Period+2+Spring+2011+Script+Draft+One

Hey guys- This is Mr. Hodge hopping on to your wiki. I just finished reading this script and I really think you might be on to something here. The confusion, fear and misunderstanding between ALL religious groups is a huge issue and one that is worthy of examination. Try re-visiting this scene and take us right into the heart of the matter. There really is no need to get biographical like you did with the first few sections. Let their content dictate who they are. If your focus is on the discrimination/misunderstanding, then take us right into that.

OPTION #1-Make the dialogue be about two people who are scared of trusting Muslims (one is VERY open about it, and the other might be a bit more skeptical or trying to get the other one to see that he might be wrong.

OPTION #2- Create a scene that takes us IN TO a mosque or a community meeting held with muslims. Have them talk specifically about what things are happening to them in the greater community. What will they do about it?

OPTION #3: Using the dramatic technique of aside, have a Christian and Muslim (or any other religion for that matter) speak directly to the audience at different times about their faith, their beliefs, what it's like to live as a religious person in USA today, and/or why they believe what they do. I feel that this is a great way to dramatically show that regardless of your opinion on other religions, belief is a huge part of all of them. In America, I think we need more dialogue about our differing opinions on religion and other aspects to help connect us.

Home 2-Spring-2011 Freedom of Religion

Speaker one: Everyone is guranteed their pursuit of happiness throughout life, many people chose to be happy and live through their religion. Should you be allowed to worship whatever and where ever you want? Even if it causes confluct and tension in a community or area? This has been a problem plaguing America, especially seen since the events of nine- eleven.

Speaker one: " assalamu alaikum." My name is (CONSIDER A NEW NAME) Muhammed and I am considered a muslim. I have been born and raised as an American, however, my parents are both from Pakistan. They made the pilgrimage from their home land to New York when they were both young in order to make a better life for the family they wanted to raise. I always had a normal home life like any child in America. I went to school like everyone, played the sports I loved (especially soccer), and even played the drums like a lot of kids in American schools do. The only difference is instead of going to church on sundays like a lot of my friends, I would instead attend the Mosque's sermons on friday.

Speaker two: Hello there. My name is Bobby and I am considered to be a christian. I have been born and raised in America like my whole family has been for generations now. For the past fifty years my family has been living in New York and it's a great town I would never want to leave. I have so much pride in this city and believe that it has the power to do great things. I attended public school like many kids, and was always playing a sport (my favorite though was football), and I even sang in the school choir for a while. Like most of my friends I attended church on Sunday with my family, it was the thing to do.

Speaker one: Living in New York has taught me so much about culture. I've learned how to work and interact well with people. But things have never been the same since the events of nine-eleven. Since only a handful of extremists in my religion from a different country attacked America I am now having to go through my days feeling isolated and different. I grew up like any other American, just because I look different, and believe in something different, I still lived the same life and did the same activities. I even had a very close friend who died in the plane crashing into the twin towers and I am just as angry as any other American and New Yorkers especially. So I don't understand why everyone is angry at me and my faith when my family and I have done nothing wrong.

Speaker two: My pride in my city has only grew since the events of nine- eleven. I'm currently serving in New York city as chief of our local fire station. On the day the plans crashed into the towers I was one of the first on the scene and made sure to help everyone I could find right away. It was all such a big blur when it happened. There was so much debris, smoke and panic that it was overwhelming to be around and even now I can't help but feel a bit choked up thinking about all the hurt people I was helping and all the people I couldn't help. I'm far from racist or judgmental but after experiencing the events of nine- eleven first hand I can't help but still feel uncomfortable around Muslims in my city... it just feels wrong.

Speaker one: I don't know about you, but there needs to be change in my opinion. Have you heard about the new Mosque and facility they want to build at ground zero? This sounds like a fascinating idea to bring people together and to expose what our culture is really about. I feel like it will really bring people closer and ease some of the tension. Seeing as how its not only a place for my faith to worship but also a center with a gym and other facilities it could really bring people together to show we are no different then any other American except we worship a different way.

Speaker two: All this pain and suffering I had to watch first hand and now they want to build a Mosque at ground zero? Isn't that letting them win pretty much? While they are at it why not put a big flag saying "You win terrorists!" Freedom of religion or not doesn't anyone but me see what is totally wrong with this? Does freedom of religion have no bounds? Thousands of Americans suffered at the hands of Muslims, extremists but part of the muslim religion all the same, and now they are building their place of worship where they killed us? I've already started talking to lawyers and getting some guys from the fire station together to start fighting this, we plan to take it as far as it needs to go.

//Not sure where to end this.... any ideas???//