震歐線衫廠譚氏家族的人物關係

 震歐線衫廠譚氏家族的人物關係：

• 譚躍雲 (1901-81)：震歐線衫廠創辦人，與妻子關遂意育有三子四女。

• 關遂意：譚躍雲的妻子。

• 譚良右：譚躍雲的長子，早逝。其妻子為梅美珊，兒子為譚建東。

• 梅美珊：譚良右的妻子，在譚良右過世後，與譚鐵峰一同接手家族生意。

• 譚鐵峰：譚躍雲的次子，曾任香港華商織造總會會長，與梅美珊一同接手家族生意。

• 譚建東 (Robert Tam)：譚良右的長子，1976年從英國大學畢業後回港協助家族生意，為震歐線衫廠第三代傳人。與梁君彥為「老襟」（即妻子是姊妹關係）。

• 譚齊見：譚躍雲的二女，早逝。

• 譚雁霞：譚躍雲的三女，早逝。

• 譚天韻 (Alicia)：譚建東的女兒，震歐線衫廠第四代傳人，與妹妹譚天逸一同接班。

• 譚天逸 (Jennifer)：譚建東的女兒，震歐線衫廠第四代傳人，與姊姊譚天韻一同接班。

• 梁君彥: 與譚建東為「老襟」（即妻子是姊妹關係）。

重點關係說明：

• 譚躍雲是震歐線衫廠的創辦人，是整個家族事業的起點。

• 譚良右和譚鐵峰是譚躍雲的兒子，在譚躍雲過世後，由譚良右的妻子梅美珊和譚鐵峰共同接手生意。

• 譚建東是譚良右的兒子，屬於第三代傳人，在70年代回港協助家族生意。

• 譚天韻和譚天逸是譚建東的女兒，屬於第四代傳人，目前已接班管理公司。

• 梁君彥與譚建東的關係是「老襟」，意指兩人的妻子是姊妹。這是在文章開頭提及梁君彥時順帶帶出譚建東及其家族的背景。

Former Chinese agent jailed after hedge row

 Former Chinese agent jailed after hedge row

7 December 2024

David McKenna

BBC News

The court was told the victims were subjected to a "persistent, calculated and appalling pattern of behaviour" by Lu (left) and Chen

A former Chinese intelligence officer and her solicitor daughter have each been jailed for five and a half years after "terrorising" their neighbours during an almost daily campaign of stalking.

Susan Chen, 61, and Linda Lu, 35, were convicted of causing serious alarm or distress to their neighbours, James and Lynn Smith, in the village of Bassingham, near Lincoln.

The couple, who have two children, were increasingly targeted by their new neighbours following a disagreement about a hedge in July 2023, Lincoln Crown Court heard.

The actions continued for more than two months following the initial dispute, and included alleged "periods of loud metallic banging" and the repeated playing of music.

Chen told jurors she had spent 14 years serving in the Chinese army, rising to the rank of major.

Steve Taylor, prosecuting, said a dispute followed on 18 July, when Mr Smith was trimming a front hedge outside his home.

Chen came outside to tell Mr Smith he "couldn't trim" the hedge as it belonged to her.

Further incidents followed, the court heard, including "a racket" coming from the home of Lu and Chen on 19 August, and "loud banging" on 23 August.

The Smiths went away in late August to "try and get some respite". However, when they returned, banging from next door commenced "within 15 minutes", the court was told.

Videos recorded by Mr Smith, which were played in court, showed Chen and Lu "shouting derogatory abuse", including the use of terms such as "retards".

In a victim impact statement, Mr Smith described how the family's 13-year stay "in a village they loved" was shattered by the arrival of Chen and Lou.

Mrs Smith said her life had changed dramatically due to the campaign of harassment from Chen and Lu.

She said she now suffered from insomnia and had also been diagnosed with mild depression and anxiety.

Passing sentence, Judge James House KC said the family were subjected to a "persistent, calculated and appalling pattern of behaviour".

"The verbal abuse was vile," Judge House said.

"In short, the defendants terrorised the Smith family," he added.

Equality, egalitarianism, and fairness

 Equality, egalitarianism, and fairness are related but distinct concepts. Here's a breakdown with daily, social, and economic examples, including the views of the Federalists, traditional Chinese Confucian and Daoist thought, and the Fabian, Chicago, and Mises schools of economics:

Equality (平等 - Píngděng):

Equality means everyone has the same rights, opportunities, and is treated the same way under the law, regardless of their differences (like race, gender, religion, etc.). It focuses on fairness in treatment and access.

Daily Examples:

• Everyone gets a seat on the bus, regardless of their age or appearance.

• Everyone gets the same starting salary for the same job at a company.

• In a public library, everyone has the same access to books and resources.

• All students in a class have the same access to educational materials and instruction.

• In a court of law, everyone is subject to the same laws and legal processes.

Federalist View: The Federalists strongly believed in equality before the law and equal political rights for (white, male) citizens. They advocated for a system where everyone was treated the same under the law and had the same opportunities to participate in government.

Confucian View: Confucianism emphasizes social harmony and hierarchy, with a focus on fulfilling one's role within society. While not advocating for strict equality, Confucianism values the idea that everyone, regardless of social standing, deserves moral consideration and humane treatment. The concept of "仁 (Rén)," often translated as benevolence or humaneness, implies a fundamental respect for all individuals.

Daoist View: Daoism, with its emphasis on natural balance and harmony, can be interpreted as supporting a form of equality in the sense that all beings are part of the Dao and thus have intrinsic value. However, Daoism is less concerned with social structures and more with individual harmony with the natural order.

Fabian View: Fabians, advocating for gradual socialist reform, generally support equality of opportunity and some level of social and economic equality achieved through state intervention and welfare programs.

Chicago School View: The Chicago school, emphasizing free markets and limited government intervention, generally focuses on equality before the law and equality of opportunity. They believe that market forces, rather than government intervention, are the most efficient way to allocate resources and generate prosperity, even if this leads to some degree of inequality in outcomes.

Mises School View: The Mises Institute, representing the Austrian school of economics, prioritizes individual liberty and private property rights. They argue that attempts to enforce equality through government intervention inevitably lead to coercion and economic inefficiency. They focus on equality before the law as the most important aspect of equality.

Egalitarian (平均主义 - Píngjūn zhǔyì):

Egalitarianism goes further than equality. It aims for a society where everyone has equal resources and outcomes, minimizing or eliminating social and economic hierarchies. It focuses on reducing disparities and ensuring everyone has similar living conditions.

Daily Examples:

• In a group project, everyone gets the same grade, regardless of how much each person contributed.

• The government provides free housing, food, and healthcare to everyone, ensuring everyone has the same basic standard of living.

• In a sports league, all teams are given the same resources and funding, regardless of their performance.

• A company distributes its profits equally among all employees, regardless of their position or contribution.

• A community provides the same level of support and assistance to all residents, regardless of their income or social status.

Federalist View: The Federalists did not advocate for egalitarianism. They accepted social hierarchies and did not believe in equalizing wealth or social status. They were more concerned with ensuring equal opportunities than with guaranteeing equal outcomes.

Confucian View: Confucianism does not promote egalitarianism in the sense of equal distribution of resources. It accepts social stratification as natural and necessary for social order. However, it emphasizes the responsibility of those in positions of power to care for the well-being of those below them, mitigating potential inequalities through benevolent leadership.

Daoist View: Daoism, with its emphasis on natural balance and simplicity, might be interpreted as critiquing extreme social and economic disparities. However, it does not explicitly advocate for a fully egalitarian society. Instead, it emphasizes living in accordance with the Dao, which may involve accepting natural differences and inequalities.

Fabian View: Fabians generally support greater economic equality and advocate for policies such as progressive taxation, wealth redistribution, and nationalization of key industries to achieve a more egalitarian society.

Chicago School View: The Chicago school generally opposes attempts to achieve egalitarian outcomes through government intervention, arguing that such policies distort market signals, reduce efficiency, and ultimately harm overall prosperity. They accept some degree of inequality as a natural outcome of market processes.

Mises School View: The Mises Institute strongly rejects egalitarianism, viewing it as a utopian ideal that is incompatible with individual liberty and economic efficiency. They argue that attempts to enforce egalitarian outcomes require coercion and lead to economic decline.

Fairness (公平 - Gōngpíng):

Fairness is about ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed, even if they start from different places. It recognizes that sometimes, treating everyone the same might not be the fairest approach. It focuses on adjusting for imbalances and creating a level playing field.

Daily Examples:

• In a race, children might be given a head start depending on their age, ensuring everyone has a fair chance of winning.

• Progressive taxation, where wealthier people pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes, is an example of fairness aimed at redistributing wealth and reducing economic inequality.

• In a job interview process, accommodations are made for people with disabilities to ensure they have a fair chance to demonstrate their skills.

• A teacher provides extra support and resources to students who are struggling academically, to help them catch up with their peers.

• A company implements diversity and inclusion policies to ensure that people from all backgrounds have equal opportunities for advancement.

Federalist View: The Federalists valued fairness in the sense of impartiality and equal application of the law. They believed the government should operate fairly and without favoring specific groups or individuals. However, they did not necessarily support interventions to create more equal social or economic conditions.

Confucian View: Confucianism places a strong emphasis on fairness, often expressed through the concept of "义 (Yì)," which can be translated as righteousness or justice. This involves acting in accordance with moral principles and ensuring that everyone receives what is due to them based on their social role and merit.

Daoist View: Daoism, with its emphasis on natural balance and harmony, can be interpreted as supporting fairness in the sense of allowing things to follow their natural course. This might involve minimizing artificial interventions that disrupt the natural order and allowing individuals to develop according to their own inherent nature.

Fabian View: Fabians see fairness as requiring government intervention to correct market failures and reduce inequalities of opportunity. They advocate for social safety nets, progressive taxation, and regulations to ensure a more level playing field for all.

Chicago School View: The Chicago school generally believes that market outcomes are fair as long as the rules of the game are fair and there is equal opportunity. They tend to oppose interventions that distort market signals, even if intended to promote fairness, arguing that they lead to inefficiencies.

Mises School View: The Mises Institute emphasizes fairness in the sense of equal application of the law and protection of private property rights. They argue that any attempt to redistribute wealth or manipulate market outcomes through government intervention is inherently unfair and violates individual liberty.

Key Differences:

• Focus: Equality focuses on equal treatment and access; egalitarianism focuses on equal outcomes and minimizing disparities; fairness focuses on equal opportunity and adjusting for imbalances.

• Scope: Equality is concerned with legal and political rights; egalitarianism extends to social and economic conditions; fairness considers individual circumstances and strives for a just outcome.

• Examples: Giving everyone a fair chance to run a race is equality; making sure everyone finishes the race at the same time is egalitarianism; giving children a head start based on their age is fairness.

In Simple Terms:

Equality is like giving everyone the same tools; egalitarianism is like making sure everyone builds the same house, regardless of their skills or the tools they use; fairness is like giving people different tools or assistance based on their needs, so they have an equal chance of building a house that meets their needs. The Federalists primarily focused on equality in terms of legal and political rights, and fairness in terms of impartial governance, but did not extend these concepts to endorse egalitarian social or economic outcomes. Traditional Chinese thought, while valuing fairness and humane treatment, generally did not advocate for egalitarianism in the same way as some modern political philosophies. The Fabian school leans towards egalitarianism and fairness through intervention, the Chicago school emphasizes equality of opportunity and market-based fairness, and the Mises Institute prioritizes equality before the law and rejects egalitarianism as a violation of individual liberty.

Federalist Views on Equality

 Federalist Views on Equality

The Federalists believed in legal and political equality, but not necessarily social or economic equality. They valued:

• Equality before the law: All citizens should be treated equally under the law, regardless of social status.

• Equal political rights: They supported broad suffrage for white men, believing in citizen participation in government.

• Fairness: The government should operate fairly and impartially, without favoring specific groups or individuals.5

However, they did not advocate for:

• Egalitarianism: They accepted social hierarchies and did not believe in equalizing wealth or social status.

• Equality of outcome: They focused on equal opportunities, not guaranteeing equal results for all.

Power Balance

The Federalists sought to balance power in several ways:

• Between people and government: The Constitution limits governmental power through enumerated powers and the Bill of Rights, protecting individual liberties.6

• Between state and federal governments: Federalism divides powers, allowing states to manage local affairs while the federal government handles national issues.7

• Among factions: They believed a large republic with diverse interests would prevent any single faction from dominating the government.8

Technology, Big Business, and Europe

The Federalists lived in a time of limited technology and before the rise of big business as we know it.9 However, we can infer their potential views:

• Technology: They likely would have supported technological advancement for economic growth and national strength, but also recognized the need for regulation to mitigate potential harms.

• Big business: They might have favored well-regulated large-scale enterprises for economic development, but also been wary of monopolies and their potential for abuse.

• Europe: They recognized the importance of foreign relations and trade with Europe, but advocated for an independent American foreign policy, avoiding entanglement in European conflicts.10

Conclusion

The Federalists designed a system of balanced government with separated powers, checks and balances, and federalism.11 They valued legal and political equality, but did not necessarily advocate for social or economic egalitarianism.12 They sought to balance power between different levels and branches of government, as well as among factions.13 While their views on technology and big business are speculative, they likely would have favored regulated advancement and enterprise. They advocated for an independent American stance in relation to Europe.14

The Federalist Design for Balanced Government

 The Federalist Design for Balanced Government

The Federalists, through the Federalist Papers, championed a system of government with balanced powers to prevent tyranny and promote effective governance.1 Their key ideas included:

• Separation of Powers: Dividing governmental authority among three branches—legislative (Congress), executive (President), and judicial (Supreme Court)—with distinct responsibilities.2

• Checks and Balances: Each branch has ways to limit the power of the other two, ensuring no single branch becomes dominant.3

• Federalism: Dividing powers between the federal and state governments, creating a balance between centralized authority and local autonomy.4

other pronunciations for tea around the world

 there are other pronunciations for tea around the world, reflecting the complex history of tea's spread. 

Other Pronunciations and Their Origins:

Besides "tea" (from the Min Nan "te") and "cha" (from Mandarin "cha"), here are some notable variations:

• "Trà" (Vietnamese): This pronunciation is believed to have originated from an older Chinese pronunciation, possibly during the Tang Dynasty. Vietnam had close cultural and trade ties with China, and this older form likely persisted in Vietnamese.

• "To" or "Da" (Early Japanese): While modern Japanese primarily uses "cha" (茶 - ちゃ), historical records show evidence of "to" or "da" pronunciations. These are thought to be even older borrowings from Chinese, predating the more common "cha" pronunciation.

• "Teh" (Hebrew, Indonesian, Malay): This pronunciation is closer to the original "te" in Min Nan Chinese. It suggests a direct or early influence from Fujian province, possibly through early trade contacts or migration.

Trade Routes:

These alternative pronunciations often correlate with specific historical interactions:

• "Trà" (Vietnam): This likely spread through both land and sea routes, given Vietnam's proximity to China and its involvement in both overland and maritime trade networks.

• "To" or "Da" (Early Japanese): These pronunciations likely arrived in Japan through early cultural and trade exchanges with China, possibly through Korean intermediaries.

"Teh" (Hebrew, Indonesian, Malay): The presence of this pronunciation in geographically distant languages suggests early maritime trade connections, possibly through Arab traders who acted as intermediaries between China and Southeast Asia or the Middle East.

The words "tea," and "cha," while referring to the same beverage

 The words "tea" and "cha," while referring to the same beverage derived from the Camellia sinensis plant, have distinct origins and routes of dissemination, offering a fascinating glimpse into the history of trade and cultural exchange. 

Origin:

Both "tea" and "cha" originate from China, where tea cultivation and consumption have been prevalent for millennia. The earliest written records of tea use date back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), though it's believed tea consumption existed long before.   

• Cha (茶): This pronunciation is believed to have originated in the inland regions of China, likely spreading westward through overland trade routes.

• Tea: This pronunciation is thought to have emerged from the coastal regions of Fujian province, where the Min Nan dialect pronounces it as "te." This pronunciation spread primarily through maritime trade routes.

Routes of Spreading:

The different pronunciations followed distinct paths as tea spread across the globe:

• Cha Route: This route primarily followed the Silk Road, traversing overland through Central Asia, Persia, and into the Middle East. This explains why many languages in these regions, such as Persian (چای - chay), Arabic (شاي - shāy), Russian (чай - chay), and Hindi (चाय - chāy), use variations of "cha."   

• Tea Route: This route was primarily maritime, with Dutch traders playing a crucial role in the 17th century. They brought tea from Fujian province to Europe, where the "te" pronunciation was adopted in English, French (thé), German (Tee), and other Western European languages.   

The Sea vs. Land Route Theory:

The theory that countries using "tea" primarily traded with China via sea routes, while those using "cha" traded via land routes, holds true in most cases. However, there are exceptions:

•  Portugal: Despite being a maritime power, Portugal adopted the "cha" pronunciation (chá). This is attributed to their trade through Macau, a Portuguese colony in southern China, where the Cantonese pronunciation of "cha" was prevalent.   

Approximate Time of Word Population:

•  Cha: The "cha" pronunciation likely began spreading westward along the Silk Road during the Tang Dynasty (7th-10th centuries AD) or even earlier.   

Tea: The "tea" pronunciation gained prominence in Europe in the 17th century, coinciding with the rise of Dutch maritime trade with China.