Kaleigh Tharrington
Ms. Wellens
Dual Enrollment
February 28th, 2010
Condoms: The New Diploma
In Rush Limbaugh’s essay, “Condoms: The New Diploma”, he talks about the irrationality of the distribution of condoms in high school. He says in his essay that abstinence should be the one and only sex education because condoms don’t actually offer one hundred percent protection against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Limbaugh’s essay is a single sided opinion that keeps a constant flow of negativity but is also very mockingly convincing. His essay lacks the facts and information he needs to make his point perfect. Limbaugh’s essay would charm the average conservative republican, but would probably isolate the liberals because of its one-way thinking. In reading his essay, one would hope that anyone could see past his idealistic views and notice that his arguments would be much better debated if he presented the other side of the story.
While looking into Limbaugh’s essay, one is able to spot the weak areas. This was intended to be a biased essay, as it was. He shows this by speaking about the silliness of the supply of condoms in high school through the whole essay. He only shows the rewards of abstinence, because he believes there aren’t any for the distribution of condoms in high schools. He uses questions and imaginary situations to hold up his argument. Yet, when showing the other side’s point of view he makes fun of them by giving flippant and cynical rebuttals. For example, Limbaugh states that “advocates of condom distribution say that kids are going to have sex, that try as we might we can’t stop them.” Then adds if sex is going to be “something you can’t stop kids from doing” so is smoking cigarettes all the time, doing drugs in homeroom, and shooting guns at teachers. His essay stays on the same track with the idea that Limbaugh won’t let go, dodging any thoughts that would push the essay even a smidge away from the main topic. The thesis statement, which is obviously declared in the first paragraph, says that condom circulation in high schools is unreasonable and the judgment behind it shows people what he thinks is wrong with public education today. Limbaugh fails to use his statistics well, for example, he says, “The condom failure rate can be as high as twenty percent,” but where did this information really come from? It sounds as though he was writing this essay so fast he just came up with these statistics in his head.
The tone of this essay is humorously swaying because of his sarcasm through out the entire essay. For instance, Limbaugh says that to give out condoms or make them on hand for students in school would promote sexual activity. He continues to say that if Johnny were trying to persuade Susie into having sex with him he could just say, “Hey, everything is okay. Nothing will go wrong. Heck, the school gave me this condom, they know what they’re doing. You’ll be fine”. Limbaugh’s nonchalant attitude in his little scenario was amusing and also a little over board. In addition, the only solution shown in his system to sex education is abstinence, forgetting to reflect on a combination of the two practices. What if condoms were available to students, and abstinence was taught in the classroom? Therefore, Limbaugh could have gone into more detail about the opposing side to his argument without mocking the thought or idea. His sarcasm and irony made for a very interesting piece to read and was great “food for thought”.