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If America is indeed evenly split along
a convenient line between ``left,'' and ``right,'' Truth Radio owner
and manager Harry Grothjahn has something for everybody.
For the lefties: He has roundly
criticized the Bush Administration's Patriot Act and is a vociferous
critic of steps to further consolidate large American media
holdings.
For the right-wingers: He considers
abortion ``murder,'' and supports a constitutional amendment to ban
gay marriage.
For the record: He didn't like
President Clinton, is suspicious of President Bush, and votes for
the Constitution Party candidate each presidential election.
Politics and philosophy aside,
Grothjahn said: ``I'm trying to pursue the truth.''
He doesn't know how many people
listen to Truth Radio -- an eclectic mishmash of both
Christian-oriented and anti-globalization programming found at 1470
on the AM dial -- because he can't afford a ratings system, but he
claims to make a decent living as Blount County's only independent
radio operator.
``I haven't missed any meals I didn't
want to, and I'm having the most fun I've ever had in my life. I'm
working the hardest, too, but that's OK.''
If you don't know his voice, you may
have seen him at public meetings. In addition to his syndicated
programming, he does a local news show every morning, making him one
of the few sources for truly local news remaining in the area.
At that is important to him, he said.
He has watched in dismay as American media has become decidedly less
scrappy and decidedly less diverse. Regardless the point of view,
and whether he agrees with the message or not, independent media is
to be promoted and cherished, he said.
``If you get all your information
from one source, you will have a limited perspective,'' said
Grothjahn. ``Events demand you look (at the world) from a different
perspective.''
He traces the recent decline of
independent media sources to Federal Communications Commission rules
first relaxed in the 1990s under the Clinton Administration.
When the administration agreed to
``lift the restrictions on the number of media in one market,'' he
said, ``the big guys got bigger, and the little guy got fewer.''
In 1995, according to Grothjahn,
there were 8,000 radio stations in the U.S. Today, that number has
declined to ``less than 2,000,'' resulting in ``fewer editorial
perspectives.
``I try to give the community enough
information to have a more informed public opinion about decisions
and policies'' made by those governing Blount County and its cities.
Speaking his mind
Grothjahn is not a conventional
``objective'' journalist, nor does he claim to be. In fact, he can
often be found speaking his mind at public meetings, and even helped
draft a gas tax resolution passed by the County Commission. He also
brought before the County Commission a resolution condemning the
Patriot Act. It passed, and gained national attention.
``I'm a taxpayer, as well as a
reporter. I feel there's a need for taxpayers to be involved in the
community,'' he said as a show called the ``Silver Bear Cafe'' aired
in the background on a weekday afternoon. The show featured a rather
somber recitation of world environmental threats.
``It's God's earth,'' he said. ``I
really care about it.'' He is quick to draw a key distinction:
``Don't worship the creation. Worship the creator.''
Upside-down flag
Grothjahn has stirred up his fair
share of controversy since buying WBCR from Jim Holiday in 1996
(though ``God owns it,'' he said).
There was the time he hung an
American flag upside down -- a traditional sign of distress -- to
protest President Clinton's ``treason'' in allegedly transferring
ballistic missile technology to China.
Some people didn't appreciate the
gesture.
``The truth isn't always
understood,'' he said. ``It's a symbol of crisis. We were in
distress. Some people thought it was disrespectful. They didn't
realize it was a symbol of distress.''
He doesn't have a greatly improved
opinion of the current occupant of the White House.
``George Bush's Patriot Act made me
an enemy combatant for coming to a County Commission meeting and
speaking in a way they feel is antagonistic. I could be incarcerated
without due process,'' he said.
He said the current administration is
``trying to undermine people's freedom; trying to convince us you
can have security if you give up liberty.''
Contrived conflict
He said there is a false
``dichotomy'' set up between Democrats and Republicans, perpetuated
by the likes of conservative radio commentators Rush Limbaugh and
Neal Boortz.
While they may preach individual
liberty and other values Grothjahn may agree with, ``they are on the
payroll of the globalists who control the media. They sold
themselves to the New World Order. They are there to keep the
Hegelian dialectic going,'' he said in reference to a form of
reasoning adopted by Marxists that, simply put, plays opposites
against each other to reach an outcome.
Using that form of reasoning ``means
no one is ever happy in society. Chaos is going to be the end
result.''
So go the ideas of Grothjahn, and
they emanate regularly, for discussion, from a 1,000-watt
transmitter.
And they will continue to do so,
``until the Lord convicts me I need to do something else.''
And he doesn't seem to care if you
agree with him or not. Just don't rely solely on the regular media
for your information, he said.
``People need to educate themselves.
Don't take other people's words for it. Go to independent sources of
news, radio, and print and investigate for yourself.''
``Good Americans'' is an open-ended
series of profiles on Blount County residents who go the extra mile
in contributing to their community. If you know someone whose story
should be told, contact reporter Thomas Fraser at 981-1124 or
thomas.fraser@thedailytimes.com
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