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KGO Radio’s Bernie Ward apologizes to Jews

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Message: If you are having trouble reading this email, you may view this article online at: http://www.jweekly.com/16444/full/16444/kgo-radio-s-bernie-ward-apologizes-to-jews/ KGO Radio’s Bernie Ward apologizes to Jews Friday, September 21, 2001 | by ALEZA GOLDSMITH Talk-show host Bernie Ward apologized to the Jewish community last week for the second time in his KGO Radio career. At the top of his 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. program Sept. 13, Ward offered the "deepest and most profound apology" to his listeners for his use of the word "Nazi" in a reference to Orthodox Jews during a program the day before. "I stupidly used a word so loaded it should never refer to anyone," said Ward, a 20-year veteran of the station. "It was my fault, it was not my intention, it was a bad choice of words." During his program on Wednesday, Sept. 12—the day after the terror attacks—Ward compared the tactics of religious fundamentalists to those used by Nazis. Fundamentalists, he said, included "the ultra-Orthodox" in Israel. The juxtaposition prompted several complaints from listeners who charged that Ward's words could be construed as anti-Semitic. James Bransten, a regular listener of Ward's, said he was "extremely offended" by the broadcast. "I don't trust him anymore," he said, brushing aside the apology. "After the terrible thing happened to our country, people are starting to show their true colors," said Bransten, a lawyer in San Francisco. "I have a feeling that what he said is the way he really feels." A female listener who registered a complaint but preferred not to be named went further: "It was so biased, so vehement and strong. I got so upset and turned it off. It was absolutely terrible." In a telephone interview from his home on Sept. 13, Ward said he would be happy to go on the air to clarify his words and apologize to those who were offended. But he insisted he "didn't say an anti-Semitic thing." "I don't want people thinking I said something I didn't," said Ward. "I don't want them upset and angry about it." Ward said he had no intention of comparing Jews to Nazis. He said he was specifically referring to religious fundamentalists, who can include people of all religions. More specifically, he said the fundamentalists are those whose "attitudes are fascistic and repressive, whether [Osama] bin Ladin or the ultra-Orthodox in Israel." The fervently religious are repressive because "women can't become a part of a minyan," he said, as an example. "Fundamentalists can be a real problem. In many cases they foster racism, in terms of the way they want to impose their views. Look at the Taliban, the fundamentalists in Muslim countries, the fundamentalists in this country." This is the second time Ward has encountered wrath from the Jewish community. On Dec. 9, 1996, he came under fire for saying that Christianity is morally superior to Judaism because it is based on unconditional forgiveness. Judaism, he said, "was left in the backwater of history because Judaism could not go beyond the rules and rituals and the need for revenge." Afterward, Ward offered apologies on the air during his Dec. 17th and 18th shows. Jewish community leaders, including Rabbi Doug Kahn, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, rejected Ward's first apology. In it, Ward said, "Jews need to get a thicker skin." Jewish community leaders, however, were satisfied with his second apology. At a Dec. 20 meeting with KGO representatives, they turned their attention to educating him about Jewish views of forgiveness. In his apology last week, Ward insisted that he does not have a problem with any individual religion, merely with fundamentalists.

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