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FANNING THE FLAMES
Last week, WW ran a story [Rogue of the Week] about three KBOO program hosts who are among the hundreds of diverse community leaders we bring to the airwaves. As with any community organization, sometimes conflicts arise, particularly within organizations dealing with some of the most challenging conflicts of our time, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. KBOO continues to be deeply committed to using dialogue in the service of conflict resolution, and we expect, and facilitate, the people involved in conflict to work in good faith towards resolution and understanding.

Because KBOO is an open and democratic organization, we welcome any light that is brought to bear on us; we have nothing to hide and we share WW’s concern that peacemaking opportunities not be squandered. That said, we seek to use our resources to facilitate conflict resolution, not scuttle it.

I, and several of those involved in this issue, shared with your reporter that we were actively engaged in the delicate task of working towards resolution and that a negative story would not contribute to this work of facilitating understanding between the parties, but rather risked inflaming them. It was therefore disappointing that WW chose to run the story anyway.

We applaud all efforts in support of peacemaking but were saddened that filling the Rogue of the Week segment was more important than allowing the parties to put their best effort forward, come to an understanding, and repair the damage. Now wouldn’t that be a story?

Arthur W. Davis
KBOO Station Manager

CORRECTION:
In the May 20 “Most Web Comments Last Week” feature, we incorrectly attributed one of the comments on “Revisiting Renn Fayre.” The author was “PAgent.” WW regrets the error.

05.27.2009 at 01:34 Reply

Magnus

Now how does silencing one voice in favor of another, which seems to have been the case, facilitate a peace making resolution to this issue? This letter seems like empty rhetoric instead of the politically aware reporting and programming that I used to enjoy via KBOO. Disappointing. One voice in such an important matter does not make equal time.

06.01.2009 at 05:08 Reply

Grace

As a KBOO volunteer, when I first learned that Hala Gore was planning to appear on Yiddish Hour during the Spring Membership Drive, I was very excited and proud to be connected with a radio station where people can look beyond their differences and work together for a greater good. And was I disappointed!

I have to question why Ed Kraus, the program host who excluded Ms. Gore, was allowed to continue to volunteer at KBOO. Yes - conflict resolution is very important, but there should have been an intervention and an explanation to Mr. Krause that racist and exclusionary behavior is not welcome at KBOO.

I also disagree with Mr. Davis's contention that WW should have suppressed the story. Silence is rarely a solution to these problems, but Mr. Davis seems to suggest that we sweep the problem under the rug.

Grace Hague

06.10.2009 at 04:52 Reply

(it's too bad Willamette Week won't print this letter to the editor)

Dear Willamette Week,

Regarding your May 20th Rouge of the Week feature, I�m going to honor my commitment to KBOO radio and its staff and wait until all internal mediation process has finished before making any detailed public statement. I am grateful to the staff at KBOO for their efforts to move this process forward, and especially grateful for the support those who know me well have expressed privately. It�s disappointing beyond words that Willamette Week published a premature story, based only upon partial knowledge of the facts.

I think the words Station Manager Arthur Davis wrote for the May 27th Inbox are right on the mark. I can only ask that persons interested in this story will keep an open mind, and not rush to ill informed judgment.

Ed Kraus

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