Wednesday, March 7, 2012

RUSH ...

I have been following the Rush Limbaugh debacle all week like a madwoman. The blog sphere has exploded with articles and comments from the public and I have done my share of letting my opinion be known on various websites. I have signed as many petitions that have been generated to get him off the air and applauded the sponsors who have left him. I am waiting for Clear Channel to fire him.

It is true that there are many "shock jocks" and "entertainers" on radio from both the left and the right. I do find the right to be more uptight than the left, but with that said, it does not dismiss some of the horrible things that the left have also said. Bill Maher for one.

What I think America is really saying about Rush Limbaugh is that they are tired of ALL racist/sexist/prejudiced/misogynistic commentary on the airwaves. America is desperate for intelligent, measured and grown-up debate/commentary. When I was a little girl, Walter Cronkite was the most respected man in America. And he was. He never gave his personal opinion. He reported the news ... the facts, and the American public could make up their own mind with regard to politics and policy.

Today there are so many personalities on TV and radio who incite the public's ire because it makes for good TV and/or radio. It is all geared to a viewing audience that is quite literally, mentally challenged and cannot pay attention long enough to consider their own opinions because they don't know how to THINK. After about a minute you have to bring out the crayons.

I know I can get down and dirty too. When I write my opinions or comment on pop culture like the Jersey Shore, the Housewife franchise I do so because it's easy. Free speech is a right and thank God for it. I can write on my blog about how much I hate Rush Limbaugh, or any other political figure I choose to pick on and no one is going to come and arrest me. But where does one draw the line? When Limbaugh called President Obama, "Barak the Magic Negro", I found that HIGHLY offensive and without a doubt RACIST. When Bill Maher referred to Sarah Palin as the C word, HIGHLY offensive.

Perhaps these "personalities" get so carried away with their power and so called influence that they truly believe they are the only capable harbingers of truth, as they see it, and therefore no one need question them. And yes, you don't have to watch their programs or listen to their radio shows, which I don't because when I do I feel like I need to take a shower afterward, or I have become so enraged at what I am listening to and so frustrated with my inability to communicate my feelings with that person that ... well it's just not healthy.

These incendiary personalities seem to have become our psychological representatives. For all of us that were bullied by the big kids on the big playground, there is now a personality to speak for you, in the language of the bully who taunted and picked on you. Think about it. Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Bill Maher. All different variations of extreme.

The point I want to make is that America is really so tired of all this B.S. Talk to us and don't be afraid to use big words. We get it. The C word is NEVER okay, EVER. Racist/sexist and
misogynistic language is NEVER okay, EVER. By sponsors pulling their ads and personalities getting suspended or fired, this happens because the public makes it happen. We are not here to serve you, you are here to serve us. With intelligent debate. Thoughtful discourse. And most importantly, RESPECT. The one thing that no longer seems to exist.

Philippians 2:3

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself;

A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes - Mahatma Ghandi

The way to procure insults is to submit to them. A man meets with no more respect than he exacts. - William Hazlitt

I'm done.

7 comments:

  1. Just playing devils advocate but....

    I'm not sure companies pulling out is the answer...more will just jump on the band wagon.

    Bad publicity is good publicity...it's shock jock crack.

    People, not all people, but some actually like this type of "entertainment"..It's not even News...it's reality TV gone Wild.

    I agree with you on the free speech, I've taught it to my girls, but I also taught them cause and effect. You say something....you own it and whatever goes down....you have no one to blame but yourself.

    Deb...he's a sick human catering to an even sicker demographic...I'm Just Sayin'

    bun

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is an excellent because it is an appeal to the making of arguments where reason and logical consistency is valued, and where there is civility of discourse despite differences. It is not a violation of free speech. It is free speech with a brain and a heart. I think somewhere along the way, power and arrogance corrupts these (in)famous personalities. And as a result they lose many of the qualities that would make for constructive discourse: logical consistency and wisdom, to say nothing of prudence, patience, and compassion.

    All the best my friend.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I hate to say it but Rush lives for this stuff. It puts its name in lights. He is on 600 radio stations and makes 40,000,000 a year. I find him disgusting. He is a rich idiot because too many people think like him. His apology is worthless.

    p.s.
    I am glad I am on your good side!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Totally off-topic but just wanted to show you how Canada appreciates talent: winner from the Genie awards

    Best Supporting Actor

    Viggo Mortensen, A Dangerous Method

    ReplyDelete
  5. Totally off-topic but just wanted to show you how Canada appreciates talent: winner from the Genie awards

    Best Supporting Actor

    Viggo Mortensen, A Dangerous Method

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dearest Debby,

    First of all, thank you for your kind words and visit.

    Secondly, if people would just try to live in simple truth and kindness, we may have a chance at seeing this short life we have in the way GOD intended. Instead, people like the subject of your post waste their allotted time on earth and leave such a sad legacy. Sow kindness and love my friend, because we write our live story on earth and it WILL be read in eternity. Anita

    ReplyDelete

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