The principles of America’s conservative core are in shambles. They are in a pitiful state of philandering (see S. Carolina Gov. Sanford, former NY Rep. Vito Fossella) and populous pandering (see them spend money without end worse than Democrats).
The problems comes down to values. Good values should be a conservative’s trump card, but its not, its their Achilles heel. Ask a conservative what he stands for: “freedom, liberty, self-reliance, merit, honor, country, Christian values, principles, the American way, justice…” What exactly does that mean? Based on the way conservative politicians act those words apparently mean close to nothing.
The most lucid articulation of the conservative’s values I have heard is “Judeo-Christian,” meaning those fundamental principles shared across the traditional Jewish and Christian world views. There is the same genuine benevolence and respect for traditional human life, and understanding of man’s place in the world.
This view has some practical substance as well. It directly relates to the Middle East and the Muslim world in general. Its as if to say (of course, never to actually say in today’s world, but only to imply and to appeal to on a visceral level), “Its us Jews and Christians versus you, the worshippers of the evil god Allah.”
These values make clear sense when dealing with terrorists and other Islamic extremists, who periodically and maliciously attack us, as well as when embracing popular mainstream stances such as anti-gay marriage and pro-life stances.
Unfortunately these Judeo-Christian values run completely dry when we move further East in the world to Asia proper, and specifically, China.
First some context: China is the most populous country in the world (four times the United States) and has the fastest growing economy world (according to figures reported by communist regime-controlled sources at least). China is a member of the powerful United Nations Security Council (along with Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States). China has the largest military in the world and has nuclear weapons.
In 1994, China was granted Most Favorable Nation trading status by the United States. China now owns around $1 trillion in U.S. debt and has $250 billion trade surplus with the United States.
To summarize, China is seen as a rising power in the world. At the same time, anyone who clearly analyzes the facts, will plainly find that the communist regime (that has controlled and rapped China for the last 60 years) is a force of evil in the world. China routinely tramples the freedoms of religion, press, and association that we hold dear as Americans.
Where are the Judeo-Christian values, or any other conservative or American values, now? Apparently nowhere.
Right before our eyes, conservative U.S. politicians talk about having a good relationship with China and working together with China (see Sarah Palin and everyone else when Obama hit China with trade tariffs). Conservative U.S. politicians visited the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and no doubt shook hands with China’s leaders, while prisoners of conscience were being held in detention camps.
Christians are given some level of freedom in China and so conservative U.S. politicians are appeased (see Bush’s visit to a house Christian church during his administration). Meanwhile the world looks on in disgust. All conservative/American values that are claimed in waging wars and protecting the sanctity of life are rendered near meaningless.
What conservatives need to wake up to is that Buddhism is deeply rooted in Chinese culture and Buddhist values are very much the same as those found in Christianity and Judaism. Again, there is the same genuine benevolence and respect for traditional human life, and understanding of man’s place in the world.
American conservatives need to realize that at heart, their values are Buddhist-Judeo-Christian, not simply Judeo-Christian. Thus, when Tibetan Buddhists and practitioners of the Buddhist spiritual practice Falun Gong are arrested, tortured, and killed, it is no different than Jesus, early Christians, and Jews of various eras being arrested, tortured, and killed.
This is the clear and most glaring shortcoming in American conservatives today. They need to wake up to fact that they are not upholding Judeo-Christian values, because those values can just as easily be called Buddhist-Judeo-Christian and, at present, are clearly not a matter of significance when it comes to China policy, arguably the most important foreign policy.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thanksgiving Day Sonnet: Minerva, then Macy’s
This year, I am thankful for Minerva,
You know, the old statue at Herald Square,
Warlike, but noble, not like al-Qaeda,
Greek Goddess with spear and ethereal stare.
Of course I’m also thankful for Macy’s
Next door, its less Spartan, more modern,
I bought nice khakis there, not too pricey,
Who, for shopping, does not for some store yearn?
Minerva, then Macy’s, that’s how it goes,
Principles, then what pleases, or else it shows,
It shows in a decadent, worthless culture,
With movies like drugs, business like vultures.
But nevermind! The holidays are here,
Thanks to Minerva there's nothing to fear.
You know, the old statue at Herald Square,
Warlike, but noble, not like al-Qaeda,
Greek Goddess with spear and ethereal stare.
Of course I’m also thankful for Macy’s
Next door, its less Spartan, more modern,
I bought nice khakis there, not too pricey,
Who, for shopping, does not for some store yearn?
Minerva, then Macy’s, that’s how it goes,
Principles, then what pleases, or else it shows,
It shows in a decadent, worthless culture,
With movies like drugs, business like vultures.
But nevermind! The holidays are here,
Thanks to Minerva there's nothing to fear.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
A Sonnet for Columbus Day
To hear valiant statutes whisper their tale,
Within the silence of posterity,
To tack up town with brave cannon and sail,
Find the quintessence of New York City.
Though the air is poisoned with taxi smoke,
General George in Union Square does not choke,
Though Time Square’s flashing lights do nauseate,
Mercury flies above us, no less great,
Though the sun’s held hostage by skyscrapers,
Through gaps, a tapestry of light escapes.
And at the circle, Columbus stands tall,
Facing an obtuse glass and concrete wall,
From which are hurled sharp, post-modern attacks,
But, no worry, Central Park has his back.
(Revised July 22, 2010)
Within the silence of posterity,
To tack up town with brave cannon and sail,
Find the quintessence of New York City.
Though the air is poisoned with taxi smoke,
General George in Union Square does not choke,
Though Time Square’s flashing lights do nauseate,
Mercury flies above us, no less great,
Though the sun’s held hostage by skyscrapers,
Through gaps, a tapestry of light escapes.
And at the circle, Columbus stands tall,
Facing an obtuse glass and concrete wall,
From which are hurled sharp, post-modern attacks,
But, no worry, Central Park has his back.
(Revised July 22, 2010)
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Book Review: ‘Life in the Ring’ - Boxing greats’ stories a treasure trove of cultural gems
“Knockout punch,” “came out swinging,” “down for the count”—as author John E. Oden astutely points out in the introduction to his new book “Life in the Ring: Lessons and Inspiration from the Sport of Boxing,” these boxing phrases have fused into everyday American speech and culture.
But cultural recognition is small potatoes for Oden, a.k.a. the Pecos Kid. This business man turned white-collar boxer turned author is after the meaning of life. In the book’s first sentence, he forthrightly declares, “boxing is a metaphor for life.”
True to this sentence, Oden proceeds to offer12 chapters—modeled after the 12 rounds in a boxing match—that detail the intriguing stories of 15 of some of the greatest boxers from the last 100 years. Each “round” finishes with a new lesson that can be learned from the preceding story both inside and outside the ring.
Undefeated boxing legend Rocky Marciano is noted for his great threshold for pain, taking “three to four punches with the hope of being able to deliver one,” writes Oden. “Consequently, much of the blood seen in the ring during a tough contest was Rocky’s.” In the lesson at the end of Marciano’s chapter, Oden philosophizes, “In life, who amongst us doesn’t feel pain, not only pain from physical injury, but emotional pain? How one handles pain shapes one’s character, and, ultimately, his or her ability to succeed.”
Not limited to boxing fans or sports lovers in appeal, Oden’s clearly written stories contain cultural gems that are bound to captivate any reader. Such gems include future Olympic gold medalist Oscar de la Hoya writing in his sixth grade paper that he wanted to be an Olympic gold medalist in boxing when he grew up, only to punished by his teacher for not taking the assignment seriously.
In another chapter is the page-turning story of Detroit boxer Joe Louis and German boxer Max Schmeling—who, though not a Nazi himself, was supported by Adolf Hitler. The boxers’ two matches took place in the years leading up to World War II, turning them into clashes charged with geopolitical overtones. In the final twist of their story, Schmeling and Louis become close friends, with Schmeling, who became rich as a businessman, going so far as to give money to and help pay for the funeral of the financially troubled Louis.
His second book after detailing his own experience as a white-collar boxer, Oden’s “Life in the Ring” succeeds overall to give an easily digestible and riveting look into the world of professional boxing. The end of the book includes a helpful and brief summary of the rules of boxing, as well as a glossary of terms. For someone who knows nothing about boxing and wants to learn, this book is an excellent choice.
Where Oden’s “Life in the Ring” does drag and lose its cultural charm is in the parts where the author is left to go on and on about the greatness of boxing and the values he has derived from it, primarily in the chapter introductions and lessons at the end of the chapters.
In the introduction, Oden states that boxing is “a sport of self-actualization, a means to discover truths about oneself which could not be learned in any other place quite so effectively.” A bold statement that Oden does give some qualification for, but not nearly enough. Oden’s biography only mentions his experience with boxing, so it sounds far-fetched for him to have discovered the most effective means for self-actualization without actually having tried anything else. It seems that boxing may simply be removed from Oden’s sentence and other qualification and easily replaced by another sport (or even some hobbies)—then it could have just as easily been written by an avid fan or athlete from some other sport.
This oversight bleeds into the chapters’ lessons, which at times are shallow and forced. Lessons are generally about cause and effect relationships, so one of the most glaring lessons from boxing might be: do not to box because it is a dangerous sport that easily leads to broken bones, lost teeth, brain damage, and various other ailments.
Only after 79 pages into the book, does Oden directly address the dangers of boxing: “due to the intensity and inherent danger in the sport, there are unique challenges and stumbling blocks which any fighter must overcome.” Indeed, boxing paragon Muhammad Ali, known as “the Greatest,” suffered from Parkinson’s disease at the early age of 40—likely because of the head trauma he received in the ring, Oden earlier writes.
It would have been more effective for Oden to have hit the danger of boxing head-on and then pick up the pieces after that. Similarly, throughout the book and markedly at the end, there is a silence on the future of boxing. With the continual introduction of martial arts from Asia over the last 100 years and the recent spike in popularity of mixed martial arts as a sport, including Ultimate Fighting Championship, the cultural significance of boxing appears to be waning.
Is boxing really down for the count? Don’t look for an answer to this question in Oden’s “Life in the Ring,” just a bunch of great stories.
"Life in the Ring: Lessons and Inspiration from the Sport of Boxing" was published by Hatherleigh Press on September 29, 2009.
But cultural recognition is small potatoes for Oden, a.k.a. the Pecos Kid. This business man turned white-collar boxer turned author is after the meaning of life. In the book’s first sentence, he forthrightly declares, “boxing is a metaphor for life.”
True to this sentence, Oden proceeds to offer12 chapters—modeled after the 12 rounds in a boxing match—that detail the intriguing stories of 15 of some of the greatest boxers from the last 100 years. Each “round” finishes with a new lesson that can be learned from the preceding story both inside and outside the ring.
Undefeated boxing legend Rocky Marciano is noted for his great threshold for pain, taking “three to four punches with the hope of being able to deliver one,” writes Oden. “Consequently, much of the blood seen in the ring during a tough contest was Rocky’s.” In the lesson at the end of Marciano’s chapter, Oden philosophizes, “In life, who amongst us doesn’t feel pain, not only pain from physical injury, but emotional pain? How one handles pain shapes one’s character, and, ultimately, his or her ability to succeed.”
Not limited to boxing fans or sports lovers in appeal, Oden’s clearly written stories contain cultural gems that are bound to captivate any reader. Such gems include future Olympic gold medalist Oscar de la Hoya writing in his sixth grade paper that he wanted to be an Olympic gold medalist in boxing when he grew up, only to punished by his teacher for not taking the assignment seriously.
In another chapter is the page-turning story of Detroit boxer Joe Louis and German boxer Max Schmeling—who, though not a Nazi himself, was supported by Adolf Hitler. The boxers’ two matches took place in the years leading up to World War II, turning them into clashes charged with geopolitical overtones. In the final twist of their story, Schmeling and Louis become close friends, with Schmeling, who became rich as a businessman, going so far as to give money to and help pay for the funeral of the financially troubled Louis.
His second book after detailing his own experience as a white-collar boxer, Oden’s “Life in the Ring” succeeds overall to give an easily digestible and riveting look into the world of professional boxing. The end of the book includes a helpful and brief summary of the rules of boxing, as well as a glossary of terms. For someone who knows nothing about boxing and wants to learn, this book is an excellent choice.
Where Oden’s “Life in the Ring” does drag and lose its cultural charm is in the parts where the author is left to go on and on about the greatness of boxing and the values he has derived from it, primarily in the chapter introductions and lessons at the end of the chapters.
In the introduction, Oden states that boxing is “a sport of self-actualization, a means to discover truths about oneself which could not be learned in any other place quite so effectively.” A bold statement that Oden does give some qualification for, but not nearly enough. Oden’s biography only mentions his experience with boxing, so it sounds far-fetched for him to have discovered the most effective means for self-actualization without actually having tried anything else. It seems that boxing may simply be removed from Oden’s sentence and other qualification and easily replaced by another sport (or even some hobbies)—then it could have just as easily been written by an avid fan or athlete from some other sport.
This oversight bleeds into the chapters’ lessons, which at times are shallow and forced. Lessons are generally about cause and effect relationships, so one of the most glaring lessons from boxing might be: do not to box because it is a dangerous sport that easily leads to broken bones, lost teeth, brain damage, and various other ailments.
Only after 79 pages into the book, does Oden directly address the dangers of boxing: “due to the intensity and inherent danger in the sport, there are unique challenges and stumbling blocks which any fighter must overcome.” Indeed, boxing paragon Muhammad Ali, known as “the Greatest,” suffered from Parkinson’s disease at the early age of 40—likely because of the head trauma he received in the ring, Oden earlier writes.
It would have been more effective for Oden to have hit the danger of boxing head-on and then pick up the pieces after that. Similarly, throughout the book and markedly at the end, there is a silence on the future of boxing. With the continual introduction of martial arts from Asia over the last 100 years and the recent spike in popularity of mixed martial arts as a sport, including Ultimate Fighting Championship, the cultural significance of boxing appears to be waning.
Is boxing really down for the count? Don’t look for an answer to this question in Oden’s “Life in the Ring,” just a bunch of great stories.
"Life in the Ring: Lessons and Inspiration from the Sport of Boxing" was published by Hatherleigh Press on September 29, 2009.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Empire State Building Turns a Disgusting Hue
The Empire State Building, a New York City and American icon, will turn red-yellow on Wednesday and Thursday in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China.
Seems simple enough. The Olympics was in China, they make all our toys and Walmart merchandise, and they’ve even been buying all our debt up. Why not?
Here’s why not: imagine the empire state building turning the colors of the Third Reich, the Ku Klux Klan, al-Qaeda, or maybe just shooting out all of its liquid waste in high pressurized bursts out onto the crowds of tourists on 34th Street. Well, they might as well, the Chinese Communist Party that has raped China for the last 60 years is no better than any of those—and is arguably worse.
The communist regime put the “People’s Republic” in the People’s Republic of China, as part of outdated Marxist-Leninist propaganda. Today, the very same propaganda mouthpieces that helped create the communist regime in China in 1949 are at work helping in the oppression and killing of innocent people who disagree with the regime over its policies on religion, politics, ethnicity, the rule of law (which it claims to have), media, human rights, and so on and so forth.
Worse still, the world’s media and communication capabilities are a hundred times better now than they were when the Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan were in their hay day. Now, its been internationally recognized by the US government, the United Nations, the European Union, Amnesty International, Freedom House, and countless other organizations and media outlets that the Communist regime is rotten to its warped and disgusting core.
How could the Empire State Building make such a stupid choice to honor the largest and most naked example of inhumanity known in the history of man? A couple possible motives (though I don’t claim to have any evidence) could be the promise of an even larger number of Chinese tourists—or maybe just cash up front from the Chinese consulate.
Just consider that Chinese consul Peng Keyu will take part in the lighting ceremony on Wednesday. This is the same guy who was recorded (on a verified recording) encouraging Mainland Chinese people in Flushing, Queens to intimidate and malign practitioners of the peaceful Falun Gong spiritual practice there. (background info)
The terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 that destroyed the two World Trade Center towers in lower Manhattan were heinous acts. The attacks on that day fortified America’s resolve - we seemed to agree that, despite criticism of its economics and culture, our's is a moral nation with underlying integrity and an unconquerable spirit.
Yet, why are we letting a nation whose government has no morality or integrity conquer one of our most prized buildings (I hope no one shoots a plane through it too).
Seems simple enough. The Olympics was in China, they make all our toys and Walmart merchandise, and they’ve even been buying all our debt up. Why not?
Here’s why not: imagine the empire state building turning the colors of the Third Reich, the Ku Klux Klan, al-Qaeda, or maybe just shooting out all of its liquid waste in high pressurized bursts out onto the crowds of tourists on 34th Street. Well, they might as well, the Chinese Communist Party that has raped China for the last 60 years is no better than any of those—and is arguably worse.
The communist regime put the “People’s Republic” in the People’s Republic of China, as part of outdated Marxist-Leninist propaganda. Today, the very same propaganda mouthpieces that helped create the communist regime in China in 1949 are at work helping in the oppression and killing of innocent people who disagree with the regime over its policies on religion, politics, ethnicity, the rule of law (which it claims to have), media, human rights, and so on and so forth.
Worse still, the world’s media and communication capabilities are a hundred times better now than they were when the Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan were in their hay day. Now, its been internationally recognized by the US government, the United Nations, the European Union, Amnesty International, Freedom House, and countless other organizations and media outlets that the Communist regime is rotten to its warped and disgusting core.
How could the Empire State Building make such a stupid choice to honor the largest and most naked example of inhumanity known in the history of man? A couple possible motives (though I don’t claim to have any evidence) could be the promise of an even larger number of Chinese tourists—or maybe just cash up front from the Chinese consulate.
Just consider that Chinese consul Peng Keyu will take part in the lighting ceremony on Wednesday. This is the same guy who was recorded (on a verified recording) encouraging Mainland Chinese people in Flushing, Queens to intimidate and malign practitioners of the peaceful Falun Gong spiritual practice there. (background info)
The terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 that destroyed the two World Trade Center towers in lower Manhattan were heinous acts. The attacks on that day fortified America’s resolve - we seemed to agree that, despite criticism of its economics and culture, our's is a moral nation with underlying integrity and an unconquerable spirit.
Yet, why are we letting a nation whose government has no morality or integrity conquer one of our most prized buildings (I hope no one shoots a plane through it too).
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Al Sharpton, the Stinkiest Man in NYC
Civil rights activist and Baptist minister Al Sharpton is quite possibly be the stinkiest man in New York City. I have traced the putrid odor to a decaying fish left in his front-left coat pocket by none other than Councilman John Liu—the same John Liu who Sharpton has loudly and vigorously endorsed in the New York City Comptroller race.
Nevermind how Liu planted the disgusting specimen there exactly, the real question is what kind of fishy odor is Sharpton dealing with? And what kind of dry cleaning bill is this going to entail?
To start with, the fishy odor is the kind that you would only find wafting through the streets of the Flushing section of Queens, in John Liu’s own district it turns out. You see in Liu’s district it is commonplace for discrimination to take place—discrimination not at all different from the hate-filled and murderous discrimination that African Americans once faced in the South.
Specifically, on the streets of Flushing, if you are identified as a part of the Falun Gong spiritual practice, some of the many Flushing residents from China might just look at you differently. They’ve been known to swear at you, spit at you, destroy your belongings, and even assault you. And worse, as an overtone to all of this, people like you who come from their homeland China are commonly tortured and killed for practicing Falun Gong.
A stink to horrible to be believed? You can look it up, try looking up the Lucky Joy Restaurant in Flushing, where Falun Gong practitioners were repeatedly denied service, or Judy Chen, a Falun Gong practitioner and Flushing resident who was assaulted there. And for the info about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China you can try the US government, European Union, United Nations, Amnesty International, Freedom House etc.
Directly in the midst of the lynch-mob atmosphere of Flushing, John Liu has done absolutely nothing to help Falun Gong practitioners. He has stood by idly, while another New York City Councilman (Tony Avella), from a completely different district, had to step in and condemn the discrimination and attacks.
Why would Liu (who would arguably top Sharpton in stinkiness) be so passive, and pass up a chance to stand up against discrimination in his own district—a ripe opportunity for any modern politician? The reality is that, between honorary trips to China and large donations from Chinese-backed donors, Liu is in the back pocket of the Chinese Communist Party—at least on very short list of issues, like Falun Gong, that intersect between Chinese government propaganda and local New York City policy.
As outrageous as this smell might be, it’s the only explanation for Liu's complete passivity. Look into it for yourself… it really does stink.
Now, Liu, who happens to be flush with money but lacking in principles has fortunately found himself in the company of the Rev. Al Sharpton, who has graciously pushed the black community to support Liu. And with much success. Due in great part to support from the black community, Liu won the largest chunk of votes in the comptroller race, only impeded by 2 percentage points from clinching the race (he now faces a run-off).
Sounds like great news for Liu and his supporter Sharpton, right?
How quickly you have forgotten about the rotting fish. It can be hidden in pockets but the odor goes nowhere and only gets worse.
While black politicians and activists, and many others, have for decades pushed the levers of society with lofty ideals and rhetoric about giving the underprivileged opportunities and being compassionate to your fellow American regardless of any differences, the moment that those levers are pushed with self interest in mind and not the common good, the wind picks up ever so slightly and spreads the stinking odor of corrupted meat to the masses.
Oh, and the dry cleaning bill? I suggest skipping the dry cleaning. Sharpton just has to throw out his coat and along with it the stinking fish that John Liu planted in it.
Nevermind how Liu planted the disgusting specimen there exactly, the real question is what kind of fishy odor is Sharpton dealing with? And what kind of dry cleaning bill is this going to entail?
To start with, the fishy odor is the kind that you would only find wafting through the streets of the Flushing section of Queens, in John Liu’s own district it turns out. You see in Liu’s district it is commonplace for discrimination to take place—discrimination not at all different from the hate-filled and murderous discrimination that African Americans once faced in the South.
Specifically, on the streets of Flushing, if you are identified as a part of the Falun Gong spiritual practice, some of the many Flushing residents from China might just look at you differently. They’ve been known to swear at you, spit at you, destroy your belongings, and even assault you. And worse, as an overtone to all of this, people like you who come from their homeland China are commonly tortured and killed for practicing Falun Gong.
A stink to horrible to be believed? You can look it up, try looking up the Lucky Joy Restaurant in Flushing, where Falun Gong practitioners were repeatedly denied service, or Judy Chen, a Falun Gong practitioner and Flushing resident who was assaulted there. And for the info about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China you can try the US government, European Union, United Nations, Amnesty International, Freedom House etc.
Directly in the midst of the lynch-mob atmosphere of Flushing, John Liu has done absolutely nothing to help Falun Gong practitioners. He has stood by idly, while another New York City Councilman (Tony Avella), from a completely different district, had to step in and condemn the discrimination and attacks.
Why would Liu (who would arguably top Sharpton in stinkiness) be so passive, and pass up a chance to stand up against discrimination in his own district—a ripe opportunity for any modern politician? The reality is that, between honorary trips to China and large donations from Chinese-backed donors, Liu is in the back pocket of the Chinese Communist Party—at least on very short list of issues, like Falun Gong, that intersect between Chinese government propaganda and local New York City policy.
As outrageous as this smell might be, it’s the only explanation for Liu's complete passivity. Look into it for yourself… it really does stink.
Now, Liu, who happens to be flush with money but lacking in principles has fortunately found himself in the company of the Rev. Al Sharpton, who has graciously pushed the black community to support Liu. And with much success. Due in great part to support from the black community, Liu won the largest chunk of votes in the comptroller race, only impeded by 2 percentage points from clinching the race (he now faces a run-off).
Sounds like great news for Liu and his supporter Sharpton, right?
How quickly you have forgotten about the rotting fish. It can be hidden in pockets but the odor goes nowhere and only gets worse.
While black politicians and activists, and many others, have for decades pushed the levers of society with lofty ideals and rhetoric about giving the underprivileged opportunities and being compassionate to your fellow American regardless of any differences, the moment that those levers are pushed with self interest in mind and not the common good, the wind picks up ever so slightly and spreads the stinking odor of corrupted meat to the masses.
Oh, and the dry cleaning bill? I suggest skipping the dry cleaning. Sharpton just has to throw out his coat and along with it the stinking fish that John Liu planted in it.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Three Cheers for Obama Taking on Al Capone
On Friday, Obama slapped a punitive tariff on Chinese tires. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce immediately said it “strongly opposes” Obama’s tariffs, and called the measure “protectionist.” The move and countermove immediately made it into the headlines of major media over the weekend.
Then on Monday, Beijing made headlines again, announcing its own investigation into U.S. automobile and poultry imports into China. Analysts have been throwing around the word “trade war” to salivating journalists and have now put Obama’s tariffs on the defensive. This is unfortunate.
What most media reports on both sides of the political spectrum have failed to take a real look at is the deeper reason why Obama might have created the tariffs. Instead, journalists have taken the shallowest and easiest route to explaining Obama’s motive, taking his words at face value—as if a politician should be taken at face value. As stated in his declaration, Obama’s official motive is a dry regurgitation of policy on protecting U.S. workers interests and not losing jobs overseas:
“certain passenger vehicle and light truck tires from China are being imported into the United States in such increased quantities or under such conditions as to cause or threaten to cause market disruption to the domestic producers of like or directly competitive products.”
Now the media reports seem to ask: “A trade war over the disruption of tires!? Is the President trying too desperately to improve his plummeting poll numbers?”
This view misses the real issues that are coming into play. Consider that the most well known gangster in American history, Al Capone, was eventually brought down by authorities not on charges of murder, racketeering, prostitution, or any of the other heinous crimes he committed. No, instead they simply got him on tax evasion. The means to get Al Capone, as completely anticlimactic as they may have been, were completely justified. It was a clever way to get the guy that everyone knew was bad anyway.
Fast forward 80 years, and now, President Obama is going after a modern Al Capone, the 60-year-old Chinese communist regime. Now, Obama is using tactics no less anticlimactic than tax evasion but doubly justified.
Historians have shown that the Chinese communist regime has killed as many as 80 million of its people with various political movements. Even if they’re only half right, that's still far more than were killed in the Holocaust.
Today, the regime continues to jail, torture, and kill people whose religious, political, or social views are different from its own.
The good working conditions that people here have guaranteed by the U.S. government don’t exist over there, and if such a labor movement were to push for it, the movement would be completely and bloodily dismantled by communist authorities.
Further, this super structure of communist oppression is guarded by the state-controlled media that give the appearance of freedom, but simply tow the party line.
From the perspective of a human being and an American it makes total sense to give products, made in America, not China, as much preference as possible. The real question is, why isn’t America taxing more goods from China?
The answer, according to the prevailing economic mumbo jumbo, is protectionism. Protectionism is the thing that stifles free trade with foreign countries and supposedly led to the Great Depression. Yet, the economic fallout of the past year, has shown that if trade is too free and unregulated it can also be disastrous.
It stands to reason the competing forces of freedom and regulation in the market should neither be snuffed out—as the current political climate has tried to do to protectionism—or totally embraced. But when it comes to trade with China, stifling the freedom of arguably the most freedom-hating regime in the history of man is exactly what the doctor prescribes.
Then on Monday, Beijing made headlines again, announcing its own investigation into U.S. automobile and poultry imports into China. Analysts have been throwing around the word “trade war” to salivating journalists and have now put Obama’s tariffs on the defensive. This is unfortunate.
What most media reports on both sides of the political spectrum have failed to take a real look at is the deeper reason why Obama might have created the tariffs. Instead, journalists have taken the shallowest and easiest route to explaining Obama’s motive, taking his words at face value—as if a politician should be taken at face value. As stated in his declaration, Obama’s official motive is a dry regurgitation of policy on protecting U.S. workers interests and not losing jobs overseas:
“certain passenger vehicle and light truck tires from China are being imported into the United States in such increased quantities or under such conditions as to cause or threaten to cause market disruption to the domestic producers of like or directly competitive products.”
Now the media reports seem to ask: “A trade war over the disruption of tires!? Is the President trying too desperately to improve his plummeting poll numbers?”
This view misses the real issues that are coming into play. Consider that the most well known gangster in American history, Al Capone, was eventually brought down by authorities not on charges of murder, racketeering, prostitution, or any of the other heinous crimes he committed. No, instead they simply got him on tax evasion. The means to get Al Capone, as completely anticlimactic as they may have been, were completely justified. It was a clever way to get the guy that everyone knew was bad anyway.
Fast forward 80 years, and now, President Obama is going after a modern Al Capone, the 60-year-old Chinese communist regime. Now, Obama is using tactics no less anticlimactic than tax evasion but doubly justified.
Historians have shown that the Chinese communist regime has killed as many as 80 million of its people with various political movements. Even if they’re only half right, that's still far more than were killed in the Holocaust.
Today, the regime continues to jail, torture, and kill people whose religious, political, or social views are different from its own.
The good working conditions that people here have guaranteed by the U.S. government don’t exist over there, and if such a labor movement were to push for it, the movement would be completely and bloodily dismantled by communist authorities.
Further, this super structure of communist oppression is guarded by the state-controlled media that give the appearance of freedom, but simply tow the party line.
From the perspective of a human being and an American it makes total sense to give products, made in America, not China, as much preference as possible. The real question is, why isn’t America taxing more goods from China?
The answer, according to the prevailing economic mumbo jumbo, is protectionism. Protectionism is the thing that stifles free trade with foreign countries and supposedly led to the Great Depression. Yet, the economic fallout of the past year, has shown that if trade is too free and unregulated it can also be disastrous.
It stands to reason the competing forces of freedom and regulation in the market should neither be snuffed out—as the current political climate has tried to do to protectionism—or totally embraced. But when it comes to trade with China, stifling the freedom of arguably the most freedom-hating regime in the history of man is exactly what the doctor prescribes.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Auguries of Humanity
[Styled after William Blake's "Auguries of Innocence."]
To see sand in the grain of sand’s canyon
And waves of light blossom like a flower,
To make infinity your companion
After meditating for an hour.
The dog treated better than a poor boy
Predicts whose riches are one day destroyed.
All the leftovers that are thrown away
Makes Heaven hate the American way.
The obese man’s third soda pop refill
Does the old diabetic’s prescription fill.
The marijuana smoke that fills the room
Clouds the people’s judgment, leading to doom.
The aborted baby’s poor panicked cries
Float in night dreams and behind human eyes.
The almost pornographic billboard sign
Drives people for dirty pleasures to pine.
The philandering man’s night escapades
Gives pedophiles their rational aid.
Perversions that blaspheme man’s sacred form
Leave no real human standard as the norm.
The cynic annoyed by Gods and Heaven
Adds salt and spice to hide conceit within.
Cynical scientists form collegiate broods
Flavor students’ and politicians’ food.
Politicians who find it so tasty
Promote it with excess bureaucracy.
Students fat with cynical thoughts and dreams
Form lazy, reckless, and misguided teams.
The “smart” politician who wants to win
Looks the other way on China’s dark sins.
The investor in China thirsts for cash
And gets it! But will watch his market crash.
The “Made in China” doll that breaks in two
Used peaceful dissidents’ blood as its glue.
The Falun Gong student now tortured dead
Unveils the diseased whore the world has wed.
We dwell in the darkest depths of cold night,
Most forgetting the pure warmth of daylight.
When it's darkest, dawn comes without delay
For this world's ruled by noble realms of day.
To see sand in the grain of sand’s canyon
And waves of light blossom like a flower,
To make infinity your companion
After meditating for an hour.
The dog treated better than a poor boy
Predicts whose riches are one day destroyed.
All the leftovers that are thrown away
Makes Heaven hate the American way.
The obese man’s third soda pop refill
Does the old diabetic’s prescription fill.
The marijuana smoke that fills the room
Clouds the people’s judgment, leading to doom.
The aborted baby’s poor panicked cries
Float in night dreams and behind human eyes.
The almost pornographic billboard sign
Drives people for dirty pleasures to pine.
The philandering man’s night escapades
Gives pedophiles their rational aid.
Perversions that blaspheme man’s sacred form
Leave no real human standard as the norm.
The cynic annoyed by Gods and Heaven
Adds salt and spice to hide conceit within.
Cynical scientists form collegiate broods
Flavor students’ and politicians’ food.
Politicians who find it so tasty
Promote it with excess bureaucracy.
Students fat with cynical thoughts and dreams
Form lazy, reckless, and misguided teams.
The “smart” politician who wants to win
Looks the other way on China’s dark sins.
The investor in China thirsts for cash
And gets it! But will watch his market crash.
The “Made in China” doll that breaks in two
Used peaceful dissidents’ blood as its glue.
The Falun Gong student now tortured dead
Unveils the diseased whore the world has wed.
We dwell in the darkest depths of cold night,
Most forgetting the pure warmth of daylight.
When it's darkest, dawn comes without delay
For this world's ruled by noble realms of day.
Monday, April 27, 2009
All Time
All times and all lands,
Together we stand,
A cause for all time,
The most heinous crime.
Falun Gong will stand,
Without reprimand,
Soon the CCP,
Will be history.
Together we stand,
A cause for all time,
The most heinous crime.
Falun Gong will stand,
Without reprimand,
Soon the CCP,
Will be history.
Monday, January 26, 2009
The Quiet Mystery
Right after a song, the quiet mystery,
Judgment’s forces fly about in a flurry,
Paradigm after paradigm, so vast,
Everyone move, you are being recast.
-Evan Mantyk, January 26, 2009 (Chinese New Year's Day)
Judgment’s forces fly about in a flurry,
Paradigm after paradigm, so vast,
Everyone move, you are being recast.
-Evan Mantyk, January 26, 2009 (Chinese New Year's Day)
Sunday, January 25, 2009
An Evil Person or Good Person?
Are you an evil person or good person?
The time to decide now quickly grows thin,
China's money and atheism aren't your friends,
Try opening your eyes before the road ends.
-Evan Mantyk, January 25, 2009
The time to decide now quickly grows thin,
China's money and atheism aren't your friends,
Try opening your eyes before the road ends.
-Evan Mantyk, January 25, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
In the Dazed World
CELESTIAL CAPTAIN
They have asked for an explanation of “Dazed World.”
CELESTIAL GENERAL
Does it matter? They will surrender or perish.
CELESTIAL CAPTAIN
It will not hurt.
CELESTIAL GENERAL
True. Tell them this:
In the dazed world, they confuse good and evil.
Earth’s a maze, with wrong directions it’s filled,
So this human world can’t be blamed outright,
Where there is fog of course there is bad sight,
But in good and evil, they must believe,
And seek higher truth ‘til when the earth they leave.
Those drunk on science deny good and evil
And into poor young students minds they drill,
They become the blindest leading the blind,
But nothing beyond themselves will they find.
Those drunk on religion say they know good,
But they’re just social cliques and ethnic broods,
They define good and evil to their liking,
Betraying nobleness and plain clear thinking,
Good and evil can’t be dismissed or made up,
And thus all the earth grows dazed and corrupt,
They wear dark sunglasses to navigate
Through thick fog, inviting a tragic fate.
Who escapes good and evil’s reality?
No one. They bear down with finality
And they will trump anyone’s reality
With secular spirituality.
CELESTIAL CAPTAIN
Thank you General, I will take this message to the front lines right away. We will save as many as we can.
CELESTIAL GENERAL
I hope so Captain.
-Evan Mantyk, January 24, 2009
They have asked for an explanation of “Dazed World.”
CELESTIAL GENERAL
Does it matter? They will surrender or perish.
CELESTIAL CAPTAIN
It will not hurt.
CELESTIAL GENERAL
True. Tell them this:
In the dazed world, they confuse good and evil.
Earth’s a maze, with wrong directions it’s filled,
So this human world can’t be blamed outright,
Where there is fog of course there is bad sight,
But in good and evil, they must believe,
And seek higher truth ‘til when the earth they leave.
Those drunk on science deny good and evil
And into poor young students minds they drill,
They become the blindest leading the blind,
But nothing beyond themselves will they find.
Those drunk on religion say they know good,
But they’re just social cliques and ethnic broods,
They define good and evil to their liking,
Betraying nobleness and plain clear thinking,
Good and evil can’t be dismissed or made up,
And thus all the earth grows dazed and corrupt,
They wear dark sunglasses to navigate
Through thick fog, inviting a tragic fate.
Who escapes good and evil’s reality?
No one. They bear down with finality
And they will trump anyone’s reality
With secular spirituality.
CELESTIAL CAPTAIN
Thank you General, I will take this message to the front lines right away. We will save as many as we can.
CELESTIAL GENERAL
I hope so Captain.
-Evan Mantyk, January 24, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Not Another Nazi Film
Not another Nazi film, I don’t care,
They’re the only modern villain out there?
And the Allies the only real good guys?
All film school text books must be full of lies.
Not another Nazi film, I beg you,
Just think: what did those Nazis really do?
Try to rule the world with depravity,
Without the basics of humanity.
Not another Nazi film, look around,
Under China, depravity abounds,
The dazed world is ruled by China’s green sway,
People are killed for their beliefs each day.
-Evan Manty, January 23, 2009
They’re the only modern villain out there?
And the Allies the only real good guys?
All film school text books must be full of lies.
Not another Nazi film, I beg you,
Just think: what did those Nazis really do?
Try to rule the world with depravity,
Without the basics of humanity.
Not another Nazi film, look around,
Under China, depravity abounds,
The dazed world is ruled by China’s green sway,
People are killed for their beliefs each day.
-Evan Manty, January 23, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
A Sad Day or Joyous Day
A sad day or joyous day, what shall it be?
As time runs out, the dazed world will soon see,
All things are balanced, all debts collected,
And this debt is the most unexpected.
-Evan Mantyk, January 22, 2009
As time runs out, the dazed world will soon see,
All things are balanced, all debts collected,
And this debt is the most unexpected.
-Evan Mantyk, January 22, 2009
Roosevelt Island: Manhattan's Little Secret in the River
By EVAN MANTYK
Epoch Times Staff
NEW YORK—When is your neighborhood in Manhattan, but on a different island? Sounds like a riddle, but it’s the story of Roosevelt Island, a 150-acre strip of land in the East River that is quietly transforming into one of Manhattan’s most interesting neighborhoods.
The neighborhood today is described affectionately by residents as quiet, peaceful, safe, and clean.
“It’s quiet, it’s safe, very close to nature, there’s birds and butterflies, big open space, you can sit under a tree and it’s like living right next to the city but not in the city,” said Heather Mosher, a Roosevelt Island renter and a mother for two years. “I love that, especially if you have a child."
link to full article
Epoch Times Staff
NEW YORK—When is your neighborhood in Manhattan, but on a different island? Sounds like a riddle, but it’s the story of Roosevelt Island, a 150-acre strip of land in the East River that is quietly transforming into one of Manhattan’s most interesting neighborhoods.
The neighborhood today is described affectionately by residents as quiet, peaceful, safe, and clean.
“It’s quiet, it’s safe, very close to nature, there’s birds and butterflies, big open space, you can sit under a tree and it’s like living right next to the city but not in the city,” said Heather Mosher, a Roosevelt Island renter and a mother for two years. “I love that, especially if you have a child."
link to full article
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
A Final Moment
A final moment after years gone by,
“What’s it like?” Don’t ask. My brow’s not yet dry.
Like nothing, the journey still hums along,
Only quiet marks the end of this song.
-Evan Mantyk, January 21, 2009
“What’s it like?” Don’t ask. My brow’s not yet dry.
Like nothing, the journey still hums along,
Only quiet marks the end of this song.
-Evan Mantyk, January 21, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
City Launches New Marriage Bureau
By KATY MANTYK
Epoch Times Staff
NEW YORK—The city opened a new marriage bureau to the public on Monday a couple of blocks up from the previous City Hall location at One Center Street. It was busier than usual, but the lines were shorter and couples waiting looked comfortable in the elegant new location.
The new facility, at 141 Worth Street in Lower Manhattan, is part of a complete physical and operational overhaul of how New Yorkers and visitors receive marriage licenses and other documents.
New York’s City Hall opened for wedding ceremonies in 1916, so for some it’s sad to see the move from the historic spot. For those that have seen the inside of the old building, sterile florescent lit hallways and archaic registering systems, long lines with stringent security checks, the newly renovated space is elegant and memorable.
link to full article
Epoch Times Staff
NEW YORK—The city opened a new marriage bureau to the public on Monday a couple of blocks up from the previous City Hall location at One Center Street. It was busier than usual, but the lines were shorter and couples waiting looked comfortable in the elegant new location.
The new facility, at 141 Worth Street in Lower Manhattan, is part of a complete physical and operational overhaul of how New Yorkers and visitors receive marriage licenses and other documents.
New York’s City Hall opened for wedding ceremonies in 1916, so for some it’s sad to see the move from the historic spot. For those that have seen the inside of the old building, sterile florescent lit hallways and archaic registering systems, long lines with stringent security checks, the newly renovated space is elegant and memorable.
link to full article
NY Attorney General Tackles Medical Rate Manipulation
By KATY MANTYK
Epoch Times Staff
NEW YORK—New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo on Tuesday announced historic reform of the nationwide health care reimbursement system that will end price manipulation by big insurance companies.
“This will lead to consumers getting what they paid for,” Attorney General Cuomo explained to the press on Tuesday.
Cuomo has reached an agreement with UnitedHealthGroup Inc., the nation’s second largest health insurer, after conducting an industry-wide investigation into a scheme to defraud consumers by manipulating reimbursement rates.
At the center of the scheme is Ingenix, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of United, which is the nation’s largest provider of health care billing information. Under the agreement with United, the database of billing information operated by Ingenix will close. United will pay $50 million to a qualified nonprofit organization (yet to be chosen) that will establish a new, independent database to help determine fair out-of-network reimbursement rates for consumers throughout the United States.
link to full article
Epoch Times Staff
NEW YORK—New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo on Tuesday announced historic reform of the nationwide health care reimbursement system that will end price manipulation by big insurance companies.
“This will lead to consumers getting what they paid for,” Attorney General Cuomo explained to the press on Tuesday.
Cuomo has reached an agreement with UnitedHealthGroup Inc., the nation’s second largest health insurer, after conducting an industry-wide investigation into a scheme to defraud consumers by manipulating reimbursement rates.
At the center of the scheme is Ingenix, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of United, which is the nation’s largest provider of health care billing information. Under the agreement with United, the database of billing information operated by Ingenix will close. United will pay $50 million to a qualified nonprofit organization (yet to be chosen) that will establish a new, independent database to help determine fair out-of-network reimbursement rates for consumers throughout the United States.
link to full article
BREAKING NEWS: European Parliament Urges Broadcast of Independent Network into China
By EVAN MANTYK
Epoch Times Staff
The European Parliament, one of the most powerful legislative bodies in the world, is calling on satellite company Eutelsat to resume broadcast of an independent Chinese-language television network into communist-controlled China. The strong language directed at the private, France-based Eutelsat was officially approved by a majority of the 785 Members of European Parliament (MEPs) on Wednesday and is to be read by the EP President on Thursday.
Eutelsat terminated broadcast of the network, New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV), into China in June, 2008, citing technical reasons. A July 10 investigative report by Reporters Without Borders revealed, however, that the broadcast cut was a premeditated act, owing to influence from the Chinese regime ahead of the Beijing Olympics.
The resolution urges the European Union’s 27 member states “to take necessary action to help restore NTDTV’s broadcasts to China and to support access to uncensored information for millions of Chinese citizens.”
link to full article
Epoch Times Staff
The European Parliament, one of the most powerful legislative bodies in the world, is calling on satellite company Eutelsat to resume broadcast of an independent Chinese-language television network into communist-controlled China. The strong language directed at the private, France-based Eutelsat was officially approved by a majority of the 785 Members of European Parliament (MEPs) on Wednesday and is to be read by the EP President on Thursday.
Eutelsat terminated broadcast of the network, New Tang Dynasty Television (NTDTV), into China in June, 2008, citing technical reasons. A July 10 investigative report by Reporters Without Borders revealed, however, that the broadcast cut was a premeditated act, owing to influence from the Chinese regime ahead of the Beijing Olympics.
The resolution urges the European Union’s 27 member states “to take necessary action to help restore NTDTV’s broadcasts to China and to support access to uncensored information for millions of Chinese citizens.”
link to full article
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Russian Government Places Falun Gong Book on List of 'Extremist Publications'
By AMIR TALAI
Epoch Times Staff
The Russian Government placed “Zhuan Falun,” the main text of the Falun Gong meditation practice, on a list of extremist publications, making the widescale distribution of the book in Russia illegal and punishable by a fine.
The Russian Ministry of Justice published its revised list of extremist books on its Web site on Dec. 23.
In August of 2008, in Pervomaisky Court in Krasnodar, Russia ruled that Zhuan Falun and a list of other publications, which shed light on the persecution and genocide of Falun Gong, were extremist books. This set the stage for the most recent Russian Ministry of Justice ruling.
link to full article
Epoch Times Staff
The Russian Government placed “Zhuan Falun,” the main text of the Falun Gong meditation practice, on a list of extremist publications, making the widescale distribution of the book in Russia illegal and punishable by a fine.
The Russian Ministry of Justice published its revised list of extremist books on its Web site on Dec. 23.
In August of 2008, in Pervomaisky Court in Krasnodar, Russia ruled that Zhuan Falun and a list of other publications, which shed light on the persecution and genocide of Falun Gong, were extremist books. This set the stage for the most recent Russian Ministry of Justice ruling.
link to full article
Friday, January 2, 2009
Williamsburg’s Edge Begins to Take Shape
By EVAN MANTYK
Epoch Times Staff
NEW YORK—Walking west toward the waterfront from one of Williamsburg’s main drags, Bedford Avenue, the trendy shops, considered some of the best shopping in all of New York City, begin to thin out. In the distance, massive cranes and half-constructed buildings can be seen where Brooklyn seems to drop off the map.
This ominous scene is Brooklyn’s edge, and it’s quickly beginning to take shape.
“I’m seeing whole areas torn down and rebuilt. There’s no denying it’s going to be a whole different world in five years,” said Williamsburg resident Andrew, 33, who jogs the neighborhood.
link to full article
Epoch Times Staff
NEW YORK—Walking west toward the waterfront from one of Williamsburg’s main drags, Bedford Avenue, the trendy shops, considered some of the best shopping in all of New York City, begin to thin out. In the distance, massive cranes and half-constructed buildings can be seen where Brooklyn seems to drop off the map.
This ominous scene is Brooklyn’s edge, and it’s quickly beginning to take shape.
“I’m seeing whole areas torn down and rebuilt. There’s no denying it’s going to be a whole different world in five years,” said Williamsburg resident Andrew, 33, who jogs the neighborhood.
link to full article
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