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During a recent episode of HBO’s “Real Time,” Bill Maher highlighted a concerning generational divide in how Americans view their country. The host expressed worry about younger generations harboring an unprecedented level of self-loathing towards America, attributing this shift partly to educational differences between age groups.
In his conversation with Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan, Maher emphasized how older generations generally maintain a more optimistic perspective on America. He pointed out that while previous generations were educated about Communism and socialism, today’s youth appear to receive limited historical context in their education. This has led many young people to view America primarily through a negative lens, seeing it as a nation defined by its mistakes rather than its achievements.
Bill Maher: “The older generation has a more positive idea about this country: America good. People older, we read about communism and socialism. Kids today, I don't know what they're teaching them in school, doesn't seem like a hell of a lot.”pic.twitter.com/bG89AdnMLX
— Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) February 1, 2025
“Another, I think big gap between generations, it’s something you get into [in] your fantastic book a lot is that the older generations just have a more positive idea of this country, America good. And you go into the fact that a lot of this is because [older people], we read about Communism and socialism. And kids today, I don’t know what they’re teaching them in school, it doesn’t seem like a hell of a lot, but they have this idea, that they live — not all of them, of course, but that they live in a bad country that has only done bad things and is probably the worst place in the world, if they could only find a way to get out.”
Maher: Younger Generations Have Dangerous Self-Loathing About U.S., They Aren’t Taught About Communism, Socialismhttps://t.co/73SDko7b7a
— AvaArmstrong,🇺🇸Author (@MsAvaArmstrong) February 1, 2025
Noonan offered a balanced perspective in response, acknowledging America’s imperfections while defending its overall character. “Not perfect. To say the least, it’s had an uneven history. But it is a great country, and, historically, has been a good country.”
Maher agreed with this assessment, noting America’s capacity for improvement and self-correction compared to other nations. The conversation concluded with Noonan making a crucial distinction between healthy national reflection and destructive self-hatred. “Self-criticism is good. Self-hatred is sick. Self-criticism could get you to a good place. Self-hatred is going to stop you dead,” she observed, earning Maher’s agreement.