Friday, May 04, 2007
To lead is a responsibility, not a previledge.
There is this local adage, "Indian Chief", a slang in the army for the platoon's ic, and usually riddle with derogatory undertones. Of course, in BMT no one wanted to be the Indian chief, it entailed extra duties and responsibilities that meant certain doom for clueless young teenagers. There they were, just arrived on the island of tekong head shave, egos brutally decimated by the "amiable" instructors there, and the last thing on their list of priorities is to take care of 40 others just like him.
Fast forward a few weeks, and there we were in SAFTI vying to be the Indian chief, the coveted sword of honour at stake.
It is weird how a matter of weeks can transform an unmentionable chore into the most glorious accolade. Perhaps it's the allure of the privileges afforded to the Indian Chief.
Whilst it is necessary to have Indian Chiefs, I find it confounded how a local University can implement a system that only rewards students for being Indian Chiefs. Under this scheme for the allocation of points for people to stay in the hostels, normal members of any CCA or committee are awarded the lowest points on the scale, whereas the Executive committee members are given much more points. Whilst it is unfair to award the same amount of points to everyone; That would be close to communism now, wouldn't it? I think they arrest people for being communist.
Anyway, these points are non-cumulative, that is to say, the position of highest weight and only that would be taken into account. So an active sportsman representing the school in 3 sports might not have half the points of the President of a CCA that possible has less than 30 members.
There is a glaring disparity in the scheme, which taken quite literally, suggests that participation in activities are futile and worthless. Given the more pragmatic and practical nature of the students in school, this translates to a chronic lack in interests and participation levels in CCAs, committees and various activities in school.
People would much rather go straight for the executive positions.
It is rather alarming, that such a scheme is being put into force. Already many CCAs are experiencing low participation levels, because there simply is no motivation.
I cannot imagine if such attitudes were to be brought into society, where leadership positions are sought after for the privileges that they promise. Leadership is not about enjoyment, leadership is about a commitment to serve and a responsibility to the people who have placed a certain trust in the hands of their leaders.
These rights are afforded to leaders to facilitate their roles, not as some form of class discrimination.
Afterall, if the battlefield is littered with a million Indian Chief and no men, what kind of order is there?
Gavin
pondered @ 23:06
