Why Go TO University?

                                                                                         Moti Nissani, USA (1947 - )

Summary in English

"Why Go To University?" is an essay by Moti Nissani about the significance of University education. In general, university is a place where we get higher education. Knowledge is a wealth of an individual for healthy life where one can understand about his/her freedom, rights and justice. Simply an educated man is considered as a prestigious one in a society through the achievement of knowledge or education.

Going to university creates the additional stresses in our life because knowledge is a means of happiness. Nissani says that university education provides job opportunities, income sources and opportunity for right career. Education people are less likely to be deceived because education makes people tolerant, humble, knowledgeable, critical, witty and less superstitious. They are also likely to live meaningful life because educated people can resolve their problem easily.

University education makes people to have a balance between health and wealth because it teaches them that sound mind lies on sound body. It offers a change to expand our social horizon by facilitating us meet people from the world and helps us understand the culture, religion, tradition, politics and many other things about the world. In short, university education enhances our understanding about ourselves and world we are living in.   

Then and Now: Finding My Voice

                                                                                 Elaine H. Kim. Korea (1962 - )

Summary in English

This essay is a bitter satire on the American based on racism and sexism. The essayist, Dr. Kim tries to represent how the non-western, non-whites, Jews, women and the African-Americans are suppressed, insulted and deprived of their rights, freedom and justice by the cruel and selfish whites. To support her argument, she recollects her childhood experience where she was discriminated for being Asian and a woman. She claims that she has a bitter experience of all kinds of discrimination in American society which she hates too much. Dr. Kim is an American born Korean-American writer. She loves fortune telling of all kinds-Chinese or Korean astrology, plan reading and visiting Buddhist temple. When she was young, a male fortune teller told her that her life would be full of disaster. On the other hand, a woman fortune teller told her that her life would be full of fun. She assumes that both are right. Dr. Kim attends in the party sponsored by the Korean Community Centre in Oakland where she meets ten fortune tellers. She asks one of them to tell her fortune. He says that all her goals and ideas are shaped between the ages of twelve and seventeen. Then, she disagrees because that period is the unhappiest and most difficult period in her life. She says that it is not true because in her teenage she faced many hardships and challenges. Between the ages of twelve and seventeen, she was living in America with her parents during the devastating war in Korea in the 1950s. She could not enjoy a lot in her house because her house was full of Korea refugees. It was very difficult for her mother to feed the crowd and do the washing-up. Similarly, between those ages, she was studying at American school but that was also not good. She claims that she was double discriminated for being an Asian and for being a woman. Her white friends used to insult, dominate and humiliate her. So, she takes the period 1950s, as the period of violence and outright discrimination for many people of color. Her future says that there was a mismatch between the people and culture in her house about what was going on in Korea. It was the time when millions of Korea were killed and millions of families were displaced. But in the outside world, the America used to believe that Korea is either in China or Japan. Similarly, they used to claim that most of the great discoveries and invention are made by the Americans and Europeans. She was taught suck kind of education at school. At school, the writer as a girl and being an Asian, she was called "Chink" or "Jap" as an insult. Even after being invited by white friends, their mothers would send her not to visit again. In those days, most Americans treated Asian as foreigners and she was no exception. Determined to be popular, her goal was to become a cheerleader which was impossible for non-Americans like her. She worked hard and became a cheerleader. Though she became cheerleader which made her parents very happy, she still felt regretted for being Korea. However, the selfish and cruel American white discriminated, dominated and tortured the Asians, non-Western, non-whites, Jews and Afro-Americans. Thus, by learning about history, she learnt about racism and struggle for equality and social justice, which helped her better understand the circumstance for her teenage years, the US's involvement in Korea war, the reason of her parents to come to America and why America treated her as a foreigner. So, the experience of her childhood stimulated her to work and education people against racism and sexism.  

The Sword of Damocles

                                                                                            Source: Greek Legend

Summary in English

'The Sword of Damocles' is a Greek Legend. Represents the ancient background of time when there was autocracy in Sicily. In addition, this story is a satirical that teaches us that boundless property and power does not necessarily bring true happiness and satisfaction.  Dionysius was the king of Sicily in the 4th century B.C. He was famous for his harshness towards people. Most of the people had a fear that they would suffer at the hands of the king if unfortunately they would fall in his power. Therefore, he was disliked by almost all the people because of his cruelty and autocracy. Similarly, he was equally fearful thinking that his enemies would kill him anytime if they got an opportunity because he held mighty power by inspiring terror.

In spite of his autocratic/tyrannical nature, Dionysius loved the company of intellectual people who were famous in science, letters and arts. Like other kings, King Dionysius had also a great number of flatters. Among them, the most famous was Damocles. He used to sing the false song about the glory, honor, destiny, power and wealth of the king. He used to say that kings, in general, have great happiness and comfort. He said that there could be no greater happiness in the world than to sit upon the throne of Sicily.

However, Dionysius was very careful, self-conscious of all kinds of dangers and flattery. Tired from the flattery of Damocles, Dionysius decided to teach him a good moral lesson. Then, king said that he would offer Damocles the position of the king of Sicily. He was sure that Damocles would resign from the throne very soon. Damocles sat on the throne with a heavy golden crown just over his dead. He was proud of being the king of Sicily. He was given the same honor by the people there that King Dionysius used to get.

Despite his excitement and extreme happiness, Damocles turned his head all around and found a naked sword hanging by a thin thread from the ceiling right above his head. He was nervous and frightened. He realized that the sword might fall upon him anytime and that he would be killed immediately. He wanted to give up the throne but the king did not permit. He had to stay in the throne until the feast was over. He requested the king to shift him to another place, but the king refused it. Damocles had to remain in a state of terror for hours. During that period, he felt that death was dancing in front of his eyes. He thought that he was going to be killed. Anyway, Dionysius requested Damocles to have courage to face danger. He was very coward by heart.

When the feast was over, he immediately left the throne and became glad to live the life of ordinary people. He learnt that a man can't remain happy despite having ultimate wealth. He also understood that it is easy to flatter to powerful and honorable people but it is difficult for them to maintain the position. He said that all kings and people of high positions live under the same risk of life. So, power and wealth does not necessarily bring the happiness and satisfaction.  

The Cricket

                                                                     P'u Sung-ling, China (1640 – 1715)

Summary in English

This story is based on the Chinese about cricket fighting that began from the Tang Dynasty. It also shows the cultural importance of cricket fight along with the faith on lick and coincidence. It is a bitter satire against the Chinese communism of the past based on dictatorship. In an autocratic system of government, one does not feel security and freedom without any obvious reason, people get punished and torture. They cannot go against the rulers. Therefore, this story is trying to show the importance of freedom.

Cricket fighting was very famous during Ming reign in Chinese Court. Each year ordinary people needed to supply cricket for rich men to test in the battle. In Floral Shade, Magistrate wanted favour from his superiors. He managed on mighty warrior, by which he got appointed a royal supplier of crickets to the court. Naturally the Magistrate handed over this responsibility to neighborhoods heads. Soon crickets became rare and valuable in the country. Many young people kept crickets secretly to sell them at high price. The local government officials searched their houses, took away valuable things and ruined several families while searching for the cricket collections.

In Floral Shade, there used to live an ordinary person named Mr. Make-good. He was appointed as a Neighborhood Head to collect outstanding specimen of cricket to fulfill the quota demanded by the Magistrate and the governor. Mr. Make-good could not fulfill the quota as a result, he was severely punished. He was given 100 strokes. Blood run down from his knees. He was badly wounded. Being entrapped in this frustrating situation, he wanted to die. However, his wife convinced him rather to look for cricket himself with the hope of luck.

Meanwhile a famous fortune teller came to that village. Her door was crowded with people. Mrs. Make-good also went there with some money to offer. When she offered the money and bowed her head, the shook and a place of paper feel in front of her feet. There was just a picture of a neglected shrine behind a small mountain. The rocks were among trees and there was a greenhead cricket sitting near a frog. Being puzzled Make-good's wife returned home to show the paper to her husband. On the paper, there was a Buddhist temple and behind it, there was a large cricket in the thicket. Mr. Make-good understood the meaning of the picture. Then, he followed the instruction and went there behind the Buddhist temple. He really found a large cricket in the bush. Being overjoyed, he captured it and returned back to home. He took good care of it.

One day, his 9 years old son uncovered cricket. Then, it jumped away. The desperate boy hunted it and trapped it under his hand. It was dead. The son frightening with his father run away and jumped away into a wall where Mr.  Make-good found him dead there. So, his anger to him turned into grief.

Mr. and Mrs. Make-good took their son to be buried. Surprisingly, there was a slight sign of breathing. They became happy at this condition and took their son back home and put on the bed. Gradually, he came back to senses.

However, Mr. Make-good was still worried about the lost cricket. But fortunately he found a small cricket next morning. Anyway, he thought the authorities might not be happy with him because of being the cricket very small. But one day small cricket defeated all other larger crickets in the battle. The winner of his cricket made Mr. Make-good very happy.

Next day, Mr. Make-good brought his small cricket to the Magistrate and governor. In the battle, the small cricket became the victorious. The emperor was so happy with Mr. Make-good that he was awarded with several prizes including university degree. He received land, building, sheep and oxen, too. After one year, his son's health and spirit got restored. Finally, Mr. Make-good leads a luxurious life like noblemen of his place.    

Smarter Kids, Brought to You by the Letter T and V

                                                                   Dimitri A. Christakis, Greece (1937 - )

Summary in English

This essay talks about the advantages of TV for the children. The writer tries to prove to be false of some of the myths or foolish ideas related to TV viewing. Modern TV culture makes the kids smart. Some TV programmes improve children's cognitive abilities. Parents and children can watch programmes which are good for them. There are many misconceptions about children watching television. In 1970s, there was a popular misconception that television was bad for eyes. But TV is a great scientific achievement; it is not a curse to mankind. Today, most people know that television viewing does not cause vision problem. The writer tries to make the false assumption of the following myths related to TV viewing: 

TV makes kids dumb.

This is a false assumption. If children are allowed to watch high quality programs, they will never be dumb. In fact, children watching educational programmes can have the higher grades, read more books and become more creative.

TV makes kids violent.

Watching TV does not make children violent. The problem is that children are watching violence and sex inappropriate for their age. Therefore, beneficial programs should be designed for the children.

Education videos make infants smarter.

No programme designed for kids younger than 2 can help them at all. In another words, the infants below three years of age should not be allowed to watch TV or videos because their cognitive ability will be badly affected by it.

Sitting around watching TV instead of playing outside make kids overweight.

TV does not make kids overweight. In fact, kids are encouraged to eat more while watching TV. Similarly, it is also habitual on the part of the children that they eat more while they are watching shows.

Television helps kids get to sleep.

It is also false statement. TV does not help the kids get to sleep rather disturbs their sleep. The more television children watch, the more likely they are to have irregular sleep and nap patterns.

Kids watch too much television.

The main problem is 'what' and 'how' kids watch TV. If they watch high quality programmes with parents, it is not harmful. 

Mr. Know-All

                                                   William Somerset Maugham, England (1874 – 1965)

Summary in English

"Mr. Know-All" is a short story by Somerset Maugham. This story represents humanity and love in the one hand, so-called racial discrimination and prejudices in the another hand. Therefore, the story portrays the conflict between reality and appearance. In addition, it reflects the human nature and character where most hated people can be humble.

The narrator of the story is going to Yokohama of Japan from San Francisco, America. He catches the ship where he meets the stranger named Mr. Max Kelada. From the very beginning, the narrator dislikes. He shows his identity of English nationality. Though Mr. Kelada is black and hated by him and other people, he is closer to him as well as with others. He is talkative and funny. Despite Mr. Kelada is the best subject of hatred from all people, he is everywhere and always knows everything. So, he is nicknamed as "Mr. Know-All".

"Mr. Know-All" is hearty and argumentative. He is the native of the Middle West. One evening there is a great debate between Mrs. Ramsay and Mr. Know-All. Mrs. Ramsay is the American Consular service posted at Kobe, Japan. Mr. Kelada claims that the price of pears of Mrs. Ramsay is very expensive, heavily costs about $ 30,000. At the same time, Mr. Ramsay informs him that Mrs. Ramsay bought those pearls in $18 only. As they discuss, both of them bet $100 for this necklace.

As Mr. Kelada observes the pearls by his magnifying glass, he knows the pearls real that makes him cheerful smile. He becomes ready to reveal the truth to Mrs. Ramsay but her eyes are different to tell the truth. He looks at Mrs. Ramsay's white face with fear. Similarly, Mr. Ramsay says that those pearls are not original but only the imitation of the original ones. Looking at such, Mr. Kelada loses the bet and pays the money to Mr. Ramsay. It is because he wants to see the happy married life of Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay.

In the next morning, an envelope is slipped in with $100 inside and sent the address of Mr. Kelada. After opening letter, Mr. Kelada becomes happy. At the end Mr. Know-All says that if he has a pretty little wife, he shouldn't let her spend a years in New York, America while he stays at Kobe, Japan. Listening such wonderful statement, the narrator knows how frank, talkative and lovable "Mr. Know-All" to see the conjugal life Mrs. Ramsay and Mr. Ramsay. 

The Four-Tusked Elephant

                                                                                            Armand Denis, Belgium (1896 – 1971)

Summary in English

"The Four-Tusked Elephant" is a research based essay that sheds light on the procedure of scientific discovery, high adventure and single minded pursuit of truth. It really starts from the educated guess. The writer describes his interesting and challenging experience in Ituri forest of Congo. He tries to resolve the mysteries about the existence of four-tusked elephant. Curiosity and determination are required for such hard work.

Denis as the narrator was making a Safari with his friends Putman and Texan. They have hard about the four tusked elephant that lived in the forest. They pygmies and other people believed that the four-tusked elephant was the king all the elephants and it was very dangerous. According to them, it used to talk in human language. The four tusked elephant could see the things the other elephants could not see. The elephant had come and spoiled their hunt many times in the forest. It had killed many people. Therefore, they kept well away from it. They could not kill with their spears an elephant with four tusked.

One day, the narrator asked his friend Putnam about it since he was talking to the pygmies about several animals they had hunted. But Putnam told the narrator that he should believe in it only after he himself had seen it. Then, Denis asked every pygmy but those they were living in Ituri Forest believed that the elephant existed and they were scared of it. Thus, the narrator collected a lot of information about the elephant, for that he also made hypothesis. Then, he decided to venture the place. He went to the place with the help of three pygmies.

After few days, they found a large elephant in the bushes. It was with a group of elephants eating tree branches. As he observed it, the writer got hopeless and thought that the king was mere a myth because it had only two tasks. After six months, the writer again heard some Belgian sellers talking about four tasked elephant in a hotel. According to them Mombeli was a man who found it. So, the writer became more curious to know about the matter. Then, he met Mombeli where he told that he really found the elephant with four tasks near a stream. The narrator promised to give Mombeli some objects like lantern like flashlight, wrist watch if he brought the head of the elephant. However, he captured tusks of elephant sold by Mombeli.

Finally, the narrator realized the truth. The narrator went to New York with the skull. In the Museum, he tired to fit all the four tusks in to the sockets of the skull one by one. The first three tusks fitted perfectly well, but the last one did fit. It was not like normally shaped tusks i.e. unlike others, it pointed inwards. He had finally solved the mystery of the elephant king of the Ituri forest.