2/20/03

LC030220

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

JESS MARLOW>> BLOWING THE WHISTLE ON DANGEROUS DRIVERS. THE STATE IS MAKING IT EASY. WE’LL FIND OUT WHO HAS THE MOST TO LOSE.

MARTIN DONOVAN>> A BAD DRIVER IS SOMETHING ONLY IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER, BUT SOMEONE WHO COULD BE A PUBLIC DANGER, I THINK, YES, ONE SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

VAL>> AND THEN AN EMOTIONAL HOMECOMING. A KOREAN FAMILY RIPPED APART BY YEARS OF POLITICS FINALLY COMES TOGETHER. WE’LL MEET THE AUTHOR WHO TELLS THEIR STORY.

JESS>> PLUS, ANOTHER INSPIRING TALE FROM THE REAL ANTWONE FISHER.

VAL>> IT’S ALL STRAIGHT AHEAD ON TONIGHT’S LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES 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.

AND 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>> THEY BREAK THE LAW, CUT YOU OFF AND GENERALLY MAKE YOU CRAZY.

JESS>> BUT DANGEROUS DRIVERS, BEWARE. SOMEBODY IS WATCHING. TONIGHT WE’RE LOOKING AT HOW THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES IS ACTUALLY TARGETING THE STATE’S WORST DRIVERS AND, AS GAY YEE REPORTS, THOSE WHO GET CAUGHT STAND A GOOD CHANCE OF LOSING THEIR LICENSE.

GAY YEE>> WALK UP TO JUST ABOUT ANYONE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND YOU’LL HEAR LOTS OF STORIES ABOUT BAD DRIVERS.

MARTIN DONOVAN>> I DON’T KNOW, BUT I SEE THEM ON THE ROAD. THEY WILL CHANGE LANES WITHOUT ANY PRE-ANNOUNCEMENT, WITHOUT USING THEIR INDICATORS, MAKING TURNS WHEN IT DOESN’T CORRESPOND. I’VE SEEN IT. I’VE SEEN IT OFTEN. A BAD DRIVER IS SOMETHING ONLY IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER, BUT SOMEONE WHO COULD BE A PUBLIC DANGER, I THINK, YES, ONE SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

GAY YEE>> AND THE DMV IS DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT, ALTHOUGH MOST PEOPLE WHO COME HERE ON ROUTINE BUSINESS HAVE NO IDEA THAT SOMEBODY IS ACTUALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO ALL THOSE DRIVERS WHO REPRESENT A PUBLIC MENACE. THIS IS THE DMV’S DRIVER SAFETY BRANCH, A SPECIAL SECTION WITH A MISSION, AND THAT’S TO GET UNSAFE DRIVERS OFF THE ROADWAYS. EVERY YEAR, THE SAFETY BRANCH DEALS WITH THOUSANDS OF PROBLEM DRIVERS, NEGLIGENT DRIVERS, DRUNK DRIVERS AND PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY TROUBLED DRIVERS.

CHRISTINE FARRIS>> HELLO, MR. SMITH, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS CHRISTINE FARRIS AND I’M CALLING YOU IN REGARDS TO A NEGLIGENT OPERATOR HEARING.

GAY YEE>> IF YOUR DRIVING HABITS BRING YOU FOUR TICKETS IN A YEAR’S TIME, THE STATE CALLS YOU NEGLIGENT.

SERGIO PEREZ>> OUR NEGLIGENT OPERATOR USUALLY THEIR BEHAVIOR IS THAT THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG. EVERYONE GETS TICKETS AND THAT’S WHY THE DEPARTMENT TAKES THEM SERIOUSLY BECAUSE THEIR POTENTIAL FOR HAVING AN ACCIDENT IS GREATER THAN ANY OTHER DRIVER.

GAY YEE>> ATTORNEY ANTHONY SCOTT SPECIALIZES IN DMV LICENSE SUSPENSION HEARINGS. HE KNOWS ALL TOO WELL ABOUT THE DRIVERS WHO ACCOUNT FOR MOST OF THE NEGLIGENCE CASES.

ANTHONY SCOTT>> MOST OF MY CLIENTS ARE YOUNG AND THEY JUST PAY THEIR TICKETS AND THINK THERE ARE GOING TO BE NO CONSEQUENCES.

GAY YEE>> BUT THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES. A NEGLIGENT DRIVER CAN FIND HIMSELF LOSING HIS LICENSE FOR SIX MONTHS, THOUGH HE CAN ASK FOR A LESSER PENALTY IF HE CHOOSES A HEARING.

SERGIO PEREZ>> THAT’S WHAT THE HEARING PROCESS ALLOWS. YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO COME IN AND EXPLAIN WHY YOUR RECORD IS THE WAY IT IS AND IT’S UP TO THE HEARING OFFICER TO DETERMINE WHAT THE APPROPRIATE ACTION WOULD BE.

ANTHONY SCOTT>> I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE, WHEN THEY COME IN WITHOUT AN ATTORNEY, WILL START ARGUING ABOUT, OH, THIS SPEEDING TICKET SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO ME, THE LEFT TURN -- THAT’S NOT WHAT IT’S ABOUT. IT’S WHAT CHANGED IN YOUR LIFE AND HOW ARE YOU GOING TO IMPROVE ON YOUR DRIVING SKILLS IN ORDER TO MAKE A HEARING OFFICER FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT YOU’RE NOT GOING TO COME BACK IN ANOTHER TWO MONTHS WITH MORE TICKETS?

GAY YEE>> AND THERE IS ONE KIND OF BAD DRIVER WHO IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE OUT OF LUCK.

WILLIAM MORGAN>> MY LICENSE WAS SUSPENDED BECAUSE I HAD AN EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL LEVEL AND IT’S BEEN HECK TRYING TO GET THEM BACK, I’LL TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

GAY YEE>> THOUGH PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE CAN AND OFTEN DO ASK FOR A DMV HEARING IN THE HOPE OF HOLDING ON TO THEIR LICENSE, THEY ARE UNLIKELY TO PREVAIL.

ANTHONY SCOTT>> IF, IN FACT, THE POLICE OFFICERS HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THEY’RE SUPPOSED TO DO, FILLED OUT THE PAPERWORK CORRECTLY, GIVEN THE TEST APPROPRIATELY, MOST PEOPLE WILL LOSE. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY IN ORDER FOR A PERSON TO PREVAIL AT DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE HEARING.

GAY YEE>> AND THEN THERE ARE THE MEDICAL CASES. IF YOU LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND A DOCTOR KNOWS ABOUT IT, THE DMV IS LIKELY TO KNOW AS WELL. DOCTORS ARE OBLIGATED TO REPORT THESE CASES. WHEN ARDE ATHEIAN HAD A STROKE FOLLOWING A DIVORCE, HE FACED DRIVING WOES AS WELL.

ARDE ATHEIAN>> I HAD A STROKE AND I DIDN’T KNOW THAT THE STATE AUTOMATICALLY TAKES THE DRIVER’S LICENSE AWAY.

GAY YEE>> AT THIS POINT, ATHEIAN HAS HIS DRIVING PRIVILEGES BACK. THOUGH HE REMAINS DISGUSTED, HE HAD TO PROVE HE WOULD BE SAFE ON THE ROAD. AND ACCORDING TO ATTORNEY SCOTT, OLDER DRIVERS OFTEN FIND THEMSELVES CALLED IN FOR HEARINGS BEFORE THE DMV.

ANTHONY SCOTT>> POLICE OFFICERS RIGHT NOW ARE VERY AGGRESSIVE. ESPECIALLY THE OLDER YOU GET, THE CLOSER SCRUTINY THE POLICE OFFICERS LOOK AT MY CLIENTS.

GAY YEE>> SCOTT SAYS HE’S OFTEN SUCCESSFUL IN HELPING OLDER DRIVERS WHO ARE REFERRED BY POLICE TO THE DMV TO KEEP THEIR LICENSES, BUT THERE’S ONE TYPE OF CASE WHERE FEW EVEN TRY TO PREVAIL. ANYONE WHO THINKS A DRIVER IS TOO DANGEROUS TO BE ON THE ROAD CAN LET THE DMV KNOW. SAY A SON OR A DAUGHTER THINKS AN ELDERLY PARENT NEEDS TO STOP DRIVING, BUT DOESN’T WANT A CONFRONTATION. THE DMV SAYS IT WILL INVESTIGATE AND, IF THE CLAIM HAS MERIT, THE DRIVER’S LICENSE WILL BE TAKEN AWAY. IN CASES LIKE THIS, THE PERSON REPORTING CAN ASK TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND, ACCORDING TO THE DMV’S SERGIO PEREZ, ONLY ONCE HAS HE SEEN SOMEONE FILE A FALSE REPORT TO GET BACK AT ANOTHER PERSON.

SERGIO PEREZ>> I CAN ONLY SPEAK FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE. I’VE BEEN WITH THIS PROGRAM FOR ALMOST TWENTY YEARS IN SEVERAL OFFICES AND I’VE HAD ONE CASE OVER THE YEARS THAT I WAS AWARE OF WHERE THERE WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD KIND OF ISSUE AND THE PERSON WAS REPORTED ERRONEOUSLY.

JESS>> GETTING PULLED INTO ONE OF THOSE HEARINGS YOU SAW IN GAY’S REPORT IS NOT A GOOD THING. THE STATE SAYS MORE THAN SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF THOSE DRIVERS WIND UP LOSING THEIR LICENSE.

VAL>> TOMORROW ON LIFE AND TIMES, FORECASTING THE WEATHER FOR WAR. WE’LL FIND OUT WHAT KIND OF HIGH-TECH TOOLS THE PENTAGON HAS AND HOW THEY’LL BE USED IF AMERICA DOES BATTLE WITH IRAQ.

>> MY PERSONAL OPINION IS, BOY, IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE DIDN’T HAVE TO GO TO WAR, BUT I’M A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES. I UNDERSTAND THAT WAR IS SOMETIMES NECESSARY AND, IF YOU’RE GOING TO DO WAR, THE WAY YOU DO IT, YOU DON’T PLAY FAIR. YOU ACHIEVE AS GREAT AN ADVANTAGE OVER YOUR ADVERSARY AS YOU CAN AND YOU HIT THEM WITH EVERYTHING YOU’VE GOT.

JESS>> IT’S A STORY THAT SOUNDS MORE FICTION THAN FACT. A KOREAN WOMAN DEVISES A DANGEROUS PLAN TO RESCUE HER LONG LOST UNCLE AND HIS FAMILY FROM THE OPPRESSIVE NORTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT. IT INVOLVES SMUGGLERS, BRIBERY, THREATS AND THE SOUTH KOREAN CIA.

VAL>> BUT IT ENDS WITH AN EMOTIONAL REUNION IN SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA. THREE GENERATIONS OF HELIE’S FAMILY CAME TOGETHER AFTER FORTY YEARS OF SEPARATION. IT WAS ESPECIALLY POIGNANT FOR HELIE’S GRANDMOTHER, WHO WAS SEPARATED FROM HER SON WHEN HE WAS ONLY SIXTEEN. WELL, NOW THE STORY OF THE RESCUE IS TOLD IN A NEW BOOK CALLED “IN THE ABSENCE OF SUN” AND THE AUTHOR, HELIE LEE, JOINS US NOW. WELCOME TO LIFE AND TIMES.

HELIE LEE>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

JESS>> YOUR GRANDMOTHER WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE WITH ALL HER OTHER CHILDREN, BUT THE SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD WAS AWAY AT THE TIME, SO SHE HAD NO IDEA WHETHER HE EVEN SURVIVED?

HELIE LEE>> RIGHT. HE WAS SIXTEEN YEARS OLD DURING THE OUTBREAK OF THE KOREAN WAR IN 1950. EVERYBODY IN MY GRANDMOTHER’S FAMILY MADE IT OUT OF NORTH KOREA INTO SOUTH KOREA EXCEPT FOR HER FIRST-BORN SON. HE WAS SIXTEEN YEARS OLD AT THAT TIME AND, WHETHER HE HAD LIVED OR DIED, WE DIDN’T KNOW.

VAL>> SO HOW ON EARTH DID YOU EVER FIND HIM? YOU’RE LOOKING FOR HIM HOW MANY YEARS AFTER THE SEPARATION?

HELIE LEE>> WELL, AFTER THE ARMISTICE WAS SIGNED IN 1953 TO STALL THE KOREAN WAR, MY GRANDMOTHER HAD WRITTEN TO AMBASSADORS, MISSIONARIES, EVEN TO NORTH KOREA’S DICTATOR, IN HOPES OF FINDING HER SON. FORTY-ONE YEARS LATER, IN 1991, WE DISCOVERED THAT HE’S ALIVE IN NORTH KOREA. THAT WAS AMAZING.

VAL>> AND HAS A FAMILY OF HIS OWN?

HELIE LEE>> YES.

VAL>> BUT HIS LIFE IS REALLY IN DANGER. TELL US WHY YOUR UNCLE AND HIS FAMILY WERE REALLY UNDER THREAT OR BEING THREATENED BY THE NORTH KOREAN GOVERNMENT.

JESS>> IT GOES BACK TO A BOOK YOU WROTE, DIDN’T IT?

HELIE LEE>> (LAUGHTER) I WROTE A BOOK SIX YEARS AGO CALLED “STILL LIFE WITH RICE”. IT ENTAILED MY GRANDMOTHER’S LIFE AND ALSO THE SEPARATION OF KOREA AND ALSO THE LOSS OF HER SON.

JESS>> IT WAS NOT ENTIRELY -- IT WAS PARTLY FICTION, WASN’T IT?

HELIE LEE>> IT WAS ACTUALLY NONFICTION, BUT, YOU KNOW, TEN PERCENT WRITER’S CREATIVITY. BUT IN THE BACK OF THE BOOK, I HAD INCLUDED A LETTER FROM NORTH KOREA FROM MY UNCLE’S FAMILY. IT HAD DETAILED ALL THEIR NAMES, THEIR OCCUPATIONS, AND WE WERE TOLD BY THE SOUTH KOREAN CIA THAT THAT WAS NOT SUCH A SMART THING TO DO. BECAUSE IN NORTH KOREA, YOU DO NOT WANT TO ATTRACT ATTENTION TO YOURSELF AND, IF SOMEBODY IN YOUR FAMILY SAYS SOMETHING BAD ABOUT THE DICTATOR OR THE PARTY, NOT ONLY IS THAT PERSON PUNISHED BUT THE ENTIRE FAMILY. SO I HAD THIS TREMENDOUS BURDEN THAT I POSSIBLY HAD ENDANGERED THE LIVES OF MY OWN KOREAN FAMILY.

JESS>> WAS YOUR BOOK CRITICAL OF NORTH KOREA?

HELIE LEE>> NOT SO MUCH CRITICAL, BUT NOT FAVORABLE. I HAD BEEN LECTURING AROUND THE COUNTRY AND ALSO IN SOUTH KOREA ABOUT HOW TERRIBLE IT WAS OF THE DICTATOR TO NOT ALLOW AN EIGHTY-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER TO GO INTO THE COUNTRY TO SEE HER SON ONE FINAL TIME.

VAL>> SO HAVING WRITTEN THE BOOK AND PUT THE FAMILY IN DANGER, YOU FELT ESPECIALLY COMPELLED TO TRY TO GET THEM OUT. IN FACT, THERE IS VIDEO OF THE RESCUE THAT WE’RE GOING TO SEE HERE.

HELIE LEE>> IT’S CRAZY. YOU WON’T BELIEVE THIS VIDEO.

VAL>> AND HOW WAS THIS VIDEO TAKEN? WHAT ARE WE SEEING HERE?

HELIE LEE>> THIS IS AN ACTUAL ESCAPE OF MY UNCLE’S FAMILY. HALF OF THEM CAME OUT IN 1997. WE HAD A GUIDE GO ACROSS INTO NORTH KOREA, SNEAK MY UNCLE, HIS ELDEST DAUGHTER AND HIS ELDEST SON OUT OF NORTH KOREA INTO CHINA. HERE YOU SEE THEM RUNNING THROUGH THE RIVER BANK, CLIMBING WALLS.

JESS>> NOW YOU HIRED A SOUTH KOREAN TELEVISION CREW TO DO THIS?

HELIE LEE>> WE HAD TO BECAUSE MY UNCLE’S FAMILY WERE THE LOWEST OF THE LOW CLASS. THEY WEREN’T POLITICAL DIPLOMATS OR IMPORTANT PEOPLE WHO HAD TOP SECRET INFORMATION TO BARTER FOR THEIR LIVES. SO WE MADE A SECRET DEAL WITH THE SOUTH KOREAN TELEVISION AGENCY SAYING THAT, IF WE ALLOWED THEM TO SHOOT THE RESCUE MISSION, THEY IN TURN WOULD USE THEIR GOVERNMENT CONNECTIONS TO GET OUR FAMILY POLITICAL ASYLUM.

JESS>> AND THEY DID?

HELIE LEE>> YES. IT WAS THE SMARTEST THING WE DID. RIGHT HERE, YOU SEE MY FATHER EMBRACING MY COUSIN.

VAL>> NOW WHAT IS THIS? I UNDERSTAND HE HAS RAT POISON IN HIS HAND?

HELIE LEE>> THIS IS RAT POISON THAT THEY EACH CARRIED WHEN THEY CROSSED FROM NORTH KOREA INTO CHINA.

JESS>> IN CASE THEY WERE CAUGHT?

HELIE LEE>> IN CASE THEY WERE CAUGHT BY NORTH KOREAN BORDER GUARDS OR THE CHINESE SOLDIERS. BECAUSE IF YOU’RE CAUGHT, THEY MIGHT EXECUTE YOU ON THE SPOT OR SEND YOU OFF TO ONE OF THEIR CONCENTRATION CAMPS.

JESS>> SO THEY WOULD COMMIT SUICIDE INSTEAD?

HELIE LEE>> ABSOLUTELY. THEY WERE MORE AFRAID OF BEING CAUGHT THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

JESS>> NOW THIS WAS NOT AN INEXPENSIVE VENTURE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

HELIE LEE>> THIS WAS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE FOR US. IT COST US ABOUT $80,000 AMERICAN DOLLARS. IN CHINA, THE AVERAGE PERSON MAKES ABOUT $60 DOLLARS A MONTH, BUT YOU KNOW, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE NUMBERS, $80,000 FOR NINE LIVES IS THE DEAL OF THE CENTURY.

VAL>> BECAUSE YOU WERE ABLE TO BRING OUT NOT JUST YOUR UNCLE, WHICH IS YOUR GRANDMOTHER’S LONG LOST SON, BUT HIS FAMILY. THEY ALL GOT OUT SAFELY?

HELIE LEE>> MY UNCLE’S FAMILY IS VERY LUCKY. THEY ALL GOT OUT. THERE ARE A LOT OF EMOTIONAL SCARS FROM THE ESCAPE. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE A LOT OF NORTH KOREAN REFUGEES HIDING OUT IN CHINA IN ABSOLUTE FEAR OF BEING CAPTURED. THEY DON’T HAVE AMERICAN FAMILIES LIKE MY UNCLE DID.

JESS>> HOW LONG DID YOUR GRANDMOTHER LIVE AFTER SHE WAS REUNITED WITH HER SON?

HELIE LEE>> MY SWEET, SWEET GRANDMOTHER PASSED AWAY ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS AGO. SHE GOT TO SEE MY UNCLE. MY UNCLE’S FAMILY DEFECTED IN 1997, SO SHE GOT TO SEE HIM FOR FIVE YEARS AFTERWARDS.

JESS>> THIS IS THE REVERENCE THEY HOLD FOR YOUR GRANDMOTHER.

HELIE LEE>> OH, SHE’S ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS, AND THIS IS HER DAY. BY BOWING TO THE GROUND LIKE THAT, IT’S THE ULTIMATE SHOW OF HONOR AND RESPECT.

VAL>> SO SHE GOT TO SEE HER SON.

HELIE LEE>> SHE GOT TO SEE HER SON AND MY MOM GOT TO SEE HER OLDER BROTHER.

VAL>> AND THERE WAS A BIG REUNION OF THE FAMILY IN SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA?

HELIE LEE>> SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA, IN DECEMBER JUST AFTER CHRISTMAS 1997.

VAL>> THAT MUST HAVE BEEN SO EMOTIONAL. WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOUR FAMILY?

HELIE LEE>> IT WAS SURREAL. I MEAN, HOW MANY PEOPLE GET A SECOND CHANCE OF LIFE? HOW MANY PEOPLE GET TO SEE A CHILD THAT THEY HAD THOUGHT WAS DEAD FOR FORTY-SEVEN YEARS? SO IT WAS A MIRACLE.

JESS>> GIVEN THE CRISIS OVER NORTH KOREA TODAY, YOU MUST HAVE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON THAT. WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS?

HELIE LEE>> I HOPE THAT WHEN PEOPLE READ MY BOOK AND ALSO HEAR ABOUT MY GRANDMOTHER’S STORY AND MY NORTH KOREAN FAMILY’S STORY, THEY REALIZE, AS AMERICA’S ON THE BRINK OF WAR, THAT IT IS THE DICTATORSHIP AND THE LEADERSHIP OF NORTH KOREA THAT WE ARE ABSOLUTELY OPPOSED TO. IT’S AN OBSCENE DICTATORSHIP, BUT IT IS THE PEOPLE THAT WILL SUFFER THE MOST AND IT’S THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MY RELATIVES. SO I HOPE THEY THINK ABOUT THAT.

VAL>> HELIE LEE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING YOUR STORY AND YOUR FAMILY TO THE UNITED STATES.

HELIE LEE>> WELL, THANK YOU FOR SHARING IT WITH EVERYBODY.

JESS>> THE BOOK IS “IN THE ABSENCE OF SUN”, A KOREAN-AMERICAN WOMAN’S PROMISE TO REUNITE THREE LOST GENERATIONS OF HER FAMILY.

TO SEND A COMMENT OR A QUESTION TO OUR PROGRAM, YOU CAN REACH US BY MAIL AT THIS ADDRESS:

LIFE AND TIMES
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90027

YOU CAN ALSO CALL OUR VIEWER COMMENT LINE (323) 953-5555) OR CONTACT US THE FAST WAY BY E-MAIL AT KCET.ORG.

JESS>> SPAM. IT USED TO BE ONE THING. NOW IT'S SOMETHING ELSE. YOU MAY NOT LIKE EITHER ONE OF THEM, BUT PATT WONDERS WHETHER THAT'S REASON ENOUGH TO GET TOUGH ON SPAM. THAT'S TONIGHT'S INFINITELY MORRISON.

PATT MORRISON>> IF THERE'S A NOBEL PRIZE IN OPTIMISM, I'D LIKE TO NOMINATE DEBRA BOWEN, A STATE SENATOR FROM MARINA DEL REY. SHE'S CARRYING A BILL TO BAN E-MAIL SPAM. EVERY TIME ONE OF THOSE OBNOXIOUS MESSAGES POPS UP IN YOUR E-MAILS, THE SENDER COULD GET SMACKED WITH A $500 FINE.

SOME OF THESE SPAM MAILS DO HAVE ENTERTAINMENT VALUE, BEING COMICALLY CLUMSY IN THEIR SUBTERFUGE OF TRICKING YOU INTO READING THEM. LIKE THE ONES WHERE THE SUBJECT LINE READS "REGARDING YOUR REFUND" OR THE ONE I GOT FROM "YOUR WIFE", LIKE I'D REALLY BE FOOLED INTO OPENING THAT ONE. WELL, MAYBE IN VERMONT. AS I WAS WRITING THIS, MY E-MAIL BELL DINGED WITH AN OFFER OF DISCOUNT LIFE INSURANCE FOR SMOKERS. THE DAY BEFORE, I'D GOTTEN A COME-ON FOR DISCOUNT CIGARETTES, SO MAYBE THESE GUYS ARE WORKING IN TANDEM.

THE RISK OF SUCH LAWS IS THAT THEY OVER-REACH AND BLOCK LEGITIMATE E-MAILS, AS HAPPENED TO A WRITERS GROUP I BELONG TO, AND THE QUESTION IS, DO THEY WORK? THE VERY PREMISE OF SPAM IS GETTING AROUND THE RULES. ANOTHER BOWEN LAW ALREADY MAKES IT ILLEGAL TO SEND SEX E-MAILS WITHOUT ADVERTISING OR ADULT ADVERTISING IN THE SUBJECT LINE. WE ALL KNOW THAT ISN'T HAPPENING.

E-MAIL ALSO TRANSCENDS BORDERS. I CAN'T IMAGINE IT'S GOING TO SCARE CHINESE SPAMMERS OUT OF BUSINESS THAT CALIFORNIA COULD FINE THEM $500. I CAN SEE IT NOW. "SPAM, SIGNED CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, BEIJING." SPAM MUST BE MAKING MONEY OR IT WOULDN'T KEEP COMING, BUT WHO BUYS INTO THESE PREPOSTEROUS PREMISES? WHO IS SO NAÏVE AS TO REFINANCE OVER THE INTERNET, SENDING ALL YOUR FINANCIAL DATA TO SOME E-MAIL ADDRESS IN THE BACK END OF WHO KNOWS WHERE? WHO FALLS FOR AN OFFER FROM THE EX-PRESIDENT OF SOME AFRICAN COUNTRY TO TRANSFER $300 MILLION DOLLARS INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT TO SHELTER IT FROM THE POLITICAL OPPOSITION? AND WHO IS SO GULLIBLE AS TO BELIEVE YOU CAN ACTUALLY LOSE TWENTY-FIVE POUNDS IN TWO DAYS BY ANY MEANS LESS DRASTIC THAN DECAPITATION?

FOR A WRITER OR ANY STUDENT OF HUMAN NATURE, SPAM IS A WINDOW ONTO THE AMERICAN PSYCHE, ONTO THE HUMAN PSYCHE. AMUSING, BEMUSING, MAYBE EVEN ENLIGHTENING, BUT THEN AGAIN, $500 BUCKS IS $500 BUCKS. SENATOR BOWEN, SIGN ME UP.

VAL>> TONIGHT YOU'RE ABOUT TO MEET A WRITER WHOSE LIFE STORY IS SO COMPELLING THAT IT INSPIRED A MOTION PICTURE. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ANTWONE FISHER. THE MOVIE BY THE SAME NAME TELLS THE STORY OF HIS DARK, TROUBLED CHILDHOOD IN A FOSTER HOME.

JESS>> HE WAS BORN TO A WOMAN IN PRISON. HIS FATHER WAS KILLED. HE WAS RAISED BY A BRUTAL FOSTER MOTHER. BUT ANTWONE'S LIFE HAS FOREVER CHANGED, THANKS TO A NAVY PSYCHIATRIST WHO HELPED HIM DEAL WITH HIS DEEP ANGER. WE'LL SOON MEET THE REAL ANTWONE FISHER, BUT FIRST HERE'S A BRIEF LOOK AT THE MOVIE.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> AND JOINING US NOW IS ANTWONE FISHER, THE REAL ONE, WHO, BY THE WAY, HAS BEEN NOMINATED BY THE WRITERS GUILD FOR WRITING THE SCREENPLAY. CONGRATULATIONS.

ANTWONE FISHER>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR LIFE. GIVEN YOUR EARLY BEGINNINGS AND YOUR TRIBULATIONS UP UNTIL THE TIME YOU DID GET SOME HELP IN THE NAVY, IT WAS A VERY, VERY DIFFICULT LIFE.

ANTWONE FISHER>> OF COURSE, YOU START OFF AS A CHILD. YOU DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO CONDUCT YOURSELF IF YOU'RE NOT PARENTED. EVEN CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT FOSTER CARED, THEY GET TO BE TEENAGERS AND THEY'RE CONFUSED ABOUT THEIR STATUS OR WHERE THEY FIT IN IN THE WORLD AND WITH OTHER PEOPLE. A LOT OF THEM ARE ANGRY AND CONFUSED AS WELL.

JESS>> YOU WROTE THE SCREENPLAY, SO I ASSUME THAT THE FILM IS VERY TRUE TO YOUR STORY?

ANTWONE FISHER>> YES, EXCEPT WHERE YOU HAVE TO -- YOU KNOW, A SCREENPLAY IS A PAGE A MINUTE, SO YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR FULL STORY. IT WOULD BE TOO LONG, SO YOU HAVE TO PICK OUT THE THINGS THAT MAKE THE STORY GO, THE THINGS YOU WANT TO HAVE TO TELL THE STORY YOU NEED TO TELL.

VAL>> THAT WILL KEEP THE STORY MOVING. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WROTE A BOOK AFTER THE SCREENPLAY IN PART TO FILL IN ALL THOSE MISSING CHAPTERS, RIGHT? FOR EXAMPLE, WHAT'S IN THE BOOK THAT'S NOT IN THE MOVIE? WASN'T THERE A WHOLE TIME WHEN YOU WERE HOMELESS IN CLEVELAND?

ANTWONE FISHER>> YES. THERE IS A TIME OF HOMELESSNESS, THERE IS A TIME OF MY GROWING UP AND MEETING MY FOURTH AND FIFTH AND SIXTH GRADE TEACHER, WHICH SHE HAS A WHOLE CHAPTER IN THE BOOK. YOU KNOW, THE HOMELESSNESS, MY THOUGHTS, THEY'RE ALL IN THE BOOK.

JESS>> AFTER THIS PERIOD IN THE NAVY AND YOU WERE IN THE NAVY ELEVEN YEARS, YOU WERE A PRISON GUARD AT TERMINAL ISLAND?

ANTWONE FISHER>> YES.

JESS>> AND THEN LATER A SECURITY GUARD AT SONY.

ANTWONE FISHER>> YES.

JESS>> SO THAT'S HOW YOU BROKE INTO PICTURES?

ANTWONE FISHER>> WELL, I HADN'T PLANNED TO BE A WRITER. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT EVEN PEOPLE COULD MAKE A LIVING DOING IT. BUT WHEN I WENT TO SONY, I STARTED LOOKING FOR MY FAMILY AND I FOUND THEM, BUT I NEEDED TO GO AND MEET THEM AND I HADN'T BEEN THERE LONG ENOUGH TO ACQUIRE ANY LEAVE. I HAD TO TELL MY BOSS WHY I WANTED TO GO AND HE SAID, BY ALL MEANS, GO ON. BUT WHEN I RETURNED, THE STUDIO EXECUTIVES AND PRODUCERS WERE ASKING ME TO TELL THEM MY STORY AND THEY WERE SAYING IT WOULD MAKE FOR A GOOD MOVIE AND THEY KEPT INSISTING ON WRITING IT.

VAL>> BUT STILL, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HAVE A GREAT STORY, BUT WRITING IT IN SCREENPLAY FORM IS A WHOLE OTHER THING. THAT MUST HAVE BEEN QUITE A CHALLENGE.

ANTWONE FISHER>> YOU KNOW, THE THING ABOUT THAT WAS THAT I HAD ALWAYS HEARD THAT I COULDN'T DO THIS OR I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT, I WOULD NEVER AMOUNT TO ANYTHING. WHEN PEOPLE TELL ME THAT I CAN'T DO SOMETHING, SOMETHING POSITIVE, YOU KNOW, THE ALARM GOES OFF IN MY HEAD AND I WAS DETERMINED TO DO IT AFTER THAT. SO I WENT TO A SAV-ON AND GOT SOME LEGAL PADS AND WROTE IT BY HAND.

JESS>> YOU WERE ALSO PROBABLY TOLD THAT YOU WOULD NEVER FIND YOUR BIRTH MOTHER, BUT YOU DID.

ANTWONE FISHER>> I FOUND HER, YES.

JESS>> IT WAS A DISAPPOINTING REUNION?

ANTWONE FISHER>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTOOD BY THAT TIME EVEN IN MY OWN LIFE I COULD SEE THAT SHE HAD HAD A LIFE OF HER OWN. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T REALLY JUDGE PEOPLE. I'D THOUGHT OF ALL THESE THINGS THAT I WOULD SAY TO HER. I WROTE MY THOUGHTS IN THE MOVIE, BUT I DIDN'T ACTUALLY SAY IT. THOSE WERE MY THOUGHTS THAT I WOULD SAY TO HER, BUT WHEN I SAW HER, I FELT LIKE I SHOULD NOT SAY THAT.

JESS>> YOU'VE ALSO BEEN SPEAKING AROUND THESE DAYS. YOU'VE MET WITH KIDS AT JUVENILE HALL?

ANTWONE FISHER>> YES. MY FAVORITE PLACE (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> WHAT DID YOU TELL THEM?

ANTWONE FISHER>> OH, I TOLD THEM A LOT OF THINGS. YOU KNOW, I DID TELL THEM TO THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH FUN YOU CAN HAVE IN ONE HOUR, IN ONE MINUTE, AND TO SPEND ONE MINUTE IN JUVENILE HALL IS NOT WORTH IT. I MEAN, IT WAS A SATURDAY THIS PAST TIME I WENT AND IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY. I TOLD THEM THAT, THIS DAY, IF THEY WERE OUT OF HERE, WHAT WOULD THEY DO? THEY WERE LAUGHING ABOUT SOMETHING I SAID EARLIER AND I TOLD THEM THAT THE ORANGE PANTS THAT THEY WERE WEARING, THEY DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS FUNNY. YOU KNOW, HAVING TO WALK AROUND WITH THEIR HANDS BEHIND THEIR BACK. THAT WASN'T FUNNY AND THEY AGREED THAT IT WASN'T. SO THEY SHOULD NOT LAUGH ABOUT SOME THINGS AND SHOULD TAKE THINGS MORE SERIOUS, LIKE THEIR LIVES.

VAL>> NOW THE PERSON WHO REALLY TURNED YOU AROUND WAS THE NAVY PSYCHIATRIST PLAYED BY DENZEL WASHINGTON IN THE PIECE. WAS THAT AN ACCURATE REPRESENTATION? WAS HE REALLY LIKE THAT? WHAT DID HE THINK OF THE MOVIE? HOW HAS IT CHANGED HIM?

ANTWONE FISHER>> WELL, HE'S NOT LIVING ANYMORE. HE DIED IN 1987. BUT, YOU KNOW, IN A YOUNG MAN'S LIFE IN THE NAVY, YOU HAVE SO MANY MENTORS. WHEN I WROTE THE MOVIE, YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE SOMEBODY AND IT WAS LOGICAL TO CHOOSE HIM BECAUSE THERE WAS A NATURAL TALKING BACK AND FORTH, AND HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON I EVER TOLD MY STORY TO. BUT IN THE BOOK, "FINDING FISH", I DESCRIBE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WHO MENTORED ME. YOU REALLY DO NEED A LOT OF PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, IN THE SERVICE THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE AROUND YOU THAT YOU CAN'T ESCAPE. IT'S ALL POSITIVE. IT WAS FOR ME.

JESS>> LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE SCENE IN THE MOVIE WHERE YOU MEET WITH YOUR MENTOR FOR THE LAST TIME.

[FILM CLIP]

VAL>> NOW, IN ADDITION TO WRITING SCREENPLAYS, YOU'VE WRITTEN POETRY.

ANTWONE FISHER>> YES. I HAVE A NEW BOOK. IT WAS JUST PUBLISHED IN DECEMBER. IT'S CALLED "WHO WILL CRY FOR THE LITTLE BOY?". IT'S A BOOK OF POETRY.

JESS>> AND IT'S ALSO IN THE FILM, THAT POEM?

ANTWONE FISHER>> YES.

JESS>> AND IT'S VERY TOUCHING.

ANTWONE FISHER>> WELL, THANK YOU.

VAL>> WELL, ANTWONE FISHER, THANK YOU SO MUCH NOT ONLY FOR STRAIGHTENING YOURSELF OUT, BUT HELPING SO MANY OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE DO THE SAME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANTWONE FISHER>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> AND IN ADDITION TO THE MOTION PICTURE, ANTWONE FISHER'S STORY IS ALSO TOLD IN THE BOOK CALLED "FINDING FISH".

VAL>> AND A REMINDER THAT YOU CAN GET TRANSCRIPTS OR LISTEN TO RECENT AUDIO OF PROGRAMS ON LIFE AND TIMES. JUST GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT KCET.ORG.

JESS>> AND THAT'S TONIGHT'S PROGRAM. NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANKS FOR JOINING US. GOOD NIGHT.

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