Question 1.
When we look at leaders in history we notice that most of them are very powerful and aggressive. They do what they can to maintain power. That is the exact opposite of Lao-Tzu. In "Thoughts from the Tao-Te Ching", the main point the "Master" is trying to express is that if you do nothing, everything will all come together. His thoughts are against action, unless it is absolutely necessary. He feels that as someone in power, force is not needed. His thoughts when it comes to people are that the people do not want to be told or forced to do anything, because they may rebel. He is agrees with keeping the peace. The "Master" also thinks that if he accepts himself everyone else will. His thougths are that a leader should be loved by the people. This builds rapport between them. They will then be more submitial. He also believes as a leader you also must be able to submit. His relationship between him and the people is you get what you give. Lao-Tzu thinks that as a leader you should have more trust in the people and they will then trust you. He is all about his people.
His views are very different than the United States when it comes to World Affairs. In history, and in our present day, it is hsown that we like to get involved with World Affairs. He believes that thte world can't improve and if you try to improve it matters will become worse. I wonder what our president waht have to say about that.
Lao-Tzu's thoughts are the exact opposite of Machiavelli's. They remind me in some way of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Martin was the conservative one and Malcolm was the more aggressive one. I feel that there is no right or wrong attitude toward action. It is your choice which one you choose.
7 comments:
You had some really great insight into the relationship the “master” has with his people. It was really put well when you said “you get what you give”. The master is really trying to be the role model for his people to follow.
I enjoyed reading your blog, it was very well done. I liked the reading, and thought that the ideas about the "Master" were very interesting to think about. How it is better for the Master to rule by sitting back and letting things take there course.
It seems like you really understood what Lao-tzu was saying about the master. I also like that you said, "You get what you give." That seems to sum up everything form the reading. It would be nice if today's leaders could be like the master. Unfortunalty, I don't think it would work out very well.
Your blog was interesting for me to read, because it gave an insightful comparison to modern leaders and Lao-tzu. You also had many great ideas about the "Master" and it showed how well you understood the reading. Very well done.
i really enjoyed reading your blog because despite the reading being hard to understand your entry simplified it. I really liked your comparison of Lao-Tzu with the beleifs of Martin Luther King JR. and Malcolm X. very true, they all had a similar set of rules.
I loved the end paragraph in your blog, where you connected Lao-tzu and Machiavelli to Martin Kuther King Jr. and Malcom X! That was a great connection and showed you understood the views you read and could compare/contrast them to more present day visionaries. I too made this connection, and it is good to know that the peers in our class think alike, this way we can get into deeper discussions in class and all understand one another.
Sharnae, your comments about Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr., were very insightful.
King was influenced, in part, by Thoreau and Gandi. Both men were advocates of peaceful resistance.
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