thoughts about session 6 on 7/25 w/Dr. Dube

[Anonymous]

Footbinding from years past doesn't seem so different from current body modifications of modern America. Link to Beverly Jackson's book information that Clay mentioned. http://www.splendidslippers.com/main.html

[Anonymous]

I found the Opium discussion fascinating. It seemed as if Britain and the US were being blamed for addicting the Chinese to Opium. However, since it was already being used in China for medicinal purposes, wasn't it just a matter of time before the Chinese got addicted to it on their own? Or, was it so hard to come by in China that there was no chance of that happening?

[Anonymous]

The footbinding was imposed upon young girls - for whatever reasons. Most people make the choice themselves to modify their bodies.

[Anonymous]

I agree that students find the foot binding story irresistible. The fact that opium weakened China more by economics than by actual addicts was something I was not aware of. I also find fascinating the amount of previous American military intervention in China that is not often discussed. Finally, the parallels of Chinese history to our politicians strikes me, with their vague claims of endorsement from God, the appeal to "our forefathers", and the need to " get tough with China" .

[Anonymous]

There are two excellent novels written by Anchee Min called Empress Orchid and the Last Empress that are written about Ci Xi (although in the book they spell it differently). I read them both a couple years back for book club and everyone loved them, not just the history teachers.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the link, tbryant, to the Splendid Slippers book. I looked though it all.
I can surely sympathize with the Chinese and the lovers of Chinese culture when they are offended by people relentlessly bringing up this very small part of their vast and amazingly impressive culture. My undergraduate degree is in German, and though I am not of German ancestry, I can feel my feathers ruffle when people keep bringing up the two decades of Hitler literally within a few minutes after a discussion of Germany comes up, while ignored are at three centuries of arguably the most sophisticated music, science, and engineering our species to that date had ever imagined. This has happened to me at dinner parties with my visiting guests from Germany present {{embarrassing!}}. I don't need to detail what my Columbian friends get angry about.
However, like it is with me and American country music, I've tried and tried to appreciate the art others perceive (e.g., in Hee Haw and the ornate little shoes featured in that book), but it's not happening. Both are torturous for me to endure first or even secondhandedly.
Yes, women have always done harmful things in the name of beauty and scoring a good mate as with corsets, high heels, silicon implants, etc. The difference is that these were CHOSEN by ADULTS with an option to decline. Most of these fetishes do not cause permanent damage. Foot binding was imposed on very young girls who did not have a say and the damage--no--MUTILATION, was permanent. I can't imagine never experiencing the joy and the joyful memories I'll always have of running as a younger person. Also consider the necessity of the ability to run from danger, whether it be from a natural menace or the two-legged kind. (I once asked a Korean diplomat who claimed he was being groomed to be the Korea's ambassador to China why there was foot binding, and he mistakenly but interestingly told me it was to keep the woman from running away from her husband.)
So when looking at the pictures of dainty slippers in that book, the phrase of our infamous former governor of The Last Frontier State came to mind: lipstick on a pig.
Imposing on girls practices such as foot binding and female genital mutilation are but different chambers in the same house of horrors, even if some women write books postulating that these practices empower(ed) women or deserve respect out of cultural sensitivity. Are there not objective evils that transcend the respect normally due to a revered cultural tradition?

[Anonymous]

Global trade reminds me of the Triangular Slave Trade. Could this be how the idea came about? Something to think about.

[Anonymous]

Someone today asked why. Here's one of the astronomers from the observatory outside of Tucson answering that question

[Anonymous]

I didn't realize that Walmart accounted for 10% the U.S. trade to China or how big they are in China. This is so interesting to me!

[Anonymous]

Was Ci Xi's son the one that started the education reform in China and was put on house arrest? I am pretty sure it was, because I remember going to the palace in China, but can't remember the name of the Emperor.
edited by dcontreras on 7/25/2012

[Anonymous]

Food binding is just crazy to me, but I guess it can relate to now how women are so caught up in plastic surgery, although I do know that it was mandatory for women back then. Now i have a question, what were some of the consquences of foot binding, because I can imagine they were terrible.
edited by dcontreras on 7/25/2012

[Anonymous]

I found this afternoon extemely intereesting...
I have head the term Opium Was before .. but never knew what it was about..The British as drug dealers....... WOOOOOOW. And the ensuing changes in China as a result. It is entirely unbelievable and terribly shameful. How differnt the world would be now if this had not happened.

The footbinding thing-- Is another example of what women do to acheive beauty-=- there are all sorts of crazy proceedures and customs that each culture practices.. or has practiced ..It is easy to get on one's high horse about a different culture's practices. And if given the choice would these girls have stepped outside of their culture's norm? My guess is no. but what do I know. I looked at the Beverly JAckson's book. I would like to read it . The pictures of the shoes are beautiful. The anecdotes would be interessting , I am sure.

[Anonymous]

The graphic that showed Mexican silver paying for tea in the British trade with China triggered a connection my 5th graders would love to explore. I introduce my class to the riches of the East (East Asia) and riches of the New World. Here we have New World riches used to purchase riches of the East. When they realize that the tea the silver purchased is the tea colonists dumped in Boston harbor it will really make it memorable!

[Anonymous]

Wouldn't it be a good assignment for students to research/present different ways that cultures all over the world that did this?

[Anonymous]

In 7th grade, students love to learn about Wu Zetian. Although I haven't quite worked out how I would do this, it would be interesting to compare/contrast her reign with Ci Xi?

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