NPR Promotes Vitalist Speech
This morning (4/17/09) NPR’s AM news show, Morning Edition featured a segment in which Steve Inskeep interviewed a Federal Reserve official. He began his interview with bank analyst Karen Petrou with the following exchange:
Petrou: We’re in a recession, a deep, deep recession and banks are critical to pulling us out of that, but they’re also deeply a part of that, and they’re not healthy ’till the economy is not healthy as well.
Inskeep: People use the phrase “Zombie banks” …
Petrou: (sotto voce) ha!
Inskeep: You’re laughing. Do you accept that phrase for at least some of those twenty huge banks?
Petrou: I think there are several large banks that should have been broken apart and sold off, and to some degree perhaps preserve the bank.. [blah blah blah banking stuff]
Inskeep: You’ve warned us not to look at the industry as a whole, but to look at specific banks. Who’s a zombie bank? Name a few.
Petrou: Uh, I don’t like the term “zombie bank” ’cause it suggests that they’re walking around, you know, in a glazed fashion, bouncing from wall to wall, you know, ravenously looking for small children to consume.
Inskeep: If there’s another monster you’d rather substitute, please go aheahd!
Petrou: (laughs)
The interview continues, and may be heard in its entirety here.
We here are outraged.
“Monster,” “ravenous,” “bouncing from wall to wall,” these are all very typical and hurtful words and phrases applied to Zombies. The cavalier and casual attitude with which these terms are thrown around are precisely what we here are trying to put an end to. Words have meaning and power, and only through constant and persistent education can we put a stop to this kind of hate.
We will be writing to Mr. Inskeep and demanding an apology.
Below is our letter to Morning Edition:
I represent the Zombie Anti Defamation League (ZADL.org) and I wish to register a complaint concerning Steve Inskeep’s interview with Karen Petrou that aired this morning, 4/17/09.
In that interview Mr. Inskeep and Ms. Petrou discussed so-called “zombie banks.” While we regret the unfortunate phrase to describe such institutions, it is not the reason behind our complaint.
What upset us was the ease with which Mr. Inskeep and Ms. Petrou used words like “monster” and “ravenous” and described zombies as “bouncing from wall to wall.” These are all very hurtful words and phrases to Zombies. The nonchalant and offhand attitude with which these terms are bandied about are precisely what we at ZADL are trying to end.
I understand that we are a lesser known organization, and that the Zombie Rights movement has been largely ignored, but it is only through consciousness raising that Zombies will ever see their dignity restored.
Remember, inside every living person is a dead one waiting to get out.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Here is the first reply, note the generic, impersonal response. Allegedly this is not an automated email. I suspect they are not taking us seriously.
“Thank you for contacting NPR.
We are grateful for your comments to NPR News. Your feedback is important to us, and your thoughts have been noted.
NPR is always delighted to hear from listeners.
Thank you for listening, and for your continued support of public broadcasting. For the latest news and information, visit NPR.org.
Sincerely,
Alan
NPR Services”