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Red Hair

3633 views. 2010-12-12 23:00 |Individual Classification:Thoughts|

"Red Haired Barbarians", that's how the Chinese described my ancestors when they dealt with the first Dutch mercenaries who sailed to China about 500 years ago. According to the Chinese stories around that time. The Dutch are into piracy. They live on their ships, along with their children and wives and they have no land.

 

Most of those prejudices have been disproved  since my ancestors visited China for the first time. Nowadays, on Chinese schools, every Chinese student is learned that the Dutch come from a Country called The Netherlands or Holland and that they are not really into piracy but that they are true mercenaries. As most of you all know, most Dutch do not have red hair, but have blond or dark hair.

 

From the ones who do have red hair, an official scientific research have proved they are also common people. Every year, the famous British Medical Journal publishes a funny research in their Christmas edition. This year, a research on red haired people was published. The article proved that the prejudices about red people are based on rumors, not on truth. They do not lose more blood than others when they are wounded, they do not have a bigger chance to get a Hernia and they can resist pain as good as others. The research proved, however, that red haired people cannot stand extreme heat or cold as others. This is a remarkable conclusion if you take in account that those Red Haired Barbarians tried every way, in despite of the cold or the Barentsz sea or the Indian and Chinese sea to find their way to China.

 

What ever history tells us, due to technological advances, we know much more about each other now. What that is exactly I hope to learn from you: What is your view on the Dutch?

Post comment Comment (75 replies)

Reply gys44 2010-12-23 20:02
C.Robert: The Chinese are all over the world...
yep, that is another factor~~~~~one of the most universal people~~~~~
Reply C.Robert 2010-12-23 20:05
gys44: yep, that is another factor~~~~~one of the most universal people~~~~~
I think it has not much to do with universal people but just with the number of people, hehe
Reply gys44 2010-12-23 20:11
C.Robert: I think it has not much to do with universal people but just with the number of people, hehe
u r right, that is also the essence of universal phenomenon~~~in addition, it is the foundational social problem among some high-density contries as well~~~~~
Reply C.Robert 2010-12-23 20:13
gys44: u r right, that is also the essence of universal phenomenon~~~in addition, it is the foundational social problem among some high-density contries as w
Hehe, yea, according to European standards, i'm in one, hehe.
Reply gys44 2010-12-23 20:32
C.Robert: Hehe, yea, according to European standards, i'm in one, hehe.
precisely, western standard~~~~~~btw, the large population would cause some social phenomenon such as lengthening the gap between wealthy and poor~~~I mean the more population the longer gap, probably~~~~~after all, the theoretical equality is nothing~~~~~~~
Reply C.Robert 2010-12-23 21:02
gys44: precisely, western standard~~~~~~btw, the large population would cause some social phenomenon such as lengthening the gap between wealthy and poor~~~I
I disagree with you on this point. The density of people in a certain area does not say anything about the gab in income.
Reply catnfish 2010-12-23 21:39
Given that I'm in Belgium now, I think I'd really have a lot to say about DUtch!:) haha. perhaps it's not authoritative as you seperated a long while ago and I think there must be some reasons behind (different characteristics for example) So it's not fair to put you together as one. I do know some Dutch ones. the boys are quite open minded and one of them knows really multi languages!! --All together he knows eight, including Chinese. I'm impressed. well, I have to say that they can be sometimes a bit artistic as well, namely, sensitive and emotional. They like to make friends--compared to their Dutch speaker Belgian neighbours:p Girls display quite a bit diverse personalities, as I find that some of them are very open and independant but some not. I remember when I was traveling in Laos I met a Dutch girl on a tutu truck who was on her way alone with simply a LP in her hand, and she looked really cool. Haven't got a chance to have a look at the Netherlands yet though:) What do you like about Chinese?I mean in General, what do you find something that is quite different with Dutch's? Nice day there, and Merry Christmas^^
Reply C.Robert 2010-12-23 21:51
In Belgium? Welcome to Europe, welcome to the lowlands, to THe Netherlands! (Belgium was Dutch in the past, but they wanted to make their own country, unfortunately so far they failed. Since that time, we make jokes about eachother, hehe)

Interesting analysis. I will not reply on that, see if you change your mind after you visited The Netherlands. (If you need anything, let me know, I 'own' the country, hehe)

What I like about the Chinese? Well, cultural and historical things, such as the food or the question how it is possible that such a big nation existed for such a long time, and of course, my girlfriend, hehe.
Reply gys44 2010-12-23 22:21
C.Robert: I disagree with you on this point. The density of people in a certain area does not say anything about the gab in income.
yep, I understand you. maybe my expression is inadequate. You know, compared with the low density in the same situation, to some extent, the high density means the fierce accumulation of wealth, which in one of the culprit to the gap in wealth: it enlarges the distance between high density area and low density area in terms of economy.
Especially in china, due to the currently condition,  the high density area possessing most of resource is more attactive than the rural area, more and more people want to go to work in those metroplis such as Beijing, Shanghai, which would stimulate the increasing of wealth.....so, a circulation emerges~~~~
maybe there are some deepen reasons for the various density between different cities, hence, that is just my hypothesis.
Reply C.Robert 2010-12-23 22:43
gys44: yep, I understand you. maybe my expression is inadequate. You know, compared with the low density in the same situation, to some extent, the high dens
You are using an example to make a general statement. I can give examples which dispore the same general statement, hehe.

Secondly, you are pointing to pull factors for migration within China.

If i understand you well, you are saying: a lot of people move to an area where some people become rich. Not all become rich and the gab between rich and poor is born. This is a correct statement, but it doesn't say anything about the density of the polulation and the gab between income.
Reply gys44 2010-12-23 23:58
C.Robert: You are using an example to make a general statement. I can give examples which dispore the same general statement, hehe.

Secondly, you are pointing
that is the reason I said I explain insufficiently, the migration enlareges the gap between metropolis and rural area, it is a gap about wealthy city and relative poor area. but that is not my point, it is the branch of gap.

Simply speaking, what I want to indicate is the distance between poor and rich has existed for a long time, and the high density leads to economic increase. The total economic increase would obviously accelerates the increasing of both poor and rich, but the rich's speed is faster than poor's, so the distance is becoming larger and larger.
Reviewing for the first sentence I talked about the "density causes gap in wealth", I admit it imprecise, mayby increasing wealth per se  leads to gap in wealth, population density is one of the factors which could influence the trend, it could not decide the gap directly~~~~~
Reply C.Robert 2010-12-24 19:43
gys44: that is the reason I said I explain insufficiently, the migration enlareges the gap between metropolis and rural area, it is a gap about wealthy city
I agree with you it could be of influence, but it's not the most important factor.

I do disagree on the statement that "high density leads to economic increase". It is all the way around.
Reply gys44 2010-12-24 20:36
maybe the word "lead to" is incorrect, accelerate the economic development might be more proper~~~~~social development consists of several elements, which is a complicated system, so it is hard to say one element decide development directly. It could propel development at most~~~~~~
btw, what is your family's custom at christmas eve?
Reply C.Robert 2010-12-25 08:03
gys44: maybe the word "lead to" is incorrect, accelerate the economic development might be more proper~~~~~social development consists of several e
Well, my point is that thoughout history, you see that development, primary in the agricultural sector makes a larger population in a certain area possible, which leads later on to more economic development. It's starts, however, with the economic development and increase of production.

Many Western families come to gether and go or watch a christmas service in church. In my country, we have two christmas days. The first one is most holy in which many families come together to have a special Christmas dinner. On the second Christmas day, many go out, shopping in the shopping malls which are open that day.
Reply gys44 2010-12-25 14:42
C.Robert: Well, my point is that thoughout history, you see that development, primary in the agricultural sector makes a larger population in a certain area pos
ah, I agree with you again. It seems that it is time to concentrate on the usage of word for me, which could probably complicate the conversation.
Two christmas days, that is the first time I heart it. what about today? is it the first christmas day? and when is the second one?
Last night, when I went to friend's home to celebrate christmas, I encountered a traffic congestion, which due to the large number of vehicles and pedestrians that attend the christmas activity. To some extent, in terms of chinese teenager, christmas is more exciting than Spring festival now~~
Reply C.Robert 2010-12-25 20:36
gys44: ah, I agree with you again. It seems that it is time to concentrate on the usage of word for me, which could probably complicate the conversation.
Two
Today, it's the first, tomorrow it's the second Christmas day.

Well, it's good then they lowered the quota for new cars for next year.

Well, i can understand Christmas is more popular among the youth. Spring Festival is full of (family) traditions, while Christmas gives them the liberty to celebrate it as they wish. Besides that, Christmas is western and has therefore, looking through the eyes of the youth, a cool image.
Reply gys44 2010-12-26 00:10
as your christmas custom, chinese spring festival was last for
fifteen days. More specifically,the first three days from 1st to 3th jan in chinese calendar is considered the essencial part of the entire festiaval, especially the 1st jan in chinese calendar~~~~then, the 15th jan in chinese calendar is suppposed to be the end of the entire festival~~~

I am glad to hear that you get the latest news about beijing's vehicle management~~that is the useful way to release the traffic pressure. Are this relative compulsory measure used by other high density city? It is said that 160 thousands cars were sold at 23rd Dec due to the policy, amazing~~~sometimes, policy is more powerful than advertisement to stimulate consume~~

for youth, christmas is another type of valentine's day more or less~~~~~
Reply C.Robert 2010-12-26 05:14
gys44: as your christmas custom, chinese spring festival was last for
fifteen days. More specifically,the first three days from 1st to 3th jan in chinese ca
I've never celebrated Spring Festival, but it would be an honor to be in China and celebrate it.

Well, I've never heard that this policy was used before. I know that Beijing shares the top 1 position with Mexico City if we are talking about number of vehicles and traffic problems, but i think that in Mexico City the government doesn't have much useful policy on this issue. It's maybe more interesting to see how traffic is organized in Shanghai. They use more modern technics to prevent traffic problems.
Reply gys44 2010-12-26 13:07
The traffic congestion is a tough issue to resolve for manager~~~On one hand,they need to attract some exotic people to propel the local economic, on the other hand, the outcomers bring or produce some social issues, for instance traffic congestion, public security, and so on, when they create wealth. Maybe that is a paradox. To resolve this contradiction, probably, cutting edge technology is an efficient way.
Actually, travelling at shanghai, I do not consider its traffic is better than beijing~~~but shanghai's subway and light rail system is advanced than beijing~~
Reply rich 2010-12-26 20:56
what an interesting topic! to tell the truth, i've never met a dutchman in person. however, i do know some, if not much, about that country. first, their ancestors invaded the island of taiwan, which is part of china. (if my memory serves me.) second, in english there're quite a lot of expressions using the word dutch, most of which are negative about the dutch, such as talk like a Dutch uncle and i'm a dutch, if... i have been wondering why you gave the english such a bad impression. from the geography lessons i got to know that country is actually below the sea level and seems to have a lot of windmills. and i would think of that country when i see a tulip, and in my impression the national football team is really good, which, in chinese, is often referred to as the team of red devils. sorry, but no offence. Merry christmas.
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