Sargon of Akkad - Carl Benjamin - Do the Right Thing, John Oliver.
Aired: 2016-01-04
Duration: 02:47


=== Why Diversity Matters (02:46) ===

[00:00:00]  It's been 2016 for four days now, and I've decided to turn over a new leaf and become a progressive.
[00:00:08]  I've decided that social justice is a cause we should all fight for.
[00:00:13]  The white male capitalist patriarchal supremacy that is the West needs to be smashed.
[00:00:20]  Clearly, what we need is diversity.
[00:00:23]  And if we don't have diversity within the social justice movement, how can we expect people outside of our movement to become diverse?
[00:00:32]  If we do not embody the principles we espouse, then we can hardly expect the same of others.
[00:00:38]  It is our responsibility, nay, duty, to demonstrate our diversity to the world as a shining example of what true progressivism looks like.
[00:00:49]  Just look at the Daily Show, one of the unassailable bastions of left-wing entertainment.
[00:00:54]  In 2015, they decided to replace the long-term host Jon Stewart with Trevor Noah.
[00:01:00]  It's fantastic that they are phasing out non-diverse comedians, but the Daily Show is just the beginning.
[00:01:08]  I'm a big fan of Last Week Tonight, hosted by John Oliver.
[00:01:13]  Now, while he's done so much good work as an ally of feminism and social justice, we have to be honest with ourselves.
[00:01:20]  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.
[00:01:33]  I've done enough gender studies courses to know that he is basically the living avatar of the patriarchy.
[00:01:40]  I'm not saying John is oppressing anyone directly, but let's be real here.
[00:01:44]  Do we really need another straight white man hogging all the power?
[00:01:48]  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?
[00:01:59]  Of course not, which is why I'm supporting this petition, calling upon HBO to replace John Oliver with a woman.
[00:02:08]  I know there will be resistance to the idea, probably most of all from Oliver himself, but look into your heart, John.
[00:02:16]  You know that there is a poor oppressed trans woman of colour that needs that position more than you do.
[00:02:23]  After all, it is 2016, John.
[00:02:27]  I'm calling on John Oliver to act like the progressive he claims to be and stop monopolising his position of privilege.
[00:02:36]  Last week Tonight has never had a woman host, despite the fact that it's 2016.
[00:02:43]  Do the right thing, John.
[00:02:45]  We're all counting on you.