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Submit Your Reflection about "A Spirit of Defiance."

Balanced but Noble View (October 22, 2006)
I was indeed moved by the courage, determination and above all the serenity with which Mariane faced her vicissitudes in life. I was greatly impressed by the balanced and clear views that Mariane expressed about Islam when it is not commonplace given the political situation that prevails around us. Being a buddhist, it is inspirational to hear that courageous people like Mariane draw the strength to survive the harshness of life and yet retain a balanced but a noble view of others from Buddha's teachings. The degree of intolerance towards other religions and cultures that exist in modern times is really intolerable. At a grave period like this, people like Mariane do indeed make a difference to make this a better world. I wish Adam and her good luck and may they grow from strength to strength in conquering the world of harshness and may that strength itself make this world a happy place for them to live!

Januka Attanayake
Storrs, CT (WNPR, 89.1 FM)

Still Wiping Away the Tears (October 22, 2006)
I listen to Speaking of Faith just about every week and always learn and get much from the respective program content. Today's program about Danny Pearl's tragic loss (for the entire planet) and his courageous wife Mariane Pearl was so very meaningful and valuable. I am still wiping away the tears. Thank you.

Mark Whitney
Emmitsburg, MD (WYPR, 88.1 FM or WETA, 90.9 FM)

A Great Learning Experience (October 21, 2006)
This program was a great learning experience for me in a number of ways. Mariane's faith in humanity is the clear winner of this whole situation. I loved how she kept her strength in the midst of this situation and how it influenced the policemen that were trying to save Danny. That's pretty incredible.

I liked being educated about the situation in that part of the world and how many different countries border Pakistan. It gives me a new perspective on the region and how urgent it is for the people in that region to unite no matter what. Everybody has a responsibility to correct what is happening in the world today. Nothing can be swept under the rug. We are all humans first before we claim nationalities or ideologies. This program showed in a very specific and heart-wrenching way how our world is and what we need to do to change it. It ain't about us and them its about "us" all of us.

I am practitioner of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism, a member of the Soka Gakkai International, the lay organization of this Buddhism. Soka Gakkai means "value creation." I was in New Orleans a few weeks after this tragedy occurred and was invited to a Buddhist discussion meeting one night. After the meeting the members quickly assembled in front of the TV. I was taking snapshots of the people I had just met at the meeting. But I stopped taking pictures when all the people present were assembled attentively to watch Mariane give her first televised interview after the tragedy. That's a snapshot that remains in my thoughts. Speaking of Faith is a very good program. Please keep up the good work.

Rob Darnell Hollinsed
Brooklyn, NY (WNYC, 820 AM)

Words to Live By (October 21, 2006)
The interview with Mariane Pearl brought tears to my eyes many times. I especially was moved by the letters read aloud. One of her last sentences was my favorite: "One can only oppose darkness with light." I hope those can be my words to live by. Thank you.

Barbara Engel
Northport, NY (WNYC, 820 AM)

Citizens of the World (August 22, 2005)
The interview with Mariane Pearl was amazing. I was most struck by the comments about their son, Adam, a citizen of the world. Mariane spoke of the child's background from so many different parts of the world, and different religions. If we could all think of ourselves as citizens of the world versus this nation, or this religion, wouldn't the world be a better, more peaceful place. We could, in fact, move beyond some of the world conflicts we are currently facing.

Personally my life has been much less worldwide, but I have experienced a growing diversity in St. Paul, Minnesota. For the past four to five years over 50 percent of the students entering our St. Paul schools at the kindergarten level qualify for English as a Second Language Instruction, i.e., they need assistance in a language other than English in order to function well in the classroom. This diversity is not what was a part of my experience when I was first elected to the St. Paul School Board in 1983. On the other hand, I have come to see how the new diversity has added strength to our city, and to my life personally.

One Asian immigrant school board member who served from 1996 to 2004 was especially kind to me, including me in many of his family's events. I have come to the place where I am ready to say that Asian residents of St. Paul (and others, too) are in fact a part of who I am as a person. I would be diminished without these contacts. This reminds me of what Mariane Pearl said in talking about Adam as a citizen of the world. Hopefully more and more of us will view ourselves as citizens of the world, and will as a result of this belief make the world as a whole a better place for all of us to live.

Thanks again for this terrific program. Please give Mariane Pearl my best wishes in the years ahead. I hope that the vision she has for Adam's future becomes more and more a reality for all of us.

Al Oertwig
St. Paul, MN (KNOW, 91.1 FM)

Pearl's Words Take Root in My Job (August 21, 2005)
Kol Hakavod, which means all of the honor, praises to you Krista Tippett. Good show, including Ms. Pearl's insights, people's reactions of her experience, and more importantly the inside scoop that give us two sides to every story, even within a society, i.e. the security forces who wish to defy their own people because of the usurping of their "faith-based" values.

I, as a tour guide at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, temporary exhibit, "Deadly Medicine: Creating the Master Race," feel a stronger connection to the usurpation of values, as I am a single Jew and have to share with visitors how the Nazis used the template of the "Ten Commandments" for encouraging single people to be "discriminatorily selective" in their "Finding a Perfect Mate." Keep up the good work.

Jeremy Mendelson
Bethesda, MD (WETA, 90.9 FM)

Buddhist Practice Is Not Passive (August 21, 2005)
Thank you very much, Krista, for interviewing Mariane Pearl and reading excerpts from her book. The practice of Buddhism is so misunderstood in this country as a means of escape or of withdrawal from active life. Your program on Mariane Pearl and her ordeal I hope will do much to show that Buddhist practice, rightly understood, is one of clarity about our role in the world and our responsibility for our conduct in it. Our role is to be fully engaged, fully aware, and fully alive. To live that intensely requires practice. Thank you for reminding me of that.

Jack Urban
Kalamazoo, MI (WVGR, 104.1 FM)

Contending with the Anger (August 21, 2005)
Thank you for the wonderful interview of Ms. Pearl. Thank you Ms. Pearl for a wonderful, strong, and thoughtful interview. If anyone has traveled, they realize "it" is about the haves and the have nots who are totally frustrated and acting out — if they acted out against the proper authorities who have affected or not affected their lives in justice, they risk retribution. That is not to say that the American government's policies have not played some part in their frustrations, as they have and there have been "pawns" of the policies. We are now having to contend with the anger and frustration that has pent up over the hopelessness, the illiteracy, the lack of wisdom, the excess of passion, the repression of women, and the effect that has had on their offspring's upbringing and education. In solidarity and support of our children, our leaders, our children of the world, our hope for the future of humankind.

Melissa Rentchler
Anaheim, CA (KPCC, 89.3 FM)

A Question for Mariane (August 21, 2005)
Thank you for today's program, the interview, and conversation with Mariane Pearl. I was mesmerized listening to her. She evoked deep emotion for herself, her husband, and all of us living today. I want to ask her if she thinks the U.S. Army belongs in Iraq and if being there is making an impact on "winning" against terrorism. When listening to her talk about the hopeless poverty in Afghanistan it seems like we would have more success in overcoming terrorism if we would put our national resources into building an economy and giving educational opportunity that will offer hope and dreams to the young men and women. I'm wondering if I am being naive and if we really need to fight terrorism with war, at this time.

Susanna K. Presseller
Minneapolis, MN (KNOW, 91.1 FM)

Mariane Pearl's Example (August 20, 2005)
I'm writing to thank you for producing the recent interview with Mariane Pearl. Her story is a compelling and significant one, I think. I found her book A Mighty Heart by chance (or, perhaps, destiny) on a library bookshelf and now own two dog-eared copies along with the compilation of Danny Pearl's Wall Street Journal articles. Her story and that of her husband are part of what motivated me to move to Chicago to attend journalism school.

The Pearls' influence on me doesn't end with a three-ring binder though. Reading and rereading the book prompts me to remember that journalism is the practice of ethics, not just a job but a self-transforming vocation that, itself, seeks to transform the world by illuminating it. I continue to draw strength from Ms. Pearl as I prepare for the difficult but rewarding work that lies ahead. She and her husband were distinct individuals who shared the same world vision and unyielding determination to manifest it. They embody that vision and even death cannot extinguish it. We who share that vision, who pledge our lives to its fulfillment, are the true believers.

Sierra Millman
Chicago, IL (Listens via Web Audio)

Poverty = Terrorism and Extremism? (August 19, 2005)
Troubling me is the conclusion (if I have heard it correctly) from both interviewer and guest that poverty yields extremism and terrorism. Were this so, we would have had pandemic exhibits of the criminal behavior decried since the beginning of time as poverty has always been with us. It is like those who equate illegitimate births with poverty. Illegitimate births are caused by sex, not poverty. Criminal behavior, in this case terrorism and extremism, is caused by criminals not poverty. While I agree that poor conditions can lead to the theft of food, let's say, most people find a way to eat without theft. And I am not saying we shouldn't help the poor.

David Hubert
Atlanta, GA (WABE, 90.1 FM)

My Lost Soul (May 3, 2004)
On the way to my law school final, I turned on NPR to get my mind off the exam. Within minutes I was consumed by the conversation with Mariane Pearl. I found myself walking in her shoes as she described the fight to survive such a horrible needless death. My grandfather Mahmoud Jafarian, head of radio and television in Tehran, Iran, was executed during the revolution for his opposition against Khomeini, a fundamentalist Muslim leader.

Throughout my life I have grown up hating the religion and the people that killed my grandfather. Hating them for taking our life, home and country… but today I actually did see the bigger picture through Mariane's eyes. Her spiritual defiance allowed me to see that if I succumb to hate then the "terrorists" have won. Her clarity and peace give me the ability to never let anyone allow me or my future children to hate. As Mariane makes clear to me, that is what "they" want and if I give it to "them" then I lose a part of my soul and "they" win.

Thank you for the program and thank you for getting my mind off finals. Much thanks and condolences to Mariane Pearl and her son Adam Pearl.

Dana Jafarian
Bryn Mawr, PA (WHYY, 91.0 FM)

Enabling Me to Grieve (May 3, 2004)
Listening to Mariane brought out a tremendous amount of emotion and weeping. I wondered why, and I feel it is due to the great amount of grief I have been carrying due to irresponsible actions our country (the United States) has taken in response to "terrorists." So I thank her deeply for enabling me to feel this grief.

Dixon Hamby
Bellevue, WA (Listens via Web Audio)

Mariane Summed It Up (May 6, 2004)
Last night I heard and was deeply moved and inspired by your conversation with Mariane Pearl. She said all of the things I have been trying to say for so many years about the human aspect of terrorism, prejudice in this country against Islam, her concepts of defiance and forgiveness, and the poverty in the world. Mariane made sense of what I had been feeling and thinking about all of these things. Thank you, thank you, thank you for such a wonderful program!

Rebekah Hoffacker
Tucker, GA (WABE, 90.1 FM)

Moved by Mariane's Strength (May 2, 2004)
I was incredibly moved by Mrs. Pearl's strength and her ability to share so articulately with listeners how she managed to get through the ordeal around her husband's death. The fact that she mentioned many religious faiths as representative of the world ideology in a positive way against the ideology of terrorists was very poignant… often the ideological clash is billed as Christianity versus Islam and that is so wrong. Thank you for the wonderful show and for having such an honorable, intelligent, and peaceful guest to bless all of us who listened.

Mary Busker
Baltimore, MD (WYPR, 88.1 FM)

Add It to the Reading List! (May 2, 2004)
Once again Krista managed to ask the questions uppermost on my mind! I belong to a 35-year-old literature group of the same 12 women. We are well-educated, world-traveled, act locally but think globally. Mariane's book will be on our list along with a transcript of this interview. I think she has captured the essence of the human condition. I feel her positive energy in a unique way, and I know my Lit Group will enjoy learning from her personal experiences. I send best wishes to Speaking of Faith. My heartfelt gratitude to the spirit that brought us the next generation in the being of Adam Pearl.

Esther Liwazer
Bloomfield, MI (WUOM, 91.7 FM)

So Touching and Inspiring (May 3, 2004)
I just finished listening to this program. As long as I can remember, I have held a deep belief in the potential of humanity to achieve peace, despite all the horrific practices we continue to engage in. This program brought tears of joy and hope to my eyes. The simple and beautiful way that Mariane expressed her faith and determination renews my hope for humanity, and my commitment to treating everyone in an ethical and just way. My heart still swells with joy; many thanks to Mariane and the producers/interviewer for a truly renewing experience. These words will echo in my thoughts for days and weeks to come.

As an addendum, any comment about the lack of spirituality in the west (see Mr. Kimathi-Bandele's reflection below) that attempts to polarize east versus west in such a vehement and unforgiving way certainly falls into the kind of trap that terrorism and other forms of evil desires. This certainly comes from a person who has never truly traveled in the west, or if he has, has never truly opened his eyes or heart when making such travels.

Is vehemence not allowed? Can one not have conviction about right and wrong, about justice? I applaud Mariane and her vehemence, as well as her strength to remain positive and hopeful. I condemn those who would use this as another excuse to polarize us and increase hatred in the world. I could not imagine a bigger heart in the face of such injustice and horrific experiences—there are not many human beings alive who could experience the death of such a beloved and amazing spouse and still maintain such perspective, not to mention sanity.

Ryan Brown
Sylva, NC (WCQS, 88.1 FM)

Spirituality in the West? (May 2, 2004)
Where was western spirituality when caucasians invaded communities of color and stole their resources? A program on spirituality in the west is a joke. You all can't be serious. How can this woman, Ms. Pearl, claim Buddhism while not being or wanting to humanly connect to her husband's killers, who she seethingly calls "terrorists"? Typically, like most western nationalists, she cannot abandon her nationalism, her cultural need to demonize people of color who "do not love America and her freedoms," as is insanely stated over and over again. Freedom does not exist in the de-spiritualized societies of the West, as freedom is a byproduct of Spiritual Centeredness.

Ms. Pearl is a fake for appropriating Buddhism. Like usual, caucasians appropriate Eastern frames of reference in an effort to conceal their harsh nationalism and present themselves as all-loving. Of course, this is done for export, to throw people of color off the scented trail that inevitably leads us to the demystified version of western society and its evil agenda for communities of color. For my people, never underestimate the political utility of hatred as the means by which we seek to demystify European thought and behavior.

Markus Kimathi-Bandele
St. Louis, MO (KWMU, 90.7 FM)

Inspiring (May 3, 2004)
Every Sunday I try to make a point to be free to listen to Speaking of Faith. I have found so much to ponder, to inspire and to react to in these weekly visits which provide more meaning than almost any other program I listen to or view. I appreciate the dialog that is available and the way in which the interviewees share the intersection between religion and their lives. Mariane Peal was particularly inspiring in how she has dealt with her husband's death and continues to fight in the face of that terror. That she is so matter-of-fact about it makes her courage all the more incredible. Very few of us will ever have the chance to touch as many lives as she has and at such a price. I thank her for her generosity.

Fran McCreary
Pasadena, CA (KPCC, 89.3 FM)