Today I want to look at a local issue that has been ongoing in the Billings community over recent weeks. I’ll explain the situation as the radio station has,

“On Tuesday of this week, longtime KCTR morning show host Paul Mushaben made a post on his blog entitled “Indian Basketball.” KCTR does not support the blog or the sentiments expressed therein. Once management became aware of the content it was immediately removed from the station website and we have since taken action to suspend Mr. Mushaben indefinitely, pending further internal review.”

Since last month the community has been in a constant battle of debate on whether the talk show host should be fired or whether the suspended Paul Mushaben should be welcomed back to the KCTR radio station. Now unfortunately, I was unable to read the blog article before it was removed off of the KCTR site. However, I have heard that it stressed poor sportsmanship that many athletes have experienced when playing native schools. I speak from experience when I say that sportsmanship is becoming practiced less in all schools. I can tell you countless stories of cancelled games, and prevention of playing certain teams due to conflict. The truth is that there usually weren’t repercussions for teams that caused havoc with poor sportsmanship. Paul’s comment through his blog does imply segregation in a league that is trying to remain united, but it isn’t untrue. Until there is some form of consequence for poor sportsmanship, it will continue.

We live in a society that has become so sensitive and filtered that every comment made will be misinterpreted, or taken offense. From the moment I started listening to Cat Country it was clear that The Breakfast Flakes weren’t going to cave under society’s notion that they needed to filter their thoughts. For 28 years the Flakes have been known for giving their opinions on air, in fact that is probably what made their radio show such a hit among their listeners. They openly spoke what they were thinking, and traditionally they stated what the majority or our conservative brains were discerning. As talk show hosts in a community as small as Billings they became local celebrities, yet when they state their opinions alike other celebrities it becomes an issue. The article written by Paul Mushaben could have easily been misconstrued by anyone that read it, but their opinions stated on air can be misinterpreted just as easily if that’s what you are truly looking for.

Over the last several years The Breakfast Flakes have made a huge difference in the community.  For 28 years Mark and Paul worked together as a team. For 6 years they visited every school in the listening area who sent their lunch menus, Harlow to Melstone to Gardiner and everywhere in between. The Cat Country all-star basketball team played fundraisers in those same towns for 25 years. On top of being the emcee’s for countless community events from graduations, to spelling bees. They have also been a part of giving a trip away to a couple for 21 consecutive years. On top of everything they do in the community they also annually have given to families that need help around the hoidays. Last year through Flakesgiving they helped give away around 1,000 meals to families in the community that may not have otherwise enjoyed a holiday meal.

The Breakfast Flakes have given countless opinions on air, and to my knowledge have never had to deal with any consequences. They certainly aren’t the only radio show to stress opinions, and won’t be the last. For KCTR to suddenly filter what they are and aren’t allowed to say without any prewarning seems to contradict what they had hired Mark and Paul for.  Do I think there is  right and wrong way to give an opinion? Yes, I do feel there are more gracious ways to state your opinion and practice your freedom of speech. When Mushaben stated his opinion, it wasn’t on a live show, it was in a blog which I’m sure the station made him write anyways.

Filtering everything these hosts say and their opinions take away the integrity of the show. They are known for their humor and opinions on real life issues that we face every day. Yes, the show faces controversial issues but if they began to filter every opinion they had they wouldn’t be the show we all love to tune in to today. They practice rights that we practice, but since they are more accessible than us they are being shamed for one opinion that was written. There are celebrities that express more controversial statements daily, yet you don’t see their supervisors shunning them, and the public preventing them to put food on the table in front of their families.

So maybe their actions and words can be offensive but before we all start pointing fingers we should make sure that we ourselves have never said anything remotely controversial, or offensive to those around us. Wishing someone would get fired from their job due to an opinion is completely ludicrous. I’m not saying not to have an opinion on the subject, but I think it’s important to evaluate all of your actions before condemning someone for theirs.

If media doesn’t challenge public views or call out social injustices, then they aren’t fulfilling their obligation to raise awareness of issues within our society and push for change. If only politically correct messages were allowed to be aired, we would basically be living in a censored society and wasn’t our country founded by people just looking for a place to express their opinions and beliefs?