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Saturday, December 10, 2005

'Miss Kelley' emails:

I have watched Greater Boston on PBS for the very last time in my life tonight. Too bad, because I like Emily Rooney and think she usually does a good job as moderator. One of the topics tonight was the hearings in DC this week about the anger of some black Louisianans about the federal response to the hurricane. Particularly the claim made by some that the federal government bombed the levees. Ethnic cleansing, attempted genocide. Sigh.

Callie Crossley said (paraphrasing) "This story demonstrates the depth of black anger. No reporter can really know if it did happen or not. The sources a reporter would go to for information are federal agencies, and they obviously can't be trusted. After all, black men in a Tennessee prison in the 1920's were given syphilis, and that was by the federal government." Pause. I expected some "Oh come on, Callie" from somebody, anybody, but it was not forthcoming. Instead John Carroll said (something like) "Well, it could be true, but if it was, it would have been for urban renewal, not for ethnic cleansing." I'm still shaking my head, thinking he COULDN'T have said that, but he really did say something that bizarre.

Not one person on the show tonight said "Of course our federal govenment didn't bomb the levees." Not one!

That's it, I'm done with that show! PBS hasn't gotten any money from me lately, and this seals the deal. Not one dime. Not a frickin' penny. What is wrong with these people????

Arghhhh!!!

They're just respecting the narrative, respecting the narrative. The fact that they won't criticize an obviously baseless conspiracy-theory is far more patronizing, insulting and ultimately irresponsible than expressing even a teaspoon of skepticism. That never occurs to them.

3 Comments

Gee Sol, I was kind of counting on you to edit my rant.

Anyway, I find it reprehensible that the show's panelists lent credence to Louis Farrakhan's ridiculous conspiracy. This is responsible journalism?

Hey, I did edit it...for obvious typos. I think it reads quite nicely. Gets the point across just right.

"responsible journalism"?? Hey, it's responsible to respect others, no matter how insane.

Miss Kelly;
I agree with Sol. No need to edit your observations. They read very well indeed.
In the interest of historical accuracy, the panel also failed to correct the comment on the syphilis study in Tennessee. The men involved contracted syphilis before the study. They went to a 'free' University clinic for treatment after they already had the disease. Half were treated with various known cures, and half received placebos. While this was indeed shameful, no one was infected for the purpose of evaluating the treatments.

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