Nowadays, in the age of "materialism", most of us seem to go after bigger and fancier things with lesser interest into smaller things, particularly those with aesthetics, spiritual, intelligent or cultural values.
Education is merely a business and the times when education was delivered sincerely by those who know a little more (teachers) to those who just know a few tiny things (young generations of the community) had past us by. I believed that education is supposed to produce a vigorous and intelligent race of young men who will be in touch with modern progress, but not out of touch with old traditions. And the young men should be liberally educated but not educated out of sympathy; who will be manly and not effeminate, strong-minded but not strong-willed, acknowledging a duty to others instead of being a law unto themselves and who will be fit to do something in the world instead of settling down into fops, spendthrifts or drones (Borrowing a few words from R.J. Wilkison, 1903).
What happen to the old good days of the world? Terrorist attacks were certainly a tragedy, but yet more people are killed on roads each day or so due to alcoholic drivers, reckless road maniacs and stupid ignorant law abusers. Maybe it is about time that the world press educates people more with their news than trying to generate hate and anxiety. I am myself, a Muslim but my faith does not stop me from visiting and admiring the serenity and tranquility of Japanese shrines and temples (Thousands of them scattered around in Kyoto). For it is the pillars inside you that defines what you are as a whole and God knows the rest. If everyone respects each other's differences and trying to focus more on building any relationship based on similarities, we definitely could be good citizens of the world, living in harmony and peace.
I am not trying to promote 'minimalism' here cause life has no meaning without us living in it. But let us be sincere...as when we are sincere and true to ourself and to others...unspoken words could be delivered well.
Remember that when you forgive, you could love...and when you love...God shines the light on you...Trust me, happiness is only real when shared....
To end this post, let us ponder the words of the poem Invictus;
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever God may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate....
I am the captain of my soul...
(William Ernest Henley, 1875)
* Pics taken at Kamogawa, February 2010
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