The jubilant yet hateful reaction by the Left to Rush Limbaugh’s passing has been the cause of consternation for many of his fans and conservatives in general.
We all used to think it was appropriate to abide by the rule of not speaking ill of the dead, especially soon after their passing.
But we’ve seen that standard, like so many others, scuttled. In 2013 in the UK, several detractors of Margaret Thatcher celebrated her death with street parties and chants such as “Rust in Peace” and “Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, Dead, Dead, Dead.” Her so-called crimes were grave enough to justify relishing and welcoming her death, rather than respectfully remaining silent (if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing).
Upon Rush’s passing, the same tone was taken by not just isolated groups, but by mainstream media figures and, of course, people on social media, the scourge of our age.
Apparently, #rotinhell was trending on Twitter following his death, and other supremely critical and hateful sendoffs could be found in major newspapers and from the objective journalists at CNN.
Aside from the few loonies you have on both sides, no such glee or hate was expressed by major figures or institutions on the right when important left-leaning figures have passed. Even amidst the maelstrom surrounding the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, every conservative figure in politics and media I heard expressed nothing both sympathy for her family and admiration for her career.
Not so from the Left, not so. See, they believe that anyone who disagrees with them or dare stands up to their attempt to quash voices of opposition must be hated, marginalized, dismissed, disrespected, etc. One of the worst examples of this sentiment was seen last summer, when some of the rioters who injured police officers in Los Angeles showed up at the hospital to celebrate their plight.
All of this is upsetting to us. It’s upsetting to see fellow Americans not maintain a minimum standard of decent conduct when an ideological foe passes, especially when the same people will at least respect if not celebrate the passing of figures such as Hugo Chavez or Fidel Castro.
Those guys are feted for their (supposedly) good intentions, whereas figures on the right are castigated for their exceedingly rare missteps, at best, or are simply grossly mischaracterized as racist, sexist, etc., etc., and then spat on while their bodies are still warm.
But, I have some words of comfort for those who are troubled by such despicable displays: they are going to lose. Anyone whose worldview encourages them to celebrate the death of their political enemies is in possession of a worldview that, at the root, is rotten and will not succeed or persevere.
We have seen this happen in history, where movements based on hatred of one’s fellow man, like Marxism, will gain power for a time, but then collapse under its own weight. For, as Jesus wisely taught, a house built on sand will ultimately fall when the storms of life come, and those storms — also known as reality — cannot be stopped by even the most rage-filled Rush hater or avowed enemy of our republic.
Their vitriol serves to do nothing more than to reveal the paucity of their moral standing and the ultimate futility of their political and philosophical program. When our enemies show themselves to not be capable of respecting the dead, they reveal in fact the death of their own souls, to some extent, and the eventual death of the mindset that caused them to embrace such a repulsive position.
So I say rest in peace, Rush Limbaugh, and peace upon his family and fans. I wish also peace on his enemies, that they may someday see that hatred, especially when expressed at a time of someone’s passing, is nothing but a dead-end path to misery and failure.
Trey Hoffman
Peachtree City, Ga.
As I follow the conversation on Trey’s initial thoughts, I have
been wondering if he ever considers his own legacy.
Amidst all the personal accolades, will it also mention,
“Mr. Hoffman was a tireless advocate for the status quo.
He championed a system that he and those like him–white,
male, well-off, Christian, straight, etc.–benefitted from, and
woefully failed those who are most in need and are hoping
for change.”?
Trey is commenting, with much exaggeration, on the EFFECT of Limbaugh’s passing, while making no mention of the CAUSE of why folks might be glad he’s gone. Limbaugh was a hateful inciter and, more simply, not a nice person. (Not-nice is better for ratings than nice)
Was he hateful because he was Conservative and didn’t go along with the liberal biased media? Or for some other reason???
No, it wasn’t because of his “conservative” views. And there is no “liberal biased media.”
Conservative commentators have been respected by the left… Will, Buckley, Safire, Krauthammer. I wonder if you even know who those guys are or were. Doubtful, I don’t think you have any clue what a gentleman is.
No, Rush was hateful because he was hateful. If you don’t understand this, it’s because you’ve swum in the hateful muck he spewed for so long you don’t even recognize it as hateful anymore.
He made crude racist and sexist jokes and insults on a regular basis He called a teenage girl a “dog.” He piled on those already suffering, the poor, sick, and weak. I guess to you that’s all lighthearted fun, hmm?
This letter is disturbing on several levels. Mr. Hoffman’s depiction of the main stream media celebrating the demise of Rush Limbaugh is pure fiction. Perhaps a few outliers acted disrespectfully, but the majority of news outlets reported the obituary without glee. I see Mr. Limbaugh as a tragic figure – drug addicted, unable to maintain a marriage, and proficient only at loud criticism. However, he had every right to declare his opinions publicly, and those rights were not abridged.
Interestingly, I recall no missive from Trey decrying the 45th president’s constant demeaning of people across the political spectrum (domestic and foreign). Insults to war heroes like John McCain did not abate while the Senator was dying. There are literally hundreds of similar depreciating descriptions from the White House over the last 4 years that fell miles short of statesmanship.
As usual, Mr. Hoffman discovers an offensive statement or deed from the Left, projects it to every non-conservative, and wholly exonerates the Right from any similar behaviors. If he believes this to be true, he is a simpleton. If he states it repeatedly, fully aware that it is not true, he is a prevaricator. If he can’t tell the difference between truth and fiction, he is out of touch with reality. Reader: you choose.
Also trending on Twitter were “Rest in Piss,” “Good Riddance,” and “Rot in Hell.”
People show their class, or lack thereof, in times like these.
My Momma always said, if you can’t say anything nice, best to just be silent.
“if you can’t say anything nice, best to just be silent.” Sounds like your Momma should have told Rush Limbaugh that. A few quotes from good guy Rush:
“I think it’s time to get rid of this whole National Basketball Association. Call it the TBA, the Thug Basketball Association, and stop calling them teams. Call ’em gangs.”
“Look it, let me put it to you this way: the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it.
“Feminism was established so as to allow unattractive women access to the mainstream of society.”
“Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?”
“Holocaust 90 million Indians? Only four million left? They all have casinos, what’s to complain about?”
Rush Limbaugh’s entire life has been an exercise in lacking class.
Hey Owl_Nation12
Limbaugh was an opinion radio guy…I see crass statements within that group….that’s what they do…
The big issue is elected jerks like Maxine Watters ginning up violence in 2018:
“You think we’re rallying now? You ain’t seen nothing yet,” Waters said at the event, according to a HuffPost report. “Already you have members of your Cabinet that are being booed out of restaurants … protesters taking up at their house saying ‘no peace, no sleep.’”
“If you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd and you push back on them and you tell them they’re not welcome anymore, anywhere,” she added.
Now that is a “life (that) has been an exercise in lacking class”….and with a bad wig !!
Vics – Is your point that Representative Waters’ offensive remarks justify Limbaugh’s hate speech or that both should be condemned by reasonable people? I don’t see how one cancels out the other.
Might the old axiom apply: Two wrongs don’t make a right.
You reap what you sow, Spyglass. You reap what you sow.
Hey Stranger Than Fiction
Limbaugh like all talking heads that are “opinion” jocks feed their base, Right/Left what ever the listener…its their gig.
I use Waters because she is an elected official… maybe 40 years in her congressional seat…you think it’s productive to have her going on like that?…and she still has a bad wig.
Hey Greggldavis…think Waters will reap what she sow’s and other liars in the Democratic party?
So hate speech is exonerated since it entertains one’s “base?” Why not merely admit that knuckleheads just enjoy hating others, and Limbaugh served up lavish portions of hate speech for decades? Why is telling the truth so repulsive?
Waters receives no pass from me. Interestingly, you cite her bad wig but no equal condemnation of a bad comb-over.
Keep watching Fox News, Vics – no need to interrupt entertaining the base with facts.
Truth is always stranger than fiction!
Nonsense. People are people.
Politics regardless, we all become offended and/or insulted; some of us are so deeply hurt, we never get over it. A conservative Republican friend told me at the passing of Walter Cronkite that
he would shed no tears for him because he spoke out against
our involvement in Viet Nam. As a military man, it still stung
after all the years.
The gleeful reaction to the hateful speech of Rush Limbaugh is in
perspective to the pain it has caused and the damage it has done.
It is not so much rejoicing at his demise; but rather relief that he
can do no more harm.
I suggest you review the quotes by Rush in his crude attacks on
women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and
other minority groups.
Their response to his death may not be proper; but surely it is
understandable.
Oh and by the way, how dare you compare the worst of examples
of what we are called to be to the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the
best of us? It is no wonder that her passing was sincerely
mourned. And God forgive me, it is no wonder that Rush’s is
not.
RBG was hardly what many will call an objective jurist.
And what does that have to do with anything? Are you saying Clarence Thomas is an objective jurist? LOL
How soon people forget…..and anyways who cares if people are happy he’s gone. Why does this deserve a special opinion piece from you? I’m just gonna focus on one line in your piece….”fellow Americans not maintain a minimum standard of decent conduct when an ideological foe passes” ……Are you serious? I mean really serious? Last I can remember the RIGHT couldn’t even handle when their candidate lost an election…..he didn’t even die. And their conduct was, shall I say, well below minimum standards. I think it’s too soon for you to be blasting a group because have hurt feelings because Rush died and no one cared. I’m still upset about the insurrection and the blatant disrespect to our democracy and I gotta read this opinion about a minimum standard of decent conduct? Spare me the lesson on minimum conduct. I’m good.