it s a big night for the national book foundation, for literature, culture, the big night for all of us. whenever i have the opportunity to stand in front of people i always mention my mother s name, irma jean christin. she is the reason i like to say about my mother i am th imed amm because she is the woman she is or was. my mother was my first teacher. my mother graduated from college the age of 17 the first person i17 in the firstperson in her fo college for me to be a well-known literary advocate in this nation, a place where only a few generations ago it would have been illegal for me to read is no small thing. [applause] literature is the birthright of every single one of us if you can read in at least one language you are in my definition free. that is to say no one can pull the wool over your eyes are give you what they want to call alternative facts and convince you what you know to be true is in fact not true at all. if you can read at least one language, you have t
we are going to have a great night tonight. we are honoring literary liens, emma white will be honored, a big night for the massive national book foundation for literature, culture, a big night for all of us. when i have the ability to stand in front of people i mention my mother s name jean christian. she is the reason i like to say about my mother i am the man that i am because she is the woman sheis or was . my mother was my first teacher. my mother graduated from college at the age of 17, the first person in her family to go to college . for me to be a well-known literary advocate in this nation, a place where only a scant few generations ago it would have been illegal for me to read is no small thing. [applause] literature is the birthrightof every single one of us, no exception and if you can read in at least one language youare in my definition free . that is to say , no one can pull the wall over your eyes. no one can give you a set of what they want to call alternati
here and we need to continue to amplify the needs of the island. woodruff: all that and more, on tonight s pbs newshour. major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: moving our economy for 160 years. bnsf, the engine that connects us. the ford foundation. working with visionaries on the frontlines of social change worldwide. and with the ongoing support of these institutions: and friends of the newshour. this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. woodruff: a mosque in egypt s sinai peninsula was the scene of mayhem and carnage today. at least 235 people were killed, and more than 100 injured, as militants attacked a crowded house of worship during friday prayers in the town of bir al- abd. the attackers detonated explosives and shot worshippers as they tried to escape. egypt s government declared three days of mourning. president trump condemn
amplify the needs of the island. woodruff: all that and more, on tonight s pbs newshour. major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: moving our economy for 160 years. bnsf, the engine that connects us. the ford foundation. working with visionaries on the frontlines of social change worldwide. and with the ongoing support of these institutions: and friends of the newshour. this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. woodruff: a mosque in egypt s sinai peninsula was the scene of mayhem and carnage today. at least 235 people were killed, and more than 100 injured, as militants attacked a crowded house of worship during friday prayers in the town of bir al- abd. the attackers detonated explosives and shot worshippers as they tried to escape. egypt s government declared three days of mourning. president trump condemned the attack, and spoke this af
loong. his nation has got many kudos for its handling of the coronavirus crisis. what lessons might america learn from what that city state did? also, should the healthy and young among us go back to work, even if it means more infections? that s what some have suggested, from politicians to businessmen. we ll talk about what it would mean. but first, here s my take. when a crisis hits the united states, the country s general instinct is to rally around the flag, wish the best for its leaders. that s probably why president trump has seen his approval ratings rise even though he s had a delayed and fitful approach to the pandemic. but at some point we americans must look at the facts and recognize an uncomfortable reality. the united states is on track to have the worst outbreak of coronavirus among wealthy countries. largely because of the ineffectiveness of its government. this is the new face of american exceptionalism. the united states now has the most cases of covid-19