Actually, it's part deux and final, because it's too exhausting to keep track of stupid articles in the papers.
So today's latest news is: «Sizzling summer temperatures across the United States have sent flocks of consumers to their local ice cream parlors, driving up sales of frozen treats from sunny California to the muggy East Coast». GASP! PEOPLE EAT MORE ICE CREAM WHEN IT'S HOT!!! NO KIDDING!?
Next they'll tell us that children prefer ice cream to boiled broccoli!!
Faced with terrorism, the Pope has prayed for God to do something about it. Yes folks, the Pope prays! STOP THE PRESSES!
The following article by Nguyen Ivy is published in Tieng Magazine [http://www.tiengmag.com/article58.html].
The Impact of the Lack of "You" and "I" in the Vietnamese Language
Anh, Chi, Em, Co, Chu, Cau, Di, Ong, Ba, Bac. Anyone familiar with the Vietnamese language knows that there are few polite ways of referring to a second person or oneself by simply using the words “you” and “I”, aside from the using title of said person’s relation to oneself. As an American-born Vietnamese, I often wonder why my people have not adopted those vaguely direct words, equivalent to languages around the world, when doing so would be less mind-boggling on all of us speakers. We have had our chances to adapt, but somehow resisted that change after over a thousand years of Chinese occupation, followed by the French and Americans. Within this haphazard gumball-machine-like diversity of our terms of address, why did we not abandon all of these words for a simpler equivalent of “you” and “I”? The answer is simple: our system works a thousand times better.
Before I continue any further, allow me to digress a bit to provide a bit of background for readers less familiar with the Vietnamese culture: as typical of Asian cultures, we greatly value filial piety, and the elderly are looked upon with great respect and honor. A son is expected to take care of his father once he has grown until said father dies, and that son expects to be taken care of by his son, until he dies. All are respected, but each generation earns more respect as they grow older and gain more knowledge.
To quote Van Le, the former vice dean of the University of Saigon, "In our language, it is very difficult for children to be rude or impolite". The same goes for adults of all ages. How can we, when we are constantly reminded of our rank compared to the person we face? Everyone greets one another, even in everyday conversation, by their rank. Take a typical phrase for meeting an older woman, as in example. In such case, one would say “Chao Co, Co co khoe khong?” Co, in this case, means Auntie, assuming a close relationship with that person, regardless of geniality. In English, one would merely say, “Hello, how are you?” In this case, you can mean anything-you, as in a younger kid; you, as in an equal-ranking friend; or you, an elder. Said in the wrong tone or with the wrong expression and a simple statement like the above can be interpreted in ways unintended: the Vietnamese specificity is a thousand times safer.
The custom of referring to oneself by one’s rank or in third person is similar to the alternative to “you” in the sense that these terms establish clear boundaries and rank. Take for example, words a father might use to chastise his child: “Ba khong muon con lam do,” which translates to “I, your father, do not want you, my child, to do that.” In this way we know who is ordering whom-the father is definitely in charge. Reversibly, an irate, English-speaking father will say, “I do not want you to do that,” and the vagueness creates no boundaries whosoever. Who, exactly, is the father? I? You? The sense of respect for the father is lost with such an equal playing field.
From a perspective of one caught in the middle, is using “you” and “I” any different? Extremely, in the way that these two words level the playing field. I have heard again and again that American-born children are more sassy then Vietnamese children, and this answer shows why. When talking to my parents in English, these terms break down the formal barriers, and I can express more intimate thoughts without having to be interrupted with the reminder that they are my parents. The same goes with my teachers: the use of “ you” and “I” seems to make the teachers give us students more respect, and we give them less. Still, I always find myself a bit more sassy when using “you” and “I” with my elders. This sense of equality promotes the freedom of choice. We children are not compelled to listen to our elders, and are free to make our own decision.
Contrarily, the power of these terms to establish these boundaries is why there is such strong filial piety in the Vietnamese. After all, every time one talks with one’s family, one is reminded of the relationship, whether that relationship is with cousins, aunts, uncles, siblings, parents, or grandparents. Once the thought of leaving to make his own way in this world enters someone’s head, they are immediately reminded of the duty to their parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and younger siblings, simply by the way he addresses them. They are his family— he should not, and will not leave them. With that thought in mind, one can be sure of being cared for once we can no longer care for ourselves, as long as we do our duty when we can. That is why there are nearly no nursing homes and social security plans for the old in Vietnam-they will be cared for without question.
Although I had earlier stated that we Vietnamese chose not to use “you” and “I”, saying that we are unable to use those words would be truer. The Vietnamese social structure relies on the strength of different rank and reverence, and will likely crumble with the equality of reverence that “you” and “I” brings. We are an interdependent people, caring for the old and cared for by the young. If one were to assert the right to make our own decisions, the entire structure will crumble-the old must rely on social security and nursing homes, while the young do as they please. Sounds familiar? While we can go on living with that change in social structure like the Vietnamese Americans have been able to, I doubt any person will be as audacious enough to actually use those terms.
Similarly, the use of rank and titles to address others in the English language will face the same difficulties as the hypothesized introduction of “you” and “I” into the Vietnamese language. We Americans are too firm on individuality and equality to prostrate our egos in the face of superiors. In addition, I doubt any of us are willing to deal with the hassle of so many titles.
So, are these two cultures meant to mix? While some aspects of our culture are easily adaptable and changed, others like our language remain firmly individual. Like the two separate hemispheres each culture originated in, we can only meet at some points-the rest are on opposite ends of the world. Though change is always welcome, there is no gaining new ideas without losing the old, and in the interest of preserving our culture, maybe East and West are meant stay in their own hemispheres.
Thế giới binary
đâu có thể nào compress những đêm dài
đâu có thể nào undo những lầm lỡ
đâu có thể nào copy những cuộc vui
thế giới quanh đây ngậm ngùi
(những lá thư không phong bì)
đâu có thể nào paste hình ảnh vào tim nhau
đâu có thể nào new một tình yêu đã cũ
đâu có thể nào back up một buổi chiều
(hai đứa bên nhau thư viện vắng)
thế giới quanh đây trầm lặng
chỉ ánh đèn le lói giữa trời quen
đâu có thể nào preview một tương lai
đâu có thể nào debug một lời từ giã
đâu có thể nào delete kỷ niệm đôi ta
thế giới quanh đây xa lạ
(những lá thư không cần tem)
SongVinh
Franchement, je m’en fous des victimes du récent acte de terrorisme à Londres. Oh, bien sûr, si j’étais en face des blessés, des corps mutilés, des parents éplorés, bien sûr, cela me toucherait. Je ressentirais la même horreur qui a saisi le monde devant le spectacle des ravages de l’attentat du 11 septembre. Mais autrement…
Je lis sur l’Internet les témoignages de compassion et d’admiration pour les victimes londoniennes et les condamnations des auteurs de l’attentat. De nouveaux blogs ont été créés pour commémorer ce drame, certains blogs existants ont affiché des graphiques, des logos, des articles spécialement dédiés au courage des victimes. Moi, je suis incapable d’éprouver autre chose qu’une vague et fugace pitié, qui commence d’ailleurs à évoluer vers une certaine lassitude : oui, ok, ça va, on le sait que les Londoniens sont braves, rappel des bombardements durant la deuxième guerre mondiale, we are not afraid, bla bla bla…
Tiens, faisons un petit sondage : combien de Britanniques ressentent encore quelque chose pour les victimes du tsunami d’il y a quelques mois? Combien d’Américains sont déchirés par le sort des Irakiens tués ou blessés dans le dernier attentat?
Je ne dis pas donnant-donnant. Je n’octroie pas ma compassion en échange de la pitié de quelqu’un d’autre. Ce que je veux dire, c’est que la souffrance est fatigante à la longue, surtout la souffrance d’autrui. Si un de mes enfants était tué, que ce soit dans un accident ou un attentat ou à la suite d’une maladie, je ne crois pas que je lui survivrai longtemps. Mais les enfants des autres? Les parents, les conjoints, les amis des autres? Êtes-vous inconsolables sur le sort des Soudanais à Dafour? Pleurez-vous pour les victimes de viol au Congo? Les camps de réfugiés en Afrique, les massacres ethniques dans les Balkans, la torture en Iraq et en Syrie, l’oppression des femmes dans les villages d’Afghanistan, la prostitution des enfants en Asie du Sud-Est, l’abattage des enfants de rue au Brésil, etc…Tout cela vous coupe-t-il l’appétit? Ou est-ce que, comme moi, vous venez de commencer votre nième régime pour pouvoir rentrer dans votre maillot de bain avant la fin de l’été?
The need for simple human-to-human relationships is becoming increasingly urgent…. Today the world is smaller and more interdependent. One nation’s problems can no longer be solved by themselves completely. Thus, without a sense of universal responsibility, our very survival becomes threatened. Basically, universal responsibility is feeling for other people’s suffering just as we feel our own, It is the realization that even our enemy is entirely motivated by the quest for happiness. We must recognize that all beings want the same thing that we want. This is the way to achieve a true understanding, unfettered by artificial consideration..
HH The Dalai Lama
I'll see you there.
My blog is worth $2,258.16.
How much is your blog worth?
