Friday, March 20, 2020
Famous Quotes from Woodrow Wilson
Famous Quotes from Woodrow Wilson Woodrow Wilson (1856-1927), the 28th president of the United States, while not considered a terrific orator- he was more comfortable debating than orating- gave many speeches around the country and in Congress during his tenure. Many of them contained memorable quotations. Wilson's Career and Accomplishments Serving two consecutive terms as president, Wilson distinguished himself by leading the country into and out of the World War I and presiding over landmark progressive social and economic reforms, including the passage of the Federal Reserve Act and the Child Labor Reform Act. The 19th Amendment to the Constitution ensuring all women the right to vote was also passed during his administration. A Virginia-born lawyer, Wilson began his career as an academic, eventually landing at his alma mater, Princeton, where he rose to become president of the university. In 1910 Wilson ran as the Democratic Partyââ¬â¢s candidate for New Jersey governor and won. Two years later he was elected president of the nation.à During his first term Wilson grappled with the war in Europe, insisting on U.S. neutrality, however by 1917 it was impossible to ignore German aggression, and Wilson asked Congress to declare war, asserting that ââ¬Å"The world must be made safe for democracy. When the war ended, Wilson was a strong proponent of the League of Nations, a forerunner of the United Nations that Congress refused to join.à Notable Quotations Here are someà of Wilsonââ¬â¢s most notable quotes:à The Constitution was not made to fit us like a straitjacket.â⬠- Aà speech about ââ¬Å"Americanismâ⬠at the Cooper Union, in New York, NY, November 20, 1904.Life does not consist in thinking, it consists in acting.- Announcing his presidential campaign in Buffalo, NY, September 28th, 1912.I am not one of those who believes that a great standing army is the means of maintaining peace, because if you build up a great profession those who form parts of it want to exercise their profession.- from a speech in Pittsburgh, quoted in The Nation, February 3, 1916.I believe in democracy because it releases the energies of every human being.- At the Workingmanââ¬â¢s Dinner, New York, September 4, 1912.If you think too much about being re-elected, it is very difficult to be worth reelecting.- Address at the celebration of the rededication of Congress Hall in Philadelphia, October 25, 1913.One cool judgment is worth a thousand hasty counsels. The thing to do is to supply light and not heat.- Address at Soldiers Memorial Hall, Pittsburgh, January 29, 1916. There is a price which is too great to pay for peace, and that price can be put in one word. One cannot pay the price of self-respect.- Speech at Des Moines, Iowa, February 1, 1916.The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make.- on the State of War with Germany during an Address to Congress. April 2, 1917.The Americans who went to Europe to die are a unique breed.... (They) crossed the seas to a foreign land to fight for a cause which they did not pretend was peculiarly their own, which they knew was the cause of humanity and mankind. These Americans gave the greatest of all gifts, the gift of life and the gift of spirit.- speech at the American Memorial Day while visiting American graves at Suresnes Cemetery, May 30, 1919. Sources: Craig H. 1952. Woodrow Wilson as an orator. Quarterly Journal of Speech 38(2):145-148.Wilson W, and Pestritto RJ. 2005 Woodrow Wilson: The Essential Political Writings. Lanham, Massachusetts: Rowman Littlefield.Wilson W, and Hart AB. 1918 [2002]. Selected Addresses and Public Papers of Woodrow Wilson. Honolulu, Hawaii: University Press of the Pacific.Wilson, W, and Link, AS. 1993. The Papers of Woodrow Wilson. Princeton University Press.
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
11 Taboos in Chinese Culture
11 Taboos in Chinese Culture Every culture has its own taboos, and it is important to remain aware of them when traveling or encountering another culture to ensure you dont commit a social faux-pas. In Chinese culture, some of the most common taboos involve gift-giving, birthdays, and weddings. Numbers According to Chinese tradition, good things come in pairs. Therefore odd numbers are avoided for birthday celebrations and weddings. To avoid bad things happening in pairs, activities such as burials and gift-giving are not performed on even-numbered days. In Chinese, theà number four (Ã¥âºâº, sà ¬) sounds like the word for death (æ », sà ). For this reason, the number four is avoided- particularly on phone numbers, license plates, and addresses. For addresses that do contain fours, the rent is usually less and apartments on the fourth floor are typically rented by foreigners. Work Shopkeepers may opt not to read a book at work because book (æ⺠¸, shÃ
«) sounds like lose (è ¼ ¸, shÃ
«). Shopkeepers who read may be afraid their businesses will suffer losses. When it comes to sweeping, shopkeepers are careful not to sweep toward the door, especially during the Chinese New Year, in case good fortune is swept out into the street. When eating a meal, never turn over fish when you are with a fisherman as the motion symbolizes a boat capsizing. Also, never offer a friend an umbrella because the word umbrella (Ã¥âË, sÃŽn) sounds similar to æ⢠£ (sn, to break up) and the act is a sign that you will never see each other again. Food Young children should not eat chicken feet as it is believed that doing so will prevent them from writing well when they start school. They may also become prone to fighting like roosters. Leaving food on oneââ¬â¢s plate- particularly grains of rice- is believed to result in marriage to a spouse with many pockmarks on his or her face. Not finishing a meal is also believed to incur the wrath of the thunder god. Another Chinese taboo relating to food is that chopsticks should not be left standing straight up in a bowl of rice. This act is said to bring bad luck to restaurant owners as chopsticks stuck in rice look similar to incense placed in urns. Gift-Giving Since good things are believed to come in pairs, gifts given in pairs (except sets of four) are best. When preparing the gift, do not wrap it in white as that color represents sorrow and poverty. Certain gifts are also seen as inauspicious. For example, never give a clock, watch, or pocket watch as a gift because to send a clock (é⬠é Ë,à sà ²ng zhÃ
ng) sounds like the funeral ritual (é⬠ç µâ,à sà ²ng zhÃ
ng). According to Chinese taboo, clocks symbolize that time is running out. There are many other such ominousà Chinese gifts to avoid. If you give an unlucky gift by accident, the receiver can make it right by giving you a coin which changes the gift to an item they have symbolically purchased. Holidays It is a Chinese taboo to share stories about death and dying and ghost stories during special occasions and holidays. Doing so is considered extremely unlucky. Chinese New Year There are many Chinese New Year taboosà to be wary of. On the first day of the Chinese New Year, inauspicious words cannot be spoken. For example, words such as break, spoil, die, gone, and poor should not be uttered. During the Chinese New Year, nothing should be broken. When eating fish, diners must be careful to not break any of the bones, and be extra careful not to break any plates. Also, nothing should be cut during Chinese New Year as that signifies oneââ¬â¢s life could be cut short. Noodles should not be cut and haircuts should be avoided. In general, sharp objects like scissors and knives are avoided during Chinese New Year. All windows and doors in the home should be open on New Yearââ¬â¢s Eve to send out the old year and welcome the New Year. All debts should be paid by Chinese New Year and nothing should be lent on New Yearââ¬â¢s Day. When preparing paper dragons for the Chinese New Year, it is taboo for women who are menstruating, people in mourning, and babies to be near the dragons when the cloth is being pasted to the dragonââ¬â¢s body. Birthdays One long noodle is typically slurped on oneââ¬â¢s birthday. But revelers beware- the noodle should not be bitten or cut as this is believed to shorten oneââ¬â¢s life. Weddings In the three months leading up to a coupleââ¬â¢s wedding, they should avoid going to a funeral or wake or visiting a woman who has just had a baby. If one of the coupleââ¬â¢s parents passes away before the wedding, the wedding must be postponed for 100 days, as attending happy celebrations during mourning is considered disrespectful to the dead. If a roasted pig is given as part of the brideââ¬â¢s gift to the groomââ¬â¢s family, the tail and ears should not be broken. Doing so would mean the bride is not a virgin. Fifth Lunar Month The fifth lunar month is considered an unlucky month. It is a Chinese taboo to dry blankets in the sun and build houses during this time. Hungry Ghost Festival The Hungry Ghost Festival is held during the seventh lunar month. In order to avoid seeing ghosts, people should not go outside at night. Celebrations such as weddings are not held, fishermen do not launch new boats, and many people opt to postpone their trips during the Hungry Ghost Month. The souls of those who die by drowning are considered to be in the greatest turmoil, so some people refuse to go swimming during this time to lessen the chance of a run-in with wayward ghosts.
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