The column has the title A missed chance for Limbaugh. Jackson acknowledges that on the whole he is glad Limbaugh is not going to be part of an ownership group. He revisits the arguments offered by others, such as Robert Jim Irsay, and Commissioner Roger Goodell. Jackson manages to get in digs at Dick Cheney, and to remind us of Michael Vick's newfound concern for animals.
And then ... well you really have to read it to understand. For example:
It would have been tantalizing to see Limbaugh, who rarely displays a heart, let alone love toward the people he pillories, walk the sidelines during pregame warm-ups when the Rams play the Baltimore Ravens.
Imagine the conversation he would have with Ray Lewis, one of the league’s most devastating linebackers. The italicized words are Limbaugh’s actual statements of the past.
"Say Ray, how ya’ doin’? I’m Rush Limbaugh, in case you don’t know me. We’d love to trade for you. But first, take that bone out of your nose and call me back.’’
And there's more.
Jackson offers similar scenarios with quotes from Limbaugh about Matt Sanchez and Tony Romo. He notes that people like Limbaugh never learn if they are not forced to have real conversations with those they demean - although Jackson uses the far more powerful word "pillory" rather than demean.
I did not have to read further than the imaginary scene with Ray Lewis. It would probably be the end of Limbaugh, and I mean that literally. I can imagine that Lewis might well give him a forearm shiver to the Adam's apple, thereby ending the ability of Limbaugh to bloviate.
Jackson concludes as follows:
Limbaugh would never have the courage to say his rotten things in person to behemoths who could splatter his vocal chords from end zone to end zone. NFL ownership might have been good for him. He might have shut up long enough for the caricatures in his mind to take human form, long enough for he himself to join the human race.
Here I find I have to part company with Jackson - he is way too generous to Rush. Limbaugh could never surrender those caricatures, for without them he would have no audience.
As to Limbaugh possibly joining the human race - if he did, I wonder how many of us might decide to go elsewhere? It's a good thing we will never be faced with that challenge.
Okay, some of you may be surprised by what I have just written. These words from me, from the guy who regularly urges reasonableness. And yet, I also speak on what I see as moral necessity, as I have on health care.
I often write about the Quaker ideal of answering that of God in each person we encounter. Let me this time offer a different "Quaker" tale: A city slicker came out the country where he encountered a Quaker farmer. A conversation ensued.
"Hey," said the slicker, "Are you a Quaker?"
"Yes, friend, I am" answered the farmer.
"Do you believe that stuff about turning the other cheek?"
"Yes, friend, the Good Book tells us to turn the other cheek when we are struck,"
Whereupon the city slicker slapped the farmer on his left cheek, and as the farmer turned, used his other hand and slapped him on the right cheek.
At this point, the farmer, took off his hat, and began to roll up his sleeves and move menacingly towards the city fellow. As the farmer was quite muscular from his farming and the city slicker was quite frail and pasty, the latter was rightly concerned for his safety.
"Hey," yelled the slicker, " what are doing? I thought you said you believe the Bible!"
"I do, Friend, but the Bible gives no instructions about how to behave when the other cheek has been struck. And thus now I will teach Thee proper manners"
The story of course is not quite what a Quaker would do. But it illustrates a point. It is that there are limits beyond which we are required to speak out, to chastise, to challenge, to confront.
That does not mean we would encourage Ray Lewis to destroy the vocal chords of Rush Limbaugh, nor would we welcome it. But is not inappropriate to point out that obnoxious and insulting language can have consequences other than those it is intended to engender.
Rush Limbaugh may not be a skinny city slicker. But like the city man in the tale above, he does need to be taught proper manners.
And those who profit from his racial screeds should likewise be taught some manners - that there are some things simply not acceptable in civilized discourse.
Derrick Jackson is right on this - Rush Limbaugh as he is now is not a full fledged member of the human race. That requires a sense of responsibility for one's words and one's actions beyond how much money they earn for you and those who employ you.
Perhaps some Republicans who cower before Limbaugh should remember that as well.
Here endeth my screed.
Have a good night.
Peace.