Ancient Chinese Wisdom
One of the many hats I wear is a “chauffeur” hat. And, like all chauffeurs, I spend a lot of time waiting. Recently, I found myself waiting outside of a Chinese class. In addition to mahjong and haggling, I‘ve noticed that the Chinese greatly value education and they actively encourage study. Perhaps it is for this reason that I was offered a spot in the Beginning Chinese class, while I wait, and at no extra cost. In any case, I am now a proud student of Mandarin Chinese.
Which brings me to the subject of this post ....to your left 
is a traditional Mandarin Chinese character and it is found in Chinese words for “China,” “America,” and “United Kingdom.” Look at the character closely. Like all traditional Chinese characters, it contains a story. The rectangular frame on the outside is a boundary, or a border. The little square inside the border is land. And the vertical stroke, with two horizontal strokes and a dot? Well…that’s a sword. This character means “country,” or “kingdom.” In traditional Mandarin, a country is a sovereign piece of physical land surrounded by a border and protected by the sword.
Now, some Western Liberals, and America’s Democrat Party, would have us believe that sovereign nations can exist without “the sword." Consider the longstanding muscular pacifism of Western Europe. The “war is not the answer” crowd actively encourages the disbanding of Western military forces. Internationalists claim that a supra-power like the UN can, and should, have the final word over sovereign nation states and Western Liberals in Europe and in America would have us believe that protecting the borders of nation states is optional.
I think our “peaceniks” are naïve and dangerously wrong, though. Dangerously wrong. We in the West should heed ancient Chinese wisdom: a country = physical land, with borders, protected by ”the sword.” Anything less and a country will cease to exist.
Patty
in appeasement, arms reduction, NATO
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all nations require the sword and a border,
The riddle of steel: steel is not strong, the strength of the steel is the hand that wields it.
anyway I'm jealous I always wanted to learn manderin...
>>some Western Liberals, and America’s Democrat Party, would have us believe that sovereign nations can exist without “the sword."<<
Where did they ever say that?
>>Internationalists claim that a supra-power like the UN can, and should, have the final word over sovereign nation states <<
Again, where?
>>Western Liberals in Europe and in America would have us believe that protecting the borders of nation states is optional.<<
Can you even tell us where they said this, Patty?
Why don't you try tackling some existing idea that you think wrong, instead of just posturing before the make-believe?
Congratulations on your Chinese class, by the way.
The huge cuts in defence spending by the 'liberal' governments in countries in western Europe and Canada show that they believe defence to be optional, and it's an option which they are not taking. Any armed forces which are left over are specifically forbidden from exposure to combat and 'risk', because military action is covered by Health and Safety regulations.
Noel, you do live in Britain, right? We have no border or migration controls with other EU countries. None. That's transnationalism, right there. And you can't deny that it isn't us nasty wingnuts who came up with that one. Monnet was a classic 'western liberal', and he loathed the very concept of the nation state, holding it responsible for the evils of the world, not least World War 2.
I'm intrigued though. All the times you've wittered on about, for example, 'illegal' settlements in Israel, do you now claim that the UN should have no power to declare anything illegal or legal? Because by definition if you believe it has/should have that power then you are a tranzi too, just like the people you claim Patty is making up.
Or have you joined the Dark Side? Feel its subtle powers - anger leads to flagwaving, flagwaving leads to patriotism, patriotism leads to racism, racism leads to genocide and voting Republican...
Noel,
Perhaps we are all too familiar with 'liberal' governments saying much and doing nothing.
Why should the opposite not also be true, i.e. saying nothing, and doing much. Which is surely the case with 'open borders', multiculturism, EU referendums, appeasement, etc. etc.
In the former case, they say what people wish to hear, in the latter case, they do what they do not wish people to know about, at least, not until it is too late...I think it is called 'fait accompli' politics...
Don't actions always speak louder than words?
Just don't take their driving class.
Troll: "I always wanted to learn manderin..."
The character is written "guo" in pinyin which is the Chinese romanized phonetic alphabet. What they call "the second tone" is needed over the "o" at the end of the word. Do this by pronouncing "guo" as if you are asking a question: GUO?
You now know one word in Mandarin!
Noel: A Cindy Sheehan liberal can give lip-service to "support the troops" but actions speak louder than words. Liberal support of military strength in defense of Western nation states is hypothetical rather than practical.
Noel
I participate on some liberal websites where many of the participants have taken the stance that people can live wherever they choose and that the idea of national boundaries is an arbitrary restriction on the right of people to move freely and live where they please.
Its quite a common viewpoint, esp as it concerns the US/Mexico border, among lefties.
And I'd not think it rare in Europe, esp among the Human Rights Industry.
Phantom,
Doesn't your erstwhile sparring partner Dawkins profess that same belief?
Ernest - Dawkins has gone vaya con dios down to the Andes. He'll be out of the loop for some time apparently. I do believe he didn't put much stock in borders.
Mahons,
Nor good manners!
Oh, he's been out of the loop before!!
Dawkins, you still here?