Breakthrough in Sub-prime Mortgage Relief

In a precedent-setting agreement, Goldman Sachs will provide $50 million to modify loans for over 700 homeowners. It will also pay an additional $10 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to end an investigation of the company’s role in financing sub-prime mortgages in the state. We speak with Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley.

What is a Cosmic War?

Reza Aslan is a religious scholar who wrote the bestseller “No God but God.” His new book is “How to win a Cosmic War: God, Globalization, and the End of the War on Terror.” In it he describes today’s cosmic warriors who believe they are acting out on earth a battle that’s actually being waged in heaven.

Remembering China’s Earthquake

People visit the quake devastated town of Beichuan, southwestern China's Sichuan province, Tuesday, May 12 , 2009. (AP)

Today is the one-year anniversary of the devastating earthquake that left nearly 90,000 people dead or missing and 5-million more homeless. State leaders laid flowers and survivors burned paper money for departed spirits as a mournful China marked the anniversary. The BBC’s James Reynolds went back to Sichuan Province where hundreds of children died when their schools collapsed during the quake.

See video of James Reynolds’ reporting from Sichuan

Obama at Notre Dame

Students and faculty have been divided over whether Notre Dame, a Catholic university, should give an honorary degree and the commencement speaker’s slot to President Obama, an abortion rights supporter. We speak with Notre Dame law professor Richard Garnett, who thinks the university is wrong to honor President Obama right now because of early steps Obama has taken on “life issues,” like stem cell research and abortion.

Extreme Sailing

Ken Read is skipper of “Il Mostro,” one of seven boats taking part in the Volvo Ocean Race. He says the world wide race is like NASCAR on the open seas and talks about battling the elements while sailing around the world in 260 days.

Music from the show

Ahmad Jamal, “Patterns”
Tito Puente, “Royal T”
Radiohead, “How to Disappear Completely”
Sigur Ros, “Nybatteri”
Radiohead, “Myxamatosis”
Kar Kar Madison, “Boubacar Traore”
Natalie Macmaster, “Farewell to Peter”

Thomaso

Breakthrough in mortgage relief? Let’s put this into some perspective. Goldman Sachs gets into trouble, quickly becomes a commercial bank, as a new bank draws billions in TARP money, adds billions in AIG CDO payoffs, then agrees to pay $50 million for mortgage relief in Massachusetts. This paltry, insulting amount is a mere 5 percent of each billion dollars they reaped (raped?) from taxpayers. The amount also is insignificant in terms of ample bonuses paid for Goldman Sachs’ management greed and arrogance as accomplices in bringing on the current crisis. Breakthrough? Cause for celebration? C’mon. Even should this extend to every state, more like crumbs tossed to the peasantry.
Kathleen Quinn DuBois

As a proud alum of Notre Dame, I must say that I am pleased that Notre Dame has invited President Obama to speak. I am a practicing Catholic as well, and I acknowledge that his view on abortion does not comport with my religion’s teachings on abortion and respect for life. HOWEVER, I do not believe it is Notre Dame’s intention or position to advocate his view on pro-choice by inviting him to speak at commencement. Rather, I believe it is their intention to simply recognize the fact of his achievement, that being the first African-American to be elected to the highest public office in the Nation.
Sharon Williams

RE: The Cosmic War segment–Your closing comment was something about “other groups, like the Quakers, just sit on the sidelines.” Say what?! Many, many Christians, like the Quakers, Mennonites, Church of the Brethren and others are very, very involved in living the teachings of Jesus and the New Testament and work for peace and justice in the US and throughout the world. We choose to spend the time and money God has given us to do this work, rather than combatting enemies. We are sad that the designation of “evangelical” has been co-opted by some who cling to a violent misinterpretation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Jane Clarke

WHat was that beautiful song (sounded Celtic) after the story about Extreme Sailing on the 11th? I tried to fine if on All Songs Considered, and couldn’t figure it out. Can you please send me an email with the name and artist, or better directions on how to get the songs from the All Songs Considered. Many thanks-
jryan

Dear Ms. Clarke,

Thanks for your interest, that song was “Farewell to Peter” by Natalie Macmaster.

Cheers,

Jill Ryan, Here & Now
Robin Young

Hi there.. this is for Sharon above..
I wanted to clarify..when I said Christians.. like
the Quakers (and others) are “sitting on the sidelines”.. I meant, of the “Cosmic War”. Certainly they are, as you said, fighting the “Cosmic Peace”.

All best!
Robin
QuestionEverything

If ANYONE did their research before putting the ND interview on the air – THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS NOT FUNDAMENTALLY AGAINST CAPITAL PUNISHMENT!

READ the Catechism of the Catholic Church (the official teaching of the church!):

#2267: The traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude, presupposing full ascertainment of the identity and responsibility of the offender, recourse to the death penalty, when this is the only practicable way to defend the lives of human beings effectively against the aggressor.
“If, instead, bloodless means are sufficient to defend against the aggressor and to protect the safety of persons, public authority should limit itself to such means, because they better correspond to the concrete conditions of the common good and are more in conformity to the dignity of the human person.”