If I Were a Rich Man...

If I were a rich Man

A discussion  with Six New Divine Word Missionary (SVD) Priests (020215)

Excerpt from “If I Were a Rich Man” lyrics, from Fiddler on the Roof

[TEVYE]
"Dear God, you made many, many poor people.
I realize, of course, that it's no shame to be poor.
But it's no great honor either!
So, what would have been so terrible if I had a small fortune?
…
“Lord who made the lion and the lamb,
You decreed I should be what I am.
Would it spoil some vast eternal plan?
If I were a wealthy man.”

After we reviewed the lyrics for the whole song, including definitions and pronunciation, we discussed  the song.  The technique I used was this:  I asked one person to make a statement about the song.   Then the next person would add a statement to the conversation. We continued taking turns, ensuring everyone had equal opportunity to practice speaking spontaneously while having a conversation in English. 

Note: The context has a lot to do with the content of the conversation.  Consider that the conversation took place:

a)      In a developing country, not a 1^st world country;

b)      In a pater linear culture;

c)       In a Catholic seminary;

d)      In a religious order consisting of religious brothers and Priests (i.e. all males)

e)      In an intensive 3-month English Course when English is a 3^rd or 4^th language for the participants

f)       In a remote area of Eastern Indonesia where

a.       The standard of living is well below that of a 1^st world country, but yet where there is still a large economic gap between the low, middle and upper classes;

b.      Corruption is rampant; and

c.       The majority of people earn their living as farmers or fishermen.  Hence the reference to animals.

d.      Capitalism is sometimes viewed as an unfair economic system, or with skepticism at best.

Additionally, although I attempted to explain the English idiom “the grass is always greener on the other side”, the men had a hard time not taking it literally.  You will see several references to green grass in the conversation transcript below.  

Comments from the newly-ordained priests (sic, with English corrections in red)

·         If they want to be a rich man they must try to get a job and then they must learn from the other person who becomes a rich man.

·         Sometimes I know the people get money by from a job, like a leader working in the school and getting money and sometimes people do a hard work (work hard) and get some money but sometimes every people they didn’t work hard but they have many much money.

·         For example, corruptors don’t work hard but they receive much money.

·         I think the people person will be a rich man and he must take care of the animals.

·         I think there are 2 important things here.  The first: if you are a rich man, you’ll be a clever man.  The second, if you are a clever man, you‘ll be a wealthy man.

·         I think people have a tendency to think that the grass is always greener on the other side. (Jg)

·         When we show green grass, I think we make many people corrupt the money and they have a power in life and to handle other people.

·         I think that it is not fair if someone don’t doesn’t work hard and they get much money and someone works hard and they didn’t don’t get much money and the reality we see in the other place like as in Maumere many peoples do that like as corruption and I think it’s not fair for other people.

·         One question: what caused the trouble on about earning a living?

·         I think there are many reasons to answer the question.  One of them: the people who have not any capability or have not study studied to get a job.

·         Yes, I think that if the people don’t study to become a teachers they are not going to be a rich man MEN and I think in Maumere I saw another place there’s many much green grass and I think the peoples in Maumere will be a rich man if they use (pron yooss) give the green grass to their animals. like etc.

·         So, we have built a discussion about two things that I mentioned before and I see that the bad influence in our lives is when we didn’t don’t feel better with ourselves and we always think that others are better than us.  If we never tink dat think that we have opportunity and ability to improve, we lost lose our hope.