Posted on 01/27/2004 8:48:58 PM PST by writer33
I wish I had your exceptional ability to put your beautiful thoughts to words and make it sound like a joyful song that moves our hearts and souls.
All I can say is Amen, Fellow FReeper! I second those emotions.
I heard you on Rush's program yesterday, not only do you write exceedingly well, you speak really good too!
Keep on writing and FReeping!
Your words gave me the courage to write to Barry, the Florida State Persecutor.
Thank you for posting your unashamed tribute to Rush. I don't take the opportunity to post here very often anymore, but your thread is one I am proud to join in on.
Even long time EIB listeners like you and me can never really "know" everything that is going on in the life of our conservative hero. But isn't it amazing how many people consider themselves knowledgeable enough to accuse him of all kinds of things?
What we do know about Rush, we learn from his "daily relentless pursuit of the truth." He has a long history of exposing lies and blatant partisanship. He blazed a trail for many others to become radio and TV successes in their own right. And we'll never know how many people like you were "converted" and inspired to be the best they can be.
As for Rush's current crisis, I believe that he so loves broadcasting his show and feels such a strong loyalty to his audience, that he jeopardized his own health. I have never known the kind of physical pain he must have been going through. He is taking a course of action to deal with his addiction to the pain killers and if anyone can conquer such a demon, it would be Rush Limbaugh. I am glad that he has the resources to battle the legal challenges and what certainly appears to be a politcally-motivated attack on his credability.
Chris, you are so right on about Rush. The more the left bashes him, the more passionate he and his listeners will become.
Write on, Chris.
And who will you turn to when you discover that they too have feet of clay?
Chris, that was great essay and one with which I happen to agree wholeheartedly. It is stunning to me that conservatives could turn on Rush for the "unpardonable" sin of being human and having weaknesses just like everybody else. So what? It does absolutely nothing to negate or minimize the good he's done nor the value of his message, and not only that, but he has GAINED listeners as a result and he is no doubt better off for the change. He doesn't need fair weather friends any more than any of us do. In the long run, his audience will be bigger and better. It seems to me that Rush is more connected to his audience than he ever was, and I started listening to him during the first Bush presidency and if anything, I make even more of an effort to listen now than I did before. He definitely has "the passion" that some of our leaders would do well to "catch."
barf alert
That was very fine.
I haven't heard anyone excuse him. What I have heard is someone who was humbled, brought down by his own sin, who made no excuse for it. I am not his judge. I forgive him. As for Sean and Drudge and the others, I don't know what's in their closets and I don't really care, but one thing I am sure of, they are also sinners.
Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. (Jn. 8:7b)
"if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions." (Mark 11:26)
Rush can be great at times (for instance his writing after the Supremes abominable decision on CFR).
But, too often he blows his own horn and stoops to cheap tactics, because basically he is an insecure man. He makes nearly as many enemies as the followers he gains. I prefer my heroes slightly loftier.
But, you can have him. If he would mature, he would be a better man, and more useful to the conservative cause.
Your whole post is almost perfect.
I'm 57 and have lived in Pittsburgh 52 of those years. I have been a Pirate fan for 50+ years. I played some professional ball too, so here goes.
Clemente did have continual problems with his back and neck. But, many of his early problems with the media were caused by his inablity to speak English. Much of what he was trying to say was misunderstood, and there were alot of bad feelings back and forth between him, management (Murtaugh was particularly harsh to him), and the media folks. When the local writers got on him for his supposed "malingering" they were very wrong, but he couldn't communicate it, and it hurt him terribly. At times he got defensive and went into a shell. It was very tough for him in a country where we could hardly communicate.
His lack of recognition early in his career was also largely because he was playing in a small market city, and because the Pirates (The Rickey Dinks) stunk when he came up. Willie Mays was the fans choice at that time, and back then the treatment was different toward an American black versus a fellow from the Islands.
Another thing. His bad back inadvertently made him a greater hitter. Because of the back problems, he lost some power, his ability to pull the ball with power, so therefore he started to wait, and hit the ball "the other way", to the opposite field. When a hitter waits longer, they usually become a much better percentage hitter. I'd go see him alot as a young kid, and it was his calling card to hit bullets through the right side of the infield and shots up the right-center gap. So the injuries helped him in a way, but I'm sure, given a choice, he would rather have not had the problem.
Roberto Clemente was an elegant baseball player and a more elegant man. You are so right to honor him. He was a real hero.
p.s. I used to see him walking in Oakland (where Forbes Field was in Pittsburgh) from time to time at night after the games. He often could not sleep because of the pain, so he'd take a walk. He was always very nice, but a little shy. He was a beautiful, beautiful MAN.
That New Year's morning when I awoke, turned on the radio and found out he had been killed ......... was the worst.
I would just prefer that now that he has established his huge audience, rightfully earned, that he would make an attempt now to use a little less ridicule and more persuasion.
I realize that some would say that if he did that he may lose some of his appeal, that may be. But I think the loss of some appeal to some of his current listeners may be beneficially overbalanced my a good number of new converts whom he may bring into the fold! (Much of the power and effort caused by the Democrat's anger has been spawned by Rush. That must be lessened.)
My grandfather was a Chancellor of a major University decades ago. He was known for being a great mediator, and man who could sit down at a table with people of divergent views, and get things done with a little bending from all sides. He was known as a master of this technique.
I would only hope Rush could develope some of this ability. It would serve him and the country.
Let's hope he gets even more effective, then maybe we can put him somewhere near people like George Washington.
p.s. You're a good kid, so check out Will Durant's, "The Mansions of Philosophy". There is a great hero of mine.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.