The State We're In, 21 August 2010. A mother continues to campaign for her son 'disappeared' by the Algerian government. Debbie Brewer tells Jonathan what it has taken to finally turn her life around and come off crystal meth. Annette and her daughter Ayanna discover that through illness, violence and escaping to another country that some bonds can’t be broken and listener Gayle Fleming gets to discuss her story during the Civil Rights Era with Alabama pastor Thomas Lane Butts.
Photo: Ayanna Nahmias and her mother Annette McGee
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The mother that never gives up
When Nassera Dutour’s son Amine was “disappeared” by the Algerian government, she started the kind of long, determined, impassioned campaign to find him that only a mother has the strength to see through, as featured in the French documentary "Chanson pour Amine". As she tells Jonathan, more than a decade may have passed, but she refuses to believe he’s dead.
The reformed mother
Debbie Brewer was given beer to quiet her down as an infant. It led to a life of drink and drugs. She would even give her own child some whisky to quieten him down. But now she’s a changed woman, spending her time feeding the poor and trying to make amends.
The mother and the daughter
Ayanna Nahmias loved Africa. She lived there as a young girl with her African American mother, father and twin siblings. But when her father became violent, things changed dramatically. They became virtual prisoners in their own house. It took three and a half years of careful planning to escape. But the strain of returning to America, led to resentments, divisions and eventually, reconciliation.
Pastor Butts and the listener
When we spoke to the Alabama pastor Thomas Lane Butts a few weeks ago, listener Gayle Fleming was so moved by the white minister’s bravery in the Civil Rights Era that she could not leave her car until the end of the interview. We bring the two of them together so she could ask him a few burning questions.
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Debbie, the recovering meth addict was such a truthful, beautiful humble soul. She made me want to tell her that life does love her and she is enough. She does not have to know how to be a mom, she just has to be willing to try, And trust. life will show up for her in ways unimaginable. I want to tell her that love is boundless and has all the wisdom we could ever need
That life wants her here. That her children have hope as long as they are alive, and that she is an inspiration to me, a middle aged, middle income, suburbanite, grandmother.
I'm glad she's is here.
We need these stories to teach ourselves about ourselves. Thank you to those who share, those who collect these truths, and those who disseminate these insights. I am deeply moved, touched and connected. Wishing us all peace.
These were such wonderful, honest, and true stories. I enjoyed each and every one. My mother was a single parent and I'm her only child, so I really identified with these mother/child stories. I thank you for making them available and choosing this subject that is so significant for me.
Excellent program. Just finished listening Saturday, Aug. 21, 2010 at 20:09 in Arlington, Virginia; across the river from Washington, D.C. Thank you for producing and sharing these moving and thought-provoking programs.
Riveting
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