Latest Posts
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Sarah Palin, Taoist Sage, Again
The abrupt and bizarre resignation of Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska, has befuddled many political commentators. Why did she do it? What is she thinking? Is it a shrewd political move or a delusional political suicide? She seems to have… Continue reading
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A Taoist (and thus non-nationalist?) July 4th
I've run this post for several years now but I rather like it, so here we go again: It may seem improbable but I think we can find a Taoist angle on the US Independence Day, July 4th, holiday. … Continue reading
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Confucianism and Global Warming
An article last week in the Christian Science Monitor caught my eye: "How Confucianism could curb global warming." Two main points are put forward. First, we have this: But Pan Yue, China's vice minister for environmental protection, is calling for… Continue reading
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Four Years
I have been remiss of late; haven't posted anything in almost a week. No real excuse…except that I have gotten into a better writing groove on my book. The endless chapter 5 is just about done. And that's good. But… Continue reading
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Time to end the Tehran/Tiananmen comparisons
With the escalation in violence, Iran appears to have moved into its Tiananmen moment, the time when the regime brings much more deadly force to bear against popular mobilization. But events in Iran have moved away from the China comparison.… Continue reading
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Sad but true: Bush lost the war
I've said this many times in the past but it is always important to keep in mind, especially as more and more bad news comes out of Iraq, that the situation there has never been politically settled. Yes, there was… Continue reading
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Teheran and Tiananmen, IV
There is a sad truth about the 1989 Beijing Massacre. It is a truth that those of us who live in liberal democracies would rather avoid. But it is a truth nonetheless: in Beijing in 1989 repression worked. Repression worked… Continue reading
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Teheran and Tiananmen, III
Events in Iran have reached a new stage. The defiant Saturday demonstrations and protests, which came after Supreme Leader Khamenei called for a return to normalcy, are a direct challenge not only to Ahmadinejad but to the very basis of… Continue reading
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A Daoist thought on Father’s Day
We like to think that we shape our children's lives. And maybe we do, to some degree. But, to an even greater extent, sons and daughters create their parents. Continue reading
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New Legalists, Again
I have written about the New Legalists before (the first of three posts is here, with more here and here). That was over a year ago. Well, last month Zhai Yuzhong, whom I do not know, courteously sent along to… Continue reading
The Useless Tree 