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Editorial
February 8, 1935
The Weekly Gazette
East Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut
What is this article about?
Jean Newton contrasts the Eastern cultural emphasis on 'face' (dignity and respect), where losing it can lead to suicide, with Western prioritization of money and power, advocating for greater value on dignity in the West to improve societal standards.
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THROUGH A Woman's Eyes
By JEAN NEWTON
MORE EMPHASIS ON FACE
BECAUSE he shared responsibility for the emperor's party taking a wrong turn in their trip through a city which received a royal visit, a police inspector in Japan attempted to commit suicide.
Death was preferable to the disgrace that would descend upon the unfortunate blunderer and his family and all his relatives. For by his mistake this man had "lost face." And in Japan to lose face is a far worse thing than to lose material possessions.
In China, too, it is a not uncommon occurrence for people to take their own lives for reasons of far less importance than causing the car of the emperor to take a wrong turn. However, they are mistakes which cause the person to lose face-that is the important thing. To lose face is to lose dignity and the respect of others. And what then, say these sons of an ancient culture, is there left?
"A good bank account," would be the rejoinder of some American politicians -"and everything that will buy, which includes about all one wants."
It seems to me that the onus there is not alone on the man or woman who exemplifies that philosophy-as for instance a well known New York mayor who with honor and reputation besmirched still has a very good time on the surviving bank account-that the onus is on the viewpoint of the vast numbers of people who make possible that good time. For no one can enjoy life who is ostracized by his fellows. And in China and Japan a man or woman who had lost reputation, honor, dignity, would be ostracized, regardless of how much of the world's goods remained with them.
The western slogan that "money is power," and the penchant for winking an eye where an offender has that power, is important not only in such matters as discredited officials and the absconding rich. It is significant all the way down the line to the daily actions of average people. There is that emphasis on getting what one wants, without too much thought on how one gets it. In social as well as business matters, women are guilty of little tricks to attain their ends, so they undoubtedly "lose face," but they seem indifferent to this as long as their end is attained.
I am not promoting the idea of suicide for lost dignity. But I believe our standards of life would be very much improved by placing more value on what in the East is called "face" and less on getting the things we want.
@, Bell Syndicate.-WNU Service
O
By JEAN NEWTON
MORE EMPHASIS ON FACE
BECAUSE he shared responsibility for the emperor's party taking a wrong turn in their trip through a city which received a royal visit, a police inspector in Japan attempted to commit suicide.
Death was preferable to the disgrace that would descend upon the unfortunate blunderer and his family and all his relatives. For by his mistake this man had "lost face." And in Japan to lose face is a far worse thing than to lose material possessions.
In China, too, it is a not uncommon occurrence for people to take their own lives for reasons of far less importance than causing the car of the emperor to take a wrong turn. However, they are mistakes which cause the person to lose face-that is the important thing. To lose face is to lose dignity and the respect of others. And what then, say these sons of an ancient culture, is there left?
"A good bank account," would be the rejoinder of some American politicians -"and everything that will buy, which includes about all one wants."
It seems to me that the onus there is not alone on the man or woman who exemplifies that philosophy-as for instance a well known New York mayor who with honor and reputation besmirched still has a very good time on the surviving bank account-that the onus is on the viewpoint of the vast numbers of people who make possible that good time. For no one can enjoy life who is ostracized by his fellows. And in China and Japan a man or woman who had lost reputation, honor, dignity, would be ostracized, regardless of how much of the world's goods remained with them.
The western slogan that "money is power," and the penchant for winking an eye where an offender has that power, is important not only in such matters as discredited officials and the absconding rich. It is significant all the way down the line to the daily actions of average people. There is that emphasis on getting what one wants, without too much thought on how one gets it. In social as well as business matters, women are guilty of little tricks to attain their ends, so they undoubtedly "lose face," but they seem indifferent to this as long as their end is attained.
I am not promoting the idea of suicide for lost dignity. But I believe our standards of life would be very much improved by placing more value on what in the East is called "face" and less on getting the things we want.
@, Bell Syndicate.-WNU Service
O
What sub-type of article is it?
Moral Or Religious
Social Reform
What keywords are associated?
Losing Face
Dignity
Eastern Culture
Western Materialism
Honor
Suicide
Money Power
What entities or persons were involved?
Japan
China
American Politicians
New York Mayor
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Valuing Dignity Over Material Wealth In Western Society
Stance / Tone
Advocating For Eastern Emphasis On Face And Dignity
Key Figures
Japan
China
American Politicians
New York Mayor
Key Arguments
Losing Face In Japan And China Leads To Severe Disgrace And Potential Suicide
In The East, Dignity And Respect Are More Important Than Material Possessions
Western Society Prioritizes Money And Power, Allowing Discredited Individuals To Thrive
Ostracism Follows Loss Of Honor In Eastern Cultures Regardless Of Wealth
Women In The West Often Ignore Losing Face To Achieve Goals
Placing More Value On Face Would Improve Western Standards Of Life