How the international community is responding to the Paris attacks, the effectiveness of police body cameras, Jessica Jackley's new book, 'Clay Water Brick.'
Counterterrorism experts weigh in on the US response to the Paris attacks
Repercussions from the Paris attacks dominated the news today.
In Turkey, for the G20 summit, President Obama spoke with reporters and described the status of the American-led effort to defeat the militant group known as ISIS or ISIL:
"The terrible events in Paris were obviously a terrible and sickening setback. Even as we grieve with our French friends, however, we can't lose sight that there has been progress being made."
On Sunday, France launched a dozen airstrikes against ISIS targets in Syria and today United States war planes attacked ISIS oil trucks in Syria. But beyond the military response, what should the U.S. and international community do to respond to the attacks?
Joining Take Two to discuss:
- , Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations
- , Future of War Senior Fellow at New America
ISIS v. Daesh: why it matters what term is used for the terrorist group
President Barack Obama on Monday referred to the group claiming responsibility for the Paris attacks as ISIL, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
World leaders have also called the group ISIS, the Islamic State, or the so-called Islamic state. If you heard France's President Francois Hollande speak over the weekend, you also heard him use the term Daesh.
"It's an acronym [in Arabic] that's been used fairly commonly for a while in the region by people on the ground who actually have to deal with the daily brunt of brutality from this terrorist organization," said
, who wrote about the term for the Boston Globe.
The term also carries an added layer of meaning, as it sounds similar to an Arabic word that means someone who has been defeated or trampled on, said
, a religious scholar based in Los Angeles and president of the Bayan Claremont Islamic Graduate School.
"It's a way to undermine the legitimacy and also not acknowledge any of the Islamic claims of this group," said Turk.
Poet laureate pens 'Nohemi, A Song for Paris' for Cal State Long Beach student killed in attacks
Hundreds of people gathered Sunday at Cal State Long Beach for a vigil to honor 23-year-old Nohemi Gonzalez, one of at least 129 people killed in the Paris terror attacks.
The CSULB student was spending a semester studying design near Paris. She was killed Friday while dining at a restaurant.
U.S. Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera wrote a poem dedicated to Gonzalez, which was recited at the vigil by Cal State University Chancellor Timothy White. You can hear the poem by clicking on the the blue audio player above.
Paris over Beirut: Exploring America’s case of selective grief
Just a day before terrorists set off a wave of deadly attacks across Paris, another city was reeling from a double suicide attack that killed 40: Beirut, Lebanon.
The group calling itself Islamic State would later claim responsibility for both attacks.
While the gruesome killings in Paris have been met with a global outpouring of sympathy, many took to social media over the weekend to criticize what they call a global prejudice. Some asked whether Arab lives matter less. Others accused the media of having a cultural bias.
Does America suffer from a case of selective grief?
Neil Malamuth is a professor of psychology at UCLA. He says the attack is a lesson in cultural identity.
“The extent to which we can identify with a people there determines our reactions emotionally and our concern to a large degree,” Malamuth says. “When we look at Lebanon, to many of us it seems much more of a foreign country with a far less clear picture of what’s going on than when we look at Paris.”
Malamuth says that, because of the frequent reports of violence that come out of the Middle East, Americans tend to “tune it out.”
“We’re not as aware of the individuals and don't have a sense of the complexities of who’s there, and, therefore, it doesn’t really register with us as much as it does with Paris,” Malamuth says.
The UCLA psychology professor adds that media consumers may also be more concerned because of the prevailing belief that “when something happens in Paris, it could equally happen in many cities in the United States.”
Mike Ananny teaches journalism at USC’s Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism. He says it’s rare for two similar events to happen in such different parts of the world at once. Last week’s attacks simply highlight the coverage chasm that would have been there regardless.
“I think one of the things that media often look for in storytelling and reporting is novelty. That’s one of the features of breaking news,” Annany says. “Is this likely to happen or is this not likely to happen, and is it new?”
Annany says a terror attack in Paris fits that criteria pretty easily.
Press the blue play button above to hear more about how the media covers tragedy.
Paris attacks: How the International School of Los Angeles is responding
Paris is more than 5,600 miles away from Southern California, but there is a strong sense of community among the French living here, thanks in part to the International School of Los Angeles.
Formerly known as Lycee International, the school has five campuses throughout the region. They are now faced with the challenge of how to respond to the terrorist attacks.
Michael Maniska, head of school, joins the show to tell more about what approach the school is taking.
Jessica Jackley talks road to co-founding Kiva in 'Clay Water Brick'
Many of people feel compelled to do give what they can when it comes to the world's is poverty, pain and suffering.
But what is the best way to really improve a person's lot in life? It's a question Jessica Jackley struggled with for years. In the end, she came up with an idea called Kiva, which allows people to lend money to others all over the world. To date, the site has enabled more than three-quarters of $1 billion worth of transactions.
Jackley has a new memoir out about her experiences titled "Clay Water Brick." She joined host Alex Cohen to tell more about how Kiva came about, and the instinct she's had from a very young age to help other people.
To listen to the full interview, click on the blue audio player above.
Tiki Farm celebrates 15 years of mug making with art exhibit
More than 80 years ago, a bar and restaurant called Don the Beachcomber opened up in Hollywood. It featured tropical decor, Polynesian fare and fruity rum drinks in special mugs.
The Tiki culture has persevered and thrived all these years — and so have those fanciful flagons.
Holden Westland is the founder of Tiki Farm, which is dedicated to producing high quality tiki mugs. This month, Tiki Farm is celebrating its 15th anniversary with an exhibition at La Luz De Jesus Gallery in L.A. Westland joined the show to tell more.
To listen to the full interview, click on the blue audio player above.