Rush Limbaugh is my Homie

Huh. So writing for others has done a number of interesting things for me. For example, I recently discovered that I seek approval from others, so some might say that writing is an unusual choice, seeing as how writers and especially bloggers put themselves out there and sometimes face harsh, albeit inevitable criticism. It's an occupational hazard. I get it. But for someone who has always just wanted to be liked, it isn't always easy. But it has been a very good thing for me.

Writing is also a way for me to be honest with myself and work towards being fine with criticism. I continue and will continue to put myself out there, be open and possibly, likely, inevitably face backlash from time to time. I have learned to say what I mean, be honest, focus and stand my ground. I have also learned to walk the line between explaining myself and defending myself.

But there is also a balance which needs to be struck between expressing my true feelings, being irreverent, bombastic and funny on the one hand and appealing to the masses on the other. Writing shouldn’t be so bizarre and out there that it doesn’t have mass appeal. Or should it? I myself seek non-mainstream, minority opinions. I like hearing different sides to a story and other ideas. And I don’t always agree, but I love having the option to listen and choose and share. And if those ideas are well-written, smart and/or witty, all the better, I say.

Being clear and focused is important in journalism, but in my opinion, not so much in blogging. Sometimes I have stuff to say, sometimes I contradict myself, sometimes I ramble. That’s my prerogative as a blogger. In the end, I don’t actually really and truly believe that my opinion matters all that much in the grand scheme of anyone’s life. I believe I am entitled to my own opinion, but so are you and him and him and her and them. You can take or leave what I have to say. I can take or leave what you have to say.

It’s a beautiful thing if you ask me.

So how surprised was I to find that not everybody thought yesterday’s Kanye West post was hilarious. I could some rather surprising feedback, not the least of which my "homies" statement made me sound a little like Rush Limbaugh. That was definitely a first!

Other comments:

If you're going after Kanye for being pompous, I would suggest that your last two paragraphs are not entirely necessary. Also, what brought this on? I share your disdain for Kanye, but did he actually do something wrong here aside from, you know, being on tour while Obama won? Because I wouldn't call out a country music star from Alaska (if they had one) for not being around a Sarah Palin rally on election night, even if she was conservative. Seems like an odd double standard...

If I don't know you well enough to know that you're being sarcastic (and not mean), then I can't imagine what a reader who has never met you may think. That's the sort of racially-charged sentence that you don't usually want to sign off on unless you're damned sure what you're doing (because it is so dismissive, not only toward Kanye, but toward Obama as well).

As for the rest of the post, you say that in terms of class there's no comparison—my only comment is that it's because there shouldn't be. This is why I find the post odd, because I think you're comparing apples to oranges at this point, and I see the implication that because Kanye is from Chicago and because Kanye is black, he's an (unmentionable word) for not showing up to the Obama party. Once more, is this a fair standard to hold a rapper up to?

Let me just say that I totally appreciate feedback. Ultimately, it makes me a better writer. It keeps me thinking and keeps me on my toes. But really? I’m coming across as mean? That’s too bad. Because I thought that post was clever, original and hilarious.

Any thoughts?

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