Those who have not learned from history...

...apparently end up in radio.

I grew up in upstate New York, and had a number of friends who worked in local radio -- notably my hometown AM station (WICY), which at the time had to be the WORST STATION ON EARTH.

So it didn't surprise me when I learned the following from a dear friend of mine, but I think it bears pointing out. And, perhaps, public ridicule.

In that part of New York lies the St. Lawrence Seaway/Eisenhower Locks. It is basically a large system of canals that allow large-ish oceangoing cargo vessels to navigate the St. Lawrence River, which forms a partial border between New York and Ontario. It is a fairly busy port, and I particularly enjoyed watching the large ships stopping just outside the locks, in international waters, to dump contraband/drugs/weapons/etc. overboard to waiting cigarette boats.

A key anniversary--the 50th, in fact--of the opening of the Seaway is imminent, and a local radio station -- 102.9 Q-Country in Ogdensburg, NY -- is apparently launching a letter writing campaign to Queen Elizabeth; she was present when the locks opened in 1959, and there's a desireable symmetry in having her come visit.

Here's the good part.

The radio station -- which clearly employs no one who is even remotely aware of 20th century history -- have called the campaign a blitz.

"Dear Queen Elizabeth:

Come visit our country, where we attempt to entice you here by citing that bygone, nostalgic time when Londoners were being burned alive by Nazi buzz bombs and concentrated aerial bombardment. Ah, good times... good times..."

Is it just me or is this either astoundingly inappropriate and/or absurdly self-sabotaging?

I mean, imagine if they were trying to get Simon Wiesenthal to visit. Or the Pope.

GAH.

People wonder why I moved three thousand miles away from there.