Follow-up on Kublai Khan

This is raw transcript of a Skype chat Randy and I had last night about Kublai Khan as a follow-up on this post. I had asked him if he got to see the program or was it pre-empted for the Daily Show.

[11:59:25 PM] Randolph W. Callih... says: Yes, I did
[11:59:35 PM] mrs.callihan says: and?
[11:59:52 PM] Randolph W. Callih... says: I also read the section (1.5 pages) of my history book on Kubalai Khan
[11:59:58 PM] mrs.callihan says: and?
[12:00:08 AM] mrs.callihan says: 1.5 pages?
[12:00:12 AM] mrs.callihan says: that all?
[12:01:18 AM] Randolph W. Callih... says: I understand why Tom reacted the way he did. they don't consider Kubalai Khan as Chinese he was a conquerer. discussion of the mongol horde, ect. Wanted to be chinese, but never became chinese
[12:01:29 AM] Randolph W. Callih... says: yes, actually less than 1.5 pages
[12:01:31 AM] mrs.callihan says: well, he was mongol
[12:02:01 AM] mrs.callihan says: but what about the kamikaze
[12:03:05 AM] Randolph W. Callih... says: and Xsangdu was where he had a palace (coleridges xanadu). brief mention in the history book about failed invasion of japan, no details
[12:03:17 AM] mrs.callihan says: I wonder why?
[12:03:51 AM] Randolph W. Callih... says: the special on tv was actually pretty good. a lot of archeological / underwater investigation of the boats.
[12:04:56 AM] mrs.callihan says: but why no details on the failed invasion
[12:04:56 AM] Randolph W. Callih... says: I think the reason they give it such short shrift is national pride. they were conquered by these guys for a while, more interested in the fact that it was short lived and largely unsuccessful
[12:05:49 AM] Randolph W. Callih... says: the failed invasion I think they would consider not so much a part of chinese history as of mongol history and why would they be interested in the history of the northern barbarians
[12:05:53 AM] mrs.callihan says: but the disaster of the japan invasion, as well as the failures in vietnam, thailand, etc, would also hold interest if the mission is to be critical of the mongols
[12:06:10 AM] mrs.callihan says: beacuse it proves them further barbarians
[12:06:11 AM] mrs.callihan says: ?
[12:06:29 AM] Randolph W. Callih... says: maybe. I think they view the whole thing as some sore of an embarassment
[12:06:44 AM] mrs.callihan says: interesting
[12:06:47 AM] Randolph W. Callih... says: very
[12:06:55 AM] mrs.callihan says: but Hong Kong Disney is not embarrassing
[12:06:57 AM] mrs.callihan says: hehehe
[12:07:09 AM] Randolph W. Callih... says: not yet, but it will be historically
[12:07:22 AM] mrs.callihan says: we're going there, just so you know
[12:07:22 AM] Randolph W. Callih... says: there are many kinds of barbarian invasions
[12:07:27 AM] Randolph W. Callih... says: the mouse eared hordes
[12:07:39 AM] mrs.callihan says: which we wil be among
[12:07:54 AM] mrs.callihan says: I hate disney, but I am so compelled to see this thing, first hand
[12:08:09 AM] Randolph W. Callih... says: I think we'd find it interesting
[12:08:13 AM] mrs.callihan says: but probably won't be any different an experience than florida, except more moeny and newer
[12:08:28 AM] mrs.callihan says: just seems so ridiculously novel
[12:08:36 AM] Randolph W. Callih... says: and nobody speaking our language
[12:08:55 AM] mrs.callihan says: mickey transcends such barriors