Mos Def is trying to make some interesting points but he's too amped up...and it's not flowing. They need to throw him a beat so his thoughts can flow more clearly. :)
mos def is not his real name, it's a stage name that stands for most definately (hince the "mr. definately" comment from hitchens. his real name is dante smith; look it up before posting next time
Oh Please! When Salman said there's only 1 group on this earth that tends to use their nuclear weapons and that are Islamic extremist. I think it hit him hard. its personal to him because hes a convert to Islam. And i agree with Mos Def that there are obviously more than 1 group that wants to use their nuclear weapons. But he did talk alot; and i think it should of let them at least finish their thoughts.
Someone please strike "mos def" with a blunt instrument till his head pops off, makes a thud sound on the earth, decays intensely with the aid of worms and suchlike and produces a much less ugly final product.
sandbox countries can go ahead and make nukes, they can be assured that their usage will result in their country of residence becoming a glowing crater.
Mos Def is a barely articulate know-nothing , self-pitying simpleton. Let him spray his insouciance vis a vis Bin Laden in the face of a relative of a 9/11 victim. What else has he got? Here's to world peace. Cretin.
Mos Def is right in saying that Iran has the right to set its own policies. But the countries that already possess nuclear weapons are alarmed, and so is everyone else. This because the equilibrium of power is upset and uncertainity is created. It makes people feel unsafe.
Mos Def, despite his charismatic manner in the previous video, is wrong. If you disarm yourself and think that aggression won't reach you, you are deluding yourself. Just because the Europeans didn't conquer Central Asia, the Huns didn't stop their advance as conquerors into Europe. People must realise that non-violence doesn't work with everyone.
Mos Def made more sense on this panel than anyone...and I'm a blue eyed blonde female. Get real Bill. I appreciate the debate...but are you so out of touch NOT to realize that it was US who elected Obama and it is US who will keep him accountable? Keep goin....and we will.
What does you being a blue-eyed, blonde female have to do with any of Mos Def's opinions? Mos Def doesn't make more sense than the other two on this panel, he just likes putting things in simple, black-and-white terms. It doesn't mean that his conclusions are correct or make any sense. If we lay down our weapons then so will Iran? Are you serious?
I'm a big fan of his (hey, I'm a blue-eyed, blonde female, too!) but that doesn't mean I'm going to pretend that he knows what he's talking about.
Woah Lassie...cool down. The "blue eyed blonde" thing was just because the panel brought it up ..in talking about who was responsible for the mess we are in...actually they said white blue eyed men, i think....I guess I thought I wasn't getting too ahead of anyone to get what I meant...sorry I got ahead of you
I'm actually not a fan of Mos - I just liked what he had to say.
I'm not sure why I need to "cool down." I don't remember writing in all caps or anything childish like that. You didn't get ahead of me, honey, your post simply made no sense.
The "blue-eyed blonde" argument they brought up was a very minor part of the panel as a whole, and Mos Def didn't actually say much about it. So, there's really zero correlation b/w that and him "making more sense than anyone." I'm not sure why you felt the need to get defensive and rude.
No, actually, it is an argument. That quote was one statement from a larger argument they didn't delve too deeply in to. I'm glad you're having fun. Blondes usually do, don't they?
mos def is doing what everyone should be doing in a democracy, taking an active role in important matters of economy and society, that is the purpose of democracy.
They should also be slightly more informed. He's much smarter than the average actor/rapper/pop star, but clearly has more to learn about certain subjects (nuclear arms) and needs to stop being so naive. I do respect him far more than average celebrity with one charity tax write-off cause.
The planets' not going anywhere,, WE ARE!! Humans are locust anomaly's . Nature is ready to shake us off like a bad case of fleas so debate on you over-paid talking heads,, debate on...
I am excited to see what Obama can do, but I have to disagree with Hitchen's love for Obama's comment "I want to know what I'm talking about before I say anything..." or whatever that may be.
Well...maybe Bill should have used his vast intellect to have them play that clip of what Obama said about legalizing marijuana. That would have shut Hitchen's up (although the man tends to make sense more often than not).
Well Maher felt the need to play the clip in the first place. And what I am saying that Obama didn't say what he should have said - something to the effect of "Due to the overwhelming scientific belief structure concerning marijuana and any effects caused by it, I can honestly consider legalizing it. It would help stimulate the ecomomy, as well as freeing our jails of those who committed no crime other than violating a useless, pointless, unwarranted taboo." THAT'S what I meant by that.
Mos Def (i have no idea who he is) represents the worse of liberalism. I dislike when bill maher uses these actors to play the liberal perspective becaus too often they don't know what they are talking about.
If you had any idea who he was, then you would understand why he is on the show and why he has that perspective. If you would cut your way away from ignorance for a second and actually pay attention to what he is trying to express you'll understand that he actually does know what he is talking about, just as everyone else on the show, only difference is the mentality of each. By the way Mos Def is a Musician & Actor.
mos def doesn't have a clue, dude. he's parroting leftest talking points( and not very well, he's obvious stoned)
and you said it correct..."TRYING to express..." because def certainly is not expressing anything coherently. his thought s are fragments of left wing ideology strung together irrationally.
Mos Def is so incoherent.. ironic that the person bringing up media bias is next the the man who wrote the book on Contrarianism! (Letters to a Young Contrarian) Def needs to learn to listen, to say the least.. Hitchens is a leading public intellectual (and a personal hero)
Are you kidding? That guy was completely condescending to Mos Def. I don't think he's afraid at all. In fact, I would argue he wouldn't talk that way to a Senator or a Congressman that was on the show, and politicians are notorious for spewing talking points with no regard to what the other person in the conversation says.
Rushi was also wrong in the previous section when he says that the opium farmers in Afghanistan "double crop the fields, there's an opium crop and a heroin crop."
we dont want to use them preemptively. we will do whatever we can to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of messianic extremists who are too comfortable with the end of the world.
you heard them. hizbollah wants nuclear weapons and to see a nuclear cloud. the US doesnt WANT to use nuclear weapons, we want to keep them from being used for apocalyptic purposes.
osama bin laden has holy permission to kill 10 million americans with a nuclear weapon! dont think he isnt trying to do that.
You don't want to use them> There is only one country in the histiry of the World that actually used a Nuclear/Atomic Bomb during a war. Hint, the answer is USA during WW2.
we did. i didnt have any say in that. but do you see the us using them any time in the future?
and utilitarian ethics defends what the US did in japan. 180,000 japanese or at least 1,000,000 american soldiers (innocent and conscripted)
but iran and osama are different. they do it for holy reasons, based on a book i think is plagiarized, or are you giving muhammad and his followers the benefit of a doubt?
So my next door neighbor is crazy and owns an uzi, does me owning a uzi also make me any safier? Nothe only way it would is if I went to his place and killed him first(illegal), because chanchs are if he is gonna come into m home and shoot up me and my family with an uzi, I'm probably not gonna have time to get to mine.
no but if your neighbor announces his intentions to use his uzi to fit his insane beliefs by shooting all of the people who own big backyards in the neighborhood then someone has the right to convict this man on conspiracy charges.
unfortunately in the neighborhood u can call the police, in the world you COULD ask the UN but thats like asking a school counselor to stop a food fight.
those who have the balls to keep uzis from crazy neighbors need to do their job. anything less is cowardly.
me too. if it were up to me, the US wouldnt have nukes.
but do you really think that if the US didnt have them, then osama and hizbollah wouldnt be trying to acquire them? come on. get real.
the responsible need to have the force to punish the irresponsible.
now i agree nukes arent that force. but lets not pretend osama wants nukes for deterence purposes like the US and USSR did, they want them to use them to serve their religious beliefs.
how much more peril needs to loom before u get it?
But that doesn't change the fact that we have them. If we don't want to use them then why can't we ditch them? It's because some politicians do want to use them. Our lack of weapons shouldn't stop Osama from trying to acquire them.
We can still stop other extremists from getting these weapons while dumping ours. Its hypocritical to want other to disarm while we have THOUSANDS stockpiled
as a white man, i need to say you need a beating, lemur. try saying those words so macho and tough in philly on the corner of market & 13th. your stupid racist ranting is why we're in this mess. i bet you consider jesus your saviour and think animals were put here for humans. learn to evolve, you friggin' caveman!!
No, Mos Def is an absolute fool. Why do Americans take people who wear clothes like that seriously when they talk about politics? As Hitchen's said, he doesn't see the difference between the United States having a nuclear arsenal and a country that harbours radical lslamic factions who have a mushroom cloud on their flag having a nuclear arsenal. I usually hate Maher, but he was right when he called MD out for being loyal to the man and not the principle with regards to legalizing weed.
Well its good that Mos is on there i mean...he pretty much expresses the general world view of the masses in this country. It's sad but most people arnt that bright, they're hearts are in the right place but they dont have the pragmatism. Of course there should be nuclear disarmorment, but before that we need to get past our differences, realize we're flying through space on a tiny piece of rock, and we're all we've got in this world so wtf are we fighting about?
It is sad that you and Mos Def are unable to spell or speak English correctly, but can vote.
His views were stolen from something he heard another celebrity say, excluding important bits of information that was stricken from his mind hundreds of doobies ago.
How dare he sit there and attempt to lecture Salman Rushdie on the evils of nuclear weapons. What a fucking idiot.
So i mispelt disarmament and used the wrong form of their...people make mistakes. I wanna thank you, for once I'm not the smug son of a bitch correcting everyones mistakes. We all need to be humbled once in awhile. The rest of your bit is redundant. He, like the average person, is simply taking in and regurgitating info with out actually disgesting it, breaking it down into something of themselves. And I agree he made an ass outa himself but guess what there are millions of people like him...
And only a handful of Rushdies...we need to concern ourselves with the question of how to relate to the Mos Defs of the world and bring them into the mature, intellectual arena, instead of condemning them for their ignorance. They should be made aware of it, but not derisively. That really helps nothing and will only hinder their chances of becoming fulfilled individuals. And just so there's no confusion the mos in my name isn't related to Mos Def, if that's what you thought....ya jabass
:/ I think it was just a bad mix. You can so tell that Rushdie and Hitchens thought that Mos Def was an idiot, and he's not. I think he just got a bit defensive, and that he didn't really fit in with those two.
There is one good part about having someone like Mos Def on along side some of todays great intellects. Mos Def is not going to care to phrase his thoughts carefully, but merely throws his thoughts out there. Many of his thoughts are commonly held misconceptions, which Hitchens and Rushdie can correct and clarify.
Hitchens made him look like a child. MD was clearly name-dropping and trying to sound more informed than he is.He kept repeating platitudes to get a rise out of the audience. It's a shame he got to talk more than one Salman Rushdie.
He looks like a cool guy in real life but in this show he's wasting a seat.
No disagreement, however, I was just saying that the only upside to having someone like Mos Def on, is that he represents a large group of people(idiots). It is good to have those people's opinions get heard and then immediately refuted. Other then that, I agree with you.
racism is a framework and this country was founded with such devaluing of underrepresented people. the framework boasted a "white is right" mentality and is clearly evident in how "other" people are perceived in this country. blond hair blue eyes is correct as a framework, an ideology, because it sets a standard and everything works around that standard until someone takes a stand to repaint the picture.
All of the bickering aside, it's a joy to see two of the greatest thinkers of our time sharing a stage (Rushdie and Hitchens, that is). I wish we could listen in to the discussions they had together while Rushdie was basically in hiding from a murderous Islamic theocrat. Those talks were surely more illuminating than this, particularly in the absence of loudmouth Mos Def.
Mos Def is also sitting next to one of the smartest human beings on the planet, who has direct experience with radical elements in Islam, elements that issued a price on his head and forced him into hiding for over a decade because he wrote a book they disagreed with. Rushdie is far more an authority to speak on the implications of Islamic elements acquiring nuclear technology than Mos Def or anyone else in the discussion. It's less about "hypocrisy" and "double standards," and more about nuance
The narrative that there is only one group who wants to detonate nuclear weapons is hypothetical and fictional ... there is only one nation that has used them, the USA. That is a fact.
The western ideals of individual wealth as supreme, and recent history of over consumption and ruthless globalization are worthy of being opposed to.
Let afghans grow poppies, let Iran go nuclear, let Indians build cars and stop waging wars if you fear the consequences; anything else is hypocritical.
Mos def tries very hard to sound like something other than an ignorant brother from the hood. He fails at that endevour. No one should schedule an entertainer along side two talented authors.
That's ridiculous. Mos Def makes some very good points, though he's rather boisterous and comical about them (but then so are Bill Maher, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert). Furthermore, the notion that just because somebody comes from the "hood" precludes them from having valid opinions is elitist (in the negative sense) and contrary to the spirit of the democratic system (though quite in line with the reality). What's more, this is a comdey show! That much is obvious I hope.
Why does everyone personalize the government of the US by refering to the character of the President? Is he so all powerful that his every idiosyncrasy steers the fate of America?
The government is systemic structure. The President is like a weathervane. The fact that he is unable to speak honestly about issues that most Americans seem to agree upon (pot, war, taxes, whatever) should indicate his role as such. He is at the service of the system: he does not control it.
You know I always get the feeling that people don't want a president but want a Monarch instead. They ask the president "what would you do about this? what would you do about that?" without even looking at article 2 of the constitution to see what power the president really has. But maybe it's really congress's fault for caving in and not acting like a independent and seperate branch of government.
Fuck you salman rushdie and hitches, you people have no credibility to talk about nuclear possession. The biggest violator of UN resolutions is Israel and the only country to show complete disregard for the UN is America. I would completely rip rushdie and hitchens in a debate. They are way overrated, fuck em both.
America and Israel in recent war used phosphorous bombs in middle of residential areas in Gaza America used it in Iraq. Its surprising America and the west are the real terrirost even amazing their citizens support this sort of evil terrorism either because they are brain washed by media or just filled with pure hate.
Interesting Mos def makes sense. He is saying America Created a nuclear bomb was the first country and only country to use it. The only countries that used nuclear and chemical weapons since 2000 - 2009 are Israel, America, Britian and other western countries. NOT THE SO CALLED TERRORIST. How about we disarm these countries before we ask the "Terriorst" disarm nothing they have nothing they live in Caves and fight with stones. IDIOTS!
Mos Def is right vlack people are not responsible for the economy or the world problems it falls on the white anglo saxon but with that said lets make sure that not one race ever has that much control ever again. Today is a new day get behind our leaders and form a more perfect union (encluding everyone) so our kids can have a bright future what ever color they are.
Take responsibility for what no black person has ever been in a position of power over the economy until Barack became President. That is why some many young blacks are upset because not white person ever wants to admit that someone from their race messed up believe me if Barack messes up black people have no problem letting him know everyday. So Grow up yourself and may be we as a country can move on. If you mess up on your job don't you admit it may be NOT.
WTF I'm white and have been poor my entire life and still am. Yeah I have a job, pay my bills and try to do right by my son. But I am in NO WAY responsible for the economy. I'm living pay check to pay check and one away from possiably having to live out of a box. Yes most the people in power are white but you can't bunch us all in together, cause there are a lot of us who are not. Racism is racism regardless of the color your aiming it at
You are way too uptight---this show is about ratings and humor. If it was all about intellectuals then he wouldn't invite rappers/comedians etc on the show.
Obviously Bill Maher likes creating contrast within the show with intellectuals interacting with actors/rappers/comedians etc. Its been like this for years...
yes, a nice break. it was exactly like when a 5 yo comes down stairs and interrupts a dinner party. mos dumb brought a stick to an intellectual gun fight.
I watched the whole thing. Yes in a perfect world there would not be Nukes. They all agreed to his never never land mentality. In the real world these weapons exist and some radical religions would love to use them on us.
Most Dumb didn't even know what Al Qaidas manifesto was, who was agreeing with him there. Maher was trying to protect his stupidity from these two educated individuals. You should probably watch the whole thing again. They didn't agree with him they were baffled by him.
I disagree. I think he's got an ego that makes him try to stand out and be a little louder. He knows less about many things than these guys, but his perspective is still worth a listen on some things. Also he is a wordsmith and I appreciated some of his comments. He's an entertainer, but he does care and he does read. I think he's smarter than Glenn Beck about some things that they both think they can be talking about, but would be better off listening.
I'm wouldn't give Hitchens a neocon label. You can have a factual view about theocratic dangerous countries and factions. Evidence points to this. I think a neocon is one who would have invaded iraq at any chance based on PNAC ideology. Hitchens likely wouldn't have chosen the same invasive course. He was waterboarded and concluded it's torture. He has been around and knows people do want to kill non-believers. That Islamic groups (some) do have rule-of-world tendencies.
he's a neocon in the sense that he believes specifically that the US should go around the world imposing capitalist states, and ignores that the elections in these countries (Iraq, Afghanistan, Haiti, etc.) suspiciously always return US-approved govts. He also paints all Islamic-based resistance as fascistic, which for a guy as educated as hitchens, is an unacceptable distortion. the torture thing came about in 06-07, when the bush admin had been discredited, before that he defended abu graib.
Hmm, interesting. I wasn't aware of the Abu Ghraib comments he may have made. I think Hitchen's believes that a government like the U.S. is a safer bet across the world, which I suppose he would agree displacing other govts. To what extent and how quickly a replacement and using what methods is I believe where a line is created that I would define a neocon or not. Interesting question. But I think I'll leave it at that. I'll have a beer, read Hitchen's book and see if I come back more informed.
Christopher Hitchens, Salman Rushie and... hold your breath... Mos Def!
WTF man? Mos Def doesn't even belong in there. Its so painfully obvious in this discussion. He's harping about obvious, obvious points that we all understand. But he hasn't seen the ground reality and has no pragmatic sense or intellectual firepower to intelligently debate here.. He should stick to rap. Seriously.
Mos Def is ok being there. He's interesting and I appreciate some of his points. I actually prefer Mos Def above say Tim Robbins, who though I like him, sometimes distorts and incorrectly states things. You know this show always includes entertainers. He might have been on there by design just to create a certain vibe for the other guests. Maher was wrong on one thing. Poor people often hate the rich with a passion, even if they wish to be so. Def is right that the rich caused these problems.
Toronto TOOL you have the right screen name and all others who keep saying that mos def is an idiot LISTEN to what Mos Def is saying not how he says it. Basically he says that the US wants others in the world to disarm while at the same time keeping their own arsenal. It is the equivalent to the government saying "hey all get rid of all your guns" so they can be the only ones with guns. Notice that the countries that actually have nukes don't get attacked but Iraq who had no nukes got invaded.
Many Americans simply cannot believe that other countries would see us as a threat. Because they personally would never attack another country. But the U.S. is a threat when you are a group in power in another country and maybe you run it your way. The U.S. pressures everyone, on many fronts, including military pressure. Navy ships and subs creeeping all over the worlds oceans. NK would easily be able to create an idea that they need heavy threatening/protective arsenal. Is the U.S. a threat?
You know, for all the crap about how stupid Mos Def is, he's making a lot of sense. Who really is the "naive" person? The person who believes more weapons will bring peace, or the person who believes total disarmament will bring World Peace?
15 min??? your concept of time is little distorted . research. also its refreshing to have a rap artist with real lyrics about real issues whether i agree with them or not. oh and mos def is many things but naive is not one. that doesn't make sense.
The most important thing to come out of this is Evangelical Atheist, meet the new boss same as the old this type of smugness has been used by the Christian right for years. Belief systems are not bad but mix in a politician to futher his/her own agenda and to tell you it's the only way to belive and a gun or two and everything goes to hell, so to speak. Whether it be a bible and a winchester or Marx and a ak 47 to belive your belief can not be hijacked by a nutcase is naive.
In Hitchens' defence, it's hard for someone not to appear "condescending" when reduced to having to try and reason with know-nothing morons (see: Mos Def) or religious nuts. Either way, it's like trying to dig through concrete using a popsicle stick. Hitchens just happens to have a lower tolerance for stupidity than most.
And you've never seen a condescending preacher or religious zealot? That's the cornerstone of their worldview, whereas Hitchen's perspective, in stark contrast, is entirely open to rational debate.
I have no use for condescension, no matter who uses it. I agree with you--Hitchens does not have a monopoly on this abrasive technique--I just cringe when I hear it. Rushdie was able to convey his points intelligently without slipping into the smugness that has become Hitchens' favorite debating tool.
The very fact that I already have "a pair" is probably why I don't find his demeanor "sexy" at all. He seemed very cranky and uncomfortable throughout the entire segment--and his puffy, red, sweaty face didn't earn him any points either. Have another drink, Chris.
What a shame that on a panel which featured true intellectual heavyweights like Salman Rushdie and Christopher Hitchens that we were forced to listen to the incoherent ramblings of a common bum like Mos Def.
Bill, by all means, dedicate an entire panel to incoherent common bums - then you can have Mos Def on again!
I'm still feeding everything Mos Def said through a translating machine and -- hopefully by sometime next week -- I'll know what the hell he was saying.
Mos Def is trying to make some interesting points but he's too amped up...and it's not flowing. They need to throw him a beat so his thoughts can flow more clearly. :)
jdfodio 2 years ago
Mos Def making interesting points? Please. With a name like Mos Def.... laughable.
Sarge3712 2 years ago
mos def is not his real name, it's a stage name that stands for most definately (hince the "mr. definately" comment from hitchens. his real name is dante smith; look it up before posting next time
csqwared 2 years ago
Rushdie and Hitchens, what could have been so fascinating to listen to, ruined by this babbling moron
gingerhuffington 2 years ago
i agree, he comes across as an ignorant fool. Why is he even participanting?
corporalclegg07 2 years ago
I love Mos, but he is too talkative
I could not agree more, I find myself skipping forward ever time he talks.
ManexCorp 2 years ago 3
mos def is out of his league attempting to debate rushie and hitchens. stick to rhyming 2 syllable words.
tlen0117 2 years ago
Calm down. You are at a 10 when you should be at 2.
MrHolipsism 2 years ago 2
I love Mos, but he is too talkative.
sewerface 2 years ago
I hope they get Dave Chappelle on real time one day.
bomshizzle 2 years ago
Damn, Mos shut all three of em' down!
Kristophirst 2 years ago
Oh Please! When Salman said there's only 1 group on this earth that tends to use their nuclear weapons and that are Islamic extremist. I think it hit him hard. its personal to him because hes a convert to Islam. And i agree with Mos Def that there are obviously more than 1 group that wants to use their nuclear weapons. But he did talk alot; and i think it should of let them at least finish their thoughts.
TheGoodLife05 2 years ago
Bill needs to do a better job screening his guests...Mos Def is an idiot...
dwah1 2 years ago
Someone please strike "mos def" with a blunt instrument till his head pops off, makes a thud sound on the earth, decays intensely with the aid of worms and suchlike and produces a much less ugly final product.
WhenLilacsLast 2 years ago
from 7:30 ... rushdie is spot on.
preauxx 2 years ago
mos def is naive to say the least...
sublimecocotree 2 years ago
sandbox countries can go ahead and make nukes, they can be assured that their usage will result in their country of residence becoming a glowing crater.
EdgeBotV2 2 years ago
mos def is an IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
blitzkriegstomp 2 years ago
Mos Def is a barely articulate know-nothing , self-pitying simpleton. Let him spray his insouciance vis a vis Bin Laden in the face of a relative of a 9/11 victim. What else has he got? Here's to world peace. Cretin.
pinkinvisible 2 years ago 3
And one must ask how responsible in their handling of nuclear weapons are the people who are concerned about the next life more than the current one.
saviovega1986 2 years ago
Mos Def is right in saying that Iran has the right to set its own policies. But the countries that already possess nuclear weapons are alarmed, and so is everyone else. This because the equilibrium of power is upset and uncertainity is created. It makes people feel unsafe.
saviovega1986 2 years ago
Mos Def, despite his charismatic manner in the previous video, is wrong. If you disarm yourself and think that aggression won't reach you, you are deluding yourself. Just because the Europeans didn't conquer Central Asia, the Huns didn't stop their advance as conquerors into Europe. People must realise that non-violence doesn't work with everyone.
saviovega1986 2 years ago
Comment removed
shynaver 2 years ago
Mos Def made more sense on this panel than anyone...and I'm a blue eyed blonde female. Get real Bill. I appreciate the debate...but are you so out of touch NOT to realize that it was US who elected Obama and it is US who will keep him accountable? Keep goin....and we will.
doorcat13 2 years ago
What does you being a blue-eyed, blonde female have to do with any of Mos Def's opinions? Mos Def doesn't make more sense than the other two on this panel, he just likes putting things in simple, black-and-white terms. It doesn't mean that his conclusions are correct or make any sense. If we lay down our weapons then so will Iran? Are you serious?
I'm a big fan of his (hey, I'm a blue-eyed, blonde female, too!) but that doesn't mean I'm going to pretend that he knows what he's talking about.
drummenator 2 years ago
Woah Lassie...cool down. The "blue eyed blonde" thing was just because the panel brought it up ..in talking about who was responsible for the mess we are in...actually they said white blue eyed men, i think....I guess I thought I wasn't getting too ahead of anyone to get what I meant...sorry I got ahead of you
I'm actually not a fan of Mos - I just liked what he had to say.
doorcat13 2 years ago
I'm not sure why I need to "cool down." I don't remember writing in all caps or anything childish like that. You didn't get ahead of me, honey, your post simply made no sense.
The "blue-eyed blonde" argument they brought up was a very minor part of the panel as a whole, and Mos Def didn't actually say much about it. So, there's really zero correlation b/w that and him "making more sense than anyone." I'm not sure why you felt the need to get defensive and rude.
drummenator 2 years ago
It wasn't really an argument...it was a statement everyone had fun with....you should try it. I am.
doorcat13 2 years ago
No, actually, it is an argument. That quote was one statement from a larger argument they didn't delve too deeply in to. I'm glad you're having fun. Blondes usually do, don't they?
drummenator 2 years ago
Let's call it a debate....kiss..from one blonde to another....and make up. Love ya...Peace Out
doorcat13 2 years ago
Richard Dawkins is a retard too.
jelwagaa 2 years ago
Atheism is not a faith, Mos Def. Asshole!
Josh111485 2 years ago 4
Replace Mos Def with Richard Dawkins and we have a perfect panel. What a retard Mos Def is.
loljesus24 2 years ago 3
why so everybody could agree with eachother? Mos is the only one trying to see things from another point of view.
SaminSifat 2 years ago 2
mos def is doing what everyone should be doing in a democracy, taking an active role in important matters of economy and society, that is the purpose of democracy.
apemanchild 2 years ago
They should also be slightly more informed. He's much smarter than the average actor/rapper/pop star, but clearly has more to learn about certain subjects (nuclear arms) and needs to stop being so naive. I do respect him far more than average celebrity with one charity tax write-off cause.
drummenator 2 years ago
The planets' not going anywhere,, WE ARE!! Humans are locust anomaly's . Nature is ready to shake us off like a bad case of fleas so debate on you over-paid talking heads,, debate on...
sum29try 2 years ago
george carlin FTW :P
rtarbinar 2 years ago
I am excited to see what Obama can do, but I have to disagree with Hitchen's love for Obama's comment "I want to know what I'm talking about before I say anything..." or whatever that may be.
Well...maybe Bill should have used his vast intellect to have them play that clip of what Obama said about legalizing marijuana. That would have shut Hitchen's up (although the man tends to make sense more often than not).
tonguecutsparrow 2 years ago
Mr. Maher quoted President Obama verbatim. Why play the clip?
ratking8 2 years ago
Well Maher felt the need to play the clip in the first place. And what I am saying that Obama didn't say what he should have said - something to the effect of "Due to the overwhelming scientific belief structure concerning marijuana and any effects caused by it, I can honestly consider legalizing it. It would help stimulate the ecomomy, as well as freeing our jails of those who committed no crime other than violating a useless, pointless, unwarranted taboo." THAT'S what I meant by that.
tonguecutsparrow 2 years ago
Well, you probably should have said THAT then.
ratking8 2 years ago
"the Iranians dito"
-Salman Rushdie
kidfunkadelic 2 years ago
"The right wing is paranoid"
Bill Maher.
Considering Mos Def represents the typical Democrats intelligence level we should be fucking paranoid.
The Mos Defs are running the country, maher is a douchebag idiot willing sell out his own country for his stupid Mos Def ideology.
richfisherman 2 years ago
Mos Def (i have no idea who he is) represents the worse of liberalism. I dislike when bill maher uses these actors to play the liberal perspective becaus too often they don't know what they are talking about.
izzet2006 2 years ago 2
If you had any idea who he was, then you would understand why he is on the show and why he has that perspective. If you would cut your way away from ignorance for a second and actually pay attention to what he is trying to express you'll understand that he actually does know what he is talking about, just as everyone else on the show, only difference is the mentality of each. By the way Mos Def is a Musician & Actor.
justinuribe 2 years ago
mos def doesn't have a clue, dude. he's parroting leftest talking points( and not very well, he's obvious stoned)
and you said it correct..."TRYING to express..." because def certainly is not expressing anything coherently. his thought s are fragments of left wing ideology strung together irrationally.
tlen0117 2 years ago 3
Mos Def is so incoherent.. ironic that the person bringing up media bias is next the the man who wrote the book on Contrarianism! (Letters to a Young Contrarian) Def needs to learn to listen, to say the least.. Hitchens is a leading public intellectual (and a personal hero)
reincarnatemozart 2 years ago 2
Mos Def was an embarrassment . He simply did not belong in the company of the other guests - he was totally outclassed.
The really sad thing is that without Mos Def, this could have been a really great show.
GordMacDonald 2 years ago 3
I hate this nig
jasonjohnson2010 2 years ago
". . . and the world is flat, and two & two make five!"
LlortnA 2 years ago
why is everyone so afraid to tell him to shut up? Cus he's black? whats, does he think he's watching a movie.........
3ricb 2 years ago
Are you kidding? That guy was completely condescending to Mos Def. I don't think he's afraid at all. In fact, I would argue he wouldn't talk that way to a Senator or a Congressman that was on the show, and politicians are notorious for spewing talking points with no regard to what the other person in the conversation says.
weedipikia 2 years ago
The only country who ever used a nuclear weapon against another country is the UNITED STATES. Stupid asses.
Mos Def is the only one making any sense.
LittleEmoBoy001 2 years ago
And Rushdi is wrong when he says no other nuke owning country want to use them.
Was he here when most of the Democratic candidates (INCLUDING OBAMA) said they wouldn't take a NUCLEAR STRIKE OPTION off the table against Iran???
flclfanman 2 years ago
he obviously is referring to use in an offensive and aggressive context.
jeremyshambles 2 years ago
Rushi was also wrong in the previous section when he says that the opium farmers in Afghanistan "double crop the fields, there's an opium crop and a heroin crop."
A heroin crop!?! Heroin is made from opium!
weedipikia 2 years ago
we dont want to use them preemptively. we will do whatever we can to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of messianic extremists who are too comfortable with the end of the world.
you heard them. hizbollah wants nuclear weapons and to see a nuclear cloud. the US doesnt WANT to use nuclear weapons, we want to keep them from being used for apocalyptic purposes.
osama bin laden has holy permission to kill 10 million americans with a nuclear weapon! dont think he isnt trying to do that.
IcyIconoclast 2 years ago
You don't want to use them> There is only one country in the histiry of the World that actually used a Nuclear/Atomic Bomb during a war. Hint, the answer is USA during WW2.
oj1979 2 years ago
sigh. didnt see that coming.
we did. i didnt have any say in that. but do you see the us using them any time in the future?
and utilitarian ethics defends what the US did in japan. 180,000 japanese or at least 1,000,000 american soldiers (innocent and conscripted)
but iran and osama are different. they do it for holy reasons, based on a book i think is plagiarized, or are you giving muhammad and his followers the benefit of a doubt?
IcyIconoclast 2 years ago
So my next door neighbor is crazy and owns an uzi, does me owning a uzi also make me any safier? Nothe only way it would is if I went to his place and killed him first(illegal), because chanchs are if he is gonna come into m home and shoot up me and my family with an uzi, I'm probably not gonna have time to get to mine.
oj1979 2 years ago
no but if your neighbor announces his intentions to use his uzi to fit his insane beliefs by shooting all of the people who own big backyards in the neighborhood then someone has the right to convict this man on conspiracy charges.
unfortunately in the neighborhood u can call the police, in the world you COULD ask the UN but thats like asking a school counselor to stop a food fight.
those who have the balls to keep uzis from crazy neighbors need to do their job. anything less is cowardly.
IcyIconoclast 2 years ago
Sorry but I want to keep uzi out of the hands of everyone in the nirghborhood, not just the crazy people.
oj1979 2 years ago
me too. if it were up to me, the US wouldnt have nukes.
but do you really think that if the US didnt have them, then osama and hizbollah wouldnt be trying to acquire them? come on. get real.
the responsible need to have the force to punish the irresponsible.
now i agree nukes arent that force. but lets not pretend osama wants nukes for deterence purposes like the US and USSR did, they want them to use them to serve their religious beliefs.
how much more peril needs to loom before u get it?
IcyIconoclast 2 years ago
But that doesn't change the fact that we have them. If we don't want to use them then why can't we ditch them? It's because some politicians do want to use them. Our lack of weapons shouldn't stop Osama from trying to acquire them.
We can still stop other extremists from getting these weapons while dumping ours. Its hypocritical to want other to disarm while we have THOUSANDS stockpiled
flclfanman 2 years ago
i watch this show to hear some serious but uncensored views damn mos def. cool guy but he screwed up on this one
minitah 2 years ago
Comment removed
minitah 2 years ago
lol mos def was in character the whole time, he was playing the role of a class clown but people watch this show with some seriousness
minitah 2 years ago
MOs def needs to realize his company and SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!!
rdhaamnaan 2 years ago
most def made this intolerable
sicamorestylez 2 years ago 5
as a white man, i need to say you need a beating, lemur. try saying those words so macho and tough in philly on the corner of market & 13th. your stupid racist ranting is why we're in this mess. i bet you consider jesus your saviour and think animals were put here for humans. learn to evolve, you friggin' caveman!!
thedivys 2 years ago
i think the same could be said for you and your stupid little comment
ahabthewhaler 2 years ago
BILL MAHER SUCKS!!!!
Zayin1993 2 years ago
Mos Def actually has a point about super powers leading by example and not imposing bans on other countries while they continue to do what they like.
Valelacerte 2 years ago
Clear that racism is alive and well with you..
JaySona101 2 years ago
At the 6:50 point Mos Def was hilarious.
Croozer 2 years ago
No, Mos Def is an absolute fool. Why do Americans take people who wear clothes like that seriously when they talk about politics? As Hitchen's said, he doesn't see the difference between the United States having a nuclear arsenal and a country that harbours radical lslamic factions who have a mushroom cloud on their flag having a nuclear arsenal. I usually hate Maher, but he was right when he called MD out for being loyal to the man and not the principle with regards to legalizing weed.
mb4073 2 years ago
Well its good that Mos is on there i mean...he pretty much expresses the general world view of the masses in this country. It's sad but most people arnt that bright, they're hearts are in the right place but they dont have the pragmatism. Of course there should be nuclear disarmorment, but before that we need to get past our differences, realize we're flying through space on a tiny piece of rock, and we're all we've got in this world so wtf are we fighting about?
mos619 2 years ago
It is sad that you and Mos Def are unable to spell or speak English correctly, but can vote.
His views were stolen from something he heard another celebrity say, excluding important bits of information that was stricken from his mind hundreds of doobies ago.
How dare he sit there and attempt to lecture Salman Rushdie on the evils of nuclear weapons. What a fucking idiot.
mb4073 2 years ago 2
Oh please.. "Speak English" correctly? Other then the British, who speaks English correctly?
IHS7 2 years ago
Actually that should be "who speak" English correctly ;-)
Cantaireachd 2 years ago
Sue me.. Im from New York!
IHS7 2 years ago
So i mispelt disarmament and used the wrong form of their...people make mistakes. I wanna thank you, for once I'm not the smug son of a bitch correcting everyones mistakes. We all need to be humbled once in awhile. The rest of your bit is redundant. He, like the average person, is simply taking in and regurgitating info with out actually disgesting it, breaking it down into something of themselves. And I agree he made an ass outa himself but guess what there are millions of people like him...
mos619 2 years ago
And only a handful of Rushdies...we need to concern ourselves with the question of how to relate to the Mos Defs of the world and bring them into the mature, intellectual arena, instead of condemning them for their ignorance. They should be made aware of it, but not derisively. That really helps nothing and will only hinder their chances of becoming fulfilled individuals. And just so there's no confusion the mos in my name isn't related to Mos Def, if that's what you thought....ya jabass
:P
mos619 2 years ago
:/ I think it was just a bad mix. You can so tell that Rushdie and Hitchens thought that Mos Def was an idiot, and he's not. I think he just got a bit defensive, and that he didn't really fit in with those two.
unnorthkrn 2 years ago
mos def needs to shut the fuck up, he wont even let anyone speak...mos def the politician yeah right
jpixels 2 years ago
There is one good part about having someone like Mos Def on along side some of todays great intellects. Mos Def is not going to care to phrase his thoughts carefully, but merely throws his thoughts out there. Many of his thoughts are commonly held misconceptions, which Hitchens and Rushdie can correct and clarify.
Gwisss 2 years ago
Hitchens made him look like a child. MD was clearly name-dropping and trying to sound more informed than he is.He kept repeating platitudes to get a rise out of the audience. It's a shame he got to talk more than one Salman Rushdie.
He looks like a cool guy in real life but in this show he's wasting a seat.
philosopher2king 2 years ago 2
No disagreement, however, I was just saying that the only upside to having someone like Mos Def on, is that he represents a large group of people(idiots). It is good to have those people's opinions get heard and then immediately refuted. Other then that, I agree with you.
Gwisss 2 years ago
I love Mos Def's music but he is being annoying
dietsnapple89 2 years ago 2
maher is correct: 9:40
mnwoods 2 years ago
racism is a framework and this country was founded with such devaluing of underrepresented people. the framework boasted a "white is right" mentality and is clearly evident in how "other" people are perceived in this country. blond hair blue eyes is correct as a framework, an ideology, because it sets a standard and everything works around that standard until someone takes a stand to repaint the picture.
mnwoods 2 years ago
wow, mos def is brutal.
moondogg360 2 years ago
All of the bickering aside, it's a joy to see two of the greatest thinkers of our time sharing a stage (Rushdie and Hitchens, that is). I wish we could listen in to the discussions they had together while Rushdie was basically in hiding from a murderous Islamic theocrat. Those talks were surely more illuminating than this, particularly in the absence of loudmouth Mos Def.
Spizike237 2 years ago
hey dipshit, i hope u realize that a "nigger" is our president
gabe0506 2 years ago
i dont care wut yall say..MOS DEF did his thing, and he spoke his mind.
MuMu124 2 years ago
agreed
gabe0506 2 years ago
Mos Def is also sitting next to one of the smartest human beings on the planet, who has direct experience with radical elements in Islam, elements that issued a price on his head and forced him into hiding for over a decade because he wrote a book they disagreed with. Rushdie is far more an authority to speak on the implications of Islamic elements acquiring nuclear technology than Mos Def or anyone else in the discussion. It's less about "hypocrisy" and "double standards," and more about nuance
iyork 2 years ago
Agreed. But it is kind of unfair putting Hitchens, Maher, and Rushdie in the same room with a drunk celebrity and talking foreign policy.
Regardless, Mr. Definitely is definitely embarrassing himself here.
andid 2 years ago
Mos Def is dumb.
RickJamesBitch16 2 years ago
The narrative that there is only one group who wants to detonate nuclear weapons is hypothetical and fictional ... there is only one nation that has used them, the USA. That is a fact.
The western ideals of individual wealth as supreme, and recent history of over consumption and ruthless globalization are worthy of being opposed to.
Let afghans grow poppies, let Iran go nuclear, let Indians build cars and stop waging wars if you fear the consequences; anything else is hypocritical.
GeoliphicMedia 2 years ago
mos def is truth
GeoliphicMedia 2 years ago
Mos Def is an idiot x2
elfil76 2 years ago
Mos Def is an idiot.
orlandrake 2 years ago
Mos def tries very hard to sound like something other than an ignorant brother from the hood. He fails at that endevour. No one should schedule an entertainer along side two talented authors.
ls1z28chris 2 years ago
That's ridiculous. Mos Def makes some very good points, though he's rather boisterous and comical about them (but then so are Bill Maher, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert). Furthermore, the notion that just because somebody comes from the "hood" precludes them from having valid opinions is elitist (in the negative sense) and contrary to the spirit of the democratic system (though quite in line with the reality). What's more, this is a comdey show! That much is obvious I hope.
cedriccapa 2 years ago 5
LMFAO
my favorite moment is 3:55. "You know what bill? their right!"
QuelDr0ma 2 years ago
Why does everyone personalize the government of the US by refering to the character of the President? Is he so all powerful that his every idiosyncrasy steers the fate of America?
The government is systemic structure. The President is like a weathervane. The fact that he is unable to speak honestly about issues that most Americans seem to agree upon (pot, war, taxes, whatever) should indicate his role as such. He is at the service of the system: he does not control it.
Get a clue.
cedriccapa 2 years ago
You know I always get the feeling that people don't want a president but want a Monarch instead. They ask the president "what would you do about this? what would you do about that?" without even looking at article 2 of the constitution to see what power the president really has. But maybe it's really congress's fault for caving in and not acting like a independent and seperate branch of government.
QuelDr0ma 2 years ago
Fuck you salman rushdie and hitches, you people have no credibility to talk about nuclear possession. The biggest violator of UN resolutions is Israel and the only country to show complete disregard for the UN is America. I would completely rip rushdie and hitchens in a debate. They are way overrated, fuck em both.
oldkido 2 years ago
I finally found a bigger idiot then George W Bush... his name is Mos Def.
phirephate 2 years ago
America and Israel in recent war used phosphorous bombs in middle of residential areas in Gaza America used it in Iraq. Its surprising America and the west are the real terrirost even amazing their citizens support this sort of evil terrorism either because they are brain washed by media or just filled with pure hate.
Toughquestion 2 years ago 2
Interesting Mos def makes sense. He is saying America Created a nuclear bomb was the first country and only country to use it. The only countries that used nuclear and chemical weapons since 2000 - 2009 are Israel, America, Britian and other western countries. NOT THE SO CALLED TERRORIST. How about we disarm these countries before we ask the "Terriorst" disarm nothing they have nothing they live in Caves and fight with stones. IDIOTS!
Toughquestion 2 years ago 2
Thank you finally somebody understands at least there is some intelligence out there
arigold 2 years ago
Mos Def should not be on this show.
artisticlatino07 2 years ago 2
why is mos def even here....??? big mouth idiot who got educated by uncle rufus on the back porch
buyusaonly 2 years ago
Mos Def is right vlack people are not responsible for the economy or the world problems it falls on the white anglo saxon but with that said lets make sure that not one race ever has that much control ever again. Today is a new day get behind our leaders and form a more perfect union (encluding everyone) so our kids can have a bright future what ever color they are.
Break80man 2 years ago
Grow up and take responsibility.
belzondium 2 years ago
Take responsibility for what no black person has ever been in a position of power over the economy until Barack became President. That is why some many young blacks are upset because not white person ever wants to admit that someone from their race messed up believe me if Barack messes up black people have no problem letting him know everyday. So Grow up yourself and may be we as a country can move on. If you mess up on your job don't you admit it may be NOT.
Break80man 2 years ago 2
WTF I'm white and have been poor my entire life and still am. Yeah I have a job, pay my bills and try to do right by my son. But I am in NO WAY responsible for the economy. I'm living pay check to pay check and one away from possiably having to live out of a box. Yes most the people in power are white but you can't bunch us all in together, cause there are a lot of us who are not. Racism is racism regardless of the color your aiming it at
CrimsyneDarkrain 2 years ago
Sorry if you took it that way but I was not trying to bunch you all together just stateing a fact .
Break80man 2 years ago
If there's anything an evening with Bill Maher's guests proves, it's that all viewpoints are not created equal.
belzondium 2 years ago
Mos Def never had a chance
UndergroundAmericans 2 years ago
I'm glad I'm watching this on YouTube so I can skip whenever that idiot Mos Def opens his mouth...
Bill, please only allow people on who have an idea about WTF they are talking about...
LesMonks 2 years ago
lol Mos Def does a decent Dave Chappelle.
That said, why is he on this show?
STpacific 2 years ago
You are way too uptight---this show is about ratings and humor. If it was all about intellectuals then he wouldn't invite rappers/comedians etc on the show.
Obviously Bill Maher likes creating contrast within the show with intellectuals interacting with actors/rappers/comedians etc. Its been like this for years...
jayhop21 2 years ago 4
I enjoyed his contributions, nice break from the overeducated, condescending experts.
CaptainFuzzbottom 2 years ago
yes, a nice break. it was exactly like when a 5 yo comes down stairs and interrupts a dinner party. mos dumb brought a stick to an intellectual gun fight.
randomjunglist 2 years ago
i don't even think he brought a stick!
UndergroundAmericans 2 years ago
Mos Def ruined this discussion.
Get a guest with a counterpoint that doesn't spew radical nonesense.
wysock84 2 years ago
Mos Def is an idiot, with a very dim view of how the world works.
U2Dave 2 years ago
actually they spent the whole time saying they agree with him, u should watch it again.
Azzaiel 2 years ago
I watched the whole thing. Yes in a perfect world there would not be Nukes. They all agreed to his never never land mentality. In the real world these weapons exist and some radical religions would love to use them on us.
Most Dumb didn't even know what Al Qaidas manifesto was, who was agreeing with him there. Maher was trying to protect his stupidity from these two educated individuals. You should probably watch the whole thing again. They didn't agree with him they were baffled by him.
U2Dave 2 years ago
ok i admit u saw exactly what u wanted to
Azzaiel 2 years ago
Mos Def is an idiot. He shouldn't be on the show. What a mistake.
jeffbrown8 2 years ago
I disagree. I think he's got an ego that makes him try to stand out and be a little louder. He knows less about many things than these guys, but his perspective is still worth a listen on some things. Also he is a wordsmith and I appreciated some of his comments. He's an entertainer, but he does care and he does read. I think he's smarter than Glenn Beck about some things that they both think they can be talking about, but would be better off listening.
michaelbuddy 2 years ago
what is he smarter than Glenn Beck about?
jeffbrown8 2 years ago
In otherwords, he's the underdog that is merely there to give the audience some laughs.
fdvokfm 2 years ago
hitch is the smartest neocon in the world - thats why people get easily confused and think he's on the left
driftersmanifesto 2 years ago
I'm wouldn't give Hitchens a neocon label. You can have a factual view about theocratic dangerous countries and factions. Evidence points to this. I think a neocon is one who would have invaded iraq at any chance based on PNAC ideology. Hitchens likely wouldn't have chosen the same invasive course. He was waterboarded and concluded it's torture. He has been around and knows people do want to kill non-believers. That Islamic groups (some) do have rule-of-world tendencies.
michaelbuddy 2 years ago
he's a neocon in the sense that he believes specifically that the US should go around the world imposing capitalist states, and ignores that the elections in these countries (Iraq, Afghanistan, Haiti, etc.) suspiciously always return US-approved govts. He also paints all Islamic-based resistance as fascistic, which for a guy as educated as hitchens, is an unacceptable distortion. the torture thing came about in 06-07, when the bush admin had been discredited, before that he defended abu graib.
driftersmanifesto 2 years ago
Hmm, interesting. I wasn't aware of the Abu Ghraib comments he may have made. I think Hitchen's believes that a government like the U.S. is a safer bet across the world, which I suppose he would agree displacing other govts. To what extent and how quickly a replacement and using what methods is I believe where a line is created that I would define a neocon or not. Interesting question. But I think I'll leave it at that. I'll have a beer, read Hitchen's book and see if I come back more informed.
michaelbuddy 2 years ago
Christopher Hitchens, Salman Rushie and... hold your breath... Mos Def!
WTF man? Mos Def doesn't even belong in there. Its so painfully obvious in this discussion. He's harping about obvious, obvious points that we all understand. But he hasn't seen the ground reality and has no pragmatic sense or intellectual firepower to intelligently debate here.. He should stick to rap. Seriously.
geodesicks 2 years ago
I agree......I would have liked to hear from Maher, Hitchens, and Rushdie
Gatsby25 2 years ago
Mos Def is ok being there. He's interesting and I appreciate some of his points. I actually prefer Mos Def above say Tim Robbins, who though I like him, sometimes distorts and incorrectly states things. You know this show always includes entertainers. He might have been on there by design just to create a certain vibe for the other guests. Maher was wrong on one thing. Poor people often hate the rich with a passion, even if they wish to be so. Def is right that the rich caused these problems.
michaelbuddy 2 years ago
Toronto TOOL you have the right screen name and all others who keep saying that mos def is an idiot LISTEN to what Mos Def is saying not how he says it. Basically he says that the US wants others in the world to disarm while at the same time keeping their own arsenal. It is the equivalent to the government saying "hey all get rid of all your guns" so they can be the only ones with guns. Notice that the countries that actually have nukes don't get attacked but Iraq who had no nukes got invaded.
orgnice 2 years ago 3
Many Americans simply cannot believe that other countries would see us as a threat. Because they personally would never attack another country. But the U.S. is a threat when you are a group in power in another country and maybe you run it your way. The U.S. pressures everyone, on many fronts, including military pressure. Navy ships and subs creeeping all over the worlds oceans. NK would easily be able to create an idea that they need heavy threatening/protective arsenal. Is the U.S. a threat?
michaelbuddy 2 years ago
You know, for all the crap about how stupid Mos Def is, he's making a lot of sense. Who really is the "naive" person? The person who believes more weapons will bring peace, or the person who believes total disarmament will bring World Peace?
wanealy 2 years ago
thank you my point exactly
arigold 2 years ago
Hitchens is a fuckin wag.
1peoplesun 2 years ago
15 min??? your concept of time is little distorted . research. also its refreshing to have a rap artist with real lyrics about real issues whether i agree with them or not. oh and mos def is many things but naive is not one. that doesn't make sense.
johnbonora7 2 years ago
mos is a funny dude
nemesis700 2 years ago
this mos def retard has outworn his 15 minutes. Jesus what an idiot.
perfecto25 2 years ago
God why bring people like mosdef on his show?
Limited317 2 years ago
because hes not an athiest, do yo research,
mavsfan2k4 2 years ago
The most important thing to come out of this is Evangelical Atheist, meet the new boss same as the old this type of smugness has been used by the Christian right for years. Belief systems are not bad but mix in a politician to futher his/her own agenda and to tell you it's the only way to belive and a gun or two and everything goes to hell, so to speak. Whether it be a bible and a winchester or Marx and a ak 47 to belive your belief can not be hijacked by a nutcase is naive.
tydodge 2 years ago
well said
mots35 2 years ago
Mos Def is a blowhard!
utopianfoe 2 years ago
Mos def is naive.
comicfl 2 years ago 5
In Hitchens' defence, it's hard for someone not to appear "condescending" when reduced to having to try and reason with know-nothing morons (see: Mos Def) or religious nuts. Either way, it's like trying to dig through concrete using a popsicle stick. Hitchens just happens to have a lower tolerance for stupidity than most.
Torontotool 2 years ago 2
Christopher Hitchens has a religion ... it's called "condescension"
Kerkopes 2 years ago
And you've never seen a condescending preacher or religious zealot? That's the cornerstone of their worldview, whereas Hitchen's perspective, in stark contrast, is entirely open to rational debate.
yexey 2 years ago
I have no use for condescension, no matter who uses it. I agree with you--Hitchens does not have a monopoly on this abrasive technique--I just cringe when I hear it. Rushdie was able to convey his points intelligently without slipping into the smugness that has become Hitchens' favorite debating tool.
Kerkopes 2 years ago
Grow a pair, his demeanor is sexy.
RessurectedPenguin 2 years ago
The very fact that I already have "a pair" is probably why I don't find his demeanor "sexy" at all. He seemed very cranky and uncomfortable throughout the entire segment--and his puffy, red, sweaty face didn't earn him any points either. Have another drink, Chris.
Kerkopes 2 years ago 2
You say cranky, I say suave. I've been waiting for this particular moment for a long time now AND YOU WILL NOT RUIN IT FOR ME ARGHH!!
RessurectedPenguin 2 years ago
What a shame that on a panel which featured true intellectual heavyweights like Salman Rushdie and Christopher Hitchens that we were forced to listen to the incoherent ramblings of a common bum like Mos Def.
Bill, by all means, dedicate an entire panel to incoherent common bums - then you can have Mos Def on again!
I'm still feeding everything Mos Def said through a translating machine and -- hopefully by sometime next week -- I'll know what the hell he was saying.
Torontotool 2 years ago
I actually appreciate the contrast.
45axelh 2 years ago
islamic extremists? osama bin laden? weapons of mass destruction?
where have i heard that before?
revolutionary007 2 years ago