2 GEMEYLANGZ !

Heir Conditioning by M SHANmugbalingam

SYNOPSIS>
  
   The poem is about the feelings of a grandson and his grandfather over the differences in their ways of life.The grandson asks about living without modern inventions like air conditioners and fax machines.One would have found it difficult to keep cool with the paper fan or have long-distance communication.He feel that life must have been difficult.The grandfather replies that they were ignorant of such inventions.They did not have a modern inventions with the accompanying problems of physical and emotional problem and destruction of nature.They were God-fearing and loved nature while the present generation is feared by nature and money is their God.

THEMES>
  
   1.Preservation\Destruction of the environment.
   2.Materialism
   3.Progress comes with a price
   4.Respect for nature
   5.Material things do not bring happiness
   6.The quality of life then and now
   7.Lifestyles then and now
   8.Concern for the environment
   9.With knowledge comes responsibility
 10.Material comfort does not ensure a better quality of life.

MORAL VALUES>
  
   1.We must not destroy our environment in the quest for progress.
   2.We must balance progress and preservation of the environment.
   3.We must always respect and preserve nature.
   4.Leaning towards materialism means leaning away from spirituality.


INTROSPECTION>
  
   The poem brings to the fore the fact that the current generation,cushioned by the comfort of modern conveniences,actually think that the older generation led a very difficult life.They think they have it good in spite of pollution and the mental and physical stresses.They think that the older generation were not so lucky and feel sorry for them.
   In contrast,the older generation feel that the quality of life has deteriorated since they were young.they feel they had a better quality of life even though they did not have the modern contraptions that make daily living easier.They are fearful for the younger generation.
   The younger generation do not know any better,not having experienced any other kind of life.So,they will be inclined to think that their lifestyle is better.The older generation having seen both lifestyle are in a better position to judge.When the younger generation become the older generation,they,too,will probably feel the same way when they compare their lifestyle with that of the generation.
   The poem also makes us acutely aware that progress has come with a heavy price.The question is ''Which generation is paying a price?''Is it the generation enjoying all the benefits or is it some future generation? Then,we have to ask ourselves whether it is fair for some future generation to pay hefty price for the benefits that we are enjoying.Is it not their choice to make? Are the future generations going to be the heirs of a 'dead' earth?
   The poem also touches on the increasing materialism.Ours is the 'take,take,take'generation.We have taken the forests and the hills;we are taking the sand from the rivers and seas,we have taken the minerals from the earth and we are taking all the fish from the oceans.And in the process of taking,we are polluting everything we touch.Making money seems to be our chief concern,with spirituality and moral values taking a back seat or disappearing altogather.The more money one has,the better,or so it seems.The question we must ask ourselves is this-''Is all that money really making us happy?''