Soapbox

Indecency on the Airwaves

I know there are a lot of people out there who listen to Rush Limbaugh, either out of simple curiosity or because they believe in what he says. I would never try to argue politics with the latter group, as we wouldn’t change each other’s minds and we are entitled to our own opinions.

But Rush Limbaugh has gone over the line of disagreement into total disbelief.
Today I heard a recording of (I believe) Tuesday’s show wherein a caller was talking about the photographs from the Iraqi prison that are outraging people world wide, including our own president. Mr. Limbaugh cut him off and said,

“What was done there is NO worse than fraternity hazing, and people’s lives shouldn’t be ruined for it! ” He went on to say that hey, the soldiers are just red-blooded guys “blowing off steam”, and anyway, “These people were the enemy, folks! I mean, come on!” So what’s the big deal?

I’m paraphrasing, but I am not distorting what he said.

In addition to being repulsive, that is just plain stupid. People with a functioning heart know that there is no comparison between what is done voluntarily and what is done by force and violence!

To follow his logic:
” Rape is not a crime that a person should be punished for, because nothing is done to a woman that her husband doesn’t do anyway. So what’s the big deal?”
Would Mr. Limbaugh endorse that statement?

Also, even the US military admits that 60% of the people that were in that prison at one time or another turned out to be innocent of any crime and were later let go. Which sounds to me like there’s a good chance that many of the people being abused in those photos are the people President Bush keeps saying we’re there to liberate!!

Here’s what really gets me: Howard Stern got yanked off the air (and I hate Howard Stern, so don’t get me wrong) for using “potty” words. Rush Limbaugh makes barbaric and inflamatory statements like this and you watch: he’ll receive not so much as a reprimand.

This isn’t about being against him because he is conservative: torture is not a conservative value! And correct me if I’m wrong, but sadism is not on the Republicans platform, right?

People need to get mad about this. The man is becoming an apologist for torture! We need to speak up and say that this is not the kind of stuff we want on the airwaves and encourage our local channels not to carry him until he apologizes for statements like that.