My Response to Chicken toenails, anyone?
I’m surprised to read such a unique essay, because it puzzles me that whether China is just like what the writer has described in Chicken toenails, anyone? Surely, I admit that some of Sedaris David’s experiences in China are quite common. However, judging another nation’s culture on basis of one’s own cultural background is improper and even unacceptable.
Every nation has its own peculiar dietary style. China also has its own traditional foods, which maybe against western concepts of foods. But the writer in the essay shows readers some kind of Chinese foods, such as duck tongues in Chengdu and the dish made of organs of the rooster in the Farming Family Happiness, which in his view make him uncomfortable and even disgusted. Besides, he always stresses that “Like most westerners I tend towards herbivores”, and things like that make me think that the writer is just judging Chinese eating traditions following western standards or American taste, which is unfair to China and unconvincing to readers. Different nations have different dietary styles. For example, Americans like beef and the turkey on Christmas Day, Japanese prefer sashimi, South Koreans eat dog meat, but Chinese people like eating pork and organs related to pigs. Therefore, I think that the writer has no need or right to judge and criticize Chinese foods. We cam taste different foods and make some commends, but denying these foods just according to one’s own preference is improper.
Sanitation problems in Chinese restaurants that the writer refers to in the essay do exist, and we also know that some restaurants need to improve their sanitary conditions. But the writher should say “Most of the restaurants in China to me smelled dirty”, which makes me doubt whether he has traveled many places in China, or how can he present such a certain assertion? There are sanitation problems in some restaurants, but that doesn’t represent that “most” restaurants have similar problems. It is kind of arbitrary for the writer to raise such an opinion on the Internet.
Different cultural backgrounds can influence people’s judgment on other nations’ culture. Eating traditions and habits are also one kind of culture. I think we are supposed to learn to understand and contain differences. Even though we dislike one eating culture, it’s still unacceptable to deny or disparage this culture. Each culture has its own individuality and understanding and appreciation are most important.