I had an interview last Saturday with Barbara Nimri Aziz, producer and host of Radio Tahrir, which runs on the Pacifica’s WBAI. It was one of those rare occasions when an interview turns into an actual conversation.

Now, real conversations are difficult enough to achieve in “real life,” in in a TV studio? Even more rare, I’m afraid.

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The whole concept of sitting in a studio surrounded by cameras and brights does not lend itself well to the whole concept of conversation, frankly, but sometimes, like finding those four-leaf clovers, it can be achieved.

This is where public access television truly shines, actually – in promoting the art of conversation, unfettered by commercials, or the fear of sponsor-wrath, or cancellation worries,  participants can engage in real, unedited conversation on subjects that matter to them.

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I believe that audiences craves that sort of thing, especially at a time when most interview programs seem to have descended into partisan shout-fests, or actors/singers promoting their latest projects.

I think that may be one of the reasons that – even when folks can post their own videos online – that access remains so popular.

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The art of conversation.

We all crave it. I’m glad I’ve found an outlet for my primal need.

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Quote of the Day

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To flee persecution implies no fault in him who flees but in him who persecutes. – Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

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Drive-by Democracy?

Would-be  anti-tax crusader Laurie Masterson posted this to Facebook today.

**Bentonville** did you now that on April 13th you will be asked for a millage increase! are you planning on voting? Are you encouraging others to vote? Please post this to your walls and let everyone in the state know what is going on!

Why? So that out-of-town folks with only a minimal – if even that much – knowledge of actual Bentonville issues that parade in front of microphones, spewing their anti-tax rhetoric?

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This isn’t  particpatory democracy, it’s drive-by democracy.

rsdrake@cox.net

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