Rush Limbaugh seems to love the taste of his foot, seeing as how it’s always in his mouth. During one of his controversial radio shows, he shared this amazing nugget, “A little history lesson for you. If any race of people should not have guilt about slavery, it’s Caucasians. The white race has probably had fewer slaves, and for a briefer period of time, than any other in the history of the world.” What is old Rush talking about? George Zimmerman–the acquitted teen-killer. When asked about the verdict, Limbaugh revealed his inner thoughts about how he and the rest of the white people of the world and how they shouldn’t have to feel guilty anymore because it’s not solving anything or helping anyone. Wiser words never spoken.
I think the best of the worst of Limbaugh’s latest insulting conversation is that he says white people have done more to end slavery than any other race and for that, they should no longer feel guilty for it. I wonder what else he thinks whites shouldn’t feel guilty over?
For the full history lesson:
You know, folks, I have to tell you something. This, this white guilt, it’s time for all this white guilt to end. I know it won’t because I know that most people are scared to death and live lives totally immersed in fear because that’s what other people want them to live like, but I’m sick of it. White guilt is doing nothing for anybody, and white guilt is not solving anything. And besides that, a little history lesson for you. If any race of people should not have guilt about slavery, it’s Caucasians. The white race has probably had fewer slaves and for a briefer period of time than any other in the history of the world.
Now, sadly, we’re not talking about the rest of the world when the civil rights coalition gets ginned up. They’re talking about America and slavery. And that can’t be denied; it happened. But, compared to the kind of slavery that still exists in the rest of the world and has existed, by no means was it anywhere near the worst. The Chinese, the Arabs, black Africans, in fact, we forget about it. Even American Indians were constantly warring against tribes, other tribes for slaves. You know how many wars were fought for slaves, to claim them.
My gosh, folks, the ancient Israelites were all slaves. The Exodus, the war, everything. There have been so many wars fought over this. Ancient Rome went to war to win more slaves. We’re pikers compared to the rest of humanity throughout human history. Yes, even American Indians — I know the image is that they were the embodiment of perfection. They were just cool and fine until we arrived, and then it was all over for ’em. But even they were constantly warring against other tribes for slaves. It was their primary reason for going to war.
But despite all that, no other race has ever fought a war for the purpose of ending slavery, which we did. Nearly 600,000 people killed in the Civil War. It’s preposterous that Caucasians are blamed for slavery when they’ve done more to end it than any other race, and within the bounds of the Constitution to boot. And yet white guilt is still one of the dominating factors in American politics. It’s exploited, it’s played upon, it is promoted, used, and it’s unnecessary.
So because white people shouldn’t feel guilty because their version of slavery lasted a shorter period of time? Ok, I get the logic in that, honestly I do. And I don’t think that white people should walk around with the weight of slavery on their shoulders, but Black people will never forget–despite any of us living today never having to experience what our ancestors lived through. But Rush’s decision to eradicate the guilt is hardly a way to move forward from slavery.