China's New Confucianism: Politics and Everyday Life in a Changing Society

Dear Emeritus: When in Beijing you probably have tea with Oxford-educated Professor Daniel Bell who is teaching his students at Tsinghua University about Confucianism. He asks a couple of questions which he leaves unanswered. Therefore my curious note. Why do senior communist leaders dye their hair black? Why do human rights in China have no priority over national sovereignty? And, most titillating, why is sexual intercourse with karaoke bar girls preceded by singing a duet? I assume regarding the last question you possess no practical experience. I finally figured out why Americans' understanding of foreign affairs are based on crude stereotypes. Only 10% of our citizens have passports. Which would also explain Dubya's election. The people probably thought Crawford is an exotic place somewhere down South. Professor Bell also believes once the government is more stable it will eventually apologize for its abuses in 1989. Will President Obama understand the tremendous and portentous opportunities offered by the „Middle Way?" Judging by his off-script helplessness and illiteracy I have grave doubts.