The Universal Language
- Peter Kam Fai Cheung SBS
- Jun 5, 2019
- 2 min read
FADE IN:
INT. LECTURE THEATER, HKU - DAY
PETER and two GENTLEMEN act as panel of judges. A competition TEAM MEMBER addresses the panel.
TEAM MEMBER ...Tech, music and love
are universal languages...
PETER (V.O.)
Although we use English
to communicate, there're
people (including my Mom)
who don't understand English.
The team simply emphasizes
their tech-based business
case.
INT. STUDY - DAY
Peter plays guitar fingering.
PETER (V.O.)
We often hear music
as the universal language.
Can I communicate
with all with my music?
My music reflects my style
and cultural background.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
I recall there's a song
called: Language of
Love.
Peter surfs the web with his phone. A video clip depicting a black vinyl record appears on the screen.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
I've found it! Oh, it's
a 1961 song by John
D Loudermilk. Is love
a language we all
understand? Yes, but
is love a means of
communication to all?
FLASHBACK
INT. VILLAGE DWELLING - DAY (1967)
Having listened to radio, Peter (13) sings: All my love, came to nothing at all my love...
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
We just love somebody. not all.
Peter looks at his smart phone.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
I post reviews in English
and photos on social
media platforms. For the
past 2 years, my reviews
have over 1 M views and
and my photos over 13M.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.)(Cont'd)
My photos depict nature
and food in my artistic
way. Are natural beauty
and food that satisfy
our higher and basic
needs universal
languages?
Peter looks at his other handheld devices.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Technology impacts on
our lives. I've many hours
of screen time on my own.
Does tech really help us
communicate even if
the other side has the
communication hardware
and software? My Mom
is only learning.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
During yesterday's
competition's feedback
session, I did comment on
the team's characterization
of universal languages.
FLASHBACK
INT, LECTURE THEATER, HKU - DAY
Team stand in front of the panel.
PETER
You didn't mention money
as a universal language!
The team and their COACH smile.
PETER (Cont'd)
I believe the goal of
your business plan is
all about it!
ALL laugh.
END FLASHBACK
PETER (V.O.)
I go to Japan from time
to time although I don't
speak any Japanese.
I can pick up something
in a convenient store
and pay for it without
saying a word in Japanese.
Peter surfs the web and finds something.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Karl Marx says money is
the universal, self-constituted
value of all things. Money
has robbed the whole world...
its proper value.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
Does money alienate human's
essence and subject humans
to the relentless pursuit of
money? That's a moral
question.We're the captain
of our soul and master of
our fate.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
But money, through price
systems everywhere
harmonizes humans' subjective values and
their comparative advantages
in their respective value
creation, enabling trade-
offs all over the world.
Pausing.
PETER (V.O.) (Cont'd)
So a good business plan
is one that should forge
the universal language!
FADE OUT. The End