Listener sponsored KPFT 90.1 FM broadcasts an eclectic and often fascinating variety of programs that appeals to a wide range of listeners. It is especially popular with those that enjoy hearing views from the far left side of the political spectrum. Though I can't stand listening to most of their extreme left wing politics, the words of Evelyn Beatrice Hall resonate with me: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it". Constructive discourse is what makes America great. A city like Houston needs to hear from all of its citizens in order to stay robust and healthy. That includes KPFT.

Well, defending to the death might be a bit extreme, but when painted into a corner in front of an audience I did reach into my pocket and pledged a donation to the station ("Are you a member of KPFT? No? Would you like to join and make a donation?"). It happened a few weeks ago at the ironically named "Anti-Racism and Diversity committee" or ARDC. My wife and I were there along with a representative of the ADL to give testimony on a very divisive issue, namely the shameful way with which "progressive" KPFT listeners had picketed, blogged and petitioned against the first-ever "Israel show", the “Voice of Peace”. Many KPFT listeners were enraged that management decided to air the show, which was created in reaction to an embarrassing program where callers compared notes on different Jewish conspiracy theories. The "Voice of Peace" was supposed to be a twice-monthly spot designed to lower the temperature by giving some exposure to those parts of mainstream Israeli society that deal with many of the same progressive issues that are of interest to KPFT listeners: ethnic diversity and multiculturalism, women and gay rights, democracy in the Middle East and environmentalism. "Fluff! It's a fluff show!" many KPFT progressives complained. Though progressive talk is what KPFT is all about, that talk is clearly not welcome when it has an Israeli accent.

My Israeli born wife and I shared our opinions with the ARDC. We strongly believe that the founders of KPFT would have been proud of management's decision to air the program. Why? Because the KPFT mission statement demands that they  must "...contribute to a lasting understanding between nations and between the individuals of all nations." Like it or not, we reminded them, Israel dwells among the brotherhood of nations. The mission statement would seem to demand that KPFT establish some sort of two-way communication to help foster lasting understanding with this particular nation. To insist that Israel of all nations has a voice that is beneath contempt not only violates the KPFT charter, but it violates the views of many that truly seek peace through communication and understanding. We were upbeat: by not  canceling the show, KPFT was displaying some of the finest qualities of our democracy, we said. We complimented them. We made that pledge. We were proud to do so.

No sooner did we make that pledge than some of the ARDC members let us have it, but good. One board member gave both of us goose bumps when she refused to look at us as she announced to the room that she was "offended" that we were allowed to speak. She was followed by someone who informed us  that contrary to what we believed, management had already caved in and the Israel show had been cancelled (it was indeed!). We were stunned. Another shared her thoughts that if there was to be an Israel show, there should also be a Hamas show. I couldn't make this stuff up, it really happened. I asked her if she ever read the Hamas charter. She said no. I briefly covered the main points for her and the board (anti-Christian, anti-Semitic, anti-feminist, anti-democratic, pro-Sharia for all) and suggested they read it first and then we'd have another talk about whether the progressives at KPFT should host the Hamas hour. The ADRC chairman promised that he would contact us to do an on-air debate on the subject, and we left (no, he never called).

KPFT has no time for Israeli voices. However, they have plenty of time for anti-Israel voices. During the next two weeks I heard plenty of them.

On "Arab Voices", Rice historian Ussama Makdisi weighed in on the "Israel show" controversy, explaining how counterproductive it would be for KPFT to broadcast views by local Israeli representatives since then  "... how are Americans going to be truly informed about the situation on the ground in that region in an objective manner?" He then shared his version of objectivity through outrageous allegations about ubiquitous and systematic ethnic cleansing by Jews. These accusations have been thoroughly refuted by historians much more qualified than Makdisi, something his listeners (and sadly, students) may never hear. I heard Adam Horowitz and Lizzie Ratner on Democracy Now "educate" KPFT listeners on last week's astounding turnaround by Judge Goldstone, who absolved the IDF of the slanderous charge of deliberately targeting civilians. To Horowitz and Ratner, this profound development was inconsequential: "He talked about one small point.... this is one small issue". What mendacity!! What a total lack of intellectual honesty! I also heard an hour long speech on "Alternative Radio" by Kathleen Christison, who detailed the zombie-like control that Israel's supporters have on Barack Obama and others in the US government. To emphasize Israeli racist attitudes, she quoted Israel's Tzsipi Livni: "She (Livni) has explicitly said that we couldn't be a state of our citizens, because that would mean making Christian and Muslim Palestinians equal to Jews". There's only one problem with that quote: it was entirely fabricated. There was never such a quote, nothing even close.

KPFT has lost its way. They have become bullies. They gang up on that one segment of the Houston community that supports Israel and pummels them, and then denies them a voice. They mislead and ultimately marginalize their listening audience through a steady diet of unchallenged dogma. Though many in the KPFT  community selflessly reach out in service to many different segments of Houston's population, it is also filled with bigots. There's no other word for them. They shout down voices that challenge their preconceived views, as bigots tend to do. Worst of all, they betray the strongly held values of their founders through their use of double standards, fabricated history and outrageous bully tactics. These hypocrites at KPFT need to bone up on their Noam Chomsky: "If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all."

steve@switchingsides.com