While I walked around the campus, surrounded by
the
beautiful ornaments and bouquets in
preparation
for the graduation ceremony,
I wonder whether I should feel happy or sad for this special event.
Should I feel happy because the institution provides
the best
possible education for our next generation?
Or should I feel sad because the graduation ceremony is
just a
mean to provide "honorary degree" to the influential people?
While the graduating class becomes part of the ornaments and
bouquets.
Should I feel happy because the honorary degree is bestowed to those
who
enhanced our general knowledge and scientific quest?
Or should I feel sad because the degree is really for those
who have
contributed, or will contribute, to
the
financial well-being of the institution?
While those who significantly contributed to the general knowledge become
part of
the ornaments and bouquets.
Should I feel happy because by bestowing these honorary degrees,
faculty
members will have more resources to pursue their academic ideals?
Or should I feel sad because we slowly cultivated a culture
to go
after "donation" and regard this as the single most important task?
While teaching, learning, enhancing human knowledge and generating new idea
become
part of the ornaments and bouquets.
Should I feel happy because we have a system to honor the best and brightest
political figure?
Or should I feel sad because we use this as a mean to
have a
closer "relationship" with those who will make
the final
decision on our future budget?
I went back to my office, read my emails, and was notified about
the special and important graduation ceremony.
I closed my email folder.
I ponder.