Listeners Sound Off On Immigration, Halloween Costumes

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MICHEL MARTIN, host:

And now it's time for backtalk, where we lift the curtain on what's happening in the TELL ME MORE blogosphere and get a chance to hear from you, our listeners. Lee Hill, our digital media guy, is here with us, as usual. Hey, Lee, what's up?

LEE HILL: Hey, Michel. Well first, some news to share. Last week, we reported a shocking update to the story of Megan Williams. Just to recap, in 2007, Williams, an African-American woman who lived in West Virginia at the time, said she had been tortured by her white boyfriend and members of his family and friends.

Now, a total of seven people pled guilty in connection with the attacks, and most are serving lengthy prison terms. But last week, Williams recanted the story through her attorney. But Michel, now that story takes another turn.

This week, Frankie Brewster, the mother of Williams' boyfriend and one of the women convicted of abusing Megan, said the attacks did happen and that Williams is not telling the truth now. And of course, we'll try to follow the story as events warrant.

And now to listener comments. Michel, earlier this week, you talked about your quest to get flu shots for your family and how the fiasco made you think about the flaws within the current health care system.

(Soundbite of previous broadcast)

MARTIN: Why should it take me every spare minute of an entire day to comply with a guideline my government and most health experts have told me to follow? What if I had the kind of job where I could not make a personal phone call during the day, say like driving a city bus or teaching school, for that matter? What if I didn't have the money to spare or a car to take me to any of the clinics I found, few of which were easily accessible by public transportation?

HILL: And Michel, while not everyone who posted online was quite feeling your angst, we heard from Jody(ph), who was. She writes: I heard this piece on the radio as I was driving with my daughter to the doctor's office. As I drove, I started to cry. I've been trying as best I can to get my whole family vaccinated against seasonal flu since September.

I often wonder about those parents who have too much on their plates just trying to get their kids to school and keep them fed and warm this winter.

MARTIN: Thanks, Jody, me too. We hope everything works out.

Lee, moving on, here's a clip of a conversation we had with Illinois Congressman Luis Gutierrez. We spoke with him about immigration reform and why he believes the Obama administration is not living up to the president's promises about changing the way immigration laws are enforced.

Representative LUIS GUTIERREZ (Democrat, Illinois): When you wake up in the morning without your dad or without your mom and key members of your family, and you see the kind of fear and trepidation that exists in the community, there's no way to be kinder and gentler about this.

MARTIN: Lee, as you might imagine, this sparked strong feedback on our Web site. Here's a post from Ed. He writes: We cannot just illegals stay in the U.S., they should have to go back to their country and enter here legally. We're not breaking up their families; they are. This is a nation of laws, and I must pay if I break then - then why should they not have to?

HILL: And moving on, Michel, Halloween is tomorrow, and while some look forward to the trick-or-treating and the costume parties, others approach the day with the expectation that they'll be offended by people wearing culturally insensitive costumes.

Now, we talked about all this with race and parenting blogger Carmen Van Kerckhove, but after that conversation, some folks wrote us saying: lighten up, it's only Halloween.

Here's a post from Mike. I'm kind of sick of everything being offensive. You cannot do, say or think something that isn't offensive to someone. I'm of Irish and Native-American heritage. I'm sure I could find tons of things to be offended about every day, but why waste my time? Halloween costumes are supposed to be scary. Maybe I should hire a lawyer and sue everyone who doesn't conform to my view of Halloween. There you go.

MARTIN: Thank you, Lee. Dare I ask what - never mind, never mind - what your costume's going to be?

(Soundbite of laughter)

HILL: Yeah, I don't know, Michel. I don't know. Maybe I'll just go as me for the sake of not offending anyone. I don't know.

(Soundbite of laughter)

MARTIN: That wouldn't scare me.

HILL: Thank you, Michel.

MARTIN: Remember, with TELL ME MORE, the conversation never ends. To tell us more, you can call our comment line at 202-842-3522. Please remember to leave your name. You can also log onto our Web site, where you can read more from fellow listeners and enjoy a simpler social networking experience. Just go to npr.org. Click on programs, then on TELL ME MORE and blog it out.

(Soundbite of music)

MARTIN: Coming up, Jay-Z at the World Series.

(Soundbite of music)

Mr. JAY-Z (Singer): (Singing) (Unintelligible).

MARTIN: The Barbershop guys weigh in. This is TELL ME MORE from NPR News. I'm Michel Martin.

Mr. JAY-Z (Singer): (Singing) (Unintelligible).

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