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 Preshow #1 - DrugsReturn to index of stories... |
"THEY'RE SAYING THIS IS NOT GOING TO LAST FOREVER, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN OUR MONEY RUNS OUT." A LOOK AT THE HIGH COST OF PRESCRPTION DRUGS. WHAT DOES A FAMILY DO WHEN THEY HAVE A CATASTROPHIC ILLNESS? WE'LL MEET ONE FAMILY SEARCHING FOR OPTIONS. |
| Preshow #2 - Heart Disease Return to index of stories... |
LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE. A SURVIVOR TALKS ABOUT THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF WOMEN: HEART DISEASE. |
| Preshow #3 - Child Out of Place Return to index of stories... |
"THERE WERE SLAVES, OH, YES, THERE WERE VERY MUCH SO MANY SLAVES IN THE AREA." A NEW BOOK HELPS CHILDREN UNDERSTAND A LITTLE KNOWN CHAPTER IN NEW HAMPSHIRE'S PAST. |
| Hello Return to index of stories... |
HELLO. I'M BETH CARROLL. WELCOME TO NH OUTLOOK. |
| Intro Vouchers Return to index of stories... |
SCHOOL VOUCHERS! SHOULD PARENTS GET THEM TO HELP SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO PRIVATE OR RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS? THAT WAS THE SUBJECT OF A.VERY CLOSE VOTE AT THE STATEHOUSE TODAY. RICHARD AGER HAS MORE. GRAPHIC: |
| Vouchers Return to index of stories... |
REP. GENE CHANDLER - "THE MAJORITY OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION WISHES TO REFER HOUSE BILL 1353 FN, A ACT MANDATING OPEN ENROLLMENT IN SCHOOLS STATEWIDE." TRACK: THE SCHOOL VOUCHER BILL WAS THE LATEST ATTEMPT TO DIVERT PUBLIC FUNDS TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS INCLUDING THOSE RUN BY CHURCHES. GRAPHIC: UNDER THE PROPOSAL, OVER A 7 YEAR PERIOD, AN GREATER NUMBER OF VOUCHERS WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED EACH YEAR WITH 2,000 VOUCHERS IN YEAR 1 INCREASING TO 14,000 VOUCHERS IN YEAR 7. EACH VOUCHER WOULD BE WORTH ABOUT $2700 - 80% OF THE STATE'S DEFINED COST OF AN ADEQUATE EDUCATION. TRACK: OPPONENTS OF THE BILL SAY THE NUMBERS ALONE SHOULD DOOM THIS MEASURE. DEANNA ROUSCH - "THE COST OF THIS BILL FOR FISCAL 2005 - ACCORDING TO THE LEGISLATIVE BUDGET ASSISTANT OFFICE, IS OVER $6 MILLION. BY THE FISCAL 2009, THAT WILL RISE TO OVER $32 MILLION ANNUALLY. ULTIMATELY, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THIS PROGRAM WILL DRAIN $45 MILLION ANNUALLY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS." TRACK: BUT SUPPORTERS SAY THIS IS ABOUT MORE THAN MONEY. REP. SANDRA CARSON - "THIS IS ABOUT EDUCATION AND EMPOWERING PARENTS TO MAKE EDUCATIONAL CHOICES IRREGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE AND HOW MUCH MONEY THEY EARN. THE WEALTHY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD SCHOOL CHOICE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. THIS AMENDMENT GIVES THOSE WHO CAN LEAST AFFORD A PRIVATE SCHOL EDUCATION THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A CHOICE ON BEHALF OF THEIR CHILDREN. " REP. ALF JACOBSEN - " THIS IS A BILL THAT RADICALLY CHANGES WHAT OUR TRADITIONAL HISTORIC EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM HAS BEEN. IT DOES SO BY FUNDING PERSONS GOING TO NON-PUBLIC SCHOOLS INCLUDING SECTARIAN SCHOOLS." TRACK: AND THAT, ACCORDING TO OPPONENTS OF VOUCHERS, VIOLATES THE STATE CONSTITUTION. REP. STEVE VAILLANCOURT - "IT SAYS, AND I QUOTE: "NO MONEY RAISED BY TAXATIONS SHALL EVER BE GRANTED OR APPLIED FOR THE USE OF THE SCHOOLS OF INSTITUTIONS OF ANY RELIGIOUS SECT OR DENOMINATION. HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT THIS BILL WOULD NOT SIMPLY BE MONEY-LAUNDERING IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET AROUND THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION?" REP. JOHN ALGER - "THE POINT I MAKE AGAIN - THE ONLY MONEY AUTHORIZED IN THESE CERTIFICATES WILL BE FOR SECULAR OR NON-RELIGIOUS EDUCATION. IT CANNOT BE USED FOR COURSES IN RELIGION. " THE HOUSE WILL ATTEND TO THE STATE OF THE VOTE - 171IN THE POSITIVE - 172 IN THE NEGATIVE - THE MOTION FAILS. RICHARD AGER - "THE DECISIVE MARGIN WAS PROVIDED BY REP. RICHARD LEONE WHO FLEW TO NH FOR THE VOTE. HE LEFT IMMEDIATELY TO RETURN TO FLORIDA TO TEND TO A FAMILY EMERGENCY." REP. JOHN ALGER - "THE GOVERNOR SUPPORTS VOUCHERS, IT'S IN THE REPUBLICAN PLATFORM, IT'S SUPPORTED BY HOUSE LEADERSHIP. BUT NOW YOU SEE, WE HAVE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO SAY THEY ARE REPUBLICANS, BUT ARE THEY REALLY IF THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO SUPPORT THIS MAJOR KIND OF AN ISSUE?" RICHARD AGER - "DO YOU EXPECT TO SEE TODAY'S EXERCISE REPEATED ANYTIME SOON?" REP. DEANNA RUSH - " YES I DO. THERE IS A CORE GROUP IN THE HOUSE THAT IS PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE THE SAME AMENDMENT AND GUT ANOTHER ONE OF OUR BILLS IN EDUCATION AND TRY TO PUT IT ON THERE. TRACK: FOR NH OUTLOOK, I'M RICHARD AGER. |
| Tag Vouchers Return to index of stories... |
ON TUESDAY.THE JOSIAH BARTLETT INSTITUTE RELEASED A REPORT THAT RECOMMENDED THE STATE ESTABLISH A SYSTEM OF VOUCHERS SIMILAR TO THOSE PROPOSED AND VOTED ON TODAY. |
| Intro Prescription Return to index of stories... |
YOU MAY NEVER REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS ARE UNTIL YOU END UP WITHOUT COVERAGE. LOSING YOUR JOB AND YOUR HEALTH INSURANCE DOES NOT GUARANTEE YOU'LL BE COVERED BY MEDICAID. WHILE POLITICIANS TALK ABOUT HEALTH REFORM, THERE ARE PEOPLE LIVING DAY TO DAY WHO ARE PAYING FOR COSTLY MEDICATIONS FROM THEIR OWN POCKET. PHIL VAUGHN MET A FAMILY FROM KENSINGTON -- FACING THAT VERY PROBLEM. |
| Prescription Drugs Return to index of stories... |
IS THIS SECOND CHILD. HE'S A DOCTOR, WELL-KNOWN FOR HIS HUMOR AND PROVIDING FREE MEDICAL CARE FOR THOUSANDS OF PATIENTS. PEACE AND JUSTICE AND CARE. HE SPOKE TO AN AUDIENCE IN PORTSMOUTH THIS WINTER. WHEN I WAS IN MEDICAL SCHOOL I COULD SEE THAT OURS WAS A BUSINESS, DISEASE CARE SYSTEM, THAT DID NOT CARE ABOUT CARING FOR PEOPLE. REPORTER: AND HE CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF THIS 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL. I LIKE HIS FREE HEALTH CARE, LIKE HOW HE'S NEVER ASKED FOR MONEY. REPORTER: SHE HAS A PERSONAL REASON FOR BEING HERE. BECAUSE MY DAD HAS CANCER. REPORTER: DAVID OLNEY IS MAY'S FATHER, HE'S 53 YEARS OLD AND HE HAS PANCREATIC CANCER. HE WAS STARTING TO GET SICK IN AUGUST, ALTHOUGH AT THE TIME THEY DIDN'T THINK IT WAS CANCER RELATED, AND THEN BY OCTOBER IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR SOMETHING WAS PRETTY WRONG. REPORTER: DAVID HAD CANCER FOUR YEARS AGO, IT WAS TREATED AND WENT INTO REMISSION. AT THE TIME HE WAS AN EMPLOY OF COM PACK, BEFORE HAD BEEN BOUGHT OUT BY HEWLETT-PACKARD. HE WENT OUT ON DISABILITY, REMAINED AN EMPLOYEE, WAS TREATED FOR THE CANCER, HAD A MAJOR SURGERY, SIX-MONTH CHEMO, RADIATION. REPORTER: A FEW MONTHS LATER IN OCTOBER OF 2000, DAVID LOST HIS JOB. AS PART OF HIS BUYOUT PACKAGE DAVID KEPT HIS BENEFITS FOR SIX MONTHS. THEN HE EXTENDED HIS HEALTH CARE INSURANCE THROUGH COBRA. BUT THEY COVERED EVERYTHING EXCEPT PRESCRIPTION CARE, AND THAT IS HORRIFICLY EXPENSIVE, WHEN YOU'RE A CANCER PATIENT. REPORTER: THIS FALL, DAVID'S CANCER RETURNED. HE ASKED NOT TO BE INTERVIEWED FOR THIS STORY BECAUSE TREATMENT HAS LEFT HIM WEAK. HIS WIFE ANN, HOWEVER, IS TALKING, ABOUT A PROBLEM THEY NOW FACE. IN NOVEMBER HE WENT IN FOR THE FIRST TIME AND HE WAS IN EIGHT DAYS, HE CAME HOME, WITH JUST PAIN PILLS, OXYCONTIN, AND. THOSE DRUGS COST ME $1300 FOR THE FIRST MONTH. REPORTER: BECAUSE OF THEIR ASSETS DAVID DOESN'T CALL FILE FOR MEDICAID ASSISTANCE. HE IS ENROLLED IN THE STATE'S CATASTROPHIC ILLNESS PROGRAM. THROUGH HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HE RECEIVED $2500 A YEAR TO BUY PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. I DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARRIVED AT THAT FIGURE, BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY INADEQUATE, YOU KNOW, ALTHOUGH I'M GRATEFUL IT'S THERE. REPORTER: HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE YOU TO GET UP TO 2500? TWO MONTHS MAYBE. REPORTER: THEN WHAT DO YOU DO? OUT OF THE POCKET AGAIN OR GO TO CANADA OR I DON'T KNOW. OUR SAVINGS ISN'T GOING TO LAST FOREVER. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER THAT, I REALLY DON'T, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN OUR MONEY RUNS OUT. THE FORMAT TODAY IS SIMPLE, ONE MINUTE OPENING STATEMENTS FROM EACH CANDIDATE OR -- TODAY I'M FIGHTING FOR A GOOD PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT. BUT THAT HAS NOT HELPED DAVID. I DIDN'T HEAR ANYBODY SAY REALLY CLEARLY EXACTLY WHAT THEY WOULD DO TO MAKE IT AFFORDABLE AND I THINK IT'S JUST A REALLY BIG COMPLICATED PROBLEM. YOU DON'T THINK YOU CAN PROMISE THAT YOU CAN FIX IT OVERNIGHT, IT'S NOT AN EASY FIX, YOU KNOW. I HOPE SOMEONE DOES. REPORTER: DAVID IS PLANNING FOR A LONG LIFE. AND HE MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID ASSISTANCE, ONCE THE FAMILY'S LIQUID ASSETS DROP BELOW $4200. MAY, WHO HAS WITNESSED HER FATHER'S NEEDS, ECHOS THE WORDS OF PATCH ADAMS. EVERYONE IN THE WORLD DESERVES TO HAVE WHAT THEY NEED AND WHETHER THAT BE FOOD, PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FOR CANCER OR ANYTHING ELSE, THAT THEY MIGHT NEED LIKE MEDICINE FOR HEART DISEASE, THEY DESERVE TO HAVE IT BECAUSE NO ONE REALLY DESERVES TO DIE, BECAUSE OF A DISEASE THEY CAN'T PREVENT. REPORTER: FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK, I'M PHIL VAUGHN. |
| Tag Prescription Return to index of stories... |
GOVERNOR CRAIG BENSON HAS A PLAN TO HELP MAKE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS MORE AFFORDABLE. HE'S EXPECTED TO MAKE THE DETAILS PUBLIC NEXT WEEK. |
| Intro Heart Disease Return to index of stories... |
THAT'S WELCOMED NEWS FOR MARGE HISLOP -- WHO NOW TAKES MEDICATION FOR CARDIAC DISEASE -- WHICH HAPPENS TO BE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR WOMEN. FRIDAY IS "NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY" -- A CAMPAIGN AIMED AT RAISING AWARENESS OF THE PROBLEM. HEART DISEASE KILLS 500-THOUSAND WOMEN EACH YEAR. FORTUNATELY -- HISLOP DISCOVERED SHE HAD CARDIAC DISEASE "BEFORE" IT WAS TOO LATE AND IS HERE TO SHARE HER STORY! |
| Heart Disease Return to index of stories... |
THANK YOU. BETH - "TELL US IF YOU WOULD, HOW DID YOU DISCOVER THAT YOU HAD HARD DISEASE?" MARGE HILSOP - "WELL, THIS IS A FUNNY STORY, IF CAN YOU CALL IT FUNNY. YEARS AGO, WHEN EVER I WOULD EXERCISE, I WOULD HAVE A LUMP IN MY THROAT, AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT IT WAS INDIGESTION. AND I HAD GONE TO A NEW DOCTOR AND SHE WAS EXPLAINING TO ME HOW IMPORTANT EXERCISE WAS TO BE PART OF MY DAILY RICH YOU. AND I KEPT SAYING, NO NO I REALLY DON'T LIKE EXERCISE. BUT AS I WAS WALKING OUT THE DOOR I TURNED AROUND TO HER AND I SAID OKAY, I'LL EXERCISE IF YOU GET RID OF THE LUMP IN MY THROAT WHEN EVER I EXERCISE. SO SHE SAID, OKAY, I'LL GIVE YOU SOMETHING FOR INDIGESTION, BUT IN THE MEANTIME I WANT TO YOU DO A STRESS TEST. AND I DID A STRESS TEST AND THERE WERE ANOMALYS FOUND IN IT AND I ENDED UP HAVING TO HAVE A SECOND ONE, AND THE SECOND ONE PROVED THAT I HAD A BLOCKAGE IN THE FRONT OF MY HEART. SO I ENDED UP HAVING TO GO IN AND HAVE A CATHETERIZATION, AND DURING THAT THEY FOUND THAT I HAD 90% BLOCKAGE IN THREE OF THE ARTERIES IN MY HEART. AND WAS, WHEN I WOKE UP FROM THAT, THE DOCTOR WAS STANDING OVER ME AND SAID, HAVE YOU TO HAVE SOMETHING DONE AND THE SOONER THE BETTER." BETH - "WOW, YOU WERE A TICKING TIME BOMB." MARGE HILSOP - "YES, I WAS." BETH - "WHAT HAPPENED THEN?" MARGE HILSOP - "THE NEXT DAY, I NEVER GOT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL AFTER THE CATHETERIZATION. THE NEXT DAY I WAS MOVED OVER TO PORTSMOUTH HOSPITAL, AND I HAD A DOUBLE BY-PASS. THIRD ONE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO TOUCH, BUT AT LEAST WE'VE GOT TWO OF THEM TAKEN CARE OF." BETH - "THAT CAME AT AGE 50 WHICH IS YOUNG FOR HEART DISEASE." MARGE HILSOP - "YES." BETH - "WERE THERE SOME SYMPTOMS TO ALERTED YOU TO HAVING A PROBLEM BESIDES THAT SENSE OF INDIGESTION?" MARGE HILSOP - "NOT REALLY, NOT REALLY. I WOULD SAY TOWARD THE END THERE WAS, I DO REMEMBER ONE SYMPTOM OF HAVING PAIN IN MY SHOULDER, I WAS WALKING THE DOG, AND I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE IT WAS THE DOG THAT WAS PULLING TOO HARD ON MY SHOULDER. SO WE STOPPED. AND EVENTUALLY THE PAIN WENT AWAY. BUT I'M THINKING THAT THAT POSSIBLY WAS PART OF THE HEART DISEASE CAUSING THAT." BETH - "HOW HAS THIS CHANGED YOUR LIFE?" MARGE HILSOP - "OH, WELL, NUMBER ONE, AFTER HAVING THE OPERATION I HAVE GAINED SO MUCH MORE ENERGY, AND I CAN DO SO MUCH MORE THAN I HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO FOR YEARS. NUMBER TWO, I TEND TO EAT BETTER AND I EXERCISE MORE THAN I EVER HAD IN THE PAST. AND I'M JUST MORE CONSCIOUS OF WHAT MY BODY IS TELLING ME. I THINK YOU HAVE TO BE PRO-ACTIVE IN TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF." BETH - THERE'S A LOT WOMEN AT HOME HEARING YOUR STORY SAYING THAT COULD BE ME. WHAT DO THEY NEED TO BE DOING, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE THEM TO MAKE SURE THEY GET IT IN TIME?" MARGE HILSOP - "PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOUR BODY IS TELLING YOU. BE AWARE WHAT WAS THE WARNING SIGNS OF HEART PROBLEMS IN WOMEN ARE, BECAUSE THEY ARE DIFFERENT FROM MEN." BETH - "WHAT ARE THE WARNING SIGNS? I'M SURE BY NOW YOU MUST KNOW WHAT THEY ARE AFTER YOUR EXPERIENCE." MARGE HILSOP - "YES. THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT WARNING SIGNS FOR WOMEN. LIKE I HAD THE LUMP IN MY THROAT. OR JUST A PAIN IN THE CHEST, OR IN THE SHOULDER AREA, OR IN THE JAW. SWEATING, DIZZYNESS, VOMITING. ANY OF THOSE THINGS. I WAS JUST TOLD A STORY ABOUT A WOMAN WHO HAD A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK AND HER SYMPTOMS WERE VOMITING. I MEAN WHO WOULD THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE A HEART ATTACK. BUT IT WAS." BETH - "DIFFERENT SYMPTOMS THAN MEN HAVE, OFTENTIMES THEY FEEL THE CHEST PAIN AND THAT ALERTS THEM. SO WOMEN NEED TO BE SENSITIVE TO THOSE CHANGES." MARGE HILSOP - "YES." BETH - "AND I SEE THAT YOU'RE WEARING RED, ALL PART OF THE WEAR RED DAY CAMPAIGN?" MARGE HILSOP - "YES." BETH - "SO HAVE YOU BECOME AN ADVOCATE THEN FOR HEART DISEASE AND HOW WOMEN NEED TO BE SENSITIVE ABOUT IT?" MARGE HILSOP - "YES, I TRY TO TELL AS MANY PEOPLE ABOUT MY STORY AND GET THEM INTO THE FOREFRONT OF REALIZING THAT THEY DO HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT AREA OF THEIR LIVES." BETH - "AND THIS IS A VERY PREVALENT PROBLEM FOR WOMEN. AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T EQUATE HEART DISEASE NECESSARILY WITH WOMEN, THEY THINK OF IT AS BEING MORE OF A MAN'S DISEASE." MARGE HILSOP - "THAT'S TRUE. BUT LIKE YOU SAID, ONE OUT OF TWO WOMEN DEVELOP HEART DISEASE IN THEIR LIFE. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT NOBODY HAS EVER BROUGHT INTO THE FOREFRONT BECAUSE I THINK WOMEN JUST TEND TO NOT THINK ABOUT THEMSELVES WHEN THINGS HAPPEN, THEY'RE ALWAYS CARING ABOUT THE FAMILY. AND THEY'RE BUSY TAKING CARE OF THEIR HOMES, THEIR FAMILY, THEIR HUSBANDS, THEIR JOBS. AND THEY DON'T HAVE TIME TO WORRY ABOUT LITTLE ACHES AND PAINS THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING BIG." BETH - "SO YOU'RE HERE TO SAY LISTEN TO YOUR BODY, HEAR THOSE SYMPTOMS, AND MAKE SURE YOU GET CHECKED OUT BY YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THOSE SYMPTOMS." MARGE HILSOP - "YES." BETH - "WELL, MARGE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US AND SHARING YOUR STORY, HOPEFULLY IT WILL GET WOMEN OUT THERE MORE SENSITIVE TO THIS PROBLEM." MARGE HILSOP - "I HOPE SO." |
| Tag Heart Disease Return to index of stories... |
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE "GO RED FOR WOMEN" CAMPAIGN -- AND DETAILS ON HOW TO LOWER YOUR RISK OF HEART DISEASE -- LOG ON TO AMERICAN HEART-DOT-ORG / OR CALL 1-888-MY-HEART. |
| Intro Child Out of Place Return to index of stories... |
AND FINALLY. THIS MONTH IS A TIME TO CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS. IT'S ALSO A TIME TO COME TO GRIPS WITH SOME PAINFUL TRUTHS ABOUT THE GRANITE STATE'S PAST. A NEW BOOK OF HISTORICAL FICTION BRINGS LOCAL SLAVERY TO LIFE - THROUGH THE EYES OF A LITTLE GIRL WORKING IN A PORTSMOUTH MANSION. JULIE DONNELLY SPOKE WITH WRITER PAT WALL, AND ILLUSTRATOR DEBBY RONNQUIST. |
| Child Out of Place Return to index of stories... |
I ALWAYS WANTED A CHILDREN'S STORY THAT WOULD INTRIGUE THEM TO GET TO COME TO THE WARNER HOUSE. I'VE BEEN A GUIDE THERE FOR MANY YEARS, AND I WAS ON THE BOARD. BUT MOSTLY I THOUGHT WOULD IT BE ABOUT THE WHITE FAMILIES WHO LIVED THERE, BECAUSE WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT BLACK FAMILIES. ONE DAY I WAS UP IN THE COUPE LA ON TOP OF THE WARNER HOUSE, TRYING TO GET SOME IDEAS FOR THIS STORY AND ON THE CIRCULAR BENCH THERE WAS IN MY IMAGINATION A SERVANT CHILD AND SHE WAS BLACK. AND THAT GOT ME GOING, AND THINKING. HOW WOULD SHE FIT INTO THE STORY? AND THEN SHE BECAME THE STORY, REALLY AND SHE SEND ME ON A TRAIL OF REALLY GETING TO KNOW BLACK HISTORY AS MUCH AS I COULD FOR PORTSMOUTH AND FOR NEW ENGLAND. SO THIS LITTLE GIRL, TALK ABOUT HER AND WHAT SHE'S LIKE, AND HOW SHE'S THE SAME OR DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER LITTLE GIRL. WELL, LIKE ANY LITTLE GIRL SHE HAD GREAT DREAMS, AS AN ALMOST 10-YEAR-OLD SHE HAD THE IDEA THAT WHEN HER FATHER COMES BACK FOR HER HE'S BEEN GONE FOR ABOUT FOUR YEARS, THAT THE FAMILIES SUSPECT HE'S PROBABLY BEEN CAPTURED AND SOLD BACK INTO SLAVERY, BUT ANYWAY, SHE THINKS THAT AS SOON AS PAPA COMES BACK SHE'S GOING TO HAVE PRETTY CLOTHES, SHE'S GOING TO LIVE IN A WONDERFUL HOUSE, AND SHE JUST HAS THESE GREAT DREAMS AS ANY CHILD WOULD. BUT SADLY, SHE HAS TO LEARN FROM HER GRANDMOTHER THAT EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE FREE, HER LIFE IS PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE WHAT SHE THINKS IT WILL BE. SO VERY EARLY ON IN THE BOOK, MATTIE AND HER GRANDMOTHER, HER GREAT UNCLE AND HER FATHER ALL GET THEIR FREEDOM PAPERS. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THAT, AND CAN YOU, DEBBIE, TALK A LITTLE ABOUT A REALLY WONDERFUL ILLUSTRATION OF THAT MOMENT. WELL, I THINK THE FATHER OF COURSE WANTED EVERYTHING DONE VERY PROPER, LEGALLY. HE WAS WORRIED THAT WHEN YOU GOT YOUR SLAVES DOCUMENTED, THAT IF YOU HAD TO GO FROM PLACE TO PLACE, YOU MUST CARRY THAT DOCUMENT WITH YOU. SO THAT YOU WERE SAFE, THEORETICALLY. SO THEY WENT UP TO THE TOWN HALL, AND HAD ALL THEIR PAPERS SIGNED AND THE BOOK MAKES QUITE A SECTION, ALMOST CHAPTER OF THAT EVENT THE DAY THEY GO FOR THEIR FREEDOM PAPERS. AND THE GRANDMOTHER OF COURSE IS VERY SKEPTICAL, SHE KEEPS SAYING I WON'T BELIEVE IT UNTIL I HAVE THE PAPER IN MY HAND, PAUSE SHE'S STILL WORRIED THAT IT MAY NOT BE WHAT SHE THINKS. CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATION? I REALLY WANTED TO CONVEY THE FACT THAT MATTIE WAS LITTLE, SHE DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT ALL OF THIS WOULD MEAN, AND I LOVE THE, THE PEN WITH THE FEATHER ON HER NOSE. I ALSO WANTED TO SHOW THE, MR. WARREN'S INDIFFERENCE SO, TO SPEAK, IN THAT HIS BACK IS TURNED WHILE PETER, THE FATHER'S FACE IS VERY HAPPY AND ELATED THAT THIS IS HAPPENING. I THINK PETER SOMEHOW KNEW THAT HE, THAT THIS WOULD REALLY CHANGE HIS LIFE. MATTIE COULDN'T KNOW THAT AT THAT POINT. WHAT'S VERY STRIKING ABOUT THE BOOK IS THE SMALL DETAILS ABOUT WHAT LIFE IS REALLY LIKE FOR THESE FORMER SLAVES IN THE HOUSE. AND IF YOU COULD READ THAT SEGMENT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. LET ME JUST FINE IT HERE REAL QUICK. MATTIE WAS SUDDENLY STRUCK BY HOW OLD HER UNCLE LOOKED, HIS DARK BROWN FACE HAD A GRAYISH TING, AND HE APPEARED MORE TIRED THAN SHE'D EVER SEEN HIM, SHE WANTED TO PUSH A CHAIR TOWARD HIM, BUT SHE KNEW HE'D NEVER SIT DOWN IN MR. WARREN'S PRESENCE, NONE OF US EVER DID. THAT SEEMS SO VIKING, IT'S A SMALL DETAIL, BUT WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT THEIR STATION IN LIFE, EVEN AS THEY GROW OLDER? UH-HUH. WELL, I THINK WHEN YOU GROW UP WITH, YOU ASSUME YOU HAVE A CERTAIN PLACE IN THE HOUSEHOLD, OF COURSE AS A CHILD YOU DON'T ALWAYS QUESTION THESEALWAYS QUE THINGS, YOU JUST SORT OF ACCEPT WHAT IS. I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE ABOUT, THERE'S ONE ILLUSTRATION IN THE KITCHEN WITH MATTIE AND HER GREAT UNCLE AND HER GRANDMOTHER, WHICH I THINK SHOWS THE WEAR AND TEAR THAT NED HAS GONE THROUGH. WELL, NED HAS ON A DISCARDED COAT FROM HIS OWNER, AND I'VE PUT A PATCH ON THE SLEEVE JUST TO SORT OF CONVEY THAT. NED HAD A VERY SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH MATTIE. SO I WANTED TO CONVEY HIS, THE WAY HE PUT HIS HAND ON HER SHOULDER, JUST THERE'S A LOOK IN HIS EYE THAT JUST SAYS I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. AND HIS WHOLE LIFE HAS BEEN SLAVERY, SO IT'S NOT LIKE, AND I THINK HE ALMOST FEARS OR FEELS THAT MATTIE'S LIFE WILL BE TOO. BUT THERE'S JUST NO. YOU KNOW. BUT I ALSO WANTED TO CONVEY IN THAT DRAWING THE SURROUNDINGS OF THAT TIME THAT, WHAT BESS HAD TO WORK WITH, TO COOK THESE MEALS. SOMETIMES HUGE BANQUET TYPE MEALS FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE. AND WHAT THE SHE HAVE TO WORK WITH? AND SHE WASN'T YOUNG EITHER, TO BE DOING THIS. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT WHAT LIFE WAS REALLY LIKE 200 YEARS AGO, ABOUT PEOPLE BRINGING THEIR SERVANTS AND RELATIVES AND STAYING FOR SOME PERIODS, AND JUST THE SOCIAL MORES OF THE TIME. THE ATHENAEUM HAS A GREAT COLLECTION OF 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY DOCUMENTS SO YOU CAN GET CLOSE IN ON THE INVENTORY OF PEOPLE'S PROPERTIES AND WE HAVE A LARGE SECTION ON THE DECORATIVE ARTS, THE FURNISHINGS, THE FABRICS AND SO FORTH. SO THAT I WOULD READ WIDELY INTO THAT AND BE ABLE TO PULL THOSE DETAILS INTO THE STORY. WHAT ABOUT THE LANGUAGE, DID YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE LANGUAGE AT ALL? OH, NO. SOME PEOPLE HAVE SAID TO ME, WELL, THEY DIDN'T SOUND LIKE BLACK PEOPLE. I SAID FOR PETES SAKE, THEY LEARNED TO SPEAK ENGLISH FROM ENGLISH MEN IN PORTSMOUTH, HOW ELSE WOULD THEY SPEAK. WHEN YOU BEGAN WRITING THE BOOK OR AFTER I WAS PUBLISHED DID YOU RUN INTO ANY CRITICISM? YOU'RE TWO WHITE WOMEN AND YOU'RE WRITING THIS BOOK ABOUT A YOUNG BLACK GIRL 200 YEARS AGO. WAS THERE ANY QUESTION OF COULD YOU REALLY WRITE THIS IN AN AUTHENTIC WAY? THAT WAS THE FUNNY THING AND EVERYBODY THOUGHT ABOUT IT. AT ONE POINT I THOUGHT, GEE, DO I KNOW ENOUGH, YOU KNOW, SHOULDN'T A PLAQUE PERSON BE WRITING THIS, BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE MORE FAMILIAR, THEORETICALLY, WITH BLACK HISTORY. BUT YOU KNOW AFTER A WHILE, I REALIZED THAT IT'S NOT SKIN COLOR, THAT'S THE BARRIER, IT'S IGNORANCE. AND I THINK ONCE YOU GOT TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE HEART OF THESE PEOPLE, AT LEAST IN MY IMAGINATION AND FROM WHAT LITTLE I COULD LEARN, SKIN COLOR DIDN'T MATTER. YOU HAD WORKED AT THE WARNER HOUSE. WHEN YOU FIRST DECIDED TO DO THIS BOOK, WHAT WAS THEIR RESPONSE? WERE THEY AFRAID THAT PERHAPS THIS MIGHT BE SOME NEGATIVE PUBLICITY? NO, I DON'T THINK SO. I THINK GENERALLY SPEAKING THERE WAS GREAT ENTHUSIASM FOR THE BOOK. THERE'S ALWAYS A CONCERN, I THINK, TO PRESENT A HOUSE IN A GOOD LIGHT. AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE THINK, OH, WELL, MAYBE THAT'S A SUBJECT WE SHOULDN'T TALK ABOUT. BUT OTHERS FEEL, AND MOST FEEL THAT ALL OF THE HOUSE'S HISTORY IS IMPORTANT, EVERY PART OF IT, EVERY PERSON ASSOCIATED WITH IT IS IMPORTANT. SO I THINK MODERN DAY HISTORIANS WANT TO TELL THE COMPLETE STORY. WHEN YOU TELL PEOPLE YOU'VE WRITTEN A BOOK ABOUT SLAVERY IN NEW ENGLAND, WHAT IS THEIR FIRST RESPONSE ABOUT THAT? WELL MOSTLY THEY SAY WERE THERE SLAVES IN NEW ENGLAND? THEY'RE SORT OF SURPRISED. BECAUSE, OH, SO MANY TIMES AS I WAS TAKING PEOPLE THROUGH THE WARNER HOUSE AND I WOULD MENTION, WELL, THERE IS INFORMATION ABOUT THERE BEING SLAVES IN THE HOUSE, AND THEY'D SAY, THERE WERE SLAVES IN NEW ENGLAND? OH, YES, THEY WERE VERY MUCH SO, MANY SLAVES IN THE AREA. IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT OVER THE YEARS HAS SORT OF BEEN ALLOWED TO SLIDE AWAY, ALMOST A POLITICAL APPROACH IF YOU WILL THAT THAT WAS A SOUTHERN PROBLEM, THAT NEW ENGLAND DIDN'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM, AND OF COURSE IT WASN'T SO. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO DO A BOOK LIKE THIS NOW? ISN'T THIS, YOU KNOW, SHOULDN'T WE MOVE ON? I DON'T THINK THAT ANY PIECE OF HISTORY SHOULD BE IGNORED. I THINK CHILDREN NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WENT ON. BECAUSE WHAT WENT ON SOMETIMES KEEPS ONGOING INTO THE PRESENT TIME. AND SO MY THOUGHT WAS WITH THIS LITTLE STORY, IT'S A GENERAL WAY OF INTRODUCING CHILDREN TO THE TOPIC OF SLAVERY IN NEW ENGLAND, IF THROUGH, AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL GET SOME QUESTIONS GOING, A LITTLE DISCUSSION, PERHAPS THEY WOULD LOOK AT ONE ANOTHER'S FACES, IN A DIFFERENT WAY. SO THAT IT'S JUST HOPEFULLY OUT OF THIS IT WILL INTRODUCE CHILDREN TO THIS TOPIC AND GET THEM THINKING ABOUT IT. …AND OF COURSE IT WASN'T SO. 37:06 WHY DO THIS BOOK NOW? SHOULDN'T WE MOVE ON? 37:11 I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY PIECE OF HISTORY THAT SHOULD BE IGNORED…AND GET THEM THINKING ABOUT IT 37:54 |
| Tag Child Out of Place Return to index of stories... |
"CHILD OUT OF PLACE" - IS AVAILABLE AT BOOKSTORES IN PORTSMOUTH. YOU CAN ALSO GET A COPY BY LOGGING ON TO FALL ROSE BOOKS-DOT-COM. |
| Web Pointer Return to index of stories... |
THAT WRAPS UP OUR PROGRAM. FOR MORE INFORMATION -- AND LINKS TO OUR GUESTS AND INTERVIEWS, CONNECT WITH US ON-LINE AT NHPTV.ORG. YOU CAN ALSO JOIN OUR ONLINE DISCUSSION -- TELL US WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND -- AND FIND STREAMING VIDEO OF ALL OUR BROADCASTS. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
ON THE NEXT NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK - OUR SPECIAL FRIDAY EDITION. WHERE JOURNALISTS FROM AROUND THE STATE DISCUSS THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
THANKS FOR WATCHING. I'M BETH CARROLL. WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME. |
| Founders Return to index of stories... |
THANKS TO THE STRATFORD FOUNDATION WHICH HAS PROVIDED CONTINUING MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PRODUCTION OF NH OUTLOOK |