If only I could give Sandra Fluke a high-five right now! As a fellow American woman, I've been fuming over the incredibly disrespectful, ignorant, and downright detestable comments Rush Limbaugh made about the Georgetown Law University student since that oafish blowhard called her a "slut" on the air back in February (for daring to voice her opinion that universities should provide contraception coverage).
Calling Sandra Fluke a "slut" and slamming author Tracie McMillan as overeducated but not necessarily intelligent were just the radio host's latest zingers. From equating Obama with Hitler to likening Hillary Clinton to a "screeching ex-wife," Rush's 19 most outrageous remarks.
In the middle of this heated debate over birth control and religion, it's easy to get the impression that Christians are anti-birth control, and so is God for that matter. Yet, as a mom, a person of faith, a married lady and a birth control lover, I don't see it as so simple.
Whether you support women students at Georgetown University who are calling to receive contraceptives under their private health insurance or not, I think it's clear that Sandra Fluke has remained graceful throughout a barrage of attack from Rush Limbaugh and a number of other prominent political commentators. Although Sandra was initially shocked and stunned at the language being used about her, there are six skills she reveals that may have helped her stay steady under pressure.
By now you know the story: Georgetown University law student Sandra Fluke spoke out in favor of insured birth control, and Rush Limbaugh lashed out at her by calling her a slut and saying the government shouldn't subsidize her lifestyle.
You’ve come a long way, baby! Seventy-eight million of us baby boomers who grew up in United States during the 1970s remember this slogan as an iconographic hallmark from the feminist movement, an unofficial benchmark signifying that women were emancipated and free (if you considered smoking and wearing pants the epitome of freedom). And while it might make us feel good forty years later to think we’ve come a long way, baby, thank you, Rush Limbaugh, I can’t say with any real confidence that we have.
Recently in the news, a woman speaks out for contraceptives and conservatives began to go stir crazy! Rush Limbaugh went way too far this time calling Sandra Fluke, a 30 year old law student and an advocate for female rights, a slut, whore and feminazi because she's spoke out on behalf of females everywhere for contraception.
If you’ve been following the news, you’ve heard of Sandra Fluke, the Georgetown law student who testified before Democratic members of the House of Representatives on why she believed free contraception is essential. She got a beat down of a lashing from Rush Limbaugh who called her a slut and compared her to a prostitute. Rush sent out a public apology after his rant caused him to lose several sponsors for his radio show. This story represents on a large scale the deep wound of shame that so many feel when they speak up. Shame is the feeling that “something is wrong with me.” Shame pops up in three main areas for women: in speaking up and using our voice, in feeling comfortable with our bodies and our sensuality and in the way we mother and raise our children.
Steering clear of "pot calling kettle black," I want to make sure that I simply make a candid observation. "Slinging derogatory comments at someone proves you’re more of an ass with each passing moment you open your mouth.” Now that I’ve got that out of my system, let’s talk about Mr. Rush Limbaugh and his use of the word slut, which he lobbed with vile ease at Sandra Fluke just a few days ago.
Not only is Rush Limbaugh way wrong on his comments about Georgetown University student Sandra Fluke but there's an even bigger problem that affects relationships and marriages everywhere when someone with a large audience or platform like Rush makes derogatory comments about women like the ones he made recently.
S.L.U.T: A solely, liberated, unbiased truth-teller. If this is true, then I'm game. As a matter of fact, I am a s.l.u.t and I know quite a few who men who share this distinguished title. Recently, Rush Limbaugh slammed Sandra Fluke, a law student at Georgetown, when she spoke in front of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee about increasing help from insurance companies for women receiving contraception. Afterward, Limbaugh called her a variety of derogatory names, including "slut" and "prostitute." Now, he has been slammed where it hurts the most, his wallet.
"The Myth of Feminine Evil" is the tile of a noteworthy volume published by H.R. Hays in 1964. This work occurs to me in the effort to explain the phenomenon of men degrading women for their sexuality. In "The Myth of Feminine Evil," Hays identifies the primitive custom of banning the menstruating woman from working in the fields, lest her fecundity taint the season’s crops. It is unfortunate that a variation of this practice is seen today in some strata of Arab culture, as evidenced by the stoning of women who have had sexual congress with men outside of marriage, and the acceptance of the brothers of such women killing their sisters to remove what is considered the "blight of shame of family honor."
What do we do when we meet up with someone whose values are so opposed to our own? What about being curious as to why and how they made their decisions versus being judgmental? What about pondering their philosophy to come to a deeper understanding of another person's point of view, before condemning? Lastly, can we maintain civility and be polite regardless if we vehemently disagree?
In a deliberately well articulated cry for women's equality, Sandra Fluke's plea before congress called for new legislature to cover the cost of birth control for women seeking contraception, as well as those suffering from medical conditions that benefit from its use.
It’s great that Rush Limbaugh called Sandra Fluke a slut and a prostitute! By saying what he did, this misogynistic ignoramus inadvertently launched public awareness on this important issue like never before. I’m sure that was the last thing he was trying to accomplish, which is exactly why it’s extra satisfying. To add delicious icing to the cake, Sandra Fluke has handled the potentially devastating situation with dignity, grace and intelligence. Instead of shrinking in horror from the public attention and disgusting remarks, she rose to the occasion in a way that makes all of us self-respecting women proud.
I am a life and health coach and my blogs tend to focus on fun stuff like vegetables and food labels and how to get out of your own way when you’re trying to lose weight. I never thought I’d wade into anything remotely political, but the recent events involving Georgetown law student, Sandra Fluke have provided such an important lesson, for anyone, about knowing who you are and rejecting other people’s version of you. On a much, much smaller scale, I see this in my coaching practice all the time. Fortunately, none of my clients have been called derogatory names on a national radio show! Have you ever been accused of doing something or being something that just wasn’t true?