TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE

PROMO FOR  6/14/2009 "Reclaiming Islam"
*President Obama is out to remake America's relationship with the
Islamic world.  In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, we'll
explore what this means for both the Middle East and the U.S.  We'll
also look at the ongoing debate over Muslim immigration in Europe, and
we'll talk with a Hollywood screenwriter about his new novel on the
Prophet Muhammad and his wife Aisha.


PROGRAM RUNDOWN:  "Reclaiming Islam"


0:00 - 21:04        SEGMENT 1: (21:05)
            Reza Aslan is the author of "How To Win A Cosmic War:
            God, Globalization and the End of the War on Terror."  He
            talks with Steve Paulson about President Obama's recent
            speech in Cairo and its effect on he Muslim world. Aslan
            seems to admire what Obama said but says Muslims will
            wait to see if the actions of the United States reflect
            its leader's words.  Also, Tissa Hami is one of the
            world's few female Muslim stand-up comics.  She talks
            with Jim Fleming abut how she went from a career on Wall
            Street to the comedy club circuit and what her Iranian
            mother (who's a dentist) thinks of it.  And we hear bits
            from her act.  
                              
            Segment One Outcue:  "...PRI - Public Radio
            International."

21:05 - 21:34  LOCAL OPTION with music bed (:29)

21:35 - 40:43       SEGMENT 2: (19:10)
            Christopher Caldwell talks with Steve Paulson about the
            European discomfort with the rising tide of Muslim
            immigration.  Devout Muslims pose particular challenges
            for the largely secular European societies as their
            native populations age and decline.  Caldwell's book is
            "Reflections on the Revolution in Europe: Immigration,
            Islam and the West." Also, Senegalese pop star Youssou
            N'Dour is the top-selling African musician of all time. 
            His album "Egypt" moved away from the raucous sounds of
            pop and was devoted to his faith. N'Dour is a devout Sufi
            Muslim.  Film-maker Chai Vasarhelyi followed Youssou
            N'Dour and his band after the album came out and produced
            a documentary called "I Bring What I Love."  Anne
            Strainchamps talks with the film-maker and musician right
            after the film opened in New York. "Egypt" won a Grammy
            in 2005. We hear clips from "Egypt" and from the film.
                              
            Segment Two Outcue:  "...PRI - Public Radio
            International."

40:44 - 41:13       LOCAL OPTION with music bed (:29)

41:14 - 53:00       SEGMENT 3: (11:46)
            Hollywood screenwriter Kamran Pasha has written a novel
            called "Mother of Believers."  It's the story of
            Muhammad's third wife, Aisha, whom he married when she
            was very young.  Pasha tells Jim Fleming why he wanted to
            tell this story in novel form, despite the potential
            controversy.  And we hear him read a passage from the
            book.  
                                                  
            Segment Three Outcue: PRI Audio Logo


For a copy of this hour, call 1-800-747-7444, and ask for program number
6-14-A.


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