Li is an important concept in Confucianism. Here is a Wikipedia article on li. It originally referred to ritualistic rites. Then it came to mean propriety. Eventually the Neo-Confucianists changed the meaning to "principle."
To show how this ancient concept of propriety is still relevant, let me direct your attention to an article on the front page of the New York Times (Tuesday January 2, 2007): "Lock the Library! Rowdy Students are Taking Over" by Tina Kelley. The article reported that some of the public libraries in Maplewood, New Jersey, have to lock their doors to keep out rowdy middle-school children. The students fight, urinate on the bathroom floor, put graffiti on the walls, and are disrespectful to the librarians.
You might think Maplewood is a ghetto, but it is not. It was selected by Money magazine in 2002 as one of the "Best Places to Live" in America. How did the children of Maplewood, New Jersey, sink so low? They were not taught about propriety, polite behavior, by their parents.
What can Maplewood, New Jersey, do to teach their children good manners? They can teach their children Confucianism. You might think that Confucianism is an ancient, foreign religion, but it is not. It is a vibrant system of universal ethics. There is even a book, Achieve Lasting Happiness, that shows how Confucianism is a good fit for contemporary America.
America needs Confucianism.
Robert
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