The first palatable tastes of "Yin" influences experienced by Americans at large were through the popular TV series "Kung Fu". It starred David Carradine as a Shaolin peace loving monk, Kwai Chang Caine, fondly called "Grasshopper" by his Master.
This series ran from 1972-75 for 3 seasons and then later as "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues" in 1993-97 for 4 seasons with 88 episodes.
Eastern thought and philosophy and martial arts began to seriously permeate into the American pop consciousness through these series.
As "Grasshopper" David Carradine trekked through America, he came across various complex blend of cross-cultural situations and relationships. His mind would cast back to his training memories in the Shaolin Temple in China, in a peaceful and meditative ambience surrounded by candles. He would recall the philosophical question and answer session he had with his Master relevant to the problem at hand to guide him solve the problem.
The common scenes would depict overconfident and brashful Americans looking down on and insulting "Grasshopper" who remained calm and quiet, and still respectful of the American. The American would then be irked by this peaceful and non-combatant nature and would become even more aggressive and attack the Chinaman. The Chinaman then with bare hands would maneuver gentle and graceful kung fu moves that soon floored the bully American and disarmed him of any weapon.
Obama with his "Yin" background (covered in earlier post: Obama Presidency Minus Fox News) had astutely opened up receptor valves to admit into the US much needed "Yin" influences to counter-balance the predominantly "Yang" America as he had found it.
George Bush had been brash and boastful in the manner of the bully Americans as portrayed in the Kung Fu shows. Amongst his mean deeds was his unrepentant bragging of authorising the CIA to carry out waterboardings. He made early claims of success in the Iraq War by declaring on board the USS Abe Lincoln "Mission Accomplished" in May 2003. He boasted about the success of "The Surge" in 2007 before he left office. All turned out to be premature boasts and futile.
"Grasshopper" Obama in contrast is calm and humble. He has always made known his stand against Grandstanding in making speeches on his policies and strategies. With his gentleness and patience, he has been able to "kung fu" the artful pivotal moves that shifted the heavy responsibilities the US used to bear in the Middle East to the Russians, Iranians and Saudis.
Getting their skins in the game which is theirs to shoulder in the first place. Obama will be judged well by History for his skills which are not recognizable at the moment by his country.
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