BuzzFlash Mailbag for October 13, 2009

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Subject: The Today Show interview of Rush Limbaugh on October 12

I wrote the following to MSNBC after hearing the first half of the interview. I believe its content should be known.

You have aired a portion of an interview of Rush Limbaugh by a certain Ms. Gangel. Unless tomorrow or later this week you interview a respected person of reason to refute this piece, I have to believe your network is in the business of being a traitor to our country. You are helping to bring down a sitting president who all of you know is a person of integrity and knowledge, whether or not he always makes and executes perfect decisions or whether you agree with him.

I do not write or speak hate or discrimination, so this is hard for me to say these things. But what you have done cannot be ignored. This airing should be in the trash, not being broadcast. It is vile. It is odious. We have enough anger already in this country because of hate radio. Anyone with an ounce of sense could see Limbaugh had been cleaned up, but his message was the same filth. And when this part was finished, hosts Viera and Lauer said, "fascinating" and another flattering word I shut my ears to.

Limbaugh, Fox, and other right-wing radio are destroying the character of our country. Intelligent, kind persons no longer recognize that they have been maneuvered and manipulated through the power of words into believing untruths and disliking their neighbors. Words matter more than you can know because they are potent. Words persuade. Words sell. Words can deceive. Words can spread fear and loathing. Words can demean. Words can kill. And kill they did in Rwanda where a million were murdered after listening to hate radio. Limbaugh knows all this; words are the tools of his trade. He is making fools of the rest of us when we believe him. He says the words; we go out and commit mayhem.

How dare you contribute to presenting Limbaugh as a decent person who says he is only doing a little bit of satire to go along with what he says is truth, when in fact all of it is a twisted version of truth. Even should you send out an equally compelling message of repudiation or of common decency, you have added to the poison already spewed out over this country, because words cannot be taken back. You have given impetus to more ugly, noisy, intrusive Fox TV in public places. You have encouraged more citizens to scream obscenities based purely on emotion. You have helped to make pawns of the people.

I can only hope you have also given an incentive to persons of good intent and good will to rise up and work to unite us in harmony and justice.

Margaret
Mansfield, OH

Subject: Who do you trust ???

With all that is flying around the skies of politics the American people should be in complete doubt as to what is really going on.

If I was to say the reason why schools would not allow president Obama to speak to them about education I would say they are racist. But that would be somewhat childish. Another thought would be that those in strategic positons do not want our leader to tell our children what to do because there is another agenda out there that is not talked about. Or one could say it is important to keep our country devisive. To further extenuate the thought process one could say that the health reform act once passed will negatively affect seniors especially baby boomers.

makesenseofit
Pittsburgh, PA

Subject: GAY RIGHTS MARCH ON WASHINGTON

It is up to me to say what is politically incorrect. But, this needs to be said. How very selfish for the gay community to "demand" that the president repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law and allow them to serve in the military and let them get legally married. Hello! Doesn't the president have more important things to worry about, like the economy, unemployment and terrorism? Gay community, get your priorities straight. There are much more important problems happening in the world besides your not being able to serve in the military or get legally married. How very selfish of you to be thinking only of your own needs at a time like this. I am all for equal rights for everybody, but this is ridiculous.

Shirley Dianne Jackson
Portland, Oregon

Subject: My final comment on the new format...again

I spent the weekend going on and off Buzzflash getting used to the new format. My last mailbag comment on October 8, http://blog.buzzflash.com/mailbag/937 I stated I would give it the time and attention it deserves and will probably grow to like it. I have since changed my mind. I do not believe I will ever like it. I am one of those older BuzzFlash readers, but I am very computer and tech savvy. I navigate many many web sites wondering if the designers ever actually use the pages they design. Pretty, flashy and shiny does not make content any better. As a matter of fact, it makes it more annoying.

I was extremely insulted by one BuzzFlash reader that submitted a mailbag comment on October 12, http://blog.buzzflash.com/mailbag/939 regarding the new format. They stated "It will be more likely to intrigue NEW visitors to BuzzFlash, which is FAR FAR FAR more important that appealing to long-time regulars." I hope this is not a shared opinion by BuzzFlash. I grew up with the saying "Make new friends but keep the old....If readers are not familiar with the rest of that saying, look it up on some flashy, blingy, young peoples search engine.

I'm sure I will go to BuzzFlash daily but only to read Barbara and the mailbag.

Bob Lambert
Northridge, CA

Subject: The new format SUCKS!

Seriously Buzzflash, what have you done to your front page?

Why did you try to fix the format that has made you successful? It wasn't broken before, but now it most certainly is!

Not only is the new format the ugliest web page I have ever seen, it is also very user unfriendly.

Didn't you ever hear of focus groups, a/b testing and opinion polls?

BRING BACK THE OLD FORMAT!

Kevin
Ojai, Ca

Subject: new format

Sorry to say that i dont like the new GREY home page. It makes me dizzy to look at, so i can't stay with it like i used to. I loved the 'old page' better. It was easy on the eyes and quick to navigate.

A BuzzFlash Reader

Subject: If This Is The Moment & Conditions Are Just Right What's Holding Us Back?

"People have bought into the one about there being no alternative?"

"Based on?"

"The failure of our schools and media to ever mention or even hint at the possibility of there actually being alternatives to the way it is."

"The answer being?"

"That it's up to us to educate and introduce to people's awareness the existence of real, feasable and desirable alternatives."

"Otherwise?"

"The abyss."

A BuzzFlash Reader

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