Civil Discourse

Regardless of my agreement for or against the opinions Sandra Fluke expressed before Congress, no woman who sits before Congress or any other body of our elected representatives to express her opinions should be demeaned or demonized for doing so. To demonize or demean a private individual for expressing their views in a civil manner devalues the constitutional right for all to express our views in a civil manner. To viciously attack such a person, regardless of their opinion, serves as an effort to silence that person or others for speaking views with which others may disagree strongly.

Let us take stock of our character in our dealing with those who differ from us, who express views that are well removed from our own. If we seek to silence views contrary to ours we are functionally saying two things. First, it says our views are not strong enough to withstand critiquing and the expression of contrary views, a sad commentary on our views. Second, it says that this nation is not strong enough to withstand vigorous debate and the exchanging of viewpoints, a sad commentary on the state of the nation and our support of free speech.

Yesterday and today I have heard statements that the withdrawal of advertisers from buying ads on Rush Limbaugh’s shows is an effort to silence him and is an attack on free speech. To frame the issue in such terms is fallacious. The issue is what is appropriate language and imagery to describe a young woman or any woman on the public airwaves.

If Fluke had used derogatory demeaning statements before Congress, we the public would have the right to criticize her for doing so, for being disrespectful of the institution and its citizens. Limbaugh, like Fluke, has a right to express his opinion. Sticking to the issue, critique the ideas she ventured and her reasoning is most appropriate. It is another thing to belittle her in such a disrespectful demeaning manner, particularly of a non-public figure.

Would I want my wife, mother, sister, daughter (if I had one), or a future grand-daughter, or my colleagues at work, demeaned and demonized for expressing their opinions? Absolutely not! The public is speaking soundly and rightly that calling her what she was called is inappropriate and should not be part of civil discourse. The attacks upon Limbaugh are about his language and civil discourse. It is that simple.

Though he is a significant voice in the party, Limbaugh is not the Republican Party. That said, what is most regrettable is presidential candidates and many other chief party officials muted and watered down comments. Their statements come across as pandering to the public, to say something without offending Limbaugh which only reinforces that impression that he is the high priest of the Republican Party who like a grand shaman must not be offended least he call down upon you ill or even worse, political death…and no person should ever have such power in our political system. That said, the general public is speaking and to its detriment the Republicans have lost the high ground on this issue.