[CW] OT: Heartbreaking VOA Sterba Curtain Destruction

[Radio K0HB]

I don't accept the notion that the USA has withdrawn from presenting ideas,
nor that our culture is in need of redemption.

The idea that oppressed people far away are huddled around a clandestine
radio with the curtains drawn against observation, listening for news from
America, is no longer valid (if it ever was). The towers at VOA had no more
audience.

My father emigrated from Russia as a child with my grandparents, grew up on
a 80 acre farm, married, worked that same crappy 80 acres and raised a big
family, died young (57). Four of his sons spent a collective 56 years in
uniform, most of it induced by mandatory conscription, otherwise known as
"the draft". I wasn't a professional Sailor, but I played around at it for
21 years, and a did good enough job to earn the rank of Master Chief
Radioman (E9). Got me off that crappy rocky farm.

Now I'm an old man, and my great-grand-kids (yes, I have 4 of those)live in
a culture so rich and advanced that my grandfather growing up could not
have imagined it even in his grandest dreams.

My grandkids distant cousins in Russia can communicate instantly with their
counterparts here via handheld devices that would seem magic to even my
father and mother. The need for a national propaganda engine like the VOA
has faded, as American ideas and German ideas and Chinese ideas and
Bolivian ideas and Micronesian ideas flow across cultures, not from
government propaganda offices, but from the personal experiences of free
citizens sharing their real-life dreams, triumphs, and yes, disappointments
and setbacks.

Sincerely,

H Hans Brakob
American
World Citizen

On Sat, Apr 9, 2016 at 10:15 Michael Zolno <luv.myipad3 at me.com> wrote:

> Very true; I don't think anyone here would argue that point. All of us are
> moving to a state of entropy. At least the materials can be reused in this
> case.
>
> My take was more of how I mourn the reasons behind VOA's (and ostensively
> America's) withdrawal from presenting the ideas and concepts that made us
> both good and great. Dropping these towers/antennas are but a symbol. If
> there were ever a time when the world needed a standard bearer, one only
> needs to look at how much the various nefarious forces have grown; now
> would be a good time. I can't speak to how we have gone about that in the
> last few decades because I have been a part (albeit a small part) as a
> professional soldier. So I long for some renewal and possibly some
> redemption, unfortunately do not see these returning anytime soon. I cannot
> fathom how those here whom are older than me (49 shortly) experienced the
> change of our complete culture.
>
> Completely agree with your statement though.
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> > On Apr 9, 2016, at 12:13 PM, Radio K0HB <kzerohb at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Old worn our cars are recycled, old worn out ships are scrapped and
> recycled, old useless radio towers are scrapped and recycled.
> >
> > I can't find any heartbreak in that.
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