No, the 1997 2.0 sohc. Ford escort is Not a interference engine. It is a Freewheeling type. Interference refers to the non-ability of the engine to freewheel out of valve time. Interference engines DO cause damage if the timing belt breaks.
As a pediatrician this is a common concern I hear from parents of newborns. Sticking your tongue out is better known as tongue protrusion. It is when the tongue sticks out beyond the lip border for all to see. Since tongue protrusion is one of the Characteristics of Down syndrome, new parents often ask,
Raise - ask the person to raise his arms above his head. Doctors suggest one other way to know if a person has suffered a stroke - ask the person to stick out his tongue. If his tongue is not straight or droops or slants to one side rather than coming straight out of his mouth, it is an indication of a stroke.