What is the Timeless Way?

The Timeless Way is an American interpretation of Confucianism. As soon as we look at Confucianism through American eyes and start applying Confucianism within American society, we begin to differ from classical Confucianism.

One example of American Confucianism differing from classical Confucianism would be an American Confucian aspiring to join the ruling class rather than serve the ruling class.

In ancient China, Confucians worked to become ministers or administrators in service to the Emperor. In America we can run for office and become the leader instead of the administrator.

As a practical example, instead of going to School Board meetings and trying to persuade the School Board to correct its errors I ran for a seat on the School Board. I have not won a seat yet, but I expect to win in the future.

Wm. Theodore de Bary wrote a book, The Trouble with Confucianism, where he considered why Confucianism did not make more of a positive impact in Chinese leadership. One thought he had, if I remember the book correctly, is that Confucians were never the leaders.

In America a Confucian can become a political leader. It would be good for America if some leaders were Confucians. We might then make headway in reducing our leadership crisis.

Robert

America is Slipping into the Third World

Rod Dreher had a column in the Sunday, June, 17, 2007 Dallas Morning News entitled, "Stranded on Delta." He described being stuck on his plane for 5 hours while it sat on the runway.

Can you believe this happens in America? Isn't this what happens in poor Third World countries? Isn't this what you would expect in Mexico or Russia? How can this be?

I believe the incompetence and corruption of our leaders is pushing America into the Third World.

We have to insist on better leadership if we want our children to grow up in the America that was able to put a man on the moon. The Timeless Way, American Confucianism, can help us develop competent, ethical leaders.

Robert

"Heck of A Job" by Rod Dreher

Rod Dreher's column, "Heck of a Job", in the Sunday 6/10/07 Dallas Morning News did a wonderful job of addressing the incompetence of our current leadership.

I have been discussing our leadership crisis, and Mr. Dreher was good enough to say Paul Wolfowitz was incompetent and Dick Cheney and Condi Rice are failures with Iraq. He described their performance as incompetent hackery and he called this administration a "hackocracy." I recommend his article for your consideration.

Americans need to discuss the failings of our leaders and to demand better performance.

I mentioned this also in my blog, Education for the 21st Century.

The Timeless Way is an American interpretation of Confucianism, which has a lot to say about leadership.

Good leadership is a moral issue.

Robert