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You’ve most likely heard by now that Rush Limbaugh has lung cancer.

Such news is guaranteed to ignite some very, very ugly comments on social media.

Here’s a bit of what’s going on at the moment:

Rush Limbaugh has spend decades spewing dangerous anti-Black racism. Now he has cancer… I know we shouldn't celebrate one's misfortunes…. but #PartyOverHere pic.twitter.com/NVI1mVg2hW — Tariq Nasheed 🇺🇸 (@tariqnasheed) February 3, 2020

Rush Limbaugh has spent decades pushing a horrid agenda that he knew was ruining numerous lives, and getting people killed. He deserves proper medical treatment for his lung cancer. Not going to root for him to die. But I really don't give a shit what happens to him. Sorry. — Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) February 3, 2020

And this:

Rush Limbaugh is, without a doubt, one of the most hateful, awful people of the last half century, and one who had one of the most negative impacts possible on this country. It’s only fitting that this cancer upon the world should be stricken by it. — Jon Tayler, Smiling Politely (@JATayler) February 3, 2020

Of course, I have no idea what anyone’s exposure has been, but based on what I’ve seen in the world, I’d say there’s a good chance more than a few Rush haters are genuinely unaware of the man. I’ve noticed it’s a popular thing to rage against what one’s heard rather than what one knows.

But what about TV’s talking heads? Are they in the know? What do they have to say?

A former CNN host — Reza Aslan — surmised he had a really good question Monday: Is the world better off without Limbaugh?

Reza used to host the show Believer, and he believed he should ponder the following before the world:

Ask yourself this simple question: is the world a better place or a worse place with Rush Limbaugh in it? — Reza Aslan (@rezaaslan) February 3, 2020

Not everyone was on board:

This isn’t cool at all. I’m a far left liberal and I hope that Rush Limbaugh comes out of this healthy and lives a long life. I’ll gladly continue disagreeing with him every day. The man has family and friends who care deeply for him. Let’s try to be human and wish him well. — #NeverAgain (@moletru) February 3, 2020

This is the philosophical door that when opened, allows all manner of evil free reign in our society. Who gets to decide? Is the world better with you in it? Are any means acceptable when censorship is the goal? When will some in this era re-learn the hard lessons of the past? — Discarded Virtues (@DiscardedVirtue) February 4, 2020

Oh boy. I don't think I've ever heard Rush's show. I know he's a conservative radio personality. But reading this I'm convinced Reza is a garbage human. — Mr_Dark_49 (@t_rexSF49) February 3, 2020

Ask yourself this simple question: is Twitter a better place or a worse place with @rezaaslan on it? — MIKE BRESLIN’S POINTLESS TWEETS (@mikebreslin815) February 3, 2020

The cancer eating away at the hate-filled soul of Reza is far worse than anything Rush is dealing with. — CDB (@quietnolonger) February 4, 2020

I feel sorry for your children and your wife. — Jane Says (@JustJaneinLA) February 4, 2020

Thank you for demonstrating the difference between good people and a sorry peices shit. Have a good evening! — Leroy Brown (@Leroy_Brown7) February 4, 2020

And there was one excellent use of the word “frick”:

Holy frick!!!!! I can’t believe you actually are asking this question. You are the epitome of evil. — Stacey (@staceybeast) February 4, 2020

Reza was undeterred:

1. I am not “celebrating” anyone’s diagnosis. I’m posing an important philosophical question

2. Rush is not “my adversary” – he is a curse upon this nation, a purveyor of hatred and racism who’s at the very least indirectly responsible for the mass suffering of countless people. https://t.co/buUdG0V3IF — Reza Aslan (@rezaaslan) February 3, 2020

This seems to me a question worth asking: What does it say about our media world when one of its members feels — presumably — completely comfortable pitching the potential virtue of a talk show host’s death?

Regardless, it’s not the first time Reza’s had strong words for someone in the American ether:

Might not want to throw any stones there. pic.twitter.com/aunhEItQL3 — Hunted Biden (@HuntedBiden) February 3, 2020

Hence, this comment:

I can't wait until Nick Sandmann owns your house. — Shem Horne (@Shem_Infinite) February 4, 2020

From the refuge of your house, look out the window — it’s getting uglier out there.

And that’s worse for everyone. No matter your politics.

-ALEX

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