e twentieth century, Confucianism has tried to find a new role for itself . "Societies and systems have arisen that Confucius would hardly recognize." Many of the Confucian countries have been destroyed by war and revolution. Yet Confucianism remains a part of the lives of millions of people. In many Pacific Rim countries, Confucian values are visible in everyday life. Respect for authority is expected. People work long hours and, in both factories and offices, the theme is cooperation between workers and managers. No manager makes a decision a decision without consulting the workers., but once a decision is made, everyone does their best to carryout. The custom of paying respect to ancestors, but not with the same rituals. Respecting elders is not confined to families. In all these countries, teachers receive a lot of respect from their students. Children greet them with as much respect as they do their parents and discipline is not a problem. Like the workers in the factories, studentwork long hours. "Just as past generations of students aspired to pass the imperial examinations to become a government official, the goal of virtually every student today is to pass the entrance examinations for a prestigious university"Confucius still speaks to the modern world with wisdom and authority. Modern people seek the same things he searched for: an orderly society: a "balance between nature and human kind"; a way of behaving with kindness, charity, honesty, and faithfulness. Confucius also thought that in order to solve society's problems, you must first start with yourself. These virtues are as important today as they were twenty-five hundred years ago when Confucius discussed them with his disciple. Whether seen as a religion or a philosophy, Confucianism still keeps its moral strength....
