Name: Episode 5: Silent Letters by radiosilence
Duration: 29 min 44 s
Description: An Iraqi tells us about the absence of certain sounds in the Arabic language, and a veteran reads letters from her former grade school teacher’s class, sent to her while in combat and never answered. A veteran and an Iraqi refugee meet for the first time at dinner in Philadelphia, only to realize they were once on the same bridge at the same time in Iraq.

Promo — Episode 4: Shyness and Withdrawal

We’ll hear about a soldier’s refusal of tea and how that led him to work toward rediscovering his and Iraq’s humanity, eventually leading him back to Iraq. We’ll also hear about the unlikely love story between our host Bahjat and his wife Hayfaa.

Episode 4: Shyness and Withdrawal

Promo — Episode 5: Silent Letters

An Iraqi tells us about the absence of certain sounds in the Arabic language, and a veteran reads letters from her former grade school teacher’s class, sent to her while in combat and never answered. A veteran and an Iraqi refugee meet for the first time at dinner in Philadelphia, only to realize they were once on the same bridge at the same time in Iraq.

Episode 5: Silent Letters

Promo — Episode 6: The Censored, the Forbidden, the Disappeared

We’ll hear about Iraqi monuments kept hostage by U.S. troops, denying access to the Iraqis to whom they belong. Listen as we trace the stories of artifacts looted from the Iraq Museum, and hear an Iraqi activist sing a song that was censored during Saddam Hussein’s rule.

Episode 6: The Censored, the Forbidden, the Disappeared

Promo — Episode 7: Stillness, and Still Here. Resilience. Remaining.

Our final episode: Listen to an American combat veteran recall Iraqi samoon bread, which he refers to as white gold. Hear the song of the Iraqi bulbul bird, the first sound ever broadcast on Radio Baghdad, reincarnated in Philadelphia. And listen to Bahjat’s legacy live on in the voice of his daughter Rawnak, broadcasting from Amman, also known as the ancient city of Philadelphia.

Episode 7: Stillness, and Still Here. Resilience. Remaining. (broadcast version)

Our final episode: Listen to an American combat veteran recall Iraqi samoon bread, which he refers to as white gold. Hear the song of the Iraqi bulbul bird, the first sound ever broadcast on Radio Baghdad, reincarnated in Philadelphia. And listen to Bahjat’s legacy live on in the voice of his daughter Rawnak, broadcasting from Amman, also known as the ancient city of Philadelphia. 

Listener Advisory: This episode contains brief instances of language that may be offensive to some listeners.

Episode 7: Stillness, and Still Here. Resilience. Remaining. (explicit version)

Radio Silence continues with the premiere of Michael Rakowitz's highly anticipated radio series. This special radio event will be broadcast on WPPM PhillyCAM radio and other community radio stations across the country, and distributed nationally by PRX (Public Radio Exchange). 

Radio Silence, produced by Mural Arts Philadelphia, first launched with a live performance on Independence Mall in Philadelphia on July 30, 2017 and a simulcast on PhillyCAM TV. The project can be seen as an alternative form of public art — trading the street corner for the public airwaves, and representation via images for evocation via voice and sound. Partners include Warrior Writers, Prometheus Radio project, and PhillyCAM.

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Major support for Radio Silence has been provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Hummingbird Foundation. Project collaborators and partners include a host of agencies and nonprofits that work on refugee and veteran issues, as well as independent community-driven media nonprofits.

Episode 5: Silent Letters

radiosilence

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