Diane Rehm on C-SPAN |
Last
Sunday (3.15) we saw a terrific interview on C-SPAN2.
It was a conversation with Diane Rehm, former
host of The Diane Rehm Show, produced by WAMU and heard on NPR
News stations nationwide.
Rehm retired from the program in 2016.
Rehm retired from the program in 2016.
The interview was conducted by WAMU’s Kojo Nnamdi.
The two talked about her new book and upcoming PBS documentary When My Time Comes [link].
The two talked about her new book and upcoming PBS documentary When My Time Comes [link].
Rehm,
now age 83, has never shied away from discussing controversial issues. Her new
project, advocating the right-to-die, is a no-nonsense look at end-of-life care
in America.
If
this topic is important to you, we recommend watching it online here. The interview is a perfect
introduction to Rehm’s cause, the right-to-die movement. Rehm also shares
anecdotes about her work with NPR and WAMU.
When My Time Comes was spurred by the death
of Rehm's husband.
The book and the PBS documentary are based on investigative
reporting by Rehm and her associates about the controversial practice of
physician-assisted suicide.
It is now legal in nine states and District of
Columbia.
Rehm
is in favor of the of the practice but she knows many people are not.
The book
and documentary includes people on all sides of the issue.
It also provides the
facts and explores myths and misinformation about legally deciding to end one’s
life.
When My Time Comes is both moving and
informative. The documentary is scheduled to air on PBS stations in spring 2021.
It is certain to provoke strong reactions.
Her former coworkers at WAMU are her biggest supporters. Lettie
Holman, PD of WAMU, worked with Rehm for many years. Holman told us:
“Diane Rehm had 37 years
of extraordinary radio and conversation.”
“From the beginning, she
built her show with grit, intelligence and a passion to learn. A national
treasure, Diane was self-educated and a classic “American success story” beginning
her radio career as a volunteer.”
“She leaves a legacy at
WAMU of passion, a dedication to ideas, and conversation built around the core
values of thoughtful analysis, civility and lifelong learning. Those principles
continue to guide her life and work as a podcast host and author.”
The
book, available on Amazon [link], was released in February 2020 and the early
reviews are very positive. One personsaid in a review on Amazon:
"The captivating and
interesting testimonials make the book very likely the best resource on the
subject of "Death with Dignity" that has ever been published in our
nation. Thank you for it”.
Another
person wrote:
While Diane Rehm has a
clear personal agenda, her interviews cover the range of opinions on the topic
of medical aid in dying. I learned a lot from reading this book and recommend
it to anyone (i.e., all of us) struggling to understand their [own] end of life
options.
As
with any project created by Rehm, When My
Time Comes is fact-based combined with mystery and emotion.
Though we
haven’t seen the film, we’ve heard that it includes paintings by American artist
Jacob Lawrence.
The haunting painting on the right is from Lawrence's Migration Series. Like Rehm, Lawrence's paintings say more than words themselves.
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