Latest Posts
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So….Why Not Impeach Cheney?
In a democracy, the people are supposed to rule. They serve a function analogous to that of the aristocratic families in ancient, pre-Qin, China. And here is what Menicus says the "royal" families should do if the ruler… Continue reading
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Confucianism and Abortion
The Western Confucian has a series of links reporting on the practice of abortion in South Korea. It seems that it is widely accepted by both men and women and commonly performed, even though it is restricted, by… Continue reading
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Confucianism in the Service of Unfreedom
Kevin Smith, aka The Weifang Radish, emails with a link to an article by Edward Friedman, "Living Without Freedom in China." Kevin is particularly interested in how The Useless Tree might respond to this passage: The only way… Continue reading
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Blocked in China?
A commenter, Nick Wong, reports that The Useless Tree is blocked in China. I looked back at the geographic data and, indeed, my hits from China have dropped significantly in the last few days. Nick believes… Continue reading
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Taoist Physics
Since we’re talking about Taoism (see post below), how about this op-ed in today’s NYT by Margaret Wertheim. She discusses what shadows, immaterial presences that do not require energy to move, might mean for modern physics: ON Thursday,… Continue reading
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George Bush, Taoist
Even though I have done so before, I can’t bring myself to refer to Bush as a Taoist Sage. But he is taking what I believe is the Taoist position of stem cells, with his announcement that he will… Continue reading
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Dereliction of Duty
Everyone is talking about the horrible revelations of slave labor in the brick kilns of Shanxi province. Truly depressing. Hundreds of people, many children, held against their will, in squalid conditions, and forced to work forging bricks. Dickensian,… Continue reading
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Chien-Ming Wang, Taoist Sage
I watched the Yankee game last night, a brilliant pitching performance by Taiwan’s pride, Chien-Ming Wang, in an 8-2 victory over the Mets. I have blogged about Wang before, noting his Confucian filiality, but last night something else… Continue reading
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Father’s Day
Last year at this time we were in China, on our way to Dunhuang. Marvelous. I was not thinking then about Father’s Day, too absorbed in the moment. But here I am today, at home, in the US,… Continue reading
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A Taoist in all but name?
I noticed this book review in today’s NYT (hat tip: Richard). Kang Zhengguo’s memoir is titled, Confessions: An Innocent Life in Communist China. The review describes him thusly: Dreamy, lazy, romantic, stubborn and impulsive, Mr. Kang spelled trouble… Continue reading
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