Free speech can be tolerant

I was talking to a friend about my video project “My Marshall,” which was about to air on URTV, and how excited I was. Even though the piece was uninspiring and probably boring, that was unimportant. What was important was the chance to communicate to my friends and strangers a little of what I see in the world—to show the world from my perspective and to exercise freedom of expression and freedom of speech. To me, that is what URTV is all about: freedom of expression, freedom of speech.

My friend was also excited, because he was a former viewer of the Mad Scientist Tea Party and was the first to tell me he had seen me on that show—which he found zany and entertaining. He allowed as to how, from what he had been reading, things were perhaps not going as well at URTV as they should be. I allowed as how, as far as the operation of the station was going, things were great. The facilities are beautiful, the equipment is first rate and perfectly kept and the staff are knowledge and friendly and helpful. The only thing I can see it lacks is more local content. More local writing, more local acting, more local music. But that is very doable.

The important point is to support and enhance the only source of public access in Western North Carolinian. It gives anyone a chance to speak their mind. There is a reason that the First Amendment to the Constitution is about free speech. Without free speech—the ability to speak our mind without fear of any impediment—there are no other freedoms, and we are no longer living in a free country.
  Which brings me to the Wednesday meeting to dismiss Ms. Davyne Dial from the URTV board. Ms. Dial is a dear friend, but the other board members are also friends, as are most of the people involved.

What I would like, pray and hope to see is for everyone to take a step back, take a deep breath and see where we are heading. The law of unintended consequences is always working and is as sure as gravity. Ms. Dial’s presence on the board cannot possibly hurt the board in any way—and is positive, in the sense that dissent and another perspective is not only healthy, it is required in order to keep everyone acting in an upright way.

But what is also sure as gravity is that the dismissal of Ms. Dial will have a profound effect. It is ungenerous, unkind and probably illegal from a constitutional perspective, no matter what the lawyer says. Something similar happened in my church over songbooks. A difference of opinion led to a divisive splitting of the church and a lifetime of hurt and regret.

My advice here is simple: Call this whole thing off. Be tolerant, generous, forgiving.

— Steve Rice
Marshall

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12 thoughts on “Free speech can be tolerant

  1. Hey Steve…

    The Producers at URTV are and have been tolerant, generous, and we tried to set the story straight.

    It was the grandstanding for publicity and the complaint about membership when the people complaining about numbers are guilty of non membership.

    When Davyne hired an attorney said that she would sue knowing that would destroy URTV, brought it to the forefront who acted in the best interests of URTV.

    Her husband should never have touched Dale… but at least they already have the Lawyer.

  2. URTV-isn't_4_U

    It’s on tape that Joyner and Scotto were manhandeling Dial’s camera. What can Joyner expect when she jams her fingers into the lens of an expensive piece of equipment that people would insist she keep her hands off?

  3. Rhonda Velour

    Davyne is the typical whining complainer who just can’t get along with others. No doubt she will move on the whine about something else. URTV is glad to be rid of her.

  4. Sundance

    Here is a link to part 1 of the video that was shot at the Kangaroo court held by URTV to remove Davyne Diall from the URTV board. Pay careful attention in the video and see how Dale Joyner became angry that she was on camara and her assertion that the meeting was not an open meeting as required by NC Meeting laws. Once the meeting got underway the accuser herself, Dale Joyner, was remarkably absent so no one had the opportunity to question her about her trumped up and fictitious charges!

    Here is the link:

    http://exposureroom.com/members/dixiegirlz.aspx/assets/8d1db920dd7e4c6ca373d244a267d36e/

    Is this the way you want your money, Public PEG Funds, to be wasted? Do you think people like Dale Joyner, Ralph Roberts and others at URTV should be able to run around unchecked and out of control?

  5. Sundance

    “I Love being an active Producer at URTV.

    I Hate the gossip and slander from those who do nothing but complain.”

    As you have said before GloLady,Video’s don’t lie so have a little look at the circus that you, Dale, Brother Christopher and others created….nice piece of work showing true colors and mindless drone qualities of some of you folks at URTV.

    Word has it that part two will also have you as a star participant and when it airs people will really see threw your fake persona you show on your URTV show and see the “Real” selfish and vindictive censorship individual that you are….I can’t wait. Have a great day!

  6. Sundance… keep talk to yourself… people are seeing you for the trouble maker that you and your friends are.

    Sad that you have nothing better to do.

  7. Sundance

    “Sundance… keep talk to yourself… people are seeing you for the trouble maker that you and your friends are.

    Sad that you have nothing better to do.”

    Actually GloLady they are not seeing me as a trouble maker but as a beacon of truth to the pathetic and archaic dishonest ways that you and others practice at URTV . You chose to censure free and open speech by vindictive and illegal voting measures…and that is a proven fact. Read your URTV bylaws for once, you do know how to read don’t you?

    Sometimes I wonder if you know how to read because if you and your cronies at URTV had read and followed the Bylaws at URTV the public would not be having to deal with your URTV mess, would they?

    Now the public is having to ask governments not to give you a single dime of their hard earned money and they are justified in doing so due to your vindictive behavior. I have a feeling that in November Dale, Ralph, Jerry, Pat, Brother Sex Offender and you will be singing a different tune. As a matter of fact it will be more like crying then singing.

    Soon the public will see part 2 of this video and it will expose you for the true “fake” that you are. I look forward to it. The only sad part is you could have avoided this vindictive nonsense that you and your cronies started but were to shallow and self serving to even think about the public who URTV is suppose to serve. This only demonstrates what a fake you are in regards to your show on URTV.

  8. Sundance

    “When Davyne hired an attorney said that she would sue knowing that would destroy URTV, brought it to the forefront who acted in the best interests of URTV.”

    Wrong again GloLady….do you have Alzheimers or something? Get you facts straight and stop lying like you have been doing threw this entire process. Pat and URTV hired lawyers first and then you folks still could not follow his directions correctly. Dial had to hire one to make sure she was treated fairly which she still was not due to meddling and changing of the process. Admit it, your a fake and lair incapable of being truthful. We should rename your show to LiarLady…it fits you perfectly.

  9. Sundance

    I hope it is that way also so we can see how you attacked and ran like a coward not hearing Dial out. That way it will truly show that your name should indeed be LiarLady and not GloLady.

    You and I use to actually seem eye to eye on a lot of things, you invited me on your show but scheduling conflicts kept it from happening which I am now glad of because you sold yourself out to the untruths at URTV and when you did that I lost all respect for you.

    You are not the champion of free speech you claim to be, you actually censure and punish people for exercising it and that is a shame which is why your name should be LiarLady.

  10. Sundance

    “changing the status of the producer Board members to ex-Officio or non-voting members

    On Thu, 5/14/09, Pat Garlinghouse wrote:

    From: Pat Garlinghouse From: H Goosmann
    To: Jerry Young
    Cc: Pat Garlinghouse ; Bennie Lake
    Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2009 2:48 PM
    Subject: Nominating Committee By-Laws review

    Jerry-

    Per your request the nominating committee has reviewed the URTV By-laws and made a revision to update them based upon the need as stated by our legal counsel. Please find a draft version of this revision attached to this email.

    Please distribute the updated by-laws to the entire Board such that we can vote on the changes at next weeks Board meeting. I ask that each Board member review them beforehand and email me questions such that we can address any question/concern by the meeting. I am asking that we front load this such that research can be done if needed.

    Last, I ask that each Board member take their time and review this revision carefully. There are some substantial updates suggested. Primarily in the membership category, the number of Board members, by changing the status of the producer Board members to ex-Officio or non-voting members, and by reorganizing the committees. Every effort was made to retain the essence and integrity of the original bylaws. There are good reasons for each of the changes and other suggested updates, and I look forward to a discussion by the full Board.”

    GloLady aka LiarLady once Pat gets this measure pushed threw you will have absolutely no voice at URTV. Are you happy now! You voted out one of the few board members who would have stood up for you, the membership, and voted against this measure. I hope your happy with yourself because you just shot yourself in the foot because you will basically lost any freedom of expression or speech in regards to what goes on at URTV. Basically by voting Davyne off the board you screwed yourself because Pat has obviously been planning this for a while.

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