Real Time with Chris W. on "HBO: Real Time with Bill Maher"

A clip from Bill Maher Show on HBO:
http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhuvqrh5b5n1Rqlfr3

First when I saw the video, I agreed with Bill Maher even though I did not want to, since his comment sounded rational in a glance. For the next few days, his statement was stuck in my mind, so I had to step back and began to ponder, analyzing it from all sorts of angles possible.

It came down to the question: What gives Americans the right to tell other countries on what is right and wrong? I think that is what Tavis Smiley was feeling but couldn't quite phrase it. So here you go Mr Tavis, you owe me one! This one is free, but I'm going to have to charge you after this one. Looking back at our history, western society past centuries has been part of  a chain of colonization, genocides, gender injustices, slavery, racism, war, in the name of God to justify themselves, and the list continues to an extent of a dictionary. It has only been recent that the western society including America stand and push for justice (now that they have poked every part of the world, exploiting colonized countries resources). I totally agree with Mr. Maher on the fact that women should never be treated differently. But if I was from a non-Western community, for example a Muslim, Mr. Maher's comment would sound ridiculous and funny to an extent, after all the brutality Western society has been part. To give a "raw" example to better make my point, let's say that a man rapes a woman and tells that born child from the rape, not to rape others because it is morally wrong and that the child needs to listen because he is father.

Once again, I agree with Mr. Maher 102%, but I just do not think we have to right or respect to tell Muslim or any other people on what is right and wrong due to our shameful history. Like I said, we can always tell others what is right and wrong, and I truly want us to, but others would only shake their heads with a laughter. It wouldn't be a problem with it ended with a shake in the head- the reality is that our actions increase the resentment or disrespect that they already had against us, that is built up from the past history.


Thank you.