" Thus, the state organized for war, as analyzed in the Book of Lord
Shang, requires not only that all the energies of the people be devoted to
agriculture and war but that there must always be another war to fight,
another enemy to defeat. Ultimately, war was fought not for gain but for
loss, to expend energies and wealth that would otherwise accumulate in
the hands of those who, by virtue of their growing prosperity, would
come to serve their own interests rather than those of the state.
Such a state sucks in more and more resources to be consumed in wars
that no longer serve any purpose save to keep the machine running.
Sooner or later the energy and resources expended in the wars become
too great for the state to bear, at which point it implodes. It is a “suicide
state,” “destined to self-destruct.” As we shall see, this fate, which is
implicit in the Book of Lord Shang, would work itself out explicitly in
the fall of the Qin empire."
Shang, requires not only that all the energies of the people be devoted to
agriculture and war but that there must always be another war to fight,
another enemy to defeat. Ultimately, war was fought not for gain but for
loss, to expend energies and wealth that would otherwise accumulate in
the hands of those who, by virtue of their growing prosperity, would
come to serve their own interests rather than those of the state.
Such a state sucks in more and more resources to be consumed in wars
that no longer serve any purpose save to keep the machine running.
Sooner or later the energy and resources expended in the wars become
too great for the state to bear, at which point it implodes. It is a “suicide
state,” “destined to self-destruct.” As we shall see, this fate, which is
implicit in the Book of Lord Shang, would work itself out explicitly in
the fall of the Qin empire."
Could our US civilization be falling into the same trap as the Qin empire?
I also watched a great documentary about the upheavals in modern China called "Up the Yangtze" a Canadian film by Yung Chang. In the docustory a manager laments the fact that most Chinese youth that he has to train are spoiled rotten single children that are self-centered and ego-centric. While this may have been true in his case, I think it is easy for a person to hear something like this from a film and create a generalization of China as a whole. I think it is best to remember that China is a very large and diverse place. This video illustrates that being spoiled is not a prerogative for all Chinese boys (or girls).
Would a coach in the US be allowed to use these tactics?
I remember reading Jackie Chans biography, and his description of life at the theatre were acting and martial arts instruction was learned. It was an incredibly brutal regimen for youth to endure, so maybe this is not so bad in comparison. One thing is certain, these kids are tough.
I also watched a great documentary about the upheavals in modern China called "Up the Yangtze" a Canadian film by Yung Chang. In the docustory a manager laments the fact that most Chinese youth that he has to train are spoiled rotten single children that are self-centered and ego-centric. While this may have been true in his case, I think it is easy for a person to hear something like this from a film and create a generalization of China as a whole. I think it is best to remember that China is a very large and diverse place. This video illustrates that being spoiled is not a prerogative for all Chinese boys (or girls).
Would a coach in the US be allowed to use these tactics?
I remember reading Jackie Chans biography, and his description of life at the theatre were acting and martial arts instruction was learned. It was an incredibly brutal regimen for youth to endure, so maybe this is not so bad in comparison. One thing is certain, these kids are tough.
