5/28/02

LC020528

VAL ZAVALA>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS MARLOW>> WONDER WHY TODAY'S KIDS ARE SO OVERWEIGHT? CHECK OUT WHAT THEY'RE EATING AT SCHOOL. BUT IN SANTA MONICA, YOUNGSTERS BELLY UP TO THE SALAD BAR.

>> I THINK THE SALAD BAR IS WAY BETTER THAN PIZZA BECAUSE LIKE WE GET MORE HEALTHY STUFF AND LESS JUNK FOOD.

VAL>> HE SPENT TWO WEEKS IN AN ISRAELI JAIL ON SUSPICION OF BEING A TERRORIST. TONIGHT YOU'LL MEET THE MUSLIM DOCTOR FROM ANAHEIM. HE SAYS HE WENT TO ISRAEL ON A MISSION OF MERCY, BUT INSTEAD GOT TANGLED IN A POLITICAL NIGHTMARE.

JESS>> THEY MAY HAVE TO COVER THEIR HEADS, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO HIDE THEIR IDEAS AND FEELINGS. IRANIAN WOMEN ARE EXPRESSING THEMSELVES THROUGH ART AND SOME OF THEIR WORK IS GETTING INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION. TONIGHT WE'LL SHOW YOU THE FLOURISHING CONTEMPORARY ART SCENE FROM IRAN.

VAL>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I'M JESS MARLOW.

YOU MAY REMEMBER A TIME WHEN SODA POP AND JUNK FOODS WERE OFF-LIMITS TO SCHOOLS. THOSE DAYS ARE LONG GONE. SCHOOL DISTRICTS NOW MAKE MONEY BY ALLOWING COLA VENDORS AND FAST FOOD FRANCHISES TO SELL THEIR PRODUCTS ON CAMPUS AND IT ALL COMES AT A TIME WHEN AMERICA'S KIDS ARE FATTER THAN EVER.

VAL>> CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS HAVE PASSED A NEW MEASURE THAT SETS SOME STANDARDS FOR SNACK FOODS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. THE ONLY PROBLEM? THE LAW DOESN'T TAKE FULL EFFECT FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS. IN THE MEANTIME, AS GAY YEE REPORTS, SOME SCHOOLS ARE TRYING TO CHANGE KIDS' EATING HABITS BEFORE THEY PUT ON THE POUNDS.

GAY YEE>> IT'S 7:30 ON WEDNESDAY, A FARMERS MARKET DAY IN SANTA MONICA. TRACIE THOMAS BUYS FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FRESH FROM LOCAL GROWERS TWICE A WEEK FOR THE SANTA MONICA MALIBU SCHOOL DISTRICT.

TRACIE THOMAS>> HOW MUCH ARE THEY?

GAY YEE>> SHE BUYS GOOD FOOD AND DRIVES A HARD BARGAIN. THOMAS BUYS ENOUGH TO FEED 300 KIDS FIVE DAYS A WEEK FOR ALL THE DISTRICT SCHOOLS.

TRACIE THOMAS>> 200 POUNDS OF APPLES, 24-1/2 BAGS OF ORANGES, TWO CASES OF CHERRIES, TWENTY POUNDS EACH, ONE CASE OF NECTARINES, WHICH IS 25 POUNDS, AND THAT'S IT.

GAY YEE>> THAT'S IT. IT'S SERVED UP IN A FRESH SALAD BAR AS AN OPTION TO THE TRADITIONAL HOT LUNCH.

GAY YEE>> WHAT DO YOU FIND?

TRACIE THOMAS>> WE FIND THE STUDENTS ARE EATING FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.

GAY YEE>> BUT THIS FRESH FARE ISN'T WHAT YOU NORMALLY SEE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WHAT YOU USUALLY FIND IS WHAT THEY EAT AT SANTA MONICA HIGH.

>> I NEED ANOTHER SLICE OF PEPPERONI.

GAY YEE>> INSIDE THE CAFÉ, THIS IS WHAT'S OFFERED: PIZZA, CHICKEN NUGGETS AND OTHER GREASY FOODS. THERE'S SODA IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS TOO. AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE KIDS ACTUALLY EAT.

GAY YEE>> THIS IS ALL YOU EAT?

>> YES.

GAY YEE>> EVERY DAY?

>> YES.

GAY YEE>> A BAG OF FRITOS?

>> YEAH.

GAY YEE>> YOU KNOW, YOU GOT A SALAD BAR RIGHT INSIDE THERE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S LIKE FAKE SALAD. WE DON'T WANT TO EAT THAT.

GAY YEE>> SO THIS IS BETTER?

>> YES.

>> THIS IS BETTER. IF IT WASN'T HERE, WE'D GO TO THE LIQUOR STORE OR THE GAS STATION.

GAY YEE>> THOMAS SAYS THE SITUATION CREATES A PARADOX: OVERWEIGHT KIDS WHO ARE MALNOURISHED, AND IT'S GOT TO TAKE A TOLL.

TRACIE THOMAS>> THE FOOD THAT OUR STUDENTS ARE CONSUMING TODAY ARE CAUSING CHRONIC ILLNESSES SUCH AS CANCER, OBESITY, TYPE II DIABETES, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. THESE ILLNESSES ARE OCCURRING IN OUR STUDENTS BECAUSE OF THE FOOD THAT THEY ARE CONSUMING.

GAY YEE>> THE WAR AGAINST JUNK FOOD IS THE LATEST BATTLE BEING WAGED IN OUR SCHOOLS AND NOT ONE THAT WILL BE EASY TO WIN. IT PROBABLY DOESN'T COME AS A SURPRISE TO YOU THAT GETTING STUDENTS TO TRADE IN THEIR SODAS AND THEIR CHIPS FOR A SALAD IS A TOUGH SELL, BUT HERE'S SOMETHING THAT MAY SHOCK YOU. SOME OF THE TOUGHEST CUSTOMERS TO BUY INTO THE IDEA AREN'T THE STUDENTS, BUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THEMSELVES.

TRACIE THOMAS>> COCA COLA, PEPSI, MCDONALD'S, THEY GIVE SCHOOL DISTRICTS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO MARKET THEIR PRODUCTS. THEY PAY THEM TO HAVE THESE ITEMS ON SCHOOL CAMPUSES. THAT'S MONEY THE SCHOOLS NEED TO OPERATE, SO THEY DON'T WANT THEM TO GO AWAY. ARE THEY DOING IT AT THE RISK OF OUR STUDENTS' HEALTH? YES. IS THIS THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR THEM TO MAKE? THEY THINK SO. I DON'T.

GAY YEE>> FOOD SERVICES DIRECTOR, RODNEY TAYLOR, SAYS AFTER THE PASSAGE OF PROP 13, SCHOOLS COULD NO LONGER RELY ON PROPERTY TAXES. MANY DISTRICTS BECAME STRAPPED, FOCUSED ON THE BOTTOM LINE. BUSINESS PEOPLE WERE HIRED TO RUN THE FOOD PROGRAMS INSTEAD OF NUTRITIONISTS.

RODNEY TAYLOR>> THEY DID WHAT IS NEEDED TO DO, AND THAT WAS PROVIDING SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE PROGRAMS WITH A HEALTHY BOTTOM LINE.

GAY YEE>> AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCHOOLS AND FOOD COMPANIES CAN BE ADDICTIVE.

RODNEY TAYLOR>> THEN YOU FOUND DISTRICTS GOING OUT SIGNING EXCLUSIVE CONTRACTS WITH PEPSI COLA, COCA COLA. NOT ONLY WERE WE HEALTHY, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE BALLS FOR THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT AND UNIFORMS FOR THE BAND.

GAY YEE>> FOUR YEARS AGO, THE SANTA MONICA MALIBU SCHOOL DISTRICT LAUNCHED THE FARMERS MARKET SALAD BAR TO INTRODUCE STUDENTS TO HEALTHIER FOOD. IT'S BECOME A MODEL FOR THE NATION.

RODNEY TAYLOR>> WHAT WE FOUND IS FOR A TRADITIONAL HOT LUNCH, I BUDGET $1.01 AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. WE NOW KNOW THAT THAT SAME LUNCH COSTS US $.58 FOR A SALAD BAR MEAL.

GAY YEE>> MANY KIDS ACTUALLY PREFER IT.

>> I GOT TUNA, PEANUT BUTTER, BERRIES, MELON AND SOME CRUNCHIES AND ORANGES.

GAY YEE>> WHAT DO YOU THINK? HOW DOES IT TASTE?

>> GOOD.

GAY YEE>> BUT CONVINCING THE BIG KIDS IS GOING TO BE A LOT HARDER. TRACIE THOMAS FIGURES IT WILL JUST TAKE TIME.

TRACIE THOMAS>> OUR GOAL IS, WHEN OUR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS HERE IN SANTA MONICA TODAY GET TO THE HIGH SCHOOL, THERE WILL BE NO BRANDED FOODS. THERE WILL BE NO SODAS. THEY WON'T MISS ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY'VE NEVER BEEN USED TO IT.

JESS>> GAY YEE JOINS US NOW. HOW MUCH MONEY ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS?

GAY YEE>> WELL, LET'S GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. THE SANTA MONICA SCHOOL DISTRICT IS THE MODEL. IT'S A GOOD DISTRICT. THEY MAKE $90,000 A YEAR ON CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE SALES. THERE'S A HUGE MARKET. FOR THE BRANDED FOODS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OVER A MILLION DOLLARS OUT OF THE --

JESS>> -- IT'S COKE, PEPSI --

GAY YEE>> -- COKE, PEPSI, POPCORN, PIZZA --

JESS>> -- FRITO-LAY.

GAY YEE>> ALL THOSE BRANDED FOODS. THEY MAKE HALF THEIR BUDGET OFF THOSE BRANDED FOODS. IT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO THROW AWAY.

VAL>> NOW THERE IS A LAW THAT PASSED THAT REGULATES SNACK FOODS. HOW ABOUT OTHER EFFORTS? I KNOW THERE WAS AN EFFORT TO PUT A TAX ON SODA AND THE MONEY WOULD GO TOWARD SCHOOLS?

GAY YEE>> IT DIED IN COMMITTEE. THERE WAS ALSO AN EFFORT TO TRY TO PHASE OUT SODA POP SALES IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS. AGAIN, IT DIED IN COMMITTEE.

VAL>> BUT THE LOBBIES ARE HUGE. I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT THE SOFT DRINK LOBBY AND, ACTUALLY, THE CALIFORNIA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION LOBBIED AGAINST THE SODA TAX.

GAY YEE>> BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH MONEY AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE STRAPPED. THEY'RE HURT. SO THEY NEED THE MONEY COMING IN FROM SOMEPLACE.

JESS>> AND THE CURRENT BUDGET SHORTFALLS ARE SUCH THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE EXTRAORDINARY PRESSURE TO KEEP THAT MONEY COMING IN. SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY, WAIT A MINUTE, WHAT ABOUT THE LOTTERY? THEY'RE GETTING ALL THAT MONEY FROM THE LOTTERY.

GAY YEE>> AND WHERE HAVE THEY SEEN IT?

VAL>> IT'S NOT AS MUCH AS PEOPLE THINK. BUT THE OAKLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT, OR A DISTRICT UP IN THE BAY AREA, DID SUCCESSFULLY BAN SODA?

GAY YEE>> THEY HAVE DONE AWAY WITH IT. I MEAN, THE STUDENTS MAY NOT LIKE THE IDEA AND THEY ARE LOSING MONEY, BUT THEY'RE WILLING TO TAKE THE HIT. BUT IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR MANY OF THESE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO TAKE THAT STEP. I MEAN, THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. WE'RE TALKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN'T AFFORD THAT LOSS.

VAL>> SEEMS LIKE PRESSURE IS BUILDING, THOUGH, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT KIDS' HEALTH AND WEIGHT. GAY YEE, THANK YOU SO MUCH. GREAT REPORT.

TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, IT'S A SOUP KITCHEN FOR THE HOMELESS THAT HAS NO HOME ITSELF. WE'LL FIND OUT WHY IT TAKES MORE THAN THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS TO FEED L.A.'S STREET PEOPLE.

>> WE'RE A SAFE HAVEN FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY PRETTY MUCH EXCOMMUNICATED OUT OF, YOU KNOW, THE COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, NOBODY KNOWS QUITE WHAT TO DO WITH HOMELESS PEOPLE.

JESS>> THE SHAH OF IRAN WAS FORCED TO FLEE HIS THRONE IN 1979 AND, EVER SINCE, A FUNDAMENTALIST ISLAMIC GOVERNMENT HAS RULED IRAN. CITIZENS THERE LIVE UNDER TIGHT RESTRICTIONS, BUT THEY'VE STILL FOUND WAYS TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND TO CREATE A VIBRANT ART SCENE.

VAL>> FORTUNATELY, IRAN HAS THE BENEFIT OF A LONG ARTISTIC TRADITION. IT'S A LEGACY THAT MANY CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS ARE NOW REVIVING. A NEW EXHIBIT OPENING IN LOS ANGELES CALLED "OUT OF THE MIST" ILLUSTRATES THAT WITH SEVENTY PAINTINGS BY IRANIAN ARTISTS.

JESS>> JOINING US IS THE ORGANIZER OF THAT EXHIBIT, HOMA TARAJI, PRESIDENT OF PARADI CORPORATION, AN INTERNATIONAL FINE ARTS COMPANY IN LOS ANGELES FOCUSING ON CONTEMPORARY IRANIAN ART. THAT ALMOST SEEMS A CONTRADICTION WITH WHAT WE'RE HEARING ABOUT THE OPPRESSIVENESS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAN.

HOMA TARAJI>> I, LIKE YOU, AM SURPRISED THAT TRULY CONTEMPORARY ART HAS FLOURISHED IN IRAN AFTER THE REVOLUTION. THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS TO THAT. I PERSONALLY, BASED ON MY OBSERVATIONS, ONE FACTOR IS THE CUTOFF OF ALL WESTERN STYLE ENTERTAINMENT IN IRAN AFTER THE REVOLUTION. A RESULT --

VAL>> -- SO THERE'S NO AMERICAN TELEVISION?

JESS>> MOVIES?

VAL>> NO AMERICAN MOVIES?

HOMA TARAJI>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

VAL>> MUSIC?

JESS>> NO ROCK AND ROLL?

HOMA TARAJI>> (LAUGHTER) NO WAY, NO WAY. ALL OF THAT ARE BANNED. SO KIDS AND YOUNG PEOPLE STARTED SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING TO PASS THEIR TIME AND THEY PICKED UP ART. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THEY STARTED TAKING LESSONS IN NOT ONLY PAINTING AND VISUAL ARTS, BUT ALSO PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. I WAS SURPRISED, GOING BACK TO IRAN AFTER FIFTEEN YEARS JUST LAST YEAR. ALL MY COUSIN'S KIDS OR ANY YOUNG PEOPLE DEFINITELY PLAYED VERY WELL INSTRUMENTS AND/OR PAINTED OR DID SOMETHING WITH FINE ARTS.

JESS>> AND THE FUNDAMENTALIST GOVERNMENT TOLERATES THIS?

HOMA TARAJI>> OH, ACTUALLY, THEY LIKE IT BECAUSE THAT KEEPS THEM BUSY WITH SOMETHING HEALTHY AND CREATIVE.

VAL>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT KIND OF WORK THAT CREATIVITY HAS SPAWNED IN THE LACK OF MTV IN THEIR WAKE. (LAUGHTER) SO THESE ARE ALL CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS?

HOMA TARAJI>> RIGHT, RIGHT. THIS PERSON, REZA AFSARI, IS ONLY 26 YEARS OLD. HE'S JUST FINISHED HIS SCHOOL HERE. THIS IS A YOUNG PERSON.

THIS IS SAMILA AMIR-EBRAHIMI, A WOMAN WHO PAINTS A LOT OF THE SCENES FROM TEHRAN'S NIGHTS. TEHRAN DURING THE DAY IS REALLY POPULATED AND POLLUTED. THE TRAFFIC DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO REALLY ENJOY THE CITY, SO SHE GOES OUT, I BELIEVE, AND PAINTS AT NIGHT. THERE'S A LOT OF FREEWAYS IN TEHRAN, BELIEVE IT OR NOT. IT LOOKS LIKE LOS ANGELES.

VAL>> AND QUITE A FEW OF THE CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS ARE WOMEN.

HOMA TARAJI>> YES, MANY. IN FACT, AFTER THE REVOLUTION, AS YOU MAY KNOW, IRANIAN WOMEN PRIOR TO REVOLUTION DID NOT HAVE TO ADHERE TO THE ISLAMIC RULE OF COVERING THEIR HAIR AND THEIR BODY AS OTHER ISLAMIC COUNTRIES' WOMEN HAVE TO DO THAT. SO IRANIAN WOMEN PARTICULARLY RESENTED THAT IMPOSING BY THE GOVERNMENT AS TO HOW THEY DRESS AND HOW THEY GO OUT OF THE HOME, SO A LOT OF WOMEN, TO FIGHT BACK, TOOK DELIBERATE ACTION TO PARTICIPATE IN A LOT OF SOCIAL, ARTISTIC, EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE HAVE MORE WOMEN COLLEGE STUDENTS THAN MEN.

JESS>> IF THEY HAVE ARTISTIC FREEDOM, THEY'RE CERTAINLY NOT EXPRESSING POLITICAL FREEDOM IN THEIR ART.

HOMA TARAJI>> YOU'RE RIGHT, NO. POLITICAL ART IS ALSO A MEANS OF SELF-EXPRESSION. HOWEVER, THERE ARE CERTAIN RULES, THERE ARE CERTAIN TOPICS, THAT MAY BE OBJECTIONABLE TO THE RULES OF FUNDAMENTAL ISLAMIC AND PEOPLE ADHERE TO THAT. THERE IS NO NUDITY OR POLITICAL TOPICS IN THE PAINTINGS, BUT THERE IS STILL A LOT.

THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS CALLED "SEPARATION". AS YOU MAY KNOW, THE NORTHERN PART OF IRAN, THE CASPIAN SEA, IS WHERE PEOPLE GO FOR SUMMER HOLIDAYS. AFTER THE REVOLUTION, THE SEA IS DIVIDED INTO SECTIONS FOR MEN AND WOMEN FOR SWIMMING. SO THOSE CURTAINS A LITTLE BIT REFER TO THAT SEPARATION.

JESS>> PUT THE CURTAIN UP IN THE SEA TO SEPARATE THE MEN FROM THE WOMEN.

HOMA TARAJI>> YES.

VAL>> SO THE GOVERNMENT HAS NEVER CLAMPED DOWN OR CENSORED? OR DO PEOPLE SELF-CENSOR?

HOMA TARAJI>> SELF-CENSORED IS THE BETTER WAY OF PUTTING IT. IN THE RECENT YEARS, A WAVE OF MODERATION HAS TAKEN OVER, SO THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN PRESENTATION OF ART. I TALKED TO MANY GALLERY OWNERS JUST RECENTLY AND THEY SAID THAT CHANGES THAT THEY NOW DON'T HAVE TO DO A PREVIEW OF THE EXHIBITION TO THE GOVERNMENT AS THEY HAD TO DO BEFORE. EVERY OPENING, PRIOR TO THE OPENING, THE GOVERNMENT AGENTS WOULD SEE THE SHOW AND THEY WOULD BE PRESENT AT THE OPENING NIGHT. IF THERE WERE ANY NUANCES, THEY WOULD BE QUESTIONED, BUT NOT RECENTLY.

VAL>> THAT LAST FIGURATIVE PIECE WAS PROBABLY ABOUT THE CLOSEST TO A NUDE THAT THEY WOULD GET, YES?

HOMA TARAJI>> VERY TRUE, VERY TRUE.

JESS>> THE GREAT COLLECTIONS OF ART -- AND THERE ARE, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, GREAT COLLECTIONS OF CONTEMPORARY ART IN IRAN -- ARE LARGELY A RESULT OF THE PREVIOUS REGIME, ARE THEY NOT?

HOMA TARAJI>> BASICALLY, DURING THE SHAH REGIME, THEN QUEEN OF IRAN, FARIDEH DIBA, WAS VERY INTERESTED IN CONTEMPORARY ART. SHE ESTABLISHED THE TEHRAN MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART WHICH IN AND OF ITSELF IS A MASTERPIECE. THE BUILDING IS PHENOMENAL. IT'S GOT INTERNATIONAL AWARDS. AND SHE ALSO HELPED PURCHASE ONE OF THE BIGGEST COLLECTIONS OF ART. YOU KNOW, IN TEHRAN MUSEUM, YOU WOULD HAVE NOT ONLY FRENCH IMPRESSIONISTS. YOU HAVE ANDY WARHOL, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, AND YOU HAVE --

VAL>> -- IN TEHRAN?

HOMA TARAJI>> IN TEHRAN. RIGHT NOW IN THE TEHRAN MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY --

VAL>> -- HE'S IN L.A. TOO AT THE MOMENT. (LAUGHTER)

HOMA TARAJI>> (LAUGHTER) RIGHT, RIGHT. THE COLLECTION CONTAINS WORKS FROM JACKSON POLLOCK, FRANCIS BACON, JOAN MIRO. IT'S UNBELIEVABLE. THIS COLLECTION IS REALLY UNIQUE, I THINK, IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND, FOR MANY YEARS AFTER THE REVOLUTION, THE COLLECTION WAS SORT OF STORED IN THE BASEMENTS OF THE MUSEUM. BUT IN RECENT YEARS, AS PART OF THE EFFORTS OF THE TEHRAN MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART TO REVIVE THE ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES, THE COLLECTION IS OUT AND ON DISPLAY AND ON LOAN TO OTHER MUSEUMS AROUND THE WORLD. NOT U.S. ONLY BECAUSE THERE ARE FREEZE ON IRANIAN ASSETS AND THEY DON'T DARE TO SEND THE MASTERPIECES HERE. (LAUGHTER)

JESS>> YOU RETURN TO YOUR HOMELAND FREQUENTLY. WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT MODERATION, AND VOTING IN IRAN WOULD SUGGEST THAT MODERATION IS A FACTOR IN THE GOVERNMENT THERE, BUT WE'RE NOT SEEING MUCH OF THAT. THE FUNDAMENTALISTS STILL CONTROL THINGS, DON'T THEY?

HOMA TARAJI>> YOU ARE RIGHT. BASED ON OUR ISLAMIC CONSTITUTION, THERE IS STILL A LOT OF POWER IN THE HANDS OF CERTAIN FUNDAMENTAL GROUPS. HOWEVER, THE PRESIDENT HAS CERTAIN FREEDOM OR RESPONSIBILITIES WHICH HE CARRIES THROUGH THE BEST HE CAN. SO KHATAMI TRIES VERY HARD TO REALLY LIVE UP TO THE PROMISES HE MAKES. HOWEVER, THERE IS ALWAYS THE INTERNAL -- YOU KNOW, AS IN MANY COUNTRIES, THERE ARE ALWAYS TWO POWERS.

VAL>> SO TRUE.

JESS>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US. WE APPRECIATE IT.

HOMA TARAJI>> OF COURSE. THANK YOU.

JESS>> THAT EXHIBITION IS "OUT OF THE MIST: A PANORAMA OF CONTEMPORARY IRANIAN ART". IT OPENS THIS SATURDAY AT THE DON O'MELVENY GALLERY IN WEST HOLLYWOOD. FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO PARADIONLINE.COM.

VAL>> AND HERE'S AN UPDATE ON LAST WEEK'S ETHICS PROJECT. WE LOOKED AT THE ETHICS OF HOLLYWOOD AND WE ASKED YOUR OPINION ON THIS QUESTION: "DO YOU THINK TERRORISTS GET IDEAS FROM HOLLYWOOD?" WELL, THE MAJORITY OF YOU, 73 PERCENT, SAID YES, YOU THINK TERRORISTS DO GET IDEAS FROM THE MOVIES. ONLY 27 PERCENT OF YOU SAID NO. YOU CAN LOG ONTO KCET.ORG FOR A MORE COMPLETE LOOK AT OUR ETHICS SURVEY.

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JESS>> AN ORANGE COUNTY PHYSICIAN NEVER EXPECTED TO END HIS TRIP TO THE MIDDLE EAST IN JAIL, BUT THAT'S WHERE RIAD ABDELKARIM WOUND UP, BEHIND BARS AS A SUSPECTED TERRORIST. IT HAPPENED AFTER HE WENT TO HELP PALESTINIANS IN THE WEST BANK TOWN OF JENIN. HE SAYS IT WAS A MISSION OF MERCY, BUT ISRAELI AUTHORITIES WONDERED WHETHER THE DOCTOR WAS THERE TO AID PALESTINIAN TERRORISTS.

VAL>> ABDELKARIM IS A 34-YEAR-OLD INTERNIST FROM ANAHEIM. HE'S A DEVOUT MUSLIM AND WE FIRST HEARD ABOUT HIM IN THE WEEKS AFTER THE 9/11 TERRORIST ATTACKS. THAT'S WHEN THE FBI QUESTIONED THE DOCTOR ABOUT HIS TIES TO THE HOLY LAND FOUNDATION, AN AMERICAN CHARITY WITH ALLEGED CONNECTIONS TO HAMAS, WHICH IS A PALESTINIAN TERRORIST GROUP. HE WAS QUESTIONED, BUT NEVER ACCUSED OF ANY WRONGDOING.

DR. RIAD ABDELKARIM>> "I TOLD THEM THAT THE HOLY LAND FOUNDATION IS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL AMERICAN-MUSLIM CHARITY IN THE RELIEF OF PALESTINIAN REFUGEES AND THAT MY INVOLVEMENT WITH THEM GOES BACK SEVERAL YEARS WHEN I WOULD GO ON MEDICAL RELIEF TRIPS AS A PHYSICIAN AND TAKE CARE OF -- WORK IN CLINICS AND HOSPITALS THAT WERE IN THE WEST BANK."

JESS>> DR. ABDELKARIM WAS IN CUSTODY FOR TWO WEEKS, BUT IS NOW FREE AND JOINS US HERE TONIGHT. THE HOLY LAND FOUNDATION, THEIR FUNDS HAVE BEEN SEIZED IN THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE THEY ARE SUSPECTED OF AIDING TERRORIST ACTIVITY INCLUDING HAMAS. DO YOU REJECT THAT NOTION?

DR. RIAD ABDELKARIM>> WELL, I THINK THAT, AS YOU SAID, THE ASSETS HAVE BEEN FROZEN AND THE FOUNDATION IS COMPLETELY NON-OPERATIONAL. I THINK THAT IT NEEDS TO HAVE, IT DESERVES TO HAVE, ITS DAY IN COURT LIKE ANY INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATION HERE IN OUR COUNTRY.

JESS>> YOU SHOULD KNOW. YOU WERE ON THE BOARD OF THE FOUNDATION.

DR. RIAD ABDELKARIM>> RIGHT. I WAS ON THEIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR TEN MONTHS DURING LAST YEAR. THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR ABOUT TWELVE YEARS. BASICALLY, MY INVOLVEMENT CAME AFTER MY REPEATED MEDICAL RELIEF AND HUMANITARIAN TRIPS AND THEY ASKED ME TO JOIN SO THAT I COULD HELP ADVANCE THE HEALTHCARE OF PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS AND REFUGEES IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA.

BUT I REALLY THINK THAT, WITH THIS SITUATION RIGHT HERE, THE ISSUE OF HOLY LAND FOUNDATION WAS QUITE A SMOKESCREEN. I THINK, AS I SAID, THE ORGANIZATION IS NON-OPERATIONAL AND THE ISRAELIS HAVE NO REASON, NO TRUE REASON, TO BELIEVE THAT I WAS INVOLVED IN ANYTHING ILLEGAL. ON THE CONTRARY, MY MEETINGS WITH INDIVIDUALS AND HEALTHCARE REPRESENTATIVES WERE QUITE OPEN. I WENT AS AN AMERICAN PHYSICIAN ON BEHALF OF AN AMERICAN MEDICAL HUMANITARIAN RELIEF ORGANIZATION, INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS, WHICH PAID FOR MY TICKET AND MY EXPENSES AND SPONSORED THE VISIT BASICALLY TO TRY TO DETERMINE THE MEDICAL AND HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF PALESTINIANS.

SO AS PART OF THAT, WE, OF COURSE, WENT TO VISIT THE DEVASTATED JENIN REFUGEE CAMP WHERE WE TOURED THE AREAS WHERE HUNDREDS OF HOMES HAD BEEN DEMOLISHED. WE SAW A UNITED NATIONS OPERATED CLINIC THAT WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND LOOTED AND VANDALIZED BY ISRAELI SOLDIERS. WE HEARD HORRIBLE STORIES ABOUT INNOCENT CIVILIANS BEING DENIED ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND IT WAS OUR HOPE TO TRY TO PUT TOGETHER A PROGRAM FOR THIS ORGANIZATION, FOR INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS, TO TRY TO PROVIDE SOME MEDICAL RELIEF IN THE AREA.

VAL>> I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE IN AN ISRAELI JAIL NEAR TEL AVIV FOR TWO WEEKS. HOW WERE YOU TREATED?

DR. RIAD ABDELKARIM>> WELL, IT REALLY WAS A NIGHTMARE. OBVIOUSLY, I'VE NEVER BEEN IN A JAIL BEFORE. I'VE NEVER BEEN ACCUSED OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS. I WAS NEVER CHARGED WITH ANYTHING HERE. THERE WERE JUST WILD ALLEGATIONS, BUT NO REAL CHARGES.

VAL>> WERE YOU MISTREATED OR WHAT WAS IT LIKE THERE?

DR. RIAD ABDELKARIM>> I WAS KEPT IN EITHER A VERY CROWDED CELL, ABOUT FOUR BY THREE METERS WITH THIRTEEN INMATES FULL OF CIGARETTE SMOKE WITH POOR MEALS.

VAL>> ALL IN THAT SMALL CELL?

DR. RIAD ABDELKARIM>> ALL IN THAT SMALL CELL. WE ATE, DRANK, SLEPT, USED THE BATHROOM IN THAT CELL. FOR THREE OF THOSE DAYS, I WAS ACTUALLY IN A DUNGEON, A DARK DUNGEON, THAT WAS ABOUT TWO BY TWO AND A HALF METERS WITHOUT ANY WINDOWS AND WITH POOR VENTILATION AND WAKING UP, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WITH A COCKROACH ON MY ARM. I HAD NO SENSE OF NIGHT OR DAY BECAUSE THEY CONFISCATED MY WATCH. THEY PREVENTED ME FROM SPEAKING WITH MY FAMILY, WITH MY RELATIVES.

VAL>> WERE YOU FED PROPERLY?

DR. RIAD ABDELKARIM>> WELL, FOR MOST OF THE FIRST WEEK, I WAS ACTUALLY ON A HUNGER STRIKE TO PROTEST MY UNJUST DETENTION. AFTER THAT, AFTER THEY PROLONGED MY DETENTION, I STARTED TO EAT, BUT THE PROVISIONS THAT THEY GAVE WERE REALLY QUITE SCARCE AND I DID LOSE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN TEN AND FIFTEEN POUNDS DURING THOSE TWO WEEKS.

VAL>> WERE YOU INTERROGATED?

DR. RIAD ABDELKARIM>> INTERROGATION BASICALLY SIX TO TEN HOURS A DAY, IN MORNING, AFTERNOON AND EVENING, MINIMAL SLEEP, CONSTANTLY ASKING ME QUESTIONS AND MAKING THREATS THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE PROLONGED DETENTION, THAT I WOULD BE IMPRISONED IN ISRAEL, PLUS I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SEE MY FAMILY OR RETURN TO MY WORK IN TAKING CARE OF MY PATIENTS.

JESS>> THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT HAS SUGGESTED THROUGH SPOKESPEOPLE THAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT WAS THE BASIS FOR THEIR ARREST. HAVE THEY DONE SO YET?

DR. RIAD ABDELKARIM>> OF COURSE NOT. AND I THINK IN LOOKING AT -- THERE IS NO BASIS. YOU KNOW, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, I TOLD MY INTERROGATORS, I INSISTED THAT I WAS THERE ON A MEDICAL HUMANITARIAN MISSION.

JESS>> WE SHOULD ALSO POINT OUT THAT YOU ARE NOT ONLY A U.S. CITIZEN, BUT NATIVE-BORN, BORN IN SANTA MONICA.

DR. RIAD ABDELKARIM>> I WAS BORN HERE IN SANTA MONICA, RAISED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, GRADUATE OF UCLA AND UC SAN DIEGO MEDICAL SCHOOL. YOU KNOW, I CONSIDER MYSELF AN AMERICAN. WHAT WAS QUITE IMPORTANT WAS THE FACT THAT I, AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN, COULD BE TREATED THIS WAY WITHOUT CHARGE, WITHOUT INDICTMENT, REALLY DENIED THE DUE PROCESS THAT WE AS AMERICANS CHERISH IN OUR COUNTRY.

JESS>> WHERE WAS OUR GOVERNMENT IN THIS? DID THE U.S. AMBASSADOR COME TO YOUR AID?

DR. RIAD ABDELKARIM>> WELL, I HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS WITH U.S. CONSULAR OFFICIALS, BUT THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT THEIR HANDS WERE TIED. ALL THAT THEY COULD DO WAS TO TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT I GOT MY MEDICATIONS ON TIME FOR MY ALLERGIES AND ASTHMA. EVEN IN THAT, THEY WERE NOT REALLY ABLE TO INTERVENE. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT --

JESS>> -- AND YOUR CONGRESSMAN, CHRIS COX?

DR. RIAD ABDELKARIM>> MY CONGRESSMAN, CHRIS COX, I AM VERY GRATEFUL TO, AS WELL AS SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN. THEY REALLY PICKED UP THE BALL AND RAN WITH IT AND ADVOCATED MY RELEASE. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT, I THINK THE EFFORTS OF MY FAMILY, MY BROTHERS, MY FRIENDS, MY CO-WORKERS, DOCTORS, NURSES, MY PATIENTS WHO SPOKE OUT ON MY BEHALF AND WROTE AND FAXED LETTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND TO THE EMBASSY AND TO THE OFFICIALS IN ISRAEL, I THINK ALL OF THAT COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION REALLY HELPED. THAT'S WHY I'M SITTING HERE WITH YOU TODAY INSTEAD OF STILL SITTING IN THAT CELL.

VAL>> NOW YOU SAID ONE OF THE WORST PARTS OF THIS WAS NOT BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR FAMILY, WITH YOUR WIFE AND YOUR CHILDREN, BUT YOU WERE ABLE TO SNEAK IN ONE CELL PHONE CALL IN THE BEGINNING?

DR. RIAD ABDELKARIM>> I HAD TWO CALLS, ONE AS I WAS BEING ARRESTED BEFORE THEY CONFISCATED MY CELL PHONE. I ASKED TO USE THE BATHROOM AND I SNUCK OFF A HURRIED PHONE CALL TO MY WIFE. I TOLD HER IN WHISPERED TONES THAT I'D BEEN DETAINED AND I ASKED HER TO CONTACT MY BROTHERS TO START TRYING TO WORK ON MY BEHALF. DURING THE COURSE OF THE INTERROGATION, THEY ALLOWED ME ONE TWO-MINUTE PHONE CALL TO TALK TO MY WIFE AND CHILDREN. I COULD NOT TELL THEM ABOUT MY SITUATION OTHER THAN TO ASK HOW THEY WERE. AFTER THAT, THEY REALLY DENIED ME ANY ACCESS TO MY FAMILY. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, IT'S THE LONGEST THAT I'VE GONE WITHOUT TALKING TO MY WIFE AND MY KIDS SINCE WE'VE BEEN MARRIED.

JESS>> NOW YOU'VE BEEN RELEASED, BUT YOU'VE BEEN TOLD YOU MAY NOT RETURN TO ISRAEL?

DR. RIAD ABDELKARIM>> YEAH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS QUITE TROUBLING. I WAS TOLD THAT I WAS BEING EXPELLED WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF RETURN, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE WERE NO CHARGES FILED AGAINST ME. AGAIN, THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON FOR THERE TO BE ANY CHARGES BECAUSE I'M INNOCENT. I WENT ON A HUMANITARIAN MISSION. I'VE SHARED THESE CONCERNS WITH MY CONGRESSMAN, CHRIS COX, ON MY ARRIVAL ON MONDAY. I ALSO MET TODAY WITH CONGRESSMAN, ED ROYCE, OF FULLERTON AND SHARED THESE CONCERNS. THEY'VE BOTH PROMISED TO TRY TO PICK UP THE BALL AND TRY TO, YOU KNOW, REVERSE THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT HUMANITARIAN WORK, AMERICAN HUMANITARIAN WORKERS, ARE ABLE TO GET IN AND GET SOME WORK DONE.

JESS>> WELL, DOCTOR, WELCOME HOME. DR. RIAD ABDELKARIM, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

DR. RIAD ABDELKARIM>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

VAL>> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR THIS EVENING. YOU CAN FIND TRANSCRIPTS OF OUR SHOWS ON OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.KCET.ORG. CHECK THEM OUT.

JESS>> NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
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