Taoism And Confucianism

            
             In a world conflicted with crime, hatred, and the doings of a radical generation x, now more than ever, we should look toward the fundamental schools of thought of the Chinese: Confucianism and Taoism. Fundamentally sound, the principles of Confucianism emphasize an individual's responsibility to act purposefully and sensibly, while its sister philosophy, Taoism, stresses the joyful acceptance of life and an appreciation for the natural world. Though both are significant in their own respects, Confucianism should become an essential part of all our lives. Hard work, education, and ethics were once prominent beliefs families of all backgrounds enforced, but with the help of modernization, pop culture, and Reality TV, these fundamental ideals seem to dissipate with each passing day. Though pop culture claims to educate its audience, its twenty-four hour marathon of mindless sex, violence, and strife do just the opposite. We've moved on, past days of huddling around the television set with our family watching "Leave it to Beaver" in order to submerge ourselves into a froth of meaningless entertainment, a generation of "Celebrities Uncensored", "Blind Date", and unequivocally the most demeaning and second rate series ever to come on television, Reality TV. Coupled with a deteriorating economy, lead by crooked businessmen and politicians, the demand for two working parents creates a void in our generation between knowing what's right and wrong and more so, caring about the difference. As a country, we pride ourselves in our diversity, yet we can't seem to separate the difference between an arab and terrorist. Both socially and mentally critical, ethics and morality affect us daily. More than his preachings for learning, Confucious urges a simple, but? Taoism's focus on the natural world and happiness with life is important also, but the elementary basics of being human, morality and a passion for knowledge, should be of main priority in each individual's life.