The Chinese Cultural Revolution was the master plan created by Chairman Mao Zedong in 1966 in his attempt to “deurbanize” the great mass of city youth. Mao Zedong also created other revolutionary events during his stay as China’s communist leader, but the Cultural Revolution set China back in its economics, education, and technology during the period of his Communist Rule. Although the intentions of Mao were forthright and good for his people, the executions and results of his plans were often catastrophic and debilitating for his people.
I believe that the Cultural Revolution affected China worse than the Great Leap Forward plan because it so heavily affected all parts off society and created havoc in the lives of millions of young scholars and the intellectuals. The Great Leap Forward plan was created by Mao in his attempt to bring China into the global society. He moved farm workers into the cities to produce steel and other important things necessary to bring China out of agrarian society and into an industrial society. However, his plan backfired when there there wasn't enough labor in the fields to support China's massive population working in the cities. A large famine ensued, forcing Mao to reconsider his plans for industrial improvements. This is another good example in which Mao had good intentions for the sake of his people yet the implementation of his plan was poor and unsuccessful.
In “Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress”, Luo and his violinist friend mentioned that “mathematics had been scrapped from the curriculum, as had physics and chemistry. From then on our lessons were restricted to the basics of industry and agriculture.” (7) Mao’s plan to “reeducate” intellectuals had a very good intent – he wanted the boisterous and unappreciative city people to reconnect to the land and to the people that sustained their daily lives by agriculture and other essentials that they often took for granted. In the lives of both Luo and his friend the violinist, Chairman Mao’s Cultural Revolution destroyed their lives. Both were planning to attend high school and were dissapointed that the actions of one man could change their dreams for the future.
The violinist mentioned that not only were they “refused admission to high school, [but then] the role of young intellectuals [was] based on an account of [their parents] being labeled “enemies of the people” (8) Mao wanted young people to stop their schooling to join the Red Guard units. The Red Guard units were formed from urban youth who were then sent to destroy those who did not support Communism. But for many young people, it was hard for them to give up their urban lifestyles to enforce Mao’s cult of personality. Therefore, I believe that Mao failed in his attempt to “reeducate” the urban youth because many refused to abandon their ideals for the socialist ideas of Mao’s cultural revolution.
One of Mao's primary beliefs was that the Communist party was allowing the country to slip into capitalistic ways of America and away from the revolutionary ideas that he had worked so hard to enforce in China. Mao also believed that the intellectuals were gaining too much power over the common people. He also sought to make these urban civilians appreciate the peasants that supported their luxurious lifestyles in the city. Personally, I believe that Mao’s idea of “reeducating” the intellectuals was an idea full of good intentions. At this point during his rule as the communist leader of China, Mao was realizing that the intellectuals, the leaders of China’s technology and future, were becoming too powerful and arrogant with their influence over China’s people. Therefore, I strongly believe that Mao had good intentions in implementing his Cultural Revolution on the people of China. He sought to bring back the traditional and cultral ways that were previously found in China.
Despite the ensuing damage to many lives and the economic future of China, the Cultural Revolution did have its bright spots. Mao was successful in uniting millions of his people. He was also successful in reinvigorating many traditional customs and traditions that were previously disregarded by many of the intellectual and city bred youth. Mao sought to reinstate the traditions that the Chinese had come to based their lives upon. He felt that the new intellectual ideas were polluting the minds of China’s youth and pulling them away from their ethnic roots. Therefore, I believe that Mao’s Cultural Revolution was good in its intentions, but very badly executed. As a result of the Cultural Revolution, Mao created havoc in his society, pitting the intellectuals who had moved China into a position of global power against the men and women of the countryside who now had to bear the burden of "reeducating" the young people of the cities.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Friday, April 20, 2007
I Believe Paper
The Chinese Cultural Revolution was the master plan created by Chairman Mao Zedong in 1966 in his attempt to “deurbanize” the great mass of city youth. Mao Zedong also created other events during his stay as China’s communist leader, but the Cultural Revolution set China back in economics, education, and technology during the period. Although the intentions by Mao were forthright and good for his people, the executions and results of his plans were often catastrophic and debilitating for his people.
I believe that the Cultural Revolution affected China worse than the Great Leap Forward plan because it so heavily affected all parts off society and created havoc in the lives of millions of young scholars and the intellectuals. In “Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress”, Luo and his violinist friend mentioned that “mathematics had been scrapped from the curriculum, as had physics and chemistry. From then on our lessons were restricted to the basics of industry and agriculture.” (7) Mao’s plan to “reeducate” intellectuals had a very good intent – he wanted the boisterous and unappreciative city people to reconnect to the land and to the people that sustained their daily lives by agriculture and other essentials that they often took for granted. In the lives of both Luo and his friend the violinist, Chairman Mao’s revolution destroyed their dreams and their lives. The violinist mentioned that not only were they “refused admission to high school, [but then] the role of young intellectuals [was] based on an account of [their parents] being labeled “enemies of the people” (8) Mao wanted young people to branish their schooling to join the Red Guard units. But for many young people, it was hard for them to give up their urban lifestyles to enforce Mao’s cult of personality. Therefore, I believe that Mao failed in his attempt to “reeducate” the urban youth because many refused to abandon their ideals fo the socialist ideas of Mao’s cultural revolution.
One of the primary beliefs at Mao was that he believed that the Communist party was allowing the country to slip into capitalistic ways of America and away from the revolutionary ideas that he had worked so hard to enforce China. Mao also believed that the intellectuals were gaining too much power over the common people. They also sought to make them appreciate the peasants that supported their luxurious lifestyles in the city. Personally, I believe that Mao’s idea of “reeducating” the intellectuals was an idea full of good intentions. At this point during his rule as the communist leader of China, Mao was realizing that his intellectuals, the leaders of China’s technology and future, were becoming too powerful and arrogant with their influence over China’s people. Therefore, I strongly believe that Mao had good intentions in his implementation of the Cultural Revolution.
Despite the ensuing damage to many lives and the future of China, the Cultural Revolution had some bright spots. Mao was successful in uniting millions of his people. He was also successful in reinvigorating traditional customs and traditions that were previously disregarded by many of the intellectual youth. Mao sought to reinstate the traditions that the Chinese based their lives upon. He felt that the new intellectual ideas were polluting the minds of China’s youth. Therefore, I believe that Mao’s Cultural Revolution was good in its intentions, but very badly executed. As a result of the Cultural Revolution, Mao created havoc in his society, pitting the intellectuals who had moved China into a position of global power against the men and women of the countryside.
I believe that the Cultural Revolution affected China worse than the Great Leap Forward plan because it so heavily affected all parts off society and created havoc in the lives of millions of young scholars and the intellectuals. In “Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress”, Luo and his violinist friend mentioned that “mathematics had been scrapped from the curriculum, as had physics and chemistry. From then on our lessons were restricted to the basics of industry and agriculture.” (7) Mao’s plan to “reeducate” intellectuals had a very good intent – he wanted the boisterous and unappreciative city people to reconnect to the land and to the people that sustained their daily lives by agriculture and other essentials that they often took for granted. In the lives of both Luo and his friend the violinist, Chairman Mao’s revolution destroyed their dreams and their lives. The violinist mentioned that not only were they “refused admission to high school, [but then] the role of young intellectuals [was] based on an account of [their parents] being labeled “enemies of the people” (8) Mao wanted young people to branish their schooling to join the Red Guard units. But for many young people, it was hard for them to give up their urban lifestyles to enforce Mao’s cult of personality. Therefore, I believe that Mao failed in his attempt to “reeducate” the urban youth because many refused to abandon their ideals fo the socialist ideas of Mao’s cultural revolution.
One of the primary beliefs at Mao was that he believed that the Communist party was allowing the country to slip into capitalistic ways of America and away from the revolutionary ideas that he had worked so hard to enforce China. Mao also believed that the intellectuals were gaining too much power over the common people. They also sought to make them appreciate the peasants that supported their luxurious lifestyles in the city. Personally, I believe that Mao’s idea of “reeducating” the intellectuals was an idea full of good intentions. At this point during his rule as the communist leader of China, Mao was realizing that his intellectuals, the leaders of China’s technology and future, were becoming too powerful and arrogant with their influence over China’s people. Therefore, I strongly believe that Mao had good intentions in his implementation of the Cultural Revolution.
Despite the ensuing damage to many lives and the future of China, the Cultural Revolution had some bright spots. Mao was successful in uniting millions of his people. He was also successful in reinvigorating traditional customs and traditions that were previously disregarded by many of the intellectual youth. Mao sought to reinstate the traditions that the Chinese based their lives upon. He felt that the new intellectual ideas were polluting the minds of China’s youth. Therefore, I believe that Mao’s Cultural Revolution was good in its intentions, but very badly executed. As a result of the Cultural Revolution, Mao created havoc in his society, pitting the intellectuals who had moved China into a position of global power against the men and women of the countryside.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Nature and the Consequential Effects of Human Activity
Comparison Paper
February 21, 2007
You ask why I make my home in the mountain forest,
And I smile, and am silent,
And even my soul remains quiet:
It lives in the other world
Which no one owns.
The peach trees blossom.
The water flows.
-Li Po
Man claims God’s flowers as his own when he weaves them in a garland.
-Rabindranath Tagore (from “Fireflies”)
Nature and the Consequential Effects of Human Activity
The literature written by Li Po and Tagore reflected the different cultures and religious beliefs of the time period. Both authors effectively convey their ideas of nature and of the spirituality of their surrounding environment. Although their ideals contradict each other, both Tagore and Li Po effectively convey the idea of ownership of nature. Through the poetry and prowess of Li Po and Tagore’s literature, the reader is treated to vivid contrasting opinions of nature and the role of man within its limits.
Li Po’s poem, written in first person, describes the persona as one who is somewhat mysterious. The persona does not want to reveal to the reader how or what about nature is compelling him to want to make a home in the forest. When the persona mentions “and I smile, and am silent, and even my soul remains quiet” it implies to the reader that there is something mystical about the forest. The reader is temped and intrigued that the persona does not divulge the reason for his connection to nature.
When Li Po mentions “The peach trees blossom. The water flows.” at the end of the poem, it leaves the reader wanting to know how the nature has captivated the persona of the poem so thoroughly as to include it at the end of the poem. The simplicity of the nature described in the last two lines also imply growth of the persona because the words ‘blossom’ and ‘flows’ (of water) signify growth and moving on with life. In this sense, the reader is also captivated by the nature that the persona is experiencing.
Contrasting to Li Po’s poem is the poetry of Tagore. His writings give the reader the sense that mankind is overpowering nature. The word 'claims' implies to the reader that the human race is taking over the nature that creates and provides for them. When Tagore mentions 'claims God's flowers', it also suggests to the reader that nature cannot have ownership by mankind because God owns everything. This also helps to suggest that God created nature. Therefore, God also created everything and cannot simply be claimed by man.
Tagore is also effective in conveying the fact that the humans are only claiming ownership when they want something from nature for personal gain. “Man claims God’s flowers as his own when he weaves them in a garland.” is a very good example of how humans become bent on taking advantage of nature when they want something. Nature provides everything for us; it is the source of our very being. Therefore, Tagore was effective to illustrate to the reader the sense that we should not be taking advantage of nature when we rely so much on nature for our very existence.
Li Po’s poem also implies the same views as Tagore’s poem. When Li Po mentions “[making] my home in the mountain forest,” he is talking about being one with nature. The poem also gives the reader the sense that the persona of the poem is becoming a part of nature by living in it. Only when one experiences nature does one really appreciate it. By living in nature, the persona of Li Po’s poem has now learned the spiritual qualities that nature has to offer.
The persona seems to enjoy nature so much that he doesn’t want to share how he is feeling with the reader. When the persona says “And I smile, and am silent” in response to the previous line of “You ask why I make my home in the mountain forest”, it seems that the persona is not revealing the mystical prowess of nature to the inquiring reader. There is even a mention that “even my soul remains quiet” which indicates to the reader that the persona has been truly immersed in the spiritual qualities of nature.
The soul now “lives in the other world/Which no one owns” implies that the soul of the persona has also been transformed by living in nature. There is a sense of deep transformation of the mind, body, and soul during the persona’s living in the forest. Nature has changed the persona’s spiritual knowledge, thereby teaching the mind that we should not take advantage of nature. Instead, we should embrace it for its splendor and beauty because we would not survive without nature.
Nature as I know it is very important to our daily lives. We often take for granted how much we rely on nature. For example, we would not survive without the purified water and food that the earth produces. These are two of the most important things that nature provides us. What’s more, nature also provides us with shelter and a means to create the grand cities and cultures that we are accustomed to in the twenty first century. We would be nowhere in our technological, cultural, and social advancements without nature providing the raw materials and sustenance.
Everything around us has come from some sort of natural being that we previously untouched by man until we learned how to manipulate it to our own needs and wants. When I look around, everything around me, the computer, lap, and bottled water had all previously had a life among nature until man discovered ways to manipulate it into things that we are able to use to our advantages. We are currently destroying nature at a time when nature is the only thing sustaining us. Essentially, we are destroying the very thing that sustains our way of life. In order for future generations to live in similar or advanced forms of the lifestyles we live today in the twenty first century, we must continue to preserve and conserve nature before it is too late for the human race as we know it today.
February 21, 2007
You ask why I make my home in the mountain forest,
And I smile, and am silent,
And even my soul remains quiet:
It lives in the other world
Which no one owns.
The peach trees blossom.
The water flows.
-Li Po
Man claims God’s flowers as his own when he weaves them in a garland.
-Rabindranath Tagore (from “Fireflies”)
Nature and the Consequential Effects of Human Activity
The literature written by Li Po and Tagore reflected the different cultures and religious beliefs of the time period. Both authors effectively convey their ideas of nature and of the spirituality of their surrounding environment. Although their ideals contradict each other, both Tagore and Li Po effectively convey the idea of ownership of nature. Through the poetry and prowess of Li Po and Tagore’s literature, the reader is treated to vivid contrasting opinions of nature and the role of man within its limits.
Li Po’s poem, written in first person, describes the persona as one who is somewhat mysterious. The persona does not want to reveal to the reader how or what about nature is compelling him to want to make a home in the forest. When the persona mentions “and I smile, and am silent, and even my soul remains quiet” it implies to the reader that there is something mystical about the forest. The reader is temped and intrigued that the persona does not divulge the reason for his connection to nature.
When Li Po mentions “The peach trees blossom. The water flows.” at the end of the poem, it leaves the reader wanting to know how the nature has captivated the persona of the poem so thoroughly as to include it at the end of the poem. The simplicity of the nature described in the last two lines also imply growth of the persona because the words ‘blossom’ and ‘flows’ (of water) signify growth and moving on with life. In this sense, the reader is also captivated by the nature that the persona is experiencing.
Contrasting to Li Po’s poem is the poetry of Tagore. His writings give the reader the sense that mankind is overpowering nature. The word 'claims' implies to the reader that the human race is taking over the nature that creates and provides for them. When Tagore mentions 'claims God's flowers', it also suggests to the reader that nature cannot have ownership by mankind because God owns everything. This also helps to suggest that God created nature. Therefore, God also created everything and cannot simply be claimed by man.
Tagore is also effective in conveying the fact that the humans are only claiming ownership when they want something from nature for personal gain. “Man claims God’s flowers as his own when he weaves them in a garland.” is a very good example of how humans become bent on taking advantage of nature when they want something. Nature provides everything for us; it is the source of our very being. Therefore, Tagore was effective to illustrate to the reader the sense that we should not be taking advantage of nature when we rely so much on nature for our very existence.
Li Po’s poem also implies the same views as Tagore’s poem. When Li Po mentions “[making] my home in the mountain forest,” he is talking about being one with nature. The poem also gives the reader the sense that the persona of the poem is becoming a part of nature by living in it. Only when one experiences nature does one really appreciate it. By living in nature, the persona of Li Po’s poem has now learned the spiritual qualities that nature has to offer.
The persona seems to enjoy nature so much that he doesn’t want to share how he is feeling with the reader. When the persona says “And I smile, and am silent” in response to the previous line of “You ask why I make my home in the mountain forest”, it seems that the persona is not revealing the mystical prowess of nature to the inquiring reader. There is even a mention that “even my soul remains quiet” which indicates to the reader that the persona has been truly immersed in the spiritual qualities of nature.
The soul now “lives in the other world/Which no one owns” implies that the soul of the persona has also been transformed by living in nature. There is a sense of deep transformation of the mind, body, and soul during the persona’s living in the forest. Nature has changed the persona’s spiritual knowledge, thereby teaching the mind that we should not take advantage of nature. Instead, we should embrace it for its splendor and beauty because we would not survive without nature.
Nature as I know it is very important to our daily lives. We often take for granted how much we rely on nature. For example, we would not survive without the purified water and food that the earth produces. These are two of the most important things that nature provides us. What’s more, nature also provides us with shelter and a means to create the grand cities and cultures that we are accustomed to in the twenty first century. We would be nowhere in our technological, cultural, and social advancements without nature providing the raw materials and sustenance.
Everything around us has come from some sort of natural being that we previously untouched by man until we learned how to manipulate it to our own needs and wants. When I look around, everything around me, the computer, lap, and bottled water had all previously had a life among nature until man discovered ways to manipulate it into things that we are able to use to our advantages. We are currently destroying nature at a time when nature is the only thing sustaining us. Essentially, we are destroying the very thing that sustains our way of life. In order for future generations to live in similar or advanced forms of the lifestyles we live today in the twenty first century, we must continue to preserve and conserve nature before it is too late for the human race as we know it today.
Aiko and Oranges
January 25, 2007
明るい日
みかんのように
まぶしいね
(the glowing sun
like an orange
is luminous)
It was a blistering summer day in the surrounding regions of Tokyo. Residents of feudal Edo were beginning to feel the summer heat as the gusting winds swept dust and heat waves through the village. On the mountainside sat a large black lacquered house, majestic in its form and function. Surrounded by a large forest and a cascading waterfall, the palace was revered for its inner and outer beauty.
明るい日
みかんのように
まぶしいね
(the glowing sun
like an orange
is luminous)
It was a blistering summer day in the surrounding regions of Tokyo. Residents of feudal Edo were beginning to feel the summer heat as the gusting winds swept dust and heat waves through the village. On the mountainside sat a large black lacquered house, majestic in its form and function. Surrounded by a large forest and a cascading waterfall, the palace was revered for its inner and outer beauty.
Inside the northern most corner room crown Princess Aiko sat on plush futon mats as she practiced shodo (calligraphy) on fine sheets of white rice paper. A gentle breeze gracefully flowed through the thin palace walls, mocking the heat waves surrounding the rest of the village. Aiko tried to keep her fude (brush) upright and steady as she wrote, but soon lost concentration as a gust of wind swept through the open window, gently shaking the shoji screen doors behind her. She sighed heavily, complaining while picking up the scattered pieces of calligraphy thrown throughout the room.
Suddenly, Aiko was startled to find her maid in waiting, Satsuko, admonishing her from the entryway’s open shoji screen doors. “Aiko! Good heavens! What are you doing! You should be practicing your strokes, not picking up litter on the ground! That is peasant work.” “I know,” whined Aiko. “It was the wind’s fault, not mine! I am getting so tired of practicing my shodo. It is good enough! Mother says that today is my last day to practice before I am to see the matchmaker in Chiba. The time passes oh so slowly Satsuko!” Satsuko nodded. “Very well Aiko. It turns out your Mother is waiting for you to come for dinner. Hurry along now!”
Aiko could feel the excitement run through her as servants packed the carriage with all of her favorite things: steamed bamboo shoots from the royal bamboo forest, sweet hard candies, and dried ginger strips. Dressed in her finer yukata traveling outfit, Aiko watched eagerly as servants secured the last bundle. Aiko kissed Satsuko and Mother goodbye as her bodyguards quickly made their last rounds around the carriage.
Cool mountain air swirled around Aiko as the golden red sun slid slowly behind the shroud of the mountain. She began to feel a bit scared at the sudden rush of cold wind, but refused to admit that the little tickle of wind frightened her. “Besides,” she thought to herself, “I have the finest samurai protecting me. Nothing can ever harm me.”
Unexpectedly, Aiko jostled in her seat as the horse drawn carriage reeled to an abrupt stop. Aiko crouched as low as she could, frightened by the blood curling cries of an attacking clan. The samurai protecting her were considered traitors by samurai of neighboring clans, and Aiko knew that the fight outside would not end until one side capitulated. Squeezing her eyes tightly did not make the thoughts of the battle dissipate from her mind, and Aiko wished they could just leave her alone.
After what seemed like an eternity, Aiko heard the shuffling of boxes and packages pulled from the trunk of the carriage. The attacking samurai dragged the horses off into the distance, and Aiko could feel how terrified the horses were by the sound of their cries.
Aiko heard the wind howl once more before sending a chill down her spine. Shivering, she raised her head out of the window of the carriage to find her beloved guards on the ground, none moving. Aiko shuddered, quickly mumbling a prayer for the fallen guards so that their spirits might rest peacefully in their second life. Realizing that she was now alone and abandoned in the middle of nowhere, Aiko felt terrified. There was no one to care to her every whim, no one to even keep her company. Tears began to stream down her face as she tried to sleep; slowly beginning to understand that she was very far from home, both physically and mentally.
As the sun crept up over the horizon the next morning, Aiko woke suddenly as the rays of sunlight tickled her face. Peering out of the carriage window, Aiko gasped. “This can’t be possible. It must be a dream. Where are the guards?” Aiko wondered out loud. She realized that soon she must find her way back home or tragically die herself. After searching the carriage for any means of sustenance, Aiko saddled the one horse not captured by the raiding samurai. She began to search for the route back home, cursing herself for not paying more attention to the path as they traveled through the barren terrain.
As the hours dragged on with no sign of life, Aiko grew restless and depressed. “At this rate, I will never see my family again,” she said softly. A wave of sadness rushed through her, and she felt like quitting right there on the spot.
The sun was beaming down on her exposed face and neck, aggravating her even more. She looked up and cursed the sun for its perpetual shine and hindrance in her search. Squinting into the distance, Aiko made out clusters of many round, shining balls of light. Reeling her horse around, Aiko dashed towards this sign of life in the abyss. “Could those be oranges? Or am I really just hallucinating?” she wondered out loud.
As she approached the oasis, she saw that the balls were not bright balls of sunlight, but indeed plump, round oranges! Aiko grabbed a ripe orange and ripped it apart. She was hungry, but more so thirsty from a long day of endless search and disappointment. The juicy flesh of the orange sent waves of euphoria through Aiko as the orange replenished the lost fluids in her body. She sighed heavily, breathing in the deep scent of the orange grove she had stumbled upon. Aiko realized that the oranges had saved her life! “I have shamed my family and my good name,” Aiko wept. “The sun has been a burden to me all day, yet it has brought me to this lifesaving grove of orange trees. For that I will be forever grateful to the power and guidance of the sun.”
Thanks to the oranges, Aiko was able to gather enough sustenance to be able to eventually find her way back home. Determined more than ever by the lessons learned from the orange trees, Aiko finally found her way back home. From then on, Aiko never forgot that day, her attitude forever changed by a simple grove of orange trees and the guidance of the sun.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)