Quickwrite: Family Honor

Although An-mei's grandma, Popo would agree that "Family and honor should take priority over the rights of the individual family member."  I think that An-mei and her mother would both somewhat agree.  It really depends on the situation, but they probably lean more toward the side that agrees with the statement.

An-mei grew up under the care of her Popo, and Popo's opinion of family and honor being priority greatly shaped the way she grew up.  She grew up learning to not talk about her mother, since it was forbidden.  An-mei's father passed away, and her mother became a widow, but she still chose to marry, and even so, she married a man with a wife, two concubines, and other children.  By speaking her mother's name, she would be shaming her family, and not preserve the honor they still have.  The "big painting [of her father] that hung in the main hall" always showed him as "a large, unsmiling man, unhappy to be so still on the wall" (p.43).  Popo raised An-mei, telling her that the painting of her father watched her for any signs of disrespect, making sure that she was respectful to her family, and upholding their honor.  Family and honor was always emphasized over an individual family member.  When she was young though, she wasn't as educated about her mother's poor choices in her relative's eyes, and chose to (try) to go to her mother, but the soup spilled onto her neck, stopping her.  An-mei understands that even though her mother did not make the best choices, she still held family traditions strong in her heart, and would probably only put her individual needs over her family and honor if it was necessary.

An-mei's mother was considered a traitor to her ancestors to An-mei's Auntie, because she chose to remarry.  Auntie says that An-mei's mother "'...is so beneath others that even the devil must look down to see her'" (p.44).  An-mei's mother broke family tradition, and shamed her family, dishonoring them, when she married the man with another wife, concubines, and other children.  She still upheld her family traditions at the end of the story though, when her mother was dying.  She willingly cut a piece of meat from her arm and put it into the soup.  An-mei's mother "cooked magic in the ancient tradition to try to cure her mother this one last time" (p.48).  She kept the ancient tradition, honoring her mother, and put her mother's needs above her own.

Infuriating Aznness...

In Amy Chua's article, Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior, she claims that:

Chinese parents demand perfect grades because they believe that their child can get them. If their child doesn't get them, the Chinese parent assumes it's because the child didn't work hard enough. That's why the solution to substandard performance is always to excoriate, punish and shame the child. The Chinese parent believes that their child will be strong enough to take the shaming and to improve from it. (And when Chinese kids do excel, there is plenty of ego-inflating parental praise lavished in the privacy of the home.)

 Chua makes the relationship between Chinese parents and their children seem very tense and strict.  She doesn't talk about any happy aspects of their relationship as a family, as if them being together as a family is actually enjoyable and fun, but rather as if it is completely strict and there is no space for mistakes or any time to have fun and enjoy life.  She portrays a Chinese life as very strict and enforcing, and as if Chinese children are not allowed to enjoy life or gain friends.  Chua is very strict on her two daughters, and does not allow them to do many things that many "Western" families would have their children do, like having a sleepover, being in a school play, or watching TV. 

Chinese parents may demand perfect grades because they believe that their children can get them, but Western parents probably still believe the same thing, but they just don't necessarily push their children as hard as Chinese parents may.  Getting good grades in high school often demands hard work and dedication to studying.  Whenever I get mediocre grades(like a B), I do get criticized and my mom used to punish me, but not severely.  She doesn't criticize or shame me for my grades as much anymore, since she trusts me to do my best, and knows that it's my life, and my future I'm shaping right now.  She doesn't push me, but if I want the help, she's willing.


As a Chinese child, I feel that I do owe my parents a lot for everything that they've done to get me where I am now, and for supporting me through my entire life.  I disagree with Chua's opinion that their children owe them everything, but children do owe their parents a lot.  I think that my mom's expectations for me is more just that I try my best, and don't make my mom's time and effort spent on me is a waste of  time.  Parent's don't owe their children anything in my opinion, because they've already done so much to raise their children and support them throughout their childhood.

Connections Between Revolution in Animal Farm and in Egypt Etc.

In Animal Farm, the animals spoke with each other beforehand and planned a rebellion before they actually acted.  They didn't have a set time for the rebellion, but they rebelled when they felt like it was the right time, when their oppressors went to far and crossed the line, angering them, so they all worked together to rebel, and to rid the farm of their human oppressors.  In the events in Egypt, Tunisia, Honduras, etc., they also communicated with one another beforehand, spreading words of contempt and unease about Mubarak being president, and oppressing them.  They used other forms of communication though, like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter, so the Egyptian government shut down their internet and forms of communication with one another, including mobile phone access. (Shutdown of Internet Access) The humans of Manor Farm did not know they were planning a rebellion, so they were unable to do anything to prevent it.  The Egyptian government went to extremes to prevent the spread of word about rebellion against Mubarak throughout Egypt, but the rebellion still went on nonetheless, because of the communication they had prior with the internet communication, and the idea spread throughout Egypt that Mubarak should not be president.  Soon, many people were convinced, and a rebellion began.  When the people of Egypt were finally successful with their goal and Mubarak quited and surrendered power to the military, they chanted "Egypt is free!" as many people danced, wept and prayed in joyful pandemonium.  In the Animal Farm, after the humans left the farm, the animals sang "Beasts of England" and celebrated too, but in a different way, with their singing.

Chapter 11 Link(:

http://missholycao.blogspot.com/2011/02/chapter-11-animal-farm.html