Eastern and Western and Commonality

Most of us are born not knowing how to think. We learn how to think. Mostly we are taught how to think. Why else are most children of Christians Christians, children of Hindus Hindus, Muslims Muslims, and so on. Even sectarians have their influence on their kids. And there is no real truth when it comes to religion, otherwise I think most would naturally convert or teach their kids a better way if they truly believed it. As important to religion’s ideas are those of each societies' values which vary all over the place, depending where in the world one was born. As an example, the part crime plays in many societies is not well appreciated to those of us in the West.

Let me be more specific in two real world examples of the East.
A worker in China falls from a construction project and lives, although severely injured. An American jumps in and evacuates him to a hospital, only to be rejected over the patient. Unless the American would pay, this patient should not even be here.
A policeman/soldier is injured in fighting crime/combat in Moro land in the Philippines. A helicopter medevac might save him, but the helicopters are dedicated to transportation for VIP’s at a golf tournament further north. He waits for the ferry’s normal schedule to try survive. The ferry could speed up its departure schedule, but that takes buying all the tickets up front and quickly.

Let me be provide examples that Western influence has done in our world. We can point to any major modern achievement - be it in the field of science, government, human rights, medicine, economics, or technology. How about women’s suffrage, public utilities, good shoes, transportation for people, farming production, and public medicine.

To compare the two Eastern and Western ways to think, and their values, I would dare say most kids will honor their parents and societies, East or West.

All the media and blogosphere reports I read today are obviously from western people. I think most agree the western media is politically prejudiced, and I believe many in the blogosphere should be better informed about the Eastern way of thought. In no way should one think of this eastern style as morally equivalent. More is the old idea of knowing one's enemy.

To know one’s enemy is an advantage to exploit their weaknesses. Sound’s simple because it is. To know our weaknesses works the same way. This can be a win win.

Here’s the catch. How do we know and respect our enemy? If we are to exploit them, we must know them. This is difficult these days because the main stream media seems almost worthless in this endeavourer.

To exploit is to recognize our Commonality. While this idea is a little too touchy feely and even pacifist to many, it is the way to our future, and yes, exploit. And the strategic goal of exploiting is to promote commonality, and save our way of life.

I will denigrate the State Department conflicts between realists and idealists. The handwriting is on the wall. We have more in common than our differences in religion and societies between the East and the West. Those that suggest astute diplomats are in their prime these days (if up to the task of exploiting the friction between Sunni and Shia) have a losing point.

The commonality factor (between the East and the West) is very big. The common line is information, and humanity. Even Al Jazeera’s success in propaganda works against itself in the long run. The commonality is family, security for family, and a job to support the family. Will we be all singing kumbaya together? Probably never in the near future.

I suggest that we attack… Our commonality is our way to exploit our enemy. They are so weak militarily and economically and even religiously, that I think our smart people have already figured this out. Thank goodness, if I am correct.

The world is not so easy as the western press may present it. I cannot report about the eastern press. It is much more complicated by all standards.

I can report an opinion. Astute diplomacy with a threat of war seems to help diplomacy, East or West.