CHINA THEN AND NOW

I n 1998 China retook control of Hong Kong from the British. That moment was monumental as far as world financial markets were concerned, and at that time something that struck me as very significant was that China granted a fifty year option to do business as usual. Hong Kong didn’t need to change.
Fifty years that doesn’t seem possible for a country or a government to think that far ahead or make a concession that far into the future. But then China is not you average country nor is it the backward communist country you thought it was. China is a work in progress, China preps itself to become more than significant in the twenty first century financially culturally and as a voice that speaks reasonably
In a book titled ’’The Way And It’s Power” A Study Of The Tao Te Ching And It’s Place In Chinese Thought by Arthur Waley the author states,
“The rulers duty then {and every Chinese philosophy is formulated not as an abstract theory but as an art of ruling}
This is not some backward nation that needs to be put in place because of human rights violations this is a nation that needs to be better understood. China has progressed naturally and dramatically it doesn’t need any preconceived imperialist democracy it needs to keep doing what it has been doing and what is making China work as well as it does. China has earned the worlds respect. Give China the respect it deserves.
President Obama bowed to show respect to his hosts, and it is my firm belief that Chinese leaders are able to recognize substance with this President as opposed to the bumbling fool who couldn’t find the door during the last Presidential visit. A new era in Chinese American understanding is possible. No more my way or the highway, cowboy diplomacy, the real deal is now in play. Expect that President Obama is going to be as well thought of on this Asian trip as he has been every where he has gone. He is restoring Americas credibility by recognizing the traditional respect given, by bowing and being genuine.
China wonders about Americas impermanence, President Obama will only be here another seven years. Then who do they deal with, and how?

TO THE WORLD AT LARGE I SAY UNCLEANCH YOUR FIST

I am not an American so I see what you see. Sincerity, common sense, integrity, and on the world stage Diplomacy has now been restored. America now extends its hand in friendship to the world. The Obama administration has done more in 100 days than GWB was able to destroy in eight years. George tried hard but failed.
I believe Hugo Chavez said the stench has left this room, would you care to read this book which speaks to my concerns? And your leader said thank you Sir I would be delighted. Today I saw Fidel Castro with some female American politician and Fidel was wearing an American lapel pin. THIS IS PROGRESS.
Cowboy bullshit politics are over for good, the real deal is in play and it is working. The American people made a good choice when it overwhelmingly elected President Obama. Nothing less than the world depended on it. Now I would like to see that hand extended in another direction, Al Qaeda. Time Out. Let’s talk. Would that make sense?
The president of the United States of America can talk to whoever he wants and it is not wrong. The president must not torture the American people by failing to right the International wrongs of the Bush administration. The war in Iraq pissed of a whole lot of people in the Middle East no wonder they do what is necessary to preserve their culture heritage and lives in the face of Americas failed Imperialist attempt.
America will never give up the big stick, it will continue with a carrot and stick approach on some occasions, but to the world at large I say this The Obama administration is listening, and a new agenda has been set and that agenda is in the worlds best interest.

Make Pirates into Revenuers!!

Forgive me if I am wrong but Somalia is an impoverished nation is it not? Today in Washington General Petrais suggested that ships traveling the area have armed guards. Now that would be military mans response.
Did you know that this impoverished country has had European biological waste wash up on its shores? Did you know that people were getting sick because of it? Were you aware of the fact that the fisheries this country has always depended on are gone?
Somalia has the right to monitor the passage of ships through waters that affect her. PIRACY is not the way. The knee jerk media response to these acts certainly attract viewers but do not inform them about why piracy is needed, Somalia is a cry for help
I don’t know where pirate money goes, but if it were to go to the public coffers I would suggest a government sponsored safe passage tariff to get through this troubled areas waters.
A fee is not inappropriate considering the alternative cost of a retinue of armed guards, or interrupted journeys and huge ransoms. And diplomatically while we are engaging with Somalia perhaps help could be given in finding out just who in the hell is responsible for the toxic waste dumping.
A more compassionate response must be available from America than military might, warships, and snipers I would hope that as we read this someone is working diplomatically for a solution.