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THE SAME BUT DIFFERENT

Program 06-08-06-A

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Any day now, the United States will welcome the three hundred millionth American. He or she may be a new born baby, or someone who comes across the border – legally or illegally. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, we'll look at America's changing demographics, and consider the price of assimilation. Also, Roberto Clemente, the man who civilized major league baseball for Latino players.

SEGMENT 1:

Demographer William Frey of the Brookings Institution and the Population Studies Center of the University of Michigan talks with Steve Pauson about the changing demographics of the United States and how the latest wave of immigration fits into the historical pattern. Also, David Maraniss talks with Jim Fleming about Robert Clemente and how he changed major league baseball for Latin-American players in the U.S. Maraniss is the author of "Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero."

SEGMENT 2:

Fernanda Eberstadt is the author of "Little Money Street: In Search of Gypsies and Their Music in the South of France." She talks with Steve Paulson about the gypsy community of Perpignan. They've lived in this southern French city for some 500 years but don't consider themselves French. They're musicians, work the markets, and prefer to stick close to home and live off welfare. We also hear excerpts from a commercial recording they made, performing as Tekameli. Also, journalist Samuel Freedman tells Anne Strainchamps that American Jews are free to assimilate to whatever extent they choose, but this very freedom has caused new tensions and divisions within the Tribe.

SEGMENT 3:

Thomas Lynch is a professional undertaker, and a poet. His latest book is called "Booking Passage: We Irish and Americans." It's a memoir of his relatives from County Clare and the story of how he found his way back to the old county. Lynch tells some of the stories to Jim Fleming, focusing on how his mother and her Jewish best friend maintained their friendship with the support of their families, even though the religions couldn't quite accept each other.

CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 06-08-06-A.

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Books:

• Thomas Lynch, Booking Passage: We Irish and Americans (W.W.Norton)
  
• Samuel G. Freedman, Jew vs. Jew: The Struggle for the Soul of American Jewry Simon & (Schuster)
  
• Fernanda Eberstadt, Little Money Street: In Search of Gypsies and Their Music in the South of France (Knopf)
  
• David Maraniss, Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball's Last Hero (Simon & Schuster)

Music:

• after Frey: “Lo’ Jo + Django” by Jah Kas Cool Boy from World 2004, CD2, Wrasse Records, Wrass 123 www.wrasserecords.com
• after Maraniss: “Bola”by Strunz & Farah from The Best of Strunz & Farah, Selva, Inc. SV-CD 1007 www.struzandfarah.com
• Eberstadt: Selections from “Religious Gypsy Songs” by Tekameli (available on line from Amazon)
• after Freedman: “Walkin’ Smart” by Spunkshine from A Declared State of Belligerence www.spunkshine.com
  after Lynch: “Planxty Ginsburg” from Shalom Ireland by CeiliZemer www.shalomireland.com
  

Distribution dates:

week of 08/06/2006 - hour 1

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Questions and comments can be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org

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