Esteem and salary: two different scales

David Rolfe Graeber (1961-2020).

According to American anthropologist David Graeber, the more useful a job is, the lower the pay.

And today coincidentally, I came across an article that seem to support Graeber's claim: The Ipsos Global Trust Index 2024 shows that the most trusted profession for Indonesians is teaching, despite its low salary. 

Funnily enough, in France, the country where I live, it's fair to say that the status of teacher is virtually unappreciated. For the upper middle class, becoming a teacher means failing your studies or not being competitive in the job market. 

As far as I have observed, one of the most admired professions in French society is doctor. Although people don't necessarily want to become doctors, but at least their children and some other people do. In addition, lawyers, entrepreneurs, scientific researchers, airplane pilots, astronomers, and high-level sportsmen are often mentioned as admirable carreers. 

How about in West Papua? So far I haven't found any certified research on that. However, I managed to conduct a personal survey. The results were quite surprising: West Papuans, who have suffered under Indonesian occupation since 1963, hold priests, pastors, teachers, health professionals and social workers in high esteem. They give them help and support in difficult times, but it's the freedom fighters they love most!

West Papuan General Bernard Mawen.

Although the latter is not categorized as a formal job, it is worth recognizing that a Papuan freedom fighter carries out his activities selflessly while risking his life everyday. 

A short video that recently went viral on social media was revealing: a Papuan schoolboy was asked by his teacher to name a Papuan hero whose face appeared on a ten-thousand-rupiah bill. He spontaneously replied "Egianus!", reffering to Egianus Kogoya, a Free Papuan guerilla commander, instead of Frans Kaisiepo, a pro-Indonesian Papuan politician.

To summarize, the appreciation of a job may vary from country to country. But everywhere, ironically, the more noble the work, the less reward. I'm really sad for all the people who do such wonderful work: caring, nurturing, educating, fighting for the rights of others, yet are not considered. I feel regretful for this world that supports useless work that makes a lot of money to destroy the earth and the future of mankind by deepening inequality.