Commentary Forum

If you'd like to comment on a Commentary you heard on WAMU 88 5, you can do so here. This is where your comments can be viewed by the commentator and the members of The Conversation.

Tags: commentary, opinion

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Permalink Reply by Greg Boyd on September 17, 2009 at 10:13am: Evin Grano said:
Fred Fiske's Commentary on Bloomberg and The Mayor's Against Illegal Guns was very sad to hear. His commentary was so fraught with arrogance and misinformation that I am surprised that a man of his experience in journalism would allow it. To presume that he is able to interpret the meaning of the worlds as what he called a *so-called* right of the 2nd Amendment. I don't know of any amendments that create a *so-called* right. Rights are inalienable and can not be granted, preexist government and the amendments just enumerate them to the *government* to back off.

He made several snide comments about the NRA's 'deep pockets' and 'strong arm' lobbying. You know why the NRA has deep pockets: 3 million members who put more money where their mouth is than a billionaire man like Bloomberg. These are everyday people who don't have money to spare but they believe in their right to defend themselves against common criminals and politicians. This trait of putting your money where your mouth is supposedly what Mr. Fiske respects, but that doesn't extend to a large populace that engages the political realm on this issue of gun rights.

I could go into detail on how almost every single one of his *facts* or *truths* that research has shown are incorrect and outright falsehoods. The comment on 'assault weapons' being specifically designed for military use and the comment on deaths between family members are the most egregious examples of misinformation and lack of journalistic integrity.

I have often enjoyed Mr. Fiske's commentary in the past, but after this sad display of intellectualism I no longer have any respect for him.

Mr. Fisk mised the entire point of the right to bear arms in this piece, as do most who argue on both sides. The right to bear arms, while usefull in defending ones self and family from criminals, has always been about the right to defend ones self against an out of control and tyranical government. When you look at it through that lens, which is the whole reason the right was spelled out in the constitution to begin with, it makes arguments about only allowing for a government sponsored militia seem ridiculous. Further, the carrying, legally I might add, of firarms in public places as at demonstrations is not something people should fear, this is simply americans exercising their rights. Finally I am so tired of all this talk about assault weapons, they are no more or less deadly than any other type of weapon and if you are on the receiving end I doubt you would know or even care. Law abiding citzens have and will retain the right to individually bear arms.

And before someone berates me as a gun toting nut, I do not now nor have I ever owned a gun. I am not now nor have I ever been a member of the NRA. I am not now nor have I ever been a member of the Republican party, I am a Libertarian. I am also a former Marine who knows what it means to have to fight against tyrany and why we should never take our rights, especially this one, lightly and why those such as Mr. Fisk are so misguided, however well intentioned they may be.

Permalink Reply by Alan Howlett on September 17, 2009 at 11:40am: Evin Grano hit the nail on the head. I've listed to Fred Fiske and admired his perceived intellect, but after this deceiving, manipulative, misinforming, and ignorant rant about the "so called 2nd Amendment right", the proud Americans who happen to be gun owners, and the NRA ( I'm not a member), I am forced to rethink my opinion of his commentaries in general. I heard a large amount of bias, misinformation, intentional disinformation, and half-truth. I found it unethical that he would make such statements as fact while demonstrating his ignorance, unless it were meant to manipulate public opinion.

I appreciate and respect the rights of those who chose not to own firearms to not own them, and to pronounce that opinion. That would be the 1st Amendment - Freedom of Speech. I do not attempt to force my opinions on them. Nor do I attempt to deny them something our founding fathers considered important enough to be the 2nd Amendment - the Right of the People to Keep and Bear Arms. I'm sure someone here will exercise the 1st Amendment to nitpick semantics of the 2nd. Please, have at it.

I just had a thought. Forks! Forks aren't prohibited by the Constitution, but they aren't specifically protected either. Forks make people fat. Obesity committed with forks likely kills a thousand times more each year than crimes committed with firearms. Why are we not pushing to outlaw forks? Not only that, in prisons, people have been stabbed and killed with forks. Not only do they kill people by forcing food into their mouths, but they stab people. They are evil and must be stopped. They aren't neccessary to the security of a free state. Our mayors must speak out! In fact they should label us un-American if we rally and fight to keep our forks. I use a fork and am not obese. Nor have I stabbed anyone with a fork. But can't you just image a free America, where only criminals and obese people have forks. I'd feel so much safer. Wait, this is such a stupid argument! FORKS DON"T MAKE PEOPLE OBESE. AND GUNS DON"T KILL PEOPLE. People Do both.

I see FUD - Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt, much of which has been propagated and echoed by our leadership. Make people scared, rally them, and propose a solution. Voila. Voters! In this case a class of people who are afraid and don't understand wish to deprive a class of people who are not afraid and are knowledgeable, of a constitutionally protected right, to defend themselves and their property, to protect others less able, and to dissuade criminals from practicing their crafts. Why is it that those who choose to have others be totally responsible for their protection wish to disarm those who would protect themselves. Are we becoming sheep? I wonder why Americas enemies consider us soft? And why is it that politicians such as Mr Bloomberg have armed bodyguards AND armed police protection dedicated to them, while the masses are left to call an overworked police force and wait for protection. Police are under-appreciated for what they do. Unfortunately they are all too often unable to respond until well after any preventative measures could be taken.
Based on Fred Fiske's rant I will likely discontinue my support for NPR and commit those funds to join the NRA. If forced to choose between extreme viewpoints, I'll choose the one dedicated to preserving our rights and freedoms.

Permalink Reply by Richard L. Patterson on October 5, 2009 at 12:51pm: Let's be real. The budget shortfall in DCPS is a smoke screen used by Rhee to get around the Washington Teachers Union in her effort to get rid of teachers that principals do not like - even those who are skilled. Resources and support for teachers in DCPS is shameful or nonexistent. When you hire new teachers there must be a very capable mentor teacher assigned to them if you really want them to succeed. Mentors cannot be just good teachers they must be great teachers. The real impact of the movement away from undegraduate schools of education to Teach America and similar programs has not yet been evaluated. Regarding evaluation - principals who have not taught or have no knowledge of the subject matter are not the best evaluators or final arbitrators of a teachers career. That's how unions came about. Rhee has never been a principal. When she stands before qualified, trained principals and their staffs...this fact stands out. Richard

Permalink Reply by Jim Asendio(WAMU 88 5) on October 5, 2009 at 1:12pm: This forum is to comment on the locally-produced commentaries that you hear on WAMU 88 5.

If you would like to comment on one of WAMU's talk shows, please send your comments about the Diane Rehm Show to drshow@wamu.org or for the Kojo Nnamdi Show to kojo@wamu.org

Thank you.

Permalink Reply by John Antonelli on October 5, 2009 at 1:49pm: Jim, from the go with the flow department, may I suggest a commentary forum for Diane and Kojo here? Both shows refer folks to the Conversation and it seems to be what the people are going to do to your commentary forum anyway. Just a thought and it would allow a well Conversation on their comments. .

Jim Asendio(WAMU 88 5) said:
This forum is to comment on the locally-produced commentaries that you hear on WAMU 88 5.

If you would like to comment on one of WAMU's talk shows, please send your comments about the Diane Rehm Show to drshow@wamu.org or for the Kojo Nnamdi Show to kojo@wamu.org

Thank you.

Permalink Reply by Jim Asendio(WAMU 88 5) on October 5, 2009 at 2:00pm: Thanks for the suggestion, John.

But the only way to make sure the listeners to/or the producers of the Diane Rehm Show or the Kojo Nnamdi Show see a comment about either show is to direct those remarks to the appropriate venue.

I may be swimming against the tide...trying to steer listeners to the appropriate place...but then again, I still believe in Santa Claus!

Permalink Reply by John Antonelli on October 5, 2009 at 2:19pm: Well, I gave up on Santa but I am still down with the Easter Bunny

Jim Asendio(WAMU 88 5) said:
Thanks for the suggestion, John.

But the only way to make sure the listeners to/or the producers of the Diane Rehm Show or the Kojo Nnamdi Show see a comment about either show is to direct those remarks to the appropriate venue.

I may be swimming against the tide...trying to steer listeners to the appropriate place...but then again, I still believe in Santa Claus!

Permalink Reply by WAMU 88.5 on November 11, 2009 at 11:36am: We've opened up a brand new forum for commentaries, so we're closing this topic thread. Visit the new forum to discuss commentaries that aired on WAMU 88.5.