HumanKind on HPPR

The remarkable international effort to build "homes and hope" by marshalling the energies of young people, church communities and others, is described by Habitat for Humanity founder Millard Fuller.

"As chaplains we get a chance to listen to a person for a long period of time, so that we can understand what they're looking for, and also try to help them to tap into what's inside of them that is strong, that is calm, that is pretty stable, in a very chaotic environment. To help them think about what their resources are, what really matters to them, what's going to help them right now. I think that we are able to help a lot of people to find their own answers. We don't generally have answers. We ask questions, trying to keep people talking, and finding their own way." -- Rev. Lucy Sanders, health care chaplain, Sherrill House nursing facility, Jamaica Plain, Mass. pictured L-R: Rev. Michael McElhinny, Rev. Lucy Sanders, Rev. Beth Loomis Chaplains at hospitals and other health care institutions serve both religious and non-religious patients and their families -- people who may be facing a medical emergency, and sometimes even a life-threatening condition. The role of chaplains is to comfort anyone who may feel afraid, angry, alone. In some cases, a health challenge can trigger a spiritual crisis, and chaplains are trained to help patients sort through complex feelings that may arise. In this episode of Humankind, we hear stories of inspiring and sometimes profound encounters with patients by three Boston-based chaplains: Rev. Michael McElhinny, Director of Chaplaincy at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston; Rev. Lucy Sanders, Director of Pastoral Care, at Sherrill House, a nursing and rehabilitation facility in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts; and Rev. Beth Loomis, Director of Pastoral Care at Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge. Complete program length: 29 Minutes

"As we continue to emphasize -- almost exclusively -- the economic, vocational purpose of schooling, and we tie that to a particular technocratic kind of assessment, that is, the standardized, high stakes test, we end up with an education system that narrows, rather than expands, and certainly doesn't befit a democratic society...We know from research that particular subject areas are de facto being addressed less in our schools: the arts, music, literature, history, some of the social studies." -- Mike Rose, Professor, UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studiesauthor, "Possible Lives" UCLA education professor Mike Rose tells some of the lessons he gained from an unusual tour of public schools around the United States. At a time when public education is financially stretched thin and frequently criticized for shortcomings, Rose set out to find examples of caring teachers and engaged students -- what he called an "anthology of possibilities." Rose tells of his own life growing up a family with low education, and how remarkable teachers reached out to support and uplift him. He also raises concerns about the regimen of standardized testing that swept America following introduction of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002. Complete program length: 29 minutes

"I have to say that, by and large, the scientific community has, indeed, attempted to gain its technical success before asking about the social and moral implications of what that success will bring." ---- Everett Mendelsohn History of Science professor emeritus, Harvard University We consider the moral implications of scientific research, especially when the aim is to develop military arms. Are the scientists involved morally responsible for the use of these weapons on civilians? Author and historian Robert Neer recounts the top-secret research conducted at Harvard in the early 1940s, which yielded the weapon napalm. Use of napalm was widely accepted in WW2 and killed more Japanese even than the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But when napalm was used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam war, peace activists decried the substance -- a gasoline-based gel that sticks to human skin and burns to the bone at extremely high heat -- to be inhuman. An iconic photo showed a 9-year-old girl, who was burned severely by napalm. Yet the chief scientist who developed the weapon later disavowed responsibility for its use. We also hear from Harvard science historian Everett Mendelsohn, who signed an anti-napalm petition in 1967 and has since studied and taught about the gap between weapons research and a deep awareness of how weapons development can lead to great human suffering. Complete program length: 29 Minutes

"If I am happy in spite of my deprivations, my testimony to the creed of optimism is worth hearing." Stricken blind and deaf by a fever at infancy, Helen Keller once described herself as "an optimist in spite of all." This truly inspiring biography recounts how Keller emerged from solitary confinement in silent darkness to become one of the 20th century's greatest women and greatest human spirits. Includes readings from her autobiographical reflections and rare audio recordings of Keller and her teacher/friend Anne Sullivan Macy. Comments by Anne Bancroft who won an Academy Award for her performance in "The Miracle Worker" and playwright William Gibson. Hear the amazing tale of how Helen as a child learned to communicate, and her tireless crusade as an adult for the disabled. Also a look at the spiritual philosophy that gave her strength.Duration: ~1 hour