Eldon-Online

If You Did It Again - Would You Do It Differently?

September 21 in 1964 was a Monday. I remember it well. It was the day as a painfully shy, newly tall (I had grown almost 8 inches in two years, much to my Mother’s dismay!), rather ungainly young man that I walked into the doors of 49/50 Berkeley Street in London to commence a clerical role in banking with the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney. The start of what on this day has become a fifty-year anniversary in banking.

It was not my first full time job. I had been employed as a clerk for 18 months at the now defunct Union International Group in Smithfield, London and for those of you who are still trying to work out my age by making certain assumptions based on the foregoing, let me help you by telling you I was born in 1945, and because my engagement with school was somewhat unsatisfactory – on both sides – I started my working life early.

And neither was that date in September the only time the number 21 would feature in my early banking career because it was also, on 21 January 1968, the date I started my first day in the British Bank of the Middle East, Dubai Office.

Over the last few years I have been often asked whether, if I could live my life again, what would I do differently – if anything.  Apart from the fact that I think it’s a fairly pointless question, I do nevertheless think about it sometimes, if only for a reality check.

So, would I want to have changed my life? You know, even with the benefit of hindsight the short answer is no.

Life is not perfect, unless you are extraordinarily fortunate, but I can honestly say I have had the most amazing and wonderful experiences. I have been lucky enough in life to have started from the most humble of beginnings, taken opportunities without trampling on people or stabbing them in the back, worked hard and constantly to the best of my ability. I am not a rocket scientist in mental capacity, or anywhere near. I try to understand my own limitations but use my strengths. I have achieved more than I could have expected, or dreamed about. I have met such a diverse range of people, travelled to many continents around the world, experienced living in a number of different countries ... what could I, and why would I want to change?

Now, do I wish I had actually worked harder at school and then gone to University to achieve a greater level and rounding of my knowledge? Yes and no. Luckily I’ve done very well without it, but I recognise I wouldn’t even get invited for an interview today with my lack of academic qualifications.

Do I wish that I had expanded what musical ability I might have had, into something more tangible or professional? To the extent of perhaps providing entertainment. Yes I do but hey, I’ve sung solo in front of 1200 people in a concert hall, and a Prime Minister, and in a few bars and clubs – and I am thankful for all of that. The fingers still work on the guitar, albeit a little less quickly than before, and the voice hasn’t totally cracked up yet. Besides, as a folk singer you can get away with a lot!

Do I wish I was or had been a better person? Sure, but what’s gone is gone. You learn from the mistakes too, and after that it’s only today and what follows thereafter that you have to worry about. And you still have some control over that.

You cannot change what has passed, so the question about doing thing’s differently is redundant. But can you do things differently from now on? Yes of course you can. If you want to learn to read music, speak a new language or take up a new hobby, you can. It might take you longer than it would have done when your brain was more receptive but that should not be a hindrance to trying.

50^th Anniversaries are a milestone, a time for reflection, and for thought of the future. What you can still do becomes important, and I have to say that on a personal note – with apologies for the apparent morbidity of this – the older you get the more you realise your own frailty. The more you should realise that each day is a bonus and that you should live it well while you have the chance. 

Too many young friends have passed away these last few weeks, and will be remembered for the laughter and the joy they brought to others – not for the sorrow involved with their passing, sad though it is.

And lest people think that last paragraphs are somehow a subliminal message that all is not well with me, I must dispel that notion immediately. I am well, thank you and still looking for things to do. However, if I get run over by a bus tomorrow (God forbid – although He probably looks at me with some suspicion), I can only quote you a favourite piece of mine from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar that reads:

“Cowards die many times before their deaths;

The valiant never taste of death but once.

Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,

It seems to me most strange that men should fear;

Seeing that death, a necessary end,

Will come when it will come.”

Would I have done things differently? Nah! It might have been fun at first but could ultimately have led me up some dark paths, and some very different conclusions. Be thankful for what you have. Live each day to the best of your ability and if there are things you want to do, or things you want to change, then go for it. It is never too late!

Pass or Fail - Who Decides in Hong Kong's Universities?

There is something puzzling me about the University scene in Hong Kong right now. A scenario that I have seen in countries elsewhere, but it raises serious questions for the future of our students.

We currently have an associate professor of law at Hong Kong University, Mr Benny Tai, who is the leader of the Occupy Central movement. And for those who don’t know, this is a civil disobedience movement geared up to protest if the Beijing Government did not agree to the implementation of direct elections for the city’s “mayor” or Chief Executive by 2017. They didn't, so the movement has been protesting.

I have never questioned the right of people to express their own opinions, and this “protest” therefore is within Mr. Tai’s “rights”. I may not agree with the methods used by the protesters, but that’s a discussion for another day.

My more specific question however relates to Mr. Tai’s students who will be hoping to pass their exams at some stage in the future, and I wonder what will happen to those who express a different view to that held by Mr. Tai. In other words, if he is given responsibility for assessing their views on certain legal issues in relation to their course work, how can they be sure that they will not be penalised when those papers come to be marked if they have not embraced Mr. Tai's own views?

Let me be very clear, I am not questioning the assistant professor’s integrity or his beliefs. However, students lack experience, they have a tendency to view the world differently, and may be somewhat naive in their thinking. They embrace "radical" movements as a way of flexing their developing muscles. Will his students therefore think they must reflect the views of their professor if they are to stand a chance of getting appropriate passing marks?

I am sure the University Vice Chancellor and the Governing body of HKU will have considered this matter, but I do not recall having yet seen any definitive statement that provides for a “second opinion” on Professor Tai’s judgement, and I think this is unsatisfactory.

I will be told I am sure, that academia is above all of that and that I should stick to business issues. But the parallels here on an issue such as this with the business world are fascinating. To ensure good (better) behaviour in companies of all sorts, not just financial services, having a "risk" committee is now essential  and as Chairman of a couple of such committees, there would be red flashing lights all over this state of affairs.

I am aware of incidents in other countries where an individual within the academic body has imposed their own beliefs on those of the student body and marked people down accordingly if they did not follow those personal beliefs. I am also aware of directives being given to one University – not in Hong Kong – where a Professor was “leant upon” to reduce his passing mark for a First Class honours degree to allow one or two “well-connected” students who would otherwise not have made it, receive such degrees. As you might expect, the Professor concerned resigned rather than accede to the request – but the University soon found a replacement Professor who was more compliant.

Taking this to another level down, there is evidence to suggest that teaching at many madrassas follow a pattern where children are “brainwashed” by their teachers beyond the point of being able to think for themselves, and then end up us jihadists fighting for the likes of the brutal IS. In other words they hang on to every word of their teachers and are influenced by that teacher's thinking - even if the school itself overall does not set out to turn out classrooms full of wannabe terrorists.

But that is more extreme than the theme of this Blog, so let’s return for a moment to Mr. Tai – and quite possibly others like him.

As I said before, I have no problem with concerned citizens who want to express their own thought-through point of view. But as an influencer of young views can our students be absolutely certain that they have passed their exams because they have followed the prescribed course and done so in a thorough manner, rather than having to toe a line set by their teacher?

All of which reminds me of a story I was told by a friend a few days ago about the seven year old girl who went to her Mother and said “When I grow up I want to be a man”, to which her Mother simply said “You can’t do both dear!”

I think that our academics need to consider the choices they are making – do they want to teach a syllabus to their students by which those students can be assessed fairly, or do they want to impose their views on the students, with pass marks only being obtained if the students accepts the Professor’s views? You can’t do both.

And even if you think you can fairly do both, then I suggest there still needs to be - for the "safety" of everyone - a control against perceived even if not actual bias.

 

Tartan Torment

It was not my intention to comment on something that has already received so much "air time", but I have had enough people asking me for views, and then a note from long time reader "Jeremy", all sort of raising the question ... what is happening in Scotland?

You know, I am seriously not qualified to pontificate about what has been happening to the "United Kingdom" of late - really from the viewpoint of either side, so why do it? Because it seems to me there are an equal number of people in a similar position putting a case anyway, so why not join them.

That said, I was born in Scotland to a totally Scottish Mother. The vague importance of having a Father from England was severely diminished by the fact he died before I was born. My Mother, then having to go down south (England in other words) to find work, managed to do so with a Scottish family from Dundee/Broughty Ferry, in whose employment she lasted for 45 years. I wear the kilt, on occasion, and do so with pride - but still I feel less qualified to talk about the current events. I followed millions of Scots overseas to pursue a different, and in many cases, better life - but that exit was so many years ago I have lost touch with the real Scotland, and certainly don't speak with a Scottish accent.

As an aside my Mother's older sister (now heading for 97 years old) left for Newfoundland in 1946 and when I spoke to her about 10 days ago, she's very mentally alert and healthy, you would think from her accent that she had never left Glasgow. Ooh, but she has an opinion on independence for Scotland!

The vote for an independent Scotland takes place next week, and the polls will have you believe that the "Yes" vote is now marginally ahead of the "No" vote, and therefore in reality the result is too close to call. But surely, whatever happens at the end of the day it suggests that around 50% of the total population in Scotland is going to be unhappy with the result, and that cannot be healthy.

What puzzles me the most - and yes, it's from a distance, is that the Scottish business community is against independence. These are the people who create jobs, and yet the column inches devoted to their arguments are like mayflies - they appear and die in hours, whereas the "Yes" activists receive a disproprtionate amount of coverage. Apparently sane and respected spokespeople say that together, Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom will do better - and then receive a torrent of abusive mail through the (anti) social media, because they have expressed their own views. These "hate" messages are typical of a bigoted bunch of local bully boys who are not so enthused by nationalistic views, but more by the types of people who see an opportunity to put their hands into Scotland's money chest - while it lasts. This does not apply to everyone in favour of a "Yes" vote, of course, but I am concerned it is a vocal minority who will cause major disruptions. I think that Scotland needs to consider very seriously that old saying "be careful of what you wish for", because this might just come back and bite you somewhere unpleasant.

The whole process reeks of the immediate prospect of winning a battle - but I worry for Scotland that the long-term event, the winning of the war, will not end in Scotland's favour. Is there a short-term benefit to Scotland for going it alone? Maybe there is - although I suspect the people in power in Westminster could have dealt with this somewhat sooner than the recent, it seems, panicky announcements by George Osborne that some more devolution and funding could come Scotland's way.

That said, Westminster does not have a good record of being proactive in such matters - look at Hong Kong for example. It is pretty rich that recent comments from the UK now say that this whole question of democracy in Hong Kong should be dealt with by China. Really? China is a Communist, or at least Central Government led, country - and what did a democratic Britain do to permit democracy in Hong Kong during the 99-year lease it held - let alone the 50 years of possession prior to that? But I digress.

Issues such as membership of the EU for an independent Scotland, a separate currency for Scotland - perhaps the Bitcoin has a future after all - passports, trade barriers, jobs; all need to be sorted out. And the answer is not - in the long term - fracking, as recent pronouncements from the pro-Yes lobby would have you believe. The extraction of fossil fuels by a methodology that still has plenty of detractors is dependent to a degree on price and on scale. Revenues from a successful fracking business will, in the short term be beneficial to Scotland I have no doubt, but what happens in the long term; when the oil runs out, or is replaced by something different?

I get the sense that there is monumental and flawed short termism in play here; it's the nature of the world today I am sorry to say. Scotland is going to become marginalised, and even if Scotland decides to vote "No" to independence there will be ill-will all over the place, and they won't be good neighbours which is a great pity.

I hope that many of those people who publicly support the "Yes" vote are doing so to save themselves from the abuse that goes with supporting a "No" vote. And that once they enter the privacy of a polling booth common sense will prevail and they will vote to stay United. It's the better way to go in my opinion.