But if is the type of sick that doesn't include vomit, you can actually get a lot done, like reading The Good Earth Trilogy. Which I did, and really enjoyed.
I spent a week in pre-revolutionary China, viewed through the eyes of four generations of the Wang family and of course as created by Pearl S. Buck.
This view of the evolving Chinese culture is a multifaceted look at many personalities throughout their lifetimes. One deeply interesting epiphany I received I will share:
Cultural and social structures of a people follow the governmental structures of their country.
Poignantly shown are examples of authoritative dictatorship in the relations between father and son, husband and wife, daughter and daughter-in-law. When one is young, you serve the elders, when one becomes old, you are served by your children. Slavery was a normal social position for females and the poor. War lords, abundant throughout the country were mini dictators in their own right, exacting taxes from the farmers for "protection" from other bandits. So this oppressive cycle was complete.
Cultures, even down to the family structure are influenced by the government of the country. From what other source does a people learn how to interact with each other? They deal with each other according to the laws that rule them.
If the laws of the land stress exact obedience to one in authority over you, with unswerving loyalty, without hesitation regardless of corruption, then that is how the children are raised and taught in school, that is what neighbor expects of neighbor and law enforcement enforces.
If, on the other hand, the laws of the land protect life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, free speech, religious freedom, speedy and public trials; basically therefore respecting the right of choice and accountability and giving us the ability to protect these freedoms by allowing us to bear arms, THEN the society and families follow suit. Yes, there is more diversity among the people because there are infinite ways to choose. This choice promotes creativity, ingenuity, widespread knowledge, volunteerism, and unfortunately as we see daily, freedom for depravity as well.
This epiphany has strengthened my understanding that the purpose of mortality is to make wise choices. Without the ability to make choices, and when we don't make wise choices, we are in bondage. When we are able to choose behaviors which follow God's law, and without compulsion -- that is freedom.
