Taos Tao #18 - Decadence

#1 Labels
#2 Polarity
#3 Politics
#4 Limitless
#5 Impartial
#6 Creation
#7 Eternal
#8 Water
#9 Extremes
#10 Nurture
#11 Space
#12 Intuition
#13 Fortune
#14 Intangible
#15 Profound
#16 Cycles
#17 Government
#18 Decadence
#19 Distinctions
#20 Different
#21 The Way
#22 Yielding
#23 Nature
#24 Excess
#25 Before
#26 Centered
#27 Compassion
#28 Receive
#29 Moderation
#30 Warning
#31 Weapons
#32 Flowing
#33 Within
#34 Embracing
#35 Vision
#36 Correlation
#37 Effortless

Book of Teh
#38 Power
#39 Unity
#40 Circles
#41 Wisdom
#42 Evolution
#43 Nonaction
#44 Endure
#45
#46
#47
#48
#49
#50
#51
#52
#53
#54
#55
#56
#57
#58
#59
#60
#61
#62
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Taos Tao #18 Decadence When the Way is forgotten rules enforcing compassion and morality arise people compensate with cleverness which causes hypocrisy and lies where there is domestic violence society enforces obedience to "family values" when there is social strife patriotism is emphasized

Interpretation

Writers referenced: Beck, Merel, McDonald, Feng - English,

Today we grapple with cultural challenges. How do we continue a positive transformation in the country? How can we expand opportunity for all people and at the same time maintain high standards? We are confronted with the truth that although all people are spiritual equal, they are not equally endowed with the same physical abilities or mental abilities. In Europe they laugh at Americans for being "politically correct" and point out how this is simply intellectual laziness, a way to avoid making hard choices or having opinions that might offend. We strive to be fair and compassionate and this is good. At the same time we must avoid the tendency to be overprotective. We must be honest about things. Even today, we can see how fragmented many families have become and how in the face of chaos and terrorism, the horn of patriotism is being blown even to the extent of passing extreme laws which deny our rights and erode our liberties.