9/10/02

LC020910

JESS MARLOW>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

TERRORISM THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD. WE’LL FIND OUT HOW LOCAL YOUNGSTERS ARE COPING WITH THE LINGERING IMAGES OF SEPTEMBER 11.

ERIC WILLIAMS>> BEFORE IT HAPPENED, I WAS NOT A NICE PERSON. BUT WHEN IT HAPPENED, IT KIND OF CHANGED MY LIFE AND MADE ME A BETTER PERSON, A NICER PERSON.

JESS>> SHOULD PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THIS COUNTRY ILLEGALLY BE ABLE TO GET A CALIFORNIA DRIVER’S LICENSE? TONIGHT WE’LL LOOK AT THE REASONS WHY STATE LAWMAKERS ANSWERED YES TO THAT QUESTION AND WE’LL TALK WITH THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER WHO GOT THE MEASURE THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

ALSO, PATT MORRISON QUESTIONS COMPARISONS BETWEEN TWO DARK DAYS IN THIS NATION’S HISTORY.

PATT MORRISON>> SEPTEMBER 11 AND DECEMBER 7. WE COMPARED THEM A YEAR AGO. CAN WE STILL REASONABLY DO SO NOW? -- ON TONIGHT’S INFINITELY MORRISON.

JESS>> IT’S ONE THING TO CUT COSTS IN HEALTHCARE, BUT SHOULD HOSPITALS USE MACHINES TO CUT CORNERS IN THE OPERATING ROOM? TONIGHT WE’LL SEE HOW ROBOTS ARE STARTING TO REPLACE PEOPLE IN THE O.R.

IT’S ALL STRAIGHT AHEAD ON TONIGHT’S 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.

JESS>> GOOD EVENING, I’M JESS MARLOW. VAL HAS THE NIGHT OFF.

YOU MAY BE HOPING TO GET THROUGH THIS WEEK WITHOUT SEEING ANY MORE OF THOSE TRAGIC IMAGES FROM A YEAR AGO, BUT AS MOST OF US HAVE LEARNED, IT’S NOT SO EASY TO ESCAPE, ESPECIALLY ON THE EVE OF THE 9/11 ANNIVERSARY. AND IF THOSE PICTURES ARE TAKING A TOLL ON YOU, IMAGINE THE IMPACT THEY’RE HAVING ON CHILDREN. TONIGHT WE’RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT. GAY YEE TAKES US TO ONE LOS ANGELES SCHOOL WHERE THE YOUNGSTERS ARE GETTING A LESSON THAT’S NOT IN THEIR TEXTBOOKS.

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GAY YEE>> SOME THINGS YOU CAN READ ABOUT, OTHERS HAVE TO BE LIVED. THIS WEEK, THE CHILDREN OF SOUTH PARK ELEMENTARY IN LOS ANGELES ARE GETTING ONE OF THOSE LIFE LESSONS.

STUDENT>> TODAY WE COME TOGETHER TO STAND STRONG. WE COME TOGETHER AS MANY CULTURES UNITED FOR ONE FUTURE.

GAY YEE>> IT ALL BEGAN A YEAR AGO IN THE AFTERMATH OF SEPTEMBER 11. WE SAW FIRSTHAND THE MARK THE TRAGEDIES HAD LEFT ON THESE YOUNGSTERS IN SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES, THE WAY TERRORISM HAD SEEPED INTO THEIR MINDS AND THEIR HEARTS.

BREANNA>> I DREW THE BUILDING AND THE AIRPLANE JUST CRASHED INTO IT AND THEN THIS PERSON HAD GOT HIT BECAUSE I SAW WHAT HAPPENED IN NEW YORK. MY MOMMA WAS COMBING MY HAIR BECAUSE SHE ALWAYS WATCHED THE NEWS WHILE SHE COMBED MY HAIR.

JENIPHER>> I SAW ON TV THAT TWO AIRPLANES CRASHED AND HERE’S ONE AIRPLANE AND HERE’S THE OTHER ONE AND THE PEOPLE. I FORGOT TO DRAW THE PEOPLE, BUT HE JUMPED OFF THE BUILDING.

>> HOW DO YOU KNOW HE JUMPED OFF THE BUILDING?

JENIPHER>> I SAW IT ON TV.

GAY YEE>> ONE YEAR LATER, SOME OF THE BAD MEMORIES HAVE STARTED TO FADE AND CHILDREN HAVE STARTED BEING JUST KIDS AGAIN.

STUDENT>> IT’S KIND OF NO BIG DEAL BECAUSE IT ALREADY HAPPENED LIKE KIND OF A YEAR AGO AND IT’S NO BIG DEAL NO MORE.

STUDENT>> IT WAS LAST YEAR. I STILL REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED ON THE TELEVISION. IT WAS REALLY BAD. I COULDN’T GO TO SCHOOL THAT DAY. IT WAS SO TERRIBLE AND MY MOM TOLD ME TO NOT GO TO SCHOOL THAT DAY. I FELT SO SCARED AND NERVOUS.

GAY YEE>> FROM THE VERY FIRST, AS AMERICA WAS TORN BY GRIEF AND THOUGHTS OF REVENGE, SOUTH PARK ELEMENTARY HAS BEEN REASSURING STUDENTS AND NURTURING A BOND AMONG THE CHILDREN.

SHARON CROSS>> I WANT YOU TO TELL ME WHAT UNITY MEANS TO YOU.

STUDENT>> I THINK THAT AMERICA CAN BE TOGETHER ALWAYS INSTEAD OF FIGHTING.

STUDENT>> I THINK THE LETTER “I” IS FOR INCLUDING OTHER PEOPLE.

STUDENT>> THE “T” IN UNITY MEANS TOGETHER FOREVER.

GAY YEE>> MANY OF SOUTH PARK’S 1,200 STUDENTS LIVE IN POOR NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE VIOLENCE AND TRAGEDY ARE A PART OF LIFE AND, FOR THEM, THAT HOMEGROWN BRAND OF TERRORISM IS MUCH MORE REAL THAN THE EVENTS IN NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON.

KAREN ROSE>> MOST OF THEM ARE RELATING THEIR PROBLEMS WITH THE COMMUNITY. THEY HAVE A LOT OF KILLINGS, THERE ARE ROBBERIES. OUR SCHOOL WAS JUST BROKEN INTO THIS PAST HOLIDAY WEEKEND. THEY TOOK THREE OF OUR BRAND NEW COMPUTERS IN OUR NEW LIBRARY. THE CHILDREN WERE VERY UPSET ABOUT THAT. THEY’RE NOW COMING TO ME TELLING ME ABOUT REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR?

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KAREN ROSE>> OUR CHILDREN LOVE THE FLAG, THEY LOVE TO SAY THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, BUT WHAT I THINK IS, THAT FLAG AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ARE ONLY SYMBOLS. WE REALLY HAVE TO TEACH PEOPLE HOW NOT TO CALL NAMES, HOW TO TREAT EACH OTHER LIKE PEOPLE, HOW TO BE NICE, HOW TO BE PEACEFUL.

STUDENTS>> GOOD MORNING, MISS CROSS.

SHARON CROSS>> I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS TIME TO INTRODUCE MY CLASS, ROOM 27. THEY ARE ABOUT TO PERFORM A PANTOMIME FOR YOU. THEY’RE GOING TO DEMONSTRATE HOW, IN THE BEGINNING, WE CAN LOOK AT PEOPLE AND JUDGE PEOPLE FROM THE OUTSIDE AND NOT LOOK AT THEIR INSIDES. BUT AS THEY GO ON, THEY’RE GOING TO DEMONSTRATE HOW WE’RE ALL ONE AND WE CAN ALL LEARN TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

ERIC WILLIAMS>> THOSE MEAN PEOPLE ATTACKED US FOR NO REASON. WE DIDN’T DO ANYTHING TO THEM AND THEY ATTACKED US. IT MADE ME SAD AND MAD.

GAY YEE>> FIFTH-GRADER, ERIC WILLIAMS, SAYS 9/11 HAS MADE HIM MORE COOPERATIVE.

ERIC WILLIAMS>> IT CHANGED MY LIFE ABOUT TREATING OTHERS WITH RESPECT AND BEING NICE BECAUSE, BEFORE IT HAPPENED, I WAS NOT A NICE PERSON. BUT WHEN IT HAPPENED, IT KIND OF CHANGED MY LIFE AND MADE ME A BETTER PERSON, A NICER PERSON.

SHARON CROSS>> SAYING SOMEBODY FROM WAY FAR AWAY BOMBED US. I MEAN, THEY WERE LIKE, YOU KNOW, WELL, WHAT IS ALL THAT ABOUT? WE STARTED BRINGING IT HOME LIKE, WELL, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE TEND TO TREAT PEOPLE WHO ARE DIFFERENT FROM THEM, YOU KNOW, IN A NEGATIVE WAY SOMETIMES. THEY CAN KIND OF CONNECT TO THAT.

STUDENT>> GOOD MORNING. WHY AMERICA IS IMPORTANT FOR ME IS BECAUSE THAT’S WHEN PEOPLE ACROSS THE NATION HELP EACH OTHER AND DO LOTS OF THINGS TO BUILD SCHOOLS, COMMUNITIES AND OTHER STUFF. THANK YOU.

GAY YEE>> WITHOUT EVER REALIZING IT, THESE KIDS ARE LEARNING FROM AMERICA’S DARKEST HOUR IN WAYS MANY GROWNUPS FAIL TO GRASP. AND THIS WEEK, FOR THOSE IN NEED OF SOME HOPEFUL SIGN, THIS SMALL CORNER OF LOS ANGELES MAY BE ONE PLACE TO LOOK.

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JESS>> THE SCHOOL YOU’VE JUST SEEN, SOUTH PARK ELEMENTARY, IS LEAVING NOTHING TO CHANCE. IT HAS HIRED A FULL-TIME COUNSELOR TO RUN PROGRAMS AIMED AT HELPING CHILDREN COPE WITH THE LINGERING THREATS OF TERRORISM.

TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, A TALE OF SURVIVAL. WE’LL VISIT TWO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIANS WHO LIVED THROUGH THE ATTACKS ON THE WORLD TRADE CENTERS AND WE’LL FIND OUT HOW THAT TRAGIC DAY HAS CHANGED THEM FOREVER.

>> A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, I GOT TO A POINT WHERE SUDDENLY I STARTED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IF.

>> IT’S REALLY HARD TO SAY WHAT MY FEELINGS ARE NOW. IT’S JUST REALLY -- YOU KNOW, I’M STILL HERE. I FEEL GOOD. EVERYTHING’S GOING GOOD. I’M HAPPY TO BE ALIVE.

JESS>> IT’S A FACT OF LIFE. MILLIONS OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS ARE LIVING AND WORKING IN CALIFORNIA. NOW STATE LAWMAKERS SAY IT’S TIME TO GRANT SOME OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS SOMETHING THEY’VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GET BEFORE AND THAT IS THAT ALL-IMPORTANT CALIFORNIA DRIVER’S LICENSE. A BIT LATER, WE’LL MEET ONE OF THE LEGISLATORS WHO WROTE A MEASURE TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL, BUT FIRST PHILIP BRUCE TELLS US WHO BENEFITS MOST IF THE PLAN BECOMES THE LAW OF THE LAND.

PHILIP BRUCE>> JOEL FACEYES IS NOT A U.S. CITIZEN, BUT HE SURELY FOUND THE AMERICAN DREAM IN LOS ANGELES. WATCH HIM WORK, TENDING AS MANY AS TWO DOZEN LAWNS A DAY, AND YOU SEE A MAN WHO'S GLAD TO HAVE A REGULAR PAYCHECK. BUT THERE'S JUST ONE PROBLEM. JOEL IS A LAWBREAKER. HE HAS NO CALIFORNIA DRIVER'S LICENSE AND, SINCE HE'S NOT A LEGAL RESIDENT, HE CAN'T GET ONE. A BIG OBSTACLE, SINCE JOEL HAS TO DRIVE TO GET TO HIS JOB AND OFTEN DRIVES SOME MORE ONCE HE'S THERE.

JAIME ALAMON>> I HAVE SENT HIM BY HIMSELF TO TRY TO DRIVE, BUT I'M AFRAID SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN. FOR ME, IT'S HARD TO FIND ANOTHER WORKER, A GOOD WORKER AND WITH A LICENSE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> JAIME ALAMON OWNS A SMALL YARD-MOWING BUSINESS. JOEL IS A DISTANT RELATIVE WHO WORKS FOR HIM AND, FOR THEM, MOST EVERY DAY IS A GAMBLE. WILL JOEL GET PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE OR, WORSE, WILL HE GET INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH NO LICENSE OR INSURANCE TO SHOW THE AUTHORITIES?

PHILIP BRUCE>> SO WHEN YOU SEE THE POLICE, YOU GET NERVOUS?

JOEL FACEYES>> YEAH, SOMETIMES. NOT ALL THE TIME, BUT WHEN I SEE IN THE BACK THE POLICE BECAUSE WHEN THEY STOP ME AND ASK FOR THE DRIVER'S LICENSE AND YOU DON'T HAVE IT. I MEAN, YOU CAN'T GET INSURANCE TOO. THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

JESS>> JOINING US IS STATE ASSEMBLYMAN, GIL CEDILLO, ONE OF THE SPONSORS OF THE DRIVER’S LICENSE MEASURE. YOU’VE BEEN AT THIS FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS NOW. WHAT’S THE STATUS? IT’S ON THE GOVERNOR’S DESK?

GIL CEDILLO>> IT’S ON THE GOVERNOR’S DESK. HE HAS UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30 TO SIGN IT. IF NOT SIGN IT, THEN IT WOULD GO INTO LAW OR HE MUST VETO IT.

JESS>> WHAT ARE THE CHANCES?

GIL CEDILLO>> WELL, WE ENGAGED IN SOME VERY HARD NEGOTIATIONS, BUT I BELIEVE GOOD FAITH NEGOTIATIONS. I BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR GOT MOST OF WHAT HE WANTED. PRINCIPALLY, THE QUESTION OF THE BACKGROUND WAS SOMETHING THAT HE FELT STRONGLY ABOUT AND THAT IS IN THE BILL. HE ALSO --

JESS>> -- SO THAT WEEDS OUT ALL CRIMINALS.

GIL CEDILLO>> ALL CRIMINALS. WE DON’T BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD BE GIVING ANY SAFE HARBOR TO ANY CRIMINAL WHO’S TRYING TO EVADE THE LAW. SIMPLY BECAUSE HE’S AN IMMIGRANT DOESN’T GIVE HIM ANY MORE VIRTUE. IF HE’S BROKEN THE LAW, IF HE’S A RAPIST, A KILLER, A MURDERER, IF HE’S SMUGGLING IMMIGRANTS, WE DON’T THINK THAT HE’S VIRTUOUS SIMPLY BECAUSE HE’S AN IMMIGRANT, SO THAT’S IN THERE AND THEY’RE EXCLUDED. THEN THE GOVERNOR FELT STRONGLY THAT WE WANTED TO SHOW THAT THESE WERE PEOPLE WHO HAD ROOTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, SO THERE’S A WORK REQUIREMENT THAT’S PART OF THE BILL, BUT ONE THAT, AS WE ALL KNOW, SHOULDN’T BE DIFFICULT FOR APPLICANTS TO MEET.

JESS>> ALSO, THERE’S A REQUIREMENT THAT THEY HAVE LIVED IN THIS STATE FIFTEEN MONTHS OF THE LAST THREE YEARS?

GIL CEDILLO>> CORRECT, AND THAT WAS JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WERE NOT POSITIONED TO COME AND KIND OF GAIN CALIFORNIA’S SYSTEM OR COME ACROSS THE BORDER FROM NEVADA OR FROM ANY OTHER STATE AND COME IN AND TRY TO SET UP SHOP REAL QUICKLY, GET A LICENSE AND THEN TAKE THAT TO ANOTHER STATE. WE WANTED TO -- THE GOVERNOR FELT STRONGLY ABOUT AVOIDING THAT, SO WE PUT IN THIS FIFTEEN-MONTH WITHIN THREE YEARS.

JESS>> WE MENTIONED THAT THIS HAS BEEN IN THE MILL FOR A VERY LONG TIME. SEPTEMBER 11, THE HIJACKERS, NINE OF THEM HAD VIRGINIA DRIVER’S LICENSES, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE CLEARLY UNDOCUMENTED TOO. THAT REALLY SET YOUR MEASURE BACK, DID IT NOT?

GIL CEDILLO>> WELL, IT CONFUSED THE ISSUE. THIS ISSUE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT HIGHWAY SAFETY. FOR SIXTY-FIVE YEARS IN CALIFORNIA, WE GAVE A LICENSE TO ANYONE WHO WAS HERE WHO WAS DRIVING A CAR AND WE DID SO BECAUSE THE MISSION OF THE DMV IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE SAFE HIGHWAYS THROUGH THE LICENSING OF VEHICLES AND DRIVERS. ON 9/11, I BELIEVE THERE WERE FOURTEEN LEGITIMATELY LICENSED DRIVERS AND IT CREATED SOME CONFUSION WITH RESPECT TO DRIVER’S LICENSES AND PEOPLE COMMITTED TO TERRORISM. WE DON’T BELIEVE THAT TERRORISM AND A DRIVER’S LICENSE ARE LINKED TOGETHER, BUT IT BECAME PART OF THE POPULAR KIND OF MYTH AND WE HAVE TO RESPECT THAT AND UNDERSTAND THAT.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, TIMOTHY MCVEIGH, THE BOMBER OF OKLAHOMA, HAD A LICENSE, HE WAS A CITIZEN. TED KACZYNSKI, THE UNABOMBER, HAD A LICENSE, HE WAS A CITIZEN. UP IN SACRAMENTO, WE WERE IN SESSION ONE EVENING AND SOMEONE DROVE A BIG TRUCK INTO THE SIDE OF THE CAPITOL. HE WAS LICENSED, HE WAS A CITIZEN, BUT NONE OF US SUBSEQUENTLY SAID LET’S TAKE AWAY LICENSES BECAUSE AMERICAN CITIZENS ARE TERRORISTS. SO IF WE DIDN’T DO THAT FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS, WE SHOULDN’T DO THAT FOR OTHER GROUPS OF PEOPLE.

JESS>> AND LET’S LOOK AT THE OPPOSITION. IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT IT HAS PASSED THE LEGISLATURE, THERE IS OPPOSITION TO IT AND SOME OF IT IS VERY SIMPLY SAYING, LOOK, THESE PEOPLE ARE HERE ILLEGALLY. WE CAN’T LEGALIZE THEM BY GIVING THEM A LEGAL DOCUMENT.

GIL CEDILLO>> WELL, THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, THAT ARGUMENT WOULD HAVE APPLIED TO THE FIRST BILL THAT I WROTE THAT WANTED TO BRING IN ALL PERSONS WHO WERE DRIVING. THIS BILL WAS NARROWED. THIS BILL ONLY AFFECTS ABOUT HALF THE GROUP, ABOUT ONE MILLION PEOPLE, AND ALL OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE A LEGAL STANDING. THEY'RE NOT DEPORTABLE AND THEY'RE SIMPLY WAITING FOR THAT BIG BUREAUCRACY, THE INS, TO MAKE THE DETERMINATION ON THEIR CITIZENSHIP OR ON THEIR PERMANENT RESIDENCY.

JESS>> SO THEY HAVE TO HAVE AN APPLICATION PENDING TO GET LEGAL STATUS?

GIL CEDILLO>> RIGHT, AND NOT SIMPLY A SHEET OF PAPER, BUT ONE THAT BRINGS DOCUMENTS, ONE THAT DOES A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK, ONE THAT MUST SHOW ROOTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

JESS>> AND IF THEY'RE IN THAT PROCESS, THEY CAN'T BE DEPORTED?

GIL CEDILLO>> RIGHT. THAT'S CORRECT.

JESS>> THE ARGUMENT FOR IS CLEARLY ONE OF SAFETY, BUT WE USE DRIVER'S LICENSES FOR MUCH MORE THAN SIMPLY DRIVING. IS THERE THE RISK OF ABUSE?

GIL CEDILLO>> WELL, THIS IS A PROVISIONAL LICENSE. IT HAS SOME RESTRICTIONS ON IT. THREE YEARS BECAUSE THE IDEA IS THAT IT'S WHILE YOU'RE WAITING. IT'S ALSO LIMITED TO SIMPLY PEOPLE WHO ARE DRIVING PASSENGER VEHICLES. THERE ARE OTHER RESTRICTIONS IN IT. YOU CAN'T TAKE IT FOR FLIGHT TRAINING --

JESS>> -- BUT IF THEY PRESENT IT, IT'S A DRIVER'S LICENSE VERY MUCH LIKE YOU AND I CARRY?

GIL CEDILLO>> CORRECT.

JESS>> THERE WAS AN EFFORT ONE TIME TO HAVE A SPECIAL LICENSE FOR THEM, IDENTIFYING THEM AS UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS.

GIL CEDILLO>> RIGHT, AND WE ALSO SAID THAT THAT'S A NON-STARTER. THE BALANCE OF WEIGHING THE PUBLIC INTERESTS THAT WEIGHED AGAINST OUR CONCERNS FOR DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES TO GO AHEAD AND INVITE THAT TYPE OF DISCRIMINATION AND THAT'S WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN, A SCARLET LETTER, IF YOU WILL, ON THIS COMMUNITY, THAT THE VALUE OF THAT WAS NOT SUFFICIENT.

JESS>> WHERE DOES LAW ENFORCEMENT STAND ON THE ISSUE?

GIL CEDILLO>> WE'VE BUILT A BROAD SOCIETAL COALITION. WE HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE HAVE BUSINESS GROUPS, WE HAVE A WHOLE RANGE, OBVIOUSLY THE FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND THE SOCIAL JUSTICE GROUPS. MANY OF THEM ARE WITH US, BUT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS WITH US, AND STRONGLY.

JESS>> THERE ARE A FEW STATES THAT ALREADY DO THIS, ARE THERE NOT?

GIL CEDILLO>> CORRECT. IN FACT, UTAH WAS ONE OF THE FIRST WHO TRIED TO RESTRICT DRIVING AND THEN, WITH THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP, SAID YOU KNOW WHAT? THIS DOESN'T WORK. THEIR BUSINESS GROUP SAID, HEY, YOU KNOW, I NEED THESE PEOPLE TO COME TO WORK, I NEED THEM TO DRIVE, THIS ISN'T HELPING, SO PLEASE CHANGE THE LAW. UTAH HAS, TO THEIR CREDIT, LED THE WAY ON THIS.

JESS>> AND YET SINCE SEPTEMBER 11, MANY STATE LEGISLATURES HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING MEASURES TO FURTHER RESTRICT?

GIL CEDILLO>> YES. I BELIEVE THERE'S BEEN MAYBE FORTY-SIX PIECES OF LEGISLATION DEFINED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

JESS>> SEPTEMBER 30 IS THE DEADLINE?

GIL CEDILLO>> CORRECT.

JESS>> THE GOVERNOR EITHER SIGNS IT OR VETOES IT?

GIL CEDILLO>> CORRECT.

JESS>> GIL CEDILLO, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US. WE APPRECIATE IT.

GIL CEDILLO>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

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JESS>> THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW. THE COMPARISON PITS SEPTEMBER 11 AGAINST PEARL HARBOR, BUT DOES IT STILL HOLD UP ONE YEAR LATER? THAT'S TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT MORRISON>> TWELVE MONTHS AGO, WE COULDN'T FIND WORDS IN THE HERE AND NOW TO CONVEY OUR DEVASTATION, SO WE REACHED INTO THE PAST TO DECEMBER 7, 1941, PEARL HARBOR, ANOTHER SURPRISE ATTACK. THOUSANDS DEAD, AGAIN A NATION TRANSFORMED ONCE MORE. A YEAR LATER, DO THE PARALLELS STILL HOLD? WHAT WAS AMERICA DOING DIFFERENTLY ON DECEMBER 7, 1942?

I SPENT TIME LOOKING THROUGH OLD L.A. TIMES ISSUES FROM THAT 1942 ANNIVERSARY. THERE WAS A CANDLELIGHT PROCESSION ON OLVERA STREET AND A FAKE BOMBING OF A MOCK-UP VILLAGE TO SHOW OFF EMERGENCY WORKERS' SKILLS. BULLOCKS AND MAY COMPANY RAN SOLEMN ADS ABOUT PEARL HARBOR. THE THEME WAS SORROW AND PURPOSE. THERE'S A WAR ON. RATIONING WAS REAL. NO CHOCOLATE SANTA CLAUSES OR EASTER BUNNIES. THE COUNTY CLERK BEGAN HOLDING DOCUMENTS TOGETHER WITH SHOE LACES INSTEAD OF METAL CLIPS.

BY COMPARISON, AMERICA TODAY FEELS UNTOUCHED BY A DIFFUSE AND UNEASY WAR. NOBODY'S BEEN DRAFTED. NO SACRIFICES HAVE BEEN ASKED. INSTEAD OF COMPANIES PATRIOTICALLY CUTTING PROFITS AND RAISING PRODUCTION, WE HAVE ENRON. POLITICIANS IN EVERY SMALL TOWN ARE TRYING TO GET A PIECE OF THE COMMEMORATION. A CAR WASH IN STUDIO CITY PUT OUT A PRESS RELEASE SAYING IT WOULD HOLD A VIGIL WITH RED, WHITE AND BLUE CANDLES. ONE SMALL CITY IS INCLUDING AN ELVIS IMPERSONATOR IN ITS COMMEMORATION.

BUT A YEAR INTO WORLD WAR II, THE NATION WAS PATRIOTIC IN A DEEPER SENSE, NOT SLAPPING A FLAG DECAL ONTO AN SUV THAT GOBBLES SO MUCH GAS THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE NICE WITH THE [INAUDIBLE] OF THE MIDEAST, BUT MAKING SACRIFICES THAT BEGAN WITH RATIONING GAS AND COULD END UP WITH LOSING A RELATIVE TO SOME FOREIGN BATTLE. SEPTEMBER 11 DOES LOOK BETTER THAN DECEMBER 7 IN THIS: AMERICANS' CONCERNS ABOUT CIVIL LIBERTIES AND CIVIL RIGHTS.

THINK OF WORLD WAR II'S INTERNMENT CAMPS. AN L.A. TIMES WRITER GLOATED IN 1942 ABOUT "THE SLANT-EYED GENTLEMEN FROM NIPPON GATHERED UP IN NEAT LITTLE PACKAGES AND REPLANTED IN PLACES LIKE MANZANAR." AMERICANS ARE MORE VIGILANT, TOO, ABOUT PRIVACY RIGHTS, THE INTRUSIONS OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES INTO PERSONAL MATTERS, AND THE L.A. COUNTY HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION JUST REPORTED A TEN-FOLD INCREASE IN ATTACKS ON MIDDLE-EASTERNERS AND MUSLIMS SINCE LAST SEPTEMBER 11. I DON'T BELIEVE THAT, SIXTY YEARS AGO, SUCH THINGS WERE EVEN TRACKED BY A GOVERNMENT AGENCY.

IT'S A GOOD START, BUT IT'S ONLY A START. AS CHURCHILL SAID, "NOT THE BEGINNING OF THE END, BUT PERHAPS THE END OF THE BEGINNING."

JESS>> YOU MAY HAVE ONE OF THOSE VOICE-ACTIVATED CELL PHONES THAT AUTOMATICALLY DIALS A NUMBER AT YOUR COMMAND, BUT IMAGINE A SURGEON USING THAT SAME KIND OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE OPERATING ROOM. ONLY INSTEAD OF DIALING A NUMBER, THE MACHINE HELPS THE DOCTOR CARRY OUT A MEDICAL PROCEDURE. IT'S THE NEW FACE OF MEDICINE: ROBOTS IN THE O.R. AND AS GAY YEE REPORTS, IT'S ONE MEDICAL MARVEL THAT HAS SOME PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR JOBS.

GAY YEE>> NAOMI CEJA IS A 36-YEAR-OLD SCHOOL TEACHER WHO'S ABOUT TO HAVE SURGERY TO TAKE CARE OF A SINUS PROBLEM.

NAOMI CEJA>> I'M SUFFERING FROM SINUSITIS BECAUSE OF THE POLYPS THAT ARE IN MY NOSE. IT'S BEEN FOR ABOUT TWENTY YEARS THAT I'VE BEEN SUFFERING WITH THIS.

DR. MARC KERNER>> SHE'S HAD SURGERY BEFORE. WE CAN SEE THAT BECAUSE THERE'S SOME SURGICALLY-MADE HOLES FROM THE PRIOR SURGERY. BUT WHAT WE SEE NOW IS THERE IS STILL A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF BLOCKAGE.

GAY YEE>> NAOMI IS TRYING AGAIN. A NEW ATTEMPT, A NEW PHYSICIAN AND NEW TECHNOLOGY WHERE HER DOCTOR DOESN'T JUST SUIT UP FOR SURGERY. HE ALSO MIKES UP.

NAOMI CEJA>> I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE PROCEDURE.

GAY YEE>> WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO?

NAOMI CEJA>> I THINK PROBABLY HAVING A SENSE OF SMELL, BEING ABLE TO SMELL PERFUME, BEING ABLE TO SMELL FOOD. I MEAN, WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THAT SENSE -- YOU TAKE IT FOR GRANTED THAT YOU ALWAYS WILL HAVE A SENSE OF SMELL.

GAY YEE>> IN ADDITION TO IV'S, SCALPELS AND OTHER OPERATING TOOLS, THIS OPERATING ROOM HAS MONITORS, HIGH-RESOLUTION VCR'S, PRINTERS AND DIGITAL RECORDERS.

DR. MARC KERNER>> VISUALIZATION? PERFECT.

GAY YEE>> HIGH-INTENSITY FIBER-OPTIC LIGHT, TINY SCOPES AND A HIGH-TECH TRACKING DEVICE ALLOWS DR. MARC KERNER TO PERFORM THE OPERATION WITHOUT EVER MAKING AN INCISION. AND WHEN HE NEEDS MORE LIGHT, HE DOESN'T TELL A NURSE. HE TELLS HERMES.

DR. MARC KERNER>> HERMES? LIGHT SOURCE?

HERMES>> "LIGHT SOURCE ACTIVATED."

GAY YEE>> HERMES IS A VOICE-ACTIVATED SYSTEM GOVERNED BY THE PHYSICIAN'S VOICE PRINT ON A CARD. IT ENSURES THAT THE ONLY ONE CALLING THE SHOTS IN THE O.R. IS THE O.R. SURGEON.

DR. MARC KERNER>> HERMES? CONTROLS? POINTER? LEFT, LEFT, GOOD.

GAY YEE>> THE EQUIPMENT IS SOME OF THE FIRST FDA-APPROVED SMART MEDICAL DEVICES. DR. KERNER ADMITS THEY'RE THE LATEST GADGETS, BUT HE CONSIDERS THEM WORTHWHILE.

DR. MARC KERNER>> WHAT IT'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO DO IS ALLOW THE NURSES TO FOCUS ON CARING FOR THE PATIENT AT THE TIME OF SURGERY AND ALLOWS US TO HAVE MORE PRECISE CONTROL OVER OUR INSTRUMENTATION. SO INSTEAD OF HAVING A NURSE OR A TECHNICIAN RUNNING AROUND TURNING ON INSTRUMENTATION, IT ALLOWS US TO ACTUALLY CONTROL EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED AT THE PRECISE TIME.

GAY YEE>> AND TIME IS MONEY, ESPECIALLY IN AN OPERATING ROOM.

JOE GUIDO>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE PLACES ON EARTH PER MINUTE. THE SURGEON IS MUCH MORE EFFICIENT IN ACCESSING THE DEVICES DIRECTLY AND, THEREFORE, THEY CAN GET THROUGH SURGERY FASTER, THE PATIENT IS UNDER ANESTHESIA LESS TIME AND THEY CAN GET MORE PATIENTS IN.

DR. MARK KERNER>> HERMES? PICTURE.

GAY YEE>> WHILE DOCTORS CONSIDER THIS MEDICAL PROGRESS, CRITICS ARE NOT HAPPY WITH WHERE MEDICINE IS PROGRESSING. THE CONCERN? THE FEAR OF MACHINES REPLACING PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY NURSES.

JAMIE COURT>> THE DANGER HERE IS THAT WHAT'S DRIVING THIS TREND TO BRING THE MACHINE INTO THE OPERATING ROOM IS MONEY.

GAY YEE>> JAMIE COURT OF CONSUMERS FOR QUALITY CARE IS WORRIED THIS FUTURISTIC TECHNOLOGY IN HEALTHCARE US CREATING AN UNHEALTHY TREND OF MACHINES REPLACING PEOPLE.

JAMIE COURT>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FLESH AND BLOOD. WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT OPERATING ON STEREO EQUIPMENT.

DR. MARC KERNER>> HERMES? LIGHT SOURCE. BRIGHTNESS.

GAY YEE>> BUT O.R. NURSE, SOOK CHOI, SAYS SHE DOESN'T FEEL THE LEAST BIT THREATENED.

SOOK CHOI>> I CAN FOCUS ON THE PATIENTS MORE WITH ALL THIS. YOU KNOW, BETTER FOR PATIENTS AND FOR OUR JOBS TOO.

DR. MARC KERNER>> HERMES? CAMERA. ZOOM.

GAY YEE>> BUT COURT POINTS OUT THAT, UNDER CALIFORNIA REGULATIONS, SOMEONE WHO ISN'T CERTIFIED AS A SURGICAL NURSE ISN'T AUTHORIZED TO EVEN HAND A SCALPEL TO A DOCTOR DURING SURGERY, YET THERE'S NOTHING TO PROHIBIT THE SURGEON FROM TELLING THE COMPUTER TO TURN ON A CUTTING TOOL.

DR. MARC KERNER>> HERMES? CPS. OSCILLATE. ACTIVATE.

JAMIE COURT>> HOW DO YOU REGULATE MACHINES? THEY'RE NOT SUBJECT TO STATE REGULATORY STANDARDS. HOW DO YOU PROSECUTE A MACHINE FOR THE UNLICENSED OR UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF NURSING OR MEDICINE? YOU CAN'T.

DR. MARC KERNER>> EVERYTHING IS ULTIMATELY CONTROLLED BY THE SURGEON AND THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTUAL OPERATION. THE TECHNOLOGY IS MAKING THAT EASIER FOR US TO DO THINGS RATHER THAN REPLACE ANYONE. WE'RE STILL MAKING THE ACTUAL DECISIONS AS TO WHERE WE'RE CUTTING, WHAT WE'RE REMOVING, BUT THE TECHNOLOGY IS ALLOWING US TO JUST DO THIS IN A MUCH MORE PRECISE FASHION.

GAY YEE>> CONSUMER ADVOCATES LIKE COURT SAY UNLESS MACHINES CAN BE SENT TO MEDICAL OR NURSING SCHOOL, THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO DRAW SOME LINES. BUT DR. KERNER AND HIS STAFF SAY THOSE BOUNDARIES ALREADY EXIST. PEOPLE CONTROL THE MACHINES, THEY SAY, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. ASK HERMES.

DR. MARC KERNER>> CONTROL. COMPLIMENT.

HERMES>> "YOU ARE SUCH A GREAT SURGEON."

NURSE>> WHAT ABOUT US? (LAUGHTER)

HERMES>> "YOU ARE SUCH A GREAT O.R. STAFF."

NURSE>> THANK YOU. (LAUGHTER)

DR. MARC KERNER>> (LAUGHTER) THERE YOU GO.

GAY YEE>> I'M GAY YEE FOR LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

JESS>> THE CREATORS OF THOSE MEDICAL ROBOTS ARE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE AND TWO CALIFORNIA COMPANIES ARE NOW ENGAGED IN A SOMEWHAT BITTER LEGAL FIGHT OVER PATENT RIGHTS. EASY TO UNDERSTAND, SINCE THE STAKES AND THE PROFITS ARE SO HIGH. THE PRICE TAG FOR ONE OF THOSE DEVICES STARTS AT ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS.

AND THAT'S TONIGHT'S PROGRAM. FOR MORE, WE INVITE YOU TO LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT KCET.ORG. 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
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.

TO REACH US AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, CALL 323-953-5555. SEND US AN E-MAIL TO LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG OR LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.KCET.ORG TO SEND MESSAGES OR DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS OF TONIGHT’S PROGRAM.