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Limbaugh episode a reminder to condemn sin, not sinner (Mega-barf)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 12/05/03 | ANDREW BARD SCHMOOKLER

Posted on 12/04/2003 9:31:08 PM PST by Pokey78

"We humans are never so eager to punish as when we make others scapegoats for our own unacknowledged sins."

The recent saga of Rush Limbaugh and his drug addiction raises important questions.

The crucial thing is not that Limbaugh was a drug addict who fed his habit on the black market. That private vice is small change compared to his larger, public sin.

The real issue about Limbaugh is brought into focus by asking: What does it say about a man if he can talk with contempt, without a shred of compassion, about the shortcomings of other people while knowing that he is no better than they?

And that raises the still larger question: What does it say about a society if it repeatedly grants high moral authority to people who practice such hypocrisy?

"Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye ..."

First, about the man. Even in a moralist who is himself above reproach, the lack of compassion for sinners would be troubling enough. Especially since most of Limbaugh's contempt has been directed at groups that have, historically, been the least privileged in our society, one would hope for moral condemnation to be leavened with human sympathy. One would hope, that is, for the impulse to denounce from on high to be mitigated by the humility embodied in the old line, "There but for the grace of God go I."

We in America talk a lot about things like sex and drugs and rock 'n' roll when we address issues of sin and morality. But, the red letters in my New Testament talk a lot more about the dangers of mounting the kind of high horse Limbaugh rode into fame and fortune. Even as a non-Christian, I would say that Jesus' insight into that danger has lost none of its relevance.

Which raises the question about the society that gives such a dishonest voice so large a megaphone, making him the Godzilla of talk radio to spew out -- into the American airwaves to tens of millions of his countrymen -- the "hate the sinner" kind of moralism.

If Limbaugh were the only instance, the question would not arise. But consider the other most prominent voices of American moralism in the past decade. Surely, even a very short list would also include the voices of William J. Bennett and Newt Gingrich.

Bennett is a less blatant instance. The man who became Mr. Virtue for the 1990s -- with his best-selling "Book of Virtues" -- and whom we've since discovered has gambled away millions of dollars in what might have been a gambling addiction, did climb onto a high horse. But he never treated with scorn those who lacked the virtues he represented himself as having.

The same can hardly be said of Gingrich, the most prominent Republican moralist during the 1990s. His disappearance in disgrace from his position as speaker of the House cut short our marveling at how a man could so viciously denounce the sexual misbehavior of Bill Clinton while at the same time, as we eventually learned, he was conducting a similar and much more serious sexual adventure of his own.

"Let him who is without sin ..."

So there's a pattern there, and we're compelled to ask, what does it mean?

I think I see some possible connections that might point toward an answer.

It connects to our having the most punitive of penal systems among Western democracies. For we humans are never so eager to punish as when we make others scapegoats for our own unacknowledged sins.

It connects to our failure to notice how bizarre it was for our president to denounce Osama bin Laden as a coward for sending young men off to die while remaining himself protected from danger. Neither the president, nor the media covering him, seemed to think it strange for this accusation to be leveled by the best-protected person on the planet who had just sent young men off to war. For there's something in our culture that can make it difficult to see ourselves in the same moral perspective we apply to others.

And it connects with our current leaders' righteous anger at those nations who do not assume that the unilateral actions of the world's one superpower advance the cause of justice in the world. For the unquestioning assumption of our own righteousness can reflect blindness to the perspectives of others, as well as to what lies within ourselves.

We need to be able to talk with each other about the moral challenges we face and about how far short we fall in meeting them. But our conversation about the problem of sin in our society needs to be about "us" and not about "them."


Andrew Bard Schmookler is an American Studies teacher at Albuquerque Academy.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: New Mexico
KEYWORDS: rush; sin
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To: Pokey78
I'd be more impressed by this guy if he spoke up about the hypocrisy of Jesse Jackson, The Clintons, and others on the left.
21 posted on 12/04/2003 10:11:12 PM PST by Bonaparte
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To: Pokey78
"Even in a moralist who is himself above reproach, the lack of compassion for sinners would be troubling enough."

Hogwash

I have not been a die hard fan of Rush for some time. He actually did become more compassionate. Compassionate for liberal republicans even. And as it turns out this all started about the same time as his addiction. So I would say that Rush was troubled and he did try not to be a hypocrite. These liberals such as the author of this article seem to think that just because someone commits any sin that they no longer have the right to point out what is right and wrong about anything. Sin we are all sinners than that is a pretty destructive attitude to take. Which is the road a good lot of people are taking even up to the point of saying that why even try to be moral. Lets just all admit that we are what we are....so lets just be what we are. Why change at all.
See where that goes.

I don't think Rush was out there preaching about the evils of the drug he was on. But why should his problem stop him from pointing out any wrong. And you can bet that he has a lot of compassion for anyone that is hooked on that stuff. More than most of us for sure. He made a mistake and he is trying to get on with his life. He had an addiction that held him captive and led him to do things he would not have normally done. His first experience with the drug was as a prescription medicine. He did not go out on the street looking for a high. It was the wrong pain killer for him because it took away his will. And biologically for him it was not a good thing for him. We let murderers plead temporary insanity, but then we pick on Rush who was not himself due to this highly addictive prescription medication. And he did not kill anyone. That is hyprocracy.

And if Rush looses the respect of all his listeners...and one by one all of the other good radio hosts who are also going to commit some sin in there lives... then the world will be a darker place with the liberals who stand for nothing moral or good(and therefore can do no wrong) leading the show.
22 posted on 12/04/2003 10:11:28 PM PST by Revel
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To: CMClay
Also, I find it highly strange that Rush has a big liberal Defense Attorney, Roy Black, who works mostly drug cases and was the KENNEDY'S lawyer in that Palm Beach rape case.

Why not? If the guy always wins, and Rush can afford him, that's who he should hire. Would you hire a homeless alchoholic to take care of your stock trading for you?

23 posted on 12/04/2003 10:14:45 PM PST by concerned about politics ( "Satire". It's Just "Satire.".......So it is.)
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To: Jeff Chandler
My source comes from his own quotes made on his show.

I posted about half a dozen of them when this story first came out and people like you were insisting it couldn't be true.

Not sure if I have the time or inclination to wade back and find them but if it is so important to you, I will.

You people are in denial about this criminal. Even now that you know the original story about him was true, you are still trying to divert attention from the issue.

24 posted on 12/04/2003 10:15:19 PM PST by jjbrouwer (Chelsea for the Champions League)
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To: Revel
Fighting the war on drugs was NEVER Rush's schtick, even before the addiction. Leftists and libertines just assume it was, without any basis in fact, because that is the Hollywood image of conservatives.
25 posted on 12/04/2003 10:15:41 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (Chilling Effect-1, Global Warming-0)
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To: jjbrouwer
Didn't that lawyer help Kennedy Smith beat the rap?

Yes, he did. I've been wondering if Rush will be testifying with a big old blue dot in front of his face.

26 posted on 12/04/2003 10:16:50 PM PST by Howlin
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To: Revel
He did not go out on the street looking for a high.

Are you under the impression that a 7-11 is not on the street?

27 posted on 12/04/2003 10:18:19 PM PST by Howlin
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To: WackyKat
How do you know Mr Schmookler personally?

You must know him to know that he's never read the Bible,

right? Isn't there something in the Ten Commandments about bearing false witness?

"Well, there you go again, WackyKat."

The author misses the most important part about sinning and forgiving. The sinner has to repent and sin no more. Rush is doing just that. Therefore, he deserves our forgiveness.
No, I guess this author must have missed church that day, aye?
"By their fruits ye will know then."

28 posted on 12/04/2003 10:18:58 PM PST by concerned about politics ( "Satire". It's Just "Satire.".......So it is.)
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To: Howlin
He may have a tougher task on his hands, proving Limbaugh's innocence.
29 posted on 12/04/2003 10:20:10 PM PST by jjbrouwer (Chelsea for the Champions League)
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To: jjbrouwer
Three hours a day, five days a week, 50 weeks a year, for fifteen years.

11,250 hours of broadcasting and you come up with a half a dozen quotes? Yeah, quite the anti-drug crusader, that Limbaugh guy.

30 posted on 12/04/2003 10:20:56 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (Chilling Effect-1, Global Warming-0)
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To: Howlin
"Are you under the impression that a 7-11 is not on the street?"

What I meant was that his addiction did not start because he went out on the steet looking for a high.
31 posted on 12/04/2003 10:20:59 PM PST by Revel
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To: Revel
Do we have proof he went out on the street at all?
32 posted on 12/04/2003 10:21:59 PM PST by ican'tbelieveit
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To: Pokey78
What an *sshole.
33 posted on 12/04/2003 10:23:03 PM PST by sd-joe
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To: jjbrouwer
You people are in denial about this criminal. Even now that you know the original story about him was true, you are still trying to divert attention from the issue.

I hope you don't mind if others still choose to support Rush , his repentance, and continue to listen to his show. He's earned his forgiveness, no?

34 posted on 12/04/2003 10:23:24 PM PST by concerned about politics ( "Satire". It's Just "Satire.".......So it is.)
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To: concerned about politics
The article says:

But, the red letters in my New Testament talk a lot more about the dangers of mounting the kind of high horse Limbaugh rode into fame

You accused the author of not having read the Bible.

Without any facts to back up your accusation

But when have you let the facts ever get in your way?

35 posted on 12/04/2003 10:26:16 PM PST by WackyKat
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To: Jeff Chandler
They were probably the best ones.

I don't listen enough to his dribbling rantings to come up with more than six. I don't read enough of yours either, thankfully.

I wonder what this criminal would have to do to earn your condemnation. It appears, anything goes. Similarly, OJ Simpson still has fans.

36 posted on 12/04/2003 10:29:22 PM PST by jjbrouwer (Chelsea for the Champions League)
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To: jjbrouwer
He may have a tougher task on his hands, proving Limbaugh's innocence.

What are you talking about? There hasn't even been any real charges placed against Rush.
So far, it's all tabloid and media sensationalism.
Exactly what "crime" has he been charged with?

37 posted on 12/04/2003 10:29:37 PM PST by concerned about politics ( "Satire". It's Just "Satire.".......So it is.)
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To: concerned about politics
He's earned his forgiveness, no?

I'm sorry, has he? What did he do to earn that forgiveness?

38 posted on 12/04/2003 10:30:15 PM PST by jjbrouwer (Chelsea for the Champions League)
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To: jjbrouwer
I'm sorry, has he? What did he do to earn that forgiveness?

Confession and repentance. He could have pulled a democrat, but he told the truth and did his time in rehab. I forgive him. He's proven himself a good man.

39 posted on 12/04/2003 10:32:32 PM PST by concerned about politics ( "Satire". It's Just "Satire.".......So it is.)
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To: concerned about politics
So far, it's all tabloid and media sensationalism.

You really are deluded. He admitted his addiction sometime ago. Meanwhile, the investigation continues. If Lady Liberty has her way, he will be charged, tried and jailed.

40 posted on 12/04/2003 10:32:44 PM PST by jjbrouwer (Chelsea for the Champions League)
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