Top Five Nations in the World

Top Five Nations in the World.

All nations are top most as far as their citizens are concerned; this article is just an impartial ranking of five nations based on five criteria. Strength, Population, Area, Historical relevance and Cultural diversities are taken as the criteria for this ranking while its relevance in other four criteria is also given proportional weight. There may be difference about the criteria chosen, it has to be admitted that these standards like economic strength, population and other three factors are no mean things.

No: One - AMERICA

America (USA) for strength it is far ahead in GDP (13.77 trillion) (Gross Domestic Product – the aggregate value of the total production and services rendered by a nation), entrepreneurship, and an immigrant population (the cream of almost all other nations), who have found better livelihood in this land of opportunities. America’s might in its armed forces (with most sophisticated weapons in the world) even though the mightiest is not taken in to account. This exemption though robs America one of its trump card does not challenge its top position in any way.

Remaining as a magnet pulling in the cream of human resources belonging to other nations is no small thing. America’s status as the ‘fair freedom’s open door’ has added much points to this rank. People who were persecuted by tyrant rulers have always looked at America for asylum in fact these asylum seekers constitute a good portion of American population. In population (301,656,000), diversities and geographical area (9,631,420 sqkm) (other criteria) also America stands third and fourth respectively in the world.

Two - CHINA

China (People’s Republic of China) is top with its 1.4 billion and still counting population where as its geographical area, economic strength and pace of growth in technology are tremendous (soon China is to over take Japan as the second largest economy). It is a cultural, lingual and political monolith (scoring some minus points in criteria of diversity). Ever since it got release from the clutches of Maoists there is no stopping to this giant with one and a half billion population.

Chinese Diaspora (scattered throughout the globe) contribute to its economy in phenomenal scale. The massive export surplus it has in trade with other nations has made its coffers spill over ($1200 billion and fast growing, creating headache to USA and other developed nations). The recent strides China has made in technology and its buying power has gained for it a far respectable position in international forums. Its area 9537,000 sq km is also factor making it a giant in the making.

Three - RUSSIA

Russia though lost much of its area with the disbanding of the former Soviet Union; still remains as the biggest nation in the world (area 17,075,000 sq km). As an unwanted association with unwilling partners (Soviet Union) has gone, Russia can now focus on its energy on real issues like fast growth and welfare of its people.

A radical change in a society will take its own time to settle down as habits die hard. Haunted by one outdated ideology in which they were destined to live for decades, Russians feel the change to a modern society much more painful for a population of 142,754,000. The present Government seems to be aware of realities and addressing them head on. Vladimir Putin has made Russia back on its rail and now it is one of the fastest growing economies. Its vast mineral resources like coal, oil iron and other metals will no doubt add velocity to this ride to progress. The present GDP of $1.926 trillion is grossly inadequate for a nation of this size, but there are symptoms of fast improvement.

Four - GREAT BRITAIN

United Kingdom (Great Britain) considered as the nominee for richness in history may be taken for some bias on the author’s part; as many other nations with very ancient history are there like Greece, Rome, Egypt and India. Its scoring in population, area and diversity criteria also is not considerable (area 244820 sq km and population 60,609,155).

The real factor taken in to account was that ‘how relevant was Britain in shaping the history of the modern world’. A nation which controlled an empire in which (sun never could set), one making its language that of the world are all nothing less than great. If the whole world is culturally getting integrated, the role of Great Britain is primarily responsible for that.

This integration is far wider than one would think, it encompasses the dress one wear, and language one speaks, morality and ethics one may take as standard behavior and many things like that. No doubt the centuries old British occupation has been the reason for the emergence of this uniformity. For the last three hundred years Britain had been in the helm of world affairs in varying degrees, its role in the past two world wars also has been most prominent. All other ancient nations mentioned have richer history most of them only inclusive and contribution in influencing the external world much less.

Five - INDIA

India with its “rich diversity” is no intruder in the list, (living along with diversities is seldom considered that important but that is not the case, living along with differences is real greatness) it has the status of number two in population (by 2030 it estimated that India will overtake China in population) its geographical size also is considerable. India has the most number of languages spoken, most diverse numbers of cultures, People of all ethnic groups (Aryans, Dravidians, Mongoloids, Negroid and a collage of all sorts of ethnic groups available in the world along with all its combinations of varying degrees.

All of them live at times in harmony and at times in disharmony, yet all goes together contributing to the nation as much as they can while they gain for themselves; a strange set-up known by the name “unity in diversity”. India is said to be a nation which lives in different worlds there are people and areas which are worse than Sub-Saharan nations and there are areas and people which can excel the most advanced lands in technology and progress. Even with one fourth of its diversities Soviet Union could not go together; where as India strides to progress with diversities unheard of anywhere else in the world.

All nations are great; a comparison is not healthy as each nation has its own opportunities as well as challenges. The above article does not intend to compare and establish one superior or inferior to the other this only a ranking based on some parameters set by the author, when parameters may vary ranking vary along with. Wish all nations faster growth and all people better life!

Happy Chinese New Year

Sun Nin Fy Lok! / Xin Nein Kuai Le!

Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits.

~Author Unknown

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.

~Benjamin Franklin

The merry year is bornLike the bright berry from the naked thorn.

~ Unknown

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.

~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

If you were born in 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983 or 1995 - you were born under the sign of the pig.Like the pig, you are highly regarded for your chilvary and pureness of heart, and you often make friends for life.

Spring Festival Chinese New Year

China and Its New Year! Happy New Year Dear Neighbor!!!

The new moon that rises brings the Chinese people their new year! (2007 is the year of the pig for the Chinese) A new year for the Chinese is much more than just that. From time immemorial, people of China all around the glob celebrate it with the gaiety that is unheard of in any part of the world. This period witness the biggest human influx of the Chinese all over the world towards their native place, because taking part in the new- year feast with relatives and observing the innumerable rituals associated with it are for them more precious than all the savings they would have made throughout the rest of the year.

As their new year starts with the appearance of the new moon it is also called the lunar new- year, spring festival is another pet-name they have attributed to this period which is for them the mother of all celebrations. It all begins from Chu-xu the new- year eve (chu = change and xi = eve) a new moon and ends on the 15^th day with the “lantern festival” (on a full-moon). Between January 21 and February 20 as per the Gregorian calendar, these are all calculated by the “luni-solar” calendar of the Chinese order which is also followed by the surrounding countries with “Han culture” like Vietnam, Mongolia, Korea etc.

Red color is the associated with these festivals (the myth behind is that once there was a monster by name “Nian” which lived on the mountains and ate human beings for a living! The use of red color and cracking of crackers all associated with the festivals are supposed to scare away the Nian the villain). The festivals last for about 15 days.

Houses are thoroughly cleaned (this is supposed for the removal of bad-luck from the home) and all the materials used for cleaning –like brooms, brushes etc are discarded along with the trash that is left away. There after the houses are not cleaned even if it is cleaned the trash is not thrown away but kept in a corner of the house, this heap not trampled upon by any means.

All the relatives assemble for the dinner and lavish servings of chicken and fish is the specialty of the “chu-xi”. It is the main event of the whole celebrations that pulls the Chinese from all around the globe to their native places because a collective feast with all kiths and kins is something which arouses a peculiar nostalgia and a pleasure that cannot be counted in terms of cash.

First day is intended to welcome the deities from heaven to earth. (These rituals have striking similarities with those in India). This day eating of meat is generally avoided as it is believed that it may affect longevity.

Second day is dedicated to the daughters they are free to visit their parents and stay with them – a rare opportunity for them to enjoy the affection of their parents. How a Chinese daughter worth her salt can ignore such a golden opportunity.

The third and fourth days are considered inauspicious for home visits and it is left for family members to stay at home and enjoy.

Fifth day is dedicated for eating fish and puddings of various hues known by name “jiaozi” (puddings with fruits)!

Sixth day is vacant (programs decided by the joint action committee of the home!

The seventh is the common man’s birthday (belongs to each and every Chinese and every one grows one year older with that day, get together is the main event left for the day)

Eighth vacant and free for all!

Ninth day is for prayers to Jade the emperor of heaven and offering him sugarcane and burning of incense sticks as a mark of love.

10^th to 14^th days are for mere celebrations, visiting relatives exchanging gifts and pleasantries etc.

The last (15^th) Lantern festival-day is the end of celebrations exchanging of red packets to younger ones is a custom there may be some money in these packets the amount not specified and depends upon the fancy of the senior.

During these festival seasons wishing happy new- year (Jixianghua = wishing, Pinyin = happy new-year) loudly is a Chinese custom.

Like Indians the Chinese also have a lot of customs and superstitions, for example they believe that one will be compelled to one thing he has inadvertently did on the new- year day. Hence they don’t beat their children for the mischief they do on new- year day

They don’t take the trash swept from house through the front door. They clear all debts before the new-year day and don’t lend money on that day! (because they may be forced to do the same all through the year)

China has its own version of Valentine (Chap Goh Mei) The end of the festivals (the lantern festival) is celebrated for him. We on behalf of the blogging community wish the Chinese a very happy and prosperous New-Year.