A lesson in values from the garbage man and his son
I was among the many people who were delighted by a photo circulating on the social media of a freshly graduated Chulalongkorn University student lying prostrate at the feet of his dad, the driver of a garbage truck. But as soon as I'd shared the photo wi
The garbage truck in the picture gave it that “wow” factor. People’s main reaction was to ask what the odds are of a municipal trash collector being able to afford to send his son to a fine university. But think about it: Why would it be against the odds? It’s a strange misperception that’s all too common in our society.
It’s nice that folks expressed admiration for the hard-working father, but surely all parents of college graduates deserve admiration too. And why were people praising the son for not being “ashamed” about his dad’s profession?
We all need to give our heads a shake. Because we live in a society with some pretty twisted values.
We abide by social norms that largely go unspoken but, as usual, actions that speak louder than words. We automatically show respect for and defer to the wealthy and the powerful.
They’ve laid claim to the symbols of success. And yet goodness and purity of heart seem of little interest to the majority of Thais. With such cock-eyed values, it’s no wonder that everyone’s in a rush to make money and leap up the career ladder, no matter how frequently they have to stoop low before the high and mighty. They want what’s perceived as “success” because they know they’ll get the same recognition and respect.
Of course the son of the trash man has nothing to be ashamed of! Unless their dad is a criminal, a crooked politician, a corrupt government official, a cheating banker or an unscrupulous merchant, kids should always hold their heads high.
As it happens, this particular graduate admitted that he did used to be ashamed about what his dad did for a living. As he grew older, though, he realised his old man was honest and hard-working enough to pay for his son’s education. If a father is responsible in life and career and a good citizen, there’s nothing to feel awkward about.
In Thailand, however, we have the children of honest labourers loath to discuss their parents’ jobs, and any number of millionaire kids and other spoiled brats forever boasting about their folks’ high standing. How many times have we had that dreadful line thrown in our faces, as if in threat: “Do you know who my father is!?” It’s too easy to ridicule those kinds of kids, and impossible to point fingers, because we’ve all fallen into the old habit of judging youngsters according to their parents’ social status rather than actual merit.
The Bang Khae district office has announced that it will present an “award” to the trash-collector father. I’m happy for him but, on the other hand, I worry that this is only happening because the social media made such a big deal over the photo. That father deserves a pat on the back, but so do all parents who earn an honest living and put their kids through school. And anyway, speaking as a mother, I believe the garbage-truck driver has already received his “prize” in the form of his son’s bachelor’s degree.
Thai society should take another look at that photo and ponder the twisted values that have become so habitual. Being poor and powerless is nothing to be ashamed about, not when you earn your happiness through honest means.
