Aug. 26 (F), 2022 The Little Grass - We don't need another hero

Today I went to a succor field, and the little grass said " Hello" to me... So, the  writing attached below is attributed to the grass, titled: "The Little Grass".
(will be translated soon).

Here is a brief translation:

黃子
It also reminds me of a nice song (the number 1 hit in 1979), popular in the 80s, Taiwan - with the same title :
The Little Grass:
Song writer/作曲：陳輝雄 (1955-2022)
Lyricist/作詞：林建助 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lb-wtHXlzBQ
The lyrics is succinct, and beautiful (with a brief translation, literally):
大風起
When the the gusty wind is over me,
把頭搖一搖
I am reckoning with my head accordingly.
風停了
When the wind stops,
又挺直腰
I strengthen my back.
大雨來彎著背讓雨澆
When the rain is pouring,
I immerse in it.
雨停了抬起頭站直腳
When the rain stops,
I stand on my feet again.
不怕風
Not to be afraid the wild wind,
不怕雨
nor the powerful rain,
立志要長高
Just determine to grow and grow.
小草實在是並不小.
The little grass is not SMALL at all.

--------------

One more song for today:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMAULOwDY1Q

Aug. 26 (F), 2022 Nature and Nurture

A revised version 

This satire depicts the different motives of various types of "anti-communism" mentality.
Generally speaking, majority of the against-communism individuals or groups are based on personal or family misfortune, even tragedies due to their historically privileged wealth and status taken away by the CCP during the revolutionary war. Thus to revenge or to regain what they had is the common denominator among them. Only a very few people, usually, the less selfish intellectuals, or the well-educated, understand the true meaning of freedom and genuinely fight for it to reconstruct the old, rotten systems.

Aug. 22 (M), 2022 The Orphan of Aisa

 

黃子
Mr. 羅大佑, the song writer and singer of 'The Weeping Orphan in Asia" was popular in the 80s and 90s.
I briefly translated the lyrics, literally, with a minor change in a couple of words:
"weeping" into "standing strong," fear into "courage", and the "Western wind" into "intrigues" :

亞細亞的孤兒在風在風中 "頂立"   the orphan of Asia, "standing strong" in the wind
黃色的臉孔"過去"有紅色的污泥    the yellow faces were smeared with Red Dirt "in the past"
黑色的眼珠 "過去"有白色的恐懼   deep eyes were tinted with the White Terror not long ago
西風在東方唱著"詭異"的歌曲        the west wind is singing a "distressing" song
亞細亞的孤兒 在風中頂立              the orphan of Asia, standing strong in the wind
沒有人要和你玩平等的遊戲           who wants to play a fair game with you
每個人都想要你心愛的玩具           everyone desires to take away your toys
親愛的孩子你為何頂立                   the darling child, why do you need to stand strong
多少人在追尋那解不開的問題       how many people are able to untie the knot
多少人在深夜裏無奈的嘆息           how many people are groaning in the deep night
多少人的眼淚在無言中抹去           how many tears were wiped away in silence
親愛的母親這是什麼道理               mother, what is going on
亞細亞的孤兒 在風中頂立              the orphan of Asia, standing strong in the wind
黃色的臉孔現在沒有紅色的污泥   the yellow faces were smeared with the Red Dirt in the past
黑色的眼珠 現在沒有白色的恐懼  deep eyes were tinted with the White Terror several decades ago
西風在東方唱著奇特的歌曲           the west wind is singing an intriguing song
多少人在追尋那解不開的問題       how many people are able to untie the knot
多少人在深夜裏無奈的嘆息           how many people are groaning in the deep night
多少人的眼淚在無言中抹去           how many tears were wiped away in silence
親愛的母親這是什麼真理               mother, what is truth?
亞細亞的孤兒 在風中頂立              the orphan of Asia, standing strong in the wind
黃色的臉孔 會沒紅色的污泥          the yellow faces were smeared with the Red Dirt in the past
黑色的眼珠 會沒有白色的恐懼      deep eyes were tinted with the White Terror not long ago
西風在東方唱著奧妙的歌曲           the west wind is singing the enthralling song
啦啦啦∼∼∼
啦啦啦∼∼∼
啦啦啦∼∼∼
啦啦啦∼∼∼
亞細亞的孤兒 在風中頂立             the orphan of Asia, standing strong in the wind
亞細亞的孤兒 在風中頂立             the orphan of Asia, standing strong in the wind
亞細亞的孤兒 在風中頂立             the orphan of Asia, standing strong in the wind
亞細亞的孤兒 在風中頂立             the orphan of Asia, standing strong in the wind
亞細亞的孤兒 在風中頂立             the orphan of Asia, standing strong in the wind


黃子
Here is the original song and lyrics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L52XZGI_UN8

YOUTUBE.COM
亞細亞的孤兒 - 羅大佑【高音質｜動態歌詞】亞細亞的孤兒 - 羅大佑【高音質｜動態歌詞】

Aug. 23 (T), 2022 Why? Conservatives-n-Liberals

黃子
So as, the same old old repeatedly posted question: why are some people afraid of or favor a conservative or a liberal? or anything in between?

黃子
I am also checking data provided:

黃子
This is a previous post on fb - a fun quiz: on Oct. 6, (T), 2020.

黃子
Skip the complex/academic definition - checking the general one:
"Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional social institutions and practices. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the status quo of the culture and civilization in which it appears".
What does conservatives believe in?
"They advocate low taxes, free markets, deregulation, privatization, and reduced government spending and government debt. Social conservatives see traditional social values, often rooted in familialism and religion, as being threatened by secularism and moral relativism".

黃子
Here is for Liberalism:
"1.favorable to progress or reform, as in political or religious affairs.
(often initial capital letter) noting or pertaining to a political party advocating
measures
2. of progressive political reform.
3. of, pertaining to, based on, or advocating liberalism, especially the freedom of the
individual and governmental guarantees of individual rights and liberties.
4. favorable to or in accord with concepts of maximum individual freedom possible,
especially as guaranteed by law and secured by governmental protection of civil
liberties".

黃子
Are you a liberal or conservative? (Or anything in between) Why? How? A simple question heavily relates to one's psycho-political/social class socialization processes. I worked out an in-class learning activity based on course reading materials when covering Social Institutions for these questions. You might be interested, and then welcome your input why some people favor or not favor a conservative, a liberal, or something in between:

黃子
Having had a basic understanding, then I will share some relevant stories happening in my classrooms (both face to face and online).

August 21 (Sn), 2022 To build a more perfect union

To build a more perfect union!
https://foreignpolicy.com/.../chile-new-constitution.../

https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/07/08/chile-new-constitution-rewrite-boric-protests-pinochet-dictatorship-referendum/?fbclid=IwAR3C6WjmSCzI0FipJhE5so_dSxbOIONfvYmpvxQCWnNj5KNv4wihhVX2Drg

Chile Unveils Its Proposed New Constitution.
But the country’s cycle of political change remains in flux ahead of a September referendum on the progressive charter.

FOREIGNPOLICY.COM

Chile Unveils Its Proposed New Constitution But the country’s cycle of political change remains in flux ahead of a September referendum on the progressive charter.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/07/08/chile-new-constitution-rewrite-boric-protests-pinochet-dictatorship-referendum/?fbclid=IwAR3C6WjmSCzI0FipJhE5so_dSxbOIONfvYmpvxQCWnNj5KNv4wihhVX2Drg

黃子
"Turning a Social Uprising Into Legal Code
On Monday (July 8, 2022), Chile’s constitutional assembly presented its proposed new legal code to President Gabriel Boric at a ceremony in Santiago. The new constitution—which has been in the works for a year—was borne of demands for political change that shook the country during mass protests in 2019. It envisions a stronger government role in the provision of social services, promotion of gender parity, and protection of Indigenous groups and the environment than does Chile’s current charter, which was written under the right-wing dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet in 1980..."

黃子
What a tremendous courage and bravery... though, a long and tough journey!
Indeed, nothing is carved into the stone. Who needs a constitution that favor centuries ago economic-cultural conditions?

Who desires an amendment taking decades' forays to get job done?

黃子
Some friends might question that could be a "banana" business? Now let us check what a banana republic means.

A general definition of it is:
Usually, disparaging. a not-rich country, often relies on simple export or limited resource, governed by an authoritarian regime and characterized by corruption and economic exploitation by foreign corporations conspiring with local government officials.

Well, which countries are more close to the above description?

黃子
The world is changing into super-high-speed digital age. The problems created by the cultural lag (the different developmental speeds between material and non-material cultures) is jeopardizing humanity and is the major sources of cultural, global wars...
How much can a stone-age constitution do for the well-being of We, The People?

Aug. 21 (Sn), 2022 Effective Warfare

黃子
Should this regime fight for its sovereignty and unification of the massive lands given to Russia? The red part, the size is more than hundred times bigger than Taiwan.



黃子



黃子
Should UK re-claim US as part of her territory, since in history, the latter was one of her colonies, and King George III had sovereignty over the early colonial territories?



黃子
A brief history of Taiwan in the International community:

p

黃子
In early history, Russia, Korea, even Japan (around the 3rd century BCE, the Yayoi people from China settled in Japanese archipelago), and part of Southeast Asia were China's terrorizes, why not this CCP regime unifies them, instead, aiming at intimidating a much smaller land of Formosa, the island?

黃子
Here is another brief history of Taiwan with more details:
Which countries discovered/occupied or engaged with Taiwan politico-economically before the CCP China which with the aid of Russia and Japan's serendipitous usurped the Republic of China (ROC) into People of Republic of China (PRC) in 1949?
_________________
1590
Portuguese mariners landed on the northern coast of Taiwan and gave the island the European name it still bears - ILHA FORMOSA, which means "beautiful Island" in the language of Portugal. But, this was a brief stay of the Portuguese.
1624
The Dutch East India Company establishes a base in southwestern Taiwan, initiating a transformation in aboriginal grain production practices and employing Chinese laborers to work on its rice and sugar plantations.
1626
Spanish adventurers establish bases in northern Taiwan but are ousted by the Dutch in 1642.
1662
Fleeing the Manchurian conquest of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), Ming loyalists under Zheng Cheng-gong, or Koxinga, drive out the Dutch from Taiwan and establish authority over the island.
1683
Qing dynasty (1644-1912) forces take control of Taiwan’s western and northern coastal areas.
1885
Taiwan is declared a province of the Qing Empire.
1948
As full-scale civil war happened in China between the Kuomintang-led ROC government and CCP, the Temporary Provisions Effective During the Period of National Mobilization for Suppression of the Communist Rebellion are enacted, overriding the ROC Constitution and greatly expanding presidential powers. This begins the period of White Terror that lasts until 1991 when the Temporary Provisions are lifted.
1949
The ROC government relocates to Taiwan, followed by 1.2 million people from China.
Oct. 25, the Battle of Kuningtou on Kinmen occurred, in which the ROC armed forces defeat the CCP on the northwestern coast of the island.
Martial law is declared in Taiwan and continues to be in force until 1987.
1949 CCP China was born!
1952
Following the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty with Japan signed by 48 Allied nations on behalf of the United Nations, the Treaty of Peace is signed between the ROC and Japan at Taipei Guest House, formally ending the state of war between the two parties. It is recognized that under Article 2 of the San Francisco Treaty, Japan has renounced all right, title, and claim to Taiwan (Formosa) and Penghu (the Pescadores) as well as the Spratly Islands and the Paracel Islands. All treaties, conventions and agreements concluded before Dec. 9, 1941, between China and Japan become null and void as a consequence of the war.
1954
The ROC-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty is signed in Washington.

黃子
Beyond the unrestricted warfare tactics and strategies, money and sex/female espionages are much easier, invisible and EFFECTIVE than any types of weaponry available!!

黃子
無聲的戰爭 (酥軟戰) - the sweet, silent warfare!

黃子
無聲的戰爭 (酥軟戰) - the sweet, silent warfare, now is reinforced by the global 50-cents Red-Army (五毛黨/老中小粉紅, most of them are jobless people or college students) paid by the CCP regime, infiltrating into many countries to disseminate fake news and influence public opinions.



黃子
WHY? Some colleges/universities prohibited/punished students for criticizing CCP regime - in the USA... DID these school teach higher Critical Thinking capacity than those of other schools? https://www.thefire.org/fire-letter-to-emerson-college.../

THEFIRE.ORG
FIRE Letter to Emerson College, October 5, 2021 - FIRE FIRE Letter to Emerson College, October 5, 2021 - FIRE

黃子
This event reminded me of the late 2015 to 2016 amid the heat of presidential election. Suddenly, my workplace eliminated 2 sections of sociology, replaced by two extra sections of psychology. And I lost one sociology and added with one psychology. I was curious what was going on.

At that time, hard to imagine a TV entertainer/real estate developer would win the game. When covering Politics and Government of Social Institutions, I provided data of two finalists - HC and DT for a political-platform comparison. I thought I did a good job.

Well, how easily to ignore the landmines - along the way! I got an invitation to talk with the dean because a couple of students reported that I should have been kinder and showed more proper support to their beloved candidate (you know, that was a pretty much a typical conservative/right-wing tech college). !

黃子
Some kind advices were given, "Just skip the controversial topics, not because we don't want to teach with integrity, but, you cannot beat the odds in this type of environment..." Don't forget -'Customers are always right'."
Well, then, peacefully co-exist, happily ever after?!

黃子
Maybe, readers can comprehend why schools and churches are two of the most important battlefields of the economic-political and ideological big game players...

Aug. 19 (F), 2022 A court case - of the masses

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Weekly fun pic picks:

Aug. 17 (W), 2022 Excepting the expected

Ms. Cheney lost her primary. This reminds me of one of my lecture notes, which is a chapter in Sociology - Social Institutions on politics and government.
Though, the posted ideas below, now is common sense, repost, Just for reference. Some of the notions are adopted from the course reading materials.



黃子

Mainly, all on the table hot button issues can be sorted into 2 categories: one is about money, the other, social behaviors (or norms, mores...etc.).

This intertwining condition between social issues and economic issues creates complex voting behaviors in US., which is one of the key points to detect why certain groups of people vote for specific ways. Some vote to against their economic interests, others, such as the single issue voters who are not interested in issues beyond their faith or "emotional attachments".
Social class is one of the major determinants to discern why people vote for certain way- habitually.

黃子
This could be one of the main reasons why certain ambitious political Party/politicians, specific religious groups, with special agenda, against a proper general education curriculum, particularly, in learning sociology, philosophy, and a truthful We-The-People History.

Some of my brief lecture notes of this chapter, simplified from the course reading materials are posted below for reference (some data need to be updated, though).

黃子
The following books, though not quite new, are still highly relevant to the current events, with interesting and intriguing details that you might have read or interested to read, even though, some of them are best seller...










黃子
An extra one - the classic:
Democracy for the Few.

黃子

Not-surprisingly, Ms. Liz Cheney lost the primary... Thanks to Bill Day's artwork. Though she is a die hard republican from a conservative dynasty, her risky choice to be honest to herself somewhat, earns my respect (like a white crow among all the black ones...)

Lots of people are happy, while others, not so. Who are those happy guys? Why are some unhappy about it?

黃子
This is one of my non-academic observations. Some of them might not be objective enough. Just for reference. The following parts are about some non-native US. residents:

I notice many so-called anti-communism activists persecuted by an Asian tyrannical regime, or some other economic conservative countries (ya, support the super capitalism) in Asia, tend to embrace GOP's politico-economic ideologies. Especially, a previous national leader with insufficient/immature political ideas or operational procedures, "dared" to "innocently" yell at CCP, thus, adored as a "Hero" by these groups/countries. Why should they know or care about the detriments this person has done to this country?

This, also reinforces GOP's popularity within the aforementioned groups of people or countries.

Mainly, the anti-communism banner hooks them together, perhaps, due to personal tragedies, family loss, for fear of being purged off their money, power, privileges, properties and the rest of scarce, desirable objects? More so, something else... The genuine reasons to anti fake communism (indeed, many types of communism and socialism and even more in between) may need more exploration.

黃子
The other noticeable event is that some anti-communism activists from an Eastern communist regime, once entering into US. and being taken care (or nurtured/sponsored) by the conservative right wing religious organizations that tend to do good job to save those "atheistic" souls with an invisible "feedback patronized" price tagged on these activists' YouTube business. (Note, most the new Asian immigrants may not understand the drastically different religious ideologies among various denominations of the US. church organizations - As long as your nice White GODs help, they are all well-worshipped).

From my observations and research (may not be without biases,) some of them genuinely appreciate and thank the US' GOD throwing the last straw when they are drowning. Others, particularly, without the Evangelical, Baptist types of GOD's saving, enriching their souls, they may not be able to live like human beings, thus, embracing pro-conservative ideologies is a nice way for quid-pro- quo.

Ya, ideologies, for sale to those missing souls of the previous forced atheists...

黃子
The third part is those privileged groups with tons of money, via any venue available to escape from their unhappy country for accessing other countries' hard-earned freedom and even better socio-economical life chances and opportunities, according to the United States Declaration of Independence to pursue "Life, Liberty and Happiness". This group obviously, has to love GOP's conservative ideologies, because "pulling up their expensive boots through tons of their gorgeous bootstraps - is not difficult to do!"

US., in some sense, pretty much welcomes the big money they bring in (including some rich immigrants from other countries to the Land of the Free and home of the Brave) and likes these people as the proxy fighters against the rising dominant sun...

黃子
Need to do chores. Will be back.

黃子
After the non-native resident part, what about the rest - the local people's mind-set on political ideologies? This is a too big issue to render. Well, I thought about that.
But, I can use why teaching Diversity courses is such a risky task as an example.
It is so much like walking on the tight rope suspended over two dangerous cliffs. And I taught this course over 14 years and every year had to watch out landmines along the way... !

黃子
Have to do chores again. Stay tuned.

黃子
Getting into sensitive issues... well, I need to take a break. The perspective of essentialism vs. constructionism regarding humans' socialization processes led to the world views, will be shared later. Welcome your input. Thanks.

黃子
Now, back to the sharing business:

Sixteen years ago, she started tackling a new course at a tech college– Race, Ethnicity and Diversity course (later changed into Introduction to Diversity which, now becomes a “controversial” curriculum due to its critical theory component,” irritating” many conservative people). She was still quite naïve about this course at that time, even though she encountered a little episode at a previous University during her first year of teaching there.

It was a chapter in sociology regarding race and ethnicity which interested her very much, because in her native country, there was no racial issue except some ethnic squabbles.

The story was on one day when she was excited to introduce that chapter to students at that university. After the warming up rituals, she began with the definition and the differences between RACE and ETHNICITY. She was enthusiastic and expected students to share her eagerness and excitement. Then, one of female students raised her hand to make a common on what she just heard. This student said, “I would like to share my thoughts. Do you know we don’t have racial problems in this country?” You know, that was quite a white state, white school, and she was the only one with a different skin color in the classroom twenty years ago...

She was stunned, figuring out that something was going on, and then responded, “Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Indeed, this is an interesting yet heavy topic for today. The content is based on academic research and reviewed statistical data collection, and, majority of them are from American white scholars, not from my perception. I will check more in details and get back to you next time.”

As to how she rendered that event, well, another long story with positive outcomes - save for next time.

Now back to the tech college story. That university episode seemed dimming away from her subconsciousness, and the new excitement to teach this new course was rekindled. One extra information needs to be addressed here. There are some fundamental differences between 4-year colleges and 2-year tech colleges in terms of educational missions, faculty and student body, and the administrative system as well as the rest of relevant issues. She was not fully aware of them until stumbled several times to learn her lessons.

Well, need to take a break. Will be continued.

黃子
08-18-22 Th, 4:40 pm. She has to share this just out-of-the-oven episode:

Half of an hour ago, accidentally, she watched an interview of so-called smart, renowned scholars, originally from a communist regime, regarding FBI’s searching classified documents hidden at Mar-a-Lago.

These intelligent people experienced bad times from their fake-communist regime before coming to the US. Most of them widespread in many US. universities, research institutes, and YouTube business. With privileged background in their unhappy motherland before arriving to America, they were well-welcomed by the generosity of American conservative Parties/organizations and religious groups to "fight together" against the disliked atheists and brutal robbers. 

Some of them frightened by their native country’s autocratic controlling, and then baptized by the US. style of "kindness and freedom" from the right-wing agencies, consciously or unconsciously turn themselves into the most die-hard conservative to embrace the anti-liberal ideology, no matter which type (ya, for most of them, the US. liberalism is equivalent to their motherland's bloody communism, if they had any idea what the evolution from the classic liberalism to today's modern liberalism and its branches are) to either show appreciation for their atheistic souls being saved by the US. conservative gods (mmm... if they knew that Jesus is a radical socialist??) or express the quid-pro-quo as an important traditional value from their own culture.

Their specific style of anti-communism mentality finds a niche, going well with some of the US. conservative camp's values. First, surely, they both hoist a similar banner: anti- communism. The only tiny difference is that one was taken away goodie stuff which tends to be inherited from their cultural/social class privileges through violence, while the other, through imagination. The rest of being held to be true are: “keeping status quo: socio-economic inequality in class, race/ethnicity, gender and the rest is a necessary component of Social Darwinism,”  “pulling up your own expensive boots with your many gorgeous bootstraps,” “poverty is caused by lazy people, “ “worshipping god to save USA,” “going back to the traditional values,” “pro-death penalty to reduce crimes,” “the US. has no racial issues, and critical theory is bad for students,” and the rest of the similar "good old day values". Furthermore, recently, one thing across these intelligent scholars/ researchers and many business youtubers is that “Dxxxxx Txxxx is a great leader whose crown was stolen by another Party...”

All - because their White Hero dared to cutely yell at the monster of their mother regime that made them unhappy. No clue for whatsoever of them to know how much anti-democratic damage this individual has done to divide this country.

Perhaps, people come from that autocratic regime, once entering a free, democratic system, there could be a cultural lag existing. They tend to see things from their habitual framework of the authoritarian-totalitarian perspective and lack a critical mindset which was prohibited in the politico-educational institutions of their native regime. Thus, like the goslings imprinted with the first sight of their mother, the instinct of following the first impression is stuck. This could be a reason why the first sight with the help (religiously or politico-financially) from the Conservative political camp and religious organizations nails down the right-wing ideology into them accorded with their privileged status in their motherland.

Anyway, why should they care about - " Who is destroying US." ? Isn't this country just another springboard for them to get more money and fame and enjoy others' hard-earned freedom?

Looking at these smart Asian erudite people makes her think, “if her students and some of her colleagues, here, deny what happened in the US. history, though was the unpleasant one, how could you expect these Asian smart immigrants know about what the truth of We, The People, was and is?”

Will continue episodes happening at the tech college.

Aug. 9 (T), 2022 Who is above the Law?

Aug. 9 (T), 2022 The potential aftermaths

Fb Friends are curious why I enjoy doing this type of "tiny visualized" writing. Doesn't it waste time? Thanks for asking.
In fact, it does not waste my time. It is a nice "hobby" to test my attention span and eyesight !
Adding images could be a habit since I am also a visual art educator.
Being tiny mainly, is to put things on one plate to get a holistic view of a quick glimpse in this busy-fleeting world.
Well... I think I am an animal lover, tree-hugger, earth-kisser, and also was a tedious, political speechwriter at Taiwan's Congress for three years and a news reporter for one year - long time ago. When I worked at the Executive Yuan (the Executive Branch of Government), the job was about Taiwan-China policy. (行政院 研考會屬下的大陸工作會報/陸委會前身, 做研究工作). 但是當公務員需要有相當制度化的能耐, 所以跳出來了.
So, I simplify events in an easy grasp approach for myself and interested friends.
For the details, some personal homework is helpful.

黃子
有朋友好奇地問她, “妳在美國到底是教什麼的呀?” 她的確教了很多課程, 多是因為人在江湖, 身不由己的狀況下砍伐出來的 (尤其是最大的絆腳石：當時, 她的博士課程還處於進行式當中）. 她教的這個兩年制科技學院 (類似二專,) 並非常春藤之類的研究機構. 它的基本的功能是幫助學生學得專業技能, 以便廣開就業服務社會機會之門, 也協助家境困難而無法讀四年制大學的學生, 來這裡修人文社會學科共同課程/general education. 而跨越所有共同課程的教學目標, 綜合起來有四項: Think critically, Value Diversity, Model Integrity, and Communicate effectively. (兩年制學院州政府聯邦政府有提供學費補助). 學生學得的學分, 可以帶著, 以便轉到四年制的大學.

很多學生, 對社會學科, 是不太感興趣的, 因為一般中下階層和勞工階級的學生, 大多是非傳統的 (除了那些準備轉到四年制的傳統學生之外, 很多是已有家庭, 承擔重任; 有些是因為快速工商社會轉型而被迫/自動離職, 重修課程, 補修學分, 再修學位, 或為了績效升等的種種理由, ) 每天為了家庭工作累得不成人形, 再來上課 (尤其是晚上的課程, 最具挑戰性), 很難有那個雅興, 來上這些 “高談闊論” 的東西, 而且很多是必修的, 選修的只是點綴. 而學生最基本上的共識是, “學這些不切實際的課程, 到底能夠幫助我就業嗎?”

這是一個過度強調個人自由的國家, 學生高興要不要學的決定本事, 是很大的. 教育商業化，已經是絕大多數學校, 心照不宣的經營法則, 而顧客永遠是對的, 是教師們默認於心的金科玉律. 為了手腦並用的教育原則 (科技專業科系結合社會人文課程), 她們身任社會科學的教授團, 必須讓教學活潑生動化, 引發學生學習的動機, 願意來教室或網路上課. 這也就是為什麼科技學院, 是非常重視教育理論中的教育方法論/andragogy (教員在做學術研究的部分, 不怎麼要求, 而是把重點放在把書教好這個層面上) 學習活動的設計, 學習效果的評估, 以達到教學的目標, 是非常重要的一環.

經過一番申請工作, 面試, 試教, 與種種程序之後, 她在接受聘書之時, 按契約規定要教三種不同的學科 (three preps), 那是根據受聘者的主修輔修以及相關的領域 (很不巧她剛好有 四個主修和四 個輔修) 以及工作的經驗而定. 所以她剛開始教第一學期的科目是: 社會學, 心理學, 和美國當代社會, 一共是六堂課，因為両堂社會學之一是用 ITV 電視遠距教學，又是新任教員，所以抵掉一堂, 不用教七堂課. 即一學年要教 36 到 42 個學分，因此待遇是相對稱的· 可想而知，這是個教書匠的工作環境，學術研究是不特別要求的. 又那時學校開始推廣網上教學, 所以, 她就把還在隔壁明州的研究所就讀的博士課程轉到科技教育, 以增強她在這個龍蟠虎踞的學校存活下來的機會. (因為她自己的學費, 貴得像墳仔坡打鼓- 驚死人! 以前說過, 原來的獎學金只支助兩年, 而那個在威州的學校, 對外籍生要求很嚴, 一般是7到10年, 才能夠拿到學位. 所以, 若保不住這個工作, 她是無法完成明州的學業, 更無顏見江東父老!)

俗話說 “新師上任三把火. 不輸人不輸陣，輸人輸陣歹看面,” 又是在一片白茫茫的場景中, 撐著唯一的一張貼著臺灣標誌的黃臉孔, , 做好的是看不到, 一旦言行稍微不合尺度, 可能要面對各式各樣的放大鏡來觀照, 再加上新任教師前三年緊迫盯人的教學評鑑, 為了增加教學的光點, 她也就把一些老神在在的資深教員, 不太喜歡教的課程, 授課方式, 或活動 (比如美國當代社會, 幾乎是每位教師都不愛教的課, 為什麼呢? 因為這一堂課 是綜合社會學, 心理學, 經濟學, 和國際政治等, 類似總匯的課程, 必須花更多的時間做教材準備, 並且牽涉到日常社會的現況與變化, 教學資料必須時時修正翻新, 所以是非常具有挑戰性的科目, 還有那多元化社會與種族族群理論和實際這門課, 因為涉及到批判理論/Critical Theory, 保守的人們相當抗拒這種課程, 而這也會影響到學生對老師的教學評鑑. 至於透過視訊的遠距教學 - ITV /Interactive TV, and Teleconference Delivery, 師生皆不喜歡 ) 就像個拼命三娘一般的招攬過來做, 校方與同事, 也樂觀其成. 後來通過了三年的教學評鑑, 工作是穩定了下來, 也開始對相關的課程, 真正感到興趣, 比如社會問題, 人際關係心理學, 發展心理學, 美國政府, 和她最喜歡的藝術概論, 這些與她自己的主修與輔系相關的課程, 一個個地設計出來, 努力去把它們教好.

如前言, 這學院, 非高深的學術研究機構. 而她所教的, 大多是共同課程 (Introductory Courses). 對很多中下階層的學生而言, 這可能是唯一的機會來學習社會人文學科. 這當師父的, 能把他們適度地引進門, 播下有興趣的種子, 也許將來, 在他們工作與生活穩定了之後, 可能有機會想要繼續深入學習, 了解這些她所喜愛的, 卻被一般誤解 “不切實際的人文社會學科” 的知識與奧妙.
她深切地認為, 人文社會學科的基本要義, 就是使得人類能夠從自古以來種種幽冥桎梏意識形態的假象中解放出來, 這尤其是要依靠獨立思考能力與判斷 (Think Critically- the first core value) 的涵養, 這也是各個學校所強調的. 人文社會學科學習的重要性, 是維護健全的國民與社會, 對抗不公不正, 剝削壓榨,違反人性的虛假錯誤意識 (false consciousness) 寶器. 這也就是為什麼她賣心賣力地把這些入門課, 教得生動有趣. 因為這個過程本身, 就是一種深具心靈解放, 充滿著期待, 又是舒坦快樂的分享.

任教於科技學院, 其實, 是一個千載難逢自我教育的機會! 也確實感受到莊子為什麼要慨嘆生有涯知無涯的心態. 那時天天教書教得天昏地暗何似在人間, 但內心竊喜享受學習的快樂, 更重要的是這種二專, 特別熱衷於校內校際之間的教學活動, 時時有機會到處廣結善緣. 她曾在一篇雜文中提到, 雖然教的不是名校, 不像那些著作等身的教授學者, 桃李滿天下, 而她呢, 論質而言, 是比不上孔子教出的學生, 而這些來向孔子求教的人兒, 大多也絕非是等閒之輩. 但是就量而言, 的確是比孔子教出來的多了很多. 雖然她的學生無法各個成德達材, 倒也是番薯花牽牛花處處開花. 很多時候, 她到一些公私立機構辦事, 都會遇到以前她教過的學生, 被禮遇的機會常常發生. 後來她一面教書, 一面繼續跨州求學, 終於把學位完成了, 卻也打消了想到 四年制學校的折騰. (小插曲一段: 以前曾經在一個 4年制的大學, 教了 三 年非全職的工作, 薪俸有限, 而且能教的課程只有社會學, 想想看, 連續 三年都在教同一個課程, 那是一個什麼樣的世界呀! 碰巧那時候多元化社會理論課程需求方興未艾, 她向學校表示願意嘗試教這個課, 但是因為沒有博士學位, 資格不合而作罷).
透露個小秘密: 那時候她幾乎把學習與準備種種課程當本業, 這上講臺教書倒是成了副業). 說實在話, 她只有在當一個教育工作者之後, 才開始真正地深入了解社會學, 以及其他相關的美妙有趣的知識 (以前在臺灣和美國學的, 老實說, 一片霧煞煞地), 而且對社會的的實相, 有了多種層度與面向的了解.

本來只要寫幾行字, 卻拉拉雜雜寫的一大段. 就算個經驗分享吧.

August 9 (T), 2022 Akrasia

August 9 (T), 2022 Culture vs. Civilization - a sociological perspective

With a brief translation:

August 6 (Sa), 2022 Keep Calm and who will come to help

 Will try an English version.
------------------------------------------------------

Now, a brief English version of Glimpse#12 is available:

August 6 (Sa), 2022 Some implications of the crisis around the Taiwan Strait

August 5 (F), 2022 A post - dialogue about the tension

Aug. 3 (W), 2022 After the Speaker's visit

黃子
的確, 做事困難, 批評快...
剛剛看到這一個視頻, 天啊! 這不是扮家家酒啊!!! 這是有生以來看到最尷尬的場面!!
真不敢相信我的眼睛, 所有的致力, 幾乎要毀於一旦!!!
這是有人故意設計炒作的嗎?????

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ24Rn_uI58


YOUTUBE.COM
丟盡台灣臉面...裴洛西率團訪立院 AIT口譯妹插嘴.笑場挨轟"不專業" 趙怡翔:應讓主講者講完｜記者 馬郁雯 黃大風｜【台灣要聞】20220803｜三立iNEWS 丟盡台灣臉面...裴洛西率團訪立院 AIT口譯妹插嘴.笑場挨轟"不專業" 趙怡翔:應讓主講者講完｜記者 馬郁雯 黃大風｜【台灣要聞】20220803｜三立iNEWS

黃子
不管基於何種理由造訪, 正式或非正式, 來者是客, 基本的外交禮節跟專業訓練與職責, 在哪兒呢?

黃子
哎....路, 還是長得很...

黃子
Reuters:
https://www.reuters.com/.../website-taiwans-presidential.../


REUTERS.COM
Website of Taiwan's presidential office receives overseas cyber attack - source Website of Taiwan's presidential office receives overseas cyber attack - source

黃子
Reuters: CCP's Information infiltration tactics around the world. Now hacking Taiwan amid Speaker Ms. Pelosi's visit:
https://www.reuters.com/.../attacks-taiwan-websites.../


REUTERS.COM
Attacks on Taiwan websites likely work of Chinese 'hacktivists' - researchers Attacks on Taiwan websites likely work of Chinese 'hacktivists' - researchers

黃子
CCP military's marauding amid Ms. Speaker Pelosi heading for S. Korea: https://gazettengr.com/pelosi-departs-taiwan-for-south.../


GAZETTENGR.COM
Pelosi departs Taiwan for South Korea amid China military drills Pelosi departs Taiwan for South Korea amid China military drills

黃子
What a mission impossible of Ms. Pelosi!

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August 4 (Th), 2022
黃子
What an autocratic regime can do... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1z0cooTspU


YOUTUBE.COM
As U.S.-China Tensions Rise Following Pelosi’s Taiwan Visit, What’s Next? | WSJ As U.S.-China Tensions Rise Following Pelosi’s Taiwan Visit, What’s Next? | WSJ

黃子
The whole world is watching!! What a great AUTOCRATIC regime which has tons of population and everything but human rights, animal rights, and the earth justice can do toward a democratic, contributive country of the international community! https://w…
See more


YOUTUBE.COM
China-Taiwan News LIVE Updates | China Military Drill | Chinese Military | Nancy Pelosi | Live News China-Taiwan News LIVE Updates | China Military Drill | Chinese Military | Nancy Pelosi | Live News

黃子
Just curious, which countries want to be a part of CCP-China?

黃子
There is a famous slogan in CCP China: "In order to grab the semi-conductor manufacturing technique and production lines, killing all the 23 million people in Taiwan is necessary and is a piece of cake" (留島不留人). One of its high rank-n-files, even openly reinforces such a great idea in a conference.
This is a major reason of CCP China's drooling on Taiwan.

黃子
This is a great regime where human lives have no much value at all except the Party politburo, their privileged friends and folks as well as the cheap working ants-n-bees in the massive factory-concentration camps.

Our best friends - dogs, cats, turtles, peacocks, and the rest - are great meals in the restaurants and on the dining tables... in some part of China.

I do believe that there are some nice people in China, who deserve to enjoy the basic human rights, their non-human sentient beings to be protected, and the environment to be properly stewarded.
The above messages are my observations that could not be without some personal biases.

Just a perspective.