Friday, August 13, 2004

Don't forget to check out The Hellenophile from time to time as the Olympics go on. 8:37:10 PM    comment []trackback []

The FCC is Not On Your Side If some talk show scum-bag decides to play the bigot on your local airwaves to boost his sagging ratings, FCC won't even put your complaint in a file. You and your neighbor own the radio frequencies, but you can't stop a jackass from using them to spread hateful lies. First Amendment, you know. But that First Amendment is a tricky beast, 'cause it with it, you can do stuff just like this: Tiffin University is fine school located in a pleasant small town in NW Ohio. It was founded in 1888, and has a fine reputation throughout Ohio. Tiffin University is also a big advertiser on Denny Schaffer's radio show. That was the same radio show on which Denny said "George Soros is an atheist; he hates Christians. His family escaped from Europe in 1940 posing as Christians using forged documents. George Soros COULD be the Anti-Christ." You might want to e-mail Michael Grandillo, Vice President for Development & Public Affairs, and ask if he is aware of this. Or maybe e-mail Dr. Paul Marion, President of TU and ask him. Or Kristi Campbell, Assoc. Director of Undergraduate Admissions/Director of International Student Affairs, and ask her. You might politely ask that Tiffin University sift is resources to programs that better reflect the values of the students and faculty, and that won't sully the good name and noble history of the school. You gotta love the First Amendment. 8:24:38 PM    comment []trackback []

What I did Today Sent "please link to this" e-mails to Dave, Avedon and Liberal Oasis. Became depressed at the futility of the whole effort. Watched in wonder at the hits poured in from first Rayne, then Dave, Avedon and The Liberal Oasis. (Thanks!) Newly energized, I called the local office of US Rep. Marcy Kaptur to follow up with the e-mail I sent yesterday. I turned down the offer of an appointment with the Congresswoman. (What the Hell was I thinking?) Read an e-mail from the FCC--they will not even file my complaint because anti-Semitism isn't obscene. Become blazingly angry. Called the office of US Rep. Marcy Kaptur--"I do want that appointment with the Congresswoman". If the Federal government won't keep anti-Semitism off of the publiclly-owned airwaves, then someone pretty high up the Table of Organization is going to sit down with me and tell me why, dammit! E-mailed the Mayor of Toledo. Read an e-mail from Denny Schaffer. Sent Denny Schaffer an e-mail with a two paragraph history of anti-Semitism. Read another e-mail from Denny. Called his office--it was unproductive and unsatisfying for both of us, but not as unpleasant as you might think (though it wasn't a picnic either--he did threaten to sic the lawyers on me) O.K. I was little off of my game today, it was Friday, after all. 7:23:45 PM    comment []trackback []

Denny Defends Himself The charge of making anti-Semitic statements is serious. Anyone so accused deserves the opportunity to defend or rebut. In three different e-mails over two Denny Schaffer did defend himself. With three different and mutually exclusive stories. Aug 12 @ 1:12pm Doug....I just asked the question to my guest.....You heard wrong but I appreciate you for listening..... DS Aug. 13 @11:20am I said it in jest that heCOULD be the anti-christ....and that is word for word.....I am not allowed to have my sarcastic beliefs?  It was in jest but good luck to you.....I am a Christian and love all people especially my savior who was a Jew....... Peace & Prayers, Denny Aug 13 @1:21pm Doug, I was reading from an article reguarding George Soros....I did the interview so my listeners and myself included could learn more from the the man who wrote it.  I first learned that Mr. Soros was Jewish a few hours before my show.  I find it Ironic that a family escaping the Germans by posing as Christians....the irony being a mans family who used God to escape certain death has no faith today...my heart breaks for people like him that go through life without a relationship with our creator.....this is the last time I will reply to you by email....you are reading way to deep into this and you believe I have some motive of hatred here and that is false....I am sitting at my desk right now and if you would like to discuss it further please call me right now.....419-xxx-xxxx DS I did take him up on the offer to call him. Interestingly, he made no mention of the article he claims to have been reading from. Instead, he told told me he said: "George Soros COULD be the Anti-Christ". He played the tape for me, and yes he did say "Could be". But there was another bit that I missed: "George Soros is an atheist. He hates Christians." (Here's a freebie for Denny: when you are in the hole, stop digging) He also threatened my with a law suit if I misquote him by even one word. I asked for a transcript or even a link to the audio. Since he claims that the audio proves that nothing he said was anti-Semitic, I thought he would agree. Wrong. "I'm not going to help you out".   6:48:35 PM    comment []trackback []

Help Me Out Here Russ Lemmon is the media columnist the local paper, The Blade. Trust me on this, he is a good guy. But he thinks that we can't make a difference. He thinks that ClearChannel wants controversy to boost ratings. He thinks we are in a classic Catch 22. He thinks hate speech on the radio isn't news. The smart money says he is right. But I'm raising my son in this city, and I'm not going to concede it to the hate-mongers. Do me a favor, email Russ and tell his that racism on the airwaves is news, and that we expect journalists to allies in protecting our communities from scum-bags who profit from hate. rlemmon@theblade.com 6:47:49 AM    comment []trackback []