There was a time in America when political disagreement was largely civil. I’m not so sure we’re there anymore.
Ugliness has become the new norm, and social media hasn’t helped with that.
Also not assisting: ignorance.
It appears a quite common paradigm is this: Someone stands for something. Those who know better spread the word that that person stands for terrible things unrelated — hatefulness, etc. People accept the word on the street as truth. Subsequently, the mob attacks, not realizing they are clueless about the individual in question’s views.
Could this be an example of such?
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, an English teacher posted a celebration.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, in response to the news of radio host Rush Limbaugh’s lung cancer diagnosis, Milwaukee High School of the Arts’ Travis Sarandos tweeted the following:
“Limbaugh absolutely should have to suffer from cancer. It’s awesome that he’s dying, and hopefully it is as quick as it is painful.”
The molder of young skulls of mush has reportedly deleted his Twitter account and been placed on leave from the school.
A Milwaukee Public Schools teacher was suspended after tweeting "limbaugh absolutely should have to suffer from cancer. it's awesome that he's dying, and hopefully it is as quick as it is painful.” There are calls to fire the teacher. Should he be let go?
— News 93.1 KFBK (@kfbk) February 7, 2020
Twitter has thoughts:
How do some of the most disturbed people become teachers.
— Covfefe me Bot (@MommaLewissays) February 7, 2020
Disgusting
— ❌ 🇺🇸 Cheeku, I don’t kneel 🇺🇸 ❌ (@realCheeku) February 7, 2020
Sick!!!
— Dawn 🌟🌟🌟 #ISTANDWITHGENFLYNN 🌷 (@Dawn_DeMore1) February 7, 2020
OMG….I am stunned someone could speak about anyone like that….horrible and very very sad! There is something wrong with someone inside when they can write something so very vile!😔
— Shirley murphy (@Shirley29465176) February 7, 2020
The hate in some people’s life is hard to believe. I can only imagine what else this teacher has placed in her students minds. Every profession goes through reexaminations, why not teachers?
— griff (@waysand) February 7, 2020
The person obviously doesn't know Rush Limbaugh and what he has done over the years. These people have bought into the resist movement that pushes out a lot of propaganda. You have to be consumed by hate to ever make a nasty comment like that about anyone with cancer.
— Joanne Petzold (@JoannePetzold) February 7, 2020
And, this person is teaching our kids. Sure doesn’t say much for schools in Milwaukee.
— Goldwing 🇺🇸 (@goldwing_77) February 7, 2020
Fire this teacher! This is what our children are being taught!….DEMONIC HATE!
— Judy M (@djheuty) February 7, 2020
This is the Democratic party!
— joy (@pina_insurance) February 7, 2020
There was even the following:
#HateFilled #LiberalLunatics!!! pic.twitter.com/xiUsBCMgqy
— 2AmendRightorg (@2AmendRightorg) February 7, 2020
Travis certainly isn’t alone. As I covered February 3rd, former CNN host Reza Azlan asked if the we’re better off with Rush dead.
Ultimately, what is the impact of such remarks? On the makers, and on the culture?
They highlight a growing chasm, not only between workable disagreement and vile, murderous hopes, but also between two sides on which governmental policies best benefit America.
While some on the Left celebrate a stage 4 disease, the President is awarding Limbaugh with the Medal of Freedom.
Here’s what Trump had to say Tuesday night:
“Rush Limbaugh, thank you for your decades of tireless devotion to our country. Rush, in recognition of all that you have done for our nation, the millions of people a day that you speak to and that you inspire, and all of the incredible work that you have done for charity, I am proud to announce tonight that you will be receiving our country’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. I will now ask the First Lady of the United States to present you with the honor.”
Contrasted by Joe Biden’s take Wednesday:
“Rush Limbaugh spent his entire time on the air dividing people, belittling people, talking about blacks in ways, African Americans in ways, that, anyway…I do feel badly and I mean this sincerely, that he’s suffering from a terminal illness, so he has my empathy and sympathy no matter what his background is, but the idea that he is at the State of the Union, receives a medal that is of the highest honor that can be…given to a civilian, I find, quite frankly, driven more by trying to maintain your right-wing political credentials than it is anything else. I mean, if you read some of the things that Rush has said about people, their backgrounds, their ethnicity, how he speaks to them – I don’t think he speaks, I don’t think he understands the American code of decency and honor.”
Quite the difference.
Meanwhile, Rush’s (black) right-hand man is defending his friend:
I just saw the footage from CNN's Jim Acosta saying Rush has a "history" of saying disparaging things about African Americans. I have been in the studio with Rush for 30 years. I would like to formally challenge CNN and @Acosta to provide the list.
— Bo Snerdley (@BoSnerdley) February 5, 2020
In the end, we should all defend one another — against the indecency of terrible things, of words, of actions, of anything that makes the world a worse place. The first step of protecting our fellow Americans is to not engage in such things. The second is to act in opposition.
A school teacher in Wisconsin failed on both counts. He’s not the first and won’t be the last, and he’s likely to once again be in charge of our children. Such is the new normal, but we desperately need to change that.
How do you think it may be done?
I look forward to hearing from you in the Comments section.
-ALEX
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