Sargon of Akkad - Carl Benjamin - Do the Right Thing, John Oliver.

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Jan. 4, 2016 - Sargon of Akkad - Carl Benjamin

02:47

Do the Right Thing, John Oliver.

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	It's been 2016 for four days now, and I've decided to turn over a new leaf and become a progressive.
	I've decided that social justice is a cause we should all fight for.
	The white male capitalist patriarchal supremacy that is the West needs to be smashed.
	Clearly, what we need is diversity.
	And if we don't have diversity within the social justice movement, how can we expect people outside of our movement to become diverse?
	If we do not embody the principles we espouse, then we can hardly expect the same of others.
	It is our responsibility, nay, duty, to demonstrate our diversity to the world as a shining example of what true progressivism looks like.
	Just look at the Daily Show, one of the unassailable bastions of left-wing entertainment.
	In 2015, they decided to replace the long-term host Jon Stewart with Trevor Noah.
	It's fantastic that they are phasing out non-diverse comedians, but the Daily Show is just the beginning.
	I'm a big fan of Last Week Tonight, hosted by John Oliver.
	Now, while he's done so much good work as an ally of feminism and social justice, we have to be honest with ourselves.
	John Oliver is a wealthy, white, cisgendered, heterosexual male with a platform he uses to talk down to millions of women and people of colour.
	I've done enough gender studies courses to know that he is basically the living avatar of the patriarchy.
	I'm not saying John is oppressing anyone directly, but let's be real here.
	Do we really need another straight white man hogging all the power?
	Do we really need this snaggle-tooth patriarchal grin patronising the women of colour who should instead be holding the position of host of Last Week Tonight?
	Of course not, which is why I'm supporting this petition, calling upon HBO to replace John Oliver with a woman.
	I know there will be resistance to the idea, probably most of all from Oliver himself, but look into your heart, John.
	You know that there is a poor oppressed trans woman of colour that needs that position more than you do.
	After all, it is 2016, John.
	I'm calling on John Oliver to act like the progressive he claims to be and stop monopolising his position of privilege.
	Last week Tonight has never had a woman host, despite the fact that it's 2016.
	Do the right thing, John.
	We're all counting on you.

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