CONFUCIUS IS A GOOD BARGAIN

[mahuairong]

The domain of freedom is endless.
The field of equality is limitless.
The sphere of fraternity is boundless…
parallel ideals as related in the Analects
by Confucius, a Chinese Saint.

From Confucius to his infidel disciples
None takes no pains stealing and selling
the dogma of the so-called Harmony
to make fools of their officials and citizens.

The Chinese culture is sure to last long.
When computers have worked wonders
for a more convenient word-treatment;
When yellow emigration with creativity
has flooded in every landmass.

The Chinese used to be able in making words,
a power magic enough to make us idlers.
Now, no pains, all gains.
Phrases such as summit meeting, the first time,
the Olympics and talk show go directly
with their rules of word building
into the modern Chinese vocabulary.

Introduction turns desert into oasis.
Borrowing makes garbage smell delicious.
Imitation sees the thriving of the compradors,
who are at the same time wastrels and upstarts

Ancestries left us a wheel barrow.
Though broken could it manage to carry,
to carry calligraphy, Peking opera and aids;
to carry out the mission of transformation.

The Chinese Culture is a bottomless pit.
Somehow resembles a dilapidated wall.
Instantly it becomes superb and splendid,
when a calendar with oil paintings hang on it.

Twins look alike but not exactly the same.
The word 和 has little to do with Harmony,
the view from Social Harmony by Karl Marx
in his Manifesto of the Communist Party.

In classics 和 means gentle, mild, to make peace, to be kind and on good terms…
Its crucial point is to cover contradictions,
not at all the concept of modern sociology.

Whence confucius became Confucius?
How Confucius appears everywhere at once?
Why this Confucius confutes that Confucius?
Who makes his phantoms agree to differ?

The fireworks of Beijing Olympics show
to its fellows and the world citizens alike
Confucius is back to promote China.
Confucius is right here to see a better China.

To this none of my fingers raises its objection.
Yet in philosophy it is a different question.
On state ceremonies and diplomatic occasions
The notions of feudal harmony are beatified.

At present Confucius is a good bargain.
At a profit he is sold again and again.
Now the disciples in Confucius’ village
are putting his old wine in a new bottle.

Yet the history wheels can not be held back.
The historic lessons should not go unheeded.
In the last stage of certain feudal dynasties,
Confucius used to make his presence felt.

Praying his blessings is not a best policy,
which creates no national spirits but divinity.
His disciples read neither science nor English.
The toy at their fingertips is a play of history.

To steal a bell they wisely plug their own ears.
In their hands a promising China is being ruined.
In the Supreme Court of logic and conscience,
Their Harmonious Society is a mere nomad settlement. (by Ma Huairong)
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You see me, you lose me