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There is something about the voice of Ira Glass on This American Life that has this spark to it. It draws attention. My ears, which succumb so easily to the ticking sounds of the clock during lectures, have no problem at all finding interest in the stories broadcast on NPR.
24 Hours at the Golden Apple. Notes on Camp. 81 Words. All of these stories I remember fondly, reciting my favorite quotes to my friends after I’m done with each episode. Listening to them while I’m supposed to be studying.
Why is that? That I can care more sometimes for a vignette by David Sedaris than my discussion grade?
While I excuse it for lack of discipline most of the time, I think there’s something more. To me, it’s more than a radio show. It gives me something to look forward to. Every Sunday night, I download my podcast. My hour long break.
And it doesn’t just happen with school. It happens with faith all the time. More, I think, than school. More with my reading Qur’an than my reading an assignment. More with my prayer than with my paper writing. And I can’t help but feel guilty.
Maybe if I had Ira Glass recite my Qur’an, I wouldn’t feel so guilty.
By
Hafsa Arain
|
May 15, 2007; 1:03 AM ET
| Category:
Salaam Chicago
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Posted by: Colleen | May 28, 2007 10:08 PM
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Whoa, sorry this is so after the fact...
But! I really enjoy this entry and relate to it especially these days. It's easy to get distracted in college, actually, impossible not to. So I often find myself having to back up every now and again and say "Wow, I haven't REALLY prayed in a while..." or "I need to really work on staying in touch with family and friends from back home."
It happens to everyone in different ways, but it's also good to have those enjoyable distractions, like the Ira Glass for you.