( I hope that each of you reading this will also write a letter and encourage others to do the same.)

Dear Oprah,

I just watched your show, which was promoted as "a show to help you decide if you think we should attack Iraq". That show was the biggest abuse of power that I have seen on television in a long time.

I watched, thinking that you would have guests that would give both sides of the debate. I heard your audience say that their minds were made up during your show. The general feel of the audience was "I’m convinced, let’s go to war!" and I shudder to think of the reaction to your huge home viewing audience when they were presented with this one sided view.

Why didn't you invite anyone with a counter opinion? There are many intelligent, honest, experienced, and very knowledgeable people with first hand experience on the specific foreign affairs issues discussed on your show that have extreme opposite views to all of your guests. How about former U.S. Attorney General, Ramsay Clark? Or John Stockwell, former CIA Station Chief in Angola in 1976? Or a great thinker like Noam Chomsky? Why not invite Hollywood activists like Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon or Martin Sheen (who have been unfairly and viciously slammed and belittled by the mainstream media) – would they present too passionate or likeable an appearance?

There are countless others who are very well informed on this issue and looking for a platform to be heard. Millions of people watch and respect you and your show. They count on you to give them the real deal. It’s bad enough when the mainstream media only supports what is spoon fed to them by the their bosses, but we expect more from you.

A talk show host and idol to many, you usually present an open exchange of opinions. How could you allow such an unbalanced show like that to air, when the future of the entire Planet is at stake?!

Outraged,

Anne Basile
Owner Cast Locations (Hollywood Business) and Anti-War Activist
323-469-6616



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Use this url to send an E mail to the Oprah Winfrey Show: www.oprah.com/email/tows/email_tows_main.jhtml

My Letter to Oprah

By Ken Adachi <Editor (at) educate-yourself.org>
Oct. 9, 2002

War with Iraq

I've received a number of E mails today from total strangers telling me of today's Oprah Show and its one sided promotion of going to war with Iraq. This is too serious a decision to simply present the pro-war side and not give an equal forum to competent and knowledgeable speakers who are opposed to a war with Iraq. You should have invited Dennis Kucinich or the former UN arms inspector in Iraq, Scott Ritter at the very least, to offer an opposing view.

I hope the producers of the Oprah show and Oprah herself will reconsider this situation and give the other side a chance to express their views as well.

Sincerely, Ken Adachi
Editor (at) educate-yourself.org