Actors' right to speak

Comment on "Cross Talk: Is actor Jet Li worth $62 million a year?" (China Daily, January 12)

In the article the writer attacks two film stars - Chinese actor Jet Li, and American actress Angelina Jolie.

The writer said Li, who played the hero in the film The Warlords was overpaid, giving a social status "incommensurate with his skills as an actor".

Moreover, Li appeared on a CNN television show where he commented on "all manner of political matters". The writer said he would prefer to hear from some Chinese academics, and that Li should stick to acting.

While I have the greatest respect for Chinese academics - a few of whom are personal friends, I would not always place their views higher than Li's. In some matters Li's intelligence may be equal to theirs.

While the writer reluctantly admits Jolie has "done great things for the world" as a UN ambassador, he disapproves of the fact that she was inducted as a member of the prestigious New York Council on Foreign Relations "alongside such erudite people as US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice".

It depends on your criterion. If you are evaluating the worth of individuals in gaining friends for and increasing understanding of your country, celebrities win hands down every time. Their fame naturally wins them large audiences, who are already favorably inclined when they are admirable persons like Li and Jolie.

There is nothing wrong with actors. It all depends on how they perform in life. They certainly have every right to speak.

Sidney Shapiro

via e-mail

Informative articles

Comment on Wang Hao's column "People who make the difference" (China Daily, January 4), "Let us not ignore kids' pressures" (China Daily, November 9)

The two articles were both sensitive and informative. I was particularly taken with your conversation with the worker from Sichuan and the circumstances of his situation. The words "thank you" are so small but can have such a powerful effect on people.

This article reminded me of a conversation I had with a migrant worker in Beijing a couple of years ago.

I was walking near the "old movie theater" in Xi'anmen and became involved in a conversation with a young man who was a migrant worker from a village near Chongqing whose parents were farmers.

He told me he could speak some English which he had learnt from a European women who lived near his family home. We had this most wonderful conversation where he shared with me the life and struggles of a migrant worker in Beijing.

I thanked him for the conversation, an experience that has remained with me as one of the more significant.

Wayne Brabin, Australia

via e-mail

Educating people

Comment on Li Xing's column "Salutations of old have disappeared" (China Daily, December 27)

How to address people of different age groups properly is really important because it affects people's feelings, and it also reflects the level of civic education in our society.

I think what we need is education on how to properly address people, and if this could be published in the press, the better.

Celia

on China Daily website

Refuting false claims

Comment on Kang Bing's column "Handling media criticism" (China Daily, January 11)

I wish Beijing a successful Olympics.

However, people expect to see hard facts and figures to refute false claims made by some sections of the media.

Worried

on China Daily website

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(China Daily 01/18/2008 page9)