Wildfire Collection: Thirty Years Anniversary Edition

Chapter 13 Starting from "9" ([-])
Why are college students concerned so narrowly?One of the main reasons was that his environment discouraged, and even tried to discourage, his interests outside of books.There are probably very few parents who have not said this sentence: "You only need to read the book well, and don't worry about anything else!" The university used to say this in order to cope with the entrance exam.After entering the university, I said this in order to cope with the entrance examination for foreign students, TOEFL, college entrance examination, graduate school entrance examination, etc. "As long as you read the book well, don't worry about anything else" This golden saying was born in response to the modern imperial examination system.The purpose of reading is to seek skills, which are used to knock on the door of examinations one after another.Studying philosophy, history, literature, economics, etc. is not to increase the wisdom and understanding of life, but to acquire the skills to make a living.Because this kind of technology has nothing to do with life, it can "don't care about anything".

But this good advice cannot stand the test.Under the premise of "don't worry about anything else", it is impossible to read books well.For example, when studying economics, a student can use various definitions and theories in the textbook to explain "inflation", but he is dumbfounded when asked to analyze why the salary of civil servants has to be increased by [-]%. Can we say that he has read the book well? ?For example, in literature, he can read Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four" by heart, and write an eloquent essay discussing the relationship between the system and the individual, but he is blank when asked to give his views on the Jiangnan case. Have you read the book?
This great world can be said to be a laboratory of various disciplines.The theories and examples that students have learned between black and white paper are still abstract and fuzzy. Only after bringing the knowledge to the laboratory of life for observation and verification can the knowledge be implemented.Asking our students to close themselves in the walls of the university and "don't care about anything else" is tantamount to separating learning from life, and it is also tantamount to asking those who learn to swim to learn to swim on the shore by graphics without getting wet, or to learn anatomy. People read slides in the dark room to learn anatomy, but they don't use a knife.

Our students will not "make trouble", because those who "make trouble" must first have their own opinions-not newspaper editorials, not teachers' opinions, classmates' opinions, but their own opinions.For our simple and naive students, it is very difficult to make independent value judgments.Why?
In the third year of high school, I started to study the Three People's Principles.One dull afternoon, I saw a sentence in my textbook: "The Three People's Principles are the most suitable doctrines for Chinese people."

Just such a firm conclusion.I thought I missed the part where the editor explained the citations, and I turned the textbook back and forth, but couldn't find any explanation. At the age of 17, I sat in front of the book and felt deeply frustrated: To reach such a conclusion, the textbook editor should go step by step, first explain what kind of nation the Chinese are, and then explain how other doctrines do not apply to China Only in the end can we logically deduce the conclusion that "the Three People's Principles are the most suitable doctrines for Chinese people".But the editor obviously felt that these dialectical processes were unnecessary.

The next day, in class I asked the teacher to explain "why".

The teacher looked at me in surprise, smiled good-naturedly, and replied, "It's written like this in the textbook, so you can memorize it. The entrance exam won't ask you why."

This small experience was a big setback in my early intellectual pursuits.Basically, textbook editors and teachers do not think that students have the ability to make their own judgments and draw conclusions, so they have this attitude of "don't ask why, just remember my answer".What they deprived me of was my right to seek knowledge and the ability to judge independently.

The current education method has not changed much from the past. Our educators are still used to providing "conclusions", but they are still not used to providing students with "methods" and let them find the conclusions by themselves.Nothing can best reflect this phenomenon than the composition title.For many years, in any exam, students are always faced with such things as "knowledge is the foundation of helping the world", "loyalty and courage are the foundation of patriotism", "no pains, no gains", "full of losses, humility benefits" and so on. of good words.To put it bluntly, the so-called good words are the "conclusions" confessed by the dead.Coming up with such a customary topic can shape the student's thinking and make him more closely a part of the tradition, which has its educational significance.But this kind of thought transmission fundamentally does not allow originality, and does not allow students to draw their own conclusions.If the educator's real interest lies not in the student's compromise and identification with tradition, but in his ability to make independent judgments, then the same question should be presented in the form of a question: "Does no pain really lead to no gain?"" Do you agree that learning is the foundation of helping the world?" Or in a challenging way: "Try to debate the saying that 'loyalty and bravery are the foundation of patriotism'."

Only such ideological training that does not give "established conclusions" can really stimulate students to open their eyes to observe the chaotic and complicated world around them, and use their own minds to sort out the clues.When our educators habitually discard the conclusions they have made, the students will lazily accept the conclusions; he does not need to think hard and explore.

In our environment, a student who can care and judge is unlikely to act ethically.Generally, educators adopt a repressive and resistive attitude towards student actions in order to seek stability on campus.

A junior college student was accused of stealing by a classmate. Under the leadership of the plaintiff, the instructor found the stolen goods in the student's schoolbag, but the student was expelled from school without hearing the defendant's defense.Several brave classmates came out to uphold justice and asked the school to give the defendant a chance to defend themselves.

Regardless of the outcome of the matter, the school authorities have a firm attitude towards these students who have come forward: "Go read your book and don't meddle in other people's business. Whoever makes trouble will be recorded."

Strange, why do our civic ethics classes repeatedly teach students to be brave, to do what is right, and to be stubborn in choosing what is good? Once a student has practiced these beautiful moral ideals, we panic to suppress him?When students are dissatisfied with the school's measures and submit letters, hold meetings, or protest, it is not the best opportunity for civic education to help students learn how to solve problems rationally, fairly, and democratically. Why do we instead use demerits as a means of suppression? means?Is the price too high for killing young people's sense of justice for the sake of superficial quiet and stability?
A student who dares to express his opinion and take action, of course, has learned to protect himself after one or two reprimands; he finds that this society does not expect him to have moral courage or a sense of justice at all.

Our college students are a group that will not "make trouble".In the world of exams, dances, and field trips, there is nothing worth "making trouble about."In a world where right and wrong, good and evil have already been drawn by parents, teachers and teachers, Confucius and Mencius, there are no difficult problems worth rethinking and taking the trouble to judge.In the environment of being wise and protecting oneself, doing less and making less mistakes, there is no room for "troubleshooting".Our college students are innocent, simple, law-abiding and obedient.

However, if "troubleshooting" can also be interpreted as "acting to change the status quo," then our non-troublemaking generation is cause for concern.After four years, he has become a backbone of society—a backbone of society who doesn't know how to care about society, who can't judge right from wrong, and dare not take action!Should bus fares be raised?Not sure.Roadside water mains burst, not my fault.How Much Taxpayer Money Are Public Sectors Losing?have no idea.Will nuclear power plants be harmful for thousands of years?have no idea.Should bosses report fraud?have no idea.Where is Taiwan going?don't know, don't know, don't know...

A nation that is satisfied with the status quo cannot progress, but to be dissatisfied with the status quo, one must first care about it, observe carefully, make judgments after observation, and act after judgment.Concern can be emotional, it is just a love for the land where we were born and raised, but empty emotion will not help, it must be supported by calm reason—judgment and action need strong reason.

The status quo in Taiwan is unsatisfactory, but many people have started to act after caring and making judgments.The best example of this is the promoters of the Consumer Foundation, who have "made a lot of trouble".There are still many things that need to be troubled in Taiwan.As far as women's issues are concerned, our existing women's organizations are still at the stage of offering flowers, giving condolences, wearing beautiful clothes, holding charity evenings and hugging orphans.In the same social pages we read about seven-year-old boys scalded alive by their mothers, ten-year-old girls sold into prostitution, thirteen-year-old daughters raped by adoptive fathers and impregnated, thirty-year-old wives broken ribs by husbands— —Does our innocent and lovely campus beauties feel that there is nothing to care about and "make trouble" in the future?

It is the beginning of another semester, let us think about where to start!
Confession
Originally published in "China Times Human World" on September [-], [-]

I regret that I am a woman.I regret that others found out that Long Yingtai is a woman.

I was treated like a normal "person" until editors, reporters, readers, writers found out I was a woman.They read my article calmly, and then wrote to me.Those who disagreed tried to point out what I had neglected; those who hated me attacked me with the most vicious language;

My reaction is always calm; do you think my logic is not comprehensive?Well, let me do it again to prove it to you.I am sorry for the wrong reference, I apologize and correct it.Vicious personal attacks?I disdain to pay attention.As for admiration and admiration, let me think clearly how much I am worth; the world is a big place.

The unfortunate thing finally happened.Someone discovered that there was a woman behind this masculine name!Word got out, and it boiled like wildfire.

Suddenly, I was no longer a professor, but a woman professor; no longer a writer, but a woman writer; no longer a doctor, but a woman doctor.All in all, after being found out, I am no longer a "person", but a "woman".

The college student who originally called me "Professor" suddenly changed his name to "Miss".The writer who wanted to have a tough pen battle with me, threw down his pen and sighed: "Oh! The other party is a woman!" The person who originally wanted to call me "mean", "unpatriotic", and "intense" is now a matter of course Changed his mouth to call "whore".The person who originally wanted to write a letter to express his appreciation suddenly hesitated: Will he be misunderstood?

The most amazing thing is to interview reporters.When I was a "human", the topics proposed by the interviewers were often unremarkable: Why did you write "Wildfire"?What qualifications must a critic have?Where is the biggest crux of the current education?wait wait wait.After becoming "female professor", "female writer", "female scholar", in other words, "woman", the content of the interview suddenly became lively and vivid: Are you married?Where is sir from?Where to fall in love?What is he doing?What did he think of your article?Is he happy that his wife is famous?Will I accompany you to buy food?How many furs do you have?How many teeth did you grow?How many more are you going to have?What contraceptive method is used?How many times a day do you change diapers?Who will change?Does your literary criticism interfere with bedroom life?How do you teach, write articles, and take care of your husband at the same time?What brand of diapers do you buy?

Before I was "discovered", when I was a professor, a scholar, and a normal "person", some people praised my articles for being thoughtful and well-organized.I don't think it's a big deal; a person who doesn't think carefully and clearly should not choose the academic path.A clear mind is just the basic condition for a so-called "student", just like a duck must have feathers, otherwise how can it be considered a duck!However, after being found out to be a woman, even this basic requirement suddenly became a rare thing, causing many problems:
As a woman, how do you write rational articles?Do you have an emotional side?
Why on earth do you have such clear thinking?Are you a strong woman?Are you trying to prove to the world that women can think rationally that's why you write such strong and masculine articles?

How did your family raise you to become like this?Do your parents, brothers and neighbors get used to you?Can your husband stand you?

In fact, I have never deliberately concealed my gender, just because I have lived abroad for many years, and almost no one here knows me.And the word "Long Yingtai" is very masculine; when I was young, because of the name, I also developed a little bit of hatred for my father, complaining that he didn't give me a more delicate name, such as Long Mimi, Long Meili or Long Keai such as.But my father later explained that he had only two plans at the beginning, one was "Long Yingtai", and the other was called "Long San Tiao", because I was ranked third.Compared with the two, I am grateful instead, but fortunately it is not called "Three Articles".So, how did others find out that Long Yingtai was a woman?The thing is, one day at noon, the phone rang...

"Excuse me, is Professor Long here?" A very majestic male voice.

"I am, which one are you?"

"Hey!" The other party cut off his voice suddenly, and my ears were stuck in the vacuum of the phone line.After waiting for a while, just about to hang up, he spoke again, stammering:

"You you you, you are a—"

I sympathized with his fright, and hurriedly made my voice softer:
"I'm sorry, yes! I'm sorry!"

He took a long breath, pondered for a long time, and said hesitantly, "I'm the person in charge of the Great Literati Publishing House—why is there a scent coming from the phone?"

I hurriedly explained: "The pig's brain is being fried in the kitchen..."

"Oh! That's it, Long—Miss Long, I called to ask for your permission to compile one of your masterpieces into our best essay selection for this year, but now that I know you are, a woman , I just want to include that masterpiece in the "I'm Still Pitying——A Collection of Essays by Female Writers Heart-to-Heart" to be published by our agency next month, do you agree?"

"Let me think about it, please?"

"Okay, I won't bother you then. Sorry to keep you from frying pig brains—"

"Ah! It's okay!" I interrupted him, "My husband is frying pig brains; I was just fixing the toilet..."

"Hey—" He remained silent for a long time, and finally found the words, "Goodbye, Miss Long."

The next day, the news that Long Yingtai was a woman made the gossip, which also started my sympathetic experience. "Long Ying Tai Ping Novel" was published, the reporter called, and it was a delicate female voice:
"Miss Long, this book is very intellectual, but the fourth edition was printed in just one month; can you tell me about your expectations for this book?"

"This book is just a crude brick, and I throw it out in the hope of eliciting an atmosphere of literary criticism, so that strict and fair criticism—"

"Do you think it's appropriate for a woman to write something like this?"

"Uh--"

"I mean," she went on, "such hard stuff is usually written by men, do you find it strange to write? Is there any pressure?"

"Ugh—it's stressful because some writers can't stand negative criticism—"

"Yes, can your husband stand your style of writing?"

"Uh—I don't know what my husband has to do with my work—tolerance and openness are the necessary attitudes for a reviewer. He can't impose his own moral consciousness on the work, and he can't be emotional—"

"Yes, yes, I agree; how is the relationship between your husband and wife?"

"You can't criticize bluntly because of emotions. What we need is the courage to tell the truth—"

"Do you think foreign marriages require special courage?"

That's it!After being discovered as a "female", communicating with people becomes a little more difficult.There are often such erroneous mistakes, and the bull's head and horse's mouth can't match.But this is not a trivial matter. What saddens me more is that after being found out to be a woman, I can no longer be complacent and think that my articles are good.One day, a writer (you see, when I say "writer", of course I mean a man, there is no need to add the word "male") said to me sullenly: "You are famous now, do you know why?"

(End of this chapter)