One afternoon in August 2009, I turned on TV wondering if what kinds of the big sports events would take place in Austin. To my disappointment, the TV screen was full of sad atmosphere instead of cheerful events. I realized that Edward Kennedy, the last one among three Kennedy brothers, died after battling against cancer. I knew the name of Kennedy through media, and I prayed for him and his family. Next day, I turned on TV facing the same news story regarding Edward Kennedy again. I got interested in my finding that special news about Edward Kennedy was being reported on a lot of channel at the same time for long hours, which showed a lot of people in black suits mourning his death and a long parade of police cars with black ribbons. To me, the fever of mourning Kennedy’s death was more than what was expected. Was Senator Kennedy such a great guru in American society? The funeral ceremony on TV looked like that of more privileged one such as a president or a Secretary of State. Kennedy might be really influential man, but the sad atmosphere in the united state was absolutely much more than my expectation considering his position.
One morning in September 2009, my husband showed me a brochure to ask me if I want to attend an event. The brochure was from his graduate school. Oh! It is interesting. I found something which drew my attention strongly. At a corner of the brochure, there was a dean’s photograph. Is it worth? Despite the fact that he is not the president of the university or the college, they put his picture on the brochure. I shared this point with my husband. He answered that he was also surprised to see the dean’s photo hanging on the wall of the dean’s office. He continued to say that most students have an admiration for their dean and president of their university. After hearing his answer, another picture came to me out of the blue. Whenever I went to Texas Union Building in order to eat my breakfast with my kid, I could see UT students’ president’s picture on TV screen attached to the wall. Oh, is he a so great person? I felt confused.
It was not co-incidence. The privileges of Kennedy, the dean, and the students’ president looked strange to my eyes. In Korea, we never have given those respects to such positions. Courtesy like those was for top-of-the-top people. I found out that Americans love to express their favors for successful great people who went through their own hard times, got over those difficulties with their own willingness, and now became successful American leaders.
What made Americans give those favors and respect for the successful people? I think it originated from its history. To their frontiers, immigrants from old world, being a self-made man might be their only goal which brought them into the unknown world; moreover, the successful family or people have had a lot of contribution to their community by donating or illuminating. In addition to those facts, they have tried to live by very strict moral standards and they have been good role models for most Americans. This contrasts with my country’s social mood. Most Koreans doubt if successful businessmen or politicians are moral and their achievement was really from just their own hardworking excluding corruptive relationships, illegal inheritances or immoral business operations. These trends of distrust about successful people have got rid of a great deal of respects for the accomplished men or women.
One morning in September 2009, my husband showed me a brochure to ask me if I want to attend an event. The brochure was from his graduate school. Oh! It is interesting. I found something which drew my attention strongly. At a corner of the brochure, there was a dean’s photograph. Is it worth? Despite the fact that he is not the president of the university or the college, they put his picture on the brochure. I shared this point with my husband. He answered that he was also surprised to see the dean’s photo hanging on the wall of the dean’s office. He continued to say that most students have an admiration for their dean and president of their university. After hearing his answer, another picture came to me out of the blue. Whenever I went to Texas Union Building in order to eat my breakfast with my kid, I could see UT students’ president’s picture on TV screen attached to the wall. Oh, is he a so great person? I felt confused.
It was not co-incidence. The privileges of Kennedy, the dean, and the students’ president looked strange to my eyes. In Korea, we never have given those respects to such positions. Courtesy like those was for top-of-the-top people. I found out that Americans love to express their favors for successful great people who went through their own hard times, got over those difficulties with their own willingness, and now became successful American leaders.
What made Americans give those favors and respect for the successful people? I think it originated from its history. To their frontiers, immigrants from old world, being a self-made man might be their only goal which brought them into the unknown world; moreover, the successful family or people have had a lot of contribution to their community by donating or illuminating. In addition to those facts, they have tried to live by very strict moral standards and they have been good role models for most Americans. This contrasts with my country’s social mood. Most Koreans doubt if successful businessmen or politicians are moral and their achievement was really from just their own hardworking excluding corruptive relationships, illegal inheritances or immoral business operations. These trends of distrust about successful people have got rid of a great deal of respects for the accomplished men or women.
I bet American’s respects about the leaders have provided a good motivation or goal in order for Americans to try their best to be influential people within their society. Those courtesy would be a good and a long-lasting fertilizer to build a sound and a healthy American society.
A lot of information on this post, which gives me a lot to think about. I don't really know where to begging; therefore, I will try to write what comes to my mind.
ReplyDeleteI noticed before the pictures on the Texas Union; however, my impression was very different from yours. I thought it was very nice to relate a face to a name. For me it was more about how nice it is to be able to know who is working to do your school a better place.
On the other hand, I must admit that I am impressed by how people in Korea don't trust about other people's success. I would probably be very sad if people in my country put under question my success.
Finally, I would like to share something I trully believe in. This is your life, and you are the only one responsable of living it, and making the most of it. Maybe sometimes, you will find people on your way who are trying to take away the exciting part of your life. However, it is your responsability again to do something and don't let them take what it's yours. This is your life and your success should be for you and no one else. So, if people believe on you or don't it doesn't matter, as long as you know that what you are living is purelly and trully legitimate.