Monday, December 8, 2008
The view of the book
Our group prefers to read the second book than reading the first one. Because of the second book give us a deeper effect. The story approached our life. Both of our group members are daughters in our families. We also have the similar problems. Sometimes we really do not how to communicate with our mothers. We can find something useful in this book that how to solve the relationship between mothers and daughters. We learn about different culture and traditions.
Red Azalea
The Joy Luck Club
Funny in Farsi
Reflection
The Joy Luck Club is about some Chinese stories that happened long time ago in one of the most important and difficult moments for China, the war against Japan. Mothers experiences are sad with full of tears, and they suffered so many pains that they have more expectations on their daughters. However, they make great efforts to get through the sad period.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
cause & effect essay-The Shaking of the Chinese Family Planning Policy
Some experts predicted that human society will disappear due to the uncontrolled growth rate of the population in the future. After the Second World War, the population of the world grew at a high speed, especially in China. When the Second World War was ended in 1945, the population of China was just 550 million, but ten years later, it had grown to 660 million. The government of China realized that the large population would push the country to another bad situation after the war. Therefore, the government decided to run the Family Planning Policy immediately in 1960. All of the Chinese people had been involved into the new “war” by the government; it was a war between the traditionalism and the national policy. Since I was born in 1979, my family had fought with the Family Planning Policy for at least 15 years, and we were changed a lot by that.
First of all, the Family Planning Policy made our lives looked like an action movies. My mother has the thirth prenancy in 1978, and her life looked like escaped criminal’s until I was born in 1979. The government began to push the Family Planning Policy very hard in 1978. They created a team which was consisted of some strong men for catching the women who had a third pregnancy, and sent them to the hospital to get sterilized. When my mother realized that she has a third pregnancy, she escaped from our small town on a dark night to avoid being catch by the government. She went to her mother’s town, and hid in a small room which was full of wood and death branches. She never went outside in those days, and my grandmother took care of her daily needs. Unfortunately, the government realized that my mother was hidden by my grandmother, but my mother was smart. She escaped to another relative’s home before the government team came to catch her. Finally, my mother finished her running in the hospital for my birth. She was my hero. Yet, that just was the beginning of the “war”. Because I was an unexpected product according to the policy, I didn’t have an offical identity. It means I did not exist in China. Then, it was my father’s turn. He used money, his society relationship and everything that he had to get my identity papers. As a result, I got my identity, but my family lost a lot. It also affected my family daily life in the future.
Then, as a punishment of the Family Planning Policy, my parents began to experience the hard time in their career. My father was a smart man, and he worked very hard. He was always standing out in his department where he had worked for several years. Everyone considered that my father should replace the old manager who was going to retire in couple months. However , it failed to become true. A few days after I was born, the old manager told my father that the department decided to decrease my father’s salary 40% for each month as a punishment for the extra baby, and it would last for a long time. The worst news was my father had lost the chance to be promoted to a manager. I can’t image how disappointed my father was when he got this bad news, but he was powerless. The punishment did not just occur in my father’s career; it also affected my mother’s. My mother worked almost every day even thought she just got out of the hospital. She didn’t’ say anything against the policy, but more punishments came at the same time. The group leader said that she would just get 50% of her normal salary due to the extra baby, but she needed to do the same work. Of course, she had to accept it because she had three children to feed now. All of those punishments hit my parents heavily. However, they had not been beaten down.
Finally, the effects of the Family Planning Policy came straight to me because we had to face the problems with my education. I needed to go to elementary school when I was eight years old, but the president of the school said that I had to wait for an available position since they had to hold the positions for other children who were not an extra baby. My Dad knew that he had to do something about that . He went to visit one of his comrades in arms who were in a very high position in the government. This man was powerful and the problem was solved easily by him, but he still could not put me in the normal list. My tuition was higher than normal. My father said it is fine,and he just wanted me had good education. However, I knew that my parents bore the higher tuition for my education until I graduated from high school when I was eighteen. After I worked for couple years, I decided to college for a better degree, and something really surprised me. I found that my situation had been changed. I didn’t need to pay extra tuition anymore. I didn’t know how it was changed. I just know that it disappeared quietly from our lives, and my family had come back to the normal life again.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Short synopsis.
Movie review - Let the Right One In
When you are twelve years old, you probably did not have a problem with making friends. You probably had plenty of them...unlike the main characters Oscar and Eli of the movie "Let the Right One In". Oscar is being bullied and bitten by a group of his classmates. Because he has no courage and no friends to protect him, he has to tolerate the violent behavior of the classmates until he meets Eli. The only thing they have in common is that she has no friends too. Once they met, they became best friends even though Eli had a big secret. She was a vampire.
Though the main characters are teenagers, I would not recommend the movie “Let the Right One In” for children to watch. It does contain violent scenes. However, it might be interesting for an adult because of its deep idea of true friendship.
Lost In Translation
It is really hard for one person to figure out the way of life in another country. Since I was born in a traditional Hindu family, it is hard for me to learn about the lifestyle in the US. From the day I landed in America until now, I have been experiencing culture shock. There were many things that I had to change, and changing one of the most important things that you like is really difficult. Eating habits along with the difference in food was very hard for me. It is no wonder that everyone loves their tradition, but this doesn’t mean that one should forget about it. Was I supposed to change the food, my eating habits and adapt to the change? This was a big question mark on my mind.
Food is important part in my culture. In the Hindu religion, people have been following the rituals of worshipping the cow for centuries. This was followed from the ancient ages. Since I am a Hindu, I also worship the cow, and therefore eating beef is totally prohibited in our culture. Since I arrived here, I have been reading all the instructions before buying the food to make sure it doesn’t contain any beef products. There are many cases when I have bought something and had to throw it away because it contained beef. For example, one day I was hungry, so I thought about buying food at Mc Donald’s and asked for the chicken burger. When I was trying to eat the burger, I happened to call my brother. He told me that they grill the chicken and the beef in the same grill without cleaning it. I felt awkward and I threw away the burger. My brother scolded me not because I was eating the chicken burger, but because I threw it away. He told me that you have to adapt with the culture that you are living in. In US, I have been eating beef unintentionally, which is hard for me to believe.
The habit of eating is another important part of my culture. In my hometown people eat with their hands and not with a fork, spoon or knife. How would you mix rice, lentil soup, vegetables and pickle with fork, knife, and spoon? If you are able to mix those items while eating, would it taste the same? As for me the taste will be totally different, and I haven’t had the guts to ask people here to conduct the experiment. I have heard that Americans don’t like the habit of eating food with their hands. For the sake of not being embarrassed in front of those people, I have started eating with fork, spoon and knife. It is different from my culture, which I follow, but I still love my tradition.
Most people are proud of their society and they would never want to change it. To change the best part of your culture is even more difficult. I think I still keep some part of it, because I haven’t changed the food. Have I done the right thing by changing my eating habits, and adapting the American way? I hope people around me are the audience; I leave the question for them to answer. It is hard for people to survive in a new environment without adjustment and people should change according to the demands of the new lifestyle. There are certain parts of the tradition, which people have to change otherwise; it will be hard for them to move on with their life. It is good to learn about the new culture, but people should also try to preserve their own culture for their identity.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Beautiful
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Beauty is a mistake?
Movie "Beautiful"is made in South Korea. It was made in 2008. The director is Juhn Jaihong. The main character is a pretty South Korea actor--Soo-yeon Cha. She acted really good in this movie. She brought us into the movie's world and enjoy ourselves in this hour.
The story began in a cafe. A beautiful girl was sitting here and waiting her friend. Some students though she was a star actor and asked her give them a sign name. Everything was perfect in her body. The face,the skin and the body were perfect. But she never though her beauty is held at fault. When she met a fat girl in a park, they talked a few minutes. At the end of the meeting, the fat girl said a strange words" beautiful girl always dead early". What will happen? A admirer follows her home and assaults her. Her life was damage. All the disaster were following with her.
In this movie, the actor really had a great action. At the beginning of the story, the actress still had a nice life. She was beautiful and rich. She can do everything if she want. Because of her beauty, all the men willing to do everything for her. She was a luck girl. She had a perfect face and body. Everyday, she dressed pretty clothes and walked elegantly. Men gawked at her, women spited her. But after the disaster happened. She can not accept the fact, she found that all the faults were held by her own beauty. She began to break her curse. She wanted to break her perfect body, she tried to eat so many food or did not eat anything. At the end ,she want to has a life of debauchery. In different parts of her change, the actor had different performance. We can through her clothes , make-up and action that feel how change in the actress's heart.
After I watched this movie, it really give me a big image. Beauty it not really good in our life. Sometimes , it can help us do something easily. But everything should had a limit. If a thing over its limit. It may cause a disaster. And this movie showed us when you love someone too much , you may hurt him or her. When you really love someone more than yourself, you will not only want to protect him or her but also want to own him or her. When the possessive instinct become more and more strong, you may damage him or her. I recommend that you can watch this movie when you have a free time. This movie is only a story about a beautiful girl. And the story may have a little exaggeration. But you have a long thinking after you finish.
Director Gavin O’Connor with the star Colin Farrell, Edward Norton, John Voight, Jennifer Ehle, and John Ortiz released a movie in 2008. The movie showed the two different sides of humans and cops are none other than “Pride and Glory”.
The movie compares the two cops of the same family, one demonstrates the truth and loyalty, and the other demonstrates lies and betrayal. Edward Norton is a cop who is loyal to his job, family and who believes in doing the right thing right way whereas Colin Farrell is casted as his brother in law who betrays the family, the police department, and his wife. In summary, this movie talks about the corrupt cops who gets in trouble and finally has to pay back by giving his life and leaving his family alone.
In the movie, there is a scene when Ray finds out that his brother in law is involved in the corruption and killing his mates. He then tries to convince the brother in law to surrender and leave the happy life, but again his brother in law betrays him. This part interested me a lot because at this point Ray thought of the family and the pride they shared for so many years, and from nowhere, his brother- in- law ruins all the pride and glory which their father have built.
Friday, November 14, 2008
CHANGE
In 1997,a child who left her mother for a long long time returned to her mother’s arm. Hong Kong was a small island situated in southern China. In the wake of the Opium War in 1840,Hong Kong had to be control by British .Until 1997, British allowed to return Hong Kong back to China. When the British flag was lowered in Hong Kong’s government, everything had changed not only in Hong Kong but also in my family.
After Hongkong’seturn,my family communication had a big change. About fifteen years ago, my mother remarry to a Hongkong man ,and they had a baby boy. After one year,my mother and my brother immigrated to Hongkong. From that time,I couldn’t usually meet my mother and brother. Because then,Britain was still Hongkong’s government. Both of China and Britain didn’t allow chinese people stay in Hongkong for a long time,also it’s very difficult to apply to Hongkong. It made me feel helpless in this condition. I felt I lose my family forever. But to my surprise, China advance some policy ,and said that china would do their best to let Hongkong return to China. Finally Hongkong returned to China in 1997. From that time,Chinese people communicated to Hongkong’s people more and more easily. And I also went to Hongkong more easily. I felt I find my missing family again in the Universe. I couldn’t find a word in a dictionary to explain my feeling.
Followed Hongkong’s return,China and Hongkong had a more close-knit economic relationship, my family’s finance also had change. When my mother lived in Guangzhou—my hometown, my family’s financial status was low. Because my mother was single parent and she work in a factory, my family’s revenue was less. We couldn’t buy anything except these were useful in our daily life. Until my mother remarried, my family’s financial status just had a little changed,but I didn’t like this change. Even though we had more money,but I lost my family. Money can never instead of family! Till Hongkong returned to China, I just felt my family finance had a really change. Because we could went to Hongkong easily and stay in Hongkong for a longer time, my mother decide to open a small store which sold delicious snack. After that, my relation who live in Guangzhou often went to Hongkong and help my family’s business. With their help, my family’s financial status had changed. We could buy somethings which we liked. We could travel to someplaces which we liked. We could do something which we liked. I like a person who was bound with a strong rope was rescued. Follow Hongkong’s status become better,our finances have really improved.
However,when my family enjoyed our change, our some relation who lived in Hongkong couldn’t accept Hongkong’s change. They were afraid they will lose their own things when the government had change. They chose to immigrate another counties that they could elude to live in Hongkong under Chinese control. But after they immigrate to another counties, their life was not very good. They had to speak and listen foreign language. They couldn’t accept other culture and custom. In addition, now China become more and more strong in the world. My expatriate relation repented leave their own country and their home town—Hongkong. Because the bad things which they thought didn’t happen. Instead of that, Hongkong become more palmy under Chinese control. Suddenly they understood children should never leave their mother if they could. Such as Hongkong, she returned to her mother’s arm when she could do. Now most of my expatriate relation are changing their mind ,and they chose to come back to Hongkong. After Hongkong’s return, their life and mind had change again and again. I thought my Hongkong’s relation had a biggest change in this event.
Change
In 1997,a child who left her mother for a long long time returned to her mother’s arm. Hong Kong was a small island situated in southern China. In the wake of the Opium War in 1840,Hong Kong had to be control by British .Until 1997, British allowed to return Hong Kong back to China. When the British flag was lowered in Hong Kong’s government, everything had changed not only in Hong Kong but also in my family.
After Hongkong’seturn,my family communication had a big change. About fifteen years ago, my mother remarry to a Hongkong man ,and they had a baby boy. After one year,my mother and my brother immigrated to Hongkong. From that time,I couldn’t usually meet my mother and brother. Because then,Britain was still Hongkong’s government. Both of China and Britain didn’t allow chinese people stay in Hongkong for a long time,also it’s very difficult to apply to Hongkong. It made me feel helpless in this condition. I felt I lose my family forever. But to my surprise, China advance some policy ,and said that china would do their best to let Hongkong return to China. Finally Hongkong returned to China in 1997. From that time,Chinese people communicated to Hongkong’s people more and more easily. And I also went to Hongkong more easily. I felt I find my missing family again in the Universe. I couldn’t find a word in a dictionary to explain my feeling.
Followed Hongkong’s return,China and Hongkong had a more close-knit economic relationship, my family’s finance also had change. When my mother lived in Guangzhou—my hometown, my family’s financial status was low. Because my mother was single parent and she work in a factory, my family’s revenue was less. We couldn’t buy anything except these were useful in our daily life. Until my mother remarried, my family’s financial status just had a little changed,but I didn’t like this change. Even though we had more money,but I lost my family. Money can never instead of family! Till Hongkong returned to China, I just felt my family finance had a really change. Because we could went to Hongkong easily and stay in Hongkong for a longer time, my mother decide to open a small store which sold delicious snack. After that, my relation who live in Guangzhou often went to Hongkong and help my family’s business. With their help, my family’s financial status had changed. We could buy somethings which we liked. We could travel to someplaces which we liked. We could do something which we liked. I like a person who was bound with a strong rope was rescued. Follow Hongkong’s status become better,our finances have really improved.
However,when my family enjoyed our change, our some relation who lived in Hongkong couldn’t accept Hongkong’s change. They were afraid they will lose their own things when the government had change. They chose to immigrate another counties that they could elude to live in Hongkong under Chinese control. But after they immigrate to another counties, their life was not very good. They had to speak and listen foreign language. They couldn’t accept other culture and custom. In addition, now China become more and more strong in the world. My expatriate relation repented leave their own country and their home town—Hongkong. Because the bad things which they thought didn’t happen. Instead of that, Hongkong become more palmy under Chinese control. Suddenly they understood children should never leave their mother if they could. Such as Hongkong, she returned to her mother’s arm when she could do. Now most of my expatriate relation are changing their mind ,and they chose to come back to Hongkong. After Hongkong’s return, their life and mind had change again and again. I thought my Hongkong’s relation had a biggest change in this event.
In fact,our family is changing everyday. But after Hongkong’s return, most of conditions in my family had change. It was a great chang for my family. Without Hongkong’s return, I wouldn’t have a happy family time with my mother. Without Hongkong’s return, my family wouldn’t have our own business, and we wouldn’t do many things which we like to do. Without Hongkong’ s return, my relation wouldn’t immigrate to another counties,but they also wouldn’t have a chance to know how nice Hongkong’s future is! If I have one more chance to choose if Hongkong return or not. I will still say “Of course! Why not!” I still support Hongkong reture to her really mother’arm. I know Hongkong will develop more and more prosperous under Chinese control in the future.In fact,our family is changing everyday. But after Hongkong’s return, most of conditions in my family had change. It was a great chang for my family. Without Hongkong’s return, I wouldn’t have a happy family time with my mother. Without Hongkong’s return, my family wouldn’t have our own business, and we wouldn’t do many things which we like to do. Without Hongkong’ s return, my relation wouldn’t immigrate to another counties,but they also wouldn’t have a chance to know how nice Hongkong’s future is! If I have one more chance to choose if Hongkong return or not. I will still say “Of course! Why not!” I still support Hongkong reture to her really mother’arm. I know Hongkong will develop more and more prosperous under Chinese control in the future.
What Just Happened?
movie review-
once review
The film opens with of the man trying to earn money as a street singer, and his singing voice which is flying over a gloomy night in Dublin nowadays. The music immediately gains our attention and drives us in the movie and creates the atmosphere. Suddenly a gawper drug addict robs his earnings, and the busker( Glen Hasard), chases after him to get back his profit with all his strength. This determination to get back his due immerses you in the core of the poor Dublin atmosphere.
I deeply recommend this movie for everyone who loves music. This co-ed duo is a piece of art and leaves you in peace afterward. The best soundtrack I have heard. The simple movie is a musical performance. It is a beautiful film with a small amount of money (because it takes place on the street with not very famous actors), but a great amount of spirit.*****
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Movie Review-Two Lovers
This is a romantic love movie. It has light and pop music, which touches you heart deeply. Also, the actor’s acting is excellent. You can feel his thoughts without language. Moreover, you will be fascinated with the two beautiful actresses, one makes you feel warm, another makes you crazy.
If you are in love with somebody or you want to find a lover, I recommend that you watch this movie. You will cherish and hold your lover more tightly after this movie. This is the movie talks about love others and be loved.I give this movie five stars. I hope you won’t miss such a good movie.
Movie review - THE SKY, THE EARTH AND THE RAIN
Children might not be able to stay in their seats more than fifteen minutes, or they will soon fall asleep. If you like looking at impressionist paintings and photos of nature, it should be a great movie for you. However, the movie cannot pay back if you expect a dramatic story and scenes.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Movie Review-Two Lovers
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
There is a famous phrase saying that “if you want to be good student, you have to suffer”. This phrase refers to how people have studied hard, but in1968 the Mexican government took it as kill the students. The Mexican student movement happened in 1968 while Gustavo Diaz Ordaz was president. University students wanted to change the policy and end the repression from the government in order to get a better education. Those changes were not proper to the government’s eyes. In contrast, students had public meetings and they tried to convince the government that their proposal would be beneficial to university education. However, the Mexican government ordered a massacre of students who had a meeting in Tlaltelolco Plaza, Mexico City, ten days before the 1968 Summer Olympics. Thousands of students were in meetings and they were hitting by special police group. The Tlaltelolco Massacre had consequences in education, the economy and social safety that affected many families.
Another effect to massacre was the Mexican economy changed the Mexican lifestyle people and whole country suffered the consequences which led to economic crisis of 1970’s. Due to Massacre, the Mexican government lost credibility from other countries, so the economy became weak and the prices rose. Every family felt that crisis and my family’s economy was not the exception. For example, my father’s wage was the same while the expenses increased constantly. In addition, my mother got a job, but their incomes were insufficient to run the household. Subsequently, one of my older brothers had to find a part time job for several months. At the time many students decided desert the schools. They had looked jobs and that caused unemployment. Consequently, families cut their incomes and the economy suffered a financial collapse. In fact, The Tlaltelolco Massacre was one of the causes of the peso devaluation in 1970’s.
The Devaluation of the Peso
The panic that the devaluation of the peso left in the people of my country is still remembered as the worst financial crisis in México. Apparently, the Government did not know how to run the exchange rates that were going out of control in December 1994. By that time my mother was ready to accomplish her dream and become the owner of a house, one for which she had fought very much. The devaluation not just affected certain people, it also affected my family. As I have said the devaluation of the Mexican peso created for my family several serious situations because my mother lost her job, her house and we experienced severe economic problems.
With the devaluation of the peso, my mother lost her job in a well-known Mexican company that used to sell houses. She had worked there for over five years and her objectives were mainly to obtain experience and learn as much as could be possible, so then she could offer my brother and me a better quality of life. She was in charge of taking people into the area that was still under construction, so customers would know where they were going to live. The construction area required a lot of labor and workers. That is why lot of business closed as a result of the bankrupt economy. They also reduced their staff and employees, and therefore, they dismissed my mother. However, the devaluation did not affect my mother’s willingness or her desire to work. Of course she knew how to handle our situation very well and started to created flower arrangements to sell them in different local offices. That is how we begin accommodating our routine, little by little. My brother and I were helping my mother to create different and colorful flower arrangements so that then she would sell them while our situation was recovering.
Another effect from the devaluation of the peso was that we lost our home, along with our memories. It was December when my mother went to the Central Bank to sign a loan so that we would finally become the owner of a place we thought would be spending the rest of our lives. After three days, she received a letter in which she was notified that the price of the loan had increased, and it was higher than the original amount. My mom did not pay so we would have to leave the house. Without a job, my mom could not afford such a quantity and eventually the Mexican Central Bank kept our home. The devaluation of the peso caused many more problems that affected our family for the next following months.
Although three months had passed after the devaluation, my family and I were hardly surviving. Unfortunately in those days I was beginning to present symptoms that would be a long illness. For that my mother had to talk to specialized doctors the severity of my problem, and these searches included expensive exams. As a result of my mother’s effort and after various studies, we got to know the severity of my illness. Mom had done the right things to find out that my symptoms were no more than tachycardias and not convulsions as we had thought. Moreover, the economic crisis forced us to sell the majority of our things in order to permanently solve our economic situation. Even though the devaluation left us with a hardly any income, we overcame the devaluation of the peso. We managed to overcome this situation in a very unique way, working hard and growing together.
The devaluation of the Mexican peso left my mother without a job, left our family without a home and with a lot of economic problems. Despite these experiences, the crisis did not harm our relationship within my mother, my brother and me. If we had to go through everything again I would not hesitate because I had learned a lot from that crisis. After more than ten years since the devaluation, it’s still tough to understand how a single mother could face such a situation. I am sure it was because her love as a mother was the engine that made her look for another job and another home. In addition, she would work hard to avoid the same economical problems as we had before.
Chinese Style Miracle
There is no doubt China is now a super country. The world economy can’t function without china, and most countries hope China can lead the world out of the “banking storm” it is in now. In 2008, China held the most successful Olympics games many countries are interested in the Chinese style miracle. However, thirty years ago, China was only a poor country, and many people died of hunger. How did China become a great economic country? If you ask Chinese people, they will answer that was Xiao Ping Deng reformed and opened the Chinese door to the world in 1978. He created the miracle, which helped the Chinese economy rapidly increase for thirty years. Xiao Ping Deng changed Chinese education, people’s ideas, and my family history. More than ten years after Xiao Ping Deng died, the effects of his change are still being felt.
One of the most obvious changes in post-communist China is the education. There is a famous Chinese saying, “Growing trees need ten years, raising talented man need hundred years”. China has always thought education is very important position in life, but during The Chinese Culture Revolution, Qia Sheng Zhang which handed a blank examination paper in a competition became a hero. Nobody liked to be teacher, and nobody liked to go to school. Xiao Ping Deng recovered the education system. He thought the technology that would build a new China.Therefore; he improved teachers’ positions and rebuilt students’ beliefs People started to recognize the significance of education. Students studied hard at technology and at various subjects. He also rose “Science and technology constitute the primary productive force, the strategy of revitalizing China through science and education.” So Chinese science and technology suddenly changed and gave prominence to china in the world. . Some of the inventions of china, include Chinese space boat flight to the moon, strong rocket technology is the first in all countries of the world.
Another effect of the “reform and open” was people’s ideas. Xiao Ping Deng had a famous sentence “whether black cat or white cat, which can catch mouse, is good cat”. It is a good portraiture for “reform and open”. The sentence has affected Chinese people too. Chinese people didn’t think labor, farmer and solder were the priority career. On the contrary, they started to think business economy was the most valuable, so many people started their own a business by themselves, and they opened all kinds of companies. People’s style life changed, they didn’t compare communist and capitalism which was the best. On the contrary, people came together, and started talking about the opportunities of business. That is ten billion people, eight billion businessmen. Almost everybody became a businessman.
Similarly, my family history had changed due to the reform and open. My family first lived in a village. Our generations were one of the farmers since they moved to the village. After Chinese reform and open, my mother owned a small business, my father retired ahead of schedule in order to help my mother manage her business. Later on, my parents saved a lot of money, and they bought an apartment in a city. Then, my family gave up the farm and moved to the city. We became city residents. My two older sisters and I graduated from university and had a good career, and we all had good income. My family said goodbye to poor and had a good life. Comparing my family’s is life twenty years ago to now, it is like heaven and earth.
The Chinese reform and open is perhaps one of the most momentous events of the twentieth century. Doors opened, capitalism entered, education recovered, and people swept away the old economic plan and welcomed the new market business, anticipating a life full of opportunities and freedom to make their own choices. Nowadays, Chinese nation is running on the way of great rebound. Xiao Ping Deng really changed China’s destiny. He created a Chinese style miracle. According to most history specialists, the twenty-first century will be a Chinese century.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Thailand Political
Thailand has multi-party system. The most popular is Democratic. The first one is Parkprachatipat which is the under leader of Apisit Wetchachewa, another one is Thai-rak-thai it is the under leader of Thaksin Chinwatta. In 2005, Thai-rak-thai had selected seats over the other party and became the first to set up the government. It is important that Taksin was the first candidate to run his campaign. The problem was we knew Thaksin government was corrupt. He used his power to put in policies. He get the benefit to his family and own business. He sold his company (Telecommunication) to Singapore without Tax. He changed the laws for support his family. He gave the share holder to his daughter. Taksin government was the first stay for a full four years term. After that we had to do election again, but the election was cancelled after military coup while Thansin was in NY. The government under military coup affected the country in many ways
The first effect was the stress in my family. The relationship in my family was not good because everybody was stressed out. My family worked in business for long time. We have an own business. Business was growth up. We had a lot of customers. When we order products from supplier we got credit almost 60 days to pay. After political crisis, when we order we had to pay cash or chek right away. When the military coup in change government the consumer products price was high. People didn’t want to spent money. We had to use money that we kept in the bank to support our business. It made big damage to my family and my country.
The second effect, the political caused the economy down. Before this situation happen the economy of Thailand was growth up. We had tourists visit Thailand more than one million per year. People had jobs and good income. Thailand the land of smile in Southeast Asia also have many attractive places for tourists. We have beautiful place and good tastes of food. After military coup we were attacked by terrorists. The tourists anxious to visit Thailand because international reporters are warning about traveling to Thailand. Everything shut down because effect from the political crisis. People lost their job they didn’t have enough money to spend.
Finally effect, we lost safety & security. Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand. Most of the tourism came to Thailand because they want to come to visit Bangkok. Bangkok never ending traffic. Pollution and bright lights and you can enjoy in the city without crime all night. If you get lost while you were travel you can ask everybody. Then after a military coup the state of emergency that was happened. People fear to going out. We also saw military man around the street. One week after political crisis we have state of emergency. People weren’t allowed leave to the house after 8:00 pm. In many provinces especially south of Thailand was dangerous. We had many places damaged by crime.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
The Cultural Revolution of China
Friday, November 7, 2008
Gray Days
How would the world be with out any religion or beliefs? Plutarco Elias Calles was the president of Mexico from 1924 to 1929; he included to our constitution a law called “Calles Law.”He sent his troops to close more than seventy convents and most of the churches in Jalisco and other states. In this law, he obligated priests to stop celebrating mass and preaching the word of god. This law tried to separate people from the Catholic Church, but this didn’t work the way Plutarco intended. Priests didn’t stop celebrating masses; they manage the situation making clandestine mass. This eventually provokes the death of twenty-nine priests in five states of Mexico. This conflict lasted four years from 1926-1929. After 80 years there are still some consequences of the incident; many Mexicans families including my own. And the effects of “Calles Law “are still felling.
My great-grandfather lost his land, which was the livelihood of the family. In fact, he didn’t lose his land. The troops from Calles took most of it. They settled in my great- grandfather’s house for three days. According to my grandfather, those days were humiliating, and the grayest days they ever had. The troops obligated my great-grandmother and her daughters to serve them. This wasn’t the hardest part; the hardest part was to hear them being disrespectful to my great-grandmother and her daughters, my grandfather said. The days were gone and as they were the land too. My great-grandfather was devastated. The land was the only livelihood people had back then and still these days. Once my mom and dad got married, they suffered from the struggle of “Calles Law.” There was no land that my great-grandfather could give to my dad, so he could build our house. For this reason, my dad didn’t have any other choice than go to the US to work and send some money to my mom. Land was the only way my family could survive.
Another problem that happened during La Guerra Cristera was when Calles’ troops took my great-grandfather’s cattle. In those days, cattle was an essential way of life and still is fundamental for people who live in farms like my family. Cattle and land were the only livelihood people could have back then. Calles’ troop had a mission, which was to scare people and make them feel fear, so they could stop following their religion. Most people didn’t refuse to follow the word of God. For this reason, the troops took their cattle. The government thought this was the only way they could get people scared. Most people didn’t stop following their beliefs, even though there were soldier killing people and priests who refuse to follow Calles’s law. If this conflict hadn’t happened my dad wouldn’t have had to travel to the US to send some money to my mother, so she could start building our house and buying some land and cattle. As a consequence of La Guerra Cristera, my mother, my siblings and I only have the opportunity to see my father once a year. My dad wanted to earn enough money to buy our livelihood which was land and cattle.
The last effect of the Calles Law in my family was that they line in fear. The assassination of priests was increasing. La Guerra Cristera stared for this reason just to kill priests who preached the word of God. The priests refused to follow Calles Law because they thought it was absurd to stop believing in God for political reasons. They started making clandestine masses in people’s houses or hiding in the mountains. On one occasion, my great-grandfather and family were in one clandestine mass, when the troops interrupted and took the priest and tortured him. They made him walk barefoot on sharp stones for hours. After there was no more blood to bleed and the troops made him climb a “mesquite,” a big tree. These trees are covered with sharp thorns that penetrated into his already cut hands and feet. This just makes his pain twofold intense. The troops obligated the people to watch the priest who was about to die. The priest was tide up his own rope and while he was doing this, the soldier never stopped blaspheming him. He died forgiving them. Those were his last words. After seventy years of his death he became a saint, my favorite saint. Year after year, I always go to visit him at to his church, which has incredibly grown year after year. It’s a personal satisfaction to see that his pain wasn’t in vain; faith was always there. He never lost it.
After almost a century of La Guerra Cristera involving the government and people’s beliefs, my family still has some problems of the conflict. Although the government tried to repair of the damage by removing the Calles Law from the constitution, People didn’t receive their land back, not even the cattle. Nowadays, my family and I are working in the US to buy the land that once was ours. After gray days, light comes again to illuminate our life. That is what faith is all about. Unfortunately, the Catholic Church is declining day after day because priests are not doing anything to maintain it. It’s ironic to have priests willingly to give their life for God in order to keep faith alive.