The mother builds generations and watches over her children from their earliest childhood. This is why the mother occupied a lofty position in history. The first story in today’s “Horizon Talk” is a symbolic tale about the making of generations. The second, which is also symbolic, is drawn from the former Soviet Union. It shows us how a state collapses when corruption comes from the top and the hardworking citizen falls under the domination of a corrupt manager.
Therefore, the collapse of the Soviet Union did not start in the 1990s, but rather when corruption became entrenched in even the smallest government departments and factories. In the first story, a great emperor summoned the goldsmith of his land and asked him to create a crown of pure gold, telling him he was preparing it for an important competition.
One week later, the goldsmith returned with a crown of unmatched beauty. Through the heralds of the city, the emperor announced that a competition will be held in a month, and that the winner should have rendered distinguished service to the nation. Everyone hurried to participate -- sculptors, poets, engineers and doctors, all fully prepared. On the day of the competition, the stage was erected, the emperor sat on his high throne and gave the order for the competition to begin. A young man stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, I am a doctor and I authored a book on medicine containing descriptions of previously unknown remedies, as well as various treatments for headache, heartburn, stomach ulcer and other ailments. My only goal is to alleviate the suffering of your people.”
The Emperor was astonished by his knowledge and applauded him enthusiastically. The Emperor thought to himself, “A young physician with such skill and such love for his country is a promising prospect.” He then asked him to return to his place. Another young man stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, I am a poet and I composed a poem that I would be honored to have you hear it.” The poet recited a poem praising virtues, love of country, and the achievements of ancestors, concluding with a prayer for the Emperor. The Emperor was impressed by his eloquence and thought to himself, “How can such a young man possess such eloquence? This also bodes well.” The young man then returned to his place. A third man stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, I am an engineer and I traveled throughout the empire, but I did not find any fortress that can protect the homeland from enemy attacks. This bridge must be demolished, because it will be a passage for the enemy if they attack us. Another bridge must be built.
The fortress is not suitable at the foot of the mountain; otherwise, it will become a prison once the enemy surrounds us. The fortress must be built on the summit, so that we can shoot at our enemies and they cannot shoot at us. These are my military observations and I hope you will present them to the commanders.” The Emperor was astonished by what he heard and uttered, “What do I hear and see? This is a land of good tidings.” The Emperor asked the engineer to return to his place and then called the fourth contestant. An elderly woman, bent over on her cane, was watching the scene intently.
“It would be impolite to keep this lady waiting,” the Emperor thought to himself. He called her and asked her to come forward. She stood before him. “What do you have?” he asked. “Your Majesty,” she replied, “I am not a contestant, but the mother of these three young men -- the poet, the doctor and the engineer. I came to see who among them will win the prize.” At that moment, the emperor rose and said, “Gentlemen, the competition is over and we have one winner. Put the crown on the head of the woman who made men.”
During his visit to some factories, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, who ruled the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, noticed a skilled, energetic and hardworking worker. He inquired about his background, and finding him disciplined, he ordered that he be given a car and a house. The following May Day, Khrushchev made another visit. He passed by the same factory and found the same worker. Impressed by his continuous hard work, he again ordered that he be rewarded with a car and a house. The worker said to him, “Comrade, I am the same person you rewarded with a car and a house last year, but I have not received them until now.” Khrushchev asked the factory manager, “Why didn’t you carry out my order?” The factory manager picked up the Pravda, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and said, “We gave him the car and the house, and here is a picture of him standing in front of the house and the car.” Khrushchev said to the worker, “My son, they gave you the house and the car, but it seems you do not read the Pravda!”