Latest Posts
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War Doesn’t Work
We cannot say that war has never worked – I’m sure we can all think of some instances where war has produced something better than what existed before. So, maybe I should say that using "Third Generation" war… Continue reading
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Beijing Weekend: The Stem Cell Research Debate
This week’s Beijing Weekend column ran under the title, "The Chinese alternative to the stem cell research debate." It was published exactly as I wrote it – and that now requires on minor revision. When I wrote it… Continue reading
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Wayward Cliches
I have come to learn how difficult it is to convince people that ancient Chinese philosophy really might have something interesting to say to the modern world. When I say the words "Chinese philosophy," eyes glaze over and… Continue reading
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Japan Isn’t a “Confucian Society,” Either
What country is this quote referring to: In a culture that stresses the need to pull one’s own weight, a profound stigma surrounds welfare. Many needy elderly are too ashamed even to apply for it. Advocacy groups for… Continue reading
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More Sun Tzu on the Mideast War
My friend and neighbor, Abu Aardvark, has a great post today on the failures of US strategy for the current fighting in Lebanon. By not pressing for a ceasefire immediately, the US has isolated itself as the sole… Continue reading
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Better Late than Never?
Breaking News! printResizeBFemale descendants included in Confucius family tree for the first time "In China, where men have traditionally been regarded as superior to women, and in a family in which tradition is strictly observed, it is of… Continue reading
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Modern Love: The Punctuation of Duty
Today, Jamie Callan recounts her courtship with the man who would become her second husband. It started out as a college teacher/student (albeit older, returning to school after a divorce, student) relationship. I must admit being a bit… Continue reading
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Beijing Weekend: How Much is Enough?
This past Friday, my second Beijing Weekend column ran in China Daily. The web page publication is here. I am also going to copy the text below the jump of this post, for anyone who is interested. I… Continue reading
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Pearl Buck
Bro. Bartelby, a regular and thoughtful commenter here sent an email asking my thoughts about the revival of Pearl Buck, author of The Good Earth. He sent along a link to a piece in the Wilson Quarterly by Sheila… Continue reading
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Friday I Ching Blogging: The Mideast War
It has been a while since I have consulted the oracle, but recent events in the Mideast lead to a natural question: where is the war between Israel and Hezbollah/Hamas taking us? The answer that the I… Continue reading
The Useless Tree 