In the Aftermath: Rochester Unites -- 13 September 2001

(Music)

>> THIS IS A SPECIAL LIVE
PRESENTATION FROM WXXI PUBLIC
BROADCASTING AND THE
"ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE": "IN THE AFTERMATH,
ROCHESTER UNITES."
FOLLOWING TUESDAY'S BRUTAL
ATTACK, OUR NATION AND OUR
COMMUNITY RALLY TOGETHER.
WXXI TELEVISION, AM 1370, FM
91.5 AND FM 90.3, ALONG WITH
THE "ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE," PRESENT THIS FORUM
TO HAVE A COMMUNITY GATHER TO
MOURN OUR LOSSES, DISCUSS OUR
ANGER, AND FIND WAYS TO HELP
THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING SO
MUCH IN THIS TRAGEDY.
NOW LIVE FROM THE CALLAHAN
THEATER AT NAZARETH COLLEGE,
HERE ARE ELISSA MARRA AND BOB
SMITH.

>> Elissa Marra: GOOD EVENING
AND WELCOME TO THE CALLAHAN
THEATER AT NAZARETH COLLEGE.
I'M ELISSA MARRA OF WXXI.
I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN THIS
EVENING BY THANKING NAZARETH
COLLEGE FOR THE USE OF THIS
BEAUTIFUL THEATER AND FACILITY
FOR TONIGHT'S COMMUNITY FORUM
AND COMMUNITY MEETING:
"IN THE AFTERMATH: ROCHESTER
UNITES."
WELL, BOB, I REALLY WISH THAT
WE WERE ALL HOME LISTENING TO
A REGULAR OLD EDITION OF "1370
CONNECTION" OR JUST HOME
WATCHING A REGULAR OLD EDITION
OF "NEED TO KNOW" THIS
EVENING.
I WISH WE WERE GOING TO GET UP
IN THE MORNING AND LOOK AT THE
NEWSPAPER, "THE DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE," FOR BASEBALL
SCORES OR GOLF SCORES OR THE
UPCOMING FOOTBALL GAMES THIS
WEEKEND.

>> Bob Smith: I'M BOB SMITH
FROM "1370 CONNECTION" ON WXXI
AM 1370, AND UNFORTUNATELY THE
USUAL ROUTINE HAS BEEN
SUSPENDED BY EVENTS.
WE'RE HERE THIS EVENING
INSTEAD TO TRY AS A COMMUNITY
TO MAKE SOME SENSE OF THE
EVENTS OF THIS WEEK.
WE'RE HERE TO TALK HONESTLY,
TO SHARE OUR COUNSEL WITH
OTHERS, AND TO ASK OURSELVES,
AFTER WE HAVE GIVEN BLOOD,
AFTER WE HAVE MADE OUR
DONATIONS, ATTENDED SERVICES
AND VIGILS AND FUND-RAISERS
AND PRAYED, WHAT IS NEXT?
WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO?

>> Elissa Marra: THE ROCHESTER
COMMUNITY SO WANTS TO UNITE
AND MOBILIZE AND SUPPORT, AND
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO TALK
ABOUT TONIGHT.
WE WILL BE ON TELEVISION WITH
YOU UNTIL 9 O'CLOCK THIS
EVENING AND ON WXXI AM 1370,
FM 91.5 AND FM 90.3 IN
HOUGHTON.
THAT BROADCAST WILL BE WITH
YOU UNTIL 10 O'CLOCK TONIGHT.
THE BROADCAST IS ALSO STREAMED
ON THE INTERNET.
YOU CAN PICK IT UP AT wxxi.org
AND AT
democratandchronicle.com.
THAT'S THE WEB SITE OF THE
"DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE"
NEWSPAPER.
AND WE SO MUCH WANT TO THANK
THE "DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE"
FOR PARTNERING WITH US THIS
EVENING.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR
HELP.
NOW, TO HELP US THROUGH THE
EVENING, LET ME TURN TO MY
CO-HOST BOB SMITH OF AM 1370
"CONNECTION."
BOB, YOU HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR
THE PAST THREE DAYS JUST
TALKING AND EDUCATING US ABOUT
AND DISCUSSING WITH US THESE
ATTACKS ON NEW YORK AND ON
WASHINGTON.

>> Bob Smith: AND TODAY HAS
BEEN A VERY BUSY DAY,
OF COURSE AN ACTIVE DAY IN
WASHINGTON WHERE SECRETARY OF
STATE COLIN POWELL SAID HE WAS
NAMING OSAMA BIN LADEN AS THE
PRIME SUSPECT, THE PRIME MOVER
BEHIND THIS TRAGEDY, THE
MASTERMIND THEREOF.
OF COURSE THOSE DIRECTLY
RESPONSIBLE AND IMMEDIATELY
RESPONSIBLE HAVE LARGELY BEEN
IDENTIFIED NOW BY NAME.
IT IS SAID PERHAPS SOME EIGHT
TO TEN ARE STILL AT LARGE
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THEY'RE BEING SOUGHT BY
FEDERAL AUTHORITIES RIGHT NOW.
MEANWHILE, THERE'S BEEN QUITE
A BIT OF ACTIVITY.
WHILE AIR TRAVEL IN A LIMITED
WAY RESUMED ACROSS THE
COUNTRY, NEW YORK'S THREE
MAJOR AIRPORTS IN THE
METROPOLITAN REGION WERE SHUT
DOWN ONCE AGAIN AND GROUNDED
FOR WHAT WAS CALLED AN "F.B.I.
ACTIVITY."
MEANWHILE, THERE ARE SOME
HOPEFUL SIGNS: $20 BILLION IN
AID HEADED FOR NEW YORK STATE,
THAT A PLEDGE MADE BY
PRESIDENT BUSH TODAY TO OUR
TWO SENATORS, CHUCK SCHUMER
AND HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON,
DURING AN AFTERNOON MEETING AT
THE WHITE HOUSE.
ANOTHER $1 BILLION HAS BEEN
APPROPRIATED BY THE NEW YORK
STATE LEGISLATURE BY UNANIMOUS
VOTE AFTER HEARING A RARE
ADDRESS BY GOVERNOR PATAKI
DURING AN EQUALLY RARE JOINT
SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE,
OUTSIDE THE NORMAL CONTEXT OF
THE STATE OF THE STATE
MESSAGE.
THAT'S WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON
TODAY ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY
AS WE SLOWLY TRY TO RETURN TO
SOME SEMBLANCE OF A NORMAL
LIFE.
THIS IS AN INTERACTIVE PROGRAM
AND THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT
WAYS TO PARTICIPATE.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COME AND
JOIN IN.
THERE'S STILL, FIRST OF ALL,
PLENTY OF TIME TO COME TO
NAZARETH COLLEGE ON EAST
AVENUE IN ROCHESTER AND
PARTICIPATE DIRECTLY RIGHT
HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.
WE INVITE YOU.

>> Elissa Marra: AND YOU CAN
ALSO PARTICIPATE BY TELEPHONE
THIS EVENING.
YOU CAN CALL AT 263-9994.
OR E-MAIL US AND GET ON OUR
DISCUSSION BOARDS.
THE BEST WAY TO DO THIS WOULD
BE TO GO TO wxxi.org.
YOU'LL SEE THE "IN THE
AFTERMATH: ROCHESTER UNITES"
LOGO RIGHT THERE.
YOU CAN CLICK RIGHT IN AND
JOIN OUR DISCUSSION BOARDS.
WE'LL BE TAKING SOME OF THE
QUESTIONS THAT DO COME IN ON
THOSE DISCUSSION BOARDS
THROUGHOUT THE EVENING.
FOR THOSE LISTENING ON RADIO
OR THE AUDIO STREAM OR ON
TELEVISION, YOU WILL BE
ASSURED THAT WE WILL BE ABLE
TO BREAK INTO THIS BROADCAST
WITH ANY BREAKING NEWS THIS
EVENING.
YOU WON'T MISS ANYTHING BY
PARTICIPATING WITH US THIS
EVENING.
WE WILL INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM
SHOULD THERE BE ANY BREAKING
NEWS.
TONIGHT, AT THIS POINT, WE
WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR
DISTINGUISHED PANEL OF GUESTS
THAT REALLY ON VERY, VERY
SHORT NOTICE CAME TO BE WITH
US THIS EVENING.
SO LET'S START WITH KAREN
MAGNUSSEN, WHO IS THE EDITOR
AND VICE-PRESIDENT OF NEWS AT
"THE DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
KAREN, THANK YOU FOR COMING.
"THE DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE"
IS OUR PARTNER IN THIS EVENT,
AND I CAN TELL YOU, AND YOU
CAN PROBABLY TELL FROM THE
COVERAGE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO
WORK AT "THE DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE" HAVE NOT SPENT VERY
MUCH TIME AT HOME THIS WEEK
WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
THEY HAVE BEEN REALLY, REALLY
WORKING HARD.
SO WE THANK YOU FOR COMING.
NEXT WE HAVE BISHOP MATTHEW
CLARK OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE
OF ROCHESTER.
THANKS FOR COMING AND BEING
HERE.
DENNIS FOLEY, A PSYCHOLOGIST
AT STRONG BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
IS WITH US THIS EVENING.
AS WELL, RABBI LAURENCE KOTOK
OF TEMPLE B'RITH KODESH.
THANK YOU FOR COMING.
ALSO TONIGHT, NANCY
CHESTERTON, THE ASSISTANT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
GREATER ROCHESTER CHAPTER OF
THE AMERICAN RED CROSS, IS
HERE WITH US THIS EVENING.
BISHOP JACK McKELVEY IS HERE
FROM THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE,
AND ALSO MUHAMMAD SHAFIQ.
HE IS THE IMAM AND EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE ISLAMIC CENTER
OF ROCHESTER.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING
AND BEING WITH US THIS
EVENING.

>> Bob Smith: AND WE'RE ALSO
DELIGHTED TO WELCOME ANOTHER
DISTINGUISHED GROUP OF PEOPLE
TO HELP YOU WITH ANY QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE,
PROVIDE ANSWERS TO MANY OF
YOUR QUESTIONS.
LET'S INTRODUCE THEM TO YOU
NOW.
THEY INCLUDE LYNNE BOUCHER,
WHO IS DIRECTOR OF CAMPUS
MINISTRY AT NAZARETH COLLEGE;
YUSUF SHARIF, THE IMAM OF THE
ISLAMIC DA'WAH COMMUNITY
CENTER IN ROCHESTER.
WE ALSO HAVE WITH US RICHARD
FREY, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN
THE DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL
JUSTICE FOR THE STATE
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF
BROCKPORT.
JOHN GLAZER, DIRECTOR OF CHILD
AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY
PROGRAMS AT STRONG MEDICAL
CENTER.
JEFF MAGERS, ASSISTANT
PROFESSOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
CRIMINAL JUSTICE AT THE STATE
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE AT
BROCKPORT.
TERRY SLAYBAUGH IS THE
DIRECTOR OF THE GREATER
ROCHESTER INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT.
MAJOR MARK FISCHER IS TROOP
COMMANDER OF TROOP "E" OF THE
NEW YORK STATE POLICE IN THE
ROCHESTER REGION.
WE THANK THEM ALL FOR BEING
WITH US AND BEING AT YOUR
SERVICE TO HELP YOU AND TO
ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

>> Elissa Marra: NOW, WE'RE
JUST GOING TO GET THE
DISCUSSION GOING WITH A COUPLE
OF QUESTIONS.
WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ASKED
QUESTIONS ON CARDS ALREADY.
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO COME TO
THE MICROPHONE, YOU CAN
CERTAINLY WRITE YOUR QUESTION
DOWN ON A CARD AND PASS IT TO
SOMEONE IN OUR AUDIENCE.
WYATT DOREMUS IS GOING TO READ
THOSE QUESTIONS FOR YOU, SO
PASS IT TO ONE OF THE
WXXI PEOPLE THAT ARE AROUND
FOR YOU THIS EVENING.
ALSO, IF YOU WANT TO WRITE
QUESTIONS DOWN ON CARDS AND
PASS THEM TO THE PEOPLE THAT
ARE TAKING THE CARDS, THEY'LL
GET YOU LINED UP AT THE
MICROPHONE SO THAT YOU CAN ASK
YOUR QUESTION FROM THE
AUDIENCE THIS EVENING.
I'M GOING TO GET US STARTED
WITH, ONE OF THE MORE
DIFFICULT TOPICS THAT WE HAVE
BEEN HEARING ABOUT THIS WEEK.
A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN THINKING
HOPEFUL THOUGHTS WITH THE
RESCUE OF THE FIREFIGHTERS
TODAY, BUT A LOT OF US HAVE
BEEN THINKING ABOUT THE
INVESTIGATION INTO WHO IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE ATTACKS
AND THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH
THE INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN
ONGOING, AND THE WORD
"RETALIATION" HAS COME UP
AGAIN AND AGAIN.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO TALK ABOUT
THIS, BUT WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT
SPOTTY INCIDENTS OF HARASSMENT
AROUND THE COUNTRY AGAINST
ARAB-AMERICANS AND AGAINST
MUSLIMS.
WE WENT TO THE ISLAMIC CENTER
YESTERDAY AND IT WAS PRETTY
MUCH EMPTY.
IT'S USUALLY A BEEHIVE OF
ACTIVITY.
THERE WERE LAW ENFORCEMENT
PEOPLE IN THE PARKING LOT.
SO I JUST HAVE TO ASK YOU,
Dr. SHAFIQ, CLEARLY YOU'RE
WORRIED AND I WOULD LIKE TO
KNOW IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT
WHAT MAY HAPPEN IN THIS
COMMUNITY AND IF YOU HAVE HAD
ANYTHING HAPPEN IN TERMS OF
THREATS OR HATEFUL ACTIVITIES
TOWARD YOU IN THIS COMMUNITY?

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ALL
THOSE WHO WORK AT WXXI AND ALL
OF YOU WHO ARE HERE.
WE ARE ALL IN GRIEF AND IN
SHOCK.
AS THE LEADER OF THE ISLAM
COMMUNITY AND THE IMAM OF THE
ISLAMIC CENTER OF ROCHESTER
AND AS A CITIZEN OF THIS
COUNTRY, I AM FAINT; I AM
SHOCKED; I AM GRIEVED OF WHAT
HAPPENED TO OUR GREAT COUNTRY
ON SEPTEMBER 11th.
THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE BURIED,
WHO DIED, WHO GOT INJURED,
THEY ARE MY BROTHERS AND
SISTERS.
WE ARE ALL CHILDREN OF ADAM
AND EVE AND CITIZENS OF THIS
COUNTRY.
THEY ARE MY BROTHERS AND
SISTERS, LIKE MY REAL BROTHERS
AND SISTERS.
I MOURN; I AM PAINED; I AM
SHOCKED LIKE EVERYONE.
THE WHOLE OF ISLAM AND THEIR
LOVED ONE ARE SHOCKED, EVERY
ONE OF US ALL TOGETHER.
BUT I HAVE A DOUBLE SHOCK.
NOT ONLY THAT MY BROTHERS AND
SISTERS HAVE BEEN KILLED AT
THE WORLD TRADE CENTER, AT
WASHINGTON, D.C., BUT ANOTHER
SHOCK, ANOTHER PAIN FOR ME IS
THAT IN SPITE OF THAT, THAT
I'M GRIEVING WITH YOU, THAT MY
HEART IS WITH EVERY ONE OF
YOU, EVEN SOME PEOPLE PINPOINT
UPON ME.
WHEN THEY HEAR MY NAME,
MUHAMMAD SHAFIQ, THEY LOOK AT
ME SOMETHING LIKE I'M
DIFFERENT, NOT AMERICAN.
I WANT TO SHARE THIS TODAY,
AND I SHARED IT WITH ANOTHER
GATHERING ALSO.
YESTERDAY MY DAUGHTER DID NOT
GO TO WORK AND THIS MORNING
SHE WAS NOT GOING AGAIN
BECAUSE YESTERDAY AND TUESDAY
WHEN THIS HAPPENED, SHE SAID,
"WHEN I WAS SERVING THE
HOSPITAL, I FELT THAT PEOPLE
ARE LOOKING AT ME."
THIS IS A MUSLIM, TOO.
AND TODAY WHEN I SAID TO HER,
"PLEASE DON'T WEAR A SCARF AND
GO TO WORK,"
SHE CRIED AND SHE WEPT.
"HOW SHOULD I NOT AND WHY
SHOULD I NOT WEAR MY SCARF?"
I THANK ALL THE CLERGY, ALL
THE GOOD PEOPLE WHO CALLED
TODAY.
I HAD 16 CALLS FROM ALL
DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS GROUPS,
ALL OVER, NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE
WHO HAVE VISITED THE CENTER
BUT DIFFERENT SUPPORT.
WE HAVE A VERY GOOD COMMUNITY
HERE, AND WE ARE WORKING VERY
HARD TO STRENGTHEN THE
INTERFAITH ACTIVITY, BUT IN
SPITE OF THAT, THERE ARE SOME
PEOPLE WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND
AND WHO PINPOINT AND TARGET
PEOPLE.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW UP
BY ASKING ALL OF YOU WITHIN
THE VARIOUS FAITH COMMUNITIES,
IF YOU ARE FINDING THE KIND OF
ANGUISH AND THE KIND OF ALSO
INDECISION AS PEOPLE COME TO
TERMS WITH WHAT THE
APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO THIS
SHOULD BE BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN
-- IT'S BEEN DEEPLY DEBATED AT
THIS POINT: DO WE RETALIATE?
DO WE TURN THE OTHER CHEEK, AS
THE GOSPELS HAVE OFTEN
COUNSELED US?
WHAT DO WE DO?
DO YOU FIND YOUR RESPECTIVE
COMMUNITIES ARE STRUGGLING
WITH THIS RIGHT NOW?

>> MOST ASSUREDLY THEY ARE.
I THINK THERE'S A SENSE IN
WHICH I'M HAPPY THEY ARE AND
I'M HAPPY THAT WE'VE GOT THE
TIME TO THINK AND FEEL AND
EXPERIENCE WHAT'S GOING ON
BECAUSE OUR IMMEDIATE
REACTIONS PROBABLY WILL NOT BE
OUR BEST REACTIONS, AND TO THE
EXTENT THAT IT TAKES AWHILE
FOR THIS TO WORK INTO US AND
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
CONSIDER THE OPTIONS THAT ARE
BEFORE US, PERHAPS WE'LL MAKE
SOME WISE DECISIONS AND NOT
SOME SNAP DECISIONS THAT WE
WILL REGRET.

>> I WOULD JUST ALSO ADD THAT
THE TIME IS TOO SHORT.
I DON'T THINK THE MAGNITUDE OF
ALL HAS REALLY SET INTO OUR
HEARTS, OUR SOULS.
I THINK WE'RE OPERATING ALL IN
A KIND OF SENSE OF SHOCK AND
OF FUZZINESS, AND WE HAVE TO
BE AWARE OF THAT.
I BELIEVE THAT THERE WILL BE
PEOPLE WHO WILL TRY AND
RESOLVE SITUATIONS QUICKLY,
AND I THINK THEY'LL MAKE A
TERRIBLE MISTAKE.
I THINK THAT ALL OF US,
CERTAINLY IN MY COMMUNITY AND
IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE
HAVE INTERACTED WITH -- AND WE
HAVE INTERACTED WITH ALL THE
FAITH COMMUNITIES AND GENERAL
COMMUNITY THIS PAST WEEK,
DURING A MEMORIAL SERVICE THIS
PAST TUESDAY EVENING -- PEOPLE
ARE WALKING AROUND IN A DAZE,
AND I THINK WE HAVE TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT.
I ALSO THINK IT'S MUCH TOO
EARLY FOR US TO EVEN THINK
ABOUT EITHER SOLUTIONS OR END
POINTS AT THIS TIME.

>> I WOULD SAY MY PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE HAS ENGAGED MY OWN
SPIRIT AND THE PEOPLE I HAVE
TALKED TO, MORE AT THE LEVEL
OF JUST TRYING TO ABSORB THIS
PERSONALLY, AND I FIND THAT IN
MY OWN LIFE, AND AS BEST I CAN
INTUIT IT IN THE LIVES OF
OTHERS, PEOPLE ARE AWARE THAT
EVERY ONE OF US NEEDS SOME
KIND OF HEALING AND PEACE AND
RECONCILIATION OF THIS
HORRIBLE EVENT INSIDE OUR OWN
HEARTS.
BUT ALSO I FIND PEOPLE
WRESTLING WITH WHAT WOULD HAVE
BEEN A BEAUTIFUL, DEEP DESIRE
TO BE OF SERVICE TO OTHERS.
SO THAT'S WHERE I'M FINDING IT
RIGHT NOW.
I CAN'T HELP THINKING IN LIGHT
OF YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE
6:30 MASS AT OUR CATHEDRAL
THIS MORNING, AT WHICH I
PRESIDED.
BY THE SHEER ASSIGNMENT OF OUR
READINGS, WHICH WOULD HAVE
BEEN OUR READING UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES, OUR GOSPEL
TODAY WAS "DO GOOD TO THOSE
WHO HURT YOU.
DO NOT RETURN VIOLENCE FOR
VIOLENCE AND HATRED FOR
HATRED; RATHER GO BEYOND THAT
AND RESPOND IN LOVE."
WELL, I MEAN I KNOW THAT THE
81 OF US OR 90 OF US WHO WERE
THERE ALL DAY LONG HAVE BEEN
TRYING TO COME TO GRIPS WITH
THAT.
IT'S NOT EASY.
SO TO ADD TO MY FRIENDS'
COMMENTS, I HOPE THAT ALL OF
US ARE CAREFUL AND THOUGHTFUL
AND RESPONSIVE TO THIS WHEN
THINGS HAVE SETTLED AND WE CAN
SPEAK, YOU KNOW, EXPRESS OUR
DEEPEST VALUES AND COMMONALTY.
BUT IT'S A GREAT CHALLENGE; IT
REALLY IS.

>> Elissa Marra: EVEN AS YOU
SPEAK WITH GENTLE WORDS, WE
HAVE THE WORD "WAR" GOING OUT
OVER THE AIRWAVES ALL THE
TIME.
PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT
RETALIATION; CONGRESS IS
TALKING ABOUT RETALIATION IN A
VERY UNITED WAY.
I GUESS I WOULD LIKE TO MAYBE
HEAR FROM YOU, KAREN, BECAUSE
YOU TRY TO COVER THIS AT "THE
DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE" AS
OBJECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE.
WE'RE LISTENING TO WORDS LIKE
THIS AND THE WORDS OF
Dr. SHAFIQ'S, AND THEN WE'RE
LISTENING TO THE LAWMAKERS AND
OFFICIALS IN THE COUNTRY
SAYING SOMETHING VERY
DIFFERENT.
CAN YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> I THINK IT'S OUR JOB AS A
NEWSPAPER TO REALLY REFLECT
THOSE MANY VOICES AND THOSE
MANY VIEWS, BOTH IN STORIES AS
WE'RE COVERING WHAT THE
PRESIDENT HAS TO SAY AND WHAT
OUR OTHER LEADERS HAVE TO SAY
AND ALSO WHAT REGULAR CITIZENS
HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS, BUT
ALSO IN OUR EDITORIAL PAGES
THROUGH LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
AND ESSAYS FROM PEOPLE WHO
HAVE EITHER SENT THINGS IN
BECAUSE THEY FELT SO COMPELLED
TO SHARE OR WE HAVE INVITED
THEM TO COMMENT FOR OUR
READERS.
I THINK THAT'S A CATHARSIS FOR
PEOPLE, TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP
AND SHARE HOW THEY'RE FEELING,
WHETHER THEY'RE VERY ANGRY OR
WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO
APPEAL FOR PEACE AND CALM.
A LEAD LETTER TO THE EDITOR IN
TODAY'S NEWSPAPER, FOR
EXAMPLE, WAS BY A WRITER WHO
WAS MOVED BY THE SIGN OF
PATRIOTISM, A SMALL FLAG THAT
A WOMAN WAS FLYING IN SPITE OF
ALL THE CHAOS THAT WAS
HAPPENING ON TUESDAY, AND IT
WAS A SYMBOL SHOWING THAT
DESPITE ALL OF THIS, OUR FLAG
WAS STILL THERE.
THAT I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT
WE SHOULD ALSO NOT FORGET,
THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE SHARING AND COMING TO
A POINT OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT
WE LOVE THIS GREAT COUNTRY AS
WELL AS TALKING ABOUT THE
THINGS THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT
MORE DIFFICULT TO COMPREHEND.

>> Bob Smith: IN THIS PROGRAM,
"IN THE AFTERMATH: ROCHESTER
UNITES," WE OF COURSE INVITE
YOUR DIRECT PARTICIPATION.
IT'S AS EASY AS PICKING UP
YOUR TELEPHONE AND DIALING US
UP AT 263-9994.
THE LINES ARE OPEN RIGHT NOW
AND WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN TO
OPEN THEM TO YOU THIS EVENING.
WE HAVE SUE IN ROCHESTER ON
THE LINE.
SUE, WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.
YOU ARE NOW ON THE AIR.

>> Caller: OH, THANK YOU.
I'M SITTING HERE WATCHING YOU
AND FEELING PROFOUND GRIEF.
IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT I
FELT ON THE DAY THAT PRESIDENT
KENNEDY WAS ASSASSINATED.
I THINK AS THAT CHANGED OUR
COUNTRY, THIS WILL, TOO, IN
OTHER WAYS, OF COURSE.
BUT I'M ALSO SITTING HERE, A
JEWISH WOMAN, VERY AWARE OF
THE FACT THAT THE BOMBINGS IN
NEW YORK TOOK PLACE ON THE
21st ANNIVERSARY OF THE CAMP
DAVID ACCORD AND ALSO AWARE OF
OUR CELEBRATION OF THE JEWISH
NEW YEAR COMING UP NEXT WEEK,
AND I JUST WONDERED IF THE
RABBI MIGHT HAVE SOME WORDS
FOR THOSE OF US IN THE JEWISH
COMMUNITY AS TO HOW WE MIGHT
FACE THE HOLIDAYS.
RABBI, ANY OF YOUR WONDERFUL
WORDS OF WISDOM?

>> I THINK THAT WE ALL AS
AMERICANS AND AS PEOPLE OF
FAITH FACE THE SAME CRISIS.
I THINK THE COMING OF THE
JEWISH NEW YEAR, ROSH HOSHANA,
PROVIDES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO
REALLY REFLECT OUR LIVES AND
THE CHOICES THAT WE HAVE MADE.
THIS IS TRULY A CRISIS FOR ALL
OF US AS AMERICANS, FOR ALL OF
OUR COMMUNITIES.
BUT I BELIEVE WITH FAITH AND
WITH HOPE, WE NEED TO PROCEED.
BUT WE MUST ALSO BE REALISTIC.
AND MY GREAT FEAR, AND I AM
RELUCTANT TO SAY IT, THOUGH I
THINK I NEED TO SAY IT, IS LET
US NOT BE SO NAIVE TO ASSUME
THAT THIS IS FINISHED.
MY GREAT FEAR IS THAT THERE
ARE OTHER EVENTS YET TO
HAPPEN, AND I THINK WE NEED TO
BE NOT AFRAID OF THAT, BUT I
THINK WE NEED TO SPEAK THOSE
WORDS AND UNDERSTAND THAT
THOUGH WE LONG FOR SAFETY AND
WE LONG FOR SURETY, WE CANNOT
NECESSARILY ASSUME THAT THAT
IS WHAT IS BEFORE US.
I THINK ALSO I WANT TO RESPOND
AND SAY IN MY PRAYER AND HOPE
FOR UNDERSTANDING, IT HAS COME
TO ME THAT WE RESPOND TO THIS
ON TWO DISTINCT LEVELS.
THE FIRST IS ON OUR PERSON,
WHOEVER WE MAY BE AND WHOEVER
WE ARE, WHETHER WE'RE PEOPLE
OF FAITH OR NOT PEOPLE OF
FAITH.
AND WE TRY AND RESPOND.
THE LINES AT THE RED CROSS
BLOOD BANKS ALL OVER THE
UNITED STATES ARE RESPONSES
FOR A HUMAN BEING TO COME
FORTH AND DO SOMETHING.
THE SECOND LEVEL OF OUR LIVES
HAS TO DO WITH OUR NATIONAL
REALITY, AND THERE IS AN
EXPECTATION THAT OUR NATION
WILL RESPOND, BUT WE DON'T
KNOW YET IF WE WILL BE ABLE TO
OR WHAT THAT RESPONSE WILL BE,
AND WE HAVE TO BE AWARE OF
THAT.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN
DO AS HUMAN BEINGS AS WE REACH
OUT TO EACH OTHER THAT MAY NOT
HAPPEN.
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PARALLELS
MADE TO THE WORLD AFTER PEARL
HARBOR, AND LET IT BE SAID
THAT AT THAT POINT IN TIME
PEOPLE KNEW WHO IN FACT DID IT
AND WHAT WAS NECESSARY TO BE
DONE.
PART OF WHAT OUR POTENTIAL
FRUSTRATION AND ANGER MAY BE
IS WE MAY NOT KNOW WHO IT IS
WHO IS REALLY AT THE BASE OF
ALL OF THIS.

>> Bob Smith: WE HAVE A
QUESTION FROM THE AUDIENCE
RIGHT NOW.
YES, MA'AM?

>> I'M REVEREND SUSAN NABECK,
RETIRED FROM A CHURCH IN
PITTSFORD, NEW YORK.
FOLLOWING UP ON SEVERAL THINGS
THAT MY CLERGY BROTHERS HAVE
SAID, I AM VERY FEARFUL OF
WHAT HAPPENED AFTER PEARL
HARBOR WHERE WE INCARCERATED
JAPANESE-AMERICAN CITIZENS.
IT'S ALREADY, AS YOU
MENTIONED, ALREADY BEGINNING:
THE HATRED, THE VIOLENCE.
IT'S ONE OF MY BIGGEST FEARS,
THAT THIS WILL DIVIDE US
RATHER THAN PULL US TOGETHER,
AND MY QUESTION, AND IT MAY BE
PREMATURE FROM WHAT I HEAR YOU
SAYING, BUT MY QUESTION IS
WHAT CAN WE AS CLERGY AND
CHURCHES AND SYNAGOGUES AND
MOSQUES DO IN CONCRETE WAYS
NOT JUST FOR THE LEADERSHIP TO
GET TOGETHER AND TALK AND
UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER BUT FOR
THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THOSE
BUILDINGS, THE WORSHIPERS,
THE BELIEVERS?
HOW DO WE GET THE WHOLE
COMMUNITY, THE RELIGIOUS
COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT MIGHT BE
HAPPENING IN TERMS OF THE
VIOLENCE?
THANK YOU.

>> YES?

>> WE HAVE A DOUBLE-DUTY.
ONE IS IN ALL OF OUR PLACES OF
WORSHIP, THAT EACH OF US
APPROACH TO OUR PEOPLE AND
REACH OUT, THOSE WHO ARE
COMING TO WORSHIP AND THOSE
WHO ARE NOT COMING TO WORSHIP,
TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REACH OUT
TO EVERYBODY IN THIS MOMENT OF
PAIN AND SHOCK, THAT WE SHARE
TOGETHER, AND ALSO EDUCATE
THEM WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
IN OTHER WORDS, IT SHOULD BE
PAIN-RELIEVING AND AT THE SAME
TIME EDUCATION ALSO.
THE SECOND THING IS, A
RESPONSIBILITY THAT THE
INTERFAITH COMMUNITY SHOULD DO
IS THAT THE INTERFAITH FORUM,
THE INTERFAITH ALLIANCE, THE
INTERFAITH COMMISSION, THE
JEWISH-MUSLIM DIALOGUE GROUP,
AND ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN THE
INTERFAITH COMMUNITIES, COME
TOGETHER AND PLAN TOGETHER A
COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM WHERE WE
CAN HOLD DISCUSSION PROGRAMS
IN DIFFERENT PLACES, AT
DIFFERENT CHURCHES,
SYNAGOGUES, MOSQUES AND OTHER
PLACES OF WORSHIP, EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS... THAT WE REACH
OUT TO PEOPLE TOGETHER.
IT WILL HAVE A DOUBLE BENEFIT.
ONE, AT THIS TIME WE ARE ALL
IN PAIN AND GREAT SHOCK.
THAT WILL RELIEVE ALL OF THAT
WHEN WE TALK TOGETHER AND
EXPLAIN TOGETHER.
WE WILL BE MORE EDUCATED, MORE
RESPECTFUL TO ONE ANOTHER.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT IS NEEDED
AND THAT'S WHAT I MENTIONED.
THE TIME THIS HAPPENED -- WE
HEARD ABOUT IT ABOUT 9 O'CLOCK
AND A PERSON OF INTERFAITH
COMMUNITIES, HE WAS THERE
RIGHT AFTER I HEARD.
THEY CAME, MANY, AND I CANNOT
MENTION EVERYBODY'S NAME, BUT
WE ARE ALL IN CONTACT WHAT WE
SHOULD DO.
IN ONE OR TWO HOURS, WE WERE
ABLE TO HAVE A PRESS
CONFERENCE, TO REACH OUT...
WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHO IS THE
PERSON BEHIND IT, BUT WE TOOK
THIS TO OUR COMMUNITY OF
ROCHESTER TO EDUCATION THEM
AND SAY WE ALL AS CLERGY
PEOPLE STAND TOGETHER AND
SHARE WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
AND EDUCATING THE PEOPLE AT
THE SAME TIME TO BE PEOPLE OF
GOD AND NOT TO GIVE UP THE
GOODNESS.

>> Elissa Marra: I WOULD LIKE
TO FOLLOW UP ON THAT, IF I
MAY, WITH A QUESTION FOR IMAM
SHARIF.
YOU WROTE IN THE NEWSPAPER
THIS MORNING IN A "SPEAKING
OUT" ESSAY ABOUT SOME IDEAS
YOU HAVE, AND ACTUALLY I KNOW
SOMEONE WHO CALLED ME TODAY
AND SAID, "I WORK WITH SOMEONE
WHO IS MUSLIM.
I AM CHRISTIAN.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO
THAT PERSON.
I WANT TO REACH OUT.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY; I
DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
I'M VERY UNCOMFORTABLE."
SOME OF US MAY BE EXPERIENCING
THIS IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER,
AND MAYBE YOU HAVE SOME IDEAS
ABOUT HOW WE CAN BEGIN TALKING
TO ONE ANOTHER.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME
HERE AND ALSO FOR BEING PART
OF THE FORUM.
AS A MUSLIM, BELIEVING IN
ISLAM FOR THIRTEEN YEARS,
RAISED AND BORN IN THIS
COUNTRY OF AMERICA, I BELIEVE
AMERICA HAS A LOT TO OFFER
MANY DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES,
PEOPLE GETTING TOGETHER.
OUR KORAN TEACHES THAT WE
SHOULD BECOME BETTER
ACQUAINTED WITH ONE ANOTHER.
THE MOST HONORABLE OF YOU IS
ONE WHO IS MOST REGARDFUL OF
GOD.
SO I THINK THAT'S THE BASIS
THAT WE SHOULD BEGIN TO START
AT, GETTING ACQUAINTED WITH
ONE ANOTHER, TALKING WITH ONE
ANOTHER, UNDERSTANDING ONE
ANOTHER.
I HAVE COME TO LEARN THAT
EVERYBODY IS NOT GOING TO BE
MUSLIM.
EVERYBODY IS NOT GOING TO
BECOME JEWISH OR CHRISTIAN.
I WAS RAISED IN A CHRISTIAN
HOME, BUT MY MOTHER -- I LOVE
HER DEARLY -- SHE ACCEPTS WHO
I AM AND MY CONVERSION TO THE
RELIGION.
SO I THINK THAT'S AN EXAMPLE
RIGHT IN ITSELF, THAT THE
TALK, THE DIALOGUE, TO BEGIN
TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
AND NOT GO TO STEREOTYPES OUT
THERE THAT ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS
CAUSED THIS AND WE SHOULD
BEGIN TO GO AFTER OR LOOK FOR,
LIKE I STATED IN MY ARTICLE IN
"THE D.&.C." -- WHICH I
APPRECIATED, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH -- TO GO AFTER THOSE WHO
DID IT, THE INDIVIDUALS.
LET'S RECALL OKLAHOMA CITY AND
IMMEDIATELY I HEARD THE
EX-SECRETARY OF STATE ON TV
STATE -- SHE SAID, AND I
REMEMBER THIS LIKE IT WAS
YESTERDAY.
SHE SAID -- MADELEINE
ALBRIGHT.
I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR
HER AND WHAT SHE DID.
SHE ACTUALLY SAID THAT WHEN WE
HEARD ABOUT THE BOMBING IN
OKLAHOMA CITY, ISLAM WAS THE
MAIN FOCUS, AND THEN COME TO
FIND OUT, IT WASN'T THAT.
SOMEONE BORN AND RAISED IN
THIS COUNTRY CAUSED THAT
CATASTROPHE.
SO I THINK AGAIN, I WANT TO
REITERATE -- I DON'T KNOW IF I
DEVIATE, BUT TO BEGIN TO TALK
TO ONE ANOTHER.
I THINK THIS COUNTRY IS KNOWN
FOR LACK OF COMMUNICATION.
INTERFAITH DIALOGUE IS NEEDED
FOR RELIGION AND FOR HUMANITY,
FOR HUMANITY AT LARGE.
I THINK THAT'S A STARTING
POINT AND I THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
GOD BLESS YOU.

>> Bob Smith: THANK YOU.
LADY AT STAGE LEFT STANDING AT
THE MICROPHONE RIGHT HERE.

>> I REALIZE WE'RE PROBABLY
TOO EARLY FOR AN ANSWER TO
THIS QUESTION, BUT I AM
WONDERING IF ANY OF YOU COULD
TALK ABOUT HOW YOU ENVISION A
NATIONAL NON-VIOLENT RESPONSE?

>> Elissa Marra: MAYBE WE
COULD HEAR FROM Dr. FOLEY ON
THIS?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
YOU'RE A PSYCHOLOGIST.
HOW DO YOU ENVISION A NATIONAL
NON-VIOLENT RESPONSE FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE?

>> WELL, IT CERTAINLY SOUNDS
LIKE WHAT ALL OF MY ESTEEMED
PANELISTS ARE TALKING ABOUT,
THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT IS
TO TALK.
THAT IS, I THINK, HOW WE BEGIN
TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
WE'RE IN A SITUATION IN WHICH
A LOT OF TEMPERS ARE HIGH;
PEOPLE ARE SCARED.
PEOPLE HAVE LOST LOVED ONES.
PEOPLE ARE RESPONDING ON A
VERY VISCERAL, VERY GUT LEVEL.
BECAUSE WE'RE HUMAN, WE HAVE
THE ABILITY TO THINK AND WE
HAVE THE ABILITY TO PLAN AND
TO TALK RATHER THAN ALWAYS
JUST RESPONDING ON A VISCERAL
LEVEL.
SO I THINK THE FIRST RESPONSE
WOULD BE TO TALK AND THEN
ACTUALLY TO LISTEN AS WELL.
THOSE TWO GO HAND-IN-HAND.
THAT WOULD CERTAINLY BE A
STARTING POINT.

>> Bob Smith: LET'S TAKE A
LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT SUCH AN
APPROACH IS POSSIBLE.
DICK FREY, YOU AND I TALKED
EARLIER ON THE RADIO BROADCAST
THIS WEEK ABOUT SOME OF THESE
PROBLEMS AND SOME OF THESE
QUESTIONS, CONCERNING WHAT
KIND OF A RESPONSE WE COULD
PUT TOGETHER CONCEIVABLY.
WHAT CAN WE DO?

>> WELL, IT IS INTERESTING,
THE NON-VIOLENT RESPONSE.
WE CAN THINK OF IT AT SEVERAL
LEVELS.
YOU HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED
SOME OF THE OUTPOURING OF
ACTIONS ON THE PART OF
INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS, GIVING
BLOOD AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD IGNORE
THAT AS AN EXAMPLE OF A
NON-VIOLENT RESPONSE,
CERTAINLY ON THE PART OF
INDIVIDUALS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE
LOOKING FOR SOME WAY TO
RESPOND, AND THEY'RE NOT OUT
THROWING ROCKS AT MUSLIMS,
THOUGH A FEW PEOPLE ARE DOING
THAT.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE, PERHAPS AT A
LARGEST LEVEL, IS THESE NEW
RULES FOR FLIGHTS.
YOU KNOW, SECURITY MEASURES
ARE REALLY CRIME PREVENTION,
NOT VIOLENCE.
THEY'RE AN EXAMPLE OF THE
NON-VIOLENT RESPONSE.
IN FACT, I THINK IF YOU THINK
ABOUT SOME OF THE NEW RULES IN
TERMS OF THE ACTUAL EVENT, THE
RULES THAT ARE BEING SUGGESTED
AND IMPLEMENTED, A LOT OF THEM
ARE REALLY AN EFFORT TO DO
SOMETHING AND WOULD PROBABLY
HAVE HAD LITTLE EFFECT ON THIS
PARTICULAR INCIDENT, ALTHOUGH
IN THE LARGE DANGER OF
TERRORISM, MAYBE THEY ARE VERY
POSITIVE STEPS.
AT A NATIONAL LEVEL, IN TERMS
OF POLICY, WE HAD AN
ANTITERRORISM AND DEATH
PENALTY ACT IN 1996 IN
RESPONSE TO THE OKLAHOMA CITY
BOMBING, AND THAT'S CERTAINLY
AN EXAMPLE OF THE NON-VIOLENT
RESPONSE, POLICIES, LAWS
PASSED, THAT SORT OF THING.
WITH THIS INTERNATIONAL
TERRORIST GROUP APPARENTLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TWIN
TOWERS AND THE PENTAGON, WE
CAN EXPECT AGAIN SOME
DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY THAT IN
THE UNITED NATIONS, AND
PERHAPS WITH A NUMBER OF OUR
ALLIES, THAT WE PROBABLY
SHOULD NOT CALL VIOLENT.
SO I THINK THERE ARE -- WE
SHOULDN'T IGNORE THAT THERE
ARE NON-VIOLENT APPROACHES
BEING UNDERTAKEN, ALONG WITH
THE FEELING THAT THERE SHOULD
BE A VIOLENT RESPONSE AGAINST
THOSE THAT ARE ACTUALLY
RESPONSIBLE.

>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
THANKS.
WE WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT YOU
CAN PARTICIPATE BY PHONE
TONIGHT.
THE NUMBER IS 263-9994.
THIS IS A COMMUNITY FORUM:
"ROCHESTER UNITES, IN THE
AFTERMATH."
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE
TELEPHONES RIGHT NOW.
NOW WE HAVE FAUSIA ON THE
PHONE FROM IRONDEQUOIT.
ARE YOU WITH US?

>> Caller: YES.

>> Elissa Marra: GOOD EVENING.

>> GOOD EVENING.
I AM AN AMERICAN-AFGHAN
MUSLIM, AND I'M A TEACHER.
I DON'T HAVE A QUESTION; I
JUST HAVE A COMMENT.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, AS
Dr. SHAFIQ JUST MENTIONED, WE
ARE IN DOUBLE PAIN AND
ACTUALLY MOST AFGHANS ARE IN
TRIPLE PAIN
BECAUSE, FIRST OF ALL, WE LOST
OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN
AMERICA, WHICH WERE OF ALL
RELIGION AND ALL OUR BROTHERS
AND SISTERS, AND YET I DON'T
KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO
THE REST OF MY FAMILY IN
AFGHANISTAN, AND I KNOW IT'S
COMING TO THEM BECAUSE OF THE
TALIBAN AND BECAUSE OF OSAMA
BIN LADEN.
BUT I'M ALSO IN PAIN WHEN I
HEAR THAT MY MUSLIM SISTERS
AND BROTHERS, IN THE COUNTRY
THAT I LIVE IN -- THIS IS MY
CHILDREN'S COUNTRY AND MY
COUNTRY, TOO -- THEY'RE BEING
HARASSED BECAUSE MOST OF MY
SISTERS, JUST LIKE MYSELF, ARE
WEARING A HEAD SCARF, AND
THAT'S OUR ONLY FAULT.
WE'RE NOT TERRORISTS.
THERE ARE MORE THAN 1 BILLION
MUSLIMS IN AMERICA -- IN THE
WORLD, SORRY.
NOT 1.3 BILLION MUSLIMS ARE
TERRORISTS.
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW HOW --
WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING OR TO
TELL THE PEOPLE, TO LET THEM
KNOW NOT TO ASSOCIATE
TERRORISM WITH ANY RELIGION,
WHETHER THEY'RE JEWS OR MUSLIM
OR CHRISTIAN.
THEY ARE NOT TERRORISTS.
TERRORISTS ARE TERRORISTS BY
THEMSELVES.
MY BEST FRIENDS ARE JEWS.
I HAVE HINDI FRIENDS.
I WORK WITH CHRISTIANS,
BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE.
I JUST WANTED TO TELL PEOPLE
THAT WE'RE IN PAIN, TOO, AND
THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT,
THAT WE'RE SUFFERING JUST LIKE
EVERYBODY ELSE.

>> Bob Smith: THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR SHARING THAT WITH US.
HAVE PEOPLE IN YOUR
ACQUAINTANCE, WITH WHOM YOU
COME IN DIRECT CONTACT,
ACTUALLY SAID SOMETHING
DEROGATORY OR IN ANY WAY
MENACING TO YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
ABSOLUTELY NOT.
THE PEOPLE THAT I WORK WITH
ARE EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE.
IN FACT, WHEN I WENT TO WORK,
I WAS CRYING BECAUSE I HEARD
ON THE RADIO THAT OTHER
MUSLIMS ARE BEING HARASSED.
IT'S VERY PAINFUL TO ME.
MY CHILDREN, THEY WERE BORN IN
AMERICA.
THEY ARE AMERICAN CITIZENS.
THIS IS THE ONLY COUNTRY THAT
THEY HAVE KNOWN, AND THEY WILL
-- THIS IS THE ONLY PEOPLE
THAT THEY KNOW, AND THEY CAN'T
TELL THE DIFFERENCE WHETHER
THEY ARE MUSLIMS OR CHRISTIANS
OR JEWS OR HINDUS.
TO THEM, THEY'RE ALL FELLOW
AMERICANS.
I JUST WORRY ABOUT THEM.
WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DOES THAT
HAVE ON MY CHILDREN TO FEEL
THAT THEY, JUST BECAUSE
THEY'RE MUSLIMS, THEIR MOTHER
OR THEIR MUSLIM SISTERS ARE
BEING TREATED AS SECOND-HAND
CITIZENS?
WE ARE ENCOURAGED, ESPECIALLY
THOSE WHO COVER THEIR HEAD, TO
STAY HOME AND DON'T GO TO THE
MALLS, DON'T GO SHOPPING.
WE'RE IN PRISON NOW IN OUR OWN
HOMES.
WHY IS THAT?
WHAT IS MY FAULT OR WHAT IS
THE OTHER LADIES' FAULT WHO
ARE JUST WEARING HEAD SCARVES
AND PRACTICING RELIGION?
I'M JUST CONCERNED AS A MUSLIM
WOMAN FOR ALL THE MUSLIMS THAT
LIVE IN THIS COUNTRY.
BUT PERSONALLY, MYSELF, AS I
SAID, I HAVEN'T BEEN HARASSED.
IN FACT, MY STUDENTS' PARENTS
HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE
AND VERY LOVING AND CARING,
WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.

>> Bob Smith: THAT'S
ENCOURAGING.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT
WITH US.
A COUPLE OF PEOPLE ON OUR
RESOURCE PANEL, I HOPE, WILL
BE ABLE TO HELP US WITH
DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THIS.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO
ASK LYNNE BOUCHER, DIRECTOR OF
CAMPUS MINISTRY HERE ON THE
NAZARETH CAMPUS,
WHO HAS BEEN KIND ENOUGH TO
HOST US FOR THIS BROADCAST
TONIGHT.
LYNNE, YOU WORK AND DEAL WITH
PEOPLE OF MANY, MANY FAITHS ON
THIS CAMPUS.
HAVE YOU SEEN THAT DEGREE OF
UNDERSTANDING AMONG THE PEOPLE
YOU WORK WITH?
I HOPE YOU HAVE.

>> AS FAR AS UNDERSTANDING
EACH OTHER'S FAITHS, YOU MEAN?

>> YES.

>> I THINK SO.
A LOT OF DIALOGUE HAS COME UP
IN THE LAST FEW DAYS.
WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF
INTERFAITH PRAYER SERVICES
THAT HAVE REALLY PROVOKED A
LOT OF DISCUSSION, AND IT'S
BEEN A NEAT OCCASION FOR
STUDENTS TO COME TOGETHER.
OFTENTIMES, EVEN ON CAMPUS,
THEY PRAY WITH THEIR OWN FAITH
TRADITION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR,
BUT THE LAST FEW DAYS HAVE
OFFERED SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES
FOR THEM TO COME TOGETHER WITH
PEOPLE FROM OTHER FAITH
TRADITIONS, AND I THINK IT'S
BEEN SURPRISING HOW NATURAL
IT'S BEEN FOR US TO PRAY
TOGETHER AND HOW SO MANY OF
THE THINGS THAT WE PRAY FOR,
THAT THEY WOULD PRAY FOR
INDIVIDUALLY WITH THEIR OWN
FAITH, HAVE BEEN IN COMMON,
HAVE BEEN TOGETHER.
AND AFTER A COUPLE OF THE
PRAYER SERVICES THAT WE'VE
HAD, STUDENTS HAVE ENGAGED IN
CONVERSATION ABOUT THE
DIFFERENCES IN THEIR FAITH
TRADITIONS, AND A LOT OF THE
STUDENTS WHO ARE STUDYING
RELIGIONS THAT ARE NOT THEIR
OWN HERE ON CAMPUS IN THEIR
RELIGIOUS STUDIES COURSES HAVE
BEEN SHARING WITH SOME OF THE
OTHER STUDENTS WHAT THEY'RE
LEARNING ABOUT ISLAM.
ACTUALLY, WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE
Dr. MUHAMMAD SHAFIQ HERE AT
NAZARETH RIGHT NOW, AND MANY
OF YOUR STUDENTS HAVE BEEN
SHARING WITH THE OTHER
STUDENTS SOME OF THE THINGS
THEY HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THE
MUSLIM FAITH THAT I THINK WAS
SURPRISING TO THEM.
SO IT'S REALLY BEEN
PROVOCATIVE OF A LOT OF GOOD
DIALOGUE AND EXCHANGE AMONG
THE STUDENTS, SOME WHO DON'T
KNOW A LOT BUT ARE WILLING TO
LEARN AND OTHERS WHO MAYBE
ADMIT THEIR PREJUDICES AND ARE
OPEN TO LEARNING FROM SOME OF
THE OTHER STUDENTS.
AND ESPECIALLY IN THE
RELIGIOUS STUDIES COURSES AND
A LOT OF THE OTHER COURSES ON
CAMPUS, PROFESSORS HAVE BEEN
ENGAGING STUDENTS IN
DISCUSSIONS AND THAT HELPED A
LOT I THINK WITH THEM COMING
TO SOME UNDERSTANDING AND
GETTING BEYOND THEIR IGNORANCE
AS FAR AS RELIGIOUS
DIFFERENCES.

>> Elissa Marra: AND LET'S
HOPE THAT'S GOING ON ALL OVER
THE NATION RIGHT NOW.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE ANOTHER
TELEPHONE CALL: DAN IN
CANANDAIGUA.
DAN, GOOD EVENING.

>> GOOD EVENING.
I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND THE
MUSLIM COMMUNITY THAT THIS HAS
BEEN A RELIGIOUS JIHAD,
ACCORDING TO THEM, AND I PUT
IT UPON THE MUSLIMS TO CORRECT
THE DEFAULTS IN THEIR OWN
COMMUNITY.
I REALIZE --

>> Bob Smith: DO YOU THINK
THAT'S FAIR TO HOLD --

>> -- NOT WITHIN THE UNITED
STATES, BUT THEY HAVE
CONNECTIONS BACK HOME THAT
THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO CONTROL
THESE PEOPLE, AS BISHOP CLARK
CONTROLLED A PRIEST WHO GOT
OUT OF LINE.

>> Bob Smith: DO YOU REALLY
THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT
IT'S FAIR TO HOLD ALL PEOPLE
OF A FAITH RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
ALLEGED ACTIVITIES OF A FEW?

>> Elissa Marra: BISHOP, WHAT
DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT?
Dr. SHAFIQ?

>> DO WE HOLD ALL CATHOLIC
CHRISTIANS RESPONSIBLE FOR --
FIRST OF ALL, WE DON'T KNOW
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS
ACT THAT HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER
11th.
DO WE HOLD ALL CATHOLIC
CHRISTIANS, AND THE BISHOP IS
SITTING RIGHT HERE,
RESPONSIBLE OF THE OKLAHOMA
BOMBING?
IF THAT IS SO, YOU HOLD ME
RESPONSIBLE.

>> Elissa Marra: BISHOP CLARK,
COULD YOU WEIGH IN ON THAT FOR
US, PLEASE?

>> WELL, I MEAN I SEE NO
PARALLEL BETWEEN THE TWO
INCIDENTS MENTIONED BY THE
GENTLEMAN AND WOULD ONLY REACT
TO WHAT MUHAMMAD SAYS.
LOOK AT IRELAND.
WE HAVE PROTESTANTS AND
CATHOLICS IN DISPUTE.
ARE WE TO SAY THAT ALL
CATHOLICS OR ALL PROTESTANTS
ARE TERRORISTS, ARE BENT ON
WAR?
IT'S EASY TO CALL THE WARRING
PARTIES BY THEIR RELIGIOUS
AFFILIATION, BUT IT'S
SOMETHING ELSE.
IT'S SOMETHING MORE.
IT'S SOMETHING MUCH MORE
COMPLEX THAN THAT.
I -- I AM STRUCK WITH THE
WHOLE CONCEPT OF WHAT I THINK
IS A STEREOTYPE AND UNREAL
GENERALIZATION ABOUT THE VAST
POPULATION OF PEOPLE.

>> I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I
POSED A QUESTION EARLIER: HOW
DO WE BEGIN TO BUILD A
NON-VIOLENT RESPONSE?
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WHENEVER
WE HEAR WHAT WE JUST HEARD ON
THE RADIO WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL
OR A GROUP OF PEOPLE IS BEING
BLAMED FOR SOMETHING AND THAT
THEN BECOMES PART AND PARCEL
OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, IN
THIS CASE IT SEEMS TO ME IT'S
OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS
CHRISTIANS AND JEWS TO STAND
UP FOR THOSE SUCH AS MUHAMMAD
SHAFIQ AND OTHERS.
HE OUGHT NOT HAVE TO BE THE
ONE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
WE NEED TO BE THERE ALONG WITH
YOU TO HELP YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

(Applause)

>> I ALSO WANT TO SAY I'M GLAD
THE CALLER CALLED BECAUSE THE
FRUSTRATION IS THERE UNDER THE
SURFACE AND IT NEEDS TO COME
OUT; IT NEEDS TO BE SPOKEN OF.
BUT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO SAY
THAT RELIGION THROUGHOUT
HISTORY HAS BEEN EXPLOITED AND
USED BY PEOPLE WHO CLAIM TO BE
REPRESENTATIVES OF RELIGION
FOR NEGATIVE AND HORRIFIC
PURPOSES, AND I THINK THAT WE
NEED TO IN A SENSE
DISASSOCIATE OURSELF FROM THAT
AS PEOPLE OF FAITH.
I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO SAY
THAT WE HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT
AMBIVALENT IN AMERICA ABOUT
TERRORISM AROUND THE WORLD,
AND I THINK THAT NOW AS IT HAS
COME TO US IN A WAY THAT WE
NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD EVER
BE, WE NEED TO BE REALISTIC
ABOUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE AROUND
THIS WORLD LIVE WITH ON A
DAILY BASIS, AND WE AS THE
LAST REMAINING SUPERPOWER IN
THIS WORLD NEED TO STAND UP AS
MORAL AND ETHICAL
REPRESENTATIVES OF JUSTICE,
AND THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY MY
JUSTICE OR ANYONE ELSE'S
JUSTICE, AND BE A COMMUNITY OF
HUMAN BEINGS WHO WILL NO
LONGER HARBOR OR PERMIT OR
SANCTION THE TYPE OF
DESTRUCTION WHICH IS TAKING
PLACE IN OUR WORLD.

>> Elissa Marra: THANK YOU,
RABBI KOTOK.
AT THIS POINT, I THINK THAT WE
WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM MAYOR
WILLIAM JOHNSON WHO HAS BEEN
KIND ENOUGH AND GRACIOUS
ENOUGH TO COME TO THE FORUM
THIS EVENING.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
MAYOR JOHNSON, I THINK YOU
WOULD PROBABLY LIKE TO WEIGH
IN ON THIS CONVERSATION.

>> ACTUALLY, I WAS GOING TO
RESPOND TO THE QUESTION THAT
WAS POSED BY THE LADY ABOUT
HOW DO WE HAVE A NON-VIOLENT
RESPONSE, BUT I WAS GLAD THE
CALLER FROM CANANDAIGUA CALLED
BECAUSE HE WOULD HELP MAKE THE
POINT I WANT TO MAKE.
I THINK THERE ARE TWO LEVELS
OF RESPONSE -- FIRST, LET ME
JUST SAY THAT ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT WAS MOST
DISTRESSING ON TUESDAY
LOCALLY, BECAUSE WE REALLY
WERE A LONG WAY FROM GROUND
ZERO, WERE THE REPORTS THAT
PEOPLE OF MUSLIM ORIGIN WERE
BEING HARASSED AND THREATENED.
WE GOT MANY CALLS, AND I
INSTRUCTED THE CHIEF AND
DEPUTY TO GIVE THESE CALLS TOP
PRIORITY BECAUSE WE CANNOT
TOLERATE THAT.
AS I SAID EARLIER, THESE
PEOPLE ARE ROCHESTERIANS; THEY
ARE CITIZENS.
THERE'S NO EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST
THAT ANYONE IN ROCHESTER HAD
ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE
HORRIBLE EVENTS THAT HAPPENED
IN NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON
AND, THEREFORE, I WOULD HOPE
AS CITIZENS WE WOULD NOT BE IN
THE ACT OF STEREOTYPING AND
DISCRIMINATING AND HARASSING
PEOPLE WHO ARE LAW-ABIDING
CITIZENS AND JUST AS MUCH
CONCERNED ABOUT THIS TRAGEDY
AS WE ARE.
BUT ANYWAY, HERE'S WHAT I WANT
TO SAY, TWO THINGS: ON
TELEVISION ON TUESDAY EVENING,
I HEARD CHRIS MATTHEWS, A
PERSON I'M NOT NORMALLY
INCLINED TO LISTEN TO, MAKE A
VERY INCISIVE STATEMENT.
HE SAID THAT TODAY, TUESDAY,
SEPTEMBER 11th, AMERICANS HAD
COME TO LEARN THAT THERE WERE
PEOPLE IN PARTS OF THE WORLD
THAT THEY NEITHER KNEW ABOUT
NOR CARED ABOUT WHO DID NOT
LOVE AMERICA AND IN FACT WHO
SPENT ALL OF THEIR WAKING TIME
HATING AMERICA.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
FOR US -- I WANT TO FOCUS ON
THAT CLAUSE THAT SAID "A PART
OF THE WORLD THAT AMERICANS
DON'T KNOW ABOUT OR CARE
ABOUT."
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US
TO REALIZE THAT THE WORLD IS
MUCH LARGER THAN THESE SHORES,
THESE 50 STATES, THAT THERE IS
A BIGGER WORLD OUT THERE, AND
IF THERE ARE ISSUES THAT WE
DON'T UNDERSTAND, WE SHOULD DO
A BETTER JOB OF TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND.
SO THE FIRST PART -- SOMEBODY
SAID EARLIER WE OUGHT TO DO A
BETTER JOB OF COMMUNICATING
WITH EACH OTHER, BUT WE BETTER
DO A BETTER JOB OF LISTENING
TO EACH OTHER AND
UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER AND
OUR DIFFERENCES AND TRYING TO
FIND OUT HOW WE CAN RECONCILE
THOSE DIFFERENCES.
THAT LEADS ME TO THIS POINT:
THE MAN FROM CANANDAIGUA, GOD
BLESS HIS SOUL, TYPIFIES WHAT
I CONSIDER TO BE -- USING MY
OWN OPINION AS A PRIVATE
INDIVIDUAL -- A SERIOUS
ILLNESS IN THIS COUNTRY.
I THINK WE HAVE GOT TOO MUCH
FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND WE EVERY
DAY ALLOW PEOPLE TO USE OUR
AIRWAYS AND OUR NEWS MEDIA TO
IMPART INVECTIVE HATRED VENOM,
TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO HATE
EACH OTHER, TO ALWAYS POINT
OUT THE WORST IN US RATHER
THAN THE BEST, AND AS RABBI
KOTOK SAID, I BELIEVE, AND
BISHOP CLARK, BISHOP McKELVEY,
EVERYONE THERE IN THIS
AUDIENCE TONIGHT, I BELIEVE
WE'RE HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE WE
DO NOT SUBSCRIBE TO THAT POINT
OF VIEW.
BUT I THINK IT'S VERY, VERY
IMPORTANT FOR US NOT TO BE
CONDEMNATORY, BUT I THINK WE
OUGHT TO SPEAK OUT AND SAY,
REALLY, IN THESE TIMES, WE
CAN'T REALLY AFFORD THAT MUCH
FREEDOM.
NOW, TUESDAY WE SUFFERED A
GREAT DEAL.
WE HAVE HAD OUR FREEDOMS
REDUCED.
LET ME TELL YOU, YOU HAVEN'T
EVEN BEGUN TO FIND OUT -- I
HEARD THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE SAY
TODAY ABOUT THE INCONVENIENCES
THAT WOULD BE VISITED ON
PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE FLYING OUT
OF THE AIRPORT AND HE SAID,
AND IT SOUNDED RATHER BRUSQUE,
BUT IT WAS A TRUE STATEMENT:
PEOPLE HAD BETTER GET USED TO
BEING INCONVENIENCED IF THEY
WANT SAFETY.
YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.
IF WE NOW ARE GOING TO ASK TO
BE MORE SECURE, THEN I THINK
WE HAVE TO BE LESS THREATENING
IN OUR RHETORIC.
WE HAVE TO BE LESS SUPPORTIVE
OF THOSE WHO PERSIST IN USING
THIS KIND OF INFLAMMATORY
RHETORIC.
I HEARD ON THE RADIO -- AND
I'LL FINISH WITH THIS COMMENT.
I WON'T IDENTIFY THE PERSON,
BUT BY DEDUCTION, YOU'LL
PROBABLY FIGURE OUT WHO SAID
IT.
SOMEONE ON THE RADIO, ON
ANOTHER STATION, NOT WXXI, WHO
SAID HE HAD ALREADY FIGURED
OUT THE SOLUTION TO THIS
PROBLEM.
HE KNEW WHO CAUSED THE BOMBING
AND THAT IF PRESIDENT BUSH HAD
BUT ONE RESPONSE, TO BOMB THE
HELL OUT OF AFGHANISTAN AND
PAKISTAN, AND I JUST THINK
THAT THAT'S HORRIBLE THAT WE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO ENCOURAGE
THAT KIND OF THOUGHT.
SO I KNOW MY E-MAIL IS GOING
TO BE FLOODED --
(Laughter) -- AND MY PHONE
LINES ARE GOING TO BE FLOODED
TOMORROW, BUT I TOO HAVE
RIGHTS AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN.
THIS IS NOT THE MAYOR
SPEAKING; THIS IS A MAN WHO
FEELS VERY MUCH PAIN, A
FATHER, A GRANDFATHER, BUT
MORE THAN THAT, A MAN WHO HAS
BEEN RAISED TO RESPECT THE
RIGHTS OF OTHERS --

>> Elissa Marra: THANK YOU.

>> -- AND I BELIEVE WE JUST
NEED TO CALM OUR RHETORIC DOWN
AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO
LIKEWISE.

>> Elissa Marra: THANK YOU,
MAYOR JOHNSON.

(Applause)

>> Bob Smith: WE HAVE BEEN
RECEIVING SOME E-MAIL
QUESTIONS AT THE STATION YOU'D
LIKE TO SHARE RIGHT NOW.

>> Elissa Marra: WE SET UP A
MAILBOX YESTERDAY AND HAVE
BEEN RECEIVING MAIL ALL DAY.
ONE WOMAN WROTE AND REALLY I
THINK SUMMED UP A LOT OF OTHER
KINDS OF FEARS THAT WE ARE
HAVING.
FAUSIA MENTIONED HER CHILDREN
EARLIER.
THIS WOMAN WROTE AND SAID, "I
HAVE A YOUNG SON OLD ENOUGH TO
FLY BUT HAS TO FLY AS SOON AS
HE CAN ON AN AIRPLANE FLIGHT.
HE IS REALLY AFRAID TO GET ON
THE PLANE AND I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO DO ABOUT THAT, EVEN IF
WE AS PARENTS ARE THERE."
SO AS WE TALK ABOUT WHAT WE
CAN DO, AND I KNOW THERE'S
BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT WHAT
WE CAN DO FOR OUR CHILDREN
OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS, BUT
LET'S ADDRESS THAT IN
SPECIFIC.
BESIDES THE FACT THAT CHILDREN
ARE WORRIED ABOUT ALL KINDS OF
THINGS, SOME MAY HAVE TO GET
ON AIRPLANES AND THEY MAY BE
AFRAID OF THAT.
SO LET'S, IF WE COULD, MAYBE
CALL ON Dr. GLAZER TO TALK
ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT FOR
US?

>> WELL, VERY DIFFICULT,
COMPLEX QUESTIONS.
I THINK THE CHILDREN LOOK TO
THEIR PARENTS FIRST AND
FOREMOST FOR WAYS TO REACT TO
A TRAGEDY LIKE THIS AND ALSO
WAYS TO GET BACK INTO THE
SWING OF NORMAL LIFE.
SO IF AIR TRAVEL IS GOING TO
BE NECESSARY, AND I ACTUALLY
FOUND IT SOMEWHAT REASSURING
TO HEAR THAT AIRPORTS WERE
BEGINNING TO OPEN AGAIN
BECAUSE IT GAVE A SENSE OF
NORMAL LIFE RETURNING, THE
PARENT THAT'S CONCERNED ABOUT
HER SON'S FLIGHT ON AN
AIRPLANE IS A PARENT THAT
NEEDS TO REASSURE THAT SON,
FIRST OF ALL, I HOPE, THAT ONE
OF THE PARENTS OR BOTH WILL BE
WITH HIM ON THE FLIGHT.
THE PARENT NEEDS TO REASSURE
THAT SON THAT HE OR SHE FEELS
COMFORTABLE ON THE FLIGHT HIM
OR HERSELF.
THAT WILL MATERIALLY IMPROVE
THE CHILD'S CHANCES OF FEELING
SAFE.
AND PERHAPS IT'S ALSO HELPFUL
FOR PARENTS TO NOT TRY TO
FALSELY MINIMIZE THE WORRY
THAT ANYONE IS LIKELY TO FEEL
GIVEN THE EVENTS OF TUESDAY
BUT ALSO TO BE ABLE TO POINT
OUT THE REALITY THAT THE
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF
AMERICAN CITIZENS IN THE AIR
ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11th,
WERE AND ARE SAFE AND SOUND.
SO AGAIN I THINK THE PARENTS'
RESPONSE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING.
PARENTS CAN SHARE THEIR
CONCERNS WITHOUT SHARING A
SENSE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO
COPE THEMSELVES, AND THAT'S
GOING TO BE TREMENDOUSLY
REASSURING TO CHILDREN.
I DON'T KNOW THE AGE OF THE
BOY IN QUESTION, BUT THE AGE
OF CHILDREN HAS TREMENDOUS
IMPACT ON THEIR RESPONSE TO A
DISASTER LIKE THIS, AND IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT LANGUAGE THAT
THE PARENTS USE BE
APPROPRIATELY TAILORED TO THE
AGE OF THE CHILD IN QUESTION.

>> Bob Smith: IT OCCURS TO ME
AT THIS POINT WE MIGHT ALSO
WANT TO TURN FOR SOME
PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS
CONCERNING THIS ISSUE OF
SAFETY TO TERRY SLAYBAUGH,
DIRECTOR OF THE GREATER
ROCHESTER INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT WHO CAN TELL US WHAT
KINDS OF MEASURES AND
SECURITIES -- MAYBE YOU DON'T
FEEL LIKE BEING SPECIFIC ABOUT
IT, AND WE'LL UNDERSTAND THAT,
BUT WHAT KIND OF MEASURES ARE
BEING TAKEN TO MAKE SURE THAT
AIR TRAVEL WILL BECOME MORE
SECURE IN THIS COUNTRY?

>> IT WAS INTERESTING THAT YOU
BROUGHT UP CHILDREN BECAUSE I
HAVE A TWELVE-YEAR-OLD
DAUGHTER WHO -- MY EX-WIFE IS
IN DETROIT AND SHE'S TRAVELED
ON NORTHWEST AIRLINES BY
HERSELF SINCE SHE WAS THREE
YEARS OLD.
SHE'S TWELVE YEARS OLD NOW.
SO THIS WEEK IS CERTAINLY
SOMETHING THAT I HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT,
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT,
YOU KNOW, IS A VERY GOOD POINT
THAT THE DOCTOR MADE THAT, YOU
KNOW, LITERALLY TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE
FLYING ON TUESDAY AND WERE
ABLE TO GET TO THEIR
DESTINATIONS SAFELY.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHAT
ASTOUNDS ME, I LEFT THE
AIRPORT TODAY -- I USUALLY
WOULD LEAVE THE AIRPORT AND IT
PRETTY MUCH BLENDED INTO OUR
COMMUNITY.
BUT I HAD TO THINK TO MYSELF
AS I WAS DRIVING OVER HERE HOW
MUCH DIFFERENT THE COMMUNITY
WAS FROM THE ENVIRONMENT I HAD
JUST LEFT AT THE AIRPORT WHERE
NOW WE'RE CONSTANTLY THINKING
ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO
TO THE FACILITY TO MAKE IT
SAFER.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MUCH
GREATER PRESENCE OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AT THE
AIRPORT; TRAFFIC IS GOING TO
BE MUCH DIFFERENT NOW WHEN IT
COMES TO THE AIRPORT.
I USED TO LAUGH WHEN I LEFT
THE AIRPORT AND WOULD LOOK AT
60 TO 80 CARS THAT WOULD BE
PARKED THERE AT 5:30 WAITING
FOR FAMILY MEMBERS TO COME OUT
OF THE AIRPORT THAT WERE
COMING IN ON FLIGHTS AND
KNOWING TONIGHT THAT THAT'S
NOT GOING TO BE THE SITUATION
AT THE AIRPORT ANYMORE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WILL
REALLY HIT HOME THIS FEBRUARY
WHEN IT'S ABOUT 10 DEGREES
BELOW ZERO AND YOU'RE
TRAVELING FROM THE TERMINAL
AND GOING OUT TO YOUR CAR
WHICH NOW WILL BE -- IF IT'S
PARKED -- AT LEAST 300 FEET,
IF NOT MORE FROM THE FRONT OF
THE TERMINAL.

>> Elissa Marra: CAN YOU GIVE
US AN ESTIMATION PERHAPS OF
HOW MUCH LONGER IT MIGHT BE
BEFORE WE GET FROM THE AIRPORT
TO OUR FLIGHT FROM NOW ON?
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK
IT'S BEEN WELL REPORTED THAT
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH
A LOT MORE NOW.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE
CURBSIDE CHECK-INS.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO
COME IN FRONT OF THE TERMINAL
REALLY FOR JUST A FEW MOMENTS
TO LET PASSENGERS OUT AND DROP
YOUR BAGS OFF.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE
YOUR BAGS INSIDE TO THE TICKET
COUNTER AND CHECK THEM IN.
WHEN YOU GET TO THE SECURITY
CHECKPOINTS, THERE'S GOING TO
BE A LOT MORE ACTIVITY THERE
NOW IF YOU HAVE CARRY-ONS.
ALL OF THOSE ITEMS ARE GOING
TO BE PHYSICALLY SEARCHED.
INDIVIDUALS NOW WILL BE
SCREENED AT LEAST TWICE BEFORE
THEY GET TO THE AIRCRAFT, AND
THEN THERE'S A WHOLE NUMBER OF
OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT WILL BE
GOING ON THAT THE AIRPORT AND
AIRLINES WILL BE DOING BEFORE
A FLIGHT TAKES OFF.

>> Bob Smith: IS THIS GOING TO
COMPROMISE EVEN THE WAY THAT
WE USE THE PARKING GARAGE AT
THE AIRPORT RIGHT NOW WHICH OF
COURSE WAS BUILT PRECISELY
BECAUSE IT WAS IN CLOSE
PROXIMITY TO THE TERMINAL, FOR
EASY ACCESS.

>> YOU KNOW, WE DID HAVE TO
DEAL WITH THAT TODAY, AND THAT
KIND OF DELAYED US OPENING THE
AIRPORT.
THE AIRPORT IS OPEN.
IT DID OPEN AT ABOUT 6:30
TODAY.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
PASSENGERS ARRIVE THERE
TONIGHT.
WE DO HAVE THREE FLIGHTS
COMING IN THAT ARE GOING TO
HAVE PASSENGERS ON THEM.
WHAT WE DID TODAY, WE HAD TO
MAKE AN ASSESSMENT WITH THE
F.A.A.
WE DID TOW A NUMBER OF CARS,
ABOUT 150 CARS, FURTHER FROM
THE FACILITY.
SO THERE IS GOING TO BE LESS
OF THE CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE
TERMINAL THAT WE ENJOYED IN
ROCHESTER.

>> Elissa Marra: PROBABLY
FOREVER IT WOULD BE THAT WAY?

>> IT'S DEFINITELY -- THE TERM
WE'RE USING RIGHT NOW IS
"INDEFINITE."

>> Bob Smith: SO PORTIONS OF
THE GARAGE ARE, BASICALLY, FOR
ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES,
CLOSED?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.
THEY'LL BE OFF-LIMITS,
BASICALLY THE FRONT OF THE
GARAGE.

>> Bob Smith: OUR FORUM
CONTINUES RIGHT NOW.
YOU ARE LISTENING TO AND
WATCHING WXXI TV ROCHESTER,
WXXI AM 1370 ROCHESTER, WXXI
FM 91.5 ROCHESTER AND WJSL FM
IN HOUGHTON AND wxxi.org.
I'M BOB SMITH WITH ELISSA
MARRA.
THANK YOU FOR PATIENTLY
WAITING WITH US AND YOUR
QUESTION NOW?

>> THANKS FOR HAVING THIS
EVENT.
A COUPLE OF COMMENTS: YOU'LL
HAVE TO LOOK UNDER A LOT OF
ROCKS IN MONROE COUNTY TO FIND
A RELIGIOUS PERSON OF GREATER
SENSITIVITY, HUMANITARIAN
INSTINCTS AND PURE KINDNESS
THAN Dr. MUHAMMAD SHAFIQ.

(Applause)

AND THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY
MIND THAT HE REPRESENTS THE
VERY BEST OF HIS TRADITION,
AND HE SHOULD BE LISTENED TO.
THE SECOND COMMENT: I'M ALSO
IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY
RESERVES, AND I HAVE BEEN
SITTING PRETTY CLOSE TO THE
TELEPHONE.
AS A CHAPLAIN, I CAN TELL YOU
THAT WE HAVE MILITARY
PERSONNEL WHO ARE JEWISH, WHO
ARE MUSLIM, WHO ARE CHRISTIAN,
AND WE DO NOT TAKE A RELIGIOUS
CENSUS WHEN WE ASK THOSE
PEOPLE TO GO INTO DANGEROUS
PLACES, AND IF SOMETHING DOES
OCCUR INVOLVING OUR MILITARY
-- AND THAT PROBABLY WILL
HAPPEN -- THERE WILL BE JEWISH
AND MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN
PERSONNEL INVOLVED, WORKING IN
THOSE PLACES ON BEHALF OF THIS
NATION, AND I THINK ALL
CITIZENS NEED TO BE AWARE OF
THAT AND APPRECIATE THAT FACT.
MY QUESTION REALLY IS TO THE
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY AND TO THE
TWO BISHOPS WHO ARE TEACHERS
OF THE CHURCH.
I WENT TO A SERVICE IN A
CHRISTIAN CHURCH LAST NIGHT
AND THE GOSPEL READING JARRED
ME BECAUSE IT BEGAN WITH THESE
WORDS: "I AM THE TRUE VINE AND
THOSE BRANCHES WHICH DO NOT
BEAR FRUIT ARE CUT OFF AND
CAST AWAY" OR SOMETHING LIKE
THAT.
THAT KIND OF VIOLENT IMAGE IN
A SERVICE OF HEALING REALLY
JARRED ME.
I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS
WHETHER OR NOT THE BISHOPS
BELIEVE THAT WE AS CHRISTIANS
HAVE SOME PERMISSION NOW MAYBE
TO NOT PAY AS CLOSE ATTENTION
TO THE LANGUAGE IN OUR
SCRIPTURES THAT PROMOTE AND
CONDONE VIOLENCE AND THERE'S
NO DOUBT THAT THAT LANGUAGE IS
THERE AND THERE'S NO DOUBT
THAT IN THE 2,000-YEAR HISTORY
OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH WE
HAVE OFTEN PAID A LOT MORE
ATTENTION TO THAT THAN WE HAVE
TO THE GOSPEL LESSON TODAY.
SO, BISHOPS, DO WE HAVE SOME
PERMISSION MAYBE TO IGNORE
SOME OF THE SCRIPTURES?

(Laughter)

>> Elissa Marra: YOU HANDLE
IT, BISHOP CLARK.

>> AS I HEAR YOU, PAUL, AND AS
YOU DRAW MY MIND TO THAT
PARTICULAR PASSAGE, I THINK OF
FARMERS IN THE FIELD AND OUR
WONDERFUL GROWERS OF GRAPES IN
THE FINGER LAKES REGION WHO
WITH LOVING CARE TEND THEIR
PRODUCE AND TRY TO PRUNE IT
AND TRIM IT SO IT YIELDS THE
GREATEST POSSIBLE FRUIT.
I THINK OF THE LORD'S WORDS IN
JOHN, IF THAT'S THE CITATION,
ABOUT THE VINEYARDS, REALLY
ARE MEANT TO EXPRESS IN
AGRICULTURAL LANGUAGE THE LIFE
THAT WE SHARE AND THAT IN THE
CHRISTIAN TRADITION, AS YOU
KNOW, WE SPEAK OF, THROUGH
BAPTISM, SHARING THE
UNQUENCHABLE LIFE OF CHRIST.
THE PRUNING, TO MAKE THE LIFE
STRONGER, I THINK PROBABLY
VERY LEGITIMATELY IN PARTS,
THOUGH I WOULD REALLY NEED TO
CONSULT PROFESSIONAL
LITURGIST, RECOGNIZE OUR
CAPACITY TO USE OUR FREEDOM IN
BAD WAYS, AGAINST LIFE AND
COUNTER TO LIFE.
IF YOU'RE ASKING ME SHOULD WE
AVOID THE LANGUAGE IN THE
GOSPELS THAT SUGGEST WE SHOULD
BE VIOLENT, I DON'T THINK WE
HAVE THAT PERMISSION, BUT
RATHER I THINK WE NEED TO
ALLOW IT TO CHALLENGE OUR
SPIRITS IN EVENTS LIKE THIS
BECAUSE I REALLY BELIEVE THAT
SUCH CHALLENGES HELP US TO
DISCOVER WHO WE REALLY ARE.

>> IF I COULD JUST SWITCH THE
QUESTION FOR A MOMENT, I CAN'T
GET OUT OF MY MIND IN LIGHT OF
THE QUESTION HOW THIS EVENT
PERSONALIZES SO BEAUTIFULLY
WHAT WE HOLD MOST DEEPLY IN
COMMON.
AND I THINK OF THE FACES OF
THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN SUCH
AGONY IN NEW YORK, AND IT
REMINDS ME OF THE AGONY ON THE
FACES OF IRAQI CHILDREN WHEN
WE LAUNCHED BOMBS ON BAGHDAD.
NOT WITH THE INTENTION OF
HURTING THOSE CHILDREN BUT
WITH THE RESULT THAT WE HURT
PRECIOUS, LITTLE CHILDREN.
SO WHEN WE COME TO THIS AND WE
SPEAK ABOUT LIFE AND VIOLENCE
AND RETALIATION, WE REALLY
NEED TO GO VERY DEEP, I THINK
BEYOND, WAY BEYOND OUR NATURAL
INSTINCTS, AND HEAR WHAT OUR
FAITH CHALLENGES US TO.
I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT THE
VERY BEST OF MY OWN TRADITION,
OUR BEST RESPONSE DOES NOT
INCLUDE MORE KILLING.

(Applause)

>> Elissa Marra: BISHOP CLARK,
THERE ARE SOME THAT MAY SAY
THAT POLITICALLY THAT MAY NOT
BE ABLE TO BE THE CASE, AND I
WOULD LIKE TO CALL ON
Dr. MAGERS MAYBE TO TALK A
LITTLE ABOUT THAT.
POLITICALLY, IS THAT A NAIVE
STATEMENT TO MAKE?

>> WELL, THERE ARE SEVERAL
RESPONSE TO THIS TYPE OF
THING, AND I THINK WE HAVE TO
CALL ATTENTION TO THE FACT
THAT RECENT HISTORY HAS BEEN
THAT OUR RESPONSE HAS BEEN A
LAW ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE WHICH
IS IN FACT A NON-VIOLENT
RESPONSE.
SO WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE
NECESSARILY A
POLITICAL/MILITARY SOLUTION TO
THESE THINGS, THAT THE HISTORY
HAS BEEN THAT WE HAVE GONE AND
INVESTIGATED, BROUGHT THESE
PEOPLE TO JUSTICE, HAVE TRIED
THEM IN THE COURTS OF LAW, AND
WE HAVE SENTENCED THEM
ACCORDING TO THE LAWS OF THIS
COUNTRY.
IF THAT COULD HAPPEN NOW, WE
COULD AVOID SUCH
POLITICAL/MILITARY SOLUTIONS.
THAT TAKES SOMETHING BESIDES
JUST COURTS AND POLICE
OFFICERS AND PROSECUTORS; IT
ALSO TAKES DIPLOMACY.
CERTAINLY THAT'S BEEN IN SOME
OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TRIED,
BUT SOMETIMES DIPLOMACY TAKES
A BIG STICK BEHIND YOU IN
ORDER TO GET THINGS MOVING
ALONG.
I THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE
HOPE THAT WE CAN SOLVE SUCH A
SITUATION AS THIS FROM A LAW
ENFORCEMENT PERSPECTIVE, FROM
A JUDICIAL PERSPECTIVE, AS
OPPOSED TO ONE OF
POLITICAL/MILITARY SOLUTIONS.

>> Bob Smith: JEFF, I THINK
YOU HAVE INVOKED LAW
ENFORCEMENT, AND A COLLEAGUE
IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT REALM,
MAJOR FISCHER OF THE STATE
POLICE, I WOULD BE CURIOUS TO
KNOW YOUR PERSPECTIVE AS A
LAWMAN.

>> WELL, SOMETIMES A
NON-VIOLENT RESPONSE AND A LAW
ENFORCEMENT RESPONSE ARE A
GOOD THING TO DO, AND I THINK
THAT OUR COUNTRY HAS A HISTORY
OF DOING THAT, BUT NOT
EVERYBODY PUTS THEIR HANDS
BEHIND THEIR BACK WHEN YOU
TELL THEM TO GET IN THE CAR
AND THEY'RE UNDER ARREST.
SO I DON'T PRETEND TO TELL
THIS COUNTRY OR OUR LEADERS
HOW THEY SHOULD RESPOND TO
THIS INCIDENT.
I KNOW IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT
ROAD THAT THEY HAVE, TRYING TO
PROVE THIS CASE.
THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION
OUT THERE; THERE'S A LOT OF
PEOPLE OUT THERE, AND IT'S NOT
ALL -- I HAVE THE LUXURY IN A
TEN-COUNTY REGION OF PRETTY
MUCH HAVING EVERYTHING RIGHT
IN FRONT OF ME.
IT'S A MUCH MORE COMPLEX LAW
ENFORCEMENT PROBLEM ON A
NATIONAL LEVEL.
BUT FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT
PERSPECTIVE, I WOULD CERTAINLY
BE MOST INTERESTED IN SEEING
THEM BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.

>> Bob Smith: LET'S GO NEXT TO
A QUESTION, THE LADY STANDING
AT THE MIKE IN THE GREY
BLAZER, STAGE LEFT.

>> GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS SELIA.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO
THANK WXXI FOR GIVING US THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE OUR
CONCERNS.
I THINK THIS IS WHY AMERICA IS
SUCH A GREAT COUNTRY, FREEDOM
OF SPEECH SO THAT EVERYONE CAN
SAY WHATEVER THEY HAVE ON
THEIR MINDS.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO
MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS AND
WOULD LIKE Dr. SHAFIQ TO
EXPAND ON THEM BECAUSE HIS
EXPERTISE, KNOWLEDGE IS A LOT
BETTER THAN MINE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO POSE A
QUESTION, AND I'M NOT SURE IF
IT'S ACCURATE OR NOT, BUT I
WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE.
FIRST OF ALL, I REALLY,
REALLY, TRULY SYMPATHIZE WITH
THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE LOST
LOVED ONES.
THIS IS NOT BY NO MEANS EASY
ON US AS WELL.
BUT I'M ALSO VERY FRUSTRATED.
I MEAN... ISLAM MEANS PEACE.
THERE IS -- THAT'S THE BOTTOM
LINE, THE MEANING OF THIS
RELIGION.
IT DOES NOT CONDONE -- IT DOES
NOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO FIGHT,
PEOPLE TO KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE
IN THE NAME OF ISLAM.
THIS IS ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS
SERVING HIS SELFISH -- HIS
SELFISH PURPOSE, HIS SELFISH
VIEWS, AND HE'S ACTING OUT AND
I DON'T THINK -- IF WE ACT OUT
IN THE SAME WAY, WE'RE NO
BETTER THAN HE IS.

(Applause)

SO I WOULD LIKE Dr. SHAFIQ
PLEASE TO EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT WHAT ISLAM AND
JIHAD -- THE SPEAKER ON THE
PHONE WAS REFERRING TO JIHAD
-- IS REALLY ALL ABOUT.
SECOND OF ALL, OVER AND OVER
AGAIN IN THE MEDIA THEY REFER
TO ISLAMIC TERRORISTS, ARAB
TERRORISTS.
I'M NOT AN ARAB.
I MEAN I HAVE NEVER LIVED IN
THE MIDDLE EAST.
BUT PEOPLE LOOK AT ME AND THEY
ASSUME I'M ONE OF THEM.
YES, I AM A MUSLIM, BUT I'M
NOT AN ARAB AND YES, I AM A
MUSLIM; I BELIEVE IN ISLAM,
BUT I AM NOT A TERRORIST.
PLEASE, DO NOT PUT THOSE -- I
BEG OF THE MEDIA, WHETHER IT'S
THE NEWSPAPER, WHETHER IT'S
THE TV, WHETHER IT'S THE
RADIO: STOP REFERRING TO THIS
-- IF THIS WAS DONE BY A
MUSLIM PERSON, STOP REFERRING
TO IT AS AN ISLAMIC TERRORIST
OR AN ARAB TERRORIST.
DO YOU GUYS KNOW THERE ARE
ARABS WHO ARE JEWS?
HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT?
THERE ARE ARABS IN LEBANON
THAT ARE CHRISTIANS.
HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT?
BUT YOU CALL ARABS TERRORISTS.
WHO ARE YOU REFERRING TO?
YOU'RE NOT REFERRING TO ME.
I'M NOT AN ARAB.
BUT YOU LOOK AT ME LIKE I'M A
TERRORIST OR I HAD SOMETHING
TO DO WITH THIS.
PLEASE!

>> Elissa Marra: LET'S GIVE
OUR PANELISTS A CHANCE TO
RESPOND TO THIS.

>> AND I WANT TO MAKE A
COMMENT: I'VE HEARD, A FRIEND
OF MINE RECEIVED AN E-MAIL OF
ATTACKS -- THREE PEOPLE WHO
WERE MUSLIMS WHO WERE KILLED
IN THE PHILADELPHIA AREA.
I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING IN
THE MEDIA.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF ANYONE
HAS HEARD OF THIS AND -- I
MEAN THIS IS HAPPENING AND
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN MORE, AND
I'M VERY AFRAID TO SEND MY
KIDS TO SCHOOL WHO ASKED ME
YESTERDAY, AFTER HEARING THE
EVENTS ON THE RADIO ABOUT KIDS
BEING CHASED WITH BASEBALL
BATS, SHE'S SAYING, "MOMMY, IS
THAT GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME?"
SO HOW DO I SEND MY CHILD TO
SCHOOL?

>> Elissa Marra: LET'S TRY AND
GET SOME ANSWERS FOR YOU.
FIRST OF ALL, PERHAPS WE COULD
CALL ON KAREN MAGNUSSEN, THE
EDITOR OF "THE DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE," TO TELL US IF YOU
ARE HEARING IN ALL OF THE
REPORTING YOU DO, NOT ALL OF
WHICH MAKES THE NEWSPAPERS,
THAT THERE HAVE BEEN ANY LOCAL
ATTACKS ON LOCAL PEOPLE WHO
ARE MUSLIM OR ANYTHING LIKE
THAT.
LET'S JUST START THERE AND
THEN WE'LL TALK A LITTLE MORE
ABOUT MEDIA AND ITS ROLE IN
ALL THIS.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE
TO THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR
CONCERNS.
I WOULD LIKE ANYONE WHO WOULD
REALLY LIKE TO TALK WITH ME
ABOUT COVERAGE IN OUR
NEWSPAPER TO SIMPLY E-MAIL ME
OR GIVE ME A CALL.
MY NUMBER AND E-MAIL IS EASILY
ACCESSIBLE IN THE NEWSPAPER
AND I REALLY DO WANT TO HEAR
FROM EVERYONE, PARTICULARLY IF
THEY HAVE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES
WHERE THEY FEEL THAT WE AT THE
NEWSPAPER HAVE BEEN
INSENSITIVE.
FORTUNATELY, THERE HAVE BEEN
VERY FEW CIRCUMSTANCES AT ALL
FOR US TO REPORT LOCALLY IN
ROCHESTER.
THERE ARE, OBVIOUSLY,
INCIDENTS HAPPENING IN OTHER
AREAS AROUND THE NATION, AND
WE DO TRY TO REPORT THOSE AS
WE KNOW ABOUT THEM.
WE GET A LOT OF THAT
INFORMATION OF COURSE FROM OUR
WIRE SERVICES AND WE FOCUS OUR
OWN REPORTERS ON WHAT'S
HAPPENING HERE IN THE
ROCHESTER AREA.

>> Elissa Marra: HAVING BEEN A
JOURNALISTS FOR MANY YEARS, I
KNOW THERE'S ALWAYS A DEBATE:
MORE LOCAL NEWS OR MORE
NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL NEWS,
AND THE MAYOR MADE MENTION
EARLIER ABOUT ROCHESTER
UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S GOING ON
IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.
DO YOU THINK THE MEDIA FOCUS
AND EVEN THE LOCAL NEWS FOCUS
MAY SHIFT TO TRY AND INCLUDE
MORE INTERNATIONAL COVERAGE
JUST FOR THE UNDERSTANDING OF
WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND THE
WORLD?

>> I THINK THAT'S ABSOLUTELY
SOMETHING THAT WE AS A
NEWSPAPER NEED TO CONSIDER
BECAUSE WE TRY TO STAY VERY
CLOSE TO WHO OUR READERS ARE
AND WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE.
THEY HAVE TOLD US TIME AND
TIME AGAIN THAT THEY WANT TO
KNOW MORE ABOUT LOCAL NEWS.
WE ARE THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER.
BUT I THINK THE MAYOR MAKES A
GOOD POINT IN THAT IT'S ALSO
THE NEWSPAPER'S RESPONSIBILITY
TO TRY TO EXPLAIN WHAT'S
HAPPENING AROUND THE WORLD AS
NEWS OCCURS.
AND RIGHT NOW THERE IS A SHIFT
IN ATTENTION TO THINGS THAT
PERHAPS PEOPLE HAVEN'T PAID AS
MUCH ATTENTION TO BECAUSE THEY
DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE AS
IMPORTANT AS WHAT WAS
HAPPENING DOWN THE STREET.
NOW I THINK ALL OF US HAVE A
MUCH LARGER VIEW OF THE WORLD
AND CERTAINLY OUR NEWSPAPER
HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP
CAPTURE THAT.

>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.

>> Bob Smith: AT THIS POINT, I
WOULD BE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT
KIND OF REACTION HAVE YOU SEEN
IN THIS COMMUNITY, YUSUF
SHARIF?

>> THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN.
AS AN EMPLOYEE FOR THE
ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
FOR ELEVEN YEARS, THERE'S AN
INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM THEY
HAVE AT THIS HIGH SCHOOL, I'D
RATHER NOT SAY DUE TO
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT EVERYBODY
UNDERSTANDS, THAT THERE ARE
STUDENTS IN THIS SCHOOL THAT
ARE NOT FROM THIS COUNTRY.
THEY HAVE COME TO ME
PERSONALLY.
THEY ARE MUSLIM, AND I WAS
HAPPY THAT I WAS THERE TO BE
AN INTERMEDIARY BETWEEN THE
ADMINISTRATION AND STUDENT
THAT WAS BEING HARASSED.
THEY WERE MUSLIM AND THEY WERE
BEING HARASSED BY OTHER
STUDENTS AND STEREOTYPED.
I WANT TO ADD, TOO, AGAIN AS
AFRICAN-AMERICAN BORN IN THIS
COUNTRY, WE KNOW THAT RACISM
DID EXIST, SLAVERY DID EXIST.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT THE SISTER
SAID AS FAR AS STEREOTYPES.
AS SOMEONE WHO ACCEPTED ISLAM
13 YEARS AGO, I HAVE YET --
AND I SPEAK FOR
AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSLIMS IN
THIS COUNTRY, THAT TRULY HAVE
BEEN ACCEPTED BY -- AS TRUE
MUSLIMS.
I DON'T IDENTIFY WITH THE
TEACHINGS OF FARRAKHAN.
HIS TEACHINGS ARE NOT NEEDED
OR ACCEPTED, BUT I UNDERSTAND
WHAT YOU MEAN AND SOMETIMES
YOU HAVE TO IGNORE AND THAT'S
WHAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO.
SO WHAT I HAVE SEEN IS SINCE
THIS ATROCITY IS THAT WITH THE
CHILDREN, THE YOUNGER ONES IN
SCHOOLS, I HAVE BEEN THERE AS
A MUSLIM AND AS A CONCERNED
PERSON AND AS A STAFF MEMBER
TO BE AN INTERMEDIARY.

>> Elissa Marra: THANK YOU.
I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT
OUR TELEPHONE NUMBER IS
263-9994.
YOU CAN CALL IN AND
PARTICIPATE WITH US AT THIS
COMMUNITY FORUM THIS EVENING,
"ROCHESTER UNITES," ON WXXI
TELEVISION AND RADIO, AND I
WANT TO THANK OUR PANELISTS
FOR BEING HERE.
SOME OF US HAVE BEEN REALLY
TRYING TO SHARE TONIGHT.
THE WHOLE POINT HERE IS THAT
WE ALL CAN SHARE OUR FEELINGS
AND THOUGHTS AND CONCERNS AND
WE APPRECIATE THAT.
SOME OF OUR PANELISTS HAVE
BEEN SITTING HERE WITHOUT
SAYING VERY MUCH FOR QUITE
AWHILE, SO I'M GOING TO JUST
SHIFT THE DISCUSSION A LITTLE
BIT.
AS WE TALK ABOUT RESPONSES,
THERE HAS BEEN SOME AMAZING
RESPONSE FROM OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M THINKING OF THE MOUNTAIN
OF DONATIONS ON EAST RIDGE
ROAD YESTERDAY WHEN THE STATE
POLICE CALLED AND SAID THEY
HAD SOME NEEDS IN NEW YORK
CITY.
I'M THINKING ABOUT THE STATE
POLICE WHO HAVE BEEN DOWN IN
NEW YORK CITY HELPING OUT, THE
RURAL METRO AMBULANCE PEOPLE,
AND I THINK AT LEAST ONE LOCAL
DOCTOR IS THERE, AND MANY
OTHERS ARE IN NEW YORK AND
POSSIBLY WASHINGTON HELPING
OUT.
I WANT TO TURN TO NANCY
CHESTERTON FROM THE RED CROSS
TO TALK A BIT ABOUT AN E-MAIL
I GOT TODAY, AND IT WAS ONE
LINE.
IT JUST SAID, "WHAT ELSE CAN I
DO?"
I THINK A LOT OF US ARE
THINKING THAT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT GETTING
BACK TO BUSINESS AS USUAL, BUT
WE STILL WANT TO DO SOMETHING.
WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO?

>> THE OUTPOURING IN RESPONSE
HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE AND HOW
PEOPLE CAN HELP: CERTAINLY THE
NEED CONTINUES FOR BLOOD
DONATIONS.
WE APPRECIATE HOW PATIENT
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE
LINES AND THE WAIT, BUT YOUR
BLOOD IS DESPERATELY NEEDED
AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE NEEDED
OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS
AND MONTHS.
SO WE WOULD REALLY ENCOURAGE
YOU TO CONTINUE TO DONATE
BLOOD.
IT WILL BE USED AND IT IS
NEEDED.
PEOPLE CAN HELP CERTAINLY BY
VOLUNTEERING.
WE HAVE USED THIS AS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO PEOPLE
IN THE COMMUNITY.
ALTHOUGH YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE
TO RESPOND IF THERE WAS AN
EMERGENCY TODAY, YOU CAN BE
TRAINED SO THAT YOU CAN BE
PART OF THE TEAM OF MEN AND
WOMEN AROUND THE COUNTRY AND
AROUND THE WORLD WHO CAN
RESPOND WHEN THERE IS AN
EMERGENCY AND PUT YOUR
GOODWILL AND YOUR TALENTS TO
WORK,
CERTAINLY WORKING IN
COOPERATION WITH THE MANY
OTHER AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY
ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE REACHING
OUT TO DO DIFFERENT KINDS OF
ACTIVITIES TO SHOW THEIR
SUPPORT.
IT'S NOT ONLY GOING TO BE
GOING ON OVER THE NEXT WEEK,
BUT WE'RE LOOKING AT IN TERMS
OF LONG-TERM SUPPORT AND HELP
FOR PEOPLE IN THE AREAS THAT
HAVE BEEN IMPACTED.
SO WE NEED TO THINK OF WAYS
THAT YOU CAN CONTINUE
INVOLVEMENT AND SUPPORT.
AND PART OF THIS HELPS OUR
RECOVERY AS A COMMUNITY WHEN
WE REACH OUT AND LIFT EACH
OTHER UP BY WORKING TOGETHER
TO DO GOOD TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.

>> Bob Smith: QUESTIONS THAT I
GET, AND I HAVE BEEN GETTING
THEM FOR THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS
ON THE RADIO SHOW AND OFF THE
AIR, TENDING TO CENTER AROUND
A FEW THINGS: HOW MUCH AND
WHAT TYPES OF BLOOD DO YOU
NEED?
WHAT KINDS OF DONATIONS IN
KIND DO YOU NEED?
HOW ARE YOU FIXED FOR CASH?

>> OH, THOSE ARE VERY GOOD
QUESTIONS!
THE ANSWER TO THOSE ARE WE
NEED ALL TYPES OF BLOOD.
CERTAINLY THE UNIVERSAL BLOOD
DONOR, WHICH IS "O" NEGATIVE,
IS A TYPE OF BLOOD THAT CAN BE
USED PARTICULARLY IN EMERGENCY
SITUATIONS, BUT ALL TYPES OF
BLOOD ARE NEEDED.
IN TERMS OF FINANCIAL
CONTRIBUTIONS, YES.
WE CERTAINLY -- THE AMERICAN
RED CROSS AND OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS CAN DEFINITELY
BENEFIT BY THE GOODWILL AND
THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THIS
COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE AROUND
THE WORLD.

>> Bob Smith: DO YOU KNOW IF
PEOPLE DOWN IN NEW YORK ARE
NEEDING MORE MANPOWER, HELP TO
ACTUALLY DIG IT OUT AND GET
THINGS MOVING ONCE AGAIN AT
THIS POINT OR ARE THEY WELL
PREPARED WITH PERSONNEL?

>> THE ANSWERS WE HAVE HAD ARE
VARIED.
IT DEPENDS ON THE HOUR AND IT
DEPENDS ON THE DAY.
WE HAVE UNDERSTOOD THAT
MANPOWER IS SUFFICIENT.
THERE HAD BEEN A NEED FOR
MEDICAL PERSONNEL, AND THE
MOST RECENT INFORMATION THAT
WE HAVE HAD IS THAT THERE NO
LONGER IS A NEED FOR THAT.
WE HEARD THERE WERE NEEDS OF
PARTICULAR KINDS OF SUPPLIES.
SO IT DOES VARY IN THE LOCAL
COMMUNITY.
BUT CERTAINLY RED CROSS WORKS
IN LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS AND
COMMUNITIES WITH ORGANIZATIONS
THAT ARE PROVIDING ASSISTANCE,
AND THERE IS A TEAM THERE THAT
WORKS COLLECTIVELY TO HELP
MAKE THOSE ASSESSMENTS.
AT THIS POINT, THE NEEDS ARE
FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING DURING
THE IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY, AND
THEY WILL SHIFT, AGAIN AS I
SAID, AS WE GO INTO A
LONG-TERM RECOVERY PHASE WHEN
THERE WILL BE A DIFFERENT KIND
OF NEED TO HELP PEOPLE.
RIGHT NOW THE NEEDS ARE FOR
IMMEDIATE -- BEING ABLE TO
MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS THAT ARE
IN THE AFFECTED AREA HAVE A
PLACE TO STAY, HAVE FOOD, THAT
THEIR IMMEDIATE NEEDS ARE
BEING MET FOR HOUSING, FOOD,
CLOTHING AND SHELTER.
THOSE NEEDS WILL CHANGE AS WE
MOVE INTO THE NEXT PHASE.

>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT WE HAVE AN
AUDIENCE WITH STAMINA.
THEY HAVE BEEN STANDING, SOME
OF THEM, FOR AN HOUR AND A
HALF, IT SEEMS.
THIS GENTLEMAN?

>> RICHARD GILBERT, PARISH
MINISTER OF THE FIRST
UNITARIAN CHURCH.
I WOULD LIKE TO CHANGE THE
FOCUS SOMEWHAT TO A SOMEWHAT
MORE POLITICAL TACT, AND I'M
WONDERING ABOUT WHAT THE
REACTION OF THE PANEL IS TO
WHAT I CAN ONLY CALL THE
RHETORIC OF WAR THAT WE'RE
INCREASINGLY HEARING.
PRESIDENT BUSH TONIGHT TALKED
ABOUT LEADING A WORLDWIDE
COALITION FOR VICTORY OVER
TERRORISM, KIND OF TRIUMPALIST
TALK IN THEOLOGICAL TERMS, AND
WE'RE GETTING THAT FROM MANY
OTHER PEOPLE, TOO.
ARE WE BEING PREPARED FOR A
MASS MILITARY BUILDUP, AND I
THINK THE $20 BILLION THAT WAS
MENTIONED, MUCH OF THAT WILL
BE GOING TO THE MILITARY, NOT
REBUILDING NEW YORK STATE,
NEW YORK CITY.
AND ARE WE BEING PREPARED FOR
A MASSIVE RETALIATORY STRIKE
WHICH MAY MISS THE
PERPETRATORS AND KILL MANY
INNOCENT PEOPLE?
I AM REALLY SCARED ABOUT THE
ESCALATION OF RHETORIC.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET THE
PANEL'S RESPONSE.

>> Elissa Marra: PERHAPS ONE
OF THE PROFESSORS FROM
SUNY-BROCKPORT COULD ADDRESS
THAT?
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> ONLY TIME WILL TELL.
I GUESS I HAVE TO SPEAK
PERSONALLY.
THE HISTORY OF MASSIVE STRIKES
IN RESPONSE TO TERRORISM HAS
NOT BEEN GOOD IN TERMS OF
GETTING TO THE REAL
PERPETRATORS OR ENDING IT, SO
I THINK YOUR FEAR IN THAT
REGARD IS WELL PLACED.
I HAVE TO SAY I'M USUALLY
SKEPTICAL IN THIS REGARD, BUT
I HAVE BEEN NOTING THAT A
GREAT MANY OF OUR LEADERS DO
-- WHILE THERE IS A LOT OF
RHETORIC OF VIOLENCE AND MASS
RETALIATION, I TAKE THEIR
MENTIONING OF THE NEED FOR
COLLECTIVE ACTION AND TRYING
TO GATHER THE SUPPORT OF A
WIDER COALITION AS GOOD SIGNS
IN THEIR HESITANCY TO GO IT
ALONE AND TO TAKE PRECIPITOUS
ACTION THAT WON'T HAVE ANY
REAL EFFECT.

>> I AM REFERRING TO THE
MAYOR'S COMMENTS EARLIER.
I THINK I HEARD THE BROADCAST
WHERE HE WAS TALKING ABOUT AND
I FOUND IT ABSOLUTELY
APPALLING.
THE LANGUAGE WAS, "WE DON'T
NEED A TRIAL.
WE DON'T NEED A PROCESS.
WE DON'T HAVE TO TALK TO
ANYONE ELSE.
WE KNOW WHO DID IT.
NOW LET'S GO BLAST THEM TO
SMITHEREENS."
I FIND THAT HORRID AND
ABSOLUTELY APPALLING.
THERE'S AN AUDIENCE FOR THAT
AND THERE ARE SOME IN WHOSE
SPIRITS THAT KIND OF RHETORIC
TAKE ROOT,
AND I THINK IT GIVES BIRTH TO
THINGS THAT FULLY COMPOUND OUR
PROBLEMS.
I THINK IF WE REALLY BELIEVE
AND HAVE CONFIDENCE IN OUR
DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM, WE NEED TO
MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD TO OUR
REPRESENTATIVES IN GOVERNMENT
THAT WE INSIST ON DUE PROCESS
THAT KEEPS US CIVILIZED, THAT
WE SEEK JUSTICE OF COURSE BUT
THAT WE DO SO IN A WAY THAT
LEAVES US INTACT AND DOESN'T
DIMINISH US IN ANY WAY, BY
INVESTIGATION, DIPLOMACY,
POLITICAL PRESSURES, IN ALL
THE WAYS IN WHICH PEOPLE HERE
KNOW FAR BETTER THAN I DO.
BUT IT ALARMS ME THAT THAT
KIND OF WAR-LIKE RHETORIC IS
FLOATING OUT THERE.
I HOPE THAT WE CAN SPEAK WITH
ANOTHER VOICE TO THAT.

>> Elissa Marra: SPEAKING OF
OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE JUST
DID WANT TO LET YOU ALL KNOW
THAT SOME OF OUR LOCAL
REPRESENTATIVES HAVE SENT
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THEIR
OFFICES HERE TONIGHT.
THERE IS SOMEONE HERE FROM
CONGRESSWOMAN LOUISE
SLAUGHTER'S OFFICE, FROM
MONROE COUNTY EXECUTIVE JACK
DOYLE'S OFFICE, FROM STATE
SENATOR RICHARD DOWINGER'S
OFFICE, AND FROM U.S. SENATOR
HILLARY CLINTON'S OFFICE HERE
IN ROCHESTER.
THEY'RE WITH US TONIGHT.
WE THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN.
ALSO, ASSEMBLYMAN JOSEPH
MORELLI HAS SENT SOMEONE TO BE
WITH US TONIGHT.
WE THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE
TIME TO COME AND LISTEN TO OUR
COMMUNITY'S CONCERNS AND OUR
DISTINGUISHED PANELISTS.

>> Bob Smith: AND OF COURSE,
SPEAKING OF COMMUNITY
CONCERNS, YOU'RE INVITED TO
VOICE THEM: 263-9994,
OUR TELEPHONE NUMBER.
LINES ARE OPEN NOW AND WE NOW
OPEN UP THE LINES TO LONNY IN
GREECE.
LONNY, YOU'RE ON THE AIR.
WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

>> THE DISCUSSION IS
WONDERFUL.
I WISH IT REACHED MORE PEOPLE,
UNFORTUNATELY.
I HAVE TWO THINGS.
ONE IS MY FEAR IS THE SAME AS
THAT OF THE RETIRED MINISTER
FROM THE EAST SIDE.
I FEAR THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE
ILLITERATE ABOUT THE WORLD,
AND THERE ARE MANY
UNFORTUNATELY, PLUS THOSE
FUNDAMENTALISTS FROM OTHER
RELIGIONS, WILL TAKE THEIR
RESENTMENTS OUT ON MUSLIMS.
I MEAN HOW WOULD THEY LIKE IT
IF A HANDFUL OF RADICALS OF
THEIR OWN BELIEFS WERE TO DO
SUCH THINGS?
I MEAN, THEY WOULD BE
HORRIFIED.
IT'S JUST A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE.
AND SECONDLY, AND MOST
IMPORTANTLY, I THINK, AS
BISHOP CLARK REMINDED US
EARLIER, I MEAN THE PRESIDENT
ASKED THAT TOMORROW AT NOON
EVERYBODY STOP AND PRAY,
IF YOU GO TO A CHURCH OR
MOSQUE OR SYNAGOGUE, OR JUST
STOP AND PRAY IF POSSIBLE.
AND I REALLY BELIEVE IN THE
POWER OF PRAYER, AND MY WISH
IS THAT EVERYONE WOULD PRAY TO
CHANGE THE HEARTS OF ALL THOSE
WHO HARBOR THE KINDS OF
EMOTIONS WHICH ENABLES THEM TO
COMMIT THESE KINDS OF ACTS AND
TO CHANGE THE HEARTS OF ALL
THOSE WHO WISH TO STRIKE BACK.
THE GENTLEMAN WAS ASKING OF
THE FAITH COMMUNITY AT THE
FORUM, WHAT IS A PEACEFUL
RESPONSE?
I THINK THAT IS A VERY
POWERFUL ONE IF WE COULD JUST
DO IT.

>> Elissa Marra: THANK YOU,
LONNY, FOR THE SENTIMENT
TONIGHT THAT WE HAVE HEARD AND
THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS.
LET'S TAKE ANOTHER QUESTION
FROM THE AUDIENCE NOW.
THE GENTLEMAN IN THE GREEN
SHIRT?
GO RIGHT AHEAD.

>> THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING.
MY NAME IS CHRIS DYER.
I HAVE A QUESTION RELATED TO
AIRPORT SECURITY SO I GUESS
THE MOST APPROPRIATE PERSON TO
DIRECT THIS TO WOULD BE
Mr. SLAYBAUGH OF THE ROCHESTER
MONROE COUNTY AIRPORT.
WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT THE LAXITY
OF AIRPORT SECURITY IN THIS
COUNTRY, ESPECIALLY IN THE
LAST FEW DAYS.
WITHIN THE LAST DAY OR SO, I
HEARD A STORY ON NATIONAL
PUBLIC RADIO, ON "MORNING
EDITION," WHICH WAS TALKING
ABOUT THE WAGES OF PEOPLE WHO
HANDLE BAGGAGE AND LOOK AT THE
X-RAY MACHINES TO MAKE SURE
THERE'S NO CONTRABAND OR
WEAPONS AND SO FORTH IN
LUGGAGE.
IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE
TYPICAL WAGE NATIONWIDE OF
PEOPLE WHO LOOK AT THE SCREEN
AND DO THE X-RAY MACHINES ARE
PAID ROUGHLY BETWEEN $5.50 AND
$6 AN HOUR NATIONWIDE.
I KNOW FROM A FRIEND OF MINE
WHOSE MOTHER RECENTLY, IN
RETIREMENT, TOOK A PART-TIME
JOB AT THE MONROE COUNTY
AIRPORT, SHE WAS MAKING
ROUGHLY $5 OR $6 AN HOUR FOR
WHAT IS DEEMED TO BE A
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, SECURITY
KIND OF POSITION.
NOW, HOW CAN WE CLAIM TO HAVE
SUCH A HIGH PRIORITY ON
SECURITY AT AIRPORTS WHEN
WE'RE NOT WILLING TO PAY
PEOPLE WHO PERFORM THESE
SECURITY OPERATIONS SOMETHING
THAT SUGGESTS THAT WE TAKE
SECURITY VERY SERIOUSLY?

(Applause)

>> Elissa Marra:
Mr. SLAYBAUGH, YOU CAN HANDLE
THAT.

>> I THINK THAT YOU RAISE A
VERY GOOD POINT AND I DON'T
THINK THAT IS AN ISSUE THAT
PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY HAVE
MISSED.
I KNOW IN ROCHESTER AND I KNOW
AMONG AIRPORT DIRECTORS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY AND IN THE STATE
WHEN WE GET TOGETHER, THAT
THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE HAVE
RAISED WITH THE FEDERAL
AVIATION ADMINISTRATION WHEN
THEY HAVE LOOKED AT OUR
AIRPORTS FOR SECURITY AND WHEN
THEY HAVE COME IN AND DONE
SECURITY AUDITS, CONDUCTED
SECURITY AUDITS, AND THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE POINTED
OUT TO THEM, THE HIGH TURNOVER
SOMETIMES THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN
THOSE POSITIONS AND THE FACT
THAT WE CANNOT GET PEOPLE WHO
WOULD STAY IN THOSE POSITIONS,
AND CERTAINLY HISTORICALLY,
IT'S NOT BEEN LOOKED AT AS A
CAREER.
I THINK JUST TODAY IT WAS IN
"USA TODAY" THAT THE
CONGRESSMAN WHO IS THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE
ON AVIATION IS GOING TO BE
GIVEN THE TASK OF LOOKING AT
THAT WHOLE SYSTEM.
ONE THING I DO WANT TO SAY,
THOUGH, AND IT'S BEEN
FRUSTRATING TO WATCH THE
NATIONAL NEWS AND WATCH THE
EXPERTS, FORMER F.A.A.
OFFICIALS, ATTACK THE SECURITY
SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE AT
AIRPORTS BECAUSE AT THE SAME
TIME, IF YOU KNOW AN
INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS WORKED IN
THAT POSITION IN ROCHESTER, IN
MANY OF OUR AIRPORTS WE HAVE
VERY GOOD PEOPLE IN THOSE
POSITIONS WHO ARE REALLY
ACCOMPLISHING THE JOB THEY SET
OUT TO DO.
I THINK IT'S PREMATURE TO
JUDGE THE SYSTEM WE HAD IN
PLACE PRIOR TO TUESDAY UNTIL
WE KNOW WHAT THE FACTS ARE
AROUND THE EVENTS THAT
UNFOLDED ON TUESDAY.
CERTAINLY WHAT HAPPENED
TUESDAY IS GOING TO CHANGE THE
LANDSCAPE OF SECURITY AT
AIRPORTS IN THE UNITED STATES,
BUT I THINK RIGHT NOW IT'S TOO
HARSH TO JUDGE THE SYSTEM WE
HAD IN PLACE BECAUSE BASICALLY
IN THIS COUNTRY, WE'RE A FREE
SOCIETY; WE HAD DONE RISK
ASSESSMENT OF WHAT THE RISKS
WERE IN THE AVIATION SYSTEM IN
THIS COUNTRY, AND FOR FOUR
DECADES THAT ASSESSMENT HAD
WORKED.
CERTAINLY WHAT HAPPENED ON
TUESDAY IS GOING TO CHANGE ALL
OF THAT AND I THINK THE ISSUE
THAT YOU HAVE BROUGHT UP
TONIGHT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF
THE ISSUES LOOKED AT
IMMEDIATELY.

>> IF I COULD JUST ADD A
COMMENT OR TWO AND A CONCERN.
IT IS, I THINK, OUR NATURE TO
TRY AND AT LEAST LOCATE THOSE
WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE OR ASSESS
BLAME.
I THINK IT'S A MISTAKE.
AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I THINK
WE HAVE TO LOOK TO WHAT THE
BASIC RELATIONSHIPS ARE
BETWEEN HUMAN BEINGS ALL
ACROSS THIS WORLD, AND WHETHER
THOSE ARE RELATIONSHIPS OF
TRUST OR DISTRUST.
WE COULD HAVE SECURITY, AS
MUCH AS YOU MIGHT THINK WE
SHOULD HAVE, AND IT WILL STILL
NOT NECESSARILY BE PERFECT.
FOR US TO THINK THAT WE'RE
GOING TO FIND THAT SENSE OF
SECURITY IN ANOTHER MACHINE OR
IN MOVING A CAR AWAY FROM AN
AIRPORT, I THINK THAT WE'RE
MAKING A MISTAKE.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR SIMPLE
SOLUTIONS TO FAR MORE COMPLEX
AND PROFOUND ISSUES, AND IF WE
PUT OUR TRUST IN THOSE WHICH
WILL NOT GIVE IT TO US, WE'RE
BOUND TO BE DISAPPOINTED ONCE
AGAIN.
THIS HAS TO DO WITH WHAT THE
NATURE OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS
ARE, AND UNTIL WE START AGAIN
TO TRUST EACH OTHER IN
PROFOUND AND REAL WAYS AND
UNDERSTAND WHAT IS RIGHT AND
WHAT IS WRONG, WE ARE GOING TO
CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR SIMPLE
AND FOOLISH QUICK SOLUTIONS,
AND THEY ARE NOT GOING TO
PROVIDE US ANYTHING.

(Applause)

>> Elissa Marra: RABBI KOTOK,
THANK YOU.

>> Bob Smith: WE GO NEXT TO
THE GENTLEMAN IN THE WHITE
SHIRT STANDING STAGE RIGHT.

>> WELL, I MADE IT!

(Laughter)

>> I THINK MOST OF US HERE
HAVE BEEN IN CHURCHES OR
SYNAGOGUES -- I HAPPEN TO BE
JEWISH -- BUT I THINK MOST OF
US HAVE NEVER BEEN IN MOSQUES.
MY THOUGHT IS AND MY QUESTION
IS THAT THERE SHOULD BE A
COMMUNITY MEETING AT A MOSQUE
AND WITH NOT ONLY THE BUILDING
BUT THE PEOPLE IN THE MUSLIM
COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, VERY FEW OF US, I
THINK, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
MEET PEOPLE OF THE MUSLIM
FAITH, AND I THINK SOMETHING
SHOULD BE DONE SO THAT WE CAN
INTERACT WITH THEM IN SOME
KIND OF A COMMUNITY MEETING
WHERE IT WOULD BE MEANINGFUL
TO REALLY GET TO KNOW PEOPLE
OF THE MUSLIM FAITH.

(Applause)

>> Elissa Marra: THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENT.

>> I WAS PERSONALLY THINKING
THAT WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO THE
JEWISH COMMUNITY AND ENROLLED
IN A LOT OF DIALOGUES.
DID YOU SEE THE DIALOGUE WHICH
WE DID ON THE SCRIPTURES, ON
THE TORAH AND KORAN?
WE HAD A SERIES AND A LOT OF
PEOPLE CAME, SOMETIMES THESE
MEETINGS WERE AT THE JEWISH
FEDERATION AND SOMETIMES THEY
WERE AT THE ISLAMIC CENTER. A
LOT OF PEOPLE CAME.
THAT WAS THE PURPOSE,
TO DO THE EXCHANGES.
RABBI KOTOK IS SITTING HERE,
AND TEMPLE B'RITH KODESH HAS
BEEN ONE OF OUR PLACE AND
ISLAMIC CENTER HAS BEEN THEIR
PLACE.
WE ARE SO CLOSE WORKING, BUT I
THINK YOU ARE RIGHT.
THERE ARE OTHER PLACES THAT WE
HAVE TO REACH AND WE HAVE TO
WORK TOGETHER AND TO BRING OUR
CONGREGATIONS AND OUR PEOPLE
TOGETHER.
I DO APPRECIATE AND CERTAINLY
I MYSELF WILL LOOK TO IT,
WHICH OF THE SYNAGOGUES THAT
WE HAVE NOT DISTINGUISHED THAT
RELATION.

>> IN VIEW OF WHAT'S HAPPENED,
I THINK IT'S EVEN MORE
IMPORTANT NOW THAN IT HAS BEEN
IN THE PAST.

>> Elissa Marra: THANK YOU.
LET'S KEEP GOING WITH OUR
AUDIENCE MEMBERS.
THERE'S A QUESTION OVER HERE.
GO RIGHT AHEAD, PLEASE.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A
COMMENT TO DISPEL THE
MISCONCEPTION OF THE WORD
"JIHAD."
THIS WORD LITERALLY MEANS
STRIVING OR STRUGGLING OVER
SOMETHING THAT IS BAD TO
ATTAIN SOMETHING THAT IS GOOD.
ACCORDING TO PROPHET MUHAMMAD,
PEACE BE UPON HIM, HE SAID
THAT THE BIGGEST AND THE
HARDEST OF ALL JIHAD IS THE
JIHAD AGAINST ONESELF, AGAINST
ONE'S OWN SOUL, TEMPTATION.
THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF JIHAD,
ARMED COMBAT IS ONLY ONE.
BUT NON-COMBAT JIHAD IS MUCH
HARDER THAN THE WORK OF A
S.W.A.T. TEAM.
I WISH TO ALSO STATE HERE THAT
ISLAM STANDS FOR PEACE AND
ISLAM VALUES LIFE TO THE
EXTENT THAT ACCORDING TO THE
KORAN -- AS YOU MAY KNOW,
KORAN IS THE WORD OF GOD IN
THE MUSLIM BELIEF, IN ARABIC,
UNCHANGED FOR THE LAST 1,400
YEARS.
SINCE ITS INCEPTION, NOT ONE
WORD HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT OF IT;
NOT ONE HAS BEEN ADDED TO IT.
IT SAYS THAT ALL MANKIND -- IF
YOU HAVE SAVED THE LIFE OF ONE
HUMAN BEING, YOU WILL BE GIVEN
CREDIT AS IF YOU HAVE SAVED
THE LIFE OF THE ENTIRE
HUMANITY, AND CONTRARIWISE, IF
SOMEONE HAS TAKEN THE LIFE OF
ONE INNOCENT PERSON, THE
PERSON WILL BE AS IF HE HAS
TAKEN, KILLED THE ENTIRE
HUMANITY.
THIS IS HOW MUCH ISLAM STANDS
FOR THE VALUE AND DIGNITY AND
HONOR OF LIFE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

(Applause)

>> Elissa Marra: THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.

>> Bob Smith: THANK YOU.
WE HEAD OUT NEXT ON THE PHONE
TO PULTNEYVILLE, NEW YORK, TO
MARY.
WELCOME TO THE PROGRAM.

>> Elissa Marra: HI, MARY.

>> Caller: HELLO.
TONIGHT'S FORUM IS VERY
IMPORTANT, AND I THINK IT'S A
TRAGEDY THAT WE HAD TO WAIT
FOR AN EMERGENCY FOR US TO
HAVE THIS KIND OF FORUM, BUT
I'M GRATEFUL WE'RE HAVING IT.
THAT WAS MY COMMENT.
NOW I HAVE A QUESTION FOR
BISHOP CLARK.
OUR NEXT POPE WILL, IN ALL
PROBABILITY, AND HOPEFULLY,
COME FROM THE THIRD WORLD.
WE NEED TO PROVIDE CONCRETE
EXPERIENCES NOW TO MAKE THE
TRANSITION.
WHAT CAN WE AS CLERGY AND
LAYMEN DO TO FACILITATE THIS
TRANSITION, NOT ONLY AS
CATHOLICS BUT AN INTERFAITH
COMMUNITY?
THANK YOU, BISHOP CLARK.

>> Elissa Marra: THANK YOU,
MARY.
BISHOP CLARK?

>> BORNE OF TRAGIC
CIRCUMSTANCES, I THINK WHAT WE
DO TONIGHT IS ONE REMOTE
PREPARATION FOR SUCH AN
EVENTUALITY, THAT WE DO OPEN
OUR HEARTS TO RELIGIOUS
TRADITIONS OF ALL KINDS AND
HONOR WHAT'S BEAUTIFUL AND
GOOD IN ALL OF THEM AND ALSO
IN A WIDER SENSE TO OPEN OUR
HEARTS TO THE WHOLE HUMAN
FAMILY IN WAYS THAT WE PERHAPS
HAVE NOT DONE AS YET.
IF THERE IS A POPE ELECTED
FROM, I THINK THE CALLER SAID,
A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY, I WOULD
REJOICE IN THAT AND WOULD LIKE
TO HOPE, SHOULD THAT BE THE
CASE, THAT THAT INDIVIDUAL
WOULD BE AN ICON, IF YOU WILL,
A SYMBOL, A CALL TO ALL OF
HUMANITY TO LOOK AT UNKNOWN
PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT EYES.
IT'S SO EASY FOR US -- AND I
MEAN MYSELF PERSONALLY; I'M
NOT TALKING ABOUT ANYONE ELSE,
BUT INSOFAR AS YOU IDENTIFY
WITH IT, YOU'LL KNOW WHAT I
MEAN.
IT'S SO EASY FOR US TO GET
CAUGHT UP IN OUR OWN CONCERNS,
OUR OWN LIFESTYLES, OUR OWN
NATION, OUR OWN NATIONAL WAYS,
AS TO PERMIT US TO FORGET THAT
THERE ARE OTHER WAYS OF
LIVING, OTHER WAYS OF RELATING
THAT ARE VERY GOOD AND
LIFE-GIVING AND WHICH GIVE
EXPRESSION TO THE WONDROUS
GIFTS OF THE HUMAN FAMILY.
SO WHO THE NEXT POPE WILL BE I
HAVEN'T THE FAINTEST IDEA.
THE ONLY THING I'M CERTAIN OF,
I'M NOT GOING TO BE --
(Laughter) -- BUT I AM GOING
TO ROOT FOR WHOEVER IT IS AND
PERSONALLY I WOULD BE THRILLED
WERE IT SOMEBODY FROM A THIRD
WORLD COUNTRY,
AS I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOULD
BE.
I THINK IT WOULD MAKE A
STATEMENT ABOUT OUR OWN
PARTICULAR FAMILY OF FAITH,
AND I THINK -- I DON'T WANT TO
BE PRESUMPTUOUS, BUT I THINK
THOSE WHO CARE ABOUT RELIGIOUS
TRADITIONS WOULD FIND IT AS
SOMETHING VERY EXCITING AND
STIMULATING AND INTRODUCE US
TO WHOLE NEW LINES OF THOUGHT.

>> Bob Smith: OUR NEXT PHONE
CALL FROM SAM ON THE LINE AT
263-9994.
SAM, WELCOME TO OUR PROGRAM.

>> YES, GOOD EVENING.
I AM A CLERGY IN THE CHRISTIAN
COMMUNITY, AND ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT I WANT TO COMMEND
YOU ALL FOR, THIS FORUM.
IT SHOULDN'T TAKE SOMETHING
LIKE THIS FOR US TO COME
TOGETHER.
ONE THING THAT I DID WANT TO
SAY TO YOU, THAT IT IS
IMPORTANT THAT WE AS A
COMMUNITY -- BLACK, WHITE,
HISPANIC, WHOEVER -- COME
TOGETHER AND FORGET ABOUT ALL
OUR DIFFERENCES AND LOOK AT
ONE IMPORTANT THING BECAUSE
ONE THING I'M LEARNING IS THAT
LIFE IS TOO SHORT AND TOO
PRECIOUS TO BE THROWN AWAY.
THOSE PEOPLE THAT LOST THEIR
LIVES, IT'S SO SAD, BUT IT'S A
WAKE-UP CALL FOR ALL OF US TO
REALIZE THAT FIRST OF ALL THIS
IS GOD'S WAY OF SHOWING US
THAT WE HAVE TO GET ALONG, PUT
ALL OUR DIFFERENCES ASIDE,
COME TOGETHER AND LET US WORK
TOGETHER BECAUSE THAT'S
BASICALLY WHAT IT'S GOING TO
TAKE FOR US TO HEAL.
THE OTHER THING THAT I WANT TO
ADD TO WHAT THE RABBI SAID
EARLIER IS THAT WE AS A
PEOPLE, WE MUST COME TOGETHER.
THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY, I
KNOW MY CHURCH THAT I BELONG
TO, WE ARE ENCOURAGING
EVERYONE TO NOT JUST PRAY NOT
JUST TOMORROW BUT EVERY DAY
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT PRAYER
CAN CHANGE THINGS, CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE.
BUT WE AS CLERGYMEN, MEN AND
WOMEN, EVERYBODY MUST REALIZE,
TOO, IT'S TIME FOR US TO SMELL
THE ROSES AND KNOW THAT THIS
IS THE WILL OF GOD, THAT ONE
DAY WE'LL BE LEAVING THIS
PLACE AND GOING TO ANOTHER
PLACE.
THE QUESTION WE NEED TO ASK
OURSELVES: HOW MUCH DO WE
VALUE LIFE?
HOW MUCH DO WE REALLY LOVE
OURSELVES AND OUR FELLOW MAN?
GOD CHARGES US THAT WE'RE
SUPPOSED TO GET ALONG HERE
BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET ALONG
'TIL WE GET TO HEAVEN, IT WILL
BE TOO LATE THEN.
BUT WE HAVE TO FORGET ABOUT
WHO DID WHAT.
VENGEANCE IS NOT OURS TO TAKE.
THEREFORE, I DON'T THINK
BOMBING AFGHANISTAN WILL SOLVE
OUR PROBLEMS; IT'S WORKING
TOGETHER THAT WILL SOLVE IT.

>> Elissa Marra: THANK YOU,
SAM, FOR CALLING.
WE APPRECIATE THE SENTIMENT.
LET ME QUICKLY ACKNOWLEDGE
SENATOR RICHARD DOWINGER, WHO
HAS COME IN A FEW MINUTES AGO
AND IS IN THE AUDIENCE.
THANKS FOR COMING IN AND
GIVING SOME TIME TO LISTEN TO
THE COMMUNITY TONIGHT.
BOB?

>> Bob Smith: I WOULD LIKE TO
FOLLOW UP ON SAM'S QUESTION BY
ASKING -- FIRST OF ALL, THIS
IS A QUESTION THAT I WOULD
DIRECT TO ALL OF THE MEMBERS
OF THE FAITH COMMUNITIES, THE
LEADERS OF THE FAITH
COMMUNITIES ON OUR PANEL HERE
AND IN THE AUDIENCE THIS
EVENING: IS THERE A PLAN IN
THE WORKS TO MAKE A PUBLIC
GESTURE OF UNITY AND OF COMMON
PURPOSE AND OF COMMUNITY
RECONCILIATION THAT WE WILL
SEE HERE IN ROCHESTER?
WILL YOU BRING US TOGETHER IN
A POSITIVE WAY IN THE COMING
DAYS TO FOLLOW UP ON WHAT I
HOPE WE'VE STARTED TONIGHT?

>> WELL, I THINK CERTAINLY
THERE WAS A COMMUNITY RESPONSE
THIS PAST TUESDAY EVENING.
Dr. SHAFIQ, BISHOP McKELVEY,
FATHER JOE BRENNAN -- SORRY.
GORDON WEBSTER AND PAUL WOMACK
AND THE METHODIST BISHOP AND
THE CANTOR LUBITZ... ALL OF
THE COMMUNITIES CAME TOGETHER
AT B'RITH KODESH FOR A SERVICE
OF -- OF SHOCK.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER WORD
TO USE FOR IT.
WE HAD NO OTHER PURPOSE THAN
TO BE TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY,
OF VARIOUS COMMUNITIES, TO
MOVE BEYOND OUR OWN
DIFFERENCES, TO COME TOGETHER
AND JUST SHARE OUR GRIEF AND
OUR SADNESS.
AND I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN
OTHER EXPRESSIONS ABOUT THAT
AROUND OUR COMMUNITY AND
AROUND OUR COUNTRY.
I THINK THAT IS THE AMERICAN
WAY.
WE ARE AMERICANS AND WE HAVE A
RESPONSIBILITY TO BE REACHING
OUT AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE
BEEN DOING THAT AND WE WILL
CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

>> Elissa Marra: JUST SO YOU
KNOW, WE ARE COMING UP ON THE
TEN-MINUTE MARK AND WE STILL
HAVE LOTS OF QUESTIONS.
SO IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
COMMENT, CERTAINLY PLEASE DO.
WE'LL JUST ASK YOU TO KEEP A
LITTLE SHORT SO WE CAN GET TO
MORE PEOPLE.

>> I WOULD JUST ECHO WHAT THE
RABBI HAS SAID, THAT WE ARE
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO TALK
ABOUT POSSIBILITIES.
BUT I WANT TO GO BACK FOR JUST
A MOMENT TO THE LAST CALLER.
I JUST NEED TO SAY IN FRONT OF
ALL OF US THAT THE GOD THAT I
KNOW DOESN'T DO WHAT WAS DONE
ON TUESDAY, AND I NEED TO HOLD
THAT UP.
TO PUT THAT INTO THE HANDS OF
GOD RATHER THAN INTO THE HANDS
OF INDIVIDUAL HUMAN BEINGS,
I THINK IT'S NOT APPROPRIATE,
AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD
THAT, PLEASE.

>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD
THAT WHAT YOU SUGGEST IS
ALREADY HAPPENING, AND THANK
GOD IT IS.
IN THE BARBER SHOP TODAY,
WHERE I ALWAYS HAVE THE
GREATEST FUN TALKING ABOUT
SPORTS AND ALL KINDS OF GREAT
THINGS, PEOPLE WERE TALKING
ABOUT THIS TODAY, AND WE WERE
NOT FORMALLY PRAYING TOGETHER,
BUT THE CONVERSATION WAS IN
FAITHFUL TERMS, IF I COULD PUT
IT THAT WAY.
WE WILL BE DOING THINGS DOWN
THE LINE, I'M SURE, BUT I
WOULD LIKE TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE
TO BE AWARE THAT THEY ARE THE
SALT OF THE EARTH AND THE
LIGHT OF THE WORLD AND WHAT
THEY DO IN THEIR WORKPLACES
AND ON THE STREET CORNERS AND
AT THE BUS STOPS BUILDS UP THE
HUMAN FAMILY BECAUSE THEY ARE
REALLY EXPRESSING THEIR FAITH
AND PRAYING WITH ONE ANOTHER,
ALL THROUGH THE FABRIC OF OUR
SOCIETY RIGHT NOW.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
REMEMBER THAT.
THEY ARE NOT WAITING FOR A
SIGNAL FROM THE LEADER TO DO
THINGS.
THEY ARE DOING IT;
THEY ARE LIVING IT.

>> Bob Smith: LET'S GO TO OUR
MICROPHONE STAGE RIGHT NOW.

>> MY NAME SLOUDEN MALIK.
I AM FROM THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY
AND I AM A PROFESSOR AT
SUNY-BROCKPORT.
I WASN'T PLANNING TO RAISE A
QUESTION BUT THE SHAKY
CONFIDANCE OF MY SISTER THERE
COMPELLED ME TO STEP FORWARD
AND SAY A FEW THINGS.
NUMBER ONE, THE AUDIENCE MUST
KNOW THAT OF ALL THE COUNTRIES
I HAVE LIVED IN -- INDIA,
PAKISTAN, CANADA, AND GREAT
BRITAIN -- THIS IS THE BEST
CANADA; THIS IS THE BEST GREAT
BRITAIN; THIS IS THE BEST
PAKISTAN; THIS IS THE BEST
INDIA.
I SINCERELY BELIEVE IN IT.
I DIDN'T SAY IT'S A PERFECT
COUNTRY, HOWEVER; I DO BLAME
THE MEDIA FOR CREATING
APPREHENSIONS ABOUT ISLAM.
I'LL JUST GIVE TWO EXAMPLES.
WHENEVER VIOLENCE IS SHOWN,
MOSQUES AND PRAYERS ARE SHOWN
ALONG WITH IT.
BUT WHENEVER THERE IS VIOLENCE
IN NORTHERN IRELAND AND IN
OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD,
CHURCHES AND SYNAGOGUES ARE
NEVER SHOWN WITH THAT.
SO ISLAM IS ASSOCIATED
PARTICULARLY BY SCREEN MEDIA
WITH VIOLENCE.
I GIVE YOU YESTERDAY'S
EXAMPLE.
CHANNEL 13 INTERVIEWED ME AND
ASKED A VERY FUNNY AND STRANGE
QUESTION.
THE QUESTION WAS DOES ISLAM
TEACH CHILDREN VIOLENCE?
AND I RESPONDED TO IT THAT
THIS WAS NOT A RIGHT QUESTION
BECAUSE ISLAM DOES NOT ALLOW
THAT.
THE WORD ISLAM MEANS PEACE.
THE WORD MUSLIM MEANS A
PEACEFUL SUBMITTAL TO THE WORD
OF GOD.
I DIDN'T WATCH THE NEWS BUT
TWO MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY
CAME TO ME AND TOLD ME THAT
CHANNEL 13 JUXTAPOSED MY
STATEMENT WITH THE VICTORY
SIGNS OF PALESTINIAN CHILDREN
IN PALESTINE.
THEY DID NOT SAY THAT YASSER
ARAFAT HAS CONDEMNED IT.
THEY DID NOT SAY THAT THE
LEADERSHIP OF THE PALESTINIANS
HAVE CONDEMNED IT, BUT THEY
SHOWED TEENAGERS AND LITTLE
KIDS DANCING ON IT AND THEN
SHOWING ME AS A LIAR WHO SAID
ISLAM DOES NOT TEACH THIS.
THIS IS A VERY WRONG MESSAGE
AND MEDIA HAS BEEN ABUSING ITS
FREEDOM AND ITS POWER.
MY QUESTION TO THE PANEL IS
OUR COUNTRY WAS THE MOST
TRUSTED AND LOVED COUNTRY IN
THE WORLD UNTIL THE 1920s AND
1930s.
WHERE DID IT GO WRONG THAT WE
ARE DISLIKED TODAY TO THE
POINT THAT A HOLOCAUST HAS
BEEN CREATED IN THE CITY OF
NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON?

>> Elissa Marra: DOES ANYONE
WANT TO TAKE A SHOT AT THAT?

>> Bob Smith: WHO WOULD LIKE
TO DEAL WITH THAT?
I WISH -- WE ALMOST HAD A
HISTORIAN ON THE PANEL, BUT
LET'S BEGIN WITH OUR
BEHAVIORAL STRATEGIES.
DENNIS FOLEY, I WOULD LIKE TO
KNOW WHAT YOU THINK IS THE
PSYCHOLOGY OF THAT HATRED?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WE'RE JUST BEGINNING TO
UNDERSTAND BETTER IS THE IDEA
OF MULTICULTURALISM.
FOR A LONG TIME WE HAVE USED
THE METAPHOR OF A MELTING POT
FOR OUR COUNTRY AND THAT
METAPHOR SADLY DOESN'T WORK
ALL THAT WELL BECAUSE WE DON'T
MELT TOGETHER; WE DON'T LOOK
ALIKE; WE MAINTAIN OUR
INDIVIDUALISM WHEN WE COME
HERE.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PEOPLE IN
VARIOUS TYPES OF CULTURAL
DRESS; WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT
SPEAK DIFFERENT LANGUAGES,
THAT HAVE DIFFERENT FOODS.
WE REDUCE IT TO USING THE WORD
OF A METAPHOR OF A MELTING
POT.
I THINK WE REALLY ARE
BEGINNING TO STRUGGLE WITH HOW
DO WE DEVELOP AND TURN INTO
MORE OF A MULTICULTURAL AND A
MORE TOLERANT SOCIETY?
THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE
FIRST PLACES IN WHICH WE'VE
GONE WRONG IS WITH OUR
METAPHORS.
A SECOND THING IS WE ARE
REALLY AFRAID OF DIFFERENCE IN
OUR CULTURE.
WE TEND TO MAKE THINGS THAT
ARE DIFFERENT, TO MAKE THEM
BAD, AND RATHER THAN TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND THINGS THAT ARE
DIFFERENT FROM US, WE JUST
COME TO A VERY QUICK JUDGMENT
ABOUT THEM.
I THINK ONE OF THE MESSAGES
THAT I HAVE HEARD OVER AND
OVER AGAIN THIS EVENING IS THE
IMPORTANCE OF NOT TO LOOK FOR
SIMPLISTIC ANSWERS, NOT TO BE
REDUCTIONISTIC IN TERMS OF HOW
WE UNDERSTAND THESE PROBLEMS
AND THAT THESE ARE VERY
COMPLEX ISSUES AND WE HAVE TO
TAKE A VERY THOUGHTFUL STANCE
WITH THEM AND THAT WE HAVE TO
THINK VERY BROADLY AND OPENLY
AND ACCEPTINGLY WITH THEM.

>> Elissa Marra: IF I COULD
MOVE TO KAREN MAGNUSSEN, THE
EDITOR OF "THE DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE."
EVEN AS YOU SAY THAT WE NEED
TO BE THOUGHTFUL, AND WE HEAR
SO MUCH SHARING ABOUT HOW WE
NEED TO BE THOUGHTFUL IN OUR
RESPONSES, IN AMERICA AT LEAST
WE WANT EVERYTHING FAST AND WE
WANT IT RIGHT NOW.
I KNOW THAT THE DAILY NEWS
MEDIA IS UP AGAINST THAT ALL
THE TIME.
KAREN, MAYBE YOU CAN TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.
IS IT DIFFICULT NOT TO BE
SIMPLISTIC, FIRST OF ALL, AND
IS THERE ANY ANSWER FOR THIS
IN TERMS OF THE KINDS OF
CHALLENGES THAT THE DAILY NEWS
MEDIA FACES?

>> THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF
COURSE IS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO
DISSEMINATE INFORMATION ON A
DEADLINE.
SO WE'RE TRYING TO DO IT AS
QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND WE'RE
ALSO TRYING TO BE AS ACCURATE
AS POSSIBLE.
AND I WOULD CERTAINLY BE THE
FIRST TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
WE'RE FAR FROM PERFECT.
EVERY DAY WE LOOK AT OUR
NEWSPAPER AND WE TALK ABOUT
WAYS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE UPON
IT AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO
IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW
THAT THEY CAN CONTACT US AND
SHARE THEIR CONCERNS.
BUT I ALSO WANTED TO FOLLOW UP
ON THE OTHER COMMENTS MADE
ABOUT THE FREEDOMS OF SPEECH
AND SO FORTH.
I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS THE
TIME FOR US TO LIMIT MORE
FREEDOM.
I THINK FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS
VERY IMPORTANT.
I DON'T THINK THAT YOU CAN
JUST PUBLISH OR BROADCAST OR
PUT ON-LINE SOME VOICES AND
NOT OTHERS.
I THINK WE NEED TO BE AWARE
ABOUT HOW PEOPLE FEEL, EVEN IF
WE MIGHT NOT AGREE WITH THEIR
PARTICULAR VIEWS.
AND SO YES, THERE'S A LOT OF
COMPLEXITY TO THIS STORY THAT
WE'RE TRYING TO COVER RIGHT
NOW.
THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS
THAT WE HAVE EVERY DAY IN THE
NEWSROOM ABOUT WHAT DO WE
THINK THIS MEANS?
WHAT DO WE THINK THESE FACTS
MEAN AND HOW CAN WE BEST
PRESENT IT?
IT IS A CHALLENGE, BUT THAT IS
WHAT WE DO AND WE REALLY DO
EVERY DAY TRY TO DO IT TO THE
BEST OF OUR ABILITY.

>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.

>> I THINK A GREAT COMMENT IN
THE SENSE I THINK AMERICAN
DEMOGRAPHICS HAVE CHANGED A
LOT DURING THE LAST TWO
DECADES.
A LOT OF OTHER CULTURES HAVE
COME IN; A LOT OF OTHER
LANGUAGES ARE HERE; PEOPLE OF
DIFFERENT RELIGIONS ARE HERE.
I THINK WE LACK SOMETHING IN
OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM, FROM THE
SCHOOL EDUCATION TO THE
COLLEGE EDUCATION.
I DO THINK THAT WE NEED MORE
EMPHASIS ON DIVERSITY
EDUCATION AND INTERFAITH
EDUCATION, TEACHING ALL
RELIGIONS, THEIR VALUES,
PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT CULTURES.
I THINK IF THAT CAME, IF WE
INTRODUCED THAT, OUR CHILDREN
WOULD BE OPEN TO ALL OTHER
PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE, WHO HAVE
A DIFFERENT RELIGION, ARE A
DIFFERENT ETHNICITY, TO
UNDERSTAND THE VIEWS OF THOSE.
SO I THINK WE DO NEED TO
CHANGE AND BRING THOSE CHANGES
IN OUR SOCIAL STUDIES AND OUR
-- WE DON'T HAVE RELIGIOUS
STUDIES, BUT IN COLLEGES, WE
DO HAVE A RELIGIOUS STUDIES
DEPARTMENT, TO INTRODUCE A
SORT OF INTERFAITH EDUCATION
IN THE COLLEGES.

>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.

>> Bob Smith: GENTLEMAN IN THE
BLUE SWEATSHIRT, YOUR
QUESTION, PLEASE.

>> I HAVE TWO POINTS I WOULD
LIKE TO MAKE.
THE FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO
DIRECT TO Ms. MAGNUSSEN.
THE PANEL HAS BEEN VERY
CIRCUMSPECT ABOUT THE VARIOUS
ASPECTS OF HOW RELIGION HAS
INFLUENCED PERHAPS VIOLENT
ACTIVITY FROM TIME TO TIME.
I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT
WE AS A NATION START BEING
CIRCUMSPECT ABOUT HOW OUR
FOREIGN POLICIES HAVE PERHAPS
RESULTED IN CREATING PEOPLE
LIKE BIN LADEN AND SADDAM
HUSSEIN AND HOW THE
INTERACTION OF OUR NATION'S
FOREIGN POLICIES AND THE
POLITICAL SITUATION IN THAT
PART OF THE WORLD HAS CREATED
THIS VERY NEGATIVE SITUATION,
AND I WOULD LIKE TO CHALLENGE
MISS MAGNUSSEN TO PUT
SOMETHING IN THE NEWSPAPER
EXPLAINING THIS HISTORY OF HOW
THESE PEOPLE HAVE COME ABOUT
TO BE POWERS IN THEIR COUNTRY
AND HOW WE HAVE, FOR BETTER OR
FOR WORSE, HELPED THEM TO BE
WHERE THEY ARE NOW.

(Applause)

THANK YOU.
THE SECOND POINT -- ACTUALLY
IT'S A QUESTION AND I WOULD
LIKE TO DIRECT IT TO MY VERY
GOOD FRIEND, Dr. DENNIS FOLEY.
EARLIER THERE WAS SOME
DISCUSSION ABOUT HEIGHTENED
RHETORIC, A LOT OF EXPRESSION
OF VIOLENCE IN THE PUBLIC
ARENA.
COULD YOU AS A CLINICAL
PSYCHOLOGIST TALK TO US ABOUT
HOW CERTAIN EXPRESSIONS OF
ANGER CAN BE HEALTHY AND
CERTAIN EXPRESSIONS OF ANGER
CAN BE UNHEALTHY AND TO SORT
OF BE ABLE TO DIFFERENTIATE
BETWEEN THOSE TWO KINDS OF
THINGS?
I THINK IF WE DON'T EXPRESS
ANGER IN CONSTRUCTIVE WAYS, IT
JUST FESTERS AND GETS WORSE.

>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
Dr. FOLEY?

>> I CERTAINLY AGREE WITH YOU,
TOM, IN THE SENSE THAT ANGER
IS A VERY HEALTHY AND
IMPORTANT EMOTION.
THE QUESTION IS REALLY HOW DO
WE EXPRESS IT?
I MEAN, VERY CLEARLY, THERE
ARE POSITIVE WAYS TO EXPRESS
IT AND NOT AS POSITIVE WAYS TO
EXPRESS IT.
I THINK WHAT WE HAVE BEEN
SEEING NOW IS THAT I THINK
PEOPLE ARE VERY CONFUSED AND
REALLY TRYING TO MAKE SENSE
OUT OF A VERY HORRIFIC AND
AWFUL EVENT.
WHEN PEOPLE ARE CONFUSED, WE
STOP THINKING AS CLEARLY AS WE
MIGHT WANT TO.
AGAIN, WE BEGIN TO REACT ON
VERY VISCERAL LEVELS, ON VERY
GUT LEVELS, AND THAT THE ANGER
IS VERY RAW AND THERE'S NOT A
TIME TO SORT OF PROCESS AND
UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON
AND WHAT'S HAPPENING.
I GUESS IN TERMS OF HOW TO
HAVE A MORE HEALTHY, YOU KNOW,
EXPRESSION OF ANGER IS THAT
AGAIN WE NEED TO LISTEN AND TO
UNDERSTAND WHERE PEOPLE ARE
COMING FROM AND TO BE ANGRY AT
THE APPROPRIATE PLACES.
CERTAINLY THERE IS ROOM FOR
ANGER IN ALL THAT'S HAPPENED
IN THE PAST FEW DAYS.
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
KILLED, BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE
SENSE TO BE ANGRY IN A VERY
REACTIONARY WAY.
AND SO I THINK THAT THE FIRST
STEP WOULD BE TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND
CERTAINLY IT'S GOING TO TAKE
QUITE A LONG TIME FOR US TO
UNRAVEL, YOU KNOW, ALL THAT
HAS HAPPENED AND HOW TO
ARTICULATE A REALLY
APPROPRIATE RESPONSE OF ANGER.

>> Bob Smith: THE LADY IN THE
BLUE BLAZER, YOUR QUESTION
NEXT.

>> I WAS COMING UP WITH THE
SAME QUESTION.
I THINK THE QUESTION AMERICANS
HAVE TO ASK THEMSELVES IS WHAT
BROUGHT THIS ON?
TODAY I WAS OUT WALKING AND I
MET A CHINESE PERSON WHO HAS
ONLY BEEN IN AMERICA FOR TWO
WEEKS.
WE WERE TALKING AND LAUGHING
AND I HAD TO GO OFF AND I TOOK
HIS NUMBER BECAUSE HE WANTED
TO LEARN THE LANGUAGE BETTER
AND HE WANTED TO MEET MORE
PEOPLE.
AND WHEN I LEFT, I FELT SO
SAD; IT WAS LIKE A JOLT TO MY
HEART, WHEN HE SAID, "I AM
AMAZED THAT YOU'RE SO FRIENDLY
TO ME.
DON'T YOU KNOW YOU'RE TALKING
TO A CHINESE PERSON?"

>> Bob Smith: THANK YOU FOR
THAT.
WE GO NEXT TO THE LADY IN THE
RED SWEATER, STAGE LEFT.

>> MY NAME IS CHRISTINE,
AND THERE'S ONE THING I WANT
TO SAY.
I HEARD A SAYING ONCE THAT
SAID, "EVIL IS SADNESS
HARDENED" WE HAVE REALLY
EXPERIENCED AN EVIL.
MY QUESTION GOES OUT TO THE
MOTHERS AND FATHERS OF THESE
MEN AND WOMEN THAT HAVE DONE
THIS TO OUR COUNTRY.
THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL
QUESTION; THIS IS NOT A
RELIGIOUS QUESTION.
THIS IS TO THE PEOPLE THAT
TAUGHT THESE CHILDREN THAT NOW
ARE MEN TO KILL.
I HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON
WITH THEM: I'M A MOTHER.
WE HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON;
WE ALL HAVE CHILDREN.
THIS WHOLE WORLD, ALL THE
CHILDREN ARE ALL OF OUR
CHILDREN.
WE FEEL SO MUCH PAIN.
I MEAN AS A MOTHER, AS A WIFE,
AS A DAUGHTER... I MEAN AS AN
AMERICAN WOMAN, I -- YOU KNOW,
I JUST CAME BACK FROM A TRIP
FROM TURKEY AND IT WAS FUNNY;
AMERICANS, ESPECIALLY AMERICAN
WOMEN, THEY HARDLY TALKED TO
ME, AND IT WAS LIKE THEY
WANTED TO.
LIKE THERE WAS THIS THING
WHERE EVERYBODY WANTED TO TALK
TO EACH OTHER AND EVERYBODY
WAS A LITTLE AFRAID AND THERE
WAS THIS ONE TIME WHEN THESE
LITTLE BOYS WERE PLAYING
BASKETBALL AND WE WERE ALL
QUIET PASSING EACH OTHER AND I
SAID HI AND THEY SAID HI, YOU
KNOW, LIKE EVERYBODY WANTED TO
KNOW EACH OTHER.

>> Elissa Marra: CHRISTINE,
THAT'S A LOVELY THOUGHT,
ACTUALLY, ESPECIALLY THIS
WEEK, BUT WE'RE INTO ABOUT 30
SECONDS OF TIME...

>> I WANT TO KNOW WHAT DO
THESE MOTHERS AND FATHERS FEEL
LIKE?
ARE THEY FEELING THE PAIN OF
LOSING THEIR SONS?

>> Elissa Marra: I DON'T KNOW
IF WE CAN ACTUALLY SPEAK FOR
ANY OF THOSE PEOPLE, BUT IF
THERE'S ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE
TO MAYBE TRY AND ADDRESS A
LITTLE BIT OF WHAT CHRISTINE
IS FEELING OR SHARING?
ANYONE WANT TO DO THAT?
BISHOP CLARK, BISHOP McKELVEY?

>> Bob SMITH: I THINK WE'RE
ALL RENDERED VIRTUALLY
SPEECHLESS.
IT'S A MESSAGE THAT PROBABLY
THE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO HEAR IT
MOST MAY NOT NECESSARILY HEAR,
BUT WE HAVE CERTAINLY ALL
HEARD IT RIGHT NOW.
AND, CHRISTINE, I WANT TO
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR EXPRESSING I THINK THE
ANGUISH THAT MANY OF US
FEEL...
THIS IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE
FOR THIS PROGRAM THIS EVENING.
OF COURSE, YOU CAN CONTINUE TO
VOICE YOUR FEELINGS.
LOG ON TO wxxi.org AND CLICK
ON THE DISCUSSION BOARDS AND
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS.
JOIN ME TOMORROW AT NOON FOR
"1370 CONNECTION" HERE ON WXXI
AND 1370.

>> Elissa Marra: THERE ARE
MANY MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO
PARTICIPATE AND ALSO WE WANT
TO JUST SAY THANK YOU FOR
COMING AND THANKS TO OUR
DISTINGUISHED PANELISTS.
WE'RE ALL VERY TIRED.
THANKS TO THE PANELISTS IN THE
FRONT ROW FOR GIVING US THEIR
TIME.
I JUST CAN'T EXPRESS ENOUGH
HOW MUCH IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR
US TO BRING THE COMMUNITY
TOGETHER TO TRY AND DO SOME
SHARING.
SO WE HOPE WE HAVE GIVEN YOU
THAT OPPORTUNITY.
THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES:
YOU CAN USE OUR WEB SITE; YOU
CAN CALL US.
YOU HAVE SEEN SOME TELEPHONE
NUMBERS ON YOUR SCREEN
TONIGHT.
THOSE OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE
ARE GOING TO RECEIVE SOME
HANDOUTS OR HAVE RECEIVED
HANDOUTS WITH TELEPHONE
NUMBERS THAT WILL TELL YOU
MORE ABOUT HOW TO SUPPORT AND
MOBILIZE AND COME TOGETHER AS
A COMMUNITY.
SO WE THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING
HERE WITH US TONIGHT.

(Applause)

>> Bob Smith: STAY TUNED TO
WXXI AND 1370 FOR CONTINUING
COVERAGE OF THE ATTACK ON NEW
YORK CITY AND WASHINGTON.
KEEP UP WITH THE EVENTS OF THE
STORY, AS WELL AS THE EVENTS
OF THIS FORUM, IN TOMORROW
MORNING'S "DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE."

>> Elissa Marra: AND THANK YOU
TO THE "DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE" FOR HELPING US.
THANK YOU TO NAZARETH COLLEGE
FOR OFFERING THE AUDITORIUM.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
FOR ELISSA MARRA, I'M BOB
SMITH...

>> Bob Smith: (Chuckling) I'M
BOB SMITH.
THAT'S ELISSA MARRA.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> Elissa Marra: THANK YOU FOR
COMING.
GOOD NIGHT.

(Music)