NPR: All Things Conflicted

All Things Conflicted

Tomorrow is primary day in Philadelphia. Five Democrats are running to take over City Hall, and since the city is so heavily Democratic it's assumed that the primary winner will get the job (one Republican will run in November). Two Congressmen, a businessman, a former City Councilmember and a state legislator are in the running.

So, now you're saying, "I don't live in Philly. Why should I care?"

It's not so much the players but the issues we were drawn to...especially an increase in murders that no one there can seem to explain. One candidate has a proposal to allow police to stop and frisk people to search for illegal weapons...it's been tried in other places, notably New York. Observers say you do get illegal guns off the street, but the question is, at what cost? So, now the question is in front of Philadelphia voters...what will they decide?

It all just screams tell me more...

Heard about the Ken Burns drama (literally)? The legendary documentarian has made a film about World War II. Some Latino activists complained because they believe it fails to acknowledge the Latino contributions and experience...he agrees to change it (somehow). Now, other people are upset that he conceded his original stance.
So, what now? Is there a line somewhere between political correctness and editorial correctness/advovcacy and artistic freedom? We discuss it (it was intense).

Your thoughts, please...

Black...and Mormon. Two words you don't see together very often. It's no secret that the Mormon Church didn't fully open its doors to African Americans until the late 70's. So when we found out, courtesy of our friends at the Washington Post Magazine, that the church is now making a determined effort to reach out -- to African Americans -- we had to know more (and in point of fact, we have seen the missionaries ourselves walking and biking our city streets. They are hard to miss in their distinctive garb -- white shirts, black pants, name tags. We sometimes wonder...Hmmm. What y'all doin?) We go deep with the author and a DC man who decided to join the church.

Ever been confronted with one of these? It's where "culture" says one thing, but maybe the inner spirit, or gut, says another.
What was your journey?

A safe place for difficult conversations...

Lastly (here on the blog, not the show), Down Syndrome. You might have noticed that we focused more on the parents than the child. We think there's another program to be done on that score. Of course, parenting never really ends. For most families, the role of the parent in the life of a child transitions dramatically after adolescence. Not always the case here. For parents of children with Down Syndrome, or really any developmental disability, that "empty nest" is sometimes delayed..or never happens at all. It's not talked about as much, but that's why we thought it was maybe time to go Behind Closed Doors and ask...what's that really like?

We'd be interested in knowing if you find yourself here. Or, if the shoe is on the other foot and you're an offspring taking care of a parent. Did you ever feel like maybe your own life's ambitions were being put on the back burner?

If you have thoughts about these or other sensitive conversations that you'd like to hear (or participate in) please, let us know...

Michel Martin

6:29 PM ET | 05-14-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

The black and Mormon segment was particularly interesting to me since I'm Mormon -- a white one. Michel, as someone who has served a mission, it could take awhile to explain what "we'all" are doin.

Either way, as a lifelong Mormon in his mid-20s I've known that my Church did not extend the Priesthood to blacks until the late 70s, but I've never understood it since the Church was integrated before I really came of age.

On a side note, Mormonism and cultural heritage are interesting. Having lived in several states in the country, Australia, and Mexico, I've had the opportunity to see how different Mormons blend their heritage with the religion.

Further, it is worth noting that in the last several years the Church has tried to close many of its ethnic and language congregations (aka "wards") in an attempt to integrate members better in the same area. When I was a missionary in Sydney the Church closed congregations that spoke only Tongan, Vietnamese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Tagalog, and Spanish (the Samoans held out...). At the same time, the Church was doing the same thing in Philly, which was my home at time, and it was interesting to hear how people reacted to it. When the language wards were disbanded people fell off the side of the earth. Once the Church conceded and offered to start up a Spanish language, the Latinos demanded that their own specific group get a congregation. For instance, the Chileans want their own ward while the rest of the Spanish speakers could meet together. Well, the Chileans weren't the only Spanish speakers who wanted a country of origin specific ward.

Mormonism like other religions is interesting. At some point it can assimilate some culture, but it gets to the point that making so many concessions in an area makes achieving unity tough.

The line between doctrine and culture is very thin. It makes identity even more fuzzy. When it comes to religion is the term "Mormon" adequate enough to include all members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regardless of their race, ethnicity, and nationality? What about members of other religions?

Sent by Steve Petersen | 10:42 PM ET | 05-14-2007

Thanks, for doing a second piece on the Ken Burns debate. I have to admit , I'm somewhat conflicted about this one ! Yes, Ken Burns has a right to do a film the way he invisions it; & Latino's have a right to protest for inclusion, but at what cost to Ken Burns artistic freedom ? As an African American I do understand the feeling of being lift out of history, especially if it makes one's people invisible to the larger society; at some point a group must make a stand, i guess it just happens to be Ken Burns latest film on World war 2 for latino's in this county.

Sent by Robert Hill | 2:48 AM ET | 05-15-2007

Michele, this speaks to the racially inflamed nature of our "free" American society. We want to be a free and fair country yet we are only as free as money and power (private or public) can make us. The winners write history and the losers usually can't afford to tell their story. African Americans, Latinos, Asians and White Supremacists in this society have to pay their own way or their stories will not get told the way they should be told. We don't want our government enforcing our perspective or reminding us of the poor people we haven't acknowledged in spite of the fact that some public arenas are supported by the...uhuh...public. If we are to grow as a free society we will only be as free as our most oppressed people. When we are all truly free then we will hold Ken Burns to the artistic fire for acting out of our society's character.

Sent by Dr. Marion Carroll | 9:53 PM ET | 05-18-2007

Hello,

I must say this wave of being PC is drying me crazy! Just because you don't like something we YELL and scream that Ken Burns is a racsist and changes must be made! Heaven forbid we take our anger and create something that shows what Ken Burns did not document. Don't get me wrong, the sacrifices made by people of color have never truly been shown or thanked by america, we should not beat up Ken Burns because his vision did not have enough latin flavor.

Sent by Ron F. Ward | 5:00 PM ET | 05-21-2007

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'Tell Me More' with Michel Martin

"Nothing is assumed." That's the unofficial motto of Tell Me More, the new Monday-Friday talk show with host Michel Martin. Grounded in lively interviewing and compelling storytelling, the program seeks to present diverse new voices, cross borders, challenge conventional wisdom and discover how other people think.