Charlie Rose

MotherLodeBeth  07/11/2008 01:42 AM Report

The show with Ted Koppel was one of the best I have seen and I could have listened to him for the whole hour or more. Have been watching his show in the Discovery Channel and thinking how void American news media is of in-depth coverage of the sleeping giant who has awoken and has so much to teach us. A couple issues about his special is the one young man who spoke so eloquently about how he trusted his government rather than love if government, and then the American who is helping build such huge developments in China and how he also eloquently noted that there are some things China does well and the others who noted, wisely I felt, that American democracy isn't for everyone. Yes !!!! America has enough sins of her own that she cannot afford to be arrogant any more, when it comes to other countries sins. Not to mention as Mr Koppel also reminded the viewer, China, and other countries are keeping America afloat with all the loans they have given us. I say this as someone whose family has lived as well as traveled in China. Also will note that since the massive earthquake recently in China I have seen on international news (have the China channel via satellite) that parents have indeed been allowed to protest. And I wonder how many executives in American companies who were found to have done or allowed shoddy work would we execute like the Chinese?

Stan Fichtman  07/10/2008 06:10 AM Report

If I had a dime for every "China expert" that talked about the impending "war with China"." I'd be a rich man.

With that said, It was absolutely refreshing to hear Mr. Koppel and his analysis of China and their current state of development. I am watching the first episode of his show now, and to be honest, he hits the issue of analyzing China right on the head. When Mr. Rose asked the question about what the current status of human rights is in China, Mr. Koppel got the answer right. As with anything relating to China these days, the answer to this and a plethora of questions about the country is "depends on what definition you use."

As a resident in China from 1990 to 1993, and making a number of trips back to the country until the first part of this decade, I saw the same thing in the Chinese when I first lived there, and surprisingly, still what it is now. To change such a country, one must wait decades before even embarking on such a change. The fact that it took only 28 years for it to develop from a backwater to a economic powerhouse is impressive, but never expect the social dynamics of the country to change as quickly.

Thank you for confirming this, once again, Mr Koppel. The government of the United States, Amnesty International and other entities that demand instant change to the Country to "western" standards should watch the series to truly understand what "China" is all about.

David Chowes  07/10/2008 04:08 AM Report

There are plenty of political programs on TV (especially, cable). CNN and MSNBC treat politics and geopolitical events as a horse race or a pugalistic event. [Excuse me for omitting the FOX News Channel, the propaganda arm of the "Conservative Republican folks."\ They add very little to the often quite subtle discourse or rarely mentioned but salient aspects of these events. Mr. Rose, you and Ted Koppel provided a virtual gormet dinner on the subjects discussed. YES, ON THE WORLD STAGE WE DON'T HAVE FRIENDS. WE HAVE INTERESTS -- and, yes, it was OIL! Thanks, Mr. Rose for the best interview program presently on television. And I look forward to viewing Mr. Koppel's four part series on the Discovery Channel.