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AN OPEN LETTER TO RUSH LIMBAUGH
(Response posted after Mr. Ratwattes' letter)
By Mano Ratwatte
Norman, Oklahoma
Dear Mr Limbaugh:
Voltaire said "I may not agree with what you say, but I defend to my death your right to say it".
I believe you have every right to express opinions, and even lie and stretch the truth, the way you have done for 15 years occasionally to entertain factually impaired people in America.
But by not outrightly denying the liberal commie pinko allegations about illegal drug abuse, you have shown Clintonesque behaviour worthy of a liberal. You managed to bring up race in Football. Conservative cry babies are going to town about your free speech rights and protesting and whining like liberal sissies, and that you were a "victim" of political correctness.
Yes & True, Political correctness and the war against terrorism has been used to stifle our right to disagree with the government and express anti government views. Bill Maher got canned from ABC for the same reasons as you. I do not recall you defending him then, do you? ESPN was wrong to get rid of you and I am sorry about this trivial tempest in a teacup.
Yes, let's talk about race openly, by examining the stereotypes and listening to what a lot of you whisper privately about minorities. Let us take a good look at Race because Rush you always brings up race in couched terms and demeaning ridiculing tones on the talk show to ridicule minorities and drug rehabilitation programs. We have not forgotten the insults you have hurled at African American people.
Lets look at our failed "Drug War" because Rush, you are now apparently an expert on that issue. There is greater "serious social concern" about Drug abuse than a Quarter-Back's rushing record and race. According to you conservatives, Drug and alcohol rehabilitation is a politically correct "weak liberal" approach. Rush, to cure you of your pill popping rushes, rehabilitation is more important than incarceration, (except when you happen to be a poor minority in which case you want all of them to go to jail)
You see Rush, drug addiction like alcoholism, is a serious social disorder. It IS an illnes and nothing more or nothing less. Constant abuse and breaking the law means you have to do the time for your crime. Compassion and care is needed to purge this illness unless you preach otherwise for minority drug offenders.
Government data reveals that most drug abusers, top level peddlers, drug money launderers and addicts are white. Rich (White) people abusing cocaine, and other designer drugs like painkillers, seldom have SWAT teams breaking down your doors. We do not see Rushes of the world being dragged away in cuffs in front of TV even if there is only on slight suspicion do we? We do not see cops breaking down doors and occasionally shooting innocent victims in the rich white neighborhoods when a drug raid goes wrong. Where is the equity in punishment in our free and so called fair society? Is it drugs you are opposed to or is it the type of drugs? Smoke crack you go to jail, pop hydrocodone and you have a talk show?
Given the allegations about your pill popping habits, your obvious state of denial and your maid, do you still think Drug rehabilitation programs are a waste of taxpayer’s money? Are you a “victim” of addiction now?
Every study indicates treatment and rehabilitation is more cost effective than incarceration; do you agree with overwhelming research evidence or will you continue to bluff and pontificate your way through this?
People need to take responsibility for their actions, and suffer the consequences (jail) regardless of race, income, and social status. For too long, You White-Right-Wing talking heads have accused Liberals of fostering the drug problem in this nation, and pretending that it is a minority problem.
Will you like a real man admit to a health problem and go to jail if found guilty? Do you still feel only the poor drug abuser needs to go to jail or can that privilege be extended to your kind too?
Let me conclude with this.
"No man is born inferior to another by virtue of race or caste; No man is born supeior to another by virtue of race and caste. It is our actions and our actions alone in this life that will make us superior or inferior beings." -Buddha
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RESPONSE TO MR. RATWATTEE
By D. Ellen
St.Paul, MN
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To Mr. Ratwatte:
As a listener to Mr. Limbaugh, I would like to address a few things in your letter.
Rush did talk about race openly, which he always has, and which also always gets him into hot water. If you were to actually listen to his program, you would under-stand what he means.(He usually explains his remarks, clearly and precisely to the "non-mind-numbed-robots"
Insults hurled at African American People. It sounds like you are the racist. Or, I'm sorry, prejudice. Rush goes after a person whom he thinks warrants it, black or white. If that person happens to be black, that makes him a racist?
The issue of treatment programs, abuse, etc. has not been addressed the way you think. I believe the problems of multiple drug offenders, leaving, then re-entering drug and alcohol rehabs, is the main concern. But you probably didn't hear it that way.(Of Course)
On Friday, Rush stated "I am not a victim". It was live, on the radio. Did you hear it? Your letter is well written, but not accurate. I am a Native American, and do not feel Mr. Limbaugh is a racist.
This is your own quote:
"DO YOU STILL FEEL ONLY THE POOR DRUG ABUSER NEEDS TO GO TO JAIL OR CAN THAT PRIVELAGE BE EXTENDED TO YOUR KIND TOO"
I think the last three words "YOUR KIND TOO", put it into context.
Who is the real racist?
D. Ellen
St.Paul, MN
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