3.27.2004
And She's Off, Way Off
From washingtonpost.com...it's just funny, that's all. I think this passes as a human interest story, or horse interest, or something like that. The rest of this post will only make sense if you at least skim it first.
It's really a rather interesting perspective. There are constantly these irritating articles in Japan Times and Daily Yomiuri about Japanese culture, but they're practically unreadable most of the time because they're so rife with stereotypes and the constant debunking of stereotypes. Not to mention the abundance of first-person garbage. That stuff should be out there in blogs or so people can read it in context. In the newspaper it just gets too much legitimacy but loses most of it's punch. Some of it is interesting, I'm not knocking all of it, but there's really not much of a standard.
What does that say about me that I prefer the American newspaper? But then I suspect the readership of the Washington Post is a little higher, than the English version of JT or DY, so naturally it's better written.
I did think this was more to the point--people in some crazy way associating with a well-marketed-lucky-not-to-be-dinner horse. I mean, there's something natural and normal about people seeing these symbols. There's something compelling about how the horse was saved, and there's something a little twisted about how it became a tourist marketing ploy.
Now I don't really think there's a lot new in the analysis of Japanese egalitarianism (to a fault some would say), or the "zany" angle, meaning stuff that seems overboard from an American perspective (i.e. giving a losing racehorse this much attention).
But there is something interesting in the fact that people are latching onto something purely symbolic with such fervor (while the poor horse doesn't know any better and would probably rather be back in Hokkaido). But the symbolism is well needed in terms of the disabled fans.
I am constantly amazed by how inaccessible places can be. There's tons of stuff to help the blind (though sometimes the streets are hazardous for the sighted), but I *never* see wheelchairs. I mean, they are surely out there, but either I am taking the least accessible most stair-intensive route (probably) or they're all at home. Actually the stations seem okay, although whenever someone needs to get on a train it takes two conductors, but I don't know if there is a better way or how this works elsewhere.
Of course there is no end of old women hunched at right angles from calcium deficiency during WWII. But aside from their perpendicular perspective, they're pretty powerful, especially when they put out fresh fish at the local market. I get out of the way, but that's another story.
Another random thought about the school children racing together. I wonder if this is the direction American society is headed in. Seems like it with schools having so many valedictorians and parents making such a legal fuss anymore.
But is there a message in it? Is it good like the teacher says, because the winners know, or is it bad because the losers have it delineated that they are holding other people back. I wouldn't have been one of the fast kids, not when I was little anyway. I wouldn't mind trying and losing, as long as I didn't get called down for it. Seems like half the US is suing somebody because they weren't treated fairly and the other half is shrugging it's shoulders as to why people can't just cope.
And here, you know, some my students won't even admit to doing their homework when they did, because they don't want the slackers to feel bad. And if I have some luck my coworkers will praise me to the point of embarrassment. I can see why people don't celebrate their victories.
It's really a rather interesting perspective. There are constantly these irritating articles in Japan Times and Daily Yomiuri about Japanese culture, but they're practically unreadable most of the time because they're so rife with stereotypes and the constant debunking of stereotypes. Not to mention the abundance of first-person garbage. That stuff should be out there in blogs or so people can read it in context. In the newspaper it just gets too much legitimacy but loses most of it's punch. Some of it is interesting, I'm not knocking all of it, but there's really not much of a standard.
What does that say about me that I prefer the American newspaper? But then I suspect the readership of the Washington Post is a little higher, than the English version of JT or DY, so naturally it's better written.
I did think this was more to the point--people in some crazy way associating with a well-marketed-lucky-not-to-be-dinner horse. I mean, there's something natural and normal about people seeing these symbols. There's something compelling about how the horse was saved, and there's something a little twisted about how it became a tourist marketing ploy.
Now I don't really think there's a lot new in the analysis of Japanese egalitarianism (to a fault some would say), or the "zany" angle, meaning stuff that seems overboard from an American perspective (i.e. giving a losing racehorse this much attention).
But there is something interesting in the fact that people are latching onto something purely symbolic with such fervor (while the poor horse doesn't know any better and would probably rather be back in Hokkaido). But the symbolism is well needed in terms of the disabled fans.
I am constantly amazed by how inaccessible places can be. There's tons of stuff to help the blind (though sometimes the streets are hazardous for the sighted), but I *never* see wheelchairs. I mean, they are surely out there, but either I am taking the least accessible most stair-intensive route (probably) or they're all at home. Actually the stations seem okay, although whenever someone needs to get on a train it takes two conductors, but I don't know if there is a better way or how this works elsewhere.
Of course there is no end of old women hunched at right angles from calcium deficiency during WWII. But aside from their perpendicular perspective, they're pretty powerful, especially when they put out fresh fish at the local market. I get out of the way, but that's another story.
Another random thought about the school children racing together. I wonder if this is the direction American society is headed in. Seems like it with schools having so many valedictorians and parents making such a legal fuss anymore.
But is there a message in it? Is it good like the teacher says, because the winners know, or is it bad because the losers have it delineated that they are holding other people back. I wouldn't have been one of the fast kids, not when I was little anyway. I wouldn't mind trying and losing, as long as I didn't get called down for it. Seems like half the US is suing somebody because they weren't treated fairly and the other half is shrugging it's shoulders as to why people can't just cope.
And here, you know, some my students won't even admit to doing their homework when they did, because they don't want the slackers to feel bad. And if I have some luck my coworkers will praise me to the point of embarrassment. I can see why people don't celebrate their victories.
