Because i love it
Yup i just finished the last entry, but i'm still blogging. Why? Because i love it. I love the power that words contain, not just to convey the meaning of their definitions, but also the meaning of their related associations. Of how hearing an angmoh in New York say Wa-lao would bring a sense of familiarity and pride to a true-blue Singaporean. I guess its a feeling brought on by the "Writing the Essay" class im taking as a compulsary module. Its amazing how this analysis of other essays has inspired me to write, write and write. I suppose this blog is fulfiling its function as an outlet for me to practice my writing. My writing Prof is impressed by my writing and considers it a candidate for publication in a book of student essays. Perhaps that's the real reason for my appreciation of writing... That its being appreciated.
Speaking about the RPOH in the last entry, i remember i wanted to comment about Rockson's post and its assorted comments about RI boys and shit. But then i realised that there was no point. Its true that some Raffles people are very guai lan, but then every school has its share of guai lan people, and people tend to overgeneralise and assume things are the way that makes it easy for them to handle. The same way people tend to side with their friends suffering from the pains of a breakup-- "aiyah she was a bitch la, never really cared for you anyway" or "all guys are jerks la, no point holding on to some bastard thats doesn't even treat you like a friend". Besides the fact that almost if not all guys really are jerks in some ways, its just easier for people to handle their subconscious or conscious inadequacies by villianising the source of insecurity.
Its easy for someone to say: "students in RI all study no life come out all become social spastics" if he was jealous of their superior academic showing, or "ya la they dangle carrots for all the top athletes thats why their school so good in sports" and conveniently neglect the fact that hardly does a team an individual makes. Zidane and Figo and Raul and Rooney and Shevchenko and whoever else may have been at the top of their game in football, yet a team of virtually unknown Greeks won Euro 2004. Similarly, to complain about the government favouring the top students for public administration and ignoring the 'not so lucky' EM3 student. I honestly believe an EM3 student with a flair or passion for public administration would take the pains to excel in his studies. I think school may not be an exact reflection of the required abilities to be a part of the public administration, however it is a reflection of the discipline and capability required to be part of the public service.
I've noticed alot about how this distancing myself from home has made me more politically involved. I used to be the obedient citizen that never questioned the gahmen and its policies. However, sources of information like Rockson's blog have opened my mind to the strong undercurrents of political dissatisfaction among the working classes in Singapore. Big business and the financial industries typically benefit from the stability and control that the gahmen has provided, and i believe all Singaporeans are thankful for this higher quality of life and safe streets. But what about those living on the margin of necessity? I've been blessed to not have had to worry where my next meal was going to come from, nor that i would not have money for transport to school. What about those who have been retrenched that are 'overqualified' to assume those $800 jobs?
What about the citizens in Buangkok that have to absorb the higher cost of transport that the NEL brought? is there really a need to raise the fares of public transport when they continually post profits? Yes, there is a need for companies to generate profits, and yes prices must reflect the financial situation. If the price of oil has gone up, the price of public transport naturally should rise too. But at what cost? The issue of moral business ethics is relevant here because it is a public utility that is being provided, and as far as public utilities go i feel that the gahmen should have full control over this. An increase of bus or train fare by ten cents may not seem like much to many, but what about the families that need the money? The working mother that hits three jobs just to send her children to school? The children who eat 2 meals a day to save money? Its these people that need the utility of public transport to get around as they cannot afford alternatives like taxis or owning cars. And yet their only avenue is out of reach.
Who says Singaporeans are politically apathetic? Its just that the avenues for expressing political views are not fully developed. We are ranked 140th out of 167th in an article about press freedom in Singapore. So how to air our opinions? Bloggers get jailed for expressing personal sentiments. How now? I worry that one day my blog will be blackmarked by the Government, regardless of my position as a patriotic student studying overseas, regardless of my approval of many policies including NS.
I'm grateful for NS, because of its contribution of a peaceful society. Studies on the Empires in Europe from 1300 onward have shown that a well-maintained military force/police is a key factor in the successful implementation of reform and a prerequisite for sovereignity. Im grateful for the immense effort the gahmen has spent producing a nation living in first world standards after 30-odd years of independence. Im grateful that the majority in singapore have a roof over their heads, and need not sleep in the streets like the many vagabonds that suffer freezing nights in New York and California. Im grateful that the nation has access to multiple levels of education, and that we enjoy the perks of being wired to the internet. Im grateful that i didn't have to worry about getting shot when i went to school, and that i know more about the rest of the world than many other Americans do.
Theres no point complaining if you're not going to do something about it. So appreciate what we have, folks. Or join an opposition party.
Speaking about the RPOH in the last entry, i remember i wanted to comment about Rockson's post and its assorted comments about RI boys and shit. But then i realised that there was no point. Its true that some Raffles people are very guai lan, but then every school has its share of guai lan people, and people tend to overgeneralise and assume things are the way that makes it easy for them to handle. The same way people tend to side with their friends suffering from the pains of a breakup-- "aiyah she was a bitch la, never really cared for you anyway" or "all guys are jerks la, no point holding on to some bastard thats doesn't even treat you like a friend". Besides the fact that almost if not all guys really are jerks in some ways, its just easier for people to handle their subconscious or conscious inadequacies by villianising the source of insecurity.
Its easy for someone to say: "students in RI all study no life come out all become social spastics" if he was jealous of their superior academic showing, or "ya la they dangle carrots for all the top athletes thats why their school so good in sports" and conveniently neglect the fact that hardly does a team an individual makes. Zidane and Figo and Raul and Rooney and Shevchenko and whoever else may have been at the top of their game in football, yet a team of virtually unknown Greeks won Euro 2004. Similarly, to complain about the government favouring the top students for public administration and ignoring the 'not so lucky' EM3 student. I honestly believe an EM3 student with a flair or passion for public administration would take the pains to excel in his studies. I think school may not be an exact reflection of the required abilities to be a part of the public administration, however it is a reflection of the discipline and capability required to be part of the public service.
I've noticed alot about how this distancing myself from home has made me more politically involved. I used to be the obedient citizen that never questioned the gahmen and its policies. However, sources of information like Rockson's blog have opened my mind to the strong undercurrents of political dissatisfaction among the working classes in Singapore. Big business and the financial industries typically benefit from the stability and control that the gahmen has provided, and i believe all Singaporeans are thankful for this higher quality of life and safe streets. But what about those living on the margin of necessity? I've been blessed to not have had to worry where my next meal was going to come from, nor that i would not have money for transport to school. What about those who have been retrenched that are 'overqualified' to assume those $800 jobs?
What about the citizens in Buangkok that have to absorb the higher cost of transport that the NEL brought? is there really a need to raise the fares of public transport when they continually post profits? Yes, there is a need for companies to generate profits, and yes prices must reflect the financial situation. If the price of oil has gone up, the price of public transport naturally should rise too. But at what cost? The issue of moral business ethics is relevant here because it is a public utility that is being provided, and as far as public utilities go i feel that the gahmen should have full control over this. An increase of bus or train fare by ten cents may not seem like much to many, but what about the families that need the money? The working mother that hits three jobs just to send her children to school? The children who eat 2 meals a day to save money? Its these people that need the utility of public transport to get around as they cannot afford alternatives like taxis or owning cars. And yet their only avenue is out of reach.
Who says Singaporeans are politically apathetic? Its just that the avenues for expressing political views are not fully developed. We are ranked 140th out of 167th in an article about press freedom in Singapore. So how to air our opinions? Bloggers get jailed for expressing personal sentiments. How now? I worry that one day my blog will be blackmarked by the Government, regardless of my position as a patriotic student studying overseas, regardless of my approval of many policies including NS.
I'm grateful for NS, because of its contribution of a peaceful society. Studies on the Empires in Europe from 1300 onward have shown that a well-maintained military force/police is a key factor in the successful implementation of reform and a prerequisite for sovereignity. Im grateful for the immense effort the gahmen has spent producing a nation living in first world standards after 30-odd years of independence. Im grateful that the majority in singapore have a roof over their heads, and need not sleep in the streets like the many vagabonds that suffer freezing nights in New York and California. Im grateful that the nation has access to multiple levels of education, and that we enjoy the perks of being wired to the internet. Im grateful that i didn't have to worry about getting shot when i went to school, and that i know more about the rest of the world than many other Americans do.
Theres no point complaining if you're not going to do something about it. So appreciate what we have, folks. Or join an opposition party.
posted by Kinfoong at 6:17 PM
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