Hate Radio In Rural America
Friday, September 17, 2004
This week PBS’ Religion and Ethics Newsweekly takes on the topic of hate radio in rural America. They talk with Montana talk show host John Stokes and church leaders concerned about his program and liked minded shows like Dan Savage’s. A United Church of Christ pastor, Donna Schram, is one of those worried about the impact hate radio might have on listeners. Here are a few quotes from the PBS report:
JOHN STOKES (Radio Host, KGEZ, Kalispell, Montana, on Radio): When the Left extremists are out of power, they are vicious, and it is pure, unadulterated, satanic evil. And they may look like your neighbors. It's evil.LUCKY SEVERSON: The Reverend Donna Schram of the Flathead Valley United Church of Christ is concerned about the chilling effect of Stokes's brand of discourse.
Reverend DONNA SCHRAM (Flathead Valley United Church of Christ): It's pretty hard, I think, to live that Christian life of give and take of love when you're constantly looking over your shoulder and being in a fearful state.
SEVERSON: The reverend's church is part of the Montana Association of Churches, which has begun asking members to get more involved in civic affairs to counter the influence of talk radio.
Mr. STOKES: The Association of Churches is one of the most leftist, communist organizations in Montana. They put stuff out in churches to boycott all my sponsors. I mean, they're an extremist group.
Read or listen to the full story by clicking here.
People like Stokes remind me of Father Charles Coughlin, the anti-Semitic Catholic priest who spewed anti-Jewish propaganda over America’s radio waves during the World War II era. Stokes and Savage (not to mention Rush Limbaugh) attack blacks, gays, and women the same way Coughlin attacked Jews.
Stokes isn’t just making right-wing political statements. He is opposed to dialog with those he disagrees with. And he is willing on air to advocate that people be killed.
SEVERSON: In this part of Montana, dozens of timber mills have closed, costing hundreds of jobs. Many locals blame government regulations, and especially the environmentalists, Stokes's so-called Green Nazis.Mr. STOKES (On Air): This hue and cry now that you're starting to hear from the environmentalists, the Green Nazis: "We need have a dialogue. We need to sit down and understand each other." Don't. We need to finish them off and make sure they don't have babies.
Those who advertise on their programs (or appear on them as George W. Bush and Dick Cheney have done on Limbaugh’s) should be held in part responsible for what they say on the air. Paying for the broadcasts of these hate radio programs is the same thing as endorsing their views.
Rev. Schram and the Montana Association of Churches deserve our thanks for taking on this issue.