LETTER: Failure relates to objectives
To the editor:
I was very disappointed to see that The Statesman ran an article Monday entitled, “A rush to bitterness.” The article “quotes” Rush Limbaugh speaking about President Obama as saying, “I hope he fails!” For me the most important part of this quote so recklessly used is the part so cleverly omitted. I also loved the added exclamation point that conveniently gives the illusion of rage! To take a comment so completely out of context is something that has become common practice today. What does it mean to want someone to fail? To me it is quite simple. It means that you do not want someone’s objectives to succeed. If people honestly believe that Limbaugh wants Obama and therefore the “Good Ship America” to fail is somewhat ridiculous and shows they miss the point completely. Take this Limbaugh quote from the same conversation quoted in the article: “Look, what he’s talking about is the absorption of as much of the private sector by the US government as possible, from the banking business, to the mortgage industry, the automobile business, to health care. I do not want the government in charge of all of these things … what is unfair about my saying I hope liberalism fails? Liberalism is our problem.” Whether you agree with Limbaugh or not, you must admit that taking his comments out of context, as was the case here, accomplishes one thing. It convinces many of the false notion that Limbaugh desires to see his own country in ruins. Only those who will not accept such an article as gospel truth and who will find out what was really said will be able to see the intentions behind such articles. Do I want America to succeed? Yes! Do I hope Obama can keep us safe from terrorist attacks as President Bush did for the past 7 years? Of course. I wouldn’t consider myself American if I didn’t. Do I want socialized medicine, trillions in bailouts, southern hospitality for terrorists, Gitmo closed, and taxes raised? That is another question entirely and the answer is no!
Tyler Garrett