Block+C+Journal+Sarah+Cho

2/19/2009 **Please take a couple of minutes to respond to this reading. What stood out for you? What do you think of it, is it exaggerated?**

While reading this document, I learned different prospective towards the treatments women received. The points were all very negative of how women didn't receive any respect, cares, and discriminated from their own family. I thought that the point where women said that everything rotated around men was what stood out for me the most. I believe that this was an extreme exaggeration because if we think about it, women obtained what they wanted in their life. They described as if it were some sort of prisoners, but I don't believe it was so. Though it wasn't stated in the Confucian's law, there were no laws for women and men, but as I read further, it stood out for me that men were dominant over women. But at the end, the writing showed how women were treated with inferiority compared to the men.

2/23/2009 **If rabbit is too smart for his own good, Owl is the Brain, and Piglet, Pooh...?**

As stated in the book, the Rabbit is too smart for his own good, and Owl is the brain, then Pooh and Piglet is the Daoism. Piglet and Pooh wants to make things to be simple and easy to understand. Owl, seems to be wrong in many criteria, but Piglet and Pooh shows how since it's today, it doesn't matter how you spell it. Owl and the Rabbit seems to me very determined, and fixed with their opinions and ideas, however, Pooh and Piglet are always both having a hard time making decisions, and doing what they want. Thus, if we compare this to Daoism, the idea that things are better when they are simple, is because the Owl and Rabbit are always so serious and has a hard time enjoying the situation, while Piglet and Pooh enjoy every single moment of the situation rather it's good or bad. Piglet and Pooh are the follower and are unsure of themelves, because every single episode of "Pooh," shows the characteristics of each character.


 * 2/26-2/27 The Tao says that the ruler should "rule by inaction" How do you make sense of this? Is it at all possible?**

When the Tao says that the ruler should "rule by inaction," is using the basic idea of Taoism. Since Taoism is doing without doing, if the ruler thinks about ruling too in detailed, then nothing would work. Thus, this is saying let the nature rule the empire, and if they go against the nature, the empire would naturally fall. If one implies the idea of Taoism, they will be able to find out more about themselves and also the country. By following the Taoism, a ruler shouldn't oppress the people as much, and keep them away from nature, which is the main power of the world.


 * 3/11 Explain right mindfulness and right concentration. Do you see how you could apply this to your daily life? Why or why not?**

Right mindfulness is being aware of themselves, and being focused on the event that is happening at that moment. Right concentration is applying and using the objects and concepts to meditate and develop the inner-self. I believe that this could be applied to my daily life because without a clear concentration and idea of how to concentrate and why, then one wouldn't be able to develop themselves any further. Also, being aware of what is happening around them is important because that will help determine the characteristic of themselves, and as well as to act fast. Being able to act fast helps the people become even more aware with who they are and what type of person they are. This ability doesn't only apply to Buddhists, but should be a moral for all people, because it will create less conflicts and be aware of things faster and easier once we have the knowledge of right mindfulness and concentration.


 * 4/1 In describing Japanese development, a British Professor in 1873 declared that he felt 400 years old by the end of the century. Explain the historical context behind this quote.**

A British Professor in 1873 said that he felt 400 years old by the end of the century because there were so many changes made to the country, that it took a large amount of time to get used to and make the laws a habit of daily life. Also, the amount of time it took for the professor to understand the laws fully, and the government itself to make a stable law took a long time. The 400 years could be an exaggeration of the amount of time. Though things that changed were small, the Japanese needed a lot of time to get used to them, and they needed experience with them to accept the items or ideas.


 * 4/6 "Japan had to Westernized or be destroyed."**

Japan had to be Westernized or destroyed because of many factors. The idea and belief that Japan was much better than the Westerners prove to the outer world that they were becoming a danger to all. At some point, it was obvious that they will catch up with the others, therefore, it was ideal to be westernized since it would equalize the points, and make the country itself even more peaceful. Without the country itself being peaceful, then there would be no way to maintain the country's government and make changes to them.


 *  4/10, 4/13 What do you find most shocking about what you have read so far? How do make sense of such cruelty?**

The most shocking thing I learned and understood about the Rape of Nanking were the stupidity of the Chinese to have believed every single word the Japanese told them about. If only they thought about the situation one more time, and tried to compare themselves with the benefit and costs of the action the Japanese took, then they would've been able to refrain from this event happening. However, without this cruelty, the idea of Japanese killing the Chinese wouldn't have happened, since Chinese outnumbered them too much for the Japanese to be able to kill all of them. This, I would say would be a fault of both sides. The Japanese were very violent in many ways since they killed the people in various ways and used machine guns a lot. The way they destroyed the body was really shocking as well, because most of them, they dropped them into the river near by, until the water turned red.

In my opinion, it would be better to be a non-communist because though both side would eventually die, it would be safer and more nationalistic to be a non-communist. Since majority would be non-communists, there would be more chance of dying. Though communists may dig in to kill the non-communists, it would be better to die with the majority of people, than surviving in the world where everyone is against your idea. The idea that people would die with the majority of people and live on with nationalism in mind would be far more successful than living by yourself and going against the majority of the people. To seek help was impossible because people with the same race as you would go against you and eventually kill you. So, therefore, it would more ideal to be a non-communist, but still having in mind the idea that whatever political believe you have would kill everyone since it's a war.
 * 4/28/09 - which was safer?**

**4/30 Do countries have an obligation to compensate each other for injustices done in time of war?** If there was an obligation to compensate each other for injustices done in time of war, then there would have been no reason for the countries to have been in a war. If they were thinking back to the past, and thinking that the injustice things should be repaid, then the lives lost during the wars would have no meaning. Of, course now-a-days, it is not required for countries to compensate each other. However, in my opinion, at that time, the consequences that people received was so great that people did try to recover by using forces. Thus the countries do not have to compensate each other for the things done in the time of war because no matter how much the other pays to you, there is no way the heart, feelings, and emotions will be cured.

The title, "Shattered Faith," relates to the story because many of the hopes and dreams she had was destroyed, and literally shattered in front of her. Once she lost her hopes and faith of life, her own country, and her family, there was nothing left for her. The one thing she had to believe in was the unclear future, and her country that didn't give any trust in anybody. Everything she believed in was shattered, and future. She had given up Christianity, which was the only hope and trust she had in.
 * 5/8 Explain the meaning of "Shattered Faith" how does it relate to the story? **

The first picture shows that Buddha was being teared down, showing that there should be only one religion in people's lives, therefore only one ruler as well. The Buddha was put on fire, and put on graffiti on them because the people did not want them to exist in their lives. The nuns were being put in front of the crowds, and people were protesting against them. They had their heads down because they had been shamed. This showed that the Four Old was part of the entire life of the people. Since Christianity was an old belief, and the four old were old, they wanted to disprove Christianity. The people wore Dazibao and hurt each other to the ones going against destroying the four olds. Most people in the picture had their heads down, which was showing public shaming. However, these people were sometimes innocent, sometimes were the ones agreeing with the Four Old.
 * 6/2** **What it tells you about the cultural revolution and four old**.

//1. When was this document written and by whom?// This document was written on June 27th, 1981, by CCP. The Central Committe Party.
 * 6/4 Evaluating Revolution**

//2. According to the document, who was largely to blame for the excesses and mistakes of the Cultural Revolution?// Lin Biao, Jiang Qing was largely blamed for the excesses and mistakes of the Cultural Revolution because they committed many crimes, taking advantage of Comrade Mao Zedong, rigged up two counterrevolutionary cliques in an attempt to seize supreme power and bringing disaster to the country and the people.

//3. What error does the CCP believe Mao was responsible for?// Mao replaced the people, and he thought that the party was too moderate, and needed the bourgeoisie influence to be purged. He believed tat counterrecolutionary revisionists had sneaked into the Party, the government, the army, and cultural circles, and leadership in the hands of Marxists and the people; that Party-persons in power taking the capitalist road had formed a bourgeois headquarters inside the Central Committee. It states that "Comrade Mao Zedong's principal theses for intiating this revolution conformed neither to Marxism-Leninism nor to the Chinese reality." The flaw in Mao's judgement was that they represented an entirely erroneous appraisal of the prevailing class relations and political situation in the Party and the state.

//4. Who seems most responsible according to the document? How does this play into the memory of Mao as a leader and his Cult of Personality?// The person who seems the most responsible according to the document is Lin Biao and Jiang Qing. The Cult of Personality is played in the revoltion because though Mao is the main problem, the people use Cult of Personality and try to protect Mao. They just find someone that they could blame rather than Mao, because he is still the leader and helper of the country in the minds of the people.

//5. What does the CCP believe the consequences of the Cultural Revolution are?// Number 1, he contradicted himself. The people that he denounced were Marxists and Socialists principals (his ideas). The correct principles were proved false. It went against all the original revolution theory. Number 2, it confused the people with the enemy. "The confusing of right and wrong inevitably led to confusing the people with the enemy. The "capitalist roaders" overthrown in the "Cultural Revolution" were leading cadres of the Party and government organizations at all levels, who formed the core force of the socialist cause." They are worried about the intellectuals, where they were attacked and persecuted. Number 3, The Cultural Revolution became so chaotic because there were masses, and lacked organization from the party leaders (direction). Number 4, The Cultural Revolution did not help the economy, no progress, "One class overthrows another." Which could not come up with any constructive program but could only bring grave disorder, damage, and retrogression in its train. There was no reason for the Revolution.

//6. Why do you think the document mentions achievements made by China doing the Cultural Revolution?// The document mentions achievements made by China doing the Cultural Revolution because it praises the changes made industrically, and capital construction in science and technology.

//7. Describe the tone at the end of the document. Why do you think it ends this way?// The tone at the end is somewhat praising compared to the beginning, where they were unhappy. This is probably becuse though the Cultural Revolution happened, people still had pride in their country. Because they are communists, no matter what people should be nationalistic.