Featured Editorials

Welcome to Saturday's Potluck - 4-30-2022

Submitted by studentofearth on Sat, 04/30/2022 - 5:00am

“Learn the rules like a pro, so you can break them like an artist.”
Pablo Picasso

Reading biographies is one of my methods for getting a feel of a culture or time period. It helps create a deeper understanding of historical events and common cultural assumptions. In 2002 in the Beijing hotel gift shop bought The Life of Mencius by Qu Chunli written in a historical novel format. The book changed the way I perceived China. Followed up later by reading the author's book The Life of Confucius.

The American idea of China's need to "save face" to avoid conflict and maintain honor had always been presented as a weakness. The two books presented the idea, by treating an opponent with honor and respect future cooperation is possible and conflicts might be resolved peacefully. Saving face was a diplomatic tool to avoid hardening a position leading to a violent conflict. It appears China may no longer be concerning itself with the honor of United States elite.

Wang Wenbin - spokesperson of Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2:18 min)

Transcript

Open Thread 04-29-22 - Wrigley Field

Submitted by JtC on Fri, 04/29/2022 - 8:19am

I grew up and lived about 100 miles west of Chicago for most of my life. Back in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s I had the pleasure of attending many Chicago Cubs baseball games. Wrigley Field is a gorgeous baseball stadium and is one of the very few neighborhood ball parks left in the U.S. It is a sight to behold and if you've ever been there then you'd know what I mean.

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"The true definition of madness"

Submitted by snoopydawg on Thu, 04/28/2022 - 11:48pm

What the hell is a "Propaganda War?"

Submitted by fire with fire on Thu, 04/28/2022 - 1:23pm

I read from many different sources of all different persuasions that we are all engaged in a Propaganda War with Putin and, by coincidence, Russia -- as he is the Boss of that country. What on earth does that mean? How do you win a Propaganda War? How do you lose? Or do you just keep bad mouthing each other forever?

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