"Just to let you know, I, for one, totally enjoy the radio summaries. At least two of the stories you summarized last week were ones I had heard part of and wanted more information about. I even ordered Harsh Mander's book (Unheard Voices: Stories of Forgotten Lives) because I was wondering how to get it (I had checked the NPR Web site but had not found it). Thank you very, very much for the weekly update. It's a good thing."

It's great to know that for so many of you, it adds to your week! Keep your comments coming and, as always, let us know the stories you heard on the radio this week that expanded your world view.

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FRIDAY, December 14 | Holiday Blend
For Ralph Schoenstein, growing up Jewish did nothing to hamper his family's observance of Christmas, Easter, and other such historically religious holidays. A self-described "caroling bar mitzvah boy," Schoenstein learned to relish the secular goodness of Christmas music (some of the most familiar of which were the work of Jewish composers) and ubiquitous holiday symbols without disregarding his own cultural upbringing. His seeming confusion, he suggests, simply made him American. [All Things Considered]
Listen (length of clip 2 min 15 sec).


SATURDAY, December 15 | Healing Towers
The New York skyline has been changed forever, but before the World Trade Center was even conceived, the city was distinguishable by its signature skyscrapers. New playgrounds at two of Manhattan's elementary schools memorialize the skyline for what it was and is again. Designed years before this September 11, the playgrounds showcase miniature versions of the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, and the Woolworth Building and offer children a glorious, vibrant new playspace that was previously nondescript, dour concrete. The children are not the only ones rejoicing at this inadvertent tribute. [Weekend All Things Considered]
Listen (3:30).


SUNDAY, December 16 | Jumping Over the Competition
Each year, toy designers and manufacturers wait with anticipation for the announcement of the industry's People's Choice "Toy of the Year." LeapFrog, a relatively new toy company -- with its wildly successful flagship product, the LeapPad -- is again a favorite. LeapFrog toys are unique in the way they bring together the educational goals of parents and the fun-seeking motivations of children. The LeapPad functions somewhat like a laptop computer and coaches children who are having trouble reading through the basics of phonics. It's now being used in thousands of US schools and is a top-seller in 32 countries. [Weekend All Things Considered]
Listen (5:20).

:: Learn more about the Toy of the Year award.

:: Learn more about LeapFrog products.


MONDAY, December 17 | An Impassioned Voice
Jordan's Queen Noor is the widow of King Hussein and a deeply committed humanitarian. She is actively involved in the global campaign to ban landmines and maintains a sharp focus on the challenge to rebuild a secure and stable Afghanistan. In this interview, she suggests that the number of landmines Afghan refugees must navigate as they return home from Pakistan has created a serious crisis. She says it has also prevented the influx of food aid to people in need. Kabul has the dubious distinction of being the most mine-riddled capital city in the world. Queen Noor is also concerned with women's issues in Afghanistan and believes the world should first work to ensure that women have educational opportunities and adequate health care before they push for a Western brand of political empowerment. [Morning Edition]
Listen (7:03).

:: Learn more about Queen Noor's work with Refugees International.

:: Learn more about the work of the Landmine Survivors Network.

:: Do your part to support the Campaign for a Landmine Free World.


TUESDAY, December 18 | Women at the Top
The interim government of Afghanistan will begin the process of reconstruction starting this Saturday and will include two women among its leaders. The new -- and as yet, unfunded -- Ministry of Women's Affairs will be headed up by physician Sima Samar. Samar believes the financial response of the US to the continuing humanitarian crisis should be at least equivalent to its investment in military activity. Recent reports from the nonprofit Physicians for Human Rights confirm Samar's concern that women's health care, especially mental and prenatal, should be the highest priority. She also plans to advocate for women's shelters, orphanages, and educational programs for women and children throughout Afghanistan. [Morning Edition]
Listen (3:17).

:: Learn more about Physicians for Human Rights.


WEDNESDAY, December 19 | Learning to Share Community
The Muslim world is perhaps most recognizable in its profound diversity. Nowhere is this more true than in many large metropolitan areas in Western countries. Chicago's Muslim community is a sometimes uneasy mix of south Asians, Arabs, African-Americans, and eastern Europeans. In recent months, both before and after September 11, key representatives of the community began to make a concerted effort to build cohesiveness and to encourage more youthful, progressive, female involvement as a way to diminish the influence of conservative radical elements. Says one Bosnian-American Muslim leader, many times Muslims have come together for specific purposes, such as fundraising, but have then self-segregated into racial or ethnic subgroups. [Morning Edition]
Listen (5:11).


THURSDAY, December 20 | "Man of the Future"
Who is Hamid Karzai, the soon-to-be interim prime minister of the new Afghanistan? Supporters laud the ease with which he moves between the modern world and the cultural traditions of old. From a Kandahar political family, he is articulate in many languages, highly educated, and dedicated to a secure, hopeful future for his country. He is committed to bridging the tribal divides that have left Afghanistan in ruins and thinks the key to stability and economic vibrancy is unity. [Morning Edition]
Listen (4:23).


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