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Letters and Blogs
Updated: 2007-09-11 07:25
Value of money
Comment on Liu Shinan's column "Learning the value of money" (China
Daily, September 5, 2007))
This was a beautifully written column. I was so moved and touched by what
you wrote. I just wanted to let you know.
Susan P. Beacham
via e-mail
Securitization market
Comment on Hong Liang's column "Time to re-evaluate policies" (China
Daily, September 4, 2007)
No longer a regular reader of China Daily now that I am back in New York,
I only encounter your columns when I fly Cathay. (And then I remember how
much I enjoyed them).
Today was different: your column surfaced in one of my google alerts.
Your observations on the securitization market are very true.
Securitization can do many things that free market capitalism cannot.
For example, it can recapitalize many projects of high social benefit and
moderate (but very stable) income generating potential.
But, securitization has been abused. And to some extent, there has been a
bit of an information conspiracy, as much of what is now known about the
latent risk was known before.
Ann
via e-mail
Unhealthy obsession
Comment on Zou Hanrou's column "An unhealthy obsession with color of
skin" (China Daily, September 7, 2007)
Zou's column addressed this sad and pathological obsession with white
skin color imposed on the beautiful yellow and brown peoples of Asia. I
just spent five weeks visiting China and this obsession was truly
astounding, from the whitening creams, to parasols in the shade, and arm
coverlets. I think that there are some additional aspects that need to be
addressed to get to the root of the issue.
When Europe was primarily an agricultural society, most of the population
was constantly exposed to the sun while working in the fields. Thus, only
the idle rich could afford to stay out of the sun, and hence the
alabaster skin color was a vulgar way of showing one's wealth and easily
differentiating themselves from the "dirty" and "sunburned" peasants.
With the onset of the industrial revolution, hard labor moved indoors and
away from the sun. Suddenly, it was the white pallid skin that was
unhealthy and unattractive. Now only those with sufficient means to go to
the Caribbean for the winter can sport a nice tan, in order to show off
their wealth. Only the poor have white skins in winter.
China and Asia remain largely agricultural societies, and heavily
influenced by the perverse legacy of colonialism concerning race and
color. Most horrifying of all is that many of these skin "whiteners"
contain ingredients that are unhealthy, dangerous and even fatal. In the
United States skin whiteners used to be common among African-Americans
until a movement of pride and dignity called "Black is Beautiful" largely
freed them of such ugliness. Perhaps it is time to promote "Yellow and
Brown are Beautiful."
As a person who happens to be born very white and must live in constant
fear of the sun, cursing my useless skin, I plead with my Asian sisters
and brothers to love and leave their color as it is- beautiful.
Aaron Ruby
San Francisco, California
Fashion designers
Comment on Li Xing's column "Our fashion designers need support" (China
Daily, September 6, 2007))
While I agree with you that Chinese designers need support, I do not
agree with your point that "the media should not make hasty conclusions
about style ... even for the sake of argument."
Fashion is such a dynamic, competitive industry that consumers are
flooded with choices. Decisions of whether to buy a garment or not are
made quickly, some might even say hastily. But that is the reality of the
situation. This is an industry with a fast turnover - products that take
several months to develop, occupy shelf space in stores for less than one
season. So desginers' products, no matter how complex, must be able to
stand the test of hasty judgment - from media and consumers alike.
Moreover, have more faith in consumers - a slagging from the media does
not always equate to dismal sales. Media attention, good or bad, will
draw more attention to designers. If creations are good, regardless of
media influence, the clothes will find a market.
Sherisse Pham
via e-mail
(China Daily 09/11/2007 page11)
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