Danusha V. Goska

Morning Edition's Bob Edwards

This is Danusha Goska

Listening to another human voice used to be a primal human activity. In today's sensation-drenched world, listening is underrated, and little practiced. God gave Bob Edwards, the former host of NPR's "Morning Edition," the kind of voice that demands a hearing. Edwards' delivery of his God-given baritone was as brilliant with technique as the performance of any champion athlete.

Bob Edwards is a 56-year-old WASP male. He's one prototype of the WASP male – the Gary Cooperish, strong and silent type. Edwards knew what to say, but, he also knew what not to say. Time and again I heard restraint when Edwards could have been self-promotional, manipulative, or sensationalistic. During coverage of the worst news event of many of our lives, 9-11, Edwards spoke with a meditative, and yet authoritative, calm. I will always be personally grateful to him for that. On a lighter note, Edwards was one of the few public figures who was willing to admit that he found "Lord of the Rings" boring. I will always be grateful to Edwards for that, as well.

There is such a thing as prejudice against 56-year-old WASP males. I do fear that NPR will replace Edwards with efforts at being quote cool or quote edgy unquote. As an ethnic feminist, I'm all for diversity, but shouldn't diversity require that we appreciate the unique contributions of highly talented, 56-year-old, strong and silent type, WASP males? Bob Edwards' contribution to his NPR listeners was unforgettable, and, perhaps, irreplaceable.

For Speak Your Mind, this has been Danusha Goska.