Extraordinary, Brave!
When I was teenager in the forties I said: “only if I could pass the higher secondary school I would be content, happy” as it seems so far away and difficult to master it. But as I passed, I just feel it’s very ordinary. In the fifties I said “if only I could get my university degree I would be proud and happy.” But as I succeeded I don’t feel it to be a very extraordinary achievement. Now, in 2009 almost every young man, young girl has passed the higher secondary school A university degree is easier to get were it within one’s purse.
But there were still higher grades, of being doctor and they seem so high and very far away, especially as I think of those who compete and pass cum laude or even summa cum laude making you feel so very small.
And I mused that perhaps that that was not very extraordinary, beyond the brains of a normal person that one certainly also could reach, achieve it, perhaps it would take a longer time, ten years, more efforts. And I would readily do it were it really of much importance to me. Besides, the knowledge wouldn’t be necessarily less, it could be even more. And I thought of the comforting TV program ‘are you smarter than a fifth grader?’ And there’s no one, no successful person yet, who could claim him-, her-self to be smarter than a fifth grader.
“Just sour grapes, ha, ha” I said, to Pak Arif.
“I also wouldn’t be tempted to compete for the sake of winning the highest degree with flying colors, even were it my favorite subject.” He said. “They certainly are extraordinary talented, they’re praised and sought after as bibit unggul (superior seed) and N.B. supported with a scholarship (‘won’, they said) for higher study with bright prospects for the future. But I never would sacrifice, sell, waste my time, energy, joy for it. It is the knowledge that is important, not the superior grades, degree. I’m happy when I still could surpass myself.
“With internet in the future, higher study is welcome, open to anyone There’s no need for competition, flying colors, high, superior grades. We love Mozart, Beethoven, Gershwin, … for their beautiful works, not whether they got a superior doctor’s degree in music. They would never compete with each other. That’s so stupid, so degrading. Besides, they would never copy each other.
“To stand on one’s own, something like incognito, anonym, without showing off one’s successes, merits, achievements, honors, testimonials, that’s brave, daring.”
“Or proclaim, uncover one’s bad, wicked, criminal behavior without having to hide oneself, that’s brave ha, ha.” Si Buyung interrupted.
“And I remember invalids, who not with a plus of a high intelligence talent but with a minus, a handicap of having no arms, still could paint with their mouth or feet and N.B. without financial support stand on their own. What do you think?” said Pak Arif.
April 2009
Related Posts:
Wonders Of Human Potentialities
Ranking Humans
When I was teenager in the forties I said: “only if I could pass the higher secondary school I would be content, happy” as it seems so far away and difficult to master it. But as I passed, I just feel it’s very ordinary. In the fifties I said “if only I could get my university degree I would be proud and happy.” But as I succeeded I don’t feel it to be a very extraordinary achievement. Now, in 2009 almost every young man, young girl has passed the higher secondary school A university degree is easier to get were it within one’s purse.
But there were still higher grades, of being doctor and they seem so high and very far away, especially as I think of those who compete and pass cum laude or even summa cum laude making you feel so very small.
And I mused that perhaps that that was not very extraordinary, beyond the brains of a normal person that one certainly also could reach, achieve it, perhaps it would take a longer time, ten years, more efforts. And I would readily do it were it really of much importance to me. Besides, the knowledge wouldn’t be necessarily less, it could be even more. And I thought of the comforting TV program ‘are you smarter than a fifth grader?’ And there’s no one, no successful person yet, who could claim him-, her-self to be smarter than a fifth grader.
“Just sour grapes, ha, ha” I said, to Pak Arif.
“I also wouldn’t be tempted to compete for the sake of winning the highest degree with flying colors, even were it my favorite subject.” He said. “They certainly are extraordinary talented, they’re praised and sought after as bibit unggul (superior seed) and N.B. supported with a scholarship (‘won’, they said) for higher study with bright prospects for the future. But I never would sacrifice, sell, waste my time, energy, joy for it. It is the knowledge that is important, not the superior grades, degree. I’m happy when I still could surpass myself.
“With internet in the future, higher study is welcome, open to anyone There’s no need for competition, flying colors, high, superior grades. We love Mozart, Beethoven, Gershwin, … for their beautiful works, not whether they got a superior doctor’s degree in music. They would never compete with each other. That’s so stupid, so degrading. Besides, they would never copy each other.
“To stand on one’s own, something like incognito, anonym, without showing off one’s successes, merits, achievements, honors, testimonials, that’s brave, daring.”
“Or proclaim, uncover one’s bad, wicked, criminal behavior without having to hide oneself, that’s brave ha, ha.” Si Buyung interrupted.
“And I remember invalids, who not with a plus of a high intelligence talent but with a minus, a handicap of having no arms, still could paint with their mouth or feet and N.B. without financial support stand on their own. What do you think?” said Pak Arif.
April 2009
Related Posts:
Wonders Of Human Potentialities
Ranking Humans
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