Rolling Stone put Boston bomber suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on its cover, do you think that's right? Next, a new bill could bring digital license plates to California, but what about privacy concerns? Then, a recent survey found that bisexuals tend to stay in the "closet." Why do you think that is? And Nasser Al-Awlaki wants answers in drone strike killing of American grandson in Yemen. We'll talk about what that means and we'll discuss whether more religious freedom in the military could actually threaten military order. Last, it's wedding season so what are you getting your friends as gifts?
Is Rolling Stone giving Dzhokhar Tsarnaev the rock star treatment? (Poll)
Rolling Stone's new cover story about the alleged Boston bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is causing some outrage over its use of the photo, which was snapped by Tsarnaev himself.
It's a somewhat glamorous image of a scruffy teenager with long curly hair, T-shirt and a soft gaze. It's the kind of photo that doesn't seem out of place on the cover of Rolling Stone except that this image is accompanied by the caption "The Bomber."
Critics allege that it makes the alleged terrorist look like a rock star and is adding to his celebrity. But the same image has also been featured in news stories on the New York Times and the Washington Post. The magazine argues that it's simply using a photo of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to illustrate an article about Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the same way any magazine or newspaper would. CVS, Walgreens and local retailers have pledged to not sell copies of the latest issue.
Does putting the alleged terrorist on the cover elevate him to the level of celebrity? Are we uncomfortable seeing the image of Tsarnaev because he doesn't fit our idea of a "terrorist"? Should the magazine have chosen a less flattering photo? How does this compare to when Rolling Stone put Charles Manson on its cover in 1970?
KPCC's online polls are not scientific surveys of local or national opinion. Rather, they are designed as a way for our audience members to engage with each other and share their views. Let us know what you think on our Facebook page, facebook.com/kpcc, or in the comments below.
Guest:
David Folkenflik, NPR media correspondent
Bill paves the way for digital license plates in California
Technology has made a lot of things work a lot better, faster, easier. If Senate Bill 806 gets the blessings of Sacramento lawmakers, California license plates might also get a digital upgrade.The bill lets the Department of Motor Vehicles start a digital license plates program for as many as 160,000 cars. A San Francisco-based startup, Smart Plate Mobile, would be providing the technology. The pilot program won’t cost the state any money and could save DMV millions of dollars a year in postage for renewals.
Privacy advocates are worried that the program will lead to warrantless surveillance by the government. So how would the program work? Are the privacy concerns overblown?
Guests:
Jim Lites, a patner at Schott and Lites. He is the legislature representative for Smart Plate Mobile, which would provide the technology for this proposed DMV program.
Pam Dixon, Executive Director at the World Privacy Forum - a non-profit organization focused on privacy issues based in San Diego
Bisexuals hesitant to let their Pride flag fly
With massive legal and political victories recently for gays and lesbians, American society seems much more accepting of homosexual orientation. Yet, while the queer pride movement was meant to advocate on behalf of myriad sexualities, one particular group is still very much "closeted," according to new research.
A Pew survey of LGBT Americans found only 28 percent of bisexuals had revealed the fact to important people in their life. That's compared to 77 percent of gay men and 71 percent of lesbians who said the important people in their life were aware of their orientation. "Furthermore, 65 percent of bisexual men say that only a few or none of the important people in their life know they are bisexual," the authors wrote.
What makes the survey results especially surprising are the population numbers for bisexuals. A 2011 survey by UCLA's Williams Institute found of the 3.5 percent of American adults are gay, lesbian, or bisexual - fully 1.8 percent of those American adults identify as bisexual.
With further social recognition of homosexuality, will bisexuals gain more acceptance?
Guests:
Allen Rosenthal, senior research at the human sexuality lab at Northwestern University. He is lead author on a 2011 study on bisexual men that was widely covered in the press
Denise Penn, a director at The American Institute of Bisexuality and a clinical social worker in Orange County
Nasser Al-Awlaki wants answers in drone strike killing of American grandson in Yemen
On the eve of his court case commencing against the U.S. government, Nasser al-Awlaki makes an emotional plea in today's New York Times. He explains why he's suing over the drone strike killing of his son, Anwar, and his grandson, Abdulrahman. The former was a confessed al Qaeda leader killed in a targeted strike in September 2011. The latter was 16 years old when he was allegedly collateral damage in a drone strike in October 2011. Both were American citizens at the time, on Yemeni soil.
The ACLU, co-counsel for al-Awlaki, argues the killing violated the Fifth Amendment's guarantee of due process. The Obama administration has defended the strikes. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney has said, "[Such strikes] are necessary to mitigate ongoing, actual threats, to stop plots, to prevent further attacks and, again, to save American lives."
The Administration says the strikes are legal and ethical. What are the merits of this lawsuit? Would the US government have a better case if it had conducted judicial review prior to the drone strikes?
Guests:
Brett Max Kaufman, National Security Fellow in the ACLU's National Security Project, American Civil Liberties Union
Marc Thiessen, Fellow, American Enterprise Institute; he specializes in counter-terrorism; Former speechwriter for then President George W. Bush and then Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Will increased religious freedom in the military threaten military order?
Congressman John Fleming (R-LA) has proposed an amendment concerning religious rights in the military to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2014 (NDAA). His amendment, section 530, passed through the House Armed Services Committee as well as the House on June 14. Alongside Congressman Fleming’s amendment is a Senate amendment sponsored by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) that is awaiting a Senate vote.
Section 530 wants changed “The Armed Forces shall accommodate the beliefs” to “Except in cases of military necessity, the Armed Forces shall accommodate the beliefs, actions, and speech” and change restrictions to religious freedom in the military from “that threaten” to “that actually harm.” This comes after a report by the Family Research Council that states religious freedom is being threatened, citing incidents where veterans were disinvited to speak at national events due to their beliefs in Christianity, Islam, Catholicism and Judaism.
In addition, the report mentions instances where the promotion of religious material was banned and Evangelical Christians and Catholics were labeled extremists. The White House issued a statement that the Administration “strongly objects” this amendment because “by limiting the discretion of commanders to address potentially problematic speech and actions within their units, this provision would have a significant adverse effect on good order, discipline, morale, and mission accomplishment.” Other groups such as the ACLU believe religious freedom is already protected in first amendment rights and this study by the Family Research Council is exaggerated.
Is religious freedom in the military being threatened? What would happen if this amendment passes? Is military order more important than religious freedom?
Guests:
Congressman John Fleming, M.D., Louisiana 4th Congressional District U.S. Representative (R-LA), Congressman Fleming proposed amendment section 530.
Cedric Leighton, founder and president of Cedric Leighton Associates, a risk and leadership management consultancy. He is also a retired colonel in the US Air Force, former Director for Training of the National Security Agency and a former Commander of 316th training squadron.
A blender...or cash: What are you getting your friends as a wedding gift?
As wedding season kicks into high gear there is the topic that everyone loves to hate – the wedding gift. With so many couples sharing a home for years before walking down the aisle it may not make sense any more to buy your friends a blender. Some couples are looking for new, and controversial, ways of requesting gifts such as registering for honeymoon activities, a Playstation, or even asking for cash. In fact, in many cultures, cash is the required gift.
Are the wedding gift rules changing? As a guest, do you find these new gift options creative or crass? What's your least favorite new wedding trend?
Guest:
Jamie Miles, online producer for The Knot
Route 66 music tour kicks off as USC musicians criss-cross the country
Bruce Forman, a jazz guitarist and educator, is hitting the streets for a unique music festival. Forman, along with musicians affiliated with the University of Southern California, will perform along several venues on the iconic Route 66. They will perform everything from jazz to retro swing ensembles. The tour is made possible by the USC Thornton School of Music’s contemporary music division and with the knowledge of studio/jazz instructor Bruce Forman. Forman is no stranger to the route, he toured Route 66 three times with his band, Cow Bop. The festival is being billed as Music Licks on 66 and from July 19-30 expect to catch the musicians in concerts, and also impromptu street performances.
You can follow the tour on Twitter at
or their website.
Guest:
Bruce Forman, assistant professor of jazz guitar at USC’s Thornton School of Music