Bill Maher explains the Middle East to Gen Z: Can anyone really dispute the facts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maher is a fool and a hack. Hard pass.

That's a substantive response? No wonder discourse around politics so often seems like it is between kindergartners.

Maher talks like a kindergartner. He is not a serious source of information about almost anything, let alone the complexities of one of the most complex and controversial conflicts in recent history.

He's addressing Gen Z. Let's be honest, you need to dumb it down for that generation.

I just had my 16 yr old watch it, and told them that Maher glosses over a lot of atrocities committed by Israel, but that what he said about Hamas, ISIS, and the like is true. It's good to support the people, and especially women, in those countries but not the regimes.

BTW, my 16 yr old said that Gen Z does indeed get their news from tiktok. And she said that she has opinions but she doesn't voice them in school because she's afraid of being yelled at by both sides. She thinks both sides are wrong and feels for the people, but I guess extremists on both sides don't want to hear that.

When my DC was 18 he complained that all the kids regurgitated their parents’ talking points. You’re a case in point: That you bash GenZ and then have to explain a video to your teen to tell her what to think. Don’t you remember being anti-war a young adult (depending on how old you were)? Remember the hippies protesting Vietnam?

[Anonymous]

Sorry ^^ 16

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Maher’s point in the segment is that Jews were there first—pointing to the Bible, the temple, etc. Presumably he makes the point to counter the argument that Muslims were there first. That’s the typical colonizer debate: going all the way back to the start, right? Seems like a fact rather than an opinion.

Re: nobody was interested in Gaza before - Seems like a quip grounded in fact when viewed through the lens of, “Why are so many Americans who never cared about this all of a sudden making this their priority issue?”

Another possible lens: why haven’t any neighboring countries or other Arab/muslim-majority countries stepping up and taking an interest in Gaza?

These are both valid points grounded in facts (in terms of historic inaction).

Anyway, it’s a mess and ftr I believe both sides have blood on their hands. I’ll never understand why anyone thinks this is as simple/binary as “Zionist oppression against a monolithic group of innocents” without acknowledging the role of religious extremism-fueled terrorism aimed at destroying Israel, America, and the West. I mean, that’s the crux of the issue at the moment—regardless of where anyone stands on the history.

Nonetheless, I’m open to persuasion…particularly if anyone can present a solution that is forward-thinking.

The only solution is to bring together an international military force to enforce a two-state solution and stop Israelis and Palestinians from killing each other.

That’s what I’ve always thought, but I’m not sure who spearheads that and if it’s sustainable.

Afghanistan was better when we had boots on the ground and then quickly reverted back to a religious extremist terror regime. Does that mean we need an international military presence forever?

Seems like an Arab/Muslim led solution to rebuild and modernize Gaza might be more effective, no?

But practically speaking, how do you prevent a resurgence of extremism and violence?

I think that’s the problem Netanyahu is trying to solve: wipe it out in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran so it doesn’t happen again…at least for a while. Of course it won’t work. And the death toll is horrific and unjustified.

[Anonymous]

Where do some of you get the nerve criticizing young people for being informed while you’re watching media who’ve outright lied for Israel for years? Where do you get the nerve knowing full-well people like Jake Tapper, Dana Bash, and the New York Times have literally lied for Israel and had their Zionism on full display? where do you get the nerve knowing full-well the media you love so much, got us into the Iraq war? Bill Maher is a goddamn coward. Bill Maher does not debate anyone. People like him are the reason Israel is a pariah. People like him with their half-assed takes being paraded around by even stupider people thinking it’s a “gotcha,” is precisely why Israel has lost. No one respects you relics stuck in your little warped circles of buffoonery .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maher is a fool and a hack. Hard pass.

That's a substantive response? No wonder discourse around politics so often seems like it is between kindergartners.

Maher talks like a kindergartner. He is not a serious source of information about almost anything, let alone the complexities of one of the most complex and controversial conflicts in recent history.

He's addressing Gen Z. Let's be honest, you need to dumb it down for that generation.

I just had my 16 yr old watch it, and told them that Maher glosses over a lot of atrocities committed by Israel, but that what he said about Hamas, ISIS, and the like is true. It's good to support the people, and especially women, in those countries but not the regimes.

BTW, my 16 yr old said that Gen Z does indeed get their news from tiktok. And she said that she has opinions but she doesn't voice them in school because she's afraid of being yelled at by both sides. She thinks both sides are wrong and feels for the people, but I guess extremists on both sides don't want to hear that.

When my DC was 18 he complained that all the kids regurgitated their parents’ talking points. You’re a case in point: That you bash GenZ and then have to explain a video to your teen to tell her what to think. Don’t you remember being anti-war a young adult (depending on how old you were)? Remember the hippies protesting Vietnam?

DP

But the hippies weren’t being manipulated by TikTok.

How much time do you spend on TikTok? If you have a teen, go scroll through it with them to see what pops up. The political stuff seeps in and it’s very manipulative and almost always factually inaccurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where do some of you get the nerve criticizing young people for being informed while you’re watching media who’ve outright lied for Israel for years? Where do you get the nerve knowing full-well people like Jake Tapper, Dana Bash, and the New York Times have literally lied for Israel and had their Zionism on full display? where do you get the nerve knowing full-well the media you love so much, got us into the Iraq war? Bill Maher is a goddamn coward. Bill Maher does not debate anyone. People like him are the reason Israel is a pariah. People like him with their half-assed takes being paraded around by even stupider people thinking it’s a “gotcha,” is precisely why Israel has lost. No one respects you relics stuck in your little warped circles of buffoonery .

Tell us which sources we should follow. I’m listening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maher is a fool and a hack. Hard pass.

That's a substantive response? No wonder discourse around politics so often seems like it is between kindergartners.

Maher talks like a kindergartner. He is not a serious source of information about almost anything, let alone the complexities of one of the most complex and controversial conflicts in recent history.

He's addressing Gen Z. Let's be honest, you need to dumb it down for that generation.

I just had my 16 yr old watch it, and told them that Maher glosses over a lot of atrocities committed by Israel, but that what he said about Hamas, ISIS, and the like is true. It's good to support the people, and especially women, in those countries but not the regimes.

BTW, my 16 yr old said that Gen Z does indeed get their news from tiktok. And she said that she has opinions but she doesn't voice them in school because she's afraid of being yelled at by both sides. She thinks both sides are wrong and feels for the people, but I guess extremists on both sides don't want to hear that.

“ Dumbed down” is what Maher show has always been because he specifically avoids debate with the very people he’s constantly talking at and disgustingly using racist and bigoted language against. You don’t seem to understand that you’re the one who needs it dumbed down because Zionists avoid actual debate. That’s what Maher has done with his show. It’s a Zionist echo chamber and you pretend not to notice that fact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maher is a fool and a hack. Hard pass.

That's a substantive response? No wonder discourse around politics so often seems like it is between kindergartners.

Maher talks like a kindergartner. He is not a serious source of information about almost anything, let alone the complexities of one of the most complex and controversial conflicts in recent history.

He's addressing Gen Z. Let's be honest, you need to dumb it down for that generation.

I just had my 16 yr old watch it, and told them that Maher glosses over a lot of atrocities committed by Israel, but that what he said about Hamas, ISIS, and the like is true. It's good to support the people, and especially women, in those countries but not the regimes.

BTW, my 16 yr old said that Gen Z does indeed get their news from tiktok. And she said that she has opinions but she doesn't voice them in school because she's afraid of being yelled at by both sides. She thinks both sides are wrong and feels for the people, but I guess extremists on both sides don't want to hear that.

When my DC was 18 he complained that all the kids regurgitated their parents’ talking points. You’re a case in point: That you bash GenZ and then have to explain a video to your teen to tell her what to think. Don’t you remember being anti-war a young adult (depending on how old you were)? Remember the hippies protesting Vietnam?

DP

But the hippies weren’t being manipulated by TikTok.

How much time do you spend on TikTok? If you have a teen, go scroll through it with them to see what pops up. The political stuff seeps in and it’s very manipulative and almost always factually inaccurate.

Enough generalizations. give us an example of TikTok having manipulated information regarding what Israel is doing. You mean Palestinians themselves showing you or is it the IDF soldiers who proudly display their depravity? Tell us what is being manipulated. The manipulation is on CNN, it’s the New York Times, it’s president of the United States, it’s all the sources who told you about beheaded babies and mass rape, which you conveniently ignore being “mislead” about.

[Anonymous]

Misled*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s nothing funnier than a Zionist in an echo chamber who purposely keeps the very people he constantly attacks, off his show and lectures about safe spaces

OP, you’re absolutely pathetic using this coward and his garbage, knowing full-well he refuses to debate anyone. Literally will not invite ANYONE…for YEARS to debate. Lol, Bret Stephens, Bari Weiss every five minutes, Douglas Murray (who no one knew yet I knew Maher would have him on the moment he found himself another putrid Zionist) , etc etc etc. Not a single Pro-Palestinian to debate. Not. One.

You think no one notices?

Ever watch Piers Morgan’s show? He brings on both sides and they shout at each other. I find it fascinating and disturbing…some of what is said is really unhinged, but at least he’s giving both sides a platform and he attempts to foster dialogue.

Anyway, tell me who to watch and read. Tell me who presents the most unbiased take on the dumpster fire. I suspect you’ll suggest sources I’m already following. Let’s see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maher is a fool and a hack. Hard pass.

That's a substantive response? No wonder discourse around politics so often seems like it is between kindergartners.

Maher talks like a kindergartner. He is not a serious source of information about almost anything, let alone the complexities of one of the most complex and controversial conflicts in recent history.

He's addressing Gen Z. Let's be honest, you need to dumb it down for that generation.

I just had my 16 yr old watch it, and told them that Maher glosses over a lot of atrocities committed by Israel, but that what he said about Hamas, ISIS, and the like is true. It's good to support the people, and especially women, in those countries but not the regimes.

BTW, my 16 yr old said that Gen Z does indeed get their news from tiktok. And she said that she has opinions but she doesn't voice them in school because she's afraid of being yelled at by both sides. She thinks both sides are wrong and feels for the people, but I guess extremists on both sides don't want to hear that.

When my DC was 18 he complained that all the kids regurgitated their parents’ talking points. You’re a case in point: That you bash GenZ and then have to explain a video to your teen to tell her what to think. Don’t you remember being anti-war a young adult (depending on how old you were)? Remember the hippies protesting Vietnam?

DP

But the hippies weren’t being manipulated by TikTok.

How much time do you spend on TikTok? If you have a teen, go scroll through it with them to see what pops up. The political stuff seeps in and it’s very manipulative and almost always factually inaccurate.

Enough generalizations. give us an example of TikTok having manipulated information regarding what Israel is doing. You mean Palestinians themselves showing you or is it the IDF soldiers who proudly display their depravity? Tell us what is being manipulated. The manipulation is on CNN, it’s the New York Times, it’s president of the United States, it’s all the sources who told you about beheaded babies and mass rape, which you conveniently ignore being “mislead” about.

So which sources are the best?

Thoughts on BBC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s nothing funnier than a Zionist in an echo chamber who purposely keeps the very people he constantly attacks, off his show and lectures about safe spaces

OP, you’re absolutely pathetic using this coward and his garbage, knowing full-well he refuses to debate anyone. Literally will not invite ANYONE…for YEARS to debate. Lol, Bret Stephens, Bari Weiss every five minutes, Douglas Murray (who no one knew yet I knew Maher would have him on the moment he found himself another putrid Zionist) , etc etc etc. Not a single Pro-Palestinian to debate. Not. One.

You think no one notices?

Ever watch Piers Morgan’s show? He brings on both sides and they shout at each other. I find it fascinating and disturbing…some of what is said is really unhinged, but at least he’s giving both sides a platform and he attempts to foster dialogue.

Anyway, tell me who to watch and read. Tell me who presents the most unbiased take on the dumpster fire. I suspect you’ll suggest sources I’m already following. Let’s see.

I can’t give you a source because American television doesn’t have any. Not one. Bill Maher is one of the loudest Zionists and biggest cowards on television. I don’t know how many cheer on his nonsense and don’t notice he doesn’t invite anyone to debate about this issue. Not one. He’s been Attacking Muslims for years, he’s been a rabid Zionist for years and funny, his producers can’t find a single Muslim, Arab or Palestinian for him to debate? I posted a debate between a former spokesperson for the Israeli government and Mehdi Hasan . The former was humiliated and that’s why Maher will not allow a real debate because when you actually get into history, Zionists lose.

[Anonymous]

Why should anyone take Maher’s views and opinions seriously when he has Jewish ancestry and he’s petrified of even having a Palestinian guest on his show to address the lies he spews regarding the conflict?

Are we supposed to think this guy is impartial? He’s clearly not, so why do we care what he has to say again?

[Anonymous]

The whole idea of indigenous rights to land is absurd in our modern world. Unless you can tell me where all of us mixed breed people have a “right to their ancestral land” then the whole idea is crap. Select groups of humans can’t lay claim to territory based on 1000 year old history. You either have the deed and support of the current government or you don’t just like the rest of us. So much death and suffering for land is pointless.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s nothing funnier than a Zionist in an echo chamber who purposely keeps the very people he constantly attacks, off his show and lectures about safe spaces

OP, you’re absolutely pathetic using this coward and his garbage, knowing full-well he refuses to debate anyone. Literally will not invite ANYONE…for YEARS to debate. Lol, Bret Stephens, Bari Weiss every five minutes, Douglas Murray (who no one knew yet I knew Maher would have him on the moment he found himself another putrid Zionist) , etc etc etc. Not a single Pro-Palestinian to debate. Not. One.

You think no one notices?

Ever watch Piers Morgan’s show? He brings on both sides and they shout at each other. I find it fascinating and disturbing…some of what is said is really unhinged, but at least he’s giving both sides a platform and he attempts to foster dialogue.

Anyway, tell me who to watch and read. Tell me who presents the most unbiased take on the dumpster fire. I suspect you’ll suggest sources I’m already following. Let’s see.

The quest for "unbiased" news is a fool's errand. There are biases built into every level of news reporting from the stories that are chosen to be covered, to the slant of the coverage itself, and even in the headline selection. It is better to simply know the bias ahead of time.

Here are some X/Twitter sources that provide factual, if biased, information about Israel and Palestine:

@ntarnopolsky - She is an Israeli reporter.
@DropSiteNews - this is a new news organization that has a reporter in Gaza.
@asadabukhalil - a college professor of Lebanese origin who is also very leftest and basically opposes everyone but generally has accurage news.

One thing to keep in mind about Middle East news — and this is a point often made by Asad Abu Khalil (the third of my recommendations) is that the Western media generally puts a pro-Western spin on things. However, the Middle Eastern media often does the same because it is largely funded by Gulf states who are pro-US. Al-Jazeera is probably the best of the bunch, but it's funded by the government of Qatar and still gets its strings pulled. What's left are generally poorly-funded news sources who lack the resources needed for comprehensive coverage.