In a radio interview this week, Rush Limbaugh said, “That’s the Academy Award, best actor for a movie appropriately called The Joker. We are the center of the universe, Mr. Phoenix. Humanity is the center of the universe by design. We are the stewards of the universe. We are the stewards of the natural world. We are the ones bestowed with the intelligence and the compassion to do it.
We have more cows and more milk than anybody knows, and there isn’t a cow in the world that is anguished when her calf is taken away for more than five minutes because she doesn’t remember it. It’s a gift of God. They don’t have the capacity for hope and fear.
Humanity has to feed itself. The means by which we do so has been given to us by God. We are the stewards of. These people are literal fools. They don’t know what they’re talking about. This is not even liberalism. This is just some sort of feel-good wackoism that seeks primacy by placing humanity on no higher level than any other living organism.” (Source: RushLimbaugh.com)
Here’s my response to Rush Limbaugh:
Rush,
It’s sadly ironic that after receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, an award bestowed upon people for their contributions to world peace, you attacked Joaquin Phoenix for promoting world peace. It’s an unnecessary reminder that you’re undeserving of the award and that Trump merely used you to gaslight his opponents.
Humanity is not at the “center of the universe.” Your thesis is born out of ego, selfishness, insecurity, shortsightedness, and a lack of respect for other species that share the planet.
You stated we’re the “stewards of the universe.” We have no more right to inhabit the planet than any other species. If we’re stewards, we’ve failed miserably. Humans have taken a wrecking ball to our forests, oceans, lakes, land, air, and drinking water. We’ve drained oceans of life, wiped out species, recklessly warmed the planet with pollution, tortured the most defenseless among us, and threatened life on earth with irresponsible policies, greed, and unthinkable disregard.
Killing animals isn’t compassionate, as you suggest. Your lack of empathy and disinterest in rethinking archaic cultural norms doesn’t justify the status quo. Slaughtering billions of animals for food when we don’t need them to survive is cruel and ruthless domination.
Your statement that we should kill cows because there are too many of them is ignorant and horrifying, but not surprising given your history of callousness. The so-called abundance of cows is the result of maniacal breeding for slaughter–a process so evil that most people can’t watch it. It isn’t a gift from God; it’s a nightmare from industrial factories. By your twisted logic, people could be infinitely bred and used for any purpose because there are too many of them.
Despite your baseless claim that cows are mindless, research indicates cows are sentient–they form strong emotional bonds and experience fear. Wanting something to be true to suit a selfish narrative doesn’t make it true. You can create a reality in your mind, but not in ours. We have access to an abundant supply of plant-based food from trees and the ground. We don’t need to eat animals to survive, so you’ve presented a false dichotomy.
Simply because you don’t want to show mercy for animals doesn’t mean more humane, healthy, delicious, and sustainable options don’t exist. Calling people “fools” and “wackos” for making thoughtful decisions that align with their values fits nicely in your portfolio of racist, homophobic, xenophobic, and misogynistic remarks.
Based on statements you’ve made throughout your career and your disdain for freedom and truth, your medal has no meaning. You may have the medal, but Joaquin Phoenix has the respect that goes with it.
Kirschner's Korner 
Response couldn’t be written better!
Agreed. Now his was an eloquent intelligent piece. Rush is just a piece of shit!
Your response to Limbaugh’s crude and cruel remarks is spot on. So glad I found your blog!
Wow! Andrew, your writing is truly beautiful and truthful. Thank you for writing this piece. I’m going to read it again and again because you so eloquently state the facts and stand up for what (who in this case) is right.
Thank you for this excellent response.
I hope you don’t mind, Andrew, but I had to post this on my FB page!
Me too- fb friends need to read this.
Thank you Mr Kirschner. Your words are so very true and I respect you for letting the selfish, self-centered, ignorant and small minded Limbough know this. Even his “dying words” are full of hate and distain. He’s a perfect example of why some people, like him, should not be left to make these horrible decisions about animals. I have always know Limbough to be rude, malicious and hateful and even creepy and, that is how he will forever be remembered. He is a broken, malfunctioning, damaged and defective person.
BRAVO KIND SIR
C.G.
How often have you listened to Rush Limbaugh over his 30 year radio career?
Just wondering.
10 times was way more than enough for me
The guy is truly a selfish dick and an asshole
Sadly too much! Glad he will be gone soon. Another heartless being that took up too much space!
What a pathetic existence to be remembered by. Zero sympathy for such a rotten shell of a human being. May he suffer accordingly
Thank you for speaking up👍🙏🏻❤️
Thank you for trying to set this horrible creature, Rush Limbaugh, straight. Although I doubt that it will do any good because the cruelty, arrogance and entitlement of this man is only equal to his stupidity.
Excellent Andrew! Very well said! Giving Rush Limbaugh the medal of freedom, was just another way for Trump to provoke his opponents, pointing out that he’s the “boss” and can do whatever he wants. Immature and childish, but far from surprising. There’s a lot of us that were horrified by it though! Even more so watching the Republicans getting up on their feet, giving him standing ovation for it! Unbelievable!
I have just discovered your blog and I have to say that each one I read, is just more incredible and eye opening than the last. Bravo and Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Thank you for standing up and speaking out!
Thank you. Several years ago, I wrote my own plea for compassion. You can listen to it here, I posted the story I wrote in response.
https://sknobloch88.wordpress.com/2020/02/16/in-response-to-joaquin-phoenix-and-rush-limbaugh/
We must remember that although Limburger can put sentences together, he remains a zombified, mindless, disconnected fool, deserving of zero respect.
The good news, his karmic cancer will continue to rot and finally eradicate this oxygen-thief.
Good Riddance!!!
Boom! You said it all! And thank you for your post!
DEAR RUSH..I was thinking about George Wallace in his final years.. very ill and confined to a wheelchair, he attempted to use his remaining years to heal wounds. The was some hope you would perhaps use your time to do the same. A PSA against smoking? Support for causes you previously opposed? Helping at a homeless shelter?
NO! Instead you champion attacks on… compassion.
Sadly you still continue to ignore God’s voice;(
Rev. George Coniglio
Thank you for trying to set this horrible creature, Rush Limbaugh, straight. Although I doubt that it will do any good because the cruelty, arrogance and entitlement of this man is only equal to his stupidity.
Andrew, I give you a standing ovation for your BRILLIANT, THOUGHTFUL, COMPASSIONATE, INTELLIGENT, WIS<E and I applaud you!!!!!!!!
I have shared and I will continue to share.
BRAVO! Thank you.
Wow! Thank you for your ‘speak truth to power’ response! This man is now living with the consequences of eating other animals. He doesn’t deserve any respect or compassion at all.
Phenomenal!! Thanks so much for this.
Sincerely,
A fellow vegan ❤
Cows ARE your friends. eating them is what God called for but I am sure I am going to ruffle feathers mentioning 3 letters. God didn’t tell you to eat hare. Eat oxen after you sacrifice it to him. But we forgot how to do that too. Besides, does it take someone famous to open your eyes up to the truth. People are growing at an alarming rate and feeding them almost an impossibility. Once the soil becomes infertile , then what will you eat….Trees? Money? Oil? You want a more humane place feed them grass not hormones.
Wow
Thank you!
Great response, Thank you Andrew!!