Bigoted Bill Maher supports 14 year old being arrested for building a clock

[One of the 99]

The man can't see beyond his own hatred for muslims. Disgusting.

[cpwm17]

1. He doesn't really believe that Muslims are human. n/t

[applegrove]

3. .

[applegrove]

2. The child brought his clock to about 6 classes and got tonge tied when the last teacher asked him

about his clock. Only then did they report it to authorities. Of course it was a mistake. Maher's point was that it was a mistake. I'm glad the kid is getting a lot of attention for his talents in the end.

[One of the 99]

17. No Maher point was that is was the kid's fault for being muslim.

[ChiciB1]

23. Not What I Got Out Of It, I Think He Was Saying

something like since he was a muslim he understood WHY people would feel it was a bomb. Said he had gone to several classes and other teachers weren't upset, but then one was.

But what bothered me about the whole thing is that he seemed to not understand he was a kid and didn't seem to factor in that he "might" cause the concern. Given where he lives and the town where that lady staged her meeting was only a few miles away. Still, I DON'T agree with him even if he felt he had a valid point. I was offended that he just kept going on about it and that he made such a big deal about it. HE seemed to be the one who felt a need to raise just another Muslim issue in a negative way.

Over all the show sucked in total! And Tweety is such jerk! Not sure but I thought he even said something about talking about HIS book! I may be completely wrong, he could have said something else.

I stopped watching MSNBC except every once in a while Chris & Rachel. Rachel had a great i interview with Bernie and the with Reichart about Vets. Only time I watch them any more.

Wonder how many ppl were as turned off about his show last night as I was.

[One of the 99]

25. His whole point was to blame the kid and

justify bigotry against muslims.

[ChiciB1]

114. I DO Have To Agree Somewhat, Regardless

of my previous statement, but that he even "went there" was tasteless and VERY offensive. And I can't disagree that it seemed very bigoted too!

So basically, we BOTH disliked it! A lot!

[Baitball Blogger]

4. Not surprised.

He does have an arrogant side (read racist). When they started profiling dark-skin people at the airports, he supported that too. He thinks its logical that they only target the people that fit the description of terrorist, which means that he was fine with the Civil Rights encroachments as long as they were not imposed on him, because he's white.

I think he's more Libertarian than Liberal.

[shenmue]

13. He is

[Arugula Latte]

111. I guess he doesn't realize he's much more likely to get gunned down by an angry white Christian

terrorist in the USA. But they don't call them that because they're white. And Christian.

[ohheckyeah]

5. That's not

quite what he said. He said he shouldn't have been arrested and should receive an apology. He then questioned if it was a completely ridiculous concern.

[Baitball Blogger]

6. Does anyone want to provide a link so we can be sure, one way or the other?

[ohheckyeah]

7. It just aired. There is no video or transcript

yet. Google it later.

[Baitball Blogger]

8. Will do.

[One of the 99]

18. He wouldn't have questioned it if it were a white kid.

[treestar]

32. why not?

thinking of Timothy McVeigh an all the shootings done by white kids, in this particular case that does not make me so sure.

It's the school environment here, rather than being Muslim. These stories cut across all races.

[One of the 99]

36. So you're comparing the actions of murderers

to that of a 14 year old science geek? Are there any examples of a white kid being arrested for bringing a clock to school?

[treestar]

38. illogical

I'm talking about the general environment in schools today. Where they get upset if a kid brings in a knife, etc. Because of the number of school shootings. The point is that schools are on high alert due to these things. Sure not every case turns out to be a disaster, but when it does they are blamed for not seeing it coming and preventing it. Thus they are on high alert and get a lot of concerns that turn out to be for nothing.

[One of the 99]

41. Yes I agree, your argument is illogical.

Please show an example of a white kid being interrogated for 3 hours without his parents or a lawyer being present, arrested and then suspended for 3 days for bring a clock to school.

[treestar]

42. You refuse to discuss my point.

[One of the 99]

43. The point is

white kids are not arrested for bringing a clock to school.

[treestar]

45. You insist on limiting the scenarios

What universe of kids are you comparing? Name all the other kids who brought clocks to school and their races, please. And while at it, to make it accurate, don't count white kids who brought ordinary looking clocks to school. That would not be the same, and you insist on only the exact same scenario to be compared.

Given that, you can't claim it's because of being Muslim and there is no other case to compare it to. Name one other kid of any race who did the exact same thing. You're the one claiming it has to be exact.

[One of the 99]

47. This is the scenario.

The kid brought a clock to schools and was arrested & suspended for it. Unless you can cite an example of the same thing happening to a white kid you have no argument.

[B2G]

62. Does being arrested and suspended for writing about killing a dinosaur pass

your litmus test?

http://www.nbc12.com/story/26319685/cops-summerville-high-school-student-arrested-after-writing-threatening-message-on-assignment

[onecaliberal]

53. Where I live they bring circuit boards to school to work with robots

Or fashioned ones anyway... We have robotics teams here, 40% white. No one has been arrested.

[riderinthestorm]

64. But white kids are arrested and suspended for similarly stupid shit

Thats treestars point.

Here's a kid suspended for a year because of a leaf!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027180308

[One of the 99]

83. Still another false analogy.

Marijuana is an illegal substance, a clock it not.

[riderinthestorm]

92. It was a maple leaf, not marijuana but you knew that.

The teachers didn't quite know what it was so they jumped to the worst ASSumption, just like Ahmed's teachers where they couldn't quite make out what his device was

But feel free to continue along the lines of ignorance and willful blindness. You're not doing yourself any favors and are, instead, proving Maher's and others' point.

[One of the 99]

102. Still a false analogy.

True they made a bad assumption but marijuana is an illegal substance, a clock is not. If Ahmed's teachers or the police really thought it was a bomb, why didn't they evacuate the school and call in the bomb squad?

And you're the one that is continuing along the line of ignorance and willful blindness of bigotry and prejudice, not me.

[riderinthestorm]

58. Here's a white kid arrested and suspended for a creative writing assignment

http://www.nbc12.com/story/26319685/cops-summerville-high-school-student-arrested-after-writing-threatening-message-on-assignment

16 yr old white boy arrested and suspended for writing he was going to kill his neighbors pet dinosaur...



There are plenty of these types of stories from kids suspended for wearing American flag shirts to Native Americans suspended for speaking their native language in school.

If you don't think schools aren't hyper sensitive and knee jerk about the stupidest stuff, then you haven't been paying attention. There's a lot of spilt ink documenting how schools have gone so far overboard the other way in arresting and suspending students over the stupidest of infractions including temper tantrums by toddlers!

[One of the 99]

82. Another false analogy.

Threatening violence is different from bringing a clock to school.

[riderinthestorm]

93. No violence was threatened, it was a creative writing assignment

where the only thing "threatened" was the neighbors fictitious pet dinosaur...

Now you're just trolling.

Lol, good luck with that.

I actually feel sorry for you, all dug in there.... Feel free to continue on without me. It's amusing to watch from the stands from here on out...

[One of the 99]

101. In which he threatened violence.

Or didn't you read what he wrote.

Not trolling but disputing BS. Which must be why you're leaving, since you can't make a real case that arresting a 14 year old for a clock is somehow reasonable.

[WillowTree]

57. Tell that to the 7 year old white kid......

.......who got suspended for chewing his pop tart into the shape of a gun. No wires or circuitry or anything that could even remotely be used to actually do anyone harm.

[One of the 99]

81. False analogy

A gun is a weapon, a clock it not.

[WillowTree]

89. OMG. It was a POP TART!

And the shape that it was chewed into didn't look that much like a gun. No one would ever have mistaken it for anything but a pop tart. OTOH, I'd be surprised if you could find a picture of another clock that looks anything like the one in question.

But hey, the fact that a little white kid got punished for something so totally innocuous doesn't fit into your story line makes it TOTALLY different.

[One of the 99]

103. It is a shame you don't see the BIG difference.

It still amazes me that some here, on what is supposed to be a progressive site, are defending bigotry and prejudice.

[dogman]

9. No one thought it was a bomb.

Maher proposed that it was reasonable to suspect a bomb because the boy was a Muslim. If anyone suspected it was a bomb they would have called a bomb squad and evacuated the school. Cuban seemed to imply there were other motives behind the story. The odd thing there is that the officials acted the way they did with no direction by his sister.

[ohheckyeah]

10. I would have

loved to ask him (Maher) why they didn't evacuate the school or call the bomb squad if they truly thought it was a bomb. I can't agree with him on this one.

[One of the 99]

19. Reasonable to suspect it was a bomb?

Why because the kid was muslim?

[BlueJazz]

11. He said something like: Muslims fanactics are one group that tends to blow things up alot.

[ohheckyeah]

14. Yes, that

was part of it, too.

[mainer]

59. Has he forgotten the Irish Republican Army?

Oh wait, they don't count. They were Christian.

[BlueJazz]

77. Yes. Muslim bad Christian good

I guess he was trying to a point somewhere??

I didn't buy it.

[closeupready]

12. He's like that joke, "some of my best friends are black, but ..."

He's not an elected official, he's not a party leader, he's not even a bureaucrat.

He's an entertainer, ok? He makes money when you watch his show, ok? He can say inflammatory things in order to help drive viewers into watching what he actually said.

He's not entertaining, IMO, but he is a joke.

[840high]

15. Is there room under the bus for Maher?

[One of the 99]

21. Well he's already down in the gutter with Sarah Palin

on this issue.

[Cheese Sandwich]

16. He has a problem with Muslims in general it seems

He gets to be on TV like that for some reason though.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

20. Here's a link to a video.

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/maher-battles-guests-on-ahmed-mohamed-be-cautious-when-young-muslims-are-blowing-sht-up/

[Chitown Kev]

115. looked at the video...maher is a bigot. Period.

Cuban, at least, was reasonable in saying the Ahmed could have been more forthcoming but Maher attempted to tie in in with 9/11, etc. and...

[ChiciB1]

22. Yeah, His Show Last Night Wasn't Good In ANY Way! n/t

[davidn3600]

24. He's not the first entertainer/comedian who has said controversial things

He's not running for any political office. He's not even technically a media personality. He's an entertainer.

And in any case, we all have the freedom of speech in this country.

You can disagree with him. But he has a right to his opinions.

[One of the 99]

26. And I have the right to call out his bigotry.

[Orrex]

28. Please.

DU embraces him like a bold champion of truth when it suits DU's purpose, and when he reveals his ugliness and bigotry DU says "he's just an entertainer."

And in any case, we all have the freedom of speech in this country.

You can disagree with him. But he has a right to his opinions.

Did I deny him that right? Of course not. Spare me the sermon.

[fredamae]

27. Bigoted or simply Unreasonably Paranoid? n/t

[Darb]

29. If Maher is an asshole, and Muslims deserve no suspicion whatsoever,

then can you somehow explain why so many of us are pissed off at radical Islam and the havoc they are causing worldwide? Am I just a bigot because I despise ISIS and the shit they are doing? Boko Haram? Just looking for some type of explanation as to why it is sooooo upsetting to say that Muslim radicals blow shit up and do not abide by any sense of order, or democracy, or standard, civil society to express their grievances?

How many fundamentalist, Islamic groups are brutally killing thousands of people under the guise that they are entitled to do it by their belief system?

Quit pretending it is not happening. And don't fall back on "well, so and so does it too". I am against all that violent shit, by any group, or any government, or any individual.

There is no other religion, or cause, or movement that is wreaking so much havoc and well intentioned folks seem to want to pretend it is not happening and pile on Bill Maher because he is pissed off about it?

We all need to own reality in all its shades of grey and all of its intricacies, including those that are pretending that radical Islam is not a problem.

[Orrex]

30. How many thousands has the US killed?

How many fundamentalist, Islamic groups are brutally killing thousands of people under the guise that they are entitled to do it by their belief system?

Of course, when we kill people by the thousands, we say we're "protecting our interests" or "defending our freedom" or some other righteous, lofty goal.

We all need to own reality in all its shades of grey and all of its intricacies, including those that are pretending that radical Islam is not a problem.

On the global scale, "radical Islam" is a much smaller problem than the US-driven export of capitalism to serve our own imperialistic agenda.

[One of the 99]

33. You should study the history of Christianity

There is no other religion, or cause, or movement that is wreaking so much havoc

Only of you overlook the crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, the bombing of abortion clinics, etc.

Am I just a bigot because I despise ISIS and the shit they are doing?

No. But when you use their actions to justify the arrest of a 14 year old who made a clock just because he happens to be the same religion, then you are.

[treestar]

35. ISIS is doing it now

they don't get a pass because of past history of others.

It doesn't justify the kid's arrest. IMO a white or other kid would have met the same fate in that school in today's environment. There have been plenty of white school shooters.

[One of the 99]

37. Either you're painfully naive or in denial.

Show an example of a white kid getting arrested for bringing a clock to school.

[treestar]

39. Why does it have to be the exact same thing?

haven't there been various news reports of various races of kids being called in or even arrested, or being expelled for bringing knives, etc? There have been several school shootings. Thus the general environment is to look askance at anything unusual. It will cause many false alarms. Here was one. There are going to be far more false alarms then real ones. But when a real one happens, what does everybody say first? How come no one saw this coming and intervened to prevent it.

This was just a false alarm, and yes it could have happened to a white or black kid who did the same thing. They were not deliberately trying to bother him for being a Muslim. Or at least there is no proof of that and the way DUers are assuming it without basis.

[One of the 99]

40. A knife is not a clock.

There's a big difference. Again either you're painfully naïve or in denial.

[treestar]

44. Why am I painfully naive or in denial

Not everything involving a Muslim involves bigotry. I'd say you are thinking in black and white terms and claiming nothing adverse that ever happens to a minority is something that just happened. And denying that teachers today are going to be very vigilant, given the violence that has happened din schools in recent history. It's like you are pretending that does not happen and is no worry whatsoever so you can enjoy feeling superior to these teachers as they must have done it only because the kid is Muslim.

White kids have gotten in trouble for incredibly petty things that happened in schools.

[One of the 99]

46. Because you refuse to admit reality.

White kids have gotten in trouble for incredibly petty things that happened in schools.

But not for bringing a clock to school: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/09/16/1421901/-Gawker-tells-us-about-seven-other-kids-not-named-Mohammed-who-brought-homemade-clocks-to-school#

[The2ndWheel]

56. Tough to include science projects

since Mohamed's clock was not a science project. Then even one of those projects did become of interest to authorities. It's not a good list for comparing and contrasting.

[One of the 99]

80. Not all were science projects

Only 3, so it is a fair list to compare.

[The2ndWheel]

108. I count 6 of the 7 examples as projects of some kind

If 6 of the 7 are projects, and you've gone out of your way to compare official projects to what some kid did for 20 minutes at home in order to make a larger point about how him being a Muslim is what caused all this, even the remaining example is probably a science project of some kind.

It's just not a good list. Even if 4 of the 7 weren't projects, then don't include the other 3 that are, because that's a different set of circumstances. 7 sounds better, or worse, than 4 though, so, I guess throw them in there.

[One of the 99]

117. If you don't see the fact

that the 14 year old being a Muslim was a cause for all this, how sad for you.

[WiffenPoof]

66. You keep referring to it as a clock...

In no way does it look like a clock in any traditional way. If it was round and had hands, then I'm sure that no one would have said anything.

[friendly_iconoclast]

75. For good reason- it *is* a clock...

[melman]

48. This again?

The Spanish Inquisition! How do you even type it with a straight face?

[One of the 99]

51. Are you saying that didn't happen?

[treestar]

34. I predicted the first response you got

It's all the US's fault!

I think no matter what the US has done, there are other ways for those upset about it to complain, discuss it, call for the US to remove troops, etc. There is no excuse for these groups doing what they are doing.

OBL wanted our troops out of S.A. S.A. didn't. Too bad for him - there were other ways to deal with it.

[uponit7771]

79. Cause so many of "us" are fuckin racist assholes?! tia

[craigmatic]

31. Bill clearly has a problem with the muslims.

[Bluenorthwest]

52. Many Islamic countries execute atheists like Bill and LGBT persons like me. You shoud expect us to

oppose that. In fact you should be joining us in opposing that crap. To pretend that entire countries executing entire groups of people should not be mentioned by the groups being murdered is offensive.

How many dead gay people do you feel entitled to prior to any complains being lodged by the LGBT community?

[craigmatic]

68. What did this little boy do to you personally? Does his religion justify his mistreatment by cops?

[Bluenorthwest]

73. You are hiding behind a child I did not mention. I asked a question of YOU, and you cravenly avoided

it. You are demanding that persons who are denigrated and executed by a religious group must never, ever object to that denigration or public lashings of members of our community.
Why do you believe religion has the right to misuse others while being protected from any form of criticism at anytime? Why is it that religion can oppress minority groups but you claim the bigots are those who tell them to stop oppressing minority groups?

You don't control or own LGBT or anyone else. Learn to live with it. Being a bully won't help you.

[craigmatic]

88. Lol you can't even bring yourself to say his mistreatment was unjust.

Sorry your people are oppressed that is wrong but so is this now let's see you say the same.

[Ashdric]

49. You have no link or quote

Could it be that you made this up?

[One of the 99]

50. There is a link further up in the thread.

And why would I made this up?

[pnwmom]

106. i can't find it. Do you really expect people to read the whole thread searching for a link?

[One of the 99]

116. Here it is.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7184976

[pnwmom]

118. Thank you!

[ColesCountyDem]

63. Insults framed as questions are still insults.

Welcome to DU.

[Ashdric]

86. Alert it

Thanks.

[ColesCountyDem]

87. No.

Just a friendly word of advice to someone who, presumably, would like to be a long-term member.

[Ashdric]

90. Your "advice" is useless. You don't even think a jury will consider it an insult

Your "advice" was useless.
You know your view that my comment was an "insult" would be rejected by a jury.

[ColesCountyDem]

91. Enjoy your stay.

[Ashdric]

95. I'm enjoying not being alerted by you

Trust me.

[ColesCountyDem]

104. How is your pizza? n/t

[MohRokTah]

85. Welcome to DU.

Enjoy your stay, however long that may be.

[Baitball Blogger]

54. He's a Libertarian.

Which is to say, that he will capitulate on Civil Rights issues if it doesn't infringe on him.

[Orrex]

55. ^^Excellent summation

He's very much of the "I've got mine, Jack" mindset.

[lunatica]

60. He doesn't like children either

But he's only a comedian. And if nothing else, he's consistent in his dislike of religion and children.

[PasadenaTrudy]

71. Two reasons

I love him

[mainer]

61. When the IRA was bombing London, we didn't blame ALL Catholics

Yet when a few fanatic Muslims do it, it's the entire Muslim world's fault.

[riderinthestorm]

67. That's not exactly true. When the IRA was carrying out retaliatory bombing

for the English murders of the Irish, English occupation, and centuries of oppression including an attempted genocide, the English most certainly did blame all of the Irish for the IRA actions, bar none.

Every. Single. Last. Irish person was held responsible.

Carry on.

[mainer]

69. But they didn't blame all Catholics.

This is what Maher has done. Blamed all Muslims around the world. Not just any particular ethnic group or nationality of Muslims. All Muslims, everywhere.

[riderinthestorm]

72. Sure they did. The English have a LONG history of Catholic hatred

Methinks someone hasn't been paying attention in history class



Seriously though, I think the OP doesn't do nuance well. I saw the video and it's nothing like the OP has posited.

And Maher hates all religions equally.

I'm not kicking this thread again. Feel free to have the last word

[truebrit71]

94. I'm British, and I didn't blame all the catholics...

Just the cowardly murdering fuckers bombing innocent people.

[riderinthestorm]

98. Yeah, I'm Irish and I didn't blame all the English either

just the cowardly murdering mother fuckers that tried to genocide the hell out of ALL of us, worked to obliterate us and our culture, raped and shit all over us for a few centuries. There wasn't any "special" treatment for some Irish Catholics by the Brits - every Irish person had a fucking bullseye on their back and was similarly fucked.

Sorry our war for independence took a few British lives during the struggle...can't say you lot were particularly careful with any of us during those oh several centuries of oppression and occupation.

[mainer]

97. Did the Brits blame Italian Catholics?

Did they paint most of SouthAmerica as terrorists just because they were Catholics?

Maher seems to see all Muslims worldwide as culpable.

[mr blur]

107. You don't know what you're talking about. Were you here in London in

the 1970s and '80s? Thought not.There was certainly despite for the IRA but not because they were Catholics but because they were vicious lunatics who enjoyed murdering strangers. You didn't have to be English to be murdered by the IRA. Did your "history class" tell you about the Americans who supported terrorism and slaughter by sending money over to "the old country" from the safety of places like Boston, so that these murdering bastards could buy better guns and explosives to kill the English with?

[riderinthestorm]

113. And the vicious lunatic Brits murdering the Irish weren't murderous bastards?

Exactly how many Brits died in the Irish war for Independence vs how many Irish were slaughtered, starved, raped, beaten, crushed, and terrorized by the British, for centuries .

Perhaps you missed that in your own history class? Or that wee bit of genocide you lot tried ? Or the bit about the cultural genocide you almost succeeded at?

When you've finally caught up feel free to come back and scold me about how awful it was for you in fucking London in the 70s during the Irish war for independence.

Because from where I'm standing its what it took to throw you (almost) off after centuries and rivers of Irish blood.

Rivers of Irish blood

[Bluenorthwest]

74. I was repeatedly and unduly questioned and detained at Heathrow in the 80's and 90's for being

of Irish decent on one half of one side. They were incredibly intrusive and to be blunt with you I had a great deal of social standing at the time. The people interviewing me knew who I was, and they also knew most of the people I had contact with who were things like peerage and BAFTA winners. They were very upfront about profiling. 'It's because you are Irish' to which I said 'but I'm American' to which they said Yes of course you are.'

[LeftishBrit]

99. Actually the Ian Paisley types pretty much did...

But it's nasty and bigoted in either case.

[Stellar]

65. Bill Maher Show...I just don't get it.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

70. Bill Maher is...

...an entertainer and supports whatever keeps the paychecks coming.

[One of the 99]

84. As someone stated above

DU embraces him like a bold champion of truth when it suits DU's purpose, and when he reveals his ugliness and bigotry DU says "he's just an entertainer."

[Warpy]

76. It is, the man is dead wrong this time

The whole thing could have and should have been handled by calling in the shop teacher and asking the kid how it worked. That could have been the end of it.

Bigots turn into total morons and Maher is no exception in this case. Real bombers use stuff right off the shelf in Target and Wal Mart for triggering devices.

[Gothmog]

78. Maher is an Islamaphobe

I read about his outburst and decided not to watch his HBO show

[MinM]

96. Bill stands w/Bristol & Sarah

He must be so proud.

@Zap2it: Bristol Palin calls out Obama for Ahmed Mohamed White House invite http://zap2.it/1V14qjU

@sarahemclaugh: sarah palin, queen of england

[Warren DeMontague]

100. Maher is hardly infalliable.

On this one, he's wrong. Fuck, when he gets going about "western medicine" and vaccines, shit, he goes waaaaaaaaaaaay off the rails.

Sometimes his insights are good and his jokes are fresh. Sometimes, not so much.

[BigDemVoter]

105. Wow. . .

I don't always agree with Mr. Maher, but he generally gives me a good laugh. I'm disappointed to hear this.

[ProfessorGAC]

109. Watch It Yourself

While i disagree with him on this point, he did not say what some here are claiming he said.

He made it ABUNDANTLY clear that the kid was innocent and deserves and apology.

[BigDemVoter]

110. Oh good.

I should learn my lesson that I need to watch something or read it myself. One person's impressions may not match mine.

I DO know that Mr. Maher can be abrasive and can irritate people, but I appreciate the fact that he generally calls things right and isn't afraid to say so.

[ProfessorGAC]

112. Didn't Mean That To Be Snarky

What i meant was there were a lot of differing opinions here, and i think you need to see for yourself and then decide what you think. Like i said, i heard something differently than others here on this thread.