jenny's thoughts

In writing about the current juxtaposition between allowing people in for the games and making sure the ones they dont want come in (and reminding that China’s government has taken about 20 steps back in its stance on human rights, if it ever had one), the NYTimes editorial staff says…

There’s an inherent contradiction between China’s desire to invite the world to the Olympics and its effort to deny those visitors — and its own people — the most basic freedoms. Last week, an I.O.C. official said he is convinced the Games would be a “force for good” in China. The committee and Western governments need to remind Beijing that the world is watching, and so far the picture isn’t good.

I’d prefer to just turn off the television, actually. Goodbye, interest in Olympics. RIP.

———————————

Moving on…to meat. Actually, on to avoiding meat because its not really nescessary.

People are eating a half pound of meat every day? Wow. I guess I might have eaten about that when I was growing up, and sustaining myself in college. But…a half pound?

One important thing I’ve learned living with Kim and living abroad is that meat isn’t the main part of the meal. As the Minimalist says, in many couisines meat adds flavor to a dish. Even in the old west, meat was meant to make the beans taste good.

But the comment on the once-in-awhile splurge “eat like a true American” makes me nauseous. I don’t fit into clothes at the clothing store here because for 25 years I ate like “an American.” Look where it got me. There should be no eating “like an American.” And what does that mean, anyway? Is the minimalist condoning the eating of fast food? Oh dear, I hope not.

———————-

And from refraining from putting the meat in your basket, we see an article on the gardening wave.

Daily, dare I saw hourly, i go back and forth on being proud of my nationality. This article, this wonderful article, makes me proud. People are saying no to driving to the hypermarket where aisles of items shipped from afar lay waiting. They’re growing their own produce.

Awhile back on Forumosa, a poster commented on how some taiwanese gardener was “raping the land” with his impromtu garden. I recall saying how great it was that the person was feeing his loved ones from his own sweat and blood, and maybe making a buck or two off of it…especially since he’s not giving Carrefour any of his money. “Raping the land”… is that what some westerners (people) think gardening is? We’ve come to a point where the civilized world doesn’t know where their food comes from, nor do they really want to. I admit, I’m not sure where all my stuff comes from. But the grandma with her blanket of veggies probably grew her stuff, where I know for sure that the stuff at Carrefour was trucked in, not grown by the clerks.

Enough rambling and complaining before I turn into an old angry lady. :+) There’s work to be done! (I’m in Taichung, packing the remains of my Taichung life. This trip I’ve hit all my favorite places: the market (the tofu lady gave me an extra piece of fried tofu! and wanted to know where I had been for the past month or so), pei’s tea shop, feng chia night market, the immigration office (Bourne got his ARC — yeah!), and the corner 7-11. :+) But now I have to bring my tatami and rock pillow, and some odds and ends like a rice cooker and a fan. And I’m tired. :+) )

——————–
Photo Credits
Beijing Olympics: http://flickr.com/photos/25063652@N06/2364072295/Meat: http://flickr.com/photos/dongkwan/2411796681/
Garden: http://flickr.com/photos/dezeneandjoyel/635520529/