IMMIGRANT OF THE DAY: MARTIN BASHIR - BROADCAST JOURNALIST

Martin Bashir is the British-born co-anchor of ABC's long-running Nightline news show. Bashir has a reputation not dissimilar to Barbara Walters, the legendary ABC news interviewer. Both have a reputation for being able to get their subjects to open up more than most others. Bashir, formerly of the BBC, is particularly known for the confessional 1995 interview with Princess Diana that shortly preceded the divorce of the royal couple. His 2003 interview with Michael Jackson was credited with leading police to investigate the singer for criminal activity.

Comments

[bertha gardner]

Wasn't Martin Bashir run out of Britain and was voted Most Hated Man in Britain because of his butchering and dishonesty in the Living with Michael Jackson special. Leave it to Amerikkka to honor this asshole. Don't hold kindly to journalists trying to destroy arguably the most famous black entertainer in the world.

[Robert]

Get your facts straight !! His interview with Michael Jackson did not lead the police to "investigate the singer for criminal activity" but according to the district attorney it is the REASON for the "criminal activity" Michael Jackson indulged in.

[USC]

"USC - Much obliged for your kind words. I'm not sure I understand why Dr. Marshall won't qualify for the column after the semester starts in January?"

Great! I will look forward to seeing Dr. Marshall in a future column!

[Greg Siskind]

On the question of the underrepresentation of physicians, you're absolutely correct. I welcome reader suggestions since I know there are many, many great candidates out there.

[Greg Siskind]

USC - Much obliged for your kind words. I'm not sure I understand why Dr. Marshall won't qualify for the column after the semester starts in January?

[Legal and no longer waiting]

Honorary Immigrant?! That's clever, I agree with that!

[Dr AIIMS]

Great suggestion, USC. I second it.

[USC]

For Immigrant of the Day for December 05, 2007, I nominate Greg Siskind who after all is a Honorary Immigrant himself.

His bio appears below:

http://www.visalaw.com/gsiskind.html

All immigrants everywhere, no matter which country they are moving from or to, owe you a debt of gratitude for your tireless hardwork on their behalf!

[Dr AIIMS]

Wow!!! Princeton at 19, Harvard at 22, Sloan Kettering at 23. Great story on Michor.

[USC]

The importance of your Immigrant of the Day Column can be gauged by the rabid reaction of the antis. Certainly, I enjoy the column immensely.

I came across another list today.

http://www.esquire.com/features/best-brightest-2007/bestandbrightest2007

I was able to verify that the following are immigrants:

Dhurandhar (India), Grosset (France), Jain (India), Kang (China - unsure if he was born here), Kim (S. Korea) Lamichanne (Nepal), Lipson (Israel), Luft (Israel) & Michor (Austria).

Unfortunately, Esquire hasn't done a very good job with the bios and the articles are confusing.

One that they did a good job with is Michor. I was also impressed her research pertaining to the anti-cancer drug Gleevac, with the fact that she is 25, she received her PhD at 22, outdoing even you ;-)

http://www.esquire.com/michor1207

The preponderance of physicians (who have been under-represented in your column) in this list, prompted me to look up Dr. Barry Marshall, an Australian who was ridiculed (called a kook, a charlatan and much worse) in the 1980s for his claim that ulcers were caused by a virus. He was ultimately awarded the Nobel prize in 2005. The Nobel citation specifically noted his courage:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4304290.stm

"The Nobel citation praises the doctors for their tenacity, and willingness to challenge prevailing dogmas."

The antis will be dismayed to learn that Dr. Marshall has accepted a part time position at Penn State and will be teaching the Spring semester there.

http://live.psu.edu/story/25683

While Dr. Marshall won't qualify under your Immigrant criteria, his example does illustrate the need for the US to welcome individuals like him. Our immigration laws need to be flexible enough to welcome more people like him. They contribute more in a semester to the US than a million Brenda Walkers do in a million years!