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 A Four Part Series from TTBOOK! |
RECLAIMING ISLAM
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Program 09-06-14-A |
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President Obama is out to remake America's relationship with the Islamic world. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, we'll explore what this means for both the Middle East and the U.S. We'll also look at the ongoing debate over Muslim immigration in Europe, and we'll talk with a Hollywood screenwriter about his new novel on the Prophet Muhammad and his wife Aisha.
SEGMENT 1:
Reza Aslan is the author of "How To Win A Cosmic War: God, Globalization and the End of the War on Terror." He talks with Steve Paulson about President Obama's recent speech in Cairo and its effect on he Muslim world. Aslan seems to admire what Obama said but says Muslims will wait to see if the actions of the United States reflect its leader's words. Also, Tissa Hami is one of the world's few female Muslim stand-up comics. She talks with Jim Fleming abut how she went from a career on Wall Street to the comedy club circuit and what her Iranian mother (who's a dentist) thinks of it. And we hear bits from her act.
SEGMENT 2:
Christopher Caldwell talks with Steve Paulson about the European discomfort with the rising tide of Muslim immigration. Devout Muslims pose particular challenges for the largely secular European societies as their native populations age and decline. Caldwell's book is "Reflections on the Revolution in Europe: Immigration, Islam and the West." Also, Senegalese pop star Youssou N'Dour is the top-selling African musician of all time. His album "Egypt" moved away from the raucous sounds of pop and was devoted to his faith. N'Dour is a devout Sufi Muslim. Film-maker Chai Vasarhelyi followed Youssou N'Dour and his band after the album came out and produced a documentary called "I Bring What I Love." Anne Strainchamps talks with the film-maker and musician right after the film opened in New York. "Egypt" won a Grammy in 2005. We hear clips from "Egypt" and from the film.
SEGMENT 3:
Hollywood screenwriter Kamran Pasha has written a novel called "Mother of Believers." It's the story of Muhammad's third wife, Aisha, whom he married when she was very young. Pasha tells Jim Fleming why he wanted to tell this story in novel form, despite the potential controversy. And we hear him read a passage from the book.
CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 09-06-14-A.
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Books & CDs:
| Reza Aslan, How to Win a Cosmic War: God, Globalization and the End of the War on Terror (Random House) | |
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Kamran Pasha, Mother of the Believers: A Novel of the Birth of Islam (Washington Square Press) |
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| Christopher Caldwell, Reflections on the Revolution in Europe: Immigration, Islam and the West (Doubleday) | |
Websites:
- Website for Chai Vararhelyi’s film about Youssou
N’Dour: http://www.ibringwhatilove.com
- Tissa Hami’s website:
http://www.tissahami.com - You can read and hear more about Islam by visiting
the “Inside Islam” blog from another Wisconsin Public Radio
show: “Here on Earth: Radio Without Borders.”
http://insideislam.wisc.edu
Music:
- Youssou N’Dour:
All from his album “Egypt”:
*“Mahdihu Laye”
*”Allah”
*”Shukran Bama”
*”Touba – Saru Salaam”
Nonesuch Records
- After Kamran Pasha:
Anouar Brahem w/ “L’oiseau de bois”
On “Conte de l’incroyable amour”
ECM Records
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Distribution dates: week of 06/14/2009
- hour 1 |
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