Despite Silent Protests, Bill Maher Encourages Berkeley Graduates to Be Freethinkers and “Fight Oppression”

A couple of months ago, we learned that comedian Bill Maher was invited to deliver the commencement address at University of California, Berkeley’s winter graduation ceremony.

The problem was that students were petitioning to stop him from speaking there:

Bill Maher is a blatant bigot and racist who has no respect for the values UC Berkeley students and administration stand for. In a time where climate is a priority for all on campus, we cannot invite an individual who himself perpetuates a dangerous learning environment. Bill Maher’s public statements on various religions and cultures are offensive and his dangerous rhetoric has found its way into our campus communities. Too many students are marginalized by his remarks and if the University were to bring this individual as a commencement speaker they would not be supporting these historically marginalized communities.

It was a pointless effort from the start. Maher’s job is to share his opinions and make jokes about touchy subjects. As far as opinion-leaders go, his biggest liability is that he talks about topics (like religion) most people want to avoid at all costs. While the bigotry charge was over-the-top, the racism charge was just baseless.

More importantly, I didn’t think Maher ever created a “dangerous learning environment” by pointing out the problems with religion and those who follow it a little too devoutly. If anything, he should be commended for inviting people who disagree with him on his show.

The “Californians” were the campus group that invited Maher to speak — and they rescinded that invitation following the public outcry. Thankfully, UC Berkeley’s administration wasn’t having it. In a public statement, they announced that Maher would be welcome on their campus:

The UC Berkeley administration cannot and will not accept this decision, which appears to have been based solely on Mr. Maher’s opinions and beliefs, which he conveyed through constitutionally protected speech. For that reason Chancellor Dirks has decided that the invitation will stand, and he looks forward to welcoming Mr. Maher to the Berkeley campus. It should be noted that this decision does not constitute an endorsement of any of Mr. Maher’s prior statements: indeed, the administration’s position on Mr. Maher’s opinions and perspectives is irrelevant in this context, since we fully respect and support his right to express them. More broadly, this university has not in the past and will not in the future shy away from hosting speakers who some deem provocative.

That is how you do it. There are genuine hateful people out there; Maher isn’t in that group. He may go after sacred cows, which some people never want to criticize, but that doesn’t mean he should be disinvited from campus.

…

Earlier today, Maher gave that speech. It was hardly controversial, though Maher encouraged students (especially at Berkeley) to defend free speech, even if they disagreed with it:

“C’mon, it’s Berkeley. I think I can speak freely here,” he said. “I mean, I hope I can.”

The audience responded with cheers.

…

Maher indirectly referenced the controversy in his remarks, saying: “Liberals should own the First Amendment the way conservatives own the Second Amendment.”

“If you call yourself a liberal, you have to fight oppression from wherever it comes … that’s what makes you a liberal.”

He also urged UC Berkeley graduates to avoid the perils of group think. “That’s the last thing I’ll suggest to you — be a free thinker,” he said. “One reason our politics is so screwed up is that it’s gotten so tribal.”

That’s not to say there weren’t protests, but they were silent (and, it seems, pretty ineffective):

Some students protest Bill Maher's appearance at Berkeley commencement. @dailycal pic.twitter.com/8lxfAJn3Lz

— Graph/Haley Massara (@BylineGraph) December 20, 2014

Some protestors are inside waiting for commencement to begin. Meanwhile on the street #NoMaher pic.twitter.com/11ULoen77m

— Berkeley SJP (@KumarsSalehi) December 20, 2014

Better view of #NoMaher signs after @billmaher speech @dailycal pic.twitter.com/3sBzfGR6GG

— Graph/Haley Massara (@BylineGraph) December 20, 2014

#nomaher protesters allowed to stay in Haas Pavillion during @billmaher speech. pic.twitter.com/iBQAIu76v4

— Graph/Haley Massara (@BylineGraph) December 20, 2014

A handmade sign outside the arena read: “I’m oppressed by Islamophobia, not Islam.”

At one point during Maher’s speech, a group of protesters silently rose in the audience, holding up a series of placards that read,” Dear (administrators), don’t Maher our commencement.”

Not sure how Maher’s comments on religious extremism “oppress” moderate Muslims (or non-Muslims) at Berkeley, but at least that’s a better response than trying to boot him off campus. The Yale Atheists, Humanists, and Agnostics could learn something from all this.

(Top image via s_bukley / Shutterstock.com. Large portions of this article were published earlier)