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"Because a life without freedom, is a life not worth living"
Recently with the rise of the new media, many dissenters have taken to the social media sphere to rant and scorn our government. A typical youth would be easily tempted to join in. I mean, rising costs of living, inflation going out of control, poor social standards, lost of the Singaporean identity. Aren't these all push factors, forcing people to hate our government? Not to mention inflammatory articles by "The Temasek Review" or "The Real Singapore.com". And while it does provide entertaining and a different perspective compared to the dull and obviously and obnoxiously government-biased Straits Times, I can't help but wonder, what is the point of all of this hubris?
I live in a nation where supposedly foreigners are about to outnumber locals. Where the indigenous people, Malays, are suffering from the brunt of social ills. Where it is painfully obvious that there are secrets hidden by our government. I mean, there is a legitimately good reason why the public does not know certain things. Economic or national security reasons maybe? I don't really like it but I can see the need sometimes to lie or hide the truth from the people.
What disgusts me even more is how alternative sources misquote, misuse and blatantly insult our leaders. I am no fan of our Prime Minister but sometimes the things they say, a tad too unreasonable. He's not a brilliant leader but he's doing ok in my books. At the same time it is self-evident that our government is wholly incompetent at times. The haze situation showed that for all the economic and technological might we have, an Indonesian minister could insult us with no consequence and our PM could only come up with excuses and list out the things he and his cabinet could not do. Understandable but the people want to know what you CAN do, not what you can't. The people of Singapore are not an unreasonable bunch of people collectively speaking. Many are oblivious to the social, political and economic occurrences of today. Look at my friends! Talking about social and political problems with them is like talking to a wall. Oblivious and just not wanting to know. Good Lord the horror!
So many social problems plague our tiny republic. And what can we do about it? Freedom to even criticise the ones in power, to provide feedback and solutions barely exists. Many a times our voices, our opinions, our ideas are drown out by rudimentary and barely workable stopgap solutions. We solve our housing needs with BTO flats and loans? Seriously with the inflation and barely increasing wages, most Singaporeans are already in debt technically and they want us to take loans? Just the other day I read that Diploma holders in Singapore cannot hope to own a 3-room HDB flat when they get married. Terrifying isn't it? Our basic right to shelter, our homes, are a few $500,000 away? I'm merely quoting an arbitrary number but you get my point.
And you wonder why our birth rate is falling?
It is my sincerest belief that change is needed. A drastic look into the GDP-driven mentality is needed. Do we sacrifice our social rights for the sake of the dollar? Do we give up our freedom for the sake of numbers? Many can say that a recession has arrived. Money is more important. What can freedom give?
And yet when our country was born, it took visionaries like Lee Kuan Yew, Albert Winsemius and Goh Keng Swee to craft a modern, forward-thinking society that could stand the test of time. An adaptable society where none were left behind. But we hear it today. Matters of social and civil rights and equality must wait. There are conflicts to settle. Economies to salvage.
What do any of these things matter if the people are not free and equal. All of them.
Many of you may not understand the things I say here. Many of you will think of this as nothing more that a political critic-wannabe having a shot at the government. Firstly the answer is no, I am no critic of the government. Nor am I a proponent of them. I merely analyse and present my opinions in the most objective way possible. I aspire to be part of it one day in fact. Our government is decent enough. They screw up sometimes but they are only human after all.
And you may disagree with the things I say here. Brilliant! Hold fast to those ideals and truths. Let it be a guide as you learn, understand and shape your political, economic and social understanding of the world we live in.
Because what really matters is what you as an individual believe in and why you believe it.
Freedom, ladies and gentlemen does not involve revolutions or wars. They are not idiots who cook up insulting stories of the government or opposition. Nor are they radicals who seek to disrupt whole societies.
They involve people who are willing to make a positive impact on society.
May our 48th National Day be a good one for us all.
*To my dear people at ISD, ICA...or what ever you call it, this is a opinion piece. OPINION!!! There are few facts in this piece really. And I have made sure that I do not personally attack anyone here. If I have, I apologise*
Tuesday, 9 July 2013
Before you read this post, watch this first, so that you may understand.
Betrayal is a funny word.
In all honesty I have never seen why people talk so much about honour, pride, dignity etc etc. Even more peculiar is the concept of betrayal. I mean isn't it normal for someone to shoot someone in the back to achieve something for themselves? Modern society is pretty much that right? So what's the big deal out of it?
It is only when you experience it for yourself that you really understand why you hate it so much.
Once upon a time, a naive girl started to tag along with me. I wondered why at first. She was so pretty. I mean I do have loads of pretty girl-friends but it was the first time that someone actually found me instead. Well I guess since it came off the back of a terrible moment in my personal life that I simply opened myself up to her.
It was only through discussions with other peers that I found out why. She was generally a lonely person in school. Few friends plus a disastrous relationship. The rumors didn't help either. So it was agreed that I would eventually watch over her. I taught her well. I blindly ignored all her past transgressions and focused more about rebuilding her image. I taught her life lessons that can only be learned through tragedy. But tragedies are something I wanted her to avoid. Hence my lessons.
But the one thing I was warned about. That I had to avoid at all costs. It was to fall for her. Which, she being pretty and all, I did.
But I kept the feelings locked away, much like what I did with many other feelings. Thing about me is that I get crushes easily. But after a week it's all good. Those that linger longer, well I know it means I really like them.
While I struggled to come to terms with my dearest yeobu's hurtful actions on me, I stayed true to my duty. How noble of me. Feels more like being naive. I watched over her like an eagle watching over his lands. Whenever I detected problems, I quickly eliminated them.
And so the time came that she had to go away. I was sad. I mean you take care of someone for so long, doesn't it hurt to see that person all grown up? I guess parents seeing their kids grow up can relate. I still worry. So when I found out a friend was going with her, I made sure he took care of her. And I warned him that I had slight feelings for her. Hence why I wanted him to watch over her.
Little did I realise that he would betray me by making a move on her. He had his chance in Singapore. But he waited until he was away from my influence to do this. I am dumbfounded. Disgusted really.
Why? Seriously why?
Everything I have done. I have done it out of pure concern and love for her. And to see someone betray and rob me of her like this? Inexcusable. And I have to pretend nothing is wrong and continuously support her?
That's why I decided to become a true friend to you.
If something sad happened in your life, I would be there for you.
If something happy happened in my life, I would share it with you.
If you strayed from the path, I would admonish you.
If you committed an error, I would forgive you.
If you found yourself in a predicament, I would provide a foundation on which you could stand.
All in order to make this man that had lost his love for the world be able to love the world once more.
~ Komamura Sajin
Enough.
My job is done.
I have taken every single arrow. Defeated every single opponent. Protected you from every danger I could foresee.
No more.
I can't even bring myself to talk to her because it only reminds me of your betrayal. I had enough of being lied to. Enough of being stepped on. I want happiness. And I sincerely believe that my yeobu can give me that. Perhaps fate may bring us together. Or fate might bring me something else. For all the things my past crushes and loves have done to me, this is the worst. Even with all the scoldings of my yeobu, the threats of "boyfriend" and the nonsense that meimei did to me, this is just disgusting.
My time as Mentor is over.
I will no longer be naive enough to fall for such a fate again. No more.
Arrivederci random passer by. I sincerely hope fate will not let you experience such a cruel moment.
Saturday, 6 July 2013
I'm starting to see a trend here.
I start almost every post with, "It's been awhile eh" concept.
Who cares? No one comes here anymore I guess. It's kinda sad really. Blogs used to be the ideal way to stalk someone. To understand someone's inner nature, thought processes and preferences or choices. Now it's like a chore with new things like Twitter and Facebook (which is beginning to lose it's coolness by the way).
Well I should start this post proper eh?
It's been awhile since I've been here. Late June has been harsh on the self-styled Awesome One. The haze got me annoyed. The practically imposed exile in my room life is killing me. The fact that no one is actually around to listen to me hurts even more. Seriously it sucks being alone for so long.
See it tends to get into your heads. You lose trust in the people around you. You see nothing but the flaws in people, the bleak future or the despair that is reality. You lose hope. And that really upsets me. Because that's not what life is about.
It's about hopes and dreams. It's about finding happiness. Serendipity. Tranquility. And while I know you loners out there love being alone. I don't
I hate being alone.
I'm afraid of being alone. Maybe that explains my constant need to have an active chat on WhatsApp or just some random tweets or liking a few pictures. It's just so...depressing?
I've gotten into Assassin's Creed recently. Really like Ezio. But it was Conner Kenway's quote (a mash-up of various historical quotes really) that interest me.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident. Our right to freedom. Our land. And our way of life. We will die for what we believe in. We cannot be stopped. We will never back down, because a life without freedom, is not a life worth living. Give us liberty, or give us death"
Connor Kenway
Wise words indeed.
Auf Wiedersehen.