The Elephant in the (Class) Room: How I Survived Iraq and Vassar College

FromUs & Them

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The Elephant in the (Class) Room: How I Survived Iraq and Vassar College

FromUs & Them

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Length:

32 minutes

Released:

Jun 1, 2017

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

After four years of commanding a tank in Iraq, David Carrell, a Republican from Texas, had the opportunity to study at a liberal college in the northeast. He tells Trey what he’s observed about Red and Blue America.

Released:

Jun 1, 2017

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

We tell stories from the fault lines that separate Americans. Peabody Award-winning public radio producer Trey Kay listens to people on both sides of the divide.

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Trapped on the Turnpike: How 27 hours of being snow-bound on the Pennsylvania Turnpike helps Trey file a report to the Keystone State’s “Office of Lessons Learned.” by Us & Them
29 min listen
Textbook Watchdogs: Lots of American school districts have fierce fights over what kids should learn in school, but nobody fights like Texans. And no citizens have had a bigger impact on what goes into public school textbooks than Mel and Norma Gabler. by Us & Them
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The Talk: Despite all the fuss about sex education in America, students get precious little of it. Jonathan Zimmerman, an education historian, tells Trey how Americans spend more time arguing about what kids should learn about human sexuality in schools... by Us & Them
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Revisiting the Grand Palace: Americans' attitudes toward gay relationships have changed dramatically in a short time. Trey Kay returns to his home state of West Virginia to see how this change is playing out in a state where 53 percent of residents believe the Bible is the literal w by Us & Them
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In Dixieland, I'll Take My Stand: The Condederate flag and the song "Dixie" -- two enduring Old South icons that make us wonder if the war ever ended. by Us & Them
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Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is: Two men with strong opinions about evolution and climate change are willing to lay their money on the line. by Us & Them
38 min listen
The Changing Face of Heroin: Something has shifted in the way our society thinks and talks about heroin addicts these days. Could it be that smack users seem more like ‘us’ and less like ‘them’? by Us & Them
40 min listen
Femme Voice: Anne Kelly always felt like she was born into the wrong body. She began life as a man, but is now transitioning into a woman. She’s got the looking like a woman part down. It’s the sounding like a woman thing that’s harder than she... by Us & Them
46 min listen
To Give or Not to Give: If you give money to panhandlers, are you helping them or hurting them? And do they really need help? People have strong opinions. We try to separate the facts from the ideology. by Us & Them
31 min listen
The Church Lady: The Supreme Court says you can't have organized prayer in public schools. But most Americans don't agree with that call -- and some people are still finding ways to make sure public school children have a chance to hear about God. by Us & Them
29 min listen
Atheism: Would Americans vote for an atheist president? A recent poll says no way. In this episode, a social psychologist tells us why this might be. by Us & Them
20 min listen
Sex Ed for Grown-ups: The chair of the University of Minnesota's program for Sexual Health Education tells Trey most sexual health instruction focuses on adolescents and that maybe adults might also need some instruction. by Us & Them
17 min listen
War on Christmas…Really?: Some feel there’s an attack on this sacred holiday. Others are bothered that this religious holiday has blurred America’s church/state separation. But is this really a war? by Us & Them
34 min listen
Marrying Gays When It Wasn't Cool - Rev. Jim Lewis: Decades before same-sex marriage became legal, the Reverend Jim Lewis of Charleston, West Virginia sparked outrage by blessing the unions of gay men and lesbians in his church. by Us & Them
8 min listen
New Math: When conservatives and liberals fight about school curriculum, the disagreements aren't just about science and history. Even math has been a battleground in the culture wars. Trey talks with historian Christopher Phillips. by Us & Them
33 min listen
The Refugee Trail with Scott Carrier: Veteran journalist – or “cultural anthropologist” – Scott Carrier speaks with people fleeing war-torn Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries as they seek refuge in Europe. by Us & Them
33 min listen
Community and Cops Talking Across the Divide: How a proactive partnership changed perceptions between police and the black community. by Us & Them
27 min listen
A Confederate Reckoning: Can we reconcile different versions of history? Two American foreign correspondents of color fly from Kenya to Louisiana to report on an unfinished civil war back home. by Us & Them
53 min listen
Strangers With Cameras In Appalachia: A recent photo essay depicting Appalachians has stirred controversy in that region. Some locals feel violated when outsiders come into their communities snapping photos. Are these shutterbugs depicting reality or reinforcing stereotypes?... by Us & Them
52 min listen
Enemies: Jesus said, “Love your enemies." Today’s politicians ask God to bless America, but in the same breath, they call their political opponents "enemies." Labels help us organize the world along fault lines, but is this the best... by Us & Them
19 min listen
Trey & Alice: A blue state secular liberal and a red state conservative Christian have an unlikely friendship. And a slug burger. by Us & Them
32 min listen
The Elephant in the (Class) Room: How I Survived Iraq and Vassar College: After four years of commanding a tank in Iraq, David Carrell, a Republican from Texas, had the opportunity to study at a liberal college in the northeast. He tells Trey what he’s observed about Red and Blue America. by Us & Them
32 min listen
Locked Up For Sodomy: Not that long ago, you could get locked up for being gay. A West Virginia man tells Trey about being sent to a mental institution for violating the state’s sodomy laws. by Us & Them
29 min listen
Love, the Ayatollah & Revolution: Essi and Katie fell in love before the backdrop of the Iranian Revolution and growing antipathy between America and Ayatollah Khomeini. Despite many fantastic twists and dangerous turns, their love has triumphed over archenemies' hatred. by Us & Them
27 min listen
His Name's DJ: "He knew it was hurting us, and it was killing him. But he couldn’t help himself." by Us & Them
35 min listen
Reasserting Femme Voice: North Carolina repealed its notorious bathroom law, but not necessarily for the better. Transsexuals remain outside NC’s equal protection laws—whether in the bathroom or in the workplace. All of this has got me thinking about my friend Anne Kelly. by Us & Them
38 min listen
The Great Textbook War: In 1974, Kanawha County West Virginia was an early battleground in the American culture wars. The fight focused on what children should learn in school. by Us & Them
58 min listen
Shack!: In 1969, James “Shack” Harris became the first African American quarterback to break the color line in the NFL. by Us & Them
33 min listen
Islamophobia: With acts of terrorism in Paris and San Bernardino, some Americans are suspicious of Muslim neighbors and immigrants. Warranted fear or paranoia? by Us & Them
26 min listen
Taking an Ass Whoopin’: The 2016 presidential campaign was one of the most brutal in America’s history. Trey was stunned by the outcome and is trying understand what the whole thing means. Are truth and bitter reality the new Us? Have our news sources become Them? by Us & Them
17 min listen

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Us & Them: Locked Out Of Voting?: Millions of people in the U.S. cannot vote because they’ve been convicted of a felony. A majority of those are not currently in prison, but on probation or parole. In this episode, we look at the nation’s patchwork of voting rights laws and the confusion they can create. by Us & Them
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Us & Them: Navigating Post-Pandemic Medicaid: Medicaid is undergoing a major review to determine the eligibility of millions, but not everyone is getting the notice. For this Us & Them, we look at changes to a health care safety net program that serves more than 90 million low income Americans. by Us & Them
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Us & Them: The Geography of Abortion: State borders are now all important in determining access to abortion. Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, West Virginia’s only abortion clinic has moved across the border to Maryland to continue providing abortions. by Us & Them
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The Elephant in the (Class) Room: How I Survived Iraq and Vassar College

The Elephant in the (Class) Room: How I Survived Iraq and Vassar College

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from Us & Them