Life, Death, Intelligence, Honesty, and Debate

Lately I have adopted an attitude of living as if I only have one more week on this planet. That puts everything in perspective and brings me clarity and peace of mind. That also brings into sharp focus the impermanence of existence, especially the pains and the joys. I live for a while and then I have to die. The question is whether or not I am truly proud of who and what I am; and if I think my life has been meaningful, beneficial to my loved ones and society at large. I also wonder if ultimately I am good and rare enough to leave behind a positive legacy that ensures me of a recognition by the posterity. However, I don’t dwell too much on the recognition but on the meaning of life and whether or not I am indeed a fine and fully developed human being and “better” than at least 85% of my fellow humans in terms of intelligence, knowledge, and “intellectual and artistic“ achievements.

I find it very amusing and pitiful that so many humans are not in touch with who and what they are. They have an inflated sense of self and pathetically try to prove that they are not inferior humans in some aspects. Denial and cover-up are their cowardly coping mechanisms instead of working hard to improve themselves. 

Wittgenstein, an Austrian of singular personality and genius, left his mark in the world of philosophy. He had one single short book published in his lifetime. The book earned him a doctorate. He needed a doctorate to secure a teaching position at University of Cambridge. When his examiners (Bertrand Russell and G. E. Moore) were through with their questioning, he clapped them on the shoulder and said: “Don’t worry. I know you’ll never understand it.” What a confident and arrogant and bold man! Read: 

“When Ludwig Wittgenstein was persuaded to return to Cambridge in 1929, he was virtually penniless and had no degree. Bertrand Russell realised that Wittgenstein’s previous status as an undergraduate in Trinity College would allow him to apply for a doctorate; and G.E. Moore suggested that he submit his book Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (1921) as a doctoral thesis. The examination has passed into legend. After the oral, Wittgenstein clapped his two examiners – the eminent philosophers Russell and Moore – on the shoulder, and said, “Don’t worry. I know you’ll never understand it.” Moore’s report was masterfully succinct: “I consider that this is a work of genius but, even if it is not, it is well above the standard required for a PhD degree.” Posterity has been less ambivalent. The Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus is now recognised as a masterpiece. Indeed, as his former student continued to develop, Russell became concerned that his own reputation might be overshadowed.

Wittgenstein is unique in that he produced two different and highly influential philosophies. Each had a decisive effect on two successive generations of philosophers. The Tractatus was the only book published by Wittgenstein in his lifetime. A later, and quite different, work was published after his death, under the title Philosophical Investigations (1953). These two books, published over thirty years apart, had a major influence on the development of modern philosophy. Only 25,000 of Wittgenstein’s words were published while he was alive; but the 3,000,000 left behind unpublished have sustained a small philosophical industry ever since. (From Online Magazine Philosophy Now. Alistair MacFarlanesketches Wittgenstein’s life with words.)

Nietzsche was also convinced of his greatness and he openly said so. He knew he would be remembered. He wrote Ecce Homo to ensure he was not misunderstood. I have read the book many times. 

Ralph Ellison, a Black man, wrote only one novel, but it was enough for him to achieve immortality in American Literature. 

I have had three books published. I am not sure I will be remembered after I am gone, but I am sure I have much better chance than my denouncers who are nothing but envious, stupid, superstitious, ignorant motherfuckers who cannot write English worth a damn after living in America for over 40 years. Read: 

EXPANDED VERSION. NIETZSCHE, CAO BA QUAT, AND WISSAI WITH REGARD TO BRAGGADOCIOS

It takes a wise man like Mr. “Caofucius” to recognize the “virtues” of bragging/boasting. Only hypocrites pretend to condemn bragging while practicing it in a subtle, subdued, and sly way. The problem with hypocrites is that they fantasize that people are stupid and cannot see through them. 

Anyway, I repeat, if you feel like bragging, do so openly, loudly, boldly, and back up your bragging with facts, not fantasies. If you have it, flaunt it. If you don’t have it, don’t fake it. By the way, if somebody proves to you that you are an ignoramus, thank him for he is your unpaid teacher. Ignorance is not a sin. Trying to cover your ignorance because of false pride and insecurity, like the ignoramus Ph.D. holder Thoai Lien did, was an unadulterated act of cowardice and shame. An essence of a man is laid bare in all of its splendor for public viewing in how he has to deal with his unmasked ignorance publicly. 

The lesson here: only say what you really know. If you make mistakes, own them. Nobody is perfect. Nobody knows everything. Simple facts. Simple advice. But very few humans can do that because deep down most humans are emotionally cowardly. They crave for respect; they want to appear more knowledgeable than they are. Even when they are caught with their pants down, as was the case of Dr. (sic!!!) Thoai Lien, they would try their best to save face. Sad! 

Frankly, if my English is lousy and I am not comfortable using it publicly, I would not use it or boldly confront others who obviously know it much more than I do. I would not make an ass of myself. And then, if I did, I would humbly learn from my mistakes instead of defending them. But that is me. Not everybody would behave honestly as I do. But ignoramuses all behave like Thoai Lien. That is why they are ignoramuses in the first place.  And they all sing the last-resort excuse and song, ”This is a Vietnamese language forum”. To that, I would retort, ”Aren’t you in America? How long have you been in America? Don’t tell me you just got off the boat last week?” 

Ignoramuses and cowards and lazy folks always protect  themselves with excuses instead of using the experience of humiliation to better themselves. I am regularly humiliated. People mock me and laugh at my foibles; they would lecture me over my shortcomings; they routinely exert authority over me, if given a chance. If I see the fault is mine, I don’t blame it on anybody else. I would use the humiliation to better myself. Nobody was born knowledgeable. We all become knowledgeable by hard work.  

Wissai, a philosopher 

On Jul 30, 2019, at 10:39 AM, Wayne Cao  wrote:

Senor amigo Wissai,

According to Caofucius, showing-off or boasting is a human trait that motivates some individuals to advance themselves !

I have a view that having something to boast about is better than having nothing to boast ! 

Female creatures show off what they have to attract male!

Male creatures show off theirs to attract the females and to fend off other competing males! 😩😜😇

Cheers!

Sent from my iPhone 

Wayne Cao

Nobody likes braggarts. That’s a truism. I know that. You know that. Everybody knows that. But most human do brag. They do so for various reasons: to impress others, to lie, to boost sagging self-confidence, and maybe to deal with loneliness and solitude.

People who possess True Modesty are quiet. They do not draw attention to themselves. On the other hand, I have seen those who regularly profess modesty are the ones that brag the most, though in a subdued and subtle and sly manner. I detest hypocrites like them. I even know one such hypocrite up close and personal. He thinks I am too dumb not to know his nature. I am impulsive, emotional, loud, and immature, but I am not very stupid. I have empathy. I have imagination. I have sensitivity. I understand how people think. I can get into the mind of my interlocutor or opponent. That’s why I am a winning small-time poker player. The way I look at bragging is like this: If you feel like bragging, do so openly, loudly but truthfully, with facts backing up your bragging. Just don’t be a sneak about it. Don’t be a coward. And don’t lie.

I also happen to despise those untalented, stupid dumb asses who complained about the act of bragging by others and sang the virtues of Modesty. These stupid, good-for-nothing assholes complained because the act of bragging by others reminded the assholes of their own stupidity and ignorance and their human animal existence. These assholes live a life no different from that of sub-human animals. They contribute nothing to human progress. They just pollute and degrade the human gene pool. And there are so many of them in the forums. The worst are the loudest motherfuckers who post on the daily basis the most inane, stupid, ridiculous, superstitious, mindless opinions and comments. I often wonder where they went to school and who were their parents and why they mindlessly swallowed hook, line, and sinker what they were fed by their religious and political masters and manipulators.

Nietzsche bragged that only Heine and he were the masters of the German language. And he was right. Nietzsche was universally admired for his prose. He was the impetus for my learning German. I said to myself that if Nietzsche came across so beautiful, so clear, so majestic and magisterial in English translation, then he must be sublime in the original.

Every educated Vietnamese knows about the bragging of Cao Bá Quát regarding his poetic gifts. He was right. When I was a teenager, I read the poems written by Nguyễn Công Trứ and CBQ. I couldn’t help noticing the marked differences in poetic qualities and thoughts. The poetry of NCT was mundane, pedestrian, and practical. The poetry of CBQ was sublime, ethereal, and defiant. NCT was an accomplished man in many fields but not a genius in poetry. CBQ was.

I am a braggart, too. I don’t deny it. I am no hypocrite. I know I have been obnoxious in my braggadocios, but I don’t give a shit what people think of me. Do you really think I do? 

I brag in order to keep myself on my toes. I brag in order to boost myself to greater heights. I back up my bragging with facts. I’ve bragged that no fucker in the forums—including the assholes that love to affix and append the Ph.D. designation next to their names, even what they wrote had nothing to do with their field of specialty—can rival me in terms of the command of the English language. I have issued a challenge to them to a written or oral debate. 

I also claim that as far as I know, nobody in the forums of which I am a member can translate Vietnamese poetry into English as well as I do. I have put out three literary books in English. Any motherfucker on the forums who fancies that he can write English had better read the books and ask himself if he can actually write as sublimely as I did in the books. Here are the words of a new dear friend about my books:

“You are good with language. Although you don’t have the music background, the way you write, the words you use, the poems you compose—especially your poem translations, they all have music melody and lyrics of songs.

If the readers really “listen” to your words, they certainly would find them very soothing, peaceful, like music melody. And I am very truthful when making these comments, Wissai.”

I believe in and enjoy bragging. I am seventy-five years of age. I know what I am doing. I have consciousness. Take me as I am or leave me alone.

Wissai

Updated 4-14-2024

Addendum:

Hàn Nho Phong Vị Phú

Tác giả: Nguyễn Công Trứ

Chém cha cái khó !

Chém cha cái khó !

Khôn khéo mấy ai ?

Xấu xa một nó !

Lục cực bày hàng sáu, rành rành kinh huấn chẳng sai,

Vạn tội lấy làm đầu, ấy ấy ngạn ngôn hẳn có.

Kìa ai:

Bốn vách tường mo,

Ba gian nhà cỏ .

Đầu kèo mọt đục vẽ sao,

Trước cửa nhện giăng màn gió .

Phên trúc ngăn nửa bếp nửa buồng,

Ống nứa đựng đầu kê đầu đỗ.

Đầu giường tre, mối dũi quanh co,

Góc tường đất, giun đùn lố nhố.

Bóng nắng dọi trứng gà bên vách, thằng bé tri trô,

Hạt mưa soi hang chuột trong nhà , con mèo ngấp ngó .

Trong cũi, lợn nằm gặm máng, đói chẳng muốn kêu,

Đầu giàn, chuột cậy khua niêu, buồn thôi lại bỏ.

Ngày ba bữa, vỗ bụng rau bịch bịch, người quân tử ăn chẳng cầu no,

Đêm năm canh, an giấc ngáy kho kho, đời thái bình cửa thường bỏ ngỏ.

Ấm trà góp lá bàng lá vối, pha mùi chát chát chua chua,

Miếng trầu têm vỏ mận vỏ dà, buồn miệng nhai nhai nhổ nhổ.

Áo vải thô nặng trịch, lạnh làm mền, nực làm gối, bốn mùa thay đổi bấy nhiêu,

Khăn lau giắt đỏ lòm, giải làm chiếu, vận làm quần, một bộ ăn chơi quá thú.

Đỡ mồ hôi, võng lác, quạt mo,

Chống hơi đất, dép da, guốc gỗ.

Miếng ăn sẵn cà non mướp luộc, ngon khéo là ngon,

Đồ chơi nhiều quạt sậy điếu tre, của đâu những của.

Đồ chuyên trà , ấm đất sứt vòi ,

Cuộc uống rượu , be sành chắp cổ .

Đồ cổ khí bức tranh treo trên vách, khói bay lem luốc, mầu thủy mạc lờ mờ,

Của tiểu đồng pho sách gác đầu giàn, gián nhấm lăm nhăm, dấu thổ châu đo đỏ.

Cỗ bài lá, ba đời cửa tướng, hàng văn sách mập mờ,

Bàn cờ săng, bảy kiếp nhà ma, chữ nhật chữ điền xiêu xó.

Lộc nhĩ điền lúa chất đầy rương,

Phương tịch cốc khoai vừa một rỏ.

Tiêu dụng lấy chi mà phao phóng, thường giữ ba cọc ba đồng,

Mùa màng dành để có bao nhiêu, chừng độ một chiêng một bó,

Mỏng lưng xem cũng không giầu,

Nhiều miệng lấy chi cho đủ .

Đến bữa chưa sẵn bữa, con trẻ khóc dường ong,

Qúa kỳ lại hẹn kỳ, nhà nợ kêu như ó .

Thuốc men rắp bòn chài gỡ bữa, song nghĩ câu ý dã, thế nào cho đáng giá lương y,

Thầy bà mong dối trá kiếm ăn, lại nghĩ chữ dũng như, phép chi được nổi danh pháp chủ.

Quẻ dã hạc toan nhờ lộc thánh, trút muối đổ biển, ta chẳng bõ bèn,

Huyệt chân long toan bán đất trời, ngôi mả táng cha, tìm còn chửa chỗ.

Buôn bán rắp theo nghề đỏ, song lạ mặt, chúng hòng rước gánh,mập mờ nên hàng chẳng có lời,

Bạc cờ toan gỡ con đen, chưa sẵn lưng, làng lại dành nơi, hỏi gạn mãi giạm không ra thổ.

Gâp khúc lươn, nên ít kẻ yêu vì,

Gương mắt ếch, biết vào đâu mượn mõ.

Đến lúc niên chung nguyệt qúy, lấy chi tiêu đồng nợ đồng công?

Gặp khi đường xẩy chân cùng, nên phải tới cửa này cửa nọ.

Thân thỉ to to nhỏ nhỏ, ta đã mỏi cẳng ngồi trì,

Dần dà nọ nọ kia kia, nó những vuốt râu làm bộ.

Thầy tớ sợ men tìm đến cửa, ngảnh mặt cúi đầu,

Chị em e vất lấm vào lưng, chìa môi nhọn mỏ.

Láng giềng ít kẻ tới nhà,

Thân thích chẳng ai nhìn họ.

Mất việc toan dở nghề cơ tắc, tủi con nhà mà hổ mặt anh em,

Túng đường mong quyết chí cùng tư, e phép nước chưa nên gan sừng sỏ.

Cùng con cháu thuở nói năng chuyện cũ, dường ngâm câu lạc đạo vong bần,

Gặp anh em khi bàn bạc sự đời, lại đọc chữ vi nhân bất phú.

Tất do thiên, âu phận ấy là thường,

Hữu kỳ đức, ắt trời kia chẳng phụ.

Tiếc tài cả phải phạn ngưu bản trúc, dấu xưa ông Phó ông Hề,

Cần nghiệp kho khi tạc bích tụ huỳnh, thuở trước chàng Khuông chàng Vũ.

Nơi thành hạ đeo cần câu cá, kìa kìa người quốc sĩ Hoài âm,

Chốn lý trung xách thớt chia phần, nọ nọ đấng mưu thần Dương võ.

Khó ai bằng Mãi Thần Mông Chính, cũng có khi ngựa cưỡi dù che,

Giàu ai bằng Vương Khải Thạch Sùng, cũng có hội tường xiêu ngói đổ .

Mới biết :

Khó bởi tại trời,

Giàu là cái số.

Dầu ai ruộng sâu trâu nái, đụn lúa kho tiền,

Cũng bất quá thủ tài chi lỗ.

Tài Tử Đa Cùng Phú

Tác giả: Cao Bá Quát

Có một người:

Khổ dạng trâm anh;

Nết na chương phủ.

Hoi miệng sữa tuổi còn giọt máu, nét hào hoa chừng ná Tân, Dương!

Chòm tóc xanh vừa chấm ngang vai, lời khí khái hẹn hò Y, Phó.

Nghiêng gợn sóng vẽ vời điển tịch, nét nhạn điểm lăn tăn!

Bút vén mây dìu dặt văn chương, vòng thuyền khuyên lỗ chỗ.

Nghiêng cánh nhạn tếch mái rừng Nhan, Khổng, chí xông pha nào quản chông gai!

Cựa đuôi kình toan vượt bể Trình, Chu, tài bay nhẩy ngại gì lao khổ!

Lắc bầu rượu dốc nghiêng non nước lại, chén tiếu đàm mời mọc Trích Tiên;

Hóng túi thơ nong hết gió trăng vào, cơn xướng hoạ thì thầm Lão Đỗ.

Tươi nét mặt thư sinh lồ lộ, bưng mặt trần toan đạp cửa phù đồ;

Rửa buồng gan du tử nhơn nhơn, giương tay Tạo rắp xoay cơn khí số.

Tưởng đến khi vinh hiển coi thường;

Song nghĩ lại trần ai đếch chỗ.

Lều nho nhỏ kéo tấm tranh lướp tướp, ngày thê lương hạt nặng giọt mưa sa;

Đèn cỏn con co chiếc chiếu loi thoi, đêm tịch mịch soi chung vừng trăng tỏ.

Áo Trọng Do bạc phếch, giãi xuân thu cho đượm sắc cần lao;

Cơm Phiếu Mẫu hẩm sì, đòi tuế nguyệt phải ngậm mùi tân khổ.

Gió trăng rơi rụng, để cái quyên gầy;

Sương tuyết hắt hiu, làm con nhạn võ.

Túi thanh bạch ngược xuôi miền khách địa, trăm nghìn đường chỉ nhện dệt thưa mau;

Đèn toan hàn thức nhắp mái nam song, dăm ba ngọn lửa huỳnh khêu nho nhỏ.

Miệng châu quế rì rầm học vấn, chị chú Tô cẳn nhẳn chỉ hiểm nghèo;

Vai tân sài đủng đỉnh ngâm nga, vợ anh Mãi băn khoăn từng kể khó.

Đói rau rừng, thấy thóc Chu mà trả, đá Thú Dương chơm chởm, xanh mắt Di nằm tót gáy o o;

Khát nước sông, trông dòng đục không vơ, phao Vị Thuỷ lênh đênh, bạc đầu Lã ngồi dai ho lụ khụ.

Trông ra nhấp nhố sóng nhân tình;

Ngoảnh lại vật vờ mây thế cố.

Ngán nhẽ kẻ tham bề khoá lợi, mũ cánh chuồn đội trên mái tóc, nghiêng mình đứng chực cửa hầu môn;

Quản bao người mang cái giàm danh, áo giới lân trùm dưới cơ phu, mỏi gối quỳ mòn sân tướng phủ.

Khéo ứng thù những đám quan trên;

Xin bái ngảnh cùng anh phường phố.

Khét mùi thế vị chẳng thà không!

Thơm nức phương danh nên mới khổ.

Tình uốn éo muốn vạch trời lên hỏi, nào kiếp Chử Đồng đâu tá, nỡ hoài chén ngọc để trần ai;

Trí lăng nhăng toan vượt bể đi tu, hỏi quê Tiên tử nơi mô, xin lĩnh lấy vân đan làm tế độ.

Bài phú Dương Hùng dù nghiệm tá, thì xin tống bần quỷ ra đến miền Đông Hải, để ta đeo vòng thư kiếm, quyết xoay bạch ốc lại lâu đài;

Câu văn Hàn Dũ phỏng thiêng chăng, thì xin tống cùng thần ra đến đất Côn Lôn, để ta gánh vác giang sơn, quyết ném thanh khâm sang cẩm tú.

Nhọc nhằn cơn nhục mát cơn vinh;

Cay đắng lúc cùng bù lúc phú.

Vậy có lời nôm dặn bảo thế gian rằng:

Đừng thấy người bạch diện thư sinh;

Mà cười rằng “đa cùng tài tử”.

Nguồn:

1. Cao Bá Quát toàn tập (tập 1), Trung tâm Nghiên cứu quốc học, NXB Văn học, 2004

2. Việt văn diễn giảng hậu bán thế kỷ thứ XIX, Nguyễn Tường Phượng, Phan Văn Sách, Bùi Hữu Sung, Trường Nguyễn Khuyến xuất bản, Hà Nội, 1953