|
A Case Of Innocent
Versus Biased Mind
-
Oliver Mbamara
Suggestion: Please read this joke before continuing with this
editorial.
Okay, did you fall to the same biasness as the Principal in the joke? Now be honest. At least the Principal was honest
enough to admit that he got the last seven questions wrong and he was candid enough to recommend that
the kid - Harry, be promoted to the fifth-grade.
Please read the joke if you have not done so yet. It will make the following commentary easier to comprehend.
A Case of An Innocent Mind Versus A Biased One – True To Life.
Recently, I read a joke that was submitted to us and at first I thought I should delete it because looking at the joke on the face of it, one might quickly dismiss it as what the world popularly consider “nasty” or “rotten” joke. But then I caught myself because I almost fell guilty of the same biasness as the Principal in the joke.
I was almost going to hit the delete button when it dawned on me how true to life the situation in the joke really
was/is. “The great Masters and Teachers of life have always said that “to enter into the kingdom of God, one must be as innocent as a child,” while some other Masters and Scriptures state the same theory by saying “Unless a man be born again, he will not enter the Kingdom of God.” Although many choose to mainly emphasis the phrase “born again,” many others realize that both “innocent” and “born again” as used in the quotes above simply mean a state of purity, open-mindedness, or objectivity that allows one to perceive the true nature of things without falling to the vagaries and influence of general thinking and prejudice.
Man has the common tendency of dismissing anything unorthodox as false simply because he does not understand it and
he is perhaps not brave or bold enough to enquire beyond the ordinary norm of things. Man has allowed his ego to convince him to do things in the general way so he can impress the general public and be considered normal even when that which is generally considered normal is perhaps faulty and far from the truth.
In the referred joke, each of the last seven questions bore an answer deeper, proper, reasonable, and even more thoughtful than what the Principal and any other average adult would think upon first hearing the question. We usually get impressed according to how our minds have been seasoned and nurtured to react. Meanwhile, Soul as expressed by the fresh and unbiased mind of the kid – Harry, knows the truth and earns the reward of promotion or ascension of consciousness by responding correctly.
Most times in life, only a moment’s hesitation and a slight concession or compromise is what we need to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes only a moment’s hesitation from executing a rash decision or action is what one needs to understand another person and save himself from destruction or regrettable action/comment. I am glad I paused to read the joke and think about it. I am still learning.
© Oliver Mbamara, June 2005
The teacher asked, "Harry, what's your problem?"
Harry answered, "I'm too smart for the 1st grade. My sister is in the 3rd
grade and I'm smarter than she is! I think I should be in the 3rd grade
too!"
Ms. Brooks had had enough so she took Harry to the principal's office.
While Harry waited in the outer office, the teacher explained to the
principal what the situation was. The principal told Ms. Brooks he would
give the boy a test. If he failed to answer any of his questions he was to
go back to the 1st grade and behave. She agreed.
Harry was brought in and the conditions were explained to him and he agreed
to take the test.
Principal: "What is 3 x 3?"
Harry: "9".
Principal: "What is 6 x 6?"
Harry: "36".
And so it went with every question the principal thought a 3rd grader should
know. The principal looks at Ms. Brooks and tells her, "I think Harry can go
to the 3rd grade."
Ms. Brooks says to the principal, "Let me ask him some questions."
The principal and Harry both agreed.
Ms. Brooks asks, "What does a cow have four of that I have only two of?"
Harry, after a moment: "Legs."
Ms. Brooks: "What is in your pants that you have but I do not have?"
The principal wondered why would she ask such a question!
Harry replied: "Pockets."
Ms. Brooks: "What does a dog do that a man steps into?"
Harry: "Pants"
Ms. Brooks: What's starts with a C, ends with a T, is hairy, oval, delicious
and contains thin, whitish
liquid?
Harry: "Coconut."
The principal sat forward with his mouth hanging open.
Ms. Brooks: What goes in hard and pink then comes out soft and sticky? The
principal's eyes opened really wide and before he could stop the answer
.....
Harry: "Bubble gum."
Ms. Brooks: What does a man do standing up, a woman does sitting down and a
dog can do on three legs?"
Harry: "Shake hands."
The principal was trembling.
Ms. Brooks: What word starts with an 'F' and ends in 'K' that means a lot of
heat and excitement?
Harry: "Firetruck"
The principal breathed a sigh of relief and told the teacher, "Put Harry in
the fifth-grade, I got the last seven questions wrong."
June 9, 2005
©Oliver O. Mbamara,
2005
Respond
to this Article/Story or leave comment
***************************************************
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Oliver Mbamara is an Administrative Law Judge with the State of New York.
He is also a filmmaker and a Published Poet and playwright. For more on Oliver, please visit
www.olivermbamara.com
For background/research reference on this
piece, click on this link
BACK
TO THE TOP
|
|
.
