Finding the Universal

On Thursdays as you know we try to focus on international news. Part of the reason we do it that way is we want to have a reason to "open up" stories that may not be making the headlines in the rest of the media but which are nevertheless important and interesting. But there was no way this week that we felt we could NOT talk about the earthquake in China ... even though all the other NPR programs are as well, and with great distinction I might add.

What we found ourselves thinking about and wondering about was how communities HERE are reacting to the terrible news. I know what it was like on 911 - I had friends and family who were out of the country at the time. And maybe it seems strange to some but they felt awful at being so far away. We wondered if some or many Chinese Americans might be feeling that way - relieved to be safe but guilty at being safe, frustrated at wanting to do something, not knowing quite what to do, despite all the reporting.

Which is NOT to say that only Chinese Americans or those with a family or ethnic tie would feel that way. Certainly many people around the world have deep attachments to China, or to parts of China. And on a human level - to paraphrase the Roman former slave turned philosopher Titian, if you are a human being, all things human pertain to you. But, at the same time, it IS true that immigrant ties, deep knowledge, family ties and friendship ties create a different set of emotions at a time like this, I think.

So that's why we wanted to go back to Sherry Chang. She's the Bay area radio host who hosts two call in shows where she taps into the particular concerns of the Bay Area Chinese and Chinese American community. We wanted to know what her callers are telling her.

We also of course wanted to hear from Louisa Lim. She's NPR's correspondent normally based in Shanghai. She is on the ground and of course has the most up to date information about the needs of the people there and how they are reacting to this terrible situation.

We paired them because one wants to have both conversations, and we thought in interesting to contrast the suspicions and concerns of people at a remove with those of a seasoned observer on the ground.

Another contender for this week that we hope to get to soon - the plight of immigrants to South Africa who, in troubled economic times, are being targets of violence and suspicion. We'll keep you posted.

In fact there are a number of stories pertaining to the immigrant experience around the world we want to get to ... time ... need the time.

And speaking of time enough for you, Gov. Brian Schweitzer of Montana on energy policy. You just have to listen.

And finally, a conversation we have been trying to bring you for a while, that we KNOW you've been having among yourselves for a while - about the content of BET and MTV videos and music.

I know that many of you are so over it, but many continue to struggle. They love the music, they hate it. They love that these companies have given voice to the expressions of the young, of African Americans, but they hate it. They think it's cheapening American culture.

Well, as part of ongoing dialogue on this point, our conversation with two activists who are immersed in the question of whether the content is too raunchy or not.

Some people say that critics of BET and MTV don't know what they're talking about because they don't actually watch or listen. But now they say they have the data to prove that the content is way too sexual and too profane.

Here's the study. And here is BET's response. MTV did not respond.

And to get the other side of the coin, why one listener believes in Hip-Hop.

And on we go ...

Michel Martin

3:57 PM ET | 05-22-2008 | permalink

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3:57 PM ET | 05-22-2008 | permalink