How We Could've Changed the Culture But Didn't.

[Ken Leung]

Thank you, M, for posting your thoughts. I’ve always enjoyed Chief Delphi Forum in the way it let you communicate with the rest of the world, even at the worst of times when I feel lonely and insignificant. It makes me happy to know that others are doing the same thing. (and if you are looking for perfect grammar and spelling from my posts, forget it, I don’t speak English)

I want to address some of the stuff you talked about in your post (I don’t think I could ever write as much meaningful words as you did in this thread), specifically the part about changing the culture.

How long do you expect anyone need to change the culture? 1 year? 5 years? 10 years? How long did you think it took for humanity to evolve from Stone Age to the present age of technology? Granted, we are now capable of reaching everyone in the world with a simple phone call, or through the internet. Granted, we are now much more educated and enlightened then when our ancestors throw rocks at animals. But the same education and advancements are also hindering our effort to look at the bigger picture.

Our mind is a collection of all our experiences through out our lives, and we react to things in the world based on what those experiences tell us. Base on that, can you really expect everyone coming into this program to set aside every thing they’ve been taught for the past 10~20 years, and think with a mind as open-minded as a new born child? You are partially right, in that “It’s not that people aren’t capable of understanding that potential, but that they’re lazy, and that they’re operating within parameters established by the conventional.” But I would say that it’s not easy understanding the potential of what FIRST is capable of, ESPECIALLY because people have been operating within parameters established by the conventional, by the culture, by the society, by the environment around them. The very environment taught them that “this is how it is around the world.”

Some of them could perceive that potential, if they want to, but they don’t, because they are comfortable with the current situation of their lives. Some of them see FIRST as a new hobby to focus their talents in… Some of them see FIRST as something new they can bring to their students… And sometimes that’s as far as you can get to when you are trying to change people’s mind. You have to understand that not everyone is as perceptive as others in this world.

You said that “I’ve come to realize that FIRST is as deeply entrenched in the same convention and culture as the society it’s trying to change.” That is true too. Dean, Woodie, and FIRST staffs aren’t saints. They can not give the command “throw away all your previous experience and listen to our words as the truth of the universe”, and expect everyone to follow. That doesn’t mean they don’t want to do that. Their goal is still to steer our future as far away from the conventions in our current society as possible. But the end result doesn’t dictate how they have to be at the beginning. One of the more effective ways of accomplishing that is to work with the system, not change the system right away.

FIRST’s potential to change the world is still there. Heck, every human being has the potential to change the world, as long as the world still exist. Realistically, though, I don’t expect me, or Dean, or anyone out there to change the world into a better place in, say… 50 years. Does it mean human beings are incapable of changing the world? No. Does this mean we will trying very hard despite the slow results? You betcha.


I want to share something tonight, just like M did, about myself and an ideal I have. I shared a little bit in another thread already (see one of the closed thread in off season competition). I am convinced that human beings have the potential to be successful, and to continue to go on generations after generations, being more and more successful every time we learn something about ourselves and our goal. I have a dream where human being only spend time and resources to help each other out, and help the specie evolve into something better. No more fighting because there isn’t enough to go around. No more fighting because some of us want to be 1000000 times richer than others.

Do humanity have a chance in achieving that? I think so, as long as we don’t blow ourselves up with the weapons we have. Is it an unrealistic goal to achieve within my life time? I think so too. But knowing that doesn’t stop me from working hard to get humanity just a little closer to that goal. I understand what kind of challenges I am faced with. I understand how the existing system resists changes. I understand not everyone share my point of view. But I know I am also willing to be open-minded. Let my ideals be a guiding light in front of me whenever I am faced with different opinions, or challenges along the path. The guiding light tell me I do not yet know everything I need to know to accomplish my goal, but it also tell me that as long as I do some thinking of my own, I will see truth in everything that’s going to pass me by until I perishes away and go back to being part of the universe again. With that guiding light, I know I will continue to work hard toward that dream of mine, no matter how far it is.

Perfection is always used as a guideline when defining a goal… The same perfection that’s very real, but intangible at the same time. I understand that perfection sometimes is impossible to achieve. But, as long as I work hard reaching toward getting closer to that perfection, I think I am doing an ok job, and hopefully I can look myself in the mirror, and into the eyes of my friends and close ones, and not feel ashamed that I am just letting my life slip by.