By Mark Farrell -- A colleague recently tried to put "Judea Declares War on Germany" on Grassroots TV in Aspen, CO. He was previously successful with putting some other DVDs - at least one of which may be seen here on public access TV there, as have an increasing number of others across the U.S.

He wrote to the newspaper there, and had a letter published called "Defending Holocaust Revisionists." As a result, the Grassroots TV is having second-thoughts about allowing this video to be aired. (Legally, they might actually be required, I believe, IF they're viewed as public access TV as part of cable; but that doesn't mean they won't fight it.)

Please consider writing the Grassroots TV board of directors - DO NOT BE RUDE - and kindly request that they allow this video to be aired in the interest of fair play: Everyone has seen the opposing views from elementary school to college, and many people are curious as to what revisionists believe.

PLEASE, take a couple minutes and send these gentlemen a brief letter, asking that they honor our cherished First Amendment rights and allow others to get a glimpse of opposing viewpoints. Thanks for any help with this matter.

Below is a letter from the gentleman who would like to put "Judea Declares War on Germany" on Grassroots TV there.  In the middle, please see contact information for the Grassroots TV Board of Directors.

Quote:

“Today I was informed by Grassroots TV Executive Director John Masters that, after receiving my letter to the editor from me, he sent it to Board of Directors President Alan Feldman, and Mr. Feldman watched the video through the link I provided, and Mr. Feldman wanted to cancel the airing of the video, so after contacting the other board members (Tom McCabe,

Michael Lipkin, Jerald Bovino, Richard Cohen, Shellie Roy and Sam Green), they decided to postpone the airing of the video that had been scheduled for Monday, Oct. 8, until they have a board meeting which is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 11, 12:30 PM at either the studio or next door in the conference room of the Red Brick, after which I would guess they would make a decision for or against airing.

If the Board of Directors abides by the mission statement, programming philosophy and core values of Grassroots TV, their decision should be in the affirmative.

If you have watched "Judea Declares War on Germany," please email the board officers and members and urge them to air the film to the public. And even if you have not watched it for some reason, please read the mission statement, programming philosophy and core values below and understand that even if you think you wouldn't agree with the content, you would urge them to air it anyway for the important reasons stated below, basically protecting free speech and the free flow of ideas.

This is probably the pivotal issue of our day and perhaps all time.

And if you live in the valley and can make the time, please attend the board meeting next Thursday, Oct. 11, at 12:30 PM. The public is welcome. You can email John Masters at masters@grassrootstv.org He should be privy to the message you are sending. Please be respectful to all and be concise.

 You may also include me as a recipient of your email if you wish. I would appreciate hearing from you.

This is for all of us.

Thank you,

Steve Campbell

GrassRoots Board of Directors

Officers:

Alan Feldman, acting president  alan@aspen-law.com

Tom McCabe, vice president tomm@ci.aspen.co.us

Shellie Roy, treasurer shellie@friasproperties.com

Members:

Richard A. Cohen rcohen@carolannjacobson.com

Michael Lipkin mlipkin@lipkinwarner.com

Jerald Bovino, M.D. aspenracer@aol.com

Sam Green sam@friasproperties.com

Grassroots TV Mission Statement:

GrassRoots Television is devoted to protecting and nurturing channels of mass communication for unlimited use by all citizens in order that they may better maintain their Liberty, govern their Democracy, and enrich the quality of their lives and the lives of their fellow citizens.

In the Roaring Fork Valley we are committed to providing the highest quality personal service, training, and production facilities to ensure the greatest possible access to electronic media content creation and its distribution between all citizens, their organizations and the community at large.

We strive to demonstrate that citizen determined media is an essential attribute of a healthy and progressive democratic community.

Programming Philosophy

GrassRoots TV12 is Unique:

Unlike any other TV channel, GrassRoots TV12 operates media that defines and strengthens our community. It is the only media whose mission is to provide unlimited opportunity of access so that any individual or organization in the Roaring Fork Valley may communicate with the local community at large.

Because GrassRootsTV12 users and service recipients control the content by being, and knowing the producers, it is bottom-up grassroots community interest, consensus and norms that determine the content and its limits, not a top-down owner, editor, board of directors, publisher or government order. Due to this combination of freedom and local relevancy, much of the content on GrassRoots TV12 cannot exist on any other channel.

Access to mass media, even on public radio and PBS, is fully controlled by the gatekeepers of those media.

Only community television allows community members themselves to determine the content. It is a true home of Liberty and the First Amendment. Wide-net public support and many small donors allow GrassRoots TV12 to remain non-commercial and apolitical, and to value diversity and individual expression over purposefully targeting a commercial or specific donor audience.

Core Values :: GrassRoots TV12 Vision

We passionately believe that the health of our community and ultimately of human society and the global ecology depends on inclusive communal problem solving. Such just solutions are only possible with the active participation of, and unlimited communications between, literate and sovereign citizens. The acceptance of every human being’s inherent right to free speech, peaceful assembly and access to information is the keystone of Liberty, Democracy and progress. The need for individuals to secure and exercise these rights was identified at least as far back as Rousseau and Locke, was consecrated by Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence, put into powerful action by Franklin and Paine, secured by the People in the Constitution of the United States of America and is the essence of Walter Paepcke’s Aspen Idea.

GrassRoots TV12 provides an egalitarian, apolitical and non-judgmental community media resource where the ideals of freedom and democracy are protected and nurtured. GrassRoots TV12 enables and encourages citizens to participate in unrestricted civil discourse, free personal expression and open access to electronic media distribution.

GrassRoots TV12 is viewed as a valuable community asset. It weaves together the interests and needs of politically separate but geographically and economically linked counties, municipalities and neighborhoods into a single Roaring Fork Valley community. It helps dissimilar individuals understand their common challenges, needs, values and dreams.

This unlimited communications link between individual citizens, their organizations and the community at large fulfills the intent of The First Amendment, enlivening our freedoms of speech and assembly from abstract guarantees into powerful tools for creating and sustaining a healthy, vital and progressive community.