I've been living in Edmonton, Alberta (that's in Canada, if you are
reading this Miss Teen USA 2007 - South Carolina!) for the last year.
I've been listening to the CBC a lot, and I don't miss KUOW. At all.
I try to listen when I'm in the Seattle area, and I rarely last more
than 20 minutes.
While the CBC seems to be following that Harper administration in
aping the American way, it is still so much better than public radio
in the US it's rediculous. I hope that Canadians wise up, and start
working harder to keep what they've got.
Anyway, when I read this on the Counterpunch website, I thought "Yes,
this the NPR (and the odious Scott Simon) that I remember."
August 29, 2007
More Uplifting News from NPR
Surfing Gaza
By RICHARD NASSER
On NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday this week, Scott Simon interviewed
an American physician who'd just returned from Gaza, having delivered
to the deprived Gidgets and Big Kahunas of that unhappy land the gift
of fifteen shiny new surfboards.
Dr. Adrian Paskowitz, an 86 year old physician and the paterfamilias
of a surfing dynasty from Hawaii, explained to the earnest Simon that
the world's surfers enjoy a mystical bond with one another, and that
these attachments transcend the petty particulars of politics. Once
united by the Brotherhood of the Board, Palestinians and Israelis
would cast aside their differences and join hands in pursuit of the
next gnarly wave. Who'd want to launch a Qassam when he could hang
ten? Who'd bulldoze an orchard when there's a bitchin' wave to be
caught?
An NPR report on this year's apolitical, anhistorical nostrum for
Middle East conflict isn't surprising. Remember the summer camps, the
art projects, etc? So this year, it's a silly fantasy of peace through
water sports. But wait, there's more.
Simon asked Paskowitz how he managed to get the amity-inducing sports
equipment from Israel to Gaza, given the legendary difficulty of
getting through these border crossings. No problem, replied the plucky
sawbones. He simply schmoozed the two guards for a while until they
melted under the irresistible warmth of his charm, and presto..last
one in is an Islamofascist!
And here, Simon allowed the most telling aspect of the story to pass
by without remark. An apparently well-meaning Jewish American visitor
is able to chuckle and cajole his way past the same border guards who
keep lifelong inhabitants of the region from seeing their families,
selling their goods, receiving supplies. Crops rot while soldiers
sullenly stare at the desperate farmers, but don't despair. We'll be
surfing tonight!
So Dr. Paskowitz gives his gift, NPR listeners enjoy their macchiatos
a little more knowing that good works are afoot and Israel has its
feral image tempered a bit. Meanwhile, Palestinians wait, their
livelihoods and health in the balance, upon the whim of a couple of
Israeli teenagers with guns.
Richard Nasser can be reached at: rmn1@comcast.
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