Transcript
BROOKE GLADSTONE:
This is On the Media. I'm Brooke Gladstone.
BOB GARFIELD:
And I'm Bob Garfield, with a few of your letters. On the replay of our radio theater piece, Pledge This, Arthur Charles said he, quote, "loved the parody, was in tears for at least 20 minutes." On the other hand, Jeff Overright said he, quote, "couldn't take it. Maybe some listeners found it an absolute scream, but to me it was like spending the day at someone else's family reunion. Boring."
BROOKE GLADSTONE:
On Bob's commentary about the media's preoccupation with the climbers on Mount Hood, Abigail Hastings wrote that she came to a different conclusion. Quote, "The thought of people risking their lives to save others calls forth in us more than idle titillation, as many diversionary stories might. More likely, we are on a hunt for something that looks like hope and triumph in a hopeless situation. Now, wouldn't that resonate for a war-weary world?"
BOB GARFIELD:
Bob Campin [sp?] wrote in with this comment about Brooke's piece on atheism in the media. Quote, "You do realize that in quoting Colbert's use of the term 'godless Sodomites' at the end of your piece on the New Atheists, you are indeed quoting a satirist who teaches Sunday school at a Congregational church."
BROOKE GLADSTONE:
Actually, we did realize that, but Colbert's joke was relevant not as a defense of atheism but as a criticism of a Hollywood stereotype. Thanks for the comments. Keep them coming in to onthemedia@wnyc.org, and don't forget to tell us where you live and how to pronounce your name.
Music Credits:
"African Lullaby"
by Dave Holland