February 22, 2021
All spleen, no soul.
That is a phrase used recently in the New York Times to describe Twitter and other social media platforms that some people use to angrily express their political opinions. I’m not on Twitter, so I’m blissfully unaware of the nastiness that apparently is widespread on that and other social outlets. And I had to look up the meaning of spleen, which turns out to be an organ that the body uses to clean blood. But spleen is also used to suggest a bad temper or spite, as in venting one’s spleen about traffic.
The term spleen was used in an article about the recent death of Rush Limbaugh, a well known right wing radio personality known for his incendiary rants and denigrating language about people with whom he disagreed. The death of this famous demagogue has reportedly caused widespread celebration among his political opponents, and I must confess that I am one of those individuals who was pleased to hear of Limbaugh’s demise. We all vent our spleen from time to time, but Limbaugh was reputed to be vitriolic and spiteful on a daily basis.
Even so, the extensive cheering at the passing of the bombastic Mr. Limbaugh caused Times columnist Frank Bruni to entitle his latest piece, “Must We Dance on Rush Limbaugh’s Grave?” While acknowledging that Limbaugh was “so prone to cruel mockery, so proudly prejudiced, so recklessly divisive,” Bruni cautioned that “I think we should speak honestly of the dead, and in many cases that means speaking ill. But the pitch of that ill-speak needn’t be screechy. The manner of it needn’t be savage.” In other words, we shouldn’t do unto Rush as he did unto anyone he disagreed with.
Donald Trump was a big fan of Mr. Limbaugh, and it’s not hard to see why. Both traffic in abusive verbiage, and both promote malice, racial resentment, and conspiracy theories. Mr. Trump validated his friend’s brand of paranoia by awarding him with one of our nation’s highest honors, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. I can’t think of a less deserving recipient.
But Frank Bruni is right – just because we disagree with a Limbaugh or a Trump doesn’t mean that we should hate or insult them. And it isn’t really in our self interest to disparage others, since in doing so we allow ourselves to dwell in a negative frame of mind that can’t be good for our spleen or any other organ.
In the Buddhist tradition there is a concept called right speech, or wise speech. It means to pay attention to our choice of words, and then intentionally choose language that is wholesome, helpful, kind, generous, healing, and even inspiring. There is a certain morality implied in right speech, in that it implies distinctions between right and wrong, or setting higher standards for our words and our behavior. My friend Joseph adds that there is internal and external speech, so it’s important to have a positive and appreciative attitude in one’s own mind as well as in words spoken out loud. “Bless your food, and everything that comes to you,” Joseph advises.
I admit that my spleen enjoys being as opinionated as Mr. Limbaugh. But my soul prefers right speech.
David Wigginton 
Hi Dave,
Once again, we seem to be on the same track. I do not mourn the loss of Rich Limbaugh, but I would prefer to move on and not spend my energy on him. I recall reading a report of an interview of Limbaugh some time back where (to the best of my feeble memory) he commented that he was amazed that people would keep paying him to say the things he did —but he would happily keep saying them as long as they would keep on paying him those amazing amounts. It seems like he was talking about hundreds of millions, but I may have that part wrong. I also recall that Lindsay Graham stated at some point that he was happy to promote the far right view if his constituents wanted that. I suppose that is representing the views of your constituents, but it also exposes a lack of conscience, to say the least.
It’s the world we live in. Keep up the right speech,
Jim
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Thank you Dave for another wonderful and thoughtful vignette. I have missed your writing. It makes me uncomfortable whenever anyone dances on someone else’s grave. But I believe that we also have an innate sense of fairness that sometimes can look like glee. I feel it as well when I hear about New York and Georgia now going after our former president, especially since the prosecutors are Black women. I see it as more a hope for justice than a wish for revenge. Hope you are well!
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