Few days ago..by chance i watched part of a TV show.
It was featuring a school, that teaches children that are physically challenged(mentally or body) music. They played Chinese muscial instruments, Indian cultural music, Western orchestrate etc. Their learning progress is clearly slower then normal people, but they are much hardworking, determined and POSITIVE.
Learning a few new notes, new piece of music to them is good enough. They are contented as long they make improvements daily. They even performed on stage before in some variety shows outside.
Hmm, this led me wonder. Physically challenged people will now whine, how tired they are, want to relax more; or complain things are difficult, cannot do, sure die etc. They just DO it and stay positive.
Surely, they face many problems and stress in life in which can be on par with our 'normal' people stress and problems. But they never give up and even stay cheerful and highly motivated. They do not 'slack' as much we 'normal' people does..
I can literally feel their motivation and spirit while watching the interview segment.
These people, although physically challenged, but spiritually they are certainly more superior then we 'normal' people.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
世界本无事，庸人自恼之
五音令人耳聋。
五色令人眼盲。
Its really true. Yes, indeed, the world is simple.
世界本无事，庸人自恼之。
what is complex and not complex?
its a matter of acceptance.
an old man that fishes for 10 years, will find fishing a relaxing, easy hobby. A newbie learning fishing, will find it hard, and even a chore.
so, is fishing a complex hobby? Well, there's no answer to it. How the world works, is actually just the work of 2 opposite forces.
Once you know beauty, you know ugliness. You know whats good, then you will know whats evil.
Vice versa, which is why, evil, hardship is 'good' in a sense, without them, we never know what is 'good' and 'peace'.
When we rejoice in happiness, we should think be wary as well, when we worried about unhappiness, we shouldnt give up in despair. Happiness and trouble are inter-related and will interchange.
Change is what is constant in this world. Change is complex, but yet, it follows a systematic rule. The law of nature. The law of nature is complex, but yet, it is nothing but just 1 single law. So what is complex about '1'? '1' complex but yet not complex. This is the paradox.
To jump out of this paradox and achieve understanding, it requires true action. There are 3 kinds of people.
1. when one learn of a problem, he just sit and sign. even he know the way, he dismissed it.
2. when one learn of a problem and know a way, he is still doubtful and in the end, end up turning in circle aka 转牛角尖
3. when one learn of a problem, and know a way,he strive and work hard on it without complain.
Refining of our mind and heart thats decades and a long time. If it is so easy, to jump out of this complexity, then, everyone is a philosopher, everyone is a saint or sage.
What makes a wise sage and a layman?
超凡入圣- a transition - with determination and positive outlook, to raise from a state of secular to sainthood. However, a real wise sage, upon reaching that, will not grumble and complain about how the world is or is not. For this is how the world is. He/she continue to live in the mundance world with peace and harmony. Following the way of nature, he has inner peace and comfort.
defying the law of nature, a fish leaving water will die. Man sleeping during daytime and work at night will experience health problem. a bird without wings is not a bird.
well, one may say 'change'. The 8 phenomenons in this world - heaven, earth, fire, water, wind, mountains, thunder and the marsh(sea) went through alot of changes, climate etc. But they still remain a constant rule for the change. A cycle, a process. The logic is simple, but the process(Working) is not. All great things starts from small, all small things have complexity too.
A sparrow is small, but it has a full set of internal organs. This is the wonder of nature. Admire it, not going against it. The dinosaurs tired, but they failed. Same goes to the dodo bird. lolz
五色令人眼盲。
Its really true. Yes, indeed, the world is simple.
世界本无事，庸人自恼之。
what is complex and not complex?
its a matter of acceptance.
an old man that fishes for 10 years, will find fishing a relaxing, easy hobby. A newbie learning fishing, will find it hard, and even a chore.
so, is fishing a complex hobby? Well, there's no answer to it. How the world works, is actually just the work of 2 opposite forces.
Once you know beauty, you know ugliness. You know whats good, then you will know whats evil.
Vice versa, which is why, evil, hardship is 'good' in a sense, without them, we never know what is 'good' and 'peace'.
When we rejoice in happiness, we should think be wary as well, when we worried about unhappiness, we shouldnt give up in despair. Happiness and trouble are inter-related and will interchange.
Change is what is constant in this world. Change is complex, but yet, it follows a systematic rule. The law of nature. The law of nature is complex, but yet, it is nothing but just 1 single law. So what is complex about '1'? '1' complex but yet not complex. This is the paradox.
To jump out of this paradox and achieve understanding, it requires true action. There are 3 kinds of people.
1. when one learn of a problem, he just sit and sign. even he know the way, he dismissed it.
2. when one learn of a problem and know a way, he is still doubtful and in the end, end up turning in circle aka 转牛角尖
3. when one learn of a problem, and know a way,he strive and work hard on it without complain.
Refining of our mind and heart thats decades and a long time. If it is so easy, to jump out of this complexity, then, everyone is a philosopher, everyone is a saint or sage.
What makes a wise sage and a layman?
超凡入圣- a transition - with determination and positive outlook, to raise from a state of secular to sainthood. However, a real wise sage, upon reaching that, will not grumble and complain about how the world is or is not. For this is how the world is. He/she continue to live in the mundance world with peace and harmony. Following the way of nature, he has inner peace and comfort.
defying the law of nature, a fish leaving water will die. Man sleeping during daytime and work at night will experience health problem. a bird without wings is not a bird.
well, one may say 'change'. The 8 phenomenons in this world - heaven, earth, fire, water, wind, mountains, thunder and the marsh(sea) went through alot of changes, climate etc. But they still remain a constant rule for the change. A cycle, a process. The logic is simple, but the process(Working) is not. All great things starts from small, all small things have complexity too.
A sparrow is small, but it has a full set of internal organs. This is the wonder of nature. Admire it, not going against it. The dinosaurs tired, but they failed. Same goes to the dodo bird. lolz
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Rubbish
Just a moment ago at Facebook and i saw a friend sending me an 'event' - light a candle for Tibet.
well, to me, firstly, why this time of the year?
it is very stupid to bring Politics into Olympic games. And what these Tibetan protesters around the world are doing to the olympic flame is nothing but complete disgrace.
they only humiliate themselves. From my point of view, this guy Dala Lama is a tool of different political forces. He is not a king. He is not even a god. When he ruled Tibet (before 1959), 95% population in Tibet is salve. And there already were serious punishment like cutting arms and digging eye balls. so talking about human right before 1959.
A few important notes:
1. Tibet is an integral part of China. It has always been a part of China.
2. Chinese people in China as well as overseas do not support Tibet.
3. Boycotting China or Chinese goods will have a damaging effect on EU/USA economies. For those who call for a boycott do not understand economics. We live in a globalised world
.4. China is an economic might. Currently 3rd largest economy in the world. Nobody van ignore China anymore.
5. China is an emerging military power with nuclear capabilities, and has a seat on UN's Security Council.Bottomline: The anti-China protestors can keep dreaming.
How about all the people protesting for Tibet, Protest for Tibet. Leave the Olympics alone they are about the athletes and bringing the world together in one event. Athletes who have dreamed there whole lives about carrying the olympic torch are getting the brunt of your protests. To me, it is an act of selfishness and madness.
This morning, i overheard at the radio. That Europe done a statistic interview, on 'which country with highest security threat'. And guess what is the top in ranking?
CHINA. this is crazy. What about some western country, going into Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afganishtan etc. What about Iran? and why China? No doubt China is rising but, history evidence tell us, in the most glorious moment, China Chinese did not when round building 'trade settlements' and planting flags around. China did not act as 'world police'. 2000 years ago, from the Han, Tang, Ming dynasties, it had always been a graceful strong nation.
And i also overheard that one CNN small little reporter, commented that the Chinese is just like 50 years ago, describing the Chinese something like thief, thugs, hooligans etc... well, i BEG TO DIFFER.
Who were the 8 nations that almost 'tear' China apart? Hong kong 'given' to Great Britian and Macau also given alway to Portugal. Taiwan to Japan. countless unfair treaties were forced on China to signed. So, to mean all these are considered FAIR and JUST?
rubbish. utter rubbish. the pot calling the kettle black.
my friend commented, that his parents say that the western might be afraid, uncertain of China's rising. Well, very true. Why? i guess its afraid China might take 'revenge'? feeling 'guilty?jealousy?
i Don't know...
The values of Asia is different from the West. We do not stress on individualistic but harmony society. Neither Asia or China is inferior at all. Look around us, how many product are 'made in china'? and we are still not talking about ancient inventions that continue to impact our daily lives.
It is time to wake up for Asians, especially Chinese. To see the truth with a sense of personal pride and dignity.
well, to me, firstly, why this time of the year?
it is very stupid to bring Politics into Olympic games. And what these Tibetan protesters around the world are doing to the olympic flame is nothing but complete disgrace.
they only humiliate themselves. From my point of view, this guy Dala Lama is a tool of different political forces. He is not a king. He is not even a god. When he ruled Tibet (before 1959), 95% population in Tibet is salve. And there already were serious punishment like cutting arms and digging eye balls. so talking about human right before 1959.
A few important notes:
1. Tibet is an integral part of China. It has always been a part of China.
2. Chinese people in China as well as overseas do not support Tibet.
3. Boycotting China or Chinese goods will have a damaging effect on EU/USA economies. For those who call for a boycott do not understand economics. We live in a globalised world
.4. China is an economic might. Currently 3rd largest economy in the world. Nobody van ignore China anymore.
5. China is an emerging military power with nuclear capabilities, and has a seat on UN's Security Council.Bottomline: The anti-China protestors can keep dreaming.
How about all the people protesting for Tibet, Protest for Tibet. Leave the Olympics alone they are about the athletes and bringing the world together in one event. Athletes who have dreamed there whole lives about carrying the olympic torch are getting the brunt of your protests. To me, it is an act of selfishness and madness.
This morning, i overheard at the radio. That Europe done a statistic interview, on 'which country with highest security threat'. And guess what is the top in ranking?
CHINA. this is crazy. What about some western country, going into Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afganishtan etc. What about Iran? and why China? No doubt China is rising but, history evidence tell us, in the most glorious moment, China Chinese did not when round building 'trade settlements' and planting flags around. China did not act as 'world police'. 2000 years ago, from the Han, Tang, Ming dynasties, it had always been a graceful strong nation.
And i also overheard that one CNN small little reporter, commented that the Chinese is just like 50 years ago, describing the Chinese something like thief, thugs, hooligans etc... well, i BEG TO DIFFER.
Who were the 8 nations that almost 'tear' China apart? Hong kong 'given' to Great Britian and Macau also given alway to Portugal. Taiwan to Japan. countless unfair treaties were forced on China to signed. So, to mean all these are considered FAIR and JUST?
rubbish. utter rubbish. the pot calling the kettle black.
my friend commented, that his parents say that the western might be afraid, uncertain of China's rising. Well, very true. Why? i guess its afraid China might take 'revenge'? feeling 'guilty?jealousy?
i Don't know...
The values of Asia is different from the West. We do not stress on individualistic but harmony society. Neither Asia or China is inferior at all. Look around us, how many product are 'made in china'? and we are still not talking about ancient inventions that continue to impact our daily lives.
It is time to wake up for Asians, especially Chinese. To see the truth with a sense of personal pride and dignity.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
淡忘
淡忘
淡忘需要世间。
淡淡微笑，深情眼生，盘旋于脑海持久难忘。
意难忘，
回忆，心意需要世间淡忘。
原地踏步，回顾过去，却缺乏勇气展望未来。
忘忧，
世间是否真有忘忧草，孟婆汤？
忘了就好，世间的洗涤，让它渐渐淡忘。
淡忘需要世间。
淡淡微笑，深情眼生，盘旋于脑海持久难忘。
意难忘，
回忆，心意需要世间淡忘。
原地踏步，回顾过去，却缺乏勇气展望未来。
忘忧，
世间是否真有忘忧草，孟婆汤？
忘了就好，世间的洗涤，让它渐渐淡忘。
What Shiu Kah Jun Jeremy Means
| What Shiu Kah Jun Jeremy Means |
 You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know. You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do. You are truly an original person. You have amazing ideas, and the power to carry them out. Success comes rather easily for you... especially in business and academia. Some people find you to be selfish and a bit overbearing. You're a strong person. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are a very lucky person. Things just always seem to go your way. And because you're so lucky, you don't really have a lot of worries. You just hope for the best in life. You're sometimes a little guilty of being greedy. Spread your luck around a little to people who need it. You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life. You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip. People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are fair, honest, and logical. You are a natural leader, and people respect you. You never give up, and you will succeed... even if it takes you a hundred tries. You are rational enough to see every part of a problem. You are great at giving other people advice. You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated. You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want. You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way! You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in. You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising. You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care. |
Cemetery closure means loss of Singapore heritage
April 15, 2008
Cemetery closure means loss of Singapore heritage
I REFER to last Friday's article, 'Teochew cemetery's last Qing Ming'. It was about one of Singapore's oldest Teochew cemeteries which will be cleared in October to make way for the Downtown Line depot.
This is indeed sad and regrettable as, with the destruction of the cemetery, goes a slice of the nation's history. Since independence, Singapore and its people have been on a constant quest to define a national identity. An integral part of any national identity is historical awareness.
History is not merely about preservation of impressive buildings such as architecturally rich churches and temples. Rather, for most people, it emerges from everyday experiences - the jobs they do, the places they visit and the many rites and ceremonies that mark one's life and ultimately, death.
Unfortunately, in Singapore, many of these everyday histories are not well documented and are therefore forced to surrender to the consuming jaws of modernisation.
Hence, the historically rich and very beautiful Bidadari cemetery was cleared recently. With its regrettable destruction went not only the tombstones of generations of Singapore men and women but also the culture of a time past, and a small part of our national heritage.
Cemeteries provide a rich window on the past. By looking at the arrangement of tombstones, the aesthetics of headstone carvings and the people they envelop (both living and dead), we get a better picture of what Singapore society was like. Cemeteries also reflect religious and ritual life.
The old tombs at Kwong Hou Sua Teochew cemetery still attract a large number of families who come to pay their respects to the departed during Qing Ming every year. The cemetery is thus a living place. It tells an important story, not only of Singapore's Teochew community but also of changing concepts of family life, wealth, power and class.
Times have changed. It is undeniable that the past will have to surrender to the present in land- scarce Singapore. Yet, if Singapore hopes to instil in its citizens a sense of nationhood, it will need to consider the importance of everyday histories. I therefore urge the Land Transport Authority to reconsider the clearance of Kwong Hou Sua which, despite its age, is a treasure trove of Singapore's cultural and historical legacy.
Dr Irving Chan Johnson
http://www.straitst imes.com/ ST%2BForum/ Story/STIStory_ 227316.html
Dr Johnson is a Assistant Professor in NUS Southeast Asian Studies Department.
Cemetery closure means loss of Singapore heritage
I REFER to last Friday's article, 'Teochew cemetery's last Qing Ming'. It was about one of Singapore's oldest Teochew cemeteries which will be cleared in October to make way for the Downtown Line depot.
This is indeed sad and regrettable as, with the destruction of the cemetery, goes a slice of the nation's history. Since independence, Singapore and its people have been on a constant quest to define a national identity. An integral part of any national identity is historical awareness.
History is not merely about preservation of impressive buildings such as architecturally rich churches and temples. Rather, for most people, it emerges from everyday experiences - the jobs they do, the places they visit and the many rites and ceremonies that mark one's life and ultimately, death.
Unfortunately, in Singapore, many of these everyday histories are not well documented and are therefore forced to surrender to the consuming jaws of modernisation.
Hence, the historically rich and very beautiful Bidadari cemetery was cleared recently. With its regrettable destruction went not only the tombstones of generations of Singapore men and women but also the culture of a time past, and a small part of our national heritage.
Cemeteries provide a rich window on the past. By looking at the arrangement of tombstones, the aesthetics of headstone carvings and the people they envelop (both living and dead), we get a better picture of what Singapore society was like. Cemeteries also reflect religious and ritual life.
The old tombs at Kwong Hou Sua Teochew cemetery still attract a large number of families who come to pay their respects to the departed during Qing Ming every year. The cemetery is thus a living place. It tells an important story, not only of Singapore's Teochew community but also of changing concepts of family life, wealth, power and class.
Times have changed. It is undeniable that the past will have to surrender to the present in land- scarce Singapore. Yet, if Singapore hopes to instil in its citizens a sense of nationhood, it will need to consider the importance of everyday histories. I therefore urge the Land Transport Authority to reconsider the clearance of Kwong Hou Sua which, despite its age, is a treasure trove of Singapore's cultural and historical legacy.
Dr Irving Chan Johnson
http://www.straitst imes.com/ ST%2BForum/ Story/STIStory_ 227316.html
Dr Johnson is a Assistant Professor in NUS Southeast Asian Studies Department.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
祝福
古人云“天涯何处无芳草，..."
你就像一朵手中花，
刹时化作蝴蝶天上飞，
飞来飞去却飞不到我身边。
愿你的眼泪，能感动，
愿你的微笑，能感染，
愿你的抚摸，能感受。
你的眼睛，真的给人真感触。
天上人间，有你才便得圆满。
愿你得到幸福和快乐。
天上人间，有你才会喜乐。
你就像一朵手中花，
刹时化作蝴蝶天上飞，
飞来飞去却飞不到我身边。
愿你的眼泪，能感动，
愿你的微笑，能感染，
愿你的抚摸，能感受。
你的眼睛，真的给人真感触。
天上人间，有你才便得圆满。
愿你得到幸福和快乐。
天上人间，有你才会喜乐。
hmm
人欲静，而心扰之；人欲清，而欲牵之。
人的情绪，思维就好像古人讲的-心猿意马。
心，如同猴子。意念，如同一匹野马。
起伏不定，时常受外界事物影响。云云众生，凡夫俗子，一般都会经历到的。
种种事物，让我不免也感到忧心忡忡。自然心神不定。脾气也不怎么好，难免‘连累’周围的人了。哈哈。
下过一场雨，天气还是闷热，到附近公园跑步之后再练习套太极拳(几年前学过)，心稍微定下来，静下来。
人生不如意的事情，十之八九。很多事情不是绝对的。是祸，是福，对，错，其实都不是固定的。阳中有阴，阴中有阳。
阿扁的无赖，无能，贪污，给台湾带来‘灾害’，但是也带出一位杰出的准总统-马英九。灾害中，也有曙光，好处。所谓‘乱世出英雄’。只有在乱世，才看得出忠臣。
MS在新加坡内安局的‘法眼’逃脱，虽然是不幸，但是也是时机。是进步，反省的良机。如果没有这次的犯人逃跑，新加坡还以为自己的保安是‘天下无敌’呢。
所以，连坏人，在社会上也扮演了角色。坏事，不一定全坏，好事也不一定全好。
看事情要看两面。做事要有原则。我是吃软不吃硬的。做事坚持‘全真’。
全心全意，真心真意。
如果为了一些错误，而伤和气，下定论，实在无知。
人非圣贤，熟能无过？
重要是做事，待人要
‘全心全意，真心真意’。
最后要‘全其真性’。
人的情绪，思维就好像古人讲的-心猿意马。
心，如同猴子。意念，如同一匹野马。
起伏不定，时常受外界事物影响。云云众生，凡夫俗子，一般都会经历到的。
种种事物，让我不免也感到忧心忡忡。自然心神不定。脾气也不怎么好，难免‘连累’周围的人了。哈哈。
下过一场雨，天气还是闷热，到附近公园跑步之后再练习套太极拳(几年前学过)，心稍微定下来，静下来。
人生不如意的事情，十之八九。很多事情不是绝对的。是祸，是福，对，错，其实都不是固定的。阳中有阴，阴中有阳。
阿扁的无赖，无能，贪污，给台湾带来‘灾害’，但是也带出一位杰出的准总统-马英九。灾害中，也有曙光，好处。所谓‘乱世出英雄’。只有在乱世，才看得出忠臣。
MS在新加坡内安局的‘法眼’逃脱，虽然是不幸，但是也是时机。是进步，反省的良机。如果没有这次的犯人逃跑，新加坡还以为自己的保安是‘天下无敌’呢。
所以，连坏人，在社会上也扮演了角色。坏事，不一定全坏，好事也不一定全好。
看事情要看两面。做事要有原则。我是吃软不吃硬的。做事坚持‘全真’。
全心全意，真心真意。
如果为了一些错误，而伤和气，下定论，实在无知。
人非圣贤，熟能无过？
重要是做事，待人要
‘全心全意，真心真意’。
最后要‘全其真性’。
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
more on the Three Kingdom..
during the first battle scene when zhao yun 'just joined' the army of Liu bei, zhuge liang appeared to 'save' them. this is funny and not true. in actual history this battle could had never happened cos zhuge liang couldnt appeared at that time. he should still be a young boy!
Zhao Yun did rescue Ah Dou, but he held the infant in his front armour instead at the back. In the show, when Zhao Yun found the baby, his mothers were dead. In reality, one of his mothers was still alive and was resting by the well with the baby (She was injured). To prevent hindrance, she committed suicide by jumping into the well. When Zhao Yun successfully brought Ah Dou back to Liu Bei.
then in the novel, Liu bei actually threw the infant onto the ground, saying that he nearly caused the death of a great general (referring to Zhao Yun).
and when liu bei appointed Guan Gong(guanyu), Zhangfei, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao and Huang Zhong as 5 tigers generals, liu bei merely became a 'wang' (king) not emperor(di) yet. cos that time cao cao still alive, cao cao till his death did NOT became emperor at all but only to the 'king' status. it was his son cao pi that overthrew the last Han emperor han xian di and formed the wei kingdom. then liu bei, since he's a 'liu', he assumed the throne of Shu Han emperor.
on a side note, historically, there is no record of 5 tiger generals. only 4. guan, zhang, ma and huang. it is only in san guo novel then we have 5 generals. however, to me 4 become 5, its fine too. cos even if zhao yun didnt have the title, the 5 of them are really the 'top 5' warriors in Shu kingdom. the first 4 are generals fighting away from liu bei, while historically, zhao yun was liu bei's fav general and close protector and go to battle together with liu bei or zhuge liang.
Zhao Yun did rescue Ah Dou, but he held the infant in his front armour instead at the back. In the show, when Zhao Yun found the baby, his mothers were dead. In reality, one of his mothers was still alive and was resting by the well with the baby (She was injured). To prevent hindrance, she committed suicide by jumping into the well. When Zhao Yun successfully brought Ah Dou back to Liu Bei.
then in the novel, Liu bei actually threw the infant onto the ground, saying that he nearly caused the death of a great general (referring to Zhao Yun).
and when liu bei appointed Guan Gong(guanyu), Zhangfei, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao and Huang Zhong as 5 tigers generals, liu bei merely became a 'wang' (king) not emperor(di) yet. cos that time cao cao still alive, cao cao till his death did NOT became emperor at all but only to the 'king' status. it was his son cao pi that overthrew the last Han emperor han xian di and formed the wei kingdom. then liu bei, since he's a 'liu', he assumed the throne of Shu Han emperor.
on a side note, historically, there is no record of 5 tiger generals. only 4. guan, zhang, ma and huang. it is only in san guo novel then we have 5 generals. however, to me 4 become 5, its fine too. cos even if zhao yun didnt have the title, the 5 of them are really the 'top 5' warriors in Shu kingdom. the first 4 are generals fighting away from liu bei, while historically, zhao yun was liu bei's fav general and close protector and go to battle together with liu bei or zhuge liang.
见龙卸甲
凤鸣山 - 刘备被曹操追杀，赵云救主(阿斗)时候，是新野(位于河南省西南部，与湖北省襄樊市接壤)地带。根本没有到凤鸣山。赵子龙长_坡救主的故事变成了凤鸣山救主。洪金宝的“罗平安”也是硬加上去的
这事情是发生在曹操尚未立魏国，刘备未入蜀(四川)，所以蜀国未立。何来‘魏军’，‘蜀军’呢？
曹操打仗，带孙女？可笑。
真正的被困凤鸣山的情节放大，更加把曹婴改成了一个女人，他原本是曹操的孙女婿，在《三国演义》中，赵子龙在凤鸣山的对手也不是曹婴而是夏侯琳(娶了曹操的女儿清河公主，成为驸马)。
赵云的确斩了韩德四个儿子，而且那次战争是诸葛亮北伐魏国的一个战略，并不是要‘欺骗’赵云。赵云可是先锋，但斩了四员大将，赵云可能毕竟年老，而且不服输，结果被魏国八员大将围困到凤鸣山。以下是<三国演义>原文：
" 魏阵中八员将一齐来迎。放过夏侯□先走，八将陆续奔走。赵云乘势追杀，邓芝引兵继进。赵云深入重地，只听得四面喊声大震。邓芝急收军退回，左有董禧，右有薛则，两路兵杀到。邓芝兵少，不能解救。赵云被困在垓心，东冲西突，魏兵越厚。时云手下止有千余人，杀到山坡之下，只见夏侯□在山上指挥三军。赵云投东则望东指，投西则望西指，因此赵云不能突围，乃引兵杀上山来。半山中擂木炮石打将下来，不能上山。赵云从辰时杀至酉时，不得脱走，只得下马少歇，且待月明再战。却才卸甲而坐，月光方出，忽四下火光冲天，鼓声大震，矢石如雨，魏兵杀到，皆叫曰：“赵云早降！”云急上马迎敌。四面军马渐渐逼近，八方弩箭交射甚急，人马皆不能向前。云仰天叹曰：“吾不服老，死于此地矣！”
后来幸得关公(关羽)之子- 关兴，张飞之子-张苞领兵来救，才一同杀出重围，而且把魏军杀得大败。
以下<三国演义>原文：
"云曰：“二将军已建奇功，何不趁今日擒住夏侯□，以定大事？”张苞闻言，遂引兵去了。兴曰：“我也干功去。”遂亦引兵去了。云回顾左右曰：“他两个是吾子侄辈，尚且争先干功；吾乃国家上将，朝廷旧臣，反不如此小儿耶？吾当舍老命以报先帝之恩！”于是引兵来捉夏侯琳。当夜三路兵夹攻，大破魏军一阵。邓芝引兵接应，杀得尸横遍野，血流成河。"
最后，赵云的生死:
赵云生于公元168年
赵云卒于229年
此电影 -见龙卸甲，艺术上很高分，但是剧情就离谱些。
这事情是发生在曹操尚未立魏国，刘备未入蜀(四川)，所以蜀国未立。何来‘魏军’，‘蜀军’呢？
曹操打仗，带孙女？可笑。
真正的被困凤鸣山的情节放大，更加把曹婴改成了一个女人，他原本是曹操的孙女婿，在《三国演义》中，赵子龙在凤鸣山的对手也不是曹婴而是夏侯琳(娶了曹操的女儿清河公主，成为驸马)。
赵云的确斩了韩德四个儿子，而且那次战争是诸葛亮北伐魏国的一个战略，并不是要‘欺骗’赵云。赵云可是先锋，但斩了四员大将，赵云可能毕竟年老，而且不服输，结果被魏国八员大将围困到凤鸣山。以下是<三国演义>原文：
" 魏阵中八员将一齐来迎。放过夏侯□先走，八将陆续奔走。赵云乘势追杀，邓芝引兵继进。赵云深入重地，只听得四面喊声大震。邓芝急收军退回，左有董禧，右有薛则，两路兵杀到。邓芝兵少，不能解救。赵云被困在垓心，东冲西突，魏兵越厚。时云手下止有千余人，杀到山坡之下，只见夏侯□在山上指挥三军。赵云投东则望东指，投西则望西指，因此赵云不能突围，乃引兵杀上山来。半山中擂木炮石打将下来，不能上山。赵云从辰时杀至酉时，不得脱走，只得下马少歇，且待月明再战。却才卸甲而坐，月光方出，忽四下火光冲天，鼓声大震，矢石如雨，魏兵杀到，皆叫曰：“赵云早降！”云急上马迎敌。四面军马渐渐逼近，八方弩箭交射甚急，人马皆不能向前。云仰天叹曰：“吾不服老，死于此地矣！”
后来幸得关公(关羽)之子- 关兴，张飞之子-张苞领兵来救，才一同杀出重围，而且把魏军杀得大败。
以下<三国演义>原文：
"云曰：“二将军已建奇功，何不趁今日擒住夏侯□，以定大事？”张苞闻言，遂引兵去了。兴曰：“我也干功去。”遂亦引兵去了。云回顾左右曰：“他两个是吾子侄辈，尚且争先干功；吾乃国家上将，朝廷旧臣，反不如此小儿耶？吾当舍老命以报先帝之恩！”于是引兵来捉夏侯琳。当夜三路兵夹攻，大破魏军一阵。邓芝引兵接应，杀得尸横遍野，血流成河。"
最后，赵云的生死:
赵云生于公元168年
赵云卒于229年
此电影 -见龙卸甲，艺术上很高分，但是剧情就离谱些。
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
规律
纵观世界局势，东方世界正在撅起。
很多人还是不知道，继续崇洋，继续持有西方的‘个人主义’(individualism).
我们华人正好相反- 搞的是家庭人伦的思想- collectivism。
西方思想，尤其美国的英雄主义，shortrun 在短期内是很不错的。但是如果是长期的发展，必定要靠东方思想。
人类历史不长，仅剩的‘活化石’文化-印度和中国，正是300年前的大国，强国。
西方的撅起，也只是这近100-200年的‘光芒’而已。英国，法国，西班牙等国家，历史上想称霸世界，但是都失败。
美国的自大，也在近年吃苦头了。西方，美国的‘自由’，‘平等’等主义，其实都不是什么‘思想’，而是一种‘要求’。老外就是这样，要什么就说去来。他们的文化就是这样。
中华文化则不同。有些人想‘扫除’‘离开’，‘讨厌’传统文化。但是传统文化无非只是传达8个讯息 - 孝弟忠信礼义廉耻
这些都是完美的美德，道德。这对整个社会，世界是有益的。总比起那些只会喊‘自由’的人老实多了。
西方的自大- 八国联军入侵中国，殖民主义，鸦片战争都是证据，而且现今社会，这些都不再回来。中国和整个亚洲都不会那么笨了。中国汉，唐两个朝代，还有清代，都比西方国家任何一个鼎盛时期长。者说明西方思想的不足，短期可能有好的效果，如果长期的话，必定失败。
日本的生产，创意十足，toyota,honda等都是很好的品牌。toyota也早超越美国的GE。
中国申办奥运会，新加坡申办青年奥运，无疑是显示东方的再度强大。
自己的文化要自己保留。很多老外不断在学我们，因为他们知道他们那一套不管用了。
人类和万物一样，不能独居。蚂蚁，猴子，狮子都不能。要互相依靠。天道(自然)如此，人类为何要逆天呢？中华传统讲顺应天理，西方人讲惟我独尊。
individualism可行吗？不然。美国大国都不能，何况我们？
当然，适当的持有一些个人主义是可以的。阴阳两极，阳中有阴，阴中有阳。
本体是collectivism，但是拥有一些individualism的思想还是可以的。只要不过分。
华人就是仿效天道，大自然的规律，加上人类的道德标准而形成-norms规律。
这不是随便捏造的，而是人类古时的大智慧。tested and proven的啊。
不是危言耸听，不顺应自然规律，必定自取灭亡。
免得人家说我罗唆，就此停笔。
很多人还是不知道，继续崇洋，继续持有西方的‘个人主义’(individualism).
我们华人正好相反- 搞的是家庭人伦的思想- collectivism。
西方思想，尤其美国的英雄主义，shortrun 在短期内是很不错的。但是如果是长期的发展，必定要靠东方思想。
人类历史不长，仅剩的‘活化石’文化-印度和中国，正是300年前的大国，强国。
西方的撅起，也只是这近100-200年的‘光芒’而已。英国，法国，西班牙等国家，历史上想称霸世界，但是都失败。
美国的自大，也在近年吃苦头了。西方，美国的‘自由’，‘平等’等主义，其实都不是什么‘思想’，而是一种‘要求’。老外就是这样，要什么就说去来。他们的文化就是这样。
中华文化则不同。有些人想‘扫除’‘离开’，‘讨厌’传统文化。但是传统文化无非只是传达8个讯息 - 孝弟忠信礼义廉耻
这些都是完美的美德，道德。这对整个社会，世界是有益的。总比起那些只会喊‘自由’的人老实多了。
西方的自大- 八国联军入侵中国，殖民主义，鸦片战争都是证据，而且现今社会，这些都不再回来。中国和整个亚洲都不会那么笨了。中国汉，唐两个朝代，还有清代，都比西方国家任何一个鼎盛时期长。者说明西方思想的不足，短期可能有好的效果，如果长期的话，必定失败。
日本的生产，创意十足，toyota,honda等都是很好的品牌。toyota也早超越美国的GE。
中国申办奥运会，新加坡申办青年奥运，无疑是显示东方的再度强大。
自己的文化要自己保留。很多老外不断在学我们，因为他们知道他们那一套不管用了。
人类和万物一样，不能独居。蚂蚁，猴子，狮子都不能。要互相依靠。天道(自然)如此，人类为何要逆天呢？中华传统讲顺应天理，西方人讲惟我独尊。
individualism可行吗？不然。美国大国都不能，何况我们？
当然，适当的持有一些个人主义是可以的。阴阳两极，阳中有阴，阴中有阳。
本体是collectivism，但是拥有一些individualism的思想还是可以的。只要不过分。
华人就是仿效天道，大自然的规律，加上人类的道德标准而形成-norms规律。
这不是随便捏造的，而是人类古时的大智慧。tested and proven的啊。
不是危言耸听，不顺应自然规律，必定自取灭亡。
免得人家说我罗唆，就此停笔。
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Bullshit
i read with amused 2 days ago..on a Zaobao.
文明祭祀? - civilised worship of ancestor?
utter rubbish.
the paper said that the Chinese government , encourage this 'civilised worship' - using flowers instead of offering items, food etc.
using flower alone is NOT worship. and the chinese word - ji si 祭祀 means worship, prayer.
And worship involves the belief in spirits and offering items.
using flowers alone is rememberance.
for heaven sake, you do not use water to bath in the bathroom, you do not use offering items in worship. is that right?
And they still have the cheek to say - following Confucius teachings.
Firstly, the belief of ancestor spirits is Taoist, not Confucuism. Mr Confucius encouraged the rites, but he did not explain the spiritual part, which leave to the religion of Chinese - Taoism to do it.
Secondly, Confucius emphasized to worship and pay respect as though they(spirits/deities) are presence in front of you. The Chinese pay respect with tea/wine and food. Just like how you treat your guest, your elders.
Use flowerS only? thats NOT worship and certainly NOT Chinese culture. How can one uses another culture to critize another culture ? utter rubbhish and bullshit.
well, we can promote this
文明祭祀 - civilised worship, by encourage ppl not be greedy, we offer food and incense in moderate, not in excessive. Do not litter, keep your place tidy etc. We do not use another religious/cultural point of view to replace ours. This is bullshit.
This period is qingming, 90% of my personal family gone to another monothestic religion(amen), but i insist on following Chinese(Taoist) way of 'rememberance and respect. We went to Bishan Pek shan ting columbrium and Brighthill temple. we have mutual respect and understanding here. Although our spiritual belief is different. And i do not feel a tiny bit of 'inferior' in the presence of a monothestic believer. I stand firm. Do you?
文明祭祀? - civilised worship of ancestor?
utter rubbish.
the paper said that the Chinese government , encourage this 'civilised worship' - using flowers instead of offering items, food etc.
using flower alone is NOT worship. and the chinese word - ji si 祭祀 means worship, prayer.
And worship involves the belief in spirits and offering items.
using flowers alone is rememberance.
for heaven sake, you do not use water to bath in the bathroom, you do not use offering items in worship. is that right?
And they still have the cheek to say - following Confucius teachings.
Firstly, the belief of ancestor spirits is Taoist, not Confucuism. Mr Confucius encouraged the rites, but he did not explain the spiritual part, which leave to the religion of Chinese - Taoism to do it.
Secondly, Confucius emphasized to worship and pay respect as though they(spirits/deities) are presence in front of you. The Chinese pay respect with tea/wine and food. Just like how you treat your guest, your elders.
Use flowerS only? thats NOT worship and certainly NOT Chinese culture. How can one uses another culture to critize another culture ? utter rubbhish and bullshit.
well, we can promote this
文明祭祀 - civilised worship, by encourage ppl not be greedy, we offer food and incense in moderate, not in excessive. Do not litter, keep your place tidy etc. We do not use another religious/cultural point of view to replace ours. This is bullshit.
This period is qingming, 90% of my personal family gone to another monothestic religion(amen), but i insist on following Chinese(Taoist) way of 'rememberance and respect. We went to Bishan Pek shan ting columbrium and Brighthill temple. we have mutual respect and understanding here. Although our spiritual belief is different. And i do not feel a tiny bit of 'inferior' in the presence of a monothestic believer. I stand firm. Do you?
Thursday, April 3, 2008
China's Victory part 1
http://www.granma. cu/ingles/ 2008/marzo/ lun31/14Reflex1. html
Havana. March 31, 2008
Reflections of Fidel
The Chinese Victory (Part I)
Translated by ESTI
Havana. March 31, 2008
Reflections of Fidel
The Chinese Victory (Part I)
Translated by ESTI
WITHOUT some basic historical knowledge, the subject I am dealing with could not be understood.In Europe, people had heard about China. In the autumn of 1298, Marco Polo told marvelous tales about an amazing country he called Cathay. Columbus, an intelligent and intrepid sailor, was aware of the Greeks' knowledge about the roundness of the Earth. His own observations led him to agree with those theories. He came up with the plan of reaching the Far East sailing westward from Europe. But, he calculated the distance with far too much optimism, for it was several times greater. Unexpectedly, between the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans, this continent loomed up on his route. Magellan would make the journey conceived by him, even though he died before reaching Europe.
Still, the value of the spices collected paid for the expedition initiated with a number of vessels - of which only one returned - a prelude of future colossal profits.From that point, the world began to change at an accelerated pace. Old forms of exploitation were repeated again, from slavery to feudal serfdom; ancient and new religious beliefs spread over the planet.From that fusion of cultures and events, accompanied by technical advances and scientific discoveries, today's world was born, and it could not be understood without a minimum of real precedents.
International trade, with its advantages and disadvantages, was imposed by the colonial powers, such as Spain, England and the other European powers. These, especially England, soon began to control southwest, south and southeast Asia, and Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand, forcibly expanding its rule everywhere. The colonizers were not able to impose their authority over the gigantic country of China, which had an ancient culture and fabulous natural and human resources.Direct trade between Europe and China began in the sixteenth century, after the Portuguese established the commercial enclave in Goa in India and in Macao in southern China.Spanish control in the Philippines facilitated an accelerated exchange with the great Asian country.
The Qing dynasty, which ruled China, tried to limit this kind of unfavorable commercial operation with foreign countries as much as possible. It was allowed only through the port of Canton, today called Guangzhou. Britain and Spain had great deficits because of the low demand of the enormous Asiatic country, related to English goods manufactured in the metropolis, or Spanish products coming from the New World that were not essential to China. Both of them had begun to sell opium.Large-scale opium trade was at first dominated by the Dutch through Jakarta, Indonesia. The English observed the profits that were close to 400 percent. Their opium exports which, in 1730, were 15 tons, grew to 75 in 1773, shipped in crates weighing 70 kilograms each; with this they bought porcelain, silk, spices and Chinese tea. Opium, not gold, was the currency Europe used to acquire Chinese goods.
In the spring of 1830, faced with the unbridled abuse of the opium trade in China, Emperor Daoguang ordered Lin Hse Tsu, an imperial official, to fight the plague; he ordered the destruction of 20,000 crates of opium. Lin Hse Tsu sent a letter to Queen Victoria asking for respect for international regulations and not to allow trade with toxic drugs.The Opium Wars were the English response. The first lasted three years, from 1839 to 1842. The second, with France joining in, lasted four years, from 1856 to 1860. They are also known as the Anglo-Chinese Wars.The United Kingdom forced China to sign unfair treaties committing this country to opening up several ports to foreign trade and handing over Hong Kong.
Several countries, following England's lead, imposed unequal terms of exchange.Such humiliation contributed to the Taiping Rebellion of 1850 to 1864, the Boxer Rebellion of 1899 to 1901 and, finally, the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1911 which, for various reasons - including its weakness in the face of foreign powers - had become highly unpopular in China.
What happened with Japan?
This country with its ancient culture and very hard-working, like others in the region, resisted "Western civilization" and for more than 200 years - among other causes because of a chaotic domestic administration - remained hermetically sealed to foreign trade.In 1854, after an earlier exploratory voyage with four gunboats, a U.S. naval expedition commanded by Commodore Matthew Perry, threatening to bomb a Japanese town - defenseless before the modern technology of those vessels- obliged the shoguns to sign, on behalf of the Emperor, the Treaty of Kanagawa on March 31, 1854. Thus, the grafting of capitalist trade and Western technology was begun in Japan.
At the time, Europeans were unaware of the Japanese capacity to develop in that field.On the heels of the Yankees, representatives of the Russian Empire arrived from the Far East, fearful that the U.S., to whom they later sold Alaska on October 18, 1867, would get a head-start in trading activities with Japan. Britain and the other European colonizing nations came quickly to the country with the same intentions.During the U.S. intervention in 1862, Perry occupied different parts of Mexico.
At the end of the war, the country lost more than 50 percent of its territory, precisely those areas where the greatest oil and gas reserves were to be found, even though at that time, gold and land to expand into, not fuel, were the main goals of the conquerors.The first China-Japan War was officially declared on August 1, 1894.
At the time Japan wanted Korea, a tributary state subordinated to China. With more developed weaponry and technology, it defeated Chinese forces in several battles near the cities of Seoul and Pyongyang. Later military victories opened its way toward Chinese territory.In the month of November that year, they took Port Arthur, today Lüshun. In the River Yalu estuary and at the Weihaiwei Naval Base, surprised by a land attack from the Liaodong Peninsula, heavy Japanese artillery destroyed the fleet of the attacked nation.
The dynasty had to ask for peace. The Treaty of Shimonoseki, which put an end to the war, was signed in April of 1895. China was forced to cede Taiwan, the Liaodong Peninsula and the archipelago of the Pescadores Islands to Japan "in perpetuity;" China also had to pay a war indemnity of 200 million taels of silver and open up four ports to the exterior. Russia, France and Germany, defending their individual interests, obliged Japan to return the Liaodong Peninsula, paying in exchange another 30 million taels of silver.
Before mentioning the second China-Japan War, I should include another armed episode with a double historical importance; it took place from 1904 to 1905 and it cannot be omitted.After being inserted into armed civilization and wars for the partitioning of the world as imposed by the West, Japan, which had already waged the first war against China as mentioned above, developed its naval power to such a degree that it was able to deal a harsh blow to the Russian Empire, which was at the point of prematurely inciting the revolution programmed by Lenin when he created in Minsk, 10 years earlier, the Party which would later unleash the October Revolution.
On August 10, 1904, with no advance warning, Japan attacked and destroyed the Russian Pacific Fleet at Shandong. Czar Nicholas II of Russia, upset by the attack, ordered the Baltic Fleet to be mobilized and to set sail for the Far East. Convoys of colliers were contracted to bring in the shipments needed by the fleet while it was sailing towards its distant destination. One of the operations to transfer coal had to be carried out on the high seas due to diplomatic pressure.
The Russians, upon entering south China, sailed towards Vladivostok, the only available port for the fleet's operations. In order to reach that point, there were three routes: the best choice was the Tsushima route; the other two required navigation to the east of Japan and increased the risks and the enormous wear and tear on the vessels and crews. The Japanese admiral had the same thought: for this option he made his plan and located his ships so that the Japanese fleet, after making a U-turn, would have all its vessels, mainly cruisers, passing about 6,000 meters away from the adversary's ships, a large number of battleships.
These would be at the reach of the Japanese cruisers, outfitted with personnel that were rigorously trained in the use of their cannon. As a result of the lengthy route, the Russian battleships were navigating at a speed of only 8 knots as compared with the 16-knot speed of the Japanese vessels.The military action is known by the name of Battle of Tsushima.
It took place on May 27 and 28, 1905.
On the side of the Russian Empire,
11 battleships and eight cruisers took part.
Admiral of the Fleet: Zinovy Rozhdestvensky
.Losses: 4,380
dead, 5,917
wounded,
21 ships sunk,
7 captured and 6 rendered useless.
The admiral of the Russian fleet was wounded by a shell fragment that hit him in the skull.
On the side of the Japanese Empire,
4 battleships and 27 cruisers took part.
Admiral of the Fleet: Heichachiro Togo
Losses: 117 dead,
583 wounded and 3 torpedo ships sunk.
The Baltic fleet was destroyed. Napoleon would have termed it "Austerlitz at sea". Anyone can imagine the deep wound caused by the dramatic event to traditional Russian pride and patriotism.After the battle, Japan became a much feared naval power, rivaling Britain and Germany and competing with the United States.Japan rehabilitated the concept of the battleship as the principal weapon in the years to come. They embroiled themselves in the task of empowering the Imperial Japanese Army.
They requested and paid a British shipbuilder to construct a special cruiser, with the intent of later reproducing it in their Japanese shipbuilding yards. Later, they manufactured battleships that were far better than those of their contemporaries, both in armor and power.
There was no other nation on the face of the earth that could come close to Japanese naval engineering in the 1930's in the design of warships.That explains the bold action with which, one day, they attacked their master and rival, the United States which, through Commodore Perry, started them off on the road of war.
I shall continue tomorrow.Fidel Castro Ruz
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
China's Victory part 2
http://www.granma. cu/ingles/ 2008/abril/ mier2/Reflection s-2april. html
Havana. April 2, 2008
Reflections of Fidel
The Chinese victory(Part II)
Translated by ESTIWHEN
World War I broke out in 1914, China joined the allies. As recompense, China was promised that the German concessions in the province of Shandong would be returned to them at the end of the war. After the Treaty of Versailles, which President Woodrow Wilson imposed on friends and foes alike, the German colonies were transferred to Japan, a more powerful ally than China.
Thousands of students gathered in Tiananmen Square on May 4, 1919 to protest this move. The first triumphant nationalist movement in China was born there. Called the "May 4th Movement", it brought the petty bourgeoisie, the national bourgeoisie and the workers and peasants under one coalition. The founding of the Kuomintang or National People's Party had consolidated the nationalist currents that emerged at the close of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. It was headed by Dr. Sun Yatsen, a progressive intellectual and revolutionary heavily influenced by the October Revolution, with which he strengthened his party's ties.
The Communist Party of China was founded at a congress that took place from July 23 to August 5, 1921. Lenin sent representatives of the International to that Congress. The communist movement devoted its efforts to reuniting China. The young Mao Zedong was among its founding members. Between 1923 and 1924, the Communist Party of China and Kuomintang joined forces to form the First United Front.
Following Sun Yatsen's death in 1925, Chiang Kai-shek took command of the Kuomintang. He focused on establishing firm control of southern China, the Shanghai region in particular. Chiang did not sympathize with the communist doctrine and, in 1927; he undertook a large-scale repression of communists within the National Revolutionary Army, unions and other social institutions in the country, especially in Shanghai. The left within the Kuomintang was also heavily repressed. In 1932, following the five-month military occupation of Manchuria, Japan established the state of Manchukuo, which posed a great threat to China.
Chiang Kai-shek launched five campaigns to besiege and eliminate the communists, who had gathered strength in the bases set up in southern China. In 1927, leading those who had managed to evade Chiang Kai-shek's treacherous move to the mountainous region of Jiangsu and Fujian, Mao Zedong established an encompassing center of armed resistance, primarily made up of devoted and well-organized communists. This center came to be known as the Soviet Republic of China.
In 1934, pitted against Chiang Kai-shek's nationalist forces, which were vastly superior in number, nearly 100 thousand Chinese combatants under Mao's command undertook the Great March towards China's northeast. Skirting China's central region, the combatants traversed more than 3,750 miles and fought almost continually through one year. This unprecedented feat made Mao the undisputed leader of both China's Communist Party and Revolution. The application of Marx's and Lenin's ideas to China's political, economic, natural, geographic and cultural conditions established him as the brilliant political and military strategist who liberated a country whose significance in today's world cannot be underestimated. The second Sino-Japanese War broke out on July 7, 1937.
The Japanese deliberately brought about the incident that sparked the war. A Japanese soldier disappeared while his troop was in a military parade at the Marco Polo Bridge, over a river located some 10 miles west of Beijing. China's army, based across the river, was accused of kidnapping the soldier, and an armed conflict which lasted several hours ensued. The soldier reappeared almost immediately after combat began. The accusation was false, but the Japanese commander had already ordered the attack. With its usual arrogance, Tokyo made unacceptable demands from China and ordered the deployment of three divisions, equipped with the country's best weapons. In a few weeks' time, the Japanese army secured control of the East-West corridor between the Gulf of Chihli (today Bo Hai) and Beijing.
From Beijing, the Japanese army headed to Nanjing, where Chiang Kai-shek's government was headquartered. They carried out one of the most horrendous terrorist campaigns known to modern warfare. The city was razed to the ground, as were others. Tens of thousands of women were raped and hundreds of thousands of people brutally murdered. The Communist Party of China had prioritized the struggle for national unity and against Japanese designs aimed at taking control of the enormous country and its natural resources and to condemn over 500 million of its citizens to merciless bondage. Japan was looking for lebensraum. It was guided by a mixture of capitalist and racist values: it was the Japanese version of fascism.
The Anti-Japanese United Front had already been created that same year, in 1937. The nationalists were also aware of the danger. Japan occupied most of the coastal cities. At the end of the Second World War, there were millions of Chinese casualties. During the epic war, the communists stepped up their struggle against the invaders and caused them significant damage. The United States aided the communists and nationalists.
Sensing that its entry into the war was imminent, it asked the Chinese government permission to send a volunteer squadron as well. The Flying Tigers were thus created. Roosevelt deployed Captain Lee Chenault, who was retired at the time, whose conduct expressed his admiration towards the discipline, tactics and efficacy shown by the communist combatants. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the United States entered the war. However, at no point during the war was Japan able to withdraw from China its elite troops which, near the end of the war, numbered one million soldiers.
The Truman administration, which, in an act of terror, dropped nuclear weapons over Japan's civilian population, made Chang Kai-shek the United States' right-hand man. He took up the anti-communist struggle again, but his demoralized troops were unable to hold up against the uncontainable advance of the Chinese People's Army.
When the war ended in October 1949, Kuomintang members, backed by the United States, fled to Taiwan, where they set up an anti-communist government fully supported by the United States. Chiang Kai-shek used the U.S. Naval Fleet to travel to Taiwan.
Might China be yet another dark corner of the world?
Before Troy was built and the Greek city-states knew the Iliad and Odyssey, unquestionably marvelous fruits of human intelligence, a civilization that encompassed millions of people were already taking shape on the wide shores of the Yellow River. Chinese culture finds its roots in the Zhou Dynasty, which existed 2,000 years before Christ was born. Its peculiar writing system comprises several thousand graphic signs, which generally represent the language's words or morphemes, a term coined by modern linguistics which is little known to the lay public.
The mysterious magic of this language, which the natural intelligence of Chinese children assimilates in the learning process, is beyond our grasp. Many of the products that emerged in China, such as gunpowder, the compass and other inventions, were totally unknown in the Old Continent. Had the winds blown from the opposite direction on the route followed by Columbus, perhaps the Chinese would have discovered Europe.
From 2000, the Taiwanese government was controlled by a party whose neo-liberal and pro-imperialistic policies were even worse than the traditional policies of the Kuomintang, a staunch opponent of the principle of a unified China, historically proclaimed by the Communist Party of China. This thorny issue threatened to unleash a war of unforeseeable consequences, a new sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of over 1,300 million Chinese people.
The election, this past March 23, of a candidate from the party that provided Chiang Kai-shek with his political foundations, was undoubtedly a political and moral victory for China. It removes from the Taiwanese government a party which, in office for nearly eight years, was about to take new, nefarious steps. According to press agencies, the party lost by a landslide, securing a mere 4.4 million votes from a population of 17.3 million people entitled to vote. The new president will be sworn in on May 20. "We will sign a peace treaty with China," he declared.
The cables report that Ma Ying-Jeou supports the creation of a Common Market with China, the island's main trade partner. The People's Republic of China maintains a dignified and cautious attitude towards the thorny issue. At the Beijing State Council, Taiwan's official spokesperson declared that Ma Ying-Jeou's victory proves that "independence is not a popular issue among the Taiwanese." This laconic statement speaks volumes.
The works of prestigious U.S. historical researchers have divulged what took place in the Chinese territory of Tibet. Kenneth Conboy's The CIA's Secret War in Tibet (University Press, Kansas) describes the sordid details of the conspiracy. William Leary calls it "an excellent and impressive study of a major CIA covert operation during the Cold War".During two centuries, not one country in the world had recognized Tibet as an independent nation. It was considered to be an integral part of China. In 1950, India conceived it as such, following the triumph of the communist revolution. Britain assumed the same stance. Until the World War II, the United States considered it a part of China and even brought pressures to bear on Britain in this connection.
Following the war, however, they saw it as a religious stronghold that could be used against communism. When the People's Republic of China implemented the agrarian reform on Tibetan soil, the elite saw its properties and interests undermined and opposed the measures. This led to an armed uprising in 1959. Tibet's armed rebellion -as opposed to those in Guatemala, Cuba and other nations, where fighting took place under truly harsh conditions- was prepared for years by U.S. secret services, as these studies reveal. Another book -which essays an apology of the CIA- Mikel Dunshun's Buddha's Warriors, tells the story of how the agency took hundreds of Tibetans to the United States, led and equipped the rebellion, parachuted armaments to Tibetan fighters and trained them in their use.
The rebels moved on horseback, as Arab warriors once did. The book's prologue was written by the Dalai Lama, who writes: "Though I am deeply convinced that the struggle of Tibetans will succeed only through a long-term and peaceful process, I have always admired these freedom fighters for their courage and their unwavering determination."
The Dalai Lama, bestowed with the U.S. Congress Gold Medal, praised George W. Bush for his efforts in defense of freedom, democracy and human rights. The Dalai Lama called the war in Afghanistan a war of "liberation", the Korean War a war of "semi-liberation" and the Vietnam War a "failure". I have summarized information taken from the Internet, from the Rebelión site, specifically. Because of space and time limitations, I have not included the page numbers of each book from where the exactly quoted paragraphs were taken.
There are those who suffer from Chino-phobia, a condition shared by many Westerners, accustomed by their education and cultural differences to regard whatever comes from China with contempt. I was virtually still a child when people started to speak of a "yellow peril." The Chinese revolution seemed impossible back then. The real causes behind anti-Chinese sentiments were racist at root.
Why is imperialism so intent on subjecting China, directly or indirectly, to an international wearing down?Some time ago; that is to say, 50 years ago, it sought to deny China the prerogatives it had heroically earned for itself as a full member of the Security Council. Later, highlighting the errors that led to the Tiananmen Square protests, it deified the Statue of Liberty, the emblem of an empire which today embodies the negation of all freedoms.
The People's Republic of China passed legislation which stood out in proclaiming and enforcing respect for the rights and cultures of 55 ethnic minorities. The People's Republic of China is, at the same time, highly sensitive with regards to all things related to the integrity of its territory. The campaign orchestrated against China is like a bugle call aimed at unleashing an attack on the country's well-earned success and against its people, hosts of the next Olympic Games. The Cuban government issued a statement categorically expressing its support of China in connection with the campaign undertaken against it on the issue of Tibet. This was the right stance to assume. China respects the rights of its citizens to hold religious beliefs or not. In China, there are Muslim, Catholic and non-Catholic Christian and other religious groups, not to mention dozens of ethnic minorities, whose rights are guaranteed by the Chinese constitution.
In our Communist Party, one's religion does not represent an obstacle to becoming a Party member. I respect the Dalai Lama's right to believe, but I am not obliged to believe in the Dalai Lama.I do have many reasons to believe in China's victory. Fidel Castro Ruz[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Havana. April 2, 2008
Reflections of Fidel
The Chinese victory(Part II)
Translated by ESTIWHEN
World War I broke out in 1914, China joined the allies. As recompense, China was promised that the German concessions in the province of Shandong would be returned to them at the end of the war. After the Treaty of Versailles, which President Woodrow Wilson imposed on friends and foes alike, the German colonies were transferred to Japan, a more powerful ally than China.
Thousands of students gathered in Tiananmen Square on May 4, 1919 to protest this move. The first triumphant nationalist movement in China was born there. Called the "May 4th Movement", it brought the petty bourgeoisie, the national bourgeoisie and the workers and peasants under one coalition. The founding of the Kuomintang or National People's Party had consolidated the nationalist currents that emerged at the close of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. It was headed by Dr. Sun Yatsen, a progressive intellectual and revolutionary heavily influenced by the October Revolution, with which he strengthened his party's ties.
The Communist Party of China was founded at a congress that took place from July 23 to August 5, 1921. Lenin sent representatives of the International to that Congress. The communist movement devoted its efforts to reuniting China. The young Mao Zedong was among its founding members. Between 1923 and 1924, the Communist Party of China and Kuomintang joined forces to form the First United Front.
Following Sun Yatsen's death in 1925, Chiang Kai-shek took command of the Kuomintang. He focused on establishing firm control of southern China, the Shanghai region in particular. Chiang did not sympathize with the communist doctrine and, in 1927; he undertook a large-scale repression of communists within the National Revolutionary Army, unions and other social institutions in the country, especially in Shanghai. The left within the Kuomintang was also heavily repressed. In 1932, following the five-month military occupation of Manchuria, Japan established the state of Manchukuo, which posed a great threat to China.
Chiang Kai-shek launched five campaigns to besiege and eliminate the communists, who had gathered strength in the bases set up in southern China. In 1927, leading those who had managed to evade Chiang Kai-shek's treacherous move to the mountainous region of Jiangsu and Fujian, Mao Zedong established an encompassing center of armed resistance, primarily made up of devoted and well-organized communists. This center came to be known as the Soviet Republic of China.
In 1934, pitted against Chiang Kai-shek's nationalist forces, which were vastly superior in number, nearly 100 thousand Chinese combatants under Mao's command undertook the Great March towards China's northeast. Skirting China's central region, the combatants traversed more than 3,750 miles and fought almost continually through one year. This unprecedented feat made Mao the undisputed leader of both China's Communist Party and Revolution. The application of Marx's and Lenin's ideas to China's political, economic, natural, geographic and cultural conditions established him as the brilliant political and military strategist who liberated a country whose significance in today's world cannot be underestimated. The second Sino-Japanese War broke out on July 7, 1937.
The Japanese deliberately brought about the incident that sparked the war. A Japanese soldier disappeared while his troop was in a military parade at the Marco Polo Bridge, over a river located some 10 miles west of Beijing. China's army, based across the river, was accused of kidnapping the soldier, and an armed conflict which lasted several hours ensued. The soldier reappeared almost immediately after combat began. The accusation was false, but the Japanese commander had already ordered the attack. With its usual arrogance, Tokyo made unacceptable demands from China and ordered the deployment of three divisions, equipped with the country's best weapons. In a few weeks' time, the Japanese army secured control of the East-West corridor between the Gulf of Chihli (today Bo Hai) and Beijing.
From Beijing, the Japanese army headed to Nanjing, where Chiang Kai-shek's government was headquartered. They carried out one of the most horrendous terrorist campaigns known to modern warfare. The city was razed to the ground, as were others. Tens of thousands of women were raped and hundreds of thousands of people brutally murdered. The Communist Party of China had prioritized the struggle for national unity and against Japanese designs aimed at taking control of the enormous country and its natural resources and to condemn over 500 million of its citizens to merciless bondage. Japan was looking for lebensraum. It was guided by a mixture of capitalist and racist values: it was the Japanese version of fascism.
The Anti-Japanese United Front had already been created that same year, in 1937. The nationalists were also aware of the danger. Japan occupied most of the coastal cities. At the end of the Second World War, there were millions of Chinese casualties. During the epic war, the communists stepped up their struggle against the invaders and caused them significant damage. The United States aided the communists and nationalists.
Sensing that its entry into the war was imminent, it asked the Chinese government permission to send a volunteer squadron as well. The Flying Tigers were thus created. Roosevelt deployed Captain Lee Chenault, who was retired at the time, whose conduct expressed his admiration towards the discipline, tactics and efficacy shown by the communist combatants. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the United States entered the war. However, at no point during the war was Japan able to withdraw from China its elite troops which, near the end of the war, numbered one million soldiers.
The Truman administration, which, in an act of terror, dropped nuclear weapons over Japan's civilian population, made Chang Kai-shek the United States' right-hand man. He took up the anti-communist struggle again, but his demoralized troops were unable to hold up against the uncontainable advance of the Chinese People's Army.
When the war ended in October 1949, Kuomintang members, backed by the United States, fled to Taiwan, where they set up an anti-communist government fully supported by the United States. Chiang Kai-shek used the U.S. Naval Fleet to travel to Taiwan.
Might China be yet another dark corner of the world?
Before Troy was built and the Greek city-states knew the Iliad and Odyssey, unquestionably marvelous fruits of human intelligence, a civilization that encompassed millions of people were already taking shape on the wide shores of the Yellow River. Chinese culture finds its roots in the Zhou Dynasty, which existed 2,000 years before Christ was born. Its peculiar writing system comprises several thousand graphic signs, which generally represent the language's words or morphemes, a term coined by modern linguistics which is little known to the lay public.
The mysterious magic of this language, which the natural intelligence of Chinese children assimilates in the learning process, is beyond our grasp. Many of the products that emerged in China, such as gunpowder, the compass and other inventions, were totally unknown in the Old Continent. Had the winds blown from the opposite direction on the route followed by Columbus, perhaps the Chinese would have discovered Europe.
From 2000, the Taiwanese government was controlled by a party whose neo-liberal and pro-imperialistic policies were even worse than the traditional policies of the Kuomintang, a staunch opponent of the principle of a unified China, historically proclaimed by the Communist Party of China. This thorny issue threatened to unleash a war of unforeseeable consequences, a new sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of over 1,300 million Chinese people.
The election, this past March 23, of a candidate from the party that provided Chiang Kai-shek with his political foundations, was undoubtedly a political and moral victory for China. It removes from the Taiwanese government a party which, in office for nearly eight years, was about to take new, nefarious steps. According to press agencies, the party lost by a landslide, securing a mere 4.4 million votes from a population of 17.3 million people entitled to vote. The new president will be sworn in on May 20. "We will sign a peace treaty with China," he declared.
The cables report that Ma Ying-Jeou supports the creation of a Common Market with China, the island's main trade partner. The People's Republic of China maintains a dignified and cautious attitude towards the thorny issue. At the Beijing State Council, Taiwan's official spokesperson declared that Ma Ying-Jeou's victory proves that "independence is not a popular issue among the Taiwanese." This laconic statement speaks volumes.
The works of prestigious U.S. historical researchers have divulged what took place in the Chinese territory of Tibet. Kenneth Conboy's The CIA's Secret War in Tibet (University Press, Kansas) describes the sordid details of the conspiracy. William Leary calls it "an excellent and impressive study of a major CIA covert operation during the Cold War".During two centuries, not one country in the world had recognized Tibet as an independent nation. It was considered to be an integral part of China. In 1950, India conceived it as such, following the triumph of the communist revolution. Britain assumed the same stance. Until the World War II, the United States considered it a part of China and even brought pressures to bear on Britain in this connection.
Following the war, however, they saw it as a religious stronghold that could be used against communism. When the People's Republic of China implemented the agrarian reform on Tibetan soil, the elite saw its properties and interests undermined and opposed the measures. This led to an armed uprising in 1959. Tibet's armed rebellion -as opposed to those in Guatemala, Cuba and other nations, where fighting took place under truly harsh conditions- was prepared for years by U.S. secret services, as these studies reveal. Another book -which essays an apology of the CIA- Mikel Dunshun's Buddha's Warriors, tells the story of how the agency took hundreds of Tibetans to the United States, led and equipped the rebellion, parachuted armaments to Tibetan fighters and trained them in their use.
The rebels moved on horseback, as Arab warriors once did. The book's prologue was written by the Dalai Lama, who writes: "Though I am deeply convinced that the struggle of Tibetans will succeed only through a long-term and peaceful process, I have always admired these freedom fighters for their courage and their unwavering determination."
The Dalai Lama, bestowed with the U.S. Congress Gold Medal, praised George W. Bush for his efforts in defense of freedom, democracy and human rights. The Dalai Lama called the war in Afghanistan a war of "liberation", the Korean War a war of "semi-liberation" and the Vietnam War a "failure". I have summarized information taken from the Internet, from the Rebelión site, specifically. Because of space and time limitations, I have not included the page numbers of each book from where the exactly quoted paragraphs were taken.
There are those who suffer from Chino-phobia, a condition shared by many Westerners, accustomed by their education and cultural differences to regard whatever comes from China with contempt. I was virtually still a child when people started to speak of a "yellow peril." The Chinese revolution seemed impossible back then. The real causes behind anti-Chinese sentiments were racist at root.
Why is imperialism so intent on subjecting China, directly or indirectly, to an international wearing down?Some time ago; that is to say, 50 years ago, it sought to deny China the prerogatives it had heroically earned for itself as a full member of the Security Council. Later, highlighting the errors that led to the Tiananmen Square protests, it deified the Statue of Liberty, the emblem of an empire which today embodies the negation of all freedoms.
The People's Republic of China passed legislation which stood out in proclaiming and enforcing respect for the rights and cultures of 55 ethnic minorities. The People's Republic of China is, at the same time, highly sensitive with regards to all things related to the integrity of its territory. The campaign orchestrated against China is like a bugle call aimed at unleashing an attack on the country's well-earned success and against its people, hosts of the next Olympic Games. The Cuban government issued a statement categorically expressing its support of China in connection with the campaign undertaken against it on the issue of Tibet. This was the right stance to assume. China respects the rights of its citizens to hold religious beliefs or not. In China, there are Muslim, Catholic and non-Catholic Christian and other religious groups, not to mention dozens of ethnic minorities, whose rights are guaranteed by the Chinese constitution.
In our Communist Party, one's religion does not represent an obstacle to becoming a Party member. I respect the Dalai Lama's right to believe, but I am not obliged to believe in the Dalai Lama.I do have many reasons to believe in China's victory. Fidel Castro Ruz[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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