Title: Boston Globe Across The Divide for April 27, 2007

" Thank you for downloading the podcast from the Boston globe. Welcome to another addition. Across -- I'm Russell interest in Boston with the selection story highlights -- people of color around England. This week. It's nothing new opera please him. It's not just any opera. Globe correspondent basically north explains."

" This week marks 32 years and the kmart -- ruled Cambodia. Regime that caused the deaths of nearly two million people here murder torture and starvation. To combat those horrible memories artists who Lowell are using opera to -- Artists will premiere where elephants be Cambodia's first rock opera and a little high school auditorium. The opera's a love story from the land for civil strife nearly extinguished and -- in culture. Victim oh who has met many Cambodians -- while directing opera says the production was welcomed with open arms Akimbo."

" I think after the corporate corruption and so he's produced and composed -- put together he's. We khmer rouge and -- with -- thousand years of history books that are is that we honor history. We also can create something. I'm -- he's actually to move ahead. While honoring the past. Has multiple messages. I think the greatest messages. From your past you can build future. Can I think from your song room you can build -- certain hope and in the eyes of society we've created here and -- With strangers you can make friends. And exchange becomes familiar and then the familiar sound can make certain he can become strange."

" Tony -- enact an opera -- been hearing cited career acts of the opera -- his home with him he's -- 28 year old Cambodian emigre who fled -- arteries free outside Thailand as -- infant when he was eight years old family arrived mobile they they still -- out please -- bodyguard you know Harvey --"

" Asked if I'm not trying to understand that characters especially you know in the play. I asked him if you see it with my own -- an experience what's going on experience seen. Despite you know Mark felt look -- like his character is a music producer and he -- You know so you'll definitely want Sony -- back become one communities and ask myself. I don't bustling music but -- will most likely won't. Independent in deep pockets you know. Who traveled back and see you do what passes and seat holder botnets -- I think -- temple. And couple."

" The upper hold on on April 27 seeded -- For more information visit where elephants sweet dot net at the Boston globe thesis behind him."

" This is across the divide."

" In September in new Ken burns' documentary and were able to veterans are set to air on PBS stations across the country. Initial plans for the series to not include the experience of Puerto Ricans and Mexican American veterans. That's sparked outrage with Latino veteran's groups across the country. They -- Latino World War II veterans were major contributors to the war effort in the war helped create the first large scale Latino middle class in US history. Recently PBS announced plans to incorporate the Latino experience and their plants drenched and the controversy that brought the decision across the divide spoke to doctor Maggie rivas Rodriguez. She's head of the US Latino and Latino World War II oral history project. At the University of Texas."

" Obsolete we found out in mid November at a conference at national world were to is giving New Orleans. That we've they have presentation PP Pete -- and we heard that there were. No we happen. Second got sent their project manager at two different opinions in the end it was now I get to listen January and mid January I cut. Someone of confirmation from candidates -- convert to all of this. The -- documentary with -- structured around ethnic groups. But really around individual stories to tell universal story ideally ethnic of -- polluted were -- in America because their experience. African Americans -- their experience. And so IE that -- develop Plaxico. And also an email to the Deputy Chief -- station you know that it will not get experience -- capacity -- rich and and very. Very unique and I outlined some of the reasons for instance in south west and in the midwest. Segregated schools and other public institutions were very commonplace. Porter reconsidered it and and units were just made up of where we can -- that they of the native of Puerto Rico and the respect speaking. We had we had that the -- It took -- military were to. And spoke very currently stands to serve her country. We have Mexicans citizens who served in the US military and and came back up his citizenship later. We have Medal of honor winners of the recipients who came back and return to wait for restaurants because merchants to answer Mexican Americans. So I think that's pretty unique and very great story and that's the part that needs to get included in any kind of historical account matters are. Our country's world were to experience."

" Now this isn't the first time a narrative has excluded from that experience -- two the first because mine was Tom brokaw's book the greatest generation. Why does this track record -- time you have something about what to and there is an exclusion why does that strike of course we let him."

" Because it was in large measure it was the defining moment for a peanut -- it -- for. Americans it was the beginning really kick starting our civil rights. Dances and then served in the military operatives came back used to give them to get college degrees and contempt law school and they were able to get two talents the this segregation within the courts to all that came out of World War II veterans. The Kiev form of course was was sparked by by had to peek at the end of his who -- World War II veterans. So it was a real watershed moment for Latino and and that keeps on getting lost somehow and it's really important things for all Americans to understand that a Beatles were here. And made major contributions to their country and those should be appreciated right."

" Let the Kosovo has been slightly it consonant because we have constant flow ocean. Cost Pete isn't known for their -- generation expert but what's really going on here that there's still this concept of us. Being current immigrant population. That's distinct areas."

" I think in large -- that's exactly what's going on and and that's the reason that people -- that would have been here for many many generations keep keep. Having to explain that there that was had been here for many many generations and at least that I -- sequences Spanish accent because -- they have been -- many generations. We had email to people after the state is this controversy. Who have -- that thank you so much for doing this but apparently arrested in New Mexico 1700. Still because of that evidence because the immigration backlash and -- subjected to rude behavior and dirty looks because of the color scheme."

" Now to reaction here's -- he did say that they're going to dedicate felt -- correct."

" Well we're still we still don't understand what what they mean by they say that it. It could be included that it's going to be seamlessly woven into the they said that an open meeting. But they've also come back but we are not going to -- added we're not there because of the film. And so I don't understand and whenever they've tried to explain it it's did it very technical terms. You know I guess what we're looking is is that the technical term. Skier something that that not wanting to to tell us and that is that it's it's immediately. It's really not part and they but it's really could be an attendance and and that's really what we're trying to get clarification we keep on hearing you know Paul occurred as CEO and president of -- in the letter -- last Friday delayed action and saying that. It's going to be pretty it's going to be broadcast of any present dvd. But the original film is going to remain intact so it's it's not going to be part of the original film then that's what we don't understand and and really truly it is -- to major issue for a so what we're doing is Gretzky tactical alliances that need documentarian that they brought on board. Two to work with cameras from the Arabic on this we're asking him to -- so proceeded to concede defeat on the on the ground. And then skipped practice and and tell us -- citizens houses exactly is going to be worked out I'd like to see an example of what is going to look like. And it will be glad to make our archives available to them if it's something that we. We think it's it's going to do justice to our people but it's it's something that they're -- their point two. Not half as actually -- itself. Then we don't want to be party to that."

" That was Maggie rivas Rodriguez she's head of the US Latino and -- World War II oral history project at the University of Texas. This -- across the divide. Recently globe photographer Joe one -- and globe reporter Christina Koppel spent time with a group of African American women in Medford. They were being honored by members of the Shiloh Baptist Church in this city. But these weren't just any ordinary women. These matriarch who range from age 9204. In may -- events in their lives like the great depression and war what one historian these women ran in April edition of -- northwest. How were photographer to one raft after some of the voices of these women so -- in this episode we leave you with their stories and their voices"

" Damon"

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" My name is -- Condoleezza -- As the in 1914 I've hit a very in just in life. And a good life and a good husband. It will no such thing as a intermittent Maggie on instance I've really into -- illness and my family because I gotta be. -- him west met so this movie. Are."

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" Miami -- daily my age is -- chiefs have. Hi who grew up here as little shot up I was baptized in the ocean. And I always -- who have but I went from -- to come back and Lippman had that. And -- to -- the other night from new on his way."

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" My name is -- sixth and I was behind me in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In 1911 my hobby is meeting and an engineer in 1990. I knew it for three organizations and the people who receive and so grateful and so happy. And then I'll admit as long as primeval."

" And then."

" The moon and and name he men."

" My name is apparent for am 91 and a half pay tribute may longevity to fact that they never drove. And I can't say enough of being repentant I know some time I've been at the state doses of gang. I have had people come and can can you imagine managing Houston Republican but I I -- you do care regularly on -- is when and I"

" We and."

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" My name is Evelyn time there and that I'm excited about being 90. Someone telling him and the baby of the group isn't isn't it can imagine anybody and -- albeit the baby at any."

" Okay"