Needing Rush of kindness

Last week, radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh announced on his program that he is addicted to prescription pain pills. Limbaugh began taking pain pills after surgery in the 1990s and has since become addicted.\nLimbaugh has a reputation as an ultra-conservative commentator. He can be heard on the radio, every day, spewing his uncaring message of law and order to the extreme. Rush likes to make the other side look dumb, and he thinks liberals are bad people. You know the drill.\nBut, most of all, Rush Limbaugh has shown an extreme lack of compassion for those who have fallen on rough times. As Newsweek and several other media sources have reported, Limbaugh, in 1995, said of drug abusers, we should "find the ones who are getting away with it, convict them and send them up the river."\nOn his last show, after confession of his illegal addiction, Limbaugh implored his audience: "I ask now for your prayers." Mr. Limbaugh, who has made a career off of criticizing others, is now asking for their prayers and mercy.\nShould the man who decried compassion for others now receive a taste of his own medicine?\nNo.\nLimbaugh is an unfair and malicious radio host, but he is the perfect example of why some minor drug abuse -- for those without a criminal record -- should be responded to with treatment instead of rigid punishment.\nIn the state of Florida (where he lives), Limbaugh could receive five years in jail if he was dealing in large quantities of painkillers, according to Newsweek.\nThere certainly are instances where five years in jail is merited for someone who is dealing drugs. Marijuana, cocaine and painkillers all have a deleterious effect on people and on society. But all too often, society gets caught in a trap of thinking that the best way to deal with a small-time drug user is to just throw him or her in jail.\nThat's been Limbaugh's mentality. But now, the shoe is on the other foot. \nSo, let's look a little more closely at Limbaugh's case. He had surgery in the '90s on his back and started taking pain pills then. He wasn't taking them with any malicious effect. He got hooked. His body has felt the negative consequences of the drugs over the years, but, so far as we know, he has never hurt anyone because of his drug use.\nLimbaugh certainly isn't the only American in this situation. According to Newsweek, 1.9 million Americans have illegally taken OxyContin (a pain medication) at least once. What's more, there are many people who have abused other drugs (marijuana, cocaine) occasionally and have gotten caught.\nLimbaugh would likely argue that such offenders should be tossed in jail. But, for a first-time offender, what would that accomplish? Do you stop someone from using drugs by hardening them? Indeed, many courts in this country recognize that rehabilitation -- instead of incarceration -- is often the way to go. For small-time and non-repeat offenders, a little bit of compassion often goes a long way.\nI would rush to point out that I'm not trying to indict our criminal justice system. There are plenty of good rehabilitation programs which are frequently utilized. But, Rush Limbaugh's case is a perfect example of why the uncaring rhetoric he preaches should be rejected.\nAs Limbaugh asked, I will say a little prayer for him tonight. I also hope that those helping him with treatment and those in the criminal justice system will show him a little compassion. Maybe, then, he will learn that a little compassion can go a long way.