Monday, October 23, 2006
Gentleman's agreement
Good morning,
Standing tall without being tall
The traffic was slow, it moved and stopped; this was repeated over some distance. There was some football activity in the field and Karkhee was distracted. He turned to look too long and banged, his car hit the back of the bus. Both drivers got down to examine the vehicles and except for a dent in his bumper there was no other damage. They agreed to let the matter rest as it was. But as each walked towards his own vehicle, Karkhee said, "Do not report to the police !" The bus driver retorted, " Simi lan poh is boh lancheow !" That was a gentleman's agreement and the one who reports is not a man !; that was what the Hokkien reply meant.
Karkhee remembered that when he was awarded a scholarship he had to sign a bond which was endorsed by his guarantor. In the bond there was an agreement that should he fail to graduate his guarantor would have to reimburse all the scholarship expenses. There was also the agreement that he would be immediately employed as obligatorily upon his graduation. That had been his dream came true, to be paid to study and guaranteed a job upon graduation. To Karkhee a gentleman's agreement was a gentleman's agreement.
Apparently a gentleman's agreement is not looked upon in the same way like Karkhee by some others. As a young man he stood guarantor for his friend who upon graduation reneged and abandoned his obligations; and Karkhee had to hold the baby. He had learned the mercenary way how to watch out for people who value money more than honour and trust.
There was a news report that Sir Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Atlantic Airways sometimes conducted business during lunch. He would scribble what he had agreed on on the napkin, and that napkin would be the agreement. That may explain why he is what he is, Sir Richard Branson !
Honour and trust, do these get worn out by time. By all means they do not; it is simply that there are men who are weasels, men who can never stand tall, among men.
Have a nice day
Ronald
Standing tall without being tall
The traffic was slow, it moved and stopped; this was repeated over some distance. There was some football activity in the field and Karkhee was distracted. He turned to look too long and banged, his car hit the back of the bus. Both drivers got down to examine the vehicles and except for a dent in his bumper there was no other damage. They agreed to let the matter rest as it was. But as each walked towards his own vehicle, Karkhee said, "Do not report to the police !" The bus driver retorted, " Simi lan poh is boh lancheow !" That was a gentleman's agreement and the one who reports is not a man !; that was what the Hokkien reply meant.
Karkhee remembered that when he was awarded a scholarship he had to sign a bond which was endorsed by his guarantor. In the bond there was an agreement that should he fail to graduate his guarantor would have to reimburse all the scholarship expenses. There was also the agreement that he would be immediately employed as obligatorily upon his graduation. That had been his dream came true, to be paid to study and guaranteed a job upon graduation. To Karkhee a gentleman's agreement was a gentleman's agreement.
Apparently a gentleman's agreement is not looked upon in the same way like Karkhee by some others. As a young man he stood guarantor for his friend who upon graduation reneged and abandoned his obligations; and Karkhee had to hold the baby. He had learned the mercenary way how to watch out for people who value money more than honour and trust.
There was a news report that Sir Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Atlantic Airways sometimes conducted business during lunch. He would scribble what he had agreed on on the napkin, and that napkin would be the agreement. That may explain why he is what he is, Sir Richard Branson !
Honour and trust, do these get worn out by time. By all means they do not; it is simply that there are men who are weasels, men who can never stand tall, among men.
Have a nice day
Ronald
# posted by chunmu @ 7:47 PM 
