Reflections on Session #4 (2/12)

[Anonymous]

As many of you have stated, I was also a little worried about our debate. But I felt that it went very well. I appreciated how everybody was dedicated in making their opinion and at the same time were friendly and carefree. I have seen debates get too serious and people can get carried away. I think all belief systems were presented appropriately and guided well with the help of Professor Clay.

I also appreciated the brief talk about world religions in the middle school level, which is what I teach. I often feel like the concepts are too difficult for middle school to fully understand. However, I can see how young minds are more open to try new things. I get more resistance from my 8th grade class when we practice Native American hand signals (early sign language) than my 6th grade class who is learning to use chop sticks. The 6th grade students are more enthusiastic and open minded. These are two aspects that help their education on world religions.

[Anonymous]

Introducing Lord Macartney
[font=Times] [/font]No not Paul, another one. John Adams was not alone in recognizing the value of developing trade route with the [font=Times]East Indies[/font] (1785). I’ve been reading a mission directive written in 1792 by a certain Sir Henry Dundas, president of the board of the British East India Company and [font=Times]Great Britain[/font]’s home minister, to a Lord George Macartney, the first appointed “Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China”. In a nutshell, Lord Macartney was charged with the task of meeting with the Emperor to secure favorable trading conditions with the Chinese. [font=Times]Britain[/font] was already well established with colonial possessions in [font=Times]India[/font] and very prominent with shipping and trading throughout in [font=Times]Indian Ocean[/font] and the Pacific. [font=Times]Britain[/font] did recognize in [font=Times]China[/font] a huge potential for profitable commerce: importation of tea was increasing and the need for a “vent” to unload manufactured goods (and opium, already a factor). Essentially, Macartney was to obtain secure passage for British traders in the region and if possible a new location to have a territorial outpost from which to operate. Mention was made of inviting the Emperor to consider sending his own ambassador to [font=Times]England[/font] to improve commercial relations.
Unfortunately, after meeting with the British ambassadorial deputation, the Emperor Qianlong was to reject all of His Majesty’s requests. He apparently did not believe that dealing with a minor maritime power from thousands of “lis” away was all that necessary. His Chinese empire was vast enough, self-contained, and had no real need of anything from the outside. Precious gifts having been exchanged, the British mission was allowed to go home.

[Anonymous]

I absolutely loved the debate model and am excited to use this in my classroom. I think this could be a fantastic prewriting exercise for a persuasive writing assignment. Especially for the AP English Language synthesis essay model.

[Anonymous]

I enjoyed the story at the start of lecture about the Chinese Ping Pong master who sparked a diplomatic dialogue between the U.S. and China, by extending cordial behavior towards an American player. I just read an article about a trip by Dennis Rodman, to North Korea. Kim Jung Un is apparently a fan of the ex-NBA star and hosted him for a celebrity basketball event in NK. I doubt this will make a tremendous impact on U.S. policy, but I think its interesting to consider what could incite a peaceful, common resolution, and if basketball or pop culture in general could play any part in it. Below are some quotes by Rodman directly from the article.

"He loves basketball. ... I said Obama loves basketball. Let's start there" as a way to warm up relations between U.S. and North Korea, Rodman told ABC's "This Week."
"He asked me to give Obama something to say and do one thing. He wants Obama to do one thing, call him," said Rodman, who called the authoritarian leader an "awesome guy" during his trip. The State Department criticized North Korea last week for "wining and dining' Rodman while its own people go hungry.
Rodman also said Kim told him, "I don't want to do war. I don't want to do war."

[Anonymous]

On the day we discussed Korea, I had missed the news that Dennis Rodman was visiting North Korea so I only partially understood what classmates were referencing. It doesn't seem exactly parallel to the "ping pong diplomacy" where one government sent a state-sponsored team to play in the other country.

Dennis Rodman was once my favorite player (when he was a specialist in rebounds for Detroit), but I am not sure he is the best representative or go-between for international diplomacy. Here is an article claiming the Rodman says not to worry, Kim Jong un has no ill-intentions despite all the harsh talk this past week.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/dennis-rodman-worms-his-way-into-north-korean-leader-kim-jong-uns-affections/story-e6frf7jo-1226612820351

Perhaps, Obama should call him sooner rather than later.

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

Hi Colleagues,

Please write your reflections below.

[Anonymous]

On the day we discussed Korea, I had missed the news that Dennis Rodman was visiting North Korea so I only partially understood what classmates were referencing. It doesn't seem exactly parallel to the "ping pong diplomacy" where one government sent a state-sponsored team to play in the other country.

Dennis Rodman was once my favorite player (when he was a specialist in rebounds for Detroit), but I am not sure he is the best representative or go-between for international diplomacy. Here is an article claiming the Rodman says not to worry, Kim Jong un has no ill-intentions despite all the harsh talk this past week.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/dennis-rodman-worms-his-way-into-north-korean-leader-kim-jong-uns-affections/story-e6frf7jo-1226612820351

Perhaps, Obama should call him sooner rather than later.

[Author]

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