Q: Who's "not" embracing the Changing faces of Brownwood ?

Thursday June 16, 2005
Op Ed: Columnist
The changing faces of the people in Central Texas
When Cynthia Rives arrived at the newspaper office for her appointment in late May, she brought a friend along. Rives and Ashraf Jafri sat down across the table from me to ask if the paper had any interest in running a series of articles that would feature several of the diverse families that now call the Stephenville area home. For a variety of reasons, many rural central Texas cities, including Brownwood, are finding that the demographics are changing. The two thought it would be a good idea to run the series around the Fourth of July holiday.
The women first met through a series of meetings held at the Methodist church called Interfaith Dialogue. The two of them, who come from opposite corners of the world, still practice different religions and grew up speaking in different native languages, over time came to learn that they had more in common than they originally knew. In addition, they suspected that was also true of many of the other residents who originally came from around the globe, but now call the Cross Timbers area home.
The problem was that many of those residents did not know it, and they hoped a series of articles in the paper would help spread that message.
The ladies' new friendship certainly wouldn't be the first time barriers were broken down because two people got to know each other on a more personal level than just as part of a racial or ethnic group. How many times have we heard a comment along the lines of, "He's my neighbor and he (or she) is different from the rest of..."
While speaking to a local radio personality here recently, I heard that type of comment about members of a certain political party. He was quick to point out that it was not the local members of the party his critical comments applied to, but to those around the rest of the nation. Again, the comments were an example of how we are more comfortable around, and maybe a little more accepting of, people we've gotten to know on a personal level. However it also showed that we still have a long way to go in overcoming stereotypes.
The definition of stereotype is, "a fixed or conventional notion or conception." The word has taken on something of a negative meaning lately, and is often used when that notion or conception is incorrect. As Rives and Jafri found out, by talking with each other, they learned that they had so many things in common; as mothers they had the same hopes for their children and as women of faith they both tried to live their lives according to the beliefs they had grown up with. Perhaps most importantly, though, as citizens of this nation, the ladies wanted others to learn about what all of us have in common as opposed to how we are different.
The idea was a good one, particularly as members of our society continue to polarize themselves along religious, racial and political lines. By and large, I think people still make exceptions to their stereotypes when it comes to someone they know. However, as the language declaring our position (whatever that position may be) as the only acceptable one grows stronger, it would appear that even that level of acceptance is in danger of waning.
The real truth in the radio host's statement was not that his comments were accurate on a broad level, but in reality, are being echoed by people across the country. We may not be familiar with the beliefs, hopes and dreams of people who live in other parts of our world, or this nation or even a different neighborhood in this community, but I suspect we all have much more in common than not. Sometimes all it takes is sitting down at the table and visiting with someone to be reminded of that little truth.
Bill Crist is associate publisher of the Brownwood Bulletin. He recently served as interim publisher of the Stephenville Empire-Tribune. His column appears on Wednesdays. He may be reached by e-mail at bill.crist@brownwoodbulletin.com.
source: http://www.brownwoodbulletin.com/articles/2005/06/15/op_ed/columnist/opinion04.txt
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My answer: Listen to (Brownwood Talk Radio 96.9 FM) KXYL's James Williamson (spokesperson for the Brown County Republican Party) News and Views and his morning show as well.
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Note: James appeared very uneasy and severly aggitated ( went in to talk-over mode ! ) to the callers (David, Ben & Reggie) this morning who challenged his hateful attitudes, name calling, vile partisan attacks and his inability and unwillingness to accept his own darkness and the hypocricy that so many in this community see coming from talk show hosts which are being broadcast over the airwaves of Central Texas Via KXYL. It was refreshing to hear James' new co-host verbally challenge Hypocritical Republicans and their Shrill Talking Head Network ! WOW ! What's next for the Brownwood Airwaves, Ed Schultz ? I can think of many of James Williamson supporters who will scatter from hearing a voice of reason. You should hear how Ed Schultz handles opposing viewpoints ( he must have attended debate classes ! He's actually cordial and reasonable and allows them to make their points without all the interruptions and name calling !). Brownwood Talk Radio Fans on the X-treme Right would freak or have to go purchase some heavy duty Sunglasses ! Also found it interesting that when it comes to porn, pimps, closeted gays, crime,sex & corporate welfare oozing out of the Republican side of the aisle, James seems to go into a cloaking mode because he says it's not in his stack of stuff ! I wonder why it's not in his stack of stuff ? I'll suspect it's because James (supported by Phil Watts) is working from the *angle of The South Pacific Song:

You've got to be taught
To hate and fear,
You've got to be taught
From year to year,
It's got to be drummed
In your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught to be afraid
Of people whose eyes are oddly made,
And people whose skin is a diff'rent shade,
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught before it's too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,
You've got to be carefully taught
source: http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/southpacific/youvegottobecarefullytaught.htm
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*the angle - always find a negative story about the chosen group or subject and drive home the point over and over again. This is also the style of Hitler's Propoganda Minister Joseph Goebels who used the airwaves to demonize anyone left of their hard right beliefs, faith & ideas !