Bill Maher's Apology Tonight: What Did You Think?

[stopbush]

After the opening monologue, Bill sat down with his pal Michael Eric Dyson to "get schooled" on why he shouldn't ever use the n word and to explore what lay behind his use of it last week. This was followed later in the show by an admonition from Ice Cube that I felt made some excellent points.

I still feel the point was missed that Maher is to some extent stuck in the 1950s when it comes to who and what can be the target of humor.

Did you watch? What did you think?

[OnDoutside]

1. Well at least he didn't try to run away from it. Some people

won't be happy until he's financially ruined and living on the streets.

[applegrove]

2. I thought they all did great on the topic. I particularly liked Ice Cube's

straight you can't use that word if you are white. That black people own the word. That it is always a knife when white people use it. But then i am a visual person so that is what worked for me. Maher was open and honest and sincere. Good show.

[hlthe2b]

13. I appreciated hearing the viewpoints & frankly I agree. But when I think of the word I have most

had to face as a slur against me (the "c" word used toward women) I don't appreciate the attempts by some women to "re-appropriate" the word (and yes, I'm aware of the differences for those in G. Britain). It remains a painful slur and always will for me--no matter WHO uses it.

I have to think if I were black, that I would likewise feel that way about the "n" word. Still, I realize it is complicated and respect that the group most affected (in this case, African Americans) have every right to determine the fate of the word, though I personally wish it would never be used again by anyone.

[ecstatic]

24. And a lot of AA feel the same way...

Don't want anyone using the word, black or white. But it's impossible to get everyone on the same page.

[mountain grammy]

36. Haven't watched the entire show yet

but did see some of the Ice Cube segment.. excellent.

[world wide wally]

3. Was good enough for me

[chillfactor]

4. fine by me,,,n/t

[aeromanKC]

5. Fuck Tonights Apology

JGDF'in Christ, GOP NEVER F'ing apologizes even once not to speak of 2,3,4,5 times like Maher did. His 1st apology was fine. F the GOP. When the F did they ever apologize even ONCE for Any F'ing thing. Jesus, they double down and say F You America. Maher apologized last week. That was fine.

[pnwmom]

7. Are you African American? If you aren't, then it isn't up to you to decide

whether his apology last week was "fine."

[stopbush]

8. Did you watch the show? Because the subject of Ds over-apologizing for things

was dealt with head-on in the segment with MED. Bill said he has been on both sides of the question, and that there are some things you need to apologize for, like racism when it rears its ugly head.

The GOP doesn't have the courage or moral fiber to apologize. That's on them, and they should be ashamed. We don't win any battles if we don't apologize when it's warranted. And we don't win any battles when we apologize for things that we need not apologize for, like calling tRump the ignorant scumball he is, or calling religion a crock of shit.

[Squinch]

14. This has nothing to do with the GOP. This has to do with the question of how do we respect

our African American brothers and sisters.

[Hulk]

6. It's all you can do once it's out there...

I learned something tonight. I grew up with the word in our vocabulary. I quit using the word decades ago, but I occasionally would use it privately to make emphasis, or trying to be humorous. But tonight I learned I will NEVER use it again. It's that offensive to people of color...ALL OF THE TIME! It's not ours to use. It's venom in our society, and a knife in their backs when the ugly word is brought up, even as a joke.

One has to remember, however, we grew up with that word as kids even. "Eany, meany, miney mo....catch a ..." It's how we decided who or what we were going to chose. It was in Huck FInn and other writings of the time. It's in our memory bank, and we'll take it to our grave with it stuck in there. Again, I'm not justifying it, but I think Maher thought it was going to get a laugh, and I'm pretty sure it's in his memory bank as well as a kid in the 50's. I was watching his program when it came out, and by the look on his face, he knew he fucked up when he let it slip. The guy does have a conscience.

He did apologize, and he was sincere. He didn't run from it...he faced it head on, and he is a stand up person for that. Hell, he even had three of his guests on to face the music. I sincerely doubt he is going to make that same mistake ever again. I sincerely believe I am not going to ever let that word slip out of my 69 year old mouth, ever again. It's dead and gone. I will sooner call my mother a foul name than let the word pass.

You are right though....if a repuKKKe let slip, they would run and hide, or more than likely double down on it. There is a HUGE difference, as much as I hate to use the word "huge" any longer.

[rpannier]

10. When someone apologizes, I listen for one line that tells me if that person is insincere

"I'm sorry if I offended anybody."
That tells me, they are not.
It's basically saying, to all the unwashed who don't get the genius of what I had to say apology
I didn't hear that from him

[Stuart G]

32. I am not sure I understand..

"I'm sorry if I offended anybody."....Is that ok?...with you?
so If I say, "I'm sorry, if I offended anybody"..
then that is sincere. It is ok and you accept that.. Is that what you are saying?

sorry, too many negative words....oh, oh...better hide

[oasis]

11. Understanding is a wonderful thing. Since you've explained your feelings

in such depth and to the point, I'm willing to give Maher as pass on his transgression despite not having heard his apology myself.

[Jakes Progress]

21. There you go. You get it.

I had to "get it" the same way.

I was taught by my parents to never, ever use that word, and I didn't. I didn't run with racists and did many civil rights marches and protests so it rarely came up. Mostly, it was guys who thought they were liberal enough to use it for a joke or to tell a racist joke. It always felt wrong, but I didn't say anything. Like you, though I had to learn it and understand my part in letting that racism go.

I have been calling people on it since. Usually, they get (like Maher) all huffy and hurt that someone would say anything that indicated they weren't hip enough to say the word. Usually, they would protest that they were liberal and didn't mean anything about it.

The worst was a teacher in a school where I taught. He took the role of big old liberal. So his idea was that when he told a race joke, it was okay. It wasn't. But the worst was that it seemed to encourage others to do the same. It had to be okay because even "name deleted" did. He never got it.

Maher needs to just listen and learn. He has to put away his libertarian mindset and try being decent instead. His face indicated that he was struggling with it. I would love for him to go on his show and indicate that he gets it, that he now understands. It would go a long way.

(By the way. My mouth is 70.)

[rpannier]

9. I thought the apology was sincere and sound

I was a critic of him using it last week and thought some rallied around Maher more for the 'He's on our team' aspect, which I find repugnant.
For me, it was reminiscent of the hairball saying he could shoot people and his supporters would stick behind him
But, his apology was good and he seemed sincere.
I can't and won't speak for others, but, for me, I'm moving on to other issues
Hopefully he won't repeat that, or any other bigoted event again

[BeyondGeography]

12. "I always knew you were going to fuck up."

The exchange with Ice Cube was pretty riveting. When Ice Cube told Bill he had some redneck in him it genuinely surprised him. Not sure he agreed, but he took it. Look, it was great TV; these were intelligent, sincere people working through a difficult situation live, and how often do you see that? Bill got to see (not that he needed to be reminded) that he caused real pain. He told his side of the story which is, comedians are going to fuck up sometimes, but he got an education that I doubt he'll ever forget. Basically, white people, stay the fuck away from that word. Coming from white people, it's an expression of oppression and subjugation, a racist definition of black people that they fight against every day. Its present and future use belongs exclusively to them.

[VOX]

16. "Cube" was brilliant. His reasoning was succinct and hit dead-center.

As he stated, and you point out above, it's an expression that is simply off-limits for whites, under any circumstances, and for a damn good reason.

This whole idea is precisely what, say, the average Trump voter does NOT (and will likely never) get. They start screaming about "political correctness," which misses the point altogether. Then they throw fits because their idea of being "politically correct" forces them to surrender their white privilege, which for many of them, is about the last thing they've got.

[BeyondGeography]

23. Yup

They are at heart incurious, emotionally selfish people. The history of this country for them, when it comes to race or anything else that falls under their PCSux banner, starts when they wake up every morning.

[Voltaire2]

15. 90s.

In the 50s comedians could get locked up for saying cocksucker.

[Lotusflower70]

17. Much better

Than the written one. He did what he did and he owned up to it. Michael Eric Dyson did a great job schooling Bill. Ice Cube kept it real and got straight to the point. Symone Sanders addressed the feminine perspective. And Bill took it all whether he agreed or disagreed. Interesting how Kathy Griffin came into the conversation. Also interesting that the distinction was made between his stop apologizing rants and stepping up and apologizing when you fuck up.

[tblue37]

18. I like Mahr's show, and though he can be an ass, I like most of Mahr's humor.

He definitely screwed up last week, but he did apologize. I believe he meant his apology, and he did have on guests that he knew would smack him around for it.

I do think he was a bit surprised at how much smacking around he got and that he sometimes had a little trouble not being defensive, but eventually Ice Cube forced him to shut up the defensiveness and just listen.

I watch his show every week. It is the only show I watch each week. I will continue to do so.

[Lotusflower70]

19. Same here

I love Bill Maher and will continue to watch as well. He has some good moments. He definitely makes people laugh and think. He had a majorly bad moment and it needed to be called out.

I think he was very surprised by the amount of smack but he needed to take it. He definitely earned it. And that redneck trucker comment threw him but I get the point. It was the perfect panel and perfect one on one.

[MineralMan]

20. Didn't see it. Don't watch Maher.

I haven't for a very long time, and don't plan to change that.

[Rustyeye77]

22. OK by me.

he apologized...end of story.

[lunatica]

25. I thought he handled it quite well with two prominent black people schooling him

This is exactly the kind of dialogue needed to confront racism. You can't get more real with dialogue than Bill Maher did with Tyson and Ice Cube. It was a win win for all of us.

[Justice]

26. I don't think anyone should use N-word.

You cannot say it is bad for some people to use it but okay for others to use it.

[melman]

27. Ice Cube

You mean "Oriental one-penny countin motherfuckers", "your little chop suey ass" , "motherfucker, learn to speak English" "you little Chinese motherfucker " Ice Cube?


That one?

[ProfessorGAC]

37. I Had Some Concern About Him...

...being the lesson bringer too! Bill screwed up, and deserved the heat but Cube wasn't the best voice especially after Dyson already did so well and so gracefully

[Heartstrings]

28. That word isn't a part of my vocabulary

as other words are not.....I accepted his apology....over and over....and learned some heartfelt information as well.

[Vinca]

29. It was fine. Everyone makes mistakes and it doesn't warrant burning at the stake.

[bettyellen]

30. I thought he was rude whining to Cube that he'd already heard the criticisms... why invite guests

And then complain they're talking about it- especially since they were articulate and honest. Simone made some good points about slavery and he responded by changing the subject. He couldn't pretend to want to be there, he knew he had to though.

[Warpy]

31. I thought the "schooling" was great

and I also think it penetrated far enough that Maher won't use that word again until he's over 100 and mumbles it into his pureed peas at the old folks' home because it's one of the few words he can remember. Nobody will listen to him then.

[pansypoo53219]

33. education episode for his viewers. good black voices.

[bettyellen]

34. Joy Reid and Toure did a great segment on this today- that he's a shit ally becasue

Being a wealthy white man he's forgotten house slaves weren't really better off, and he'd have never been a slave of any sort. They said some people who hang a lot w people of color mistake themselves as honorary blacks and they really is no such thing.

They called him out for his defensiveness and asking for the comedian pass- which they might give in another stand up scenario, but quipping during a political interview was just too much.

[brettdale]

35. What would George carlin say

If he was alive today.