4/2/03

LC030402


VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> A STREET COP AND HIS SPECIAL MISSION. SOME CALL HIM A GUARDIAN ANGEL FOR THE HOMELESS.

RANDY BECKX>> IN THESE KIND OF CASES, IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE SLOW THINGS DOWN, KEEP TALKING TO THE GUY. WE DON’T INSIST ON IMMEDIATE COMPLIANCE FROM THESE FOLKS BECAUSE OF WHAT THEY’RE DEALING WITH.

VAL>> AND THEN WE’LL LOOK AT A SMALL FILM THAT’S CAUSED A HUGE RIPPLE AROUND THE WORLD. THE MOVIE IS “BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM” AND TONIGHT WE’LL MEET THE DIRECTOR.

JESS>> PLUS, COULD AN ANCIENT STORY HELP RESOLVE TODAY’S DEEP CONFLICTS BETWEEN RELIGIONS? WE LOOK AT A NEW BOOK ON THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM.

VAL>> IT’S ALL STRAIGHT AHEAD ON TONIGHT’S LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES 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>> HE’S AN UNLIKELY ADVOCATE FOR THE HOMELESS OF ORANGE COUNTY.

JESS>> THAT’S THE STORY OF A SANTA ANA COP WHO SUFFERED A PERSONAL TRAGEDY. IT MADE HIM THINK TWICE ABOUT THE STREET PEOPLE HE ONCE USED TO ARREST WITHOUT HESITATION. AND AS PHILIP BRUCE REPORTS, SANTA ANA’S HOMELESS NOW REGARD HIM NOT AS THE ENEMY, BUT AS SOMEONE WHO’S LOOKING OUT FOR THEM.

PHILIP BRUCE>> SANTA ANA POLICE OFFICER, RANDY BECKX, AND HIS PARTNER, MENTAL HEALTH NURSE STEPHEN BROWN, ARE ON A MISSION. THEIR TARGET IS THE HOMELESS AND RIGHT NOW THEY’RE TRYING TO TRACK DOWN A PARTICULAR MAN. HE’S BEEN SLEEPING AT THIS STORAGE FACILITY AND THE MANAGER SAYS HE’S HAD ENOUGH. AFTER ARRIVING AT THE SCENE, BECKX AND BROWN CIRCLE THE BLOCK LOOKING FOR THE MAN WITHOUT SUCCESS, BUT THEY’RE NOT DISCOURAGED. THEY EXPECT IT WON’T BE THAT HARD TO FIND HIM. NOT FAR AWAY IS ORANGE COUNTY’S MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION. THAT’S A REGULAR STOP ON THEIR ROUNDS.

RANDY BECKX>> “I WAS TOLD THAT YOU SLEPT OUT THERE IN FRONT OF THE BUSINESS. IS THAT TRUE? OKAY. DID YOU KNOW THAT IT WAS A VIOLATION TO SLEEP ON THE PROPERTY LIKE THAT? DO YOU HAVE A PLAN MAYBE YOU COULD DISCUSS WITH ME AS TO HOW YOU WANT TO AVOID --“

>> -- I’M GOING TO SEE IF THE GUY’S PEGGED ME. I’M GOING TO TALK TO HIM. HE’S NOT SICK OF ME THIS TIME.

PHILIP BRUCE>> MOMENTS AFTER ARRIVING AT THE DROP-IN AND TREATMENT CENTER FOR THE HOMELESS AND MENTALLY ILL, BECKX FINDS THE MAN IN QUESTION.

RANDY BECKX>> “I NEED SOME HELP. WHAT WE’RE GOING TO DO, STEPHEN AND I, IS OPEN A CASE ON HIM AND BEGIN TO CLOSELY EVALUATE HIM AND KEEP A TRACK ON HIM BECAUSE HE’S RIGHT ON THE CUSP OF BEING ARRESTED FOR A VIOLATION OR AT LEAST HOSPITALIZED. ONE OF THOSE TWO OPTIONS IS WHAT WE’RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW. THROUGH THE LONG BEACH VA, WOULD HE HAVE SOMETHING OUT THERE?”

PHILIP BRUCE>> BECKX HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE HOMELESS FOR A DECADE. HIS INITIAL ASSIGNMENT WAS PATROLLING THE CIVIC CENTER IN THE YEARS WHEN SANTA ANA WAS BATTLING TO DISLODGE SCORES OF HOMELESS WHO HAD SET UP AN ENCAMPMENT HERE.

RANDY BECKX>> THERE WERE OPEN TENTS, FIRES EVEN, PEOPLE USING THE FOUNTAINS AS A SHOWER. THE BUSHES WERE OPEN TOILETS. IT WAS A SERIOUS HEALTH HAZARD ASSOCIATED WITH HUMAN WASTE THAT WAS IN THE AREA. NATURALLY, THERE WERE ALSO CRIMES, THEFTS, ASSAULTS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BECKX SAYS AT THE TIME HE HAD LITTLE CONCERN FOR THE HOMELESS.

RANDY BECKX>> TO BE QUITE HONEST, PERSONALLY, I WAS INDIFFERENT. MY MINDSET WAS PRETTY MUCH BUSINESS. IF YOU URINATED IN A BUSH AND I CAUGHT YOU, MY JOB WAS TO GIVE YOU A TICKET.

STEPHEN BROWN>> I HAVEN’T SEEN YOU IN A LONG TIME. I HAVEN’T SEEN YOU IN THE ER OR ANYTHING.

>> WELL, I’VE BEEN DOING GOOD.

STEPHEN BROWN>> GOOD. WELL, I’M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.

>> I FIRST MET BECKX WHEN HE CAUGHT ME SLEEPING UP BY THE STATE BUILDING AND GAVE ME AN ILLEGAL CAMPING TICKET. THAT’S BEEN SIX OR EIGHT YEARS AGO.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT A FEW YEARS BACK, BECKX STARTED TO CHANGE. HE FOUND HIMSELF WANTING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS.

RANDY BECKX>> THE POPULATION I DEAL WITH OUT HERE, I WOULD SAY THAT MENTAL ILLNESS, IN MY OPINION, RUNS AS HIGH AS NINETY PERCENT IN THAT POPULATION. AND IN MANY OF THEM, IT’S COMPOUNDED BY WHAT WE CALL DUAL DIAGNOSIS. THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT SELF-MEDICATE. IF THEY SUFFER FROM SCHIZOPHRENIA, THE VOICES AND SO FORTH THAT THEY HEAR IN THEIR HEAD, ONE OF THE WAYS THAT THEY’LL SELF-MEDICATE TO QUIET THOSE SYMPTOMS IS THROUGH DRUGS OR ALCOHOL.

>> WHEN THEY PICKED THE GUY TO DEAL WITH THE MENTALLY ILL, I THINK THEY PICKED THE RIGHT GUY. HE SEEMS WELL-SUITED FOR IT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> FOR THE PAST TWO AND HALF YEARS, BECKX HAS BEEN WORKING WITH BROWN TO TRY TO HELP THE HOMELESS CONNECT WITH SERVICES THAT MIGHT HELP THEM GET OFF THE STREET.

STEPHEN BROWN>> WITH RANDY, ON THE STREET THEY CALL HIM A PRIEST WITH A BADGE. THEY THINK HE’S LIKE THIS GODSEND.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BECKX SAYS HE LIKES TO FOLLOW CASES AND THIS MORNING PROVIDES JUST SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY. WHEN THE STORAGE CENTER CALLS TO TELL HIM THAT THE HOMELESS MAN IS BACK, HE AND HIS PARTNER RETURN, THIS TIME CALLING A BLACK AND WHITE FOR BACKUP.

RANDY BECKX>> “I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE DEALT WITH THIS GUY BEFORE. HE CARRIES A GUITAR AROUND, LONG HAIR, BEARD. BUT HE’S DOWN TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THE COMPLEX ON THE LEFT. I’M JUST GOING TO HAVE YOU HANG BACK IN THE BACKGROUND. IF I NEED HELP, I’LL MOTION YOU UP. I’M GOING TO TRY TO TALK HIM INTO IT FIRST, OKAY?”

PHILIP BRUCE>> EVENTUALLY, THEY FIND THE MAN. HE’S A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY ON A PAYPHONE.

RANDY BECKX>> “WE’D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU SOME MORE, BUT WE CAN’T DO IT WHILE YOU’RE ON THE PHONE. WE’D LIKE TO TALK TO YOU SOME MORE. WE’RE NOT GOING TO HURT YOU. CAN I TOUCH YOU AND SEARCH YOU? I’M NOT HERE TO HURT YOU. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GOT NOTHING ON YOU.”

RANDY BECKX>> IT’S A DEEPLY PERSONAL ISSUE WITH ME. I EXPERIENCED SOME SIGNIFICANT LOSS AND TRAGEDY AND IT WAS, FOR ME, THE CAUSE THAT I LOOKED AT PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY AND I EXAMINED THESE FOLKS WITH A DIFFERENT EYE. THEY WERE HUMAN TO ME.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THE EVENT THAT CHANGED HIS WAY OF THINKING WAS THE DEATH OF BECKX’S FATHER, A WORLD WAR TWO VET AND A FORMER POW. AFTER SUFFERING THAT PERSONAL TRAGEDY, BECKX LEARNED WHAT HAD BEEN A DARK FAMILY SECRET.

RANDY BECKX>> LATER AFTER HIS DEATH WHEN I WAS TALKING WITH MY MOM, I FOUND OUT THAT HE SUFFERED FROM WHAT IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE MAJOR DEPRESSION, OR CLINICAL DEPRESSION, AND HE WAS ON MEDICATION AND I DIDN’T KNOW THIS, AND BECAUSE IT WAS A SHAMEFUL THING TO ADMIT. LOOKING BACK AT ALL THAT HE HAD BEEN THROUGH, IT MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE TO ME. IT PERSONALIZED THIS ISSUE.

RANDY BECKX>> “WE’RE GOING TO COME BACK AND TALK WITH YOU AGAIN. CAN I GIVE YOU MY BUSINESS CARD?”

RANDY BECKX>> AS YOU CAN SEE, SOMETIMES YOU CAN DIFFUSE THESE SITUATIONS. WE CAN GET SOME MEANINGFUL COMMUNICATION WITH THESE FOLKS. START BUILDING THAT RAPPORT AND I THINK WE CAN ULTIMATELY HELP THIS GUY OFF THE STREET AND PROBABLY INTO SHELTER AND TREATMENT.

JESS>> IN THE PAST, SANTA ANA POLICE HAD A REPUTATION FOR BEING ESPECIALLY TOUGH ON STREET PEOPLE, BUT LATELY THE DEPARTMENT HAS SHOWN A MUCH GREATER SENSITIVITY. THEY’RE DEALING WITH THE HOMELESS AS HUMAN BEINGS AND NOT AS SOME FACELESS URBAN PROBLEM. MANY SAY OFFICER RANDY BECKX DESERVES MOST OF THE CREDIT FOR THAT CHANGE IN ATTITUDE.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, THE TOLL OF WAR. IT’S BEEN ESPECIALLY GREAT FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA’S LATINO COMMUNITY. WE FIND OUT WHY AND HOW THE EARLY LATINO CASUALTIES ARE AFFECTING ATTITUDES ABOUT THE WAR. THAT’S TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES.

PHILIP BRUCE>> HERE’S TONIGHT’S LIFE AND TIMES “WHAT DO YOU THINK?” POLL. LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT KCET.ORG AND WEIGH IN ON THE FOLLOWING QUESTION. WE’LL COUNT YOUR RESPONSES AND REPORT THE RESULTS ON TOMORROW NIGHT’S LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> THREE GREAT RELIGIONS, ISLAM, CHRISTIANITY AND JUDAISM, AND ONE COMMON ANCESTOR. THAT’S THE ANCIENT STORY OF ABRAHAM AND OUR NEXT GUEST SUGGESTS IT MAY HOLD THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING TODAY’S RELIGIOUS DIVIDE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND AROUND THE WORLD.

VAL>> ABRAHAM ENVISIONED ONE GOD, BUT HIS SONS ARE THE SOURCE OF TWO RELIGIONS, JUDAISM AND ISLAM. AND WITH THEM, TWO GREAT SOURCES OF RELIGIOUS TENSION. NOW THE AUTHOR OF A NEW BOOK ASKS CAN ABRAHAM SAVE THE WORLD? THE BOOK IS CALLED “ABRAHAM: A JOURNEY TO THE HEART OF THREE FAITHS” AND BRUCE FEILER IS AN EXPERT IN TRODDING THIS TERRITORY. HIS LAST BOOK, “WALKING THE BIBLE”, WAS A BEST SELLER AND WE’RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE YOU BACK. THANK YOU.

BRUCE FEILER>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU ALL AGAIN. THANKS.

JESS>> YOU TALK ABOUT THE RELIGIOUS DIVIDE. DO YOU SEE ANY OPPORTUNITY IN THIS TIME OF WAR FOR ENDING THAT DIVIDE?

BRUCE FEILER>> WELL, ONE THING I FOUND, YOU MENTIONED MY LAST BOOK, “WALKING THE BIBLE”, TOOK ME AROUND THE REGION AND I HAVE FOUND I THINK AGAIN THAT SOMETIMES THE BEST WAY TO UNDERSTAND THE PRESENT IS TO TURN AWAY FROM THE PRESENT AND TURN BACK TO THE PAST. YOU GO BACK TO THE STORY THAT ALL THREE FAITHS SHARE IN COMMON. THERE IS GOD CHOOSING ABRAHAM, FORMING THIS PARTNERSHIP. ABRAHAM HAS TWO SONS, AS YOU MENTIONED, ISHMAEL WHO BECOMES THE FATHER OF MUSLIMS, AND ISAAC WHO BECOMES THE FATHER OF JEWS AND CHRISTIANS, AND THEY SPLIT.

THAT IS OFTEN PERCEIVED AS A SPLIT, BUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE STORY I THINK IS THAT THERE REALLY IS A MESSAGE OF UNITY BECAUSE GOD BLESSES ABRAHAM AND BLESSES BOTH OF THE SONS AND BLESSES ALL OF THEIR DESCENDANTS. AT THE END OF ABRAHAM’S LIFE AT AGE 175, THOSE SONS COME BACK TOGETHER, STAND SIDE BY SIDE, AND BURY THEIR FATHER. I THINK THAT THAT DOES HOLD OUT THE IDEA OF RECONCILIATION RIGHT THERE IN THE STORY ITSELF.

VAL>> SO THESE TWO ESTRANGED SONS CAME BACK TOGETHER AT THE END BECAUSE OF THEIR FATHER AND WHAT YOU’RE SAYING IS THAT IT COULD BE A SORT OF METAPHOR, OR DO YOU THINK IT’S STRONGER THAN JUST THAT FOR THE RELIGIOUS DIVIDE WE’RE EXPERIENCING NOW?

BRUCE FEILER>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I THINK IT’S POWERFUL TO SUGGEST THAT THE STORY UNDERSTANDS THERE’S GOING TO BE A DIVIDE AND UNDERSTANDS THAT A RECONCILIATION IS POSSIBLE. I THINK THAT THE BIG QUESTION IN THE WORLD TODAY IS CAN THE RELIGIONS FIGURE OUT A WAY OF RELATING TO ONE ANOTHER THAT’S NOT BY TRYING TO EXTINGUISH ONE ANOTHER? THAT REALLY IS THE DOMINANT QUESTION AND I THINK THAT -- WHAT MY MESSAGE IS, WE HAVE TO GET OVER THAT THING THAT OUR MOMMAS ALL TOLD US, WHICH IS WE SHOULDN’T TALK ABOUT POLITICS AND RELIGION IN PUBLIC. THE EXTREMISTS DO.

WHAT ARE THOSE PLANES GOING INTO THOSE BUILDINGS? ARE THE EXTREMISTS SAYING MY GOD IS BETTER THAN YOUR GOD? JERRY FALWELL ON TV SAYING MOHAMMAD WAS A TERRORIST. THOSE OF US WHO BELIEVE IN MUTUAL RESPECT AND TOLERANCE ARE NOT SPEAKING OUT AND I THINK THAT WHAT YOU’RE SEEING -- AS I’VE BEEN TRAVELING AROUND THE COUNTRY NOW TALKING ABOUT THIS BOOK, OVER FORTY CITIES NOW AND SIX MONTHS ON THE BEST SELLER LIST WITH THIS, THE COVER OF TIME MAGAZINE -- WHAT I’VE SEEN IS THAT EVERY COMMUNITY IN THIS COUNTRY HAS AN INTERFAITH CONVERSATION THAT’S GOING ON. I THINK IT’S ACTUALLY BEEN STRENGTHENED IN THE WAKE OF 9/11.

JESS>> BUT WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE RADICALLY FUNDAMENTALISTS?

BRUCE FEILER>> WELL, I THINK THE MAIN THING YOU DO IS YOU DON’T LET THEM DOMINATE THE DEBATE --

JESS>> -- AS THEY DO.

BRUCE FEILER>> WELL, AS THEY DO ON TELEVISION AND AS THEY OFTEN DO IN PUBLIC DISCOURSE. I MEAN, THERE ARE TWELVE MILLION JEWS IN THE WORLD, SPEAKING AS A JEW. WE KNOW HOW MUCH UNITY THERE IS AMONG THEM. THERE ARE A BILLION MUSLIMS IN THE WORLD AND TWO BILLION CHRISTIANS. I THINK WE DO OURSELVES A DISSERVICE BY THINKING THAT ONLY THE RADICAL VOICES ARE THE ONLY VOICES. SO I THINK THAT SOME PEOPLE MIGHT NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE, BUT THAT DOES NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT THE BULK OF PEOPLE ARE CRAVING THIS CONVERSATION AND, IN FACT, MAKING IT HAPPEN AROUND THE COUNTRY.

JESS>> AND IN THIS CONVERSATION, YOU CANNOT SEPARATE POLITICS AND RELIGION. THEY’RE TOGETHER.

BRUCE FEILER>> I THINK YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE RELATIONSHIP AMONG THEM. I MEAN, WE WERE TALKING BEFORE WE WENT ON THE AIR ABOUT HOW I CREATED THIS IDEA CALLED ABRAHAM SALONS WHICH WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE TO INVITE TEN OR TWELVE PEOPLE OVER TO THEIR HOME, HOUSE OF WORSHIP. I PUT THIS MATERIAL ON MY WEBSITE WHICH IS BRUCEFEILER.COM. MY FANTASY WAS TO HAVE FIFTY TO A HUNDRED PEOPLE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY. IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, ALMOST FIVE THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE GONE TO BRUCEFEILER.COM AND DOWNLOADED THIS MATERIAL AND SAID I WANT TO DO A SMALL PART TO HELP HEAL THE BREACH IN THE WORLD.

VAL>> NOW FOR THOSE OF US WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP IN, YOU KNOW, A RELIGIOUS HOME OR CATECHISM, JUST TELL US IN A NUTSHELL THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM AND SOME OF THE EXPERIENCES YOU HAD IN THE COURSE OF FOLLOWING HIS LIFE.

BRUCE FEILER>> WELL, GOD GOES LOOKING FOR A PARTNER FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE BIBLE. HE TRIES ADAM, BUT ADAM PREFERS EVE TO GOD. THAT DOESN’T WORK. HE TRIES NOAH. NOAH SAVES THE ANIMALS, BUT THEN STARTS DRINKING. ULTIMATELY, GOD PICKS ABRAHAM BECAUSE ABRAHAM NEEDS GOD. WE FIRST MEET ABRAHAM IN GENESIS ELEVEN. HE’S SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS OLD, MARRIED TO SARAH, THEY CAN’T HAVE A CHILD, SO GOD SAYS TO ABRAHAM GO FORTH --

VAL>> -- LEAVE YOUR FATHER’S HOUSE.

BRUCE FEILER>> LEAVE YOUR FATHER’S HOUSE AND WE’LL MAKE OF YOU A GREAT NATION, AND ABRAHAM MAKES THAT LEAP. THAT REALLY IS THE CENTRAL MOMENT IN HUMAN HISTORY BECAUSE GOD CHOOSES ABRAHAM AND ABRAHAM CHOOSES GOD, AND ALL THREE RELIGIONS SHARE AWE FOR THAT MOMENT. SO AT THE HEART OF -- EVERYTHING ON THE FRONT PAGES OF THE PAPERS TODAY, THERE IS THAT COMMON GROUND.

VAL>> BUT ONE OF THE SONS WAS THE DAUGHTER OF THE SLAVE BECAUSE SARAH COULDN’T BEAR A CHILD, BUT THEN ISAAC WAS SARAH’S CHILD.

BRUCE FEILER>> YES. DECADES PASS, THEY GO DOWN TO THE PROMISED LAND. SARAH CAN’T HAVE A CHILD. SHE TAKES HER MAID, HAGAR, PERFECTLY LEGAL, GIVES HER TO ABRAHAM, SHE GIVES BIRTH TO ISHMAEL. ABRAHAM HAS A SON. IT SHOULD BE THE END OF THE STORY, BUT AS SOON AS ISHMAEL IS BORN, SARAH GETS PREGNANT AND GIVES BIRTH TO ISAAC, SO NOW WE HAVE TWO SONS WHO ARE RIVALS IN EFFECT. SARAH FORCES ABRAHAM TO KICK ISHMAEL OFF INTO THE DESERT. MANY THINK THAT, THEREFORE, HE DOESN’T LIKE ISHMAEL, BUT THE KEY INGREDIENT IS THAT GOD SAYS DON’T WORRY, I’LL CONTINUE TO BLESS ISHMAEL AND ALL OF HIS CHILDREN AS WELL.

AGAIN, THERE IS THIS MESSAGE OF UNITY IN THE STORY. BUT WHAT HAPPENED OVER TIME, AND THIS WAS WHAT I DISCOVERED IN LOOKING FOR ABRAHAM, IS THAT THERE IS THIS MESSAGE OF UNIVERSAL LOVE, BUT THAT EACH OF THE RELIGIONS TRIED TO CLAIM HIM FOR THEMSELVES. SO JEWS MADE HIM INTO A JEW, AND CHRISTIANS MADE HIM INTO A CHRISTIAN, AND MUSLIMS MADE HIM INTO A MUSLIM. THAT LEFT ME FRUSTRATED, BUT ULTIMATELY WHAT EVERYONE TOLD ME, THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS THAT I SOUGHT OUT, WAS THAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS THAT LEGACY. GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL STORY AND FIND THAT MESSAGE OF UNITY THAT’S THERE AND THAT’S BEEN LOST.

JESS>> AND FAST FORWARD TO TODAY. THOSE THREE GREAT RELIGIONS CENTERED IN JERUSALEM, AND YOU WRITE “EVERY ACCESSORY IS A PROVOCATION.”

BRUCE FEILER>> WELL, IT’S AMAZING. YOU GO TO JERUSALEM. YOU STAND THERE AND YOU OVERLOOK. I MEAN, THERE IS THE PLACE WHERE JESUS WAITED THE NIGHT BEFORE HE DIED ON THE MOUNT OF OLIVES. THERE IS THE HOLIEST SPOT IN JUDAISM. THERE IS THE THIRD HOLIEST MOSQUE IN ISLAM. I STOOD THERE ON THE HOLIEST DAY OF THE YEAR FOR ISLAM AND THERE WERE JEWS AND CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS. IF YOU HAVE A KIPPAH, IF YOU HAVE A SHAWL, EVERY LOOK, EVERY GLANCE, BECAUSE VIOLENCE OFTEN OCCURS ON HOLY DAYS.

I THINK WHAT YOU SEE WHEN YOU ARE IN THAT PLACE AND YOU ARE LOOKING AT THOSE HOLY SPOTS IS THAT EVERY CAMERA ANGLE, EVERY GENUFLECTION, EVERY PRAYER THAT ENCOMPASSES AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE HOLY SPOTS MUST ENCOMPASS AT LEAST ANOTHER OF THOSE HOLY SPOTS. YOU CAN’T BUILD A WALL TO SEPARATE THE RELIGIONS. THEY MUST COEXIST AND THAT REALLY IS THE CALL OF THE HOUR. I THINK WHAT’S EXCITING FOR ME IS TO SEE IT GOING ON. THERE IS NO LEADER OF THIS INTERFAITH MOVEMENT. THERE IS NO BILLY GRAHAM FIGURE, THERE IS NO GOVERNMENT. IT’S ENTIRELY HAPPENING ON A GRASSROOTS LEVEL AND YET IT’S VERY, VERY REAL ACROSS COUNTRY.

JESS>> BUT TO ACHIEVE WHAT YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE, WOULD YOU NOT HAVE TO INTERNATIONALIZE JERUSALEM ONCE AGAIN?

BRUCE FEILER>> WELL, THAT’S A POLITICAL QUESTION AND I THINK THAT IT’S POSSIBLE. WHAT’S INTERESTING ABOUT JERUSALEM IS, BECAUSE OF ARCHAEOLOGY, YOU CAN DIVIDE IT NORTH AND SOUTH. BUT I ACTUALLY THINK THAT A MISTAKE THAT WE MAKE IS THINKING THAT "I HOPE THEY SOLVE THAT PROBLEM IN JERUSALEM, OR KABUL, OR BAGHDAD." I THINK THIS FAITH MATTER IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE CAN’T JUST LEAVE IT TO THE POLITICAL QUESTION. IT HAS TO HAPPEN IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD AND EVERY COMMUNITY AND EVERY HEART AND EVEN IN THIS COMMUNITY.

VAL>> BRUCE FEILER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ANOTHER BOOK THAT’S GETTING RAVE REVIEWS. AGAIN, IT’S CALLED “ABRAHAM: A JOURNEY TO THE HEART OF THREE FAITHS”.

BRUCE FEILER>> GREAT TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN. BE WELL.

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JESS>> NO DOUBT YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE SUCCESS OF A LITTLE FILM CALLED "MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING". IT HAD A TINY BUDGET, MADE MILLIONS WHEN, THANKS TO WORD OF MOUTH, THEATER-GOERS TURNED OUT IN DROVES TO SEE IT. NOW ANOTHER SMALL MOVIE IS HEADED DOWN THAT SAME ROAD AND IT'S ALREADY AN INTERNATIONAL HIT.

VAL>> THIS FILM IS CALLED "BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM". NOW DON'T FRET IF YOU'RE CONFUSED ABOUT THE TITLE. IT MAKES SENSE WHEN YOU SEE THE MOVIE. IT'S ABOUT A BRITISH GIRL FROM A TRADITIONAL INDIAN FAMILY, BUT INSTEAD OF FINDING A NICE BOY AND GETTING MARRIED, SHE WANTS TO PLAY SOCCER JUST LIKE HER HERO, BRITISH SOCCER STAR DAVID BECKHAM. WELL, IN A MOMENT, WE WILL MEET THE WRITER AND DIRECTOR, GURINDER CHADHA, BUT FIRST HERE'S A BRIEF LOOK AT THE FILM.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> JOINING US NOW IS THE DIRECTOR AND ONE OF THE WRITERS OF "BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM", GURINDER CHADHA. YOU'RE BRITISH, BUT YOU'RE ALSO OF INDIAN ORIGIN. IS THIS SORT OF BIOGRAPHICAL?

GURINDER CHADHA>> THERE ARE ELEMENTS OF MY LIFE IN THERE. I NEVER PLAYED SOCCER. IN FACT, I WAS COMPLETELY USELESS AT SPORTS IN SCHOOL. SOCCER IS SUCH A HUGE GAME IN BRITAIN, BUT IT'S SO MUCH A MAN'S GAME. SOCCER IS MORE A METAPHOR, IF YOU LIKE, FOR GIRLS MAKING IT IN A MAN'S WORLD.

JESS>> THIS GIRL IS A REBEL.

GURINDER CHADHA>> SHE'S A REBEL, BUT SHE'S A REBEL THAT IS -- IT'S A DIFFERENT KIND OF FILM. YOU KNOW, NORMALLY WHEN YOU SEE FILMS OF PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF, PART INDIAN, BRITISH OR WHATEVER, PEOPLE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT CULTURAL CLASHES. WHAT I WANTED TO SHOW IN THIS MOVIE, IT'S NOT LIKE THAT. YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE BI-CULTURAL OR BI-LINGUAL, OFTEN WHAT YOU DO IS YOU FIND WAYS TO BALANCE YOUR INDIAN SIDE AND YOUR ENGLISH SIDE AND THAT'S WHAT LIFE IS ABOUT. IT'S FINDING THOSE BALANCES. SO IT'S JESS. IT'S ABOUT WANTING TO DO THE WEDDING AND GOING THERE FOR HER SISTER, JUST LIKE YOU SAW IN THE CLIP, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, GETTING TO THE FOOTBALL MATCH, THE FINAL, AND FINDING THOSE TWO SIDES OF HERSELF AND MAKING IT WORK.

VAL>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT ANOTHER CLIP FROM THE FILM. AS YOU MENTIONED, THE MAIN CHARACTER'S NAME IS JESS. IT'S A GIRL, AND THIS IS THE SCENE INVOLVING AN ENGAGEMENT PARTY FOR JESS'S SISTER. LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> YOUR MOTHER IS IN THAT SCENE.

GURINDER CHADHA>> THAT'S RIGHT. IT'S MY MUM AND ALL MY AUNTS.

VAL>> YOUR MOTHER, YOUR AUNTS, HALF YOUR FAMILY IS IN THAT SCENE.

GURINDER CHADHA>> YEAH, WELL, I NEEDED GOOD EXTRAS, YOU KNOW.

JESS>> AND THEY OFFERED A LOT OF ADVICE, DID THEY?

GURINDER CHADHA>> TOO MUCH ADVICE, I'M AFRAID. THE GOOD THING ABOUT BEING A DIRECTOR ON A MOVIE IS THAT YOU'RE THE BOSS, BUT IF YOUR MOTHER IS THERE, I'M AFRAID THINGS CHANGE (LAUGHTER). SO THAT WAS KIND OF HORRENDOUS BECAUSE WE'D BE SHOOTING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE'D SCREAM MY NICKNAME WHICH IS INDY. SHE'D SCREAM MY NICKNAME ACROSS THE FLOOR AND SAY WHAT ABOUT US? YOU'RE NOT FILMING US AND WE'RE SITTING HERE IN ALL OUR NICE CLOTHES. AUNTIE IS WEARING THIS LOVELY SUIT AND YOU'RE FILMING THOSE STARS OVER THERE (LAUGHTER). THAT WAS A BIT OF A NIGHTMARE, BUT THEY WERE CHEAP. THEY WERE CHEAP EXTRAS (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> (LAUGHTER) YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.

VAL>> BUT THIS IS A RATHER UNEXPECTED HIT IN A CERTAIN WAY. I MEAN, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S ABOUT SOCCER WHERE SOCCER'S NOT THAT BIG. WHEN IT IS BIG, AS YOU MENTIONED, IT'S A MALE SPORT. THIS IS ABOUT A YOUNG WOMAN AND AN INDIAN WOMAN AT THAT. ARE YOU SURPRISED AT HOW SUCCESSFUL IT IS? EVERYONE SAYS IT'S JUST TOTALLY UPLIFTING AND CHARMING AND WONDERFUL.

GURINDER CHADHA>> WELL, I'M SLIGHTLY SURPRISED, BUT MORE THAN THAT, I'M ABSOLUTELY THRILLED.

VAL>> THAT'S NICE TOO.

GURINDER CHADHA>> YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY, IT'S A FAMILY FILM, YOU KNOW. IT IS A FAMILY FILM. WHAT'S BEEN GREAT FOR ME IS I'VE BEEN GOING ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY TOURING WITH THE FILM AND GETTING TO SEE IT WITH AUDIENCES IN DETROIT AND TEXAS AND EVERYWHERE. EVERYONE GENERALLY COMES OUT AND GOES, YEAH, IT'S ABOUT FAMILIES STICKING TOGETHER AND GETTING THROUGH THINGS. I THINK THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT IT ULTIMATELY IS. YES, THE SOCCER IS THERE, THE GIRLS ARE THERE, BUT THE PARENTS ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE GIRLS IN THIS FILM.

IT REALLY IS A FILM THAT YOU CAN TAKE YOUR GRANDMA TO AS WELL AS THE KIDS. I THINK IN THESE TIMES, YOU KNOW, THESE TURBULENT TIMES, IT'S A FILM THAT, MUCH LIKE YOUR PREVIOUS GUEST, IT'S ABOUT REALIZING THAT CULTURALLY THERE ARE DIFFERENCES, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, MUMS ARE ALL THE SAME. YOU KNOW, MUMS ALWAYS WANT THEIR DAUGHTERS TO BE A PARTICULAR WAY AND THERE'S A LOT THAT BINDS US TOGETHER AS WELL AS SEPARATES US CULTURALLY.

JESS>> EXPLAIN THAT TITLE.

GURINDER CHADHA>> WELL, "BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM" COMES FROM THE FACT THAT DAVID BECKHAM, WHO NOT ONLY IS THE MOST FABULOUS SOCCER PLAYER IN BRITAIN, BUT HE'S MARRIED AND HE KNOWS ALL ABOUT GIRL POWER. HE HAS THIS GREAT ABILITY, WHEN HE KICKS A BALL TO THE GOAL, INSTEAD OF IT GOING IN A STRAIGHT LINE, HE CAN KICK IT SO THAT IT TWISTS AND BENDS. YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO OFTEN AS GIRLS. YOU KNOW, WE CAN SEE OUR GOAL, BUT WE HAVE TO SORT OF FIND A WAY OF TWISTING AND TURNING AND BENDING OUR WAY TO GETTING THAT HOME GOAL BEFORE ANYONE KIND OF NOTICES THAT WE'VE KIND OF GOT THERE.

VAL>> BUT ALL THE SOCCER SCENES IN THE FILM HAVE TO BE INSPIRING IN CERTAIN WAYS. DO YOU THINK THIS WILL ACTUALLY HAVE AN EFFECT ON YOUNG GIRLS WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE, YOU KNOW, GET OUT THERE ON THE FIELD THEMSELVES?

GURINDER CHADHA>> WELL, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING THINGS FOR ME WAS TO LEARN IN INDIA -- THE FILM WAS A BIG HIT IN INDIA -- AND NOW THERE'S A WHOLE SOCCER LEAGUE FOR GIRLS IN INDIA CALLED THE BECKHAM LEAGUE.

JESS>> AND THERE HADN'T BEEN BEFORE?

GURINDER CHADHA>> NO, NOTHING AT ALL BEFORE.

JESS>> NOW THAT'S INFLUENCE.

GURINDER CHADHA>> THAT'S BIG. AND IN ENGLAND WHEN THE FILM CAME OUT, WE HAD THE TELEPHONE NUMBER ON THE POSTER OF THE WOMEN'S FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION AND THEIR PHONE LINES WERE JUST OFF THE HOOK. HERE IN THE STATES, WE HAVE THE WHOLE TITLE NINE DEBATE GOING ON RIGHT NOW AND A LOT OF WSA TEAMS ARE USING THE FILM TO SHOW TO GIRLS IN SCHOOL TO ENCOURAGE MORE GIRLS TO PLAY AND KIND OF MAKE SPORTS EQUAL FOR ALL.

JESS>> AND IT'S NOT A "CHICK FLICK"?

GURINDER CHADHA>> IT'S DEFINITELY NOT A "CHICK FLICK". IT'S A MOTHER HEN, DAD, COP, CHICK AND ALL THE REST OF IT (LAUGHTER). AND THE EGGS AS WELL.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) IS IT CREATING A LITTLE BIT OF TURBULENCE, THOUGH, WITHIN VERY TRADITIONAL INDIAN FAMILIES WHO DON'T WANT THEIR GIRLS NECESSARILY TO GO OUT AND PLAY? YOU KNOW, THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TRADITIONAL AND THE MODERN?

GURINDER CHADHA>> YOU KNOW, I WISH IT WOULD. CONTROVERSY IS GOOD FOR THE BOX OFFICE, BUT AS YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT CONTROVERSIAL AT ALL. IT'S A VERY AUTHENTIC, VERY TRUTHFUL, PORTRAYAL OF BRITISH CULTURE RIGHT NOW. I LOVE BRITAIN. I LOVE LIVING IN BRITAIN. I LOVE BEING A BRITISH FILM DIRECTOR BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE IN BRITAIN IS AN EXTREMELY MIXED COMMUNITY AND WE'RE ALL ON THIS ISLAND SO WE'RE ALL TOGETHER.

THE FILM HAS BEEN THE MOST SUCCESSFUL BRITISH-FINANCED BRITISH MOVIE EVER. IT'S BECAUSE THE BRITISH PUBLIC HAVE MADE IT THAT. IT WAS PICKED UP BY THE TABLOIDS THERE AND EVERYTHING. SO IT'S A DEPICTION OF HOW THE BRITISH SEE BRITISH LIFE RIGHT NOW. IN THAT SENSE, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE KIND OF WARMED TO IT AND TO OWNERSHIP OF IT, SO I'M FORTUNATE THERE WERE NO CONTROVERSIES.

JESS>> OUR THANKS TO GURINDER CHADHA. THE FILM IS CALLED "BENDING IT LIKE BECKHAM" AND IT'S PLAYING AT SELECTED THEATERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

VAL>> AND A REMINDER THAT YOU CAN CHECK OUT TRANSCRIPTS OR HEAR AUDIO OF OUR RECENT PROGRAMS ON LIFE AND TIMES. GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT KCET.ORG. IT'S REVISED AND IMPROVED AND QUITE BEAUTIFUL.

JESS>> AND WE'LL BE WATCHING THE WAR AND BRINGING YOU UPDATES WHEN THEY'RE WARRANTED THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BBC. NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

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