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In recent days many of you, our viewers and listeners, have phoned or emailed to voice your objection to an ad that aired on Channel Five over the weekend. The spot featured Cindy Sheehan, whose soldier son died in Iraq and who has been holding vigil outside President Bush’s Texas ranch.
While KSL may disagree with the tactics used by Ms Sheehan, it is important to remember that we are stewards, not owners, of the airwaves we operate in the public interest. We have given substantial airtime to President Bush and others to express the reasons why our nation is at war. When someone holding an opposing opinion, although poorly expressed and deeply offensive, asks to purchase airtime to express that opinion, there seems to be no justification for saying, "no."
Our democracy, after all, is premised on debate over differing points of view.
Please remember KSL is licensed to use the public airwaves on the condition of service to our community – not the imposition of a particular political point-of-view or agenda.
In our view, the deaths of U.S. soldiers, including Ms Sheehan's son, have meaning only to the extent that the freedoms and responsibilities of our democratic society are extended to all – even to a woman who has chosen to publicly express her grief as anger towards the elected President of our country.
