[Opinion] Steadfastness

Poet John Keats once wrote, `Things beautiful are eternal joy.` There are only a few people consistently sticking to their principles, but the rare kind of people are indeed a source of beauty and joy. Heinrich Shuliman, who found the Troy from the legendary story in real life, had believed there was the Troy after he first read Homeros` `Iliad.` He then began to learn 8 languages and save money to explore the world to find the castle of Troy when he grew up. Shuliman, having become a millionaire, continued to look for the trace of the castle despite the scorn from archeologists and finally found it in the Hisareli Hill in Turkey. The amateur archeologist was able to realize his dream at the age of 51.

The rapid economic growth of this country throughout the 1970s was a result of its people`s steadfast efforts. After the breakout of the financial crisis, people again made concerted efforts to overcome the national crisis. Players of the national soccer team made the nation`s dream come true last year by fighting with their teeth until the end. There are also beautiful and joyous stories about middle-aged men working hard to start all over again after losing their jobs and young students from poor families, who are studying hard to enter college.

Every time we have a new president and a new year, we talk much about steadfastness and about not losing one`s principles. There may be obstacles ahead, but as long as you keep your determination and integrity you will make it in the end. But it is too hard to be steadfast. It may be due to human limits and folly. Deputy Minister and Minister of Education Yun Deok-hong recently appealed to the Korean Teachers` Union to go back to their state of mind in the first place, saying he `felt like crying.` Minister Yun must have thought the role of KTU is vital to resolving the current crisis in the education community.

The way people see KTU vary depending on their viewpoints. Many acknowledged the fact that KTU members changed the education community for better even at the expense of losing their jobs. After becoming a legal organization in 1999, however, its aggressiveness has caused much concern among parents. At the time when it was recognized as a legal organization, it said that it would address the concern about its radicalism and aggressiveness, which had been inevitable for the organization to persist through. If Minister Yun meant the KTU`s pledge by the state of mind in the first place, it would not be a daunting task. Trying to keeping one`s determination and integrity is always pure and fresh. This season of spring, where everything turn green and lively, might be the best time to think about doing just that.

Hong Chan-shik, Editorial Writer, chansik@donga.com