Tue, 2 Dec 2003 14:45:05 -0500 (EST)
To: support@labalabamedia.com
Subject: Great show!
From: hoseaj@myway.com
I am a City Letter Carrier for the US Postal Service. I try to listen to
"The Courtyard" every Saturday as I deliver mail on my route. Quite often I
find myself telling every customer I come across while delivering mail, how
great your show is and that they should listen.This past Saturday you asked
listeners to call and comment on what we don't like about the show. That was
great that you include listeners in that manor. There was a TV producer or
writer that called in and said that there were too many different cultures
represented on each show. I strongly disagree with him. The only problem I
see with your show is, it's too short. But then that may be only because I
am enjoying it so much, I don't want it to end so fast. I think if you
follow what the traditional TV and radio programs do. The show won't last.
Your show is quite usual and special. I love all the different culture's in
the world and wish I could live in "The Courtyard".Oh! My favorite charator
right now is the old man. How about this as a story line? In America, black
people haven't been allowed to embrace their culture or home land. Every
culture in this world has been allowed to embrace and support their home
land except the black Africans that were ins laved and taken to America. I
understand why this was done and continues to be done. I even understand why
black Americans allow white America to continue to in-slave us in this way.
What I would like (love) to see is a show like "The Courtyard" address this
issue and the differences the necessity for black Africans and black
Americans to get together and build upon our common needs and golds. If we
black Americans support black Africa, we all win. I understand that Africa
is badly fragmented but then that is by design. A people divided is a weak
people. Look at the whites of the world. They may not like each other but
they know they have common needs and golds so they work together for the
continued growth and prosperity of white people all around the world. I
could on and on about this, but I think you get where I am coming from.Keep
up the great work.
-Hosea J
From: "Darius Sarrafi" <dsarrafi@pacbell.net>
To: <support@labalabamedia.com>
Subject: Courtyard
Date: Sat, 15 Nov 2003 16:40:39 -0800
I really like your program. Your writing is touching, funny,
thought-provoking and constructive. It would feel more embracing of me
if it included at least one character who did not practice religion.
Believe it or not, those who don't practice religion (although they may
practice hypocrisy) are in the majority.
Regards,
-Darius Sarrafi
Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2003 15:05:42 -0700 (PDT)
From: Daal <daalone@yahoo.com>
Subject: thanks so much! Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2003 15:05:42 -0700 (PDT
Dear Mrs. Kotun & Dahood:
What an incredible show! Thanks so much for such a
creative, entertaining, educational, all things
wonderful show! Good luck to all of you in all of your
endeavors & please pass along this short note of
gratitude to all of the cast & crew.
-Sincerely,
Daal Praderas
Lakewood, CA
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 2003 22:32:29 -0800
From: chris <incagirl@earthlink.net>
i just wanted to tell you that i've caught a few episodes of the courtyard
on kpfk, los angeles, and i'm addicted! what a great radio show! thank-you
thank-you!
-chris
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 17:23:04 -0700
Subject: pleased!!
From: Shawn Silver (sasilver@pacbell.net)
To: support@labalabamedia.com
Subject: pleased!!
I am so pleased to hear such a humanistic show, as programming. I
wanted to make a few comments on the phone, but it took me a long time to
jot my thoughts down. I am so deeply moved, that I am compelled to
elaborate my thoughts for the sake of concise impact. please forgive my
long-windedness.
Ah, it seems like the ideals of the Dutch settlers and almost all other
subsequent immigrants to America have come to some sort of fruition in the
humble settings of an urban courtyard. A harmonious union of cultures,
religions, races, all willing, however begrudgingly, to view outside
perception, with some degree of openness and give acceptance. I believe it
is just this kind of openness that is tantamount to the embracing of all
living beings on this our earth- mother and the inevitable peace, which
surely, would follow.
Let us not neglect other living things in this peace, as the Buddist,
or the spiritual Native American listening to the bird's song, to obtain a
better truth, the interaction with nature and all of it's creatures as
equals is a way of life. The merit of the soul is no less valued on the
scale with humanity. Even in the hunt for food, respect for the slain is
ceremoniously displayed .
This brings to light your discussion of the "cradle of civilization" a
land long fought over by all civilizations within. Perhaps it is this
constant struggle which has, as a by-product, created advances in
technology, and a more humanistic viewpoint to be experimented upon, as the
newborn infant leaves "the Cradle" to take it's first steps. the "Cradle"
while at first is a comfort, soon is no more than a cage.
The fighting and the war is ceaseless there, as it has been for
centuries. Culturally, the differences are minimal. for example, Mohammed
created a religion combining values of Christianity, Judaism ( which gave
birth to Christianity), Buddism, along with many arab religions of the time,
to unite a turbulent peoples and create routes of trade through the hostile
lands. But still religions clash, and killing continues, even amongst
peoples of the same religion, with only subtle nuances of difference.
Perhaps the struggle has a more base purpose. Isn't it after all,
easier to cheat, or take unjustly from, someone outside of one's own social
religious, or racial group, and bring better discounts, property,
favoritism, to one's own kind? For most people it is far easier to take from
a stranger than it is from a brother, and a real challenge for us to give to
a stranger as we do to a brother. in effect, an individual's "tribe" is
raiding another's camp/village for goods and supplies, with every act of
prejudice.
It saddened me in your story that the light skinned mother could suffer
such inner conflicts, and fail to see a strong light within herself that was
her gift to humanity. When I say her gift, I mean the gift she was given,
not the gift she has to give. Being a mix, makes her a bridge between
races-cultures. With every strength, she displays the strengths of all
facets of her lineage, and how they combine to make her truly special and
unique. how healthy can it be for one's soul to be polarized from within?
Why must she feel shame on her face, and who is it that has led her to
experience these emotions? Yes for sure it is from social stimulus, but was
she not conceived for love, or at least , a beautiful moment between two
people ? Has she given birth to her son in some sort of genetic experiment
and not out of love, but vanity? Being mixed myself, born of parents not
allowed to be together by their families due to racial differences, and
forced to elope, the shame could never be mine, but could only belong to
those who would not be willing to see me, the individual, beyond the shade
of my skin. Didn't anyone ever tell her that children will always find ways
to tease someone different from themselves, but that strengths will always
prevail, earning respect and admiration from peers not borne of ignorance.
-Kindest regards
Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2003 09:57:47 -0700 (PDT)
From: Daal <daalone@yahoo.com>
Subject: Fwd: some thoughts on The Courtyard
To: GM@kpfk.org
Cc: support@labalabamedia.com
Dear Ms. Georgia:
I just occurred to me that it might be helpful for you
to see the second of 2 glowing emails I sent the
people at The Courtyard. It is so delightful in every
way & I am truly grateful to everyone who has helped
it exist on KPFK!
- Daal
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