March 2002

Greeting Cards
On this Good Friday, Commentator Joe Loconte wonders why its so hard to find an unabashedly religious greeting card. (3:00)

Our Town
Humorist Brian McConnachie and his Big Ship Radio team imagine a modernization of the 1938 Pulitzer Prize-winning play Our Town in which there is a running of the bulls involved, much like Pampalona, Spain. As the bulls are released, some of the main characters of the Thorton Wilder play are trampled and gored. (2:00)

Charm School
Commentator and sixth-grade teacher Daniel Ferri talks about Larry, a student in his class who was in great need of some guidance in manners in the classroom. Larry couldn't quite read the signals when he blew his nose while the class was watching a film. (2:45)

Casanova Versus Osama
Commentator Andrei Codrescu ponders the philosophical differences between two men of historical importance. Osama bin Laden, he says, is a man who espouses hatred. Giacomo Casanova, on the other hand, espoused love. (3:15)

Open Letter to Vice President Cheney
NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr sends a letter to Vice President Dick Cheney, asking that he release the records of his energy policy task force for the good of the nation. (3:00)

American Faith
Commentator Winifred Gallagher says personal spirituality is the core of traditional American religious life. Gallagher is author of Spiritual Genius: The Mastery of Life's Meaning. (3:30)

Nothing's Ever Lost On a Farm
Commentator Donald McCaig happened upon an rusted knife on his farm. It triggered the memory of a sheep he lost many years ago. (3:30)

Defining Moment
NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr says the Middle East peace process is at a critical point, and observes the role of three major players -- Yasser Arafat, Ariel Sharon, and George W. Bush. (3:00)

Medical Expenses
The bureaucracy of medical insurance is no more fun for doctors than it is for patients. Commentator Elissa Ely has this story from the front. (2:15)

Prosperity Doubts
Commentator Delal Bear chairs the Mexico project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. She says the "partnership for prosperity" between Mexico and the United States has brought some innovative ideas to the discussion about how to raise the standard of living in Mexico. But she believes that real change can only be achieved through the private sector. (3:00)

Wrestling Coach
Humorist Brian McConnachie creates a phony institute called "The Columbia School of Professional Wrestling" so that he can comment on the insane nature of the sport of professional wrestling. (2:00)

Cranes
Cranes stop in France twice a year, on their way between Africa and Scandinavia. Commentator Nancy Coons sees their March migration as a sign that spring has arrived. (2:45)

Vice President's Role
NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr remarks on Vice President Cheney's entrance into the fray between the Israelis and the Palestinians. (2:30)

How to React
Commentator Daniel Pinkwater takes note of the flap over the show at the Jewish Museum in New York City. He says the right way to show your unhappiness would be through ridicule, not boring protest or calling for government action. (2:15)

Rosie
Tonight, Diane Sawyer will interview Rosie O'Donnell on ABC's Primetime Live - as part of a report on gay adoption in Florida. But all the attention has been on the fact that O'Donnell talks about being gay herself. Commentator Michael Alvear says that O'Donnell is being opportunistic in choosing this time to come out. (2:45)

Focus the War
Iraq may be the next chosen target of the Bush administration, but Commentator Chip Pitts doesn't think that's a good idea. He says that we need to focus the war on terrorism on stopping al Qaeda and capturing or killing its leaders - not on Iraq. (3:30)

U.S.-Russia Relations
The Bush administration's relationship with Russia has been cordial and restrained, even as American troops set up camp in the former Soviet republics bordering Russia. NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr wonders how long the former adversaries can remain so polite. (3:00)

American Power
Joseph Nye reflects on America's need for cooperative relationships with other countries, even as it holds the position of the world's only "superpower." Nye is dean of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard. His latest book is The Paradox of American Power: Why the World's Only Superpower Can't Go It Alone. The book is published by Oxford University Press. (2:45)

Priestly Life
Commentator and Catholic Priest, Donald Cozzens is author of the book The Changing Face of the Priesthood. He reflects on the effect of the sexual abuse stories now in the news on the public perception of priests. Cozzens' book is published by Liturgical Press. (3:30)

Morning TV
Commentator Michael Alvear says that if you want to understand why ABC is so interested in making changes to its late-night schedule, you have to look at the morning shows, too. When people turn their TVs on in the morning, they are on the same channel that was on the night before - and ABC wants Letterman viewers to see Good Morning America. (2:45)

US Mideast Policy
NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr reflects on President Bush's cautious stance toward diplomacy in the Middle East. While international pressure -- especially from the Arab world -- is building for the Bush administration to get involved, domestic political pressures are making the White House wary. (2:45)

Death In a Small Town
Commentator Marion Winik tells us how the death of a fellow parent in her small Pennsylvania town helped her to understand the community. (4:00)

Becoming Californian
Commentator Heather Havrilesky moved to San Francisco during the dot-com boom, but swore to herself she would not become a "Californian." After several years of living in the state, it seems as though she has no choice. (3:45)

Language Interpreter
Commentator Hollis Gillespie speaks three languages. She works as a flight attendant, and has been designated as a language interpreter. But that doesn't mean she can communicate with all of her passengers. (3:30)

Emma Goldman
Commentator Andrei Codrescu just re-read the autobiography of anarchist Emma Goldman. He sees parallels in the battles she waged at the beginning of the 20th century with social and political issues now. (2:45)

Moving to Los Angeles
Heather King grew up in a small town in New Hampshire and spent most of her life in that area. But 12 years ago, she and her husband moved all the way to Los Angeles, and it changed how Heather King saw herself. (2:45)

Educational Vacations
Not satisfied with a leisurely vacation, Commentator Ellissa Ely and her family headed for New England hoping to expand their knowledge of regional fauna. They got an education, but not the one they expected. (2:15)

Foreign Policy & Partisanship
In the nearly six months since Sept. 11, politicians have been careful to put aside partisan differences when discussing the administration's approach to the war on terrorism. NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr says that's all changing. (2:45)

Writing & Truth
Commentator Jake Tapper observes that high-profile writers seem to suffer less when caught making up facts, bending the truth, or copying someone else's work. (4:00)

Parking Stories
Commentator Calvin Trillin says he's written the first "parking novel." It's set in New York. But after a book tour brought him face to face with people all over the country who had parking stories of their own, he concedes that Manhattan is only one of many places where it's hard to park. (2:45) Trillin's book, Tepper Isn't Going Out, is published by Random House.


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