I think people who wear motorcyle gear (body armour, flashy full-face helmets, leather jackets, driving boots and gloves, etc.) in this small Asian country are stupid. I don't think they're stupid because they want to protect themselves, but rather because it seems that they have the idea that since they're protecting themselves, they don't need to worry about the safety of others, and instead can zoom down the street at ludicrous speeds, weaving in and out of the already-insane traffic, and popping wheelies, even on the most pedestrian-crowded streets.
Soooo... having seen this display of testosterone many times (sorry, but I haven't caught a girl at it yet), I wasn't real surprised when my friend texted me the other night and told me she saw a guy in motorcycle garb doing something really weird. That is, until she told me what he was doing...
He was wearing a giant bear head.
Go figure.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Turning the tides
Living in a culture that is male-dominated to the extreme, it's fun to catch little glimpses where the tables are turned.
Last night, while walking my dog in the park, there was a middle-aged woman, teaching two middle-aged men how to ballroom dance on the rollerblade court. It was obvious they had much less experience than her. And wonder of wonders, they were listening to her every word. Trying to immitate her every gesture, rather than telling her how it should be done, even though they knew nothing about it.
I smiled (a little gleefully I'll admit), as I quietly observed the planet earth turn upside down, and the Asian concept of face fall from the two gentlemen unheeded, as they openly allowed themselves to be teachable. To be taught.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not looking for the tides to turn, and females to dominate, to domineer. I'm looking for honesty. I'm looking for teachability.
If we can actually bring ourselves, men or women, to the point where we can admit that we don't know it all, that we can learn from another person, how free we would feel! How wise we would become!
As a westerner, I often hear this concept preached, but rarely see it practiced. I can feel the chagrin when I correct someone on some meaningless fact that I just happen to know more about. I can feel myself fight the chagrin when someone corrects me, and I know they're right. As a friend of mine once said, "Anyone who is willing to admit something about themselves nowadays, is GOLD for those of us who are searching."
If you, like I, are feeling a bit jaded about the lack of teachability in the world, and would love to hear someone who agrees with you, check out the Bible's take on this in the first chapter (and maybe even the second) of Proverbs. If you're searching for the source of that GOLD, you will find it here:
Just get ready to find out you may also have two left feet you never knew about, and find your toes getting stepped on.
Last night, while walking my dog in the park, there was a middle-aged woman, teaching two middle-aged men how to ballroom dance on the rollerblade court. It was obvious they had much less experience than her. And wonder of wonders, they were listening to her every word. Trying to immitate her every gesture, rather than telling her how it should be done, even though they knew nothing about it.
I smiled (a little gleefully I'll admit), as I quietly observed the planet earth turn upside down, and the Asian concept of face fall from the two gentlemen unheeded, as they openly allowed themselves to be teachable. To be taught.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not looking for the tides to turn, and females to dominate, to domineer. I'm looking for honesty. I'm looking for teachability.
If we can actually bring ourselves, men or women, to the point where we can admit that we don't know it all, that we can learn from another person, how free we would feel! How wise we would become!
As a westerner, I often hear this concept preached, but rarely see it practiced. I can feel the chagrin when I correct someone on some meaningless fact that I just happen to know more about. I can feel myself fight the chagrin when someone corrects me, and I know they're right. As a friend of mine once said, "Anyone who is willing to admit something about themselves nowadays, is GOLD for those of us who are searching."
If you, like I, are feeling a bit jaded about the lack of teachability in the world, and would love to hear someone who agrees with you, check out the Bible's take on this in the first chapter (and maybe even the second) of Proverbs. If you're searching for the source of that GOLD, you will find it here:
Just get ready to find out you may also have two left feet you never knew about, and find your toes getting stepped on.
Monday, March 13, 2006
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