Divine Tao
There are 37 Tao Poems and 44 Te PoemsNew Thought Te 74 - explores the nature of strategy and problems of war
Tao # 74 / Penalty
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When the people are unafraid of death
can you frighten them with its prospect?
if you could inculcate a fear of demise
and cultivate a respect for life
perhaps we could open all eyes
or we could use cameras
to watch all the corners
and dispose of those who are strange or odd
but who will dare to do the job?
Perhaps we could engage professionals
to put out the "trash"
because to do it ourselves
would most likely be rash.
The skilled butcher can work fast
just like a carpenter good at his craft
but an amateur in the slaughterhouse
is most likely to lose his hand
- What does the first stanza of this Tao seem to relate?
- What does the second stanza relate?
- Are democracies better off with lots of cameras or less cameras?
- Is it wise or compassionate to "dispose of those who are strange or odd"?
- When we read the third stanza what cultures does it remind us of?
- Are there any recent instances of countries "engaging professionals to put out the 'trash'" ?
- How many injuries occur annually in slaughterhouses in the United States?
- In 1972, most slaughterhouse operations were unionized, what is the percentage of unionization today?
- What is the official legal value of a human life in Texas?
- Who introduced laws putting a "price" on workers lives that is "economically viable"?
