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Indybay Feature

A Beautiful, Powerful Voice is Silenced

by ntuit
Some Voices Are Alive With Power, Enthusiasm and Joy
Sometimes we only know someone through their voice. And that was true for me with ANDREA LEWIS, who hosted Sunday Sedition on KPFA in Berkeley. I never met her in person but listening to her powerful, unique voice let me know that this was a person of great joy, enthusiasm and interest in life. She was vibrant and engaging. Her heart was on the right side of the issues. There was something steady and stable -secure- about her voice. And there was tremendous confidence but never a hint of condescension or superiority. And yet, we who heard her could appreciate that this voice in the wilderness was a superior voice. She was a voice of intelligence, power and wisdom.
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by Wilson
I mourn her death . I am sure it's a helluva blow to her family and friends. But (Gulp don't shoot ) She wasn't a '' Powerful Voice ''. She was pretty much a run of the mill liberal who , as someone wrote on another thread , was only passionate about the Arts , Music and Sports.
I rarely heard her take a strong stand aganist the daily Police violence that plagues Blacks and Latinos especially . Unlike others at the station such as MIguel Molina, JR Valery , Davey D and Bonnie Faulkner .
At KPFA she was always on the wrong side of disputes. She backed KPFA honchos in their unjust treatment of Nadra Foster. She backed the campaign to get rid of the son of the legendary African-Italian baseball player Roy Campanella Jr who served as General manager . She endorsed the anti Listener democracy club the Concerned Listeners .
i wished she would have lived a long and happy life. But at NPR . We are in deadly serious times . We need hard, uncomprising voices . Despite her undoubted talents she really didn't belong at Pacifica .
by Richard Phelps, former Chair KPFA LSB
Now is not the time to analyse Andrea Lewis' politics for any reason. People should respect the needs of those that were close to her to mourn and think about the positive things that they loved about Andrea and will miss. This is a time where feelings must take priority and be given room. Politics are subjective like food. We don't all like the same thing. Respect is something we can all give, and it doesn't cost anything except a little humanity!
by Puzzled
I find this comment from KPFA dissident Richard Phelps strange . He has been one of the strongest critics of the people running the station . He even calls them the '' Entrenched ''.I have no problem with that. i usually agree with him.. Not on this .Nothing anyone has written on this or other threads have attacked her character . But since many people have praised her politics and her programs contrary views are completely appropriate . Perhaps Mr. Phelps should listen to a comic/satricial riff by another commentator , the late great George Carlin . He brillantly and hilariously challenged the social norm that you can't say anything negative about the dead .
§Strange coming from Mr. Phelps
by Puzzled
Monday Nov 23rd, 2009 5:28 PM

I find this comment from KPFA dissident Richard Phelps strange .
__________________________________________________-
RP: What is strange about wanting to allow a period of time for people to mourn, if you have any humanity.
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He has been one of the strongest critics of the people running the station . He even calls them the '' Entrenched ''. I have no problem with that. i usually agree with him.. Not on this .
____________________________________________________

RP: I have called them worse than that. What does that have to do with giving respect for a human lost at a young age?
__________________________________________________

Nothing anyone has written on this or other threads have attacked her character . But since many people have praised her politics and her programs contrary views are completely appropriate .
__________________________________________________

RP: Some folks just don't get it and can't get out of their "political correct line" thinking even to allow people to mourn for a few weeks.
________________________________________________________

Perhaps Mr. Phelps should listen to a comic/satricial riff by another commentator , the late great George Carlin . He brillantly and hilariously challenged the social norm that you can't say anything negative about the dead .
______________________________________________

RP: Perhaps this anonymous coward should read more carefully and not distort what I write in a self serving way to try to justify their lack of humanity. I NEVER said you can't say anything negative about the dead! I just suggested that a period of respectful mourning be given for those close to her who this hit really hard. Would it have really set back the "revolution" to have waited a few weeks?

by Jay
Richard, Please take a deep breath and calm dowm . No one is a Coward . Many people post under pen names for good reasons . It is strange for you to get so excited about some criticisms about Andrea .
Whether or not i agree with them i read nothing that demean her life and tragic death .
Did you read the critical commentaries after the passing of Ted Kennedy ? Not only from the right but from the Left.
by Richard Phelps
I am quite calm. I don't like people misrepresenting what I said anonymously. And given this discussion there is NO reason why anyone has to hide who they are except that they don't want to be accountable for what they say. I don't know why some people get so defensive when someone asks for a little empathy for her close survivors.

Bringing up Kennedy is much like the Carlin missapplied quote. Give it a rest with the quotes and comparisons with upper class Senators and just be human. Try to put yourself in the emotional shoes of her relatives, close friends and colleagues. Is that too hard to do?
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