Comments on: All Mixed Up in Tangyin http://www.portraitofanlbx.com/2010/01/all-mixed-up-in-tangyin/ 老百姓記 -- a search for humanity in China (by bicycle) Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:24:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: Evan http://www.portraitofanlbx.com/2010/01/all-mixed-up-in-tangyin/comment-page-1/#comment-637 Evan Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:08:17 +0000 http://www.portraitofanlbx.com/?p=2025#comment-637 Shuang, again thank you for your perspective. I agree completely that it's much better to use the building to house old peasants than it is to fix it up (aka stuff it and give it shining plastic eyes), kick everybody out, and start charging admission. What really makes me sad is that the only buildings with beauty and charm are all falling down while hasty concrete boxes (yes, I remember your comment about concrete boxes being your dream at one point too) are being thrown up as fast as possible. I just wish there were a happy medium somewhere. Shuang, again thank you for your perspective. I agree completely that it’s much better to use the building to house old peasants than it is to fix it up (aka stuff it and give it shining plastic eyes), kick everybody out, and start charging admission. What really makes me sad is that the only buildings with beauty and charm are all falling down while hasty concrete boxes (yes, I remember your comment about concrete boxes being your dream at one point too) are being thrown up as fast as possible. I just wish there were a happy medium somewhere.

]]> By: Shuang http://www.portraitofanlbx.com/2010/01/all-mixed-up-in-tangyin/comment-page-1/#comment-636 Shuang Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:31:41 +0000 http://www.portraitofanlbx.com/?p=2025#comment-636 I would like the Wu House ends as the last shelter for the elder peasants. And maybe one day, it will collapse quietly and eventually fade out of people’s memories. Just like a lion contributes his flesh to the ants although who’s ever been the king of the land. I believe it’s a better ending for him than turned out to be a stuffed animal with a pair of shining plastic eyes. The mansion decays as well as people die. 旧时王谢堂前燕，飞入寻常百姓家。I’d rather to see it became a ruin at exactly where it was than it would be demolished or repainted. MJ, I prefer to use “motherland” referring 祖国. Maybe 党国 is a word with more maleness. I’m kidding for the latter part. I would like the Wu House ends as the last shelter for the elder peasants. And maybe one day, it will collapse quietly and eventually fade out of people’s memories. Just like a lion contributes his flesh to the ants although who’s ever been the king of the land. I believe it’s a better ending for him than turned out to be a stuffed animal with a pair of shining plastic eyes. The mansion decays as well as people die. 旧时王谢堂前燕，飞入寻常百姓家。I’d rather to see it became a ruin at exactly where it was than it would be demolished or repainted.
MJ, I prefer to use “motherland” referring 祖国. Maybe 党国 is a word with more maleness. I’m kidding for the latter part.

]]> By: Evan http://www.portraitofanlbx.com/2010/01/all-mixed-up-in-tangyin/comment-page-1/#comment-630 Evan Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:25:57 +0000 http://www.portraitofanlbx.com/?p=2025#comment-630 Mike, I had originally written "motherland," but Andy convinced me that 祖国 is widely perceived as a paternal entity, especially as it is treated by the party. While it's easier to associate affection with an inanimate object to which we attribute feminine qualities (like ships in the US), the idea of fear and respect come across better when 祖国 comes off as a patria (aka masculine). Mike, I had originally written “motherland,” but Andy convinced me that 祖国 is widely perceived as a paternal entity, especially as it is treated by the party. While it’s easier to associate affection with an inanimate object to which we attribute feminine qualities (like ships in the US), the idea of fear and respect come across better when 祖国 comes off as a patria (aka masculine).

]]> By: Michael Jacobson http://www.portraitofanlbx.com/2010/01/all-mixed-up-in-tangyin/comment-page-1/#comment-622 Michael Jacobson Tue, 19 Jan 2010 07:43:17 +0000 http://www.portraitofanlbx.com/?p=2025#comment-622 I've always thought of 祖国 as motherland, not fatherland, despite the maleness of the zu character. I wonder what sex different groups of people would assign to China? I would pretty naturally refer to the USA as 'she' even if I was being slightly sarcastic about it. I’ve always thought of 祖国 as motherland, not fatherland, despite the maleness of the zu character. I wonder what sex different groups of people would assign to China?

I would pretty naturally refer to the USA as ‘she’ even if I was being slightly sarcastic about it.

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