Homework from Week #11

Monday, October 28th, 2013

"Are you more certain that 2+2=4 or that you love me?"

So I asked my parents today, and both of them said that they are more certain that they love me than they are certain that 2+2=4. But recording only their final responses takes away all the fun. Oh, I'm going to go ahead and try to rewrite the entire two-minute conversation that was mostly filled with silence.

Se Jeong: Hey, Mom, Dad, I'm going to ask you a pretty weird and random question, okay? (Parents nod.) Alright, mm, are you more certain that 2+2=4 or that you love me?

(Silence as they both process the question. My Father laughs, a laugh I interpret as a result of awkward nervousness. My Mother stops her work for a moment and stares at me blankly.)

Dad: Where did you get a question like that? (still laughing the weird laugh)

Mom: Wait, can you repeat? Did you ask whether I am more sure that 2+2=4 or that I love you?

(I nod while my Father answers:) That I love you, of course. (Then he pauses awkwardly and, somehow, looks uncomfortable. My Mother is still staring blankly. A faint nod affirms her agreement with my Father. Her eyebrows are scrunched together.)

Se Jeong: Okay. Thank you!

(As I turn around to leave) Dad: Where did you get that question from?

Se Jeong: ToK. It's like a philosophy class.

(My Father nods. He looks at the horizon blankly. After a while he says:) We all wish and hope for that, don't we? We all hope that the people we love are more certain of their love for us than the unquestionability of simple math.

(I smile. Then, I answer:) I guess... Well, thank you anyway. Love you and see you later!

My afterthoughts on this episode?

Well, I always observe the reactions of the people I talk to. And without wanting to brag, I have a pretty good and reliable way of interpreting reactions. In this case though, I don't think much talent was necessary to recognize that both of my parents were taken aback by my question, and that though they answered that they were more certain of their love for me, they are not as certain about their answer. Both felt forced to say that answer. But is that what they truly believe?

I think I made them think more throughout the whole day with this "simple" question. But then, who wouldn't?