2/27/02

LC020227

VAL>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

JESS>> THE CATHOLIC CHURCH CALLS IT A WORTHY MONUMENT TO GOD, BUT L.A.'S NEW CATHEDRAL IS STILL CATCHING HELL FROM ITS CRITICS.

GAY YEE>> AT A COST OF NEARLY $200 MILLION DOLLARS, L.A.'S NEW CATHEDRAL IS NOT ONLY THE MOST EXPENSIVE IN AMERICA, IT'S ALSO THE BIGGEST, AND CRITICS WONDER WHY THE CHURCH DIDN'T SPEND SOME OF THE MONEY ON THE POOR.

CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY>> AND YOU'RE ASSUMING THAT THEY GAVE ME THE MONEY TO SAY, "OH, GO DO WHAT YOU WANT, BUILD A CATHEDRAL OR DO THIS FOR THE POOR." THEY DIDN'T GIVE THAT OPTION.

VAL>> THE STATE DEPARTMENT WARNS AMERICANS NOT TO TRAVEL TO IRAN, SO WHY WOULD AN AMERICAN FAMILY, INCLUDING A MOTHER IN A WHEELCHAIR, MAKE A SIX-WEEK TRIP THROUGH A COUNTRY KNOWN FOR ITS HATRED OF AMERICANS? WE'LL ASK THE AUTHOR OF A NEW BOOK CALLED "SEARCHING FOR HASSAN".

JESS>> HE SPENT TWO YEARS DOCUMENTING THE FALL OF THE SOVIET EMPIRE. YOU'VE SEEN HIS WORK ON THE COVER OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC. NOW PHOTOGRAPHER, GERD LUDWIG, TELLS US THE STORIES BEHIND HIS STUNNING IMAGES AND GIVES US HIS PERSPECTIVE ON A SOCIETY GOING THROUGH A PAINFUL TRANSITION.

VAL>> THESE STORIES COMING UP NEXT ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.


VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I'M VAL ZAVALA.

JESS>> AND I'M JESS MARLOW.

THE CONTROVERSY BEGAN EVEN BEFORE GROUNDBREAKING, BUT THE CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS IS MANAGING TO SURVIVE THE CRITICISM. LATER THIS YEAR, THE MASSIVE FIVE-ACRE COMPLEX WILL FINALLY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

VAL>> TONIGHT WE'RE GETTING A SNEAK PEEK AND OUR TOUR GUIDE IS THE PROJECT'S STRONGEST ADVOCATE, CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY. BUT AS GAY YEE REPORTS, WHEN IT COMES TO L.A.'S NEW CATHEDRAL, NOT ALL CATHOLICS SHARE THE CARDINAL'S ENTHUSIASM.

GAY>> IT IS A MASSIVE PRESENCE ATOP BUNKER HILL, AN ADOBE-COLORED GIANT THAT DWARFS EVERYTHING ELSE IN SIGHT. OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS CATHEDRAL IS NEARLY FINISHED NOW, BUT ALREADY THE CATHEDRAL STANDS AS A MONUMENT NOT ONLY TO THE CHURCH, BUT TO THE MAN WHOSE VISION IT REPRESENTS.

CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY>> IF YOU LOOK AROUND, YOU'LL SEE MANY OF THE FEATURES OF THE AREAS THAT ARE VERY, VERY MUCH A CALIFORNIA MISSION, THE EARLY CALIFORNIA ARCHITECTURE.

GAY>> THE BELLS?

CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY>> THE BELLS OVER THE....

GAY>> CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY SHOWS OFF THE NEW CATHEDRAL LIKE AN EXCITED FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER.

CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY>> PROFESSOR RAFAEL MONEO, THE DESIGN ARCHITECT, OBVIOUSLY WANTED TO CREATE A VERY MONUMENTAL CHURCH FOR THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES.

GAY>> AND AT A MONUMENTAL PRICE, $193 MILLION DOLLARS. BUT CARDINAL MAHONY SAYS IT'S A BARGAIN FOR A STRUCTURE BUILT TO WITHSTAND THE MARCH OF TIME.

CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY>> IF YOU PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE, THE STAPLES CENTER WAS OVER $400 MILLION, THE DISNEY CONCERT HALL IS OVER $280 MILLION. IN FACT, IF YOU LOOK AT ANYTHING IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, WE'RE THE CHEAPEST PROJECT AROUND.

THE BELL TOWER IS 156 FEET HIGH. IT WILL EVENTUALLY HOLD 18 LARGE BELLS.

GAY>> THE CATHEDRAL IS BEING BUILT TO REPLACE ST. VIBIANA, WHICH WAS DAMAGED IN THE NORTHRIDGE QUAKE EIGHT YEARS AGO. AND LIKE CATHEDRALS BUILT CENTURIES AGO, THIS ONE IS TO BE USED AND ENJOYED BY THE ENTIRE CITY. THE TWO AND A HALF ACRE PLAZA, FOR EXAMPLE, IS OPEN AND UNLANDSCAPED FOR A REASON.

CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY>> WE CAN GET 8,000 TO 9,000 PEOPLE OUT HERE --

GAY>> WOW.

CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY>> -- FOR A SPECIAL MASS OR LITURGY OR INTERFAITH SERVICE OR A GATHERING OR EVEN A CONCERT.

IN HERE IS THE SANCTUARY. THE SANCTUARY IS ENORMOUS, AS YOU CAN TELL.

GAY>> INSIDE IS A CAVERNOUS 333-FOOT NAVE, BIGGER THAN THE ONE AT ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL IN NEW YORK.

CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY>> AND THEN OVER HERE, YOU CAN SEE THE ORGAN MECHANISM BEING INSTALLED. THAT'S SEVEN STORIES HIGH.

GAY>> HERE, THINGS ARE MEASURED IN TERMS OF STORIES INSTEAD OF FEET.

CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY>> THE CROSS ACTUALLY BEGINS HERE INSIDE THE CATHEDRAL ABOVE THE ALTER AND THEN GOES UP AND OUT AND BECOMES THE CROSS THAT PEOPLE SEE FROM THE FREEWAY ON THE OUTSIDE.

GAY>> THE MASSIVE WINDOWS ARE FILLED WITH TILES OF SPANISH ALABASTER TO ALLOW IN STREAMS OF NATURAL LIGHT.

WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE, THIS WILL BE THE LARGEST, MOST EXPENSIVE, ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL IN THE UNITED STATES. THE CARDINAL CONSIDERS IT A MONUMENT TO GOD IN THE HEART OF THE CIVIC CENTER WHILE CRITICS CONSIDER IT A TRAVESTY, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE HOMELESS PEOPLE JUST BLOCKS FROM HERE LIVING ON THE STREET.

ON ONE LEVEL, THE CATHEDRAL HAS BEEN THE BUTT OF RUNNING JOKES IN THE LOCAL PRESS, DERIDED AS "THE TAJ MAHONY" AND "THE ROG MAHAL". BUT ON ANOTHER LEVEL, THE CRITICISM HAS BEEN HARSH AND TO THE POINT. MUCH OF THAT HAS COME FROM A LAY ORGANIZATION CALLED CATHOLIC WORKER WHICH HAS BEEN PROTESTING THE CATHEDRAL FROM THE BEGINNING. THE GROUP OPERATES THIS SOUP KITCHEN JUST A MILE AWAY ON SKID ROW. MEMBERS HAVEN'T CHANGED THEIR TONE SINCE THE EARLIEST DAYS OF THE CATHEDRAL'S CONSTRUCTION. THEY SAY THE CHURCH SHOULD SPEND GOD'S MONEY ON THE POOR.

JEFF DIETRICH>> OUR GOAL REALLY IS TO BE FAITHFUL, TO BE TRUTHFUL TO THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, TO THE MESSAGE WHICH SAYS THAT WE FEED THE HUNGRY, CLOTHE THE NAKED, SHELTER THE HOMELESS, AND WE ALSO CHALLENGE THE REASONS WHY PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY AND IMPOVERISHED AND ON THE STREETS AND UNEMPLOYED.

CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY>> WE OPERATE THE LARGEST NONPROFIT CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION IN THE COUNTY, CATHOLIC CHARITIES. WE ARE INVOLVED IN BUILDING HOUSES FOR THE POOR. NONE OF THAT IS INTERRUPTED BECAUSE OF THIS ONE-TIME EVENT OF BUILDING A CATHEDRAL.

GAY>> LATELY, CATHOLIC WORKER HAS GROWN EVEN MORE CRITICAL, ACCUSING THE CHURCH OF USING THE SACRED CRYPTS BENEATH THE CATHEDRAL AS A TOOL FOR FUNDRAISING, CLAIMING THAT WEALTHY CONTRIBUTORS ARE BEING CONSIDERED FOR BURIAL ON SACRED GROUND.

JEFF DIETRICH>> THIS IS THE WEALTHY BUYING THEIR WAY INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND WE THINK THAT THAT'S WRONG.

CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY>> THE POOREST MEMBERS OF OUR ARCHDIOCESE HAVE BEEN HERE ON TOURS. THEY CAN HARDLY WAIT.

GAY>> THE CATHEDRAL IS BEING BUILT ON PRIVATE DONATIONS, BUT THE CARDINAL DENIES ACCUSATIONS OF SELLING OUT TO THE RICH. HE SAYS HE IS SIMPLY FULFILLING THE CHURCH'S OBLIGATIONS.

CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY>> PEOPLE WHO GAVE FOR THE CATHEDRAL GAVE FOR THE CATHEDRAL AND YOU'RE ASSUMING THAT THEY GAVE ME THE MONEY TO SAY, "OH, GO DO WHAT YOU WANT, BUILD A CATHEDRAL OR DO THIS FOR THE POOR." THEY DIDN'T GIVE THAT OPTION. WE'VE BEEN BUILDING CATHEDRALS FOR CENTURIES AND CENTURIES, BUT YOU GO BACK TO ANY CULTURE, WHETHER IT BE MAYAN OR AZTEC OR ANY CULTURE. THEY BUILT TEMPLES TO GOD.

JESS>> GAY JOINS US NOW. NO MONEY FROM THE VATICAN?

GAY>> NO.

JESS>> CERTAINLY NO MONEY TAKEN FROM THE POOR BOX?

GAY>> NOPE. IT'S STRICTLY PRIVATE DONATIONS AND ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT THE CARDINAL DID SAY IS SO MUCH IS BEING SAID ABOUT THE POOR IN THIS COMMUNITY, THAT OUR ARCHDIOCESE HAS A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF IMPOVERISHED PEOPLE, IMMIGRANT PEOPLE, AND HE SAYS THEY ARE SOME OF THE FIRMEST SUPPORTERS BEHIND THIS PROJECT. THEY COME FROM LATIN COUNTRIES WHERE THERE ARE HUGE CATHEDRALS, THAT THE STRONGEST SUPPORTERS ARE QUITE OFTEN THE POOR THEMSELVES.

VAL>> AND BECAUSE THEY COME HERE OFTEN WITH A VERY STRONG FAITH AND MANY OF THEM CATHOLIC.

GAY>> THAT'S RIGHT.

JESS>> IS IT THE CONSENSUS AMONG THOSE WHO ARE AROUND THERE THAT, ONCE IT'S COMPLETED AND ONCE THEY SEE THE GRANDEUR OF IT, IT WILL BE A SOURCE OF GREAT PRIDE FOR ALL CATHOLICS?

GAY>> WELL, THE CARDINAL CERTAINLY HOPES SO, BUT THAT'S VERY DEBATABLE. AND YOU MAY LOOK AT IT -- JUST BY THE MERE DESIGN OF IT, THERE ARE CRITICS NOT JUST OVER THE ISSUE OF THE MONEY BEING SPENT. THERE ARE CRITICS OVER JUST THE PURE DESIGN OF IT, THAT IT'S VERY OPULENT IN MANY WAYS, BUT AT THE SAME, IT'S VERY PLAIN. ONE OF THE SPOKESPEOPLE HAS SAID, WELL, IT'S PLAIN VANILLA FOR A PURPOSE, THAT CATHEDRALS OVER THE AGES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WORKS IN PROGRESS. AN EXAMPLE IS THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE THE SIDE CHAPELS AND THERE ARE ABOUT A DOZEN OF THEM. ONLY THREE WILL ACTUALLY BE PREPARED. THE OTHERS WILL SLOWLY EVOLVE AS TIME GOES ON.

VAL>> WELL, IT DEFINITELY IS FUTURISTIC ARCHITECTURE. I MEAN, SOME PEOPLE WOULD ALMOST CALL IT, FROM SOME ANGLES, KIND OF LIKE A FORTRESS. BUT I WOULDN'T IMAGINE THAT WE WOULD EVER BUILD A CATHEDRAL FROM THE STYLE OF, YOU KNOW, EUROPEAN CATHEDRALS. THAT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE TO HAVE HERE.

GAY>> SOME PEOPLE DO HAVE THAT EXPECTATION, THOUGH, AND THE JURY IS OUT. THERE ARE MANY, MANY DIFFERENT OPINIONS IN THIS COMMUNITY OVER THAT, THAT THEY DID EXPECT SOMETHING LIKE WESTMINSTER ABBEY OR ST. JOHN THE DIVINE. AND TO SEE THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO FATHOM AND ACCEPT.

JESS>> BACK TO THE ISSUE OF THE EDIFICE VERSUS THE POOR. CARDINAL ROGER MAHONY HAS A LONG HISTORY, A GREAT REPUTATION FOR HIS SUPPORT OF THE POOR, PARTICULARLY IMMIGRANT FARM WORKERS --

GAY>> -- HE WALKED WITH CESAR CHAVEZ.

JESS>> -- THIS MUST HURT HIM.

GAY>> I'M SURE IT DOES, BUT HE FEELS VERY STRONGLY THAT THE POOR IS BEING SERVED BY THE COMMUNITY, BY CATHOLIC CHARITIES, THAT IT'S THERE, BUT THERE ALSO IS A PLACE FOR A PLACE OF WORSHIP.

VAL>> ABLE TO DO BOTH. GAY YEE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT TOUR. WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO MORE WHEN IT OPENS. LABOR DAY, YES?

GAY>> UM-HUM.

VAL>> VERY GOOD. TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, WE LOOK AT THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR'S RACE. THE ONCE WIDE GAP BETWEEN THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES HAS ALL BUT VANISHED. NOW RIORDAN AND SIMON ARE DEADLOCKED IN THE FINAL SPRINT. A "REALITY CHECK" OF THEIR ELEVENTH HOUR CAMPAIGN TACTICS TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES.

JESS>> YOU'RE ABOUT TO MEET AN AMERICAN WHO HAS A VERY DIFFERENT VIEW OF IRAN THAN MOST OF US, ONE THAT IS NOT DOMINATED BY THE IMAGE OF THE AYATOLLAH KHOMEINI. HIS NAME IS TERENCE WARD. HE WAS BORN IN COLORADO, BUT HIS FAMILY MOVED TO IRAN IN THE 60'S. FOR TEN YEARS, HE AND HIS THREE BROTHERS GREW UP IN TEHRAN. THEY ALSO WERE VERY CLOSE TO THEIR CARETAKERS, HASSAN AND FATIMEH GHASEMI. WHEN THE WARDS HAD TO MOVE BACK TO THE UNITED STATES, THE ENTIRE FAMILY WEPT.

VAL>> WELL, NEARLY THIRTY YEARS LATER, TERENCE WARD AND HIS FAMILY DECIDED TO GO BACK TO IRAN IN SEARCH OF HASSAN AND FATIMEH. THEY HAD VERY FEW CLUES AND WERE ENTERING A VERY DIFFERENT COUNTRY FROM THE ONE THEY ONCE KNEW.

JESS>> JOINING US NOW IS THE MAN WHO TOOK THIS JOURNEY AND HAS WRITTEN A BOOK ABOUT IT, TERENCE WARD. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

IT ULTIMATELY PROVED TO BE A SUCCESSFUL MISSION, BUT IT WAS NOT EASY FINDING HASSAN?

TERENCE WARD>> WELL, IN A COUNTRY OF 60 MILLION WHERE TWO MILLION HAPPEN TO CARRY THE NAME HASSAN AND WITH ONLY A BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH FROM 1963 TO WORK WITH, IT WAS DAUNTING. BUT AS MY WHOLE FAMILY FELT AND ACTUALLY WHAT LED TO WRITING THE BOOK, "SEARCHING FOR HASSAN", WAS THE SHEER MIRACLE OF NOT ONLY FINDING THIS FAMILY, BUT HAVING BRIDGED AND CROSSED ONE OF THE GREAT DIVIDES, POLITICAL, RELIGIOUS DIVIDES, THAT CONTINUE TO HAUNT OUR WORLD. AND YET WHAT WE FOUND IS THE HUMANITY AND THE TRUE FACE OF IRAN THAT'S RARELY EXPOSED ON THE MEDIA TODAY.

VAL>> TELL US, WHAT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST DOMINANT MYTHS THAT AMERICANS HAVE ABOUT IRANIAN SOCIETY THAT WOULD BE INCORRECT?

TERENCE WARD>> WELL, YOU OPENED IT BY SAYING "A COUNTRY THAT HAS LONG BEEN KNOWN FOR ITS HATRED OF AMERICA". WHAT WE DISCOVERED AS SOON AS WE GOT OFF THE PLANE AND BEGAN TO TRAVEL THROUGH THE COUNTRY IS THAT PEOPLE WOULD COME UP TO US UPON HEARING THAT WE WERE FROM AMERICA, WERE THRILLED, AND WOULD SAY, "THANK YOU FOR COMING. WELCOME TO MY COUNTRY. DO YOU KNOW MY BROTHER? MY COUSIN WHO LIVES OVER IN TEHRANGELES?"

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) TEHRANGELES?

TERENCE WARD>> TEHRANGELES. THERE IS SUCH A BROAD AFFECTION FOR THIS COUNTRY. MANY PEOPLE HAVE ARGUED THAT IRAN PROBABLY HAS THE MOST PRO WESTERN POPULATION OF ANY IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

JESS>> THEN HOW DO WE EXPLAIN THE CHANTS OF "DEATH TO AMERICA"?

TERENCE WARD>> WELL, THOSE ARE MORE POLITICAL RHETORIC THAT ARE DONE BY THE REGIME THAT HAS NOT BEEN ELECTED AND THIS IS THEIR MECHANISM OF TRYING TO CARRY ON WITH AN OLD TIRED SERIES OF CHANTS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE REVOLUTION. BUT KHATAMI, THE PRESENT PRESIDENT, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS HE SAID BEFORE A LARGE CROWD WAS, "DON'T USE THOSE WORDS BECAUSE OURS IS THE GOD OF LOVE." HE ACTUALLY BEGAN THIS NEW ATTEMPT AT [INAUDIBLE]. THE DANCE HASN'T BEEN EASY.

BUT WHAT WE DISCOVERED IN ONE OF THE EXPERIENCES THAT WE HAD IS THAT, WHEN MY MOTHER ACTUALLY MADE A TRIP TO THE VILLAGE OF THE PRESIDENT'S FAMILY, SHE ENTERED INTO THE HOME OF THE PRESIDENT'S MOTHER. THERE, SHE FOUND THE MOTHER'S DAUGHTER, A WOMAN NAMED MARYANNE, AND MY MOTHER HAD AN HOUR AND A HALF CONVERSATION. WHAT DID THESE WOMEN TALK ABOUT? THEY TALKED ABOUT BRIDGING THE DIVIDE, THEY TALKED ABOUT THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE OF FAMILY, THEY TALKED ABOUT THE UNIVERSAL NEED FOR FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE AND SHE WAS FASCINATED TO HEAR THAT WE HAD COME ALL THIS WAY TO TRY AND SEARCH FOR HASSAN AND FATIMEH. AND ALSO THE COUNTRY. WE DISCOVERED THE COUNTRY THAT WE HAD LONG LOVED AND HAD BEEN SEPARATED FOR SO MANY YEARS.

VAL>> WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME PHOTOGRAPHS. THE FIRST ONE IS THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE FAMILY THAT YOU BECAME VERY CLOSE TO AND IT WAS THE ONLY CLUE YOU HAD TO FINDING THEM WHEN YOU WENT BACK.

JESS>> THIS WAS THE BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO THAT YOU USED TO FIND THEM?

TERENCE WARD>> YES. AND IF YOU SEE IN THE CENTER, IT WAS TORN IN THE MIDDLE, SO THAT HAD BEEN TAPED. THE KEY TO THIS PHOTOGRAPH, HASSAN YOU SEE BEAMING ON THE LEFT AND, JUST FROM THAT CHARISMATIC PERSONA, YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT AN IMPACT HE HAD ON FOUR YOUNG SCRAPPY IRISH-AMERICAN BOYS RACING AROUND THE GARDEN BECAUSE HE WAS A MASTERFUL STORYTELLER.

TO THE RIGHT OF HASSAN, YOU'LL SEE FATIMEH, HIS WIFE, THE LITTLE CHILD, ALI, AND FINALLY KHORSHID. IT WAS KHORSHID'S FACE THAT WAS RECOGNIZED BECAUSE MY MOTHER HAD ONLY A MEMORY OF A TINY LITTLE VILLAGE WHERE THEY MAY HAVE COME FROM. IT WAS LOST IN THE CENTER OF IRAN AND WE HAD NO IDEA WHERE IT WAS, WHETHER IT EVEN EXISTED. I ONLY DISCOVERED THE NAME OF THAT TOWN IN MY MOTHER'S MEMORY. ACTUALLY, I DISCOVERED A VILLAGE THAT HAD A SIMILAR NAME ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE WE BOARDED THE PLANE.

JESS>> TELL US ABOUT THE REUNION.

TERENCE WARD>> THE REUNION WAS ECSTATIC. THE REUNION WAS -- ALL OF US HAVE THESE CIRCLES THAT ARE BROKEN IN OUR LIVES AND THAT WE DREAM OF TRYING TO RECONNECT. WHEN YOU HAVE A CHANCE, AFTER THIRTY YEARS, TO REACH AND FINALLY STARE INTO THE FACES OF PEOPLE WHO'VE INSPIRED YOU ALL THOSE YEARS, MY MOTHER WAS IN TEARS. WE WERE ABSOLUTELY HYSTERICAL. MY FATHER SCREAMED OUT THAT WE RECEIVED MORE FLOWERS THAN MARIA CALLAS ON OPENING NIGHT AND, OF COURSE, THE FEASTING BEGAN. HASSAN HAD BEEN A BRILLIANT CHEF WHO HAD BEEN SERVING FOOD IN ONE OF THE FIVE-STAR HOTELS IN TOWN, USING MY MOTHER'S RECIPES TO FEED THE AYATOLLAHS.

VAL>> THIS IS HASSAN?

TERENCE WARD>> THIS IS HASSAN A GOOD THIRTY YEARS LATER ON HIS PORCH AND, IN THERE, SHOWS ALL THE POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN BEYOND POLITICS, REACHING ACROSS THE DIVIDE, WITH THIS GLORIOUS CIVILIZATION, WITH THIS TREMENDOUS CULTURE, WITH EXPLORING THROUGH THE ELEMENTS OF HISTORY. I THINK READERS WILL FIND THAT THERE'S SO MUCH TO BE LEARNED AND APPRECIATED AND TO BE UNDERSTOOD.

JESS>> WE'RE OUT OF TIME, BUT I HAVE TO ASK. THE HARD-LINE CLERICS ARE STILL WIELDING GREAT POWER?

TERENCE WARD>> THE HARD-LINE CLERICS ARE WIELDING POWER, BUT EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE POPULATION IS ABSOLUTELY DRIVEN TO TRY AND LIBERALIZE NOT ONLY THE ECONOMY, BUT RIGHTS FOR WOMEN AND THEIR FREEDOMS FOR THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES.

JESS>> THAT'S ENCOURAGING.

VAL>> TERENCE WARD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THE NAME OF THE BOOK IS "SEARCHING FOR HASSAN: AN AMERICAN FAMILY'S JOURNEY HOME TO IRAN" BY TERENCE WARD.

JESS>> THE LIFE AND TIMES MAILBAG HAS GOTTEN PRETTY FULL OF LATE AND MUCH OF WHAT WE'RE GETTING INVOLVES YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT THE BATTLE BETWEEN LOS ANGELES POLICE CHIEF, BERNARD PARKS, AND MAYOR JAMES HAHN. THE MAYOR HAS BEEN UNDER FIRE FOR OPPOSING A SECOND FIVE-YEAR TERM FOR PARKS, BUT ONE VIEWER PHONED OUR COMMENT LINE WITH SOME WORDS OF SUPPORT:

"THE DAY THAT MAYOR HAHN TOOK THE STAND ON BERNARD PARKS, THAT'S THE DAY HE BECAME THE MAYOR OF ALL OF LOS ANGELES."

VAL>> WE ALSO GOT REACTION TO A PATT MORRISON POEM THAT POKED FUN AT FORMER ENRON CHIEF, KEN LAY. PATRICK MCALLISTER DIDN'T APPRECIATE THE HUMOR:

"I SEE IT AS AN UNSUBSTANTIATED ATTACK AGAINST A FELLOW HUMAN BEING. SHE SHOULD STICK TO HER READING AND LEAVE POETIC WRITING TO MORE CULTURED POETS."

JESS>> AND, FINALLY, ONE VIEWER ASKED US TO TAKE A COLD, HARD LOOK AT OURSELVES:

"I CANNOT THINK OF ONE SINGLE PERSON FEATURED ON YOUR PROGRAM WHO IS NOT A LIBERAL DEMOCRAT. WOULD IT BE ASKING TOO MUCH FOR THE PRODUCER OF YOUR PROGRAM TO HIRE ANOTHER CONSERVATIVE TO COUNTER THE LIBERAL DOGMA CONSTANTLY ESPOUSED ON LIFE AND TIMES?"

JESS>> HERE'S HOW TO TELL US WHAT YOU THINK.

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
WWW.KCET.ORG.
LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90027
(323) 953-5555

VAL>> HE'S AN ACCLAIMED PHOTOGRAPHER WHOSE WORK HAS APPEARED NUMEROUS TIMES ON THE COVERS OF NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC. THE MAN BEHIND THE LENS IS GERD LUDWIG. HE AND HIS CAMERA WERE EYEWITNESSES TO THE DOWNFALL OF THE SOVIET UNION.

JESS>> FOR TEN YEARS, HE TRAVELED THROUGH RUSSIA CAPTURING THE DRAMATIC IMAGES OF A SOCIETY IN TRANSITION. GERD LUDWIG SHARED HIS PHOTOGRAPHS WITH US. HE ALSO SHARED HIS UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE.

GERD LUDWIG, HAVE YOU KNOWN OF ANY NATION IN THE WORLD, IN HISTORY, EVER TO UNDERGO SUCH DRAMATIC CHANGES IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AS THE FORMER SOVIET UNION TEN YEARS LATER?

GERD LUDWIG>> NOT THAT I CAN RECALL. THE SOVIET UNION -- NOT ONLY THE SOVIET UNION, BUT A WHOLE SYSTEM OF SATELLITE STATES, NEARLY HALF OF THE CIVILIZED WORLD, IMPLODED WITHIN WEEKS OR MONTHS.

VAL>> AND YOU WERE THERE WITH YOUR CAMERA OVER TEN YEARS. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE THINGS YOU GATHERED. THIS FIRST PICTURE IS....

GERD LUDWIG>> THIS FIRST PICTURE IS TAKEN IN SEMIPALATINSK, NOW CALLED SEMEY IN KAZAKHSTAN IN A DIAGNOSTIC CENTER WHERE CHILDREN ARE BEING TESTED FOR ALL SORTS OF NUCLEAR CONTAMINATION. THE SOVIETS, IN EARLIER YEARS, HAD LINED UP THESE SCHOOL CHILDREN IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOLHOUSES TO WATCH NUCLEAR MUSHROOMS GO UP AND THE CONTAMINATION IS STILL AROUND.

VAL>> STILL AROUND. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE NEXT ONE. THIS IS A STATUE OF STALIN?

GERD LUDWIG>> AFTER THE FALL OF THE SYSTEM, ALL THE STATUES OF STALIN, OF DZERZHINSKI, THE FOUNDER OF THE KGB, AND OTHERS, WERE TOPPLED.

JESS>> LENIN?

GERD LUDWIG>> LENIN ALSO. LENIN IS AROUND QUITE A BIT STILL, BUT --

VAL>> -- BUT WHY THE BLINDFOLD OF HIM?

GERD LUDWIG>> THEY WERE ASSEMBLED IN A GARDEN NEAR GORKY PARK AND PEOPLE WOULD COME AND WATCH. CHILDREN WERE PLAYING DISRESPECTFUL WITH THE STATUES AND ONE OF THE CHILDREN HAD USED THE RED SCARF OF THE YOUNG PIONEERS, THE SYMBOL FOR THE SYSTEM, TO PLAY AROUND WITH STALIN AND BLINDFOLD HIM. FOR ME, IT BECAME A VERY SYMBOLIC IMAGE.

JESS>> AND THE ECONOMY SUFFERED AS MUCH AS THE ENVIRONMENT TOO, DIDN'T IT?

GERD LUDWIG>> PEOPLE WERE POOR DURING THE SOVIET TIMES, BUT NOBODY ACTUALLY HAD TO STARVE. AFTER THE BREAKDOWN OF THE SYSTEM, WE WOULD FIND SITUATIONS LIKE THIS WHERE A POOR WOMAN THAT WAS NOT THAT OLD HAD TO SIFT THROUGH GARBAGE.

JESS>> AND IT'S WITH THAT PART OF THE POPULATION YOU HEARD THE CRIES FOR GOING BACK TO THE OLD SYSTEM. HERE'S ANOTHER PRODUCT OF THE OLD SYSTEM.

GERD LUDWIG>> THERE WERE CLUSTERS OF CHILDREN FOUND IN TWO MOSCOW NEIGHBORHOODS WITH A MALFORMATION THAT HAD THE LEFT FOREARM MISSING.

VAL>> SO THEY WERE BORN LIKE THAT?

GERD LUDWIG>> THEY WERE BORN LIKE THIS. EVEN SO, WE CANNOT SAY THAT ONE SINGLE MALFORMATION IS CAUSED BY ONE SPECIFIC REASON OR ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSE. WE SEE CLUSTERS AND EVERYTHING POINTS TO POLLUTION.

VAL>> HERE'S ANOTHER CHILD.

JESS>> AND THIS CHILD?

GERD LUDWIG>> HERE WE ARE ON THE NUCLEAR TESTING SITE IN KAZAKHSTAN AND PEOPLE ARE STILL LIVING THERE IN SIGHT OF NUCLEAR TESTS GOING ON.

VAL>> AND HE WAS DEFORMED AND BLIND, OBVIOUSLY.

GERD LUDWIG>> HE WAS DEFORMED AND BLIND FROM BIRTH.

JESS>> AH, BUT THERE IS JOY IN THE NEW RUSSIA?

GERD LUDWIG>> THERE IS A LOT OF JOY. THIS IS A PICNIC, ACTUALLY A COSSACK PICNIC AND, I'LL TELL YOU, WHEN THIS LADY ON THE LEFT SLAPS YOUR SHOULDER AND SAYS, "DRINK VODKA WITH ME, BOY", YOU DO. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> NOW PEOPLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO READ THIS, BUT THESE ARE PANASONIC AND JVC, PROBABLY VCR'S AND CD PLAYERS OR SOMETHING.

GERD LUDWIG>> THAT'S AN OUTDOOR MARKET THAT, ALL OF A SUDDEN, SPRUNG UP IN RUSSIA IN MOSCOW WHERE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SALES WERE GOING ON AND IT WAS MOSTLY ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT. PEOPLE WOULD COME IN AND THEY WOULD GET TEN, FIFTEEN, TWENTY VCR'S, LOAD THEM INTO THEIR PERSONAL CARS, PRIVATE CARS, AND DRIVE THEM TO THE NEXT CITY WHERE THEY WOULD SELL THEM.

JESS>> THIS WAS A COMBINATION OF CAPITALISM AND CORRUPTION. NOW THIS IS EVEN MORE STARTLING. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> THIS ONE TAKES SOME EXPLANATION. (LAUGHTER)

GERD LUDWIG>> GIVEN THE FACT THAT SO MANY RUSSIANS STARVED AS A RESULT OF THE GERMAN INVASION, IT IS STUNNING THAT YOU CAN HIRE THIS GUY FOR A PERSONAL PARTY.

VAL>> HE'S AN ACTOR?

GERD LUDWIG>> HE'S AN ACTOR PLAYING HITLER AT A PERSONAL PARTY.

VAL>> OBVIOUSLY, AN AFFLUENT PARTY.

GERD LUDWIG>> YES.

VAL>> NOW THIS IS A LESS AFFLUENT SETTING.

GERD LUDWIG>> IT'S THE REVIVAL OF THE SALON TRADITION IN RUSSIA WHERE PEOPLE GATHER AT, IN THIS CASE, AN ART COLLECTOR'S HOME AND RECITE RUSSIAN LITERATURE AND RUSSIAN POEMS.

VAL>> REALLY?

GERD LUDWIG>> A REALLY WONDERFUL, OLD EUROPEAN TRADITION.

JESS>> THAT IS A REVIVAL. DURING THE DARKEST PERIODS OF SOVIET COMMUNISM, THEY WERE NOT DOING THIS?

GERD LUDWIG>> NO, THEY WERE NOT DOING THIS AND THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO ACTUALLY COLLECT THE ART THAT WE SAW BEFORE.

JESS>> THAT'S A PIECE OF ART. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) NOW WE SHOULD POINT OUT THAT THAT IS SNOW AND ICE AROUND HER.

GERD LUDWIG>> THIS IS SNOW AND ICE. IT IS CONSIDERED TO BE A NICE SPRING DAY.

JESS>> ABSOLUTELY.

GERD LUDWIG>> SHE JUST CAME OUT OF THE WATER WHERE SHE TOOK A SWIM OF ABOUT A MINUTE IN THE ICE.

JESS>> EXUBERANCE RETURNS. (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> NOW CHRISTMAS IS NOW BEING CELEBRATED IN --

GERD LUDWIG>> -- CHRISTMAS IS BEING CELEBRATED TWICE --

JESS>> -- WITH COCA-COLA. (LAUGHTER)

GERD LUDWIG>> AND IT'S BEING CELEBRATED TWICE BECAUSE RUSSIANS GO BY THE JULIAN AND THE GREGORIAN CALENDAR.

VAL>> THIS IS ACTUALLY -- I BELIEVE SHE'S A HOMELESS WOMAN WITH HER CHILD?

GERD LUDWIG>> YES. HOMELESSNESS IN MANY RUSSIAN CITIES IS THE RESULT OF REAL ESTATE FRAUD. MANY OF THE PEOPLE WERE PROMISED GREAT OUTSIDE APARTMENTS IN THE SUBURBS IF THEY GAVE UP THEIR VALUABLE REAL ESTATE. THE REAL ESTATE ONLY BECAME VALUABLE AFTER THE FALL OF THE SYSTEM. BEFORE, IT DIDN'T MATTER WHERE YOU LIVED. THEN THEY WERE GIVEN OUTSIDE APARTMENTS, HOUSES, HOMES, BUT NO PLACE.

JESS>> STILL PROBLEMS ABOUND, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BRINGING THESE PHOTOGRAPHS TO US AND AN INSIGHT INTO TEN YEARS INTO WHAT HAD ONCE BEEN THE SOVIET UNION.

GERD LUDWIG>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

JESS>> SOME OF GERD LUDWIG'S MOST COMPELLING PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE POST-SOVIET ERA APPEAR IN A BOOK CALLED "BROKEN EMPIRE: AFTER THE FALL OF THE U.S.S.R." YOU CAN ALSO SEE SOME OF HIS WORK IN PERSON AT THE STEPHEN COHEN GALLERY ON BEVERLY BOULEVARD IN LOS ANGELES. YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION AT WWW.PHOTOLA.COM.

VAL>> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT. REMEMBER, TRANSCRIPTS OF OUR SHOWS AND AUDIO OF RECENT PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE, KCET.ORG.

JESS>> NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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