In its most basic term, a soapbox is nothing more than a wooden crate 
in which soap is packed for shipping purposes. The soapbox, however, 
has come to signify something more substantial than this mundane 
description of its usage. The soapbox can also represent a platform which 
people use to express their thoughts and ideas. In this context, historically 
speaking, the soapbox was used to stand on and make impromptu or 
unofficial speeches. Think New York during the mid 19th century, where 
aspiring politicians would stand on a soapbox in the middle of the city and 
make speeches to boost support for their cause. 

So it's the beginning of the 21st century and why, you may be asking, 
am I talking about a soapbox? Its not like aspiring politicians are hanging 
out in Union Square making impromptu speeches in front of Macy's. 
True, but it does not mean that the soapbox has disappeared…it only 
evolved. And much like the early 20th century, the soapbox of the 21st 
century is still owned and controlled by individuals not too dissimilar from 
those in our past. Today, the soap box is the media...television, radio,
newspapers, and internet publications. It's the same damn people 
shoutin' from those boxes… 

Well folks, its the takeover, the break's over and I'm starting this revolution 
with the intellectual annihilation of various individuals who are shouting 
their ignorant rhetoric from their soapboxes. So, were gonna kick the 
soapbox out from under them. 

The first of these individuals is a popular radio host that goes by the name 
of Michael Savage. His show is on San Francisco's KSFO (560 AM) from 
4 to 7 p.m. Savage feels that his soapbox is best used for expressing 
sentiments that are racist and xenophobic. He is the son of an immigrant. 
His grandfather was a Jewish immigrant from Russia and brought over his 
family around World War I. 

So, if he is the son of an immigrant, where do his racism and xenophobia 
come from? You'd think that he would feel solidarity with individuals who 
immigrated here much like his father. Well, he feels that loudly expressing 
his racist ideas from his soapbox IS the best way to combat the injustices 
conferred upon him. What injustices, you may be asking. Well, after 
earning his two masters (ethnobotany and anthropology) and a doctorate 
in nutritional ethnomedicine during the 1970s, this accomplished academic 
sought a professorship at a university. It is here where he faced great 
injustice and discrimination, so he contends. "It was painful," he says. 
"White men need not apply. I received 'drop dead' letters from universities 
because I was not black, or Hispanic, or a woman."

It is at this point where Dr. Michael Weiner became Michael Savage, 
in-house racist and xenophobe for KSFO.       

Quite honestly, the terms racism and xenophobia are used all too 
frequently now a days. I feel that these terms must be treated carefully 
and only used when it is pertinent to the subject. Too often, people use 
these terms as catch phrases and they lose their inherent weight. With 
this in mind, I do not use these terms lightly. I like to use my soapbox 
responsibly. 

With that said, I do feel that Savage's approach is what makes his 
comments noxious. I am open to debate on immigration, race and 
politics. But I think that something productive should come out of it and 
respect should be a consideration. And in a country where ratings equal 
the almighty capitalist dollar, controversy sells and that is Savage's point. 
He's a poor man's Howard Stern, but at least Stern's show is something 
that ultimately has no importance. Savage spreads hate. The popularity 
of his show doesn't mean that he makes sense, all it means is that he is 
controversial. Eminem is pretty popular these days, for the same reasons. 
Savage and his wife gained some notoriety in 2001 when they stumbled 
across a pair of filmmakers videotaping cops rousting some panhandlers 
in North Beach. With foul language, they accused the filmmakers -- who 
taped the entire confrontation -- of being "communist scum" contributing 
to "this filthy, drug- ridden vermin city." (SF Chronicle) 

"Leave the police alone, you a--," Savage said, according to one published 
account of the incident. "Let them do their f-- jobs. Who the hell are you? 
You're nobody. You're garbage. You're street s-- . . . . You're f-- vermin." 
      
The police, who had given their permission for the filming, ultimately told 
Savage and his wife to move on. 

In describing Savage's book "The Savage Nation", SF Chronicle write 
Dan Fost writes, "It's mostly a recitation of all the things he sees assaulting 
America's 'borders, language and culture' -- his catchphrase. He rails 
against 'Turd World immigration,' 'left-wing pinko vermin in high places' 
and the 'femi-fascists, the Commu-Nazis' who control the media. 

Here are more textbites from this enlightened individual (courtesy of the 
SF Chronicle): 

-- On U.S. propaganda in World War II, including cartoons mocking 
Germans and Japanese, and how a similar effort is needed today: 
"We need racist stereotypes right now of our enemy in order to 
encourage our warriors to kill the enemy. 

 -- On the campaign to ban SUVs: "The most dangerous cars on the road 
are small cars. I'm going to start a dialogue about banning small cars as 
dangerous. They're like clown cars. They go 49 mph in the middle lane. 
I've heard a lot about banning SUVs. The SUV is the safest car on the 
road. That's why the women love them. The SUV'll protect you and your 
babies better than anything on the road, next to an Abrams M1A (tank). 

Needless to say, I am offended by his comments. 

Number one, I am an immigrant, who Savage would believe is assaulting 
America's "borders, language and culture". Two, I am an immigrant from 
the "Turd World" nonetheless. 

      

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