The role of education in saving the world

The recent Israeli attack on Gaza has caught my attention to learn more about the issue of terrorism. With the Hamas trying to overthrow Israel no matter what while Israel will stand still, no matter what, the only conclusion I am able to draw is that it is an extremely complicated issue. Then again, there's the issue of climate change. The simple notion that mankind is contributing to its own home's destruction is apparently not enough to arouse an epiphany in all sides; if we do not take this problem seriously, we will suffer. The excuses range from economic reasons to practical issues, making it, too, a not so simple issue. Now there's this global financial crisis, an issue so complicated that I still have a less than mediocre understanding on the issue itself. But I understand one thing, numerous jobs have been lost and it's not doing the prices any good.

Now how on earth are we going to survive this era, one might think. While it is perhaps a grave misfortune for us to be living in this era, this also means that we are living in an era of opportunity. However, it's a long shot from turning the former set of mind into the latter. It is difficult because our culture teaches us not to care; it teaches us that our lives are separated from other people's lives.

The core problem of my generation, the well-educated, middle to upper class Indonesian youth who are coming of age in the dawn of the 21st century, is that as we are not directly affected by the major issues of our time, we are also not exposed enough to these issues. Our culture, and our education system for that matter, does not encourage us to help take care of the world; it only encourages us to take care of ourselves.

When we sit down at elementary school, we learn math. We study English. Throughout high school, biology and history added further complications to our heads. After we graduate from high school, we enter university passionately as we are finally able to study only in the fields that really caught our attention. We don't have to study physics if we don't want to.

While choosing a major in fashion design, music, or business management is in no way faulty, but just how many of those who do made the decision to became masters in the specified fields have in their minds the commitment to solve the climate change? The commitment to help relieve poverty in impoverished areas? The commitment to eradicate corruption in the government? When have we ever been directly exposed to the real problems in the world around us and be encouraged to do something about it?

As a result, our goals and definition of success have been limited only to ourselves. One should only look to two examples to learn the importance of education: Laskar Pelangi (Rainbow Warriors) and Barack Obama.

The based on a true story of Laskar Pelangi reflects just how education can shape one's character. It portrays the ever-wise Pak Harfan with his committed effort to teach his students the values of boldness to do the right thing and the ever-determined Bu Mus to be the window of the world for her students. One of their students, as a result, has become a man who inspires millions of people through his literary works.

The story of Barack Obama continues to dazzle the world. The Hawaii born son of a Kenyan father and an American mother, a guy whose 4 years of his childhood was spent in Indonesia, has been elected to become the 44th President of the United States. The man who received his education from Columbia University and Harvard Law School was directly exposed to the problems of the world when he was a community organizer in Chicago. It aroused him to help make change in a bigger scale, and, indeed, he inspired millions to follow his footsteps. One of his principles, he once declared: "Because it's only when you hit your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential and discover the role that you'll play in writing the next great chapter in the American history."

A wise teacher of mine once said, "The greatest success stories are made by people who turn problems into opportunities."

If we are to fix this world that is troubled by issues as grave as terrorism, climate change, economic meltdown, we need to prepare future generations with proper insights that will equip them not only the mind needed to solve those problems, but more importantly, the heart. As we carry the burden of the issues facing the 21st century, it is in our hands to write mankind's greatest success stories.

(Original article can be found at http://cosmic-boy.blogspot.com/2008/12/role-of-education-in-saving-world.html and http://www.dailyavocado.net/musings/event-issues/359-the-role-of-education-in-saving-the-world.html)