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.”
"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 1st
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 3rd or 4th language for the participants
f)
In a remote area of Eastern Indonesia where
a.
The standard of living is well below that of a 1st
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.
