Why is Phil Maher
spreading racist nonsense about HIV/AIDS on
ABC? Phil Maher, host of
ABC/Disney late night Politically Incorrect took his
irreverent show to a new, idiotic low June 23, 1999. The
handsomely-challenged and vertically-challenged Maher
rehashed the hogwash that AIDS started from an African who
"had sex with a monkey!" Thankfully, though,
among the panelists on Maher's show, African-American singer
Chaka Khan reasonably dismissed Maher's blatant foolishness
and unscientific view. The Mahers of this world had their
view debunked in 1995 and 1996 by USAfrica The Newspaper's
Canada-based contributing editor, Dr. Dele Ogunremi, and a
host of other scientific materials in the world. Phil Maher has been politically
incorrect all his life. I think he was a product of Simian
cross-breeding. Most of what he says is not factual but
intended to inflame and attempt to be funny.... emphasis on
the word ATTEMPT. I realize that he hurts millions and
millions of people with these inflamatory and incorrect
assumptions. The only thing to do is either let his words
pass slowly into the night or make him aware of the truth
with a front page slam on his poor information and send a
copy to the ABC/Disney network. Maher is a major
dispenser of conventional and wrong wisdom. If you're smart,
you'll tape his show, so you can flash through the dull
monologue, as I do. He is terribly self-righteous about his
ignorant views. The man simply mustn't read much. Maybe he
gets his information off- GASP!- television! Bill Maher has, again,
blown an opportunity to make a positive difference with his
show which he has turned it into a circus. He owes Africans
an apology. As an American, I'm ashamed of his stereotypes.
His views and ridiculous statements are no longer worthy of
drawing any laughter. His anti-Jesus/anti-Christian comments
are offensive to many of us. Thank you Mr. Nwangwu for
exposing his shameless ignorance. I thought ABC/Disney
is a family-oriented channel? I live in a country that
believes in this cock and bull and I am presently seated as
a member of an advisory board doing what? Damage management?
This is the western type of world we live in. You must understand
and settle one thing in your mind once and for all: these
people are unrepentant Racists. They try to fool themselves
by inviting a Black person into their shows, yet they
constantly bash our African heritage. They hope, sometimes
correctly, that some African-Americans will not be offended
by their anti-African comments; afterall tsome
African-Americans believe they are "lucky" not to be part of
the 'jungle' that is Africa. I am glad Chaka Khan did not
fall for it. Bill Maher's views
sounds like it is the worst kind of racist propaganda to
grace the airwaves. Chido Nwangwu had
written and asked 'Why is Phil Maher spreading racist
nonsense about HIV/AIDS on ABC? My answer: Because he
both reflects and is part of the cycle of perpetuation of a
deep-seated racist element in U.S. popular culture. It is a
very telling example of how the perpetuation of such
cultural racism links up to the functionality of ignorance
for a lot of White Americans. I am particularly
offended by Chris Lowe's unwarranted reference to the
so-called "homophobic imputation" because your publisher
tackled, specifically, Bill Maher's irresponsible slander of
Africans. How could Lowe drag in such a baseless diversion
to the core issue: how Maher maligned Africans and the
intelligence of other Americans. Right on brother
Chido. The more I hear such ignorance out of so-called
educated people, the more I am determined that until many of
us go home to help make our continent competive and self
sufficient, we are going to continue to be subjected to the
insults of the Mahers' of America.Some day, we will have
reason to have him and his type (at least) pretend to be
"politically correct." Yes, Sir! You are
expecting too much of people from whom you should expect
nothing serious. It is unfortunate that
Africa is perceived as the continent where all sorts do come
from. For years, such has been their negative attitude
towards the mother continent. I also recall, however that a
U.K newspaper reported that AIDS was a laboratory
experiment. These propagandists should be advised to look
elsewhere for the cause of AIDS. In the first instance, they
came to our continent, steal our money, steal our land,
steal our culture, steal our heritage and what do they give
in return, disease, hunger, poverty, ruins, war...
COMMUNITY INTEREST
Maher need not look too far around him (and possibly in the
mirror) for who the real perverts are, the conveyor belts of
sexual perversion.
I know that many the likes of Maher, Keith
Richburg, Jeff Goldberg
and such other fellows who know present and ascribe,
largely, negative values, ancient, outdated and
out-of-context anthropological perspectives of a multi-faced
and changing continent. They smear my heritage, our shared
heritage and thrive on sensationalism, and other assorted
stereotypes to advance some preconceived , noxious notions
and agenda. It's entirely unfortunate but it's the reality
we face, everyday. It is more disappointing that they will
throw the sensitive issue of AIDS into their mediocre and
monotrack perspective about Africa and
Africans.
Also, on the Maher show was that hypocritical, moralizing
Clinton-hater Susan
Carpenter McMillan.
She sat through the debate/moral issue. May be, I'm
expecting too much of Maher, the champion of brothels on any
corner in the world and his loony troop.
Some Responses:
I couldn't agree with you more, Mr. Nwangwu. I
occasionally watch Bill Maher's show but try not to because
I tend to get too angry at the ignorance that this little
frustrated man loves to display. He seems to love
controversial racial issues but "cowards" when he faces an
intelligent African-American on his show. On the subject of
AIDS, we all know that Africa has invented many things, but
beastiality isn't one of them.
Lloyd Gauthier
<lloyd_gauthier@rocketmail.com>
Dr. Keith Robinson
host HealthTalk America
Mike Rice <mrice@centuryinter.net>
Caroline Thompson
College Park, Georgia
Orevaoghene Charles Obaro
<impexma@online.no>
Kunle Ayodele
<KunleA@aol.com>,
Phoenix, Arizona.
Iheoma Obibi <ATrust2814@aol.com>,
Alliances for Africa
However, I think your insinuations about Maher's sexuality
are entirely misplaced. If you were to look at the history
of racist depictions of AIDS in the U.S., you would often
find them mouthed by right-wingers who in the same breath
condemn homosexuality as perverted, immoral, sinful and so
on. For example, Senator Jesse Helms. Blame gays, blame
Haitians, blame Africans. In both the case of racism and of
homophobia, the move both scapegoats a minority (in the
U.S.) population subject to longstanding cultural
marginalization, and provides the scapegoater with a false
sense of security that the problem doesn't involve him or
her.
Unfortunately I think that your homophobic (?) imputations
about Maher have a similar distracting effect. I don't think
anyone has an answer to the AIDS/HIV crisis in Africa, but
if anything is clear about it, it is that bashing
homosexuals or homosexuality has nothing to do with the
solution.
So by all means, let's condemn Maher's racism and the U.S.
cultural strain it reflects and perpetuates. But as for
HIV/AIDS, let's keep our eyes on the prize and not be
diverted into trading meaningless insults about so-called
perversion.
Chris Lowe <clowe@igc.org>
Suzzette Williamson,
Los Angeles
Fred Nwankwo
<fnwankwo@ameritech.net>
CeeO NADECO-ABROAD
<nadeco@interlog.com>
Olawole Oladele
<africaservice@africaservice.com>
USAfrica
INTERACTIVE
CHANNEL
Send
your views on any issues in the news about Africans and
Americans. Comment on reports and views on this web
site.
Prof. Luo
to chair HIV/AIDS September 12 conference in Lusaka
Why Dr.
Martin Luther King's vision
is valid into the 21st century
Martin Luther King's
legacy,
Jews and Black History Month
Was
Ron Brown murdered
or simply another conspiracy spin?
Community Service Awards bring
African-American, American policy
and business leaders together with African
community at Texas Southern University
First
continental African admitted into the 100
Black Men Inc.