Some things have changed, or have they ?!
An ordering in society by wealth is no longer tenable. The idea was put in place by the British rulers. They enforced it as they were in power. It wasn't their withdrawal, but later when these subjugated peoples traveled and observed the way of life in Western countries, that they could tell that this was not only artificial, but wrongfully imposed. To the extent that following generations in the western countries felt disadvantaged by what their forefathers had done, and wished to quickly bring in some other measure of what is better and what is less so.
You might be struck by this if you watch 'Talent shows' like American Idol or X Factor and many others that have come up, as have their counter-parts in countries far flung like Indonesia, Turkey, Philippines and Ukraine. The audience participates in choosing the winners, and the favored are those who have been least fortunate in their circumstances and of disadvantaged situations.
The earlier criterion of talent alone is not acceptable. There is so much advantage that those in better circumstances have to nurture their abilities. Instead, those who wish to take their natural gifts to greater heights and do so in spite of their daunting surroundings, are the ones most worthy of being given a helping hand up.
In opening themselves to an easy access by those who had until recently been kept under by them, western countries acknowledge this need for a better measure. And it is not forcefully enforced either but a consequence of withdrawing the strait jackets of the past. When there is a free and open communication between countries from deep West to deep East, something fair in nature emerges in time.
The person sweeping the road outside or the boys carrying gas-cylinders, or even the persons driving your cars have long been wondering. What is it that these people have that we don't? It is time to acknowledge that actually there is little that entitles us to sit in drawing rooms, while they labor with such unequal compensation. And should we still insist on holding up any reasons for this distinction, then we are bigots, and will lose respect of ourselves as we are forced to acknowledge that others did so long ago.
An ordering in society by wealth is no longer tenable. The idea was put in place by the British rulers. They enforced it as they were in power. It wasn't their withdrawal, but later when these subjugated peoples traveled and observed the way of life in Western countries, that they could tell that this was not only artificial, but wrongfully imposed. To the extent that following generations in the western countries felt disadvantaged by what their forefathers had done, and wished to quickly bring in some other measure of what is better and what is less so.
You might be struck by this if you watch 'Talent shows' like American Idol or X Factor and many others that have come up, as have their counter-parts in countries far flung like Indonesia, Turkey, Philippines and Ukraine. The audience participates in choosing the winners, and the favored are those who have been least fortunate in their circumstances and of disadvantaged situations.
The earlier criterion of talent alone is not acceptable. There is so much advantage that those in better circumstances have to nurture their abilities. Instead, those who wish to take their natural gifts to greater heights and do so in spite of their daunting surroundings, are the ones most worthy of being given a helping hand up.
In opening themselves to an easy access by those who had until recently been kept under by them, western countries acknowledge this need for a better measure. And it is not forcefully enforced either but a consequence of withdrawing the strait jackets of the past. When there is a free and open communication between countries from deep West to deep East, something fair in nature emerges in time.
The person sweeping the road outside or the boys carrying gas-cylinders, or even the persons driving your cars have long been wondering. What is it that these people have that we don't? It is time to acknowledge that actually there is little that entitles us to sit in drawing rooms, while they labor with such unequal compensation. And should we still insist on holding up any reasons for this distinction, then we are bigots, and will lose respect of ourselves as we are forced to acknowledge that others did so long ago.
