Book Review - "Confucius Lives Next Door"

Confucius Lives Next Door is one of the best books I've read in a long time, IMHO.

The premise: what living in the East teaches us about living in the West, is a very powerful statement. Society in the East (Japan, China, etc.) is governed by a very different set of moral and ethical standards then we have in the West. Eastern societies, Japan in particular, believe that the "whole" is greater then the individual. While this may seem restrictive in terms of individual expression, the benefits often outweigh the loss by far. For example, some of the safest streets in the world are in Japan, why is that? The fact that every community, from the country side to the big cities are "unified" in their commitment to a safe and harmonious society is the answer. It is this one goal that determines the behavior of all citizens of Japan. From early on, it is not only the parents job, but the job of the Schools to instill in each child the importance of working together and creating an environment of peace. If one child acts out (as children often do) it is not the teacher, but the students peers that bring him/her back into line. From the time they can talk, children learn that keeping the peace is one of the most important responsibilities each person has in life. These "reminders" of proper behavior continue into adulthood as well. Often you will see signs on the street or over a busy highway, reminding citizens to be couteous and respectfull of their fellow man. "Please be curteous to those around you so we all have a happy day." Can you imagine that in the US? Maybe not, but wouldn't it be nice to see such a message?

In the West, more often then not, peoples actions are governed by "Guilt". If I know X, Y, or Z is wrong, then I will feel guilty about doing X, Y, or Z. Guilt is of course normal and a good thing, however it is internal and only affects how you feel about yourself. You can easily rationalize any situation to make yourself feel better about your actions. In the East however, people are governed more or less by "shame". If I know X, Y, or Z is wrong and I do it anyway, then I will be shamed by others around me. People are no longer able to hide behind their own feelings and are forced by society to re-consider their actions. Now, I'm sure you're saying to yourself "the West also shares these values, what's wrong with the West"? Nothing is wrong with the West and our moral system, it is the way we implement our values that needs to be fixed. I believe the short answer to our own shortcomings (drugs, violence, crime, etc.) is education. Children are our future, and it is important that we instill in them the importance of peace and harmony early on when they are most impressionable (IMHO). The breakdown of the "Family" is also to blame, but that's a subject for another post.

These are only two of many ideas that are found in the book "Confucius Lives Next Door." While I love the idea of a unified loving society, I also love the freedoms I often take for granted as a citizen of the US. I believe in Balance though, in all areas of life, so a combination of Eastern and Western values or implementation of these values would be ideal for myself. I'm sure not all would agree, but to disregard another cultures traditions and way of doing things, without ever giving them a chance is the greatest mistake of all, IMHO.

Definitely worth the read!