7/23/03

LC030723

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

THE CONTROVERSY OVER MEXICAN ID CARDS. THEY ARE A WAY OF LIFE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, BUT ARE THE CARDS PAVING THE WAY FOR MORE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION?

MARTHA LARA>> IT IS NOT AN IMMIGRATION LOBBY. IT DOES NOT GIVE ANYONE IMMIGRATION RIGHTS. IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OR THE LACK OF STATUS OF THE MEXICAN LIVING HERE. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IMMIGRATION.

VAL>> AND THEN, BEING FUNNY WITHOUT BEING CRUDE. WE'LL FIND OUT HOW SOME LOCAL COMICS HAVE COME CLEAN.

ALL THAT AND MORE STRAIGHT ON TONIGHT'S LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF
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.

VAL>> HELLO, I'M VAL ZAVALA REPORTING FROM OLVERA STREET, THE ORIGINAL MEXICAN VILLAGE THAT STARTED LOS ANGELES. WE'RE HERE TODAY TO LOOK AT THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING MEXICAN ID CARDS. THOSE ARE THE CARDS ISSUED BY THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT TO MEXICAN NATIONALS HERE, BOTH DOCUMENTED AND UNDOCUMENTED. THEY'RE BEING ACCEPTED MORE AND MORE OFTEN BY BUSINESSES AND EVEN POLICE DEPARTMENTS, BUT SOME PEOPLE SAY THEY'RE SIMPLY A LEGAL SANCTION FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. TONI GUINYARD TAKES A LOOK AT BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE.

TONI GUINYARD>> IT'S A SCENE REPEATED ALMOST EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE LINE UP OUTSIDE THE MEXICAN CONSULATE IN LOS ANGELES AND WAIT PATIENTLY. THEIR PATIENCE PAYS OFF IN THE FORM OF THIS LITTLE CARD. IT'S CALLED THE MATRICULA CONSULAR. IT'S REFERRED TO AS A MEXICAN ID. THE DOCUMENT IS NO LARGER THAN A CREDIT CARD, BUT IN MANY WAYS, MUCH MORE VALUABLE OR COSTLY DEPENDING ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

MARTHA LARA>> IT IS AN ID, A MEXICAN ID, AND IT IS USED IN LIEU OF A PASSPORT. RESIDENTS, MEXICAN LEGAL RESIDENTS, AND WE HAVE THEM BY THE TENS OF THOUSANDS IN LOS ANGELES, CAN TRAVEL TO MEXICO JUST WITH THEIR MATRICULA CONSULAR. THEY DON'T HAVE TO GET A PASSPORT. THEY TRAVEL WITH THEIR MATRICULA. WHEN THEY COME TO THE BORDER, WHEN THEY COME TO IMMIGRATION, THEY SAY I'M A MEXICAN CITIZEN. GO RIGHT IN. SO THIS IS FALSE TO THINK THAT IS FOR THE UNDOCUMENTED. IT IS FOR ANY MEXICAN CITIZEN.

IRA MEHLMAN>> WHETHER IT'S THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT, THEY HAVE A SOVEREIGN RIGHT TO ISSUE DOCUMENTS TO THEIR CITIZENS. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY DISPUTES THAT. BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT OUR GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO DECIDE WHAT DOCUMENTS THEY WILL AND WILL NOT ACCEPT AND IT OUGHT TO BE DECIDED BASED ON WHAT IS IN THE INTEREST OF THIS COUNTRY.

TONI GUINYARD>> IRA MEHLMAN IS AN OUTSPOKEN CRITIC OF THE MATRICULA CONSULAR. HE IS A SPOKESPERSON FOR F.A.I.R., THE FEDERATION FOR AMERICAN IMMIGRATION REFORM. DESPITE THE GROUP'S EFFORTS, THE CARD IS GAINING ACCEPTANCE EVEN AFTER FEDERAL OFFICIALS QUESTIONED THE CARD'S USE AS A POTENTIAL SECURITY RISK. IT'S A CONCERN ECHOED BY MEHLMAN.

IRA MEHLMAN>> THE FBI AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES HAVE ALREADY FOUND PEOPLE TO BE IN POSSESSION OF MULTIPLE CARDS, MULTIPLE DIFFERENT IDENTITIES. SO IN ACCEPTING THESE CARDS, WHAT WE'RE DOING POSSIBLY IS RATIFYING SOMEBODY'S FALSE IDENTITY. SO WE DON'T EVEN REALLY KNOW WHO THESE PEOPLE ARE.

TONI GUINYARD>> HE SAYS HIS ARGUMENT IS WITH IMMIGRATION POLICY.

IRA MEHLMAN>> THE MATRICULA CONSULAR CARD IS A DOCUMENT THAT PROVES REALLY ONE THING FOR CERTAIN, THAT THE PERSON HOLDING THE CARD IS IN THE UNITED STATES ILLEGALLY.

MARTHA LARA>> IT IS NOT AN IMMIGRATION DOCUMENT. IT DOES NOT GIVE ANYONE IMMIGRATION RIGHTS. IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE IMMIGRATION STATUS OR THE LACK OF STATUS OF A MEXICAN LIVING HERE. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IMMIGRATION.

TONI GUINYARD>> BUT IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH BUSINESS. AN INCREASING NUMBER OF BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, STATE AND NATIONWIDE, RECOGNIZE THE CARD AS A LEGAL FORM OF ID. BY DOING SO, THEY OPEN THEIR DOORS TO A RELATIVELY UNTAPPED SOURCE OF NEW BUSINESS. EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN LINE WHO APPLIES FOR AND RECEIVES THE ID CARD IS A POTENTIAL CLIENT.

SIMPLY STATED, THE MATRICULA CONSULAR IS AN ID CARD ISSUED BY A MEXICAN CONSULATE. AN AVERAGE OF 400 TO 500 OF THE APPLICATIONS FOR THE CARD ARE PROCESSED HERE EVERY DAY AND MANY OF THE PEOPLE STANDING IN LINE SAY THEY REALLY NEED THIS CARD FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

JORGE ZUNIGA>> I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAVE MY MONEY IN THE BANK. YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T HAVE LIKE A BANK ACCOUNT, MANY DOORS CLOSE FOR YOU. YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO BUY MONEY ORDERS. YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT OF HASSLE.

TONI GUINYARD>> HOW DO YOU PAY YOUR RENT?

JORGE ZUNIGA>> WELL, I PAY CASH.

TONI GUINYARD>> HOW DO YOU PAY YOUR BILLS?

JORGE ZUNIGA>> MY BILLS, I HAVE TO BUY MONEY ORDERS.

TONI GUINYARD>> AND WITH THIS CARD, WHAT WILL YOU BE ABLE TO DO?

JORGE ZUNIGA>> WELL, I'LL BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE MONEY, SAVE IT IN THE BANK, AND I CAN WRITE CHECKS AND PROBABLY OPEN CREDITS.

TONI GUINYARD>> AND IF HE CHOOSES, ZUNIGA WILL HAVE THE OPTION OF USING THE MATRICULA CONSULAR AS AN ID TO PURCHASE A PRIVATE HEALTH PLAN. HEALTH NET IS THE FIRST HEALTH PLAN PROVIDER IN THE NATION TO ACCEPT THE MEXICAN ID CARD.

ANA ANDRADE>> WE THINK IT MAKES PERFECT BUSINESS SENSE.

TONI GUINYARD>> ANA ANDRADE IS VICE PRESIDENT OF LATINO BUSINESS PROGRAMS FOR HEALTH NET CALIFORNIA.

ANA ANDRADE>> THIS IS A PRIVATE COMMERCIAL HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM, SO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO PURCHASE HEALTH INSURANCE CAN CALL HEALTH NET AND OBTAIN A POLICY. TYPICALLY, INSURANCE COMPANIES REQUIRE A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER TO ENROLL. WE HAVE DECIDED TO ACCEPT THE MATRICULA CONSULAR AS ANOTHER FORM OF IDENTIFICATION. IT IS PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE. IT IS PAID FOR, SO IT IS REALLY NOT A BURDEN ON THE TAXPAYERS AT ALL.

TONI GUINYARD>> THE MATRICULA CONSULAR OPENS THE DOOR TO HEALTH NET'S NETWORK OF MORE THAN FOUR HUNDRED HOSPITALS AND MORE THAN FOUR THOUSAND PHARMACIES.

ANA ANDRADE>> WE ARE OFFERING OUR SERVICES TO ALL RESIDENTS OF CALIFORNIA WHO WANT TO HAVE ACCESS TO PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE.

TONI GUINYARD>> UNDOCUMENTED OR NOT.

ANA ANDRADE>> THE ISSUE OF DOCUMENTATION IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON WITH THIS DECISION. OUR FOCUS IS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO CARE FOR A POPULATION THAT HAS A TREMENDOUS NEED.

MARTHA LARA>> MILLIONS, AND I'M SPEAKING OVER $100 MILLION DOLLARS, HAVE COME INTO THE BANKS THAT THESE PEOPLE WERE KEEPING IN THEIR SHOES OR IN THEIR MATTRESSES. I THINK THAT THE HEALTH AREA, HEALTH NET, HAS SEEN THE BENEFIT THAT THERE'S A MARKET THERE.

IRA MEHLMAN>> WHAT WE'RE DOING IS SENDING THE MESSAGE THAT WE REALLY DON'T TAKE OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS VERY SERIOUSLY, THAT IF YOU CAN SOMEHOW GET INTO THIS COUNTRY, WHETHER IT'S SNEAKING PAST THE BORDER PATROL AT THE BORDER OR COMING IN ON A VISA AND SIMPLY OVER-STAYING, WE ARE GOING TO TOLERATE THAT. IN FACT, IN MANY CASES, WE ARE GOING TO REWARD YOU FOR HAVING DONE IT.

TONI GUINYARD>> MANY MEXICAN CITIZENS CHOOSE TO IGNORE THIS SCATHING CRITICISM AND ARE ARMING THEMSELVES WITH BIRTH CERTIFICATES AND A SECONDARY FORM OF ID, TWO ITEMS NEEDED TO APPLY FOR A MATRICULA CONSULAR, THE LITTLE CARD AT THE CENTER OF A GROWING CONTROVERSY.

VAL>> IT COMES AS NO SURPRISE THAT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HAS A LOT AT STAKE IN THE DEBATE OVER MEXICAN ID CARDS. ACCORDING TO THE LATEST ESTIMATE, FIVE MILLION MEXICAN NATIONALS WORK AND LIVE IN THIS REGION AND THEIR NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GROW.

>> I THINK IMMIGRATION LAWS ARE A LITTLE LAX. I THINK WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE STRICTER ON THE BORDERS NOT ONLY FOR TERRORIST ACTIVITIES, BUT I THINK FOR THOSE THAT ARE BONA FIDE CITIZENS OR THOSE WHO COME ACROSS LEGALLY WITH THEIR PERMITS CAN CELEBRATE THE GREAT THINGS THE COUNTRY HAS TO OFFER AND WE CAN OFFER THEM MORE. BUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, I THINK, DRAWS FROM PEOPLE THAT WORK HARD AND EARN THEIR MONEY WHEN THEY COME ACROSS INTO OUR COUNTRY ILLEGALLY.

>> WHEN THE PEOPLE TRY TO COME HERE LEGAL AND THE IMMIGRATION IS NOT, YOU KNOW, CARING THAT MUCH ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE, SO THAT MAKES PROBLEM FOR THE LEGAL RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> AS LONG AS IT'S FAIR AND IT DOESN'T MARK OUT ENTIRE GROUPS OF PEOPLE, I MEAN, FOR NATIONAL SECURITIES. YEAH, LET'S BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CAREFUL, BUT LET'S NOT LET IN ENEMIES AND KEEP OUT OUR FRIENDS.

KCET.ORG IS THE PLACE TO LOOK FOR THE VERY LATEST ON LIFE AND TIMES. YOU'LL FIND PREVIEWS OF UPCOMING STORIES, TRANSCRIPTS AND AUDIO OF PAST EPISODES AND LINKS TO SOME OF OUR MOST INTERESTING FEATURES. JUST GO TO KCET.ORG AND CLICK ON "LIFE AND TIMES".

PHILIP BRUCE>> OUR NEXT STORY IS ALL ABOUT A SATELLITE TV NETWORK THAT'S BASED HERE IN LOS ANGELES, BUT THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE YOU'VE NEVER SEEN THEM. THAT'S BECAUSE THEY BEAM THEIR SIGNAL STRAIGHT INTO IRAN. NITV IS ALL ABOUT SPREADING THE WORD OF DEMOCRACY AND CONVINCING THE PEOPLE OF IRAN TO RISE UP AGAINST THE DICTATORS IN CHARGE THERE. BUT THERE'S JUST ONE PROBLEM. THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN BLOCKING NITV SATELLITE. THAT MEANS NO MORE SIGNAL AND NO MORE PROGRAMS. TONIGHT WE TALK TO THE MAN IN CHARGE, ZIA ATABAY, TO FIND OUT WHAT HE PLANS TO DO.

PHILIP BRUCE>> YOU'RE BUILDING A BRAND NEW FACILITY HERE IN WOODLAND HILLS. EVERYTHING IS GOOD EXCEPT FOR THE CUBANS WHO ARE JAMMING YOUR SIGNAL THAT'S AIMED AT IRAN. WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

ZIA ATABAY>> IT'S NOT STRANGE THAT I DON'T TALK SPANISH WITH THEM. I CAN TALK, BUT I DON'T. MY PROGRAM IS FARSI AND CUBAN, THE SPANISH MARXIST GOVERNMENT TAKE OVER AND JAMMING LIKE A TERRORIST ACT. NOT ONLY US. IT'S THE RADIO VOICE OF AMERICA AND FOX NEWS AND EVERYBODY AND NOBODY CAN STOP IT. BUT THE REASON BEHIND IT IS IRAN. THIS POLITICALLY IS VERY, VERY HARD SITUATION IN IRANIAN GOVERNMENT AND AMERICA BECAUSE THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT KNOWS THE MOVEMENT FOR IRAN IS STARTED.

PHILIP BRUCE>> AND IRAN IS AFRAID OF PROGRAMS LIKE YOURS. YOU ENCOURAGE A DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT IN IRAN AND HAVE BEEN DOING THAT FOR A LONG TIME AND THOSE SIGNALS THAT YOU'VE BEEN SENDING INTO IRAN HAVE BEEN CREDITED FOR HELPING STIR UP THE STUDENTS WHO'VE BEEN OUT IN THE STREETS PROTESTING.

ZIA ATABAY>> YOU KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE? THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT HAS STARTED TO PUT ALL THE WRITERS, NEWSPAPER PEOPLE IN THE JAIL. THERE IS NO TELEVISION EXCEPT COMMUNIST TELEVISION CALLED IRB. I THINK IT STARTED A MESSAGE OF THE INSIDE IRAN TO OUT LIKE STUDENTS AND FREEDOM FIGHTERS AND GOT VERY STRONG AND OUT OF HAND WITH THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT. SO THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT FEELS THAT NOW IS VERY, VERY DANGEROUS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> SO WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING IN YOUR PROGRAMS, YOU'VE BEEN GIVING THE PEOPLE OF IRAN THE KINDS OF COVERAGE AND THE KINDS OF PROGRAMS THEY COULDN'T GET AT HOME, RIGHT?

ZIA ATABAY>> YES, SIR.

PHILIP BRUCE>> AND THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT CLEARLY HAS A REASON FOR YOU NOT TO WANT TO DO THAT, BUT WHY IS CUBA IS INVOLVED? WHAT DO THEY HAVE AT STAKE HERE?

ZIA ATABAY>> MONEY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> MONEY FROM WHAT?

ZIA ATABAY>> FOR OIL. YOU KNOW THAT THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT NOW IS NOT LIKE BEFORE. IT'S TAKE A VERY BIG RISK BECAUSE BEFORE, AS YOU KNOW, RUSSIA WAS BACKING THEM UP. NOW THEY ARE OUR NEIGHBOR, A SMALL ISLAND, AND THEY DON'T HAVE THAT BACKUP. BUT THEY HAVE A BAD SITUATION. THEY DON'T HAVE MONEY. THE PEOPLE OF CUBA, THEY NEED MONEY AND FREEDOM TOO. IRANIAN GOVERNMENT OFFERED THEM THE MONEY AND OIL AND MADE A LOT OF SHOPPING FROM THERE FOR MEDICAL EQUIPMENT FROM CUBA. ONE WEEK BEFORE JAMMING STARTED, THE SON WAS IN CUBA AND THEY MADE A DEAL. I KNOW THAT THEY'RE DOING THIS FOR A REASON AND IT'S MONEY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> SO YOU HAVE A PRETTY GOOD IDEA WHERE THIS JAMMING SIGNAL IS COMING FROM, RIGHT? I MEAN, I'VE READ REPORTS THAT IT'S COMING OUT OF A GROUND STATION NEAR HAVANA, THAT THEY'RE BEAMING IT UP TO A SATELLITE.

ZIA ATABAY>> THAT'S TRUE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> WHY DOESN'T SOMEBODY JUST GO TURN IT OFF?

ZIA ATABAY>> HOW WE CAN TURN IT OFF? NOT AMERICAN? THIS IS GETTING DANGEROUS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> HOW LONG CAN YOU SURVIVE AS LONG AS THIS SIGNAL IS JAMMED AND AS LONG AS THIS SITUATION YOU'RE IN PERSISTS? HOW LONG CAN YOU STAY ON?

ZIA ATABAY>> IT'S A VERY TOUGH QUESTION BECAUSE I'M INDEPENDENT AND LONELY. I'M VERY LONELY HERE AND I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO AN AMERICAN BECAUSE MY PROGRAM IS IN FARSI. IF I WANT TO BUY TIME IN THE CABLES, IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE. I DON'T KNOW, REALLY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> AND YOU ARE ALL INDEPENDENTLY FUNDED, RIGHT? YOU'RE NOT GETTING MONEY FROM ANY GOVERNMENT?

ZIA ATABAY>> NO.

PHILIP BRUCE>> FAR FROM IT?

ZIA ATABAY>> AND WHAT IS VERY IMPORTANT IS THAT EVEN THE AMERICAN COMPANY DON'T GIVE US ADVERTISING AND HELP US. THERE IS A LOT OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT COULD HELP US IN THE NAME OF DEMOCRACY. WE HAVE PROGRAMS FIGHTING FOR DRUGS AND STUFF LIKE THAT. THEY CAN HELP US IF THEY WANT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT SO FAR, NOT?

ZIA ATABAY>> NOTHING.

PHILIP BRUCE>> NO MONEY?

ZIA ATABAY>> NO MONEY.

PHILIP BRUCE>> I KNOW IT'S YOUR WHOLE PURPOSE OF YOUR PROGRAMMING TO STIR UP THAT DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT IN IRAN, BUT ARE YOU A LITTLE SURPRISED AT HOW SUCCESSFUL IT HAS BEEN AMONG THE STUDENTS AND THE FACT THAT MANY OF THESE RECENT UPRISINGS ARE BEING CREDITED TO THE PROGRAMMING THAT YOU'RE BEAMING OUT OF LOS ANGELES INTO IRAN?

ZIA ATABAY>> YES, IT WAS FOR ME LIKE A MIRACLE, BUT I BELIEVE THE IRANIAN PEOPLE THAT WERE SO HOPELESS FOR TWENTY YEARS THAT SUDDENLY THEY SAW MY PICTURE AS THEIR SINGER AND SOMEONE THAT TALKS ABOUT THEIR FREEDOM AND, THE LAST FOUR YEARS, EVERYBODY CAME OUT TO BUY ME. THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT, EVERYBODY, WAS GOING AGAINST ME.

PHILIP BRUCE>> TRYING TO BUY YOU OFF?

ZIA ATABAY>> YES, AND EVERYTHING I SAID NO.

PHILIP BRUCE>> DID THEY THREATEN YOUR LIFE? ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THAT?

ZIA ATABAY>> YES. TWO WEEKS AGO, THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN IN HERE. TWO PEOPLE, THEY CAME TO BLOW THIS PLACE UP AND FBI KNOWS. THE GROUP OF ANTI-TERRORISTS, THEY KNOW IT. ALWAYS THERE WAS THE TELEPHONE, BUT THIS TIME I SAW IT IN HERE, THAT SOMEBODY CAME IN. IT WAS IN FRONT OF THE HALL AND TELEVISION. CAMERA WAS SHOOTING THIS GUY AND WE GIVE A COPY OF THAT TO THE POLICE.

ALI DEAN>> I TELL PEOPLE THROUGH WHAT I'M DOING IMPERSONATING THIS GUY WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS WRONG. YOU COULD DELIVER YOUR MATERIAL AGAINST SOMEONE THROUGH TO THE LAST AND THEY WILL GET IT JUST LIKE THIS. SO FAR, IT WORKS. IT'S A GOOD WEAPON.

ZIA ATABAY>> THE IRANIAN PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG PEOPLE, THEY PUT THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE BECAUSE OF ONE WORD. FOR THE FIRST TIME THEY HEARD THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES SAYS THIS TIME I'M GOING TO SUPPORT YOU, NOT THE GOVERNMENT. THEY'RE READY. THEY'RE CALLING ME AFTER THIS. THEY WERE ANGRY. DO WE GET THE SUPPORT FROM AMERICA? CAN WE COUNT ON AMERICA? THEN THEY STARTED TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN IRAQ. BEFORE THE WAR, THE IRAQI PEOPLE STAND UP AND AMERICA SAID WE WERE GOING TO SUPPORT THEM AND THEN THEY GO. SADDAM HUSSEIN STARTED KILLING ALL OF THEM.

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT THE IRANIANS ARE LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT THE U.S. IS IN BAGHDAD NOW AND HASN'T LEFT, AND THAT'S ENCOURAGING THEM?

ZIA ATABAY>> THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?

PHILIP BRUCE>> NO, THE IRANIAN PEOPLE.

ZIA ATABAY>> THE IRANIAN PEOPLE, THEY DON'T WANT AMERICA TO GO DOWN, TO BACK THEM. AS AMERICAN, AND I BELIEVE SO MUCH IN THIS COUNTRY, I WANT TO KNOW REALLY WE ARE TALKING OR WE CAN DO SOMETHING. IT'S NOT ME. REMEMBER THAT. TODAY IT'S ME, VOICE OF AMERICA AND FOX. BUT TOMORROW IT WILL BE CNN, BBC, YOUR SATELLITE EVEN. THEY CAN DO IT AND THEY WILL SAY YOU CANNOT DO ANYTHING. WE HAVE TO STOP IT. TERRORISTS ARE NOT ONLY BULLET AND BOMB. IT'S A TERRORIST ACT OF OUR FREE WORD AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH. THIS COUNTRY BELIEVE ON IT. THE COUNTRY OF IRAN, THE PEOPLE THAT BELIEVE, IF THEY JOIN US, THEY WILL BE FREE LIKE US. THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT PLAN TO DO.

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VAL>> A LOT OF COMEDY, ESPECIALLY THAT OF COMEDY CLUBS, CAN BE LEWD, CRUDE AND RUDE AND A LOT OF US GET A LITTLE TIRED OF FOURTEEN VERSIONS OF THE "F" WORD, INCLUDING COMIC ADAM CHRISTING, SO HE STARTED A SERVICE CALLED "CLEAN COMEDIANS". WE'LL TALK TO HIM ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, HERE'S A SAMPLE OF ADAM CHRISTING'S TOILET HUMOR.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> I MET UP WITH COMIC AND MAGICIAN, ADAM CHRISTING, AT THE CALIFORNIA WOK RESTAURANT IN SANTA MONICA. YOU WERE INSPIRED TO START A DIFFERENT KIND OF COMEDY OR COMEDIAN SERVICE BASED ON THE FACT THAT, WHAT, THERE WAS TOO MUCH DIRTY STUFF GOING ON IN THE COMEDY STORES?

ADAM CHRISTING>> WELL, WE KEPT NOTICING THAT PEOPLE WOULD COME UP TO US AND THEY WOULD SAY THANKS FOR KEEPING IT CLEAN. I ALWAYS WORK CLEAN. I WOULD DO COMEDY AND MAGIC. IN 1990, WE STARTED "CLEAN COMEDIANS" WITH THE MOTTO THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE FILTHY TO BE FUNNY.

VAL>> IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE FILTHY TO BE FUNNY. SO WHY IS SO MUCH OF IT FILTHY? WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?

ADAM CHRISTING>> I THINK IT'S A SHORTCUT FOR COMEDIANS AND IT'S A LOT EASIER TO GO RIGHT TO THE SHOCK HUMOR AND GET THE LAUGHS. WE LAUGH WHEN WE'RE SURPRISED. THE PROBLEM IS, THE FOUR-LETTER WORDS DON'T SURPRISE AND SHOCK US ANYMORE, SO COMEDIANS ARE CONSTANTLY REACHING FOR NEW WAYS TO SHOCK PEOPLE. I THINK IT'S SHOCKING WHEN YOU HAVE CLEAN COMEDY BECAUSE IT RELIES ON VARIETY INSTEAD OF VULGARITY.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> SO DO YOU HAVE TO AUDITION THE COMEDIANS OR DO THEY HAVE TO CLEAN UP THEIR ACT IN ORDER TO BE ON YOUR LIST?

ADAM CHRISTING>> BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE'RE GETTING ABOUT FIVE VIDEOTAPES A WEEK FROM PERFORMERS. SOME OF THEM ARE BIG-NAME PERFORMERS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR WORK. THE COMEDY CLUB SCENE IS REALLY -- I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S CLOSED UP SHOP, BUT THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF COMEDY CLUBS IN THE 1980'S AND 1990'S WHEN THE BOOM WAS REALLY ON. NOW IT'S DOWN TO ABOUT 150 CLUBS, SO IT'S CUT WAY BACK.

VAL>> HOW COME?

ADAM CHRISTING>> I THINK PEOPLE, FRANKLY, ARE TIRED OF THE FILTH AND ALSO THE VIDEO SCENE OF COMEDY CABLE WAS SO HOT MAYBE TEN YEARS AGO WITH THE RED BRICK WALL KIND OF THING AND THE AIRPLANE JOKES AND THE 7-11 JOKES. IT GOT A LITTLE BIT TIRESOME. SO NOW WE'RE SEEING COMEDY MAGIC, COMEDY JUGGLING, IMPROV AND CORPORATION --

VAL>> -- IT'S LIKE VAUDEVILLE.

ADAM CHRISTING>> IT'S LIKE A NEW VAUDEVILLE. THAT'S A GOOD OBSERVATION.

[FILM CLIP]

ADAM CHRISTING>> ONE OF THE TOP COMEDY ACTS IN THE COUNTRY NOW IS CALLED THE PASSING ZONE. THEY'VE BEEN ON THE "TONIGHT SHOW" SEVERAL TIMES. THEY'VE LITERALLY JUGGLED PEOPLE FROM THE AUDIENCE, VAL. THREE PEOPLE COME UP, THEY PUT THEM IN SPACE SUITS. THEY CALLED THEM JUGGLENAUTS AND TOSSED THEM IN THE AIR. IT'S HYSTERICALLY FUNNY AND IT INVOLVES THE AUDIENCE. WE HAVE AN ACRONYM POLICY, SO WE HAVE A NO-GROSS POLICY. SO NO GENDER-BASHING, NO RACIST HUMOR, NO OBSCENITY, NO SEXUALLY EXPLICIT MATERIAL AND FINALLY NO SWEARING AT ALL, SO PEOPLE ARE LIKE, WOW, WHAT CAN THEY DO? WELL, WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY HAVE TO RELY ON ORIGINALITY AND VARIETY INSTEAD OF THE SHOCK.

[FILM CLIP]

ADAM CHRISTING>> WE HAVE A JEWISH RABBI, BOB ALPER. IN FACT, WE RECENTLY TEAMED HIM UP WITH --

VAL>> -- IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME THAT RABBIS ARE FUNNY.

ADAM CHRISTING>> THAT'S TRUE. OH, MAN, RABBINICAL HUMOR. IN FACT, THE WHOLE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY IS A GREAT SOURCE FOR HUMOR AND I THINK THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY, WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING PROTESTANT, CATHOLIC, JEWISH, WHATEVER IT IS, HAS FELT SORT OF CUT OFF FROM COMEDY. I THINK IT'S KIND OF NICE TO REOPEN THOSE DOORS OF COMMUNICATION. BUT I MENTIONED BOB ALPER, OUR JEWISH COMEDIAN. WE TEAMED HIM UP WITH NAZARETH, WHO'S AN ARAB-AMERICAN COMEDIAN.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THE NATURE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND COMEDY WILL BE LIKE IN THE FUTURE?

ADAM CHRISTING>> MORE AND MORE NICHE. I THINK YOU'D BE ABLE TO PROBABLY SAY I WANT G COMEDY, I WANT G-13, I WANT PG. THAT'S A PHRASE I LIKE, G-13, AND MANY OF OUR COMEDIANS ARE THAT WAY WHERE THEY'RE SQUEAKY CLEAN, BUT THE TOPICS THEY ADDRESS IN SOME CASES MIGHT BE POLITICAL OR THEY MIGHT BE RELATIONSHIPS OR THEY MIGHT BE ADULT-ORIENTED TOPICS, BUT HANDLED IN A WAY WHERE YOU WOULDN'T BE EMBARRASSED IF YOUR KIDS SAW IT.

VAL>> SO COMEDIANS MAY HAVE TO START WEARING LIKE LITTLE, YOU KNOW, PG, R, NR-17 (LAUGHTER).

ADAM CHRISTING>> (LAUGHTER) IT'S HARD TO KNOW. SOME PEOPLE HAVE SEEN PERFORMERS ON TELEVISION DO A FAIRLY CLEAN DISNEY TYPE SHOW. THEN THEY GO TO SEE THEM LIVE AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY FILTHY.

VAL>> I KNOW. I'VE HEARD THAT. THEY JUST COMPLETELY CHANGE.

ADAM CHRISTING>> SO WE ACTUALLY OFFER PEOPLE A MONEY BACK GUARANTEE, VAL, WHICH IS IF IT ISN'T FUNNY, WE'LL REFUND YOUR MONEY. SO NOT ONLY IS IT SQUEAKY CLEAN, IT'S TOTALLY HILARIOUS.

VAL>> YOU REALLY GIVE PEOPLE MONEY BACK IF THEY DON'T LIKE IT?

ADAM CHRISTING>> WE GIVE PEOPLE THEIR MONEY BACK IF THEY DON'T LAUGH.

[FILM CLIP]

ADAM CHRISTING>> BUT THE POINT IS, WE REALLY DO GUARANTEE THAT IT'S FUNNY AND CLEAN AT THE SAME TIME.

VAL>> GREAT. WELL, GOOD LUCK TO YOU FOR YOUR SAKE AND SOCIETY'S (LAUGHTER).

ADAM CHRISTING>> THANKS.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> AND THAT'S OUR PROGRAM. I'M VAL ZAVALA REPORTING FROM OLVERA STREET NEAR DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. FOR EVERYONE AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANKS FOR WATCHING.

LIFE AND TIMES WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF
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.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, THIS HIGH-TECH GIZMO COULD REDUCE TRAFFIC ON CITY STREETS, SO WHY IS IT BANNED IN SOME LOCAL CITIES?

>> I HAVEN'T EVER HEARD OF AN ACCIDENT WHERE SOMEBODY ON A SEGWAY HAS COLLIDED WITH A PEDESTRIAN.

VAL>> THAT'S TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES.