Iran

March 19, 2014

A Sliver of Light: Three Americans Imprisoned in Iran

March 19, 2014 - Segment 4 - We meet Shane Bauer, Sarah Shourd, and Josh Fattal. They were arrested along the border between Iraq and Iran in 2009. They were accused by the Iranian authorities of being spies, though no evidence was ever presented to support that claim. Sarah Shourd was released 14 months later, and Bauer and Fattal were released in September 2011.
February 11, 2013

Philosophers’ Roundtable on Eurocentric Philosophies

February 11, 2013 - Hour 2 - Another Philosophers' Roundtable! Tonight we will examine the critique that in the U.S. we focus on Eurocentric philosophies, and will feature philosophers who are working to change that reality.
February 7, 2013

Shane Bauer On Solitary Confinement

February 7, 2013 - Segment 1 - Shane Bauer, an independent journalist based in Oakland who wrote an article about solitary confinement for Mother Jones titled "Solitary in Iran Nearly Broke Me. Then I Went Inside American Prisons."
January 8, 2012

January 10, 2012 – Segment 1

Join our panel as they discuss whether military intervention in Iran is imminent, and if it's necessary.  Our guests are Reza Marashi, Research Director for the National Iranian American Council, Charles Faddis, retired CIA operations officer who served for twenty years in the Middle East, South Asia, and Southern Europe, and David Swanson, author of War is a Lie.

October 14, 2010

October 14, 2010 – Hour 2

What is life really like in Iran today? What is the Iranian political reality behind the rhetoric? Joining us this hour to answer these questions and more is Iranian-American Hooman Majd. His new book is The Ayatollah's Democracy: An Iranian Challenge.

June 15, 2009

June 15, 2009 – Hour 1

Today's show started with a brief discussion with Senator Ben Cardin about today's headlines, including Israeli's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's statement that he could accept a Palestinian state, and the future of the American health care system.
Then, we discussed the protests following the Iranian Presidential election with a panel of experts.
Our guests were:

November 6, 2008

16 Arrested During Election Night Celebration in Charles Village

Here's a letter that we received and wanted to share with everyone.  If anyone else would like to publicize first-hand information about the police misconduct in Charles Village on Election Night, or has other Election Night experiences they'd like to share, please post your comments here or email us at cem@centerforemergingmedia.org.

 

Marc,

During the night following the election, my roommates and I walked
down to 33rd and St. Paul and started celebrating the election of
Barack Obama. We quickly gained support of local students, and our
group of seven quickly grew to over 400. What was a beautifully
patriotic evening, filled with unity and gentle celebration, quickly
turned into fear and chaos as the Baltimore Police Department randomly
(and illegally) assaulted, intimidated, and arrested many members of a
peaceful crowd.

Last Spring, President Ungar invited you to speak at Goucher to a
group of Goucher students, faculty, and staff. President Ungar
personally invited me at the last moment, claiming it was essential
that I hear you speak. Your discussion inspired me to want to get more
involved with our city, and this semester several of my friends and I
moved down to Charles Village from Towson, in order to become true
Baltimoreans.

On November 4, the six of us - all sophomores at Goucher, voted
for the first time. Sending in my absentee ballot to my native
California was one of the most exciting things I have ever done, and
we were all excited to partake in making history. Just a month before
hearing you speak at Goucher, I had the opportunity to shake now
President-elect Obama's hand at an election rally in Wilmington. I
took the train up to Wilmington by myself, and I instantly befriended
a group of students from the University of Delaware. The feeling of
unity was overwhelming, and I instantly knew this campaign was unlike
anything else in history.

The night of Nov. 4th was no exception. My roommates and I had to get
outside to celebrate. People joined quickly and we were suddenly
flanked by members of the community, students from several
institutions, schoolteachers, and professors - all united and chanting
"USA! USA!". The Hopkins Campus Security respected the crowd and kept
it under control, and it became a truly beautiful event. I was
surrounded by people I had never met before, of all colors: black and
white, Muslim and Jewish, old and young, from near and far all
celebrating under American flags.

You have already heard about what the police did last night. They
arrested two of my roommates and another one of my friends, for
reasons that were never disclosed. I stood and watched while my
roommate, a 19-year-old girl from New Jersey, was grabbed by the
throat by two policemen twice her size and had her arms bound so
tightly behind her back, she was screaming in agony.

I have talked with Goucher President Sanford Ungar, and he has already tried to help us get our
voice heard. The fact is that this happens every night in this city,
without a single mention in the Sun  or on the local TV news. These
students and the professor that were arrested were never told their
rights and were fingerprinted, photographed, intimidated, and forced
to spend hours in cells with people charged with violent crimes.
Fortunately, my friends and the rest of these aforementioned sixteen
that were arrested are lucky enough to be backed up by institutions
like Goucher College and Johns Hopkins University.

I know this letter is far from brief, and I appreciate that you have
taken the time to read this. I was inspired by your discussion at
Goucher, and wanted to know what I could do to change something in
this city. I think Baltimore is a beautiful place buried in an
inconceivable amount of filth. Before election day I couldn't fathom
how I could help, or what I could even help with. I now know the
intricacies of how the Baltimore Police Department detains citizens
without Mirandizing them, charging them, or respecting their basic
freedoms. I feel I can speak on behalf of everyone who witnessed
Tuesday night's atrocities when I say that we want to help.

The sixteen people arrested last night were picked randomly. It could
have been anyone. I have spoken with and know personally several of
those arrested and can tell you that they were all respectable and
respectful citizens that have done so much already to make this city a
better place. Will these volunteers, public school teachers, artists,
and professors voices be drowned out?

I hope not.

Thank you again for speaking to us at Goucher. Baltimore needs you,
and is lucky to have you.

Thank you,

Nick Bourland
Goucher College class of 2011

September 4, 2008

Richard Vatz reviews Sarah Palin’s Speech

From RedMaryland.Blogspot.com:

All I can say is “wow.” And when John McCain ascended the stage after Governor Palin’s speech, he said “wow” too.

What an amazingly auspicious speech for an aspiring Vice President candidate to give. In the Geraldine Ferraro era, all of the rhetoric of a major female candidate had a defensive cast. This speech was a confident, aggressive speech by a female candidate for Vice President who knows what she thinks and knows from what values her assertions come.

Click READ MORE below!

December 14, 2007

12/17-12/21 HOLIDAY MUSIC

Time for our annual Holiday Music week.  Here is what is coming up! Monday, December 17th
12-1 pm Lea Gilmore shares her favorite music.  Want to check out some of what she played?  Here is the playlist.
  • Baby, It's Cold Outside, performed by Eric Byrd and Lea Gilmore
  • Santa's Got the Blies, by Denise Lasalle
  • Please Come Home for Christmas, by Charles Brown
  • Santa Baby, by Eartha Kitt
  • All I Want for Christmas is You, by Mariah Carey
  • This Christmas, by Donny Hathaway
  • Give Love on Christmas Day, by the Jackson 5
  • So This is Christmas, by John Lennon
  • Mary Did You Know, by Clay Aiken
  • I am Not Forgotten, by Israel and New Breed
  • Hark the Herald Angels Sing, by Norman Hitchens
  • Silent Night, by Mahalia Jackson
  • What a Wonderful World, by Louis Armstrong
1-2 pm, Tom Hall shares from of his favorite music.
  • Oh Come, All Ye Faithful
  • Come Colors Rise
  • Thank you, by Dave Brubeck
  • Gabriel's Message
  • Yvette in English, by Joni Mitchell
  • I Wish You Love
  • It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
  • Never Will I Marry
  • Nine Crimes, Damien Rice
  • Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel
  • Hallelujah Chorus
Tuesday December 18th
12-1 pm Jon Carney is the Concertmaster of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and he brought some of his favorite classical music for us.  What did he play?
  • Edward Elgar conducting the London Symphony- 1st movement of violin concerto featuring Yehudi Menuhin at age 16 - 1931
  • Vivaldi - Largo from "Winter" of the Quattro Stagioni, Jon's recording w/ the Royal Philharmonic - 1992
  • Camille St. Saens - from his "organ" symphony (#3) - Jean Martinon and French Radio Symphony - 1975
  • Michael Nyman - Prospero's Books (miranda) - 1996
  • Beethoven - slow movement from his opus 135 String Quartet - Guarneri Quartet 1987
  • Bartok - Concerto for Orchestra - last movement - RPO w/ Danielle Gatti - 1997
  • Bach - Chaconne for Partita #2 in D minor for solo violin - Henryk Szerying
  • Fritz Kreisler - "La Gitana" for violin and piano - Jon's own recording w/ his mother on piano - 1995
  • closing music: Michael Nyman - Quartet #4 - track 14
1-2 pm Jason Willett is the co-owner of the True Vine Record store in Hampden, as well as a member of a litany of fine bands including Leprechaun Catering and Half Japanese.  We asked him to bring his favorite Christmas music, and this is what we heard - not quite in the order we heard them, go figure -
  • James Brown - Santa Claus, Go Straight to the Ghetto
  • Culturcide - Depressed Christmas
  • Frieder Butzmann - White Christmas
  • Hybrid Kids - Good King Wenceslaus
  • James White and the Blacks - Christmas With Satan
  • The Jethros - I'm Dreaming of a Wide Christmas
  • Rotary Connection - Opening & Silent Night Chant
  • finally, 3 awesome song poems called Snowbows, Santa Came on a Nuclear Missile, and Santa Goes Modern
Wednesday, December 19th
12-1 pm Keith Covington is the owner of the New Haven Lounge, one of the best places around to see live jazz.  He brought us the gift of great holiday jazz music; here they are in order:
  • Slim & The Supreme Angels - Precious Lord
  • Selah Jubilee Singers - When Was Jesus Born
  • Kenny Burrel - Merry Christmas Baby
  • Ramsey Lewis - Christmas Blues
  • David Benoit - Christmas is Coming
  • Ramsey Lewis - Merry Christmas Baby
  • Chris Botti - Ave Maria
  • Dianne Reeves - Carol of the Bells
  • The Swan Silvertones - I'm Not Tired Yet
  • Ramsey Lewis - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
  • Bobby Durham - Jingle Bells
  • Van Morrison - Have I Told You Lately?
  • The Original Five Blind Boys of Alabama (not to be confused with the Unoriginal Five Blind Boys of Alabama, seriously they're better) -This May Be the Last Time
1-2 pm Rock and Roll has had something to say about Christmas since the 50's.  Former disc jockeys Toby Bray and Michael Butscher came by and spun the following tunes.
  • Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid
  • Father Christmas - The Kinks
  • Wonderful Christmas Time - Paul McCartney
  • Step Into Christmas - Elton John
  • Happy Christmas (War Is Over) - John Lennon
  • Santa Claus Is Coming to Town - Chicago
  • White Christmas - America
  • The Christmas Song - Linda Ronstadt
  • The First Noel - Air Supply
  • Merry Christmas, Baby - Southern Culture on the Skids
  • Merry Christmas - The Ramones
  • Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses
  • Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley
  • Please Come Home for Christmas - The Eagles
  • River - Joni Mitchell
  • Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Bruce Springsteen
  • Little Drummer Boy - Bing Crosby & David Bowie
  • Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Shawn Colvin
  • The Christmas Song - Nat "King" Cole
  • Jingle Bells - Frank Sinatra
  • Let It Snow - Dean Martin
  • It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas - Perry Como
  • Santa Claus is Coming to Town - The Jackson Five
  • Christmas Isn't Christmas (Without the One You Love) - The O'Jays
  • This Christmas - Donny Hathaway
  • L'il Saint Nick - The Beach Boys
Thursday, December 20th
12-1 pm Ed Polochick is a busy guy.  He's conductor of the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra in Nebraska, Artistic Director of the Choral Artists of Baltimore, and Director of Choral Activities at the Peabody Conservatory.  He was good enough to find time to come in and share his favorite classical and choral Christmas Music.
  • The First Noel, from the album Crystal Carols by Dean Shostak
  • The Holy Boy by John Ireland, from the album A Christmas Garland
  • Adeste Fideles, by Liszt, performed by Walker Marshall
  • Many Moods of Christmas, Suite 2, by Robert Shaw, from the album Festival of Carols
  • Candlelight Carol, from the album Christmas Night: Carols of the Nativity, conducted by John Rutter
  • Christmas Night, Christmas Night: Carols of the Nativity, conducted by John Rutter
  • Many Moods of Christmas, Suite 3, by Robert Shaw, from the album Festival of Carols
  • Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah, performed by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Concert Artists Symphonic Chorale
  • Worthy is the Lamb That Was Slain performed by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Concert Artists Symphonic Chorale
1-2 pm Hopefully you'll have some time to relax during the holidays.  And if you do, maybe you'll want to go to the movies...but what to see?  Never fear, we've brought together a great panel of film critics to tell you what to see.  We'll talk to Violet Glaze of the Baltimore City Paper, Mike Speir from Variety, and Michael Sragrow from the Baltimore Sun. We really hope you enjoy all of this music and special programming.  Happy Holidays! -Jessica, Justin, Marcus
July 23, 2007

07/23/07 Iraq, Iran, and Gee’s Bend

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First off today, Iraqi-born, Maryland-residing professor Adil Shamoo joins us to discuss where he would like to see US foreign policy in Iraq go from here.  Here's his July 16 editorial from The Sun: "America Should Leave Iraq, But For the Right Reasons."

Then, we'll hear about the long history of struggle for democracy within Iran.  Our guests are Janet Afary and Kevin B. Anderson.  They are husband and wife, and co-authors of both the book Foucault and The Iranian Revolution: Gender and The Seductions of Islamism and the recent article in The Nation magazine "The Iranian Impasse."

Lastly, anyone been to The Walters Museum lately and seen The Gee's Bend exhibit?  Tune in to hear an interview with Louisiana Bendolph and Mary Lee Bendolph, two of the quilters from Gee's Bend, as well as Linda Day Clark, whose photographs from Gee's Bend make up an accompanying exhibit.

-Justin

 

June 22, 2007

06/25/07 1pm Camelia Entekhabifard

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Finished reading the articles for noon and looking for something else to read over the weekend?  Read the book that we'll be discussing in the second hour on Monday with author Camelia Entekhabifard.  It's called Camelia: Save Yourself By Telling the Truth, A Memoir of Iran. 

Camelia was born and raised in Tehran.  She has a pretty incredible story about being imprisoned there for her work as a journalist, and charming her way into an opportunity to flee the country after some horrible months in solitary confinement.

Now she lives in New York City and continues her work as a journalist around the world.  Just not in Iran.

-Justin

June 14, 2007

06/14/07 1 pm Watching America

Tomorrow, get ready for an hour talking about planning for the influx of people coming into Maryland because of Base Realingment and Closure with Lietenaunt Governor Anthony Brown. Scratch that. Elected officials are busy, and when your boss is the Governor and asks you to clear your schedule to come to a meeting, you listen! No harm, no foul. We're working to schedule another date soon. Good thing we had a special super secret show in the works!!

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WatchingAmerica.com is a website I try and check on a daily basis. It's a place where you can read articles from the foreign press about America. The people who run the website have dozens of articles translated each day from the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Russia, China, and more. In conversations with the founder of the website, William Kern, we thought that Watching America could translate into a radio special, too. So tomorrow we are putting some hurt on the phone bill at WYPR (which reminds me...are you a member yet?) and talking to foreign journalists around the world. We'll talk to:
  • Ahmad Khalidi, a co-editor of Mideast Mirror, a London-based daily, as well as the Editor-in-Chief of the quarterly Journal of Palestine Studies.
  • William Waack, a newscaster for O Globo, Brazil. He's spent multiple decades as a reporter, editor, and international correspondent for the Brazillian Press.
  • Andrei Sitov, the Washington Bureau Chied for the Itar-Tass news agency of Russia.
  • and Hugh Williamson, the Berlin correspondent for the Financial Times since 2001.
We'll be talking with them about how America is viewed by their audience and in their countries. What does the world think of our domestic debates over immigration? What does the world think of our scandals (federal prosecutor firings, Plamegate, etc.) Watchingamerica.com shows the foreign press writing about topics such as tensions between Iran and the U.S. (understandable; has consequences for the entire world) and Paris Hilton's trip to, and from, and back to jail (less understandable; of course I care, and desperately, but why do they?) Enjoy the show. It will be the first of many such programs on Watching America.

-Jessica

 I'm going to jump in here with a few quick words about this hour's show.  I just came out of the studio, where we recorded the interview that will be played at 1pm.  The conversation never came around to Paris Hilton or any of the recent political scandals, but it did cover a lot of very interesting ground.  To find out the details, you'll have to listen.  If you don't catch it at 1pm, just go to http://www.wypr.org/M_Steiner.html.  We'll have the audio up there as soon as possible.

We taped the show in advance in case we had any trouble with all of the international phone connections, and to better coordinate with schedules in so many time zones.  Since we won't be taking calls as it airs, we're really looking forward to some feedback right here!

-Justin