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CNN Sunday Morning

Bush on His Way to Moscow; A Look at No Child Left Behind

Aired May 08, 2005 - 07:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is on his way to Moscow, where history will be made and diplomacy tested.
Good morning from the CNN Center in Atlanta. This is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It is May 8th, Mother's Day. Good morning, Tony.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Happy Mother's Day.

NGUYEN: To all you mothers out there.

HARRIS: Happy Mother's Day. My mom, my wife...

NGUYEN: I know, Happy Mother's Day, mom.

HARRIS: ...my mother-in-law, my buddy in town. And good morning, everyone, I'm Tony Harris. 7:00 a.m. here in the East and 5:00 a.m. in the west. Thank you for being with us. Let's get you started this morning with headlines now in the news.

The U.S. Army says it nabbed a suspected terror cell leader and a former Saddam Hussein officer, who's been planning terror attacks across Baghdad. The two were caught in a series of raids across Iraq that corralled a total of 87 suspected terrorists yesterday. And today, U.S. forces also found a large weapons cache.

It's the news a mother doesn't want to hear. We now know the names of two Americans killed in yesterday's suicide car bombings in Iraq. Brandon Thomas seen here was from Salt Lake City. He was killed with Todd Vinetta of White Hall, Arkansas. Both were U.S. military veterans working for private U.S. security contractor.

The multi million dollar systems designed to keep you safe aren't up to specs and will cost the U.S. billions more to fix. The New York Times today reports much of the homeland security equipment purchased after 9/11 is ineffective, unreliable, or too expensive to operate.

CNN has also reported on technological problems facing homeland security like inconsistent radiation monitoring, and airport screening glitches.

NGUYEN: Here's a look at what else is coming up this hour. While the president honors war heroes in Europe, we recognize those right here on American soil. On this Mother's Day, we have a story of heroes at home.

Then, there's a story of Melvin, failing at school and only in the third grade? We'll take an in-depth look at the high stakes of saving our schools.

And speaking of school, you, too, can be an idol to your peers if you take this class.

HARRIS: President Bush is expected to land in Moscow about two hours from now. Mr. Bush is on a four nation tour centered around the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II and Europe. This morning, Mr. Bush honored fallen soldiers.

CNN's John King is in the Netherlands.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The president took part in a solemn ceremony in an American military cemetery here, paying tribute to those who lost their lives in the military campaign against the Nazis that ended 60 years ago this week.

With Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Mr. Bush took part in a wreath laying ceremony, then paid tribute to the some 8300 Americans buried in Dutch soil just 20 miles from the German border.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The world's tyrants learned a lesson. There is no power like the power of freedom. And no soldier as strong as a soldier who fights for that freedom.

KING: The Netherlands and its prime minister supported Mr. Bush in his decision to go to war in Iraq. But that war is, of course, quite unpopular across Europe. Yet Mr. Bush made the case in his speech at the cemetery that the war in Iraq is very much in the same vein as the campaign to rid Europe from the grip of the Nazis.

BUSH: The 21st century unfolds before us. Americans and Europeans are continuing to work together and are bringing freedom and hope to places where it has long been denied in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Lebanon, and across the broader Middle East.

Freedom is the permanent hope of mankind. And when that hope is made real for all people, it will be because of the sacrifices of a new generation of men and women as selfless and dedicated to liberty as those we honor today.

KING: From the Netherlands onto to Moscow, where Mr. Bush will have a private dinner Sunday night with Russian President Vladimir Putin before joining other world leaders in taking part in a major military parade in Red Square on Monday commemorating the 60th anniversary of the victory over the Nazis.

Now Mr. Bush says it is fitting to pay tribute to the extraordinary Russian sacrifice in the war 60 years ago. But his visit to Moscow comes at a time of growing differences with Mr. Putin. The White House, for example, says Mr. Putin has slowed, if not reversed, Russia's commitment to democracy. Mr. Bush also is upset about Russian nuclear cooperation with Iran and Mr. Putin's decision to ignore White House objections and go forward with missile sales to Syria.

So this visit puts very much to the test Mr. Bush's longstanding view that his deep personal bond with Mr. Putin is strong enough to overcome major policy differences.

John King, CNN, Mostrich, the Netherlands.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: The signing of the Berlin armistice ended the war in Europe 60 years ago. It marked a moment of joy in the allied countries following years of great sacrifices.

61 countries were involved in World War II. 55 million people were killed.

Britain's Prince Charles was among those laying wreaths at a London cemetery this morning. A VE commemoration concert will be held in Trafalgar Square later today.

And ceremonies in Paris today included a military parade along the Champs Elysees. President Jacques Chirac laid a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

In Berlin, there was a memorial service as well as ceremonies took place in parliament.

HARRIS: New developments in Iraq's government. After months of delays, the National Assembly filled six vacant cabinet seats today. Four of the six posts go to the Sunni minority.

For the most part, they boycotted the January election and were underrepresented in the new government. The key defense ministry position will be headed by a Sunni. So will the oil ministry post, the human rights minister, and the deputy prime minister.

NGUYEN: There is mixed reaction today to the reopening of four of the Atlanta child murder cases. Wayne Williams is serving life sentences for two of those murders. After his convictions, Atlanta police said he was responsible for most of the other 27 killings that happened between 1979 and 1981.

The police chief of Dekalb County, Georgia is now forming a cold case squad to reexamine four of those deaths. Louis Graham was an investigator in the murder cases a quarter century ago. He believes Williams is innocent.

Graham spoke to CNN affiliate WAGA.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LOUIS GRAHAM, CHIEF, DEKALB CO., GEORGIA POLICE: Well, the cases was packed up. They had not been solved. And they were just sitting there collecting dust. So I decided that I would try to open up a cold case squad, so that we could begin to look at not only these cases, but other closed cases. But in my interest, more particularly these cases. I think, yes, it's definitely a plus that we will have some young officers, you know, with fresh ideas, fresh investigative skills to begin looking at these cases.

It has a hold of me. It has absolutely -- this case has had a hold of me ever since February the 28th. And I can tell you that's the day Wayne Williams was convicted. That's my birthday. And I felt an (INAUDIBLE) when he was convicted. I felt that if in this sense, and yes, it has had a hold of me ever since.

And you know, I just can't seem to turn it loose. Quite frankly, I don't think Wayne Williams is responsible for anything. I don't think he did anything. So I made up my mind for that over 20 years ago. And I still feel that way.

I can give you mounds of information that convinced me that he was innocent. If we can solve one case, then I'm satisfied with that. But at this point, there are just too many open questions. And all I'm trying to do is answer those questions as best we can.

If we can't, that's just the way it is.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me read you something from some of the coverage of Patrick Baltazar's case.

He was eulogized by his fifth grade class at Bethune Elementary School. And wrote a poem here. I want to read it to you.

It said, 'The police and the news people came and went and all our hearts with no content. No one could rest until we knew, whatever, whatever happened to you."

GRAHAM: That's right.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hope to find out what happened to Patrick Baltazar?

GRAHAM: Yes. I hope to find out. Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It struck me, too, when I read it that children...

GRAHAM: You know, I didn't know that, but that's what I'm trying to do. So maybe there is -- there can be justice for Patrick. I don't know. But at least he knows that we won't forget. He knows that we haven't forgotten. I haven't forgotten. And maybe what this -- what this is all about.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: The prosecutor on the Williams case says there is no new evidence to warrant reopening the case, but Williams' attorney is asking for a new trial.

The president wants no child left behind, but critics say it could have devastating consequences. We will bring you the story of one boy, who's been held back three times.

HARRIS: And don't forget that special women in your life. Yes, it is Mother's Day. And we wish all of our mothers a very special day. And thank you, thank you, thank you for all -- oh, look at the baby.

NGUYEN: Oh, that's Mother's Day.

HARRIS: We were all babies.

NGUYEN: At one time.

HARRIS: With moms who changed the -- and that brings us to our e-mail question of the day. What's better for kids, a mother who stays at home or a mother who works outside the home? Weigh in on the so-called mommy wars.

Send us your thoughts at weekends@cnn.com. We'll read your responses throughout the morning and a point in fact, throughout the day.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Also want to give you some interesting facts on this Mother's Day. Only 23 percent of U.S. businesses offer paid maternity leave for working mothers. Also, most working mothers have less free time than they did years ago, averaging only 54 minutes a day of personal time.

CNN LIVE SUNDAY continues in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: And checking stories across America this morning, in New Jersey, Peter Rodino, the man who led President Nixon's impeachment hearing, has died. Rodino was House Judiciary Committee Chairman when the panel approved the articles of impeachment just before Nixon stepped down in 1974. Peter Rodino was 95.

A Coast Guard chopper had to rescue two men off the coast of North Carolina after their sailboat got caught in rough seas. The boat had engine trouble and was taking on water. The men tethered themselves to the boat until help arrived, a move Coast Guard officials say probably saved their lives.

A New York City area parking meter officer has been accused of stealing more than $30,000. Listen to this, one quarter at a time. Jason Berke has been charged with grand larceny. He was suspected after meter revenue dipped dramatically in Westchester County. If convicted, Berke faces up to seven years in prison.

A stain on a Chicago overpass is once again drawing visitors after getting clean-up job. Some believe the stain looks like the Virgin Mary. But on Thursday, someone scrolled the words "big lie" over the image. Two car wash employees cleaned up the graffiti. Now the faithful are coming back for a look. NGUYEN: Well, she may look like a mother at home with her kids, but she's really a war hero. Aaron Brown has that story coming up this hour.

HARRIS: President Bush's no child left behind program is being put to the test again as the school year ends. It's designed to make schools more accountable and end social promotion, the practice of promoting students even if they don't meet academic requirements.

But critics say it could have some devastating consequences. "CNN PRESENTS" examines the battle to save our schools in a special report.

Here's a snippet, narrated by award winning filmmaker, Stanley Nelson.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MELVIN LOVE JUNIOR, STUDENT: I have to get up at 6:00 and go to the bus stop at 7:15 to the west side.

STANLEY NELSON, FILMMAKER: Every morning, Melvin Love Junior travels to school from the cramped apartment where he lives with his mother and three siblings.

Like every third grader in the state, Melvin must pass the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test or FCAT to be promoted to the fourth grade.

LOVE: There is a lot of test taking in school. We take tests every week. And I don't like it.

NELSON: What Melvin really doesn't like are the consequences of his test scores.

LOVE: When I got my last report card, it said on the thing that I am retained in third grade.

NELSON: Most third graders are eight or nine years old. But Melvin is 11. That's because he has been held back three times.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And tell me the life span of star fish? Average life span? Melvin?

LOVE: Seven.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Melvin is a student who I think could have handled fourth grade. He is at the top of our class. If a teacher would have had a say, he would have been in the fourth grade and he would be just fine in fourth grade, but now he becomes another statistic.

NELSON: Melvin is just one of the 45,000 third graders across the state of Florida who failed the FCAT last year. At Melvin's school, Blanton Elementary, 41 percent of the third grade class flunked. LOVE: I get nervous when I take the test. That is a lot of pressure on kids.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you think about retaining a child in grade, it's a social death. They don't move forward. If a child is retained once in grade, there's a 50 percent chance that they will be drop outs. Twice, it's a virtual certainty. Up to 90 percent. This then becomes a pathway to the criminal justice system, not that all of them end up there, but rather that in the criminal justice system, about 90 percent or more of them are dropouts from school.

NELSON: But promoting children who fail is worse, according to Jay Greene of the Manhattan Institute.

JAY GREENE, MANHATTAN INSTITUTE: What actually produces positive psychological development is actually learning the skills that you're supposed to learn. And so, telling students, lying to students essentially by saying you're ready to go to the next grade, even if you're not, doesn't even help them emotionally.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: "CNN PRESENTS High Stakes: The Battle to Save our Schools." It premieres tonight at 8:00 Eastern.

NGUYEN: Two women from different eras and different wars, well they come together to help each other in the face of tragedy. We will bring you those stories.

HARRIS: And your vote really does count, at least in this class, it's filled with armchair -- well actually maybe we should say school chair American Idol judges. Details ahead. Once again, our e-mail question of the day, what's better for kids, a mother who stays at home or a mother who works outside of the home?

Send us your thoughts. Now Betty, we've changed the address a little bit.

NGUYEN: Yes, we have. Weekends@cnn.com.

HARRIS: Yes. Well see, I always thought it was weekends, but what was it before?

NGUYEN: Well, it was wam. And we still have that one...

HARRIS: Right.

NGUYEN: ...but we're expanding it today because this e-mail question will run all day long. So we want you to keep sending them in. And we'll read those responses all day long.

HARRIS: Wonderful, Betty. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: All right, here's -- OK, this is only fodder for a friend of mine who thinks that we -- these e-mail questions just a waste of time in the morning.

NGUYEN: I don't think it's a waste of time.

HARRIS: It's interactive. It's interactive. This is what -- it's interactive. And folks play with us.

ROB MARCIANO, METEOROLOGIST: During the (INAUDIBLE).

HARRIS: Yes, but here's the problem. We have a real -- you see we've changed the e-mail address. It's now back to the old address. OK? Wam@cnn.com because we have a technical, glitchy problem...

NGUYEN: With the new address.

HARRIS: The same kind of problem that homeland security is having with all the equipment they bought up. You see, it's a technical problem.

NGUYEN: Now do you throw that in, Tony?

HARRIS: Well, it's just tying it all together.

NGUYEN: All right, bottom line, here's the question. Send it to wam@cnn.com this morning. We can get those in that mailbox.

HARRIS: OK.

NGUYEN: The other one doesn't work just yet.

HARRIS: Well, Betty, give them the question again.

NGUYEN: The question is what is better for kids? A mother who stays at home...

HARRIS: Yes.

NGUYEN: ...or a mother who works outside the home? So send us your thoughts. Again, wam@cnn.com.

MARCIANO: What does wam stand for?

NGUYEN: Weekend a.m.

HARRIS: Well, exactly. I was a little confused by that as well. But OK, now I'm weekend a.m. Cnn.com. We have truly wasted enough time there.

NGUYEN: All right, moving on. No doubt more than one mint julep was knocked over and hey a few knocked back as the Kentucky Derby surprise finish. Giacomo, a 50 to 1 long shot took home the roses in a classic out of nowhere victory.

Before yesterday's race, get this, the horse had won just one, one of his seven previous races. Bellamy Roe, the horse owned by George Steinbrenner, that had been the favorite, well that one finished seventh. And by the way, Giacomo is owned by a recording executive and named after musician Sting's son. And the payoff? Well, for each dollar, oh gosh I wish I would have bet some money...

HARRIS: Oh, yes, yes.

NGUYEN: Each dollar bet on Giacomo, $102.60 was returned.

HARRIS: And because of that, because Rob did bet with Giacomo...

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: And time now to take a look at some of the stories that will be in the news this week. The U.S. Senate reconvenes Monday. On its list of things to do, settle the filibuster fight. The dispute centers on Republican judicial nominees and the Democratic senators who have been moving to block their confirmation process.

On Friday, the Pentagon will release its list of military base closings. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld first said the military would close 20 to 25 percent of the bases, but that's been cut in half. A commission is reviewing the capabilities, economic impact, and manpower of U.S. military bases.

And all this week, CNN celebrates its 25th anniversary by being a category on Jeopardy. Play along. Test your knowledge and revisit CNN's greatest history.

NGUYEN: Exciting stuff there. All right, coming up, CNN SUNDAY MORNING. If you like playing judge while watching "American Idol," I know we all do...

HARRIS: Sure.

NGUYEN: ...why not get some credit for your picks? We're talking about school credit. We'll show you how. The score in the classroom.

HARRIS: Plus, heroes at home. Two women brought together by wartime tragedy help each other through some difficult times.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HOLLY FIRFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Half of all people who start a fitness program quit in the first six months. And there seems to be two primary reasons why. First, many, it seems, are afraid they can't do exercises correctly or that they look bad doing them. Others are fearful of having their bodies judged negatively by others. Women are especially vulnerable.

To avoid these common pitfalls, experts suggest comparison shop for a fitness experience that matches your needs and personality. Maybe that's a women's only gym or exercising outdoors on a nature walking trail. Avoid large classes if you want to work out more than you want to socialize. And if you need support and motivation, joining a group or hiring a personal trainer at the gym may be your best option.

Holly Firfer, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: On this Mother's Day, a story of friendship, born of war and remembrance.

I want to welcome you back to CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: I'm Tony Harris. That story just ahead. First, a look at the news this morning.

NGUYEN: President Bush observed V.E. Day in the Netherlands this morning. He honored fallen World War II soldiers as he spoke at a cemetery where more than 8,000 U.S. veterans are buried. The president's Dutch visit is part of his four-nation tour to commemorate the end of World War II in Europe.

But the main event is tomorrow. Mr. Bush will be among some 50 world leaders attending a victory day parade in Moscow's Red Square. The president is on his way to Russia right now, and he will meet this evening with President Vladimir Putin, amid tensions over the former Soviet Union's wartime legacy.

Now to Iraq. Its national assembly has finally filled six vacancies in the cabinet, including ministers for defense and oil. Four of the posts went to Sunnis. It's an effort to give a larger voice to the Sunni minority in this new government.

Well, we usually bring you stories about the heroes at war. But on this Mother's Day, we have a story of heroes back home. CNN's Aaron Brown now with the story of two women now bonded by war.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AARON BROWN, HOST, "NEWSNIGHT" (voice-over): This is the story of two very different women from two very different times.

JACKIE LIVAUDAIS, HUSBAND KILLED IN IRAQ: Who's this?

DESTRE LIVAUDAIS, SON OF JACKIE LIVAUDAIS: Daddy?

BROWN: Jackie Livaudais, a mother of three, was one of the first widows of the war in Iraq.

J. LIVAUDAIS: Destre, he -- he misses everything about him. He just -- he loved -- loved Daddy every way. He misses working with him. He misses cuddling with him. I know he really misses Daddy's telling him (ph) he's proud of him. But we all try to do that for him.

When the boys ask why? Why did God take him (ph)? It's hard -- hard to hear. But it's the only answer I have, which is he's needed more up there right now. And of course, it's hard to understand why.

BROWN: Karen Spears Zacharias was the child of another war, searching for a father who left for Vietnam when she was 9 and never came back.

KAREN SPEARS ZACHARIAS, AUTHOR, "HERO MAMA": Why in the world did life continue? Didn't -- didn't the world understand my father was dead. And how could they go on and just act like nothing had happened? Because everything had happened different for me from that point on.

And I was angry at my mother over that. I was angry at my dad. I was angry at God.

BROWN: That anger haunted Zacharias for years. The book that grew from that anger, "Hero Mama," is her story and the story of her mother.

ZACHARIAS: I almost can't stand the way that this is being replayed in people's live every day because of the war in Iraq. I look at Jackie Livaudais. She was 22 when Nino died. She was five months pregnant. She had two little boys. I look at Jackie Livaudais, and I see my mother. I hear my mom's story.

J. LIVAUDAIS: We've become good friends because we have that loss in common, but so much more than just a loss. When somebody can understand it and actually articulate and relate to the boys, they love it.

Karen's been a great friend, but she's also been the view from the child's eyes that I need.

ZACHARIAS: When you're that child, it just doesn't matter. Your dad's gone. He's gone for the rest of your life. He's not there when you drive your first car. He's not there when you take your first date. He's not there when you get married.

BROWN: What you have, all you have, are memories.

J. LIVAUDAIS: OK, you tell me a story about Daddy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was a great man. And he was strong (ph).

D. LIVAUDAIS: I remember he was a good guy. He -- he took care of us. I just keep those pictures in my room, because I love him. But it doesn't help Daddy (ph).

J. LIVAUDAIS: Every kid has a picture of their dad in their room. And they'll sleep with the picture when they're having a rough night, because they know that bad things are scared of Dad. Dad's pretty tough and strong. So all the widows, all the kids, they all have -- the kids all have their tear-stained pillows, I believe. I think they all do. They're always going to have that pain. Their shadow now.

BROWN: Karen Zacharias, the adult, is never far from Karen, the child, someone who knows too much about loss and a lot about possibility.

ZACHARIAS: I'm just there because I would have given anything as a young girl to have that person there for me or to have someone come along and befriend my mom. What I hope it brings to them is a sense of hope, that when Jackie Livaudais looks at me, what Jackie Livaudais sees is that her kids are going to be OK. That she's going to miss him, but as long as she loves those boys with all of her heart, mind and soul the way my mom loved me, they will know that she was a terrific mother. She is a terrific mother.

BROWN: Another hero mama in a long line.

Aaron Brown, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: We bring you "Hero Stories" every week on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

HARRIS: You know that "American Idol" TV show that half the free world watches?

NGUYEN: I heard about it, yes.

HARRIS: It's quite a phenomenal.

NGUYEN: A what?

HARRIS: Anyway, now you can -- you can get school credit, we understand, for watching it. Coming up on CNN SUNDAY MORNING, we're going to talk to the professor who came up with the idea.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: You're watching CNN SUNDAY MORNING with Betty Nguyen and Tony Harris.

HARRIS: And checking our top stories this morning, President Bush is on his way to Russia right now. Earlier today, he paid tribute to fallen World War II soldiers during a V.E. Day ceremony at a U.S. military cemetery in the Netherlands.

Britain's Prince Charles joined war veterans in London in commemorating the end of World War II. The prince, along with current and former members of the armed forces, laid a wreath at a memorial.

And in Iraq, the national assembly has finally completed its cabinet, filling six vacancies. Four of the posts are being filled by the Sunni minority, including the defense ministry and oil ministry positions.

NGUYEN: Where do you go when your life becomes tabloid fodder? How about "Saturday Night Live," of all places?

The late night comedy show took its turns picking on the judging scandal surrounding "American Idol's" Paula Abdul and her relationship with a former contestant. Oh, my goodness. Look at this. "SNL" opened this week with a parody of the show but ended with a skit that had a little bit of a twist. Check it out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAULA ABDUL, JUDGE, "AMERICAN IDOL": All right. Great sketch, you guys. I've just got three notes. Chris, great impression but you need to wear a push-up T-shirt. Keenan, you need about 14 more "dogs." And Amy, you need to perfect the clap a little more.

AMY POEHLER, ACTOR, "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE": OK.

ABDUL: And be a lot more sexier so that contestants will be willing to sleep with you. And be willing to admit we're live from New York. It's Saturday night.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: All right, then. Well, that skit may cause you to chuckle. Some people take "American Idol" quite seriously.

HARRIS: Yes.

NGUYEN: Serious business, folks. At the University of North Carolina Charlotte, there is a course called "Examining 'American Idol' Through Musical Critique." Joining me now is Professor James Grymes, who teaches that very course.

Good morning and thanks for being with us. All right. Where were you when I was in school? You know? I mean, I didn't have courses like this. Tell me about this course. Where did you come up with the idea?

JAMES GRYMES, PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CHARLOTTE: The course is about critiquing musical performances. I'm a big fan of the show, and I was watching last season. I started seeing more of the technical terms some of the judges were using and terms that really aren't truly technical, like "pitchy" is a term they like to use a lot.

And I started thinking wouldn't it be nice to actually explain to a few people what they actually mean by pitchy, what it means to be in tune and be right on pitch and how singers could correct that. And that gave me the idea for offering this class.

NGUYEN: I'll tell you what, it sounds like so much fun, and you actually get credit for this course? So...

GRYMES: That's correct. NGUYEN: ... when it comes to this credit, how do you justify that? What makes this course worth three college credits?

GRYMES: Well, first of all, it's an elective course, so it doesn't count towards your graduation credits.

NGUYEN: I see.

GRYMES: It's just something extra for the students. It's a very difficult course, actually. There's a lot of readings we've been doing. We've been studying the history of American popular music. We've been doing a lot of reading into the skill of performance, how to overcome performance fright, what it means to be on stage. There's really a lot involved.

NGUYEN: OK. So when these students are watching "American Idol," is it all opinion when it comes to this course? Or are they learning specific skills, more like you said, it comes to pitch and tone and things like that? Or, like I say, if you're judging, it just seems like it's mostly opinion.

GRYMES: Well, there is a little bit of both. You have to have opinion, but you have to be able to back it up with facts and make suggestions for how performers could correct individual mistakes. You really have to know a lot about what you're talking about if you're going to really back up your opinion.

NGUYEN: Got to back it up. OK. So how are the students backing it up? Who do they think is going to win this contest?

GRYMES: Well, their final paper was a 10-page paper, where they started off with surveying what a critique should look for in a musical performance. Then they had to pick a winner and take that contestant through the past several weeks' shows and compare their performances to performances by other contestants and at the end of the paper sort of summarize that contestant's strengths and weaknesses, using the criteria they'd established in the first part of the paper.

NGUYEN: All right. So bottom line, who are most of the students picking?

GRYMES: About half of them are picking -- I forgot the contestant's name.

NGUYEN: You forgot their name?

GRYMES: It's TV.

NGUYEN: This is your course.

GRYMES: I know. I know.

NGUYEN: All right. We've got some names here. We have Vonzell and Carrie.

GRYMES: That's the one. Yes. That Fantasia's stuck in my brain.

NGUYEN: Do I get an A? Do I get college credit then?

GRYMES: You get an A plus from me today.

NGUYEN: OK.

GRYMES: I had Fantasia stuck in my brain. She was such a wonderful contestant last year.

NGUYEN: Right.

GRYMES: And I couldn't get to Vonzell.

NGUYEN: Right.

GRYMES: Another wonderful performer.

NGUYEN: All right. So look, you know, test those memory skills now. Who do you think should win?

GRYMES: Well, you know, I've been a big Carrie fan for the whole season, but after reading all these papers, the students have actually stated to convince me that Vonzell may be the better contestant.

NGUYEN: All right. And I have to ask you this very quickly. We showed the Paula Abdul skit from "Saturday Night Live." How is that affecting this course? Are students talking about that scandal that's been put out there?

GRYMES: Well, actually, this course has just ended last week, so the scandal broke after then. They really just missed it.

NGUYEN: You missed the good stuff. All right.

GRYMES: The class really isn't about the personalities. It's about the music.

NGUYEN: I see. OK. Going to keep it very educational here.

GRYMES: That's right.

NGUYEN: Professor James Grymes, we appreciate your time.

GRYMES: Thank you very much.

HARRIS: And coming -- are you trying to get him in trouble or something? It's a serious course.

NGUYEN: It is.

HARRIS: It is.

NGUYEN: But he forgot the names of the contestants.

HARRIS: Can't figure that part of it out. Coming up, your employer loses your personal information. What do you do if you get this bit of bad news? Our dot com desk has some tips ahead on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

NGUYEN: First, though, a "CNN Extra." Your parenting style could make your kids get higher test scores, believe it or not. What matters? Well, according to the U.S. Department of Education, it's how much education and money you have by the time you have kids and how involved you are in their school.

So television, museum trips, Head Start and even spanking won't do as much as your own education and career. Interesting.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Identity theft has gone from nuisance to epidemic faster than you can say cable modem. Our dog com desk has put together a list of things you should do to protect yourself. Here's CNN's Christina Park.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTINA PARK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Your mom may have said there's only one of you in the world, but that may not be so true in the digital age. CNNMoney.com's security special helps you stop identity fraud in its tracks.

Let's say your employer lost your personal data or someone cracked into your account. First thing, call the credit bureau and set up a fraud alert. Or sign up for a credit monitoring service. That way if someone tries to set up an account in your name, you'll be one of the first to know.

And be vigilant. Check your credit report every few months for suspicious activity, like a new credit card account you never signed up for.

And could your personal computer be wide open to identity fraud? Aside from the obvious, like installing antivirus software and a firewall, what else can you do? First, be sure to read any terms of agreement before you download anything for free online. You could be saying yes to spyware, software that gathers personal data without your knowledge.

And don't be lazy or too trusting. New viruses are written every day, so keep updating your security software.

And don't open just any e-mail that's dropped into your inbox.

CNNMoney.com/security is here to make sure that me, myself and I stays that way. I'm Christina Park, reporting from the dot com desk.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: We do want to say happy Mother's Day, and we want you to pull out those cards and flowers and show your mom some appreciation today.

HARRIS: Share the love on Mother's Day, which kind of brings us to our e-mail question. Well, we're going to put you in the middle of a war, a dispute. What's better for kids, a mother who stays at home or a mother who works outside of the home? Weigh in, if you choose to. We'll read your answers next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Talking about Mother's Day today, and Rob Marciano, if you don't bring some good weather, mothers all across the nation are going to hold you personally responsible.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: My mom will be happy. The weather's not bad in Dallas today.

HARRIS: Hot time for moms in Hotlanta today.

NGUYEN: Yes.

HARRIS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) To our e-mail question of the day. What do you think? What's better for kids, a mother who stays at home or a mother who works outside of the home? A bunch of responses this morning, once we finally got the technology right.

"The mother best for her children is the one who is happy with her choice and that..."

Did I read the wrong one?

NGUYEN: Yes.

HARRIS: Yes. Sorry.

NGUYEN: That's all right. OK, so this other person writes -- this is Clark in Forsyth, Georgia.

HARRIS: Clark.

NGUYEN: Clark says this morning, "Neither. Moms are moms no matter if they work or stay home. They work out of love for their children, and some families are lucky enough to have spouses, a.k.a. daddies, who have large enough salaries to support stay at home moms and their children."

HARRIS: Yes. OK.

NGUYEN: Keep those thoughts coming to us this morning.

HARRIS: Is that it? Are we just going to do a couple? Is that it?

NGUYEN: Yes. HARRIS: OK. All right. And there's the question, what's better for kids, a mother who stays at home or a mother who works outside the home? And there's the address, WAM@CNN.com.

NGUYEN: The next hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING begins right now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: From the CNN Center this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING, May 8th. Happy Mother's Day out there. It is 8 a.m. at CNN headquarters here in Atlanta. Early 5 a.m. on the west cost. Good morning everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. Thank you for being with us. Let's get you started this morning with headlines now in the news.

President Bush has left the Netherlands headed for Russia. He and the Dutch Queen Beatrix honored World War II dead buried at the American Cemetery there in Moscow. Mr. Bush meets with President Putin and attends the VE Day ceremonies tomorrow. Tuesday the president heads to the former Soviet republic of Georgia.

Other nations are also marking VE Day, the signing of the Berlin armistice ended the war in Europe 60 years ago today. Ceremonies in Paris include a military parade. President Jacques Chirac laid a wreath at the Tomb of France's Unknown Soldier.

Iraq's national assembly this morning approved six names to fill cabinet positions. Four of the six including defense, industry, human rights and deputy prime minister are Sunni Arabs. It's been a way to give a stronger voice to the nation's Sunni minority.

NGUYEN: We have some great stories coming your way this half hour. First up, we'll update you on President Bush's historic journey overseas to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe.

Also we've got...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Remember we've got my decision and I feel very confidant that we absolutely made the right decision.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Mother's Day is for all moms. But it really honors people like Shannon Goldwater. You will hear her incredible story and the life altering decision she had to make when her children were born.

And later, a view of the religious right you may not have seen before, and why many fundamentalist Christians believe George W. Bush is part of a divine plan.

HARRIS: President Bush is on his way to Moscow to join about 50 other world leaders tomorrow in marking the fall of Nazi Germany 60 years ago. Today the president attended a ceremony at an American cemetery in the Netherlands. There he and Queen Beatrix laid a wreath to honor the World War II soldiers, who are buried there. More than 8,000 white marble headstones their silent testimony to the epic struggle to liberate Europe.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAN PETER BALKENENDE, DUTCH PRIME MINISTER: One of the most moving stories was given to us by Anne Frank. Three weeks before she was deported she wrote in her diary, "I feel the suffering of millions and yet when I look up into the sky I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty will end, that peace will return once more." Let us cherish and pass on the gift of peace.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The world's tyrants learned a lesson. There is no power like the power of freedom, and now soldier as strong as the soldier who fights for that freedom.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: The president will dine tonight with Russian leader Vladimir Putin amid tensions in the region over the former Soviet Union's wartime legacy.

NGUYEN: Remembering the little girl, who for years had only been known as Precious Doe. Some 400 mourners attended a memorial service in Kansas City Missouri. Erica Michelle Marie Green was almost four years old when she was killed in 2001. Just this week police charged the girl's mother and stepfather with the murder.

A relaxing day sailing the high seas ends in a rescue. Look at this. A Coast Guard chopper rescued two men off the coast of North Carolina. Their sail boat had engine trouble and was taking on water. The men tethered themselves to the boat until help arrived, a move Coast Guard officials say probably saved their lives.

And a stain on a Chicago overpass is once again drawing visitors after getting a clean up job. Some believes the stain looks like the Virgin Mary, but on Thursday someone scrawled the words big lie over the image. Two car wash employees cleaned up the graffiti and now the faithful well, they are coming back for another look.

HARRIS: For all the mothers feeling overworked and looking forward to a day of rest this Mother's Day this story will make your life seem a bit easier. Allan Chernoff has the inspiring story of a truly amazing mother in Scottsdale, Arizona.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): How can you measure a mother's love? In Shannon Goldwater's case one spoonful at a time, because for Lee (ph) every bite is a challenge, every swallow an accomplishment. The same is true for Lee's brother Will, and their sister Meaghan (ph). Yes, Shannon is mom to triplets, all three of whom have severe feeding disorders.

SHANNON GOLDWATER, MOTHER OF TRIPLETS: My life has felt very dominated by feeding three children four meals a day.

CHERNOFF: Lee, Will and Meaghan (ph) were born prematurely in May 2002, three months early, weighing less than two pounds each. It was a harrowing delivery for Shannon and her husband Bob when they learned their daughter's umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck.

GOLDWATER: At about four in the morning I woke up and in a matter of three minutes I had about 18 doctors and nurses all over my bed. Meaghan had a prolapsed cord and they were doing everything they could to hold the cord off of her neck. And they said to me, "What do you want to do?" And I thought what do you mean, what do I want to do. And they said, "We could still deliver Meaghan vaginally and she would die, but then we could stitch your cervix and allow the boys a better chance of survival or we can do an emergency C-section, but then all three must come out.

And I said well, I need to call my husband. And they said, "We don't have time for you to you're your husband." But I did reach over and picked up the phone anyway and did call Bob, and we quickly made the decision that the best thing to do was to give them all an equal chance of life.

CHERNOFF: Meaghan's brain was bleeding at birth. In neonatal intensive care she and her brothers had heart conditions and pneumonia, their lungs not yet fully developed. The odds of survival were slim.

(on-camera): Many would have made a different decision. They might have sacrificed one child for the others.

GOLDWATER: I know. I thought about that before, but I would never regret my decision. And I feel very confidant that we absolutely made the right decision. And the fact that none of these kids have brain damage or cerebral palsy or so many other long-term disabilities is really a miracle.

CHERNOFF: The triplets spent four months in intensive care before coming home. But the struggle for Shannon and Bob, a lawyer who is a great nephew of former presidential candidate Barry Goldwater was only just beginning. The kids would need a total of 19 surgeries to address complications resulting from early birth.

GOLDWATER: I'm proud of my kids. I'm proud every day of everything they've overcome, and the tremendous amount of will that they had to survive because there was more than one occasion that we were called in the middle of the night and told that somebody might not make it through the night due to pneumonia or staff infection or other complications.

CHERNOFF: The triplets are nearly three years old and as you can see, they're active and playful like almost any other kids their age. That's no accident though. Shannon coordinates a full curriculum of therapies. In fact, 18 appointments a week. GOLDWATER: Meaghan, take a bit.

CHERNOFF: Getting the kids to eat, Shannon says, has been the hardest part of being a mother. Not only did all three refuse to eat they couldn't keep food down. Shannon and her mother, Diana, brought the triplets last year to Krieger Institute in Baltimore, which has one of the nation's top pediatric feeding programs, for two months the children were taught to eat.

GOLDWATER: Good job. Take a bite.

CHERNOFF: It takes Shannon and her mom, or her nanny more than an hour to feed the kids each meal of pureed food. And even then, Lee, Will and Meaghan are unable to consume enough for their needs. So at night their diet is supplemented with liquid nutrients pumped through feeding tubes directly into their tummies.

When nap time arrives there is no rest for mom. She prepares food, schedules therapies and doctor appointments and tracks insurance claims.

(on camera): You have so much happening every single day. How are you able to cope?

GOLDWATER: Well, I've certainly had periods where I've been down. I let those thoughts pass quickly, and remember that somebody always has it worse than you. Just when you think you've got it as bad as you can have it there's always going to be somebody else out there that's struggling even more than you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is this Meaghan's lunch bag.

CHERNOFF: Shannon's mother, Diana, a 55 year young grandmother, quit her job to help five days a week.

DIANA STOCKETT, GRANDMOTHER: Maybe God throws things our way that we need to be there for and I have been able to be there for her.

CHERNOFF: Motherhood shouldn't be this hard. Still Shannon has only thanks for what she calls her three little miracles. Part of the miracle though is that Lee, Will and Meaghan were born to an amazing mom like Shannon Goldwater.

Allan Chernoff, CNN, Scottsdale, Arizona.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: It is hard work. Hopefully it was a day of rest though for mothers all across America. If not well, you're not alone. According to a new book, "The Truth Behind the Mommy Wars" 75 percent of women worked full time and 25 percent worked part time in 2002. and 82 percent of American women eventually become mothers, but what about the other 18 percent?

HARRIS: Yes. NGUYEN: We'll talk about that with the book's author. That's next hour on CNN SUNDAY MORNING, which brings us to our e-mail question of the day. What is better for kids, a mother who stays at home or a mother who works outside the home? Send us your thoughts to wam@cnn.com. We will share those with you a little bit later.

HARRIS: And ahead in our Faces of Faith this Sunday morning, a new Christian movement where so-called, have you heard this word, Dominionists, Dominionists are leading the faithful. Well, we'll tell you where they're going.

NGUYEN: And we want to say good morning St. Louis. Look at the beautiful arch there. Your forecast along with the rest of the nation's weather that is straight ahead on this Mother's Day.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: On this Mother's Day one woman tries to find out the truth behind the mommy wars. She'll tell us what she has learned new in the next hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Yes. Happy Mother's Day, Bob. Happy Mother's Day.

NGUYEN: If you're a mom that is.

OK, we want to check out some top stories this morning. The two Americans killed in Saturday's suicide bombing in Baghdad they have been identified. Brandon Thomas of Salt Lake City, Utah, as seen here, he was killed with Todd Vinetta of Whitehall, Arkansas. Now both worked for a private U.S. security contractor.

President Bush is on his way to Russia after commemorating VE Day in the Netherlands. Mr. Bush will hold talks today with President Vladimir Putin. Then tomorrow he'll attend a victory day parade in Red Square to mark the end of World War II in Europe.

Britain's Prince Charles joined veterans in London in commemorating the 60th anniversary of the war's end. The prince, along with current and former members of the armed forces, laid a wreath at a memorial.

HARRIS: Are Christian dominionists, think about that word, dominionists dominating U.S. politics, a new movement for the faithful? Well, we'll tell you all about it straight ahead in our faces of faith.

NGUYEN: And more than 20 million Americans suffer from asthma. At the bottom of the hour on "HOUSE CALL" our Doctor Sanjay Gupta looks at ways to control it. This is CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HARRIS: And now to our Faces of Faith this Sunday morning. Some people credit so-called Christian dominionists with putting George W. Bush back in office. Whether that's few or not few would argue that Christians are having a bigger impact on politics. Joining us with some insight is Chris Hedges, an author and contributor to Harper's magazine.

Chris, good morning.

CHRIS HEDGES, HARPER'S MAGAZINE: Good morning.

HARRIS: What a piece you've written. Pretty provocative stuff, wouldn't you say?

HEDGES: Well, I think it gives an insight into the split that's happened within the evangelical movement, one that many on the outside have not been aware of.

HARRIS: Talk about dominionists. I've never heard this terminology but you're telling me it has been around for a while, correct?

HEDGES: Yes. Another term is Christian reconstructionists. But essentially this was a movement formulated in particular by a theologian named Rusos Rustuni (ph) in the early '70s that talked about crating the Christian nation, building a kind of political power, striving for political power. And this is very different from what traditional evangelicals like Billy Graham or Louis Parow (ph) have always focused on, which is personal subvention.

And in many ways this, these traditional or more conservative Evangelicals have been pushed to the side by the dominionists who have taken control of the Southern Baptist convention as well as many of the Christian broadcasting outlets, both radio and television. And this movement, rather than calling for believers to remove themselves from the continents of a secular society calls taking power in a secular society.

HARRIS: All right. Let's read a bit from the article that you can find in the current Harper's. "Since the reelection of George W. Bush in November the rhetoric on the Christian right has grown triumphal and proud. Rumors of spiritual war are abroad in the heartland in verve rant whispers of evolution echo among the pew and folding chairs of the nation's mega church. Take that apart for us. You start wherever you'd like.

HEDGES: Well, I think it's important to realize that what we're seeing here is a movement that has embraced a very exclusive ideology. One where there is -- it's very anti Democratic in its core. It's one that doesn't believe that there's room for other viewpoints. I mean not only are -- and you know, they refer to Christians who do not embrace this dominionism as nominal Christians or they're not Bible believing Christians. This is what led, you know, Jimmy Carter to get pushed out of his church, so that there are Evangelicals who they've shunned to the side.

And what it is, is a belief that they've been appointed or anointed to essentially run the United States.

HARRIS: So Chris, how -- you describe it as a movement. How widespread a movement is this?

HEDGES: Well, it's extremely powerful because those within the movement, one thinks particularly of Pat Robertson, have been working now for about three decades to take power within the Republican Party, within religious institutions at grass roots levels and they've become quite effective at doing that. The problem is that because the ideology that they embrace is messianic, it is one that doesn't allow for compromise, doesn't recognize the legitimacy of not only opinions but even other religious viewpoints. It's completely intolerant.

HARRIS: Yes, but Chris the president can't align himself with the kind of thinking you're describing here.

HEDGES: Well, but most of the president's most verve rant supporters, one thinks for instance of James Dobson, come out of this movement. And, you know, what the president's personal thoughts are on this I don't know. He goes to a mainstream Methodist church, but certainly the dominionist movement has proved a powerful force in organizing the grassroots and in this current assault on the judiciary.

HARRIS: Well, it is a provocative article in the current Harper's magazine. Chris Hedges good to see you. Thanks for taking the time this morning.

HEDGES: Thank you.

NGUYEN: I want to get some responses now to our e-mail question of the day. What is better for kids, a mother who stays at home or a mother who works outside the home? And Tracy writes to us this morning saying, "I think that both are right. I'm a working mom and my children are just as loved and adjusted as children of stay at home moms. There are as many ways to mother as there are mothers in the world."

We invite you to keep those coming this morning, wam@cnn.com. We'll be reading them on the air.

And on this Mother's Day one way goes to war, the mommy wars next hour. We will speak to the author of this fascinating book.

HARRIS: And for those of you with asthma allergy season can make you gasp. Ahead on "HOUSE CALL" with Doctor Sanjay Gupta some tips on breathing easy.

I'm Tony Harris.

NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Nguyen. We'll see you again at the top of the hour. "HOUSE CALL" and your top stories straight ahead.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired May 8, 2005 - 07:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is on his way to Moscow, where history will be made and diplomacy tested.
Good morning from the CNN Center in Atlanta. This is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It is May 8th, Mother's Day. Good morning, Tony.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Happy Mother's Day.

NGUYEN: To all you mothers out there.

HARRIS: Happy Mother's Day. My mom, my wife...

NGUYEN: I know, Happy Mother's Day, mom.

HARRIS: ...my mother-in-law, my buddy in town. And good morning, everyone, I'm Tony Harris. 7:00 a.m. here in the East and 5:00 a.m. in the west. Thank you for being with us. Let's get you started this morning with headlines now in the news.

The U.S. Army says it nabbed a suspected terror cell leader and a former Saddam Hussein officer, who's been planning terror attacks across Baghdad. The two were caught in a series of raids across Iraq that corralled a total of 87 suspected terrorists yesterday. And today, U.S. forces also found a large weapons cache.

It's the news a mother doesn't want to hear. We now know the names of two Americans killed in yesterday's suicide car bombings in Iraq. Brandon Thomas seen here was from Salt Lake City. He was killed with Todd Vinetta of White Hall, Arkansas. Both were U.S. military veterans working for private U.S. security contractor.

The multi million dollar systems designed to keep you safe aren't up to specs and will cost the U.S. billions more to fix. The New York Times today reports much of the homeland security equipment purchased after 9/11 is ineffective, unreliable, or too expensive to operate.

CNN has also reported on technological problems facing homeland security like inconsistent radiation monitoring, and airport screening glitches.

NGUYEN: Here's a look at what else is coming up this hour. While the president honors war heroes in Europe, we recognize those right here on American soil. On this Mother's Day, we have a story of heroes at home.

Then, there's a story of Melvin, failing at school and only in the third grade? We'll take an in-depth look at the high stakes of saving our schools.

And speaking of school, you, too, can be an idol to your peers if you take this class.

HARRIS: President Bush is expected to land in Moscow about two hours from now. Mr. Bush is on a four nation tour centered around the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II and Europe. This morning, Mr. Bush honored fallen soldiers.

CNN's John King is in the Netherlands.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The president took part in a solemn ceremony in an American military cemetery here, paying tribute to those who lost their lives in the military campaign against the Nazis that ended 60 years ago this week.

With Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Mr. Bush took part in a wreath laying ceremony, then paid tribute to the some 8300 Americans buried in Dutch soil just 20 miles from the German border.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The world's tyrants learned a lesson. There is no power like the power of freedom. And no soldier as strong as a soldier who fights for that freedom.

KING: The Netherlands and its prime minister supported Mr. Bush in his decision to go to war in Iraq. But that war is, of course, quite unpopular across Europe. Yet Mr. Bush made the case in his speech at the cemetery that the war in Iraq is very much in the same vein as the campaign to rid Europe from the grip of the Nazis.

BUSH: The 21st century unfolds before us. Americans and Europeans are continuing to work together and are bringing freedom and hope to places where it has long been denied in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Lebanon, and across the broader Middle East.

Freedom is the permanent hope of mankind. And when that hope is made real for all people, it will be because of the sacrifices of a new generation of men and women as selfless and dedicated to liberty as those we honor today.

KING: From the Netherlands onto to Moscow, where Mr. Bush will have a private dinner Sunday night with Russian President Vladimir Putin before joining other world leaders in taking part in a major military parade in Red Square on Monday commemorating the 60th anniversary of the victory over the Nazis.

Now Mr. Bush says it is fitting to pay tribute to the extraordinary Russian sacrifice in the war 60 years ago. But his visit to Moscow comes at a time of growing differences with Mr. Putin. The White House, for example, says Mr. Putin has slowed, if not reversed, Russia's commitment to democracy. Mr. Bush also is upset about Russian nuclear cooperation with Iran and Mr. Putin's decision to ignore White House objections and go forward with missile sales to Syria.

So this visit puts very much to the test Mr. Bush's longstanding view that his deep personal bond with Mr. Putin is strong enough to overcome major policy differences.

John King, CNN, Mostrich, the Netherlands.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: The signing of the Berlin armistice ended the war in Europe 60 years ago. It marked a moment of joy in the allied countries following years of great sacrifices.

61 countries were involved in World War II. 55 million people were killed.

Britain's Prince Charles was among those laying wreaths at a London cemetery this morning. A VE commemoration concert will be held in Trafalgar Square later today.

And ceremonies in Paris today included a military parade along the Champs Elysees. President Jacques Chirac laid a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

In Berlin, there was a memorial service as well as ceremonies took place in parliament.

HARRIS: New developments in Iraq's government. After months of delays, the National Assembly filled six vacant cabinet seats today. Four of the six posts go to the Sunni minority.

For the most part, they boycotted the January election and were underrepresented in the new government. The key defense ministry position will be headed by a Sunni. So will the oil ministry post, the human rights minister, and the deputy prime minister.

NGUYEN: There is mixed reaction today to the reopening of four of the Atlanta child murder cases. Wayne Williams is serving life sentences for two of those murders. After his convictions, Atlanta police said he was responsible for most of the other 27 killings that happened between 1979 and 1981.

The police chief of Dekalb County, Georgia is now forming a cold case squad to reexamine four of those deaths. Louis Graham was an investigator in the murder cases a quarter century ago. He believes Williams is innocent.

Graham spoke to CNN affiliate WAGA.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LOUIS GRAHAM, CHIEF, DEKALB CO., GEORGIA POLICE: Well, the cases was packed up. They had not been solved. And they were just sitting there collecting dust. So I decided that I would try to open up a cold case squad, so that we could begin to look at not only these cases, but other closed cases. But in my interest, more particularly these cases. I think, yes, it's definitely a plus that we will have some young officers, you know, with fresh ideas, fresh investigative skills to begin looking at these cases.

It has a hold of me. It has absolutely -- this case has had a hold of me ever since February the 28th. And I can tell you that's the day Wayne Williams was convicted. That's my birthday. And I felt an (INAUDIBLE) when he was convicted. I felt that if in this sense, and yes, it has had a hold of me ever since.

And you know, I just can't seem to turn it loose. Quite frankly, I don't think Wayne Williams is responsible for anything. I don't think he did anything. So I made up my mind for that over 20 years ago. And I still feel that way.

I can give you mounds of information that convinced me that he was innocent. If we can solve one case, then I'm satisfied with that. But at this point, there are just too many open questions. And all I'm trying to do is answer those questions as best we can.

If we can't, that's just the way it is.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me read you something from some of the coverage of Patrick Baltazar's case.

He was eulogized by his fifth grade class at Bethune Elementary School. And wrote a poem here. I want to read it to you.

It said, 'The police and the news people came and went and all our hearts with no content. No one could rest until we knew, whatever, whatever happened to you."

GRAHAM: That's right.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hope to find out what happened to Patrick Baltazar?

GRAHAM: Yes. I hope to find out. Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It struck me, too, when I read it that children...

GRAHAM: You know, I didn't know that, but that's what I'm trying to do. So maybe there is -- there can be justice for Patrick. I don't know. But at least he knows that we won't forget. He knows that we haven't forgotten. I haven't forgotten. And maybe what this -- what this is all about.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: The prosecutor on the Williams case says there is no new evidence to warrant reopening the case, but Williams' attorney is asking for a new trial.

The president wants no child left behind, but critics say it could have devastating consequences. We will bring you the story of one boy, who's been held back three times.

HARRIS: And don't forget that special women in your life. Yes, it is Mother's Day. And we wish all of our mothers a very special day. And thank you, thank you, thank you for all -- oh, look at the baby.

NGUYEN: Oh, that's Mother's Day.

HARRIS: We were all babies.

NGUYEN: At one time.

HARRIS: With moms who changed the -- and that brings us to our e-mail question of the day. What's better for kids, a mother who stays at home or a mother who works outside the home? Weigh in on the so-called mommy wars.

Send us your thoughts at weekends@cnn.com. We'll read your responses throughout the morning and a point in fact, throughout the day.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Also want to give you some interesting facts on this Mother's Day. Only 23 percent of U.S. businesses offer paid maternity leave for working mothers. Also, most working mothers have less free time than they did years ago, averaging only 54 minutes a day of personal time.

CNN LIVE SUNDAY continues in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: And checking stories across America this morning, in New Jersey, Peter Rodino, the man who led President Nixon's impeachment hearing, has died. Rodino was House Judiciary Committee Chairman when the panel approved the articles of impeachment just before Nixon stepped down in 1974. Peter Rodino was 95.

A Coast Guard chopper had to rescue two men off the coast of North Carolina after their sailboat got caught in rough seas. The boat had engine trouble and was taking on water. The men tethered themselves to the boat until help arrived, a move Coast Guard officials say probably saved their lives.

A New York City area parking meter officer has been accused of stealing more than $30,000. Listen to this, one quarter at a time. Jason Berke has been charged with grand larceny. He was suspected after meter revenue dipped dramatically in Westchester County. If convicted, Berke faces up to seven years in prison.

A stain on a Chicago overpass is once again drawing visitors after getting clean-up job. Some believe the stain looks like the Virgin Mary. But on Thursday, someone scrolled the words "big lie" over the image. Two car wash employees cleaned up the graffiti. Now the faithful are coming back for a look. NGUYEN: Well, she may look like a mother at home with her kids, but she's really a war hero. Aaron Brown has that story coming up this hour.

HARRIS: President Bush's no child left behind program is being put to the test again as the school year ends. It's designed to make schools more accountable and end social promotion, the practice of promoting students even if they don't meet academic requirements.

But critics say it could have some devastating consequences. "CNN PRESENTS" examines the battle to save our schools in a special report.

Here's a snippet, narrated by award winning filmmaker, Stanley Nelson.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MELVIN LOVE JUNIOR, STUDENT: I have to get up at 6:00 and go to the bus stop at 7:15 to the west side.

STANLEY NELSON, FILMMAKER: Every morning, Melvin Love Junior travels to school from the cramped apartment where he lives with his mother and three siblings.

Like every third grader in the state, Melvin must pass the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test or FCAT to be promoted to the fourth grade.

LOVE: There is a lot of test taking in school. We take tests every week. And I don't like it.

NELSON: What Melvin really doesn't like are the consequences of his test scores.

LOVE: When I got my last report card, it said on the thing that I am retained in third grade.

NELSON: Most third graders are eight or nine years old. But Melvin is 11. That's because he has been held back three times.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And tell me the life span of star fish? Average life span? Melvin?

LOVE: Seven.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Melvin is a student who I think could have handled fourth grade. He is at the top of our class. If a teacher would have had a say, he would have been in the fourth grade and he would be just fine in fourth grade, but now he becomes another statistic.

NELSON: Melvin is just one of the 45,000 third graders across the state of Florida who failed the FCAT last year. At Melvin's school, Blanton Elementary, 41 percent of the third grade class flunked. LOVE: I get nervous when I take the test. That is a lot of pressure on kids.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you think about retaining a child in grade, it's a social death. They don't move forward. If a child is retained once in grade, there's a 50 percent chance that they will be drop outs. Twice, it's a virtual certainty. Up to 90 percent. This then becomes a pathway to the criminal justice system, not that all of them end up there, but rather that in the criminal justice system, about 90 percent or more of them are dropouts from school.

NELSON: But promoting children who fail is worse, according to Jay Greene of the Manhattan Institute.

JAY GREENE, MANHATTAN INSTITUTE: What actually produces positive psychological development is actually learning the skills that you're supposed to learn. And so, telling students, lying to students essentially by saying you're ready to go to the next grade, even if you're not, doesn't even help them emotionally.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: "CNN PRESENTS High Stakes: The Battle to Save our Schools." It premieres tonight at 8:00 Eastern.

NGUYEN: Two women from different eras and different wars, well they come together to help each other in the face of tragedy. We will bring you those stories.

HARRIS: And your vote really does count, at least in this class, it's filled with armchair -- well actually maybe we should say school chair American Idol judges. Details ahead. Once again, our e-mail question of the day, what's better for kids, a mother who stays at home or a mother who works outside of the home?

Send us your thoughts. Now Betty, we've changed the address a little bit.

NGUYEN: Yes, we have. Weekends@cnn.com.

HARRIS: Yes. Well see, I always thought it was weekends, but what was it before?

NGUYEN: Well, it was wam. And we still have that one...

HARRIS: Right.

NGUYEN: ...but we're expanding it today because this e-mail question will run all day long. So we want you to keep sending them in. And we'll read those responses all day long.

HARRIS: Wonderful, Betty. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: All right, here's -- OK, this is only fodder for a friend of mine who thinks that we -- these e-mail questions just a waste of time in the morning.

NGUYEN: I don't think it's a waste of time.

HARRIS: It's interactive. It's interactive. This is what -- it's interactive. And folks play with us.

ROB MARCIANO, METEOROLOGIST: During the (INAUDIBLE).

HARRIS: Yes, but here's the problem. We have a real -- you see we've changed the e-mail address. It's now back to the old address. OK? Wam@cnn.com because we have a technical, glitchy problem...

NGUYEN: With the new address.

HARRIS: The same kind of problem that homeland security is having with all the equipment they bought up. You see, it's a technical problem.

NGUYEN: Now do you throw that in, Tony?

HARRIS: Well, it's just tying it all together.

NGUYEN: All right, bottom line, here's the question. Send it to wam@cnn.com this morning. We can get those in that mailbox.

HARRIS: OK.

NGUYEN: The other one doesn't work just yet.

HARRIS: Well, Betty, give them the question again.

NGUYEN: The question is what is better for kids? A mother who stays at home...

HARRIS: Yes.

NGUYEN: ...or a mother who works outside the home? So send us your thoughts. Again, wam@cnn.com.

MARCIANO: What does wam stand for?

NGUYEN: Weekend a.m.

HARRIS: Well, exactly. I was a little confused by that as well. But OK, now I'm weekend a.m. Cnn.com. We have truly wasted enough time there.

NGUYEN: All right, moving on. No doubt more than one mint julep was knocked over and hey a few knocked back as the Kentucky Derby surprise finish. Giacomo, a 50 to 1 long shot took home the roses in a classic out of nowhere victory.

Before yesterday's race, get this, the horse had won just one, one of his seven previous races. Bellamy Roe, the horse owned by George Steinbrenner, that had been the favorite, well that one finished seventh. And by the way, Giacomo is owned by a recording executive and named after musician Sting's son. And the payoff? Well, for each dollar, oh gosh I wish I would have bet some money...

HARRIS: Oh, yes, yes.

NGUYEN: Each dollar bet on Giacomo, $102.60 was returned.

HARRIS: And because of that, because Rob did bet with Giacomo...

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: And time now to take a look at some of the stories that will be in the news this week. The U.S. Senate reconvenes Monday. On its list of things to do, settle the filibuster fight. The dispute centers on Republican judicial nominees and the Democratic senators who have been moving to block their confirmation process.

On Friday, the Pentagon will release its list of military base closings. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld first said the military would close 20 to 25 percent of the bases, but that's been cut in half. A commission is reviewing the capabilities, economic impact, and manpower of U.S. military bases.

And all this week, CNN celebrates its 25th anniversary by being a category on Jeopardy. Play along. Test your knowledge and revisit CNN's greatest history.

NGUYEN: Exciting stuff there. All right, coming up, CNN SUNDAY MORNING. If you like playing judge while watching "American Idol," I know we all do...

HARRIS: Sure.

NGUYEN: ...why not get some credit for your picks? We're talking about school credit. We'll show you how. The score in the classroom.

HARRIS: Plus, heroes at home. Two women brought together by wartime tragedy help each other through some difficult times.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HOLLY FIRFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Half of all people who start a fitness program quit in the first six months. And there seems to be two primary reasons why. First, many, it seems, are afraid they can't do exercises correctly or that they look bad doing them. Others are fearful of having their bodies judged negatively by others. Women are especially vulnerable.

To avoid these common pitfalls, experts suggest comparison shop for a fitness experience that matches your needs and personality. Maybe that's a women's only gym or exercising outdoors on a nature walking trail. Avoid large classes if you want to work out more than you want to socialize. And if you need support and motivation, joining a group or hiring a personal trainer at the gym may be your best option.

Holly Firfer, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: On this Mother's Day, a story of friendship, born of war and remembrance.

I want to welcome you back to CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: I'm Tony Harris. That story just ahead. First, a look at the news this morning.

NGUYEN: President Bush observed V.E. Day in the Netherlands this morning. He honored fallen World War II soldiers as he spoke at a cemetery where more than 8,000 U.S. veterans are buried. The president's Dutch visit is part of his four-nation tour to commemorate the end of World War II in Europe.

But the main event is tomorrow. Mr. Bush will be among some 50 world leaders attending a victory day parade in Moscow's Red Square. The president is on his way to Russia right now, and he will meet this evening with President Vladimir Putin, amid tensions over the former Soviet Union's wartime legacy.

Now to Iraq. Its national assembly has finally filled six vacancies in the cabinet, including ministers for defense and oil. Four of the posts went to Sunnis. It's an effort to give a larger voice to the Sunni minority in this new government.

Well, we usually bring you stories about the heroes at war. But on this Mother's Day, we have a story of heroes back home. CNN's Aaron Brown now with the story of two women now bonded by war.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AARON BROWN, HOST, "NEWSNIGHT" (voice-over): This is the story of two very different women from two very different times.

JACKIE LIVAUDAIS, HUSBAND KILLED IN IRAQ: Who's this?

DESTRE LIVAUDAIS, SON OF JACKIE LIVAUDAIS: Daddy?

BROWN: Jackie Livaudais, a mother of three, was one of the first widows of the war in Iraq.

J. LIVAUDAIS: Destre, he -- he misses everything about him. He just -- he loved -- loved Daddy every way. He misses working with him. He misses cuddling with him. I know he really misses Daddy's telling him (ph) he's proud of him. But we all try to do that for him.

When the boys ask why? Why did God take him (ph)? It's hard -- hard to hear. But it's the only answer I have, which is he's needed more up there right now. And of course, it's hard to understand why.

BROWN: Karen Spears Zacharias was the child of another war, searching for a father who left for Vietnam when she was 9 and never came back.

KAREN SPEARS ZACHARIAS, AUTHOR, "HERO MAMA": Why in the world did life continue? Didn't -- didn't the world understand my father was dead. And how could they go on and just act like nothing had happened? Because everything had happened different for me from that point on.

And I was angry at my mother over that. I was angry at my dad. I was angry at God.

BROWN: That anger haunted Zacharias for years. The book that grew from that anger, "Hero Mama," is her story and the story of her mother.

ZACHARIAS: I almost can't stand the way that this is being replayed in people's live every day because of the war in Iraq. I look at Jackie Livaudais. She was 22 when Nino died. She was five months pregnant. She had two little boys. I look at Jackie Livaudais, and I see my mother. I hear my mom's story.

J. LIVAUDAIS: We've become good friends because we have that loss in common, but so much more than just a loss. When somebody can understand it and actually articulate and relate to the boys, they love it.

Karen's been a great friend, but she's also been the view from the child's eyes that I need.

ZACHARIAS: When you're that child, it just doesn't matter. Your dad's gone. He's gone for the rest of your life. He's not there when you drive your first car. He's not there when you take your first date. He's not there when you get married.

BROWN: What you have, all you have, are memories.

J. LIVAUDAIS: OK, you tell me a story about Daddy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was a great man. And he was strong (ph).

D. LIVAUDAIS: I remember he was a good guy. He -- he took care of us. I just keep those pictures in my room, because I love him. But it doesn't help Daddy (ph).

J. LIVAUDAIS: Every kid has a picture of their dad in their room. And they'll sleep with the picture when they're having a rough night, because they know that bad things are scared of Dad. Dad's pretty tough and strong. So all the widows, all the kids, they all have -- the kids all have their tear-stained pillows, I believe. I think they all do. They're always going to have that pain. Their shadow now.

BROWN: Karen Zacharias, the adult, is never far from Karen, the child, someone who knows too much about loss and a lot about possibility.

ZACHARIAS: I'm just there because I would have given anything as a young girl to have that person there for me or to have someone come along and befriend my mom. What I hope it brings to them is a sense of hope, that when Jackie Livaudais looks at me, what Jackie Livaudais sees is that her kids are going to be OK. That she's going to miss him, but as long as she loves those boys with all of her heart, mind and soul the way my mom loved me, they will know that she was a terrific mother. She is a terrific mother.

BROWN: Another hero mama in a long line.

Aaron Brown, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: We bring you "Hero Stories" every week on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

HARRIS: You know that "American Idol" TV show that half the free world watches?

NGUYEN: I heard about it, yes.

HARRIS: It's quite a phenomenal.

NGUYEN: A what?

HARRIS: Anyway, now you can -- you can get school credit, we understand, for watching it. Coming up on CNN SUNDAY MORNING, we're going to talk to the professor who came up with the idea.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNOUNCER: You're watching CNN SUNDAY MORNING with Betty Nguyen and Tony Harris.

HARRIS: And checking our top stories this morning, President Bush is on his way to Russia right now. Earlier today, he paid tribute to fallen World War II soldiers during a V.E. Day ceremony at a U.S. military cemetery in the Netherlands.

Britain's Prince Charles joined war veterans in London in commemorating the end of World War II. The prince, along with current and former members of the armed forces, laid a wreath at a memorial.

And in Iraq, the national assembly has finally completed its cabinet, filling six vacancies. Four of the posts are being filled by the Sunni minority, including the defense ministry and oil ministry positions.

NGUYEN: Where do you go when your life becomes tabloid fodder? How about "Saturday Night Live," of all places?

The late night comedy show took its turns picking on the judging scandal surrounding "American Idol's" Paula Abdul and her relationship with a former contestant. Oh, my goodness. Look at this. "SNL" opened this week with a parody of the show but ended with a skit that had a little bit of a twist. Check it out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAULA ABDUL, JUDGE, "AMERICAN IDOL": All right. Great sketch, you guys. I've just got three notes. Chris, great impression but you need to wear a push-up T-shirt. Keenan, you need about 14 more "dogs." And Amy, you need to perfect the clap a little more.

AMY POEHLER, ACTOR, "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE": OK.

ABDUL: And be a lot more sexier so that contestants will be willing to sleep with you. And be willing to admit we're live from New York. It's Saturday night.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: All right, then. Well, that skit may cause you to chuckle. Some people take "American Idol" quite seriously.

HARRIS: Yes.

NGUYEN: Serious business, folks. At the University of North Carolina Charlotte, there is a course called "Examining 'American Idol' Through Musical Critique." Joining me now is Professor James Grymes, who teaches that very course.

Good morning and thanks for being with us. All right. Where were you when I was in school? You know? I mean, I didn't have courses like this. Tell me about this course. Where did you come up with the idea?

JAMES GRYMES, PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CHARLOTTE: The course is about critiquing musical performances. I'm a big fan of the show, and I was watching last season. I started seeing more of the technical terms some of the judges were using and terms that really aren't truly technical, like "pitchy" is a term they like to use a lot.

And I started thinking wouldn't it be nice to actually explain to a few people what they actually mean by pitchy, what it means to be in tune and be right on pitch and how singers could correct that. And that gave me the idea for offering this class.

NGUYEN: I'll tell you what, it sounds like so much fun, and you actually get credit for this course? So...

GRYMES: That's correct. NGUYEN: ... when it comes to this credit, how do you justify that? What makes this course worth three college credits?

GRYMES: Well, first of all, it's an elective course, so it doesn't count towards your graduation credits.

NGUYEN: I see.

GRYMES: It's just something extra for the students. It's a very difficult course, actually. There's a lot of readings we've been doing. We've been studying the history of American popular music. We've been doing a lot of reading into the skill of performance, how to overcome performance fright, what it means to be on stage. There's really a lot involved.

NGUYEN: OK. So when these students are watching "American Idol," is it all opinion when it comes to this course? Or are they learning specific skills, more like you said, it comes to pitch and tone and things like that? Or, like I say, if you're judging, it just seems like it's mostly opinion.

GRYMES: Well, there is a little bit of both. You have to have opinion, but you have to be able to back it up with facts and make suggestions for how performers could correct individual mistakes. You really have to know a lot about what you're talking about if you're going to really back up your opinion.

NGUYEN: Got to back it up. OK. So how are the students backing it up? Who do they think is going to win this contest?

GRYMES: Well, their final paper was a 10-page paper, where they started off with surveying what a critique should look for in a musical performance. Then they had to pick a winner and take that contestant through the past several weeks' shows and compare their performances to performances by other contestants and at the end of the paper sort of summarize that contestant's strengths and weaknesses, using the criteria they'd established in the first part of the paper.

NGUYEN: All right. So bottom line, who are most of the students picking?

GRYMES: About half of them are picking -- I forgot the contestant's name.

NGUYEN: You forgot their name?

GRYMES: It's TV.

NGUYEN: This is your course.

GRYMES: I know. I know.

NGUYEN: All right. We've got some names here. We have Vonzell and Carrie.

GRYMES: That's the one. Yes. That Fantasia's stuck in my brain.

NGUYEN: Do I get an A? Do I get college credit then?

GRYMES: You get an A plus from me today.

NGUYEN: OK.

GRYMES: I had Fantasia stuck in my brain. She was such a wonderful contestant last year.

NGUYEN: Right.

GRYMES: And I couldn't get to Vonzell.

NGUYEN: Right.

GRYMES: Another wonderful performer.

NGUYEN: All right. So look, you know, test those memory skills now. Who do you think should win?

GRYMES: Well, you know, I've been a big Carrie fan for the whole season, but after reading all these papers, the students have actually stated to convince me that Vonzell may be the better contestant.

NGUYEN: All right. And I have to ask you this very quickly. We showed the Paula Abdul skit from "Saturday Night Live." How is that affecting this course? Are students talking about that scandal that's been put out there?

GRYMES: Well, actually, this course has just ended last week, so the scandal broke after then. They really just missed it.

NGUYEN: You missed the good stuff. All right.

GRYMES: The class really isn't about the personalities. It's about the music.

NGUYEN: I see. OK. Going to keep it very educational here.

GRYMES: That's right.

NGUYEN: Professor James Grymes, we appreciate your time.

GRYMES: Thank you very much.

HARRIS: And coming -- are you trying to get him in trouble or something? It's a serious course.

NGUYEN: It is.

HARRIS: It is.

NGUYEN: But he forgot the names of the contestants.

HARRIS: Can't figure that part of it out. Coming up, your employer loses your personal information. What do you do if you get this bit of bad news? Our dot com desk has some tips ahead on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

NGUYEN: First, though, a "CNN Extra." Your parenting style could make your kids get higher test scores, believe it or not. What matters? Well, according to the U.S. Department of Education, it's how much education and money you have by the time you have kids and how involved you are in their school.

So television, museum trips, Head Start and even spanking won't do as much as your own education and career. Interesting.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Identity theft has gone from nuisance to epidemic faster than you can say cable modem. Our dog com desk has put together a list of things you should do to protect yourself. Here's CNN's Christina Park.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTINA PARK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Your mom may have said there's only one of you in the world, but that may not be so true in the digital age. CNNMoney.com's security special helps you stop identity fraud in its tracks.

Let's say your employer lost your personal data or someone cracked into your account. First thing, call the credit bureau and set up a fraud alert. Or sign up for a credit monitoring service. That way if someone tries to set up an account in your name, you'll be one of the first to know.

And be vigilant. Check your credit report every few months for suspicious activity, like a new credit card account you never signed up for.

And could your personal computer be wide open to identity fraud? Aside from the obvious, like installing antivirus software and a firewall, what else can you do? First, be sure to read any terms of agreement before you download anything for free online. You could be saying yes to spyware, software that gathers personal data without your knowledge.

And don't be lazy or too trusting. New viruses are written every day, so keep updating your security software.

And don't open just any e-mail that's dropped into your inbox.

CNNMoney.com/security is here to make sure that me, myself and I stays that way. I'm Christina Park, reporting from the dot com desk.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: We do want to say happy Mother's Day, and we want you to pull out those cards and flowers and show your mom some appreciation today.

HARRIS: Share the love on Mother's Day, which kind of brings us to our e-mail question. Well, we're going to put you in the middle of a war, a dispute. What's better for kids, a mother who stays at home or a mother who works outside of the home? Weigh in, if you choose to. We'll read your answers next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Talking about Mother's Day today, and Rob Marciano, if you don't bring some good weather, mothers all across the nation are going to hold you personally responsible.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: My mom will be happy. The weather's not bad in Dallas today.

HARRIS: Hot time for moms in Hotlanta today.

NGUYEN: Yes.

HARRIS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) To our e-mail question of the day. What do you think? What's better for kids, a mother who stays at home or a mother who works outside of the home? A bunch of responses this morning, once we finally got the technology right.

"The mother best for her children is the one who is happy with her choice and that..."

Did I read the wrong one?

NGUYEN: Yes.

HARRIS: Yes. Sorry.

NGUYEN: That's all right. OK, so this other person writes -- this is Clark in Forsyth, Georgia.

HARRIS: Clark.

NGUYEN: Clark says this morning, "Neither. Moms are moms no matter if they work or stay home. They work out of love for their children, and some families are lucky enough to have spouses, a.k.a. daddies, who have large enough salaries to support stay at home moms and their children."

HARRIS: Yes. OK.

NGUYEN: Keep those thoughts coming to us this morning.

HARRIS: Is that it? Are we just going to do a couple? Is that it?

NGUYEN: Yes. HARRIS: OK. All right. And there's the question, what's better for kids, a mother who stays at home or a mother who works outside the home? And there's the address, WAM@CNN.com.

NGUYEN: The next hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING begins right now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: From the CNN Center this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING, May 8th. Happy Mother's Day out there. It is 8 a.m. at CNN headquarters here in Atlanta. Early 5 a.m. on the west cost. Good morning everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. Thank you for being with us. Let's get you started this morning with headlines now in the news.

President Bush has left the Netherlands headed for Russia. He and the Dutch Queen Beatrix honored World War II dead buried at the American Cemetery there in Moscow. Mr. Bush meets with President Putin and attends the VE Day ceremonies tomorrow. Tuesday the president heads to the former Soviet republic of Georgia.

Other nations are also marking VE Day, the signing of the Berlin armistice ended the war in Europe 60 years ago today. Ceremonies in Paris include a military parade. President Jacques Chirac laid a wreath at the Tomb of France's Unknown Soldier.

Iraq's national assembly this morning approved six names to fill cabinet positions. Four of the six including defense, industry, human rights and deputy prime minister are Sunni Arabs. It's been a way to give a stronger voice to the nation's Sunni minority.

NGUYEN: We have some great stories coming your way this half hour. First up, we'll update you on President Bush's historic journey overseas to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe.

Also we've got...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Remember we've got my decision and I feel very confidant that we absolutely made the right decision.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Mother's Day is for all moms. But it really honors people like Shannon Goldwater. You will hear her incredible story and the life altering decision she had to make when her children were born.

And later, a view of the religious right you may not have seen before, and why many fundamentalist Christians believe George W. Bush is part of a divine plan.

HARRIS: President Bush is on his way to Moscow to join about 50 other world leaders tomorrow in marking the fall of Nazi Germany 60 years ago. Today the president attended a ceremony at an American cemetery in the Netherlands. There he and Queen Beatrix laid a wreath to honor the World War II soldiers, who are buried there. More than 8,000 white marble headstones their silent testimony to the epic struggle to liberate Europe.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAN PETER BALKENENDE, DUTCH PRIME MINISTER: One of the most moving stories was given to us by Anne Frank. Three weeks before she was deported she wrote in her diary, "I feel the suffering of millions and yet when I look up into the sky I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty will end, that peace will return once more." Let us cherish and pass on the gift of peace.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The world's tyrants learned a lesson. There is no power like the power of freedom, and now soldier as strong as the soldier who fights for that freedom.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: The president will dine tonight with Russian leader Vladimir Putin amid tensions in the region over the former Soviet Union's wartime legacy.

NGUYEN: Remembering the little girl, who for years had only been known as Precious Doe. Some 400 mourners attended a memorial service in Kansas City Missouri. Erica Michelle Marie Green was almost four years old when she was killed in 2001. Just this week police charged the girl's mother and stepfather with the murder.

A relaxing day sailing the high seas ends in a rescue. Look at this. A Coast Guard chopper rescued two men off the coast of North Carolina. Their sail boat had engine trouble and was taking on water. The men tethered themselves to the boat until help arrived, a move Coast Guard officials say probably saved their lives.

And a stain on a Chicago overpass is once again drawing visitors after getting a clean up job. Some believes the stain looks like the Virgin Mary, but on Thursday someone scrawled the words big lie over the image. Two car wash employees cleaned up the graffiti and now the faithful well, they are coming back for another look.

HARRIS: For all the mothers feeling overworked and looking forward to a day of rest this Mother's Day this story will make your life seem a bit easier. Allan Chernoff has the inspiring story of a truly amazing mother in Scottsdale, Arizona.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): How can you measure a mother's love? In Shannon Goldwater's case one spoonful at a time, because for Lee (ph) every bite is a challenge, every swallow an accomplishment. The same is true for Lee's brother Will, and their sister Meaghan (ph). Yes, Shannon is mom to triplets, all three of whom have severe feeding disorders.

SHANNON GOLDWATER, MOTHER OF TRIPLETS: My life has felt very dominated by feeding three children four meals a day.

CHERNOFF: Lee, Will and Meaghan (ph) were born prematurely in May 2002, three months early, weighing less than two pounds each. It was a harrowing delivery for Shannon and her husband Bob when they learned their daughter's umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck.

GOLDWATER: At about four in the morning I woke up and in a matter of three minutes I had about 18 doctors and nurses all over my bed. Meaghan had a prolapsed cord and they were doing everything they could to hold the cord off of her neck. And they said to me, "What do you want to do?" And I thought what do you mean, what do I want to do. And they said, "We could still deliver Meaghan vaginally and she would die, but then we could stitch your cervix and allow the boys a better chance of survival or we can do an emergency C-section, but then all three must come out.

And I said well, I need to call my husband. And they said, "We don't have time for you to you're your husband." But I did reach over and picked up the phone anyway and did call Bob, and we quickly made the decision that the best thing to do was to give them all an equal chance of life.

CHERNOFF: Meaghan's brain was bleeding at birth. In neonatal intensive care she and her brothers had heart conditions and pneumonia, their lungs not yet fully developed. The odds of survival were slim.

(on-camera): Many would have made a different decision. They might have sacrificed one child for the others.

GOLDWATER: I know. I thought about that before, but I would never regret my decision. And I feel very confidant that we absolutely made the right decision. And the fact that none of these kids have brain damage or cerebral palsy or so many other long-term disabilities is really a miracle.

CHERNOFF: The triplets spent four months in intensive care before coming home. But the struggle for Shannon and Bob, a lawyer who is a great nephew of former presidential candidate Barry Goldwater was only just beginning. The kids would need a total of 19 surgeries to address complications resulting from early birth.

GOLDWATER: I'm proud of my kids. I'm proud every day of everything they've overcome, and the tremendous amount of will that they had to survive because there was more than one occasion that we were called in the middle of the night and told that somebody might not make it through the night due to pneumonia or staff infection or other complications.

CHERNOFF: The triplets are nearly three years old and as you can see, they're active and playful like almost any other kids their age. That's no accident though. Shannon coordinates a full curriculum of therapies. In fact, 18 appointments a week. GOLDWATER: Meaghan, take a bit.

CHERNOFF: Getting the kids to eat, Shannon says, has been the hardest part of being a mother. Not only did all three refuse to eat they couldn't keep food down. Shannon and her mother, Diana, brought the triplets last year to Krieger Institute in Baltimore, which has one of the nation's top pediatric feeding programs, for two months the children were taught to eat.

GOLDWATER: Good job. Take a bite.

CHERNOFF: It takes Shannon and her mom, or her nanny more than an hour to feed the kids each meal of pureed food. And even then, Lee, Will and Meaghan are unable to consume enough for their needs. So at night their diet is supplemented with liquid nutrients pumped through feeding tubes directly into their tummies.

When nap time arrives there is no rest for mom. She prepares food, schedules therapies and doctor appointments and tracks insurance claims.

(on camera): You have so much happening every single day. How are you able to cope?

GOLDWATER: Well, I've certainly had periods where I've been down. I let those thoughts pass quickly, and remember that somebody always has it worse than you. Just when you think you've got it as bad as you can have it there's always going to be somebody else out there that's struggling even more than you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is this Meaghan's lunch bag.

CHERNOFF: Shannon's mother, Diana, a 55 year young grandmother, quit her job to help five days a week.

DIANA STOCKETT, GRANDMOTHER: Maybe God throws things our way that we need to be there for and I have been able to be there for her.

CHERNOFF: Motherhood shouldn't be this hard. Still Shannon has only thanks for what she calls her three little miracles. Part of the miracle though is that Lee, Will and Meaghan were born to an amazing mom like Shannon Goldwater.

Allan Chernoff, CNN, Scottsdale, Arizona.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: It is hard work. Hopefully it was a day of rest though for mothers all across America. If not well, you're not alone. According to a new book, "The Truth Behind the Mommy Wars" 75 percent of women worked full time and 25 percent worked part time in 2002. and 82 percent of American women eventually become mothers, but what about the other 18 percent?

HARRIS: Yes. NGUYEN: We'll talk about that with the book's author. That's next hour on CNN SUNDAY MORNING, which brings us to our e-mail question of the day. What is better for kids, a mother who stays at home or a mother who works outside the home? Send us your thoughts to wam@cnn.com. We will share those with you a little bit later.

HARRIS: And ahead in our Faces of Faith this Sunday morning, a new Christian movement where so-called, have you heard this word, Dominionists, Dominionists are leading the faithful. Well, we'll tell you where they're going.

NGUYEN: And we want to say good morning St. Louis. Look at the beautiful arch there. Your forecast along with the rest of the nation's weather that is straight ahead on this Mother's Day.

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NGUYEN: On this Mother's Day one woman tries to find out the truth behind the mommy wars. She'll tell us what she has learned new in the next hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Yes. Happy Mother's Day, Bob. Happy Mother's Day.

NGUYEN: If you're a mom that is.

OK, we want to check out some top stories this morning. The two Americans killed in Saturday's suicide bombing in Baghdad they have been identified. Brandon Thomas of Salt Lake City, Utah, as seen here, he was killed with Todd Vinetta of Whitehall, Arkansas. Now both worked for a private U.S. security contractor.

President Bush is on his way to Russia after commemorating VE Day in the Netherlands. Mr. Bush will hold talks today with President Vladimir Putin. Then tomorrow he'll attend a victory day parade in Red Square to mark the end of World War II in Europe.

Britain's Prince Charles joined veterans in London in commemorating the 60th anniversary of the war's end. The prince, along with current and former members of the armed forces, laid a wreath at a memorial.

HARRIS: Are Christian dominionists, think about that word, dominionists dominating U.S. politics, a new movement for the faithful? Well, we'll tell you all about it straight ahead in our faces of faith.

NGUYEN: And more than 20 million Americans suffer from asthma. At the bottom of the hour on "HOUSE CALL" our Doctor Sanjay Gupta looks at ways to control it. This is CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HARRIS: And now to our Faces of Faith this Sunday morning. Some people credit so-called Christian dominionists with putting George W. Bush back in office. Whether that's few or not few would argue that Christians are having a bigger impact on politics. Joining us with some insight is Chris Hedges, an author and contributor to Harper's magazine.

Chris, good morning.

CHRIS HEDGES, HARPER'S MAGAZINE: Good morning.

HARRIS: What a piece you've written. Pretty provocative stuff, wouldn't you say?

HEDGES: Well, I think it gives an insight into the split that's happened within the evangelical movement, one that many on the outside have not been aware of.

HARRIS: Talk about dominionists. I've never heard this terminology but you're telling me it has been around for a while, correct?

HEDGES: Yes. Another term is Christian reconstructionists. But essentially this was a movement formulated in particular by a theologian named Rusos Rustuni (ph) in the early '70s that talked about crating the Christian nation, building a kind of political power, striving for political power. And this is very different from what traditional evangelicals like Billy Graham or Louis Parow (ph) have always focused on, which is personal subvention.

And in many ways this, these traditional or more conservative Evangelicals have been pushed to the side by the dominionists who have taken control of the Southern Baptist convention as well as many of the Christian broadcasting outlets, both radio and television. And this movement, rather than calling for believers to remove themselves from the continents of a secular society calls taking power in a secular society.

HARRIS: All right. Let's read a bit from the article that you can find in the current Harper's. "Since the reelection of George W. Bush in November the rhetoric on the Christian right has grown triumphal and proud. Rumors of spiritual war are abroad in the heartland in verve rant whispers of evolution echo among the pew and folding chairs of the nation's mega church. Take that apart for us. You start wherever you'd like.

HEDGES: Well, I think it's important to realize that what we're seeing here is a movement that has embraced a very exclusive ideology. One where there is -- it's very anti Democratic in its core. It's one that doesn't believe that there's room for other viewpoints. I mean not only are -- and you know, they refer to Christians who do not embrace this dominionism as nominal Christians or they're not Bible believing Christians. This is what led, you know, Jimmy Carter to get pushed out of his church, so that there are Evangelicals who they've shunned to the side.

And what it is, is a belief that they've been appointed or anointed to essentially run the United States.

HARRIS: So Chris, how -- you describe it as a movement. How widespread a movement is this?

HEDGES: Well, it's extremely powerful because those within the movement, one thinks particularly of Pat Robertson, have been working now for about three decades to take power within the Republican Party, within religious institutions at grass roots levels and they've become quite effective at doing that. The problem is that because the ideology that they embrace is messianic, it is one that doesn't allow for compromise, doesn't recognize the legitimacy of not only opinions but even other religious viewpoints. It's completely intolerant.

HARRIS: Yes, but Chris the president can't align himself with the kind of thinking you're describing here.

HEDGES: Well, but most of the president's most verve rant supporters, one thinks for instance of James Dobson, come out of this movement. And, you know, what the president's personal thoughts are on this I don't know. He goes to a mainstream Methodist church, but certainly the dominionist movement has proved a powerful force in organizing the grassroots and in this current assault on the judiciary.

HARRIS: Well, it is a provocative article in the current Harper's magazine. Chris Hedges good to see you. Thanks for taking the time this morning.

HEDGES: Thank you.

NGUYEN: I want to get some responses now to our e-mail question of the day. What is better for kids, a mother who stays at home or a mother who works outside the home? And Tracy writes to us this morning saying, "I think that both are right. I'm a working mom and my children are just as loved and adjusted as children of stay at home moms. There are as many ways to mother as there are mothers in the world."

We invite you to keep those coming this morning, wam@cnn.com. We'll be reading them on the air.

And on this Mother's Day one way goes to war, the mommy wars next hour. We will speak to the author of this fascinating book.

HARRIS: And for those of you with asthma allergy season can make you gasp. Ahead on "HOUSE CALL" with Doctor Sanjay Gupta some tips on breathing easy.

I'm Tony Harris.

NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Nguyen. We'll see you again at the top of the hour. "HOUSE CALL" and your top stories straight ahead.

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