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WHAT IS NORMAL?

Program 07-06-17-A

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IOk, you choose: endure traditional strict religious strictures and a life of hard labor or, fully indulge in the pleasures of today? Amish youth are given that choice. When they turn 16 they're let loose to experience all the temptations the world. Then, they have to decide between the world and the community. In this hour of To The Best Of Our Knowledge the Amish ritual of Rumspringa.

SEGMENT 1:

Writer Stephen Kuusisto is blind. His latest memoir is called "Eavesdropping." He tells Anne Strainchamps what he remembers about visiting the seashore and a stable in Finland as a child. He also reads his poem "Elegy for Ray Charles and His Mother."

SEGMENT 2:

Emily Rapp had her foot amputated when she was 4. By the time she was 8, the rest of her leg was gone and she'd become a poster child for the March of Dimes. She chronicles her days as a self-described "supergimp" in her book "Poster Child" and in this conversation with Anne Strainchamps. Also, Harriet Brown is a writer in Madison, Wisconsin. She reads an essay describing her experience discovering her daughter had anorexia.

SEGMENT 3:

Tom Shachtman's the author of "Rumspringa: To Be or Not To Be Amish." He tells Jim Fleming about this Amish custom of allowing sixteen year olds a period of total freedom to experience the temptations of the world before they choose the strictures of a traditional Amish life. Our production excerpts come from the documentary "The Devil's Playground." Also, Alan Berliner directed a documentary for HBO called "Wide Awake." Berliner is a chronic insomniac who goes for days without sleeping. He tells Steve Paulson it seems to be part of his creative process.

CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 07-06-17-A.

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Books:

Tom Shachtman. “Rumspringa: To Be or Not To Be Amish.” North Point Press.
Stephen Kuusisto. “Eavesdropping: A Memoir of Blindness and Listening.” Norton.
Emily Rapp. “Poster Child: A Memoir.” Bloomsbury.

Films:

• “Wide Awake” (2007). Directed by Alan Berliner. HBO.
• “Devil’s Playground” (2002). Directed by Lucy Walker.Wellspring.
  

Websites:

• http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/wideawake/
• http://emilyrapp.com/
• http://www.stephenkuusisto.com/
• http://www.harrietbrown.com
• http://www.tomshachtman.com

Music:

• “Come, Thou Holy Spirit, Come.” Eastern Mennonite Chamber Singers. Voices of Anabaptist Martyrs: Singing at the Fire. Faith and Life Press.
• “Au Privave.” Charlie Parker. Bird’s Best Bop. Verve Records.
• “Porcelain” and “Down Slow.” Moby. Play. V2 Records.
• “People.” El Perro Del Mar. El Perro Del Mar. The Control Group Records.
• "Sepan Poika.” Varttina. Iki. Northside Records.
• "Vesti la giubba" (Ruggiero Leoncavallo) sung by Enrico Caruso. 21 Favorite Arias. RCA Records.
• “Don’t Put All Your Dreams in One Basket.” Ray Charles. Essential Ray Charles: The Very Best Of The Early Years. Atlantic Records.

Distribution dates: week of 06/17/2007 - hour 1

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

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