Friends, DJT has been visiting the PRC, and while no sea change in U.S.-China relations can be expected, he was respectfully received, and he offered courtly courtesy in exchange. It seems that neither the U.S. nor China are in a mood to be belligerent, albeit for different reasons. I personally have no problem with that. President Xi is right: China's well-being, and America's, need not be contradictory in any way. The gradual decoupling of our two nations, in terms of trade, is healthy, I feel. It's not that we won't trade with China, but we shouldn't be utterly reliant on them for critical technology, and nor should we tolerate a massive and ever increasing trade deficit with Red China. Meanwhile, our exploits against Iran may not be impressing CNN or the Europeans, but you can bet your bottom yuan that the Chinese have taken note of our vast military superiority and have drawn the appropriate conclusions. One such conclusion: when Generalissimo Trump comes to town, it's probably best to roll out the red carpet and offer him praise and even some tokens of affection. Buying 200 Boeing jets, for instance, is a nice gesture. All in all, it would seem that Sino-American relations are, for the moment, in a fairly good place.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxp0g4q3q2o
Dr. Waddy from Jack: That's good news. Fox said today China will be buying crude oil from us. That is bad news for beleagured Iran and may help to convince them they can't win.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the well being of both countries need not be contradictory. But I would suggest two probably not imminent caveats: I think China's first priority always is guaranteeing China's national security and integrity. What does China think necessary in order to assure it? If it sees an American threat to its national security it may contradict us in some more intense way than devoting their continuing military buildup to the possibility of confronting us. China does believe its national integrity is incomplete without Taiwan and if it thinks us implacably resolved to defend Taiwan then it may at some point decisively conflict with us .
But yes; I think a good working relationship with this terribly important country is to both country's distinct advantages.
Dr. Waddy from Jack: DJT continues to be a very favorable exemplar for the suitability of a business leader going directly to the White House.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing that the experience of the high stakes world of NYC finance, construction and real estate weeds out the overly sensitive. I'll bet that , in order to thrive in that setting, one must be able to " get along" with people who they might otherwise never consider associating with. A guarded "respect' and an ability to work courteous intercourse with those who necessity bids them deal with, is probably sine qua non ("without which nothing ")for a successful business player. Backbone , perseverance and iron resolve are no doubt also vital. Our President displays such strengths in abundance.
An interviewer asked President Trump if he realized that Xi Jin Ping is a dictator. He replied to this effect "I don't think about that ; I just want to be able to negotiate with him." He also said he gets along fine with N. Korean leader Kim Jong Un; KIm is a very unsavory person but our President recognizes the onerous duty he has in negotiating with him to our country's advantage.
Its said that Slick Willy Clinton wistfully yearns to be liked. (Aww). I think that President Trump has , from his business experience, developed an ability to work with a variety of people and not become overly concerned about whether they like him or not other than for objective and practical reasons. This is not to suggest he is a wimp or that he shrinks from giving those who wrong him their comeuppance. He's a proven hombre and a"Happy Warrior" .
I think his business derived skills stand him in very good stead as President. It suggests that America would benefit greatly from giving serious consideration to other business leaders for national leadership. Eg. Vivek Ramamaswamy should he serve as Ohio's Governor.
Dr. Waddy from Jack: Another strong recommendation for business leaders for national office is that they drive the doctrinally and emotionally captured "American" far left into paroxysms of frantic and reckless antipathy. Free enterprise and consequent prosperity is to these radicals unforgivable anathema and deserving of unrelentingly vicious attack "by any means necessary" upon its exemplars. They have directed unprecedented castigation and personal prosecution toward Donald Trump and what has it availed them? He has been empowered to work upon them contemptuous and deeply damaging policy which subjects their Marxist dreams to deserved and unapologetic resistance.
ReplyDeleteVivek Ramaswamy rather. Jack
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy from Jack: Its worth noting again; China is especially sensitive about its national security and integrity because of the intense tragedy of their history from about 1820 to about 2000 because of foreign incursion and the chaotic disorder it manifested. I think its always best to have that in mind when considering Chinese foreign policy. It does not justify automatic countenance but it is , I think, an objective reality.
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy from Jack: Oh my, some very "sensitive" California Congressman ( of course) is much offended by President Trump's "presumptuous" efforts ( even, GASP, to use public property to do so)to honor the essential Christian nature of our culture.His protests are exemplary of the blind, apologetic and anti American attitude of his DSA/Dem comrades.
ReplyDeleteI would ask him: what substantial buildings are we guaranteed to find in most US small towns and every few city blocks? Why, schools and Christian churches . Those who built them did not reckon with the reflexively iconoclastic convictions of far leftists; they just went ahead and did it because, well, they knew most people wanted them to. The history of the 20th century tends to affirm that the far left is contemptuous of what most people want. They want what THEY want because it is "unchallengably true and just "and they think themselves justified in forcing it on an "ignorant" America. But gee, I think we have seen the catastrophic consequences of the forced application of that view on untold millions of unfortunates.
Well of course we are a Christian nation! That's just common sense . And because that religion has undergone a Reformation and an Enlightenment it has renounced many of the sharp edges it manifested before . Consequently, our Christian nation welcomes most other religions as long as they don't seek to force themselves on us.
The "American"far left chooses to interpret the 1st Amendment as mandating an absolute prevention of any religious belief having any influence on public policy and administration. That is absurd . The Amendment simply proscribes the forceful establishment of a national religion.
"American" radicals know that Christianity and its Jewish fount comprise the moral foundation of our democracy. Since they are devoted to destroying our country, naturally they seek to decisively undermine it. Again its just common sense and our President exemplifies using it to disempower the America haters.
". . . an official national religion. " Jack
ReplyDeleteJack, I'd say the MAIN caveat to continued good relations between the U.S. and China is mutual prosperity. Fat and happy nations don't go to war with each other, generally speaking. Desperate and destabilized nations, on the other hand, can be unpredictable, to say the least.
ReplyDeleteJack, DJT is certainly a canny enough businessman (and diplomat) to know a lost cause when he sees one. Picking a fight with China, on China's turf, would be breathtakingly stupid, and that he ain't!
Jack, I too look forward to a celebration of our nation's 250th birthday that acknowledges the centrality of the Christian faith to its founding and its progress. So everyone isn't Christian? No kidding! Everyone isn't black either, but would the lefties ever suggest that, for that reason, we should stifle our praise of black people or black culture? Heck, no! Christianity is part of the fabric of America. There's nothing wrong with admitting it.
RAY TO DR. WADDY
DeleteThe Christian faith/religion may have been central to the founding of The U.S. at one time, but it is now warmed-over Christianity, with way too many denominations, many of which I would describe as dingbat.
In any event, and in my opinion, I think the U.S. is now mainly pagan. A good source in describing this is David Cloud on his "Way of Life Literature". Cloud may be a fundamentalist Baptist, but I think he has nailed down what Christianity should be, and once was.
RAY TO DR. WADDY
DeleteOne thing for sure, the Christianity that is being practiced now in the U.S., in the majority of Protestant churches, is not the same as even 50 years ago. Sermons are of low importance, especially those about sin, and the priorities are Contemporary "Christian" Music, child care, coffee bars, and enough parking. Hardly the pioneers crossing The Great Plains.
Dr. Waddy from Jack: It makes a lot of sense that China's leadership may see Chinese prosperity as the key to China's stability, power and consequent security from foreign domination. I think that whatever they see as the key is what they will do and enabling prosperity may well be it. And given China's historically recent destitution and the subsequent curse of Maoism which extended its agony until China went back to being essential, powerfully entreprenurial China , material well being is an incalculable benefit. And of course, well managed trade between our two massive economic engines is exceptionally important in ensuring that for both nations. Again, I'm glad we have a canny businessman in the White House
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy from Jack: It can be argued though that France, Great Britain and Germany , all relatively prosperous , went to war in 1914.
ReplyDeleteI thought China might see interdiction of its Iranian oil supply as an unbearable security threat, especially given the importance it places on its Indian Ocean commerce; it appears it has not. One would think China would not wish to patronize ever burgeoning US oil abundance but it may well be willing. Some concern has been expressed about a clash of US - China interests in the Arctic but perhaps it cannot out do continuing Chinese prosperity as China's main strategic concern in assuring to itself its security and honor.
Ray from Jack: I have read the statement of Faith in David Cloud's Way of Life Literature . It appears to me to endorse very early and fundamental Christian views and decry later variations. The reason I am interested in that is because my brother , a retired Methodist Minister , told me that one of the most important reasons he became one was because of the early history of the Church and Church's survival through that history . That has excited my interest in that history.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this with me.
DeleteSpeaking of Methodists (your brother in this case), I'm sure you know that the United Methodists split up, and the more conservative part is now the Global Methodist Church. A perfect example of how liberals "infiltrated" the UMC over the decades. Another example is Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and so on it goes.
I meant to reply Ray to Jack.
DeleteRay from Jack: I recently read Charles Murray's Taking Religion Seriously. It cited several beliefs I have concerning the Christian religion . Eg. : the striking similarity between the Creation description in the Book of Genesis and the Big Bang Theory. I don't read the works of atheists because I rank them along with those who hold that 2+2=5. I simply cannot see how anyone can REASONABLY deny the existence of a guiding intelligence and omnipotence which is beyond human comprehension, in whatever the "universe" is. But that is only my much straitened mind speaking. I should and will read more of what the intellectually sound among them have to say.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you know that Murray is a social scientist ( eg. author of the Bell Curve and many more works which manifest common sense and empirically supported assertions which reflexively incense doctrinaire and emotionally captured far leftists). But Taking Religion Seriously is a description of his developing belief in the veracity of the Scriptures.He supports his views with citations to many creditable , empirically supported and well reasoned historical and interpretive works. He has done the research for the reader and has applied to it the principled and objective reasoning which graces his books of social commentary. It is a description of the progress of an 80 some year old lifelong intellectual to an , at times qualified , belief in the key concepts of Christianity. I found in it much that supported what I believe.
Ray from Jack: I am aware of the Methodist schism ; it makes sense that the denominations you listed would be similarly effected . 10 years ago I deliberately took the 2 lanes across N. Carolina on my way to Texas. It was a weekday and I was astounded by the proliferation of Gospel radio programs I found. I knew I was in the Bible Belt but it still amazed me. I don't think left inclined views would be received well there.
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of respect and admiration for fundamentalist Christian churches. That is in large part because I cherish rural America.
RAY TO JACK
DeleteI too cherish rural America for many reasons I will not go into here, but I'm with you all the way on that. Speaking on fundamentalist Christian churches, and since you are aware of David Cloud, you might want to check him out more. I have been reading him for years, and he seems to be a sincere good writer and researcher. I always like his Friday Church News Notes. The man is of course an independent, fundamentalist Baptist to the very core. He has written a lot about Contemporary Christian Music, and seems to know the subject
very well. He also offers a lot of free books on various aspects of Christianity.
Ray, you are of course right that the practice of Christianity has changed enormously over the years, and it has waned, by all accounts. Be that as it may, Christ has always been pretty central to the culture of the American people, and He remains so even today, despite the changes you mentioned. You alluded, I think, to the love of mammon, which is also characteristically American, and ought to receive honorable mention at our nation's birthday. We may be greedy, selfish buggers, in many ways, but we make it work!
ReplyDeleteYes, Jack, if there's one thing that modern capitalism has taught us, it's that wealth isn't a zero-sum game. China and the U.S. can both prosper simultaneously, and neither needs to see the prosperity of the other as in any way threatening.
Jack, I should think much of the world sees the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as intolerable, in the long term, but merely annoying in the short term.
I personally think atheism is a respectable viewpoint and a plausible one too, but my main question to the atheist would always be: "Then what?" Knocking down other people's idols is great fun, I suppose, but human nature requires us to build new ones, and what is the atheist to employ as a foundation? I think we all know the answer: human arrogance and self-righteousness. If there is no God, then all that's left, of even modest transcendence, is us. A pretty depressing thought! Atheism leads to a lot of depressing thoughts, which is one of several reasons why I roundly reject it.
Dr. Waddy from Jack: I think one aspect of our love of mammon is that it protects us from the dreadful consequences of want. Maybe many who condemn our mostly freely acquisitive economy cannot understand the intensity of that fear, never having experienced it in our humanly unprecedentedly prosperous economy. Some of those who work hardest for material well being are people who HAVE experienced or witnessed true poverty. History teaches us that those who have striven most forcefully for equality of income and well being often, in power, secure for themselves "more equal" wealth. Besides , equality of outcome in human endeavor is proven utterly unreachable, even under extreme regimentation , especially by the murderously catastrophic effort to assure it which cursed the 20th century for so many unfortunates. The pursuit of one's own well being , together with well established common sense restraints against harming others , is proven the best way.
ReplyDeleteI liked the Monkees but I loathed their song Pleasant Valley Sunday. In it they casually castigated "Mr. Green , he's so serene , he has a TV in every room. . . and no one even cares!" Maybe Mr. Green sought and deserved consolation for the memory of terrors wrought him by the Depression or Nazi murderousness in his native Eastern Europe. But for those presumptuous brats , this was of no moment. Some of that kind of thinking survives among some to this day in an America still blessed by fantastic material abundance and all its many ancillary benefits
I concur! To quote Gordon Gekko, "Greed is good!" It's gotten us this far. Sure, you can take any passion to an unreasonable extreme, and material wealth shouldn't be mistaken for divinity, but there's nothing wrong with people pursuing their own self-interest, by and large.
ReplyDelete