I work for a radio station, the smallest in a company of three. I manage my station in Annapolis MD, with a whopping one other employee. There's a station in Philly and another in Falls Church VA, both foreign language.

The Falls Church station is the largest, and the "hub" of the company, and handles the billing for all the stations. Our employees range from all age groups, all nationalities. Many of the people who answer the phone have thick accents.

One of the talk show hosts on my station (who has been repeatedly rude to me, and thinks he's far more charming than he is - think stereotypical used car salesman) called to ask me a question to which I didn't know the answer. I suggested he call the main station, and he said "there's no one there." I have NEVER called this place and not had at least four people there, so I said "really?" and he said

"Well, just that Al Qaida guy"



I was in shock. Got off the phone as quickly as I could, and sat there, dazed.

After about half an hour, it was still bothering me a great deal, so I sent an e-mail to my manager, explaining the conversation, telling him that I just wanted to put the ball in his court, because I was terribly offended, but wasn't sure what (if anything) to do in this situation.

My boss (have I mentioned that the only good thing about my job is that I really do have good management, for the first time at any radio station I've worked at???) called a few minutes later to read me the letter he had drafted to this client.

It included a story of that particular employee - you know, the "al Qaida guy". The one whose family had escaped Hussein's regime, losing several family members in the process. The letter finished with "I guess we learn something every day. Or maybe we don't."