Wild, rambling, free association of thoughts on a mystery called Barak Obama
BO fascinates me, not because he is the President. (Figures of authority never awe me, especially if they are mediocre). He captures my imagination, not because his full names contain my first name twice. He holds me in thrall simply because of his sensitivity. He has reminded me time and again that to gain respect from others, I must first show respect. Respect has to be earned, not demanded---as some simpletons absurdly insist.
Obama bows because he is sensitive and he is smart, not because he is obsequious.
Here's a man who expressed a desire to become the President when he was still in kindergarten. He studied Political Science and Law. He was smart enough to be chosen the editor of Harvard Law Review. We must deduce that he was proud of his accomplishments. We must guess that he is a proud man, but he bows to monarchs because he is smart and sensitive. He knows what the others think. (I also fancy that I know what others think, but I usually don't give a damn. I am too much of an egotist. I am socially and emotionally retarded. I "do things my way", to borrow a juvenile parlance being bandied around lately).
However, he didn't bow to greed. He didn't go for highly-paid jobs that a person with his resume' could command. He became a community organizer. He had vision.
I always wondered how a freshman Senator could capture the hearts and minds of many of his colleagues so they would support him when he decided to run for the Presidency. There must be something in the way he interacted with them, something I sorely lack.
Any lingering doubt of mine about Obama's intelligence vanished when he offered Hillary Clinton the plum job of Secretary of State. It was a stroke of genius and spoke volumes about the man.
Watching the man speaking on TV while he was campaigning. I could discern the mind and the personality behind the words he chose and the delivery of those words. He came across poised, thoughtful, and respecful of others. I was impressed. Michelle must have been also since she married him although he was younger than her.
Some right wing commentators are going nuts over Obama's penchant for bowing. They opined that as a representative of the American people, Obama should not bow to anybody since Americans don't bow. Those right wingers must have a short memory. American people, like most people, bow to greed, hypocrisy (lecturing others about human rights, but violating rights of minorities and the poor in the past, and rights of detainees in the present), and dishonor (betrayal of one-time allies such as Diem, Noriega, and Saddam).
I hope Obama will bow to reality, to justice, and to American interests. I hope Obama will vigorously help Vietnam in the upcoming confrontattiom between Vietnam and China in the East Sea.
wissai
nov. 16, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Chinese Empire
Empires come and go throughout human history. Everyboby knows that. Most past empires are now second rate, even third rate powers. Even a cursory reading of a single world history textbook would bring this fact to the fore. There is no need for me to mention names of all empires that succumbed to decay and collapse.
What I would like to briefly discuss tonight is that inherent size matters. In the past, empire rose through conquests, but the original country and the people lived there was small in size and number. Although subsequent conquests of neighboring and occasionally far- flung lands expanded the territory, conquered peoples were not assimilated even if the language (Latin, Arabic, English, French, Russian. I don't know much about the case of the Aztecs, the Mayas, and the Incas, so I can't comment) was widely diffused. As a result, when the empire collapsed, conquered peoples regained independence or were part of another emerging empire.
Empires collapsed because of over-extension and lack of money for maintenance due to constant imperial wars. Spain was powerful only for two centurires (16th and 17th) thanks to mineral riches from America, but by 18th century she was exhausted due to Counter-Reformation ventures. Turkey was called a sick man in Europe in 20th century. When WWI ended, she lost all her colonies. Two world wars finished Britain. France, and Germany as empires. In their place, USSR and USA emerged as superpowers, code name for empires. Ineptitude and lack of money shrank the Russian empire. It looks now USA is following her on the decline because of decay, wasteful spending, and heavy indebtedness, Money is the blood and the engine to hold an empire together.
The sick man of Asia in 19th century and the first half of 20th century is now very vigorous. China has been an empire that may prove to be an exception to the rule of impermanence. Her land of origin was big ( north of Yangtze River) to begin with. She has vast natural resources and she has been wildly successful in assimilating conquered peoples. Though the conquered peoples south of Yangtze River still speak their own mutually unintelligible languages which in turn are different from Mandarin, they have "learned" to regard themselves as Chinese through the imposition of written language system and culture from the North. When China was ruled by foreigners ( Mongols and Manchus), she managed to assimilate the conquerors as well because of her numerical superiority and the superiority of her culture.
China is now prosperous, unified, and confident. Naturally she is now resuming the task of expanding her empire. Her target is of course Vietnam, her former colony, and her tributary state since 939 C.E until the French conquered Vietnam by 1884.The invasion is already taking place. Skirmishes have been fought and Vietnam is already losing and has ceded land at the border, most of the Gulf of Tonkin, all of Paracel Islands, and most of Spratly Islands. On top of that Chinese enclaves have been established in Vietnam, off limits even to the local authorities. Not satisfied,some Chinese generals have openly talked about conquering the whole Vietnam. A Vietnamese in Vietnam, who is fluent in Chinese told anh HC via an email that the propaganda machine in China has spread lies about the Vietnamese fishermen, accusing them of violating Chinese territory and stealing fish and sea products that belong to China. As a consequence, the Chinese are eager to teach us "a lesson".
In life, there are trends and patterns. Also, historical forces tend to march on relentlssly. Vietnam is small, weak, disunited internally, exhausted from centuries of civil wars, ruled by an inept, corrupt regime, and thus is a tempting prey for China.Just because we have managed to avoid assimilation until now, that does not mean we can do again this time if we don't prepare ourselves for the struggle which is already under way. Vietnam's Intelligence Agency (Cuc 2) is infiltrated by China. It has accused Vo Van Kiet and now Vo Nguyen Giap of working for the CIA. Dissidents who voiced opposition to China were arrested and imprisoned. Yet more and more domestic Vietnamese intellectuals bravely defy the VCP, demanding it face the China question. These intellectuals risk their lives, their freedom, the well- being of their loved ones because they love Vietnam, because they want to carry out their responsibiliy as the leaders, the engine of change for the survival of our country, our race.
Nobody, no country will fight the fight for us. Countries like the U.S., India, and Australia will only help us if they see we are willing to fight for our freedom, our dignity, our survival.
Overseas Vietnamese intellectuals who live in comfort and safety, please join your brethren at home in the fight, and let them know they are not alone. Write to them. Write to the worldand let the world know China is a threat and a menace to world peace and she must be stopped before she becomes another Fascist Japan of yore.
We all have to die some day. While we are alive, we need to live in a manner that renders our lives meaningful. We can do that by showing to the Chinese we are true descendants of Ngo Quyen, Ly Thuong Kiet, Tran Hung Dao, Le Loi, and Nguyen Hue. We need to show them we are NOT the offspring of Tran Ich Tac, Le Chieu Thong, and Ho Chi Minh.
Viet Nam Muon Nam!
Wissai
Nov. 16, 2009
What I would like to briefly discuss tonight is that inherent size matters. In the past, empire rose through conquests, but the original country and the people lived there was small in size and number. Although subsequent conquests of neighboring and occasionally far- flung lands expanded the territory, conquered peoples were not assimilated even if the language (Latin, Arabic, English, French, Russian. I don't know much about the case of the Aztecs, the Mayas, and the Incas, so I can't comment) was widely diffused. As a result, when the empire collapsed, conquered peoples regained independence or were part of another emerging empire.
Empires collapsed because of over-extension and lack of money for maintenance due to constant imperial wars. Spain was powerful only for two centurires (16th and 17th) thanks to mineral riches from America, but by 18th century she was exhausted due to Counter-Reformation ventures. Turkey was called a sick man in Europe in 20th century. When WWI ended, she lost all her colonies. Two world wars finished Britain. France, and Germany as empires. In their place, USSR and USA emerged as superpowers, code name for empires. Ineptitude and lack of money shrank the Russian empire. It looks now USA is following her on the decline because of decay, wasteful spending, and heavy indebtedness, Money is the blood and the engine to hold an empire together.
The sick man of Asia in 19th century and the first half of 20th century is now very vigorous. China has been an empire that may prove to be an exception to the rule of impermanence. Her land of origin was big ( north of Yangtze River) to begin with. She has vast natural resources and she has been wildly successful in assimilating conquered peoples. Though the conquered peoples south of Yangtze River still speak their own mutually unintelligible languages which in turn are different from Mandarin, they have "learned" to regard themselves as Chinese through the imposition of written language system and culture from the North. When China was ruled by foreigners ( Mongols and Manchus), she managed to assimilate the conquerors as well because of her numerical superiority and the superiority of her culture.
China is now prosperous, unified, and confident. Naturally she is now resuming the task of expanding her empire. Her target is of course Vietnam, her former colony, and her tributary state since 939 C.E until the French conquered Vietnam by 1884.The invasion is already taking place. Skirmishes have been fought and Vietnam is already losing and has ceded land at the border, most of the Gulf of Tonkin, all of Paracel Islands, and most of Spratly Islands. On top of that Chinese enclaves have been established in Vietnam, off limits even to the local authorities. Not satisfied,some Chinese generals have openly talked about conquering the whole Vietnam. A Vietnamese in Vietnam, who is fluent in Chinese told anh HC via an email that the propaganda machine in China has spread lies about the Vietnamese fishermen, accusing them of violating Chinese territory and stealing fish and sea products that belong to China. As a consequence, the Chinese are eager to teach us "a lesson".
In life, there are trends and patterns. Also, historical forces tend to march on relentlssly. Vietnam is small, weak, disunited internally, exhausted from centuries of civil wars, ruled by an inept, corrupt regime, and thus is a tempting prey for China.Just because we have managed to avoid assimilation until now, that does not mean we can do again this time if we don't prepare ourselves for the struggle which is already under way. Vietnam's Intelligence Agency (Cuc 2) is infiltrated by China. It has accused Vo Van Kiet and now Vo Nguyen Giap of working for the CIA. Dissidents who voiced opposition to China were arrested and imprisoned. Yet more and more domestic Vietnamese intellectuals bravely defy the VCP, demanding it face the China question. These intellectuals risk their lives, their freedom, the well- being of their loved ones because they love Vietnam, because they want to carry out their responsibiliy as the leaders, the engine of change for the survival of our country, our race.
Nobody, no country will fight the fight for us. Countries like the U.S., India, and Australia will only help us if they see we are willing to fight for our freedom, our dignity, our survival.
Overseas Vietnamese intellectuals who live in comfort and safety, please join your brethren at home in the fight, and let them know they are not alone. Write to them. Write to the worldand let the world know China is a threat and a menace to world peace and she must be stopped before she becomes another Fascist Japan of yore.
We all have to die some day. While we are alive, we need to live in a manner that renders our lives meaningful. We can do that by showing to the Chinese we are true descendants of Ngo Quyen, Ly Thuong Kiet, Tran Hung Dao, Le Loi, and Nguyen Hue. We need to show them we are NOT the offspring of Tran Ich Tac, Le Chieu Thong, and Ho Chi Minh.
Viet Nam Muon Nam!
Wissai
Nov. 16, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Visualizations, Insights, and Convictions
It could be the flowering of the intellect after years of absorption of facts and knowledge. The flowering manifested itself in a keen and cogent analysis of pertinent facts and a synthesis of the facts to get at a theoretical framework, a narrative to explain the facts. It could be an explosion of the mind before it completely disintegrates just as what happened to Nietzsche's mind prior to his going completely insane.
Somebody asked about visualization today. You gave him a succinct answer. You failed to disclose that you have been preoccupied with the issue of visualization all your life. All big accomplishments from humans came from visualizations, insights, and convictions. It ranged from a master archer visualized his arrow flying through the air and he was riding with the arrow and together he and the arrow hit, embrace, and being one with the target. He lived with the arrow, the bow, and the target. All his waking moments were consumed with the visualizatiuon. It came to various stories about religious figures supremely feeling that they were the ones who could bring understanding and answer to the big questions to their fellow men. It was part of the lore of scientists and artists who had the convictions that they possessed the talent, the wherewithal to realize their undying dream, the dream that kept awake at night.
Visualization, if proper channelled, can open doors to wonders and discoveries of the anwsers to the unknown, the seeming mysteries of life, of the universe.
wissai
nov. 20, 2009
Somebody asked about visualization today. You gave him a succinct answer. You failed to disclose that you have been preoccupied with the issue of visualization all your life. All big accomplishments from humans came from visualizations, insights, and convictions. It ranged from a master archer visualized his arrow flying through the air and he was riding with the arrow and together he and the arrow hit, embrace, and being one with the target. He lived with the arrow, the bow, and the target. All his waking moments were consumed with the visualizatiuon. It came to various stories about religious figures supremely feeling that they were the ones who could bring understanding and answer to the big questions to their fellow men. It was part of the lore of scientists and artists who had the convictions that they possessed the talent, the wherewithal to realize their undying dream, the dream that kept awake at night.
Visualization, if proper channelled, can open doors to wonders and discoveries of the anwsers to the unknown, the seeming mysteries of life, of the universe.
wissai
nov. 20, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Five Factors That Lead to Social Decay
Five Factors That Can Lead To Social Decay
Sometime ago, U2 made a perceptive remark along the line that a person's views on life can be affected by certain books he has read ( I quoted from memory). That remark has stayed with me since I agreed with it.
A person's education is largely shaped by what he has been exposed and digested. We learn mostly by reading. A person who reads serious, informative, thought-provoking materials tends to develop an appreciation for knowledge and truth and can distinguish cant from reality. Education is a lifelong process. Thus, a person who maintains an intellectual curiosity and a thirst for knowledge is likely to surpass one who wrongly thinks that education stopped on the day he received a diploma in his hands.
The above paragraph serves as a lead-in to the five factors that Jared Diamond, a man with many intersts, has listed in his latest book and now are referenced in a book which brought together in sharp focus things I have hazily and lazily thought of. I am listing the factors here so we can see how the upcoming collapse of Vietnam can come about and maybe those who still care about the distant land where we grew up and used to call it home, will do something to avert the collapse which leads directly to the disappearance of that land as a sovereign nation
1. A failure to understand and to prevent causes of environmental damage.
2. Climate change.
3. DEPREDATIONS BY HOSTILE NEIGHBORS.
4. The inability of friendly neighbors to continue trade.
5. How society itself deals with problems raised by the first four factors. A common failing involved in this factor is the dislocation between the short-term interests of elites and the longer-term interests of the society the elites dominate and exploit (read: in Vietnam, the VCP does not give a damn about the well- being of the general public. The VCP only cares to hold on to power so it can amass wealth and then passes on the power and wealth to their children. A new, perverted form of monarchy and its new class of mandarins called dang vien).
wissai
Sometime ago, U2 made a perceptive remark along the line that a person's views on life can be affected by certain books he has read ( I quoted from memory). That remark has stayed with me since I agreed with it.
A person's education is largely shaped by what he has been exposed and digested. We learn mostly by reading. A person who reads serious, informative, thought-provoking materials tends to develop an appreciation for knowledge and truth and can distinguish cant from reality. Education is a lifelong process. Thus, a person who maintains an intellectual curiosity and a thirst for knowledge is likely to surpass one who wrongly thinks that education stopped on the day he received a diploma in his hands.
The above paragraph serves as a lead-in to the five factors that Jared Diamond, a man with many intersts, has listed in his latest book and now are referenced in a book which brought together in sharp focus things I have hazily and lazily thought of. I am listing the factors here so we can see how the upcoming collapse of Vietnam can come about and maybe those who still care about the distant land where we grew up and used to call it home, will do something to avert the collapse which leads directly to the disappearance of that land as a sovereign nation
1. A failure to understand and to prevent causes of environmental damage.
2. Climate change.
3. DEPREDATIONS BY HOSTILE NEIGHBORS.
4. The inability of friendly neighbors to continue trade.
5. How society itself deals with problems raised by the first four factors. A common failing involved in this factor is the dislocation between the short-term interests of elites and the longer-term interests of the society the elites dominate and exploit (read: in Vietnam, the VCP does not give a damn about the well- being of the general public. The VCP only cares to hold on to power so it can amass wealth and then passes on the power and wealth to their children. A new, perverted form of monarchy and its new class of mandarins called dang vien).
wissai
Love for Vietnam
Love for Vietnam
A stirring quote, largely modified. The power of language. Language is nothing but thought articulated. Powerful thought demands expression in perfect clarity. When that happens, magic occurs and transformation takes place.
"The power of love is always stronger than the power of selfishness. It cannot be suppressed.
It is about sacrifice for the others, for our fellow countrymen who share the same tongue, the same songs and poems, the same history of triumphs and sorrows.
It is about honoring the sacred, preserving the heritage we have inherited from our forefathers.
Blind and relentless and persistent, love constantly is here to remind us that Vietnam is real, and not just a distant memory.
Vietnam will endure because most Vietnamese love Vietnam and will fight and die for it, just like our forefathers did."
wissai
nov. 12, 2009
A stirring quote, largely modified. The power of language. Language is nothing but thought articulated. Powerful thought demands expression in perfect clarity. When that happens, magic occurs and transformation takes place.
"The power of love is always stronger than the power of selfishness. It cannot be suppressed.
It is about sacrifice for the others, for our fellow countrymen who share the same tongue, the same songs and poems, the same history of triumphs and sorrows.
It is about honoring the sacred, preserving the heritage we have inherited from our forefathers.
Blind and relentless and persistent, love constantly is here to remind us that Vietnam is real, and not just a distant memory.
Vietnam will endure because most Vietnamese love Vietnam and will fight and die for it, just like our forefathers did."
wissai
nov. 12, 2009
On Fools and Sages, Cowards and Heroes
Fools and Sages, Cowards and Heroes, Below and Above.
I always maintain that the below is unable, incapable, ill-equipped to comprehend the above while the above understands the below.
Likewise, cowards cannot understand why people willingly enter into harm's way to protect the country they love, the land on which they grew up. Cowards are sub-humans. They are like animals, propelled and driven to live at all costs. They are willing to kiss ass, lick boots, and sell out their fellow countrymen so they can live. They have a slave mentality. They can never understand the meaning of the statements such as : "it's much better to die with honor than to live in infamy" , " I would rather be a demon in the land of the South than to be a king in the land of the North", and "Today is a beautiful day to die." (Sitting Bull).
Likewise, fools are only capaple of thinking that when a person posts his views in the Internet, that person is looking for praise and approval. Fools always suffer from self-projections. They can never comprehend that a person writes because he follows the universal human desire for self-expression and sharing, and not necessarily coveting flimsy praises. Fools of course are beside themselves when a writer analyzes himself and touches upon his own strengths and foibles. With their puny minds, fools think the writer engages in self-praise. I suppose fools have never read any of Nietzsche's writings although they occasionally quote Nietzsche. Nietzsche spoke highly of himself all the time, but that did not mean he was a mere blowhard. The guy just had a lot of self-confidence and was not shy in thinking out loud of what he thought of himself.
Today a fourth grade teacher's blast of Obama over his apology to the Muslims was posted on the Internet. Obama was way too smart for the teacher to understand him. The below can't understand the above. That is why the teacher teaches at fourth grade level. That is why Obama taught constitutional law at University of Chicago and moved on to become the President of the United States.
A man wants to sing his own songs. A dog likes to bark to get attention and to assert itself. A parrot loves to repeat what othes say.
Fools are like dogs and parrots.
wissai
nov. 12, 2009
I always maintain that the below is unable, incapable, ill-equipped to comprehend the above while the above understands the below.
Likewise, cowards cannot understand why people willingly enter into harm's way to protect the country they love, the land on which they grew up. Cowards are sub-humans. They are like animals, propelled and driven to live at all costs. They are willing to kiss ass, lick boots, and sell out their fellow countrymen so they can live. They have a slave mentality. They can never understand the meaning of the statements such as : "it's much better to die with honor than to live in infamy" , " I would rather be a demon in the land of the South than to be a king in the land of the North", and "Today is a beautiful day to die." (Sitting Bull).
Likewise, fools are only capaple of thinking that when a person posts his views in the Internet, that person is looking for praise and approval. Fools always suffer from self-projections. They can never comprehend that a person writes because he follows the universal human desire for self-expression and sharing, and not necessarily coveting flimsy praises. Fools of course are beside themselves when a writer analyzes himself and touches upon his own strengths and foibles. With their puny minds, fools think the writer engages in self-praise. I suppose fools have never read any of Nietzsche's writings although they occasionally quote Nietzsche. Nietzsche spoke highly of himself all the time, but that did not mean he was a mere blowhard. The guy just had a lot of self-confidence and was not shy in thinking out loud of what he thought of himself.
Today a fourth grade teacher's blast of Obama over his apology to the Muslims was posted on the Internet. Obama was way too smart for the teacher to understand him. The below can't understand the above. That is why the teacher teaches at fourth grade level. That is why Obama taught constitutional law at University of Chicago and moved on to become the President of the United States.
A man wants to sing his own songs. A dog likes to bark to get attention and to assert itself. A parrot loves to repeat what othes say.
Fools are like dogs and parrots.
wissai
nov. 12, 2009
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