The Linear Canvas

During the time that I have been traveling to Columbus to work, you would think that I would have had plenty of time to think about things and come up with some new plans for fun and exciting things to do. The truth is that I have not done that. Most of the time I have been just listening to the CD player and National Public Radio (NPR). When I am in the Toledo area, I listen to the Detroit NPR station as the Toledo station is usually playing classical music most of the day. When I get close to Columbus I can begin to pick up the Columbus NPR station on AM. I enjoy listening to NPR and don’t feel guilty about not paying for it other than the money they receive from me through my taxes. Maybe I’ll donate more someday, maybe not.

Some suggest that NPR is a bunch of liberal Democrats, and they might be. I listen to the news and other programs on NPR because I feel that there is no agenda like there is on the commercial talk radio stations. Those stations thrive on controversy and I don’t have the stomach for it. NPR has never made me feel over the top angry. I just shake my head when I hear how the Bush White House is screwing someone somewhere for something of value and giving it to their rich friends. Life returns to normal when something like “Fresh Air” or “Talk of the Nation” comes on. I have enjoyed listening to other regular programs and have been missing some of my favorites since I have been working in Columbus. In the past I have visited the NPR website and listened to those programs at my leisure. There are no commercial interruptions and no strings attached. No commercial talk radio can match that.

NPR is a great resource and I think it is too bad that conservatives have such an aversion to the whole story instead of just the parts that fit their ideology. If they’d listen to NPR their lives wouldn’t be so filled with hate and violence. What pleases me most is that although there is little support for NPR among conservatives, they help pay the bills through their taxes, just as I do. It doesn’t prove they believe in free speech, but they pay to help keep it alive.