The Master
Mencius, a philosopher of ancient China, said:
"A master should go out and participate in the real world if the society accepts his ideal.
A master should stay in his world if the society does not accept his ideal. But he must live and act as a master with his ideal while being out of the society."
This teaching means that if somebody is understood, accepted, and respected by the society he may even become president of the US. But, if the society doesn't understand him, he should live in his own territory but do good and perform his virtue to his neighbors as if he were president of the US.
If there were millions of such eligible masters in the US, the country would be surely governed by a master who happens to be president of the US. So, what is important is not to expect that someday a great president will emerge from the society full of bad guys but to expect that millions of masters will emerge in the society who would really behave like a master if they cannot become president.
For example, if a bad US president launch a war with an Islamic nation but there are tens of thousands of master-like soldiers being sent to the Islamic nation, the war would not be so tragic or cruel.
Or, if a bad US president promote indecent Wall Street business but there are tens of thousands of master-like economists, journalists, and business persons being involved in the financial market, any financial crisis would be avoided.
US voters should vote for any presidential candidate closer to a master Mencius presented.
Image of Mencius in Tokyo National Museum, created by a Japanese painter in the 17th century
*** *** *** ***
Gen 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Gen 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
Gen 3:23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
Gen 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.