Lessons in Life (Part 3)

In life values play an important role .Many values are acquired through the family upbringing .We can say to a certain extent that the calibre and quality of a person is seen through the values which he considers important .To Asians especially family ties form an important aspect of our value system. Loyalty to the family, obedience and respect for the elders are important elements in family values.We believe that if man does not embrace and hold dear to these values he is nothing.In Asian society too the man has always been considered as the head of the family and many an important decision affecting the family is made by him for better or for worse.Today this trend has changed as there is more equality among the sexes and children have grown to be more independent.That being so some say they practise democracy in the family where everyone has a chance to contribute to decision making .This is fine but the head should never relinquish his position as the head of the family and at the end of the day he holds the keys to good decision making. As in any group if you are a family member with it comes certain obligations and responsibility.For example families (Chinese) gather for the Reunion dinner on the eve of Chinese New Year>this is the time of the year and the occasion for family members to gather together in the family house and meet and catch up with each other.There is also the Ching Ming festival when family members gather to pay respect to the ancestors keeping in mind the value of not forgetting your roots and your forefathers>This is the essence of Chinese culture which has always emphasized the importance and significance of family ties.If you are a Chinese and do not hold fast to these values then what sort of Chinese are you?. Likewise to the Chinese occasions like marriages, births, deaths are opportunities for family members to gather together and as a responsible family member you would not want to miss out on this. We must have values worth preserving and worth fighting for because without this what are we?