{UAH} Confucius Rebukes Obama

Confucius rebukes Obama

80 COMMENTS

The Chinese sage has something to say to Obama about this story. 

"Obama slams Trump over Muslim ban, 'radical Islam,'" CNN Wire, June 14, 2016:

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Tuesday unleashed a blistering verbal assault on Donald Trump and his proposal for a ban on Muslims entering the country, saying the suggestion violates the principles of American democracy and dismissing the "yapping" from "politicians who tweet."

Obama also angrily pushed back against criticism for not using the term "radical Islamic terrorism," calling it "loose talk."

"What exactly would using this language accomplish? What exactly would it change?" Obama asked during remarks at the Treasury Department. "Would it make ISIL less committed to try and kill Americans?" he continued, using a different acronym for ISIS.

"Would it bring in more allies? Is there a military strategy that is served by this? The answer is none of the above. Calling a threat by a different name does not make it go away."

"The men and women who put their lives at risk and the Special Forces I ordered to get bin Laden and are now on the ground in Iraq and in Syria — they know full well who the enemy is," Obama said. "So do the intelligence and law enforcement officers who spent countless hours disrupting plots. And protecting all Americans, including politicians who tweet, and appear on cable news shows. They know what the nature of the enemy is. So there's no magic to the phrase 'radical Islam.' It's a political talking point."

Obama added, "This is a political distraction."

Here is an answer to Obama from Confucius:

Zilu said, "If the ruler of Wei were to entrust you with governance of his state, what would be your first priority?"

The Master said, "Most certainly, it would be to rectify names."

Zilu said, "Is that so? How strange of you! How would this set things right?"

The Master said, "What a boor you are, Yóu! A junzi keeps silent about things he doesn't understand. If names are not right then speech does not accord with things; if speech is not in accord with things, then affairs cannot be successful; when affairs are not successful, li and music do not flourish; when li and music do not flourish, then sanctions and punishments miss their mark; when sanctions and punishments miss their mark, the people have no place to set their hands and feet. Therefore, when a junzi gives things names, they may be properly spoken of, and what is said may be properly enacted. With regard to speech, the junzi permits no carelessness." — Analects of Confucius 13:3