I seem to be ‘blogging a storm. Just a few quick notes:
Democracy may be finished in Europe. This is in addition to what Mark commented on below vis-a-vis Canada. It was fun while it lasted.
People don’t kill people, knives kill people.
Lastly, shouldn’t we just get it over with and get microchip implants now rather than later?
China’s Muslims were brought to mind by this article. About the article I have little to say, except that it could have used some proof reading. It also doesn’t mention the Cultural Revolution, which indicates a.) Communist Toadyism and b.) Historical Ignorance. I also assume that Muslims were not persecuted as fiercely as believing Protestants and Roman Catholics following the Communist revolution. This itself had two causes: first, I conjecture that Mao’s conscience was not as bothered by Muslim teachings as he was by Christian anti-materialism; second, it’s an established fact that Mao and later rulers have worked very hard to keep native Muslims happy as a way to appease foreign Muslim governments. Sound like anyone?
Anyway, it feels like nobody is talking about this, though I think it’s really important. China is on one of Samuel Huntington’s civilizational fault-lines, between the Confucian and Muslim worlds. Not only in the obvious places like Xinjiang (territory occupied by the Turkic Uigers (Weiwuerzu)), but also well into the historical boundaries of the Han Chinese people. The picture above is from Xi’an, the original capital of China (sort of) and the terminus of the silk road. In the very heart of the city is the Grand Mosque of China, originally erected during the T’ang dynasty, and a thriving Han Chinese Muslim community. I’d share pictures, but I’m in the stone age and didn’t take digital photos.
The biggest difference, besides the obvious, between the mosque and Buddhist temples that I’ve visited? People were actually there to use it. By contrast, I had to travel to Jakarta’s Chinatown to find a “truly working” Buddhist/Confucian temple. I don’t think this is because of the Chinese Communist Party’s official atheism and ostensible ban on religion, in general people just don’t seem to care. The Muslims did though, and it was obvious, and they are winning newer Han converts, even against the backdrop of growing numbers of confessing Christians.
Where does that leave us? Expect to see more ethnic rioting, hitting closer and closer to the more developed east of China. The Chinese government will co-opt our own language from the war on terror as an excuse to violently clamp down, and indeed they already have. I am also open to the possibility of an endorsement of Islam by the powers that be as a “least worst” foreign religion, because it is in limine an anti-Western movement.
Any wholesale movement of China towards Islam, like the countries of SE Asia centuries ago, or towards Christianity, as we see in the Phillipines and beginning in South Korea, is far in the future. It also may well be the case that Chinese society exercises the “Japan Option” and opts for material comfort with the minimum of spiritual growth.*
Religion is a sensitive subject, but since this also relates to foreign affairs and policy, I would appreciate reading the opinions/observations of others. In the interest of full disclosure, I make no bones about the fact that I am myself a Christian, and that obviously colors my prayers and hopes for China’s future.
* Anyone interested in a glimpse at the spiritual state of modern Japan is encouraged to read the humanist writer Natsume Soseki along with the great Catholic writer Endo Shusaku.
CNN:
“Rove’s Right Hand”
Sara Taylor, 30, is the youngest White House political director ever. The pollster played a major role in both Bush presidential victories and is now poised to have a hand in a variety of major Senate and gubernatorial races in 2006. She began her political career as a toddler, helping her dad, Ray Taylor, a former Iowa state representative.
“The Internationalist”Jeremy Rosner may become famous for advising not only domestic politicans, but international ones. In fact, the foreign policy guru and former Clinton National Security Council staffer just helped British Prime Minister Tony Blair win a third term. “The Internationalist” has advised eight heads of state around the world and illustrates the growing globalization of political consulting.
“The Start Up”Like Rove, who helped George W. Bush defeat incumbent Texas Gov. Ann Richards in 1994, Jude Barry hopes to make his mark by knocking off a well-known governor. That’s right, Barry is trying to help California Controller Steve Westly take on the Terminator a.k.a. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. (But first they will have to beat savvy California Treasurer Phil Angelides in a Democratic primary). A Silicon Valley native, “The Start Up” joined Joe Trippi in helping Howard Dean to ride the Internet wave.
“The Hot Hand”Dick Wadhams is one of the hottest hands in GOP politics. He managed South Dakota Republican John Thune’s upset of Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle and is now captaining the ship for potential presidential candidate Sen. George Allen of Virginia. “The Hot Hand” has won major campaigns in three different states — Colorado, Montana and South Dakota — and is 6-1 in major races. The lifelong political junkie was a Republican Party county chairman at the tender age of 19.
“The Field General”Michael Whouley is perhaps the most sought after operative in Democratic politics. He famously turned around Iowa for John Kerry in 2004, and in 2000, he called Al Gore to tell him he could win Florida and to retract his concession call. That prompted the recount. “The Field General” is notoriously publicity shy — we’re not even showing his picture in our gallery. Whouley got his start in local Boston politics and has since worked on five presidential campaigns.
Certain ‘bloggers in the PRC might want to lay off the K’ung-pao ji for the time being.
Pres. Chirac has basically resigned himself to defeat. In true Clintonian fashion, he makes Sunday’s referendum about “The Children”, though he also talks a fair game about national strength and pride, which was never Clinton’s strongest suit.
Chirac knows that the animating force of both the Non and Oui camps is pure nationalism, and I think the direction he goes towards the end of the interview shows he’s going to take advantage of that. Expect a slew of double-speak from him if the European Constitution fails, people in France are going to have a difficult time remembering that he had originally supported it. Also look forward to increased anti-Americanism, and since his anti-American credentials are largely unmatched, he will be able to mold this hysteria towards as yet unknown ends.
Thank God for John Wesley.
These folks may have a point, just consider “Pro-Life” Bob Casey Jr…
Jerome on the pro-life Democrat.
It reminds me of the quandry that Republicans were in over environmental issues in the early 90’s. As the pro-business party, Republicans are against regulation of business as a rule. Standing against the enviromental laws being put forward by the Democrats, Republicans were losing the debate because caring about the environment, being a steward of the earth, is a winner. So, Frank Luntz told the Republicans to say that they too were for the environment, that they too were environmentalists. The Democrats snickered, but it worked, and has served to nuetralized that issue ever since. The Democrats said, no you are not. And the Republicans replied, yes I am, I just don’t want the government to stifle economic growth through regulation.
Boom. The debate was immediately re-framed over the issue of government intrusion, and Democrats were left holding the bag– arguing that governmental regulation of the environment doesn’t deter capitalism [...]
So if a politician says I am pro-life and Democrat, lets hear them out. The Republicans will snicker and respond, no you aren’t. And if the politician responds by saying yes I am, I do not like to see abortions, but will not legislate or have the government intruding into this private decision between a woman, her family, and her doctor. That’s a politician that belongs in the Democratic Party. And boom, this is a politician that’s going to put the Republicans on the defensive.
I agree 100 percent.
The first major battle of this war over the Supreme Court is going to be over who the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is going to be after Rehnquist retires. The two options are Thomas or Scalia. I have read some of the writings of both and I think either would be a great choice. The Democrats will have a much harder time making a case against Scalia than Thomas. Scalia, a Regan appointment was approved almost unanimously by the Senate. So, which one would be best?