Watch: China (1949-1972)
Watch: "Nixon in China" (Please watch as much as you can!)
No Reading Journals...however, please post your thoughts on the readings, in brief, on the blog.
Study for the test!! It will be substantive...If it is in the coursepack it will likely be on the test.
Study for the test!! It will be substantive...If it is in the coursepack it will likely be on the test.
22 comments:
Since we don't have to write "journal entries," do we have to do blog posts?
Also, do we have to watch the opera in its entirety?
Ryan, Mr. Parker mentions that we need to do blog posts.
As for my thoughts, I found the coursepack reading to be intriguing, especially the Margaret Chu account. Having read Red Scarf Girl, this was interesting to see how much more worse the Cultural Revolution was for Christians.
Like Nate, I thought the account by Margaret Chu was very interesting - I've read other accounts of the persecution of Christians in her situation in China, but never heard about the amount of undercover missionary work, so to speak.
Something that stuck out to me was the relationship China had with the Soviet Union. China was inspired by the Soviet Union and had established a relationship with Stalin. Later their disagreements led to a bad relationship. But sometimes it is a good thing that nations don't get along.
I was rather amused by the China/Soviet Union relationship. I feel like China sort of thought they were better "friends" with the Soviet Union than they actually were. The Soviet Union was playing China and perhaps thought them to be like an annoying little brother. I also thought the "old boot" comment that was mistranslated was hilarious.
Despite this being mostly about China, Russia's actions are really interesting. Russia seems to like having their fingers in every thing. I always new they were trying to spread communism but I have never realized just how much. They apparently would stop at nothing (short of launching all the nuclear bombs i guess).
In response to Nate.
Yes I think it is interesting to look at something both from a literary and historical view. Especially Red Scarf Girl was told from inside the revolution so it is nice to see it from a "big picture" view.
I thought reading the Red Scarf Girl was really helpful for understanding the reading, and seeing how all the decisions Mao made affected ordinary people.
I LOVED reading about Margaret Chu and seeing how the revolution affected Christians. Her story and love for the Lord encouraged me. Loved seeing God's hand totally at work in her life!
I also agree with you guys about Red Scarf Girl. It was super helpful to read that before learning about the Cultural Revolution.
It must have been scary for the United States when China became its own, powerful, country. Up until that point, the only major players were the United States and the Soviet Union. While there were other capitalist and communist countries, none of them were nearly as powerful as the U.S. and USSR. When China became a communist superpower completely separate from the Soviet Union, the U.S. must have been worried. There was no capitalist superpower besides the United States!
That comment above is mine, by the way. I think a browser extension of mine is somehow making it post anonymously. I've fixed it now, I think.
Ryan
I loved reading about the history behind the cultural revolution after reading The Red Scarf Girl. It took a different perspective to the same period. There was a lot more information with regards to the reasons behind the changes in culture and government. This weeks reading really pulled together reality with The Red Scarf Girl.
I loved reading about the history behind the cultural revolution after reading The Red Scarf Girl. It took a different perspective to the same period. There was a lot more information with regards to the reasons behind the changes in culture and government. This weeks reading really pulled together reality with The Red Scarf Girl.
I thought it was interesting how upset the US was to lose China to communism. I can understand why, but the documentary seemed to imply a closer relationship between the US and China (before their turn to communism) than I originally thought.
The "Introduction to the Cultural Revolution" covered much of what we learned when we read "Red Scarf Girl." (I see I'm not the only one who touched on this). I did think it was interesting to have the Cultural Revolution presented in a more historical/factual way. The twists and turns of Mao and Stalin's relationship were rather intriguing. From the YouTube documentary, the whole ping-pong aspect caught my eye as well; two countries (U.S. & China) finding common ground in a sport and building their relationship from there. Fun, fun!
As far as the Opera goes...I can't say I like it. A couple of the songs are cool, but overall it's too continually intense and dissident for my taste. There are no soft breaks giving variety to the music, it's almost oppressive; something to be painfully endured. That's my opinion anyway, though I do think it works effectively for some of the subject matter.
@Rob
Good point about Russia, I too thought their role in the course of events was interesting. They seem rather fickle. First they're scheming to work with Mao, and next thing you know, Mao and Stalin are bashing their heads against each other. All these communist big-heads are so charming...
For the sake of variety, I've decided to do my post in the third person:
In the eyes of the Rhetoric II student, Mark Fratto, there was one particular event that stuck out. As he read the solemn stories of Margeret Chu, he found that although the story was solemn, he was encouraged by the strength of such a poor yet faithful soul in the midst of such persecution.He read in amazement at the perseverance of such a young women, but found that the answer to such steadfastness was in the firm foundation she established in the One who saved her from the bonds of sin, and, eventually, the bonds of Communist oppressors.
Furthermore, he found the opera dreadfully lackluster and possessed no elements to capture his interest. A slightly anti-climactic sentiment after reading such an endearing story by Chu.
Mark concluded his post by agreeing with fellow students, Rob and Ian, that the relationships between two nations of the same regime almost completely turn against one another was rather interesting. "Perhaps," Mark wagered, "this is further evidence of the destructive tendencies of Communist rule...curse you Marx!"
Cheers
Its cool after reading Red Scarf Girl to see more background on the Cultural Revolution.
For the sake of Frodo's inspirational qualities, I've decided to write my post in the second person. Prepare to have words put into your mouth!
Communism's rise to power seems unique to you as it was not funded (as far as you know) by the USSR from the beginning. Indeed, the US seemed surprised that their ally, China, fell to Marxism. Margaret Chu's story was sad but encouraging. Certainly, God works for the good of those who love him.
You absolutely loved Nixon In China! You have never really liked John Adams, but his orchestration was intriguing rhythmically. It cracked you up that Mao looked Italian!
@ Megan: You certainly agree about Red Scarf Girl. It was nice to have that context before reading the history behind it.
You had fun writing in second person, and you love to listen to PaΘeT1que sCoRe.
@Max
Best 2 lines from the Opera: "YOUR FLIGHT WAS SMOOOOOOTH I HOOOPE!!!"
"OH YES! SMOO....OOTHER THAN USUAL!"
@Max, well done, worthy adversary. But I will vanquish you when I write in the 4th person on next week's post. You have been warned...
Cheers (:
4th person, oh my. xDD
The reading just solidified the reading of Red Scarf Girl we did a few weeks ago. To see it all laid out, with figures and such, made it so much more believable. Before that book and now this reading, I had never really heard of the Cultural Revolution.
With the opera Nixon In China, it made me wonder how the US could think of supporting a country after all they just did to their people for such a long period.
Considering that it's Nixon, though..
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