March Blog Assignment: Week 2

March Blog Assignment: Week 2

8. Of Marriage and Single Life

Central Argument: The central argument is that if you are single, you should enjoy and be productive in your life because once you are married, you will have responsibilities, and you must take accountability for your family.

            All men in the world look at women with different perspectives. Some see them as companions, while others see them (and in some cases, use them) as objects. Some people decide they want to get married, settle down, and raise kids. Others want to live a playboy lifestyle. With most people, it is a case of being single until you meet the “woman of your dreams”. They then decide to get married to that woman. If this is the case with you, Sir Francis Bacon gives a warning that if you are single, you should enjoy and be productive in your life because once you are married, you will have responsibilities, and you must take accountability for your family. Being the man of the house, you must make sure that your family is in good financial health, therefore whatever income you earn, you must share with your family. Another thing about getting married is that you will never have time to do things you want to, and this will not let you reach your potential. Bacon also talks about how having a family will teach you to become discipline, because you have this responsibility of taking care of your family. He tells you that married men have a lot more responsibility than single men, that’s why single men should enjoy and be productive with their lives.

            Bacon claims that once men are married, they are responsible for keeping the family’s financial health in good shape. To some extent, I do agree with this statement, but Bacon is given a western perspective, where men know their role in their family. In developing countries like India, Nepal and Myanmar, I have heard stories, particularly from rural areas, where men spend all their money on alcohol and gambling, and this leaves women to not only take care of their children and maintain the house, but they need to get a job to pay for their children’s education, and for basic necessities. Also, people should consider Bacon wrote this during the 17^th century. Since then, women have gained many rights such as right to vote, run for office and start businesses. Women have become more powerful, and many families have both husband and wife working, so men don’t have to be completely responsible for the financial health of a family. I do agree with Bacon that being single will not make you worry about your family’s financial health because you do not have to financially look after kids or any females. They have more freedom of spending their money the way they want to.

            Bacon also claims that married men cannot fulfill their potential in different fields because they have the responsibility to look after their family. I disagree with this perspective because men can always share their hobbies and interests with their family. My dad used to play for India U-19 national team, but he then got married and got me. He then used to play for a club in Nepal and my mum and I always used to go to the games. He didn’t really reach the maximum potential he could, but he still did what he loved, and he shared this with me. That’s why I have so much interest in football, and I love to play the sport. When you are single you can reach that potential, but you cannot really cherish that moment with a family.

Sure you could cherish it with your parents and friends, but the family experience is still missing.

            Bacon may have put the perspective that life as a single lets you enjoy and unleash your potential, and that married men have to carry out responsibilities, but actually both have its benefits and its flaws. Single men have the freedom and time to live the way they want to be, but they also have to carry out some responsibilities. Married men have more responsibilities, but they have that family atmosphere with them, where share trust and interests with each other. Both have benefits and let downs, but it is the decision of how you want to live your life.  

             

42. Of Youth and Age

Central Argument: The central argument is that age doesn’t really matter when it comes to who you are and what you do with your life because those are characteristics that come within your experience, perspective and vision in life.

            People tend to judge people by their age as people feel age defines many characteristics in a person. They tend to judge their experience, maturity and decisions. It is often felt in many parts of the world, particularly countries with strong ethics, that the older you are, the wiser you are. The central argument in Bacon’s chapter is that age doesn’t really matter when it comes to how experienced, mature you are, or what decisions you make. Whether who you are or what you do, age should not take accountability for this because those are characteristics that come from your experiences, and your perspective and vision in life. I agree with Bacon that age does not define one’s characteristics. I believe that their characteristics are defined by what they have gone through their life and what all they have done. I also agree that how they value their life plays an important role, because it gives them a certain perspective and vision of how a life should be led. Experiences also come into play because one can experience life changing incidents, and this could make one change the way they act. Age does not really play into how one behaves and leads their lives.

            I feel that one should not be looked upon for what age they are, but what they have done with their lives. Though age should not be looked upon, it does prove that older people have lived longer, and have done more things than us. For example, my grandmother has achieved a lot in her life, she attended Boston University and Harvard, has changed the lives of thousands of women in Nepal by emphasizing on women development, and also has given a speech in the UN general assembly in Geneva. Now what have I done? Studied in a leading boarding school in Asia, played for football academies in Nepal, and went on an exchange trip to Australia. When you compare what I have achieved and what my grandma has achieved, she has achieved way more than I have done so far, but I still have a long future ahead of me. I might have the potential to achieve or even leap to better achievements (except going to Harvard). Yes, she has done more than me but does that mean she is a better human being than me? Does that mean people should listen to everything she says and ignore what I say? Well, if she it is about politics, women development and Harvard, then yes, because she has experienced those. If people want to know about Australia, football or Woodstock, then they should come to me and not her because I am the one who experienced those! Why would you go talk about student life in Woodstock to my grandmother instead of me? I have seen this happen when my family friends enquire about Woodstock all the time. It’s in my culture, that the older you are, the more you know.

            What my grandmother always says is age is just a number, how you live your life is what matters. I completely agree with her because, just like in my culture, people are so narrow minded because they think the older people are wiser just because they have lived longer. It isn’t just in my culture, if you look at industries, CEO’s are usually 50 years old or above. In sports industry, coaches are old. In the entertainment industry, directors are old. Is that always the case? No, because look at Mark Zuckenberg, a billionaire because he came up with Facebook. He shook the world, because he felt that the way of socializing should be mixed with technology. New directors are venturing into movies. In sports, Andre Villas Boas, a Portuguese coach, who is 33 years old, has already won three trophies in 3 years of management. These people achieve because they are talented, they look at their mission in a certain perspective, and they accomplish it. It’s not because of their age, it’s because of their characteristics.