[Wpfw-lsb] Peace and respect govern LSB

[Manuel Romano]

I’ve received the Listener Nick I. Udumaga and the new
Delegate Ayo Handy-Kendi notes, the last two notes
about the debate initiated by D. Jane Gatewood (who I
regretfully voted for). Otherwise, I wouldn’t have
written this one.
I arrived at WPFW as a candidate in the first
election, not knowing anything or anybody. I have read
a lot about the Pacifica hijacking in which WPFW
played a big role (see savepacifica.org and
pacifica.org). I learned a lot in our “agitated”
campaign from plenty of real insiders who were already
divided. I followed the first LSB meetings and all the
Archives (
http://lists.mutualaid.org/pipermail/wpfw-lsb/ ). When
I wrote a letter to the LSB (as a body) supporting the
information and transparency demands of Ds. Luzette
King and Simin Royanian, my email was blocked by the
LSB. Both Delegates were ostracized from the beginning
of the first LSB. Later Simin resigned vowing never to
return to the radio. A huge lost for Listeners and for
the underserved communities, of a Delegate with a high
moral, capability and intellectual status as Simin.
Luzette wrote about Simin’s ordeal not about hers,
both a courageous pair.
It’s necessary that Listeners and New Delegates (the
latter are supposed to have read it) to know Delegate
Thomas Ruffin’s clear statement about the failure of
the LSB to fulfill their promises and that they did
nothing in accordance with the Network Mission, and
besides they cut communication with Listeners, ignored
discrimination, the situation of the DC Radio Coop and
real multiculturality, and violated the ByLaws as in
selecting candidates for General Manager (attention
called by  D. Billy Ray Edwards to the Chair and
Delegates during the meeting). 
As a Listener, I consider that the Members of the DC
Radio Coop which is being dismantled, are the most
genuine representatives of the underserved Communities
that WPFW is supposed to serve and work for their
participation (Mission and Committee of Inclusion/COI,
Art. 8, Sec.4.). I resigned from the COI because
Delegate Members of the COI abused their prerogatives,
undermining the equal status of the non Delegates
Members on this watchdog committee. 
I understand Delegate Ayo Handy-Kendi’s well stated
worries and the new Delegates’ difficulties to vote
for people they don’t know. I believe they shouldn’t
get there just to be thrown to the lions. Instead you
will have to overcome obstacle by obstacle, not
following the common saying ‘forget and move on’ but
really learning and being aware of WPFW’s problems,
armed with your own principles and judgment and
resisting the “pressure” of a kind of “majority” that
always “hangs” around in every organization. Remember
that a couple of Delegates or Listeners can’t do more
than use the freedom of talk, since there isn’t a way
to formally take a complaint to the National Board,
according to the ByLaws, unless a Delegate has around
10 Delegates’ signatures or a Listener has 10% of the
radio Members (a list you don’t own of around 15.000
). As a we say in Spanish: ‘hecha la ley, hecha la
trampa’/the law is made with it’s own trap). Besides,
your going to the National Board won’t be “welcome” by
the LSB. 
But, most of all, if you agree with the Network
Mission don’t forget that your goals are to serve the
poor, the voiceless, the powerless, the underserved
communities by government policies and by the private
and public media. Only by uncompromisingly maintaining
your position will you accomplish these goals. That’s
why the Network is supposed to be INDEPENDENT,
especially from corporate and foundation
contributions. Remember that the daily and familiar
voice saying: “no not even a dime from the
corporations” has already disappeared from WPFW AIR.
As new Delegates, I hope you don’t look at this as
negative words or as lecturing. I always think that in
order to act one must be conscious of the reality of
the situation.
I wish the best to the new Delegates and I’ll keep
myself open for any rational conversation having in
mind the goals of the stated Mission and it’s
realization.
A Latino listener for more than 20 years,
Manuel




		
__________________________________ 
Do you Yahoo!? 
The all-new My Yahoo! - Get yours free! 
http://my.yahoo.com