Republicans, This is what America Wants
I saw a really interesting discussion yesterday with a whole host of Republican leaders and they were tripping all over themselves to try to explain what happened this election. They all blamed demographics, and even the interviewer agreed that the republican leadership needed to look at themselves--all white men except one white woman--and that they needed to be more diverse as a group.
But my view is that the Republican's ideas, and not their looks, are the problem. It won't be any better to have a Black, Asian, or Hispanic Republican spouting the rhetoric we have heard over and over again during this election cycle. So Republicans, here is some advice:
1) America is diverse, and each factor by which we are diverse also has diverse elements, so stop trying to lump everyone in an ethnic group together and thinking that there is one thing that you can offer that will get all of their votes.
2) Stop thinking that Republicans are the arbitrars of who is patriotic. Americans of all ranks and walks of life can be patriotic, and the measure of patriotism is not whether a person adheres to the Republican Party Platform.
3) Stay out of the bedroom. Most Americans can handle these issues themselves. No one is asking you to do what they are doing, so just don't do it. But dont try to prevent others from doing it.
4) Walk the walk. If you want to espouse your views, make sure you live up to your views. Nothing turns out worse than someone who is caught being a hypocrit. Don't condemn others if you have skeletons in your closet, they will surely come out.
5) Please dont act like you are the only ones who believe in God. There are a variety of interpretations of the Bible and what the word of God means. You don't have a lock on it.
6) Realize that many people who have done well financially and socially come from poor families and backgrounds that wouldnt necessarily predict their success. The reason they can do this is that this country offers opportunity for all. Restricting opportunities and failing to encourage and help people from these groups is actually NOT the American way.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Monday, March 5, 2012
More on Limbaugh and Men in Politics
I am not finished with my thoughts on Rush Limbaugh and his horrible attack on the Georgetown student over the birth control issue.
First is his ignorance. I noted to my husband, and was glad to see that Rachel Maddow picked up on it as well, that Rush Limbaugh's rant indicated his ignorance of women's reproductive process. The fact that he thought that prescription on birth control for women is only expensive if we have a lot of sex means that he doesnt understand that birth control pills are taken only once a day, not before or after every episode of intercourse. And the fact that he doesnt seem to understand that women's birth control is a prescription drug, not an over-the-counter medication, and therefore deserves to be covered under any insured person's health plan that includes prescription drug coverage, doubles his ignorance.
Secondly, the fact that Rush Limbaugh added the suggestion that the student film her sexual episodes is not only grotesque, it is an attack on women. It is this type of intimidation that riles me most. If women want to have sex, and use birth control, now, they must film the episodes and post them on YouTube. This shows exactly the type of person Rush Limbaugh is. The fact that he added this bit shows that intimidation of women is high on his arsenal of ways to keep women "in their place."
Third, Limbaugh's apology is as phony as a three dollar bill. It is clear to me that he only apologized after his sponsors started taking flight, and kudos to them if they mean it and stay away. His apology was no apology--it was a feeble and unbelieveable attempt to state that it was the choice of words, and not the context, intent or message that was despicable. The fact still remains that Limbaugh chose to call Ms. Fluke hate-filled names, and that was not merely a choice of words. The fact that Limbaugh linked women's birth control with promiscuity was deliberate. The fact that he further demanded to see the videos was not a poor choice of words but a reflection of how he thinks. The apology that Limbaugh should have made would have been for thinking these mysogenistic thoughts and then putting those thoughts into words in an attempt to cast aspersons on Ms. Fluke and all women who demand fair and equal treatment.
Fourth, it bothers me tremendously that Rush Limbaugh and others of his ilk have such a large stage in America today. Sure, he is an entertainer, but most people believe he is a serious politician. His job is to make outrageous statements and to stir the pot in order for people to tune in to his fireworks. Many see Limbaugh as "giving it to the liberals." Many of them are willing to accept his outrageous positions, no matter how extreme. But do politicians have to be held in his sway? Cant the republicans repudiate him as a sideshow? I believe George Will is correct--Republicans are afraid of Rush Limbaugh. Note how late and how hesitantly those few that repudiated his comments actually did so.
I hope this attack on women from Rushbaugh, which was only half-heartedly repudiated by republicans will serve as a warning to those in our country who believe women's rights are safe. First is the ignorance, secondly, the intimidation and character assassination, third, the failure of fair-minded individuals on the right to speak up--all these show that women's rights are not entrenched--they were hard won, and the fight to keep them still goes on. If this doesnt serve as a wakeup call to voters in this election year, I dont know what will.
First is his ignorance. I noted to my husband, and was glad to see that Rachel Maddow picked up on it as well, that Rush Limbaugh's rant indicated his ignorance of women's reproductive process. The fact that he thought that prescription on birth control for women is only expensive if we have a lot of sex means that he doesnt understand that birth control pills are taken only once a day, not before or after every episode of intercourse. And the fact that he doesnt seem to understand that women's birth control is a prescription drug, not an over-the-counter medication, and therefore deserves to be covered under any insured person's health plan that includes prescription drug coverage, doubles his ignorance.
Secondly, the fact that Rush Limbaugh added the suggestion that the student film her sexual episodes is not only grotesque, it is an attack on women. It is this type of intimidation that riles me most. If women want to have sex, and use birth control, now, they must film the episodes and post them on YouTube. This shows exactly the type of person Rush Limbaugh is. The fact that he added this bit shows that intimidation of women is high on his arsenal of ways to keep women "in their place."
Third, Limbaugh's apology is as phony as a three dollar bill. It is clear to me that he only apologized after his sponsors started taking flight, and kudos to them if they mean it and stay away. His apology was no apology--it was a feeble and unbelieveable attempt to state that it was the choice of words, and not the context, intent or message that was despicable. The fact still remains that Limbaugh chose to call Ms. Fluke hate-filled names, and that was not merely a choice of words. The fact that Limbaugh linked women's birth control with promiscuity was deliberate. The fact that he further demanded to see the videos was not a poor choice of words but a reflection of how he thinks. The apology that Limbaugh should have made would have been for thinking these mysogenistic thoughts and then putting those thoughts into words in an attempt to cast aspersons on Ms. Fluke and all women who demand fair and equal treatment.
Fourth, it bothers me tremendously that Rush Limbaugh and others of his ilk have such a large stage in America today. Sure, he is an entertainer, but most people believe he is a serious politician. His job is to make outrageous statements and to stir the pot in order for people to tune in to his fireworks. Many see Limbaugh as "giving it to the liberals." Many of them are willing to accept his outrageous positions, no matter how extreme. But do politicians have to be held in his sway? Cant the republicans repudiate him as a sideshow? I believe George Will is correct--Republicans are afraid of Rush Limbaugh. Note how late and how hesitantly those few that repudiated his comments actually did so.
I hope this attack on women from Rushbaugh, which was only half-heartedly repudiated by republicans will serve as a warning to those in our country who believe women's rights are safe. First is the ignorance, secondly, the intimidation and character assassination, third, the failure of fair-minded individuals on the right to speak up--all these show that women's rights are not entrenched--they were hard won, and the fight to keep them still goes on. If this doesnt serve as a wakeup call to voters in this election year, I dont know what will.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Tornados and Limbaugh
My heart goes out to the people who lost loved ones/homes/pets/livelihoods in the tornado outbreak in the midwest.
I hope that the outburst by Rush Limbaugh made this week costs him dearly. Im so pleased that the four sponsors withdrew their support of his radio show, but am very disappointed that it took that for him to cease his attack. What is wrong with people who listen to Rush Limbaugh?
In other good news, its growing season in Virginia, and time to get back out in the iris garden. Yippee!
I hope that the outburst by Rush Limbaugh made this week costs him dearly. Im so pleased that the four sponsors withdrew their support of his radio show, but am very disappointed that it took that for him to cease his attack. What is wrong with people who listen to Rush Limbaugh?
In other good news, its growing season in Virginia, and time to get back out in the iris garden. Yippee!
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