Posted On: Thursday - December 22nd 2016 10:02PM MST
In Topics: Humor History Pundits China
After having alluded to a difference in philosophy between ancient Chinese culture under the influence of Confucius and American (Western/Christian) philosophy in this post, I should explain this more, I figure.
The writer has not read much of Mr. Confucius' writings, nor even any Cliff Notes versions, but I have read some history of the country. The general ideas of Confucius and the multi-millenial history of the Chinese seem to always boil down to the concept of harmonius living - living in harmany with each other without conflict, no matter what one's station in life may be. The multi-century's old Western, and especially American, culture exhibits a quite contrary philosopy, that of individualism.
This is what my comment in the other post was referring to. This blog attempts to put out the truth, among all of the massive stupidity that the people of America and most of the Western world is bombarded with continuously. An important cultural tradition of Americans is (or, at least was) to stand up for what is right. The Confucius idea of harmony does not allow for the individualist. "The nail that stands up gets hammered down", the Chinese say, while Americans say "the squeaky wheel gets the grease".
I am proud to still stick with the attitude that says: even if everyone around you is against your point of view, what's right is right, and the truth is the truth. That's the philosphy of this blog, Confucius be damned.
Additionally, having perused just a few of the writings attributed to Mr. Confucius' I am puzzled as to the high stature in which he is seen by Chinese intellectuals:
Confucius say:
Woman laid in tomb may become mummy.
Man who fall in vat of molten glass make spectacle of self.
Man who run in front of car get tired. Man who run behind car get exhausted.
Even the greatest of whales is helpless in middle of desert.
Grease monkey who go to bed without bathing wake up oily in the morning
OK, I think the 4th point is fairly profound, but, as to the rest of these "brilliant writings of this revered ancient sage of the East", I mean, come on! An American 6th grader (well, OK, not in public school) could do better. You call that claptrap high-brow philosophy??
*************************************
[UPDATE (3 mins later):] Whoops, peakstupidty.com staff regrets the misattribution of the above writings (stuff in italics) to Mr. Confucius of the People's Republic of China. These writings were posted by an intern working for the blog, who had understandably lifted them from the works of a different Confucius, Mr. Bill Confucius of Paducah, Kentucky. We sincerely regret the error. It won't might not happen again.
*************************************
*************************************
[UPDATE 12/23/16:] George Carlin, the philosopher that beats hell out of Confucius, has been moved to a latter post, where his bit fits in much better.
*************************************
Comments:
Moderator
Tuesday - March 8th 2022 2:38AM MST
PS: So sorry for the slightly late reply, Mr. Ex-President. That's what makes it funny... I think ...
Barack Obama's secret Peak Stupidity account
Saturday - January 16th 2021 2:33AM MST
PS Even the greatest of whales is helpless in middle of desert - I must confess to being helpless myself, wat mean?