tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067367631400067272024-03-12T08:51:20.570+04:00stenoteUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger121125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-71567888546693119642024-03-02T14:35:00.000+04:002024-03-02T14:35:03.585+04:00Moscow, at the Red Square<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUlF49MUJY8-SwBU3hEX3zbQByRdcPOrPPS4Kk5opYZyK2uTefUeuCPJgh-puWff62aXNVvLMC78cmFqVaHGYUPpSzN_2oCjrV3w1uLrSDEqEPruSOafdMkH0Bz7PmYUuAlSdtSFPtM4ksdlz3XA1UjDR-Vj3PVJYcYRe3-ZV3srEmDag4TcHmB7oUFLk/s853/Red%20Square%20Cover.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUlF49MUJY8-SwBU3hEX3zbQByRdcPOrPPS4Kk5opYZyK2uTefUeuCPJgh-puWff62aXNVvLMC78cmFqVaHGYUPpSzN_2oCjrV3w1uLrSDEqEPruSOafdMkH0Bz7PmYUuAlSdtSFPtM4ksdlz3XA1UjDR-Vj3PVJYcYRe3-ZV3srEmDag4TcHmB7oUFLk/s320/Red%20Square%20Cover.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">For us knowing Red Square in Moscow from the Red Army parade
at the square to commemorate the October Revolution it can’t be helped that our
image of the Red Square is that of the Red Army, communism and blood. So, if we
come there we would expect to see a cold square with monuments of Lenin, or
Stalin or Marx, along with red communist propaganda posters and banners,
something like that. How wrong are we. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">When we come from Ploshchad Revolyutsii metro station to the
Red Square we enter through the front gate of the city from the side of
Tverskaya street and Manezhnaya Square. This is the Kilometer Zero of Moscow,
it has red brick color walls with white linings and two archways. In the inside
of the gate there is an icon depicting the resurrection of Christ, therefore the
gate is named the Resurrection Gate. Ironically the gate has been demolished
and resurrected a number of times, first appeared in 1534 and was reconstructed
in 1680, torn down by Stalin to make way for large-scale Soviet ceremonies in
the square. The Gate was once again assembled between 1994 and 1995.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Going further, we can see a huge department store in the
late 19<sup>th</sup> century Russian Architecture. It is the GUM (Glawny
Uniwersalny Magasin) Department Store, occupying the majority of the Red
Square’s East side flanked by Nikolskaya and Ilyinka streets. It is the largest
in Russia, selling luxury goods with walls in intricate forms, with abundance
of decor, composition and picturesque glass windows and roofs. But we should
know that Red Square originally began as a slum, a shanty town of wooden huts
clustered beneath the Kremlin walls that housed a collection of peddlers,
criminals and drunks whose status left them outside the official boundaries of
the medieval city. It was cleared on the orders of Ivan III at the end of the
1400's, but remained the province of the mob, the site of public executions,
and rabble rousing, until much later. Today GUM stands brightly at the side of
Red Square presenting itself to the locals and visitors as a noble shopping
center characterised by boutiques in the upper price ranges. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">In front of the GUM Shopping Mall stands a cathedral with
various colorful onion shaped cupolas, it is St Basil cathedral, the iconic
building of Russia, and is probably the first image that comes to mind when
people visit Russia. The cathedral’s
fame might be due to its distinctive, eccentric design, the 10 onion shaped
cupolas with the vibrant clash of colors. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">At the center of the square we can see a multi-tiered
pyramid building, which is Lenin Mausoleum. Made of granite and labradorite, it
shows the character of the mausoleum as a monumental burial place, designed by
the renowned architect Alexey Shchusev. Inside the mausoleum, the lavishly
embalmed corpse of Vladimir Lenin rests in an armored glass sarcophagus. To
this day, the mausoleum is open to visitors on certain days. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The Red Square ('Krasnaya Ploschad' in Russian), is indeed
dominated by the brick red color of the buildings in the square, so perhaps that
is why many of us associated the Red Square name with the color of the
buildings there. Many people also believe that Red Square is so named because
communism and Russia are associated with the color red, even further associated
with blood(shed). But, actually the word Krasnaya originally means beautiful in
old Russian language but now in modern times it means ‘red’. Therefore, common
assumptions that the 'Red' in Red Square referred to the red brick colour of
the buildings, Communism, or even bloodshed - are misunderstood. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The Red Square is indeed a beautiful square, with beautiful
churches overshadowing the Lenin Monument, and the privately-run luxurious GUM
Department Store overshadowing the socialistic way of the country. And it is a pity
that the image of this square is misrepresented by the military parades of the
Red Army broadcasted on television worldwide.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">THE END<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sources:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.local-life.com/moscow/articles/red-square">https://www.local-life.com/moscow/articles/red-square</a><o:p></o:p></p><p><br /></p>
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<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m8Rf-X6-La8" width="320" youtube-src-id="m8Rf-X6-La8"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-29943054817217957012023-11-19T10:12:00.004+04:002024-03-02T14:26:50.375+04:00Moscow, on the Streets<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjt69_dFigaF1p7PSQGxRpZGSIogNd1UQX6u70rV-4WKD50A7U5DLqDhu41NJDkF0RYBahbtfbxQmjg416q-3nQQHuIM6_8YPIeumeyGINE1zIZZu6DPxHaYQZNC7Ebrq8vicx8yMWzXBT5bVb0_83ZZq9pJ_k5WXwlz51D0IfhmMMlnx1UjXYEzD24Sw=s853" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjt69_dFigaF1p7PSQGxRpZGSIogNd1UQX6u70rV-4WKD50A7U5DLqDhu41NJDkF0RYBahbtfbxQmjg416q-3nQQHuIM6_8YPIeumeyGINE1zIZZu6DPxHaYQZNC7Ebrq8vicx8yMWzXBT5bVb0_83ZZq9pJ_k5WXwlz51D0IfhmMMlnx1UjXYEzD24Sw=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">After visiting the Red Square we walked to
the nearby Nikolskaya street leading to Lubyanka Square. At a glance the street
just looked like a fashionable shopping street, lined with boutiques, bars and
food shops. But actually, the place had many historical and cultural buildings
in the past. The street is named after the Greek Monastery of St. Nicholas
situated there, and the north side of the street is lined with some historic
buildings, such as the Kazan Cathedral, the former Red Mint building, and the Russian
State University for the Humanities. Other historical buildings have been
replaced with souvenirs shop, restaurants and boutiques. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span>We can feel the commercial atmosphere in
the street, many local ladies and gentlemen wear Russian traditional clothes,
complete the big blonde wig strolling the street offering souvenirs or selfies.
They greeted the passing by tourists ‘nihao, nihao’ as there are many Chinese
tourists coming there. There are also benches in the middle of streets for us
to sit after a long walk, enjoying the fresh spring air, under blue sky with
flocks of white cloud. There are also street performers there, including one
singing opera arias, with his quite powerful voice. We heard that he was
actually practicing for an operatic performance, as he wouldn’t be able to do
it in his apartment room, it would be to noisy for the neighbours.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span>From there we took a metro and walked in
the Vozdvizhenka Street area, and saw a huge modern building dominating the
area. It is the Russian State Library, the largest in the country and the fifth
largest in the world for its collection of books. In front of the library
stands a statue of Fyodor Dostoyevsky, a famous Russian novelist. The statue depicts
him in a very informal posture, sitting slanting on a pedestal, looking deep in
thought. Within the vicinity of this area there are other museums such as the
Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, Gogol House museum, and Gallery Aleksander
Shilov. There are other museums, theater and churches in this district, making
it one of the most dense area with cultural heritage.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span>Taking another metro to the Teatralnaya
Ploschad or Theater Square, in front of Bolshoi theatre, at the side of Teatral'nyy
Proyedz street stands the statue of Karl Marx the founder of Communism. The
statue carved out Marx from a grey
granite block, depicting him as a speaker standing on the podium as if
addressing people with a speech. The pedestal is engraved with his famous
words: "Workers of the World,
Unite!". The sculpturer Lev Kerbel was awarded the Lenin Prize the
following year. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">I captured the soul of Moscow in the brief
walk on its streets. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">THE END<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sources:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_State_Library">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_State_Library</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Marx_monument,_Moscow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Marx_monument,_Moscow</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><br /></p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/B_TFy59oA28" width="320" youtube-src-id="B_TFy59oA28"></iframe></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-45155211820407994582023-09-03T13:44:00.002+04:002024-03-02T14:29:42.853+04:00An Interview with Friedrich<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfMZD64iqJ4U-9p_tCRdk9mboeqBBLEFgBL16icffsLoZa4QGpShoZl8FaFM_JdJrhs8cEw52usZxpREz2XrnvbmAni1Z0b14Rwy0uRn-4fxyoBy7KFtZqc3VFXgnbFd9-u0LBcKv_KxDc8UNJ7TwE0ikEquYjsEUH3rQPR4hWnOrQp8Fk_JaC_Ntaw/s661/Photo%20Nietzsche%20-Wikimedia.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfMZD64iqJ4U-9p_tCRdk9mboeqBBLEFgBL16icffsLoZa4QGpShoZl8FaFM_JdJrhs8cEw52usZxpREz2XrnvbmAni1Z0b14Rwy0uRn-4fxyoBy7KFtZqc3VFXgnbFd9-u0LBcKv_KxDc8UNJ7TwE0ikEquYjsEUH3rQPR4hWnOrQp8Fk_JaC_Ntaw/s320/Photo%20Nietzsche%20-Wikimedia.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Wikimedia</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US">Assigned to interview Friedrich, I was at a
loss as to how to deal with it. He is famous as a controversial philosopher who
declared 'God is Dead', with his views on religions, especially Christianity, very
negative, even though his father was a Lutheran minister. His father died when
Friedrich was only 4 years old so he did not get to witness his son's
'apostasy'.</span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US">To prepare for this interview I forced to
read his writings entitled 'Antichrist' which is very demeaning to Christianity
and even considers Christian values as poison for his followers. Of course,
many readers will feel insulted by these provocative remarks and cannot accept
their blasphemy. But by stroking my chest I finally decided to meet Friedrich
in his hometown of Röcken, in Germany.</span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US">That day Friedrich received my visit in the
living room of his house, he looked weak, his neck was wrapped in a thick
scarf. It seemed the cold February air had turned him pale. He was not as
fierce as his writing, only his thick mustache made him look like a member of
the military force. His body was hunched, his legs were slightly bent, and his
hands looked like dumplings.</span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">I then opened the conversation:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US">“Herr Friedrich, straight away, in the book
The Joyful Wisdom you wrote about the Madman proclaiming that “God is Dead”.
How did this happen?”</span> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">Friedrich, repeating the Madman's words in
the book ‘The Joyful Wisdom’:</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">"Where is God gone?" he called
out. "I mean to tell you! We have killed him,—you and I! We are all his
murderers! But how have we done it? How were we able to drink up the sea? Who
gave us the sponge to wipe away the whole horizon? What did we do when we
loosened this earth from its sun? Whither does it now move? Whither do we move?
Away from all suns? Do we not dash on unceasingly? Backwards, sideways,
forwards, in all directions? Is there still an above and below? Do we not
stray, as through infinite nothingness? Does not empty space breathe upon us?
Has it not become colder? Does not night come on continually, darker and
darker? Shall we not have to light lanterns in the morning? Do we not hear the
noise of the grave-diggers who are burying God? Do we not smell the divine
putrefaction?—for even Gods putrefy! God is dead! God remains dead! And we have
killed him! How shall we console ourselves, the most murderous of all
murderers? The holiest and the mightiest that the world has hitherto possessed,
has bled to death under our knife,—who will wipe the blood from us? With what
water could we cleanse ourselves? What lustrums, what sacred games shall we
have to devise? Is not the magnitude of this deed too great for us?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">"Then if God is Dead, who will replace
him?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">Friedrich, as he said in ‘The Joyful
Wisdom’<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">God is dead: but as the human race is
constituted, there will perhaps be caves for millenniums yet, in which people
will show his shadow,—And we—we have still to overcome his shadow!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">Let us be on our guard against saying that
there are laws in nature. There are only necessities: there is no one who
commands, no one who obeys, no one who transgresses. When you know that there
is no design, you know also that there is no chance: for it is only where there
is a world of design that the word ‘chance’ has a meaning.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">“Besides the Madman proclaiming God is Dead
in that book, there is also the Zarathustra who says: 'Once you said 'God' when
you gazed upon distant seas; but now I have taught you to say 'Superman'. Who
is Superman?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">Friedrich, quoting ‘Thus Spoke Zarathustra’:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">"I TEACH YOU THE SUPERMAN. Man is something
that is to be surpassed. What have ye done to surpass man?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">All beings hitherto have created something
beyond themselves: and ye want to be the ebb of that great tide, and would
rather go back to the beast than surpass man?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">What is the ape to man? A laughing-stock, a
thing of shame. And just the same shall man be to the Superman: a
laughing-stock, a thing of shame.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">Ye have made your way from the worm to man,
and much within you is still worm. Once were ye apes, and even yet man is more
of an ape than any of the apes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">Even the wisest among you is only a
disharmony and hybrid of plant and phantom. But do I bid you become phantoms or
plants?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">Lo, I teach you the Superman!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">“Referring to 'Thus Spoke Zarathustra', I
grasped the call for man to become Superman by realizing that there is no
objective truth and no objective morality—that God and goodness are all
man-made. Thus man will go beyond the commonly accepted and discover his own
values, and these discovered values will arise from his own essential desire
for power. Is that not so?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">Friedrich, again quoting ‘Thus Spoke
Zarathustra’ randomly:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">The beauty of the Superman came unto me as
a shadow. Ah, my brethren! Of what account now are—the Gods to me!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">Man is a rope stretched between the animal
and the Superman—a rope over an abyss.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">A dangerous crossing, a dangerous
wayfaring, a dangerous looking-back, a dangerous trembling and halting.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">What is great in man is that he is a bridge
and not a goal: what is lovable in man is that he is an OVER-GOING and a
DOWN-GOING.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">I love those that know not how to live
except as down-goers, for they are the over-goers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">I love those who do not first seek a reason
beyond the stars for going down and being sacrifices, but sacrifice themselves to
the earth, that the earth of the Superman may hereafter arrive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">I love him who justifieth the future ones,
and redeemeth the past ones: for he is willing to succumb through the present
ones.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">I love him who is of a free spirit and a
free heart: thus is his head only the bowels of his heart; his heart, however,
causeth his down-going.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">I love all who are like heavy drops falling
one by one out of the dark cloud that lowereth over man: they herald the coming
of the lightning, and succumb as heralds.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">Lo, I am a herald of the lightning, and a
heavy drop out of the cloud: the lightning, however, is the SUPERMAN. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span>“The tight-rope walker’s performance is
dangerous as he must traverse a rope suspended over a deep chasm. So too, in
bringing about the Superman, man must live dangerously. He must assume great
risks and never remain stagnant, but despite the dangers always live for the
sake of self-transformation. As Zarathustra explains, those who live in this
manner are the individuals destined to be the harbingers of the Superman. But
who is Superman?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">Friedrich, as he said in ‘Joyful Wisdom’:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">“People have never asked me as they should
have done, what the name of Zarathustra precisely meant in my mouth, in the
mouth of the first immoralist; for that which distinguishes this Persian from
all others in the past is the very fact that he was the exact reverse of an
immoralist. Zarathustra was the first to see in the struggle between good and
evil the essential wheel in the working of things. The translation of morality
into the realm of metaphysics, as force, cause, end-in-itself, is his work. But
the very question suggests its own answer. Zarathustra created this most
portentous of all errors,—morality; therefore he must be the first to expose
it. Not only because he has had longer and greater experience of the subject
than any other thinker,—all history is indeed the experimental refutation of
the theory of the so-called moral order of things,—but because of the more
important fact that Zarathustra was the most truthful of thinkers. In his
teaching alone is truthfulness upheld as the highest virtue—that is to say, as
the reverse of the cowardice of the ‘idealist’ who takes to his heels at the
sight of reality. Zarathustra has more pluck in his body than all other
thinkers put together. To tell the truth and to aim straight: that is the first
Persian virtue. Have I made myself clear? ... The overcoming of morality by
itself, through truthfulness, the moralist's overcoming of himself in his
opposite—in me—that is what the name Zarathustra means in my mouth.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">“Oh, so you mean the Zarathustra, who in
Greek is called Zoroaster, the founding prophet of Zoroastrianism in ancient
Persia over 1000 BC. Some researchers suggest that Zarathustra may have been the
first monotheistic prophet in recorded history. He eliminated all the ancient
gods from the Persian pantheon, leaving only Ahura Mazdah, the 'Wise God', as
the Only True God. This was, at a time when Zarathustra instituted religious
reforms that were broader in scope and more radical than Martin Luther's
challenge to the Roman Catholic Church.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">Then Zarathustra established the concept of
morality which can be summed up with the words 'good thoughts, good words, good
deeds.' Living these three principles is how we exercise our free will by
following the law of Asha. The three ethics of Zoroastrianism also pass down
concepts such as the cosmic struggle between right and wrong, between
Asha—Truth and Virtue and Druj—Lie, Evil, and Chaos.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">Friedrich:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US">“As Zarathustra spoke: ‘ </span>Let us <span lang="EN-US">speak</span> thereof, ye wisest ones, even though it be bad.
To be silent is worse; all suppressed truths become poisonous.<span lang="EN-US">”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US">I said</span>:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">“Zarathustra urges to discard God and
instead create a new meaning of the earth; one that embraces the personal
desire for self-actualization and self-affirmation, and promotes the
development of a strong body in which natural instincts are seen as a source of
energy to be channeled and sublimated in order to overcome oneself. This new
meaning, Zarathustra announced to be Superman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">Friedrich
then quoted his book the Antichrist:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">“Under Christianity neither morality nor
religion has any point of contact with actuality. This purely fictitious world,
greatly to its disadvantage, is to be differentiated from the world of dreams;
the latter at least reflects reality, whereas the former falsifies it, cheapens
it and denies it. Once the concept of ‘nature’ had been opposed to the concept
of ‘God,’ the word ‘natural’ necessarily took on the meaning of ‘abominable’—the
whole of that fictitious world has its sources in hatred of the natural (—the
real!—), and is no more than evidence of a profound uneasiness in the presence
of reality.... This explains everything. Who alone has any reason for living
his way out of reality? The man who suffers under it. But to suffer from
reality one must be a botched reality.... The preponderance of pains over
pleasures is the cause of this fictitious morality and religion: but such a
preponderance also supplies the formula for décadence....”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">“But mankind's rejection of God has existed
since the first humans, Adam and Eve. They chose to freely disobey God's
commandments by eating the forbidden fruit from the tree of the knowledge of
good and evil. According to Christian belief, by his transgression Adam became
an earthly being, a 'natural man' with a 'carnal mind'. You in 'The Antichrist'
advise mankind to repeat Adam's attitude of rejecting God as in the
beginning."<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">Friedrich quoting ‘Thus Spoke Zarathustra’:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">“At last, after seven days, Zarathustra
raised himself upon his couch, took a rosy apple in his hand, smelt it and
found its smell pleasant. Then did his animals think the time had come to speak
unto him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">‘O Zarathustra,’ said they, ‘now hast thou
lain thus for seven days with heavy eyes: wilt thou not set thyself again upon
thy feet?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">Step out of thy cave: the world waiteth for
thee as a garden. The wind playeth with heavy fragrance which seeketh for thee;
and all brooks would like to run after thee.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">All things long for thee, since thou hast
remained alone for seven days—step forth out of thy cave! All things want to be
thy physicians!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">Did perhaps a new knowledge come to thee, a
bitter, grievous knowledge? Like leavened dough layest thou, thy soul arose and
swelled beyond all its bounds.—'<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">—O mine animals, answered Zarathustra, talk
on thus and let me listen! It refresheth me so to hear your talk: where there
is talk, there is the world as a garden unto me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span>For me—how could there be an outside-of-me?
There is no outside! But this we forget on hearing tones; how delightful it is
that we forget!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">Have not names and tones been given unto
things that man may refresh himself with them? It is a beautiful folly,
speaking; therewith danceth man over everything.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">How lovely is all speech and all falsehoods
of tones! With tones danceth our love on variegated rainbows.—<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">—'O Zarathustra,’ said then his animals, ‘to
those who think like us, things all dance themselves: they come and hold out
the hand and laugh and flee—and return.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">Everything goeth, everything returneth;
eternally rolleth the wheel of existence. Everything dieth, everything
blossometh forth again; eternally runneth on the year of existence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">For thine animals know it well, O
Zarathustra, who thou art and must become: behold, THOU ART THE TEACHER OF THE
ETERNAL RETURN,—that is now THY fate!”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">"Herr Friedrich, in closing, how do
you want the world to remember you?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Friedrich:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;">“As I said in Ecce Homo:’ I am, for
instance, in no wise a bogey man, or moral monster. On the contrary, I am the
very opposite in nature to the kind of man that has been honoured hitherto as
virtuous. Between ourselves, it seems to me that this is precisely a matter on
which I may feel proud. I am a disciple of the philosopher Dionysus, and I
would prefer to be even a satyr than a saint. But just read this book! Maybe I
have here succeeded in expressing this contrast in a cheerful and at the same
time sympathetic manner—maybe this is the only purpose of the present work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US">The very last thing I should promise to
accomplish would be to ‘improve’ mankind. I do not set up any new idols; may
old idols only learn what it costs to have legs of clay. To overthrow idols
(idols is the name I give to all ideals) is much more like my business. In
proportion as an ideal world has been falsely assumed, reality has been robbed
of its value, its meaning, and its truthfulness.... The ‘true world’ and the ‘apparent
world’—in plain English, the fictitious world and reality.... Hitherto the lie
of the ideal has been the curse of reality; by means of it the very source of
mankind's instincts has become mendacious </span>and false; so much so that those values
have come to be worshipped which are the exact opposite of the ones which would
ensure man's prosperity, his future, and his great right to a future.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">THE END<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> This is an imaginary interview in memory of Friedrich Nietzsche.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Sources:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://academyofideas.com/2017/10/nietzsche-and-zarathustra-last-man-superman/">https://academyofideas.com/2017/10/nietzsche-and-zarathustra-last-man-superman/</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://encyclopedia.summitlighthouse.org/index.php/Zarathustra">https://encyclopedia.summitlighthouse.org/index.php/Zarathustra</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RZS99_tF2fs" width="320" youtube-src-id="RZS99_tF2fs"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-21666140598645618792023-08-19T07:34:00.000+04:002023-08-19T07:34:09.793+04:00Dubai, at Mall of the Emirates<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV40i9PL3S1Ez2LbyGScT0A5ET1uIfr2ArkqlL1F7Hu94zJdZ5IhGJ5k9qI04-k0AEfQMo-AMaVEdPI3kbNfFSzWKxy6hwsdNId1dgXoHg4yHVVMjIfnVShdgc2MPkoNmRQLjxqUmQT0PcJIa6W1DXuZ5qUG297LsmgdYnczrQqzeHPsI8EFJiJmuUKklt/s853/Emirates%20Mall%20Cover.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV40i9PL3S1Ez2LbyGScT0A5ET1uIfr2ArkqlL1F7Hu94zJdZ5IhGJ5k9qI04-k0AEfQMo-AMaVEdPI3kbNfFSzWKxy6hwsdNId1dgXoHg4yHVVMjIfnVShdgc2MPkoNmRQLjxqUmQT0PcJIa6W1DXuZ5qUG297LsmgdYnczrQqzeHPsI8EFJiJmuUKklt/s320/Emirates%20Mall%20Cover.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the attractions of Dubai is its magnificent Shopping
Malls. From the outside a mall looked like an ordinary building, but inside it
is truly amazing, with an attractive and well-designed interior. Once we go inside
we feel at home there, to do our shopping, looking for nice meals, playing,
watching movies or just looking around. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The Mall of the Emirates is one of the most magnificent
Malls in Dubai, its six hundred thousand square meters space is filled with shops
that mostly sell international branded goods. There are more than five hundred
shops located on all four floors of this Mall. However, if you do not intend to
shop there, there is a cinema and a place to play at Magic Planet. When you get
tired, you can choose to eat in one of the many restaurants serving a variety
of food. There is local Middle Eastern food, Asian and Western food, all served
in a room with nice surrounding. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">And in the midst of Dubai heat, you can play in Ski Dubai,
an indoor ski hall. With a ski slope 85 meters high and 140 meters long, it is
the largest in the world. The room temperature is maintained between minus one
degree and two degrees Celsius, to keep the meter-high snow intact. Thus, even
though the outside temperature is around 45 degrees Celsius, you can slide on
the snow inside this Mall. To play here you have to buy a ticket, the price is
around 70 USD, depending on the facility you choose.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">THE END<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Source: <a href="https://www.malloftheemirates.com/en">https://www.malloftheemirates.com/en</a><o:p></o:p></p><p><br /></p>
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<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OEUlmBldAig" width="320" youtube-src-id="OEUlmBldAig"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-19594706905067339072023-08-05T06:24:00.002+04:002023-08-05T06:24:38.540+04:00Paris, from Pompidou Centre to La Défense<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08tXEDKbOI4HTvq-JbVqnNjWJkwdLkKUG6EpNeEHDxcuPEWH7mI9JGPKDvtmbdK64v99MXLGjDWm6MktbyjRXH1Kw_7uj45xe4u88WSWa9mVNGzhw-B7G6H39GwiV5k8cDKzCaleyP1xChuYTWr-UgcGgKaxBN03xTExpykboky6HrqSFprZRZiz1Xw/s1920/Pompidou%20Cover.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08tXEDKbOI4HTvq-JbVqnNjWJkwdLkKUG6EpNeEHDxcuPEWH7mI9JGPKDvtmbdK64v99MXLGjDWm6MktbyjRXH1Kw_7uj45xe4u88WSWa9mVNGzhw-B7G6H39GwiV5k8cDKzCaleyP1xChuYTWr-UgcGgKaxBN03xTExpykboky6HrqSFprZRZiz1Xw/s320/Pompidou%20Cover.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Strolling from the Marais area where the buildings are in
the 17th century style to the Beaubourg through the narrow streets and alleys we
find a huge building with a unique colorful style. It is the Pompidou Center, a
multicultural complex, bringing together in one place different forms of art
and literature. It houses a Public Information Library, a vast public library
and the Museum of Modern Art. It is named after Georges Pompidou, the President
of France from 1969 to 1974 who commissioned the building, and was officially
opened on 31 January 1977. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Created in the style of modern architecture by the
architectural team of Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano the building looks like of
an 'inside-out' building with its structural system, mechanical systems, and
circulation exposed on the exterior of the building with colorful pipes and
ducts. From the outside, the visual signature of the building is embodied by
the huge mechanical escalator, known as the “caterpillar”, designed to serve as
a vertical outdoor path. It is the primary artery of the Pompidou Centre,
serving all levels and transporting the public upwards. Its transparency
provides one of the finest views of Paris, and as you travel up, it seems as though
you are still strolling through the city. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The vast plaza in front of the building forms an integral
part of the Pompidou Centre and serves as a strong link between the city and
the building, thus enabling the most natural flow possible between the two
spaces. The plaza acts as a lung, a place of life where Parisians, tourists and
onlookers cross paths. People come here to meet others, to stroll, to rest or
contemplate their surroundings. In the spring, the plaza becomes more lively
with carnivals, bands, and street performers. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">From the Pompidou Centre, our next trip is to another modern
buildings complex in Paris, the business center of La Défense. By taking the
Metro from the Hotel de Ville for about half an hour we arrive at the Esplanade
Metro station, the location of La Défense. Right above the metro station stands
La Grande Arche, a 110 meter cube monument designed to be a late-20th-century
version of the Arc de Triomphe. Its designer Johan Otto V. Spreckelsen described
it as a window onto the world. It is intended to function as a place where
people with different backgrounds and cultures can meet and communicate. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Around Le Grande Arche, La Défense contains many of the
Paris urban area's tallest high-rises. There are hundreds of high-rises and
buildings belonging to the top companies in the world in this area. There is
also a large shopping mall, Les Quatre Temps, with 220 stores, 48 restaurants
and a 24-screen movie theatre. One day is definitely not enough to explore this
area! </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">THE END<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sources:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">https://www.centrepompidou.fr/en/collections/our-building<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grande_Arche<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRwd5ZDJR0RFNiCMJcbjVQHSZLq6-GMf61opzUgF0pqdm6BfUGopHpSk11wd1gBUSo_k_9ws9u1jJ0_ciiqgRR2L65iaN6tYHW4mjlfdLyvPS00venMUGALf8Bh2qSsSnMelXe-wde5z1/s1600/Copyscape.jpg" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="73" data-original-width="406" height="57" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRwd5ZDJR0RFNiCMJcbjVQHSZLq6-GMf61opzUgF0pqdm6BfUGopHpSk11wd1gBUSo_k_9ws9u1jJ0_ciiqgRR2L65iaN6tYHW4mjlfdLyvPS00venMUGALf8Bh2qSsSnMelXe-wde5z1/s320/Copyscape.jpg" width="320" /></a><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1uInbhIIyKs" width="320" youtube-src-id="1uInbhIIyKs"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-89073550251184927292023-07-16T07:04:00.002+04:002023-07-16T07:04:39.013+04:00Paris, at Sacré Coeur<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTajUVaKxFYexpSkMOiDeej0ubOXoPDXmh16x5sxQUwzvyM2-U8xt18gfqcmV-P7YiYV3aTTWAUQm441dXX1Fep_U_QU3rLc5yj9c98SmPsfB2IKH87mv2fbnn6TkybupnqDNViZ-zIeZWbPxta_ZDQ2Q8oJ65Aw0jprWSbHiprUiU52zuJESDDiA_9g/s853/Sacre%20Cover.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTajUVaKxFYexpSkMOiDeej0ubOXoPDXmh16x5sxQUwzvyM2-U8xt18gfqcmV-P7YiYV3aTTWAUQm441dXX1Fep_U_QU3rLc5yj9c98SmPsfB2IKH87mv2fbnn6TkybupnqDNViZ-zIeZWbPxta_ZDQ2Q8oJ65Aw0jprWSbHiprUiU52zuJESDDiA_9g/s320/Sacre%20Cover.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">From the Anvers metro station, we walked a bit along the Rue
de Steinkerque in the Montmartre area to the Place Saint-Pierre. Montmartre,
which notably means hill of martyrs, owed its name to Saint Denis, who was
beheaded on this hill in the third century on the orders of the emperor Decius.
Saint Denis was Bishop of Paris at the time and is now known as the patron
saint of France. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">A short walk later, we saw the white building of the
Sacré-Cœur basilica perched on top of the hill of Montmartre. It is amazing
that the basilica although is more than 100 years old, its white color is not
polluted. Apparently this is because the walls were built from travertine
limestone from Château-Landon. This stone has a very interesting
characteristic: when it comes into contact with rainwater, the thin protective
layer that naturally coats the stone releases a white substance that hardens in
the sun. Therefore, every rain is an opportunity for this building to cleanse ! </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The Sacré-Cœur Basilica, which means the Sacred Heart Basilica, is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Christ. From the beginning
until now, the faithful take turns day and night to pray here without stop.
Each evening, after the doors close at 10.30pm, the prayer relay continues,
with people registering for the evening service in honor of the Sacred Heart of
Jesus. On the ceiling above the altar is one of the largest mosaics in the
world depicting the risen Jesus Christ, clothed in white and revealing a heart
of gold. This mosaic created by Luc-Olivier Merson, shows the worshipers around
Jesus represented by the saints: St Joan of Arc, St Mary and St Michael. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">At the front of this basilica under the statue of Jesus
Christ there are also statues of St. Louis IX and St. Joan of Arc sitting on a
horse, besides being considered saints they are also respected French heroes.
So this basilica also became a symbol of French nationalism. Its construction
is also an effort of national reconciliation and atonement for the tragic
events of the Paris Commune in 1870-71. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The architecture of this basilica is unique compared to
other major churches in Paris such as Notre Dame. Many large churches in France
have gothic architecture, while architect Paul Abadie was inspired to design
this church in Romano-Byzantine style after completing many restorations on a
similarly designed church in southern France. The Byzantine style of the
building is characterized by a high dome, the result of new techniques of the
sixth century, and the interior features many mosaics.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">THE END<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">SOURCE:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacr%C3%A9-C%C5%93ur,_Paris">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacr%C3%A9-C%C5%93ur,_Paris</a><o:p></o:p></p><p><br /></p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRwd5ZDJR0RFNiCMJcbjVQHSZLq6-GMf61opzUgF0pqdm6BfUGopHpSk11wd1gBUSo_k_9ws9u1jJ0_ciiqgRR2L65iaN6tYHW4mjlfdLyvPS00venMUGALf8Bh2qSsSnMelXe-wde5z1/s1600/Copyscape.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="73" data-original-width="406" height="57" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRwd5ZDJR0RFNiCMJcbjVQHSZLq6-GMf61opzUgF0pqdm6BfUGopHpSk11wd1gBUSo_k_9ws9u1jJ0_ciiqgRR2L65iaN6tYHW4mjlfdLyvPS00venMUGALf8Bh2qSsSnMelXe-wde5z1/s320/Copyscape.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<meta content="stenote blogspot- At the front of this basilica under the statue of Jesus Christ there are also statues of St. Louis IX and St. Joan of Arc." name="description"></meta>
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<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p7lSCHQvWpQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="p7lSCHQvWpQ"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-81659670613698346302023-07-01T08:00:00.000+04:002023-07-01T08:00:18.013+04:00Paris, from Hotel de Ville to Seine<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDYNZeZTxRw24CMBHQQZiYzEZ-MxEnNym5Ip0xcS1R8CzKuv4fIV15ypPeYdB_ofqx0NpEEwqnQg1wqoIQ_6KxEgmhR7yXnU5CN7ZedUmoTGRvJIjMcn_35X75TXGW2V6rsnz6nxn6BfoEeZib3EIEd9DZwjr_QiQdhvQr23M6_3l1ycYJuel3LqM5Q/s1920/Ville%20Cover.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDYNZeZTxRw24CMBHQQZiYzEZ-MxEnNym5Ip0xcS1R8CzKuv4fIV15ypPeYdB_ofqx0NpEEwqnQg1wqoIQ_6KxEgmhR7yXnU5CN7ZedUmoTGRvJIjMcn_35X75TXGW2V6rsnz6nxn6BfoEeZib3EIEd9DZwjr_QiQdhvQr23M6_3l1ycYJuel3LqM5Q/s320/Ville%20Cover.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Walking in Paris, strolling on cobbled streets flanked by
old buildings, we really can feel the romantic atmosphere. As in many European
cities, the buildings and streets were preserved that way, not modernized. The
last Paris renovations were carried out from 1852 to 1870 by Georges-Eugne
Haussmann under the order of Napoléon III. Haussmann’s work gave Paris the look
it has today as well as its architecture. He created a very long and wide
avenue with cafes and shops that influenced much of Parisian life. The
architecture of classical Haussmann buildings was not designed independently
but rather as part of a quarter, block, and thus the style should be coherent
and in harmony with the architecture of the other buildings. The ground floor
has thick walls. The second floor offers beautiful balconies and the third and
fourth floors are built in the same style, although the window frames have less
intricate stonework. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">After wandering through the cobbled streets of Le Marais, we
arrived at the Hotel de Ville. Wow we thought, this hotel looked like a palace
or a museum, wasn’t it? It turns out that in French, 'hotel' can mean a house,
building, residence, so it does not always mean hotel as a place to rent rooms
to stay for tourists. Today, apart from functioning as the city's
administrative office, the Hotel de Ville is also a venue for art and cultural
exhibitions. There are many interesting exhibits in the building and on the
grounds in front of this building. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">From the Hotel de Ville we walked not far, only a few
hundred meters to the south, to arrive at the Seine river. We can walk along
this river or take a ferry to explore Paris. It turns out that the Eiffel Tower
is located on the bank of this river and is one of the stops of the ferry route.
The name of this stop is Port de la Bourdonnais. From this side we can see the towering
Eiffel Tower, with its trademark brown color named Eiffel Tower Brown. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Walking along the Seine reminds me of the words of the
famous French painter Claude Monet: “I have painted the Seine all my life, in
every hour, in every season. I never get bored: for me the Seine is always
new.” But the river Seine in Paris is not as beautiful as Monet's paintings
made in the interior of France, such as Argenteuil, Poissy and so on. Although
the river water in Paris is not blue like in the painting, and there are no
lotus plants, it flows calmly leading us to various history that are close to
it, besides the Eiffel Tower, also Notre Dame Cathedral, Louvre Museum, and Musée
d'Orsay.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">THE END<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Source:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.french-property.com/regions/haussmann-buildings-architecture/#:~:text=The%20Parisian%20Haussmann%20buildings%20and%20architecture%20renovations%20were,to%20buildings%E2%80%99%20front%20facades%2C%20public%20parks%20and%20monuments">https://www.french-property.com/regions/haussmann-buildings-architecture/#:~:text=The%20Parisian%20Haussmann%20buildings%20and%20architecture%20renovations%20were,to%20buildings%E2%80%99%20front%20facades%2C%20public%20parks%20and%20monuments</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p><br /></p>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRwd5ZDJR0RFNiCMJcbjVQHSZLq6-GMf61opzUgF0pqdm6BfUGopHpSk11wd1gBUSo_k_9ws9u1jJ0_ciiqgRR2L65iaN6tYHW4mjlfdLyvPS00venMUGALf8Bh2qSsSnMelXe-wde5z1/s1600/Copyscape.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="73" data-original-width="406" height="57" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRwd5ZDJR0RFNiCMJcbjVQHSZLq6-GMf61opzUgF0pqdm6BfUGopHpSk11wd1gBUSo_k_9ws9u1jJ0_ciiqgRR2L65iaN6tYHW4mjlfdLyvPS00venMUGALf8Bh2qSsSnMelXe-wde5z1/s320/Copyscape.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K2fFzXeDIhM" width="320" youtube-src-id="K2fFzXeDIhM"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-54054768822839845612023-06-22T10:41:00.002+04:002023-06-23T05:36:53.189+04:00An Interview with Li Bai<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnsdDFGQienX32eJD9Thh5Y6PbGtpcGjpPRr4AqFerVsqNDvZl-OrB7GFPRERSRt1KDD204TjLD30wMIFDlndnd_GdUp2FpUMuHuy8Q99o7WeEMGe7JxUeA27A-UqMM1g5j9-o7GBJwleUhmVudNgsjtoMCaAGDgFAY1cjQPD0p9nQ3KD52KAWpSaFccY/s710/Photo%20Li%20Bai%20-Wikimedia.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="467" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnsdDFGQienX32eJD9Thh5Y6PbGtpcGjpPRr4AqFerVsqNDvZl-OrB7GFPRERSRt1KDD204TjLD30wMIFDlndnd_GdUp2FpUMuHuy8Q99o7WeEMGe7JxUeA27A-UqMM1g5j9-o7GBJwleUhmVudNgsjtoMCaAGDgFAY1cjQPD0p9nQ3KD52KAWpSaFccY/s320/Photo%20Li%20Bai%20-Wikimedia.jpg" width="210" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Wikimedia</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I went to Huang Shan
mountain in Anhui province, to meet Li Bai, one of China's most famous poets.
Against a backdrop of misty mountains, he met me cross-legged in front of a
small table on the veranda of a food stall. Not to forget a cup of wine was served
for him and me. I say 'not to forget' because it is a tradition in China to
serve wine or other liquor to guests as a courtesy. In addition, Li Bai has a
reputation as the Drunk Poet, due to his penchant for liquor until he drunk, but
able to write interesting poems in that state.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">It seemed that Li Bai
wanted to isolate himself in the area around here, to write poems, being close
to the common people, after being 'expelled' from the Royal Academy by Emperor
Xuanzong in Chang'an (the ancient name of Xi'an city). He was expelled because
of the intrigues of ministers who were jealous of his talent to write beautiful
poems. He traveled from mountain to mountain, deepened Taoism and wrote many of
his poems there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">That morning I met Li
Bai at dawn on the Bright Peak Summit of Mount Huangshan to enjoy the golden
light of the sun slowly creeping in from behind the mountains. We just sat in
silence while Li Bai was writing a poem, he was just like that, could
spontaneously write poetry when attracted by something he encountered. Sometime
later he showed me his poem:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thirty six strange peaks, Immortals with black
top knots. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Morning sun strikes the tree tops, <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here in this sky mountain world. Chinese
people, raise your faces! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">For
a thousand years cranes come and go. Far off I spy a firewood gatherer,
Plucking sticks from stone crevices.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I responded:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">"Mountains often
appear in your poetry, right?"<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Li Bai, smiling,
quoted another of his poems:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“You ask for what reason I stay on the green mountain,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I smile, but do not answer, my heart is at leisure.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Peach blossom is carried far off by flowing water,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Apart, I have heaven and earth in the human world.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“Heaven and earth in
the human world, I really can sense the deep influence of Taoism, which views
the Universe as an interconnected organic entity. None exists separately from
the others.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Li Bai:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“I recited ‘Liu Jia’
at the age of five, an ancient Taoist book that has been lost, and see a
hundred schools at the age of ten. At the age of fifteen, I and Dongyanzi, a
Taoist hermit, went to mount Minshan to live there in seclusion. I lived in there
for several years. We raised many exotic birds in the forests, lived and worked
as animal breeders. These are beautiful and docile birds, because we used to
feeding them, so they come regularly to ask for food. It's as if they can
understand people's language, with a call, they fly from everywhere before
coming down, can even peck at people's hands. With grains, they are not afraid
at all”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“Before you exiled
yourself to this area, it is said that you were once a high ranking official
serving Emperor Xuanzong in Chang'an. How did it happen?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Li Bai:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> “I was wandering around Zhejiang and Jiangsu
and eventually made friends with Wu Yun, a famous Taoist priest, who was close
to Emperor Xuanzong. One day Wu Yun was summoned by the Emperor to attend the
imperial court, and his praise of me was great.
His praise led Emperor Xuanzong to summon me to the court of Chang’an.
It seemed that the Emperor, aristocrats and common people alike were fascinated
by my talents and personality. At first he gave me a job as a translator, as I knew
non-Chinese language. Eventually the
Emperor gave me a post at the Hanlin Academy, the royal academy which served to
provide scholarly expertise and poetry for the Emperor.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p>I said:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“Surely you wrote
poems for Emperor Xuanzong?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Li Bai:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“I wrote several poems
about the Emperor's beautiful and beloved Yang Guifei, the favorite royal
consort.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">"May I hear one
of them?"<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Li Bai:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Clouds remind me of her apparel, flowers remind me of her countenance,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The spring breeze blows against the banister, the dew are splendidly
lush.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">If we cannot meet atop the Jade Mountain,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Then we will surely
encounter one another on the jade terrace basked under the moonlight.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“Hmmm… by mentioning
the Jade Mountain, this poem implies the empress as charming as a fairy from
the heavens, and you will meet her in the mortal world under the moonlight… The
Daoism impression is very strong, heaven and earth as a harmonious wholesome beauty.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the other poems
you have written since sitting in the palace is about the drunkenness of
drinking wine. A theme that is rarely expressed as poetry, because it is
considered unworthy, not beautiful, and too 'mortal'. You seem to be very much
into drunkenness perhaps because as people have known, you like drinking to the
point of intoxication, and you even write the best poetry in drunken state. One
of your famous poems is “Drinking Alone Under the Moon”, which express the
feeling of drunkenness and loneliness in a poetic and romantic way, loved by
the public because the feeling is so 'grounded to the earth’ mirroring the
habits of Chinese people from all walks of life to get drunk.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Li
Bai, staring at the sky and quoting " Drinking Alone Under the Moon "<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p>“Among the blossoms waits a jug of wine.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I pour myself a drink, no loved one near.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Raising my cup, I invite the bright moon<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">and turn to my shadow. We are now three.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But the moon doesn’t understand drinking,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">and my shadow follows my body like a slave.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">For a time, moon and shadow will be my companions,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">a passing joy that should last through the spring.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I sing, and the moon just wavers in the sky;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I dance and my shadow whips around like mad.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">While lucid still, we have such fun together!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But stumbling drunk, each stagger off alone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bound forever, relentless we roam:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">reunited
at last on the distant river of stars.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">"Wow, it's so
impressive that his feeling of loneliness is combined with the dance in the
universe. Poetic, romantic and once again very thick sense of Taoism.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">However, with such beautiful poems that you
wrote why were you expelled from the Palace?"<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Li Bai:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">"Because of Gao Lishi
the eunuch minister who has the most political influence in the palace. He
envied me and along with other spiteful officials conspired to get rid of me
with various intrigues. Knowing my habit of drinking until the drunk, one day
they trapped me into drinking until drunk. Then in a drunken state I was brought
to the Emperor to be humiliated. The emperor was angry and then drove me out of
the palace, so I decided to leave Chang'an..."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“How did you feel
leaving Chang’an?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Li Bai, citing ‘The City of Choan’ Li Bai, another name of 'Chang'an
City' or Xi'an:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The phoenix are at play on their terrace.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The phoenix are gone, the river flows on alone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Flowers and grass<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cover over the dark path<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> where lay the dynastic house
of the Go.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The bright cloths and bright caps of Shin<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are now the base of old hills.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Three Mountains fall through the far
heaven,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The isle of White Heron<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> splits the two streams apart.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now the high clouds cover the sun<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">And I can not see Choan afar<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">And I am sad.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p>THE END</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="IN"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="IN">This
is an imaginary interview in memory of </span>Li Bai<span lang="IN">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Sources:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="IN"><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/travel/article/20180201-chinas-spectacular-mountains-encased-in-ice"><span lang="EN-US">https://www.bbc.co.uk/travel/article/20180201-chinas-spectacular-mountains-encased-in-ice</span></a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="IN"><a href="http://www.chinese-poems.com/lb.html"><span lang="EN-US">http://www.chinese-poems.com/lb.html</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="IN"><a href="https://inf.news/en/culture/e8d711cc03d575390b3618b9193cdbd0.html"><span lang="EN-US">https://inf.news/en/culture/e8d711cc03d575390b3618b9193cdbd0.html</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="IN"><a href="https://naiyee.org/2018/09/23/li-bai-drinking-alone-under-the-moon/"><span lang="EN-US">https://naiyee.org/2018/09/23/li-bai-drinking-alone-under-the-moon/</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="IN"><a href="https://allpoetry.com/poem/13689358-The-City-of-Choan-by-Li-Po"><span lang="EN-US">https://allpoetry.com/poem/13689358-The-City-of-Choan-by-Li-Po</span></a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="IN"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Bai"><span lang="EN-US">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Bai</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRwd5ZDJR0RFNiCMJcbjVQHSZLq6-GMf61opzUgF0pqdm6BfUGopHpSk11wd1gBUSo_k_9ws9u1jJ0_ciiqgRR2L65iaN6tYHW4mjlfdLyvPS00venMUGALf8Bh2qSsSnMelXe-wde5z1/s1600/Copyscape.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="73" data-original-width="406" height="57" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRwd5ZDJR0RFNiCMJcbjVQHSZLq6-GMf61opzUgF0pqdm6BfUGopHpSk11wd1gBUSo_k_9ws9u1jJ0_ciiqgRR2L65iaN6tYHW4mjlfdLyvPS00venMUGALf8Bh2qSsSnMelXe-wde5z1/s320/Copyscape.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<meta content="stenote blogspot: Li Bai, famous Chinese Poet, it's so impressive that his feeling of loneliness is combined with the dance in the universe." name="description"></meta>
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<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Lt43EWP9FHU" width="320" youtube-src-id="Lt43EWP9FHU"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-4930517465632582682022-07-02T05:25:00.000+04:002022-07-02T05:25:12.006+04:00Laoshan, at the Mountain <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKVEtp3QjAaGzS9FpeNTE1r_FaipvUneJg7Ks-UQWkuu5IcGSOZp3mRZX7NNQhUoGc-02VbJPaB7YIKDTHJzo4bpakReY-jAjTYtkrdVf4MDATkyHM4oEb1-sjwPcdt_CQgBbbe9xp4-jAPObT9_NMQHW21-Mx5nwogH9-wwvGLoeh44YxHtjgtoHvg/s853/Cablecar%20Cover.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKVEtp3QjAaGzS9FpeNTE1r_FaipvUneJg7Ks-UQWkuu5IcGSOZp3mRZX7NNQhUoGc-02VbJPaB7YIKDTHJzo4bpakReY-jAjTYtkrdVf4MDATkyHM4oEb1-sjwPcdt_CQgBbbe9xp4-jAPObT9_NMQHW21-Mx5nwogH9-wwvGLoeh44YxHtjgtoHvg/s320/Cablecar%20Cover.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Laoshan, or Mount Lao as shan means mountain in Chinese, is
a mountain located around 30 km from Qingdao on the shore of Yellow Sea ,
China. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the highest coastal
mountain in China and the second highest mountain in Shandong, with the highest
peak (Jufeng) reaching 1,132 metres. High in the east with cliffs near the sea,
and gentle in the west with rolling hills. From the heights of the mountain we
can view the blue sea giving this mountain the title of "the most famous
mountain on the sea". </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Laoshan is surrounded by sea on three sides and carries
rivers on its flat back. Its special geomorphic environment with mountains
meeting the sea has created marvelous view with the sky, clouds, mist and
glowing sunlight often forming a variety of images. Laoshan has a typical
granite glacial landform. The granite peaks and hills in Laoshan are rich in
pictorial stones with all kinds of strange postures under the effect of water
erosion and weathering. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The mountain is also inhabited with various tall ancient trees,
which impressed Deng Xiaoping and said when he visited Laoshan: "This
place is very good. With such a few large ancient trees alone, it can attract a
lot of people. So it has conditions to arrange for opening up and the
development of tourism”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The place is now named Laoshan Scenic Area, a national
forest park with the largest and most complete protection of natural forest
ecosystems of larches and pine trees in China's cool zone. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">There are 230 ancient trees of 39 species. The
2,100-year-old Han Dynasty Cypress (Cloud-reaching Han cypress) in Taiqing
Palace with three trees growing in symbiosis, is regarded as a sacred tree by
the locals. The 1,000-year-old Tang Dynasty Elm<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>is a peculiarly shaped tree that is one of the most ancient elm trees in
northern China. It is also known as the "Dragon Head Elm" because its
trunk is curved like a dragon's head. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">We can view this beautiful scenery of Laoshan by riding a
cable car to the mountain peak, and we can view the granite rock mountain with
pine trees and various kind of trees.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">THE END<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Source:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Lao">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Lao</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">http://www.laoshan.gov.cn/n15555905/n15558115/n15558396/201204155729315806.html<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><br /><p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/py9VSs6n1bI" width="320" youtube-src-id="py9VSs6n1bI"></iframe></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-22442203841118088722022-05-28T12:08:00.002+04:002022-05-28T12:08:47.319+04:00Laoshan, at Taiqing Gong Temple<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZKdpo9JDwHxBwTMHYO1_a0ftDBj99SfWNeYGkRFQXL67MEFoTr7ME-VnWBN4XogEhbi1q4_3VGPqqn4H5EmnW16qxyanP0Zc5ZqOq9ESheKDWWbGN59Mct3iT3N14wo8Er1Q0iiSPNpfPYgtdEQneHb9ynX6yHmy1C4CFHu9ObrmgPX_MIKtUsiWkw/s853/Taiqing%20Cover.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZKdpo9JDwHxBwTMHYO1_a0ftDBj99SfWNeYGkRFQXL67MEFoTr7ME-VnWBN4XogEhbi1q4_3VGPqqn4H5EmnW16qxyanP0Zc5ZqOq9ESheKDWWbGN59Mct3iT3N14wo8Er1Q0iiSPNpfPYgtdEQneHb9ynX6yHmy1C4CFHu9ObrmgPX_MIKtUsiWkw/s320/Taiqing%20Cover.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">After seeing the Laoshan coast we head to the Taiqing Gong temple
which is not far from the beach on the southern slope of this mountain. Between
the temple and the beach there is a large square, the name of which is Taiqing
Square of course, which is also a stop for buses to go up and down the
mountain. At the sides of the Square there are food stalls and there are also ice
cream sellers, there we tried for the first time an Ice Cream wafer from Russia,
it tastes so good, with a thick milk taste. </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Taiqing Gong is the oldest and largest Taoist temple in
Laoshan Mountain, it is simple, ancient and solemn. According to legend, its
founder, Zhang Lianfu, wandered to Laoshan Mountain in 140 BC, and found a serene
spot under Laojun Peak. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He chose to
build a secluded temple at this location, and gave the disciples to worship, laying
the foundation of Taoism in Laoshan. Due to its long affiliation with Taoism it
is often regarded as one of the “cradles of Taoism”. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Qing Dynasty writer Pu Songling visited Laoshan Mountain in
1672, and lived in the Taiqing Gong temple, but he couldn't afford to live in
the wing because of poverty. He could only lay the floor at night. When
writing, he used a wooden board as a desk. The candlelight on the table at
night was the best lighting. Pu Songling only visited the two famous mountains of
Taishan and Laoshan in his life, but two visits to Laoshan have left a story of
the ages. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of his classical stories is
‘The Taoist Priest of Laoshan’ reflects the mysteries and magical practice adapted by the
Taoist priests there. A wall which is said
to be the prototype of the wall the Taoist passes through (in magical way) in
Pu Songling's novel is still visible in Taiqing Palace. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Taoism (also known as Daoism) is a Chinese philosophy
attributed to Lao Tzu (c. 500 BCE), it emphasizes doing what is natural and
"going with the flow" a cosmic force which flows through all things
and binds and releases them. This flow of harmony is called Tao, or “the way.”
In the 81 poetic verses that make up the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu outlined the Tao
for individual lives as well as leaders and ways of governance. The philosophy
grew from an observance of the natural world, and the religion developed out of
a belief in cosmic balance maintained and regulated by the Tao. The original
belief may or may not have included practices such as ancestor and spirit
worship but both of these principles are observed by many Taoists today and
have been for centuries. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Following 108 stair steps, under the Laojun Peak, stands a
huge statue of Lao Tzu. Its height is 36 meters and width 28 meters at the
base. The statue was built according to the painting of Lao Tzu by the famous
painter Wu Daozi in the Tang Dynasty period. Lao Tzu is pointing to the sky
with his left hand and the earth with his right hand, which means "from
heaven to earth, there’s only the Tao".<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">THE END<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sources:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.chinatoday.com.cn/ctenglish/2018/tourism/201802/t20180207_800116961.html">http://www.chinatoday.com.cn/ctenglish/2018/tourism/201802/t20180207_800116961.html</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.worldhistory.org/Taoism/">https://www.worldhistory.org/Taoism/</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.worldhistory.org/Taoism/"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wSREqBpE2jE" width="320" youtube-src-id="wSREqBpE2jE"></iframe></a></div><a href="https://www.worldhistory.org/Taoism/"><br /></a><o:p></o:p><p></p>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-26393166549913961432022-05-02T03:06:00.000+04:002022-05-02T03:06:16.040+04:00Laoshan Coastal Mountain <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirftxIS7NdtzovW41bZhdlDsiuGrJ0pBMorIXScnnlH7XKZRDFPdNwELtIyr4kAwOT5fwnger53D_v_vA6EVAo0j_mGxptTLazzifOLYgrwD7DNaygmV-e728uWcJy-5ASs5_Z9vNpEtcF_dOL6JunC-lEm-pm7oZe1xwllAb0zyGXebixH5k2_unLOQ/s853/Coastal%20Mountain%20Cover.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirftxIS7NdtzovW41bZhdlDsiuGrJ0pBMorIXScnnlH7XKZRDFPdNwELtIyr4kAwOT5fwnger53D_v_vA6EVAo0j_mGxptTLazzifOLYgrwD7DNaygmV-e728uWcJy-5ASs5_Z9vNpEtcF_dOL6JunC-lEm-pm7oZe1xwllAb0zyGXebixH5k2_unLOQ/s320/Coastal%20Mountain%20Cover.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I did not expect that in this area of Qingdao, a busy city
with many shipyards and factories, there is a tall mountain near the seaside. A
green area with forests towering over the shores of the rippling blue sea. This
place is a shelter for weary city people, looking for a calm and peaceful
atmosphere. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The mountain is Laoshan, or Mount Lao (since
"shan" means mountain), linked with the sea, with the coastal line
winding around the mountain with various rocks, islets and bays staggered. Mountain and Water are the two key features in
Fengshui. From its perspective Mountain is static and stable thus associated
with power and support, while Water represents flow, dynamic, thus associated
with progress. The presence and balance of Mountain and Water make for good
feng shui, and are ideal features for a country. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Overlooking the sea, the mountain is characterized by
imposing canyons, undulating peaks and shrouding mists. With a peak of over
1000 meters Laoshan Mountain is the highest mountain along China’s coastline. With
a view not only on the sea to the east and on the land to the west, but also on
beautiful Jiaozhou Bay to the southwest it explains the honorable name “No. 1
Coastal Mountain” given to Mount Laoshan. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Mount Laoshan consists of numerous mountains, including
Mount Fu, Mount Zao'er, Mount Shuangfeng, Mount Dading, and Mount Taizi, and it
is home to 13 bays and coves, dotted with 18 islets.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">It is also known for its ancient trees, its crystal-clear
springs, odd=shaped boulders and rock outcroppings. Among the smooth boulders
and stone outcropping farther up the mountain grow densely packed pine trees,
and in the few green clearings where trees do not grow, sprout seas of flowers
that blossom in a myriad of colors each spring and early summer. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">THE END<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Source:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">http://www.china.org.cn/english/travel/87510.htm<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="MsoHyperlink"> </span></p><p><br /></p>
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<meta content="stenote blogspot: Overlooking the sea, Laoshan mountain is characterized by imposing canyons, undulating peaks and shrouding mists." name="description"></meta>
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<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ml1uTKibxqE" width="320" youtube-src-id="Ml1uTKibxqE"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-25386163217177223522022-04-04T05:04:00.002+04:002022-04-04T05:04:59.241+04:00An Interview with Samuel <p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqT5R16xqrCLIqDg0NyShMKXMedPKxTxIGoHbkrho4DvjLNs2bdhM0ljTVBX4a0Pux0gkx0A6l47-RCZDWZd43lE8q4LrQGVaPPHBTXLV92vChKPqHiHFCH7qGFA4gpKtTtm1rJDuXAVFlN7EaB07X4zuF19KmbbZyzSpeanb22zE9Y7lB4DV8H6FPTg=s642" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjqT5R16xqrCLIqDg0NyShMKXMedPKxTxIGoHbkrho4DvjLNs2bdhM0ljTVBX4a0Pux0gkx0A6l47-RCZDWZd43lE8q4LrQGVaPPHBTXLV92vChKPqHiHFCH7qGFA4gpKtTtm1rJDuXAVFlN7EaB07X4zuF19KmbbZyzSpeanb22zE9Y7lB4DV8H6FPTg=s320" width="249" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Wikimedia</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“What can I talk with Samuel, this absurdist writer?” that
was my reaction to stenote, the publisher, when he first asked me to interview
Samuel. “He wrote this book titled ‘Texts for Nothing’, what can one expect to
discuss about nothing? He even wrote this in the book ‘He thinks words fail
him, he thinks because words fail him he's on his way to my speechlessness, to
being speechless with my speechlessness, he would like it to be my fault that
words fail him, of course words fail him’. What can we talk with such words,
they are so obscure. I heard from Charles Juliet that he is quite capable of
meeting somebody and sitting for two hours without uttering a word.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">My publisher said: ”No, not really, he is not such a
reclusive person, he likes to drink quite heavily, hopping with friends from
one bar to another, enjoys chatting about cricket, actually he played cricket
for Dublin University, and he had won medals for swimming and boxing. He also
played golf and tennis. So, to start the conversation with him, try bringing a
bottle of wine and talk about sport.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Encouraged by my publisher, I flew to Paris and made
appointment with Samuel to meet at Îles Marquises restaurant in Monparnasse. I
brought with me a bottle of Lacrima Christi which he took delightedly. But, his
tall, gaunt and archaic presence made him seemed aloof from the cozy
surrounding.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I started:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Sam, who is your favourite cricket player?” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Samuel glowed with pleasure and responded:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Frank Woolley, I had admired as a boy. You know, I saw him in the bar
at Lord's cricket ground. He was escorting the legendary 84-year-old Wilfred
Rhodes, perhaps the greatest England cricketer ever. By that time, Rhodes was
totally blind.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then he stared and pointed out on the wall above our table photographs
of the great boxers: Joe Louis,Georges Carpentier and Jack Dempsey.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“My first thought, sport seems out of place in your world. Your
characters emerge as homeless people, down-and-outs, tramps, failures, and you wrote ‘Fail again, fail
better’ in your ‘Worstward Ho’ story.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Samuel:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Actually, I wrote ‘<span face="Calibri, sans-serif" lang="IN" style="line-height: 107%;">All of old. Nothing else ever. Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try
again. Fail again. Fail better</span>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I said: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“ You achieved your own gold in 1969 for Nobel Prize in Literature. How
did you feel?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Samuel:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“My publisher, told me in a telegram ‘Dear Sam and Suzanne. In spite of
everything, they have given you the Nobel Prize. I advise you to go into
hiding.’ We anticipated a spike in publicity and people trying to reach them.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p>I said:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“You were right, the Swedish Television asked for an interview”<span lang="EN-US">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Samuel:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I agreed only with the stipulation that the interviewer couldn’t ask
any questions. “<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Thus you created a bizarre ‘mute’ interview and sent the video clip to
them showing yourself in silent in nature, with background of the sound of wave
from the beach, and the sound of bird chirping. And you didn’t attend the
award, you sent your publisher to take the award, while you and your wife
Suzanne travelled to Tunisia to avoid publicity.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Samuel, citing the opening of Texts for Nothing 4:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Where would I go, if I could go, who would I be, if I could be, what
would I say, if I had a voice, who says this, saying it's me?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“When your play ‘Waiting for Godot’ premiered at Théâtre de Babylone in
Paris, it is reported that many audience members walked out of the theater,
perhaps because of the unconventional form of the show, there is no plot, the
characters are not revealed, the dialogues are random and ridiculous. Two
tramps, Vladimir and Estragon, are waiting to meet someone named Godot, who
eventually does not turn up. But some of the critics liked it, some critics
said that pointlessness is its very point in this kind of theatre. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Martin Esslin called it The Theatre of the Absurd, in his book with
same title, depicting ‘sense of metaphysical anguish at the absurdity of the
human condition’. And this type of theatre has been associated with your name.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Samuel:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“The early success of Waiting for Godot was based on a fundamental
misunderstanding, that critics and public alike insisted on interpreting in
allegorical or symbolic terms a play which was striving all the time to avoid
definition.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I said: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“The greater part of Waiting for Godot's success came down to the fact
that it was open to a variety of readings and that this was not necessarily a
bad thing.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Samuel:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Why people have to complicate a thing so simple I can't make out. It's
all symbiosis; it's symbiosis”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Then, may I ask you who or what is Godot?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Samuel:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I don't know who Godot is. I don't even know, above all don't know, if
he exists. And I don't know if they believe in him or not – those two who are
waiting for him.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Godot’s messenger boy tells Vladimir that Mr.Godot has sheep and
goats, and the boy tends the goat is not beaten by Godot, while the boy’s
brother who tends the sheep is beaten by Godot. This seems to be the reversal
of the Bible story in which Christ separates the sheep, representing people who
will be saved, from the goats, representing people who will be damned.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the play Vladimir asks if Estragon has ever read the Bible. Estragon
says all he remembers are some colored maps of the holy land. Vladimir tells
Estragon about the two thieves crucified along with Jesus. One of the gospels
says that one of the thieves was saved, but Vladimir wonders if this is true.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Samuel:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“St Augustine’s reflection on this story is ‘Do not despair, one of the
thieves was saved: do not presume, one of the thieves was damned.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I reckoned that perhaps the theme of the story is the two who are
waiting for Godot, rather than Godot.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Samuel:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“An inmate of Lüttringhausen Prison near Remscheid in Germany, stage
the play in German and after that wrote to me: ’You will be surprised to be
receiving a letter about your play Waiting for Godot, from a prison where so
many thieves, forgers, toughs, homos, crazy men and killers spend this bitch of
a life waiting ... and waiting ... and waiting. Waiting for what? Godot?
Perhaps.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“During the World War II in 1941 you and Suzanne joined the French
resistance unit Gloria SMH, an information network, but in 1942 the group was
betrayed by a double agent, members of your group had been arrested by the
Gestapo. You had to flee Paris, heading for the Unoccupied Zone in the south of
France. It took almost six weeks, sometimes alone, sometimes with other
refugees, to cross into the free zone at Chalon-sur-Saône in Burgundy; you made
your way by hiding in barns and sheds and sometimes behind trees, inside
haystacks and down in ditches.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Samuel:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I can remember waiting in a barn, there were ten of us, until it got
dark, then being led by a passeur over streams; we could see a German sentinel
in the moonlight. Then I remember passing a French post on the other side of
the line. The Germans were on the road so we went across fields. Some of the
girls were taken over in the boot of a car.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“You also witnessed the aftermath of bombing of St-Lô in 1944. The town
located in Normandy bombed by the American, as it served as a strategic
crossroads. It caused heavy damage, most of the city was destroyed, and a high
number of casualties, which you reported as ‘The Capital of Ruins’, you
witnessed real devastation and misery, people in desperate need of food and
clothing, yet clinging desperately to life.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Samuel:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“St.-Lô is just a heap of rubble, la Capitale des Ruines as they call
it in France. Of 2600 buildings 2000 completely wiped out. . . . It all
happened in the night of the 5th to 6th June. It has been raining hard for the
last few days and the place is a sea of mud. What it will be like in winter is
hard to imagine.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“After the War, a lengthy clean-up began, literally by hand including
the corpses of residents and soldiers, which lasted about six months. However,
officials hesitated to rebuild Saint-Lô, some were willing to leave the ruins
as a testament to the martyrdom of the city. The population declined,
preferring to reinhabit its city. You volunteered to join the Irish Red Cross
to build a provisional hospital in this town”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Samuel:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“The new hospital was designed to be provisional. But ‘provisional’, is
not the term it was, in this universe become provisional.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">THE END<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p>This is an imaginary interview in memory of Samuel Beckett.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Sources:<o:p></o:p></p>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2012/aug/21/samuel-beckett-sportsman">https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2012/aug/21/samuel-beckett-sportsman</a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1985/11/17/magazine/waiting-for-beckett.html">https://www.nytimes.com/1985/11/17/magazine/waiting-for-beckett.html</a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><a href="https://lithub.com/samuel-becketts-insane-wordless-post-nobel-prize-interview-is-the-most-samuel-beckett-thing-ever/">https://lithub.com/samuel-becketts-insane-wordless-post-nobel-prize-interview-is-the-most-samuel-beckett-thing-ever/</a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/waiting-for-godot/critical-essays/samuel-beckett-and-the-theater-of-the-absurd">https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/w/waiting-for-godot/critical-essays/samuel-beckett-and-the-theater-of-the-absurd</a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waiting_for_Godot">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waiting_for_Godot</a></div><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.litcharts.com/lit/waiting-for-godot/summary">https://www.litcharts.com/lit/waiting-for-godot/summary</a></div><p><br /></p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CV_BMcPymcU" width="320" youtube-src-id="CV_BMcPymcU"></iframe></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-87947608802888101632022-03-13T04:16:00.000+04:002022-03-13T04:16:31.650+04:00Tibet, along the Yarlung River<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbCgnIPorFt7HgkHTYNPw-SGGGHwHvfSoBhPip2EvCWRZfTTWG7eBjuhPCKbdixvuTJZibG0tOarNDUF6p1LJtH6M6LTgHoO9biYL00wgk9FaeqLRsuICn-Uj0x05RVVa_uvHt51LT5p5/s853/Yarlung+Cover.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbCgnIPorFt7HgkHTYNPw-SGGGHwHvfSoBhPip2EvCWRZfTTWG7eBjuhPCKbdixvuTJZibG0tOarNDUF6p1LJtH6M6LTgHoO9biYL00wgk9FaeqLRsuICn-Uj0x05RVVa_uvHt51LT5p5/s320/Yarlung+Cover.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Our next trip was to go with a bus from Lhasa to Shigatse
driving along the Yarlung River. The scenery of the clear river water, with mountains
at the background and combined with green fields is amazing. The Yarlung River
is 1,323 km long river originating from the Tibet-Qinghai Plateau in southeast
Qinghai, and its join the Yangtze river in Panzhihua in southwestern Sichuan. It
then passes through India flowing through the Assam Valley as Brahmaputra river. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Yarlung means “the river down from the upper reaches” in
Tibetan language, has a large amount of water and irrigates the fields in the
lower valley. There are many ancient villages scattered along the banks of the
river, with many historical sites and temples, shrouded with colorful myths and
legends. It is the cradle of Tibet’s ancient civilization, and the area is the
earliest birthplace of Tibetan culture. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">In Tibetan culture, rivers are sacred and in particular the
Yarlung river is sacred as it represents the body of the goddess Dorje Phagmo,
one of the highest incarnations. This reverence for the natural world was born
from the Tibetan plateau and dates back centuries. Now we can admire the clean river, undisturbed
by human interference. When people swim in the river, they were told to never
use it as a bathroom, because there are river gods in the water. There’s a very
strict tradition that no one will go near certain water or do anything that
would disturb it. They really don’t need laws to prohibit them to dump garbage
or toxic wastes in the water to preserve the environment. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">There is another reason, the Yarlung river is still used as
water burial site, people dumped dead bodies into the river and fishes might
consume the body, which partly explains why Tibetan do not eat fish. Tibetans believe that upon death, the body
retums to one of the elements - earth, air, fire, water, or wood. Water burial
is considered as a derivative of the celestial burial. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">THE END<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Sources</o:p>:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">https://www.tibettravel.org/tibet-travel-guide/yalong-river.html
<o:p></o:p></p>
<span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/8/china-to-build-the-worlds-biggest-dam-on-sacred-tibetan-river</span><br /><p><br /></p>
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<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MOxEZl2x0GM" width="320" youtube-src-id="MOxEZl2x0GM"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-34862155055868856742022-02-19T04:25:00.002+04:002022-02-19T04:25:59.623+04:00Tibet, at the Musical Show<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJU4mp0ZZZL6tNMv2CCL1zC5erB3IGAbKA2srZ5H3JUgXMJ07YiZZq0svOsAEsfjNgEYpi66Pj8nOcaa25da4zi_nIifItUohk36Fz2fuQc9LTDsRTtnAj4bMoNh0q4krXbWonLIJFun-6/s853/Tibet+Show+Cover.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJU4mp0ZZZL6tNMv2CCL1zC5erB3IGAbKA2srZ5H3JUgXMJ07YiZZq0svOsAEsfjNgEYpi66Pj8nOcaa25da4zi_nIifItUohk36Fz2fuQc9LTDsRTtnAj4bMoNh0q4krXbWonLIJFun-6/s320/Tibet+Show+Cover.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The Princess Wencheng musical show is really a grand show,
the stage is spectacular set in open air, complete with the palace in Chang’an
and the Potala palace in Lhasa. At one time we can see real horses running on a
highground at the back ground of the stage, and in other time we can see cows
and goats walking leisurely in the front part of the stage. The lighting system
is also spectacular, sun and moon appear together from the darkness, and the
waving huge cloths depicts the wild waves caused by hailstorm. The sound system
loud and clear vibrate the melodious traditional songs on stage, apparently they
use the most advanced sound technology. It is a wonderful marriage of a famous
legendary story with modern technology, staged on expertly-designed theater beside
a hilly mountain under the stars. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The story is about a marriage of two great cultures, Tibetan
and Tang dynasty. The story happened about 1300 years ago when Princess
Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty left Chang'an (Xi'an now) to marry Songtsen Gampo, king of Tibet.
Their marriage was aimed to maintain good relations between Tang empire and Tibet.
She and her entourage marched over 2,000 km from Chang’an to Lhasa, crossing
deserts, hailstorms, and snow-capped mountains. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">In her journey Princess Wencheng brought a substantial
amount of dowry which contained not only
gold, but also grains, farming tools and technology to increase Tibetan
agricultural productivity. She also brought Buddhist scriptures and statues of
Buddha, among them was the golden
statue of 12-year-old Sakyamuni Buddha, now placed in Jokhang Temple. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">There are many folk legends about Princess Wencheng’s
journey to Tibet which are depicted in the show. One of the legend tells about
‘the Sun and Moon mirror’, a precious mirror that the Tang Dynasty Emperor Gaozu
gave Princess Wencheng before she set off on her journey from Chang’an.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The mirror was said to let her see Chang'an and her
relatives from wherever she was. When the princess reached part of the Quilian
Mountain Range, an important thoroughfare to Tibet, she got out of her carriage
and looked around. It was cold and barren, she could only see snow capped
mountains, then she felt a surge of homesickness. She recalled the words of the
emperor when he gave her the mirror, ‘Whenever you miss your home, you only
need to look in this mirror to see us’. She took out the mirror to see her
hometown, but saw only her own tearful face. So, she threw the mirror down onto
the mountain. But then she continued her journey to the west as she knew she
had a duty to the two nations, and, resolving not to miss her country any more.
The mirror was broken in two pieces shaped like the moon and sun. From then on,
the mountain got its name, Riyue Mountain, the Sun and Moon Mountain.<span style="color: red;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The musical
of the historic marriage is performed by around 700 actors, showing a dazzling
array of traditional Tibetan dancing and singing, dressed in both traditional
Tibetan and Tang dynasty costumes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The show is
performed every night, from spring to autumn, on about a 100 meter long huge
open air stage, in Bumpari.</span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">THE END<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>Sources:</o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.tibettravel.org/tibet-history/songtsan-gambo-wencheng.html">https://www.tibettravel.org/tibet-history/songtsan-gambo-wencheng.html</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://tibetanbuddhistencyclopedia.com/en/index.php/A_brief_introduction_to_Princess_Wencheng">http://tibetanbuddhistencyclopedia.com/en/index.php/A_brief_introduction_to_Princess_Wencheng</a></span><br /><p><br /></p>
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<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LnFL79qsa3o" width="320" youtube-src-id="LnFL79qsa3o"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-60699431698711536752022-01-22T08:18:00.000+04:002022-01-22T08:18:07.245+04:00Lhasa, at Barkhor Street<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnUX76O8erF_Z5Phyphenhyphen6UA1LKBral6oZJa2GCYRiaLfhHUrPAdyvLj26ppfUSxNTdshRbaaPexutgbf5P1wL1LOJB_dpV_hTqL7xMvF-ZH_3X0TBfPlgDQBoM9uTxY5zk0po8GY6nT8i3qd/s853/Barkhor+Cover.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnUX76O8erF_Z5Phyphenhyphen6UA1LKBral6oZJa2GCYRiaLfhHUrPAdyvLj26ppfUSxNTdshRbaaPexutgbf5P1wL1LOJB_dpV_hTqL7xMvF-ZH_3X0TBfPlgDQBoM9uTxY5zk0po8GY6nT8i3qd/s320/Barkhor+Cover.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The Buddhist religion is very important for Tibetan, and has
a strong influence over all aspects of their lives. We can feel it even we walk
in the main shopping district, Barkhor Street. "Barkhor" in Tibetan
means "Holy Path", as it has been the pathway for pilgrims. According
to Tibetan Buddhism, the pilgrims must walk in Barkhor Street in a clockwise circular
direction around the Jokhang Temple as to worship the figure of the Buddha inside
the temple. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">More than that, walking on Barkhor Street is somewhat
different, it gives a mystical feeling. It has maintained the ancient original
style of Tibet buildings for almost 1,400 years. The whole street is paved by
stones alongside the exotic buildings. On the street, four large incense
burners in the four cardinal directions burning incense and aromatic plants
continuously, raising fragrant smokes into the air. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Everywhere in the Barkhor Street is filled with hustle and
bustle, we can hear the shouts of street vendors, and the chatting sounds of
visitors are mixed with the chanting rhymes of pilgrims. The shops and street
vendors offer prayer wheels, butter lamps, incense, turquoise, local meat and
other Tibetan traditional food. Also, we can find here Tibetan style house ornaments, cushions,
leather bags and handmade art wares. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">We can notice that the traditional women in Tibet mostly
have long hair and most of time they braided the hair neatly and affix them
with ornaments. The arrangement of the hair indicates a woman’s social status,
the style of the region or tribe, but also reflect fashions of the time. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Generally, Tibetans believe that hair can serve as a
material support connected with prosperity. They didn't cut their hair from the
time they were born. But with the influence of modernity, shorter hair has become
the trend in Tibet. An increasing number of women often dye their hair in many
colors to follow the fashions of pop stars. We can find in Barkhor Street many
beauty parlours visited by young women whom are particular about hair fashion
and spent money for that. Our tour guide said: “It is a sign that Tibet is
opening the road to modern society."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">THE END<o:p></o:p></p><p><br /></p>
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<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SC7kprWd0Gw" width="320" youtube-src-id="SC7kprWd0Gw"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-74830209427431829132022-01-04T04:51:00.000+04:002022-01-04T04:51:20.496+04:00An Interview with Milton<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJx4133WBI4531_jAfc2LyitXEr4924LXpgDHKBNKrQHvr-zqP96mUBseatYRcDhkyyApvcVItd8QOhred-mss8g3L_maQWzrBqCRll51inl8lmRwSHm2n-_Zla-h3qZ8K4GrmEkkbUMp/s900/Photo+Milton+Friedman+Wikimedia.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="900" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJx4133WBI4531_jAfc2LyitXEr4924LXpgDHKBNKrQHvr-zqP96mUBseatYRcDhkyyApvcVItd8QOhred-mss8g3L_maQWzrBqCRll51inl8lmRwSHm2n-_Zla-h3qZ8K4GrmEkkbUMp/s320/Photo+Milton+Friedman+Wikimedia.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Wikimedia</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Academically, Milton had established himself as an expert on
inflation and consumer behavior. He predicted in 1967 that a sustained period
of inflation would not drive down unemployment, directly contrary to the
mainstream view at the time. He predicted it correctly, in the period of 1973
of soaring inflation, unemployment in USA remained high, a phenomenon known as
stagflation, which was exactly what he had warned of. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I met this advocate of ‘liberal free market’ at his office
in his ‘home-base’ University of Chicago to talk about his visions on economy.
His personality and the nice smelling coffee helped warmed the cold and windy
weather of Chicago that day.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said: </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“As the leader of the Chicago school of economics, and the
winner of Nobel Prize in Economics in 1976, The Economist magazine described
you as ‘the most influential economist of the second half of the 20th
century...possibly of all of it.’ You strongly support the virtues of a free
market economic system with minimum government intervention. You even went as
far as writing an Op-ed in the New York Times that ‘The Social Responsibility of
Business Is to Increase Its Profits’, that there is one and only one social
responsibility of business – to use its resources and engage in activities
designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within the rules of the
game, which is to say, engages in open and free competition without deception
or fraud. This is a very controversial statement, considering that in this recent
time, the trend is that corporates, especially the large ones, are encouraged
to accept broader social responsibility.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Milton said: </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“As I wrote in the New York Times, in a free‐enterprise,
private‐property system, a corporate executive is an employee of the owners of
the business. He has direct responsibility to his employers. That
responsibility is to conduct the business in accordance with their desires,
which generally will be to make as much money as possible while conforming to
the basic rules of the society, both those embodied in law and those embodied
in ethical custom. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Of course, the corporate executive is also a person in his
own right. As a person, he may have many other responsibilities that he
recognizes or assumes voluntarily—to his family, his conscience, his feelings
of charity, his church, his clubs, his city, his country. If we wish, we may
refer to some of these responsibilities as ‘social responsibilities.’ But in
these respects he is acting as a principal, not an agent; he is spending his
own money or time or energy, not the money of his employers or the time or
energy he has contracted to devote to their purposes. If these are ‘social
responsibilities,’ they are the social responsibilities of individuals, not of
business.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said: </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“In August 2019, the Business Roundtable, an organization
representing America’s largest corporations, issued a statement calling upon
all businesses to take greater responsibility for ensuring that the interests
of every stakeholder are addressed in corporate policy. The statement also said
that shareholders are not only concerned with short-term profits but long-term
profitability, and that an excessive focus on the former could damage the
latter. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">And by 2018, Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, the world’s
largest investment fund, expressed concern that the profits-at-all-cost model
of corporate enterprise was creating excessive social costs, particularly for
the environment, that were unsustainable. He pledged to use the voting power of
the trillions of dollars of shares he controlled to improve corporate social
responsibility.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Milton said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“The newer phenomenon of calling upon stockholders to
require corporations to exercise social responsibility, in most of these cases,
what is in effect involved is some stockholders trying to get other
stockholders, or customers or employees, to contribute against their will to ‘social’
causes favored by the activists. Insofar as they succeed, they are imposing
taxes and spending the proceeds. They are in effect imposing taxes, on the one
hand, and deciding how the tax proceeds shall be spent, on the other. This
process raises political questions on two levels: principle and consequences.
On the level of political principle, the imposition of taxes and the
expenditure of tax proceeds are governmental functions.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“Adam Smith famously remarked: ‘It is not from the benevolence
of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from
their regard to their own interest. We address ourselves, not to their humanity
but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities but of
their advantages'. We are not in business to serve public goods let alone to
perform altruistic deeds; we need to provide for ourselves and our families. In
business, both parties need to benefit, the one who sells the bread and the one
who buys it. In this sense it is our gain that there are bakers, butchers and
brewers attending to their own interests, as ultimately that serves our
interests best.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Milton said: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“Self-interest is not myopic selfishness. It is whatever it
is that interests the participants, whatever they value, whatever goals they
pursue. The scientist seeking to advance the frontiers of his discipline, the
missionary seeking to convert infidels to the true faith, the philanthropist
seeking to bring comfort to the needy - all are pursuing their interests, as
they see them, as they judge them by their own value.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The world runs on individuals pursuing their separate
interests… The record of history is absolutely crystal clear that there is no
alternative way, so far discovered, of improving the lot of the ordinary people
that can hold a candle to the productive activities that are unleashed by a
free enterprise system.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“Nevertheless, self-interest and profit motive frequently
gone badly off track, as we experience in Lehman Brothers case in 2008. Soon
after Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy and global markets panicked, the
stock market collapsed. The Federal Reserve provided $9 trillion of emergency
loans to banks, and nationalized the nation’s largest insurance company, AIG.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Milton said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“First, tell me, is there some society you know that doesn’t
run on greed? You think Russia doesn’t run on greed? You think China doesn’t
run on greed? What is greed? Of course none of us are greedy. It’s only the
other fellow who’s greedy.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The world runs on individuals pursuing their separate
interests. The great achievements of civilization have not come from government
bureaus. Einstein didn’t construct his theory under order from a bureaucrat.
Henry Ford didn’t revolutionize the automobile industry that way. In the only
cases in which the masses have escaped from the kind of grinding poverty, the
only cases in recorded history are where they have had capitalism and largely
free trade.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">If you want to know where the masses are worst off, it’s exactly
in the kinds of societies that depart from that. So that the record of history
is absolutely crystal clear that there is no alternative way, so far
discovered, of improving the lot of the ordinary people.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">In economy a whole lot of things can go wrong as Adam Smith
said: ‘There is much ruin in a nation’ and government can mess things up in
many ways, but the desire to better ourselves can still make markets work.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“Gordon Gecko in the movie Wall Street said: ‘ greed – for
lack of a better word – is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies,
cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in
all of its forms – greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge – has marked
the upward surge of mankind.’</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">So may I ask you whether capitalism is good from morality
point of view?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Milton said: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“The problem with that is in moral values are individual,
they are not collective. Moral values have to do with what each of us
separately believes in holds true. What our own individual values are:
capitalism, socialism, central planning our means, not ends they in and of
themselves. They need a more alluring world, humane or humility in human. We
have to ask what are their results?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The degree of social injustice and torture in a place like
in incarceration in a place like Russia is of a different order of magnitude
than it is in those Western countries where most of us have grown up and in
which we have been accustomed to.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Where do you have the greatest degree of inequality in the
world? In Soviet Union enormous inequality in the immediate literal sense that
there is a small select group that has all of the services and amenities of
life and very large masses that are in a very, very low standard of living. Indeed,
in a more direct way, if you take the wage rate of foremen versus the wage rate
of ordinary workers in the Soviet Union, the ratio is much greater than it is
in the United States.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">China, too, is a nation with wide differences in income,
between the politically powerful and the rest; between city and countryside;
between some workers in the cities and other workers.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Capitalism, on the other hand, is a system of organization
that relies on private property and voluntary exchange. It has repelled people,
it’s driven them away from supporting it because they have thought it
emphasized self-interest in a narrow way, because they were repelled by the
idea of people pursuing their own interests rather than some broader interest. Yet
if you look at the results, it’s clear that the results go the other way
around.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">If you had both freedom and prosperity, the greatest
measures of freedom, if you look at the Western countries where freedom
prevails. There has been more social justice and less inequality. So has
capitalism succeeded despite the immoral values that pervade it? The results
have arisen because each system, capitalism and socialism, has been true to its
own values, or rather the system doesn’t have values.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">What we’re concerned with in discussing moral values here
are those that have to do with the relations between people. It is important to
distinguish between two sets of moral considerations, the morality that is
relevant to each of us in our private life. How we, each individually conduct
ourselves, behave and then what’s relevant to systems of government and
organization.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“Over the past decades China’s has yielded steady progress
in economic growth and development. While most observers agree the pace of
transformation in China has been extraordinary, some remain concerned about the
increasing income inequality. However China claimed that the gap is closing as
rural income rises in China.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Milton said: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“In late 1979, I was astonished when I received an official
invitation to visit China. This was a
phenomenon that I find almost literally incredible, and I quickly accepted it.
I and my wife Rose arrived in China in 1980. The trip was a struggle from the
start. The general impression on walking or driving down the streets is one of
drabness and dullness and dirt. Almost the only place there is light and beauty
and cleanliness and variety is on the stage.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">This poor socialist country invited me, of all people, to
provide economic advice on inflation. I delivered four lectures on topics such
as “the mystery of money” and “the Western world in the 1980s” to an audience
of officials and scholars. I dismissed the idea that inflation appeared only in
capitalist societies. Inflation was neither innately ‘capitalist’ nor ‘communist’.
Instead, government itself was the root cause of inflation, which could be
cured only by ‘free private markets’.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“How did the audience receive your lectures?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Milton said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“They seemed completely unaware of my commitment to the free
market. To the Chinese economists these
ideas were radical. In a society that had not yet accepted free private markets,
this approach was unacceptable. A Chinese researcher mentioned ‘the internal
contradictions of capitalism’, a standard Marxist phrase about the widening gap
between the income of the owner and the labor. I asserted that there were no
such contradictions, and gave my observations about Marx’s incorrect
predictions about the future of capitalist development. And I said it is a fact
that ordinary people would always live better in capitalist countries than in
socialist countries.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“Then you were invited again to China in 1988, for what
occasion?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Milton said: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“The occasion was a conference on economic reform hosted in
Shanghai by the Cato Institute and Fudan University. I advocated the widest
possible use of not the market but ‘free, private markets’. The words ‘free’
and ‘private’ are more important than the word ‘market’. Every society, whether
communist, socialist, or whatever you will, uses the market. Rather, the crucial
distinction is private property or no private property. Who are the
participants, government bureaucrats who are operating on behalf of something
called the state? Or are they individuals operating directly or indirectly on
their own behalf?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">In China, the substantial freeing of many prices,
particularly those of agricultural and similar goods, has not been accompanied
by the privatization of the banking system. As I understand it, the Chinese
government indirectly determines what happens to the money supply through the
credits it grants state enterprises. The results include a rapid increase in
the quantity of money and, not surprisingly, a rapid upward pressure on prices,
so that inflation, both open and repressed, has reared its ugly head.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said : <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“In the trip’s most dramatic development, you received word
that Zhao Ziyang the Communist Party General Secretary had requested to meet
with you. What did you discuss?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Milton said: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“Zhao laid out the challenges facing China’s economy, what
they intended to do in carrying the reform further was to reduce the number of
prices that are under the dual-track system and state control. However, just as
they were ready to go a step further toward price reform, they were faced with
difficult problems, especially sizable inflation. He asked my assessment of the
effects of inflation. Can the people take such a shock, both economically and
psychologically? Then he raised an even more fundamental question: ‘Why did
inflation occur in China?’</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I pointed to the dual-track system as one cause of inflation
because it produced so many inefficiencies in the economy, from queuing to
shortages, and pumped up prices in the sectors that were open to the market
forces of supply and demand. I was similarly dismissive of other ‘halfway’measures
that delayed what I saw as the only real solution: full privatization and
marketization.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The conversation continued, touching on proposed reforms to
exchange rates, state-owned enterprise management, and the central government’s
authority over the economy. Zhao begged me to understand China’s special
circumstances: without a developed banking system, China could not tighten the
money supply to control inflation, as the U.S. Federal Reserve does. But I continued
to push for immediate, sweeping market reforms. After nearly two hours of
heated exchanges, we ended the conversation with no consensus on the best path
for China.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“Even so, you were welcomed back to China in 1993 for
official meetings. How did you see China that time?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Milton said:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“Traveling to Shanghai and Beijing I was astonished at the
rapid pace of development in China. At the end of the trip, I returned to the
Great Hall of the People, the site of my fateful encounter with Zhao Ziyang, to
meet with China’s new president, Jiang Zemin. He delivered what I perceived as
a canned speech about the successes and challenges of the Chinese economy, and
the meeting ended quickly. I conjecture that Jiang Zemin did not really want to
hear what we had to say.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“Thank you Milton for this great interview.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">THE END<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is an imaginary interview in memory of Milton Friedman.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sources :<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/159351/corporations-milton-friedman-free-market-economy">https://newrepublic.com/article/159351/corporations-milton-friedman-free-market-economy</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27Tf8RN3uiM">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27Tf8RN3uiM</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://paintedmonster.com/2018/07/26/phil-donahue-vs-milton-friedman/">https://paintedmonster.com/2018/07/26/phil-donahue-vs-milton-friedman/</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://thedailyhatch.org/2020/11/27/milton-friedman-is-capitalism-humane-transcript-and-video-of-9-27-77-speech-at-cornell/">https://thedailyhatch.org/2020/11/27/milton-friedman-is-capitalism-humane-transcript-and-video-of-9-27-77-speech-at-cornell/</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://theamericanscholar.org/milton-friedmans-misadventures-in-china/">https://theamericanscholar.org/milton-friedmans-misadventures-in-china/</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/serials/files/policy-report/1988/12/v10n6.pdf">https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/serials/files/policy-report/1988/12/v10n6.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QcBawNcOFAE" width="320" youtube-src-id="QcBawNcOFAE"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-69802050925134437742021-12-11T07:06:00.000+04:002021-12-11T07:06:35.350+04:00Tibet, at Drepung Monastery<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNoVX5y7pDgTRLW0ouAmkLdSdwhnlNSGh7hEdVJAI0iGb6mJxQqM4RLDX5k8C-b-wW492sl7Csn5i_l4QkPHJ3AsOGaa6geqhOh4N-KJSA34SzZg4it3aec1rl-dPnQTmjdNQcbj5dl4E/s853/Drepung+Cover.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoNoVX5y7pDgTRLW0ouAmkLdSdwhnlNSGh7hEdVJAI0iGb6mJxQqM4RLDX5k8C-b-wW492sl7Csn5i_l4QkPHJ3AsOGaa6geqhOh4N-KJSA34SzZg4it3aec1rl-dPnQTmjdNQcbj5dl4E/s320/Drepung+Cover.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">About 8
kms west of Lhasa, we can find Drepung Monastery, located a slope of Mount
Gephel. Surrounding the monastery we will see many houses and building with
white walls and roofs scattered along the hill. Because of this the monastery
is also called “rice heap” monastery.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">On the way to the monastery we can see a large stone painting
on the hill which seems to depict a deity. It is the painting of Tsong Kha Pa,
the founder of the Gelug School of thought in Buddhism. In this tradition, the classical
Indian treatises are studied with great detail using dialectical method. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Drepung
monastery was founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choge Tashi Palden, one of </span>Tsong
Kha Pa<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> main
disciples and also known as the second Dalai Lama. Drepung was the largest
monastery in the world, and was housing around 7,700 monks during the hey days.
Historically, Drepung used to be the seat of political and religious power in
Tibet, before the Potala Palace was built, in part due to it being the primary
seat of the Gelug School. In 1530, the second Dalai Lama built his palace here,
known as the Ganden Palace, which was used until the Potala Palace was built.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Drepung
monastery complex is large, and if we wish to visit all main buildings, it will
take you all day. Most of the visitors choose the most important buildings,
such as the </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Grand Sutra Hall<span style="background: white;">, the Ganden Palace and a few chapels nearby.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Grand Sutra Hall <span style="background: white;">(Tsogchen)
is the largest structure in the complex
and the most impressive. The </span>Grand Sutra Hall</span><span style="background: white; color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">is a 3 storey building with the large terrace
overlooking the city of Lhasa and the valley. The main statue there is the
3-floors high Maitreya (Future) Buddha. In addition, there are statues of
Shakyamuni Buddha (Siddhārtha Gautama) , </span>Tsong Kha Pa<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">, 13th Dalai Lama and
protectors in the chapels.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">The
middle row of the </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">Grand Sutra Hall <span style="background: white;">contains holy stupa for the 3rd Dalai Lama; the
northern one contains the holy stupa for the 4th Dalai Lama; and the southern
one contains the holy stupa for Chilai Gyamco.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">THE END<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Sources:</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.china.org.cn/english/travel/58181.htm">http://www.china.org.cn/english/travel/58181.htm</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p><br /></p>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRwd5ZDJR0RFNiCMJcbjVQHSZLq6-GMf61opzUgF0pqdm6BfUGopHpSk11wd1gBUSo_k_9ws9u1jJ0_ciiqgRR2L65iaN6tYHW4mjlfdLyvPS00venMUGALf8Bh2qSsSnMelXe-wde5z1/s1600/Copyscape.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="73" data-original-width="406" height="57" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRwd5ZDJR0RFNiCMJcbjVQHSZLq6-GMf61opzUgF0pqdm6BfUGopHpSk11wd1gBUSo_k_9ws9u1jJ0_ciiqgRR2L65iaN6tYHW4mjlfdLyvPS00venMUGALf8Bh2qSsSnMelXe-wde5z1/s320/Copyscape.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<meta content="stenote blogspot: Drepung was the largest monastery in the world, and was housing around 7,700 monks during the hey days." name="description"></meta>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vRzNzXKZhII" width="320" youtube-src-id="vRzNzXKZhII"></iframe></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-91295494299903774892021-11-21T14:42:00.003+04:002021-11-21T14:42:42.961+04:00Rome, at Castel Sant’Angelo<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtG9dw9dww0c_3AZligzFQ45WnNZKA3OFivyyQ8UTx8FQWa0V2hPZyiJ4z41VQDQp0qcZ0h7kmNmb9HCYv-0stn1izuD5DOhVWc5eCrmeoGdKrLsIWwL-fT1YXcxAN2FXEouhtzQfFcMPa/s853/Angelo+Cover.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtG9dw9dww0c_3AZligzFQ45WnNZKA3OFivyyQ8UTx8FQWa0V2hPZyiJ4z41VQDQp0qcZ0h7kmNmb9HCYv-0stn1izuD5DOhVWc5eCrmeoGdKrLsIWwL-fT1YXcxAN2FXEouhtzQfFcMPa/s320/Angelo+Cover.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">On the way to Vatican, we saw a huge round building that
looked like a cholate tart, on the bank of the river Tiber. It is Castel
Sant’Angelo, affectionately nicknamed ‘The Wedding Cake’ by locals due to its appearance.
It is now a museum and has a long history which dates back to ancient Rome. Started
as an ancient imperial tomb of Emperor Hadrian in the year 138, turned into
fortress in the year 401, then functioning also as prison for many centuries. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Among the prisoners were the sculptor Benvenuto
Cellini, charged with crime of sodomy; the philosopher Giordano Bruno, sentenced
to death as a hardline heretic; Giuseppe Balsamo, known as a conman sorcerer; Beatrice
Cenci, a noblewoman sentenced to death accused for having killed her abusive
father. The prison was also the drama setting for the third act opera of
Giacomo Puccini's Tosca.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this tragic
scene, Tosca, overwhelmed by the death of her lover, jumps to death to escape
capture by her enemies from the wall of the prison. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p>On top of the castle we can see a statue of an angel holding
a sword but not in a brandishing way, rather the angel is depicted to lower his
sword to return it to the sheath. Why is it like that? According to legend, at the end of the sixth
century AD, a terrible plague fell upon the city, named as the Justinian plague, with thousands
falling ill and the bodies of the dead choking the street. The disease spread
as far north as Denmark and west to Ireland, then further to Africa, the Middle
East and Asia Minor. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Pope Gregory then led a procession through the city, praying
to God to spare those who still lived. Looking up to the old mausoleum of Emperor
Hadrian, long fallen into disuse and ruin, Pope Gregory had a vision of a radiant
figure high atop the massive tomb. It was the Archangel Michael, his
outstretched wings, glowing brightly and holding a bloody sword and then lowering
it to return it back in the sheath. The Pope saw this as a sign of the end of
the plague that had been raging for about 50 years. Indeed, after this vision,
the plague ended, therefore the Castle was named as Castel Sant Angelo – Castle
of the Holy Angel. The current bronze statue of Archangel Michael on top of the
building was created in 1748 by Peter Anton von Verschaffelt, a Flemish
sculptor, to replace the marble statue damaged by time.</span><o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66JVFxwNi18nNHT_ue-U_76iAq8ZlBQApoN8zxV6elVbUXXp3I55d7zbOdVhBivevYl4_OXrO6-E-70ODyHx4K7nOrcvkpkbuNV0vcPHESpglGzFKMchjuo_REQ-9L5hlKi2Vw_C2VobM/s2000/Arch+Angel+Wikimedia.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="1502" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66JVFxwNi18nNHT_ue-U_76iAq8ZlBQApoN8zxV6elVbUXXp3I55d7zbOdVhBivevYl4_OXrO6-E-70ODyHx4K7nOrcvkpkbuNV0vcPHESpglGzFKMchjuo_REQ-9L5hlKi2Vw_C2VobM/s320/Arch+Angel+Wikimedia.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Wikimedia</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Castel Sant’Angelo was slowly turned into a fortress and in
1277 it was acquired by the papacy. Popes used the castle as a refuge in this fortified
structure in times of danger. Living conditions inside the fortress were
probably not very comfortable, so Pope Paulus III decorated many of the rooms
inside the Castel with beautiful frescoes, mostly done by Perino del Vaga. The
most beautiful room is undoubtedly the Sala Paolina, with its lavishly
decorated walls and ceiling. In the beginning of the 14<sup>th</sup> century,
the Castle became the summer castle for the Pope. In 1901 it was converted to become
a national museum, named the Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">THE END<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Sources:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.romawonder.com/castel-santangelo-facts-history/">https://www.romawonder.com/castel-santangelo-facts-history/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://corvinus.nl/2016/06/01/rome-castel-santangelo/">https://corvinus.nl/2016/06/01/rome-castel-santangelo/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRwd5ZDJR0RFNiCMJcbjVQHSZLq6-GMf61opzUgF0pqdm6BfUGopHpSk11wd1gBUSo_k_9ws9u1jJ0_ciiqgRR2L65iaN6tYHW4mjlfdLyvPS00venMUGALf8Bh2qSsSnMelXe-wde5z1/s1600/Copyscape.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="73" data-original-width="406" height="57" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRwd5ZDJR0RFNiCMJcbjVQHSZLq6-GMf61opzUgF0pqdm6BfUGopHpSk11wd1gBUSo_k_9ws9u1jJ0_ciiqgRR2L65iaN6tYHW4mjlfdLyvPS00venMUGALf8Bh2qSsSnMelXe-wde5z1/s320/Copyscape.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<meta content="Rome, at Castel SantÁngelo: affectionately nicknamed ‘The Wedding Cake’ by locals due to its appearance." name="description"></meta>
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<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SZxpSRJtSWA" width="320" youtube-src-id="SZxpSRJtSWA"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-9457387260646243802021-11-06T07:58:00.000+04:002021-11-06T07:58:07.181+04:00Rome, at the Spanish Steps<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAeHnB3bY9Iu3YFq_leRzyf4z9_kO-M9g4E5-hQWvFrwYqte5YGWq7WU1p-9pz1IU-sZKsKt0sbvWsEXOzWaEN1nPfHlITqObbB97LoGG7Tq266Ryajdp9UDcdDG5YlxR_g8LlY-DHIlOV/s853/Spanis+Steps+Cover.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAeHnB3bY9Iu3YFq_leRzyf4z9_kO-M9g4E5-hQWvFrwYqte5YGWq7WU1p-9pz1IU-sZKsKt0sbvWsEXOzWaEN1nPfHlITqObbB97LoGG7Tq266Ryajdp9UDcdDG5YlxR_g8LlY-DHIlOV/s320/Spanis+Steps+Cover.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Walking for about 1 km from Fontana di Trevi, we will reach
the Spanish Steps. The walk is only around 15 minutes, however in this place,
we can find many interesting buildings in every turn, so it may take longer if
you wish to ‘sight-seeing’ too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p>The giant stone Spanish Steps starts from Piazza di Spagna (the
Spanish Square) up to the Trinità dei Monti church. The 135 steps staircase, built
in 1725 and designed by Alessandro Specki and Francesco De Santis, is a
favourite spot among tourists to sit, relax and enjoy the views of Piazza di
Spagna at the bottom. Piazza di Spagna itself was the location of the Spanish
Embassy for Vatican in the seventeenth century. So the Spanish name was extended
to the square and the steps as well.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p>As I climbed the Spanish Steps in a spring afternoon, in a
moment I remembered the song “Credo” by the rock group Refugee: </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I believe in constant pauses<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Like a Roman holiday<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">And I often stop for air <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;">As I climb the Spanish stairs<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Indeed I often stopped for air, and near the top of the
steps I also stopped and looked down to the Piazza di Spagna. This square is an
important way to connect to the historic centre of the city and a famous
gathering place for locals and foreigners. Some of the city’s most iconic
streets branch off the square, such as Via del Condotti, Via del Babuino, Via
della Propaganda and Via Sistina.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p>At the centre of the square lies the Fontana della
Barcaccia, a fountain featuring a half-shrunk stone ship sculpted by Pietro
Bernini, father of Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
The name Fontana della Barkaca means “Fountain of the Old Boat” as it has the
form of a sinking ship based upon a folk legend. According to the legend, as
the River Tiber flooded in 1598, water carried a small boat into the Piazza di
Spagna. When the water receded, the boat was deposited in the center of the
square, and it was this boat that inspired Bernini's creation.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">THE END<o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>
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<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eBfYpwPp3oM" width="320" youtube-src-id="eBfYpwPp3oM"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-52387403822122623802021-10-03T13:43:00.000+04:002021-10-03T13:43:12.952+04:00An Interview with Martin<p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97tZFyr-vRTLp1r3xtH260T8CSCPthBUaypg5UK4bTMLNghzpjPiqViZmawrtSh-j2yRdPRMlrxUuPJw0OSDND8am5lwGM1gac9OcErjA3kDGyrCDv-HEemIJIB-hCEurGo2EfEWxmmWE/s294/Photo+Heidegger-+Wikimedia.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97tZFyr-vRTLp1r3xtH260T8CSCPthBUaypg5UK4bTMLNghzpjPiqViZmawrtSh-j2yRdPRMlrxUuPJw0OSDND8am5lwGM1gac9OcErjA3kDGyrCDv-HEemIJIB-hCEurGo2EfEWxmmWE/s0/Photo+Heidegger-+Wikimedia.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Wikimedia</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I had the pleasure visiting Martin's hut, often referred to
as “die Hütte", at Todtnauberg, on the edge of the Black Forest, southern
Germany. He considered the seclusion provided by the forest to be the best
environment in which to engage in his philosophical thought, and here was where
he wrote his most famous book Being and Time. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">It is a small ski hut measuring six meters by seven, the low
hanging roof covers three rooms: the kitchen which is also the living room, a
bedroom and a study. Scattered at wide intervals throughout the narrow base of
the valley and on the equally steep slope opposite, lie farmhouses with their
large over-hanging roofs. Higher up the slope the meadows and pasture lands
lead to the woods with its dark fir-tress, old and towering…This is his work
world. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">That day he hiked the way up mountain, then ski back down,
he is an avid hiker and an accomplished skier.
I greeted him at the hut front door this short and stout professor with
dark piercing eyes, his sun tan face gleaming. We sat at the coffee table,
ready to discuss ‘Being and Time’. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“According to Plato truth is determined by how it relates to
the world and whether it accurately corresponds with that world, true beliefs
and true statements correspond to the facts. What is truth according to you?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Martin, talking slowly and deliberately:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“For Plato, and those that followed, truth meant
correctness, a correspondence between knowledge, judgement, and the object. This view of truth implies that the experience
of truth is structured in terms of the relationship between a subject and an
object. There is an essential difference between viewing truth as correctness,
and truth as unconcealment , Aletheia. Truth as correctness has ignored the experience
of truth as an opening that lets unconcealment occur. In unconcealment, truth
lies not only in a judgement, but in the human existence itself. To draw real
things from concealedness to unconcealedness, Aletheia, requires a certain
'light'. This light is the existence of Being (Dasein) itself, its being-in-the-world.
Because of Dasein’s open-stance,
which involves engagement to the world as a whole, it is able to unconceal,
opening up its world for itself. “<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif">“You reportedly saw the painting of Van Gogh “A
pair of shoes” on an exhibition in Amsterdam
and you were impressed by it. Tell us about your insight on the painting.”</span><br /></span><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcjBGFSn6Bewh7VWicGP3zA7Si_y8JANli0ka6QWaDpFg7o4hhLWuTS8oLzNxlcawWuYODqOmR0uRicyvTo67nPRlyE-2bWGFhlVOhhuLY-L6KIk7uGskHh5YihkDGwH2HofQXUIUbANh/s246/Photo+Van+Gogh+Shoes+Wikimedia.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="205" data-original-width="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcjBGFSn6Bewh7VWicGP3zA7Si_y8JANli0ka6QWaDpFg7o4hhLWuTS8oLzNxlcawWuYODqOmR0uRicyvTo67nPRlyE-2bWGFhlVOhhuLY-L6KIk7uGskHh5YihkDGwH2HofQXUIUbANh/s0/Photo+Van+Gogh+Shoes+Wikimedia.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Wikimedia</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Martin, smiling:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“As long as we only imagine a pair of shoes in general, or
simply look at the empty, unused shoes as they merely stand there in the
picture, we shall never discover what the equipmental being of the equipment in
truth is. From Van Gogh’s painting we cannot even tell where these shoes stand.
There is nothing surrounding this pair of peasant shoes in or to which they
might belong — only an undefined space. There are not even clods of soil from
the field or the field-path sticking to them, which would at least hint at
their use. A pair of peasant shoes and nothing more. And yet. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">From the dark opening of the worn insides of the shoes the
toilsome tread of the worker stares forth. In the stiffly rugged heaviness of
the shoes there is the accumulated tenacity of her slow trudge through the
far-spreading and ever-uniform furrows of the field swept by a raw wind. On the
leather lie the dampness and richness of the soil. Under the soles slides the
loneliness of the field-path as evening falls. In the shoes vibrate the silent
call of the earth, its quiet gift of the ripening grain and its unexplained
self-refusal in the fallow desolation of the wintry field."</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“Your insight on this painting of rugged old shoes is very interesting,
it unconceals both the being of the shoes and the peasant women’s world to us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The painting lets us know what the shoes are
in truth, and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it is not separable from
the entities in the world, including the one who unconceals the entities and
also oneself, Dasein. According to your book Being and Time this is authentic
Dasein, authentic Being-in-the world, Dasein’s understanding about the truth”.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Martin:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“Unconcealment can occur authentically, without a set of
predispositions. Entities are initially manifest but nevertheless concealed in
what they most authentically are. Authenticity by contrast, consists in Dasein
learning to “uncover the world in its own way … this uncovering of the ‘world’ is
… always accomplished as a clearing away of concealments and obscurities, as a
breaking up of the disguises with which Dasein bars its own way.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“You further described that authentic Dasein means being something
of its own, not someone else, the Dasein that does not bow to assertion of the
mass, the public, which you call as ‘das Man’, or the ‘they’. The authentic
Dasein does not choose to follow tastes, interests, fashions, pop culture that
are made as consumer goods. Authentic Dasein is thereby opposed to inauthentic,
public Dasein, which is what Dasein is when submitting to the control of a
not-oneself, the public, the ‘they’, das Man. Authentic Dasein chooses its own
possibilities and acts on them, shutting out the voice of das Man and with it
the public understanding of the world.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Martin:<br />
“Yes, Dasein is authentically itself only to the extent that, as concernful
Being-alongside and solicitous Being-with, it projects itself upon its ownmost
potentiality-for-Being rather than upon the possibility of das Man. Becoming
authentic requires a process of self-assertion and self-initiated liberation
from the temptations of inauthentic understanding. In its normal, everyday way
of living in the world, Dasein is under the dominion of inauthentic understanding. Dasein has
a tendency to become absorbed in the concerns and possibilities that the world
presents to it as valuable. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Das Man comforts Dasein by hiding the truth from it, an act
that Dasein is complicit with. As a result, the particular Dasein in its everydayness is disburdened by
das Man. Not only that; by thus disburdening it of its Being, das Man
accommodates Dasein if Dasein has any tendency to take things easily and make
them easy. And because das Man constantly accommodates the particular Dasein by
disburdening it of its Being, das Man retains and enhances its stubborn
dominion. Inauthenticity is a “tranquilizing” way of existing.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“What do you mean inauthencity is “tranquilizing” way of
existing?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Martin:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“In utilizing public means of transport and in making use of
information services such as the newspaper, every Other is like the next . . . . We take
pleasure and enjoy ourselves as they, de Man, take pleasure; we read, see, and judge about
literature and art as they see and judge; likewise we shrink back from the ‘great mass’ as they shrink
back; we find ‘shocking’ what they find shocking.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“In ‘The Question Concerning Technology’ you viewed
technology negatively. Technology, despite its contribution to humankind in
this modern era, you described it as a major threat to the authentic Dasein.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Martin:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“The coming to presence of technology threatens revealing,
threatens it with the possibility that all revealing will be consumed in
ordering and that everything will present itself only in the unconcealedness of
standing-reserve. Human activity can never directly counter this danger. Human
achievement alone can never banish it. But human reflection can ponder the fact
that all saving power must be of a higher essence than what is endangered,
though at the same time kindred to it.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“In what way does technology is dangerous to human
existence?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Martin:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“Our current modern age is the epoch of technology which manifests
a specific way of understanding and interpreting the world, machination, just
as das Man manifested the public understanding of the world. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p>Machination, as technology’s mode of understanding, is a
“swaying of being”. Machination expands its sway as coercive force. By securing
power, this coercive force develops as the immediately eruptible and always
transformable capability for subjugation . .. . To the extent that in the epoch
of machination that is empowered to its unbounded coercive force man also
grasps himself as animal living-being, the only thing that remains for man
himself . . . is the appearance of self-assertion vis a vis beings. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">But ‘the epoch of technology’ is far more than the control
or enslaving of man by technology. The dominant understanding of reality in the
epoch of technology is largely encompassed by the term ‘calculability,’ meaning
that everything that is real is understood in terms of discrete, calculable,
orderable units, of what can be produced or used for production. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Machination fosters in advance the completely surveyable
calculability of the subjugating empowering of beings to an accessible
arrangement. Machination fosters in advance a particular understanding of
beings such that they are accessible because calculable. Access to beings is
defined by calculability; to grasp what a being is, one must be able to
understand it in a calculable manner. Reality is organized, ordered, something
counted and assembled from parts. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">What it is to exist, according to the epoch of technology,
is to be calculable; the world is understood as calculable, goals and purposes
are understood in terms of calculability and producibility, i.e., as discrete
entities consisting of potential forces that can be harnessed for ends.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“That being said, if anything, can one do? “<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Martin:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“Wherever man opens his eyes and ears, unlocks his heart,
and gives himself over to meditating and striving, shaping and working,
entreating and thanking, he finds himself everywhere already brought into the
unconcealed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p>Man’s proper stance is to slow down, take a breath, and
observe the world around. Man is always in a world full of meanings that come
from beyond him, and the most important step to realizing that, by drawing away
from the modern rush and allowing the world itself to show itself as it is,
without trying to master it.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">“<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">In ‘The
Origin of the Work of Art’ you said that the nature of art is poetry and the
nature of poetry, in turn, is the founding of truth. A work of art has the
ability to set up a world. World is a self-opening openness of the</span> <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">broad paths of simple and essential
decisions in the destiny of a historical people. Art creates meaning by
allowing letting truth arise, by means of which Being becomes comprehensible.
The meaning of a work of art cannot be considered separately from the
conversation that the work initiates and which the artist anticipates. Can you
explain this please.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-size: large;">Martin:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-size: large;">“What poetry,
as illuminating projection, unfolds of unconcealedness and projects ahead into
the design of the figure, is the open which poetry lets happen, and indeed in
such a way that only now, in the midst of beings, the open brings beings to
shine and ring out.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">I like to
cite the poem ‘Autumn’ by </span>Friedrich Hölderlin:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Nature’s gleaming is higher revealing,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Where with many joys the day draws to an end,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">It is the year that completes itself in resplendence,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Where fruit come together with beaming radiance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Earth’s orb is thus adorned, and rarely clamours<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Sound through the open field, the sun warms<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The day of autumn mildly, the fields lie<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">As a great wide view, the breezes blow<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Through boughs and branches, rustling gladly,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">When then already to emptiness the fields give way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The whole meaning of this bright image lives<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">As an image, golden splendour hovering all about<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">This poem of Hölderlin is capable of awakening us the ‘astonishing’
and to the wonder of the ‘extraordinary’ in ‘the ordinary’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We think of the images of the landscape which
are resplendent. Yet the landscape is not yet nature itself, ‘being’ (sein) is
not ‘Being’ (Dasein) itself. Nature lets shine forth everything that belongs to
the landscape. In the look of landscape, which nature grants, the gleaming of
nature is higher revealing, that is to say, of divine essence. “<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;">THE END</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">This is an imaginary
interview in memory of Martin Heidegger<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Sources:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Derek R. O’Connell-
Heidegger’s Authenticity<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/158301888.pdf<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">MJ Geertsema - Heidegger’s
onto-poetology: the poetic projection of Being<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">https://www.e-publicacoes.uerj.br
› download<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Heidegger">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Heidegger</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRwd5ZDJR0RFNiCMJcbjVQHSZLq6-GMf61opzUgF0pqdm6BfUGopHpSk11wd1gBUSo_k_9ws9u1jJ0_ciiqgRR2L65iaN6tYHW4mjlfdLyvPS00venMUGALf8Bh2qSsSnMelXe-wde5z1/s1600/Copyscape.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="73" data-original-width="406" height="57" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRwd5ZDJR0RFNiCMJcbjVQHSZLq6-GMf61opzUgF0pqdm6BfUGopHpSk11wd1gBUSo_k_9ws9u1jJ0_ciiqgRR2L65iaN6tYHW4mjlfdLyvPS00venMUGALf8Bh2qSsSnMelXe-wde5z1/s320/Copyscape.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<meta content="An Interview with Martin: This light is the existence of Being (Dasein) itself, its being-in-the-world." name="description"></meta>
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<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UX_dYjelb4Y" width="320" youtube-src-id="UX_dYjelb4Y"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-87050909954343530242021-10-03T12:13:00.000+04:002021-10-03T12:13:02.586+04:00Rome, at Fontana di Trevi<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwl6Rn9cYgb7bOoKkm7hliq_KsCfFeKEDkIXy9M1bkcmpfas2zQ1Tuem01MsfPO9GBl6g1k7PcZWZdnGkKLcFIHzC3ag8iSD24-_FIB8Haq8jJs7Q7whAHfLgEblsEU5MVsoSmKpLetoRS/s853/Trevi+Cover.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwl6Rn9cYgb7bOoKkm7hliq_KsCfFeKEDkIXy9M1bkcmpfas2zQ1Tuem01MsfPO9GBl6g1k7PcZWZdnGkKLcFIHzC3ag8iSD24-_FIB8Haq8jJs7Q7whAHfLgEblsEU5MVsoSmKpLetoRS/s320/Trevi+Cover.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wherever we go, grandeur
monuments are usually located in a spacious popular plaza to enhance the
monument’s grandeur presence and importance. We can easily navigate these
monuments as the location must have been popular and we can see the place from
a distance. But this monument that we are going to visit is different, it is
stuck in a narrow square surrounded by buildings, restaurants, shops in the
middle of the city. There are many streets leading to this place, they are
narrow streets passing through ancient buildings, restaurants, shops. Surrounded
by building, while walking we cannot see what is a head of us in a distance. Thus,
coming from via del Lavatore, as we turned the corner, the suddenly monument emerged
in front of our eyes with its grandeur, with a distinct sound of gushing water.
Statues of ancient Greek mythological figures stand out in the fountain,
presenting a drama in the green water. The crowd admire the monument from the
side of the fountain, and trying to figure out what the display is telling us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">It is Fontana di Trevi,
the grand fountain depicting Oceanus, the Sea God, the divine personification
of the ocean, standing in a shell chariot to tame the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shell chariot is drawn by winged horses
led by Tritons, one Triton struggles with a wild horse whilst the other Triton
hold a tamed one. The theme “Taming of the Waters” is presented in grandiose
baroque style at the backdrop of Palazzo Poli. Designed by Italian architect Nicola
Salvi in 1732 and completed by Giuseppe Panini in 1762 after the death of
Nicola Salvi, and was decorated by artists from Bernini School. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its facade and reef were constructed using
Travertine, an elegant natural stone formed by hot springs near Tivoli. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">In ancient Rome, water
was worshipped as divine substance and the availability of huge water supplies
was considered a symbol of opulence and therefore an expression of power. The
Fontana di Trevi water is supplied by the Aqua Virgo duct, an aqueduct
originally completed in 19 BC by Marcus Agrippa. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aqueducts serve to transport freshwater from water
source in highland about 13 kms away through ducts on top of arcades and
underground. Gravity alone was utilized to transport enough water for most of
the civilization, yet the aqueducts had very small gradients to do so. The
design and construction to create aqueducts transporting high volume of water
over long distances and varying terrains demonstrates the wealth of the
civilization constructing it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this
context, the theme “Taming of the Waters” portrays in dramatic way the Greek Sea
God Oceanus taming the waters, like the way the ancient Roman aqueduct arranged
the water and the civilization’s amazing ability to control and manipulate
water.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">The 11 aqueducts of ancient
Rome ensured enough water supply into the city to provide for more than a
million inhabitants, but the Aqua Virgo duct terminating at Fontana di Trevi is
the only aqueduct still being used in modern times as it mostly ran underground.
Today, most of the water is recycled for environmental reasons, but the source
is still from the ancient Aqua Virgo duct.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the crowd we can
see some people throw coin into the fountain over his opposite shoulder. This habit
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>root back thousands of years BC, whereby
valuable items were tossed into water sources to keep the water gods happy. In
modern times, we still do that with a wish to return to Rome. Around 3,000 Euro
is tossed into the fountain every day, the money is collected each night and
given to a charity that supports the needy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fontana di Trevi is
really a dramatic fountain that scathed an wonderful memory of Rome, so when we
leave Rome this time saying “Arrivederci Roma”, Goodbye Rome, we wish to hear
“Bentornato a Roma”, Welcome back to Rome, the next time…..<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">THE END<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Sources:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">http://engineeringrome.org/roman-water-displays-as-a-sign-of-status/<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">https://www.hisour.com/famous-fountains-discover-flow-water-rome-italian-youth-committee-unesco-16424/<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRwd5ZDJR0RFNiCMJcbjVQHSZLq6-GMf61opzUgF0pqdm6BfUGopHpSk11wd1gBUSo_k_9ws9u1jJ0_ciiqgRR2L65iaN6tYHW4mjlfdLyvPS00venMUGALf8Bh2qSsSnMelXe-wde5z1/s1600/Copyscape.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="73" data-original-width="406" height="57" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRwd5ZDJR0RFNiCMJcbjVQHSZLq6-GMf61opzUgF0pqdm6BfUGopHpSk11wd1gBUSo_k_9ws9u1jJ0_ciiqgRR2L65iaN6tYHW4mjlfdLyvPS00venMUGALf8Bh2qSsSnMelXe-wde5z1/s320/Copyscape.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fRQBMVmDet8" width="320" youtube-src-id="fRQBMVmDet8"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-66056622663528051982021-08-14T06:08:00.002+04:002021-08-14T06:17:11.887+04:00Narita, at the Airport<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGt_sWeFanIaaed_g8PvMchJPkjg_A7pwYGKEkrsYgbOwmhcUeL0POD_BepiTKfZbV2beUiSAR0v3y7HCYjbgfSSAG81CI43OXe_42LbSoIbv_SMkCfgYxLi7wfdSb-2cByi_oggxMdDIO/s853/Narita+Cover.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGt_sWeFanIaaed_g8PvMchJPkjg_A7pwYGKEkrsYgbOwmhcUeL0POD_BepiTKfZbV2beUiSAR0v3y7HCYjbgfSSAG81CI43OXe_42LbSoIbv_SMkCfgYxLi7wfdSb-2cByi_oggxMdDIO/s320/Narita+Cover.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I must confess that I like Airports, to experience the atmosphere, to
observe the architecture, to see people travelling and the unformed air crew
walking like on a catwalk, the decorations, the spacious and clean toilets, and
not to mentioned good stuffs in the souvenir shops not found in the city. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, I like to leave our hotel early, apart from to get enough time to
travel in case there are traffic jams on
the way, or in case I board the wrong bus or train, or get on the wrong
terminal, I just like to come to the airport early. Arriving early also give us enough time to
check-in, considering that sometimes the queues are very long, to go the
faraway tax refund counter, then going through the lengthy security check, and
passport check. Depending the country, the security check could be slow and
annoying, and so is passport checking. So, allow time for that. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The travel from downtown Tokyo to Narita is about 60 km, if we take the non-stop
express train it will take about one hour depending on our hotel location, the
door-to-door journey takes between 90 and 120 minutes. Many train stations in
Tokyo are huge, have confusing layouts, the direction signs are not so clear
and most of them do not speak English, so it is hard to find your train if you
are not familiar with the train station. So learn first the train station
though the website, and even better if you come before your travel to
familiarize the layout. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Like other travel writers, I have to frequently fly solo, I generally
arrive at the airport more than two hours before my flight. This way I get time
to wander around the airport corridors, looking at the fabulous design of
luxury brand shops, hearing the crispy announcements, watching various
airplanes landing and taking-off. At the
Narita Terminal 1 and 2 observation decks, we will have a perfect view of the planes
landing and taking off, and from the corridor windows we can see the parked and
taxiing planes. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">The airport is also great for people watching, I think every one like to
do that, to look at the excitement on the face most of the travelers, the cool
frequent travelers, the worried face of the late travelers, the honeymooners,
but there are also sad faces. In Narita most of them are trendy upper middle class
people, the older dressed neatly ironed clothes with hats, the younger more hip
hop and bright. I also saw a couple of lovers, the woman looked like in the
early 30’s wearing very boutique like clothes, shoes, bag and colored hair while
the man much younger in the early 20’s wearing red black checkered shirt loosely
and baggy pants. They looked so much in love. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you missed a meal before travelling to Narita, the Airport has many restaurants
decent to good food, a wide variety of Japanese food, tempura, yakiniku,
tonkatsu, sushi, ramen, and soba, but also Western, Chinese and vegetarian food.
Unlike any other airports, food here is also not much more expensive than in
central Tokyo. If you are in a hurry go for the ramen noodles, you fill full enough
and have more time to wander. In one of the ramen noodles shop I saw a teenage
girl with a teddy bear backpack, eating her ramen thoughtlessly, she seemed to
miss someone left behind in Tokyo. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you still have time, try the Japanese specialty snacks, dried foods,
crackers, tea, jams, and the like. There are many types of rice crackers flavoured
with various taste from garlic, miso to seaweed. There are also chocolate-covered wafers
flavoured like matcha tea, wasabi, plum, sake, melon, peach, grape.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">But hurry-up grab your snacks, your plane is waiting!</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: DengXian; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">THE END</span><br /><p><br /></p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CpsEoHc4TaM" width="320" youtube-src-id="CpsEoHc4TaM"></iframe></div><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-50626182444534390432021-07-31T15:58:00.002+04:002021-07-31T16:10:02.863+04:00A train from Tokyo to Narita Airport<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXyKZPgy3E8U7fPKvShCza1dMKP0I-R5dpyjXy03J_qgIPa1og9fmFQfi8fZUasBzGzidR6Q5qB5oyB803idKP4CbzDGxcxFlG3ZEvn6GI0VTIDJ8p1G5vt6QkrJtDJC7GCmLRyAjwwp4/s853/Narita+Train+Cover.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyXyKZPgy3E8U7fPKvShCza1dMKP0I-R5dpyjXy03J_qgIPa1og9fmFQfi8fZUasBzGzidR6Q5qB5oyB803idKP4CbzDGxcxFlG3ZEvn6GI0VTIDJ8p1G5vt6QkrJtDJC7GCmLRyAjwwp4/s320/Narita+Train+Cover.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">As Tokyo is such a big city and Narita Airport is located about
60 km from downtown Tokyo, we have to travel about one hour from Tokyo train
station to the Narita Airport. There are many ways to go from Tokyo to Narita
Airport, we can choose train, bus or taxi. I choose to travel by express train,
it is not the cheapest, but it is most comfortable and the travel duration is
certain. If we take bus or taxi, we never know whether there is traffic jam on
the road, and we could be stuck for hours on the road. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">With the ticket price of around 3,000 yen one way and 4,000
yen round trip, the Narita Express train offers comfortable seats with spacious
leg room, large toilets. Not to mentioned the very clean and quite atmosphere
found in most of the trains in Japan. We can only hear the monotone clacking
sound of the train railway which is soothing and tranquilizing. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The train departs every 30 minutes and always on time, so we
can rely on the travel plan based on the train schedule. But as the layout of
train station in Tokyo is complicated, we must first familiarize with the train
station layout to avoid getting on the wrong train or wasting time searching
for the right platform. We can search in the internet or survey it ourselves
before the departure. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The journey from Tokyo to Narita Airport will pass urban
towns, it is enjoyable to watch the scenes of Tokyo passing by the window, the
concrete buildings of the city gradually disappear as the countryside of Chiba appears.
The dreamy journey ends as we hear announcement that the train is approaching
the airport. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">We need to get ready to disembark if our flight is located
in Terminal 2, and pick-up our luggage. The train will only stop for a while as
it will continue to Terminal 1. Therefore it is more convenient not to lock-up your
baggage at the storage rack, because if you forget the code to unlock it then you
have to ride the train till the end terminal, Terminal 1, to get it unlocked by
the officer. Not to mention that you have to convince the officer the luggage
is yours. It could really mess-up your well planned journey. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">I saw this Japanese lady went pale and breathless as she
forgot the code, nervously asking in Japanese how to get it unlocked. Her young
daughter also looked helpless. I hope their flight didn’t say ‘sayonara’ to them
on take-off. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt;">THE END</span></p>
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<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AqlGr14AMl8" width="320" youtube-src-id="AqlGr14AMl8"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-13038357540776237222021-06-26T05:30:00.002+04:002021-06-26T05:30:34.049+04:00Tokyo, at Meiji Shrine<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkFrn4g-L0S3JJjUEFRJ4XUNSIgInBZCibZFNOKA_K3lew1_bAdSu6OcihMoSYJA2ll9B4BUBzY3v0XuLQe8BI_wAKCe2GibeLeKcbzipOmp2YEbKKFWqC3Qm3IR3oh9LkaNGk3QjqhJq/s853/Meiji+Cover.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkFrn4g-L0S3JJjUEFRJ4XUNSIgInBZCibZFNOKA_K3lew1_bAdSu6OcihMoSYJA2ll9B4BUBzY3v0XuLQe8BI_wAKCe2GibeLeKcbzipOmp2YEbKKFWqC3Qm3IR3oh9LkaNGk3QjqhJq/s320/Meiji+Cover.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Entering the Meiji
Shrine ground from Harayuku station we will find a huge wooden torii gate which
marks the beginning of this Shinto shrine. Like other Shinto shrines, a visit
to this place is like a pilgrimage which gradually transforms the world from
the mortal to the sacral. The torii gate serves as the entrance dividing the profane
human world from the sacred home of the divine spirit (Kami). We see people
bowing when they pass under the torii, to show respect as they enter into the sacred
site.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Then we follow the winding
gravel path approaching the shrine, called sando. The pathway is surrounded by huge
trees, like a deep tranquil forest. It
doesn’t feel like we are in the middle of Tokyo, in Shibuya district, one of
the busiest commercial area. In this serene forest we can only hear the sound
of birds chirping and the visitors’ footsteps on the gravel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The shrine is
dedicated to the divine spirit (Kami) of Emperor Meiji and the Empress Shoken. Emperor
Meiji laid the foundation of modernization of Japan, known as the Meiji
Restoration, ending the Tokugawa shogunate influence. Under his leadership Japan
adopted Western ideas and production methods to industrialize the country. Japan
opened the country to the world and emerged from a closed society to one of the
most modern societies in the world, in less than 40 years. After the Emperor
died in 1912, the parliament decided to build a memorial site in the area near Yoyogi
Park, this shrine site, because the emperor and his wife liked to walk through
the gardens here.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_0yPbXCoHdL5H3SJKwdRvWl4dfwCmh3NmYGrKHNDRDkxRMkdVLQOUPsYDaXa3CPDx4EypasyFMhv1nNaG0emvysNh0MtTf7FJfelRjoaSUUayGBK6-NIIxiulpAczgyRx4YeMDRFeWXN/s637/Photo+Blog+Emperor+Meiji+Wikimedia.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="478" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_0yPbXCoHdL5H3SJKwdRvWl4dfwCmh3NmYGrKHNDRDkxRMkdVLQOUPsYDaXa3CPDx4EypasyFMhv1nNaG0emvysNh0MtTf7FJfelRjoaSUUayGBK6-NIIxiulpAczgyRx4YeMDRFeWXN/s320/Photo+Blog+Emperor+Meiji+Wikimedia.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Wikimedia<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">In Shinto, something divine
is regarded as Kami (divine spirit), it can be found in mythology, in nature,
and in human beings. Japanese people are amazed and have gratitude towards such
Kami and enshrined them. In this way the Meiji Shrine is dedicated to honouring
the Kami of Emperor Meiji and his wife. We can feel the whole site as an
awesome home for the Kami, reflecting how the Japanese people honour and feel grateful
to their emperor and empress.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">The gravel pathway leads
us to a number of sake and wine barrels stacked up along both sides of the pathway.
More than 200 sake barrels were displayed as offering to the Emperor, donated
by famous sake breweries in the country. As the Emperor loved French wines, wine
barrels were imported from France and displayed along with the sake barrels. <o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJARmwHirLZBbkoyEGsP6wH2cu1H_ry_q2bu17lzqZrBy_fiIbyfiTheMKPleAKk6dPEN-DNfDDFHzG7AiUHwiTY4xbWPOLQ-YA0IdIFACEuHw1JCNIJRzr1pfDHBSDJju-aaaMwUuwaw/s853/Photo+Blog+Barrels.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqJARmwHirLZBbkoyEGsP6wH2cu1H_ry_q2bu17lzqZrBy_fiIbyfiTheMKPleAKk6dPEN-DNfDDFHzG7AiUHwiTY4xbWPOLQ-YA0IdIFACEuHw1JCNIJRzr1pfDHBSDJju-aaaMwUuwaw/s320/Photo+Blog+Barrels.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Own Work<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">Passing the Ootori (Second
Torii Gate), we reach the Temizusha (water
font) at the entrance to the main sanctuary, to wash your hands and cleanse
mouths. Wooden ladles are provided at this water font so we can wash our hands
and cleanse our mouths. This is a ritual to purify ourselves before entering the
main sanctuary.</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Before entering the
main sanctuary we can also go to the Juyosho, Amulet Kiosk, to buy charms and
amulets or writing our wish on an ema, a wooden tablet. People wrote everything
from wishing good luck, passing exams, to get a child, love and broken hearts,
forgiveness and gratefulness. There are also omamori (protective amulets) for
traffic safety, health, or success in education. Omamori are usually attached
to or put into a bag, purse or pocket, and kept until they have fulfilled their
purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEelhkP50nf73xxaMGkyLzdk3Ds9s1BR3HiNNUtiMg7Btm9UGiHDWclNEr4eNjy5Ist0lUqDQgc0r142hrduKT8SKBR_t7sT2qKJHV45tY_nrDh5LSYnx9NQnAELDgZXv-n-l1X4cJmD1z/s853/Photo+Blog+Amultes.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEelhkP50nf73xxaMGkyLzdk3Ds9s1BR3HiNNUtiMg7Btm9UGiHDWclNEr4eNjy5Ist0lUqDQgc0r142hrduKT8SKBR_t7sT2qKJHV45tY_nrDh5LSYnx9NQnAELDgZXv-n-l1X4cJmD1z/s320/Photo+Blog+Amultes.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Own Work</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Then we approach Minami
Shinmon, the main entrance to the main shrine complex. The gate is a two-story
building, made from Japanese hinoki cypress, and copper roof. We can see small
heart-shaped patterns carved into the wood work as ornament. When passing
through the gate, we must step over the wooden beam under the gate, and not
step on it, and bow our head to show respect while passing through the gate.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSeEFdeUP4vQuESfhjRyZVLOaETwh2gDU5Kg6kSGtzrk1M6d9oky5EMbKPeXiAZBeQ-1ysXxBdf31pq00SY25VHfAISG1_zueAT1ZN_orPL0Oxl1kPxDg6EpLjACj1AC7IV_zFVI-MLo2/s853/Photo+Blog+Main+Gate.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="853" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSeEFdeUP4vQuESfhjRyZVLOaETwh2gDU5Kg6kSGtzrk1M6d9oky5EMbKPeXiAZBeQ-1ysXxBdf31pq00SY25VHfAISG1_zueAT1ZN_orPL0Oxl1kPxDg6EpLjACj1AC7IV_zFVI-MLo2/s320/Photo+Blog+Main+Gate.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Own Work<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">On the east side of
the main shrine complex there is the Kaguraden, a building where the Shinto
people pray and participate in the special ritual (Kigansai). During the
special ritual a kagura, or sacred music and dance, Yamato-Mai, is performed as
an offering to the Kami. This sacred dance is based on a poem by Emperor Meiji
saying that we should not forget paying respect to the Kami, as we owe our
existence to the them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Next to the the
Kaguraden, is the most sacred building, the honden, where the Kami are
enshrined. The main shrine is built in the nagare zukuri style, a common style
of Shinto shrine architecture. In this style, the roof at the front of the
shrine is extended covering the steps up to the building. The honden includes
the noritoden (prayer recital hall), the naihaiden (inner shrine hall), and the
gehaiden (outer shrine hall). The gehaiden is at the front of the main shrine,
and is where visitors pray. <o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheE5xWWq-rhTM1Br9CYbLIm3w9B8TDC7TxsKhmipu-45QQcGNuR-F26TcYrsB73tanmPewjReGhUx_aAtEDY2OFKpyTEizC8ci4favD6JoBWYKsC6efhbYbkksTeyEIqofiRxLeHotcJ4v/s1024/Photo+Meiji_shrine_Wikimedia.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheE5xWWq-rhTM1Br9CYbLIm3w9B8TDC7TxsKhmipu-45QQcGNuR-F26TcYrsB73tanmPewjReGhUx_aAtEDY2OFKpyTEizC8ci4favD6JoBWYKsC6efhbYbkksTeyEIqofiRxLeHotcJ4v/s320/Photo+Meiji_shrine_Wikimedia.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Abrahami -Wikimedia<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">On the way-out we pass
through the Iris garden, a beautiful garden designed by the emperor for his
wife. In summer, many types of irises, the empress' favorite, blooming in
violet, blue, and white colors. Further down there is the Kiyomasa’s well a
pure spring. It is named after a military commander who dug it around 400 years
ago. The well was visited frequently by the emperor and empress while they were
alive.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">THE END</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Sources:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="IN"><a href="https://www.meijijingu.or.jp/en/map/"><span lang="EN-US">https://www.meijijingu.or.jp/en/map/</span></a></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" lang="IN" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: IN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: DengXian; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://www.eastwestcenter.org/sites/default/files/filemanager/ASDP/Infusing_2014/Meiji_Shrine_Web_Site.pdf"><span lang="EN-US">https://www.eastwestcenter.org/sites/default/files/filemanager/ASDP/Infusing_2014/Meiji_Shrine_Web_Site.pdf</span></a></span><br /><p><br /></p>
<br />
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<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NhLKRVRbt4A" width="320" youtube-src-id="NhLKRVRbt4A"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206736763140006727.post-27165916922620903532021-06-13T05:16:00.001+04:002021-06-13T05:22:48.048+04:00An Interview with Deng <p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhBjkRddsTIJURCpYOAlWO87W420l83Gsa9ymjTlr34zXKzU_ZcB-FceJl23hPbd1fJyCI8geOuiWpLSDwNWe2hVr2Tc6tARLCr8j2FenN4SodXgYbjWENJRXW6rqgMMgT8vDzECkk3YJ/s718/Photo+Deng_Xiaoping.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="718" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhBjkRddsTIJURCpYOAlWO87W420l83Gsa9ymjTlr34zXKzU_ZcB-FceJl23hPbd1fJyCI8geOuiWpLSDwNWe2hVr2Tc6tARLCr8j2FenN4SodXgYbjWENJRXW6rqgMMgT8vDzECkk3YJ/s320/Photo+Deng_Xiaoping.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Wikimedia</td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I visited Huangshan in Anhui province, my
guide showed me the place where Mister Deng often sit during his leisure time to
enjoy the scenery of the magnificent mountains, floating above the clouds. This
place seemed to be Mister Deng favorite spot and he chose this mountain area to
deliver his 'Huang Shan Speech' to promote this place as a key site to revitalize
the tourism industry, and to address the future direction of Chinese tourism.
Years later, the Chinese tourism market has transformed into one of the world's
most-watched tourist markets, the number of domestic trips reached six billion
in 2019, indicating an exponential increase compared to the number of trips
made in China ten years ago. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Known as China’s “father of reforms” Mister Deng
in 1978 announced a new policy, the “Open Door Policy”, to open the door to
foreign businesses that wanted to set up in China. The policy of “reform and openness”
(gaige kaifang) laid the foundation for a successful transition from a planned
economy to a market economy, achieving unprecedented high growth rates. Average
annual growth rates of 9.7 percent pulled hundreds of millions of Chinese out
of poverty. The policy of reform and openness also led to a fundamental
departure from norms in Mao’s China, replacing collectivism and group
conformity with individual performance and diversity. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Enough said about him, I desperately wanted to
interview this man and made an application through the CPC (Communist Party of
China) office in Beijing. Knowing the tight bureaucracy of this office I wasn’t
expecting approval soon and might be never ever get the approval, I was just
trying my luck. I knew there were not many foreign journalists that got the
chance to interview him personally, Mike Wallace, Oriana Fallaci, Ezra Vogel to
name a few, who else? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then after 4 months, I found a red envelope in
my apartment letter box, it was from the CPC office indicating an appointment in
the next month meeting Mister Deng. Wow , really? It made my day! It was my first interview with a political
leader, and from China! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">So on a Saturday, at the CPC Office at Chang’an
Avenue in Beijing, I met a small man in a gray Mao suit, white socks and black Neiliansheng
shoes. I didn’t expect that he was Mister Deng, he looked so humble for such a
paramount leader. For sure, he didn’t look like as what once pronounced by Henry
Kissinger, a ''nasty little man''.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Good afternoon Mister Deng, you are known to
be the de facto leader of China, in the way that although you are not the
chairman of the CPC and neither are you the President of China, but you are the
chief policy maker and reformer of China throughout the decades leading to China’s
great development. You are a member of Standing Committee of the Political
Bureau, and the chairman of the CCP’s Central Military Commission, but it seems
you avoid to be the top leader of China.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mister Deng:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“See, we must remember that chairman Mao for
most of his life, he did very good things to China. Many times he united China
and saved the party and the state from various crises. Mao Zedong Thought lead
us to victory in the revolution and it will continue to be a treasured
possession of the our country, and we will always remember him as a founder of
our party and state. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Because of his leadership he was treated like
an emperor reminiscent of the country’s imperial past. The people created Mao
Zedong’s cult of personality, fueled by fanatics, mass media, propaganda and books,
elevating his status to that of an infallible heroic leader. The whole nation
mimicked his style of drab clothing, memorizing his quotations from the little Red
Book and living under the gaze of his imposing portraits. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">He then became authoritarian and led the
country in patriarchal ways, one-man rule, which are feudal in nature. He
became unwilling to listen to other comrades, did not listen to differing
opinions. We can’t say that all criticisms were right, but neither was he ready
to listen to many right opinions put forward not only by me but by other party
members. At this time, he increasingly lost touch with reality. For instance, he
did not consistently practice democratic centralism and the mass line, and he
failed to institutionalize them during his lifetime. Democratic centralism was
impaired and so was collective leadership. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I opposed the notion of lifelong terms, of
personality cult, and of one-man rule and desired to prevent the emergence of a
Mao-like strongman. I promoted ideological pragmatism and emphasized above all
the necessity of a fundamental reform of the party, especially by reviving the
inner-party discussion and decision-making processes, known as collective
leadership.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“The world can observe the great progress that
China achieved in economic development in past decades, but many Western
scholars believed that China’s reform and opening-up policy only achieved great
success concerning economic modernization, with no significant progress in
political democratization. Some even went so far as to claim the reason for the
successful Chinese economic modernization was precisely because China did not
have any accompanying democratic reforms.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mister Deng:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“In this century China has been a land of
warlords, invading armies, floods, famines and revolution. Tens of millions
have died violently, or wretchedly from starvation. I told President Bush in
1989 that if all one billion of us undertake multiparty elections, we will
certainly run into a full-scale civil war. Taking precedence over all China's
problems is stability, therefore to avoid disorder and the violence we opposed political pluralism. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">However, as I told Oriana Fallaci of the
Washington Post, I can tell you that after the overthrow of the Gang of Four we
emphasized very much the promotion of the socialist democracy. Without giving
up, of course, the dictatorship of the proletariat. Democracy and dictatorship
of the proletariat are the two aspects of one antithesis, and I should add that
proletarian democracy is far superior to capitalistic democracy.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I guess with proletarian democracy you mean the
key concept of democracy held by the Chinese elites who sought to combine
democracy with authority, dictatorship and centralism. “<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mister Deng:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“The essence and the core of socialist
democracy is that the people are the masters of the country, and it is the
system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the
leadership of the CCP. We practice democratic centralism, which is the
integration based on democracy, with democracy under the guidance of
centralism. Democratic centralism is an integral part of the socialist system.
Under this system, personal interests must be subordinated to collective ones,
the interests of part to those of the whole, and immediate to long-term
interests.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“ John Naisbitt, a well-known American scholar
of future studies, predicts that a new ‘vertical democracy’, which combines the
bottom-up mass participation with the top-down central command, emerging in
China, and is likely to become an alternative to the Western style of
‘horizontal democracy’. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We can observe that this ‘vertical democracy’
worked well in achieving fast economic development in China. The world is impressed by the striking
economic reform under your leadership, but through the eyes of many Western observers
there has been slow progress toward political reform. Despite some random democratic
free speech, as in the ‘Democracy Wall’ period during the late seventies,
political freedom has shown almost no progress.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mister Deng:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I deeply understand this point. If we fail to
do political reform, we shall be unable to preserve the gains we have made in
the economic reform. Without political reform, economic reform cannot succeed …
So in the final analysis, the success of all our other reforms depends on the
success of the political reform.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We do allow political reform, but on condition that
the three elements of China’s socialist democracy are upheld: first, the people’s rule over the government,
which is the main principle of democracy; second, the CCP’s leadership and
centralism, which are necessary for democracy; and third, collectivism, which
is also the major principle for resolving the conflicts of different interests
in practice.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I think while there is general agreement that
democracy literally means ‘rule by the people’ the Communist Party concept of
‘the people’ differs from the Western concept. The Western liberal view of ‘the
people’ is all-inclusive, referring to all members of society and viewing
society as an aggregation of individuals and a plurality of diversified social
groups and interests. By contrast, in the Communist Party view, ‘the people’ is
a collectivist concept. The emphasis was on the pursuit of collective
interests, rather than being based upon, or even recognising, individual
autonomy and expression of interests.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mister Deng:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“What China needed is socialist democracy, for
this is people’s democracy, and not bourgeois democracy, individual democracy. We practice democratic centralism, which is
the integration based on democracy, with democracy under the guidance of centralism.
Democratic centralism is an integral part of the socialist system. Under this
system, personal interests must be subordinated to collective ones, the
interests of part to those of the whole. The purpose of socialist democracy is
not, after all, to validate individualism or pluralism, but to unify the people
for the pursuit of common interests and objectives. “<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“According to Western media, you ordered to use
military force through martial law in order to squash the protests that had
erupted in the Tiananmen Square in 1989, despite resistance from some leaders.
The result was bloodshed and within 48 hours Tiananmen Square was cleared. According
to intelligence estimate about 1,000 people died and several dozen of soldiers
and police were killed by protesters. Did you order the bloodshed or was it a
military blunder, Mister Deng?”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mister Deng:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I praised the army as ‘the bastion of iron of
the state’ and stressed that China would continue the basic policies of
economic reform and openness to the outside world. This incident has impelled
us to think over the future as well as the past sober-mindedly. It will enable
us to carry forward our cause more steadily, better and even faster and correct
our mistakes faster. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We cannot tolerate turmoil. We will impose
martial law again if turmoil appears again. Our purpose is to maintain
stability so that we can work on construction, and our logic is simple: with so
many people and so few resources, China can accomplish nothing without peace
and unity in politics and a stable social order. Stability must take precedence
over everything. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We can't handle chaos while we're busy with construction.
If today we have a big demonstration and tomorrow we have a great airing of
views and a bunch of wall posts, we won't have any energy left to get anything
done. That's why we have to insist on clearing the square.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">I said:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">“There was a dramatic incident during the
Tiananmen Square crackdown that captured the whole world attention. The Western
media called it ‘The Tank Man’ incident, a lone man holding a grocery bag was
photographed and videoed standing in front of a column of tanks leaving
Tiananmen Square via Chang'an Avenue. As the tank driver tried to go around him,
the ‘Tank Man’ moved into the tank's path. He continued to stand defiantly in
front of the tanks for some time, then climbed up onto the turret of the lead
tank to speak to the soldiers inside. After returning to his position in front
of the tanks, the man was pulled aside by a group of people. The fate of
"Tank Man" following the demonstration is not known and for the world
the ‘Tank Man’ remained faceless and nameless. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">May I ask you Mister Deng, who is this man that
stopped the tanks, and what happened to him?” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mister Deng sat motionless on his overstuffed
chair, his feet barely touch the floor. Suddenly an officer came approaching
him and whispered something in his ear, Mister Deng nodded and then declared
that he had other appointment in his schedule and must go now. So the meeting
was over….<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">THE END<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This is an imaginary interview
in memory of Deng Xiaoping<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Sources:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="IN"><a href="https://chinachannel.org/2019/02/07/reform-opening/"><span lang="EN-US">https://chinachannel.org/2019/02/07/reform-opening/</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="IN"><a href="https://www.griffith.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0040/299857/Regional-Outlook-Paper-41-Zhou-web.pdf"><span lang="EN-US">https://www.griffith.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0040/299857/Regional-Outlook-Paper-41-Zhou-web.pdf</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="IN"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/20/world/deng-xiaog-a-political-wizard-who-put-china-on-the-capitalist-road.html"><span lang="EN-US">https://www.nytimes.com/1997/02/20/world/deng-xiaog-a-political-wizard-who-put-china-on-the-capitalist-road.html</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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