[Cheryl Watson]

Thank you Professor Dru C. Gladney for your video presentations, as well as your presentation on Monday, August 3, 2020. China appears to be experiencing expansion pangs as it boldly implements its Belt and Road Initiative. In some ways, it appears to be a land grab for greater Asia as it makes incursions into regions that border India, Pakistan (?), Afghanistan, Nepal and possible Bhutan (?). COVID -19 all but put a stop to economic expansion as many countries retreat from their heavy dependence on China. India, for instance, has developed its own platform to replace China's "TIK TOK" app. Just as its ten year economic ascention, through its own Industrial Revolution, surpassed that of the United States (our Industrial Revolution took about twenty five years), it too, must reckon with unforseen circumstances such as a global pandemic. Even as China uses contact tracing and facial recognition as a means to "check" the spread of the virus, the CCP did not overlook this opportunity to "clamp down" on Hong Kong protestors and its pro-democracy organizers. Many of whom sought safety outside of Hong Kong and China. 

In this reading, Professor Gladney opines that China must take note that ignoring Chinese Muslims may lead to a Kosovo/Bosnian conflict which required "international intervention and national dismemberment". On this point, I opine that the Kosovo/Bosnian conflict was a result of decades long repressed nationalism which could not find and expression under Communist rule. Once the Iron Curtain lifted, cultural, religious and nationalistic pursuits took their form in protracted armed conflict, and later, nation states. 

There may be a way for China and its government, "to factor in ethnic expression, ...while accomodating Chinese culture and state authority." At the same time, Muslim minorities need to "reconcile dictates of Islam in the shifting contexts of sociohistorial  settings". 

As the USSR eventually divided along ethnic and national lines, which were created by the Soviet Union, so China must contend with its Muslim minorities while allowing for Muslim accomodation, since it is natural for  nation states to form based on ethnicity and religion. 

 

If China is to avoid a KOSOVO/BOSNIAN conflict, they must implement "new approaches to resolve ethnic -religious confllicts" ...from a heavy handed centralized Marxist approach to something more conciliatory. Perhaps a Chinese commonwealth for Muslim minorities

within China?  Persecution often leads to call for "...nationalism (as a)... unifying ideology" according to Professor Gladney.

Overall, China must reassess its approach through its Belt and Road Initiative as attempts to secure land or maritime ports along its' SILK ROAD may instigate conflicts and push anticipated allies towards the EU or the US. 

Of note are the defense or tightening of borders by countries who share land with China, namely: Bhutan (?), Nepal, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan (who does not want a repeat of a superpower invasion with China as they experienced with Russia). In addition, Africa has scaled back Chinese infrastructure projects as reprisal for China's discrimination against Africans who reside or work in China. India has begun to form new alliances with nations other than China, while some southeast Asian countries invite the US to exercise soft power through education and training programs.

[Cheryl Watson]

Thank you for the resources Jiaxing Weng-Zhang, it will be important to include videos, cartoons, and age appropriate movies for students of all ages. However, students will probably mock the earlier attempts at special effects in movies earlier than 2000.

 

Fourteen Questions about which Buddha Remained Silent and Why

I found one link to a short article about the Fourteen Questions about which Buddha Remained Silent and Why.

It covers the questions from a few of the Buddhist schools of thought.

https://studybuddhism.com/en/advanced-studies/abhidharma-tenet-systems/time-the-universe/the-fourteen-questions-to-which-buddha-remained-silent

 

[Cheryl Watson]

It appears from the reading about Buddhism in Japan that four schools of thought have developed regarding its practice as compared to China or Korea, where the practice of Buddhism seems to adhere to the more traditional view. These articles are very useful as a comparative tool if one were to compare Buddhism to Christianity.

It is also important to remember that all religions proselytize in one form or another, including Buddhism.

[Cheryl Watson]

It was a very informative read to complement the video lectures.My focus for my students would be comparative religions.

To begin with, I would introduce Buddhism and its tenets with the game entitled, "Nirvana". Then, I would introduce how the teachings of Buddha and his writings are interpreted or practiced in our modern times. There is a book entitled "Maximum City" by Suketu Mehta regarding Indian culture and politics, as well as Janistic' devotees practices.

Using the Socratic teaching methods, students will understand how the practice of self sacrifice and denying oneself of earth's comforts may not be an essential part of present day Buddhism. 

In addition, there is an article about a younger generation of Thai Buddist monks who, having been influenced by entrepreneurial rap artists, use alms and donations in order to live a lavish lifestyle. Their defense of this modern day millenial generation interpretation of Buddhism is also influenced by the Dali Lama himself, who upon moving to California, was lavished with luxurious gifts, cars, and homes by well heeled celebrities. Though one Thai monk has paid a heavy price for his "rogue" behavior, the belief that severe denial of certain creature comforts is unnecessary in order to achieve Nirvana.

https://www.lotus-happiness.com/10-buddhist-billionaires-asia/

Having said that, there are ten billionaires who are Buddists in Asia. They have obtained their wealth through efforts, perserverance, and enterprise, which is not contrary to Buddhists teachings, especially as they often donate part of their wealth for the betterment of the community.

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/2159017/thai-monk-who-lived-lavish-lifestyle-jailed-114-years-money

Another point to consider for this lesson plan would be to consider the Buddhist attitudes towards female monks or nuns, as they are referred to. 

 

[Cheryl Watson]

 

K-POP is black music with a different face. Financial support from BTS towards the BLM movement was a good move. However, one must go deeper to see the KPOP history of blackface and mocking black people which reveals a deeply ingrained racist attitude that blacks are inferior and this is the conversation that KPOP groups, as well as their managment companies need to come to terms with. Writing a check is not a substitute for delving into the uncomfortable conversations. Though tensions on the Korean penninsula and in East Asia as a whole are tenuous, the BLM movement is one of grace that allows non blacks and non brown people, who live streamed what systemic racism looks like, to examine personal attitudes towards black people and, hopefully, change. Stereotypes can be destructive as it presents one narrative about an ethnic group rather than approaching people as individuals. There is danger in the single story as it promotes negative propoganda instead of seeing blacks as equal human beings.

Oftentimes black and brown people and LatinX culture are the backs upon which other cultures walk across for economic and international recognition and success, while forgetting who helped them cross those boundaries.

 

 

 

[Cheryl Watson]

I am an employee and a consultant for different businesses. As such, I encounter students of all ages and skill sets. Everyday is different which is what I enjoy about this professional educational position.

[Cheryl Watson]

One could use this article to note the rising divorce rates in China within the last few years. Twenty years ago, China's divorce rate was very low as compared to 2020, where divorce has skyrocketed. What factors contributed to this recent trend in China, and are the reasons behind the divorce rate the same as those statistics in America?

[Cheryl Watson]

The article could be used as a consumer finance question.

If one compares the income of the lowest earners in our country, it is still considered something close to a "king's ransom" in developing countries. Of note is the fact that we as Americans rely heavily on credit: credit cards, car loans, mortages, student loans, borrowing, etc. whereas many many people save up money to pay cash for anything they use of consume. For example, in Jamaica, people buy land and build each part of the house once they have saved enough money to do so. What does this mean? It means that people will take a few years to build their homes piece by piece until it is complete. Once the home has been built, the owners do not have a mortgage. Encourage students to compare the average salary in Jamaica as compared to a minimum wage worker as well as the variables that may influence our decisions to rely heavily on credit.  One reason is: in America, "go big or go home". Part of the reason for our over consumption is to have more or to have something big to show that we have achieved some level of success, when, if the truth be told, we could live very comfortably on a lot less.

[Cheryl Watson]

Well, I can say that technology has advanced to the point where we can use ZOOM, SKYPE, Jitsi, Google Meet, WebX, etc allows us to cross boundaries and connect internationally. 

Medically speaking, it allows doctors (with and without borders) and medical researchers to exchange information in real time for this unprecedented modern pandemic.

Our students see history unfold in real time, excluding "fake news" and disinformation. From the perspective of crossing boundaries, they could begin to understand the politics behind pandemics.

A good lesson would be one where students track border restrictions for Americans and how it might related to recent proposed legislation regarding cancellation or non renewal of H1 or special skills visas for professionals. Economically, students can study the financial effects of the loss of highly skilled professionals on businesses, communities, and in our universities. 

Students may compare and contrast immigration from 1920s and in 2020 to note comparisons and correlations.

[Cheryl Watson]

It stands to reason that when one culture comes in contact with another, a cultural exchange takes place. Far flung cultures adapt, adopt and appropriate some techniques, routines, artistic expressions from other cultures with striking results. It reminds me of past travels in Europe where I  noticed a lot of Italian architechtural influences in both Eastern and Western Europe.

Of note are my travels a few years ago to Mexico where, upon visiting a museum in Tijuana, there were copious amount of Chinese artifacts, porcelain and Chinese silks using indigenous populations weaving methods.  The combination of Mexican indigenous weaving practices along with the workings of Chinese silks made for exquisite finished cloth and wearables.  

For instance, most people are not familiar with the fact that Picasso's cubism style was heavily borrowed from various black southern African artisans who originated that form.  Remember that European painters never saw the geographic shapes put into artistic expressions.

For students, cultural exchanges can be used to understand our transnational, interconnected, interdependent culture.

 

Today, Korean American beauty products upended the US cosmetics industry for the better. Korean women are known to use seven (7) products prior to applying makeup in their daily skincare regimen as compare to American women who use only one or two products prior to putting on makeup.

 

[Cheryl Watson]

Here I am once again, spending well used time as a participant in yet another USC East Asia program for educators. One may assume that continuing to study East Asia might become redundant given my past participation in several USC Easy Asia cohorts.

On the contrary, from informative readings to the exceptional commentaries by many of its participants, I have learned just as much from this brief online course, as I have learned from several in class discussions in times past.

Having said that, this blended approach to learning history using videos, articles and selected readings, provides a more timely, relevant pedagogy for Chinese studies for world history classes. There are many applicable links to websites which can be used to engage learners, as well as address differentiated learning modalities.

Readings for this course are rife with compare and contrast elements that directly relate to: immigration, aging populations, economics, trade, political reforms, declining birth rate, as well as the environment.

I noticed many similarities between immigration reform from south Asia into China and that of immigration from South America into the United States. Towards that end, I plan to use selected readings from classes one (1) through five (5) and videos for my economics, US History, World History and cross cutural sessions to introduce students to the transnational interdependence that is the reality in international relations.

 

These required and optional readings should be used in place of a textbook on contemporary Chinese affairs and can be easily modified for remediation and Advanced Placement coursework.

Overall, these resources are excellent for interdisciplinary units combining math, geography, economics, politics, culture, and language as detailed in my multi-day lesson plan.

Files: 

Grade 10 World History Contemporary China.pdf

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[Cheryl Watson]

Margaret,

I have seen firsthand in my humanitarian work (in a few of the poorest countries in the world) how teaching simple literacy skills such reading and writing can mean the difference between working as a maid in a place with little or no prospects for advancement, or becoming a trained professional. It can be used as an incentive to help students understand the importance of mastering the most basic of academic skills.

[Cheryl Watson]

Margaret, you made an excellent point about providing relevant visuals for students at all ages. It is also important to teach kids to recognize inconsistencies within graphics, so I use visuals from various primary and secondary sources.

In other words, graphics and visuals can be used to teach students critical thinking skills.

[Cheryl Watson]

China's industrialization mirrors that of the early twentieth century where factories released harmful dyes and chemicals into nearby lakes, rivers and streams in the name of modernization. It took decades for naturally occuring algae to return to natural water sources. My question for students is: "How will China protect its own environment with regard to its air quality, waste disposal, and poisoned water sources?"

[Cheryl Watson]

Due to China's aging population, coupled with a declining birth rate, immigration from southeast Asia and other countries is tolerated as a necessity. As more younger Chinese nationals study, work, and live abroad, those who live in rural or remote areas move to the cities to find positions as caretakers for elderly Chinese.

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