Thoughts on Session #2

[Anonymous]

I was struck by the fact that I left class sporting over 5 pages of notes taken from the session. A look at Korean and Japanese geography was illuminating. Again, the use of solid factual information accompanied by anecdotal sharing made the hours melt away. What struck me most was the awareness that China's Golden Age of Philosophy trumped the various ages of philosophy that flowed from Western minds. I look forward to next week's debate. I appreciated Clay sharing with us the news of the horrific deaths of two Chinese graduate students. It must have been a very heavy burden to meet with the grieving parents.
edited by rnuranen on 4/17/2012

[Anonymous]

I agree with runranen, time did go fast. I enjoyed the seminar.

One thing on my mind from session #2 reading is the mentioning by various philosophers (and their followers) of a time past when "China" was ruled by wise kings/rulers("sage kings"). Thus each philosopher addressed ways contemporary rulers should govern so as to restore their kingdoms to peace and prosperity; to a time in China's ancient past. I would like to know when and what were they refering to? This line of thinking reminds me of Thomas Hobbes' reference to the "state of nature," a time in the past without laws or controls. Hobbes was also vague concerning that time and place, yet he used the argument to justify the concept of social contract. Any thoughts?
edited by eting on 4/17/2012

[Anonymous]

Seeing the maps of Asia and the maps superimposed on the United States brought the countries in question into perspective, especially in relation to the 2006 earthquake in Japan. I didn't know that so much of China is sparcely populated, as in the central southern region. For the first time, also, I finally understood what a levy actually is. I had known it was to control flooding but I just didn't know it is heaped up land along the side of a waterway and also that erosion would continually be happening and the need to keep shoring up the levies. Presently in a clear way. So much interesting information in this session about the geography. I hadn't realized that Pakistan borders it although I was aware that India and Pakistan are uneasy neighbors, especially in the Tibetan region. So it's to the atlas I go, although this was a great introduction.

[Anonymous]

I came to realize just how little I know about these three countries from a geographic and demographic perspective. I grew up with friends who were first generation immigrants such as myself so I felt familiar with the cultural connections among Koreans and Japanese in particular. I still remember my friend Laura (yumi) Kim telling me her mother was uneasy about having our friend terry otsuki come to her house because her experience with Japanese people was generally not positive. As I was only thirteen at the time I didn't fully comprehend the problem and never really bothered to find out more. Last night I feel I finally got a glimmer of answer to a question I have been pondering since the eighties. It was also good to learn a bit more why so many east Asians including Koreans migrated to So. American countries such as brazil where Laura has many relatives, originally from Korea.

[Anonymous]

The before and after pictures of the nuclear reactors before after the 2011 earthquake and especially after the tsunami were chilling, but the devastation of whole areas after the tsunami was so sad. Everything I have heard about the generosity and honesty of the Japanese people in the aftermath of all that has helped me to gain in insight into their national character. Also, in the normal times, the fact that they take busses to the mountains and that being in nature is such an important part of their lives, something that I can certainly relate to, were also interesting tidbits in Clay's presentation.

[Anonymous]

It was really neat for me to be able to identify with some of the things Clay covered, (such as the Korean DMZ) from my own teaching. I usually feel like I know nothing when I start taking a class, and for once I felt as though I had some background knowledge for his insights to build upon. It was refreshing. I especially enjoyed the nighttime satellite image of invisible North Korea--I think it is a striking example and would really drive home the difference for my students. We watched the Inside North Korea documentary which I think gives a decent glimpse, but that image would probably explain almost as much in 1/50 of the time.
Since I teach modern world, I have very little experience with Chinese history and philosophy. Next week's debate intimidates me!

(I apologize for being so late, I am hoping traffic won't always be like that. I left my classroom as soon as my kids did!)

[Anonymous]

My parents were both refugees that escaped to Taiwan from mainland China when the communists came to power. My father became a chemistry professor, my mother an accountant. They met and married in Taiwan. Growing up I consistantly heard them refer to Japanese as "Japanese Devils (ReBenGuiZi)." I did not know why until I learned about WWII in American middle and high schools, and the atrocities against China committed by Japan. After we immigrated to the United States, my father was even reluctant to buy a Honda because it was Japanese, even though he knew it was a well-made car. It's used to be hard for me to understand the level of hatred and resentment they have against the Japanese (and things Japanese). But the more I learn about history, the more perspectives I gain, and the more reluctant I feel passing judgment on my parents.
edited by eting on 4/18/2012
edited by eting on 4/18/2012

[Anonymous]

I agree with eting: I saw parallels with Hobbes as well.
I found myself wondering if the "sage kings" were really so sagacious; how much of this valuation of past rulers is a function of nostalgia and the hagiography that seems to happen as a nation looks back to its forebears? What would a millennium do to U.S. ideas about Presidents Washington and Lincoln or First Nation leaders?
edited by sfeng on 4/18/2012

[Anonymous]

Like eting’s parents, my parents also escaped to Taiwan from mainland China. Growing up, I heard my father talk about how his family’s stores and houses were bombed and burned down by Japanese. For their generation, they can’t forget what the Japanese did to them. However, in Taiwan, there are many people, young or old, who like everything Japanese. Personally, I admire the Japanese people’s politeness and resilience, especially seeing how they dealt with the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake.

[Anonymous]

After coming to the US in the early 70s, my family got plugged in to a Chinese-speaking church. Service was conducted in Mandarin with English translation. I didn't know better as a kid, but the more American-ized I became, the more I felt like a "second-class citizen" in that church. Today my own family and I attend an Asian-American church that is English-speaking only. Attendees are composed of many hyphenated Asians (most are not first-generation like myself), but the majority are of Japanese, Chinese, and Korean backgrounds. I got to visit that old church (in Seattle) I grew up in earlier this month and saw some old friends. Even though it has since added an English service, I must say I still felt uncomfortable, and I wonder if those old friends of mine would feel comfortable in my current chruch? I should add that many church friends from my growing-up days have long left that church; not sure where they're plugged in now.

[Anonymous]

It was interesting in reading and learning about various different Chinese Philosophers. The one philosopher that stood out the most for me was Confucius. Growing up in a traditional family, respecting and caring for one's elders played an important role. If an elder in my family, whether it be an adult or an older sister, what they said was right and you can not argue with them. Even if you were right, you still can not argue with them or not you would be known as a disrespectful child. For me, I can understand the 'respect' part, but I do believe that to get respect, you have to earn respect. Overall, I am looking forward to session 3 and go into more details about other philosophers.

[Anonymous]

hdesmond, I was as equally struck by the picture of Korea at night! As they say, a picture really is worth a thousand words... I thought it was comical when Clayton pointed at the areas of brightly lit areas electrified by "gamers." Then I stopped giggling when my neighbor sitting next to me said there are a bunch of Koreans who are seriously addicted and must get help through one of the many organizations set up there for game addicted citizens. Wow- I had no idea!

[Anonymous]

Just as I posted my Korean comment about gaming, I thought maybe I was getting it confused with Japan... anyone have any thoughts on this? (Which country was shown to us of the image at night showing the electricity?)

[Anonymous]

Well, if it's the case that the younger siblings have to comply and not question the older ones, you are very lucky to be the oldest in your family among all your sisters and brother, huh?

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I am the eldest. The downfall to that is that most of my siblings are not open about things to me. They rather not argue and just keep quiet. Just how some Asians my generation do with the older folks. Its hard for most of us to be open to our elders or express ourselves completely because of 'respect'.

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