July 24, 2009
When Islamic convert Michael Muhammad Knight wrote a novel about Muslim-American punk rockers, The Taqwacores, he thought it was a fantasy. Turns out he was onto something. Soon he was the guest of honor at the first mosh pit in Pakistan. Produced by Nick Heling.
Near the end of this very interesting story, one of the members of the band uttered very vulgar words about George W Bush. I did not know you could broadcast crude language, just because it is not in the English language.
An overwhelming majority of Americans will not be offended or feel uncomfortable, as they are not familiar with that language (Urdu/Hindi), but I am sure many South Asians were shocked, to say the least.
Loved this week's show and I loved the Taqwacores segment! I interviewed Michael Muhammad Knight in 2005 (http://bit.ly/PhWah) and it's fascinating to hear where The Taqwacores has taken him!
Please keep your comments relevant to this entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments. All comments on Studio 360 are moderated. Studio 360 reserves the right to edit any comments posted on this site. Please read the studio360.org Comment Guidelines before posting.
<< Back to Episode
Studio 360 is a co-production of
Public
Radio International and
WNYC New York Public Radio, and is funded in part by
Ken and Lucy Lehman, the
National Endowment for the Arts, and the Lily Auchincloss Foundation. Studio 360's American Icons series is supported in part by the
National Endowment for the Humanities. Our series on creativity and science is supported in part by the
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Our series on Underground Heroes is supported in part by the New York State Music Fund, established by the New York State Attorney General at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. 
