Bill Maher does something very stupid

[Middle Buffalo]

In admonishing Bill Maher for using the N-word, Ice Cube said he knew Maher would screw up some day because sometimes Maher sounds "like a redneck trucker." So, I guess it's ok for a black guy to refer to a white guy as a redneck? Seems a little hypocritical to me.

 

I'm sure someone will come on and educate me about the historical significance of the N-word now. It's not necessary. I get it. But, for the record, "redneck" is not exactly a term of endearment, so people who aren't white probably shouldn't be throwing it around.

[Jack Parkman]

In admonishing Bill Maher for using the N-word, Ice Cube said he knew Maher would screw up some day because sometimes Maher sounds "like a redneck trucker." So, I guess it's ok for a black guy to refer to a white guy as a redneck? Seems a little hypocritical to me.

 

I'm sure someone will come on and educate me about the historical significance of the N-word now. It's not necessary. I get it. But, for the record, "redneck" is not exactly a term of endearment, so people who aren't white probably shouldn't be throwing it around.

You want to know what the problem is here? It is how people in our society can't see another human being as our equal if they either a) look different b) have less money than us, most times due to environmental circumstances c) act differently, due to neurological differences or d) didn't win the birth lottery and live in a poor country. Why can't we all accept that we're all human, no matter whether we come from another part of the world, are gay, are a racial minority, don't believe in the same god or that god exists, are dirt poor, are disabled, are autistic. There is no civility left in America, only hate, blame and excuses. This country is coming apart at the seams, and is weak. Our greatest strength as a nation is also our biggest weakness. That is how incredibly heterogeneous the country is. Until we can learn to exit our homogeneous groups and put on our critical thinking hats, nothing will change. We can't continue to push others around and be selfish. We, as humans, are in a critical point in our evolution-Can we learn to put the survival of the species and life on earth ahead of our own immediate personal needs? If we can't we end life on earth, If we can we can continue for however long the earth is habitable for human life.

Edited June 12, 2017 by Jack Parkman

[greg775]

There is no civility left in America, only hate, blame and excuses. This country is coming apart at the seams, and is weak.We can't continue to push others around and be selfish.

I as a stout believer would say this is what happens in a God-less society. But I then would/will duck as all sorts of objects are thrown at me.

[Jack Parkman]

I as a stout believer would say this is what happens in a God-less society. But I then would/will duck as all sorts of objects are thrown at me.

And as a secular humanist I believe the exact opposite, that this is what happens in a highly religious society. Religion is all about oppression, mind control and power. The best thing that ever happened to my mental health was to let go of the idea of god. For me believing in god was like voluntarily sentencing yourself to life in prison, but the prison is in your mind. It punishes good people by destroying their mental health, always worrying about whether they will enter the afterlife. It also vindicates evil people, by giving them a get out of hell free card, so they think they have carte blanche to be horrible human beings and commit heinous crimes in the name of their god. I don't need a god to look at my fellow human beings and know that they deserve the all of the things that humans need to be healthy, physically and emotionally.

Edited June 12, 2017 by Jack Parkman

[greg775]

And as a secular humanist I believe the exact opposite, that this is what happens in a highly religious society. Religion is all about oppression, mind control and power. The best thing that ever happened to my mental health was to let go of the idea of god. It punishes good people by destroying their mental health, always worrying about whether they will enter the afterlife, and vindicates evil, by giving them a get out of hell free card, so they think they have carte blanche to be horrible human beings. I don't need a god to look at my fellow human beings and know that they deserve the all of the things that humans need to be healthy, physically and emotionally.

That's cool how we disagree completely. In my frame of mine, I feel like if everybody exhibited the qualities of Christ (the father who made us; son who died for us and holy spirit who sustains us; three in one) we would not be so selfish. We would not be cutthroat at all times. We would treat people as we would like to be treated. I respect your take.

[Jack Parkman]

That's cool how we disagree completely. In my frame of mine, I feel like if everybody exhibited the qualities of Christ (the father who made us; son who died for us and holy spirit who sustains us; three in one) we would not be so selfish. We would not be cutthroat at all times. We would treat people as we would like to be treated. I respect your take.

I live my life by what I like to call the platinum rule. Treating others like you want to be treated isn't good enough. You treat others BETTER than you want to be treated. Think to yourself "What would make my day if someone did something for me?" Then take it a step further. Go out of your way to do something nice for certain people. See that homeless guy at the corner by Union Station with the I'm hungry sign? Take him out to lunch and have a conversation with him. Don't try to lecture, just sit and listen to the guy talk. Attempt to put yourself in his shoes. Imagine for a moment what it would be like if the shoe was on your foot instead of his. How desperate would you be if you had no job, no prospects, no family to take care of you and nowhere warm to sleep in winter and cool to do so in the summer?

Edited June 12, 2017 by Jack Parkman

[greg775]

I live my life by what I like to call the platinum rule. Treating others like you want to be treated isn't good enough. You treat others BETTER than you want to be treated. Think to yourself "What would make my day if someone did something for me?" Then take it a step further. Go out of your way to do something nice for certain people. See that homeless guy at the corner by Union Station with the I'm hungry sign? Take him out to lunch and have a conversation with him. Attempt to put yourself in his shoes. Imagine for a moment what it would be like if the shoe was on your foot instead of his. How desperate would you be if you had no job, no prospects, no family to take care of you and nowhere warm to sleep in winter and cool to do so in the summer?

Awesome. You are a great person.

I will say this can be tricky. I've actually picked up a homeless person who was standing in a storm once getting soaked and I won't go into detail but the experience was not positive. Remember, mental illness is possible in some of the homeless individuals. I try to be a good person at all times. I respect your take.

I have a friend who at christmas time takes out 5000 dollars in 100s and gives 100 a pop to all homeless he can find. He's a good person.

Edited June 12, 2017 by greg775

[Jack Parkman]

Awesome. You are a great person.

I will say this can be tricky. I've actually picked up a homeless person who was standing in a storm once getting soaked and I won't go into detail but the experience was not positive. Remember, mental illness is possible in some of the homeless individuals. I try to be a good person at all times. I respect your take.

I have a friend who at christmas time takes out 5000 dollars in 100s and gives 100 a pop to all homeless he can find. He's a good person.

If I could, I'd rather set someone up with a good vocational specialist, who would help a financially struggling person get a job and if struggling with mental illness, seek outpatient help. Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day; teach a man to fish and he'll eat for the rest of his life. Greg, The unfortunate thing is I have found that a good vocational specialist does not exist(in my experiences) There needs to be more of them. These people have too much on their plates and there isn't enough time in the day to set up individual plans for each person's needs and goals. Their heart is in the right place, they just don't have the time and energy to do what needs to be done. I wouldn't wish inpatient psychiatric help on my worst enemy. Heard too many horror stories. If you ever think you need it people, don't check yourself in. Go pay a therapist and a Psychiatrist instead, You'll be better off. All it is is a money grab. Doctors keep you there until they get paid as much as they want to make off of your insurance.

Edited June 12, 2017 by Jack Parkman

[greg775]

If I could, I'd rather set someone up with a good vocational specialist, who would help a financially struggling person get a job and if struggling with mental illness, seek outpatient help. Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day; teach a man to fish and he'll eat for the rest of his life.

Nice. The problem for many is time as u said. In a perfect world we could spend 4-6 hours a day helping the homeless. It's a crutch, sure, but people are busy. Also many people understandably don't want to always get involved. Like I said, the homeless person I tried to help get out of the rain was in my estimation beyond help. I was going to take the guy to the hospital after he freaked out or the police station if he didnt stop threatening me. I don't blame the guy for having mental problems, but not many people have the time to spend a good portion of their days helping people. Everybody has their own family problems, etc.

Edited June 12, 2017 by greg775

[Jack Parkman]

Nice. The problem for many is time as u said. In a perfect world we could spend 4-6 hours a day helping the homeless. It's a crutch, sure, but people are busy. Also many people understandably don't want to always get involved. Like I said, the homeless person I tried to help get out of the rain was in my estimation beyond help. I was going to take the guy to the hospital after he freaked out or the police station if he didnt stop threatening me. I don't blame the guy for having mental problems, but not many people have the time to spend a good portion of their days helping people. Everybody has their own family problems, etc.

You don't ignore the people closest to you obviously, and there is a hierarchy of people who are important to you in your life, but if you have an opportunity to make someone's day(no matter who it is), then do it. The biggest problem that I have is recognizing when, where, how and whether it is socially appropriate to do it at this time. For me, I am a high functioning autistic; I struggle horribly financially to get by, but I do something like that every once in a while. When I am downtown and have fast food I give some random hungry person part of my value meal, either the fries or half the burger. I know that if I didn't have my family helping out,or they didn't have the finances to do so, that I'd be in their shoes. I won the birth lottery, they didn't.

Edited June 12, 2017 by Jack Parkman