Alabama tornado death toll continues to rise. Syria: should we intervene? 19th anniversary of the L.A. Riots. Should circumcision be legislated? This time, it’s personal - when people's personal lives are brought into the workplace.
Alabama tornado death toll continues to rise
Yesterday, just after 5pm local time, a mile-wide tornado ripped through the South, cutting a wide swath through Alabama and causing damage in Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia and Virginia. In Alabama whole neighborhoods and towns have been flattened and a massive search and rescue effort is currently underway. The death toll is now over 150 and emergency management officials say they expect it to rise as they get a clearer picture of the devastation caused by the massive twister. The President will visit Alabama tomorrow to survey the ravaged cities and town, but today we’ll bring you the latest on the recovery efforts and eyewitness account from Alabamians.
Guests:
David Armstrong, history teacher at Sparkman 9th Grade School in Harvest, AL
Christopher England, Director of Tide TV, Crimson Tide Productions at University of Alabama
4-27-11 Tornado Tuscaloosa, Al from Crimson Tide Productions on Vimeo.
Syria: should we intervene?
The violence in Syria has continued this week -- coming after last Friday's spike that saw more than 100 people killed. The government of Bashar Al-Asad is cracking down on protestors in a number of towns throughout the country. According to witnesses, Syrian forces have detained hundreds in raids -- in the last few days alone. Leaders at both the European Union and the United Nations will meet on Friday to debate options for the region. How should NATO and the US in particular respond to the growing violence in Syria? Should the U.S. recall its Ambassador in Damascus? Would sanctions have any effect? What standard do we apply for intervention given our current involvement in the conflict in Libya?
Guest:
Jennifer Windsor, Associate Dean of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
Danielle Pletka, Vice President for foreign and defense policy studies, American Enterprise Institute
19th anniversary of the L.A. Riots
On April 29th, 1992, Los Angeles erupted in riots. Sparked by anger after four white police officers were acquitted for the beating of black motorist Rodney King, thousands wreaked havoc on the city for six days. Widespread looting, arson, assault and murder left 53 people dead, thousands injured and over $1 billion in property damage. Several members of the KPCC news team were there to cover the story, a defining event for many journalists. Nick Roman, Frank Stoltze and Kitty Felde worked for KLON at the time (now KKJZ). Cheryl Devall was an NPR reporter in Chicago, who arrived the day after the riots began. Nearly 20 years later, they share their memories of those volatile days and reflect on what it taught them about journalism and the region we call home. Where were you during the riots of ’92? How did the experience change your view of Los Angeles? How far have we come from those days of racially motivated violence, and could it happen again?
Guests:
Nick Roman, KPCC Managing Editor
Cheryl Devall, KPCC Senior News Editor
Frank Stoltze, KPCC reporter
Kitty Felde, KPCC Washington Correspondent
Should circumcision be legislated?
It’s an accepted religious practice for followers of both Judaism and Islam, and during the 20th century, it was routine for all male babies born in American hospitals to be circumcised. But the battle over whether circumcision is beneficial or harmful has long raged in the medical and parenting communities. Many modern parents, concerned about the health risks raised by anti-circumcision groups, have chosen to leave their baby boys as they were born. Now, a San Francisco group wants to make the practice illegal. They’ve gathered over 12 thousand signatures, more than enough to put a measure on the November ballot that would ban performing circumcision on males under 18 in that city. The measure seeks to amend an existing law that prohibits genital mutilation on females by including protection for males as well. Those who violate the law would face a fine of up to $1000, and up to a year in jail. Religious groups have spoken out against the proposed law, calling it unconstitutional because it violates religious freedom. Should parents be penalized for having their sons circumcised? Do you consider the practice a religious rite, or a form of mutilation? Should we legislate against an act that many see as a private, family decision?
Guest:
Jonathon Conte, member of the Bay Area Intactivists Group and spokesperson for the San Francisco Male Genital Mutilation Bill
Eugene Volokh, Professor of Law at the UCLA School of Law
This time, it’s personal
For anyone who is familiar with an office environment, it goes without saying that often times the emotions of oneself and others can and will bleed into the work itself. In her new book It’s Always Personal: Emotion in the New Workplace, Anne Kreamer examines the social construct of the modern office through the perspective of personal emotions and relationships. Kreamer administered national polls of working, adult men and women and gleaned some interesting results: 75% of Americans experience frustration while in the workplace, crying on the job does not necessarily mean that a person dislikes their job and 88% of employees look to human sensitivity as a positive attribute to have in the office. The author also determined that there are four basic emotional types, and your particular status will influence how you feel, how you work and how you interact with your colleagues. What emotional type are you? How can you harness your emotions for the betterment of yourself and your office? What types of emotional displays have you made or seen while working?
Guest:
Anne Kreamer, author of It’s Always Personal: Emotion in the New Workplace