Social Issues 2003 Archive | PBS NewsHour

ABOUT US \| LOCAL TV LISTINGS EMAIL PRINT

SOCIAL ISSUES


	2003 DECEMBER Dec. 25, 2003 Communal Voices Essayist Roger Rosenblatt considers the appeal of a single voice.

	Dec. 23, 2003 Financially Viable Women's Sports Young women have established themselves on the playing fields of America, but the professional women's soccer league was forced to fold earlier this year. Kwame Holman reports that female athletes and their promoters are taking their best shot to establish financially viable women's athletic leagues.

	Dec. 17, 2003 Morning-After Pill Two women's health experts debate the merits of Tuesday's recommendation by an FDA panel to allow over-the-counter sales of the emergency contraceptive known as the morning-after pill.

	Dec. 12, 2003 Coping in Cincinnati The Cincinnati coroner ruled that the death of Nathaniel "Skip" Jones at the hands of police was a homicide, but no officers have been charged in connection with the incident. Jones is the 17th African American to be killed in a confrontation with Cincinnati police since 1995.

	Dec. 4, 2003 Gay Marriage in Massachusetts Massachusetts' highest court last month ruled in a 4-3 decision that the state's ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional and ordered the state legislature to come up with a solution within 180 days. The state's ruling has brought the legal and political debate over gay marriage to the national level..

	Dec. 2, 2003 Selling a Dream Ray Suarez continues the NewsHour series on how and where Americans live their lives with a look at the divorce between expectations and reality in the wedding business.

	Dec. 1, 2003 Hope Dies Last Studs Terkel has written 11 books of oral history, allowing ordinary Americans to tell their stories through him. Ray Suarez speaks with Terkel about his latest work, "Hope Dies Last," which looks at human perseverance in challenging circumstances.



	NOVEMBER Nov. 28, 2003 An Artist's History: Kerry James Marshall Jeffrey Brown reports on a contemporary artist with a keen sense of history.

	Nov. 27, 2003 Painful Past Jeffrey Kaye of KCET Los Angeles explores the mass expulsion of people of Mexican descent from the United States during the Depression and new efforts to address it.

	Nov. 19, 2003 Gays on TV A day after Massachusetts' highest court rules against the ban on same-sex marriages, Terence Smith examines the proliferation -- and popularity -- of gay and lesbian-oriented television shows, and what this new trend in American television suggests about public attitudes toward homosexuality.

	Nov. 18, 2003 Gay Marriage in Massachusetts Massachusetts' highest court ruled in a 4-3 decision Tuesday that the state's ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional and ordered the state legislature to come up with a solution within 180 days. Experts debate the impact of the ruling.

	Nov. 12, 2003 Age Bias A new case asks the Supreme Court to consider whether younger workers can use anti-discrimination laws to sue employers that favor older employees with retirement savings benefits. Ray Suarez discusses this case of alleged reverse discrimination with Chicago Tribune Supreme Court correspondent Jan Crawford Greenburg.

	Nov. 12, 2003 Achievement Gap Schools throughout the United States are struggling to overcome the achievement gap between white and Asian students, who tend to do better in school than black and Hispanic students. John Merrow reports on this gap and how one New York public school is trying to eradicate it.

	Nov. 7, 2003 Reservations: Burned Out Some Native Americans who live on the dozen Indian reservations in eastern San Diego County have not received the same attention as other Californians for their suffering. Jeffrey Kaye of KCET-Los Angeles visited the devastated San Pasqual Reservation, where one third of the residents' homes were devoured by flames.

	Nov. 6, 2003 Divided Nation A recent survey by the Pew Research Center suggests that Americans are evenly divided but increasingly polarized over political issues, including Iraq. Margaret Warner and experts discuss what the survey results mean for the presidential campaigns and the 2004 election.

	Nov. 5, 2003 Democratic Debate Democratic presidential front-runner Howard Dean told supporters, "I regret the pain that I may have caused either to African Americans or Southern white voters." Dean was defending a previous statement he had made that the Democratic Party must court white Southerners who display the Confederate flag on their pickup trucks.

	Nov. 5, 2003 Race, Class and Politics Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean drew criticism from fellow Democratic presidential candidates when he said the party should reach out to southern men who display the Confederate flag. He later apologized to those who may have been offended by his comments. Two political writers analyze the implications of the incident.



	OCTOBER Oct. 24, 2003 Triangle Gwen Ifill speaks with historian David Von Drehle about his recent book, "Triangle: The Fire That Changed America," which chronicles the devastating blaze at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in New York City in 1911 that killed 146 workers and led to industry reforms.

	Oct. 23, 2003 Spanglish Ray Suarez speaks with author Ilan Stavans about his new book "Spanglish: The Making of a New American Language," a look at the new lexicon created by Latinos who live in the United States.

	Oct. 23, 2003 Volunteer Funding Crisis AmeriCorps finds thousands of young Americans to serve in inner cities each year, but it has been unsuccessful at convincing Congress to provide additional funding for the program. Kwame Holman reports on the financial shortfalls of the largest government-funded domestic volunteer service organization.

	Oct. 21, 2003 Benefit Issues The cost of health care continues to ail the American economy, and its effects have been particularly acute in Southern California, where transit and grocery store workers have gone on strike over the issue. Jeffrey Kaye reports.

	Oct. 15, 2003 Powerful Words Essayist Roger Rosenblatt visits the words of a man who helped change America.

	Oct. 14, 2003 Latino Demographic Shift Latinos have quickly become America's largest minority population. Terence Smith discusses the unique American experience of second-generation Latino citizens with Roberto Suro, director of the Pew Hispanic Center and co-author of the report.

	Oct. 14, 2003 Culture Change at the Air Force Academy The Air Force Academy is making broad changes to its training program as part of its efforts to address the factors that may have contributed to widespread sexual assaults that were alleged to have taken place at the school.

	Oct. 10, 2003 Iranian Attorney Shirin Ebadi: 2003 Nobel Peace Prize Ray Suarez leads a discussion about the work of Iranian attorney Shirin Ebadi, the first Muslim woman to win the Nobel peace prize. The Nobel committee recognized Ebadi for her work to promote democracy, human rights and equality for women in Iran.



	SEPTEMBER Sept. 25, 2003 Pension Gamble Paul Solman of WGBH Boston reports on the current financial crisis in the pension system, and how future retirees are affected.

	Sept. 19, 2003 'The Known World' Jeffrey Brown talks with National Book Award winner Edward Jones about "The Known World."

	Sept. 18, 2003 Public Housing Renewal Elizabeth Brackett of WTTW Chicago takes a look at the Chicago Housing Authority halfway through its 10-year redevelopment project.

	Sept. 11, 2003 Two Years Later In the two years since the Sept. 11 attacks, how has, or hasn't, the United States changed? Jim Lehrer examines this issue with a panel of six experts including authors, professors and cultural observers.

	Sept. 10, 2003 Face-off: Democratic Debate The Democratic presidential candidates fielded questions of particular interest to African-American voters at last night's debate. Kwame Holman reports with highlights.

	Sept. 4, 2003 Election 2004: Wooing Hispanics Democratic presidential candidates addressed Latino issues at a debate Thursday night in Albuquerque, N.M. Terence Smith discusses the growing importance of the Latino vote in American politics with pollsters Leslie Sanchez and Maria Cardona.



	AUGUST Aug. 28, 2003 Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" Remembered A panel of historians and activists reflect on the historic 1963 March on Washington and the enduring significance of Martin Luther King Jr.'s rousing "I have a dream" speech.

	Aug. 6, 2003 Background: First Openly Gay Bishop Episcopal leaders voted last night to make Gene Robinson the first openly gay bishop of their church.

	Aug. 6, 2003 Tests of Faith: First Openly Gay Bishop As the Episcopal Church deals with possible internal division over the approval of its first gay bishop, theologians discuss how debate about sexual orientation is affecting denominations worldwide.

	Aug. 5, 2003 A Church's Choice: First Openly Gay Bishop Leaders of the Episcopal Church rescheduled a vote on their first openly gay bishop. Fred de Sam Lazaro of Twin Cities Public Television reports on the continuing debate.

	Aug. 4, 2003 A Church's Choice: First Openly Gay Bishop Leaders of the U.S. Episcopal Church delayed a vote Monday to ordain their first openly gay bishop. Fred de Sam Lazaro reports on the controversy at the Episcopal convention.

	Aug. 4, 2003 Baseball Blues Jeffrey Kaye looks at the changing face of major league baseball.

	Aug. 1, 2003 A Church's Choice: First Openly Gay Bishop The nomination of the first openly gay bishop, the Reverend V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, has sparked a debate over homosexuality in the Episcopal Church -- even prompting threats of schism in the church.



	JULY July 31, 2003 Gay Marriage: Background Spencer Michels reports on the debate over gay marriage.

	July 31, 2003 Gay Marriage Experts discuss a proposed constitutional amendment that could block legal gay marriage, a recent statement by the Catholic Church opposing the legalization of same-sex unions and the challenges facing states as they consider the legal and moral issues of gay marriage.

	July 25, 2003 Head Start The House of Representatives approved Head Start for another five years but shifted some of the program's control to the states. Margaret Warner discusses the bill with Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee, and Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., the ranking Democrat on the committee.

	July 17, 2003 Open Wide the Freedom Gates Gwen Ifill talks with Dorothy Height, a legend of the civil rights movement and former head of the National Council of Negro Women, about her memoir, Open Wide the Freedom Gates.

	July 17, 2003 Dorothy Height's Book, "Open Wide the Freedom Gates" Gwen Ifill talks with Dorothy Height, a legend of the civil rights movement and former head of the National Council of Negro Women, about her memoir, "Open Wide the Freedom Gates."

	July 11, 2003 Flashpoints: Homeland Security and the Right to Civil Liberties Gwen Ifill examines the concern for homeland security and the right to civil liberties in the first installment of the new PBS program, Flashpoints USA. A preview features a report on the Evansville Eight, a group of Muslims detained in Indiana after Sept. 11, 2001.

	July 11, 2003 Gay Marriage in Massachusetts A Massachusetts court will rule over the next few days in the case of seven homosexual couples who have sued the state for the right to legally marry. Betty Ann Bowser reports on the gay marriage debate.

	July 7, 2003 Violent Video Games The video game industry went to court today to challenge a Washington law regulating violent video games. Lee Hochberg of Oregon Public Television reports on the case against this new law.

	July 4, 2003 'Marriage: A Duet' Ray Suarez and Anne Taylor Flemming discuss her book, "Marriage: A Duet."

	July 3, 2003 Hormonal Blues Essayist Anne Taylor Fleming considers the impact of recent news stories about hormone replacement therapy.



	JUNE June 26, 2003 Expanding Privacy The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Texas sodomy law Thursday, ruling that it violates the right to privacy. Margaret Warner and legal experts discuss the impact of the ruling.

	June 26, 2003 Background: Expanding Privacy The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Texas law banning sodomy today, ruling that it violates the right to privacy. Jim Lehrer looks at the decision with Jan Crawford Greenburg, Supreme Court reporter for The Chicago Tribune.

	June 25, 2003 Essay: At Odds With Ourselves Essayist Richard Rodriguez takes note of America's changing generations.

	June 24, 2003 Editorial Views Terence Smith gauges the public's reaction to the Supreme Court's affirmative action decisions with four editorial page editors from across the country.

	June 23, 2003 Affirmative Action The Supreme Court upheld a limited use of race in university admissions. Spencer Michels provides background on the affirmative action cases.

	June 23, 2003 Affirmative Action Decisions Jim Lehrer discusses the decisions with Jan Crawford Greenburg, Supreme Court reporter for The Chicago Tribune.

	June 23, 2003 Affirmative Action The Supreme Court narrowly found that states have a compelling interest in creating diverse student bodies at public universities, but that programs must be carefully structured.

	June 23, 2003 High Court Splits on University Affirmative Action Policies In a set of critical decisions on affirmative action, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday in favor of a university law school race-based admissions policy, finding that it fairly sought a "critical mass" of minority students.

	June 20, 2003 Allegations of Justice Denied in Tulia, Texas Jeffrey Kaye reports on 12 people imprisoned on the testimony of a discredited undercover officer that were released this week in Tulia, Texas.

	June 20, 2003 Letter to a Bride Essayist Anne Taylor Fleming contemplates June brides.

	June 18, 2003 Libraries and Liberties The Patriot Act empowered the FBI to check the records of some businesses, including public libraries and bookstores. Correspondent Spencer Michels looks at the impact on readers in Santa Cruz, California.

	June 16, 2003 Atoning for Racism in Duluth, Minnesota Fred de Sam Lazaro of Twin Cities Public Television visits Duluth, Minn., to report on its weeklong public atonement for past racism.

	June 9, 2003 The Majesty of the Law Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor discusses her historic appointment, women in the legal profession, major court decisions, and her new book entitled The Majesty of the Law: Reflections of a Supreme Court Justice.



	MAY May 26, 2003 Essay: The Future of Memory Memorial Day thoughts from essayist Roger Rosenblatt.

	May 7, 2003 Los Angeles New Police Chief Jeffrey Kaye reports on the new police chief in Los Angeles, who is fighting an uphill battle to revolutionize the way that city fights crime and violence.



	APRIL April 17, 2003 Women Warriors in the Military Are women in the military more vulnerable in combat situations? Betty Ann Bowser reports on the role of women in the Iraq War and in previous conflicts.

	April 17, 2003 U.N. Rejects Bid to Censure Russia on Alleged Chechnya Abuses The United Nations Human Rights Commission rejected Wednesday the latest bid by the European Union to formally censure Russia for alleged human rights violations in the war-torn republic of Chechnya.

	April 10, 2003 Hopes and Fears: Iraqi-American Reaction to Liberated Baghdad Elizabeth Brackett of WTTW Chicago gauges Iraqi-American reaction to the recent images of a liberated Baghdad.

	April 1, 2003 Affirmative Action The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in two highly anticipated affirmative action cases in what may prove to be the most important civil rights debate before the high court in decades.

	April 1, 2003 Supreme Court Tackles Debate Over Affirmative Action The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in two highly anticipated University of Michigan affirmative action cases that may prove to be the most important civil rights debate before the high court in decades.



	MARCH March 26, 2003 Crime and Punishment: Air Force Academy Betty Ann Bowser reports on sweeping changes at the Air Force Academy, which take place after a month's investigation into female cadets' allegations of rape.

	March 13, 2003 Congress and Abortion The Senate passed a ban today on a controversial method for late-term abortions. Kwame Holman provides details of the disputed bill.



	FEBRUARY Feb. 20, 2003 A Master's Challenge: Augusta National Golf Club and Women Terence Smith reports on a golf story that is reverberating beyond the fairway.

	Feb. 18, 2003 Finding Love Online Spencer Michels reports on finding love the new-fashioned way... online.



	JANUARY Jan. 20, 2003 Martin Luther King Day Poem Former poet laureate Robert Pinsky shares a poem about a young man's experience with racism.

	Jan. 20, 2003 The Murder of Emmett Till Gwen Ifill discusses the murder of Emmett Till and its effect on the American Civil Rights movement with a documentary filmmaker.

	Jan. 17, 2003 North Korea: Watching from Afar Lee Hochberg of Oregon Public Broadcasting reports on the reaction of Korean-Americans to the showdown over nuclear weapons in North Korea.

	Jan. 16, 2003 Rights and Registration New Justice Department regulations require male visa holders from certain Middle Eastern countries to register with the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Spencer Michels looks at the debate over the new requirement and the detention of some Arab men.

	Jan. 15, 2003 Crossing Over: Elvis Presley and Eminem Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune considers Elvis Presley and Eminem.

	Jan. 15, 2003 Weighing Affirmative Action President Bush enters the affirmative action debate, calling a University of Michigan program unconstitutional.

	Jan. 15, 2003 Supreme Court Watch: Federal Medical Leave Act Gwen Ifill discusses the debate over the Federal Medical Leave Act with the Supreme Court reporter for The Chicago Tribune.