http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_269_Fighting_Words_of_Ali_Salem.mp3 Ali Salem has watched religious extremism wax and wane in Egypt. But these days he is optimistic there will be peace in the Middle East. Plone 2.0 http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_269_Fighting_Words_of_Ali_Salem.mp3/logo.jpg http://thestory.org/archive/the_story_269_Fighting_Words_of_Ali_Salem.mp3 <h4>THE Fighting Words OF Ali Salem  </h4><p class="imageleft"><img class="image-left" src="resolveuid/07154f3dc185204cd511541f99de5744" alt="Ali Salem" height="134" width="100" />Ali Salem</p><p>Egyptians vote today in national parliamentary elections after weeks of controversial arrests. Hundreds of members of the banned political party, the Muslim Brotherhood, were taken into custody in advance of the election.</p><p>Ali Salem is one of Egypt's most prominent writers. He's watched the popularity of Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood grow over time, and that growth worries him. When one of his friends was murdered by fanatics in 1992, he became one of the country's most outspoken critics of religious extremism. <br /></p><p>Dick Gordon talks with Ali Salem about how people in Egypt react to his outspoken ideas, and what makes him hopeful about the future.<br /></p><ul><li>Read one of <a href="http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101020909/asalem.html%20" target="_self">Ali Salem's political essays<br /></a></li><li>Read the text of Ali Salem's satire, "<a href="http://www.nospank.net/alisalem.htm" target="_self">Kindergarten For Terrorists</a>" <br /></li><li>Read his essay <a title="Dynamite on Air" href="resolveuid/6aae60489fda37ecafd60fa0990d5da0" target="_self">"Dynamite on Air"</a><br /></li></ul><p><a class="addbtn" href="http://www.publicradio.org/applications/formbuilder/user/form_display.php?form_code=608cc948ba9b" target="_self">Add to story</a></p><h4><a>AHMED's DIARY</a></h4><p>Last week, <a title="The Invisible Wall" href="resolveuid/42c3d864f14f780879f67bf96668d550/view" target="_self">Ahmed talked about a neighbor</a> of his who was killed. This week, another neighbor died. This neighbor was neither Sunni nor Shia, but Christian. He was killed because he told authorities about an explosive he saw planted. Ahmed continues to wonders if his turn is soon.</p><ul><li>Hear all of <a title="Ahmed's Diary" href="resolveuid/4707f53e03dff1525f68ad173bc13682" target="_self">Ahmed's Diary</a><br /></li></ul><a class="addbtn" href="http://www.publicradio.org/applications/formbuilder/user/form_display.php?form_code=608cc948ba9b" target="_self">Add to story</a><br /><h4>PA-PA'S ROOSTER</h4><br /><p class="imageleft"><img class="image-left" src="resolveuid/2c8a7b88638a4351f7e956d41010f62e" alt="Jan Williams" height="100" width="100" />Jan Williams</p><p>Jan Williams' grandfather, Pa-Pa, saved a wounded rooster chick and named him Billy. The two developed a bond. Pa-Pa taught him tricks and Billy would wait on the fence everyday for Pa-Pa to come home for lunch. When Pa-Pa died, Billy stayed on the fence waiting around the clock.<br /></p><p><a class="addbtn" href="http://www.publicradio.org/applications/formbuilder/user/form_display.php?form_code=608cc948ba9b" target="_self">Add to story</a></p> Mon, 11 Jun 2007 05:00:00