Monday, October 26, 2009

Scholars are supposed to make the world better

A debate on how irrelevant the ranking of the universities in terms of their contribution to the world, especially those living in the third world countries brings me to the attention of the truth that education should not be regarded with such a high esteem if it does not affect the condition of the people at large. 95% of the top universities listed are from the countries whom their citizens enjoy more than what they need. This is unfair when other human-beings on the planet are still struggling to even have basic necessities in life like water and food.

How possibly could something like this happened? Knowledge, by nature are supposed to make life's easier. It is supposed to improve lives of not only people at certain countries but also the world as a whole. Knowledge is supposed to empower people. It's true but saddening to know that it is just merely a tool to dominate other people. It might only be used as a medium of oppression. It is exploited as a mean to gain control over those who have nothing. It is only to enrich other already rich people. A case of the rich gets richer, the poor gets poorer.

What is the purpose of having so many scholars in many different fields when we still have kids in Africa suffering from malnutrition and the Palestinians whom Barack Obama once regarded (while he wasn't the President) as the most suffering people on Earth, still fighting for their right to have their land back.

Above all, maybe there is something that we can learn. Knowledge is powerful and this stresses the fact that it is of pivotal importance for our nation to be equipped with as many knowledge as possible to flourish. And we can be a kind nation by utilising what we have (knowledge) to create a world where everything is just. It might sound impossible but indeed it is if these powerful tools are possessed by those who are sincere and do everything for the right reasons.


[i think with regards to this matter, people will blame politics first because it might be the root of the problem]