CARPENTER FOUNDATION AND THE CHARLES A. FRUEAUFF FOUNDATION.

>> THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY... >> FIRST, WOMEN ADVANCING TO COMBAT ROLES.

THEN, THE VATICAN WANTS WOMEN'S VIEWS INCLUDED IN CATHOLIC THEOLOGY.

BEHIND THE HEADLINES ISLAM AND THE WEST ONE WOMAN SEEKS COMMON GROUND.

>> HELLO I'M BONNIE ERBE WELCOME TO TO THE CONTRARY A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.

UP FIRST, WOMEN IN COMBAT.

WOMEN ARE ONE STEP CLOSER TO BECOMING ARMY RANGERS.

FIVE OUT OF 26 FEMALE SOLDIERS THIS WEEK SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE FIRST PHASE OF RANGER TRAINING.

UP TO NOW, WOMEN HAVE NOT BEEN ALLOWED TO TAKE THE TWO-WEEK COURSE.

MILITARY POLICY ONLY ALLOWS MEN TO SERVE AS RANGERS BUT THE ARMY IS TRYING TO OPEN COMBAT ROLES TO WOMEN.

THE COURSE ELIMINATES A LOT OF MEN WHO TAKE IT, TOO JUST MORE THAN HALF OF THE MEN VERSUS ONE IN FIVE WOMEN COMPLETED THE COURSE.

THE SUCCESSFUL WOMEN FACE A SUBSEQUENT COURSE IN APRIL.

ASHTON CARTER ADDRESSED THE ISSUE OF WOMEN IN COMBAT IN HIS SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARING SAYING HE IS OPEN TO ENGAGING FEMALE SOLDIERS LEFT HAND EVALUATE EXISTING AND FUTURE STANDARDS.

SO, MEGHAN WHICH WILL SEE WOMEN ARMY RANGERS ANYTIME SOON?

>> I HOPE SO THIS IS POLICY CATCHING UP WITH REALITY.

>> I THINK WE ARE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION BY THEM PASSING THAT EXAM, I THINK THERE'S GOOD HOPE THAT THEY CAN REACH THAT POINT.

>> THEY HAVE BROKEN BARRIERS FOR THE REST OF US.

I THINK IT'S GREAT WHATEVER WOMEN WANT TO DO.

>> THIS IS A TOUGH COURSE ANYBODY WHO CAN GET THROUGH IT THEY OUGHT TO BE AN ARMY RANGER.

>> NOBODY THINKS IT IS A BAD IDEA?

HAVE WE GOTTEN TO THAT POINT?

[LAUGHTER] >> WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE.

>> ASSUME THE CONSERVATIVES THINK IT'S A BAD IDEA?

WHAT HAPPENED AMONG CONSERVATIVE WOMEN 10, 20 YEARS AGO WOMEN IN CAMP BOTH WAS A -- COMBAT AND NOW YOU YOUNGINGS ARE SAYING IT IS A GOOD IDEA.

>> I WOULD SAY PART OF IT ONE THING THAT CONSERVATIVES A VARIETY OF PEOPLE, I THINK ALWAYS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WAS ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COMBAT ROLES AND THE TRAINING THAT YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH WOULD THEY EVER SAY WE HAVE TO LOWER PHYSICAL STANDARDS IT HAS TO BE 50/50?

AND THAT IS A CONCERN THAT I HAD.

IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO LOWER THE STANDARDS LOOK WHAT ARMY RANGERS DO IS TOUGH STUFF.

THERE ARE COMBAT ROLES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE THE SAME AMOUNT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BUT IF REQUIRES THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH IT.

I DON'T WANT THEM TO LOWER THE BAR.

>> AND THEY DON'T WANT THAT EITHER.

>> AND I THINK WHAT REALLY YOU DID GET PUSHBACK WITH THE MILITARY, TOO WHEN THEY WERE SAYING CAN WE INCLUDE WOMEN IN THE COMBAT SITUATIONS?

IS THE MILITARY GUY GOING TO TRUST THE GAL TO HAVE HIS BACK?

THOSE WERE THE CONCERNS THAT THE MILITARY RAISED WHETHER THEY WERE CONSERVATIVE OR LIBERAL AND I THINK THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ASHTON CARTER, I THINK THEY ARE GOING TO LAY IT OUT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

AND WHAT THEY HAVE SEEN THEY HAVE HAD THE FEMALE COMBAT UNITS WORKING SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH THE MEN AND IF THE WOMAN WANTS TO BE IN DIRECT COMBAT ONE OF THE TOUGHEST JOBS ANY AMERICAN CAN DO, I THINK THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.

>> AND I WONDER THERE WAS A CONCERN I REMEMBER BEING VOICED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STAGE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TABLE, WHICH WAS THAT IF MEN ARE CAPTURED AND THEY ARE SEXUALLY TORTURED WHO CARES.

OR LET ME -- NOT WHO HE CARES BUT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC COULD TOLL LATE THAT AND IF WOMEN SOLDIERS ARE CAPTURED AND RAPED THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO TOLERATE THAT.

HAS THAT CHANGED?

>> NO, I DON'T THINK SO BUT WE RECOGNIZE WAR IS HELL.

AND THE WOMEN WHO SIGNED UP FOR THIS UNDERSTAND THAT AS WELL.

BUT I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE IDEA THAT WOMEN ARE THREE-POINT SHOT ON THE FRONTLINES IS A FALSE IDEA.

THAT WE HAVE HAD 800 CASUALTIES IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN, 130 DEATHS ON THE PART OF THESE WOMEN.

>> WOMEN ON THE FRONTLINES BECAUSE THEY WERE SERVING IN SOUP KITCHENS ON THE FRONTLINES.

>> OR DRIVING A TRUCK THE WAY THAT THESE WARS ARE PLAYING OUT, ANYWHERE YOU ARE IN THESE ZONES YOU ARE ON THE FRONTLINES.

>> LAURA LOGAN WAS GANG RAPED IN EGYPT.

WOMEN IN JOURNALISM.

IT IS ACROSS THE BOARD.

>> WITH TERRORISM HAS TERRORISM I HATE TO SAY IT BUT IGNORED US BETWEEN THE DIFFERENCE OF MEN GETTING SLAUGHTERED.

>> THE JORDANIAN PILOT BEING BURNED THIS WEEK THAT WAS THE MOST ATROCIOUS ACT.

>> THE JORDANIANS HAD A MUSLIM WOMEN OR SELF PROCLAIMED WOMAN WHO WAS A TERRORIST AND SHE WAS EXECUTED AND THERE WAS NO OUTCRY.

>> A TERRORIST IS A TERRORIST IS A TERRORIST WHETHER WOMAN OR MAN IF THEY ARE OUT THERE TO KILL PEOPLE, THEY SHOULD BE EXECUTED.

SO I THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO BE GENDER NEUTRAL ON TERRORISM.

>> YOU KNOW, YOU CAN LIKE ESPECIALLY THIS TO THE P AND L JOBS IN THE CORPORATE WORLD THERE ARE WOMEN SERVING THAT THEY CANNOT BE WRITTEN UP FOR DOING THESE JOBS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE FRONTLINE.

ONCE WE CHANGE THE POLICY AND WOMEN CAN TAKE SOME OF THESE ROLES, IT WILL BE ON THE RECORD.

AND NOW IT IS A FUNNY POSITION THAT THE CHAIN OF COMMAND HAS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WRITE UP SOME OF THE STUFF BECAUSE THE WOMEN ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE FRONTLINES AND THEY DON'T GET CREDIT FOR IT.

>> INSTEAD OF COMBAT PAY THEY GET SOME OTHER PAY THEY GET EQUAL PAY BUT THE PROMOTION IS NOT THERE.

ONCE WOMEN ARE ARMY RANGERS HOW FAR IS IT BEFORE WE HAVE FEMALE MARINES?

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT SAY QUESTION.

I DON'T THINK ANY OF THE SCENARIOS ARE THE SAME.

THE FOUR DIVISIONS ARE NOT THE SAME, ARMY, AIR FORCE MARINES THEY HAVE DIFFERENT ROLES AND QUALIFICATIONS AND EACH ONE HAS TO BE LOOKED AT CAREFULLY AS WE GO INTO THIS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T LOWER STANDARDS THAT WE DON'T CHANGE THE RULES IN THE GAME TO FIT THIS NEW POLICY AS OPPOSED TO WHAT IS GOING TO MAKE US HAVE THE STRONGEST AND THE MOST POWERFUL MILITARY FORCE IN PROTECTING THIS COUNTRY.

THAT IMPACTS MEN AND WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

WE HAVE TO KEEP THAT THAT SHOULD BE OUR FIRST AND FOREMOST NOT GENDER EQUALITY.

>> AND THE MILITARY IS READY TO HANDLE THE MENTAL SIDE WHEN WOMEN GO INTO COMBAT, ARE THEY GOING TO DEAL WITH PTSD?

I TALKED TO A MARINE I WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DEAL WITH WHEN I CAME BACK.

THE SERIOUS ISSUES THAT THE MILITARY NEEDS TO BE PREPARED TO MANAGE FOR MEN AND WOMEN.

>> AT LEAST HIS WIFE WAS ALIVE.

A LOT COME HOME AND GET INTO TERRIBLE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS.

POST TRAUMATIC STRESS TRAINING FOR EVERYONE.

>> THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE MILITARY.

IT'S SORT OF IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL WHETHER IT'S MORE OR LESS PREVALENT IN MILITARY THAN IN SOCIETY AT LARGE.

WHAT ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT ON THE FRONTLINES?

DO WE KNOW ANYTHING OF RATES OF THAT?

IS IT GOING TO BE LESS BECAUSE ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT GETTING SHOT AT?

>> ISN'T IT MORE MEN THAT ARE GETTING SEXUALLY ASSAULTED IN THE MILITARY?

>> NOT NUMERICALLY BUT PERCENTAGE WISE.

>> YOU HAVE NOT HAD AS MANY WOMEN ON THE FRONTLINES SO WE DON'T KNOW YET.

BUT IT IS AN AREA THAT I HAVE A CONCERN WHICH IS PUTTING MEN AND WOMEN IN CLOSE QUARTERS CAN BE CHALLENGING.

AND YOU KNOW, I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHETHER OR NOT THAT HAS TO BE THE CASE.

MAYBE YOU CAN BE ON THE FRONTLINES IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO BE SLEEPING NEXT TO A GUY IF YOU ARE A WAY.

UNLESS HE IS A HANDSOME SINGLE MARINE.

>> THAT WILL GET YOU IN TROUBLE.

>> IT'S MORE ABOUT POWER NOT GENDER WHEN IT COMES TO THAT.

>> LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE @BONNIEERBE.

FROM THE BATTLEFIELD TO RELIGIOUS BATTLES.

>> THE VATICAN HELD ITS FIRST CONFERENCE THIS WEEK TO DISCUSS WOMEN'S ISSUES AS PART OF A BROADER OUTREACH BY POPE FRANCIS TO MAKE THE CHURCH HIERARCHY MORE OPEN TO FEMALES AND THEIR CONCERNS.

BUT CRITICS ARE SKEPTICAL WHETHER THEY WILL MOVE FORWARD ON ORDINATION WOMEN.

THE INITIATIVE FACED A ROCKY LAUNCH WHEN A VIDEO PRODUCED BY THE VATICAN WENT VIRAL BUT NOT FOR THE REASONS THE HOLY SEE ANTICIPATED.

IT FEATURES AN ITALIAN ACTRESS URGING WOMEN TO POST THEIR EXPERIENCES AS CATHOLICS.

IT'S BEEN RIDICULED AS SEXIST.

THE BACKLASH WAS 0 SO FIERCE THE VATICAN TOOK IT DOWN.

SOME SAY ANYTHING BEATS NOTHING AND ONE SAYS QUOTE THIS A CRUMB INSTEAD OF THE USUAL ABSENCE OF SAID CRUMB.

WHAT IS BETTER?

A CRUMB OR NO CRUMB?

>> YOU KNOW I LIKE THE PIECE OF BREAD HERE.

I THINK FOR WHAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THIS CONFERENCE IS THE FACT THAT POPE FRANCIS REALLY IS TALKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES OF FAMILY AND MARRIAGE AND TALKING ABOUT THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE CHURCH.

NOT ONLY IN THE CHURCH BUT IN YOUR ORDINARY LIFE EVERYDAY AS YOU LIVE AS A CATHOLIC.

AND WITH TALKING TO MY SOURCES WHAT I'VE LEARNED IS THAT THEY DID PULL TOGETHER THIS COMMITTEE OF LEADING WOMEN IN THE MEDIA, IN SCIENCE AND THEOLOGY TO BASICALLY ASSIST THE CARDINALS AND ASSIST THE POPE IN PROVIDING THIS REPORT AND PROVIDING THE BACKGROUND FOR THIS CONFERENCE.

SO I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT THIS INFORMATION TO THE POPE AND FOR THEM TO THEN DECIPHER WHAT ARE THE NEXT MOVES IN TERMS OF THE CHURCH.

>> AND NOBODY IN THE WORLD WHO FOLLOWS THIS POPE AT ALL WOULDN'T SAY THAT HE IS AN INCREDIBLE MAN AND HE IS CHANGING THE CHURCH AND IN VERY POSITIVE WAYS.

THIS WEEK ALSO, TELLING EVERYBODY LOOK, YOU GOT TO BE OPEN WE HAVE TO GET RID OF THE CANCER OF THE PEDOPHILIA SCANDAL AND WE HAVE TO BE OPEN, AND OPEN THE RECORDS AND MAKE AMENDS AND GET BEYOND IT.

BUT ON WOMEN, HE HAS MADE PROGRESS IN TERMS OF GAYS AND AT LEAST IN TERMS OF HIS PUBLIC PRONOUNCEMENTS.

BUT YOU HAVE A CONFERENCE WHERE YOU DON'T TALK ABOUT ABORTION, WHERE YOU DON'T TALK ABOUT ORDINATION OF WOMEN, HOW MUCH -- >> THIS IS HOW THEY CAME UP WITH THE AGENDA.

THEY TOOK IT TO THE DECEASE WHERE THE DECEASE THEN BASICALLY INTERVIEWED AND TALKED TO WOMEN THAT BELONG TO THE CHURCH AND GUESS WHAT ISSUES DOMINATED?

IT WAS POVERTY, LACK OF EDUCATION, LACK OF A JOB OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ALL THESE ISSUES THAT WE ALL CARE ABOUT.

SO FOR THEM, THE ORDINATION OF WOMEN DID NOT POP-UP AS ONE OF THE MAIN TOPICS.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY FOLLOWED BASED ON THE DIOCESE REPORTS IN WHICH THEY INTERVIEWED WOMEN WITHIN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND THOSE WERE THE TOPICS THAT CAME UP.

ON THE ORDINATION OF WOMEN THE TEACH SOMETHING THE SAME THE POPES HAVE SAID THAT IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE FOR NOW.

AND SO THEY ARE GOING TO MOVE ON TALKING ABOUT THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN TERMS OF HOW THEY RELATE IN CULTURE AND OUR SOCIETY TODAY.

>> YOU KNOW, AND THE TITLE SAID IT ALL.

IT'S QUALITY AND DIFFERENCES.

AND I THINK THAT THE CAMEL'S NOSE UNDER THE TENT.

THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT WOMEN AGAIN IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

THAT IS A VERY GOOD THING.

IN THE 70s WHEN THE OTHER CHURCHES DECIDED THEY WOULD GIVE A PATH OF LEADERSHIP TO WOMEN, YOU SAW A LOT OF WOMEN LEAVE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

THE CONVENTS EMPTIED OUT.

AND I THINK THAT THAT HAD A DRAMATIC IMPACT ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND ITS ORIENTATION IN AMERICA.

THE LOSS OF THOSE WONDERFUL WOMEN WHO DID CARE ABOUT THE POOR AND BROUGHT ALL OF THOSE ISSUES TO THE CHURCH.

AND I THINK PEOPLE FEEL THAT POPE FRANCIS IS BRINGING SOME OF THAT BACK.

I THINK THEY SHOULD TALK ABOUT DIVORCE, THEY SHOULD TALK ABOUT BIRTH CONTROL AND TALK ABOUT VERY RELEVANT.

>> AND HE TOLD EVERYONE THE CATHOLICS NEED TO STOP BREEDING LIKE RABBITS.

>> AND HE SAID THAT?

>> YES, HE DID.

HE DID GO BACK AND TALK ABOUT THE BEAUTY OF A CHILD AND THE BEAUTY OF LARGE FAMILIES AND SO AGAIN, HE DID MENTION HE HAD TO BACKTRACK ON THE COMMENTS BECAUSE IT WAS VERY OFFENSIVE FOR PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT EACH CHILD DESERVES A LIFE AND DESERVES TO BE BROUGHT TO THE WORLD.

SO I THINK THAT HE DID HAVE TO PUSHBACK.

>> HE OFFENDED A LOT OF CATHOLICS.

>> ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH BIG FAMILIES.

>> HERE IS THE REALITY I'M NOT CATHOLIC THOUGH I LIKE CATHOLICS.

PROBABLY MORE CATHOLIC THAN A LOT OF CATHOLICS ARE.

>> ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS IS CATHOLIC.

YOU CANNOT LIKE CATHOLICS WITHOUT NOT LIKING AMERICA.

ONE IN FIVE AMERICANS IS CATHOLIC.

>> THIS IS A APPROPRIATE WHO TRIED TO TALK ABOUT CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES IN AN OPEN WAY AND THAT IS GREAT.

BUT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TALKING ABOUT THEM IN AN OPEN WAY AND THROWING OUT YOUR THEOLOGY AT THE SAME TIME AND I THINK THE TRUTH IS MANY PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE CATHOLICS TO BE PRO BIRTH CONTROL AND PRO ABORTION AND OPEN TO THESE THINGS WANT SOMEONE WITH THE THEOLOGY AS WELL OR CHANGE WHAT THE THEOLOGY OF THE CHURCH IS.

I DO NOT SEE THIS POPE DOING THAT BECAUSE THAT IS NOT WHAT POPES TEND TO DO.

THE TALK ABOUT ISSUES TO SAY THE CHURCH IS OPEN TO DISCUSSING THINGS IS ONE THING BUT TO SAY WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE WHAT WE BELIEVE IS DIFFERENT.

>> AND THE CONVERSATION STAT STARTED.

>> LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

THERE ARE MANY SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT ABOUT POPE FRANCIS BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO SAY HE IS DOING A GREAT PR JOB AND CHANGING NOTHING.

WILL IT BE THE SAME WITH WOMEN?

>> I THINK YOU CANNOT UNDERESTIMATE THE PULLEY PULPIT EFFECT.

AND HE HAS MADE A TREMENDOUS DIFFERENCE.

HE IS A BREAKTHROUGH LEADER.

HE IS CREATED DESTRUCTION IN A POPE MOBILE.

I THINK YOU CANNOT UNDERESTIMATE THE SYMBOLISM AND THE THINGS THAT HE HAS SAID.

I MEAN IT'S CREATED A GREAT DEAL OF INTEREST ON THE PART OF PEOPLE THAT LEFT THE CHURCH.

>> I AGREE.

UNDER A DIFFERENT POPE I WOULD NOT BE OPTIMISTIC BUT THIS POPE I THINK THE CRUMB WILL LEAD TIE LOAF OF BREAD.

AND I WANT TO ADD I AM A MUSLIM AND THE GODMOTHER TO MY DAUGHTER IS CATHOLIC.

>> BEHIND THE HEADLINES.

ARE WE WITNESSING A CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS BETWEEN ISLAM AND THE WEST?

FORMER U.N. OFFICIAL MAY RIHANI SAYS THAT IS NOT THE CASE AT ALL.

IN FACT IN HER BOOK, "CULTURES WITHOUT BORDERS" SHE ARGUES WE OFTEN FAIL TO SEE THE COMMONALITIES BETWEEN CULTURES.

>> I'M NOT SAYING AND I NEVER SAY THAT CULTURES ARE ABSOLUTELY THE SAME.

AND THAT THE EAST AND THE WEST IS EXACTLY THE SAME.

NO.

WE SHOULD CELEBRATE DIVERSITY.

WE SHOULD CELEBRATE DIFFERENCES BUT ALSO EQUALLY IMPORTANTLY, WE SHOULD ALSO CELEBRATE COMMON GROUND.

AND ACKNOWLEDGE IT AND VALUE IT.

>> MAY RIHANI IS FORMER COCHAIR OF THE UNITED NATIONS GIRLS EDUCATION INITIATIVE.

SHE SAYS HER WORK IN DOZENS OF COUNTRIES MADE HER REALIZE THERE IS MORE COMMON GROUND WITHIN CULTURES THAN MOST REALIZE.

FOR EXAMPLE... >> ALL THE PARENTS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD BE IT IN A COUNTRY IN AFRICA OR BE IT IN A COUNTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST OR BE IT IN ASIA OR LATIN AMERICA OR ANYWHERE OR HERE IN THE U.S., THEY WANT THE BEST FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

THEY WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO SUCCEED.

TO BE HAPPY.

>> YET TODAY WE SEE MANY GROUPS OPPRESSING GIRLS AND DENYING THEM AN EDUCATION.

BOKO HARAM IN NIGERIA AND ISIS IN SYRIA AND IRAQ ARE EXAMPLES.

REANNIE SAYS BECAUSE THE LEADER ARE SEEKING POWER NOT BECAUSE THEY FOLLOW ISLAM.

>> THOSE WHO WANT TO GAIN POWER USE THE RELIGION AS A TOOL.

AND THEY TELL THEM YOUR RELIGION SAYS SO SO YOU HAVE TO OBEY ME.

>> MANY MUSLIMS CANNOT READ ARABIC OR THE QURAN AND RELIGIOUS TEACHERS WHICH ARE NOT TRANSLATED.

MAY RIHANI RECALLS MEETING AFGHANI LEADERS WHO FOLD A CLERGY MAN WHO FORBID GIRLS FROM GETTING AN EDUCATION.

>> I WILL QUOTE THE HADITH.

IT'S WHAT THE PROPHET MOHAMMED SAYS THESE ARE SAYINGS COLLECTED IN A BOOK THE SAYINGS OF THE PROPHET MOHAMMED, THE SECOND BOOK AFTER THE QURAN.

IN THE HADITH THERE IS A SAYING THAT SAYS EDUCATION IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY MUSLIM MAN AND EVERY MUSLIM WOMAN.

AND I SAID I BELIEVE THE PROPHET WROTE EVERY MUSLIM WOMEN ON PURPOSE NOT TO ALLOW ANYBODY TO MISINTERPRET HIM.

THAT WAS DELIBERATE.

AND I SAID WHO DO YOU FOLLOW?

THE MULLAH OR THE PROPHET.

>> MAY RIHANI SAYS SOME RELIGIOUS LEADERS USE ISLAM FOR THEIR OWN GAIN.

>> THEY CANNOT READ THE BOOKS HE CAN TELL THEM ANYTHING HE WANTS TO GAIN MORE POWER AND TO CONTROL THEM.

THE EXTREMIST MEN RECOGNIZE THAT EDUCATION IS TRANSFORMATIVE.

WHEN THE GIRLS GET EDUCATED, THEY GET TRANSFORMED.

THEY DO NOT ACCEPT THIS IMPOSITION ON THEM.

THAT THEY HAVE TO OBEY, RIDICULOUS RULES.

>> WHAT CAN AMERICANS DO TO HELP CHANGE OPPRESSIVE CULTURES?

MAY RIHANI SAYS FOREIGN AID IS KEY.

BUT POLLS CONTINUE TO SHOW SPENDING ON FOREIGN AID IS RELATIVELY UNPOPULAR AMONG AMERICANS.

>> WHEN THE FUNDS ARE SPENT WELL ON BASIC ISSUES SUCH AS EDUCATION AND GIRLS' EDUCATION, BENEFITS EVERYBODY.

BENEFITS THE COUNTRIES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT.

BUT ALSO BENEFITS THE U.S BECAUSE THE MORE YOU EDUCATE YOUNG GIRLS AND YOUNG BOYS, THE LESS YOU HAVE UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE, YOUNG MEN AND YOUNG WOMEN AND THE LESS UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE YOU HAVE THE LESS VIOLENCE YOU HAVE.

>> SO WHAT -- ASIDE FROM EDUCATION AND APPRECIATION FOR EDUCATION, WHAT DO WE HAVE IN COMMON THE EAST AND THE WEST?

>> I THINK WE HAVE SO MUCH IN COMMON.

MEN ACROSS THESE ORGANIZED RELIGIONS NEED TO STOP TELLING WOMEN WHAT THE TEXT SAYS.

AND HIGH 5 TO MAY RIHANI SHE IS GREAT.

>> BUT THERE ARE MANY WOMEN WHO ARE IN THE WEST VIEW ANYWAY OPPRESSED BY ISLAM HAVING TO WEAR THE VEILS OR HIJABS AND THEY WILL TELL YOU NO, ISLAM TREATS WOMEN EQUALLY WHEN THEY ARE SITTING THERE STAYING OUT OF THE PUBLIC EYE, ONLY GOING OUT WHEN THEY ARE ESCORTED BY MEN AND HAVING TO COVER THEMSELVES.

>> IT'S DIFFICULT.

THERE'S 1.7 BILLION MUSLIMS IN THE WORLD AND WE ARE GENERALIZING THEM TOGETHER ALL THE TIME.

A LOT OF MUSLIMS WATCHING THE SHOW ARE LIKE WHY ARE THEY TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING.

CAN YOU BELIEVE HER DAUGHTER AS A GODMOTHER?

THIS IS MY ISSUE WE CANNOT BE LUMPED TOGETHER.

THE U.S.

PLAYS A BIG ROLE ASIDE FROM U.S. FOREIGN POLICY THERE IS A FOREIGN AID REFORM ACT THAT IS SITTING AND THERE IS A LOT TO BE DONE I KNOW IT MAKES AMERICANS REALLY NERVOUS TO HEAR ABOUT INCREASED U.S. FUNDING TO ANYTHING.

A LOT OF GREAT PROGRAMS ARE IN PLACE AND THERE'S HUNDREDS OF STATE DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS.

>> IT'S NOT NEW.

THE MARSHALL PLAN WAS A PEACE PROGRAM BASED ON -- >> TO REPAIR -- >> AFTER WORLD WAR II AND WORKING WITH FAITH-BASED LEADERS ON THE GROUND THAT STARTED THE STATE DEPARTMENT PROGRAMS IN THE BUSH ERA AND CONTINUED UNDER OBAMA.

I SAY REDIRECT THAT FUNDING TO WOMEN'S GROUPS AND SECULAR GROUPS BECAUSE BLANKET FUNDING IN THE MUSLIM WORLD MODERATE MULLAHS ARE TAKING THE CASH AND RUNNING.

>> THIS IS THE PROBLEM OF GOVERNMENT FUNDING IF OTHER PEOPLE ARE OPPOSED TO EDUCATION OR THE NATION'S MILITARY OR HELPING OTHER COUNTRIES THE PROBLEM IS THE MONEY IS NOT SPENT WELL WE WANT TO DO THIS WITH IT AND THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE PEOPLE ARE AGAINST ALL FOREIGN AID.

AND TO THE POINT ON THE RELIGIOUS SIDE THE FACT THAT PEOPLE CAN READ THE RELIGIOUS TEXT IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

THEN IF THEY DECIDE THEY ARE OK WITH WEARING VEILS THAT IS THEIR DECISION.

JUST AS IN THIS COUNTRY IF YOU ARE CATHOLIC AND DECIDE I AM OK WITH THE CHURCH'S TEACHING ON BIRTH CONTROL YOU HAVE THAT RIGHT TO BELIEVE THAT AND PEOPLE SHOULD NOT SAY YOU ARE BEING OPPRESSED BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHAT YOUR RELIGION SAYS.

>> AND ACCESS YOUR TEXT.

WHEN I CAME TO THE STATES PEOPLE WERE SHOCKED AS A MUSLIM I HAD NOT READ THE QURAN.

AND GROWING UP AND BEFORE 9/11 MULLAH'S WERE OUR TRANSLATOR LITERALLY THIS OLD MEN VERY ABUSIVE.

MY PARENTS HAD TO FIRE A MULLAH A WEEK.

BUT THEY WOULD TELL YOU WHAT THE QURAN WAS SAYING IF YOU DID NOT MEMORIZE A PRAYER RIGHT THEY WOULD REACH ACROSS THE TABLE AND SLAP YOU.

THEY WERE SEXIST AND ABUSIVE.

>> IT GOT WORSE OVER THE YEARS.

>> I WANT TO BRING IN THERE WAS A VIDEO THAT WENT VIRAL 2.5 MILLION VIEWS OF WESTERN YOUNG WOMEN PUTTING ON HIJABS AND GOING OUT IN PUBLIC AND SEEING WHAT IT WAS LIKE.

AND I IS THAT -- HAVE YOU SEEN THAT?

>> I HAVE NOT SEEN IT.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE?

>> THIS IS THE POINT.

TOLERANCE.

TO THIS IDEA THAT WE HAVE TO START FOCUSING ON WHAT WE HAVE IN COMMON.

WHICH IS A LOT.

AND SOME OF THE IN THE WAKE OF WHAT HAPPENED IN PARIS, SO MANY OF THE MOMS SAID LISTEN, THIS IS NOT WHAT OUR RELIGION IS ABOUT.

THESE ARE EXTREMIST FUNDAMENTALISTS OF WHICH THE CHRISTIAN FAITH HAS AND EVERY RELIGION HAS BUT THEY DON'T REPRESENT OUR RELIGION WHICH IS ALL ABOUT PEACE AND LOVE AND CARING.

AND THERE WAS A MOSQUE THAT OPENED THIS WEEK IN LA WOMEN'S MOSQUE AND I TALKED TO A FRIEND OF MINE.

>> THEY GOT SICK OF BEING DISCRIMINATED BY THE MEN.

>> AND THEY CAN READ PRAYER.

>> AND THE WOMEN WHEN I GREW UP AND HEARING IT WAS ALL BEING TRANSLATED TO ME, AND THEN I READ THE QURAN MYSELF I REALIZED THIS IS A WONDERFUL RELIGION THAT I WANT TO INTERPRET AND THAT WHAT THEY ARE DOING AT THIS MOSQUE.

THE FIRST PRAYER MEETING WAS FRIDAY AND THEY ARE DOING IT ONCE A MONTH.

>> ABOUT BRINGING THE DIFFERENT RELIGIONS TOGETHER TO HAVE THE DISCUSSION AND THIS IS WHAT AMERICA IS ABOUT.

WE ARE THE MELTING POT OF ALL THE RELIGIONS.

AND WHEN YOU DO HAVE THE FACT THAT YOU DON'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO A MUSLIM OR TO A CATHOLIC AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THEIR FAITH IS COMING FROM AND THE GOODNESS OF THEIR FAITH.

IN THE CASE OF ISLAMIC STATE OBVIOUSLY ET CETERA WHERE THEIR POWER IS SO DESTRUCTIVE FOR PEOPLE NON-MUSLIM TO SAY WHY AREN'T THE MUSLIM COMMUNITIESES STANDING UP AGAINST THE ISLAMIC STATE AND SAYING WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS WRONG.

>> IT'S CRAZY.

A LOT OF THE MUSLIM EXTREMISTS WERE CREATED AND ARMED LET'S NOT FORGET, THE TALIBAN BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.

TO GET THE SOVIETS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN WAY BACK IN 1979.

WE CANNOT FORGET T WE HAVE A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY THESE GUYS ARE CRAZY BUT IT CAN'T BE LIKE WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?

>> IT'S NOT WHERE THEY CAME FROM IT'S THE WEAPONRY AND THERE IS NO ARGUMENT.

>> AND VACUUMS WERE CREATED.

>> THERE'S VACUUM IN IRAQ BECAUSE THEY PULLED THE TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ THANKS TO PRESIDENT OBAMA.

>> WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

AND WHY DON'T THEY MAKE WEAPONS THAT SELF DESTRUCT AFTER THEY GET TURNED OVER TO SOMEBODY ELSE.

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER.

AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.

AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK TO THE CONTRARY SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.OUNDATION AND THE CHARLES A. FRUEAUFF FOUNDATION.

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