Let’s not settle for second place
Wakeijuku holds regular lectures by social dignitaries. On April 13, 2008, Hiroshi Komiyama, a former president of Tokyo University, gave a lecture on how to make Japan a great country that can solve the world’s problems, stressing that a great country always contributes to the progress of history. He mentioned the energy problem and boasted about his “eco-house.” He said he saved 80 percent on energy consumption in 2002 by building his house with special insulation materials and solar cells.
Nine years have passed since then, and Japan is now agonizing over problems caused by its nuclear power plants. It is working to solve the problems of the world.
Consider for a moment three-types of students: those who play after doing their homework, those who do their homework after playing and those who do not do homework at all. If the students were states, they could be classified as advanced countries, developing countries and underdeveloped countries. If an advanced country solves the problems of the world, developing countries can follow. But the developing country could never be first rate, just as the student who does their homework after playing cannot beat one who studies first and plays later.
Recently, the debate over nuclear power plants has flared in Korea, too. Perhaps, it is more profitable for Korea to wait for Japan to come up with a solution. But if we were to become the first country to find a solution to the renewable energy conundrum, we would be considered an advanced country capable of solving a global problem.
Remember, the winner sets the standard and the runner-up copies it. Those who are satisfied with copying will always remain in second place.
*The writer is an editorial writer of the JoongAng Ilbo.
By Park Jong-kwon
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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