Newly re-elected Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Daily Beast columnist John Avlon, and author S.E. Cupp appeared on Bill Maher's "Real Time" panel Friday. Maher began...
I agree with Bill Maher especially the question that Man has done great damage to the planet and humanity in the name of God. When a man commits evil deeds in the name of God or a Superior Power, he or she quickly negates the very message that he or she is trying to communicate about his or her God. I think it is important for people who say they believe in God to accept that there is a Superior Power and not act like God themselves.
Believing in God or a Superior Power means accepting that that there may be Superior Power at hand and all is OK if people may disagree with you. Believing in a Superior Power requires one to be humble and tolerant, that includes not calling those who may disagree with us names and epithets.
I believe that the concept of a God or Superior Power who is loving, kind and gentle to all is more acceptable than the concept of a God or Superior Power who takes sides or has proxies running around with hateful words and hurtful weapons.
I respect Bill Maher greatly for his courage and his intelligence. I respect him more for his integrity - though he may question the existence of a God, he lives his conviction that we must be kind to one another - live and let live - which includes animals. He is a practising vegetarian!
George_Luke: I agree with Bill Maher especially the question that Man
Maher is one of the main reasons I would not consider subscribing to HBO. If I were not a beliver already his inane insecurity that requies him to destroy belief in God through obscenity and ignorance would make me a believer in hurry. At least some of the other atheists are articulate and intellectual, and less than a crude embarassment to their non-faith.
pessimist205: Maher is one of the main reasons I would not
Not an atheist, he is an agnostic. Secondly maybe it is your own insecurities that lead you to erroneously criticize his intelligence and oration. Luckily HBO and Mr. Maher will survive without your subscription.
smsanchez: Not an atheist, he is an agnostic. Secondly maybe it
Exactly...I don't get why people who think differently, automatically have to say the other person is non-intelligent because they agree with their views. I am sure HBO will be fine as well. And with a post name like "pessimist" makes you wonder
dholl69: Exactly...I don't get why people who think differently, automatically have
Mayer would never confirm your assertion that he is agnostic rather than an atheist. What he fails to recognize is that he has made a religion out of atheism and takes to the pulpit trying to convert the masses. There isn't 10 cents difference in his arrogance than that of the a fundalmentalist Baptist preacher. Both contend that they know the truth about an unprovable concept. Only the uneduacated or those with a closed mind do not know that MEN have thoughout history used religion to manupulate people into committing atrocity. They have used religion to seize power. All of this is documented and applies to all religions. What he fails to acknowledge is that religion is a cultural universal which implies it fill a human need. It has been found to exist among the most remote and primiative tribes universally which accounts for his need to turn atheism into a religion.
xlntcat: Mayer would never confirm your assertion that he is agnostic
Recently flew to London. Even though it was Amsterdam that let the panty bomber get through, our security is no where near as complete as Heathrow's and other places we went.
Also, left from Kansas City. Plane was canceled, it was going to be many hours before we could take off and I needed medication that had been checked. UAL was very quick to have both our bags brought up to a small private room so I could get what I needed. then, they took both bags back down to the planes outside.
We had already been through security. I could have gotten almost anything out of my bag and they would not have known it. We both were so astounded that we checked the room pretty carefully for a camera - nothing.
Coming back - I had injured a knee pretty severely and required wheelchair assistance. UAL in Heathrow was very helpful but security was still very thorough. When we landed in Chicago, neither of us were checked very carefully at all.
Cailleach_Echo: Recently flew to London. Even though it was Amsterdam that
Hear, hear! I travel extensively for my work and the kabuki theater they put on to make the occasional traveler feel safe is entertaining at best and making us less safe at the worst. (If you THINK you're dafe you might not be as observant).
I was in the Detroit airport waiting for a flight last week and while standing in the line next to the podium I noticed on the floor by the clerk's foot a razor blade for a box cutter, still with it's little cardboard sleeve on it. It probably fell from a maintenance worker's belt, but who cares how it got there. I had a similar experience albeit even more bizarre a year or two ago when after going through security I was killing time in the airport shops when I noticed sitting on a chair where I could have easily taken them, a very large pair of scissors.
TSA will confiscate a water bottle because it could be a dangerous chemical, but they don't call HAZMAT to dispose of it, they toss it into a garbage can two feet away. Seriously, wither it's potentially dangerous and should be treated that way or it's not and they should stop pretending.
Oh, and regarding the 3oz rule to keep you from taking too much, a quart of liquid divided up into 3oz portions and put in a quart bag is STILL A QUART you morons!
boomboom34655: Hear, hear! I travel extensively for my work and the
As an AMerican going back and forth to see my wife in Holland; I can assure you all that security in AMS has now been elevated to the same get to know your flying companions by the stink of their feet and the size of their belts that we have. Just as futile, just as stupid, but only one gate/jetway for US incoming and outgoing flts. It takes at least 90 minutes for one plane load to get thru, so they've totally acquiesced to our world control view. At least in another 4 months I'll be there full time and not have to do this nonsense again.
RIDGEBACK56: As an AMerican going back and forth to see my
Almost every "safety" rule / mechanism put in place since 911 has made life more difficult for American citizens and accomplished almost nothing in thwarting "terrorists."
DixieMelody: Almost every "safety" rule / mechanism put in place since
With that philosophy there is no need for any security measures in anything we do. Why have a lock on your car, if you've never had your car stolen? Why purchase an alarm for your home if you've never been robbed. The simple fact that these security features are THERE act as preventative measure in themselves.
A terrorist won't be bringing a gun in his pocket because he knows the metal detectors are there.. thus chances are, no terrorist would be caught with a gun in his pocket going through the metal detector.
krazygraphics: So you would feel safer without these measures? With that
There's a difference between putting a lock on your car or locking up your in a storage facility every day because it was once stolen. There's a difference between having a home alarm system and having armed guards outside your home who needs to see your ID 5 times before entering your own house. I truly understand the importance of safety measures but one can complain when safety has gotten exaggerated. You mean to tell me a hand lotion now is a dangerous substance in the wrong quantity? Just a thought.
Kiskeya: There's a difference between putting a lock on your car
These measures are not meant to protect against lone nuts who feel like shooting people on a plane. Presumably, they are meant to stop terrorism which is a tactic in a military strategy with specific political goals. These measures may in fact deter lone weirdos from bringing weapons on planes, but they do nothing to stop actual terrorism.
David_Winters: These measures are not meant to protect against lone nuts
Here's a thought: have it be like that one company that charges 200 dollars but gets you around most airport security. You swipe a card, it verifies your identity and then sends that identity to be checked against any and every list you need to check. Most every college campus and prison has this, why not us? You can embed it out drivers' licenses and passports.
-Ara
AraBrokenDreamer: Here's a thought: have it be like that one company
Well, at that rate, why don't we all get microchipped like our dogs & cats? They could just scan us along with our luggage. That is, if we're still carrying luggage. Turns out, it might be cheaper to ship our stuff ahead via UPS.
Gumbo_Limbo: Well, at that rate, why don't we all get microchipped
how bout this lets all get a bar code tattoed on our forheads and a tracking device embeded in our bodys,and then will be real safe .what the heck is the matter with all you people cant you see the terrorist have won?? you personal freedom has been lost.stop crying. freedom has NOTHING in common with safety!!!!!!
ALMOSTLOST: how bout this lets all get a bar code tattoed
@ micheal: "...problem is it's enforced by captain incompetence..." Oh, you mean G.W.B.? Dude, he's out of office. And he's the only "captain incompetence" we've had running the country in the last sixteen years.
mowgli2071: @ micheal: "...problem is it's enforced by captain incompetence..." Oh,
that is a perfect reminder of the fact that all measures taken in the US are cosmetic at best. We do not have professionals in our airports. the airport security has been outsourced and the employees responsible for our safe passage get minimum wage, or close to it. they are not trained in spotting terrrrrrists, they rely on 'random search' as a technique.
what will happen when a well-planned attacke is executed? they will simply demand you surrender more rights, rather than fix the real problem.
bascombe: that is a perfect reminder of the fact that all
And if the guy is 8 years old and his name is "lil Timmy" and he has a dog named Lassie, you can let him on the plane, even if his name is on the No Fly List.
Threepointturn: And if the guy is 8 years old and his
Alas, if only the 'No Fly List' were as well enforced as SouthWest's "No Fat People" rule. Hey, ladies, if you worry if this dress, pair of pants, etc. makes you look fat, avoid SouthWest Airlines - or you may be perpmarched from the plane by the fat police.
Steelsil: Alas, if only the 'No Fly List' were as well
I dont' like southwest, but I like this rule. If you are large enough to take up two seats you should have to pay for two seats. I have been nearly squeezed out of seats on many occasions.
samus91: I dont' like southwest, but I like this rule. If
http://www.youtube.com/user/votedemocraticparty#p/u/1/TjV59XS_XtE
those who fail to put money in my basket every sunday are doomed to the eternal fires of damnation.
i guess i just havent had the right person make love to me other than n bed
Believing in God or a Superior Power means accepting that that there may be Superior Power at hand and all is OK if people may disagree with you. Believing in a Superior Power requires one to be humble and tolerant, that includes not calling those who may disagree with us names and epithets.
I believe that the concept of a God or Superior Power who is loving, kind and gentle to all is more acceptable than the concept of a God or Superior Power who takes sides or has proxies running around with hateful words and hurtful weapons.
I respect Bill Maher greatly for his courage and his intelligence. I respect him more for his integrity - though he may question the existence of a God, he lives his conviction that we must be kind to one another - live and let live - which includes animals. He is a practising vegetarian!
Also, left from Kansas City. Plane was canceled, it was going to be many hours before we could take off and I needed medication that had been checked. UAL was very quick to have both our bags brought up to a small private room so I could get what I needed. then, they took both bags back down to the planes outside.
We had already been through security. I could have gotten almost anything out of my bag and they would not have known it. We both were so astounded that we checked the room pretty carefully for a camera - nothing.
Coming back - I had injured a knee pretty severely and required wheelchair assistance. UAL in Heathrow was very helpful but security was still very thorough. When we landed in Chicago, neither of us were checked very carefully at all.
I was in the Detroit airport waiting for a flight last week and while standing in the line next to the podium I noticed on the floor by the clerk's foot a razor blade for a box cutter, still with it's little cardboard sleeve on it. It probably fell from a maintenance worker's belt, but who cares how it got there. I had a similar experience albeit even more bizarre a year or two ago when after going through security I was killing time in the airport shops when I noticed sitting on a chair where I could have easily taken them, a very large pair of scissors.
TSA will confiscate a water bottle because it could be a dangerous chemical, but they don't call HAZMAT to dispose of it, they toss it into a garbage can two feet away. Seriously, wither it's potentially dangerous and should be treated that way or it's not and they should stop pretending.
Oh, and regarding the 3oz rule to keep you from taking too much, a quart of liquid divided up into 3oz portions and put in a quart bag is STILL A QUART you morons!
It's surprising to hear the beep of censoring in that studio because it's normally uncensored.
I wonder why they did it or if they didn't, who did? (I assume they did because it's a HP video of Maher in HBO studios)
Love your edgy and insightful stuff, especially because it's very funny.
But could you please change the photo of yourself at the top of the page? The 80s big hair teenage look just ain't in play.
With that philosophy there is no need for any security measures in anything we do. Why have a lock on your car, if you've never had your car stolen? Why purchase an alarm for your home if you've never been robbed. The simple fact that these security features are THERE act as preventative measure in themselves.
A terrorist won't be bringing a gun in his pocket because he knows the metal detectors are there.. thus chances are, no terrorist would be caught with a gun in his pocket going through the metal detector.
-Ara
what will happen when a well-planned attacke is executed? they will simply demand you surrender more rights, rather than fix the real problem.