Spiritual Resources
The fact is that Chinese culture deeply influenced by Marxism recognizes more clearly than do westerners the truth of Burgio's starting point - his approving reference to Pope Francis' recent encyclicals (Laudato Si', and Fratelli Tutti) with their defense of the earth as humankind's "Common Home."
Instead, the West's individualism and emphasis on competition prevents it from embracing anything resembling Francis' appeal to the common good. This has been especially so since its endorsement of Margaret Thatcher's dictum: "There's no such thing as society. There are individual men and women and there are families. And no government can do anything except through people, and people must look after themselves first."
Regrettably, Thatcher's point is supported by the fundamental Judeo-Christian myth of creation. As interpreted by Augustine, it spins the tale of our first parents' "original sin" that corrupted all humans and all of creation as well.
If we've been told from birth that we're all corrupt and that nature itself has been vitiated, why would we be surprised that we see one another as enemies with whom cooperation (vs. competition) is impossible? Why would we be surprised that we harbor rapacious attitudes towards Mother Nature herself or that we easily excuse governmental depravity?
Obviously, Chinese authorities do not believe any of that. As a result, in the name of the common good and with support from the vast majority of its people, they can turn on a dime when faced with problems like the Covid-19 pandemic. As Maher says, "When the Chinese see a problem, they fix it."
By contrast, our culture with its crippling spirituality and adversarial conception of democracy finds itself gridlocked into a syndrome of discord and immobilizing cross-purposes.
Conclusion
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