Are We Shallow?

      An article by F. Sionil Jose struck me for the main reason that I never thought of us as shallow people which made me very curious for the reasons why we are as such. The first thing that came in my mind was that it was probably caused by our culture ---- now that’s shallow answer for it was more than that. According to the article, one factor that contributes to our shallowness is education; the way we are taught in schools and how important subjects are not taught with dept. Schools provide us with knowledge in terms of concepts and theories but it is up to us to convert these into wisdom through interpreting, analyzing, and applying them in real life. I think it could also be related to how we are raised at home and how we look at our parents as role models because of the fact that they were the first ones who taught you.

         

     We are also known for our pride and arrogance which is said to be another factor in our shallowness. We don’t recognize our limitations and weaknesses and always think that we are capable of anything. It’s good to be optimistic but it should go hand in hand with being realistic. It is okay to admit faults, mistakes, and weaknesses; we are not perfect and whatever we do we will never be perfect. This is why I admire leaders who know themselves well and are not ashamed to ask for suggestions and opinions in fields that they are not experts in.

       Additionally we are shallow because we value money, power, and fame above all else. A good example is how we choose our political leaders; we select the candidate who is rich and famous and yet we don’t even know what he is capable of. This is probably why nothing significant happens in the government. Another example is how people get intrigued by celebrity gossips and how the media tries to invade their privacies just to produce a story that people will get interested in. Yes, I truly believe that is shallow because there are more important things people should give their attention to. And lastly, we value money so much that almost everyone’s goal in life is to be rich; I for one admit that I am one of these people who have this kind of goal.

         Lastly, we are shallow because we don’t read; when we need answers we just search it in the internet. We watch the movies based on novels instead of reading the book itself. I am one of these people who don’t really read that much; I usually read things that are required in school. I know reading is a good way to gain knowledge and boost my vocabulary and maybe this is the eye opener I need to start to love reading books.

         In the end, I ask myself this question ---- Are we really shallow? I believe the answer to that question is yes, we are shallow but I also think we shouldn’t generalize because there are a few people who stand out and manage to stay humble no matter what. I personally think that I am not part of those few who are not shallow; I realize now how shallow I am. But how do I change myself? Where should I start? I think the answer to my question is acceptance ---- accepting that I am shallow, materialistic, and arrogant. By this, I am in a way showing humility and willingness to change. I do hope others would also have that realization of how shallow we are.