It's always great to see people recalling the honourable work of their predecessors.
Many of us (especially in the west) get caught in the cult of the new and innovative. And we often seem to do it at the expense of the legacies we inherit.
(If you are an academic you will be aware of this trend every time you look at a bibliography or footnotes; the proportion of new articles and books to old is often overwhelming.)
When we were in China a few years ago, we were struck by the depth of appreciation for the work of former generations. This revealed itself most often in the disciplines of fine artistry, construction and medicine.
It's quite a contrast to the way many Australians see things. One culture seems to 'add value' by underscoring the 'cutting edge' nature of its new technologies, while the other sees value as enhanced by heritage.
In many ways, the emerging China holds both these things together. With a deep appreciation for history, they are also pressing into a future which insists that they embrace innovation.
It's a challenging conundrum: how to move forward with full appreciation for the past while not being held captive to it.
Which shoulders do you stand on in your work? Your hobbies? Your philosophies? Your way of seeing the world? And how do you honour the good things of the past as you move forward?
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