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Bob Lonsberry, a Rochester, New York talk-show host at WHAM, got into a little hot water recently. Last Thursday, he played jungle sound effects and joked "monkeys loose up at the zoo again", according to the Rochester Democrat. He continued, "Yeah, yeah, and he's running for county executive. What is with that?"

Although he didn't mention the local mayor by name, it appeared Lonsberry was referencing Mayor William Johnson Jr., who is running for Monroe County executive in the upcoming November election.

Well, this didn't go over too well with the mayor and some others. Lonsberry was suspended for two days and forced to apologize on-the-air. Of course, accusations of racism have been bandied about, as well. The local NAACP even wants Lonsberry suspended indefinitely.

I don't live in Rochester and quite honestly, have never heard Lonsberry. I don't know if he's a racist or not. I don't know if his recent comments are in line with how he treats all people he puts under his show's heat lamp or not.

But, I know this: being on-the-air myself, on any given day I might use thousands of words in potentially millions of combinations. When one is speaking, on-the-fly, the result is like rolling dice. A choice of words may or may not be intentional. But, a listener's orientation and PERCEPTION colors EVERYTHING they hear. It's not so much WHAT we say, it's what others THINK we say.

And I know a few more things: 1) Radio hosts are paid to say things to make people listen. 2) If you are a public figure - black, white, or mauve - expect criticism. 3) Don't get into politics unless you have a thick skin and 4) "Monkey" references on Radio are nothing new.

Allow me to demonstrate.

Example #1: Radio Host Calls Himself Monkey

From an article about Pittsburg personality, Alan Cox at Postgazette.com, entitled "Radio Host Alan Cox's Caustic, Hip And Raunchy Barbs Pull In Listeners", witness this conversation with a listener:

Caller: Do you have nothing interesting to say to me? What about all those people you argue with and it's funny?
Cox: They call me with something to say. What am I, like a monkey on a string?

Example #2: Broadcaster Calls President A Monkey

From a June 21, 2003 Press Release, Internet/radio Broadcaster Andy Martin was quoted as saying,

"Once again, [Ariel] Sharon seeks to make himself into the organ grinder and Bush into the monkey."

Example #3: Radio Station Elevates Monkey To DJ

From the June 19, 2003 column by Brad Kava at bayarea.com concerning KITS-FM (105.3):

"The station has gone back to a tradition of being untraditional the past year in an effort to reclaim its alternative roots, and this was one of the wackiest (since it broadcast chimp sounds between songs a year ago, from the ``monkey'' DJ).

Example #4: Upcoming DJ Is A Monkey Boy

From Wildcat Online at Arizona U. by Laura Bond:

"These days, Mike "Sketch the Monkey Boy" Ichimura doesn't sleep much. Since landing a coveted spot as co-host of The Point's Morning Show with Kathy Rivers, the 26-year-old Communications Sophomore is far too busy keeping up with school and five or six jobs to worry about attaining adequate amounts of REM sleep. Life as a Monkey Boy may have its rewards, but it can be exhausting.

Hell, there's even a Radio station in Gulfport, Mississippi called "107.1 The Monkey".

So, my friends, as you can see Radio and monkeys seem to go hand-in-hand. Sometimes it's just about having fun - and monkey IS a funny word. At times, it seems like America's sense of humor should be printed on the side of a milk carton because it has gone missing.

In the end, it's just Radio: turn it on, turn it off, listen, or don't. But, please: everyone just lighten up.

- Corey Deitz

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