Brian Glicklich, head PR man and spokesperson for
The Rush Limbaugh Show recently wrote an
opinion piece stating he is very upset about 'hate speech' on Twitter. Never mind that he's been representing the king of Conservative radio hate mongers. Glicklich is the bully, in front of the bully, who just last Fall
released the private and personal information about some of the
StopRush volunteers (their names, home addresses, phone numbers…) which a plethora of Republican/Conservative/Tea Party websites picked up. Who knows how many fanatics and Limbaugh Dittoheards now have access to that information. And these crazies have been calling, threatening and harassing the StopRush volunteers for months. That was you Brian.
You did that. And now you're getting a taste of it, and you can't handle it? You don't like people calling you names? Cry me a river.
It's long past the time for a platform that offers an unmoderated voice to create more responsible methods to eliminate hate speech from software used by hundreds of millions worldwide, including vulnerable children, minorities and people looking simply to share their thoughts, not be shouted down with bullying and lies.
Did you really just say that? You think you're experiencing hate speech? Think about it some more, and how you have contributed to someone spewing it on a massive level, every day - for decades. Here is what hate speech looks like.
When your boss, Rush Limbaugh, implies homosexuals are 'pedophiles/child molesters,' it feeds into the hatred of the LGBT community. It sends a signal to derelicts that it's okay to mock, bully, and abuse those with a different sexual preference. Sometimes that leads to discrimination, hate crimes, teen suicides, and murder.
That is hate speech.
When your boss, Rush Limbaugh, calls women 'sluts, femi-nazis, and semen receptacles,' it feeds into misogyny and it dehumanizes women. It sends a signal that it's okay to demean and degrade women. Sometimes that leads to abuse, domestic violence, rape, and murder.
That is hate speech.
And when your boss Rush Limbaugh calls Blacks 'thugs.' and calls Latinos 'a lazy, invasive species of mollusks and spermatozoa,' it feeds into prejudice, ignorance and hatred. And sometimes that leads to job/housing discrimination; hate crimes, racial profiling, wrongful arrests/incarceration, and murder.
That is hate speech.
You help to propagate all of the above. Can you not see that?
More below the fold.
The heart of the problem is that Twitter's system for preventing hate speech simply lags far behind the tactics of organized groups who use the platform without regards for individual freedoms or even common decency.
No, Brian, the heart of the problem is that the radio industry's system for preventing hate speech lags far behind. In fact, there doesn't seem to be any system in place. And you can't see the forest for the trees. You're right - the bottom line is not about the Right Wing or Left Wing ideologies, it's about removing dangerous and provocative language. Hate speech is wrong on any level. StopRush is about thousands of volunteers coming together to take acton - rather than simply complain about Limbaugh's hate speech. Perhaps some would not be attacking you had you not published their private information. Not cool, and very dangerous.
Remove Rush Limbaugh from our public radio airways, and there will be no more StopRush. There will be no Facebook pages/groups, twitter bombs, sponsor petitions… created to stop his hate mongering, racism, homophobia and misogyny.
Twitter could fix this problem by creating a human help system for hate speech with real people and real teeth, and banning organized bullying through a published standard of progressive discipline for violators. Just these two changes alone would go far towards making Twitter a friendlier, more transparent place.
Okay. Can we ban Rush Limbaugh's organized bullying on radio as well? You don't like social media because it's working. Finally, everyday people are able have a voice and are being heard. They are getting involved and making a real difference. Before Twitter and Facebook they didn't have a public voice like you, and it's burning your ass that the people can now dish it out. But unlike them, you can't take it.
But my complaint has languished at Twitter, unanswered or even acknowledged, for weeks. When will Twitter step in and protect real freedom of expression by demanding and enforcing respect for differing points of view?
Twitter is ignoring you? I bet not. I imagine the folks at Twitter are laughing their asses off with every note you write them. Come on. You're telling them to ban hate speech - something they know has made you and Rush Limbaugh filthy rich. How silly and how sad you are that you can't see the hypocrisy, and that you're losing at your own game.
You've heard the phrase, 'You get what you give,' right? Right now, you're getting.
Here's an idea. To help remove hate speech on Twitter, Facebook, and in mainstream media, why not join the protest against Rush Limbaugh! Of course, you'll first have to make a boatload of apologies, but it could happen! You've probably also heard the phrase, 'If you can't beat them, join them. Go there. Be that person!
Here's how to do it. Here's how anyone can join the protest:
Sign: Limbaugh Sponsor & Clear Channel/iHeartPetition
Visit/Like: BoycottRush Facebook Group
Join: The Fight To Flush Rush
Visit: StopRush.net for an extensive list of Limbaugh Sponsors
Twitter: #FlushRush and #StopRush
Still no, Brian? Okay. Then I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes that pretty much sums up this protests against Rush Limbaugh and hate speech. Actually it sums up up every major protest movement in history. The quote is by Gandhi. (Have you heard of him?)
“First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, and then you win.”― Mahatma Gandhi
Okay, here's another you can tweet to Rush:
“When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it--always.”
― Mahatma Gandhi
Always.
Thank you, Kossack Richard Myers. Rest in peace. We miss you dear friend. We are finishing this.