Classy Notes

Officially Sponsoring the Tide Pen

06.20.06

“China is a sleeping giant. Let her lie and sleep, for when she awakens she will astonish the world.” – Napoleon

Well, while my morning technically started off on a good note… we were on time and the weather was nice… I managed to spill coffee all over my white top. I realize that getting something on a white article of clothing is inevitable, but I swear it looked like I took the top off the latte and just started pouring. In turn, I would like to officially endorse the Tide Stain Removing Pen. I got almost all of it out! Now onto bigger and more significant things…

I was so excited for today’s first lecture on The Politics of China. My grandpa talks about China all of the time, sends me articles, etc. He always tells me that China is getting bigger, better and stronger every single day, and that it is already a regional superpower, and that China is well on its way to becoming a superpower in manufacturing, technology, and telecommunications.

Once again, Dr. Bergstrom started with facts and figures to make the lecture more realistic and momentous. China is the third highest trader in the world, has the highest economic growth in the world in the past couple of decades, is the second largest consumer of oil, lastly, in 2004 there were two billionaires in China, and in 2005 there were 10. The exponential growth of China and its quest to take over the world is climbing fast and steady. Some things that he talked about that I think we should be concerned about are: the uneven balance of trade (China sells six times than what they buy from the U.S.) as well as the fact that China is engaged in a major military buildup that goes far beyond its defensive needs. Dr. Bergstrom also touched on how Israel has been selling arms to China—we created and have continually stuck by Israel, I just don’t know why the United States hasn’t made a big enough deal about Israel definitely breaking some agreement I assume that we have with them about selling weapons like that. I do vaguely recall reading something about Rumsfeld around this time last year freezing some shipments, etc. but it just sounds like a slap on the wrist.

Dr. Bergstrom spent quite a significant amount of time making fun of Louis Vuitton… I am quite the collector when it comes to that couture line, but I definitely know that there is a lot of criticism that goes along with “overpaying” for a handbag. However, Dr. Bergstrom forgot to touch on what a ridiculous profit couture companies make, personally, I think it is a marketing phenomenon and I don’t mind being a part of it. But that’s just me! In conclusion, I really enjoyed his lecture on China today, I read or hear commentary on the growing China, and how China is officially becoming a full fledged competitor of the United States every single week, and I was glad to be able to hear various points of views on it.

Our last lecturer was Mr. Le May, who spoke on World War II and its’ effects. I was so excited to hear him speak, because in Tim’s introduction, he said that the lecturer had been a speech writer for Winston Churchill… it was like he was a walking, living, breathing piece of history! However, I could barely hear him, and I don’t feel like he spoke enough about his experience and involvement—which would have easily made the lecture ten times more interesting.

Tonight England is playing Sweden! So we are on our way out to the Victoria to go watch the game, and of course… have some beverages, as well!

posted by CSP @ 10:37 AM