the same thing, think it was phrased, Obama boys.
Just to be clear however, I would support any Democratic nominee over any Republican, but Bernie is talking about and planing to tackle the most important issue in politics today, getting rid of the legalized corruption in American politics through money in politics, which affects every other important issue today. While some maintain Bernie has already lost, that is a fallacy, he's about to probably win 3 out of 4 states which are being contested in the next 48 hours. Some also say that Hillary is more electable but most polls show that Sanders beats any Republican nominee by a much, much greater margin and most media is being disingenuous in their reporting because most of the money donated to politicians end up paying for political ads and they do not want to kill the golden goose. Surprisingly Bernie isn't as popular with minorities but that's because of the narrative put out there by media which hardly talks about his fighting for, and getting arrested fighting for civil rights for African-Americans. Luckily Trump has the Republican party in complete disarray, if he becomes their nominee, a lot of Republicans won't vote at all, maybe you've seen or heard of the #Never Trump campaign. Some however, would vote for the anti-establishment Sanders but none would vote for Hillary. If they take the nomination away from Trump, and chances are good that they will as this is the likely reason the other three candidates aren't dropping out, so they can stop him from reaching the required number of delegates he needs to automatically secure the nomination, and he miraculously keeps his word and doesn't make an independent run for the presidency, a 'huge' amount of his 40% of supporters would be up in arms and still wouldn't support the 'establishment' nominee. The truth is however, If the nomination is given to someone else, he will likely run as an independent out of spite and take his 40% of Republicans with him, he's been known to flip-flop...a lot. No matter what, a massive amount of Republican voters will be disenfranchised, 'believe me'. This is the perfect opportunity for real change. Sanders is more electable against any Republican, he wants to tackle the most important issue of the day in the legalized corruption of money in politics, not to mention justice reform, financial sector reform and ending the corporate welfare system which sees literally TRILLIONS of dollars going to corporations and taking that money and using it on things like education and healthcare. Healthcare which is a basic human right and education, which only an uneducated person would see as a handout. It's actually an investment in the countries future which would reduce unemployment, drive innovation, give opportunities to minorities and poor people, create jobs and generate extra tax revenues which is currently spent on tax cuts and bail-outs for corporations. Some say Bernie is a socialist, but he is a democratic socialist like FDR who instituted socially democratic policies like the New Deal, the GI Bill and Social Security, programs which brought America out of the great depression, were responsible for the post-war boom and were so successful they were maintained and even expanded under Eisenhower, a Republican. There have been four supreme court decisions since about the mid to late seventies that allowed money in politics, said that corporations are individuals, have political rights like a person, made the amount that could be donated unlimited and finally with Citizens United allowed those donations to be made anonymous and the country has been in decline ever since. Bernie is the only candidate willing to tackle this issue, and there will never be a better time or a better person to bring about this real and positive change to this system which no-one but corporations, traditional media and corrupted politicians likes or trusts.
+Andrei Strenc I agree completely, and Trump is part of that system. He bought politicians all his life and now he's just trying to cut out the middle man and buy the Presidency itself. He's not even self funded, he's taken out loans to do this and will probably use future campaign contributions to pay himself back because while he can get by without donors in a primary, he could never win a general election with his own money.
"The struggle is for power and hegemony." Well said, and I think that explains the perception of some of the attacks on Christianity, such as outrage over the use of "Season' Greetings" instead of "Merry Christmas". Its not an attack on the religion, but an attempt to recognize and validate other religions, which, in some people's minds, weakens the dominance of Christianity in American culture.
SugaryCoyote Oh, do tell, Nostradamus. If there's one thing that the rest of the western industrialized world can say about Americans, generally, with some confidence, it's that they know the price of everything - and the value of nothing.
fishhead06 Excellent bumper sticker slogan. You will sell many. I know the price they could sell for. If you don't know the value of $30 billion Canadian dollars then you shouldn't be running a country. You can't feel your way out of a deficit.
I fully believe that if we're going to have laws mandating that people wear anything in public (especially making only women wear a top) we should not be making laws that prevent you from wearing as much as you want. That's not to say I don't have some issue with the niqab. There are all sorts of people, but I imagine many wear it to appease others rather than personal convictions. This is a social issue though, and should be addressed socially. Specific outreach for women who feel oppressed or forced to wear such attire. Assistance to place them in a safe environment if they feel there would be repercussions from making their own decisions. We need to stop bringing the legal system to deal with what should be a person's personal decision. We need to stop criminalizing victims of the things we disagree with. We need to start approaching these situations with compassion rather than aggression.
walkinhop Nope. They all support many causes. And backstage is the funding, management, etc. Seriously, I wish Bernie gets to the office so he can do what survivors do. Your economy needs a kickstart. Who better than a fellow tribesman of the smartest people around.
+CharlieSheen'sAIDS they rule the USA and the world already. they control how you live your lives indirectly. you work for them, because they own the private federal reserve, which the US gov borrows from and all currencies are based on the US currency. You work for money, you are an indirect slave to the jews.
The Bernie Bros meme ... was/is created by people who do *not* support Sanders or his ideas. Didn't Hillary have something like _"Obama Boys"_? And why would anyone who supports Sanders have attitudes that are the exact *OPPOSITE* of his attitudes?
+Beorn Borg Thank you for data: really? "Bernie Bros?" Why does Bernie accept support from known opponents of his platform? No worries; i'll check it. :)
i love your program bill and i love HBO.We talk about who's better or worse in American politics.I don't hear anyone talking about the manner in which the US government operates.People listen to all the promises these presidential candidates make without any knowledge of how the US government operates.Let the voters know that the president comes up with ideas he thinks will help improve the people and the country, hopping congress will agree and work together to fulfill what's best for the people and the country.From my viewpoint,the CIA and Congress has the final say and the people have very little contribution if any when it comes to electing who sits in Congress.Thank you.Keep up the good work.
As somebody who apostatized from Islam, I truly appreciate "Muslims" like the beautiful Raheel Raza who are trying to reform Islam from the inside and who stand up against the acceptance of its backwards culture in Western democracies. [I used "quotations" because I honestly believe those like her and Maajid Nawaz, another brave individual, as well as others are only using the term Muslim for various reasons, such as cultural identity or its effectiveness in reform, but don't legitimately believe that Allah wrote the Quran,- either way I respect them for their intentions even if I sometimes disagree with their rationality of keeping the Muslim label] However, I am often finding myself in deep concern about addressing the status of Islam in a country where the majority of people are driven with the wrong intentions. 80% of the population believes in Jesus, and while Christianity is certainty expressed in a more peaceful manner, many still believe in Biblical rhetoric that makes their Muslim hate violently dangerous. Or the giant portion of Americans who are non-religious but are still driven by racial bigotry or blind nationalism or maybe just the mere Homo sapien genetic instincts to hate "The Other". For example, many Trump supporters might mask these tendencies as "hating Islam" but even with the information that I am an Atheist many still view me as a 2nd class citizen for being ARAB. As much as i'd like to believe that those that are part of this voice are rational, reasonable and sensible people like Sam Harris or Bill Maher, I have found from my personal experience that MANY have hidden agendas, I can see past their bullshit and the ways they manipulate people's frustration and the very sentiments spoken by Raheel Raza as a way of moving their own agenda forward. Manipulative bastards. I think Islam is poison and a virus that needs to be addressed. I would love to play a bigger role in its criticism and (hopefully) eventual demise. But the idea of removing one poison only to strengthen another poison troubles me deeply. For example, as much as I think Muslim culture is backwards and outdated, I still don't believe with inhibiting somebody from practicing it (Freedom of religion, Freedom of expression, Freedom of speech). And although i'm an Atheist I still have family members who I love dearly who consider themselves Muslims, even if just by name (like how many White Atheists still have Christian relatives). I wouldn't want them to be treated like garbage or attacked or publicly ridiculed or treated like 2nd class citizens (even if done passive aggressively) for whatever reason. It's hard to speak out against Islam sometimes when SO MANY voices are from Christian fundamentalists on the far-right, or blatant racists, or those that don't believe in the Freedoms protected by our Constitution, and sometimes even my fellow Atheists who speak in an irrationally violent manner. How can I promote good ideas and criticize Islam without feeling like i'm fueling these people? I am left in an awkward position. And so many like me feel the same way. It would surprise people how many Arabs there are who don't believe in this religious garbage but still keep silent because of the very reasons I listed. I even know a few who still call themselves Muslims while being secret-Atheists because it's an act of defiance. I even had somebody who was born, raised and living in the United States once tell me "I don't believe in Islam but I love how it unifies us against people who hate us for more than just our religion". Which is completely IDIOTIC but considering how he grew up in the South, is understandable I guess. My comment doesn't have a point. I just wanted to rant and I didn't have another place for it. Life is just frustrating sometimes.
Archie Andrews Not exactly. The No True Scotsman fallacy is an attempt to retain an unreasoned assertion. When the No True Scotsman fallacy is called in error, that is a logical fallacy in and of itself - something like Denial of Definition. It assumes that the subject being discussed (in this case Christianity/Islam) has no real, hard-and-fast definitions, which is not the case. Regardless of "interpretation", these faiths are still based on Scripture (Bible/Quran) as well as other documented sources. If I call myself a Muslim but I go to a Christian church, worship Jesus Christ as savior, and think Muhammad was a false prophet . . . I'm not a Muslim. While I agree that not everything in the Quran/Bible is so black-and-white and can be open to interpretation to a certain degree, this is not to say that people can just impose meanings into the text which do blatantly and outright contradict a plain reading of the Quran/Bible and what it does actually say. Two contradictory opinions can not both be true: this is basic logic. In this context, those who bring up "alternative interpretations" are essentially just making something up based on their own feelings and what they want it to say rather than just accepting what it says. To me it seems that they are not genuine believers, because they are rejecting and going against what is plainly written in the Quran/Bible. This is what Eric meant when he wrote "it is a degree of disbelieving". For example: The Quran defines ITSELF as the perfect book and literal word of Allah for all of eternity, so if a Muslim blatantly rejects certain verses, then he/she is already admitting (indirectly) that Allah is flawed which by definition would falsify the religion. But religious people have no integrity i've come to realize, so instead of facing this truth they instead choose to REDEFINE what it means to be Muslim/Christian. I guess that's cool, you can just make it up as you go along, like a 'Choose your own Adventure' book LOL. BTW, Eric couldn't have worded his comment more perfectly. He carefully included "(in the original sense)" which saved him from committing the fallacy you accused him of committing :)
+Question Everything so kind of like how Christians use the bible as justification for their homophobia but dont adhere to any of the other 500 rules in leviticus
John Adams Exactly. Muslims and Jews and Hindus and whatever-else all do this, this behavior is not particularly unique to Christians. All too often the concept of "differing interpretation" is used as a mask for picking and choosing. But i'm not unsympathetic, I truly understand. I try not to sound too preachy for I was also VERY religious at one point. Whenever I became educated of a Scientific theory or fact that contradicted the Quran, or if I questioned the morality of a certain verse, I too altered my "interpretation". Ironically I also misused the "NTS" fallacy, as well as many other fallacies, to refute those that questioned the validity of my belief. So I would be a hypocrite if I were to pretentiously judge others for their willingness to cling on to the faiths they were indoctrinated in or their understandable defense mechanisms. I know I can sometimes come off as patronizing but I only speak this way because I TRULY know what it's like to be stuck in "the bubble". There are very deep subconscious psychological systems behind identity and to very many leaving the religion their parents molded them by is more than just "accepting the truth", it is literally killing yourself and re-birthing yourself and everything you knew, something that is very intimidating and extremely difficult for most of us - this is something most of my fellow Atheists aren't in tune with. Having that said, keeping titles such as "Muslim" while not believing in the dogma is a completely different thing than what I just wrote about in the previous paragraph. In this context it is more about keeping a "cultural identity" in the face of a perceived opposing force that constitutes of people who merely use religion as a scapegoat to hate or as a tool to manipulate for hidden agendas. It's very similar to how many African Americans united under "The Nation of Islam" in the 60's and 70's, because even if they didn't believe in the dogma itself, they felt empowered by its unity or whatever else. Rastafarianism was rooted on rebelling against the idea that their "creator" was a White man and painting Jesus as a Black man was a way of countering racist Christians. There are also OTHER intentions such as those that don't believe but think they'll be more productive reforming the damage Islam is doing by working on it from within than being shunned an "outsider". Like I said I don't AGREE with any of these reasons but I understand it. But yeah, I just wanted to clarify that the cultural/reforming/etc ideology behind keeping labels like "Muslim" is different than what I was writing on in my last 2 comments, which was more discussing those that still DO believe in the dogma but are not genuine with themselves and the ways they alter the definition of their Faiths by masking it with words like "interpretation" and wrongfully accusing people of fallacies.
Raheel Raza...what a lovely, intelligent, well spoken woman. Could listen to her all day.
How can not love Raheel Raza - what beautiful, smart, compassionate brilliant woman. Thank you Bill for putting her on the show.
+Y Tehrani I mean '''''How can you not love' - thnks A. Afif for correction. My editing skills need work.
I live in MD, and can't wait to vote for Donna Edwards again. She is EVERYTHING!
Raheel Reza was totally brilliant.
+ram150482 The only highlight from the panel.
+ram150482 Absolutely fantastic. She is so well-spoken and honestly just down to earth.
+ram150482 Love her in this panel and also in her interview from earlier in the show.
+ram150482 Yup.
+gespilk I don't care who she is, she made valid points.
What beautiful last words... and how it continues to resonate within me. I wish it could permeate throughout the rest of the country
+Eirikr Sanford Exactly, I felt the same way. I really enjoyed her presence on the show, I hope Bill brings her as a Panel guest in future episodes. Man, if only others felt and thought the way she does, violence would go down drastically.
I think there are more of us who feel the same way then we all think. However, the weapons used against us is to make us feel like we are alone or uncommon or we don't have a voice at all. through the internet and other means, people are beginning to wake up to the reality that we are being played and constantly another layer of veil is placed over our eyes. that's a true crime against humanity, which is to keep the dark and alone to our own thoughts and our own demise.
Sorry about the grammar. I'm using Google voice :) God bless you Fabri
Yes it seems that this is happening more and more, but thankfully we do have our weapons, that being the internet and our own voice. We can spread the truth and show people what is really going by using facts and proof. Both of which the righties don't seem to understand very much. We have to pass on this information to the next generation as well. It's imperative that we have our voices and opinions be heard. The lies have to end now.
+Fabricio Beninkoff I have hope for the people on the right. There are being opened to what's been really going on and how they were duped. how they were misled to vote for policies that would directly benefit themselves, it was an atrocity. I do not say that the people on the left have all of the ideas. Far from it. but I have seen how the people on the right have systematically voted for policies which directly hurt them all for an American dream, but what they realized is not their American dream... But the American dream of the dupers. They really created this fake wealth in the rights' mind... And had them voting as if they Are billionaires. I don't like labels. but the American people will see how they were played on the left and on the right, and then realize we are an American family and we need to get rid of the cancers and the viruses in our political systems, then we can start building bridges between our races and cultures and religions and make amends for what happened. then we can move on and say the sins of our fathers would not be the sins of our grandchildren. Once that happens, we are free
Agree or disagree with the panels points, Bill Maher's show is one of the few programs to have well-spoken conversations from diverse perspectives. It's an under appreciated show that deserves more views.
facts
Never liked hecklers in a theater. They are the same people who go home and complain about how the studio ruined the film. Can you make up your mind already?
Raheel Raza's words put a smile on my face :)
Kartikeya Srivastava Yea she is right...After 10yrs we wont even care about the hijab...we need to move on but yea they need to be educated
This lady Edward is so sweet , love the way she talks
Raheel Raza is so great- good guest choice :)
Raheel Raza has class.
Anyone else think Bill and Sarah look good together?
+playyourpart -- nope. No one else, I think.
+playyourpart same thought
+playyourpart I bet they'd fuck hard
+playyourpart They probably fucked and smoke weed together
+playyourpart
They certainly had chemistry going on, probably the THC.
But yeah, i heard Maher say to her that he thought she would be a great co-host and i was thinking exactly that.
Seeing them together was like a couple of playful teens :)
She turns him into a "Tickle-me" Bill, and he can give her some logic and stability, i think theyd be nice together. haha, never thought id be saying this.
I never heard of Ms. Raheel Raza (to the far right of Bill) but she sounds very intelligent. Why is she not well known?
+rdelrosso2001 She is impressive, indeed.
+rdelrosso2001 I saw her on The Young Turks I think a few years ago, she is very intelligent and has some great views on alot of issues currently at the forefront of the worlds problems. She's also got an earring in her nose! :D
because bill is terrified of Muslims?
+Jordan Thickstun Clearly you've seen very few episodes of Real Time.
+Jordan Thickstun
I'm thinking - just the opposite. Do you watch the show?!
Also, Bill is helping her become better known.
Wow, Raheel Raza gives me hope for the world. We need more people like her.
I suspect that there are a lot of people voting for Trump who won't admit it publically.
Probs
+iviewthetube Guardian had a piece on this. Some closet Drumpf supporters wrote in telling why they're voting for him. Most were single issue, but all were vacuous in their reasoning.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/03/secret-donald-trump-voters-speak-out
+Kaimosae My breaking point was the "Assad must go" campaign. I normally had voted Democratic, but after the mess that Kerry, Hillary, McCain had produced in Syria, that was the last straw. I am voting anti-establishment. I am voting Donald Trump.
+Kaimosae Great article. Thanks for sharing.
+iviewthetube vote Sanders if you want anti-establishment. Trump's gonna fuck up the US and might even bring about the Apocalypse (by antagonizing Russia or China). It's NOT worth it!
Definitely one of the better mixtures of people on this show. Everyone said something interesting.
+hefftatious i missed the bit when Sarah Silverman said something even coherent. She sounded more like the left wing Palin
Beautifully spoken Raheel Raza
This is the first time I've heard Ari Shapiro off-radio....this is a revelation
Stellar guest present and great conversation. Bill is a very talented man and a refreshing voice of reason in a cold and crazy world!
Donna Edwards has the most soothing voice.
I've never heard of Raheel before, but she makes me happy. Just seems like a very pleasant person.
Maybe I'm the only one, but up until now, I'd never heard of Raheel Raza. I'm glad she was there though, what a great human being. Sharp mind, nice personality, what's not to like?
+magicbologna It wasn't the scarf. Its the Niqab which covers the face.
Raheel is absolutely great in this segment, reminds me so much of my own grandma !!!
"covered head to toe in a sack"
i love this woman
+Sleepy .Time packed and ready for deportation.
+Knaughty F she lives in Toronto.
imiss toronto doesn't matter where she lives. these are time bomb people. Remember San Bernardino?
Knaughty F like i said, she lives in Toronto.
imiss toronto Again, doesn't matter where she lives.
Always the best. Over Time with Mr. Maher & guest's ...
Watching people like Raheel Raza fills me with so much optimism, if only till the end of the show. :)
+gespilk Well firstly, I agree with whatever she's said here on Real Time. Prima Facie, she seems nothing like a career-obsessed manufactured career politician like Clinton.
Secondly, you mind substantiating your claim, bud?
u hy, m8?
As a Canadian I have to admit that I don't understand why there are only 2 parties? Given the wide divergence of views there should be many parties.
I'm a feminist and its Bernie all the way!!!!
+Emily Asgard even 14"?
??
***** I wouldn't go that far but I feel she's more of the same corporate bs that the other side up holds. However, if she's nominated (I hope not) , I'll still vote for her. The others guys are just loons. I believe Bernie had this. The media is working overtime to make us think she's a done deal which makes me think she's scared.
+Emily Asgard That's probably why hes doing so poorly, when you are siding with feminists you know you are on the wrong side.
Jamie Dimon if you say so.
Sarah is very cute when stoned
One of my favorite panels this season: no yelling, they listened to each other, and no right wing bullshit -- even from the right winger. Ari Shapiro is HOT and SMART, Donna Edwards is HOT and SMART, and Matt Lewis seems smart (but he's Republican, so maybe not so smart).
shapiro has a face for tv......not radio
Ari Shapiro = Yummy !!! 😍
Agree to disagree - I agree. I will remember that. Thank-you.
Damn I never knew Ari was so fucking dapper.
+ulfragnarsson Indeed. Every single time I see a photo of someone I've been listening to on the radio for ages...it's a weird sort of discombobulation.
Who cares? He works for NPR, which means he is a cunt.
+Tracie Amber Wilkinson what is wrong with public radio?
The final statement touched me...
Sarah Silverman is... amazing.
I love Sarah.. Everything she does cracks me up. And she's on point on all the issues. More Sarah pls.
+Mani M -- I love Sarah, too; but in other appearances she hasn't been as on-target as tonight. She nailed it when she explained her support for Hillary and then joining the Bernie camp. That's exactly how it happened with me.
Tonight, some of her momentary comments really astounded me, like when Bill was wrapping to go to new rules and she made one last comment, then looked at him and said, "Sorry. Go!" No forethought, it was just perfect for the moment.
I want to have her babies.
+Mani M
Im not really a fan or follower of her, but i do think shes funny and attractive.
I liked seeing Bill and Sarah together, and it was nice to hear that Maher said she would be a great co-host, right before they went into the "New Rules" segment, because thats what i thought too.
+Mani M Sarah......isn't funny at all to me. I know comedy is very subjective; I don't like Jim Carey, Steve Martin, or Will Ferrell's stand up either. OTOH, Carlin almost always cracked me up, as did Hackett, Pryor, and unfortunately, Cosby.
I support Sanders but will vote for Trump if he is not the Dem nominee. If I cant send a fixer to DC I have no problem sending a destroyer. Voting for the establishment is no longer an option.
+BAHB420 as bad a Trump is I think Cruz is far worse, stick with Bernie or HC as second choice.
That is the most accurate picture of the situation I've read!
I agree as an independent. Cant vote for establishment. Especially the ultimate evil Hillary. Only choice is independent Trump. Bernie is awesome but his tax plan would destroy the future of this country.
That kind of thinking is what got Hitler elected. Vote Green or Libertarian or just stay home election day you childish fucknuts.
+Carlo Von Sexron Say that to my murdered aunty and her children; the perpetrators of that murder being extremists allowed in legally by liberal bigotry - clearly demonstrated in your hateful comment.
Donna Edwards is the fucking shit. I've never met her before or known about her, but her attitude is absolutely stellar. This woman needs more exposure ASAP.
Good Show Good Overtime Great Guests Donna is gonna win. Power to the People! Bernie 2016!
Not a critical thinker are you? That is just stupid
Jonathan Cassidy see that is the problem you are under the impression you are thinking.
Jonathan Cassidy So what? No one asked you to give out critiques.
Jonathan Cassidy All you had to do is tell me to vote Trump and that tells me everything I need to know about your thoughts. You want to use the documents of this country to defend yourself but will vote for a man that has no respect for those same documents or of his promises in actions being unconstitutional or even legal in most cases. You are foolish
Sounds like a good argument for National Healthcare then no problems you go to who you want an it is always covered because it is The Healthcare of the Nation and there would be nothing else. Donald is an embarrassment to this nation has no integrity and no experience for the job plain and simple he is not qualified and never was. NEXT.
Sarah seems always casually drunk. I like it! Sometimes she's trying to hard, but who gives?
Sarah Silverman is funny and not annoying! She is also very clever; ... and quite easy on the eyes.
sarcasm overflowed
I may be a humble Canadian, but in my view, President Obama is President until he is not. And he *remains*
President until the next President is sworn in. Period.
In other news, air is breathable.
wow... this was an absurd amount of "you don't think the way i say you should, so there must be something wrong with you." hubris factor x1000000
Raza is awesome
Rep. Donna Edwards, Ari Shapiro are very sharp and accurate re Clinton and the email stuff.
I'd like to know why Bill spent the whole show talking about 'Hillary" instead of Bernie. Anyone catch that? I thought people might have something to say here. Has he given up on Sanders already? Come on Bill, we need your efforts
Yeah exactly. I think that's because now bernie has no chance of getting the nomination.
Nile Ab That is what I thought at first...but he is still doing okay. Seems like Bill switched gears REALLY fast, maybe there is more to the story.
+carpo719 It sort of feels that he wants to talk about Bernie though
Ryou kagamine Then he should! After all, he IS the last mainstream show with the kind of clout he has, and now he owns Vice, he should get with it and get more info out.
carpo719 I feel the exact same way. People assume Hillary is going to win due to on going media coverage they've put putting up. though With states like California it's going to a landslide victory for Bernie all the way. I really hate how the media just keeps on pushing him to the side.
I love Sarah so much!!!!! So smart and ballsy
You've got to give Sarah Silverman some recognition, no one tries harder to be funny than she does.
+Nauseum
Bob Saget, Pauly Shore, Dane Cook, and countless other comics try much harder, fail much harder, and never get the shit that Silverman gets online (mostly concerned with her looks or ethnicity).
FungusMossGnosis ugly people are objectively funnier than good looking people. Self-deprecation coming from a pretty girl is a pretty tough bill sell. Those guys aren't funny either though, I'll give you that.
Nauseum You definitely have something there, yes, harder for attractive people to be unselfconsciously funny. Although Maria Bamford and Nick Thune are pretty damned funny. There are other exceptions.
More politicians like Donna Edwards please.
Lady Liberty would cry if it's Donald and Hillary in the general election.
great panel. great episode.
Raheel was magnificent
Go Donna and Sarah!
I just came to congratulate to that 40 year long marriage. It's always a happy sight when reasonable people find each other and stick together.
feeltheburn
Sarah Silverman is on point!
She wants to be on bills little point.
Watching this with the benefit of hindsight is interesting to say the least
No one should be walking around in public with a mask on unless it's freezing cold out.
As a Canadian, it burns bad that our new leader the dipshit lefty twat feminist allows the niquab at all in Canada.
+30stmFantasy interestingly enough, and probably why it's such a 'debate' is because it Beats the facial recognition lock down of 1984;)) so i'm going to start..lol
+30stmFantasy If I want to wear a mask in public I should be able to. If I want to wear a shirt with a swastika on it I should be able to. If I want to walk around naked I should be able to. This authoritarian idea that the government has a right to say what I can wear is horrible. If I want to wear a cradle of filth Jesus is a cunt tshirt I should be able to, if you want those kind of stupid clothing laws move to England were people actually get arrested for wearing cradle of filth tshirts, you would love there anti-freedom policies.
+bucket foot5 No thanks - I like it here where people show their face! I don't give a shit what people wear but when a Muslim covers their face, then that gives everyone the right to cover their face. Not good.
I love the Congresswoman...Remembered her handing out leaflets in Hyattsville,MD as a young Woman for Albert Wynn. Amazing!
Hey Bill, you got a moderate Muslim on the show. Congrats!
Donna Edwards is the voice of reason on the panel.
I wanna have tea with the woman in pink. So smart and classy.
it's not simply an investigation, they are looking at criminal charges, it's way beyond a simple investigation.
Why do they always re-upload these?
+Critical Eats Japan Because the first one is streamed live.
redlightmax Really? Wow, thanks, I never even noticed...
This was awesome!
Ari Shapiro's head reminds me of Beaker from the Muppet Show.
another great episode, awesome overtime
Bernie Bros is a lie. Hillary in 2008 used "Obama boys". Hillary likes using ticks like these.
I love this comedian Sarah. She's a gem
I am For Bernie 2016
Great discussion!
I find Sarah Silverman very cringe, but over all she is nice person
.
+Hashim Kazmi I met her when she was dating Kimmel. She was really hot.
She is a terrible comedian. I think people are just attractive to her thats why she is so famous.
wow I really like her final word
While I think Elisabeth Warren would be a great choice for Vice President, Donna Edwards would also be a great choice. I'd like to see her run for President. She's a very smart person and also seems to be a very nice person.
+PaulinWoburn
Way better choices than Hillary. That's for sure.
+PaulinWoburn Tulsi Gabbard is far better than Donna Edwards. Edwards seems to have the old-school, establishment mindset.
Sarah Silvereman is the best. You can tell there's a killer IQ behind the jokey demeanour.
Bernie isnt done yet. I wish people would stop acting like he is. It will be over after 15th if loses on that date then its over. I learned a lot of the delegate process this election cycle. I will take that away no matter what.
+James Pazzaglia Bill has the mainstream media's mindset. Because he lost the southern states, ope, let's start talking about Hillary as the inevitable nominee. He DEFINITELY has a chance. Yes, fingers crossed for the next two weeks and beyond.
JD HIs guaranteed states already out of the way? You do know the primary is only just getting into his territory, right? But please tell me how much you know about politics and the importance of super-delegates, sir. HAHA
+Movie Muscle www.bloomberg.com/politics/graphics/2016-delegate-tracker/
Luv Patel That includes super delegates the real count is less then 100 difference which is one state.
Honestly its people like this that make me mad. I used to be one of them though till I actually looked at the process. Republicans are no better they are going to steal trumps nomination. I dont like him but he is going to have the most delegates. In the end it wont matter because they will do the first vote at the convention he will not have a super majority which lets them do another vote where delegates can change there vote. There is going to be shady shit going down in Ohio. Dems are just kind of open about it with the super delegates. lol
What a great show!
I think i found the first Religious person i like..
+Poiison Dota (Español) Except she's not religious. Which is precisely why she's likeable.
Sanders/Warren is the ultimate dream ticket.
+fourdeck33 Yes, it would and it' would dispel all this Bernie bro nonsense. Actually, in 2008, Hillary accused Obama supporters of the same thing, think it was phrased, Obama boys.
+fourdeck33 Here's an apropos video about this;
Why "Bernie Bro" Myth Is Bogus
ruclips.net/video/FdW5OkizEto/видео.html
Just to be clear however, I would support any Democratic nominee over any Republican, but Bernie is talking about and planing to tackle the most important issue in politics today, getting rid of the legalized corruption in American politics through money in politics, which affects every other important issue today. While some maintain Bernie has already lost, that is a fallacy, he's about to probably win 3 out of 4 states which are being contested in the next 48 hours. Some also say that Hillary is more electable but most polls show that Sanders beats any Republican nominee by a much, much greater margin and most media is being disingenuous in their reporting because most of the money donated to politicians end up paying for political ads and they do not want to kill the golden goose. Surprisingly Bernie isn't as popular with minorities but that's because of the narrative put out there by media which hardly talks about his fighting for, and getting arrested fighting for civil rights for African-Americans.
Luckily Trump has the Republican party in complete disarray, if he becomes their nominee, a lot of Republicans won't vote at all, maybe you've seen or heard of the #Never Trump campaign. Some however, would vote for the anti-establishment Sanders but none would vote for Hillary. If they take the nomination away from Trump, and chances are good that they will as this is the likely reason the other three candidates aren't dropping out, so they can stop him from reaching the required number of delegates he needs to automatically secure the nomination, and he miraculously keeps his word and doesn't make an independent run for the presidency, a 'huge' amount of his 40% of supporters would be up in arms and still wouldn't support the 'establishment' nominee. The truth is however, If the nomination is given to someone else, he will likely run as an independent out of spite and take his 40% of Republicans with him, he's been known to flip-flop...a lot. No matter what, a massive amount of Republican voters will be disenfranchised, 'believe me'.
This is the perfect opportunity for real change. Sanders is more electable against any Republican, he wants to tackle the most important issue of the day in the legalized corruption of money in politics, not to mention justice reform, financial sector reform and ending the corporate welfare system which sees literally TRILLIONS of dollars going to corporations and taking that money and using it on things like education and healthcare. Healthcare which is a basic human right and education, which only an uneducated person would see as a handout. It's actually an investment in the countries future which would reduce unemployment, drive innovation, give opportunities to minorities and poor people, create jobs and generate extra tax revenues which is currently spent on tax cuts and bail-outs for corporations.
Some say Bernie is a socialist, but he is a democratic socialist like FDR who instituted socially democratic policies like the New Deal, the GI Bill and Social Security, programs which brought America out of the great depression, were responsible for the post-war boom and were so successful they were maintained and even expanded under Eisenhower, a Republican.
There have been four supreme court decisions since about the mid to late seventies that allowed money in politics, said that corporations are individuals, have political rights like a person, made the amount that could be donated unlimited and finally with Citizens United allowed those donations to be made anonymous and the country has been in decline ever since. Bernie is the only candidate willing to tackle this issue, and there will never be a better time or a better person to bring about this real and positive change to this system which no-one but corporations, traditional media and corrupted politicians likes or trusts.
+Andrei Strenc I agree completely, and Trump is part of that system. He bought politicians all his life and now he's just trying to cut out the middle man and buy the Presidency itself. He's not even self funded, he's taken out loans to do this and will probably use future campaign contributions to pay himself back because while he can get by without donors in a primary, he could never win a general election with his own money.
Sarah smoked the good stuff before the show. lol
this was a good conversation
"The struggle is for power and hegemony." Well said, and I think that explains the perception of some of the attacks on Christianity, such as outrage over the use of "Season' Greetings" instead of "Merry Christmas". Its not an attack on the religion, but an attempt to recognize and validate other religions, which, in some people's minds, weakens the dominance of Christianity in American culture.
+Bill Malcolm And that is why they are afraid.
Sarah please let the adults do the talking. Your desire to express your sentiments on this podium makes everyone cringe.
love Sarah
TELL THAT REP FRO MD SHE HAS NO CLUE WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT.
Time for Canada to build a wall and get the Americans to pay for it.
+fishhead06 You're going to need us to when your Prime Minister tanks your economy.
SugaryCoyote Oh, do tell, Nostradamus.
If there's one thing that the rest of the western industrialized world can say about Americans, generally, with some confidence, it's that they know the price of everything - and the value of nothing.
fishhead06 Excellent bumper sticker slogan. You will sell many. I know the price they could sell for.
If you don't know the value of $30 billion Canadian dollars then you shouldn't be running a country. You can't feel your way out of a deficit.
SugaryCoyote If I sell 6 billion at a penny, I'll be filthy rich. And dictator of the United States.
I am embarrassingly attracted to Silverman's eyebrows LOL.
I fully believe that if we're going to have laws mandating that people wear anything in public (especially making only women wear a top) we should not be making laws that prevent you from wearing as much as you want.
That's not to say I don't have some issue with the niqab. There are all sorts of people, but I imagine many wear it to appease others rather than personal convictions. This is a social issue though, and should be addressed socially. Specific outreach for women who feel oppressed or forced to wear such attire. Assistance to place them in a safe environment if they feel there would be repercussions from making their own decisions.
We need to stop bringing the legal system to deal with what should be a person's personal decision. We need to stop criminalizing victims of the things we disagree with. We need to start approaching these situations with compassion rather than aggression.
like it when Bill lit a joint, awesome
Bernie 2016 #FeelTheBern
Concerning supreme court appointees
We need more jews on this panel. They don't have enough representation in the USA, especially in the media and entertainment industry
+CharlieSheen'sAIDS u high? Larry King, Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg, Jeff Ross, Half the friggin cast of SNL...come on.
+Kotazo Sabe Pretty sure that was sarcasm there bud.
walkinhop
Nope. They all support many causes. And backstage is the funding, management, etc. Seriously, I wish Bernie gets to the office so he can do what survivors do. Your economy needs a kickstart. Who better than a fellow tribesman of the smartest people around.
***** Are you ok?
+CharlieSheen'sAIDS they rule the USA and the world already. they control how you live your lives indirectly. you work for them, because they own the private federal reserve, which the US gov borrows from and all currencies are based on the US currency. You work for money, you are an indirect slave to the jews.
The episode Bill got all 'handsy' with Sarah.....
Sarah Silverman is such a hit or miss comic--mostly miss I feel.
Whwre can i watch this full length online?
we can only get along if the other side doesn't want to kill you for disaggreeing
The Bernie Bros meme ... was/is created by people who do *not* support Sanders or his ideas. Didn't Hillary have something like _"Obama Boys"_? And why would anyone who supports Sanders have attitudes that are the exact *OPPOSITE* of his attitudes?
+Beorn Borg Thank you for data: really? "Bernie Bros?" Why does Bernie accept support from known opponents of his platform? No worries; i'll check it. :)
Why are your newest videos not not being played on demand, for those of us who miss it?
Sarah Silverman is clueless about politics.
i love your program bill and i love HBO.We talk about who's better or worse in
American politics.I don't hear anyone talking about the manner in which the US government operates.People
listen to all the promises these presidential candidates make without any knowledge of how the US government operates.Let the voters know that the president comes up with ideas he thinks will help improve the people and the country, hopping congress will agree and work together to fulfill what's best for the people and the country.From my viewpoint,the CIA and Congress has the final say and the people have very little contribution if any when it comes to electing who sits in Congress.Thank you.Keep up the good work.
As somebody who apostatized from Islam, I truly appreciate "Muslims" like the beautiful Raheel Raza who are trying to reform Islam from the inside and who stand up against the acceptance of its backwards culture in Western democracies. [I used "quotations" because I honestly believe those like her and Maajid Nawaz, another brave individual, as well as others are only using the term Muslim for various reasons, such as cultural identity or its effectiveness in reform, but don't legitimately believe that Allah wrote the Quran,- either way I respect them for their intentions even if I sometimes disagree with their rationality of keeping the Muslim label]
However, I am often finding myself in deep concern about addressing the status of Islam in a country where the majority of people are driven with the wrong intentions. 80% of the population believes in Jesus, and while Christianity is certainty expressed in a more peaceful manner, many still believe in Biblical rhetoric that makes their Muslim hate violently dangerous. Or the giant portion of Americans who are non-religious but are still driven by racial bigotry or blind nationalism or maybe just the mere Homo sapien genetic instincts to hate "The Other". For example, many Trump supporters might mask these tendencies as "hating Islam" but even with the information that I am an Atheist many still view me as a 2nd class citizen for being ARAB. As much as i'd like to believe that those that are part of this voice are rational, reasonable and sensible people like Sam Harris or Bill Maher, I have found from my personal experience that MANY have hidden agendas, I can see past their bullshit and the ways they manipulate people's frustration and the very sentiments spoken by Raheel Raza as a way of moving their own agenda forward. Manipulative bastards.
I think Islam is poison and a virus that needs to be addressed. I would love to play a bigger role in its criticism and (hopefully) eventual demise. But the idea of removing one poison only to strengthen another poison troubles me deeply. For example, as much as I think Muslim culture is backwards and outdated, I still don't believe with inhibiting somebody from practicing it (Freedom of religion, Freedom of expression, Freedom of speech). And although i'm an Atheist I still have family members who I love dearly who consider themselves Muslims, even if just by name (like how many White Atheists still have Christian relatives). I wouldn't want them to be treated like garbage or attacked or publicly ridiculed or treated like 2nd class citizens (even if done passive aggressively) for whatever reason. It's hard to speak out against Islam sometimes when SO MANY voices are from Christian fundamentalists on the far-right, or blatant racists, or those that don't believe in the Freedoms protected by our Constitution, and sometimes even my fellow Atheists who speak in an irrationally violent manner. How can I promote good ideas and criticize Islam without feeling like i'm fueling these people? I am left in an awkward position. And so many like me feel the same way. It would surprise people how many Arabs there are who don't believe in this religious garbage but still keep silent because of the very reasons I listed. I even know a few who still call themselves Muslims while being secret-Atheists because it's an act of defiance. I even had somebody who was born, raised and living in the United States once tell me "I don't believe in Islam but I love how it unifies us against people who hate us for more than just our religion". Which is completely IDIOTIC but considering how he grew up in the South, is understandable I guess.
My comment doesn't have a point. I just wanted to rant and I didn't have another place for it. Life is just frustrating sometimes.
+Eric Bacon Sounds like a True Scotsman argument there bud.
Archie Andrews Not exactly. The No True Scotsman fallacy is an attempt to retain an unreasoned assertion. When the No True Scotsman fallacy is called in error, that is a logical fallacy in and of itself - something like Denial of Definition. It assumes that the subject being discussed (in this case Christianity/Islam) has no real, hard-and-fast definitions, which is not the case. Regardless of "interpretation", these faiths are still based on Scripture (Bible/Quran) as well as other documented sources.
If I call myself a Muslim but I go to a Christian church, worship Jesus Christ as savior, and think Muhammad was a false prophet . . . I'm not a Muslim. While I agree that not everything in the Quran/Bible is so black-and-white and can be open to interpretation to a certain degree, this is not to say that people can just impose meanings into the text which do blatantly and outright contradict a plain reading of the Quran/Bible and what it does actually say. Two contradictory opinions can not both be true: this is basic logic. In this context, those who bring up "alternative interpretations" are essentially just making something up based on their own feelings and what they want it to say rather than just accepting what it says. To me it seems that they are not genuine believers, because they are rejecting and going against what is plainly written in the Quran/Bible.
This is what Eric meant when he wrote "it is a degree of disbelieving". For example: The Quran defines ITSELF as the perfect book and literal word of Allah for all of eternity, so if a Muslim blatantly rejects certain verses, then he/she is already admitting (indirectly) that Allah is flawed which by definition would falsify the religion. But religious people have no integrity i've come to realize, so instead of facing this truth they instead choose to REDEFINE what it means to be Muslim/Christian. I guess that's cool, you can just make it up as you go along, like a 'Choose your own Adventure' book LOL.
BTW, Eric couldn't have worded his comment more perfectly. He carefully included "(in the original sense)" which saved him from committing the fallacy you accused him of committing :)
I probably wrote that comment like shit but whatever i'm tired and not going to proofread it. Hope it makes sense.
+Question Everything so kind of like how Christians use the bible as justification for their homophobia but dont adhere to any of the other 500 rules in leviticus
John Adams Exactly. Muslims and Jews and Hindus and whatever-else all do this, this behavior is not particularly unique to Christians. All too often the concept of "differing interpretation" is used as a mask for picking and choosing. But i'm not unsympathetic, I truly understand. I try not to sound too preachy for I was also VERY religious at one point. Whenever I became educated of a Scientific theory or fact that contradicted the Quran, or if I questioned the morality of a certain verse, I too altered my "interpretation". Ironically I also misused the "NTS" fallacy, as well as many other fallacies, to refute those that questioned the validity of my belief. So I would be a hypocrite if I were to pretentiously judge others for their willingness to cling on to the faiths they were indoctrinated in or their understandable defense mechanisms. I know I can sometimes come off as patronizing but I only speak this way because I TRULY know what it's like to be stuck in "the bubble". There are very deep subconscious psychological systems behind identity and to very many leaving the religion their parents molded them by is more than just "accepting the truth", it is literally killing yourself and re-birthing yourself and everything you knew, something that is very intimidating and extremely difficult for most of us - this is something most of my fellow Atheists aren't in tune with.
Having that said, keeping titles such as "Muslim" while not believing in the dogma is a completely different thing than what I just wrote about in the previous paragraph. In this context it is more about keeping a "cultural identity" in the face of a perceived opposing force that constitutes of people who merely use religion as a scapegoat to hate or as a tool to manipulate for hidden agendas. It's very similar to how many African Americans united under "The Nation of Islam" in the 60's and 70's, because even if they didn't believe in the dogma itself, they felt empowered by its unity or whatever else. Rastafarianism was rooted on rebelling against the idea that their "creator" was a White man and painting Jesus as a Black man was a way of countering racist Christians. There are also OTHER intentions such as those that don't believe but think they'll be more productive reforming the damage Islam is doing by working on it from within than being shunned an "outsider". Like I said I don't AGREE with any of these reasons but I understand it.
But yeah, I just wanted to clarify that the cultural/reforming/etc ideology behind keeping labels like "Muslim" is different than what I was writing on in my last 2 comments, which was more discussing those that still DO believe in the dogma but are not genuine with themselves and the ways they alter the definition of their Faiths by masking it with words like "interpretation" and wrongfully accusing people of fallacies.
Feel the Bern.