Politics (maybe) and the Personal: Steamed

I'm embarrassed to be in the news business today.

I can't figure out what annoys me more, the fact that baristas dress in sexy costumes to get business or the fact that it's FRONT PAGE news in the Seattle Times! Some coffee stands get steamier, Drive-throughs use scantily clad baristas in a bid for business.

Can someone please tell me why THAT is news? On the FRONT page? Just below the story of the guy who faked his way through life and donated $225,000 to Witworth...another non-story that doesn't affect anyone except the liar. And right beside the one ACTUAL news story Iraqi PM no longer protects cleric's militia. But the sexy barista story is the biggest one with a large picture right on the front page.

Putting my complete and utter annoyance at the Times aside I have to ask myself why it makes me so angry that these baristas dress this way to attract business. For some reason I am infuriated by it. I'm angry that they do this and I'm even more angry that it works.

I realize that simply by writing about this it opens the door for people to call me a stick up her ass feminist prude. Which bothers me even MORE. A woman can't stand up against exploitation with out being called a prude who never gets any. So I'll just put it out there first before you email me saying as much. I'm not a prude and I'm all for people getting their rocks off in any legal harmless way they see fit. But really?! When you're getting your morning coffee?

On the day that story was printed there was another tragedy that hit the news. A womans body was found in a ditch in Tumwater. The conversation all over the newsroom was about the scantially clad women on the cover of the Times and the dead woman in a ditch was never mentioned. I couldn't help but see the connection and neither could my colleague (who shall remain nameless). We talked about it length - it's complicated I realize but I can't help but wonder if it all isn't related. Tough to juxtapose those two stories and wonder about how we view women in this society.

Now you can talk all you want about free choice. These women who work at these coffee stands have a choice. Yes, they do...BUT, they are raised to believe that they can make money by exploiting themselves and their bodies. And it works - but you can't tell me at the end of the day they feel good about themselves, inspired by their lives and have self respect. I just can't believe they do. Maybe they enjoy the attention, maybe it's fun for a bit but I know there is more underneath it all...and I also know the whole thing contributes to the larger issue - no matter how ya slice it women are constantly and consistently viewed in relation to what men can get from exploiting our bodies. It's the truth - and there will likely always be an industry for it. But I'm still ashamed of us and the reality of it's acceptance.

Politics and Politics and more Politics and the personal

All right, "Carrie" is crazy and so I move on...

I am currently in our Nations Capital! WOW!

Here's a shot of Ron Reagan and me when we first arrived...
(my face looks kinda weird in this picture - I can't figure that out..I look like a chipmunk...and as I write that I realize, it's not me you're looking at)

I think most people want to know what it's like to visit our Nations Capital with someone whose father was the most powerful man in the world at one time. It is strange, but when it's your life it's not. Ron is great - he's an animal lover, he's funny and smart and well, someone you'd be friends with (if you're reading MY blog, I am making that assumption).

Maybe I take it for granted because I spend a lot of time with him. But he's...simply a good guy and getting to be one hell of a talk show host. Wish I could give you some kind of low down on the whole experience - but, truth be told - that's not my place.

But if you care at all about what a low on the totem poll producer does...I gotta tell ya...This week has been STRESSFUL!

I feel like all I do is talk on the phone! "hello, my name is...I work for...and I am hoping insert Senator (clinton, kennedy,...whoEVER 0r Congress person...blah blah blah) has some time to talk with us this week....) Everytime my phone rings it's either good news or bad news in one extreme or the other. "Hello Tina this is Frank from Congresswoman Louis Slaughters office, we would love to come on your program" (I jump up and down) or "Ummm...hello? Tina? I'n sorry Senator Kennedy is swamped this week and simply have no time our schedule to make it to your show" (I'm sad) Essentially, I wake up and read, and call and watch tv and read and call and think about what is going to sound interesting.

And...truth be told ....this is the kind of stress I love. I feel like I am learning more every minute. Everyone here is in politics - the bar conversations are about strategy and a lot of the time (suprisingly) about the greater good. I think (and yes, I know I'm naive) - people here actually know about what's going on in the world and consequently care.

I'm also just amazed at the city as a whole and how different it is on the East Coast. There are VERY young people working in politics here. The other night I went out with some people from the Democratic National Committee- they were all about 22 years old and trying to figure out how they'll get onto the next Presidential Campaign and who works for who and what's the Republican and Democrat strategy for the upcoming year...very interesting. And I felt like I was a hundred years old and started my carreer way too late.

Let's face it..if you are educated on the East Coast you have an advantage. You have grown up living IN the history of it all. We can be as inspired as we want by Lewis and Clark but really...they do have an advantage out here simply because there are a lot of dead people who founded this country and died right here in DC. If they didn't live or die here, seems America still wants to memorilize them anyway. My favorite is the Einstein Memorial...that big copper statue is wonderful. AND the WW2 Memorial - it's an incredible tribute - it's tasteful and I really like how all the waters flow together - sometimes artist get it right. Truth be told it really beats that type writer eracer in the new Seattle Art Museum Sculpture Park....sorry I'm all for the park, but really? A typewriter eracer? (can't wait to see the rest)

I digress as always....here's what's been interesting about this trip (in no particular order):

• Flying into Reagan National with Ron Reagan
  (although it was the free digi players that I loved)
• Dave having a beer at dinner
  (really, produced for the guy for 5 years, never seen it)
• Ron getting recognized by random strangers
• Dave and Ron posing in front of the stuffed animals in the museum of History & Industry

• Dave coming back after the Senate hearings with Condelizza Rice's testimony
• Having Congressman Charles Rangal, Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., Senator Patty Murray, Congressman McDermott,Congressman Jay Inslee, and Congresswoman Louise Slaughter on the show
• Simpy being in the environment of the 'think tank' world....facinating... (I want all those think tankers to be my friends)
• The Cheese store!! Cowgirl Creamery...yummm
• Hanging out with Ron in front of the white house, (he gave us all the scoop about where you can play frisbee on the south lawn
• Walking around the Capital with Ron and seeing things named after him...(that's fun).
• Loosing hot water in our hotel...just kiddin' ...that sucked
• Our driver today who didn't know who Ron was and talked to us about politics (of course) - but suddenly got on the topic of the Reagan adminstration and had a lot to say...(I just nudged Ron and neither of us let the driver know who he was).
  

Good Stuff.

We fly home tomorrow and I'm sure there will be more to tell - so I'll keep ya posted.

Politics and the Personal: Death Threats/Racism Biproxy

OK - I'm back, my vacation is long over, the holidays have come and gone and it's time to start a New Year...with new posts - which I hope to do more regularly but am not so brave as to make it a Resolution.

Anyway - work is back to normal except for a recent very interesting occurrence. See, there is a woman who calls our show often, well she goes in spurts - sometimes she'll call for a few days in a row incessantly and then we won't hear from her for weeks. Anyway - every time she calls she goes from calm to screaming in about 10 seconds depending on whether or not she gets what she wants. Mostly, no matter what we are talking about she wants to turn it into a conversation about race and reparations - we could be discussing the top 10 movies of the week and she wants inevitably to talk about how terrible white people are specifically.

As you likely know - it is my job to screen the calls on the show - I have to talk with every one who calls and make sure they are going to stay on the topic we are discussing, they haven't said something we've heard a million times, and that they are articulate and sober
(which let me tell you....it's easy - a lotta drunks enjoy talkin' on the radio). So of course I answer every time the woman mentioned above calls us. From now on let's refer to her as....Carrie...

So Carrie called on January 1st and the coversation went like this:

ME: Hello, KIRO...
Carrie: Hello, is this the lady that always hangs up on me when I call?
Me: Yes.
Carrie: Well, I am just wondering if you are going to continue to do that in the New Year?
Me: Well, yes I probably will because...
Carrie: YOU WHITE BITCH...YOU BITCH YOU NEVER WILL PUT BLACK PEOPLE ON THE AIR...YOU WHITE BITCH, I'LL STOMP YOU
Me: Well that's not really...let me...
Carrie: I HATE YOU YOU WHITE BITCH, DON'T...(insert lots of swear words and something about our sponsors...and more swearing and a few threats)
Me: alright.......

I was mildly annoyed and not really scared because she's called in screaming so many times before - for years, really- she's called. But then she called back...

Me: Hello, KIRO
Carrie: I'M GOING TO KILL YOU, I'LL STOMP YOU WHITE BITCH!!!

at that point I held the phone out so Erynn could hear from the other room- and he could. She was so angry I could feel it through the phone. I could picture the veins popping out of her head and the rage that had boiled up and exploded, flew out of her gut, through the miles of phone lines and into my ears.

So, I hung up and immediately dialed *69 - it's amazing how many people are still listed. I waited for about 20 minutes and then called her back. My plan was to reason with her and explain why sometimes I don't let her on the show. The coversation went something like this...

Carrie: HELLO!?!
Me: Um, hello, this is newsradio 710KIRO
Carrie: Yeah, you white bitch, YEAH, I'll STOMP YOU, DON't YOu...I'll KILL YOU...
Me:

But then I thought about it...and I got a lil scared. Later, she called my boss and screamed at him, and he remembered her because she had come to the station before; about a year ago. So now I am a little afraid - she knows where I work and threated my life with some rage I have never in my life heard so loud and clear. So, the cops are on it - and I feel ok knowing that at least a lot of people know ..BUT--- it brought up something else for me....

I started to really think about her and her rage. And then I began to think about what I must represent to her. I am white, I am a blond haired blue eyed white girl, I drive a nice car and have a good job - sometimes I get my nails done and I look like every other priviledged white girl in America. She doesn't know me, (I know) - and it's almost strange how much she is barking up the wrong tree on this one...(seriously, see previous posts).

But I wondered about it...can I blame her for her rage? Can I do anything about what my image represents to her and can I expect her to see anything different? Tough one. I am all about not making generalizations - read my post about that and the trouble it got me into - AND everything about what I do in my life and who I am screams - "not a racist." ....BUT...I represent middle class white, priveledged America....and part of that makes me wonder if that makes me intrinsically racist.

I understand that what I represent certainly doesn't justify a death threat. I also think white guilt is incredibly unproductive - and can actually be racist in itself. I am the last person to think violence based on an ignorant generalisation is acceptable.

But then I thought of this...what if it happened...what if she did come to the station and shoot me? Her reasoning would be (well insanity for one) - that she was furious and white people have oppressed her and her family for generations and all she was trying to do was call-in on a talk show; on a station run primarily by white people and no one would let her through. In the end she got so angry she couldn't take it anymore and so decided to do the only thing she could do - fight back and make a statement.

I wonder then....if that was the story and I read it in the papers or heard about it on the Dave Ross show...what would I think? Would I side with her, would I say...well you can't blame her - that's what race relations in this state have become - who could blame her?

....Truth be told. I might.