Hippes are the New Yuppies! The generation made famous for its out of the box thinking and rebellious pacifism is now the timid, nihilistic generation of pretension. Yesterday’s rebel is today’s elitist.
I, myself already knew this to be true and have adapted to this reality. However, it is hard to come to terms with the fact that the youth are being told their expression and points of view are needed at the table and are being welcomed with one hand, but are being slapped in the face with food scraps thrown at them out the other. It is hard to explain the difference between the nihilistic power structure that suppresses and oppresses a population of people, and the free radio organization who, while a loud opponent of the current power structure, have their own political bureaucracy that cannot be ignored.
They both work under the pretense that the public is being served by their work, and they both have bottom lines that serve as their driving force. When KPFA decided to burn a 15 year bridge between themselves and Youth Radio over a single blemish in the relationship, it confirmed the rumors I had been hearing about KPFA holding Youth Radio in an unfavorable light due to lack of fund-raising on Youth Radio’s part.
Aside from the fact that KPFA never invited Youth Radio to the table to participate in fund-raising events (KPFA even preempted several Youth Radio shows unprofessionally without notice) it is highly hypocritical to claim to be champions of “The People” while treating “The Future” in a less than equal manner.
I explain it to the youth and the youth understand the hypocrisy even at the high school level. What I can’t explain to them is whether the relationship has been damaged because KPFA as an organization feel there is no place for free radio, or just one person at the helms navigating the ship built for “The People” off course. No matter how much spin and diplomacy you employ, KPFA will always be known as KPF-U in the eyes and hearts of youth. Because they know just as well as I that Hippies are the new Yuppies!
Posted by thenewwall 