The River Is Wide

Series produced by Susan J. Cook

Caption: It is so hard to write you this sonnet/because I long for you in another way/ I want to make it like ''Shall I compare thee to a summer day?:"But then there was that summer day..., Credit: Susan Cook "Prologue to "Breathing: American Sonnets"
Image by: Susan Cook "Prologue to "Breathing: American Sonnets" 
It is so hard to write you this sonnet/because I long for you in another way/ I want to make it like ''Shall I compare thee to a summer day?:"But then there was that summer day... 

The River Is Wide is one listener's complement to public radio as media that has always made room for thoughtful discourse about human decency and prevention of harm. Written by a psychologist and political activist, The River Is Wide presents Citizen's Guides, The Dept of Poetic Justice (with lyrics for the Great American Wrongbook", The Indifference Diaries, sonnets when no other format seems appropriate, an ode here and there In the Department of Poetic Justice, Sixty-second Moral Inquiries and brief commentaries. Public radio can be a muse and PRX has become the pen and paper, yes, for many letter-to-the-editor writers, including this one.The series began after a local editor refused to publish a letter he called "uncivil" which criticized a political candidate for a failure to acknowledge human rights violations by the Chinese in his appeal to bring Chinese business to Maine. At a public forum, the Candidate for Governor was asked why he ignored this Chinese indifference to human rights. He replied, "What? Bring it on," he sneered. The censorship of "The humble Farmer" by Maine Public broadcasting for speaking against the Iraq War also influenced the creation of this series. We hope there will never come a day when the public conscience (and mine) ignore a flagrant omission of concern for human rights. Speaking truth to power about those omissions is the task of The River Is Wide series.

The series began rowing when a local editor refused to publish a letter criticizing a political candidate for a failure to acknowledge human rights violations by the Chinese government calling it "uncivil". When the former Candidate for Governor (who in 2022 was convicted as a child pornographer) at a public forum was asked why he ignored the human rights violations, he replied, "What? Bring it on," he sneered. Another inspiration has been the censorship of "The humble Farmer" by Maine Public broadcasting for speaking against the Iraq War. Citizen's Guides, The Indifference Diaries, sonnets and odes In the Department of Poetic Justice, and Sixty Second Moral Inquiries speak to issues that the public conscience (and mine) won't let us ignore and speak truth to power (everyone else's) especially surrounding freedom of speech in the media, injustice and harm. Hide full description

The series began rowing when a local editor refused to publish a letter criticizing a political candidate for a failure to acknowledge human rights violations by the Chinese government calling it "uncivil". When the former Candidate for Governor (who in 2022 was convicted as a child pornographer) at a public forum was asked why he ignored the human rights violations, he replied, "What? Bring it on," he sneered. Another inspiration has been the censorship of "The humble Farmer" by Maine Public broadcasting for speaking against the Iraq War. Citizen's Guides, The Indifference Diaries, sonnets and odes In the Department of Poetic Justice, and Sixty Second Moral Inquiries speak to issues that the public conscience (and mine) won't let us ignore and speak truth to power (everyone else's)... Show full description


323 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: There's a quote from the Bible I've taken to lately..., Credit: Edgar Cook
There are many many examples of malice these days. And then there are the opportunities to do good.

  • Added: Aug 22, 2021
  • Length: 03:28
Caption: ...wide river as ever..., Credit: Susan Cook
The Supreme Court decision to ignore the inhumane aspects of the Texas Abortion law reminds us to look to the places where human connection is val...

  • Added: Sep 03, 2021
  • Length: 08:17
Caption: It is so hard to write you this sonnet/because I long for you in another way/ I want to make it like ''Shall I compare thee to a summer day?:"But then there was that summer day..., Credit: Susan Cook "Prologue to "Breathing: American Sonnets"
Getting vaccinated and wearing a mask may be all there is to making someone happy in Covid-19 times.

Bought by KMXT


  • Added: Nov 26, 2021
  • Length: 03:52
  • Purchases: 1