In Defense of KOOP

Dear Editor,
   Last week Jim Ellinger again tooted his anti-KOOP horn ["Postmarks," Jan. 14]. This, after the Chronicle named KOOP’s 10th anniversary one of the 10 best media news stories of 2004. While Jim still focused on "the folks who killed [his] dream," he completely discounts the "many others who envisioned and built the station."
   KOOP Radio is an ongoing experiment in community radio that is being built right now. Sure, six years ago the shit hit the fan and Ellinger was a casualty of that crisis. But, how long can he sit at the grindstone? It reminds me of a recent conversation with my grandmother about tsunami relief: She said she couldn’t donate money to the Red Cross because they were a bunch of anti-Semites. Her proof of this was the lack of a Red Cross establishment in Israel (instead Israel started its own "Blue Cross") and her veteran friends who claimed the Red Cross treated gentiles before Jews during the second World War, I said, "Gram, you realize that what you are talking about happened over 60 years ago?"
   I must say I’m worried that Jim actually intends to be in Morocco in 2626 talking about the KOOP meltdown of 1999. At exactly what point does he realize this station was rescued from peril by another wave of dedicated visionaries? And, it is he who is now killing the dream.
   As for those who "would choose to air [his] voice on tape": Yes Jim, there are many here who remember you fondly and work toward your original vision. As for those who are "currently claiming to be in control of KOOP Radio": We threw a party that was extensively promoted by local media. No one received an individual invitation. Clearly, you heard about the party. I only wish you had been there.