The Muslim American Experience
- play show:
Date: 12 August 2010
100 Mosques, 75 Cities...and 1 Big Question
What does it mean to be an American when your religion - Islam - is equated with "terrorism" and "foreigner?" And what does American mean, anyway? To find out, Ambassador Akbar Ahmed and a team of young researchers spent a year criss-crossing the homeland, knocking on doors, praying in mosques and eating in people's homes. They paint a complex picture of group that doesn't always get along, from literalist Muslims who reject Western culture, to immigrant Muslims doing their best to live the American dream.
Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, chair of Islamic Studies at American University and author of Journey Into America: The Challenge of Islam
Jonathan Hayden, research rssistant and team member
Frankie Martin, research assistant and team member
Commentary: The Vatican's PR Problem?
Begins at 22 min 38 sec
The good news: the Vatican has updated its rules on sex abuse cases, doubling the amount of time in which charges can be filed and speeding up the defrocking process. The weird news: pedophelia is now on par with "the attempted ordination of a woman." While the Vatican has since backtracked, host Maureen Fiedler says it’s too late: the cat is out of the bag.
Maureen Fielder, Host
And Yes, There Are Jews In Cuba
Begins at 27 min 28 sec
Andrew Hiller reports on the unlikely friendship between a Maryland synagogue and the Jews of Cuba.
Produced by Andrew Hiller
In the Studio With Carrie Newcomer
Begins at 36 min
With her deep, earthy voice and gift for lyrical songwriting, Carrie Newcomer has been called folk music's "Prairie Mystic." Newcomer is a practicing Quaker, who weaves the Quaker values of simplicity and peace into her music. Laura Kwerel caught up with the songwriter to talk about her new album, "Before and After."
Carrie Newcomer, singer-songwriter
In-studio performance of "Stones In the River"
In-studio performance of "Before and After"
In-studio performance of "If Not Now"
