Bill Maher On Proportionality February 27, 2021 His whole show was sharp — hurray for Ezra Klein, Senator Jon Tester, and common sense — but I particularly commend these five minutes with Megyn Kelly. As much a I hope everyone reads Caste, so we have a common understanding of our shared history, I also hope we’ll keep from going off the deep end. Which is why those five minutes are must-watch, too. Common sense frequently resides closer to the center than to either extreme. Removing statues celebrating those who fought the United States Army to preserve slavery ? No brainer. But canceling Abraham Lincoln? That’s where context and proportionality come in. He held views he would not if he were alive today. (And who knows where he’d have been on net neutrality?) But should he not mainly be remembered for fighting to keep the country together and moving toward freedom? Removing statues of Stalin makes sense to me. (The Soviets did that.) But am I crazy for thinking it’s okay no one’s torn down Tolstoy? (His family owned serfs.) How about Ben Franklin? He owned slaves. Context and “proportionality” really matter. Al Franken should still be in the Senate. Some issues, it seems to me, are by now past discussion: Slavery is an abomination. Lynching is an abomination. The holocaust happened and was an abomination. Period. Case closed. That we have some people who disagree — who wear Camp Auschwitz sweat shirts as they storm the Capitol carrying Trump banners and Confederate Flags — is appalling and frightening and deeply sad. But tons of issues — like “reparations” (what to call them, whether we’ve already made them, how most fairly and effectively to make more if more remain to be made) — call for thoughtful discussion, with extreme views on either side welcome, but a modestly-left-of-center compromise usually the best path forward. (If you ask me; or a modestly right-of-center compromise if you ask some of my friends.) People shouldn’t be “canceled” on either side for engaging in such discussions — or for having expressed views in 2010 or 1995 or high school — they may well not hold today. BONUS Another issue past discussion, like slavery, one would hope, is the right to vote. Even Republican legislators know they must at least pretend to agree it should be easy for any adult citizen to vote and have that vote counted. And yet, for your consideration: Republicans roll out “tidal wave of voter suppression”: 253 restrictive bills in 43 states GOP is using Trump’s “big lie” to push a historic “contraction of voting rights” And: The GOP’s strategy for retaking power is uglier than you think If you’d like to fight back, click here. Early money is like yeast. Have a great weekend. Summer’s in the air!