sure of control。 We are able to decide for ourselves what we do with ourselves and our heritage。
As long as we remember just how powerful we are。 Each move we make； each word spoken； each thought passing through our brain is enough to affect the world for better or； indeed； for worse。
Today’s Western world sets great store by intelligence。 Of all human characteristics； it seems to be the one most coveted。 Everyone wants to be clever – only fools like to think themselves stupid。
The official IQ tests that have been devised to measure mental ability in figures； focus on linguistic and mathematical skills。 They are supposed to be independent of culture and background； but they reflect the skills and talentsencouraged and developed in our schools。
It makes you wonder if perhaps our modern syllabus isn’t far too limited。 It would be nice to see things like good sense and ethical awareness promoted to serve the mon good。
Not to mention emotional intelligence： the ability to handle carefully； constructively； your own emotions as well as those of others。
Imagine if everyone was taught to understand and master person…al motivations and instinctive urges； trained to build harmonious relations based on insight and consideration of others… So many conflicts would be avoided； teamwork and co…operation improved； better results achieved all round。
But modern educators shy away from that which cannot be quantified。 It’s doubtful whether we shall ever see the study of human nature on a school syllabus。
I read in the paper about a mother； whose son had been stabbed to death for the sake of his mobile phone。 She was setting up a found…ation in the victim’s name to help rehabilitate delinquent youths of the kind who had killed her son。
Blaming his death； not so much on the perpetrators as on the social system that had produced them： a system failing badly in its obligation towards young people in desperate need of discipline； care and control； she hoped the work of the foundation would benefit not only the individuals targeted but anyone ever to e in their way。
Integration 混沌（3）
She finished by saying that her heart went out to those parents who had to live with the knowledge that their own flesh and blood were guilty of such an act。
In the local shop I found the article under discussion。 “That mother must be a saint；” uttered one elderly customer。 “If that had been me； I’d have campaigned to see them hanged。”
“The strength of her！” sighed a young woman。 “Isn’t it a wonder that she wasn’t broken altogether？”
“Perhaps she came to the same conclusion as I did；” said the shop…keeper； herself a widow with seven children。 “That； considering the world we live in； death is not the worst thing that can happen to a person。”
“One thing I can’t understand；” a politician once said to me； “is why one’s achievements are hardly ever in proportion to the time and energy spent on a project。 Ventures I give my heart and soul to e to nothing； whereas others； to which I pay only scant attention； fall neatly into place。”
It reminded me of advice given many years ago by one of my teachers at drama school。 “Keep going to auditions；” she told the group of prospective actors。 “Send out your details； pester producers。 You may never get the parts you hope for； but in my experience； effort is always rewarded。 An offer will e your way – though often from a direction you never anticipated。”
Why is that so？ I wondered then。 Now I say； why ever not？ How could we possibly expect to gauge in advance other people’s reactions？ It would be curious indeed if we could； since they have motives of their own； of which we know nothing。
But as long as we reach out； put into the world what we have of talents and mitment； like bread upon the waters it will e back– in one shape or another。
The thing to do is to keep trying； unfazed by rejection or failure； on the assumption that efforts do pay off； even though not necessarily in the way we expected。
Equality of opportunity is a fine ideal generally subscribed to。 Who wouldn’t agree that everyone should be given the same fair chance？
But how can we call it fair？ This principle； when applied； is the very anti…thesis of equality： a cruel weeding out of those unable to take advantage of the opportunities extended。
It would be different if all contenders started at the same base line。 But ask any primary school teacher to identify those seven…year…old pupils they consider unlikely to be “of much use to society”。 Their predictions will be largely accurate。
The little ones thus relegated to the bottom of the class will soon fall through the net and likely as not end up on the slag…heap of anti…social behaviour； crime and addiction：victims of a rigid value system that recognizes and rewards only certain narrowly defined assets。
But everyone； each and every one of us； has some potential worth exploring； something of value to contribute。 There is a place and role for every person born； none more； or less； important than the other。
We all have the ability to flourish as well as the right to excel；at our own level； on our own terms。
A truly fair society is based； not on equal opportunities but on a system of equal values。
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Gender 性别（1）
在我看来，没有所谓的女性的解放，解放要么存在于两个人之间，要不根本不存在。
作为一种概念，这种想法一定是存在于那些天真的女孩子脑子里的，她们把自己的身体当作一种他人可以享用的资产来看待。
与她们的母亲不同，她们的母亲往往经过了长久的对爱情的困惑后，将性视作一种羞耻和恐惧。现如今的女性都有种自由的精神，对自己的吸引力很有信心。她们自在地走进期待的世界中，试图品尝与男性之间平等的关系。
但情况往往是，她所遇到的男性，并未把女性的这种行为同样解读为女性解放，而仅仅将其视作她是在免费奉献她自己。
这种男人要么会利用她、伤她的心，要么可能在让女孩儿怀孕后，欺骗、遗弃、利用、虐待她。
很多年后，女人在回首往事的时候，一定想知道到底是什么摧毁了自己？作为一个女人她做错了什么？她曾经的信心到哪里去了？
那些运气好的少数女子，碰到的可能是与自己怀有同样想法的男人，不管他们之间是一时的纵情还是一生的承诺，他们都经历着最好的关系——平等和相互尊重，分享着快乐的体验和相互的欣赏。
所以，所有那些热衷于解放的年轻女人啊，要小心选择你们的伴侣，哪怕只是为了一夜情。
在维多利亚时代最优秀的一篇小说里，我读到了如下一句话：贫穷对我们下的最可怕的诅咒，是我们无法保护自己的女人。
在以前的年代，有钱人家的女人是不能在没有陪护的情况下出门的。穷人家的女人则常常与孩子一样，是易受攻击、脆弱以及猎物的代名词。
当我长大后，我母亲告诉我，年轻女孩儿独自在晚上出门或是远行而没有年长人的陪伴，这都是不体面的。
我对这种试图控制年轻女子的旧传统很是鄙夷。我出生在20世纪的后半期，习惯取悦我自己，喜欢环游世界，在任何我愿意的时候到任何我想去的地方。
我还记得自己在德国高速公路上行驶时那种激动的感觉，记得独自一人在清晨的巴黎拉丁区闲逛时的悠闲，记得在罗马欣赏巴洛克风格教堂时的沉醉。只有一次，在伦敦的Soho区，我迷路了。一个陌生人帮我叫了辆出租车，并告诉我一个人待在那儿是不安全的。
我们曾在报纸上读到过关于女人失踪、被强奸或谋杀的报道，她们曾错误地以为自己是安全的。事实是，我们依旧是毫无防卫的脆弱的人。这并非是旧有的偏见在阻碍我们追求自由�