/* fivel rothberg */

I was listening to Marty Moss-Coane’s show “Radio Times” this morning on my way into Philadelphia.  i don’t know why i torture myself by listening to that show because nearly every time i do, i end up enraged, an internal thunderstorm rampages my conscience. i get stirred up, utterly pissed off and want to call-in, scream my head off and then hang-up.  but i know that the chances of being heard on that radio program are slim to none.

her show today, like many of the past, was about the rampant violence that is currently taking place in Philadelphia.  her guest, at least for the part i listened to, was Elmer Smith a columnist for the Daily News. not long after tuning into the show a man, white, probably middle class, from outside of Philadelphia – Feasterville i think – brought up “civil rights.” he started out saying, “we need to decide whose civil rights are more important.  that of law abiding citizens or that of criminals who are carrying guns.  those people should be taken off the street and thrown in prison.  there are laws for that kind of thing and they shouldn’t get off easy like they are now. they come right out of prison and cause more crimes.”  as i was just about to put my fist through the radio, fantasizing about strangulating this racist, backward, pig-fuck caller, Elmer Smith spoke up and talked about how it is pretty evident that folks in north Philly and the like where these crimes are currently being committed, where the murder rate is highest are not in favor of tougher gun laws necessarily because it is their community that is so often subject to civil rights abuse by the police.  it is their men who are being “thrown in prison.”  he then went on to talk about the current police commissioner, Sylvester Johnson, and how he was being criticized for not taking a harder stance.  apparently Johnson had the gall to say that it takes more than policing to turn things around, from employment to education to community participation  god forbid a man of the law speak a tiny bit of sense.  smith rightly noted that many people come to expect a foaming at the mouth tough on crime commissioner, that “people from dog catchers to mayors have run utilizing the tough on crime” rhetoric popularized by fascists like Giuliani. *

if we are going to imprison black men for bullshit petty crimes, for turning to violence out of frustration, out of the insanity that poverty and oppression cause, why can’t we imprison this country’s leadership for crimes against humanity?  for invading a sovereign nation?  for lying to the public? for supporting and carrying out torture?  for advocating human rights abuses?  “what is the difference?!!”  i felt like shouting at Marty.  You stupid fuckwad, you don’t want to connect the dots, do you?  is that why you fling such bullshit softball questions at guests?  is that why, like so many other media outlets you barely scratch the surface?  because i can believe that if someone brought up the larger issues on air you would dissuade them and ‘bring them back to the issue at hand,’ as it were.  ARGGGHHH!!!

* for more on Giuliani as fascist see Kevin Keating’s documentary film “Giuliani Time.”