[civicprep] Montel Williams Show against Y2K Preparationgreenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread |
[snip] Hello, this is the Coalition 2000 Civic Preparedness discussion list. To post messages to this list, address them to civicprep@4hlists.org. Please remember that reply messages will be forwarded to all members of the discussion list.
------------------------------
Hello. My name is Robb Ware and I organize a Y2K Awareness and Preparation Group in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. We started out as a very small collection of individuals and have rapidly grown to about 70. Because of the publicity our group has received, the Montel Williams Show invited me, along with three families from around the country to be part of a Y2K Preparation Show. We were informed that the show would center on encouraging Y2K preparation across the country and would allow us to share with a national audience the efforts we have put forth in our communities.
The reason I'm writing this email is because I feel that there is an enormous surplus of misinformation in the media today. Rather than portray Y2K for what it is, a computer, economic, societal, and global problem that is unprecedented, with its many effects and failures unknown, the media chooses to either make a mockery of those who have genuine concern or ignore the issue completely. No one knows for sure what kind of problems we may face, and it is always best to put a little insurance aside so that it is there if need be. We are not harbingers of doom waiting and hoping for an inevitable breakdown. If Y2K concern turns out to be a false alarm, we will sigh in relief with the rest of the world.
Summary of Show:
The show begins with Peggy, Michelle and Doug Ryan from Ohio who are preparing for Y2K and have insulated their home with straw since straw is a good insulator. Montel refers to the house as the "straw house" from here on out. Next is a couple that bought a tugboat eight years ago and has lived on it since then. They have a couple years of food for their whole family and a good supply of fuel on the tugboat. If the Y2K problems get really bad, they are prepared to take the tugboat out to sea away from the local problems. Montel thinks that the fact that these people are preparing for something unknown is ridiculous. To back up his opinion on this, he presents Ellis Henican, a journalist for Newsday. Ellis says that Y2K is a situation created to sell computers and IT (Information Technology) contracts. He further states that the Senate Report issued by the US Senate was written to help the computer companies and that nothing in the report will cause any problems. He refers to the people on stage as "nuts" for believing that problems will happen. Montel says that he has researched the Year 2000 problem a lot, but in the first five minutes of the show he referred to the Year 2000 problem as "YK2" three times (until his director came over and corrected him during commercial (they may voice-over the YK2 with Y2K, but read his lips)). Anyone who has read a single article about Y2K should know the acronym by now. This whole Y2K segment is filled with unsubstantiated opinion and not one fact. Both Montel and Ellis poke fun at these families' preparations but do not offer any reassurances that problems won't happen.
During the next segment, Peggy Ryan stands up and confronts Montel about having them on the show under false pretenses (remember this was supposed to be a pro-preparation show), and about having them onstage with a white supremacist. Montel says that there is no white supremacist onstage and proceeds to make her look (to the audience) like she has no idea what she's talking about. At that point the Ryan Family leaves the stage and Montel subtly mocks them (pretending to wipe tears from his face). I am sure that this entire portion will be edited out of the final show, as it would remove Montels tasteful and understanding facade and reveal his true rating minded morality. Thus, when you see the Ryan Family disappear from the stage, you'll know why.
Next Montel brings out Stefan Paulus, author of "Nostradamus 1999: Who Will Survive?". Paulus believes Nostradamus predictions indicate a large asteroid will hit the Earth in mid September 1999 (similar to the concepts illustrated in the films Asteroid, Deep Impact, and Armageddon). To substantiate this belief, he refers to Revelations Chapter 8 in the Bible. Just another way to dilute the seriousness of the real problem, Y2K.
Lastly, to our extreme shock and disgust, Montel reaches the finale of his circus by introducing Randy Gains (I believe he uses an alias on the show). Gains is a white supremacist (the audience finally realizes that Peggy Ryan wasn't wrong after all), who believes the Year 2000 will usher in an age of race wars and the eventual triumph of the white race. Whites and blacks will be at the center of this war and if any white man sides with the black man and he denies his people, then the white man will be charged with treason and ostracized, physically harmed and possibly even killed. His supreme faith lies in the "White Mans Bible" which preaches that the white man is the superior race. When asked how this bible compared to the standard Christian Bible, he expressed that he only believed in one book, his "White Mans Bible".
I could not believe that a supposed Y2K pro-preparation show could turn into such a typical Talk-Show-Circus, finally ending with the Year 2000 being highlighted as a race issue. This is something that I would never expect from Montel Williams, and after being in his audience, have lost all respect for his show. Even if he is against the white supremacist movement, he chose a completely inappropriate show topic to highlight his platform. In closing, I must say that Montel did a serious disservice to the population of our country and those in other parts of the world that may watch the show. What I feel was a noble effort to enlighten and inform may become a dangerous pitfall for those now left laughing and sadly unaware.
Air Date: Tuesday, March 30, 1999
In the Philadelphia Area, the Montel Williams Show will air on NBC Channel 10 at 3pm. All other areas please check your local NBC listings.
Contact Information:
I feel that this show does an immense public disservice, and as there is already a lot of misinformation out there along with a myriad of people are on-the-fence as to what to believe, this show could cause people to believe that Y2K will be a non-event and that those who are preparing are "crazy" or "nuts". If you feel the same way and would like to give the Montel Williams Show or Ellis Henican, the Newsday journalist your comments and/or criticism, here is the contact information:
Ellis Henican, Newsday Columnist
(718) 575-2565
henican@newsday.com
Bill Lancaster, Montel Williams Show Producer
(800) 987-5446 x373
Kim Wright, Montel Williams Show Associate Producer
(800) 987-5446 x322
Montel Williams Show
433 W 53rd Street
New York, NY 10019
montel_williams@pde.paramount.com
------------------------------------------------------------
Feel free to distribute this email to mail lists that you are on or own and if you post emails to your web page, please post this (especially Gary North, thanks Dr. North!). If you need to verify the authenticity of this email, email me at y2krobb@aol.com and I will provide you with my phone number. Thanks for all your help! Let's show Montel that we care how information is provided to the public.
Robb Ware
P.O. Box 486
Lima, PA 19037
y2krobb@aol.com
[/snip] ~C~
-- Critt Jarvis (critt@critt.com), March 26, 1999
"I could not believe that a supposed Y2K pro-preparation show could turn into such a typical Talk-Show-Circus, finally ending with the Year 2000 being highlighted as a race issue. This is something that I would never expect from Montel Williams, and after being in his audience, have lost all respect for his show. Even if he is against the white supremacist movement, he chose a completely inappropriate show topic to highlight his platform."The issue here isn't about some lunatic spouting his racist beliefs, it's the association of those beliefs with Y2K preparation (and preparers) that was the plan all along, IMHO. People who believe that Y2K will lead to major disruptions and are preparing accordingly are dangerous to the state, because they will be able to survive independent As for "respect" and "Montel", in my book they're two mutually exclusive terms.
-- sparks (wireless@home.com), March 26, 1999.
Dear Rob I am so sorry the Montel show is going to expose y2k prep. in such an unfavorable light. Those of us who are researching and take preparation serious will now have to face all of those who are laughing at us. We will now be associated with those on the show that are being made fun of. I personally have contacted Oprah twice requesting y2k be a subject of an upcoming show. No response. I suggested they have some of the experts on and inform the millons out there who are so unaware. I figured if Oprah gave y2k some credence than more people would listen and make plans to get through the year 2000 crisis. I will contact the show at the address you have given and voice my opinion. I hope everyone else does too.
-- Brenda Looney (blooney@aol.com), March 26, 1999.
Well, at least he didn't make any of them take paternity tests...
-- Helen (sstaten@fullnet.net), March 26, 1999.
Critt; Sorry to hear that your tv experience was so unfortunate, I was wondering, "WHO IS MONTEL WILLIAMS" ??? Is he the one who because he was former CIA and a Naval Officer would be able to walk into AREA 51 and find out what really is going on in AREA 51 ??? Is that the same guy ? He is only to make ratings for the show, just like the other hosts of shows like that.Furie...
-- Furie (furieart@dnet.net), March 26, 1999.
Critt,Time will tell if this is accurate, (I don't mean to imply that you would make it up)
Where do these people come from? That people like this are walking around is very scarey. I only recently saw my first Jerry Springer Show, & the whole time I was like, these people cannot be REAL! They have got to be actors!
Our culture is such a mess it makes my head swim.
I don't know (for certain) if we are being set up to fit into that catgory, but THAT is not a comforting thought, & would be one of the great ironies of my life. (I spent years feeding/clothing a predominantly black homeless population) To think I could now be cast as a racist is ironic to say the least. Y2K or no, we have some serious problems in this country.
Brenda,
Keep trying with Oprah! This is her last season. Maybe she will bite.
-- Deborah (infowars@yahoo.com), March 26, 1999.
lets start a natonwide Boycott of the sponsors of the montel williams show. Lets send his sponsors letters informing them that if they don't demand his apology on T.V and in nationwide newspapers for this terrible irresponsible show misrepresenting the seriousness of y2k we are going target his sponsors for a boycott. Let it be a warning to the Corporate elite that if they continue to damage our ability to provide responsible y2k preparation to our families and communities we will hit them in there pocket hard with boycotts,lawsuits,and go after pulling there corporate charters. This goes for networks too. Y2k is serious business any company or media outlet that continues too wage this very damaging misinformation campaigne deserves to be put out of business. The y2k problem will be tough enough without 2bit greedy pig irresponsible corporations playing mad city(see the movie) spin with y2k. Millions of people will be injured from this coming event everyone we can help get ready will be one move that may make it thru o.k. THE TIME IS NEAR do the right thing.
-- y2k aware mike (y2k aware mike@ conservation .com), March 26, 1999.
Deborah, we probably aren't being set up to appear as racists (at least not most of us), but we are definitely being set up to be appear as extremists. The govt. will need a group to point a finger at when the Y2K-house-of-cards falls apart, and Y2K preppers will most likely be lumped with militia/survivalist groups. While some militia/survivalist types are nuts, the majority are sensible people who see that something's very wrong in America, and are taking steps they feel are necessary. In effect, they're GI's like most of us here. It's just that instead of Y2K, they "got it" about what the powers-that-be have been up to all these years.
-- sparks (wireless@home.com), March 26, 1999.
Sparks,I know what you mean, and I hate to say militia types have already effectively been painted as 'white supremists' (or separatists)
I agree that this group may be sensible GI's in their own right. There are more from where they came from, they just don't belong to an organization yet.
Any honest American would agree that it is our DUTY to be aware what the 'powers that be' are up to (according to Thomas Jefferson). That the apparent need is urgent makes me want to weep. I, however have not given up hope that we can use existing channels to bring positive change non violently. I refuse to believe it is too late. (denial?)
I fear that a rag tag bunch with guns would not stand a chance against the capabilties of our armed forces (or UN or whatever).
We were given the gift of the greatest nation ever to see the light of day. We cannot blow it. We need to teach our children. However the time may come before they are even grown that things will blow.
Ten years ago I felt the internal rumblings of the militia movement (living in the big city no less) it is getting louder. The disinformation campaign has been effectively waged. Your average American thinks they are extremest racist wackos (at least around here).
As I've written before, this is just one more thing to throw on the powder keg that is y2k.
-- Deborah (infowars@yahoo.com), March 26, 1999.
Remember, Deborah, it was a rag-tag bunch with guns that gave this country its independence, so it's not outside the bounds of possibility. However, it makes me sad to think it would probably be fought with little chance of success... but still, it's better to fight and die than to live as a slave.
-- sparks (wireless@home.com), March 27, 1999.
You speak the truth. Right now though we should follow y2k aware mike's advice, make noise, boycott, etc. We still have a voice. Man, I think I need to just type up a form letter, it will probably save alot of time in the long run!
-- Deborah (infowars@yahoo.com), March 27, 1999.
1) I'm REAL surprised about Montel, given his history (which includes being the most successful Marine Family counselor seen by that service)2)The Jerry Springer Show does indeed use REAL PEOPLE! (We use the term loosely) My company had 3 of his subjects in our cars twice in the past month. You would NOT believe the antics in the cars!!
Chuck
-- Chuck, a night driver (reinzoo@en.com), March 27, 1999.
well.....either Peggy Ryan is a "real person"....or she's been putting on a show of her own for quite some time!i remember reading her postings on the first GN forum (before he went to the present forum he's using now) back in 1997
she was an EXCELLENT source of all kinds of information, from cooking on a woodstove to first aid......and even mentioned somewhere along the way about their (the Ryans) building a strawbale house
-- andrea (mebsmebs@hotmail.com), March 27, 1999.
I guess I'm sort of oblivious, not having TV, and never having watched Montel nor Oprah or jerry springer or any of the others, but given my general opinion about the value of TV, why would anyone expect to see anything worthwhile on one of these shows.? These, as is probably most TV shows are set up to tiltilate and entertain the masses, whith their 6th grade reading levels. TV is not meant to demand deep thought or insight. It works against it.Just the nature of the medium alone is enough to disallow the transmittal of real serious thought. Forget the mainstream media. It won't happen.
-- anita (hillsidefarm@drbs.com), March 27, 1999.
Critt-- I was being flip before, sorry. Oprah got sued by the beef industry for the comments of a guest and her own flip remark. I don't think any of the talk shows are willing to go against "mainstream" notions (like beef is good for you, like preparations beyond three days' worth is overkill, like money is best left in the bank).If one Oprah show could seriously affect the beef market, imagine the bank run she could start by saying, "Oh, wow! I guess I need a couple thousand for MY 'long weekend'! giggle snort"
Montel is probably stocked up better than he will let on. Aren't we all?
-- Helen (sstaten@fullnet.net), March 27, 1999.