While I still have better things to do than deeply delve into the apparently never-ending debate over Rush Limbaugh’s choice of words during his speech at this year’s CPAC, it’s interesting to watch from a safe distance.
It’s well nigh impossible to miss how those who unfailingly portray themselves as martyrs in the matter (*coughpattericocough*) due to being pilloried for decrying Limbaugh’s speech as being offensive can’t stop bringing up something that should have been done with five minutes after the speech’s conclusion. They’ve been nailing themselves to a cyberspace cross so long the splinters must be close to being permanently embedded. Don’t they have anything else to do besides reminding one and all how they’re shedding their electronic blood for Rush’s sins? What, they think when Jesus said, “Greater love has no man than this; that a man should lay down his life for his friends” He actually meant “that a man should sing endless choruses of ‘Poor Poor Pitiful Me’ for his site hits?”
It’s not that the argument is entirely without merit. One should always choose their words carefully. My father was fond of the saying, “Keep your words sweet; you might have to eat them.” Clarity in communication is vital in getting any message across to its intended audience. Also, common courtesy (i.e. “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”) dictates we shouldn’t go out of our way to offend people. That said, depending on the topic sometimes the most delicately phrased statement will offend. It’s unavoidable. For example, it’s a tad difficult to put a nice candy shell on subjects such as sin and hell to where it’ll melt someone’s heart, not be spit out of their mouth should they choose not to hear.
We of a conservative bent need to reject two things: the notion of mandatory mouth foam the moment one among us fails any of our pet litmus tests, and playing the martyr whenever called out on same. How many of us haven’t read or heard something by any given pundit that rubbed us the wrong way? Yet in the whole we are in agreement with the person. Why harp on the difference? In fact, why mention it at all? Is it not far better to celebrate our common beliefs and goals, working together to put them into practice, than endlessly snipe at each other over every little everything that differs in any fashion with our pet philosophies? If you hold fast to anything, those who believe differently may well take offense. It’s unavoidable. So don’t concern yourself with it. Present the truth with open honesty. You’re not responsible for someone else’s head trip if they choose to react in a negative fashion.
That all said, actions speak louder than words.
Recently, some cretin stole the money collected by Girl Scouts selling cookies in front of a store. A mom heard about it and decided to help by taking time out of her schedule to spend time boosting cookie sales for the troop in question.
The mom?
She should have sent a few boxes plus some milk to the Allahpundits and Pattericos of this world along with a note saying if they’re going to continue behaving like children, they might as well snack like one.
Once again Gov Palin’s charm and good cheer makes her triumph over her adversaries again. She is without a doubt the most inspiring woman in America today.