KPFA: Remembering Mama O'Shea
Aaron
This, originally sent to the micro radio list, belongs here too.
PF
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Aaron:
With sadness I send along the news of the passing of Mama O'Shea.
For those who don't know, Mama O'Shea hosted -- for decades, and with great
dedication -- a weekly talk show on Pacifica station KPFA in Berkeley.
Already in poor health, she lost her program in the Great Purge of 1995.
Although I only met her maybe a dozen times in person -- mainly at meetings
of Take Back KPFA -- I carried on an ongoing discussion with her, her
guests, and her audience, getting to call in and talk on her show perhaps
hundreds of times over the years. She quite often disagreed with me, but
always let me speak long enough to make my point, and would even question
me so as to clarify -- for herself and others -- what I was saying. It got
so that, when I didn't call up, she would occasionally make comments such
as "What would Aaron have to say on this?" She even admitted at times --
without being pressured to do so -- that she had been wrong about something
we had debated in the past. (Her earlier support for Cory Aquino was one
such issue!)
Some might say I was fond of Mama O'Shea because she treated me, in
particular, well. And perhaps I have earned such cynical regard. But Mama
O'Shea was well-loved by many guests and listerners who could have done
without me or my politics (and often said as much on her show). And I got
(silently) upset with her occasionally for giving too much time and
credence to those whom *I* considered to be idiots {;->}!
We have lost another fighter for free expression, another voice for those
without a voice, or -- more accurately -- a facilitator and amplifier for
those with a weak voice. But she did have a long, full life and that life
should be celebrated.
Mama's motto might have been: If the bastards are going to grind you down,
make them work real long and real hard at it!
- Aaron
--------------- Begin Forwarded Message: ---------------
)Date: Sun, 1 Mar 1998 17:10:38 -0800 (PST)
)To: (Recipient list suppressed)
)From: "Nicolas V. Alexander" <nalex...@igc.apc.org>
)Subject: Mama O'Shea
Please forward this to as many folks as you want. Peace. Nick
)>Date: Sat, 28 Feb 1998 15:29:38 -0800
)>From: c...@juno.com (Janice Leber)
Hi folks,
It is my sad duty to inform all here assembled that Mama O'Shea, generous
soul and legendary KPFA talk show host, died Friday night in San
Francisco.
Her respiratory system failed her. But Pacifica failed her first.
A memorial potluck is currently speculated for her birthday, March 8, in
Sonoma County. I will keep you posted.
Janice Leber
c...@juno.com
http://www.sonomacountyfreepress.org/liver/liverindx.html
--------------- End of Forwarded Message ---------------
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