Lies, Lies, and More Lies
Radio-host lies while trying to discourage callers from using the word lie. Yesterday I intervened in a two-weeks-old discussion on the radio. Callers have been engaging two hosts on a popular radio station about their right to use the word lie on the airways. This stemmed from a program that had the Attorney General as a guest together with a preacher, discussing the infamous equal opportunity bill. The preacher accused the Attorney General of lying and the host of the program demanded that the preacher apologize for using that word on the radio to the Attorney General.
These inexperienced hosts may have become anxious in the presence of the Attorney General who is known for resurrecting laws and perusing people he takes offence with.
Callers had been condemning the conduct of the hosts who were trying to justify their behavior. Yesterday another caller used the word lie in reference to someone, and she was told not to use that word on the airways. . Having heard enough of that debate, I called in and asked the host to tell us when the word 'lie', become an obscene word and when was it banned from the airways.
One host went on to say that there were other words people could use. I asked if the other words did not have the same meaning and when did the word lie become categorized as another obscene word. I reminded him that people were taught that word in schools and it was the act of lying that was obscene. I suggested that if people wanted to accuse other people of lying they should allow them room to make their case. The host said that it was in their broadcast license agreement and he asked if I wanted them to be pulled from the airways.
I told him that if that was indeed part of the regulation he should simply say so. I further enquired, "When were these new laws passed?" He repeated that they were in their broadcast license agreement. I told him that I would have to check that out. He replied, "You can do that."
I knew I had made the point and that other callers would understand, but to further push the point, I called the office responsible for broadcast licenses and inquired about the new ruling. The gentleman told me to give him half an hour to check. He further said, that was the first time he was hearing of this and before I quoted him, he would like to check. Half an hour later, I called again; he said that nowhere in the broadcast license agreement is there anything that says that people cannot say lie on the radio. He laughed a bit as I told him about the situation on the radio.
Several callers brought up the discussion on a program later that day, with one popular caller stating how oppressive the government had become, denying people their right to legitimately express themselves.
I decided to call at that point to let the public know of the official response. I called on the host to produce the document that they have that may be different to the official one. I asked the host if he could remember the program with Morgan Job, when Morgan Job was accusing one of the hosts on that same station of lying. I asked him if he remembered that they edited and played that portion of the tape for weeks with Morgan Job shouting to high heavens, "You lie, You Lying on me, You lie," over and over. I reminded him that no one stepped in to close the station. I reminded him of another of their hosts who call other people liars almost every week on their station.
He said that he remembered. Then I reminded him of what I said earlier, It is not the word that is bad but the action of lying itself. I felt they were thoroughly embarrassed so I stopped there. He had no response. The studio remained quiet for a while, I knew they would revisit their position now that everyone knew that they lied on the airways.
Today the Prime Minister came on television and said that all the members of the Inter Religious Organization, who were in a meeting with him yesterday, supported the equal opportunity bill. Members of the Baptist organization, who were at the meeting, said afterwards that they never supported the bill. In fact, one spokesman said that the bill should be scrapped altogether.
I guess, once again the Prime Minister was capriciously speaking, or should I say speaking with inexactitudes.
We are witnessing the effects of the Prime Minister's continual attacks on the media. Some hosts are afraid and are prepared to lie rather than be scathed by the Prime Minister.
Oh, what a tangled web we weave for ourselves when we do not speak the truth.
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