To listeners of, "Talking Religion," a 35 year old public service program, initially devoted to Jewish/Christian dialogue which since the Spring of 2001 has grown to be a Jewish/Christian/Muslim dialogue, holding 2nd place in the ratings just below the major competitor on Sunday mornings - AND ---------- to the station:
On behalf of the panelists and myself, I apologize for the incompetence of the station's weekend technicians who clearly smoke, snort or inject something on Sunday mornings such that they cannot find the little slot to put the right disk in at the right time so that the shows we have taped are presented in a timely fashion. "Hello"!!!!! especially since this has been an on-going problem under present leadership - a notion which is questionable under my Kennedy School of Government understanding of "leadership."
More Importantly, I make the buck stop at the private parts of the Program Director's Office for his gross incompetence, habitual insensitivity, narcissism and arrogance, namely, Jason Wolf.
No wonder the station did everything it could to "hog tie" Mr. Carr to the station. My opinion of his programming is another matter but, he perfectly fits with the caliber of the station which, in general, spits out unintelligent, unsophisticated, ill-informed, "sensational" verbal diarrhea. Unfortunately, this leaves the station with the distinction of being like every other "lemming" station that feeds off of, and prolifically propagates, American "trash" thought, making the world poorer for its broadcasts. "But this mentality is our cash hog," you say. Hey -- it's your choice to stay at the pig sty. Eat all the slops you want, laugh all the way to bank and go down with all the other mediocre stations. Why do you think the "Carr Wash" wanted to leave??????
What a sad waste of precious air space. Ironically, I happen to think that you may laugh much more joyfully going to the bank if you did more creative and intelligent programming.
As a member of the clergy, I call the existing mentality of the station disgusting and a sinful waste in a world which is crying out for a modicum of intelligence and thoughtful discussion/debate over serious global, national, societal, communal and family/personal interests - from every perspective: financial, theological, physical, psychological and social, not to mention the various religious perspectives that need to be understood if we are to live in this "global village." However, the evidence I have witnessed suggests that the station hasn't the foggiest notion of anything beyond it's nose or navel.
Take a look at the big picture Boys. Stations are dying. I see the maggots already at work. Without the "Carr Lot," you would be dead, buried and gone and you know it. Where are the clear, financial, out-of-the-box-money-maker-thinkers and creators????
I challenge everyone with an investment in WRKO to think out of your present "verbal diarrhea box." You might be surprised at how many intelligent, thoughtful, informed people there are in this country. We at "Talking Religion" KNOW from our responders. WE KNOW AND WE LAMENT YOUR DIRECTION - not just for ourselves but for our listeners.
In this context, do not let your "hubris" (i.e. arrogance) be the measure of your listeners. Frankly, as far as I can tell, you lost THE MOST INTELLIGENT LISTENING AUDIENCE OF YOUR STATION.
Shame on you. More tragically, shame on you for the influential gift you have been given and are wasting.
Most, Most, Most Sincerely,
Rev. Yvonne E. read more
