Amen, er Yeah!

Here we go again... All we ask is that you tune in for a minute. There you
will find the worth! One episode of "American Masters" or one episode of the
"American Experience" should be able to convince even the staunchest of
conservatives. Where else is the history of this country told? And, then the
stories of us, we as a people, are also captivatingly and so beautifully
told. and include us all. Listen to the coverage of the war in Iraq from the
reports from NPR or "Morning Edition" and also listen to the reports from
the Sudan. or the profiles of Americans from Portland, Maine to Portland
Oregon; all of those great voices from across our country being heard. and,
all those voices just waiting to be heard. Spend a Saturday afternoon with
the folks from, "This American Life", and I am sure that you will laugh out
loud -- at least once. And there is no other media source out there that
covers science, medicine, and nature and environmental issues as well as
they do.

Since the early eighties, when the first funding cuts began, I became
involved with the fundraising. I got involved with my local stations, and
have been involved ever since. There is absolutely nothing in the world that
is more irritating to me than the current state of funding, and the
desperate fundraising, as it is for public broadcasting. And then, I can't
imagine my world without public broadcasting. There I found Sir Kenneth
Clark's, amazing series, "Civilization". I became even more curious about
everything after seeing Dr. Jacob Brownowski's essay on, "The Assent of
Man". This was at an early age, while I was watching "ZOOM" and learned
about other kids my age, where they lived and what they thought about,
realized that even I could make a difference -- in the whole scheme of
things. if I wanted. and I did after experiencing those eye-opening
stories. And then I just recently watched an episode about John and Abigail
Adams on "American Experience" This made the whole thing clear to me and
offered me a view of how vital and how human the struggle for independence
was -- and also how important that this would be to all of those that
followed.

I will also tell you that after visiting each of our four public
broadcasting stations in my area, and getting to know some of the people a
little bit, they are very dedicated. I will venture to say, that no other
group, even with the very limited funding coming from the government, has
"stretched" a dollar more so than the folks that are involved with public
broadcasting. And, unlike so many other federally funded entities, they have
the proof. Just go to any public library and visit the media section and
you'll find that many of the materials were produced by public broadcasting.
I won't even mention all of the educational materials made available to
teachers and institutions.

I have used the word, "American" quite a few times during this minor essay.
I have not even reminded you of the exceptional coverage the local NPR and
PBS stations provide during elections. The commercial stations simply are
unwilling to provide this service. Understandable, they have to think about
the bottom line. The real "dialogue" begins when the local public
broadcasting channels get involved. And, then we can least be informed
before we go out to vote. Maybe some don't want us to hear anything but the
overly-well crafted spin from their commercials -- that only air on
"commercial" television stations.

Simply said, "We", all of us, were guaranteed a "voice" under the
constitution. This came with the "vote". Although our founding fathers had
no way of knowing what a part that media would play in our lives of the 21st
century, they did know how it was all important and that communication was
the key. The "key" that unlocked the doors to how we should get along,
understand, and begin to move forward with one, clear, unified, "voice". I
was vital to our existence at one point. How, despite all of our
differences, we sometimes need to stand together as a whole, especially in a
difficult time, listen to each other, and embrace each other a bit more,
compromise a bit more than we usually do, and figure out a way to move
together, hopefully forward, for once. towards the goal.

I consider public broadcasting in the United States to be a national
treasure and should always be looked upon as such. Always one of the
greatest success stories of "Freedom of the Press". To educate and inform
the populace should always be a priority. To offer a place for discussion
and dialogue should as well.

This is, and will always remain the "Public Forum" for many of us.. and a
vital source of knowledge. We will always support our ability to have a
"voice" and listen, and get to know others that will impress us with their
ability to offer an independent voice, unfettered with party affiliations,
or the mood of the day. With or without federal funding.. Public
broadcasting embodies what I think of when I think of the "American Dream".

For my United States government to even think about cutting funds from such
a worthwhile educational source to their constituents, is way beyond me.

And, I didn't even offer my opinion about how it is so vital to a people to
have a sense of the "arts". And public broadcasting is our source for that.

Every single dollar you give to public broadcasting is indeed an investment,
the returns are solid.. I will attest to that.

Just Listen, Watch, and above all else, Re-think.

Richard A. Lafon