As I sit and watch the images of the humanitarian horror unfold in Haiti, I am simply amazed at the response of the ugly voice emerging from the giant megaphone that is Rush Limbaugh. As the people of the globe literally rush to save the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of suffering humans from a catastrophe still progressing, the uncaring, inhumane, selfish, and deceitful voice bellows out again.
The message of hatred and dismissal, the negative politicizing of humanitarian efforts, and the attack on well-meaning leaders is all in a day’s work for Rush. Lying and deliberately creating untrue perceptions with fallacy is his job and genius.
I must admit, though, that during this urgent time of suffering, I was shocked to hear this voice, with all his clout and sway, actually rise up and call upon mankind to NOT donate and help, to mistrust contributing to the entire rescue effort of helpless children and to imagine negative intentions. How utterly unpatriotic.
As he sits in his safe and guarded compound, inciting his listeners to embrace views of hatred, mistrust toward targeted people, intolerance, and extremism, I only see a subtle difference between Rush and the other despicable, terroristic people around this world: He doesn’t specifically advocate murder. Oh, and he makes hundreds of millions of dollars doing it.
At some point decent people will hopefully change stations and give the ugliest amongst us a smaller voice.
This article appears in Feb 4-11, 2010.
