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[Picture of Mama O'Shea.] Thoughts and Memories of Mama O'Shea
~ From Listeners, Admirers and Friends

Mama O' Shea - (STILL)
Shoutin' Out and Fightin' Back in Cyberspace

Oh, thank you so much for sending the news, which is so sad to those of us she gave so much to. Please let me know of any opportunity to honor her memory. She helped me and my now deceased co-defendant David Nadel by having us constantly on her marvelous show, and gave us such a portrait of courage. Thank you, Carol Denney

Mama O'Shea's passing is a truly a sad moment for all of those who knew her either personally or over KPFA's airwaves. She stood for eveything Pacifica radio used to be about. In her time slot now once can find the packaged programming that can be found on any "commercial" public radio station, some of it very interesting and, to be sure, professionally produced, but without the vitality, passion and commitment that Mama brought to the airwaves. "Shouting out and fighting back fo our common survival," is what she was about. On tonight's KPFA news, Janice Leber was given time to describe Mama's uniqueness and did it well. When she finished announcer David Rosenberg mentioned that Mama had been a popular programmer at the station, adding that she had been one of 30 programmers cut by the station when "it was restructured in August 1995." You can be sure such info could only be heard on KPFA's weekend news when Co-News Censors Merical and Alfandary are not overseeing the news "coverage." -- Jeffrey Blankfort

hi i am new to ca and kpfa i hear so much about her i send my love and prayers do u have any clippings etc or sources u can direct me to i would love to know more about her peace --alicia banks 3-5am mondays kpfa http://www.geocities.com/capitolhill/lobby/5224

I just received a forward on the message about Mama. Even though I knew she was sick, and knew this message would arrive, still I'm utterly heartbroken. I loved Mama. I thought I'd let you know. Richard Wolinsky

With sadness I send along the news of the passing of Mama O'Shea. For those who don't know, Mama O'Shea hosted -- for decades, and with great dedication -- a weekly talk show on Pacifica station KPFA in Berkeley. Already in poor health, she lost her program in the Great Purge of 1995. Although I only met her maybe a dozen times in person -- mainly at meetings of Take Back KPFA -- I carried on an ongoing discussion with her, her guests, and her audience, getting to call in and talk on her show perhaps hundreds of times over the years. She quite often disagreed with me, but always let me speak long enough to make my point, and would even question me so as to clarify -- for herself and others -- what I was saying. It got so that, when I didn't call up, she would occasionally make comments such as "What would Aaron have to say on this?" She even admitted at times -- without being pressured to do so -- that she had been wrong about something we had debated in the past. (Her earlier support for Cory Aquino was one such issue!) Some might say I was fond of Mama O'Shea because she treated me, in particular, well. And perhaps I have earned such cynical regard. But Mama O'Shea was well-loved by many guests and listerners who could have done without me or my politics (and often said as much on her show). And I got (silently) upset with her occasionally for giving too much time and credence to those whom *I* considered to be idiots {;->}! We have lost another fighter for free expression, another voice for those without a voice, or -- more accurately -- a facilitator and amplifier for those with a weak voice. But she did have a long, full life and that life should be celebrated. Mama's motto might have been: If the bastards are going to grind you down, make them work real long and real hard at it! - Aaron

She is a great loss to all of us, and of course she was a great loss to KPFA's air. Off the air Mama O'Shea was a person of great vision and courage too. During the early 80's (when I served on the Pacifica board, and as its President) she, almost alone among programmers saw the trends that were at play then and which have ended up in the Pacifica we now have (or lost). She supported, in her own way, efforts to slow or stop this trend. It pained her greatly to see the diretion things went, and not because she lost her program (tho that was a great source of pain and frustration to her). Tho physically limited in these last years she managed to be on Free Radio Berkeley, and SF Liberation Radio. While the Pacifica fight seems to be at a difficult point right now, with more than 1,000 micro stations on the air, two micro radio conferences coming up, and Stephen Dunifer's lawyer invited to address the NAB (National Association of [some] Broadcasters) the micro radio mvt. is on the march. We can only dedicate ourselves in both fights to her memory and her spirit. Thanks Mama. -- Peter Franck

****************************************************************** The extent to which there is non-elite participation into communication policymaking may be a barometer for the level of democracy in a society.
Robert McChesny "The Political Economy of Radio" in Seizing the Airwaves, a Free Radio Handbook, Sakolsky & Dunifer, AK Press 1998

Mama's death is a sad reminder of the callousness of KPFA's 95 dismissals. One can't help but think that Mama would have lived longer and her last years might have been much more gratifying had she not been dropped so unceremoniously from a radio station to which she gave so much.for so many years. Long live the spirit of Mama O'Shea! Sincerely, Kiilu
So sad that we'll have to try to get along without Mama (even more than we've already had to get along without her). But what a triumph her life was! One of my favorite Mama stories was when she did an actual standup act, full of in-house humor, at a KPFA party several years ago. She had us gasping for air. What a presence. Or the time I gave her a ride from SF, with my kids in the back seat, and she quoted "the male I share my bed with," who turned out to be her beloved dog. It was also great to hear your voice again this morning. Please keep me posted on the memorial. --Russ
I'm sorry to hear about Mama she had a voice that spoke to the soul. she inspired me long before I even had a first thought about doing radio, and I hope that in some way that inspiration is reflected off the tower.... here in the outlands.... she is and always will be the stuff that Pacifica is made of... for some of us. Gone but never forgotten. onward and love and peace curt aka scooter A very sad news indeed. They booted her off!! What a shame. What a marvelous person she was. Lissening to her made one become better, no bitterness, always a smile. I can hear her intro music and she saying: ahurru brothers and sisters. She was never afraid to give a piece of her mind. I really wish i was with the people who loved her this coming sunday. Would you tape Kris' tribute for me to lissen to. Thanks Stay healthy tina

Add your thoughts and memories of Mama: E-mail me at clp@juno.com

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