Romance of the Three Kingdoms

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms probably wouldn't count as a pillar of Chinese culture, but it should be at least a gargoyle.  It's a novel from the 14th century attributed to Luo Guanzhong.  It is a dramatic retelling of the struggles between the three kingdoms in the 2nd and 3rd century in China.  There are many many Chinese movies and TV shows and other adaptations about this period of time based on this novel.  Sometimes they decide to be more accurate than the novel, sometimes less accurate.



I've heard the names of various characters for years but never really knew what they did or the whole story.  I've recently watched several movies based on this period of time, the most notable of which is Red Cliff, and read about the Three Kingdoms on Wikipedia.  I found that the prevalence of the story in Chinese culture is kind of like the Trojan Wars and the rise and fall of Julius Caesar.  Now I feel that learning about history and classic stories such as this is actually an essential part of learning the Chinese language if the primary goal is to communicate with Chinese people.  These stories illustrate the Chinese thought process as well as values, which in many ways is more important to communicating than words.  I wish this was a greater focus during Chinese school when I was growing up.

The Legacy of Slavery

The Atlantic has published another great article by Ta-Nehisi Coates called "The Case for Reparations."

The wealth gap and continued segregation of African Americans is the legacy of centuries of exploitation by white Americans.

"When we think of white supremacy, we picture Colored Only signs, but we should picture pirate flags."

The exploitation starts with slavery but continues via housing practices and other predatory activities.  In the meantime it seems like the continued de facto segregation is causing all non-African Americans to be completely ignorant of and detached from African American communities.  They point to the handful of successful black Americans as proof that racism is no longer an issue rather than correctly recognizing them as the exceptional.

"...They ignore the long tradition of this country actively punishing black success"

"Some black people always will be twice as good. But they generally find white predation to be thrice as fast."

"...for all our exceptional ones, for every Barack and Michelle Obama, for every Ethel Weatherspoon or Clyde Ross, for every black survivor, there are so many thousands gone."

Coates' article calls for passing HR 40, the Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act, a bill by Congressman John Conyers Jr., who represents the Detroit area. The commission would study slavery and its lingering effects as well as recommendations for “appropriate remedies.”

I really hope people read this, including immigrants who need a deeper understanding of the historical context for the social issues in the US.

Even though I am fairly aware of many problems black Americans face, I was jarred by the specifics detailed in the article.  It highlights the importance of having patience for people you don't understand and communities you aren't immersed in.  Also, the article illustrates that many problems are systemic just as fairness is systemic.  One person's success or failure cannot prove that America is finally fair or not.  America will be fair only when a person gets as much encouragement, opportunities regardless of their race, class, or gender, but also no more likely than the next to get swindled or judged.

History and Vigilantism

Recently NPR was talking about John Brown, the abolitionist who tried to free slaves by force leading up to the start of the Civil War. They were saying how state governments are cutting funding to parks so they might close the park where he is buried.

I didn't realize the familiar and distinctive Civil War tune is about him.
John Brown's body lies a-molderin' in the grave. x3
His soul's marching on.

Yay history. He was a vigilante, but he turned out to be on the right side.

故事

洋的妈妈昨天教了我们中国的历史。

--汪精卫是很有文化的人，可是因为他跟蒋介石为了国明党的领导能力斗，汪精卫变成汉奸。他也反对共厂党。

--张爱玲是中国的有明作家。她写了好多小说 讲男女的关系。李安 把 《色, 戒》 的故事 拍 成电影。

--她的爸爸是李鸿章的女婿。李鸿章是清朝的外交官。在清朝时侯中国没有什么拳力，所以外国欺负中国。他隔了法国，英国几个汉城市。

--邓丽君，台湾的唱歌明星，四十二岁死了。她有气喘病，这么像我们的朋友西西。

Nanking Event

Last night, LSC (mostly Sheeshee) hosted the Nanking event where we showed the movie Nanking after getting a primer from Jonathan Dower, an MIT history professor. It was extremely successful! We got lots of people (300+) and Dower's remarks were very good.

More Info on Tibet - Stranger than Fiction

A video by the National Geographic about old Tibet and a relationship with the Nazi's??!? I thought people made that up.



http://blog.joegringo.com/2008/04/01/free-tibet-chinese-sayfree-china.aspx

Tibet History

Chris Nebe made a documentary about Tibet and China history. It's not actually that well-made, but it's got some good footage and provides good context for the Tibet issue.