[PAA-Discuss] today's Open Journal "Voices for Peace" on KPFT

[Bill Crosier]

Hi, Massoud,

I heard most of the Open Journal on KPFT this morning and was not impressed.

I had told Duane back in Dec. why I didn't like the so-called Voices for Peace program (that has now been on several times since then with different producers) and gave him some suggestions, as I know others have.

I'm glad that we don't have a representative of the Israeli government producing the show any more (as happened once), but agree with other comments that some of the programs since then have been little better (for example, the one produced by the guy at the Jewish Herald Voice that made it sound like a 20 minute advertisement for the Israeli travel industry).  And IMHO the one today would have been much better if there were some questions like "how do you think others in the Israeli military feel about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict", about peace groups in Israel, and why do you think there is so much international criticism of Israel's treatment of Palestinians, Gaza, the settlements, etc.  I realize there isn't time to ask many questions of a guest in the OJ time, but I'd like to hear at least a few of those kinds of questions asked when we have the opportunity to interview someone who's been in the Israeli military, like today's show.

Part (perhaps the most important part, in my opinion) of the Pacifica mission is to:
"contribute to a lasting understanding between nations and between the individuals of all nations, races, creeds and colors; to gather and disseminate information on the causes of conflict between any and all of such groups; and through any and all means compatible with the purposes of this Foundation to promote the study of political and economic problems and of the causes of religious, philosophical and racial antagonisms".

I think Ernesto has been trying, through this program, to bring in some other voices that are not heard much on KPFT.  And I assume, although I'm not sure, that one goal may be to attract more listeners to KPFT who might otherwise think we're not being fair to Israel but who aren't really listening to KPFT to hear what's no on mainstream media.  Of course, I agree with most of the people on this list that Israel continues to commit war crimes, continues to do terribly immoral and unethical acts in punishing civilians, grossly over-reacts to what are only a few casualties caused by suicide bombers and rockets, and is in violation of UN resolutions regarding treatment of the Palestinians, the settlements, the apartheid wall, the Gaza blockade, etc.  But we do need to attract listeners who are getting their info from the right-wing media and maybe this is an attempt to do that.

Nick Cooper (and some others? - I forget who) have produced OJ's in response to the so-called Voices for Peace OJ, but I'd like to see some peace activists (perhaps some people on this list) volunteer to produce shows that BRING TOGETHER differing points of view on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and talk about the issues we're all thinking about.

I think it's good if Ernesto is trying to attract people who are not listening to KPFT, so maybe they'll listen to some of our other shows and hear the viewpoints they aren't hearing anywhere else.  However, I don't think these OJ's have been done in a way that fulfills the above part of the Pacifica mission and I know they've upset some people by sounding so one-sided in favor of Israel.  But other people are free to produce different shows (as Nick Cooper did).  I'd rather have different points of view on the same show, or pointed questions asked of people from different "sides" of issues on different days in the same time slot, if there isn't time to have them on the same short OJ program.  But that takes more work (including lining up suitable guests, and getting them to agree to talk with each other respectfully), and we need volunteers to produce shows like that -- ideally, a series of them.  Don't blame Duane and Ernesto for what other people are not doing.  It would be great radio, and in alignment with our mission, to have some dialog (not shouting) between people who disagree on important issues like this.  One reason we have not heard more of that during OJ might be that no one has applied to do such a show.  Most OJ producers just want to present their "side" of whatever issue they care about.  But I'll bet Ernesto would be glad to have a show or shows bringing together differing points of view on OJ.

Everything gets put on hold during fund drives (plus before and for a while after them) because they take so much time and energy, but I asked Duane just before this last one if we can get together with some folks to talk about all this after fund drive, to develop a better understanding of what we want to accomplish and how better to do that, and I think we're going to be able to do that.  At least I hope so.  But this week, I've been immersed in planning for the PNB meeting and Roy Zimmerman house parties, and I know Duane and Ernesto are trying to catch up on things after working 7 days a week for the last few weeks on fund drive.

But I'll talk with Duane and Ernesto and see if we can get some productive discussion going on how to make this work better.

In the meantime, I hope that some of you will think about producing (or helping others to produce) some good OJ's in alignment with the Pacifica mission.  For an Open Journal request form and info, see http://kpft.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=99&Itemid=99

Bill



At 11:51 AM -0600 2/23/11, Massoud wrote:
>Bill, do you ever listen to KPFT? Can you tell us, what is your opinion
>about the Open Journal this morning in light of the Black History Month?!
>Please enlighten us so we can go and enjoy Zimmerman show.
>
>Massoud
>*hope to hear from you because you are also a PNB member.
>
>
> 
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: discuss-bounces at paa-tx.org [mailto:discuss-bounces at paa-tx.org] On
>Behalf Of Bill Crosier
>Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 11:33 AM
>To: PAA Discussion List
>Subject: [PAA-Discuss] Fwd: KPFT/Pacifica/Roy Zimmerman/HCGP events this
>weekend
>
>There are some interesting things going on in the Houston area this
>weekend to see/do/experience.
>
>Among them are:
>
>* Roy Zimmerman house concerts/KPFT fundraisers:
>--Friday evening in Sugarland, and
>--Saturday evening in Houston (at Lee and Hardy Loe's home)
>--Reservations requested
>--Details and reservation information at:
>http://kpft.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=241:kpft-benefi
>t-&catid=1:latest-news
>and at http://paa-tx.org/node/3363
>
>* Pacifica National Board meeting in Houston
>--Friday through Sunday
>--Public comment each day, and public welcome at all open sessions-
>check the agenda for times
>--Reception at KPFT for PNB and KPFT supporters Saturday evening
>(sorry, overlaps with Roy Zimmerman house party that evening)
>--Meeting venue, map link, public transportation, other details are
>at:
>http://kpft.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=240&Itemid=155
>--Draft agenda (subject to change) at:
>http://pacifica.org/homepage/pacifica-quarterly-board-meeting.html
>--(Note: Time gaps in draft agenda are for closed executive sessions
>to discuss legal matters)
>
>* Green Party benefit concert
>--Friday evening at Bohemio's
>http://www.harriscountygreenparty.org
>--If you can't attend but want to donate, contact Don Cook
><zenblews at hotmail.com>
>

-- 
Bill Crosier
paa at crosierbiomed.com      713-641-4941
Progressive Action Alliance   http://progressiveactionalliance.org/
KPFT - Radio for Peace - 90.1 FM Houston   http://kpft.org