Too Many Memorials, Not Enough Anger (Rush Limbaugh)

Rush Limbaugh website ^ | September 9, 2002 | Rush Limbaugh

[oldvike]

John Leo has an excellent point in his column, "Rage Is Not the Rage." He's exactly right. There just isn't enough anger and rage out there associated with the anniversary of September 11th, and there is way too much memorializing and wallowing – yes – wallowing – in victimhood.

I discussed this in length in my third hour monologue on Monday, which started when a caller asked if the EIB Network will follow the lead of many in the rest of the media and run commercial free on September 11th. We will not. The EIB Network will not do what everybody else is doing and will not participate in the over-memorializing of September 11th. You can hear it all in the audio link below as well as my response to another caller in which I reveal my reasons for rejecting an interview request from NBC on 9/11.

Following that third hour monologue, somebody sent me an e-mail with a great line: Too many people in this country have season tickets to Oprah. This guy could not be more right. We are just so overly sensitive these days that we don't even have the ability to be righteously angry at what's happened to us. Instead, we're struggling to understand those who did it. Well, that's easy to understand! I stopped giving a rat's rear end about understanding them when they started killing us. When they start killing us, then that's war.

I don't understand why there's not more anger about this. I think we're patting ourselves on the back too much, I think there are too many American flags being waved around, I think there are too many ceremonies going on, and it's all too morbid. That attack on 9/11 should make us angry, and spur us on to action, not make us sad and introspective.

[oldvike]

Here are more detailed audio versions of what Rush had to say. I'd advise people to listen to them as they explain his position more clearly.

Rush's impassioned hour 3 monologue on 9/11 memorials

Rush reveals his reasons for rejecting an NBC 9/11 interview to Jackie

Rush agrees with a caller named Lily, who is sick of 9/11 tributes

I'm with Rush, the constant 9/11 tributes we've seen over the past year seem to be nothing more than "pity-parties". I thought it was great for he first few months, but now it's just constant and neverending victimhood on parade. Let's move past the mourning stage and on to the anger/action stage.

Flame suit on!!

[E. Pluribus Unum]

There just isn't enough anger and rage out there associated with the anniversary of September 11th, and there is way too much memorializing and wallowing – yes – wallowing – in victimhood.

September 11, 2001 needs to be avenged, not memorialized.

CAUSE AND EFFECT

[vikzilla]

I think your right. I get the feeling however the American people see Iraq as part of this. They're willing to be patient and see how this plays out.IMO

[rllngrk33]

Let's move past the mourning stage and on to the anger/action stage.

For my part, I plan to avoid watching any of the televised proceedings. I completely agree that there's too much victimhood and not enough anger. It's time to kick Saddam's Butt and get revenge.

[SkyPilot]

Arabs Reflect on Solemn September 11th Anniversary

[mitchbert]

Coteblanch:

Anything planned in Ottawa tomorrow?

[pabianice]

Unfortunately, the US will not get serious about defeating terrorism until a lot more Americans are slaughtered by Muslim lunatics. In 1941 an attack created justifiable outrage. In 2001, an attack created more professional victims to moan and demand government hand-outs.

[Frank_Discussion]

Not to completely fall back on a mantra, but my view is: Blame the Media. The people I know, and they're a whole spectrum of different folk, they are still mad about 9-11. Not a day goes by when it isn't discussed, and it is wondered why there aren't some glass parking lots in the Middle East.

The media, OTOH, is more than happy to rend their Armani suits over this, milk the situation. The "people on the street" that the "news" people talk to aren't a real sample of our population.

As for understanding the terrorists, I think it's a good idea. It uncovers their soft spots, if you know where to look. Most of the TV coverage that I see regarding this understanding is mixed in what understanding means, but I do know one thing: Even the most vapid, flaccid, self-flagellating reporting on understanding Islam's beef with us still can't muster enough evidence in the end to really blame us. And the media knows it.

Their only alternative is wring their collective hands over the "horror and sorrow" of it all. It's sick, but it doesn't seem to be the true view of the nation. People are mad.

I know I still turn beet red when I see the videos of the evil, and my blood boils.

[jz638]

Agreed. Tomorrow is going to be the Superbowl of sympathy.

My tin-foil theory is that the leftists want to saturate the masses with plastic flag patriotism so that come September 12, everyone will try to put all of this flag waving nonsense behind them and move on with important things like the Kyoto treaty and calling Bush a moron.

[mikenola]

Special Thanks to the peaceful people of Islam

[oldvike]

I am at the anger stage now, but I will never take issue with those who still need to memorialize.

For the most part I agree with you. However, there is a small minority of people (people in the media and politicians) who have turned memorializing 9/11 into a religion (I believe that jacka** Norman Mailer said something similar a few days ago....I can't believe I'm in agreement with something that prick said). I am not exagerating when I say that at least once a day I hear somebody in the media say that "ground zero" is "holy ground".

Don't get me wrong, ground zero is a special place, but it ain't the Temple Mount. I will view the WTC site no differently than I would the site where the USS Arizona now lies...it's now a part of our history and a reminder as to why we must never give up the fight to maintain our freedoms.

[WatchOutForSnakes]

I couldn't agree more. Very well put. People have been indoctrinated these days to be victims for to long. The time for victimhood and wondering what the government owes them is over. The time for action is now! What are we waiting for? I'm afraid you are right. We are waiting for an even greater attack to occur. Will even that be enough to make us angry for more than a few weeks? I am beginning to wonder.

[hopespringseternal]

The people driving the 9/11 memorialization are stridently anti-American. They aren't angry at all. They don't see 9/11 as a vicious, unprovoked attack on innocents. They see it as an unfortunate consequence of our own greed, imperialism, and racism.

They have a perverted admiration for the hijackers. They want to remember the event because it is deeply just to them.

They don't want us to be outraged and go after the Islamists. They want us to feel sorry for ourselves, even guilty for bringing 9/11 on ourselves.

For them, Mohammed Atta is a revolutionary who did what was "necessary."

These people are traitors in the worst way. Their heart is always against America, no matter how vile and evil the band they must ally themselves with.

But they control every aspect of mass media except talk radio. So tomorrow, shut off the television and don't open the newspaper.

Those in charge of these outlets aren't just remembering a dreadful day, they are memorializing and celebrating the hijackers themselves. Tomorrow belongs to Osama Bin Laden and Mohammed Atta as far as the media moguls are concerned.

That is one party I am not going to.

[oldvike]

Exactly!

[1Old Pro]

Rush is right. We've had a year to mourn, remember, reflect and honor.

We've had 365 days to plan a military strike on terrorist states who still pose a threat to us. LET'S ROLL.

[oldvike]

Excellent post!

[oldvike]

For my part, I plan to avoid watching any of the televised proceedings.

I'm gonna do exactly what Rush has suggested....go to work and continue my normal routine.

[Billy_bob_bob]

Bingo! We're not supposed to "hate", we're not supposed to "judge", we're not supposed to "react", we're not supposed to really stand for anything at all since that would be judgemental, so what are we supposed to do? Stand around and cry, I guess.

Empires usually collapse from overextension. This just might be the first empire in the history of the world to simply cry itself to death.

[tet68]

Be sure to listen to Rush's second hour tomorrow,
Vice President Dick Cheney will be on , don't miss it.
Sure to be an eye opener!

I don't know about all that holy ground stuff, I feel
the way you do, when I was at Gettysburg, or Little Big Horn
or Okinawa, I had a sense of reverance for what happened
there.

The last holy ground I ever saw was in the 8th grade,
when Norma Vandenherk invited me into her bedroom.
Oh, and when I got off the plane from VietNam and kissed
the tarmac in California.

[KSCITYBOY]

The media won't show our rage and many Americans hide it because it is not PC to show rage or anger. It is out there in many more Americans than the media will ever admit. I have spoke to several people who in typically hushed voices express their rage at the islamic killers who attacked the WTC. Sadly after the past 20 years of the media telling us how we should feel and have empathy for those who would destroy us most people think the would be labeled as hate mongers or racists if they expressed their anger openly.

[Orion]

Unfortunately, the US will not get serious about defeating terrorism until a lot more Americans are slaughtered by Muslim lunatics.

Negative. The only thing that will get America off its duff is when we start to hurt in the pocketbook. As long as we all have a mini-van, good home in the burbs, kiddies in soccer and private school, and a nice 9-5 job, we don't care.

Had the Al brothers been able to fully derail our economy, there would be a lot more dead Arabs today. Until then, don't rock the boat on the economy.

[TonyRo76]

No flames from me oldvike...just a hearty HOO-yah! and dittoes to Rush.

This is so right-on it's amazing more people don't get it. Our society has become too Oprah-fied over the last decade. Lotta "pain-feeling" going on.

And as for the ABC/Babwa Wawa tribute shows with all the dulcit piano music in the background...where's the BARF bag?!?

[TonyRo76]

it's now a part of our history and a reminder as to why we must never give up the fight to maintain our freedoms.

'Zactly! Well stated.

[Orion]

This just might be the first empire in the history of the world to simply cry itself to death.

BINGO!!!
I have been trying to encapsulate my thoughts on why we are so scared of our own shadow. How the thrid world can call the shots in our republic, is beyond me.

Your statement says it all. There is nothing more to say.

[marron]

The proper memorial for them should include a series of prayers, followed by a listing of the battles fought and won on their behalf since then.

Followed by a listing of the battles that are on the agenda.

We best honor the dead by what we do to find and destroy the ones who did this. And by what we do to succor and help their other victims. I want to see a free Afghanistan. I want to see a free Iraq. And I most want to see a free Arabia... no longer "Saudi".

[Frank_Discussion]

I agree and don't agree. No we don't show our anger over this, but I think their are two reasons why this happens. The PC indoctrination is strong, so that's one emasculating factor to useful rage. However, I think there are quite a larger number of folks who don't show their rage out of a sense of focus.

A lot of folks know that polishing that chip on their shoulder only slows them down, so they suborn their anger until it can be vented. I don't have much affection for a roach when it crawls across the room, I'm repulsed. But I don't jump up and down and scream epithets at it, I just grab a can of Raid, and take care of business. And it is satisfying.

The terrorists are filthy human roaches. Squash 'em with glee!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Pretty close to being right. Clinton was our First Apologizer as you may recall.

[prisoner6]

Good Lord! I missed the last hour of Rush yesterday so I missed this commentary! I'm in TOTAL agreement! (I don't often totally agree with him,; He's a bit to my LEFT on some issues!)

Interestingly enough I spent some time late yesterday ranting to Wife and Kidz this very same point! They, having "season tickets to Oprah", are sick of me going on about how we should blast the Dome of the Rock, Medina, Mecca, etcetera.

As a people we desperately need to get angry. Angry as Ralphie did when a bullie pushed him over the edge in Sheperd's "A Christmas Story." Or as angry as Popeye when he proclaims, "That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more!"

It's PAST time to open the spinach!

After years of indoctrination, and with not just a little help from trial lawyers, we have been emasculated to the point where we are a society of eunichs.

We need to grow new nads!

I hope someone, somewhere, at one of the memorials tonorrow, gets up and makes this point in a speech. Make the sheeple listening understand anger is as valid a feeling as compassion.

The next time someone asks "how I feel" about the Attacks on America, I 'm gonna say, " I'M MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT TAKING IT ANY MORE!

prisoner6

[KSCITYBOY]

Very true - Channeling rage into action is the best thing to do.

[Orion]

There are millions of Arabs that are beyond lucky that I am not POTUS. I don't put the blame on Iraq (that is a separate issue and stems from kowtowing to the Saudis 10 years ago - thanks GHWB spit), I put the blame on the CFOs of terrorism - Saudi Arabia.

Last September would have cost them their ability to fund terrorism. Their oil fields would be under the control of the US military, their assets confiscated, their banks looted, and all their gold exported to the US. I would have moved their people off the oil fields, and let the chips fall where they may. Our account would be square.

The next attack of any consequence would cost them their holy shrines. That would take all of two hours to accomplish. If your religion motivates you to kill Americans, we will remove the religion.

The third time would result in all Arabs being moved off the Arabian peninsula. Call it genocide, but if I had to choose between 250million Arabs, or 280million Americans, I'll choose the latter.

We have been at war with these people for 30 years. Let's act like it. Arab-Islamists and Americans can not peacefully coexist on the same planet. Someone has to get off.

Rome decided that the Mediterranean was not big enough for Rome and Carthage. Carthage had to leave.

[soozla]

Hear, hear!!!!!!!!!! I agree! Holding hands and singing "Kum-Bay-Ah" did not make this country great, did not propel it through adversarial times (of which there have been PLENTY!!)

Is it any wonder "Prozac Nation" was written??? People "stuff" their feelings way too much, IMHO. I say, "I'm here, I'm pissed, get used to it!!!!!!!!!!!" The good old US of A has taken it on the chin one too many times, for my liking. We have been attacked, for *** sake!! The knuckleheads declaring jihad on America should know they are going to be staightened out, and fast!!!

The liberal, global view of "America sucks" is just plain wrong.......we are the original "Rodney King" we CAN all get along, and the fabric of the society here, which has been woven over the past 250 years, is proof of that. Maybe not perfect, but hey, we are trying. And we are getting it right alot of the time.

You know, America should NOT be someone's "vacation home": a place of great beauty, wealth & prosperity people hang out in for the summer and when they get homesick, go back. If you have business here, take care of it. If you visit, respect it, follow its rules. If you choose to stay here, commit to it!!! That's what ALL of our families have done and dammit, most of us have committed with ALOT of blood, sweat & tears, but most of all PRIDE in this accomplishment called USA!!

The world mocks Bush as a "cowboy", but hey, I say the "Don't mess with Texas" attitude WORKS.....BIGTIME!!

We should be on a roll to get Saddam out and any other half wit dictator who can't play by the rules and get along......and to those who ask "what gives us the right?" the answer should be "250 plus years of getting to be what we are today"......have a little respect for it, PLEASE!

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I put the blame on the CFOs of terrorism - Saudi Arabia.

Bingo. Dittoes. You can say that again.

[Frank_Discussion]

Once again, this is the Media's line, not reality. I hope that ABCMSNBCCBSCNN etc. cries itself to death, actually.

They've been capitalizing on the adminstraton's justifiably quiet stance on what they're doing. The Media is feeding everyone a line that we are waiting to strike back forcefully, because the public is all PC and sorrowful. It's all bull crappus, and they know it!

The bulk of our wonderful country wants and expects action, and despite reports to the contrary. And the administration has been kicking a$$ and taking names for months now. For heaven's sake, we were within 170 miles of Bagdad yesterday, massively destroying the eye's and ears of Saddam's military. For all the talk of "Congressional Support" and "International Coalitions" we sure are doing a lot of damage in Iraq and Afganistan.

People, please! We're doing what we need to, softening the target, and preparing the battlefield.

[Frank_Discussion]

"It's PAST time to open the spinach!"

Soooo... That's what's in a can of WhupA$$!

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I am at the anger stage now, but I will never take issue with those who still need to memorialize.

You must look back sparingly. If you look back too much you will get stuck in the past instead of living in the present.

[oldvike]

I don't put the blame on Iraq (that is a separate issue and stems from kowtowing to the Saudis 10 years ago - thanks GHWB spit), I put the blame on the CFOs of terrorism - Saudi Arabia.

I read an interesting theory a few weeks back which stated that if we installed a democratic governemnt in Iraq (aaaahhhccckkk! I hate nation building, but it might be necessary to achieve the long term goal of our own security!) then Saudi Arabia would eventually tumble like so much garbage. Wish I could find that damn article.

[prisoner6]

Flexing me forearms...

Yackackakakakakakakak!

Kidz! Make sure to eat yer spinach and drink yer Ovaltine!

prisoner6

[Orion]

Saudi Arabia would eventually tumble like so much garbage.

I have no desire to see SA "tumble." I want to see them ripped limb from limb. I want mothers to weep over their dead children. I want orphans to wander aimlessly around that pathetic land. I wand the fathers to be eating each other to stay alive. I want rats to be the national staple of SA.

I want them to suffer what thousands in the US suffered a year ago - on a national scale. More importantly, I want our government to establish this condition.

You have to hang a price on terrorism. Killing al-Queida is not enough. You have to destroy what is dear to al-Queida to get through to them.

Why is Atta's family still alive? They should have their tounges hanging about their collar bones - old and young.

Send a message. If we act like marshmallows, we deserve another 9/11.

[Virginia-American]

For my part, I plan to avoid watching any of the televised proceedings. I completely agree that there's too much victimhood and not enough anger. It's time to kick Saddam's Butt and get revenge.

Couldn't have said it better myself

[tomkat]

i've been bumping damned good nominations for 'quote of the day' for a long time now, and nothing's ever come of it;
but by god here's one that oughta be a hands-down winner, or somethin's way outta whack ...

Empires usually collapse from overextension.
This just might be the first empire in the history of the world to simply cry itself to death.

Quote of the Day !

at least for those of us not preoccupied with wailing and gnashing our teeth ...

[Constantine XIII]

No need for asbestos underpants here, friend. Most of us agree with you! :)

People generally only have one funeral, where everybody mourns. Then we get over it, move on, and remember them once in a while. Their memory kept in word and story. And, if they died unjustly, we find out who is responsible and see that they are punished.

Now is the time for action. We know who dunnit, and we have mushroom-shaped implements of punishment. What should follow is obvious.

[ClearBlueSky]

RUSH IS RIGHT! I'm tired of being made to see ourselves as victims again and again. It keeps us powerless and focused in the direction of self-pity instead of destroying our enemy. That enemy is ISLAM. Worldwide- in the middle east and here, where a massive fifth column exists. Start HERE! Get them out of our country! I, personally, would outlaw the religion completely as it is preaching treason and sedition. To attack enemies on the other side of the planet is great, but letting them live among us only opens us for the kind of attacks Israel is living with daily.
That WILL happen if we don't clean house.
In the mean time----MELT MECCA!

[prisoner6]

Too many memorials, not enough anger...

Come to think of it maybe there is hope...cue the Elvis hit "Too much conversation, a little less action"

I've been thinking about how cool it would be to see >Elvis< show up at the Dome of the Rock.

He'd be in the white jumpsuit with the multi-colored eagles, shades, and a guitar across his back.

As prayers start he'd whip the guitar around - a disguised automatic weapon - and open fire. Afterward he'd say "hunka, hunka burning love baby!", toss a bomb into the Dome and disappear as it crumbles.

Hey, even heros have a right to dream.

Back in reality an airstrike, military or otherwise, would work just as well.

prisoner6

[SLB]

I am sitting here on my lunch hour paging through William Bennett's "The Death of Outrage" and note how much it compares with the attitude in the US today. Where has the outrage gone in the past year? Where are all the flags on cars? Where are the candlelight vigils? Where are the assemblies for prayer? The only showing is here on FR and a few talk shows. A pretty poor showing of outrage if you ask me.

[FReepaholic]

>>...It's PAST time to open the spinach...<<

AMEN! As Popeye would say: "That's all I can stands, I can't stands no more!"

[Poohbah]

Hey, this sounds like a mission for the Flying Elvi, soon to be renamed the 509th Composite Ranger-Airborne PsyOps Parachuting Elvi Regimental Squadron (CRAPPERS).

[NewYorker]

As Jim Cramer on Kudlow and Cramer said last night, "Stop the mourning, start the bombing."