As a college student and young woman with many friends who hold both liberal and conservative views, it’s extremely important to me to try to be objective. I want to hear both sides and form a well-rounded opinion.
I love when my professors give me difficult situations that leave me struggling for an answer. I have visited Jewish synagogues, the NOOR Islamic Center, independent Christian churches, while being raised Catholic. So, I’m familiar with differing religions and find that adds to my religious tolerance.
In the political arena, I purposefully expose myself to media from both the liberal left, the moderate middle, independents and conservative right ideologies. I attended a rally for George Bush in 2004 and one for Barack Obama in 2008 before he was elected president. Had I been on campus during spring break, I would have gone to see Mitt Romney as well.
My parents always took me with them to vote, and as a young adult, I now am a politically conscientious student who cares about my country.Being biased or close-minded is not something I want to be. However, I can recognize when a person has gone too far. This opinion piece is my testament to the men and women – conservative and liberal – on our campus. It’s a call for compromise and common sense.
I’m familiar with Rush Limbaugh because my father used to listen to him every time I rode in the car. If Dad were alive, God rest his soul, at least I know we would have something interesting to talk about. For those of you who don’t know, Rush Limbaugh is a conservative American radio talk show host. His national radio talk show reaches over 650 radio stations every weekday morning for three hours and has over a million fans on Facebook alone.
This isn’t the first time that Limbaugh has gotten himself into trouble.
He is known to be controversial, making statements such as, “I mean, let’s face it, we didn’t have slavery in this country for over 100 years because it was a bad thing. Quite the opposite: slavery built the South. I’m not saying we should bring it back; I’m just saying it had its merits. For one thing, the streets were safer after dark.”
I will leave that statement up for your interpretation. I am here to discuss the recent uproar about Limbaugh’s comments regarding Sandra Fluke, a 30-year-old law student at Georgetown University Law Center.
Fluke recently testified before a congressional committee, advocating for a contraceptive coverage regulation offered under the Affordable Care Act. The controversy over contraception occurred because some religions do not believe in it. Here we see the thorny issue of religious conscience versus secular law come into play.
Fluke said she, “attends a Jesuit law school that does not provide contraceptive coverage in its student plan…without insurance coverage, contraception can cost a woman over $3000 during law school.”
After her testimony, Limbaugh took his issue to his radio show stating, “What does it say about the college co-ed Susan Fluke [sic] who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex — what does that make her? It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute. She wants to be paid to have sex. She’s having so much sex she can’t afford the contraception. She wants you and me and the taxpayers to pay her to have sex. I’m offering a compromise today: I will buy all of the women at Georgetown University as much aspirin to put between their knees as they want. … So Miss Fluke and the rest of you feminazis, here’s the deal. If we are going to pay for your contraceptives and thus pay for you to have sex, we want something. We want you to post the videos online so we can all watch.”
Oh, Rush. Let’s refresh on some sexual health education.
Oral contraceptives, commonly known as “The Pill,” prevent much more than pregnancy. The pill has been shown to reduce menstrual cramps and make periods lighter. The pill also assists in protection against ectopic pregnancy, bone thinning, endometrial and ovarian cancers.
It wards off infection of the ovaries, tubes and uterus as well as cysts in the breasts and ovaries, not to mention pelvic inflammatory disease, which can lead to infertility if left untreated. These are only one type of beneficial contraceptive for women, but we’ll just focus on the pill versus insurance coverage.
And just to add a bit of fuel to Limbaugh’s fiery comments, why is Viagra covered by insurance companies while contraceptives are not? Couldn’t it be argued that Viagra’s purpose is to enhance sexual performance in men and not for the purposes of procreation? Usually, it’s for older men who have sexual dysfunction due to age or other medical reasons, not for procreating.
So what’s my beef with Rush Limbaugh? I’m a firm believer in Professor Wiebe’s saying, “If you miss the context, you miss the text.”
Well folks, there’s nothing taken out of context there. The comments are misogynistic, but women’s rights is only one issue getting me heated.Limbaugh is making men, women, conservatives and liberals all look bad. As a conservative, he’s spreading the reputation that all Republicans are insensitive, judgmental and misguided individuals when many have denounced his comments.
He is misrepresenting Obama supporters and left-leaning individuals, making presumptuous statements regarding liberal ideologies about sex and birth control. Moreover, through his diatribe, he is reinforcing that men disdain women and certainly shouldn’t support their health care if it has anything to do with preventative medicine. It goes without saying that these aren’t fair statements.
There are an unbelievable amount of respectable men on this campus, in our country and in the world. It isn’t fair to men or women that Limbaugh is stepping on the nice guys, or spreading the hate that pivots our two major parties against one another.
This is my call to our generation to rise against this type of behavior. Many advertisers are pulling out from Rush Limbaugh’s talk show, while other groups are calling for Rush to be fired. I don’t think he should be fired. I think we are entitled to free speech in this country, but I’ll tell you what I do think should be fired: his attitude.
I am tired of double standards and of innocent men being accused when they shouldn’t be. I want the same economic, social, political and health rights that men have, without question. I want people to know that I’m in college because I’m going to change the world, not find a husband.
Liberals and conservatives, stand up for one another. Men and women, stand up and fight for your sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers, girlfriends, boyfriends and friends. Most importantly, stand up for yourself. Freedom is such a beautiful thing. Let’s use it to build each other up, not tear each other down.
“No, we’re not the same, but that’s what makes us strong.”
