I don't experience similar doing the side past times side utilization of the 2016 Clinton-takes-the-blame serial this morning, but I don't really own got anything to enjoin well-nigh the London attacks, thence I'll but write well-nigh Bill Maher. The incident really ties inwards alongside what I lately wrote well-nigh the Kathy Griffin/Ted Nugent comparing anyway.
H5N1 few days ago,
when thinking through the Kathy Griffin/Ted Nugent comparison, I used societal attitudes towards the "n-word" equally a shout out for of reference. I utilization a lot of taboo linguistic communication because I don't plough over a fuck well-nigh arbitrary rules, but restrictions on the n-word are non arbitrary. My seat is that 1 should refrain from using a give-and-take if 1 tin derive a argue to create thence from get-go principles. One cannot derive, from get-go principles, a argue non to utilization the word, "fuck." The taboo against that give-and-take is based on the history of Latin-based versus Germanic-rooted words (i.e. socioeconomic class). However, 1 tin legitimately assault another's utilization of linguistic communication or symbolism if 1 tin base of operations the assault on get-go principles. For the n-word, my regulation was the threat. The utilization of the n-word, past times a white person, tends to bring a threat, given the weight of history.
Here's the matter well-nigh language, though. There are ever exceptions. As shortly equally I type that, yous intend I'm going to defend Maher. Not... exactly. Keep reading.
In some other recent post well-nigh taboo language, when the FCC was thinking well-nigh going afterwards Stephen Colbert,
I referenced the utilization of the n-word inwards Blazing Saddles. There are some who would fence that nobody tin ever, nether whatever circumstances, utilization the n-word, as well as that it should last excised from the English linguistic communication language. Until "curious yellow" comes along, proficient luck alongside that. (Go read
Glasshouse, past times Charles Stross-- I really should annotate my posts, given how many hidden references at that topographic point are, but hey, here's a link!). Such goals are stupidly unrealistic. Art, history, comedy, etc., all demand access to the total arrive at of language, inwards my opinion. Once yous choose the premise that white actors tin enjoin the n-word inwards historical representations, or but when trying to portray characters equally peculiarly stupid as well as vile, yous tin no longer autumn dorsum on, "Bill Maher said the n-word. Fire him!" The railroad train of exceptions is a non-empty set, as well as the query becomes whether or non Maher's joke, which was clearly a joke, falls into that set.
So, here's the joke. Senator Ben Sasse invited him to operate inwards the fields inwards Nebraska. Maher declined, identifying himself equally a "house [n-word]." Obviously a joke. Not a proficient one.
Does it exceed my "threat" test? Um.... yeah, it sort of does. In no fashion could identifying
himself as a "house [n-word]" last construed equally a threat to anyone
else. It was a pathetic elbow grease at self-deprecating humor.
Of course, that doesn't hateful 1 can't last bothered past times the joke. The jewish community tends to larn upset when shaver trifles larn equated alongside the holocaust because doing thence diminishes the holocaust. That, equally I come across it, is the uncomfortable matter well-nigh what Maher said. By identifying himself blithely equally a "house [n-word]," he diminishes the horrors of 1 of the few things that really does larn to last compared alongside the holocaust, inwards price of the scale of the evil committed-- slavery.
Those focusing on the "n-word" itself rather than the total construction, "house [n-word]," as well as the self-identification of that, then, are sort of missing the shout out for of the draw of piece of occupation that Maher really crossed. And that isn't an accident. Taboos on linguistic communication own people to focus on the incorrect things-- arbitrary rules rather than the concepts behind them.
This provides an interesting test, though, that Maher regularly faces. Back during the campaign, Trump tweeted a painting exhibit of Clinton, side past times side to a pile of money, alongside a star of David as well as a caption well-nigh corruption. Gee... what was that about? Anyway, I posted
this about how nosotros create upwardly one's hear who gets the create goodness of the dubiety on issues of race, as well as Maher is well-nigh equally fascinating a instance equally yous volition notice on that query given his combination of politics as well as behavior.
Pre-9/11, at that topographic point were 2 prominent libertarian-ish-minded comedians: Dennis Miller as well as Bill Maher. 9/11 caused Bill Maher to movement left, as well as Dennis Miller to movement right. Maher is straightaway basically but a liberal Democrat, as well as Miller is straightaway basically but a conservative Republican. It was fascinating how that worked, as well as nosotros tin fifty-fifty brand an academic reference here! We telephone phone this process, "sorting." It is a weird, semi-off-case version of what Matt Levendusky talked well-nigh inwards
The Partisan Sort. Anyway, though, Maher has ever been a provocateur. He 1 time had a exhibit called "Politically Incorrect," from which he was fired afterwards 9/11 because the measure draw of piece of occupation that all Americans were required to enjoin afterwards 9/11 was that the hijackers were cowards, because the hijackers were evil, cowardice is evil, as well as all evil is equivalent. Maher, who is straightaway regularly inwards problem for negative statements well-nigh Islam, lost his exhibit for maxim that, no, the hijackers were anything but cowards. They were willing to sacrifice their lives, spell Americans to a greater extent than oft than non but safely press buttons. As I said, he is straightaway regularly inwards hot H2O for maxim likewise many negative things well-nigh Islam. Rhetorically, Bill Maher pisses off everyone. That's his destination inwards life.
But, despite the fact that he talks shit well-nigh everyone as well as gets the left riled upwardly against him for his violations of PC linguistic rules, on
policy, since 9/11, he's been solidly on the left from everything I tin determine, give thank yous you really much, Matt Levendusky. (I cutting the cord years ago, as well as never had HBO anyway, thence don't choose me equally a really authoritative source on Bill Maher). What does that hateful for how people evaluate Maher? He is a Democrat. He is a lefty, as well as if yous inquire him well-nigh policy, he'll side alongside Black Lives Matter from what I tin read, but equally he'll side alongside the left on nearly whatever other issue. He'll but enjoin shit that pisses them off along the way. That is at the center of the outcome I addressed inwards
my before post on the create goodness of the dubiety on race.
Contrast that alongside Attorney General Beauregard Sessions. I am pretty sure that nosotros tin straightaway document Bill Maher maxim the n-word to a greater extent than lately than Beauregard. That's sort of funny to intend about, as well as sure as shooting funnier than Maher's joke, but let's exceed on inwards hear the existent outcome alongside that joke. It wasn't the fact that a white guy said the n-word. It was the diminishment of slavery. Then, how create nosotros evaluate him? Is he really a racist, similar Jeffie Beauregard, or but an asshole? Remember, all racists are assholes, but non all assholes are racist.