Home » Opinion » Foreign Views
Dad, we chat 3G, what else can I do?
By Tseng Tan |
April 10, 2012, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
HOW many truly filial children are there in this world?
A friend had just returned from a business trip in Yangon on Monday evening (March 26). He sent me an e-mail message of his trip, with this line "How many truly filial children are there in this world?"
Jimmy Chang, an entrepreneur in his 60s, mentioned that as usual he visited the old folks' home run by a charity. A few of the old folks there remembered him and some held his hands to thank him for visiting and giving them presents. Some even prayed and one toothless lady told him that she was praying for him every day.
The Home Supervisor Thant, who was accompanying JC, made a surprising remark that he himself would be one of the residents in that home in future. JC was taken aback. Thant has two wonderful children studying overseas. The children upon returning are likely to be the cream of society, yet he thought that when he grows old, he would not want to be a burden to his children.
While in Yangon, JC also visited a friend whose daughter flew back from Switzerland to take care of him. He had terminal fourth-stage colon cancer that was unoperable. He told JC that his daughter was leaving for the Swiss capital the following week. She had a career in Basel. JC could see moist tears welling up in his friend's eyes.
Interestingly, filial piety has become a hot issue in Taiwan after a video of Ting Tsu-chi, a middle-aged man carrying his frail mother in a cotton sling cradle into the Chi Mei Hospital went viral. It touched the hearts of people all over Taiwan. He has been called the 25th filial exemplar, a reference to a classic text - The 24 exemplars of filial piety - written by Guo Jujing (Yuan Dynasty 1271-1368 AD). Evidently, Ting's case is a rarity in this inter-connected world.
How can our children be more caring like Ting Tsu-chi? According to one Western research study, a decisive influence on children's moral behavior is what adults expect of them and these expectations vary widely across cultures.
The most caring children are from societies in which children are assigned tasks such as caring for younger children and gathering and preparing food. These children know that their work makes a positive contribution to the well-being or survival of the family. In cultures that stress individual achievement and self-advancement, then taking care of others has a lower priority.
In Singapore, it is common to see school children being accompanied to school by their maids, who also carry their school bags. In a recent widely circulated photograph, a young army recruit was using his mobile phone with his maid following behind, carrying his heavy camouflage army duffle bag! How would these children turn out in the future?
My friend, Gordon was in Singapore recently for a minor operation. While waiting for the nurse to wheel him into the operation theater, his only son called him from Manchester. With 3G connectivity, father and son were able to have a face-to-face talk. Before hanging up, Gordon asked, "Son, when are you coming to Singapore?"
"Daddy, what can I do there?" was the reply from his only child. In this new 3G age, filial piety needs a new definition.
Tseng Tan is a senior HR training consultant from Singapore. The views are his own.
A friend had just returned from a business trip in Yangon on Monday evening (March 26). He sent me an e-mail message of his trip, with this line "How many truly filial children are there in this world?"
Jimmy Chang, an entrepreneur in his 60s, mentioned that as usual he visited the old folks' home run by a charity. A few of the old folks there remembered him and some held his hands to thank him for visiting and giving them presents. Some even prayed and one toothless lady told him that she was praying for him every day.
The Home Supervisor Thant, who was accompanying JC, made a surprising remark that he himself would be one of the residents in that home in future. JC was taken aback. Thant has two wonderful children studying overseas. The children upon returning are likely to be the cream of society, yet he thought that when he grows old, he would not want to be a burden to his children.
While in Yangon, JC also visited a friend whose daughter flew back from Switzerland to take care of him. He had terminal fourth-stage colon cancer that was unoperable. He told JC that his daughter was leaving for the Swiss capital the following week. She had a career in Basel. JC could see moist tears welling up in his friend's eyes.
Interestingly, filial piety has become a hot issue in Taiwan after a video of Ting Tsu-chi, a middle-aged man carrying his frail mother in a cotton sling cradle into the Chi Mei Hospital went viral. It touched the hearts of people all over Taiwan. He has been called the 25th filial exemplar, a reference to a classic text - The 24 exemplars of filial piety - written by Guo Jujing (Yuan Dynasty 1271-1368 AD). Evidently, Ting's case is a rarity in this inter-connected world.
How can our children be more caring like Ting Tsu-chi? According to one Western research study, a decisive influence on children's moral behavior is what adults expect of them and these expectations vary widely across cultures.
The most caring children are from societies in which children are assigned tasks such as caring for younger children and gathering and preparing food. These children know that their work makes a positive contribution to the well-being or survival of the family. In cultures that stress individual achievement and self-advancement, then taking care of others has a lower priority.
In Singapore, it is common to see school children being accompanied to school by their maids, who also carry their school bags. In a recent widely circulated photograph, a young army recruit was using his mobile phone with his maid following behind, carrying his heavy camouflage army duffle bag! How would these children turn out in the future?
My friend, Gordon was in Singapore recently for a minor operation. While waiting for the nurse to wheel him into the operation theater, his only son called him from Manchester. With 3G connectivity, father and son were able to have a face-to-face talk. Before hanging up, Gordon asked, "Son, when are you coming to Singapore?"
"Daddy, what can I do there?" was the reply from his only child. In this new 3G age, filial piety needs a new definition.
Tseng Tan is a senior HR training consultant from Singapore. The views are his own.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
