orb@whuts.UUCP (SEVENER) (01/13/86)
> Yeah, BAI is a "commie front," but the whole point of a free society > is that even a commie front can present its views, as long as it > doesn't openly incite to robbery, rape, riot, rebellion or revolution. > Broadcasting communist propaganda is a secular threat against which > the rest of us (by simply not believing the propaganda) can protect > ourselves. Broadcasting virulent anti-Semitism brings with it the > risk of Divine destruction of our society -- the only way we can hope > to protect ourselves against such destruction is to suppress the > broadcaster. And it's a shame, because when it comes to being a man > of integrity with regard for real peace, freedom, and the dignity of > man, I'd stack the Rev. McIntyre up any time against the 60's leftists > who run BAI. > -- Matt Rosenblatt First off, I commend you Matt for the earlier comments in your article which defended all viewpoints' right to be presented. I too support the right of all viewpoints to be presented, even if I disagree with them. For example the right of the Nazis to march in Skokie,Ill. Substantively, however, your criticism of WBAI and "60's leftists" is a typical distortion. While the Rev. McIntyre has had no qualms about voicing his "kill a commie for Christ" philosophy, WBAI and "60's leftists" like myself have *always* been concerned for human rights and an end to war and violence by all sides. Thus, as I earlier pointed out Joan Baez recently gave a concert in Gdansk for Solidarity despite the Polish governments displeasure. Mary Travers has given concerts for the cause of Soviet Jews and their right to emigrate. As I have pointed out I personally know not a single "leftist" or leftist publication (such as the Progressive, In These Times, etc.) who supports the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. I know plenty of right-wingers like Rev. McIntyre who totally supported the US invasion of Vietnam. (including of course the present and previous Presidents of the US) The American Communist Party probably supports the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, but then the American Communist Party represents a miniscule portion of the American left. Personally, I have never known anyone who subscribes to their viewpoint. So criticisms of the left on this score are totally unfounded. As to WBAI being a "commie front" I just listened to a WBAI show which commented on Nicaragua. The announcer of course opposed American military intervention in Nicaragua. At the same time he both noted and disapproved of Nicaraguas recent closing of a Catholic radio station. Like most leftists this WBAI commentator supports *democracy* and civil liberties very highly. Is it being a "Commie front" to publicize Nicaragua's recent repressions of basic civil liberties and voice opposition to them? WBAI also had a very good show on the trip of the American contingent of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War to the Soviet Union. There was no attempt to gloss over the failings of the Soviet regime. The program noted that many of the Soviet physicians seemed to be perfectly willing to criticize American policy but not their own country's policy.( Sound familiar?) The program also noted that although the primary purpose of the trip was to prevent nuclear war that some of the American physicians briefed Sakharov's daughter on Yelena Bonner's medical condition. Other physicians held private meetings to learn about the problems of Soviet Jewish emigration. Again, is this the actions of a "commie front"? Progressives have consistently voiced their opposition to violations of human rights by Communist governments as well as rightwing military dictatorships for years. Yet because they oppose our own country's support for violations of human rights abroad they are condemned as "commie fronts". To imply that the bulk of progressives support the widespread violations of human rights in Communist countries is totally false. Of course there are a miniscule minority of leftists in the American Communist Party and othere extremist groups who support such policies. But then there are a minority of rightists in the neo-Nazi movement too. Yet I have never criticized (nor heard other leftists criticize) the majority of rightwingers as "Nazi fronts". tim sevener whuxn!orb