From ksaycoci@nermal.santarosa.eduThu May 4 21:05:57 1995 Date: 2 MAY 95 00:07:45 GMT From: Satjadham Newsgroups: soc.culture.laos Subject: Looking at Generation X through my 5 brothers Sajadham presents: Looking at Generation X through my 5 brothers PanAm arrived at the Milwaukee Airport after it had been a long, weary flight for me from Seattle - another transit from Hongkong and Bangkok respectively. Glancing at my watch, the small handle pointed to 10 (pm). While the plane was crawling to its gateway, my heart began to pound heavily. A little over 5 years had passed since I last saw my family. At that time, all of my 5 brothers were still little. Their ages ranged from 5 to 16. Looking at their picture taken recently, I saw that they had grown up. Still, I wondered what it would be like to see them again face to face. As soon as the plane had stopped, the passengers rushed out to the door. Because I and my another brother were seated at the rear of the airplane, we emerged out of the capsule the last. Needless to say that once our faces popped out, we were thronged immediately by our family members. My mom with tears in her eyes got to me first. Then, my two sisters and her families (two more sisters didn't come because they lived in a faraway Houston, Texas).Lastly, came my 5 brothers all in smile. To tell the truth, I hardly recognized them . In fact, one of them was even taller than me. To say the least, I was elated to see them again. I thought from now on, we would be close as we used to be but things turned out to be different than what I had in mind. Before, they were simple. Their essences were manifested in their beings. Now, they identified themselves with the fancy clothes, the stylish hairdo, the fast car, the cute girls, the adrenaline-pumping sport, the wild party, the enticing movie, the loud stereo, and the rock-n-roll music, - to be short the entertainment stuff. Is there something wrong with this picture? In one sense,it is not. It is just part of the growing up process especially in this culture where those stuffs become the acceptable norms. But on the other hand, there is something not right about it. Maybe, becasue I set the standard too high for them. I always think that, as Lao people, they should remind themselves that their country is still underdeveloped and their people are still poor. What they need to do is to commit themselves to study and care less about those stuffs. Or maybe, because another angle of seeing life tells me that their path is diametrically at odds with the possible assimilation of Prajna when needed. I think they shouldn't unreservingly numb themselves to the potential flowering of this profound wisdom. From 1985 to 1988, I lived under the same roof with them. I had to say that not a day passed without having bombarded by the loud noise of their amplifiers. Sometimes, both the TV and the stereo competed with one another so noisily that I couldn't figure out what kind of special ears they had. Then, weekend came especially on Saturday nights, that was time for the party! Just out of curiosity, I once went to the party with them. I would say that I saw lots of our youths over there than any other places I went. Looking at their faces, most were teenagers. Some were in the 20s. Listening to what they talked, I knew that they met one another quite often at a place like this. Just to get in the party, one had to pay $5. To me, that was quite a lot of money. I really wondered where they got the money to spend. Most of them still went to high school and didn't work yet so it might be their moms who got the dubious privilege of providing them with this kind of luxury. I asked myself: what on earth made them be like this? Was it because this was the land of the free? Free to do whatever one liked? I knew, by nature, their hearts were made out of gold. If only, here was their country which they could, flesh and bones, felt connected to. If only, their dad was still alive and could guide them with vision. If only, ... things would have been different. Would that be the case? Ten years have gone by. I have a chance to witness another youngster, a younger brother of my wife, who still has both of his parents. Aside from his obsession with his look, he is not different though separated from place and time. To him like my 5 brothers and their friends, outer appearances and numerous gadgets seem to be the ultimate of their raison d'etre. I also heard from our expatriates visiting back home that those youngsters who stayed behind in Laos were, in some cases, even worse than those in here. For those who could afford, they frequented the bars - the destructive alien element in our culture. For those who couldn't, their hearts were longing to be here. There wasn't any trace of wisdom left even in our own land. What a sorrowful state indeed! The question is: where did the problem originate from? I would say that it originated from our acceptance of the prevailing paradigm which implies that one manifests oneself only by how much one consumes. This consumption is not only through the senses but it encompasses the realm of ideas and perceptions as well. Therefore, what we need to do is to make a 180 degree turn. That's right! A paradigm shift is what we badly need to ameliorate the situation which not only destroys our youths but other youths of different cultures as well. If you ask: what is the new paradigm? I would say that it is the caring of one another, the community-oriented, the-small-is-beautiful approach, and the-sacred-in-everythin mindset. Some might ask: Is it realistic? To this question, I would say that yes, it is realistic, and at the same time, it might not be viable for the society as a whole, but do we have to follow society whether to abide by our path or not? I know it's hard because we already internalize the prevalent values which just wouldn't let us see otherwise. Anyway,l hard is not impossible if we just commit ourselves to it. (Just think, if this younger generation like them don't give a damn about the fate of our country and people, who will?) One way to achieve this is to keep asking what we used to take for granted such as: the way we view and perceive things. We might not realize that our outlook was subtly dictated by our western education and lifestyle. Then, we go one step further to ask: isn't time that we go back and embrace what makes the man and woman of the old days stand firmly and proudly without covering themselves with all those superficialities. I think it's time that we steadfastly defy what's imposedly cut out for us. In fact, we should define our own reality, not the reality which is purposedly constructed to suit the needs of the system which want to permanently enslave us. Just think! IF we are really committed to bring about the best in human qualities, we could make a difference even in this short lifetime. Let's work together. Let's garner all the effort we could get, then this giant step, this radical shift of paradigm would have chance to give a new life, though still a dim one at the beginning, to those who otherwise were lost or wandered in this increasingly meaningless world. In July this year, PanAm will arrive again for the reuniting of all my family members to make the offerings to my deceased father. This time, it won't be in Milwaukee, Wisconsin but Houston, Texas. When that time arrives, it will have been at least another 5-year since I last saw my family. I am not sure whether they will be the same or change with timeas their ages are increasing. One thing I am sure is some of my brothers will be enrobing in Buddhadhamma yellow robes. I hope this sign will signify a new beginning of a long-awaited coming back home to their original nature. Hak phaang Kongkeo Saycocie P.S. I just want to make a point by talking about my brothers who, in fact, could be anyone's brothes and sisters. If I happen to berate them by any means, I am sorry. Let it be known that I love my brothers with all my heart!