Commentary by PAT MURPHY
Maybe there’s a lesson for Idahoans in this flap over a controversial
public television program in Arizona, where Republicans also reign politically and with a
view of the world from the far right.
Two weeks ago, the Phoenix PBS station, Channel 8 (KAET-TV), summarily
decided to yank a documentary on urban sprawl, "Subdivide and Conquer," which
featured Phoenix as an example of the consequences of growth.
Program director Joe Campbell claimed he feared the documentary
"lacked balance." The program, he said, might unfairly influence a November vote
on two ballot questions designed to control growth—one, a grassroots citizens
initiative severely restricting growth, the other a legislative proposition with minimal
impact on growth.
Having watched strong-arm Arizona politics for more than 20 years from my
perch as a journalist, I’d bet Campbell wasn’t telling the whole story behind
his decision. My guess is that a few legislators who control Channel 8 funding through the
Arizona State University budget called Campbell with not-too-subtle hints they didn’t
want their pet ballot proposition jeopardized.
After announcing the cancellation, Campbell was deluged with outraged and
indignant phone calls and e-mail protests from people just as important to basic Channel 8
funding—viewers whose per capita donations are among the nation’s highest.
Campbell promptly reinstated the program and aired it last Friday.
So, what would’ve happened in Idaho had a similar wave of outrage
flooded Idaho Public Television when it decided to cave-in to demands of Republican
legislators and re-scheduled the controversial program about homosexuality,
"It’s Elementary," to a time when most folks were asleep?
Had the public risen, would Idaho Public Television still have capitulated
to political censors, or would it have recognized its responsibility to viewers, not Stone
Age legislative thinking that seems geared to turning back the clock to the 18th century
by muzzling sensible discussion of important public issues?
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In this age when people believe resources are unlimited and the good times
will just continue to roll, we’re occasionally reminded of the mythology of that
mindset, and confronted with realities that expose human vulnerability.
The recent drought emergency declaration by Gov. Dirk Kemthorne for Blaine
County was a vivid reminder that Mother Nature won’t always be there when needed.
The drought put sheep and cattle ranchers on notice they may have to move
to winter quarters. A water shortage made fire departments in the Wood River Valley
nervous about reserves for fighting fires.
And statewide, the drought has helped prolong the worst forest fires in
memory.
One of the morals of these periodic scares is that humankind isn’t at
all the master of its fate as we cockily like to believe.
