User Comments - pearltowerpete
pearltowerpete
Posted on: Sympathy for the Farmers -- 悯农
March 19, 2009 at 1:19 AMHi koko0617
Welcome to our discussion! We're always very interested to hear from Chinese poddies.
Hi ancalagon
Yes, I can read at a college level. I would add that I keep a dictionary handy (which I do with English books as well!) and that most of my reading is in modern history and sociology as opposed to literature which, naturally, tends to be written in a more flowery style. (Although there are exceptions, such as 活着 To Live by 余华 Yu Hua.)
The book about the famines that I mentioned above, Tombstone, is written in a very clear, almost blunt style. As it was published in Hong Kong it is in traditional characters. But after three years of quite intense study it is no problem.
Hi jenny
Those tapes would fetch a pretty penny on Taobao or ebay, I bet ;-)
Posted on: Dog Meat and Animal Rights
March 18, 2009 at 10:48 AMHi miantiao
The next phrase in that speech is also interesting.
他们是在挂宪政的羊头，卖一党专政的狗肉.
Funny how that turned out.
Posted on: Dog Meat and Animal Rights
March 18, 2009 at 9:57 AMHi davidkaneda
The great satanic lexicographer Ambrose Bierce said:
Conservative: a statesman who is enamoured of existing evils, as distinguished from the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others.
Posted on: Dog Meat and Animal Rights
March 18, 2009 at 9:29 AMHi davidkaneda
You are walking a thin line. You can make your point without horrifying images.
And I am curious about your definition of the word "liberal." In my understanding, liberals tend to be concerned about suffering, slavery, and cruelty.
Aren't those the issues you're addressing?
Hi calkins
A classic scene from a classic movie. There have been many times in Shanghai when I bet my cabby was thinking "That's half an hour away. I'll be there in ten minutes."
Posted on: About Face! A Multi-faceted Look at 面子
March 18, 2009 at 9:03 AMHi thinkbuddha
I like the way you think! Although to be honest, I just keep my battered old phone because I'm a contrary cuss. Marco from ItalianPod is the true master of retro-chic. He has the "CATS, the Musical" T-shirt to prove it.
Posted on: Dog Meat and Animal Rights
March 18, 2009 at 6:57 AMHi jenny and henning
Thanks for some good points.
Interestingly, until very recently, most Chinese were basically vegetarian. In a country that prizes 精耕细作，it was an easy decision to get the most out of each 亩 by growing plant protein, instead of animal. You can grow a whole lot of soy beans in the same space it takes to raise one cow.
Our crazy global food economy is based on cheap oil, antibiotics for livestock and willful ignorance about what we eat.
Things fall apart.
Posted on: Dog Meat and Animal Rights
March 18, 2009 at 6:11 AMHi jackie234
Sensitivity is actually something this world could use some more of. I'm reluctant to criticize anyone for being upset about suffering.
But at the same time, like mark and a few other commenters, I think we do ourselves and each other a disservice by hiding from unpleasant realities. CPod's goal was never to horrify, but to educate.
Hi bababardwan
Thanks for a welcome dose of humor.
Hi changye
I think zhenlijiang just means that "davidkaneda" was the person who posted that picture.
Posted on: Dog Meat and Animal Rights
March 18, 2009 at 4:34 AMHi all
Well-intentioned people can disagree. Apparently the Mel Brooks brand of humor isn't universally appreciated.
Let's focus on the content of the lesson, which is useful.
Posted on: Dog Meat and Animal Rights
March 18, 2009 at 3:03 AMHi bobm112 and myles
Thank you for your thoughtful comments. As a vegetarian, I share your concerns. Let me explain our thinking on this.
Seeing photos of dogs in cages like this is not a joke but a huge abuse of animal rights.
Actually, it is putting the dogs in cages that is an abuse of animal rights. Shocking photos and frank discussion help people to examine their beliefs and practices.
Like it or not (and many people do not), dog-farming is common in China. Whenever CPod discusses controversial topics, we do it in the spirit of exposing our listeners to important aspects of Chinese culture and life. These are lessons you will not get in any textbook, but they are essential for a complete understanding of this complex country.
Posted on: Dog Meat and Animal Rights
March 19, 2009 at 1:38 AMWhat a lively discussion. We really did not expect this level of intensity.
Leaving aside all the ethical issues, there are good reasons to care what others eat. The factory-farming that provides artificially cheap meat also creates:
These superbugs, puddles of pus, and rising global temperatures will affect all of us, vegans and meat-lovers alike.
My own position is that food culture is extremely resistant to change. Jared Diamond's book Collapse provides fascinating examples.
I respect and love many meat-eaters. I understand that they don't want to stop eating meat. But I wish they could reduce their consumption of it, so that we could return to small-scale farming where we didn't have so much power to hurt each other with our food choices.