Robin Williams and the other guy

Unfair and Unbalanced

BY MARILYN LANGFORD

Published:

Wednesday, August 27, 2014 6:05 PM CDT

The Reporter this week introduces a new local columnist, Marilyn Langford of High Falls. Langford offers an alternative view to the Reporter’s conservative editorial page. Langford said she’s such a committed Democrat that she’d vote for a yellow dog if it had a “D” by its name. While we may not agree on much, we welcome Marilyn as she gives our left-leaning readers representation on these pages.

I felt kinship to Robin Williams since I learned over twenty years ago that he was dyslexic.  I used Robin as an example to my son that dyslexia was not a disability and that he, too, could use the other gifts that God gave him to be successful.

ALWAYS A fan, in February 2013, my husband and I traveled to Savannah to finally see Robin Williams live in concert.  It was called a “Sit Down with Robin Williams.”  He sat in a stuffed chair (occasionally) and had a conversation with the audience about his life, career, successes, trials and tribulations. He exuded kindness, honesty, understanding and wisdom, qualities we see less of these days.  You can’t fake that stuff.

I'M NOT one to be in awe of a celebrity but I admit Robin Williams was an exception. Previously, if I learned that a celebrity died, I would say, “Hey, did you hear? What’s on TV tonight?”  When I learned Robin Williams died, I felt a great sense of loss.  I realized that I was grieving as if he were a close friend.  That’s a feeling Robin Williams evoked in people.

That other guy referred to in the title is Rush Limbaugh. I say it that way because I could not bear to put Robin Williams and that other guy’s name in the same sentence.  Both of these guys are entertainers, but one used his gifts to make people feel love and joy, while the other uses his gifts to make people feel fear and divisiveness.

When I heard what Limbaugh said about this man who was an integral part of our culture for forty years, I felt deep sadness.  Not only was I grieving for our loss, but I was grieving for our country.   You see Limbaugh connected Robin’s death to liberalism.  "They're always angry about something," Limbaugh said. "No matter what they get, they're always angry."  He said a lot of other things that were too disrespectful and downright mean to repeat.  He was right about one thing, though.  I was angry!  But I wasn’t angry because of “liberalism.”  I was angry because I was taught that no matter how we felt about a person, we never speak ill of the dead and show proper respect to the grieving family and friends.

Limbaugh is nefarious for espousing hate and lies for shock value. We allow him to keep raising the bar by not deploring his behavior. Where does it end?  Turn him off!

Marilyn Langford and her husband, George, are retired and live on the Towaliga River in High Falls.

In Support of Michelle Nunn

Opposing views on Nunn column

LANGFORD

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Published:

Wednesday, August 6, 2014 2:40 PM CDT

To the editor:

Mr. Davis, your editorial last week, “Dem candidate is Nunn of the Above”, is a perfect specimen of Republican, right-wing talking points. Let’s first vilify all Democrats. Check. Then, toss in the words Jews and gays. Check. Then mention that black preachers are instrumental in getting out the vote, which affords you the opportunity to use the word “racist.” Check. Every chance you get, degrade a smart and successful woman that does not share your views. If you can’t do it fairly, then attack the way she talks and looks. Check. Invoke class warfare by disparaging a segment of the population (High Falls). Check. And no right-wing checklist would be complete without mentioning the liberal media. Check!

The subject of your article was Michelle’s leaked campaign strategy memo prepared by a campaign consultant. The items you chose to identify were predictable. You see, I read the entire 144 pages and you cherry-picked well. That’s fine, that’s fair political game. What’s not fair political game was your personal attack of Michelle. You observed that she wore dark suits, and talked with no southern accent. Women don’t stand a chance! If she talked with a southern accent, you would say she was dumb. And, what would you have her wear? A pink satin dress with little bows on it?

Clearly, you crossed the line when you stated she appears “sort of androgynous”.  You have been so busy thinking of all the ways you’re different from Michelle Nunn, you overlooked how you two are similar. You have a lovely picture of you, your spouse, son and daughter posted on line. Michelle also has a spouse, son and daughter approximately the same age as yours. How would you feel if someone described your children’s mother using that distasteful word?

If you read the entire 144 pages, as I did, you would have learned that her Plan is a winnable one because it is a “people” powered plan.  It may surprise you that even some common folk here in High Falls are supporting her for U. S. Senator in November. As Elmer Fudd said when he was “wabbit huntin,” “Republicans should be afraid…very very afraid.”

Marilyn Langford

High Falls