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I think that Americans place a higher value on preventing extreme poverty around the world. When faced with picky eaters, before around 1970, parents all over
by ArkyBeagle 11y ago
I think that Americans place a higher value on preventing extreme poverty around the world.
When faced with picky eaters, before around 1970, parents all over the USA would use the cliche that "children are starving in China."
- rgbrenner 11y ago"before around 1970" You know what happened shortly before 1970? The Great Chinese Famine--where up to 45 million people starved in the span of 3 years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Chinese_Famine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Chinese_Famine I'm not sure how saying facts out loud indicates a value preference.
- ArkyBeagle 11y agoIt was said on a time interval from a very long time before 1970 until around 1970. This was not a direct reaction to the Great Famine ( which wasn't widely discussed in the US ). If you're not familiar enough with American culture to know what I mean, then don't worry about it.
- rgbrenner 11y agook, that's interesting. China had a lot of famines though: 7 from 1900-1962: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_famines_in_China https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_famines_in_China So I wouldn't be quick to rule out the idea that the phrase started with a famine in China. I am American btw. But I wasn't alive in 1970.