Judea and Ruth Pearl, from left, with journalist Charlie Rose at the Holocaust Museum Houston Lyndon Baines Johnson Moral Courage Award Dinner. The museum honored the Pearls' son Daniel, the Wall Street Journal reporter kidnapped and killed by terrorists. Rose presented the award. Gary Fountain: For the Chronicle

May 6, 2007, 11:20PM
Slain journalist Pearl is honored
The Holocaust Museum presents its courage award to his parents

By CYNTHIA LEONOR GARZA
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, who was beheaded five years ago by terrorists in Pakistan, was honored Sunday with the Holocaust Museum Houston's Lyndon Baines Johnson Moral Courage Award for his work in bridging different cultures.

Award-winning journalist Charlie Rose presented the award to Pearl's parents, Ruth and Judea Pearl, during the museum's annual award dinner at the Hilton Americas-Houston.

The theme for this year's event was "One Issue-One World," which builds upon the museum's mission of teaching how the actions of one person can have a positive global impact, overcoming things such as hatred and prejudice.

Judea Pearl spoke of his own grandparents who died at Auschwitz and of his son who died 60 years later for the same reason — for being Jewish. He said although the circumstances were different, they were products of the same disease.

"The honor that Danny received today from Holocaust Museum Houston would remind our children and grandchildren that these forces did not die in 1945; they are dangerously active today, and must be fought by education, vigilance and timely response," he said.

The 1,200 guests in attendance also heard a taped message from CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour, who said Pearl had become an icon because of the manner of his "brutal murder."

"But for us, it will be his work that we'll try to carry on," Amanpour said.

Holocaust Museum Houston Executive Director Susan Myers said Pearl's great respect for all communities, not just his own Jewish community, is what separated him from the many others who do incredible deeds.

Pearl became a worldwide figure just four months after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. He was abducted while working on a story about Islamic militants in Karachi, Pakistan, and his pregnant wife and family were joined by the world in watching video images of the journalist.

As a foreign correspondent and the Journal's South Asia bureau chief in Mumbai, India, Pearl broke numerous stories and wrote entertaining pieces.

He was abducted while working on a story retracing the steps of Richard Reid, known as the "shoe bomber." Weeks later, on Feb. 21, 2002, his death was confirmed. He was 38.

His life and work has been preserved in numerous books, a documentary and movie scheduled to be released later this year. After his death, his family and friends established the Daniel Pearl Foundation to carry on his legacy and to address the root causes of his tragic death.

Previous recipients of the Moral Courage Award include musician Bob Geldof, former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and filmmaker Steven Spielberg. Museum officials said this year's event raised $1.7 million — money that allows the museum to remain free to the public.