Let me say once again how gratifying and humbling it is for all this support. This is a wild ride and it is not over yet. There is much more news to come. Some of it will be mind blowing.
Rumor has it that Dan Rodricks of the Baltimore Sun and formerly of WBAL will be the new host at the noon hour at WYPR. If it is true, I am not surprised. They needed star power and personality to try to assuage and persuade the audience to stay or to come back. Dan has always wanted to be a part of WYPR. Now, he has his chance. But who knows. It could anybody. Either way, I want you to know I am ok. I have a lot of plans for my own work and have a lot of options and opportunities that have surfaced over the last week.
I thought it funny today that Tony Brandon keeps talking about “commitment to the public and community.” Orwellian corporate speak is a frightening thing. WYPR has become corporate speak zone. More than you know, but you will soon know more.
It is because of all of you that the fund drive was cancelled. I have heard the station has gotten well over a thousand letters and e-mails. I don’t know the exact number but it has overwhelmed them.
Don’t forget on February 20th there will be open to the public Community Advisory Board meeting. Right now it is scheduled to be held at the BMA at 7 PM. As we know more, we will let you know what is up with that meeting.
My emotions with all of this are all over the place. Yesterday, I was tired and in a funk but today I feel really upbeat. I started the day taking a long walk in the woods with my dog Charlie, talking for a long time with the lady in my life, Valerie. I went to vote and went to the gym, then drove over to our digs in Hampden to start writing and talking with people. We are going to do wonderful new things. I really look forward to all of you being part of it.
What has been amazing to me is the diversity of this movement that has developed since the station let me go. It has involved inner city community activists, elected officials, university professors, teachers, social workers, receptionists, truck drivers, doctors and lawyers. The station has heard and I have heard from Orthodox Jewish leaders, the head of the African American Muslim Community, Baltimore Hebrew University, ministers of every possible Christian denomination, Arab Americans. It has been Black, White, Asian, Latino, young, old, middle aged, rich, poor, middle class, gay, straight.
It is everything I ever dreamed and hoped my show would mean. When I began the show in 1993 I said I wanted it to be bridge between worlds and communities. A place where all people and ideas could gather to speak together without fear of ridicule. A lyceum, an agora, a marketplace of ideas. A place where people who would never meet in life could hear and meet each other.
I feel very satisfied with what we have built together over the years.
The next time I write I want to share with you the absurdity of all of this. But you know I want this blog to be a place where we can talk about anything, not just the madness and idiocy of what Tony Brandon, Andy Bienstock and Barbara Bozzuto have done to our public radio. Soon we will be launching an Internet media site and much more. I look forward to growing more with you all and talking about all kinds of things.
I can’t write tomorrow because I have to spend some time my 10 year old daughter Maisie. She is in a play tomorrow and I also want to celebrate the fact that she just won her first debate. Did anyone see where she and a friend of hers were commenting on the Baltimore Sun website? The best part of life is being a Dad. No question.
Thanks again! I will read all that you wrote and write some more.
-Marc
