This I Believe

First.......... the young Chinese girl, I am not sure if all that is expected of her is truly her belief. Or maybe she is now influenced by western ways of thinking that she is questioning what has been "instilled" in her. I hear a young girl explaining what is the right way of doing things who seems to have different ideas about her future. I hear fear and pressure to do what is expected without any concern for what might best suit the individual. This young girl shows great strength and discipline but do we hear or sense any real happiness. The only happiness expressed is when the young woman has attained some sort of progress scholastically which is great.........yet those results were pretty much demanded.

I am saddened for this young girl. Strong beliefs are wonderful but in this case it has placed too much pressure on a person who has other interests and other talents that will be exhausted along the way due to what is expected by the family. We all know what it is like to do something we have to do rather than what we would like to do. How can someone live a life that is expected instead of following their personal goals or dreams?

Second............the Burma man, his belief was brought about due to a Buddhist monk who predicted that the feeding of monkeys every day on his birthday would ensure prosperity. Instilling this idea in the individual has pushed this man to find the strength and imagination in his search yearly for monkeys to feed. I admire his ability to feed monkeys every year but this is a discipline he has decided to adopt in an effort to maintain prosperity. He believes it is the right thing to do. He has made a committment to do this. Unlike the Chinese young girl who really has no choice but to do what is expected.

Third.............the young woman believes in the principles of karate-do, my dojo-kun. She has taken the time to decide what is best for her. She states, "I will seek perfection of character! Be faithful! Endeavor! Respect others! Refrain from violent behavior!" But here again, she decides what she wants to believe in. It is admirable how she endures the pain, bloody feet, and broken nose in an effort to attain achievment that an ancient system created for bodyguards. This woman chooses these beliefs. Again, unlike the young Chinese girl who has been brought up to do as is expected.

I think it is great to have specific beliefs or morals to live by and creating customs or traditions to carry on generation to generation. But, I do have a problem if someone is forced to do something they would not otherwise want to do. Or if the goals are too high for everyone to reach. Some religions have what I think of as "the fear of god". I do not think that using fear to motivate someone to do something will bring about the best results.