Category: Life

Here I muse on the meaning of life and other abstract topic

A musing on the word “farmer”

Posted on by fqzhang

Here in the United States, we frequently use the word farmer to describe someone who engaes in agricultural pursuits or who derive a large source of their income from farming activities. Accoding to the most commonly used definition (as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary): “a person who cultivates land or crops or raises animals (as livestock or fish).” Based on this definition, a large portion (over a billion in fact, according to official figure, but like with all statistics, the true figure is much higher) is engaged in agricultural pursuits. Farmers have always been recognized as one of the largest groups of people in society, and their role in the production of food is very well appreciated. But are all “farmers” created equal?

I remember hearing about people in my hometown who are considered to be “farmers” (in rural areas of California) but were in fact large landowners who owned thousands of acres of land (chiefly planted with almond trees) and whose revenue is in excess of 10 million dollars a year. Now compare a picture of this individual with a sub-Saharan “farmer” who engages in subsistence farming (like other 60% of the population of Sub-Saharan Africa), and whose produce can barely feed his own family of 7, and you quickly get a picture of the diversity in the word “farmer”.

The word “farmer” in its modern usage is essentially an American construct, as it implies ownership of the land you are working on and have to be associated, at least in America, with large estates and strong independent ownership. The millions of people who work on those farms on a contractual basis are termed “farm workers” rather than farmers, since they are merely needed for the harvesting and planting of fruits/vegetables/crops. In many ways, being a “farmer” in the United States doesn’t seem to be a bad occupation: you receive a steady source of income and derive a sense of satisfaction from working for yourself. Granted, no one in a capitalistic society is entirely free from the fluctuations on the market or the uncertainties of weathers, but with economy of scale (which many farmers in the US enjoy), over the long run, farmers seemed to be living a decent life. With increasing consolidation in the United States in the farming industry, the small family farms are increasingly becoming a thing of the past, and we entering an age where large corporate farmers are becoming the way of the future.

For the rest of the world, “peasant” is the more appropriate term. Even in advanced developing nations like China, over 30% of the labor force engaged in farming as their daily occupation, and in the rest of the developing and underdeveloped world, the peasantry ranges from 40% to 80% of the population of the area. The peasantry is a poor lot with none of the connotations that we associate with being a “farmer”. But unfortunately, this is also the state of the world that we live in. However, to capture the true state of the world’s farming community, we should use the word “peasant” a little more.

Questions of Identity: What defines our nation?

Posted on by fqzhang

While having dinner at Berkeley’s dining commons, I was talking with an international student from South Korea. We were discussing our respective backgrounds. He was telling about how in South Korea, everyone identifies with one another, mostly in the form of culture and a similar language. He also mentioned an identifying factor that is hard to imagine in the US: race and ethnicity. In Korea, everyone belongs to the Korean “race” and this ethnic identifying factor is important in how Koreans see themselves as a nation. Then he asked me about something that he is confused about: What defines America? What is it that makes America stick together as a nation? Taken aback by this question, I couldn’t come up with a response. Then I stated that in the US, we do not value race, ethnicity, or even culture or language as much; rather, we as Americans share a certain set of values such individualism, respect for the law and democracy. However, as soon as I uttered those words, I realized how textbook like I sound, for these are the responses a course of American politics would probably gave. While he nodded in assent, I myself wasn’t entirely satisfied my response.

I have always enjoyed talking with international students, they often offers a fresh perspective on things that some of us born in the US or living in the US have taken for granted. Take the question of what defines the US for example, I have never thought about how bewildering the American Identity must have seemed to others. We are a nation that is multi-race, multi-religion, multi-cultural, and even multi-lingual (even though English is the de facto language of communication); indeed how is it that the American nation can stay together for so long?

After careful thought, I came to the conclusion our national identity is defined by several values. Most importantly, I believe that the US is defined by our inclusiveness to people of all different background, at the same time, we helped to foster immigrants and native-born citizens with a certain set of values that define America. And I believe the acquisition of an American identity happened in several stages. Firstly, those who immigrated to the United States are already breaking the bound with their old home country for political, religious, economic, and a variety of other regions that causes them to be no longer attached to their old identity. This is important because by forming a new blank slate (a table rasa if you will), a new identity can be imprinted upon them. Secondly, the gradually process of assimilation, or at least acceptance of American culture and the American way of life happens gradually. Through working, interacting with others, watching TV and accessing the internet, individuals can acquire a new perspective on things, a perspective that respects the diversity of American society. One key aspect of this acculturation to the US lies in the learning of the English language. This is not necessary merely for the cultural sense, but also to facilitate the understanding of what the larger society is about. Finally, the acquisition of an American identities is completed when citizens began to appreciate the political institutions of the United States, possess an understanding of the American political culture, and appreciate the nation for what it is. The acquisition of citizenship status is merely a formalization of the process of becoming an American. Throughout this process, a person began to identify more and more closely with the identity of an American.

However, this process of becoming an American is not without its challenges. At each stage of the process, a person may fail to progress to the next stage. For example, a person may remain so attached to their home country that they refuses to accept anything else even though they physically had come to America. Moreover, a person may refuse to learn the English language, or work, or interact with anyone else in the US. Or they may choose to fill their living rooms with foreign media and essentially recreating their home country in America, and isolate themselves from their surroundings. Under these circumstances, a person cannot become an “American” in the cultural sense of the word. And even when they chose to became a citizen, they did not truly complete the process of becoming an American in their heart and mind.

But what about remaining American after we began to identify with each other in a community? I believe that the decision of remaining American is an expression of our personal choice. We take pride in the community in which we belong in. Here, I draw upon the ideas of the famous French theorist, Ernest Renan, who argued that choosing to belong to a nation is a daily process of affirmation in a community. A nation is not a concrete concept that is defined by its borders, institutions, or other perceived similarities. Here in the United States, we are not defined by the 49th parallel North or the Rio Grande, but rather by a set of values and shared experiences that all of us treasure. The fact that we are living together and form a community is a testament to our continual will to be American; for if not, we can easily move away from this country, or “vote with our feet”. Each day, while we might not think of it as such, we are constantly reaffirming our desire to remain American by exercising our right to work, to express our opinions, and paying attention to the things going on around us.

However, this is not without its challenges as well. For the values that define us need to be constantly reinforced through more direct actions such as engagement with the political process by the simple act of voting. As Americans, we not only have rights but also responsibilities and if we neglected some of these simple acts, in a way, we forfeit our right to remain in the American community. If a nation is indeed a larger community of people that chose to remain together, then it is the duty for every member of that nation to constantly reaffirm their commitment to that community through their engagement with the nation and other members of the community. If the members of a nation cease to become engaged with one another, then the nation and the force that is binding it together will cease to function as a cohesive force.

This issue of what defines America affects me personally, for not too long ago, I became a citizen of the United States. As I was sworn in to become an American, I was overcame by a sense of apprehension. For what it is that I need to do, now that I am a member of the American “nation”. Should I behave in a different manner? Are my loyalties completely transferred over to this new nation? After the sworn-in ceremony, I did not feel any different than before, does this mean that I have failed in this transformative process?

Later, I recognized that the best way to feel at ease in this nation is to engage with its nation- and community-building process. By that I am suggesting that I will go out and vote and encourage others to engage in the political process as well, and volunteer my time and efforts and engage with the community around me. To appreciate on a daily basis what we do in this nation and to cherish the social, political, and cultural institutions that define the United States. But I above, I will continue to value and uphold the bonds that unites Americans together and to encourage others to do the same, making us stronger than ever before. A nation at its core is a community and it is the duty of each member of this community to develop a strong bond with one another, so that together we may progress into the future.