Letters

It is now a day hence the passing of Rush Limbaugh. This event is experienced differently by most Americans.

Liberals no doubt have uttered “good riddance” in their own fashion. He was a thorn in their side who brought relentless irritation and frustration. His ability to expose the national media’s hypocrisy and falsehoods made him their enemy.

The effort to undermine and embarrass Rush by our cable and print news outlets never got anywhere, which is a remarkable feat considering how effective the new progressive thought police have become. Perhaps Rush got out just in time.

To the millions and millions of fans and listeners of the unofficial leader of America’s conservatives, Rush brought insight and wisdom couched in sarcasm and humor. As a devotee and member of his flock, I was listening to him in New Jersey, where I got his 77-WABC afternoon

program starting in 1988. Ronald Reagan was still in office, and Conservatism was a powerful and influential movement. Rush loved America and Reagan.

With the election of the Clintons, Rush had the foil he needed to contrast conservative values with liberal efforts to grow government and its influence on American citizens. His program was a civics lesson on the purpose and history of our unique creation, American democracy. It challenged liberal orthodoxy on the air with an entertaining mix of commentary and studio creations like “Clarence the Homeless Frog.”

Today, this content would be pilloried and condemned. It was, in fact, no more offensive than the stand-up comedy of its time. In any case, the size of the Limbaugh audience made it practically immune to censorship. Its celebration of freedom of speech made it intoxicating for an audience increasingly aware of the encroachment of politically correct advocates. This freedom was another gift Rush left us. It was an education in understanding our freedom and the duty to defend it.

If you’ve read the story of Rush’s passing, no doubt his image was assaulted in the typical fashion, probably by a writer who never heard his program. “Partisan, bombastic, bigot, racist” were used to insult him in life, and now in death.

The sad truth is, we need voices like his to challenge the status quo’s definition of right and wrong. He called himself “America’s Truth Detector” and “Doctor of Democracy,” and so he was.

Rush Limbaugh was a giant of his day. May he rest in peace.

Ed Surgan

Westhampton