Qualifications & Education are NOT synonymous

"Educational Qualifications" is a phrase which is very common. But the two words may even be part of an Oxymoron. Qualifications are acquired, not for knowledge's sake, but to acquire a job, wealth & status. Education, however is a life-long process of absorbing knowledge & culture. A qualified person will pull down his/her shutters after attaining a position, showing no further interest in anything. An educated person, typically keeps an open growing mind, especially in the conscientious subjects of politics & religion, instead of becoming dogmatic.

An example will suffice. A qualified man who has studied Newton to get a degree & position, may totally shut his mind & even persecute Einstein's followers because Newton said light travels in a straight line & Einstein proved they can also bend!

God forbid when these people with just their qualifications also acquire power over their hapless fellow beings, behaving like the tyrants of old! That is quite likely to happen as they do not have the humaneness that true education & culture can bring.

Professions where abuse is normalised

There are at least three legitimate professions where one may not succeed if one does not abuse personally one's opponent.

The first is politics. Instead of engaging in constructive activities, the opposition at any given time is always indulging in hurling personal abuses at their opponents, instead of criticising their policies.

The second is law. Instead of getting at the truth & serving justice, the lawyers' main task is character assassination of the opposition witnesses. In fact, so brutal may be the cross-examination that witnesses faint. This legal activity may be worse than the (illegal) third degree imposed by the police.

The third is sport, especially the most popular one, cricket. Instead of fostering "The Sporting Spirit", it has given many cases of life long hatred. (Ex. Botham-Chapell). It is very sad that the once "gentleman's game" has normalised abuse, euphemistically called "sledging."

Orchestral Music Depicting Nature

Beethoven "Pastoral Symphony" in F major, Op.68.

1.Joyous sensations roused by arrival in the country. Allegro ma non troppo.

2.Scene by the brook. Andante molto mosso.

3.Merry gathering of peasants. Allegro.

4.Thunderstorm. Allegro

5.The shepherds' singing glad and grateful feelings after the storm. Allegretto.

Strauss "An Alpine Symphony" Op.64.

1.Night

2.Sunrise

3.The Ascent

4.Entering the forest

5.Wandering by the brook

6.By the waterfall

7.Apparition

8.Flowery meadows

9.In the mountain pasture

10.On the wrong track through thickets & undergrowth

11.On the glacier

12.Precarious moments

13.On the summit

14.Vision

15.Rising mists

16.The sun gradually dims

17.Elegy

18.Calm before the storm

19.Thunderstorm. Descent

20.Sunset

21.Epilogue

22.Night

Ralph Vaughn Williams "Sinfonia Antartica"

Though this composer's Third Symphony was called "Pastoral", it was based on his first world war experiences in France & could be called his "War Requiem". It was unique in that all four movements were slow.

However, his seventh, called "Sinfonia Antartica" depicted nature at the South Pole. It had female chorus, solo soprano, piano & organ.

1. Prelude Andante Maestoso. Prefaced by Shelley's Prometheus Unbound.

2.⁠ ⁠Scherzo Moderato. Psalm 104, dealing with deep sea & whales.

3.⁠ ⁠Landscape Lento S.T.Coleridge hymns.

4.⁠ ⁠Intermezzo Andante Sostenuto Quote from John Donne.

5.⁠ ⁠Epilogue Alla Marcia Moderato Prefaced by tragic final entry from Cap.Scott's diary.