OntheWilderSide

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On Wednesday, February 7, 2007, at 7pm, the Babylon Green Party will host Jean Waters and Robert Langley to speak about how to get your own Public Access show. At the gathering, the pair will also be taping an open mic for their own show. The first three guests who arrive with a song or poem, can be taped for a future episode on public access television.Both Waters and Langley received their badges as bleeding heart liberals quite early in life. Both are from working class families that struggled to keep pace with the status quo of suburbia. Waters and Langley have always been advocates of the “underdogs”, noting that is the group with whom they most identify.

Both completed their college degrees later in life. Langley obtained a master’s degree in mental health rehabilitation counseling. Waters received two master’s degrees–psychology and social work — as well as certified training in addictions and trauma. They both felt the need to better understand how the “real world” operates according to the academics, the philosophers, the theorists, and the researchers of our time. They wanted to learn how people can better co-exist with others in their environments and what impedes individuals from desiring to accomplish such a goal. Both chose the field of human services as dual purpose careers — figuring that with continued formal education, they would be better able to understand themselves and define their purpose in the world and also understand why others, in their own lives, do what they do.

For Waters and Langley, their day jobs of assisting others in overcoming their impediments can sometimes be frustrating and stressful. So, they often turn to music for respite. And, besides music providing an enjoyable escape, Waters and Langley also use music to motivate and renew themselves.

Though Langley had a 25 year hiatus from the music world, he has been able to resume his joy of making music with others for the last five years. He is currently the drummer/percussionist in three Long Island Bands, all of whom have performed at local music venues. For Waters and Langley, what matters is not simply spending time with others who appreciate music for music’s sake, the pair also likes to be in the company of other progressives who are out to save the world (or at least make a small dent in making the world a better place for the sake of others’ well being). Langley is now with a recently formed musical group which explores political themes, named Blacklisted and Banned. The Blacklisted and Banned project gives him the great satisfaction of combining his progressive ideology with his musical talents. As for Waters, she has often worked into the evening and held other part time jobs to follow her pursuit of music and of making the world a better place.

It was a long path for them to become the producers of two cable TV shows, “Just Peace!” and “Peace and Justice’.’ Waters and Langley owe their initiation into the world of public access TV to a couple of good friends. Public Access Producer Bob Goldberg, quite a few years ago, had first increased their awareness of the availability of citizens’ rights to present their interests and issues on public access TV. More recently, their progressive friend and peoples’ advocate Brian O’Haire ignited their motivation to get started themselves. As he has done for others, O’Haire himself got Waters and Langley the correct forms, made x’s, and asked them to sign on the dotted line. And, they obeyed as it seemed like the right time to do it, and because O’Haire promised to guide them and help them out when they got stuck.

Langley’s involvement in the Long Island music scene and the pair’s acquaintances with Long Island peace, community activist and special interest groups provided them with the impetus to begin their activities. They already had purchased a few movie cameras because they had recently been able to do some traveling. And, Waters had begun to record the gigs of the bands in which Langley plays. In order to spread the word, they distribute a fliers that describes the intent and the purpose of their shows. Though, they have found that performers and presenters are most receptive to being recorded when personally presented with the shows’ agenda. Some relevant website links are: www.sonnymeadows.com and www.mindfreedom.org

On March 7, 2007 the Babylon Green Party will host a poetry reading by Thomas Brinson of Veterans for Peace. For directions to the Babylon Green Gathering, call 422-4702 or email ian.wilder@yahoo.com Children are welcome. All gatherings are Free of Charge, and Open to the Public

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