". . . I wanted my children to have the best combination: American circumstances and Chinese character. How could I know these two things do not mix? I taught [my daughter] how American circumstances work. If you are born poor here, it’s no lasting shame. . . . In America, nobody says you have to keep the circumstances somebody else gives you. She learned these things, but I couldn’t teach her about Chinese character . . . How not to show your own thoughts, to put your feelings behind your face so you can take advantage of hidden opportunities. . . . Why Chinese thinking is best."
Do you agree with her that both "American circumstances and Chinese character" couldn't mix? Isn't her idea about America quite naive, thinking that it is a place of equal opportunity? Does anyone feel all the characters are challenged by this, having to entwine both "American circumstances and Chinese character?" Discuss.
(I was too lazy to type it all, full passage on page 289)
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"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."-- George Bush, Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004
4 comments:
I do agree that American and Chinese ways of thinking don't mix. Coming from a poor country like China where about 90% is poor, it would obviously seem like America is a lot better where you can always work to get out of poverty. I'm not saying that it's easy to get back into society, but communist China doesn't really give anybody oppurtunities like America does.
I think it is hard for all of the daughters to have to uphold their Chinese culture when they are surrounded by American influences. The moms are always telling them to cling onto whatever Chinese they have in themselves, but it is really hard to do.
I guess different perspectives can change everything. This shows the differences between America and China. From an American born view they would expect nothing great from America, while from a Chinese born view it would be opposite, since they came from a poor country. Although she considers it is a place of equal opportunity, America isn't black and white. Hillary I agree with you, it must be hard not being affected by American influences.
I believe that America IS a place of equal opportunity. Of course there are some problems like corruption, racism and the like, but there is the chance for anyone to make a living. Note that it may be difficult for certain people but non-the-less possible.
I feel like the daughters don't want to have the Chinese character. They could have chosen it earlier on but they didn't. The American character is much easier to do. Chinese character demands a strong will. When in America, it is useless to have this will when you realize you can get along just fine without it. Most Chinese moms want this, until they realize that their daughters are not really Chinese; they only look that way. Almost no one knows of these stories of Americanization. And I have to admit, most Chinese do see America as a land of opportunity. Compared to $5 a day, $7 an hour is pretty good. Plus you get a lot of free stuff for being poor.
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