A rant - My letter to the local PBS in response to their membership drive

[flordehinojos]

letter to me.

February 25, 2005

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Membership Director
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

RE: MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT DRIVE LETTER

Dear XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX:

I am in receipt of a membership drive letter sent out by XXXX and yourself which states,
‘YOUR NAME WAS SPECIALLY SELECTED BECAUSE YOU
APPRECIATE TELEVISION THAT IS THOUGHTFUL, EDUCATIONAL
AND ENRICHES YOUR MIND.

YOU ARE A SMART, CURIOUS AND ADVENTUROUS PERSON WHO
FINDS AN OASIS OF QUALITY TELEVISION AT CHANNEL X.
PLEASE DO NOT DISREGARD THIS LETTER.
YOUR MEMBERSHIP IN PUBLIC TELEVISION CHANNEL X HAS NEVER BEEN MORE URGENT.”

Then the letter goes on to say,
“Our RESEARCH has shown ...”

Now, I am curious about what kind of research you people conduct there at XXXX CHANNEL X. Is your research based on the current invasion of privacy being espoused by the Patriot Act and its offshoot Homeland Security? Is it based on some Orwellian Big Brother is Watching You sort of thing? How do you know what I watch, who I am, and whether or not your membership drive letter would appeal to me? Are you banking on the fact that FLATTERY would usually GET anyone? Are you banking on ...what????

I was proud to have my tax dollars support the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS back at a time when America was sane when Kennedy, Carter and Clinton were PRESIDENTS who were not threatened by culture, the development of free thought, or the statements made on them and their policies by the arts.

Did you all not support BUSH and his stealing of ELECTION 2000 and 2004 through LEHRER’S blatant gate keeping of the debates both times in favor of BUSH?

Yes, I am fed up with the Bush Dumbing Down and Browning of America and with the era of fascist fear, nationalism, heightened patriotism and propaganda that CHANNEL X along with the rest of the main stream media are unquestionably supporting...but if you want to save the arts and channel X along with educational programming and thoughtful creativity, you might as well go and ask the Bushes and the Cheneys and their Halliburton Iraq blood and oil lined pockets to give you the dollars you are in search of ... If they refuse, you still have Jim Lehrer. He will be glad to give you the money you are looking for. He certainly was glad to rescue the debates and tilt them in favor of Bush’s Fascist America.

Sincerely,

[cestpaspossible]

1. Good for you.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[fudge stripe cookays]

5. Not anymore.

Noticed the "underwriting" lately by Wal-Mart? That's where the real kissing up is.

"The media is only as liberal as the conservative companies that own them."

Wake up.

[Rockholm]

8. Yeah, that Tucker Carlson show just hates Bush

[Maat]

3. You go!

Not one dime to public television, and I, also, have e-mailed them to that effect - until they stop censoring me.

My issue is their pulling of the "Sugartime" episode of "Postcards from Buster."

Just because some Beltway education secretary decides that an episode is not what she or her base likes - well, that doesn't mean she has the right to tell me (and my daughter) what to watch.

Shame on them for having no spine!

[phoebe]

4. why donate to PBS when they are funded by the Mellons, Carnegies

and Rockefellers who have more money than they know what to do with? Notwithstanding all the other "foundations", do they really need our money now that they are also patronized by corporations such as Exxon, Chevron et al? Not one more dime..

[ArkDem]

6. Intelligent, thoughtful and well written post.

[IrateCitizen]

7. Yup. That's sure to be effective.... NOT!

Let's see here... all of the rest of network and cable television, for the most part, is a cultural and intellecutal wasteland. But let's all tell PBS that we won't give them one damned dime because we believe they are not supporting our political beliefs.

Contrary to common belief here in DU-land, there is more to life that politics. Personally, I can't think of anywhere else on TV that I could have seen something as good as Ken Burns' recent documentary on Jack Johnson. Nor can I think of another outlet that would have shown "Slavery and the Making of America". Scientific American Frontiers recently had an excellent show on about climate change. American Experience recently ran an excellent program on Malcolm X, and PBS also recently ran "Unbought and Unbossed" about Shirley Chisholm's 1972 presidential bid. And let's not forget that they still have NOW on, even if they cut it to a half-hour and also brought in the WSJ re-education board and Tucker Carlson.

Yeah, since they're basically the LAST BASTION on television for programming that can actually educate, enlighten, and expand one's horizons -- let's all boycott them so that they just go away and then we'll be left with CNN and MSNBC to watch 24 hours a day. :eyes:

Sometimes I wonder what in the hell some people around here are thinking!

[cestpaspossible]

11. I think you misinterpreted the letter

the poster isn't upset at PBS because "they are not supporting our political beliefs" but because they are supporting the Republicans.

[Bridget Burke]

9. I'm feeling positive toward renewing my own PBS...

KUHT, Channel 8 in Houston (the very first PBS station, in fact) did, indeed show the cartoon featuring the Lesbian couple; they played it at night & a panel discussion followed.

They also showes the Frontline documentary on soldiers in Iraq--uncensored. It was apparently censored on other outlets.

The check will be accompanied by a letter, strongly urging them to continue to do the right thing.

[RonMrG]

10. That is a very good idea