Thoughts to you from yours truly - ( TYYT ) - ( 75 ) - June 1, 2011

Thoughts to You from Yours Truly - ( TYYT ) - ( 75 ) - Means and Ends - June 1, 2011

Human beings are mostly goal oriented. I suppose this is all very well having regard to the fact that we all need motivations to get ahead in life. Goals are actually choices in life we must make in view of the unlimited ends ( or desires ) in both materialistic and emotional terms and the always limited means ( or resources ) to meet those ends. The latter argument actually summarizes the whole rationale of economics.

For the materialists the ends are so important that they argue the case for adopting any means to achieve their self-centered ends. This is exactly the same mercenary and immoral stance taken by all autocratic regimes. That is to achieve their selfish and evil political ends by hook or by crook even at the expense of basic human rights and natural justice. Even if we ignore the moral and religious implications which some people may consider to be idealistic and unpractical there is still plenty of indisputable and objective scientific evidence from quantum mechanics that the means ( process ) are vital and can actually determine the end ( result ). Furthermore, quantum mechanics has also conclusively proven the importance of our consciousness ( or choice ) in shaping our own future and, hence, the existence of free will. For those interested to know more here is the link to my own brief notes on quantum mechanics:- https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=166929050031700


As any sane human being will agree that we cannot work against the laws of nature without suffering the dire consequences all anti-nature crimes must be avoided at all costs. Just to name a few obvious examples, actions and reactions are equal and opposite. Therefore, never oppress our citizens. Cause and effect are inevitably linked. So, wrong doers take notice that your time of reckoning is at hand. The higher you go the harder you fall as dictated by the law of gravity which shapes the physical universe. All autocrats will fall to pieces from their illegitimate pinnacle of power to which they have criminally attained by all evil means. Stop bull shitting about the end justifying the means because the means are part and parcel of the end. Any end, however holy, achieved by evil means can be nothing else but evil.


JKHC.

Poem - Earnest Hope - Poetry & Prose - ( 9 ) - May 28, 2011

Poem ( 詞 ) - Poetry & Prose - ( 9 ) - Earnest Hope ( 厚望 ) - May 28, 2011

年少氣昂，不憂。
In my youth I had high confidence and never feared.

萬般壯志， 未酬。
I was full of ideals but very few did materialize.

瞬即越甲，心自疚。
Now that I'm past sixty I feel some remorse.

難回首，賞清煙，道當年苦愁。
It is hard to face my memories and youthful sorrows.



試看小艾，望厚。
Let us pin our earnest hope on the young to succeed.

坐擁蠻勁，奮鬥。
Hope they possess the zeal to take up the challenge.

可有能耐，革新猷。
See if they have got what it takes to revolutionize society.

願天賜，才八斗，創萬世千秋。
May heaven endow them with talents to build a better world !


JKHC ( 鄭冠合 )

( Note : This is my encouragement to a friend who has become a youth adviser
賀友人榮任青年顧問之喜 )

Poem - Do Yourself Proud - Poetry & Prose ( 8 ) - May 28, 2011

Poem - Poetry & Prose - ( 8 ) - Do Yourself Proud ( 傲風霜 ) - May 28, 2011

浮生亂世易迷途，
In this chaotic and transient world it is so easy to lose our way

慌亂無助愧為奴，
A sense of fear and helplessness will ultimately enslave you

唯憑忠義來相對，
Only through unwavering justice and perseverance can you prevail over chaos

不枉此生風霜傲。
So do yourself proud and your life will be a personal victory.



JKHC ( 鄭冠合 )

Thoughts to you from yours truly - ( 74 ) - May 22, 2011

Thoughts to You from Yours Truly - ( TYYT ) - ( 74 ) - What is life ? - May 22, 2011

There are many definitions of life depending on one's perspective. Generally, there are three different perspectives on life - the scientific angle, the spiritual angle and the personal angle. Rather than defining life which is a very complicated phenomenon it may sometimes be sensible to identify the characteristics associated with life to highlight its special qualities.

Scientifically, life may be defined as an autonomous bio-system which can carry out biological functions such as respiration, nutrition, self repairs and reproduction to pass on its genes. The last function of passing on its genes is perhaps the most defining as it separates one specie from another. The genes give a particular specie its own character so to speak.

From the spiritual angle which at present is only applicable to intelligent beings like humans the defining characteristic is one's own consciousness. Unfortunately, consciousness is itself an illusive concept meaning different things to different people depending on their cultural and religious background. With the advance in technology such as brain scanning equipment scientists hope to pin down the nature of the human consciousness. Meanwhile, our consciousness can only be detected in our behaviour and personal character traits. That is the reason why there is a third angle on life called the personal angle.

Notwithstanding all the complications in defining or identifying the characteristics of life there are a few most cherished and generally revered characteristics of life. High on the list of such noble qualities is empathy closely followed by sacrifice, perseverance and resilience against adversities. When we reflect on our heroes and heroins in history we inevitably find one or more of these noble characteristics manifested in their heroic deeds. While empathy makes us human sacrifice makes us saints. On the other hand, perseverance and resilience make us formidable fighters in life. Despite all our human weaknesses we must all aspire for the noble qualities that define us as respectable human beings who can claim to have lived a meaningful life.

JKHC.

Thoughts to you from yours truly - ( 73 ) - May 19, 2011

Thoughts to You from Yours Truly - ( TYYT ) - ( 73 ) - A Self Defeating Strategy - May 19, 2011

Some autocratic governments use the economic card to justify their monopoly on power. By increasing a country's gross domestic product and amassing huge trade surpluses it justifies its hold on the governing mechanism through emphasis on stability above everything else by the ruthless silencing of any form of dissent. So much so that mere verbal challenges to any government policy are treated as criminal sedition against the state.

By rogue enforcement of the so called legal system that applies different standards to different classes of citizens favouring party members and those related to the ruling bureaucracy and mistreating common citizens and persecuting those who dare to speak against any corrupt officials in search for social justice such autocratic regime stays in power. This is a pathetic and lamentable situation. In notoriously classic " Animal Farm " style as George Orwell foretold such an autocratic government continues to exploit the proletariat whom its hypocritical political ideology professes to defend. The autocrats shamelessly hold on to their illegitimate gains through corruption or under the guise of policies carried out in the " public interest " and sharing the loot among members of the party and their hangmen.

However, to their own detriment, the autocrats have failed or have purposely ignored the inherent seeds of destruction spawned by this self contradictory strategy of " stability above everything else ". This is because with the improvements on the material level citizens especially the intellectuals and idealistic younger generation will inevitably aspire for social justice and more equality. Therefore, such self defeating economic and political strategy is unsustainable in the long run. This is the inevitability of the Marxist view of class struggle between the " Haves " ( the privileged party members and the bureaucrats ) and " Have Nots " ( the common citizens ). In time, the autocrats will definitely swallow the bitter medicine of their own follies. Autocrats and your hangmen be warned on the pain of death from the vengeful hands of natural justice resulting from the invariant law of cause and effect !


JKHC.

Poem - Ode to Chinese May Fourth New Culture Movement 1919 - Poetry & Prose - ( 7 ) - May 4, 2011

Poem - Ode to Chinese May Fourth New Culture Movement 1919 - ( 五四盼頌 ) - Poetry & Prose - ( 7 ) - May 4, 2011


五四轉瞬又九二,
May Fourth Movement turns ninety-second anniversary sadly as a wimp.


中華精英起義遲，
The Chinese intellectual elites are still striving hard for social reform.


寄望青出於藍日,
Let's pin our hope on the brighter and more dedicated youths of today.



風起雲湧報國時。
It's time for them to serve their beloved people and country with zeal !


JKHC ( 鄭冠合 )

( 後感 : 願公理，正義，理性，精誠， 博愛，與同情心，永遠長存！)
( After thought : May justice, righteousness, reason, zeal, fraternity and compassion endure for all eternity ! )

Thoughts to you from yours truly - ( 72 ) - May 2, 2011

Thoughts to You from Yours Truly - ( TYYT ) - ( 72 ) - The Art of Convincing Others - May 2, 2011

Throughout our lives we must effectively communicate with other people before we can achieve any degree of success in life. This is particularly true today in this mostly market oriented world. One way or another we are promoting our ideas, products or services. Therefore, the art of convincing others is of paramount importance. Even Jesus Christ has been praised by non-believers as the greatest salesman in human history because of his ability to spread the word of God during his short life on earth and later through the teaching of his gospels by his apostles and their successors. So much so that over one-fifth of the world population are now Christians. On the more mercenary level, there are also other great commercial salesmen of goods and services who mainly conduct their trades by smooth and waxing talk.

There are mainly two effective ways of convincing others. The first way is by skillful speech as most merchants do but more effectively the second way is by personal example as most great personalities and leaders would prefer. The secret of success in commercial salesmanship is to work on human weaknesses of greed and vanity as well as to manipulate the gray areas of the law and only speak of the favourable facts about one's products and services. Therefore, most dubious commercial skills for convincing others are morally questionable. However successful such commercial skills are they can nevertheless only work in the short run. Sooner or later smart consumers can tell the difference between good and bad products or services. It is only by steadfast propagation of morally defensible principles and through personal examples of putting them into practice that will effectively and irretrievably convince others of the viability of your ideas. Thus, as the cliche goes :- " Honesty is always the best policy " especially when supported by personal example to give them credibility.

JKHC

Thoughts to you from yours truly - ( 71 ) - May 1, 2011

Thoughts to You from Yours Truly - ( TYYT ) - ( 71 ) - Why is Asking Why Important ? - May 1, 2011

One of the greatest philosophers of all times, Socrates famously said that :- " The unexamined life is not worth living. " ( one of my own favourite quotations ). After examining life perhaps one will get the truth or at least one's own version of the truth and then the truth will set you free ! Then again, perhaps not in every case as even the great Socrates himself was executed by the state for propagating the truth and accused of misleading the younger generation. Despite the tragic fate of Socrates his protege Plato as well as Plato's student Aristotle all faithfully followed his love for the truth. Aristotle was recorded as having said this about his teacher, Plato :- " Plato is dear to me, but dearer still is truth. " The logic seems to be that by asking WHY ( examining one's life ) it leads to the TRUTH and knowing the truth ( or true purpose in life ) will lead to PEACE of mind. That is why the truth will set you free !

While I totally subscribe to the " why-truth-peace " logic yours truly is a bit more greedy in life. In my humble opinion, knowing your purpose in life is just the " necessary " condition for gaining peace of mind. The " sufficient " condition is to do your utmost to achieve that purpose which is destined for you. Regardless of success or failure in fulfilling that purpose it seems fair to say that trying one's utmost in achieving one's purpose in life is the hallmark of a successful life. Thus, it is abundantly clear to me that everyone can be successful in life if one has tried his or her best to achieve one's own goal in life. Coming back to the subject of this blog, namely, the importance of asking why, I will just say this. Without asking why there can be no success in life and no peace of mind when we pass on. It is as simple as that.

JKHC