Roundup

Lockerbie evidence faked by CIA?

Stories in Scotland's Sunday newspapers claim the CIA faked the evidence that convicted Libyan Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al-Megrahi for mass murder in 2001. Discussing the stories with host Fi Glover are the incoming Political Editor at the BBC, Nick Robinson; the independent Lothians Member of the Scottish Parliament, Margo Macdonald; and author Ian Rankin.

American history as portrayed in textbooks from around the world

Dana Lindaman and Kyle Ward are the authors of "History Lessons: How Textbooks from Around the World Portray American History." Lindaman tells Anne Strainchamps even the textbooks of America's allies are full of anti-American stereotypes and that Americans should remember that other countries have different views of America.

History of classroom film-strips

Danny Gregory is the author of "Change Your Underwear Twice A Week: Lessons from the Golden Age of Classroom Filmstrips." He tells Jim Fleming that film-strips became popular around the time of the second world war and were used for industrial training and in public schools. And we hear examples.

History of Walter Reed Army Medical Ctr

This past week, the Base Closure and Realignment Commission voted to close down the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The hospital has treated countless soldiers returning home from war and many U.S. presidents. Jacki Lyden speaks with Dr. John Pierce, a historian for the Walter Reed Society, about the hospital and the physician whose name it bears.

Book explores Wollstonecraft's life

Jacki Lyden takes a closer look at the life of Mary Wollstonecraft, the 18th-century feminist and author of "A Vindication of the Rights of Women." She talks about Wollstonecraft's violent upbringing, her failed love affair and her radical views on education with biographer Lyndall Gordon, author of "Vindication: A Life of Mary Wollstonecraft."

The power of nonviolent resistance

Peter Ackerman, Chairman of the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict, talks about the power of nonviolent resistance to oppression throughout history and across cultures on the 25th anniversary of the Polish Solidarity movement with Jaroslaw Anders, editor in VOA's Eurasia Division, and host Carol Castiel.

Voices in the news

A sound montage of some of the voices in this past week's news, including Anthony Prinicipi, chairman, Base Realignment and Closure Commission; Cindy Sheehan, anti-war activist; Deborah Johns, spokeswoman, Northern California Marine Moms; President Bush; and Michael Brown, director, Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Tahra Records, reclaiming musical history

Rene Tremine and Myriam Scherchen are the founders of Tahra Records, a small label issuing well-received historical recordings of classical music. Independent producer Julian Crandall Hollick visits with the Paris-based couple.

Ireland insists IRA will remain illegal

The Republic of Ireland's Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, has said the IRA will continued to be viewed as an illegal organisation, even if it decommissions its arms and ends criminality. Speaking on RTÉ News, Mr McDowell said the constitution of the IRA was treasonable to the Irish state and it would continue to prosecute people for membership of the organisation. Mr McDowell said he believed General John de Chastelain would supervise a process where IRA arms were decommissioned in the n

Australian John Monash: 'The best man in WWI France'

John Monash was born in Melbourne in 1865 into a Prussian Jewish immigrant family. He spent part of his childhood in the country town of Jerilderie and later attended Scotch College, Melbourne. Early in his adult life he became a successful engineer, building bridges which can still be seen in Melbourne today. His skills as an engineer and planner also extended into voluntary service with the Victorian militia, later tested at both Gallipoli and on the Western front in World War One. By 1918, Mo

John Roberts: Interviews with teacher, friend, colleague

This week's "America & the Courts" looks at the life and career of Supreme Court nominee John Roberts. C-SPAN has interviewed his former high school teacher David Kirkby, Harvard Law School friend and former Washington roommate Richard Lazarus, and Hogan & Hartson law firm colleague Patricia Brannan.

David Brooks on history & future of conservatism

"New York Times" columnist David Brooks speaks about the history and future of conservatism at the Young America's Foundation Student Conference in Washington this summer.

"The Wreckers" sails into dark historical territory

More than 30,000 shipwrecks line the coast of Britain. As Bella Bathurst details in her book "The Wreckers: A Story of Killing Seas, False Lights, and Plundered Shipwrecks," plundering those ships... and worse... has long been a way of life for the inhabitants of Britain's coast.

"The Last Voyage of Columbus": An epic tale

Scott Simon talks with Martin Dugard, author of "The Last Voyage of Columbus: Being the Epic Tale of the Great Captain's Fourth Expedition, Including Accounts of Swordfight, Mutiny, Shipwreck, Gold, War, Hurricane, and Discovery." Dugard delves into the rarely portrayed final journey of the famous explorer.

Back to the beginning

Identity is a mix of genetics and culture, and most of us think we know who we are -- but do we really? With the advent of the latest technology, some people are testing their DNA to get at that most personal of truths -- their ancestry. The journey can be as frustrating and rewarding as the result. "Weekend America" host Bill Radke talks to Christopher Rabb of Philadelphia and Sonya Loya of Ruidoso, New Mexico about how DNA testing and genealogical research shapes our identity.

Evolving debate

This past spring, the Kansas State Board of Education held hearings on a proposal that evolution be taught as a controversial scientific theory. The mainstream science community effectively boycotted the debate, but the mainstream media didn't have that luxury. If it wasn't news already, this month President Bush weighed in. The question for journalists is not whether to cover it, but how. NPR science correspondent David Kestenbaum shares his thoughts with host and managing editor Brooke Gladsto

Museum heist

The media revolution is well under way, with new gadgets and software giving amateurs access to production tools and enormous audiences for their journalism, photography, and radio shows. Now, the democratization of media is even being applied to museum audio tours. Host and managing editor Brooke Gladstone speaks with two members of Art Mobs, creator of alternative audio tours, and the educational director of MoMA, creator of the traditional fare.

"What's My Name, Fool?"

In 1972, three hundred active National Football League players signed a statement condemning the on-going criminal disaster that was the Vietnam War. Matters like these are not generally addressed on the sports pages of our daily papers, which is part of the point of "What's My Name, Fool?" (subtitled "Sports and Resistance in the United States"). Like a lot of people who make their living writing about our games, Dave Zirin loves sports. But his concern for justice and fair

World's largest Irish festival is in Milwaukie

Fiona Mitchell reports from Milwaukie, in the US state of Wisconsin, where 150,000 people flocket to the city's "Irishfest".

Karen Armstrong: "Fundamentalism is a revolt against modernity"

In this week's edition of "The Interview", the writer Karen Armstrong talks candidly to Carrie Gracie about her extraordinary journey -- from convent life as a young nun to becoming one of the world's leading authorities on religion. At the age of seventeen, Karen Armstrong decided to dedicate herself to God. When she left the convent seven years later, deeply disillusioned, she faced one of the most difficult periods of her life. She tells Carrie Gracie why she found readjusting to th