It’s a story about how to be a man, although the name is something about a woman. Charlie Simms is a student from a Noble school, attending on scholarship. In order to pay his flight home for Christmas, he applied a part-time job to look after a cantankerous retired Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade over the weekend of Thanksgiving. During the only three days, the two gentlemen help and also raise up each other: the young man will be able to showcase his courage and integrity, while the Colonel finally pick up the confidence in his life, and a romantic prospect is waiting for him.
I can remember the first time I was attracted by the story was when I heard the beautiful music of Tango Dancing. I was amazed by Colonel’s unique skills of distinguishing the Scent of A Woman. Colonel is that kind of person who is full of capability to a bigger achievement but only has to succumb to his tricky destination. Alas. Old, miserable blind, lonely, depend on others, by any common criterion, Colonel is just a loser. But I know he never lose his faith, though he “never took the right path” when he came to the “crossroads” in his life because “it was too dame hard.” What a definition of the choices in everybody’s life. It also reminds me which route I goanna choose when I encounter dilemma, obstacle, frustration in my own crossroad. I am sure if there is a colonel in reality, Colonel will say the same thing to me just as he said to the audience in the movie, we should choose the “right path, a path made of principle that leads to character.”
I feel so lucky that I saw this movie as a youngster in University when I gradually shaped my values while tried to know the reality of society and human nature.
A great movie fit for a man who wants to gain strength and positive attitude towards life. By the way, the Tango is amazing. Just as Colonel said, “No mistake in the tango, not life. It’s simple. That’s makes tango so great. If you make mistake, get all tangled up, just tango on.”
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Something about English
Most Sundays in Colombo are usually charming and sunny, but I don’t have so much time to relax, and it’s even a luxury for me to sleep in. Because I have to rush to the British Council before 8 am, or I will get a kind suggestion of punching my face by myself. :-) (finally I find the favourite English word of Mr. Gary O’Connor is ‘punch ‘) What to do?! This is one of the few ways I can experience the authentic and original British English so as to deviate my Chinglish and correct my laughable accent. In addition, good capability of English can help me to communicate the local people a little bit better. Foreign language study is a tough job. But I know I am not alone.
Nowadays among the Chinese youngsters, English is the most important and popular knowledge, and it’s of importance to acquire the skill of English if you want to find a foothold in the contemporary society of China where more than 6 million college students graduate every year.
Although English is not our official language, from the year of 1977 every high school student has to pass the English Test if they want to be enrolled into the Universities. The other major subjects of the University Entrance Examination include Mathematics, Chinese Languages. (in several Chinese provinces high school students can also choose Russian and Japanese to take their foreign language test.)
When students are luckily enrolled in a good university, it’s indeed some kind of liberation of their 12-year arduous journey. But it’s not over, English is their long-time friend. If you want a degree after 4-year study, you have to pass the College English Test (though it’s not as difficult as IELTS); If you want to go abroad to study in the TOP University in the U.S. and U.K., you have to pass the TOFEL, GRE or IELTS; If you want to get a offer in Government Authorities, you have to show them the diploma of your English skills. In one word, if you want to build up your advantage, you have to learn English.
Sometimes I am keeping asking myself, when he Chinese language can be viewed by us as important as English. Maybe one day, but the question is how long. To some extent, since the Industrial Revolution, the world is the very product of English thanks to the three super powers in consecutive centuries: the British Empire and U.S. and the invisible English-coded Internet under the backdrop of growing globalization. The by-product of the dominance of the English goes beyond. The ideological trend, scientific trend (just see the percentage of the scientists whose mother tongue is English ) and popular culture is anglicised.
In the meantime the future of other languages is just in doubt, right now nearly a variety of 2500 languages worldwide have been in the danger of extinction. Some reason is that the language shift causes the lack of the use of minority languages, and even crowds out the rare language because they are not passed on to next generation effectively.
If this situation continues, what’s the consequence?! We have to recognize that every language is special, belonging to the heritages of civilization of mankind. And existence of various languages is the foundation of the diversity of civilizations within this world which indeed gives birth to competition and communication and mutual progress among different regions.
A world of peaceful coexistence and joint development is a dynamic and colorful world featuring the exchange and mutual reference of different types of civilizations and the equal treatment and mutual respect of all countries. This will be impossible if we only have 2 or 3 languages.
But right now it seems the Tower of Babel is shaking. We have been in the a vicious spiral as several languages are surging with the cost of fading of others. Some says don’t worry about that, it the law of survival of the fittest. What a pity!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Politics: the corner stone of the human society
What’s Politics?! I have to admit that without Gary’s assignment on it, I rarely have considered it for more that 3 minutes before, not to mention writing an essay on it. Now I have a chance to think about it, to talk about it, and to google it as well. I discover that Politics is just like the air, it’s together with you and me anytime anywhere as long as we live in the earth. We can find it during the period of the Cold War, while it also exists in the Olympiad in Vancouver; You can see how politics runs a country, and you can also discover that politics is also essential to keep families peaceful and harmoniously. Actually, politics is the solution of how our world works. It’s the corner stone of the human society
In the Wikipedia, the definition of Politics is as follow: Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. But I incline to give it a simpler meaning: Politics is the basic game rules of human society. Politics is generally applied to behavior within civil governments, but politics has been observed in other group interactions, including corporate, academic and religious institutions. You can even find the prototype of Politics in the ants population which has queen, soldier, worker, and male ants. Their politics is the division of labor in the sake of survival and breeding.
Compared to politics of ants, the Politics of human beings is more complicated, it’s the combination of economy, cultures, science and religion. Decent politics in the history often lead the survival of a tribe, the rise of a nation and so as to the dominance of a civilization. The invention of citizenship and the first stock exchange in the world made the Flying Dutchman built up their maritime supremacy in the 16th century; the British bourgeois revolution in 17th century laid the foundation of the empire on which the sun never sets; the Great French Revolution in the year of 1789 gave Napoleon a step stone to climb to the top of the Europe; the Unification of Prussia with Chancellor Bismarck’s ‘Blood and Iron’ policy pave the way of Deutsche’s dominance in the European Continent since the 19th century; the Meiji Reformation 100 years ago bestowed power and modern technology to the island nation-Japan which has been one of the most developed countries in the last 50 years; the October Revolution and strong Planned Command Economy made the former Soviet Union one of the only two superpower ever existed in the modern world; and the success of the US is the result of the Declaration of Independence issued more that 230 years ago.
Someone may don’t like Politics, the current policy, and the politicians in the central stage. So many conspiracy, selfishness and scandals of some politician reported everyday around the world have dismayed the conscience of people. Some one prefers turning the ass to the notorious politicians and so many failures was to blame because of the stupid policies.
However, in my opinion, politics and policies, with which human beings can organize a community and work out the social contracts for everybody is just tools how we can run the human society. I don’t know whether other guys have ever got down to study the flame for a little while, but I happen to find there’s a common nature or character between flame and politics. Both of them are very useful and can be utilized in a variety of ways to make our life better. In the same time, both of them are very dangerous and can be easily abused, and the consequences will have been disastrous. So we need guardians to ensure that the right politician is to be settled in the right place to adopt a right policy. Then we create the Democracy, the Separation of the Three Powers (executive, legislative and judicial) and so on, to balance the power of politicians with restraint. There are some brave attempts and some of them are fruitful. The administrative organs and civil servants system in Singapore, Hong Kong and some Northern European countries are recognized as good students in the fight against corruption while maintaining the rapid socio-economy development.
In contrast, politicians in some regions are indeed not so welcome and corruption is still quite serious especially in the unstable countries damaged by war and ongoing conflict. The public awareness should be increased and the establishment should take more responsibilities to get rid of the maladministration, though it’s very difficult for the vested interest groups to launch a revolution against themselves.
As we all know, nowadays some international politicians are being described as clowns or evils, and it’s often to see personal attacks against them in the internet, or in chitchat. I wish to say that some political system is to blame for the tragedies generated from their decision. To some extent, the politicians are the very product of an ideological trend and education system of their own societies, and they are just the honest representative to a special establishment or even his country. Most of the politicians are also husbands, fathers, and decent friends to somebody else. If they are not as good as someone, they are definitely no worse than most of the ordinary citizens. And politicians are more likelihood of diligent and intelligent people, holding the essential quality of leadership and courage. They are of course the elites of human.(Although this doesn’t mean that they can abuse their power.)
If you let me list some politicians to talk about, I will think about Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Mohandas Gandhi and George Washington. It just makes me feel profound respect for them.
In the Wikipedia, the definition of Politics is as follow: Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. But I incline to give it a simpler meaning: Politics is the basic game rules of human society. Politics is generally applied to behavior within civil governments, but politics has been observed in other group interactions, including corporate, academic and religious institutions. You can even find the prototype of Politics in the ants population which has queen, soldier, worker, and male ants. Their politics is the division of labor in the sake of survival and breeding.
Compared to politics of ants, the Politics of human beings is more complicated, it’s the combination of economy, cultures, science and religion. Decent politics in the history often lead the survival of a tribe, the rise of a nation and so as to the dominance of a civilization. The invention of citizenship and the first stock exchange in the world made the Flying Dutchman built up their maritime supremacy in the 16th century; the British bourgeois revolution in 17th century laid the foundation of the empire on which the sun never sets; the Great French Revolution in the year of 1789 gave Napoleon a step stone to climb to the top of the Europe; the Unification of Prussia with Chancellor Bismarck’s ‘Blood and Iron’ policy pave the way of Deutsche’s dominance in the European Continent since the 19th century; the Meiji Reformation 100 years ago bestowed power and modern technology to the island nation-Japan which has been one of the most developed countries in the last 50 years; the October Revolution and strong Planned Command Economy made the former Soviet Union one of the only two superpower ever existed in the modern world; and the success of the US is the result of the Declaration of Independence issued more that 230 years ago.
Someone may don’t like Politics, the current policy, and the politicians in the central stage. So many conspiracy, selfishness and scandals of some politician reported everyday around the world have dismayed the conscience of people. Some one prefers turning the ass to the notorious politicians and so many failures was to blame because of the stupid policies.
However, in my opinion, politics and policies, with which human beings can organize a community and work out the social contracts for everybody is just tools how we can run the human society. I don’t know whether other guys have ever got down to study the flame for a little while, but I happen to find there’s a common nature or character between flame and politics. Both of them are very useful and can be utilized in a variety of ways to make our life better. In the same time, both of them are very dangerous and can be easily abused, and the consequences will have been disastrous. So we need guardians to ensure that the right politician is to be settled in the right place to adopt a right policy. Then we create the Democracy, the Separation of the Three Powers (executive, legislative and judicial) and so on, to balance the power of politicians with restraint. There are some brave attempts and some of them are fruitful. The administrative organs and civil servants system in Singapore, Hong Kong and some Northern European countries are recognized as good students in the fight against corruption while maintaining the rapid socio-economy development.
In contrast, politicians in some regions are indeed not so welcome and corruption is still quite serious especially in the unstable countries damaged by war and ongoing conflict. The public awareness should be increased and the establishment should take more responsibilities to get rid of the maladministration, though it’s very difficult for the vested interest groups to launch a revolution against themselves.
As we all know, nowadays some international politicians are being described as clowns or evils, and it’s often to see personal attacks against them in the internet, or in chitchat. I wish to say that some political system is to blame for the tragedies generated from their decision. To some extent, the politicians are the very product of an ideological trend and education system of their own societies, and they are just the honest representative to a special establishment or even his country. Most of the politicians are also husbands, fathers, and decent friends to somebody else. If they are not as good as someone, they are definitely no worse than most of the ordinary citizens. And politicians are more likelihood of diligent and intelligent people, holding the essential quality of leadership and courage. They are of course the elites of human.(Although this doesn’t mean that they can abuse their power.)
If you let me list some politicians to talk about, I will think about Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Mohandas Gandhi and George Washington. It just makes me feel profound respect for them.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
My View on Plastic Surgery
With the rapid development of orthopedic technology and the change of the social attitude and understanding to the beauty, application of the plastic surgery has been become more and more popular.
Like many other fashionable trends, this time plastic surgery is no exception to draw the debate and some question about it, “whether it’s worth to increase your appearance by spending a considerable amount of money while suffering the physical torture?”
Some will give you an affirmative assurance. Plastic surgery makes them closer to the perfect image they incline to demonstrate, thus it will build up their confidence and lend colors to their personality. With the colorful hair striking as a torch, whiten teeth shining as the moon, the body type under the Golden Ratio, people will definitely be the special one among the ordinary people. People are more beautiful and special just because one self’s own judgment. They also hope other people will share the same aesthetic idea, though it will not always be possible.
In the mean time, the conservative side doubts the behavior of plastic surgery. And they think the people who modify their body physically misunderstand the essence of beauty, namely truthfulness, honesty, courage, loyalty and so on. Many people may neglect fundamental importance of shaping a strong character and purifying the heart. Otherwise, the human society will be no difference to the animal world where a population is normally dominated by a figure that has the most beautiful feather or the most powerful muscle.
Ironically, now comes a new study that being good-looking directly increases that you’ll make a lot of money on the job, compared to the people who aren’t attractive. However, being well-educated still carries more weight than appearance in determining success at work even the happiness of one self’s life. Of course it helps to guide ourself toward good grooming and clothing choices, to help us make the most of what we have.
So in my personal perspective, moderate plastic surgery is acceptable. But you have to balance it, there’s no need to indulge oneself to it and care too much about your appearance. Indeed, we are not judged by the face but by the content of our character.
Like many other fashionable trends, this time plastic surgery is no exception to draw the debate and some question about it, “whether it’s worth to increase your appearance by spending a considerable amount of money while suffering the physical torture?”
Some will give you an affirmative assurance. Plastic surgery makes them closer to the perfect image they incline to demonstrate, thus it will build up their confidence and lend colors to their personality. With the colorful hair striking as a torch, whiten teeth shining as the moon, the body type under the Golden Ratio, people will definitely be the special one among the ordinary people. People are more beautiful and special just because one self’s own judgment. They also hope other people will share the same aesthetic idea, though it will not always be possible.
In the mean time, the conservative side doubts the behavior of plastic surgery. And they think the people who modify their body physically misunderstand the essence of beauty, namely truthfulness, honesty, courage, loyalty and so on. Many people may neglect fundamental importance of shaping a strong character and purifying the heart. Otherwise, the human society will be no difference to the animal world where a population is normally dominated by a figure that has the most beautiful feather or the most powerful muscle.
Ironically, now comes a new study that being good-looking directly increases that you’ll make a lot of money on the job, compared to the people who aren’t attractive. However, being well-educated still carries more weight than appearance in determining success at work even the happiness of one self’s life. Of course it helps to guide ourself toward good grooming and clothing choices, to help us make the most of what we have.
So in my personal perspective, moderate plastic surgery is acceptable. But you have to balance it, there’s no need to indulge oneself to it and care too much about your appearance. Indeed, we are not judged by the face but by the content of our character.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
A little bit about me
Hi guys and Gary, welcome to the happy valley. It’s interesting that I open this English Blog even when I don’t have a Chinese blog (now I am thinking of it), hope this Blog can be a platform with which I can interact with my friends and record my happy days in Colombo, such a beautiful city in the precious Island.
Just a year ago, if you ask me what Sri Lanka is alike, there are only a few things I can tell. I know that here is a very famous female athlete, who once earned a silver medal in an Olympic game several years ago; I know that Sri Lankan women have achieved a lot in the society where we can see one of the first female President in the Asian countries. The other thing I can ensure you is that it’s a country far away from my motherland-China.
On one day in last February, when I was in a meeting, I got a phone call and was informed that I was scheduled to be dispatched to Sri Lanka in the March, the place I only heard of in TV programmes. And my friends told me that I can have chances to taste the best black tea in the world. Now I can say not only I enjoy the finest tea every morning (the habit I shape here), but also I meet the very friendly, gentle, and beautiful people here, either in the city area or in the suburbs. They are always smiling to you with a great patience.
Since I planned to be a scientist of marine-biology when I was young, I chose to learn oceanography in the university. However, later, I found my gift and interest lies somewhere else. When I graduated form the university, I found it’s not easy to find a job which I can satisfy with. (right now jobs is a very big headache for Chinese students ) Before I come to this country, I serve in a government agency in Shenzhen a southern city of China, and I met my wife there. I never thought that one day I would be a diplomat in a foreign country, but right now I feel that I am so fortunate to take this kind of job. It gives me the opportunity to broaden my eyes, and enrich me the experiences of how to apply your ability in a tem, how to take your own responsibility, how to be a gentle man, and the most important, I love my motherland more. It reminds a quote said like this “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country-- Nathan Hale”.
I am happy to see this country has already entered in a whole new era with a great potential to develop in a more rapid pace. And the people can embrace a better life in the near future. I am so honored to work here and share the same blue sky and beautiful sunshine very day with this great nation.
Just a year ago, if you ask me what Sri Lanka is alike, there are only a few things I can tell. I know that here is a very famous female athlete, who once earned a silver medal in an Olympic game several years ago; I know that Sri Lankan women have achieved a lot in the society where we can see one of the first female President in the Asian countries. The other thing I can ensure you is that it’s a country far away from my motherland-China.
On one day in last February, when I was in a meeting, I got a phone call and was informed that I was scheduled to be dispatched to Sri Lanka in the March, the place I only heard of in TV programmes. And my friends told me that I can have chances to taste the best black tea in the world. Now I can say not only I enjoy the finest tea every morning (the habit I shape here), but also I meet the very friendly, gentle, and beautiful people here, either in the city area or in the suburbs. They are always smiling to you with a great patience.
Since I planned to be a scientist of marine-biology when I was young, I chose to learn oceanography in the university. However, later, I found my gift and interest lies somewhere else. When I graduated form the university, I found it’s not easy to find a job which I can satisfy with. (right now jobs is a very big headache for Chinese students ) Before I come to this country, I serve in a government agency in Shenzhen a southern city of China, and I met my wife there. I never thought that one day I would be a diplomat in a foreign country, but right now I feel that I am so fortunate to take this kind of job. It gives me the opportunity to broaden my eyes, and enrich me the experiences of how to apply your ability in a tem, how to take your own responsibility, how to be a gentle man, and the most important, I love my motherland more. It reminds a quote said like this “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country-- Nathan Hale”.
I am happy to see this country has already entered in a whole new era with a great potential to develop in a more rapid pace. And the people can embrace a better life in the near future. I am so honored to work here and share the same blue sky and beautiful sunshine very day with this great nation.
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