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”.