Bravo Anderson Cooper

[center rising]

I was listening to AC 360 tonight, and he was talking about the situation in Bahrain, when he started getting e-mails in essence telling him that who cared what was going on in the Middle East, and to switch to the protests in Wisconsin. Cooper thought for a moment and then told his listeners that he was going to stay with the Middle East story because it was important to know what was going on over there, not just for the interests of the US, but for the world as well. He said while the battle of Wisconsin was important, and would air later in the show, he would start things off in the Middle East.

Foreign policy is not "sexy" in this country. America's woeful lack of knowledge when it comes to world matters is quite staggering. Some probably couldn't tell you were Egypt was on a map on the world. Plenty of Americans have this "isolationist" attitude, and don't really want to know what happens outside the US. Sadly, this is the way it has been for quite a while. But foreign policy cannot be ignored. American has tons of interests around the world from China, North Korea, Mexico, the Middle East, Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, to Russia and beyond.

While America rightly must worry about domestic problems, which are massive, and getting bigger everyday, the fact is the world also has to be on the agenda. The cable news networks did a great job in reporting the situation in Egypt. I just hope that this is the start of reporting on the international news, and not just what is happening at home.

I applaud Anderson Cooper tonight. What happens in the world should be talked about and not overshadowed by what's happening at home.

[hlthe2b]

1. Yes. I agree...

So many Americans never travel, barely read anything of substance and worse, can't be bothered to care what is happening outside their own little world. The RETHUGS like it that way. But, we will go down hard and soon, if we can not reverse this trend.

[physioex]

2. Yes.....

Kudos to Anderson Cooper for his coverage on Egypt, and for the courage he showed actually being there to cover things as it happened.

[spooky3]

3. Multi-tasking is good.

Both domestic and international news is important. I don't want to have to decide whether the destruction of the labor movement (which is part of an even bigger destruction of the country by powerful interests) is more or less important than the struggles in the Middle East. Both are important.

And goodness knows, with 24 hour cable stations, they have PLENTY of time to inform the public of both.

[JDPriestly]

4. These stories are linked.

In each case, the government is trying to oppress ordinary, powerless people. In each case, the people are demanding justice.

[spooky3]

7. well put

[JI7]

5. they are on 24/7, i wish they would do more in depth coverage

they have the time to do it. they could devote and hour or 2 or even more to each issue. right now they cram it all into 1 hour and then repeat it throughout the day.

[Matariki]

6. Actually, while I agree with him on that, it IS encouraging that people want WI coverage.

You know the MSM is rarely good about covering anything but stuff that furthers corporate interests.