08-10-2021, 07:54 AM
** 09-Aug-2021 World View: What is inflammatory?
You're absolutely right that things like "kill women, children and POWs"
and "colonize the USA land" are inflammatory, but only in the Western
culture. They are NOT inflammatory in the Chinese culture.
Sun Tzu wrote the Art of War around 500 BC. This book is almost
like the Bible in China's culture. It advocates deception and
utter ruthlessness in conducting war. These recommendations are
incorporated into Chi Haotin's strategy speech.
About four centuries after Sun Tzu wrote the Art of War, a Chinese
historian named Sima Qian wrote a biography of Sun Tzu. It included
an anecdote which shows the ruthlessnes of Sun Tzu. This anecdote
may or may not be true, but that makes no difference. The anecdote
is an accepted part of Chinese culture, especially military culture.
Here is the anecdote:
This is not some simple story, like George Washington cutting down the
cherry tree and saying "I cannot tell a lie." This is deeply embued
into Chinese culture.
So when you say that talking about killing women, children and POWs
is inflammatory, or that colonizing America is inflammatory, you're
saying inflammatory in the context of Western culture. But not
in Chinese culture.
When you study, as I have, the atrocities that the Japanese committed
on the Chinese during the Sino-Japanese war (1937-45), then you
realize very quickly that the culture in the Asian nations is very,
very different than Western culture.
In the context of the Chinese culture, Chi Haotian's speech is
absolutely not inflammatory. As I said previously, it's actually an
extremely clear, well-reasoned, logical exposition of Chinese
Communist Party military strategy,
Navigator Wrote:> I have never had any intention to call you "inflammatory". This
> was only meant in relation to the speech. If it came across that
> way, my apologies. Your work is not "inflammatory".
> I will work on getting some exact quotes later but I consider the
> following ideas "inflammatory" or utterly outrageous:
> 1. We are glad to find out that most of our people have no qualms
> about killing women, children and POWs.
> 2. We should kill all the people in USA/Canada and take the land
> for our own "lebensraum".
> 3. We should start a war with a massive nuclear strike and be
> prepared to lose everything east of Xian (probably a good 3/4 of
> Chinese population).
> If this guy said these things, he is a complete nut job. Not that
> I don't think the CCP is full of such people. But to say these
> things in any kind of large forum shows a complete lack of
> discretion.
> Maybe instead of "inflammatory" I should have used the words
> "completely outrageous" or "completely over the top" or "beyond
> reason and sanity", "blood curdling sabre rattling" or something
> else along these lines.
> There are, unfortunately, military people in every age who say
> things like this. Which basically boils down to "kill everyone
> that I don't like or doesn't kowtow to me". Fortunately, usually
> they are just seen as over the top blowhards. Unfortunately, there
> are exceptions.
You're absolutely right that things like "kill women, children and POWs"
and "colonize the USA land" are inflammatory, but only in the Western
culture. They are NOT inflammatory in the Chinese culture.
Sun Tzu wrote the Art of War around 500 BC. This book is almost
like the Bible in China's culture. It advocates deception and
utter ruthlessness in conducting war. These recommendations are
incorporated into Chi Haotin's strategy speech.
About four centuries after Sun Tzu wrote the Art of War, a Chinese
historian named Sima Qian wrote a biography of Sun Tzu. It included
an anecdote which shows the ruthlessnes of Sun Tzu. This anecdote
may or may not be true, but that makes no difference. The anecdote
is an accepted part of Chinese culture, especially military culture.
Here is the anecdote:
Quote:> "Sun Tzu Wu was a native of the Ch`i State. His ART OF
> WAR brought him to the notice of Ho Lu, King of Wu. Ho Lu
> said to him: "I have carefully perused your 13 chapters. May I
> submit your theory of managing soldiers to a slight test?"
> Sun Tzu replied: "You may."
> Ho Lu asked: "May the test be applied to women?"
> The answer was again in the affirmative, so arrangements were made
> to bring 180 ladies out of the Palace. Sun Tzu divided them into
> two companies, and placed one of the King's favorite concubines at
> the head of each. He then bade them all take spears in their
> hands, and addressed them thus: "I presume you know the difference
> between front and back, right hand and left hand?"
> The girls replied: Yes.
> Sun Tzu went on: "When I say "Eyes front," you must look straight
> ahead. When I say "Left turn," you must face towards your left
> hand. When I say "Right turn," you must face towards your right
> hand. When I say "About turn," you must face right round towards
> your back."
> Again the girls assented. The words of command having been thus
> explained, he set up the halberds and battle-axes in order to
> begin the drill. Then, to the sound of drums, he gave the order
> "Right turn." But the girls only burst out laughing. Sun Tzu
> said: "If words of command are not clear and distinct, if orders
> are not thoroughly understood, then the general is to blame."
> So he started drilling them again, and this time gave the order
> "Left turn," whereupon the girls once more burst into fits of
> laughter. Sun Tzu: "If words of command are not clear and
> distinct, if orders are not thoroughly understood, the general is
> to blame. But if his orders ARE clear, and the soldiers
> nevertheless disobey, then it is the fault of their officers."
> So saying, he ordered the leaders of the two companies to be
> beheaded. Now the king of Wu was watching the scene from the top
> of a raised pavilion; and when he saw that his favorite concubines
> were about to be executed, he was greatly alarmed and hurriedly
> sent down the following message: "We are now quite satisfied as to
> our general's ability to handle troops. If We are bereft of these
> two concubines, our meat and drink will lose their savor. It is
> our wish that they shall not be beheaded."
> Sun Tzu replied: "Having once received His Majesty's commission to
> be the general of his forces, there are certain commands of His
> Majesty which, acting in that capacity, I am unable to accept."
> Accordingly, he had the two leaders beheaded, and straightway
> installed the pair next in order as leaders in their place. When
> this had been done, the drum was sounded for the drill once more;
> and the girls went through all the evolutions, turning to the
> right or to the left, marching ahead or wheeling back, kneeling or
> standing, with perfect accuracy and precision, not venturing to
> utter a sound. Then Sun Tzu sent a messenger to the King saying:
> "Your soldiers, Sire, are now properly drilled and disciplined,
> and ready for your majesty's inspection. They can be put to any
> use that their sovereign may desire; bid them go through fire and
> water, and they will not disobey."
> But the King replied: "Let our general cease drilling and return
> to camp. As for us, We have no wish to come down and inspect the
> troops."
> Thereupon Sun Tzu said: "The King is only fond of words, and
> cannot translate them into deeds."
> After that, Ho Lu saw that Sun Tzu was one who knew how to handle
> an army, and finally appointed him general. In the west, he
> defeated the Ch`u State and forced his way into Ying, the capital;
> to the north he put fear into the States of Ch`i and Chin, and
> spread his fame abroad amongst the feudal princes. And Sun Tzu
> shared in the might of the King." [~Gutenberg-SunTzu-ArtOfWar]
>
This is not some simple story, like George Washington cutting down the
cherry tree and saying "I cannot tell a lie." This is deeply embued
into Chinese culture.
So when you say that talking about killing women, children and POWs
is inflammatory, or that colonizing America is inflammatory, you're
saying inflammatory in the context of Western culture. But not
in Chinese culture.
When you study, as I have, the atrocities that the Japanese committed
on the Chinese during the Sino-Japanese war (1937-45), then you
realize very quickly that the culture in the Asian nations is very,
very different than Western culture.
In the context of the Chinese culture, Chi Haotian's speech is
absolutely not inflammatory. As I said previously, it's actually an
extremely clear, well-reasoned, logical exposition of Chinese
Communist Party military strategy,
