Posted on 12/09/2004 8:12:58 PM PST by Reaganesque
Thursday, December 9, 2004
BOSTON - David Brudnoy, the most recognized voice of Boston talk radio for more than a quarter of a century, died Thursday night at Massachusetts General Hospital, his radio station, WBZ-AM, reported. He was 64.
Brudnoy, whose soothing voice could be heard every week night in 38 states and in Canada on WBZ since 1986, announced on air in September, 2003 that he was suffering from merkel cell carcinoma, a form of rare but treatable skin cancer. He had already lived with AIDS for more than a decade, beating a viral infection that nearly took his life in 1994.
His death came a day after, in an interview conducted at his bedside at Massachusetts General Hospital, he announced the cancer had spread into his liver and kidneys - and that he was ready to die.
``I am not asking my doctors to do anything illegal,'' Brudnoy told veteran news anchor Gary LaPierre. ``I wish I could but they won't. I will make it through. My head is completely accepting of this. I am absolutely ready.''
He left his show in November of last year to fight the cancer, recovered and returned in March, interviewing Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry [related, bio], Gov. Mitt Romney [related, bio] and former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura in his first night back. His voice was noticeably more hoarse.
``We're guaranteed nothing in life except life itself, and what we get is an adventure, not always a happy one but always a learning experience as well as, like now, a time of fear and maybe even (I hope temporary) despair,'' he said at the time.
But Brudnoy was hospitalized again this month, and his condition deteriorated quickly.
Wednesday, after his final interview aired, elected officials including Sen. Edward Kennedy and Gov. Mitt Romney and everyday listeners who had come to know him from their radios called to offer rememberances and thanks.
Brudnoy had been optimistic about beating the cancer, not just because of the expert medical care he was receiving, but because he had been living with AIDS for nearly a decade.
``I've lived nine years since fall 1994, defying the odds, and unless my nine lives have been used up, I'll survive this too,'' he said.
Brudnoy revealed in 1994 that he was gay and had AIDS after he was hospitalized with a viral infection that almost took his life. He said at the time that he only expected to live five or six more years. The cancer had nothing to do with AIDS, he said.
Brudnoy's radio show touched on almost any topic, from politics, to current events, to the arts. He was known for his intellectual thoughtfulness, his sense of humor and his easygoing manner with callers, who came from all walks of life.
His loyal listeners revolted in the early 1990s when he was taken off the air in favor of cheaper syndicated talk programming. Listeners boycotted the station and advertisers and Brudnoy was back on the air within weeks.
Though most well known for his broadcasting career that started in 1971 at WGBH-TV in Boston, he was also wrote movie reviews for suburban newspapers and lectured at a number of area colleges, most recently at Boston University. His articles have been published in The New York Times, National Review, TV Guide, New Republic and many more.
``David was a breath of fresh air on the faculty,'' said Robert Zelnick, chairman of the journalism department at Boston University, where Brudnoy taught a media criticism class. ``He challenged students ... he made them think critically.''
He started his talk radio career at WHDH-AM in 1976, then moved to WRKO-AM in 1981.
His memoirs published in 1997, ``Life is Not a Rehearsal,'' chronicled his battle with HIV.
Brudnoy was a Republican until 1998 when he officially switched to the Libertarian Party.
Brudnoy, born in Minneapolis, received a bachelor's degree in Japanese studies from Yale, a master's in Far Eastern studies from Harvard, a master's in the history of American civilization and a doctorate in history, both from Brandeis University.
As a teenager in the Boston area, I would listen to him at night before going to bed. One of the things that struck me about him was how fair he was, even with the most egregiously offensive guests. Even if David was violently opposed to his guest's point of view, he, to my memory, never raised his voice. He debated. He did not yell. He believed whole heartedly in the notion that "it is better to let people think you're an idiot than to open your mouth and remove all doubt." He let extremists from the left and the right "remove all doubts".
I am a conservative due to, in great part, Mr. Brudnoy's intellect, fairness, eloquence and integrity. Sure, he had his flaws, but they were greatly out weighed by the good he did in his life. I, for one, am grateful for his contribution to my intellectual growth. Mr. Brudnoy, you will be missed.
Last interview, etc.
http://wbz1030.com/topstories/topstoriesbos_story_343145722.html
I'm here in the Boston area and just heard it. Sad!
He died with dignity!
God Bless Pat and the lesser known victims and active fighters.
They all make me proud to once serve in the Army!! (beat Navy... I know... a little late... this year!)
Living in Western NY, I usually had to listen to him through static and dropouts ... it was always worth it.
Listening to BZ radio in the evenings from 8-midnight was a great education when I was growing up. Were all different but facing death without some spiritual belief is more than I can handle. David in his his hayday had that kind of radio voice that was hard to turn off. RIP David.
What a wonderful role model: contracting a horrid disease through his own perversion and lack of self-control, eating up medical resources at a stunning clip for ten years, and finally expecting the rest of us to admire his "courage". Good riddance.
A man contracted AIDS. He did nothing to you. He's different to you. Doesn't make him a bad person. He paid for his own medical insurance, just as you do. You may choose to smoke...he followed his heart.
I never heard the man on radio. I just know that a man died. He was well liked and very well respected...he contributed to the public discourse for 3 decades.
At the very least, I feel compassion for him and note the passing of an influential voice and well loved man.
I can't go through life with a heart that is hardened to the suffering of others, whether it be AIDS, alcoholism, drug abuse, whatever. I can't just write them off. And I can't say "good riddance" to someone who died of cancer unrelated to his AIDS condition.
Your tag line says it all about you.
I hope yr a plant from the DUmmies.
10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
Romans 14:10-13
21 ¶ Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
23 ¶ Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Matthew 18:21-35
I first heard David Brudnoy on the radio about 10 years ago while camping out for a few weeks on Cape Cod. I couldn't believe how well informed he was. I listened to him every chance I had. He was the voice of civilization.
"You are a narrow minded dunderhead who has put the cause above the people. You sicken me as a conservative, a Christian, and as a human being. Furthermore, I wouldn't piss on you if you were on fire."
"I would never sink down to the depths of hate."
Spoken like a true christian. (note the lowercase.) The only thing that should embarrass you should be your own inability to think your way out of a paper bag.
There is no indication whatsoever that your sodomite hero ever accepted Christ. Quite the contrary, he denied having done so until his bitter end. Unlike yourself, I cannot judge another person's soul, and would not wish ill on anyone. Perhaps that is due to your notion that Dante has scriptural authprity. God does, however, ecourage us to judge others by their "fruits". Mr. Brudnoy has shown his fruits amply and publicly. If that's the sort of life you want to encourage your kids to live, go right ahead.
I will grit my teeth and try to give you the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps you have never had enormous challenges to overcome caused by either birth or trauma. Perhaps when you do, you'll more easily appreciate how someone who feels an overwhelming compulsion to be angry at the world can nonetheless resolve to exert enough self-control to at least be pleasant to others -- and then to be amazed at how such a person can not only be pleasant, but can even set an example for, and teach others.
Okay, so you know how to make fun of such economic illiterates as Luddites. Now learn to make fun of those who are Malthusians. Since Hitlary hasn't taken over yet, you don't REALLY believe there's a "fixed quantity of health care" yet, do you? Check out:
http://snipurl.com/b9qe
http://snipurl.com/b9qa
http://snipurl.com/b9qd
"Perhaps you have never had enormous challenges to overcome caused by either birth or trauma."
In those instances where my own bad judgment has had catastrophic results, I have taken responsibilty and attempted to minimize the impact on others. Mr. Brudnoy was a victim of his own bad judgment, and didn't seem to repent or reform. As to being "pleasant, I do not believe that I have any obligation, moral, social, or otherwise, to be Pollyanna, whether that would make me the wind beneath your wings or not. But thanks for the sage advice.
With respect to Malthus, "fixed quantity of health care" was YOUR phrase, not mine. Why, then, did you feel compelled to put it into quotes? Such misrepresentation would appear to be the act of a blatant liar, but I suppose I will "grit my teeth and try to give you the benefit of the doubt".
I do not believe that there is a "fixed quantity of health care". However, the amount of federal and state funding put into AIDS is way out of proportion to the health threat to the general, normal public. The only reason for such a waste of resources is political pressure brought to bear on cowardly or evil politicians by sodomites such as Mr. Brodnoy. You may think that to be a perfectly acceptable arrangement. I do not.
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