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For longtime residents of Denver, Charlie Kirk’s death brought back memories of the murder of Alan Berg, who was gunned down in front of his Congress Park home in 1984.
Berg was not really a journalist, but a forerunner to the type of influencer epitomized by Charlie Kirk — but definitely from the political flip side. He was a radio talk-show host who loved to talk…and was Talked to Death, as noted by the late Stephen Singular in his book of the same name. A Jewish lawyer from Chicago, Berg had moved to Denver for his health, became a suit salesman, then a store owner and an occasional radio talk-show guest. Ultimately, he became a star on KOA radio, whose huge signal sent Berg’s discussion of divisive issues across Colorado and the Great Plains, reaching thirty states.
The media was very different 41 years ago. There was no 24/7 cable news, no Facebook, no social media that allowed immediate response. But there were similarities to the roles Berg and Kirk played.
Like Kirk, Berg would listen to everyone, debate anyone. And in their comments on the Westword Facebook post of Patricia Calhoun’s memories of Berg, the debate continues. Says Lisa:
Civilized people can listen to varying opinions and not be offended.
Adds Kristen:
I was just sharing Alan Berg’s story last week with one of my colleagues from another state. A lot of people don’t know about it.
Suggests Kenneth:
There are actually zero parallels. But nice try at some lefty “whataboutism.”
Responds Dustin:
Alan Berg a liberal pundit was killed for speaking freely, Charlie Kirk an ultra conservative was killed for speaking freely.
Offers Melissa:
Johnny Carson didn’t do political comedy and there wasn’t such division as today. Trump didn’t take Kimmel off the air. Kimmel had bad ratings and is losing money. Kimmel has said a lot of nasty things over the years. Berg was really ahead of his time asking tough questions on the air. They wanted him silenced. Plus he was Jewish.
Replies JohnPaul:
You are completely wrong here. Also, it was well known that White Supremacist groups were behind Alan Berg’s murder, and the killers even admitted it and claimed Berg deserved it. Also, Carson was extremely political, and the division in the 1960s and ’70s literally parallels what we’re seeing today. Actually it was a lot worse back then, because racists and bigots could get away with a lot more in those days than they can today.
Wonders Tim:
What did Johnny Carson say about the murder of Alan Berg? It’s not in the article.
And thanks to Robert, who supplied Johnny Carson’s monologue on “What Democracy Means to Me”:
To me, democracy means placing trust in the little guy, giving the fruits of nationhood to those who built the nation. Democracy means anyone can grow up to be president, and anyone who doesn’t grow up can be vice president.
Democracy is people of all races, colors, and creeds united by a single dream: to get rich and move to the suburbs away from people of all races, colors, and creeds. Democracy is having time set aside to worship — 18 years if you’re Jim Bakker.
Democracy is buying a big house you can’t afford with money you don’t have to impress people you wish were dead. And,
unlike communism, democracy does not mean having just one ineffective political party; it means having two ineffective political parties.
Democracy means freedom of sexual choice between any two consenting adults; Utopia means freedom of choice between three or more consenting adults. But I digress. Democracy is welcoming people from other lands, and giving them something to hold onto — usually a mop or a leaf blower. It means that with proper timing and scrupulous bookkeeping, anyone can die owing the government a huge amount of money.
Democracy means a thriving heartland with rolling fields of Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Spanky, and Wheezer. Democracy means our elected officials bow to the will of the people, but more often they bow to the big butts of campaign contributors.
Yes, democracy means fighting every day for what you deserve, and fighting even harder to keep other weaker people from getting what they deserve. Democracy means never having the Secret Police show up at your door. Of course, it also means never having the cable guy show up at your door. It’s a tradeoff. Democracy means free television. Not good television, but free.
Democracy is being able to pick up the phone and, within a minute, be talking to anyone in the country, and, within two minutes, be interrupted by call waiting.
Democracy means no taxation without representation, and god knows, we’ve just about had the hell represented out of us. It means the freedom to bear arms so you can blow the “o” out of any rural stop sign you want.
And finally, democracy is the eagle on the back of a dollar bill, with 13 arrows in one claw, 13 leaves on a branch, 13 tail feathers, and 13 stars over its head. This signifies that when the white man came to this country, it was bad luck for the Indians, bad luck for the trees, bad luck for the wildlife, and lights out for the American eagle.
I thank you.”
And thanks to all of you who continue to keep a civil conversation going. If you’d like to join the discussion, post a comment or email editorial@westword.com.
