Shock and Awe

Just when I think that my life can't get worse...

In a lunch meeting with our program director today, my co-host and I were made extremely aware of his dislike for us and the job we are doing. Besides telling us that we are not the show he would like on his station, he made it clear that he feels we're overpaid and underproducing.

Fair enough. Not true, but those were the last professional things he said today.

In trying to give examples of why we are unrelatable to the Jacksonville audience, this small, petty man stated that we talked about my being Jewish too much. He seems to believe that we "showcase" my Judaism and that is turning off women who listen.

Unable to fathom that he would actually say something so stupid, I felt the need to ask questions to clarify. Sure enough, he confirmed that it's perfectly relatable for Mark to tell stories about going to Catholic Church but because there is a smaller Jewish population, I shouldn't mention that I'm Jewish anymore.

In giving anecdotal evidence, he brought up my leaving early from work to go to Temple LAST OCTOBER on Yom Kippur. He said we shouldn't have said that's where I was going. When asked what we should have said, he said to say I have an appointment.
That's right, it's better to LIE than to say I am Jewish!!!

To say I am offended is an understatement. I'm hurt, angry and could not look that man in the eye for the rest of lunch. I don't want to go into work tomorrow knowing that there is so little respect for who I am and what I am all about.

Being a Jew is so important to me. I am so proud of it and feel so deeply about the how and why of it. I didn't arrive here easily. To have it marginalized like this is appalling.

I am not sure what I do next. I've felt sick all night and spoken with my co-host, agent and rabbi. For once, we're all in agreement about how heinous this was.
I've spoken to a judge and he recommends talking to a lawyer and looking into the possibility of pursuing this legally.