Because I am a political animal, I get up in arms about the problems I see our troops and veterans face and this blog sometimes gets a little help-the-troops heavy rather than focusing on the root problem of war--intolerance. Today I have a guest blogger--and editor, fine writer and thinker--who will rectify that imbalance a bit. Please meet Jozette Aaron and respond to her essay:
Fighting the War Within
By Jozette Aaron
Reading the newspaper recently has been more like a chore than something I enjoy doing while having my coffee in the morning. I am hard put to find any good news, especially in light of the upsurge in hate crimes and racism in the U.S. The media calls it "a perfect storm" with the election of a black president, the recession, gay marriage and the gun law controversy. There are those out there that are less tolerant of change, those who internalize these feelings until something triggers those feelings and they boil over in an uncontrollable rage.
Change is what has made America the country it is today; has helped it to evolve and grow strong in the face of adversity. I never thought I'd live to see a black president in the white house but I did and for that, hope springs eternal; the hope that we would tighten the threads that hold us together as a nation, accept our differences as blessings for the chance to learn new cultures and new ways of experiencing our lives.
Our children and their children are our future leaders and much rests on their innocent shoulders. I have to remain optimistic that children who are bought up in the racial bias of their parents and taught to hate those different from themselves will, as adults, reject this mindset and accept all differences as part of the natural order of things.
While society accepts, in the name of free speech, and gives voice to all those who would drag our society, as a whole, through the mud, it is racism dressed up in many different outfits that fuel these voices.
We are fighting two wars in foreign lands, dealing with the threat of a nuclear incident as well as the infighting in our own government. The hope is that we, as Americans, can win the battle against differences and learn to live together in peace for peace is not something that will come from without…only from within.
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Jozette Aaron is the editor and publisher of DeSilva’s News...a tool writers rely on to meet their creative needs. Subscribers benefit from free promotion and marketing of their books, columns by successful, well known writers such as Carolyn Howard-Johnson and other writers wanting to share their expertise. DeSilva's News offers the latest information on where to find free courses, writer’s resources and calls for submissions; is chocked full of links to valuable information for your writing success. Sign up by visiting Jozette's Desk; every new subscriber receives a free e-Book - Writing Success Secrets.
Carolyn Howard-Johnson wrote the foreword for Eric Dinyer's book of patriotic quotations, Support Our Troops, published by Andrews McMeel. Part of the proceeds for the book benefit Fisher House. Her chapbook of poetry won the Military Writers Society of America's award of excellence. Find it at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599240173/
Showing posts with label free speech. Show all posts
Showing posts with label free speech. Show all posts
Monday, June 15, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Vile Intolerance Allowed To Proliferate on Our Airwaves Only Increases Violence
I try to stay positive with messages on this blog, but there are times when one just must speak out--vehemently. Now is the time.
Our airwaves are carrying way too much obscene material and I am not talking about sex and dirty words. I'm talking about vile intolerance. By now we should all have some idea that intolerance is at the root of the world's problems--from time immemorial. The major negative influence in the world--some would say evil--is intolerance. That includes 9/11 and other acts of terrorism and all of the world's errors (too many wars to count, certainly, but all of the ones I am old enough to remember certainly were results of bigotry, lack of understanding and worse). Some of our popular (with some people) radio and TV hosts are the worst, yet we continue--presumably in the name of free speech and free press-- to let them exist. In fact we gladly give them podiums to stand on so they can destroy our culture.
As long as they are allowed to spew their venom, their audiences will grow and with that growth their ratings and wealth. We should be at least as watchful about this danger to our society as we are about nudity and sex. Here is a rundown of one of the incidents along with links where you can go to register your complaint.
Recently Bill Handel on KFI - suggested reducing the U.S. population to save the government money. Then came a wisecrack about starting with the Armenians and selling Glendale. So far, it’s just tacky, and par for the shock-radio course. One person who heard this called and e-mailed to complain. The upshot? The e-mail was read and mocked again no surprises. But then came “What the Turks started, Bill will finish.” Imagine if similar comments were made against Jews or Blacks! They would turn the world upside down until they got justice! It's time we do the same and stop being so passive. If you are truly offended by this, then take 10 minutes out of your day and do something about it.
You’ll certainly want to hear the two clips. Unfortunately, you can’t hear the real offender off KFI’s website. Why? They’ve taken down that show from their website. Hmm, wonder why that is. Fortunately, they were downloaded ahead of time and are now available at: http://www.burbankanc.org/KFI.mp3
To contact these people, here are some options:
Snail mail address:
3400 W Olive Ave Ste 550, Burbank CA 91505
E-mail:
Robin Bertolucci, Program Director, KFI AM640,RobinBertolucci@clearchannel.com
You can also go to the FCC website and file a complaint with them. Here is a link: http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htmKFI station numbers:
Main: (818) 559-2252
Programming: (818) 566-6476
Corporate headquarters:
Clear Channel, 200 East Basse Road, San Antonio, TX 78209
210/822-2828
webmaster@clearchannel.com
Let’s flood these people. Let's fill up their voice mail systems. You can find some other numbers for them online too.
Technorati Tags:
bill handel, bill handle, clear channel, kfi, intolerance, bigotry, prejudice, ethnic intolerance, evil, 9/11, war,
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Carolyn Howard-Johnson wrote the foreword for Eric Dinyer's book of patriotic quotations, Support Our Troops, published by Andrews McMeel. Part of the proceeds for the book benefit Fisher House. Her chapbook of poetry won the Military Writers Society of America's award of excellence. Find it at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599240173/
Our airwaves are carrying way too much obscene material and I am not talking about sex and dirty words. I'm talking about vile intolerance. By now we should all have some idea that intolerance is at the root of the world's problems--from time immemorial. The major negative influence in the world--some would say evil--is intolerance. That includes 9/11 and other acts of terrorism and all of the world's errors (too many wars to count, certainly, but all of the ones I am old enough to remember certainly were results of bigotry, lack of understanding and worse). Some of our popular (with some people) radio and TV hosts are the worst, yet we continue--presumably in the name of free speech and free press-- to let them exist. In fact we gladly give them podiums to stand on so they can destroy our culture.
As long as they are allowed to spew their venom, their audiences will grow and with that growth their ratings and wealth. We should be at least as watchful about this danger to our society as we are about nudity and sex. Here is a rundown of one of the incidents along with links where you can go to register your complaint.
Recently Bill Handel on KFI - suggested reducing the U.S. population to save the government money. Then came a wisecrack about starting with the Armenians and selling Glendale. So far, it’s just tacky, and par for the shock-radio course. One person who heard this called and e-mailed to complain. The upshot? The e-mail was read and mocked again no surprises. But then came “What the Turks started, Bill will finish.” Imagine if similar comments were made against Jews or Blacks! They would turn the world upside down until they got justice! It's time we do the same and stop being so passive. If you are truly offended by this, then take 10 minutes out of your day and do something about it.
You’ll certainly want to hear the two clips. Unfortunately, you can’t hear the real offender off KFI’s website. Why? They’ve taken down that show from their website. Hmm, wonder why that is. Fortunately, they were downloaded ahead of time and are now available at: http://www.burbankanc.org/KFI.mp3
To contact these people, here are some options:
Snail mail address:
3400 W Olive Ave Ste 550, Burbank CA 91505
E-mail:
Robin Bertolucci, Program Director, KFI AM640,RobinBertolucci@clearchannel.com
You can also go to the FCC website and file a complaint with them. Here is a link: http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htmKFI station numbers:
Main: (818) 559-2252
Programming: (818) 566-6476
Corporate headquarters:
Clear Channel, 200 East Basse Road, San Antonio, TX 78209
210/822-2828
webmaster@clearchannel.com
Let’s flood these people. Let's fill up their voice mail systems. You can find some other numbers for them online too.
Technorati Tags:
bill handel, bill handle, clear channel, kfi, intolerance, bigotry, prejudice, ethnic intolerance, evil, 9/11, war,
------
Carolyn Howard-Johnson wrote the foreword for Eric Dinyer's book of patriotic quotations, Support Our Troops, published by Andrews McMeel. Part of the proceeds for the book benefit Fisher House. Her chapbook of poetry won the Military Writers Society of America's award of excellence. Find it at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599240173/
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Speaking Out in a Free Society
I found a quotation that I thought particularly appropriate for the world today, the world seething in conflict, racism and in need of a good dose of humor. In an article on Mark Twain, Richard Lacayo (Time Magazine) commented:
"The last thing you need in a free society is people who know their place."
Don't you love it? That Mark Twain spoke out not only made him a great writer, it made him a remembered writer.
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Carolyn Howard-Johnson wrote the foreword for Eric Dinyer's book of patriotic quotations, Support Our Troops, published by Andrews McMeel. Part of the proceeds for the book benefit Fisher House. Her chapbook of poetry won the Military Writers Society of America's award of excellence.
"The last thing you need in a free society is people who know their place."
Don't you love it? That Mark Twain spoke out not only made him a great writer, it made him a remembered writer.
=====
Carolyn Howard-Johnson wrote the foreword for Eric Dinyer's book of patriotic quotations, Support Our Troops, published by Andrews McMeel. Part of the proceeds for the book benefit Fisher House. Her chapbook of poetry won the Military Writers Society of America's award of excellence.
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