(At a certain location around Tokyo on Aug. 31, 2008)Underlying Capacity and Superficial Change
If a Japanese Prime Minister suddenly announces his resignation, there must be erosion gravely going on in some underlying sphere that has supported his functions for so long.
If an African American is suddenly elected as U.S. President, there must be erosion gravely going on in some underlying sphere that has supported functions of European Americans for so long.
Nonetheless, as I have neither European parent nor African parent, I can completely objectively discuss the thing of this sort.
SECTION I: A Lesson from the Arctic Summer Warming
Let’s check the following article on the arctic sea extent:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7585645.stm
Let’s say that the amount of whole coldness of the arctic, 100 in a certain unit, consists of that on the surface sphere (visible) and that in the underlying sphere (invisible), equally, namely accounting for 50 of the total coldness, respectively.
The total yearly inflow of heat into the arctic, say 10 in a certain unit, is divided as 1 into the surface sphere and 9 into the underlying sphere.
So, every year, the coldness on the surface of the arctic decreases by 1 to 49, while the coldness in the underlying sphere drops by 9 to 41.
Yet, there can be a transfer of coldness from the underlying sphere to the surface sphere in the amount of 1, resulting in recovery of coldness in the surface sphere to 50.
Also, there can be an amount of coldness, say 10, generated every year in the underlying sphere, resulting in recovery of coldness in the underlying sphere to 50.
With this equilibrating, the coldness in the arctic has been kept at the level of 100.
But, if the total yearly inflow of heat into the arctic increases to 20, the coldness on the surface of the arctic decreases by 2 to 48, while the coldness in the underlying sphere drops by 18 to 32.
After the transfer of coldness, the cold state will be 49 in the surface sphere and 31 in the underlying sphere. Further if the generation of coldness in the underlying sphere is weakened to the level of 9, the underlying sphere will have the coldness of 40, eventually.
Therefore, while the coldness decreases only from 50 to 49 at the surface, the potential to keep the surface cold has dropped from 50 to 40.
(Red line: Heat inflowBlue line: Coldness inflow and transfer
Click to enlarge.)
In this example, the progress of warming in the underlying sphere is 10 times faster and larger than that in the surface sphere.
So, at one point, while the change in the climate on the surface in the arctic has been so far slow, it can suddenly show a drastic change to warming. It is because the underlying sphere will lose a capability to absorb the heat and also cool the surface; Consequently, every heat will flow into the surface sphere without the transfer of coldness from the underlying sphere, causing a drastic drop of the level of coldness, say from 40 to 30, 30 to 20, and 20 to 10 in a certain unit of coldness.
Put simply, if the underlying conditions that support certain equilibrium on the surface are damaged, broken, or taken away, a rapid change or effect becomes manifest on the surface of a system since the equilibrium is lost.
And, this system can be a political community as well as the nature of the arctic.
SECTION II: Spiritual Culture as Underlying Capability
The power of civilization must be also divided into two spheres: the surface sphere and the underlying sphere.
The national power can be also divided into two spheres: the surface sphere and the underlying sphere.
And, Max Weber thought the underlying sphere of the European/American civilization is Christianity, specifically Puritanism in the modern era.
To put it briefly, the global economy based on modern industrial and financial activities is still mostly supported by Puritanism as underlying capability and capacity.
European races think that their civilization consists of two elements: the material sphere and the Christian sphere.
The former corresponds to the surface sphere and the latter to the underlying sphere.
They do not think that without the underlying sphere, namely Christianity, no material civilization matching theirs is possible.
Therefore, traditionally they thought that no Africans and no Asians could match European races.
“Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Islam are all inferior to Christianity in terms of capability and capacity to develop and sustain the material civilization,” thought Western scholars and pundits including Max Weber.
Max Weber is quite right in identifying Puritanism as underlying capability and capacity for European/American modern civilization and material success.
Yet, Japan became the globally fifth strongest military power after the Japanese-Russo War and has grown to the globally second largest economy after WWII while Japan is not a Christian country at all, which Max Weber could not explain due to his insufficient understanding of the Japanese spiritual culture.
(And no matter how China is large in the size, its economic success is no more a mystery any more as Japan has already broken the psychological barrier of European races.
Besides, China today is still based on European-born Marxism; and India fully experienced British colonization over centuries to absorb a European way of modernity.
In short, Japan is in the vanguard, and China and India have enjoyed the benefit of Japan’s success in the modern era without doubt.)
SECTION III: Spiritual Culture of African Americans
Mr. Barack Obama is very exceptional, since his mother was a European American. He can identify himself as an offspring of some European family. All the history and culture or religion of Europe can be directly an underlying capability for his activities.
But, what about other African Americans? Can they think that their ancestors were part of the European civilization? Can they think that they are authentic successors of the European civilization? Can they discuss any historical and cultural things and incidents as if they had been what their ancestors enjoyed in Europe some hundreds years ago?
The true psychological barrier for African Americans to be a top leader in the American society lies here.
Can a true African-American U.S. President say, “As our ancestors accepted the teaching of Martin Luther and John Calvin, we have to review the work of Max Weber who is one of our ancestors”?
So, it is a grave situation for both pure European Americans and true African Americans.
The money-oriented post-modern U.S. society might find no value in European traditions including Puritanism, any more. Yet, rich Chinese Americans, Indian Americans, and African Americans will still find disadvantage in every scene in their competition with European Americans who will resort to any little advantage they have, such as being a direct offspring of the European civilization.
Issues of African Americans, including their spiritual culture to function as an underlying capability, must be solved through further evolution of Christianity, specifically Puritanism.
That is why I am telling you that what African Americans need is not a political revolution but a religious revolution, since the religious revolution will also influence European Americans so as to change their view on African Americans.
It is so, since it is the religious revolution or the new Reformation but not the White House or the Congress that offers more powerful underlying capability and capacity for African Americans.
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I once wrote that you would be very busy in the summer of 2008.
Indeed, the G8 meeting was held in Japan; the Summer Olympic Games were held in Beijing; U.S. Vice-Presidential candidates were nominated; and the Japanese Prime Minister announced his intention to resign.
And, have you seen any miracle in these incidents?
But, just see! A year ago, many TV critics and some conservative politicians in Japan were attacking the then Defense Minister Ms. Yuriko Koike of the Abe Cabinet. They severely let her down, stupidly saying, “Minister Koike is a fool to behave like a boss to undersecretary Moriya who has a strong tie with senior politicians and defense contractors.”
As Mr. Moriya was arrested later on suspicion of bribery, those TV critics and conservative politicians were somehow silenced, while Ms. Koike tried to rehabilitate her honor by writing a humble memoir.
And now, some media in Japan are stupidly piquing the general public by suggesting that Ms. Koike is going to run ambitiously for an election to choose the new head of LDP who is promised to be elected as Japan’s new Prime Minister.
Of course, there is no chance for Ms. Yuriko Koike to win the presidential election in the Liberal Democratic Party. But, her entry is expected to boost the public support for LDP, though the winner must be Mr. Taro Aso. However, with the two super stars, LDP might have a bigger chance to win the general election in the near future.
Anyway, a true miracle seems to be happening around Ms. Yuriko Koike, the former Defense Minister of Japan, whether she is a viewer of EEE Reporter or not.
Of course, a true miracle can be also happening around you, if you are one of pious viewers of EEE Reporter.
As for me, the God told me to leave those stupid guys and go to the holy summer field on August 31, 2008, as you see, to meet something.
(An old French song for some reason:
http://cal.s81.xrea.com/common/mixg/mixg/tchaikovsky/oh_op39-16.mid
[Copy and paste into the link field of your browser.]
Source: http://cal.s81.xrea.com/common/mixg/tchaikovsky.html )
Mat 9:1 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
Mat 9:2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
Mat 9:3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
Mat 9:4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
Mat 9:5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?