"A Shift of Values"

Kublai Khan was infamous as the terrifying Chinese Emperor (1214). It was forbidden to look at his face. Anybody breached the rule would be dead. Nevertheless, Marco Polo was not at his wit’s end. When the Emperor invited him to dine, he was served noodles. Marco Polo raised his noodle high before he ate it. Right then he looked up and took a peek of the Emper

The guards were quickly on the alert. They almost finish the life of the mischievous wanderer, but the Emperor was wise. He could see intelligence inside the white man. Marco Polo was forgiven. He even became a loyal devotee of the Emperor (1275-1292).

The legendary Marco Polo’s slyness often told to elementary kids as fairy tale was in fact has a subversive message within. To be able to shift values, a revolt, a breakthrough, is needed. Suddenly, the taboo that provoked death and had been embraced as a fix rule that was not negotiable, got through.

Curiously, something so innocent and simple had thawed it. Yet, how could we say it as simple when the impact was such a striking change? Many would agree that the first time was hard while the rest would be easy. That is how the initial story of every change goes.

It is another story in Bali though. The Legong Keraton dance was born from the sacred dance Sanghyang Dedari. It was only allowed to be performed for certain ceremonies. It could only be danced by preadolescent little girls. The movements of the dance were indeed designed for small body structures of a kid still flexible for certain moves. When we look at old pictures of the dance, our nerves would vibrate seeing the poses of the dancers that depict little angels from the supernatural world (trance dance). The fantastic view comes from another world.

Nevertheless, forced by the progress of times, the influence of gambuh dance with its fast movements and also of the tourism need, the Legong Keraton has become just a profane dance. It is an ordinary dance unconnected with sacred articles.

In reality, the shift of values could occur in a sudden or it could progress slowly hence there has been no shift felt. The first time would surely create some hustle and bustle. There would be conflicts and contentions which could cost highly: with victims.

When the shift ends downstream as a manifest of an achievement and progress that raises human dignity, then it is a blessing. It is not impossible that the yield was only some turns of dynamics that merely slow down or even thwart future measures. We do not have clairvoyant ability, we can only conclude after it has passed.

Hence it would be far more pleasant if the shift took place discreetly. Eventually, unnoticed. Just like a little kid who does not realize that he is growing. He would be fully aware only after many demands pop up after he is married and then growing is the need to live calmly in old age. Such unnoticeable big leaps have positioned the giant shifts on an acceptable continuous line. This is truly the character of the the East that prefers harmony instead of conflicts. Yet it does not mean the Easterners reject shifts. It was only that they are not accustomed to view the shifts as an exposition. The shift of values has indeed taken place and has still been progressing in many sectors, whether we like it or not. Some are good ones and should occur, since the essence of a breakthrough is not only breaking a wall but also responsible toward the damage on the wall it broke. There were noble hopes, not merely to confuse, but also to develop.

The bad shifts also happen. The evil shifts were not trials for a breakthrough, but only for the sake of exploiting. To trick and manipulate people for their own interest. The society was not included in the process though.

By exercising conventional math quiz, students learned to quickly calculate inside their imagination. Multiplication, division, and subtraction were dictated fast. Students counted by “closing their eyes”. Their imagination was trained to write, store, remember, then produced summary. It was forbidden to use calculators.

Yet now, they learn mathematics with the help of calculators. It is a radical leap. They would be helpless when confronted with those rows of confusing numbers. But they should not be. It is now as easy to get calculators as to pick up pebbles, why couldn’t they use it!

The human mind should overcome the ever moving reality that progresses faster and more complex by encouraging the shift of values. Brand new values, to become more receptive toward reality, hence people will not be left behind by times. It is not uncommon that if morality element is considered a burden, it is sidelined. People celebrate efficacy, efficiency, productivity, and absolute victory.

The syndrome to be number one is the human trauma of the century. Success is the ultimate measurement. Every road to get there shall be cleared. No one dreaded any breach anymore since competition must be won. Why stand up for something unfit to the practical formula of life? Philosophy, ethics, even religion was asked to please not to get involved and provide answers so as not to keep people from moving. The maxim is, “we must fill life with quick, targeted, and definite actions.” Thus, there is a shift of values, and many enemies.

Indeed there is risk in shift of values. But there are also risks in being unshifted. These values are not totally moving or moved by humans. Even if humans are the most important beings on earth, they are not alone. Nature has its own life whose competence is often beyond human reach. Even if humans did not do anything, values would shift anyway and human beings must pursue them. History had recorded nature prevails over human beings and how it directs life. Thus the West has been anxious to reign over nature.

It is necessary to have anxiety when faced with these shifts of values. But anxious is not sufficient, particularly when it is accompanied with a ban on that very shift. As a dynamic continuance, a shift is healthy. What is not, will be displaced by its own action in the natural selection of a civilized life. We will just see the end of the story, while maintaining a distance, to avoid the radiation.