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#41
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What food do you think of when you think of Beijing?
as for mascots, I have been made a mascot by many, both here and in the USA, because of my achievements -
Let's see. You were born chinese. You change your name to hide your chinese identity. Then you travel half way around the world to sing foreign songs in a foreign language for the entertainment of foreign white people, who flock to "look" at you, the token non-dane in the danish opera. OK. Uh huh. To each his own. As for me, I prefer to stay in the country of my birth and work for my country. Being a vagabond mercenary "guest worker" is not for me. |
#42
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What food do you think of when you think of Beijing?
You are obviously so ignorant about what went on in South East Asia that
you dribble away nonsense. All Chinese had to change their Chinese names if they want to remain in Indonesia. This happened when I was 8 years old. I couldn't really take up arms against the issue or go abroad at that time, could I? I finally did, and never returned. Opera had always been my passion, even when I was an engineer, and to finally make it on to the stage at the London Coliseum was nothing that you could imagine in your wildest dreams, Mark. Music has no national connotation - it is international and lowers the boundaries that separate peoples of different nations; it also promotes friendship and understanding amongst peoples. You will never understand this because you have nothing to do with music, nor have you attended the glorious opera performances that bring joy to the hearts of millions. Working for your country, huh? Do you call what you do "working for your country"? Blithering idiot. J. "Ira Humperdink MD" wrote in message oups.com... Let's see. You were born chinese. You change your name to hide your chinese identity. Then you travel half way around the world to sing foreign songs in a foreign language for the entertainment of foreign white people, who flock to "look" at you, the token non-dane in the danish opera. OK. Uh huh. To each his own. As for me, I prefer to stay in the country of my birth and work for my country. Being a vagabond mercenary "guest worker" is not for me. |
#43
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What food do you think of when you think of Beijing?
Mr. Venning,
First, I did not mean to demean your professional accomlishments. At least you are a successful guy, unlike that Peng fellow who is all talk not action. Second, thank you for explaining the Indonesian situation to me. I did not realize all chinese from indonesia had to change their names by law. I knew a chinese lady from malaysia and she kept her chinese family name. but I guess malaysia is not indonesia. Third, have you dis-avowed indoensia as your home because they treat chinese so badly? Do you consider indonesia an unfriendly place? Do you still love indonesia? Fourth, I don't think how opera can be an "international" language if they sing mainly in italian or some romance langauge that most chinese and americans do not understand. Hah! Opera is the language of snobbery. The true international langauge is pop music. MOre people understand elton john or michaal jackson than opera. MD |
#44
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What food do you think of when you think of Beijing?
J.Venning wrote: "Resist coercion", did you say? Why didn't the 6 million exterminated Jews "resist this coercion" during WW2? You are really talking out of your league, aren't you, Blithering Idiot? As to honouring one's ancestors, are you an example? When did the Danes ever colonise Indonesia? Ever heard of the Dutch East Indies? Nah. As for mascots, I have been made a mascot by many, both here and in the USA, because of my achievements - something *you* will never experience. I am the only Overseas Chinese who can brag about being the only non-diplomat and non-Dane, who was asked to make the formal opening speech on the Danish Constitution Day in New York. J. as for mascots, I have been made a mascot by many, both here and in the USA, because of my achievements - Let's see. You were born chinese. You change your name to hide your chinese identity. Then you travel half way around the world to sing foreign songs in a foreign language for the entertainment of foreign white people, who flock to "look" at you, the token non-dane in the danish opera. OK. Uh huh. To each his own. As for me, I prefer to stay in the country of my birth and work for my country. Being a vagabond mercenary "guest worker" is not for me. |
#45
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What food do you think of when you think of Beijing?
Well, MD, have you remembered to take the right pills at last? There can
be some sense in you when the neurons are nudged into place. My professional accomplishments speak for themselves, when I say that opera is an extremely competitive world - only the best get up there. Malaysia is definitely *not* Indonesia, and I am not an Indonesian. The fact that I happened to be born there doesn't automatically mean that I am a native of that country. Both my parents came from China. Would you call yourself a Nigerian, if you happened to be born there during while your parents were working on a project? Incidentally, I carry a British passport. Ah, how does one define "home"? A "home" is where the heart is, where your family and friends welcome you and you them, where you feel that what you do benefits the community in which you share your joys and troubles, and where you see all the things in which you believe are upheld with respect. Indonesia doesn't offer me any of those, but Denmark does. I am a part of my community, and I contribute freely to it and it to me. Denmark is actually number one on the list I wrote a few days ago, about the country whose people are happiest. I definitely do not consider Indonesia an unfriendly place, but some of the lesser educated natives are, and let's just say that I would like to take a very long holiday away from it. How can I love Indonesia, when it doesn't love me? I don't go for unrequited love affaires. Opera is the entertainment for the enlightened. People who cannot love opera are unfortunately the ones who do not appreciate the heritage of the Western Civilization. I have sung in Beijing twice now, and each time, I was hailed as a hero returning to his Motherland by the audiences. They might not have understood every single word of the various languages in which I sang, but my artistry conveyed the emotions only classical music can project, not pop music. That I could do this in the land of my true ancestors was a God-given gift to me. J. "Ira Humperdink MD" wrote in message ups.com... Mr. Venning, First, I did not mean to demean your professional accomlishments. At least you are a successful guy, unlike that Peng fellow who is all talk not action. Second, thank you for explaining the Indonesian situation to me. I did not realize all chinese from indonesia had to change their names by law. I knew a chinese lady from malaysia and she kept her chinese family name. but I guess malaysia is not indonesia. Third, have you dis-avowed indoensia as your home because they treat chinese so badly? Do you consider indonesia an unfriendly place? Do you still love indonesia? Fourth, I don't think how opera can be an "international" language if they sing mainly in italian or some romance langauge that most chinese and americans do not understand. Hah! Opera is the language of snobbery. The true international langauge is pop music. MOre people understand elton john or michaal jackson than opera. MD |
#46
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Meaning of Opera
Opera?
Many old Asians or FOBs love western classical opera because it is a sign of 'status' - anything that smacks of being European/Caucasian is pretty much adored in the Far East these days - from Eurasian kids posing for sleepwear on billboards to blonde models for cosmetic products to a sprinkling of heavily accented English in pop songs etc - not realizing the cachet of opera & classical music in the US/America among many Americans is low, sterile, effete, old-fashioned, and dated especially among the under 30s or 40s crowd. But many old lower and middle class East Asians still want the opportunity to say 'oh, I've seen this La Boheme at the Met! See how cultured I am!' and thus able to brag about this to their friends. Joke's on them! It's now hip and higher status to say that you spent your month discovering a forgotten island in Thailand than to say you had flown to Bayreuth to see The Ring - which some say is (awww, now, come on here...you serious?....) ANTISEMITE! If not RACIST! Or better yet, just catalog which posh restaurant's restroom in NYC is best to sniff coke. That may be of even higher bragging value. Like "see how high I am (no pun intended) - I can afford such decadence!" But there can be a cross-cultural dimension here. If, say, an Irish becomes an expert in Japanese cuisine it is indeed remarkable. If a Japanese knows a lot about sushi etc it is nothing extraordinary. Maybe many are motivated by this psychology. Or they may really like this girly or women stuff themselves like poetry (there is a reason I'm saying this - again from sociobiology - but I don't have time to elaborate) and I am certainly not discounting this group. Upper middle class/near-rich Americans have 'been there, done that' with opera and ballet - a stage that some nouveau riche Asians are still trying to pass through these days. I say 'Americans' rather than 'whites' or 'westerners' as many Europeans see it as a staple of their culture so they don't think much of it - like the French drinking their Bordeaux. The wind of globalization (an example being you should know or at least pretend to know about a lot about another culture) is in full force from fusion cuisine to outsourcing to interracial marriage. That's not to discount opera of course - some really truly enjoy and believe it. When I'm senile, that is. The world -- not some crime-ridden primate inner-city hellhole -- is the upper class playground!! Ira Humperdink MD wrote: J.Venning wrote: "Resist coercion", did you say? Why didn't the 6 million exterminated Jews "resist this coercion" during WW2? You are really talking out of your league, aren't you, Blithering Idiot? As to honouring one's ancestors, are you an example? When did the Danes ever colonise Indonesia? Ever heard of the Dutch East Indies? Nah. As for mascots, I have been made a mascot by many, both here and in the USA, because of my achievements - something *you* will never experience. I am the only Overseas Chinese who can brag about being the only non-diplomat and non-Dane, who was asked to make the formal opening speech on the Danish Constitution Day in New York. J. as for mascots, I have been made a mascot by many, both here and in the USA, because of my achievements - Let's see. You were born chinese. You change your name to hide your chinese identity. Then you travel half way around the world to sing foreign songs in a foreign language for the entertainment of foreign white people, who flock to "look" at you, the token non-dane in the danish opera. OK. Uh huh. To each his own. As for me, I prefer to stay in the country of my birth and work for my country. Being a vagabond mercenary "guest worker" is not for me. |
#47
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Meaning of Opera
"RichAsianKid" wrote in message
ups.com... Many old Asians or FOBs love western classical opera because it is a sign of 'status' - anything that smacks of being European/Caucasian is pretty much adored in the Far East these days - from Eurasian kids posing for sleepwear on billboards to blonde models for cosmetic products to a sprinkling of heavily accented English in pop songs etc - not realizing the cachet of opera & classical music in the US/America among many Americans is low, sterile, effete, old-fashioned, and dated especially among the under 30s or 40s crowd. But many old lower and middle class East Asians still want the opportunity to say 'oh, I've seen this La Boheme at the Met! See how cultured I am!' and thus able to brag about this to their friends. This is a clear indication that you do not appreciate Western culture, since opera in the West is an acquired taste for culture that demands a higher intelligence to understand and like - unlike rock or rap. J. |
#48
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Meaning of Opera
On 22 Jan 2006 19:02:04 -0800, "RichAsianKid"
wrote: Opera? Many old Asians or FOBs love western classical opera because it is a sign of 'status' - anything that smacks of being European/Caucasian is pretty much adored in the Far East these days - from Eurasian kids posing for sleepwear on billboards to blonde models for cosmetic products to a sprinkling of heavily accented English in pop songs etc - not realizing the cachet of opera & classical music in the US/America among many Americans is low, sterile, effete, old-fashioned, and dated especially among the under 30s or 40s crowd. [snip] That's only because they haven't had much exposure to it. I regularly teach an Intro to Opera course at a university in the U.S. with a large population of foreign students, especially from East and South Asia, and it's a really popular course. I don't think much of people who consider opera merely a status symbol. The reason to go to an opera is because it's a great and unparallelled multimedia experience. Same with non-Western opera, like Beijing Opera, Kabuki, and Southeast Asian operatic styles (e.g. Wayang Wong in Central Java, Makyong in Kelantan). Michael If you would like to send a private email to me, please take out the NOTRASH. Please do not email me something which you also posted. |
#49
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Meaning of Opera
J.Venning wrote: "RichAsianKid" wrote in message ups.com... Many old Asians or FOBs love western classical opera because it is a sign of 'status' - anything that smacks of being European/Caucasian is pretty much adored in the Far East these days - from Eurasian kids posing for sleepwear on billboards to blonde models for cosmetic products to a sprinkling of heavily accented English in pop songs etc - not realizing the cachet of opera & classical music in the US/America among many Americans is low, sterile, effete, old-fashioned, and dated especially among the under 30s or 40s crowd. But many old lower and middle class East Asians still want the opportunity to say 'oh, I've seen this La Boheme at the Met! See how cultured I am!' and thus able to brag about this to their friends. This is a clear indication that you do not appreciate Western culture, since opera in the West is an acquired taste for culture that demands a higher intelligence to understand and like - unlike rock or rap. J. I know I'm a brute. I've been told that many many times from the older gen. I don't really love people who sentimentally gush over just how they want how their Australian Shiraz should smell like etc etc. I prefer Burger King and beer actually. But that's me. It may even be biologically driven, who knows. But anyway. Opera or this sissy or rather this 'classy' music stuff is for degenerates (no pun there!! hahahaa) anyway. I just don't think that, say, Puccini's Turandot speaks to the modern generation. He may be gay anyway I don't know, like Oscar Wilde. Wagner, on the other hand, has some masculine appeal. Yet he's easily labelled racist and/or anti-semite too. You just can't win. As they say choose your heroes carefully. Oh and BTW people will say you're discriminatory against rock/rap - you're saying that even stupid people will understand them? |
#50
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Meaning of Opera
"RichAsianKid" wrote in message
oups.com... I know I'm a brute. I've been told that many many times from the older gen. I don't really love people who sentimentally gush over just how they want how their Australian Shiraz should smell like etc etc. I prefer Burger King and beer actually. But that's me. It may even be biologically driven, who knows. But anyway. Opera or this sissy or rather this 'classy' music stuff is for degenerates (no pun there!! hahahaa) anyway. I just don't think that, say, Puccini's Turandot speaks to the modern generation. He may be gay anyway I don't know, like Oscar Wilde. Wagner, on the other hand, has some masculine appeal. Yet he's easily labelled racist and/or anti-semite too. You just can't win. As they say choose your heroes carefully. Oh and BTW people will say you're discriminatory against rock/rap - you're saying that even stupid people will understand them? I think you have described yourself rather clearly here, and no one will try to change your mind or opinion about opera or anything else. If you don't think that "Turandot" speaks to the modern generation, you will need hearing aid. Puccini was not a homosexual, but even if he were, does that make his music less good? I am sure you have chosen your heroes very carefully. Yes, I am very discriminatory against rock/rap, so? Am I not allowed to have my personal values? Stupid people will not understand anything - not even rock or rap - but they will follow whatever the media or salesmen tell them what to buy and listen. J. |
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