Menu
close
Anonymous.
AnonymousToday's presentation on the origins of Japanese food, was really interesting. Especially the argument about that tempura was brought by the Portuguese in the 1500s. Also, I was made aware that not all Japanese ate rice, I thought it was common practice all over Asia.
AnonymousVery interesting article about Liang, China's first modern intellectual regarding his visiting of turn of the century America. Interesting observation that our national federal republic would not work in China because of its lack of spirited civic representation at the local level. In reflection perhaps the communist party has brought this component to the China in that generations have now participated in local party politics albeit in a one party system. Also interesting observations of the negative influences of the large business trusts exiting at the time. He also noted that the founding fathers were a small group of individuals that had imposed their vision and created a government that would continue on after them implementing their vision for the future. Telling that the observations of Liang were read by Mao and gave him a vision of a future for China with the possibility of looking outside of China for governmental options that had not been previously considered and were foreign. Liang also saw what he believed was a progression towards a stronger central government. China seems comfortable with a strong central government in a way that instinctively makes Americans feel uncomfortable. An authoritarian central government in China seems even today to be a guarantor of stability and continued prosperity whereas in America it is seen as a continual threat to personal freedom and its potential opportunities afforded to the individual. Interesting observations.
AnonymousGreat article that can be used to get students to read a perspective about something that they are very familiar with (Disneyland) and its interpretation by Japan as it constructs its version of Disneyland. One could find similar articles about Disneyland China and EuroDisney in Paris. Great idea to organize that park in a way that lets the visitor feel as it they are growing with the nation (United States) from East to West i.e. stopping in New Orleans square for some civilization before moving on to Pioneerland and then completing with achieving your dreams in Futureland. One could make an analogy between this layout and a 5th grade social studies curriculum on US history.
AnonymousInteresting observations of one of Japans first envoys to the United States in 1860 soon after Commodore Perry's arrival in Japan. Interesting observations about the attendance of women and lack of formal protocol. Observations that there appears to be a lack of class stratification from his point of view. He seems to implicitly state that he knows there is a great interest in Japan. Americans seem genuinely interested in the exotic nature of the culture.I
AnonymousI feel like I don't really know U.S. or Civil War after reading the article by Stuart Heaven. I taught this topic last year, and there was no mention in the book or any other texts that I used with my students. One thing I did know was about Chinese and the Gold Rush, but had absolutely no idea that Chinese men had served in the war between the statesame and that th hey faced discrimination just like former slavestudent soldiers. This was definitely an eye opener for me. I want to research this topic further more.
AnonymousProfesor Dube's presentation , was really interesting. I had no idea that influence of Asia on Mexico's fashion. The Japanese's Virginia of Guadalupe frame was revealing regarding the movement of Asian'so goods and ideas.
AnonymousYukichi Fukuzawa's description of his introduction to America was vivid and an easy read. I was struck by how hospitable and accommodating the American hosts were in trying not to force their guests to be a certain way or adapt too quickly to American customs, including food. There was a thoughtfulness described that I feel our culture sometimes lacks today. However, there was also an assumption made, I believe, by the Americans that Yukichi (and presumably his Samurai peers) were simpletons and uneducated. The "fish out of water" analogy so clearly applies; it would be easy to segue this into a lesson for middle or high school students to try to think of a time when they felt similar to Yukichi I would assume. Primary sources are great!
AnonymousI always wondered why Americans adore Japanese culture and goods despite the traumatic relationship during the WWII. After Pf. Dube's lecture in the afternoon, I could see how deeply Asian culture had rooted in the Western societies including the US, especially Japanese culture. When I heard what Benjamin Franklin said about China and how obsessed he was with China, a question came up. When did the West begin looking down on Asia? I vividly remember what Weber said about the "Asian Value" in his book, 'Protestantism....'. Also, how about racism towards Asians? When did they begin to look at Asia as backwards states?
AnonymousI also want to learn more about Mexico's role in the history of the Pacific Rim. So interesting!
AnonymousI've never been a big Disney person - in fact, I despise their greed and price gouging practices that exclude many who simply cannot afford it - and this article certainly didn't help. The exclusion of Korea from their history is a slap in the face and the way they depict certain other pieces of history, WWII for instance, leaves a lot to be desired. I understand the need to keep an amusement park light but the 30 seconds of darkness when the issue comes up is odd. It's worse than the non-mention of Korea. It's basically like the corporation and the country shutting their eyes to the truth - that they did some pretty ugly things to China - their benefactor - and Korea who they seem afraid to mention.
AnonymousOur guest speaker Sam (I think) was fantastic this morning. So much knowledge I never had any idea of. I've enjoyed Japanese cuisine for so long and am grateful to learn so much of the history. The soy sauce & rice that I had just assumed were always staples of their diet not seems so naive of me. Now when I take my wife for our anniversary to get sushi, I'll understand the food, culture, and history so much more that it'll make the experience deeper.
Thank you!!!
AnonymousBeing an avid fan of Henry David Thoreau, I knew the great impact of literature of India on the transcendentalists and how similar many of his ideas are to the Tao but I never made a connection to our Founding Fathers and Asia. Ben Franklin being my favorite of the bunch, I'm even more impressed now that I know he poured over whatever he could of the philosophies of the East. I just wish there was more appreciation and praise for the values that came from there.
As far as incorporating these ideas into my classroom, I'm going to draw more connections from Confucius and Lao Tzu to Jefferson and Franklin. I'll share this with the history teacher next door to me & see if he can blend it into his curriculum as well when he gets to that part of American history.
AnonymousBIG fan of this piece! The writing is so fluid and casual I feel like he's talking to me. I'm bringing this to my students to give them a taste of what conversational writing should be. His opening piece on Oakland is brilliant and full of imagery & sensory detail. It's exactly what I want my students to be able to accomplish. If I can get more of his work, I'd appreciate it!
Ok, so after reading the footnote by the congressman who wrote in reaction to Zhang's visit, it's interesting to note the differences in attitude between these two men. One who appreciates the world at large and the other who looks down on anything not American. I guess, in response to a post I read by one of our classmates, that's where you can see the start of the loathing of China. To think this politician could possibly scoff at the thousands of years of ebb & flow of civilization & the contributions to humanity at large is appalling, especially since it came at a time when America was reeling from the effects of the Civil War, Lincoln's assassination, and the terrible way former slaves were treated once freed. It seems politicians love to gloss over the messes & negatives back then as much as now...
edited by jschilp on 7/26/2016
AnonymousThe article was written by Stuart Heaver, and I'm so glad I read it. Even 150 years later not everyone knows about Chinese soldiers role in Battle of Gettysburg. It is unfair to pick and choose of how much history our students will learn. Only after reading this article I learned about Corporal Joseph Pierce's history. The same situation was in Armenian history textbooks. I grew up glorifying Lenin, and not even once the name of Stalin was mentioned... Who gets to decide what will be typed in those books? Do they have a right to hold back the truth from a whole generation?
AnonymousI don't like Disneyland. I think its an extremely expensive and totally fake place... In my opinion Japan has so many unique experiences to offer, that adopting Disneyland idea was totally unnecessary.