VOA Š CONNECT
EPISODE  80 
AIR DATE  07 26 2019 
TRANSCRIPT


OPEN  ((VO/NAT)) 
((Banner)) 
Journey for Peace 
((SOT)) 
((Christian Kobel, Resident of Dwight, Illinois))  
ThereÕs so much more that we can be as humans and to 
each other, and he represents that.  I hope that thatÕs the 
message that our people receive. 
((Animation Transition)) 
((Banner))
Church in the Dirt
((SOT)) 
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
Interesting thing, those horses always remind me of 
people.  You saw how those horses just, sort of, moseyed 
off.  WeÕve got people at church that do that.  Eventually, 
GodÕll get that halter on them, and as soon as that halterÕs on 
them, you know youÕve been caught.  So, that halter is that 
holy spirit, and so. 
((Animation Transition)) 
((Banner)) 
Islam Beyond Sects 
((SOT)) 
((Zaman Stanizai , Professor, California State 
University)) 
If itÕs time for prayer, I pray while I'm driving.  I can have 
perfect concentration.  When you're worshipping a God that 
does not have form, then why should we stick to the form? 
((Open Animation))  
 

BLOCK A 
 

((PKG))  THAI MONK   
((Banner:  A Peaceful Crossing)) 
((VOA THAI)) 
((Reporters/Camera:  Warangkana Chomchuen, Pinitkarn 
Tulachom)) 
((Adapted by:  Philip Alexiou)) 
((Animated Map showing the path:  From Santa Monica 
É.toÉ.New York))  
((Pop-Up Banner:  Earlier this year, a Thai Buddhist monk 
began a 5000 km walk across the US, a journey that lasted 
121 days)) 
((NATS)) 
((Sutham Nateetong, Buddhist Monk))  
A pilgrimage walk is my preferred way to meditate.  If I take 
my pilgrimage walk to promote peace, it will benefit even 
more people.  At the same time, it will take me to places 
where people donÕt usually see a monk.  ThatÕs also an 
opportunity to spread the teaching of the Buddha.  So, I 
decided to walk to promote peace around the world.  I 
started my journey from the Pacific Coast at the Santa 
Monica pier.  Is it ŅpearÓ or ŅpierÓ?  Oh, ŅpierÓ!  And so, I have 
been walking since then.  
((NATS)) 
((Sutham Nateetong, Buddhist Monk)) 
Before my journey, I sought some advice from my senior 
friend and other people.  But they didnÕt take my plan very 
seriously because they didnÕt think it would be possible. 
They must have thought that this monk was out of his 
mind.  I told my friend that even if no one cares, no one 
lends a hand, I will still go ahead.  So, when things got tough 
in the beginning of my journey, it didnÕt bother me.  
((Sutham Nateetong, Buddhist Monk))  
I did some planning before starting this walk for peace. 
((Photo Courtesy:  Sutham Nateetong)) 
Route 66 isnÕt just historical.  ItÕs also one of the longest 
highways that cuts across the U.S. 
((NATS)) 
((Spencer Johansen, Mayor of City of Lexington, 
Illinois))  
ItÕs usually, we get the travelers, thatÕs, you know, in the 
vehicle, of course, and theyÕre travelling the historic Route 
66.  Some of them come up here in City Hall and talk and 
stuff but I donÕt recall anybody with ever a cause or a 
message as he was promoting, and I donÕt recall anybody 
that inspired me as much as his visit has.  I researched, 
ŅHow do you greet a monk?Ó because IÕve never met one 
before.  And I was concerned about that, you know, and 
when he first approached me, he gave me a hug and I 
thought, ŅMan, this is, this is easy!Ó  You know, thatÕs pretty 
simple.  
((NATS)) 
((Karen Wingo, Manager, Thrift Avenue, LLC, Lexington, 
Illinois))  
I decided that I was just going to lock the shop and walk 
toward, as far as I could, to meet him.  I was interested 
because IÕve never met a monk, and then for someone to 
walk the entire distance of from Santa Monica to Chicago, 
that was impressive.  
((NATS)) 
((Photo Courtesy:  Karen Wingo)) 
((Karen Wingo, Manager, Thrift Avenue, LLC, Lexington, 
Illinois)) 
He smiled at me.  He was very welcoming, and I shook his 
hand.  We talked the entire time and it was fantastic.  I asked 
him how many pairs of tennis shoes it took to get from where 
he was to where he was now?  And he said, ŅfourÓ.  What I 
did ask is, I wanted to know how he was doing a walk for 
peace?  How do you promote that?  And then he said, ŅIf 
youÕre happy inside, then you just, people can feel your 
peace.Ó  
((NATS)) 
((Sutham Nateetong, Buddhist Monk))  
Walking for peace doesnÕt require much.  I focus on sharing 
with people a sense of peace, showing them kindness.  And 
I think they can feel it because our minds can 
touch.  Peaceful and kind minds will seek and find each 
other.  
((NATS)) 
((Sutham Nateetong, Buddhist Monk))  
When people see how committed I am, help started pouring 
in, from the Thai and Lao communities, from American 
people, as well as native Americans.  They have given me 
all sorts of assistance, such as helping me plan routes, 
providing me food and support.  
((NATS)) 
((Location:  Dwight, Illinois))  
((Carissa Gunty, Resident of Dwight, Illinois, Christian 
KobelÕs Fiancˇ)) 
We looked it up online, and we read that you can offer him a 
place to stay, stuff like that.  So, we both discussed and said, 
you know, it would be nice to invite him to come here, so that 
he doesnÕt have to sleep in a tent or a hotel.  
((Christian Kobel, Resident of Dwight, Illinois, Carissa 
GuntyÕs Fiancˇ))  
ThereÕs so much more that we can be as humans and to 
each other, and he represents that.  And itÕs, just, itÕs great.  I 
mean, I hope that thatÕs the message that our people receive 
from him when they have the chance to meet him, if they 
take the chance to meet him.  
((NATS)) 
((Location:  New York, New York))  
((Sutham Nateetong, Thai monk)   
I hope that these positive feelings and feedback will continue 
to build up until I reach New York.  And I want everyone, in 
the U.S. and around the world, to build it into a momentum 
for peace, to make peace that lasts.  
((NATS))  
((Sutham Nateetong, Buddhist Monk))  
Even though this is a small step towards promoting peace, 
IÕm glad IÕm a part of it, and IÕm glad I can bring people 
together for this.  
((NATS)) 
((Location:  Pacific, Missouri,  Zitzman Elementary School)) 
((Karen Wingo, Manager, Thrift Avenue, LLC, Lexington, 
Illinois)) 
People can say what they want, but heÕs actually walking the 
walk, basically.  The fact that he even bothered to do this 
through the United States, that means he cares about us 
too.  Because he could keep it local, and go to countries that 
he was familiar with, or that he could communicate with 
better, but to even come to the United States, to me, 
personally, I think that shows me that people from other 
cultures care about one another. 
((NATS)) 
 
 
TEASE  ((VO/NAT)) 
Coming upÉ.. 
((Banner)) 
Church in the Dirt 
((SOT)) 
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
We live on a farm.  We donÕt have a huge farm, but we have 
300 acres, and itÕs our lifestyle, and so weÕre blessed to have 
that.  It fits right into the cowboy church mode.  The Bible will 
instruct us in something, and I can give you an example of how 
that affects my daily life here on the farm.
 
 
BREAK ONE									 
BUMP IN  ((ANIM))				  
 

BLOCK B   


((PKG))  CHURCH IN THE DIRT   
((Banner:  Church in the Dirt)) 
((Reporter/Camera:  Gabrielle Weiss)) 
((Map:  Mountain Home, Arkansas)) 
((Main characters:  2 male, 1 female))   
((NATS)) 
((Candy Byrd, Member, Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
Soo-cow!  Come on girls!   
WeÕre gonna separate some cows, so that we can take some 
out to the church for a sorting tomorrow, and while weÕve got 
them up, weÕre going to band a couple of little bull calves and 
just maybe spray them with some fly spray.  Make them feel 
better.  
((NATS)) 
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
I didnÕt see any more that donÕt look like thatÕs all of them 
to me, but it may be.  
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
My wife and I ride a lot together.  So, itÕs a time when we can 
get out and just enjoy what GodÕs done for us.  Just the 
blessings that heÕs let us have with our farm and 
our land.  And we really praise God for it because itÕs a part of 
our lifestyle and being part of a 
Cowboy Church.  Not everybody has a horse, but thereÕs 
something about a horse that just makes everybody feel good. 
((Candy Byrd, Member, Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
I canÕt imagine how people donÕt believe that there is a god 
when thereÕs all this gorgeous stuff to look at.  Who do they 
think created it? 
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
My name is Rick Byrd.  I live in Mountain Home, Arkansas, 
and IÕm a member and a trustee and an elder of Bar None 
Cowboy Church. 
((NATS)) 
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
Canoeing and working cattle are like a test of your 
marriage.  You come out here and you want to do it one way 
and she wants to do it another way and you know, so itÕs a true 
test.  So, it should be fun, hopefully.  YouÕll see our Christian 
love for each other.   
((NATS)) 
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
Try it again.  Shh, Shh.  Get up.  Get up.  Get up.  Get up.  Get 
up.  Get in there. 
((NATS)) 
((Candy Byrd, Wife of Rick Byrd)) 
You put the band on it, and spread it, and grab their testicles, 
and pop it off. 
((NATS)) 
((Candy Byrd, Member, Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
You have to make sure you get them both in there. 
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
YouÕve got to get both testicles.  So, you want them to lose all 
those male tendencies.  Then they grow better, and they donÕt 
have that Ōwant to run over you so badÕ instinct and that kind of 
stuff.  You know, youÕre not raising them to breed.  So, weÕre 
raising them for beef.  So, this is what a beef cow is supposed 
to look like.  HeÕs going to be a meaty one.  One, two. 
((Candy Byrd, Member, Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
One, two!  
IÕm going to get my spur caught in there and fall down on my 
face. 
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy 
Church))                          
We make it through most of the time without yelling at each 
other. 
((Dusty Sanford, Pastor, Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
For some reason, Candy really enjoys that banding. 
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
Yeah, yeah, she seems to get too much enjoyment out of it.  
((Dusty Sanford, Pastor, Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
I know. 
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
We live on a farm.  We donÕt have a huge farm, but we have 
300 acres, and we have cattle that we run and a beef 
operation, and we have baby calves and that stuff.   
((NATS)) 
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
And then we have horses and we have all the other things that 
go along with it: chickens and dogs and cats and working dogs 
and working horses.  ItÕs our lifestyle, and so weÕre blessed to 
have that.  It fits right into the Cowboy Church mode.  The 
Bible will instruct us in something, and I can give you an 
example of how that affects my daily life here on the farm. 
((NATS)) 
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
Uh oh, they see that IÕve got a lead rope.  They know that 
theyÕre going to go to work today.  
((NATS)) 
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
You see how we work around here.  We donÕt have a four-
wheeler.  We donÕt have a Polaris Ranger.  We get on our 
horse and we go check our cows.  The modern way is to have 
a drone.  You can check your cows, and thatÕs not something 
weÕll ever have here.  You donÕt have to worry about it being 
on Byrd Ranch. 
((NATS)) 
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
EverybodyÕs in.  Saddles are in.  Bridles are in.  WeÕre ready to 
roll. 
((NATS)) 
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
Interesting thing, those horses always remind me of 
people.  You saw how those horses just, sort of, moseyed 
off.  They knew that I was going to catch them, but yet, they 
went to the far end of the pasture.  WeÕve got people at church 
that do that.  You know, God's calling them to do something 
and they start moseying away.  Eventually, GodÕll get that 
halter on them, and as soon as that halterÕs on them, you know 
youÕve been caught.  So, that halter is that holy spirit, and so, 
when you have that, you see you donÕt have to pull on 
a horse.  They just follow you.  ThatÕs just like we are with 
Jesus.  We just follow right behind, jump right in the trailer, 
donÕt resist.  ThatÕs the kind of stuff I like about the farm and 
relating to, just everything you do.  Jesus is in it. 
((NATS)) 
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church))
The Cowboy Church, theyÕre all over the nation.  WeÕre part of 
the Southern Baptist Convention, and what it is, itÕs people that 
just love the western culture, that lots of times donÕt feel 
comfortable in a traditional church.  You know, you just like to 
wear boots and listen to country music.  You have cows and 
horses to actually working on a ranch. 
((NATS)) 
((Unknown woman)) 
TheyÕre super friendly Christian people to be around, and we 
just enjoy the life of horses, and we get to bring them out here, 
and associate and be with other people that like to do the 
same things we do. 
((NATS)) 
((Unknown woman)) 
ItÕs nice and close to home, thatÕs why we like to do it.  And we 
just like to chase cows.  ItÕs fun! 
((NATS)) 
((Unknown man)) 
IÕve been coming to Bar None Cowboy Church for ten years 
now.  I got saved when I was sixty years old.  We have several 
rodeos a year, and several thousand cowboys and cowgirls 
come through this building every year, you know.  So, we want 
to share the gospel with them. 
((NATS)) 
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
When we have activities there at the church, we know that, 
you know, weÕre somewhat letting the world come in 
there.  Rodeo guys love to drink a beer, and one of our 
sayings is, ŌIf thereÕs no beer cans in the back of the trucks 
outside, then weÕre not, we donÕt have the right 
audience there.Õ 
((NATS)) 
((Dusty Sanford, Pastor of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
Good Morning.  Everybody doing alright?  Alright. 
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
Our new pastor DustyÕs been here for a year, and his focus 
has really been on making sure that people know that, you 
know, weÕre all sinners, even the saved ones of us.
     ((Dusty Sanford, Pastor of Bar None Cowboy Church))
If you donÕt have the Holy Spirit living inside of you, you wonÕt 
escape the devil.  You know why?  Because heÕs already got 
you.  
((NATS)) 
Number twenty-seven.   
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
Some people feel like they donÕt deserve church.  And so, you 
donÕt catch us throwing stones at people because youÕve been 
divorced, or because you drink a beer, because you chew or 
dip, or any of these worldly things.  None of thatÕs going to 
send you to hell.  But if you donÕt know Jesus Christ as your 
lord and savior, thatÕs going to send you to hell. 
((NATS)) 
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
I used to think how strange it was, when I was growing up, that 
churches would have a basketball court, and itÕs similar to 
that.  So, the goal of bringing those kids into the basketball 
court, were to be able to tell them about Jesus Christ.  And 
really, our arena is used for that same purpose.  We call 
it Church in the Dirt.  And some of the looks on their faces are, 
sort of, interesting when you tell them that, because theyÕre 
there for a sorting.  But it is at Bar None Cowboy Church and 
so, when you come there for any activity, youÕre going to get to 
hear about Jesus Christ.  We donÕt bar anyone except the 
devil.  Sometimes we say we bar one, and thatÕs the devil. 
((NATS)) 
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
Alright, as we always do, weÕll start with a word of prayer, and 
weÕll get going.  Lord, weÕre so thankful for this day, just 
especially thankful for this arena and just the fact that it is a 
church as well, Lord.  We just ask you to be with us as we 
ride.  Keep us safe.  Keep the livestock safe.  Keep the 
horses safe.  Let us all have fun and let the glory of God be 
shown.  To Jesus ChristÕs name we pray. Amen.  Alright, 
Tiffany will be calling out the teams here in just a second. 
((NATS))  
((Announcer)) 
Alright, looks like your cattle are ready.  Flag is up.   
Number two, number two.  
Thirty seconds. 
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
Oh, they got him.  Good job David!  We never did get him 
way back, did we? 
((NATS))  
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
Like to talk cowboy.  
((Dusty Sanford, Pastor of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
I mean out of all the lifestyles, all over the world, the number 
one thing about America has been the American cowboy. 
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
My grandpa was a cowboy.  I remember just, you know, 
breaking colts right out there in the front yard of his 
house.  And so, when I did that, I broke my colts right 
down there, out in front of this house, soÉ.. 
((Dusty Sanford, Pastor of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
Will Roger said, ŌIf you find a job you like, youÕll never work a 
day in your life.Õ  And thatÕs the cowboy way.  If I wasnÕt here, 
thatÕs what IÕd still be doing.  ThatÕs what I was doing until I 
came here to be pastor, working on a ranch in Oklahoma. 
((NATS)) 
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
WeÕre going to eat old number 89.  That was our cow we 
raised.  Her ear tag was number was 89.  So, thatÕs who weÕre 
eating on tonightÕs steak.   
((NATS)) 
((Dusty Sanford, Pastor of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
Alright, yÕall ready to eat?  Brother Dusty? 
We thank you, Lord, for keeping us safe today, where 
everybody was out riding and just working around the ranch 
here.  And Father, we just thank you so much for JesusÉ.. 
((NATS)) 
((Rick Byrd, Elder of Bar None Cowboy Church)) 
How do I feel when IÕm on a horse?  ThereÕs just that 
feeling that thereÕs really nothing else going on in the 
world.  When we ride around, we just know that Jesus is with 
us at all times, and He provided all of this for us.  He provided 
all, all the green grass for the cows to eat.  When youÕre sitting 
on the back of a horse and youÕre looking between its ears, 
and you see GodÕs nature, and itÕs just truly a testimony to 
God, of His power, and what He can do. 
((NATS))
  

TEASE  ((VO/NAT)) 
Coming upÉ.. 
((Banner)) 
Freelance Muslim 
((SOT)) 
((Zaman Stanizai , Professor, California State 
University)) 
Currently I teach Islamic traditions and political science.  If 
you can analyze issues facing them on the human behavior, 
a lot of these world conflicts could be solved diplomatically, 
peacefully, instead of resorting to wars.   


BREAK TWO									 
BUMP IN  ((ANIM))				  
 

BLOCK C  
 

((PKG))  FREELANCE MUSLIM    
((Banner:  Universalist Islam)) 
((Reporter/Camera:  Arturo Martinez)) 
((Map:  Los Angeles, California)) 
((Main character:  1 male))   
((NATS))
((Zaman Stanizai , Professor, California State 
University)) 
We have to understand the institution of marriage.  In the 
modern times, itÕs not the same as in the time of the Prophet.  
In fact, it wasn't even the same 100 years ago. 
 ((Zaman Stanizai , Professor, California State 
University)) 
My name is Zaman Stanizai.  I consider myself more of a 
freelance Muslim as far as sectarian differences are 
concerned.  So, I attend different mosques and IMAN Center 
is one of those.  I was invited to participate in the Quranic 
forum here.
     ((NATS))
((Zaman Stanizai , Professor, California State 
University)) 
What people do in most Muslim societies is that they take 
the exception as the law and the law as the exception.
((Zaman Stanizai , Professor, California State 
University)) 
I'm neither Shia nor Sunni.  When Afghanistan was invaded, 
about a year after the Soviet invasion, I had to leave, like 
most everyone else who feared for their life.  That brought 
me back to the United States.
     ((NATS))
((Zaman Stanizai , Professor, California State 
University)) 	 
The stigma that is attached to Islam these days was not 
there.  Everything was wonderful until the 9-11 and the rest 
of the story which turned everything upside down.  
     ((NATS))
((Zaman Stanizai , Professor, California State 
University)) 
I can't take responsibility for the action of someone else 
simply because they look like me or they come from the part 
of the world I come from or they share a, say, religious 
identity with me.
     ((NATS))
((Zaman Stanizai, Professor, California State University)) 
Why I chose Los Angeles?  I think it's because of this 
cosmopolitan nature.  Here I can go to a church, to a 
synagogue, to a mosque, to a gurudwara.  I could go to any 
temple and the doors are open. 
     ((NATS))
     Long time no see. How are you?
((Zaman Stanizai , Professor, California State 
University)) 
If I'm driving, and it's time for prayer, I pray while I'm driving.  
I can have perfect concentration.  When you're worshipping 
a God that does not have form, then why should we stick to 
the form? 
     ((NATS))
((Zaman Stanizai , Professor, California State 
University)) 
I am a professor.  I've taught for a little over half century in 
Afghanistan and in many institutions of higher learning here 
in the United States and Southern California. 
     ((NATS))
((Zaman Stanizai , Professor, California State 
University)) 
For one, if they had them so meaningfully before the war, 
there will be no war, right? 
     ((NATS))
((Zaman Stanizai , Professor, California State 
University)) 
Currently I teach Islamic traditions and political science.  If 
you can analyze issues facing them on the human behavior, 
a lot of these world conflicts could be solved diplomatically, 
peacefully, instead of resorting to wars.  So, that's how I use 
the Islamic dimension in the political science courses.
     ((NATS))
((Zaman Stanizai , Professor, California State 
University)) 
Understand confusion, right?  It's the name of your best 
teacher in life. 
     ((NATS))
((Zaman Stanizai , Professor, California State 
University)) 
I approach Quran analytically.  I study it.  When I've 
questions, I go there.  Sometimes people may not see me as 
their "idealÓ type of Muslim and I don't care because my faith 
in God is between me and God, not between me and anyone 
else.  Any level of identifying yourself with a smaller group, 
we are narrowing that window of seeing the universal divine.
     ((NATS))
     

CLOSING  ((ANIM))
 
NEXT WEEK / GOOD BYE   
In the coming weeksÉ.. 
((Banner)) 
Reflections on Slavery 
((SOT)) 
It is such a horrible thing to have slavery.  So, my thing is 
why, thatÕs my question, why?? 
((Banner)) 
From Across the Ocean 
((SOT)) 
My people were right here at the bottom of a ship and they 
were sold and they were renamed and they would travel 
from plantation to plantation if they were sold.  So, for me, 
that sent me on a journey of trying to define myself as, you 
know, clearly, I am American.  My people, whatever 
happened between the place they left in Africa and the place 
they were sold, once they got here, we have become a new 
culture. 
 
CLOSING  ((ANIM)) 
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((NATS)) 
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Washington, D.C. 
May 16, 2017 
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