‘When I was a child, I talked like…?’

As “Osofo,” my former Chaplain-General, apologised to me copiously on a Monday morning and asked for “forgiveness for being a bad-boy” for not having gotten in touch in recent times, I tried impressing him probably subconsciously, attempting to make up for not going to church a day earlier on Sunday by saying, as the Bible says, “to err is human, to forgive divine!” 

I was surprised when Osofo quickly corrected me that the oft-quoted aphorism, is not a quote in/from the Bible!

Researching into that after our conversation, I realised that the quote is attributed to the poet Alexander Pope (1688-1744) who in his 1711 poem “An Essay in Criticism,” used the expression for the first time! Sighing, I told myself, the learning process has no end!

Having been educated by Osofo, I decided to make a foray into another popular quote, “when I was a child…!” This time, I located it. It states:

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” 1 Corinthians 13, 11 (NIV)

Generally, as we go through life’s stages of childhood, adolescence into adulthood, maturity replaces our ways of a child, in speech/thought/reasoning and good behaviour. But is it always the case? Do we stop “talking/thinking/reasoning” like children when we become adults?

To decide, one only has to listen to local radio/TV news, which many Ghanaians deliberately do not do, as a protest against lack of objectivity, disrespectful and intemperate language!

Talking

In my 2017 article in the Daily Graphic titled “Talking by Heart?” I stated as follows:

“The tap on my shoulder was gentle. When I turned, my eyes beheld the broad smile of Prof.  As he extended his hand, I instinctively stood up for a warm handshake. As if acting on a cue having seen what was going on between the two of us, the chairman asked the new arrivals for self-introductions. Prof.’s introduction was simple.

“My name is Kwame and I taught this General.” The applause was spontaneous. I replied, “Prof. was a fantastic teacher.” There was another round of applause. The mutual respect between the two of us was obvious.

Prof. happened to be the late Emeritus Professor Kwame Gyekye who for many years taught Philosophy at the University of Ghana, Legon. He was also the first Dean of Graduate Studies at the Ghana-Armed-Forces-Command-and-Staff College (GAFCSC). The occasion was a meeting of the Ghana Association of Writers at the Pan African Writers Association House at Roman Ridge, Accra.

I have always had absolute respect for Professor Gyekye as my teacher. I guess the case is so for pupils and students for our teachers at all levels.

Talking by heart?

As I Iistened to the radio that morning, I heard the man say that the professor, not my Professor Gyekye, was his lecturer at the university. His next statement, therefore, caught me completely flat-footed. Reacting to a comment allegedly made about him by his professor, which displeased him, the man stated that the professor must not “talk by heart!”

Talk by heart? I could not believe my ears, because I know that, anything done by heart is done without much thought. It certainly is not a positive comment.  If the man had not himself said in his introductory remarks that the professor had taught him at the university, my shock would have been less. Indeed, when he stated that, he was the professor’s student, I expected cordiality similar to that between Prof Gyekye and me.

My immediate reaction was, therefore, to disbelieve what my ears heard and give him the benefit of the doubt of not having said what he said. However, when he repeated the same statement, all I did was to sigh heavily.”

Discussion

When we were growing up in the 1960s, a book every pupil had was “Courtesy for Boys and Girls!” We were taught to be respectful and disciplined, even in disagreement. In recent times, the incendiary language used irrespective of the level of education is unbelievable! Some remind me of an angry outburst by a very big man I had an altercation with in our youthful days in the 1970s. I stated in the 2017 article quoted above as follows;
“In an argument with a colleague some years back over a faux pas on his part, he shot at me saying, ‘look, you can take me out of the ghetto and give me a PhD, but you can never take the ghetto out of me’! While not disagreeing with my colleague, I am convinced that no culture teaches former students to insult their teachers/professors, no matter the disagreement!” Indeed, one can disagree agreeably!

The perverse/visceral personal satisfaction aside, what is the gain in using vitriolic/incendiary language? Are they happy to bequeath their children with such a legacy of foul/violent language? Otherwise, assuming your teacher insults you, is insulting him/her back the best way of redressing a grievance? For such insult-consultants, remember the biblical saying “Honour your father and mother so that you may live long!” (Exodus 20, 12).

World-War2-veteran/author Zig Ziglar stated, “it is your attitude, not your aptitude which will determine your altitude!” Impressive letters before and after one’s name are not the most important determinants of one’s success in life, if what comes out of one’s mouth is vile language Chinua Achebe describes it as “heathen filth!”

Finally, I submit again that, all future Ministers/MPs/High-office-holders do a short three months military training before assuming office. Among others, they will be taught “Word-choice and Tone,” and arrogance exorcised from them! It is not for nothing that the Scandinavian countries, where military training is compulsory, have such disciplined and non-arrogant politicians who use decorous language.

Always remember, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. But when I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me! 1 Corinthians 13, 11 (NIV). For, harsh words hurt both victim and perpetrator!

Leadership, lead by Example! Followers, wake up!