Windy City Times Letter Slams Bruce DuMont’s Hypocrisy
Rather than just respond to the call for protest, I made an effort to read your open letter responding to the concerns of the LGBT community regarding the induction of James Dobson to the National Radio Hall of Fame. However, your justifications do not hold water.
First, using your logic, it would be entirely understandable for your German counterpart to induct Josef Goebbels —regardless of viewpoint, an even more effective communicator and orator than Dobson.
Secondly, Dobson contributes nothing to the airwaves except to provide a seemingly safe, “blessed by God” place to be prejudiced. Disregarding Dobson’s ignorance of Christ’s message (how ironic!), he has never been a broadcasting figure of any significance except to voice intolerance and bigotry, carefully cloaked in “religion” in order to allow him to more fully vent intolerance —no doubt to guarantee a “two-fer” in constitutional protection.
Third, you observe in your open letter, “Does anyone really believe that any fair-minded person will think less of fellow inductees Edward R. Murrow, Norman Corwin, Susan Stamberg, Tom Joyner, Richard Durham, Bob Edwards or All Things Considered?” Hardly. That is not their concern. What should concern you is that you have made the award, at best, meaningless and, at worst, an embarrassment. At a time when the Museum of Broadcast Communications (MBC) is attempting to raise funds to complete its new home, rendering your “highest award” a subject of ridicule (and upsetting a group of people with, statistically speaking, both high disposable income levels as well as a generous tradition of philanthropy) is hardly quality stewardship of the MBC dream.
Fourth, you promise, “Protesters should know that the NRHOF Steering Committee will review its voting process before the next selection period.” Whether it is $10 billion a month in Iraq, a governor unwilling to compromise on anything or Wall Street’s shell games, do you really believe the appropriate response is to say, “We did not make a mistake —but we may change it in the future?” We as a nation —not just the LGBT community— are not exactly predisposed to view favorably someone who cannot own up to an error. Your rather painfully convoluted explanation of the voting process could best be summarized by “We screwed up and let the process be seized by a narrow special interest intending to use our award to gain credibility.” Again, while Focus and Dobson will no doubt trumpet this award, I hardly think Garrison Keillor will have it on the center of his mantel.
Fifth, I certainly agree with those opposed to donating to a place that intends to permanently honor this individual. Mr. DuMont, this is not about a fundraiser, or an isolated evening as a one-off event; your institution will be permanently enshrining a “person” whose greatest contribution to this nation is hate speech. That, sir, is a fact, and it is unavoidable. (If you seek to disagree, I suggest that you simply Google “James Dobson” and let the evidence speak for itself.)
Finally —and it pains me to say this, for I have always respected you, and still have the greatest admiration and respect for your late beloved wife— I cannot believe that she would not have counseled some other course.
You (rather dismissively and emotionally, I observe) ask, “Do these irate people believe in free speech and freedom of religion?” Yes. And your argument is completely disingenuous. We are not arguing whether Dobson has the right to be heard; unfortunately, constitutionally, he does. Our disagreement is with you and the museum, who apparently believe that his “accomplishments” should be permanently honored. That is simply impossible for us to fathom: a museum supposedly dedicated to “freedom” celebrating one who would deny it. And until you and the board realize your own hypocrisy —instead of attempting to foist this off as pressure tactics from a “special-interest” group— I will make sure that every individual I know is aware of MBC’s actions and my fervent desire that such an organization receive no further support (whether of individual, corporate or governmental origin).
Sadly,
Dean Skora
St. Charles, IL
