“It seems that my words have hurt many people. I am
 Ray Lytle and I host the
 WQLZ morning radio show in Springfield, Illinois.
 
 "In the last few days my show seems to be a topic of
 a very important
 discussion among many Americans.
 I did some segments on my show that at the time I
 thought would be humorous.
 As it happens to be they weren't. They were also as
 well as not being too
 funny, considered to be very hurtful to the
 Asian-American community. The
 Chinese-Americans in particular. Let me say that my
 intent was never to
 insult another human being. I was going for a cheap
 joke. In the process I
 seem to have fallen on my face.
 
 "There were letters to the editor of our local
 paper. There were e-mails
 sent to me calling me a racist. There were calls to
 comment from various
 media sources. And there I was wondering why
 everyone was so mad.
 
 "I assumed that something was being blown out of
 proportion. I am a Mexican-
 American and have been on the receiving end of
 racist comments my whole
 life. Because of this I just assumed it was
 impossible for me to do
 something racially insensitive. It is because of
 that background however
 that I now write this. My Grandfather who is no
 longer with us was from
 Mexico. He did not speak very good English. I
 thought how hurt and insulted
 I would be if someone found his accent as the
 punchline of a joke or the
 subject matter of a comedy discussion. Then I
 realized ... THAT'S EXACTLY
 WHAT I DID AND IT WAS WRONG. My grandfather would
 feel so dishonored were he
 alive to hear my pride say I did nothing wrong. That
 is what I have said the
 last week.
 
 "I am saying now that I was wrong. I did do
 something hurtful and I need to
 let those that I have hurt know that I am sorry.
 
 "Please accept my regret and my apology and my
 promise to keep my eyes open
 which they have become in the last few days.
 
 "I thank you for your time and I only hope that
 others like me will realize
 that our words have hurt people and do what's right
 in saying We are sorry.”
 
 Ray Lytle
 host of  "The Lytle and Lamb Show"
 WQLZ radio
 Springfield, Illinois