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nice-looking or useful?
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I was reading Mr. Zhang Peiji's translation of selected modern Chinese essays. The well-know essay "Peanuts" drawed my attention. We all have read it at a young age, and I remember clearly that it's in our textbook of primary school.
When I read it again with full respect yesterday, I found something I've never noticed before. The whole is a peanut praise, and what's the merit of peanuts? Mr. Xu Huanshan pointed out in the end through father's mouth: "So you must take after peanuts, because they're useful though not great and nice-looking."
Father's comment on peanuts reveals how different between Chinese culture and western culture. Chinese pursues the philosophy of pragmatism--a person should more or less devote himself to the community or the country. Be a useful man means realizing your value in a big society. You yourself as an individual is no way to be valued. As long as the society can benefit from you, your personal character became dispensable. Therefore, you just pretend to be a nail as Uncle Lei Feng put of the big national machine. Is there any possibility for a nail to have freedom or democracy? Of course not, and dont daydream about it.
In contrast, freedom and individualism was ingrained in western mind dating back to the Greek and Roman period. Look at the Gods of Greek mythology, who is not nice-looking and great? And who is not selfish that would like to sacrifice oneself for the sake of the whole group? Even some did seem like sacrificing in Troy war or other battlefields, they were not fighting for the country, but dignity and personal interests, for example, beauties as war trophies.
I dont wanna sound political, but think about it. Why the progress of democracy in China is so slow and confronting so many obstructions? The reason is actually rooted in our 5-thousand-year's culture heritage. It keeps dragging us unconsciously.
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Post comment Comment (14 replies)
- Reply redapple2
- Absolutely you own critical thinking, which to some extent is good for your development.
I like that essay too.
- Reply lushanshan9010
- Insightful! It is readable! I am expecting to read more of your works. And I can totally see eye to eye with the part about the demorcracy you have mentioned above. The old things die hard. Centries-old history has had a great influnence on chinese people, and most of us have not yet realized the importance of things, even some of us get straight of the fact, but they dare not open their mouth to speak out their minds. I'd hoped the day would be just around the corner when the sunshine of real demorcracy shines on us, every single one of us.
- Reply corapaopao
- lushanshan9010: Insightful! It is readable! I am expecting to read more of your works. And I can totally see eye to eye with the part about the demorcracy you have meI hope so too. You remind me the one of the book title of Wang Xiaobo, most people are silent. 沉默的大多数。 Nowadays people are not that silent, but they still dare not to speak out their ideas in public, or do some thing can trully help improve the current situation.
- Reply samscri
- Uncle who?
...You must have watched a lot on TV these days...
...Actually, I kinda agree with you...How could you expect one to love the country if they don't even know how to love themself or their families? I do respect those who sacrifice theselves to the society...but...don't get your family involved, they never voted Yes...
- Reply corapaopao
- samscri: Uncle who?it has nothing about tv dramas...uncle 雷锋。。...You must have watched a lot on TV these days......Actually, I kinda agree with you...How could you expect one to love the
- Reply snowflying
- girl, i nearly confuse by your male avatar. but youa are a girl actually. your this blog is surely profound, the differences exist between china and west countries. from such a story , you have thought so much. i guess you are a good at thinking in your life. and your english is wonderful indeed. learn from you more, girl.
- Reply corapaopao
- snowflying: girl, i nearly confuse by your male avatar. but youa are a girl actually. your this blog is surely profound, the differences exist between china andi am undoubtly a girl
The avatar is just a British actor i love. i guess i've watched a lot documentaries about Greek mythology currently, which prompted me to think more about the culture gap between western and oriental. We have totally different values of life and world. They weigh individual dignity so much higher than us. And i've been always obsessed with those civilization stuff.
- Reply maomaosue
- you are a very thoughtful girl with highest english level. although you are only 24yeas old., but you have a deep understanding of the social. I admire your english. As my point of view, I think if you don't have ability to change the socity, you need to be adapted to the world. The progress of he society need many people's strive even life.I very like your aiticle.Thank you and wish you have a wonderful life
- Reply corapaopao
- yaping: Like ur words extremely!Thanks, i'm still working on it. It's a great encouragement for me if you like it.
- Reply yaping
- corapaopao: Thanks, i'm still working on it. It's a great encouragement for me if you like it.
- Reply samscri
- corapaopao: it has nothing about tv dramas...uncle 雷锋。。Hahaha...I know who Uncle Lei Feng is...It's his 50th anniversary of death, right?! It was all over the news on CCTV-1...
- Reply corapaopao
- samscri: Hahaha...I know who Uncle Lei Feng is...It's his 50th anniversary of death, right?! It was all over the news on CCTV-1...ye..we established a god and put him into the shrine worshipping. that's how absurd human society is.
