Cultural dignity and different human approaches to survival
By Graham C. Lim
Bangkok --- This is feel-good story of cultural prowess in human disability and dignity and gratifying humanitarian contributions to society by way of entertaining people from all walks of life.
Most of these marginalized people are blind, simply bystanders roaming everywhere from the busy city streets, nearby subway station or shopping malls to the crowded public market and traffic-infested thorough fares.
“The Sun rise high, the drift woods dry fast”
“The burning sun keeps the body heat”
“Skin turns dark to black mole”
Battling poverty day in and day out and humbling themselves by singing and playing the saxophone or guitar, or selling street food if not lotto tickets, this is their genuine unadulterated approach to humanity, amusing well-off or more privilege people of their skillful acts but also hurting inside because of their harrowing conditions.
To me, they are the brave with disabilities who are willing to work doubly hard any which way just to make both ends meet, accepting the daily challenge in life and never surrendering to the hardships come what may.
How different these poverty-riddled men and women of the streets when compared to better-equipped people who keep on complaining of low wages, traffic woes and other miniscule inconveniences but unwilling to persevere and make sacrifices and work even harder to improve their lives.
A gentle smile I greet them, if not drop a coin or two, in appreciation of these underprivileged people, which I hold in high esteem.
Happy I feel also when they acknowledge my help, no big deal as it is.
There are cultural differences among the social classes in society.
The rich have become richer but the poor remain as poor in many parts of the world.
Among the poor, there are still those who have remained dignified, honest, brave and sincere through all the hardships they have gone through.
That’s because they continue to cherish “life” in its barest sense.
For in the end, life is what we make out of it.
(Thailand, May 27, 2017)
By Graham C. Lim
Bangkok --- This is feel-good story of cultural prowess in human disability and dignity and gratifying humanitarian contributions to society by way of entertaining people from all walks of life.
Most of these marginalized people are blind, simply bystanders roaming everywhere from the busy city streets, nearby subway station or shopping malls to the crowded public market and traffic-infested thorough fares.
“The Sun rise high, the drift woods dry fast”
“The burning sun keeps the body heat”
“Skin turns dark to black mole”
Battling poverty day in and day out and humbling themselves by singing and playing the saxophone or guitar, or selling street food if not lotto tickets, this is their genuine unadulterated approach to humanity, amusing well-off or more privilege people of their skillful acts but also hurting inside because of their harrowing conditions.
To me, they are the brave with disabilities who are willing to work doubly hard any which way just to make both ends meet, accepting the daily challenge in life and never surrendering to the hardships come what may.
How different these poverty-riddled men and women of the streets when compared to better-equipped people who keep on complaining of low wages, traffic woes and other miniscule inconveniences but unwilling to persevere and make sacrifices and work even harder to improve their lives.
A gentle smile I greet them, if not drop a coin or two, in appreciation of these underprivileged people, which I hold in high esteem.
Happy I feel also when they acknowledge my help, no big deal as it is.
There are cultural differences among the social classes in society.
The rich have become richer but the poor remain as poor in many parts of the world.
Among the poor, there are still those who have remained dignified, honest, brave and sincere through all the hardships they have gone through.
That’s because they continue to cherish “life” in its barest sense.
For in the end, life is what we make out of it.
(Thailand, May 27, 2017)