Tuesday, September 05, 2006
- Corruption -
Today in tute, an interesting point was raised about the word corruption in relation to the way it works in China. I never thought I'd see corruption in this light.
We were discussing, or actually, the tutor was telling us how corruption in China should be seen more so as a traditional way of doing things rather than dishonest proceedings or a perversion of integrity. It is rather logical to trust your family and friends than anyone outside this degree of intimacy. In doing so, we would usually seek to take care of them before anyone else.. and it has just been easier that way. Also, the system of debts was amongst the topic, whereby when you perform a favour for someone, they become in your debt and the next time you need something done, you have somewhat an authority, or some kind of advantage over the other person for your own favour to be carried on. And it is such a more efficient system than that of the Chinese political system aparantly, so it's no wonder that there is corruption. This individualist ideal is also an influence from Confucius who stated that as Chinese we should put ourselves and our family first (ie. filial piety) or the way my tutor put it, 'Love ourselves before we love others'. That's the best thing she's said all semester! Anyway, this of course was argued by Maoists, who said (in her words again), 'Why can't we love everyone?', this relates to the structures of communism where everybody is one and yadda yadda...
But don't you just love the Confucian way better?
That's corruption for ya. Confucianism...or maybe not.
~Listening to: Super Junior - vol.1 album
We were discussing, or actually, the tutor was telling us how corruption in China should be seen more so as a traditional way of doing things rather than dishonest proceedings or a perversion of integrity. It is rather logical to trust your family and friends than anyone outside this degree of intimacy. In doing so, we would usually seek to take care of them before anyone else.. and it has just been easier that way. Also, the system of debts was amongst the topic, whereby when you perform a favour for someone, they become in your debt and the next time you need something done, you have somewhat an authority, or some kind of advantage over the other person for your own favour to be carried on. And it is such a more efficient system than that of the Chinese political system aparantly, so it's no wonder that there is corruption. This individualist ideal is also an influence from Confucius who stated that as Chinese we should put ourselves and our family first (ie. filial piety) or the way my tutor put it, 'Love ourselves before we love others'. That's the best thing she's said all semester! Anyway, this of course was argued by Maoists, who said (in her words again), 'Why can't we love everyone?', this relates to the structures of communism where everybody is one and yadda yadda...
But don't you just love the Confucian way better?
That's corruption for ya. Confucianism...or maybe not.
~Listening to: Super Junior - vol.1 album
-{ missing you 9/05/2006 08:13:00 pm }-