Brownwood "Talk Radio": Feels Like Home ?
Friday June 24, 2005
Op Ed: Letters To The Editor
Friendlier airwaves would be a better impression
Dear Editor:
I agree with the Bulletin's recent editorial on tourist season (June 12), especially with the ideas that "the community welcome mat should be swept in plain view, figuratively speaking," and that "A kind word or deed from a single person can prove to be the best promotional investment a region can make." Conversely, unkind words or deeds may roll up that welcome mat, and give a visitor or traveler passing through that uneasy, cold feeling of hostility. What would be the effect, then, of a local radio show that actually intends to make its audience, or part of it anyway, uncomfortable?
Weekday afternoon listeners in this area may hear such a show on 96.9 FM. "News and Views," a live call-in show hosted by James Williamson, imitates the formats of popular conservative talk-radio hosts, but from its first moments on air it is clear that it is in a lesser league all its own. Williamson's slogan is "We're going to make liberals uneasy today, because we're going to shine light into all their darkness." With bitter sarcasm and a sinister chuckle, Williamson reviles and vilifies gays, lesbians, civil libertarians, feminists, Muslims, pagans, environmentalists, socialists, commies and Democrats, and generally anyone who he thinks disagrees with his opinion or opposes the Bush administration. At the same time, he exaggerates, oversimplifies, and misrepresents the liberal perspective, and perpetuates old stereotypes, a favorite one being that any criticism of American foreign policy is "America bashing."
What does the show intend to achieve by making liberals uneasy? Is it merely to irritate and annoy, or to intimidate and bully? Callers who disagree with the host are called names, misquoted and personally attacked on the air by Williamson and his audience. Indeed, the very existence and apparent popularity of the show calls the whole notion of a "community welcome mat" into serious question.
While tolerance of diversity and civil public debate are among the great strengths of our democracy, Williamson ridicules the very concept of diversity, and fosters a mean-spirited and sophomoric discourse reminiscent of the playground. Naturally, he is entitled to his own opinion, which is as valid as anyone else's. The only issue being raised here is how his show reflects this community.
Tune in sometime and judge for yourself. Would you like to visit his town?
Daniel Graham
Brownwood
source: http://www.brownwoodbulletin.com/articles/2005/06/25/op_ed/letters_to_the_editor/letter01.txt
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and now for the community dialogue !
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