This is an opinion column.<\/p>\n
Fear isn\u2019t free; neither is foolishness. Each can be expensive. <\/p>\n
Together? Get out your calculator.<\/p>\n
Fear may cost you an opportunity. It may cost you peace. It may cost you joy.<\/p>\n
Foolishness? Man, get out the calculator. Or follow the headlines coming out of Washington. D.C., out of the White House, out of Congress.<\/p>\n
Pair them and they may break the bank. And make you look like a fool. Or worse.<\/p>\n
Earlier this week, Wayne Reid, executive director of Alabama Public Television, calmly and efficiently laid out the cost of fear and foolishness. Laid out \u2014 like me scrutinizing a restaurant bill \u2014 just how much it would cost Alabamians if the Alabama Educational Television Commission capitulated to the fear and foolishness of a few.<\/p>\n
To the fear and foolishness of at least two commission members who proposed that APT drop PBS, the engaging, intelligent, family-friendly network that has informed audiences and educated children across Alabama for generations.<\/p>\n
To become the first state to drop Big Bird and Elmo. Drop the wonderful storytelling of Masterpiece<\/a>. <\/p>\n Drop it because of Donald Trump\u2019s fear and foolishness, because the president and the fearful right don\u2019t like it. Don\u2019t like that its news programming doesn\u2019t bow to their leanings, doesn\u2019t co-sign their fears and foolishness. That Big Bird, Elmo and their friends may teach children about things their parents may fear, teach them truths about the complicated world around them.<\/p>\n That programs like Sesame Street might inform and empower children to be smarter, more empathetic, and maybe less fearful than their parents.<\/p>\n Trump did what he does \u2014 tries to choke the life out of anyone or anything that does not genuflect to his whims \u2014 by defunding the Corporation of Public Broadcasting, stripping $1.1 billion previously allocated by Congress. That foolishness cost APT more than $2 million, about 13% of its annual budget.<\/p>\n Cost 13 Alabamians their jobs.<\/p>\n Yet APT Commissioners Les Barnett<\/a>, Ferris Stephens and William Green wanted more. They wanted to unplug from PBS altogether<\/a>. Their fear? That continuing to air PBS might not curry favor with Trump and Republican state leaders, including Gov. Ivey, which may threaten state funding. Wouldn\u2019t want them mad at us \u2026 over Big Bird and Elmo.<\/p>\n Their foolishness? Barnett, who heads South Alabama\u2019s Center for Forensics, Information Technology and Security, called PBS \u201cthe enemy.\u201d Yeah, Big Bird, Elmo and their vicious gang of characters are the enemy.<\/p>\n Ivey actually tempered the foolishness, at least somewhat. In a letter released the day before the APT was to reconvene<\/a> and likely vote on fulfilling its contract with PBS, she essentially, and rightfully, told the commission to slow its roll.<\/p>\n She called for a public survey to ensure \u201cvoices are heard.\u201d In a bit of a political two-step, she also wrote: \u201cFor the sake of our people, it is imperative that APT\u2019s programming align with Alabama values.\u201d<\/p>\n Anytime the governor spouts \u201cAlabama values,\u201d I squirm because there is no such thing. Alabamians espouse differing values, depending on the subject in front of them. When the governor talks about the state\u2019s values, she\u2019s not talking about all of us \u2014 depending on the subject, of course.<\/p>\n Well, we now know this: Alabamians value PBS.<\/p>\n At least if measured by the passion of those who showed up on Tuesday to express their support for PBS. They overwhelmed the room and crowded the sidewalk outside APT headquarters.<\/p>\n If there were dissidents present, advocates for squashing PBS, they were as muted as The Quiet Family<\/a>.<\/p>\n Reid came bearing a detailed presentation outlining the cost of killing PBS, the tab for fear and foolishness: Almost $6 million.<\/p>\n That\u2019s $3 million to replace PBS programming, mostly with British stuff \u2014 aligning perfectly with Alabama values, right? And up to $2.7 million in lost contributions from APT\u2019s loyal members.<\/p>\n The cost was clear. The commission voted overwhelmingly to honor its PBS contract, which extends through July 2026<\/a>. <\/p>\n Stephens and Green did the math \u2014 and voted yes. Barnett, who attended remotely, abstained, saying he could not hear the motion.<\/p>\n Voices were heard. Fearless voices. Voices expressing Alabama values.<\/p>\n If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement<\/a> and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and\/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"This is an opinion column. Fear isn\u2019t free; neither is foolishness. Each can be expensive. Together? 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