On the 19th anniversary of 9/11, I aired some audio from the first Daily Show after the attacks. While I expected some backlash (because it's Jon Stewart), I knew the message itself would resonate with many WILK listeners. I knew that if people focused on the words instead of focusing on the person saying them, they'd realize he was hurting just like we were hurting.
Let me dispel a myth. My “plan” wasn’t to make more people like Jon Stewart. I’m not the president of his fan club. I’m the treasurer. Not my job to grow memberships.
“Is Barsky kidding?”
If you just asked yourself “is he really the treasurer of the Jon Stewart Fan Club, or was that a joke?” Of course it was a joke, and yes, I’m disappointed that I even had to clarify that point.
No, the joke wasn’t bad.
Let’s move on…
After I aired the Daily Show audio, text messages poured in. The response was almost exactly what I had hoped it would be. There were a lot of people saying they loved Jon Stewart and the message he delivered. There were people who said they hated Jon Stewart, but appreciated the message he delivered.
But…
There were some people who texted in to let me know that Jon Stewart was the worst human on the planet, “a commie,” a “part of the radical left”.
Honestly, I was surprised I didn’t hear from this one anti-Semitic listener who frequently texts to tell me why Jews are evil, but let me save that for another time.
No. That not a joke. Yes, I’m clarifying again because it’s probably best to avoid blurring the line with antisemitism.
Back to the text messages about Jon Stewart. There was some pretty nasty stuff sent in.
Again, I’m not clueless. I had a feeling there would be some negativity. No question. With that in mind, I acknowledged that Jon Stewart could be a polarizing figure, but also encouraged people to look beyond their preconceived notions, and asked them to look at some of the work Stewart has done since leaving the Daily Show in 2015.
Specifically, I asked the detractors to look into the work Jon Stewart has done in support of the first responders who’ve gotten sick (and the others who’ve passed away) in the years since September 11, 2001. Full disclosure, I like the detractors. Without detractors, I’d agree with everyone for three hours a day. That would be boring. I couldn’t do what I do, without you.
It’s been almost a week since the 9/11 anniversary. So why this message?
On Tuesday, September 15, 2020, Jon Stewart was back in the news. Once again, Jon Stewart has placed himself front and center in the continued fight to make sure the sick and dying were being taken care of by the US Government. This time around, Stewart was calling out Congress on behalf of veterans and service members sickened by continuous exposure to burn pits. Watch the video.
“What a monster,” said nobody.
When you watched the 2019 video, what did you see?
I saw frustration. I saw empathy. I saw compassion. I saw caring.
What I didn’t see is anything partisan.
I hope you saw the same thing and I hope you agree that what Jon Stewart is championing is lot more inspiring than the negative, polarizing bullsh*t that has grown across our nation like that fungus that now covers the toenails on your left foot because you thought it was a good idea to walk barefoot in a sketchy hallway last Summer in New Jersey. (I can say that. I’m from NJ)
Jon Stewart is standing up and fighting for real American heroes. Not bad for “the worst human on the planet.”
Jason Barsky
Host of the Jason Barsky Show, Secretary of the Jon Stewart Fan Club
Weekday Mornings from 9am-Noon
WILK News Radio/RADIO.com/It’s still a joke.