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May 24, 2006

Opinions and the Evils of Authoritarians

Inspired in part by the accidental reading (in between my suppressing a homocidal rage directed at the Pekinese, whose unbearable yapping today led me to be uncharacteristically mean) on "Islam and its need to reform" and the boldly stated opinions on the part of people who clearly know fuck all about the religion, on what it "needs," I am pondering writing about the need for reform in Confucian thought.

Or Reforming Confuciasim and Protecting The West

Of course, I know nothing really about Confucian thought.

Although I do read some occasional media articles on it.

And I don't like the PRC.

And generally speaking I am a classic liberal, and thus by nature poorly disposed to the evil authoritarianism that must be inherent in Confucian thought.

And of course, my knowledge of Chinese culture largely comes from episodic television coverage.

None of this should get in the way.

However, I need some advice on the best sources to link in my arguments: that is those supporting my conclusions - they need not be by authors that have spent more then 72 hours in Asia, in fact it would be best to cite those who make simple points and are unencumbered by any complicating nit-picking engendered by 'expert syndrome' brought on by direct contact with the culture(s)

Posted by The Lounsbury at May 24, 2006 12:31 AM
Filed Under: Politics - Islam(ic)

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Comments

You could also reference Sun Tzu a lot. That is what a lot of the "warbloggers" do. He is Chinese, right, so whether or not he represents confucianism is irrelevant.

Posted by: Anna_in_Cairo [TypeKey Profile Page] at May 24, 2006 07:17 AM

ya abu l-maal,

just go into the whole pro-chinese-student-movement literature. while you're at it, the "free tibet" people might be great, too.

but ... if you want to kill a dog, wouldn't your tendencies be canocidal? oh, and do let me know if you want help - poison, big rocks, silenced guns ...

--raf*

Posted by: raf* at May 24, 2006 10:44 AM

You could also mention the zany dictator of North Korea or those awful Japanese businessmen. Sure, they aren't technically Chinese, but they all look the same, right?

Posted by: kao_hsien_chih at May 24, 2006 03:54 PM

And dont forget to mention the Confucianofascists.

And the fact that a method of violence (Kung Fu) is named after Confucius.

Anyone know if he had a teen or pre-teen bride too? With that fact alone, you will understand China.

Posted by: matthew hogan at May 24, 2006 06:25 PM

Confucianism... the MSM would have us believe it's a philosophy of self-discipline. But I say it's a freakish cult of foot-binding!

Posted by: alle at May 24, 2006 09:49 PM

Footbinding? Don't you mean Female Podiatral Mutilation (FPM)?

Posted by: matthew hogan at May 25, 2006 02:27 AM

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