We need 'Teaching-only' Universities

I fear for the future of Indonesian (and any language) language studies in Australian universities, not because of external factors, but because of the system within. Languages need 'teaching-only' universities, with teacher-specialists committed to, qualified in, and supported in the delivery of high-quality teaching programs, yet not burdened by the need to publish research that potentially has very little bearing on the immediate needs of the students.

My Latest Creation

Irish Uilleann Pipe Drones
Indian ebony, brass, imitation ivory, Acacia Cambergei (Gidgee)



With chanter and bag makes a half set.

Latest Chanter

Chanters

Photos from Kenalan

Here's another post form my old blog I just dug up -

Desa Kenalan
Kecamatan Pakis
Kabupaten Magelang
Propinsi Jawa Tengah
Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia
Earth

[In 2008] our school's Year 12 trip to Central Java was a memorable time. We stayed in Desa Kenalan which is one of the last villages up the side of Mt Merbabu. So it was real cold at night and early morning. Here's some pics (click on the to get bigger, clearer versions) -

From the front of our homestay looking out over the valley to Mt Sindoro and Mt Sumbing.

and up the other way looking up the slope of Mt Merbabu.

and at dusk.

Like I said, it was real cold. It got down to about 6 or 5 degrees C in the early morning and morning baths were excruciating. No hot water. Just pour the fresh, cold mountain water over your head and watch the steam emanate from your skin. Repeat and then go and stand in the sun to thaw out.

Reaming a bagpipe chanter

Where do you draw the line?

The big news in Australia this past week was the reports of cruel treatment of Australian cattle exported to Indonesia -

http://www.qt.com.au/story/2011/06/01/export-footage-prompts-outrage-ipswich-cattle/

The reports sparked a massive backlash of public opinion directed towards Indonesia. Scouring the readers' comments of a few different online publications, including The Jakarta Post revealed a large portion of respondents criticising Indonesians for their apparent culture of cruelty towards animals.

Playing the Devil's advocate in my workplace lunch room, I asked a couple of colleagues, rhetorically, if another culture views animals differently from us, such that to them, the apparent cruel acts as displayed in the recent coverage shown on Australian national television were a normal part of their collective psyche, who are we to criticise? After all, aren't we a nation of civilised, progressive multiculturalists who strive to promote tolerance of other cultures?

In this light, upon what moral grounds do we therefore claim superiority to the extent that we willingly berate another nation for their treatment of cows we willingly sold them?

If it only comes down to a majority consensus, that is, that over time, the majority deem that such behavior is wrong, there may be some ground to stand on. But which majority do we count? If the majority of the non-western world have a different view of animal rights than we do, does that mean we are wrong?

I don't think the majority consensus is valid. Who ultimately says that what the majority says is right, is in fact right? Pol Pot would never have thought so. He obviously thought he was more right than the majority. In his mind, and the minds of his followers, he was more right than anyone else. Cultural relativism at work. There is no absolute morality. That is why we must be tolerant of other cultures.

Once we start criticising the practices of other cultures, we step into the realm of absolute morality and intolerance.

Unless we firmly believe in a clear set of absolute moral principals which have been established apart from any form of public opinion, we cannot safetly assume we have the right to impose our view of morality on others. To many, beating cows over the head with chains may be ok. How can we criticise that unless we believe we have a higher and absolute ethic which annuls the ethics of others?