June 14, 2015
"If one doesn't read books for a long time... sooner or later one's mind will be conquered by other things."
In China, state media exhorts government officials to read in order to develop their "quality of character, world view, values, and understanding of power." Without reading, their "spirits flag, their thinking become shallower, and even go down the road of corruption and crime."
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9 comments:
Of course, they have to be careful not to read books smuggled in from Hong Kong or other unapproved books. Or at least not talk about it.
The old mandarin examinations on the ancient Chinese classics aren't a bad gatekeeping system. Maybe they should reinstate them.
The subject matter was morally elevated, humanitarian, had a strict personal code of honor and was extremely perceptive of human nature.
For that matter, as long as this society wants to be run by a large imperial bureaucracy we may want to do the same. Confucius, Sun Tzu and the guys are great improvement on PC dreck. Just some bureaucrat terms will change. We will call reorgs "rectification of titles".
Start with Orwell's "1984."
The Chinese classics are absolutely not about a boot in the face forever.
Communists telling you to read, that's funny. I can't wait for the recommended Reading List.
"The Art of Hacking the US Government"
"How to Steal the Plans for the F-22 for less than $20"
...
The Party is taking a big chance in a country that prints more Bibles than any other country on earth.
How Confucian.
Americans assume corruption and self interest and depend on institutional safeguards to check both.
Chinese don't believe in institutions at all, so try to make sure officials are chosen wisely.
Not sure either way is better, given how things have turned out.
I have a strong interest in how China evolves, since they will be our new overlords.
I hear they aren't big on feminism and gays. I'm okay with that, afterall the West is just a patriarchal oppressor blah blah right?
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