August 23, 2008 Bushido

     There are 7 principles the Samurai lived by: Gi, Yu, Jin, Rei, Makoto, Melyo and Chugo.  That means Courtesy, Honesty, Honor, Devotion, Courage and Love.  That is called Bushido.

Gi=The Right Decision, the Right Attitude

Yu=Bravery, Tinged with Heroism

Jin=Universal Love or Compassion

Rei=Right Action, Courtesy

 Makoto=Honesty, Utter Sincerity

 Melyo=Honor and Glory

 Chugo=Devotion or Loyalty

 Bushido=The Warrior Way

I came across the list in the novelization of the television show Heroes. The novel was called Saving Charlie.  It focused on Hiro’s effort to safe a waitress in Midland, Texas.  She becomes his girlfriend, but he cannot save her from dying.  The show gave us clips and an overall plot-line, but the book gave more intimate details about their relationship.  It was a sweet, but sad story.  I also read the book Saving The World: A Guide to Heroes by Lynnette Porter and David Lavery this week as well.  They co-authored a book on Lost.  Porter made comparisons between Lost and Heroes.  Indeed, there are man parallels—including a solid influence form Eastern Culture and Philosophy.

Sometimes my mind set reflects Zen Buddhism. But more often than not my mind reflects the Western World in which I live.  Day to Day life is a mixture of creativity and the cruelty of poverty.  It is a fine line we walk between being cultured and completely uncomfortable.

I had to go to Richland County Job and Family Services to renew my eligibility for Medicaid and Food Stamps.  We’ve received public assistance since Ana’s birth nearly 5 years ago.  Poverty once implied someone who was unemployed or unable to work.  There were those who lacked the education to get a good job and those who simply lacked the ambition to better themselves.  The word welfare paints a picture of dirty drug addicts and alcoholics.  We associate poverty with the homeless and the hopeless.  At one time that picture was perhaps more accurate.  Now, poverty still isn’t pretty, but it no longer means being pathetic.  Educated Middle Class people are struggling in this recession.  The recession that the government is in denial about!  Not since the Great Depression have so many hurt so much.  In this age of Technology and Creature Comforts, the face of poverty is very different than it was nearly 80 years ago.

I feel privileged in many ways.  Certainly my education has helped.  The continued self-education provided by the public library has made me incredibly wealthy.  I am a millionaire where it comes to knowledge.  I read constantly and my kids have plenty of books as well.  I try to provide plenty of stimulation for their intellect and creativity as well.

Anyway, with the Olympics in China and the News Coverage about the Chinese culture, Communism and Cooling Economics have been on people’s minds. I’ve thought about what it would be like to live in China.

Would Jason and I be starting in the country or overworked and underpaid in the city?  How would our lives look?  Is it possible we’d be part of an affluent community or we be affected by poverty there too?  Could we be happy in such a strict society?  I don’t think I could be.  I’d probably be beaten or killed for rebelling by now.

 Listening to Pen on the Bill Moyers Journal last night, I wondered why conservatives in the USA don’t see China as a warning.  Rampant Consumer-Capitalism is beginning to show signs of impending chaos. Unchecked Capitalism here in the United States has already weakened the economy.  Where is the Bushido code when you need it?  Bushido Economics is needed now!