HBO’s “Real Time” host Bill Maher criticized the “PC police” for their treatment of people who have the wrong opinions or make jokes “about a protected species,” while giving Muslims a pass on the rules of political correctness on Friday.
Maher began, “Americans have got to learn how to take a joke. A few months ago, we introduced a segment called ‘Explaining Jokes to Idiots,’ and I’d like to bring it back tonight for the benefit of the Spike TV network, which last night, aired its Guys Choice Awards and censored a joke delivered by Clint Eastwood.”
After telling his viewers that Spike cut Eastwood joking that Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson wasn’t the only athlete to turn to acting, “there’s also Jim Brown and Caitlyn somebody.” Maher wondered, “Why? is ‘Caitlyn’ the new c-word? We can’t even say it in a joke? And this was on a male network that thinks of itself as macho. But you know guys, just because you have balls doesn’t mean you have balls. What is so worrisome about this new brand of censorship is, it doesn’t care if something is actually offensive, that joke was not an insult. Not in any way was it a remark that demeans Caitlyn’s journey or would make her Adam’s apple grow back. It’s just certain words that set people off.”
Maher continued, “This is what Jerry Seinfeld was complaining about last week when he said college audiences ‘just want to use these words, ”that’s racist,’ ‘that’s sexist,’ ‘that’s prejudiced.’ They don’t even know what they’re talking about.’ An opinion echoed by chris rock, who said he stopped playing colleges because of their unwillingness to offend anybody. And Larry the Cable Guy concurs. he said, ‘It really is a shame that nobody can handle comedy anymore.’ You know, when Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, and Larry the Cable Guy say you have a stick up your ass, you don’t need to wait for the x-rays to come back.”
Maher then addressed some of the reaction to Seinfeld, stating “One undergrad from San Diego actually wrote Jerry an open letter on the Huffington Post to help him, Jerry Seinfeld, better understand how comedy works. Now, I sure wouldn’t want to be judged by what I wrote at 20, but stupid though I was in 1976, I wouldn’t have presumed to lecture George Carlin on comedy, though I sure wish George was around today to write a letter back to this kid as only he could. but since he can’t, allow me. ‘Dear you little shit, I’m sure you’re busy with your new letter explaining astrophysics to Stephen Hawking and giving jump shot pointers to Steph Curry, but try to get a clue.’ In the same letter, this kid cited Amy Schumer as a comic who’s edgy, but without indulging in harmful stereotypes. OK, what about her line, ‘I used to date Hispanic guys, but now I prefer consensual’? Now, I love that joke, because no matter what Trump says, I don’t think of Latino men as rapists. it’s just funny, because it’s exaggerating the fact that Latinos, like almost all men, except white guys, are more aggressive when they hit on women.”
He concluded, “see, the PC police aren’t saying you can’t make jokes, you just can’t make them about a protected species. Jokes about men? Yes. Gay men? No. Kim Kardashian’s ass? Yes. Her stepfather’s tits? No. If someone on the Internet expresses the wrong views about gays, women, or Jews, they’re subject to endless shaming. Unless they’re Muslim, in which case all that intolerance is a cultural difference we just have to tolerate.” And pointed out that jokes any group are not 100% accurate, but people have no problem laughing at jokes about French people surrendering, or supermodels having eating disorders.
Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett
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