"I liked Rosie."
So said world-traveled journalist Lisa Ling in her opening remarks of a talk she gave last night at Galvin Auditorium, right here on Loyola's campus. In reference to The View, a talk show that Ling appeared on for about 3 and a half years, Lisa mentioned that it was a "fun job," but that she had missed being in the field doing serious journalism.
"And, no, I've never been in any Charlie's Angels movies."
This got a laugh, lemme tell you. She's NOT Lucy Liu, she's Lisa Ling. Very different.
"Even though I'm Asian, I'm not good at math."
Oh, Lisa, you're so silly.
But the night was more than just Lisa's genuine good-humor. Her talk delved into real politics, global issues, and emotional problems that all humanity shares. A clip she showed from her work with National Geographic portrayed American parents at an orphanage in China, where they were meeting their newly adopted daughters for the very first time.
Another clip showed Lisa entering one of the United States' maximum security prisons, and talking with some men who had been convicted of the most heinous crimes imaginable.
From the touching clip of the Chinese girls to the issue of brutality and violence in America itself, from a discussion on the role of news stations and their responsibility to commit to more serious journalism than the Anna Nicole Smith incident to a poem Ling had written about child-brides in 49 different countries, Ling's lecture was substantive, insightful, and inspiring.
Ok, meeting someone who is on T.V. a LOT and who is considered somewhat of a celebrity was pretty awesome. Note my facial expression in Figure 1.
Fig.1
Julie is shaking as she poses with Lisa. Love the necklace, Lis.
But more than that, Lisa's talk about the increasingly global environment and wireless world in which we exist struck to my very core. I have recently decided to spend next year abroad, in Nantes, France, and though I have been a bit overwhelmed by that decision to be out of the country for an entire year, Ling's talk put me back in the state of mind that I needed. Her emphasis on getting to other countries, of learning about oneself through traveling and confronting what is someone else's reality, even if it is completely different from one's own life, was truly striking.
Thank you, Lisa, for your talk,* and please know that you made a difference, at least in the heart of one Loyola lady.
Aw. Brush that tear away, I know.
*As if Lisa will ever read this. Maybe. :) Let's cross our fingers.
She might just read it if you send it to her! Way to go, Juj! Can't believe you're there with such a celeb!
Mom
Posted by: Liz konstantinov | March 28, 2008 at 09:15 PM