(picture from the Atlantic China channel)<\/p>\n
No, not the rise of China and the relative decline of the US, but world powers rise and fall over the course of history. \u00a0No big story there. \u00a0This gradual change just happens to be underway in our lifetime.<\/p>\n
He says, and I agree, that China is no Soviet Union. \u00a0That is, they are not set on world domination. \u00a0What they want is their place in the world, one in accord with their size, economy and long history. \u00a0And, they will get it.<\/p>\n
This is a key point. \u00a0With or without a sensible US policy China’s rise is certain. \u00a0What we can do is manage our reaction to it and help to guide both China and the world as a whole toward amicable relations in trade and political discourse. \u00a0Yew makes these points much better than I can.<\/p>\n
What I want to add is this. \u00a0Even in a state of relative decline the US will still be formidable from a military, economic, innovation and educational perspective. \u00a0None of these are trivial. \u00a0And we have come to this position of prominence with a history of barely 400 years, much less if you count from our war of independence. \u00a0After less than 300 years as a nation we can stand face to face with a civilization with 4,000 years of history. \u00a0That is no mean achievement and its reality will not fade as time goes on.<\/p>\n
We have been privileged by geography, natural resources, immigrant vigor and by a culture developed on Enlightenment principles of equality and personal freedom. \u00a0As Yew also accurately points out though, these Enlightenment principles are time and culture bound. \u00a0They are not universal. \u00a0It is no more appropriate to think that democracy and individualism should<\/span>\u00a0be adopted by other countries than it is to think that Christianity should be accepted as a universal religion.<\/p>\n Perhaps the biggest barrier to understanding between our two cultures can by symbolized Should we become culturally different? \u00a0No. \u00a0Should we recognize that others, like the Chinese, might feel the same way? \u00a0Yes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Imbolc \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Valentine Moon Here’s a link to a new service by the Atlantic, a China channel. \u00a0If you follow this link and read … Continue reading Here They Come!<\/span> ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ancientrails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/leaf-tea-bowl.jpg\" "\\"leaf")
<\/a>by our financial systems emphasis on share holder value rated by corporate performance in quarterly increments versus China’s willingness to build their military over several decades. \u00a0We are a sound byte people, addicted to the moment and often ahistorical. \u00a0To thrive in a cultural clash with a competitor that has decades and centuries in its vision we must adopt longer term time horizons and realize that ethnocentrism, which was never appropriate as a guide for national policy, may become downright dangerous.<\/p>\n