Constructive Deconstruction

This is your country. Take Ownership for it.

July 6, 2006 on 1:08 pm | In Personal Rants | 4 Comments

There are many who are still hesitant about taking a stand that isn't on the side of the Government.  Now, please, there is a difference between revolting against the Government and taking a different stand.

People cite everything from being afraid of being blacklisted to protecting their rice bowls…some even go so far as to be afraid that they might just 'disappear' one day.

I, too, have fears. But what makes us who we are? What makes people respect us? What lessons to we wish to impart to our young? Character. Our founding fathers brought us to where we are because they had strength of character. They decided that something had to be done and they did it. They held on to their differing views and championed them until they were convinced or they were overpowered. They did not choose to discount their views.

That is why I feel that my generation, and the many who will come after me have been done a great disservice…Especially after the suspension of Lee Kin Mun(or more popularly known as Mr. Brown), who is a regular Friday columnist in the TODAY newspaper after his article on S'poreans are fed, up with progress! (read the response from the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts(MICA) here ) Now, you may, or may not, agree with me that Singaporeans are generally apathetic towards life, especially so after the nationwide responses after the TV-aired dialogue with our *Minister Mentor. BUt what Mr. Brown has done effectively was to air the grouses of the common man in a fashion that is entertaining. 

Have we become such an 'efficient' society that Politics and News are topics that must be approach with straight face and nothing less than a deep sense of severity? Are we, the ones who actually feel that severity, not allowed to translate that into a delivery style that allows the apathetic lot to at least show some form of interest?

Commentaries and blogs are not to misconstrued to be sources of news for what they really are are sources of opinions. And if we shut these sources out. Who then will hold opinions that would matter for the development of this country? The groomed scholar/director/minister who spend time training overseas?*

I hesitated when I decided to write this. 

But I am Singaporean. And this is my country. And long after the people who run it today are gone, it is my generation that will inherit this land…together with the consequences of their mistakes.

While we must keep track of hostile elements in our country, we must have the discipline to know where that line should be drawn.

It is one thing to stop Mr. Brown.

But it is a whole different issue to stop us from harbouring an opinion.

And because i'm a citizen, my hesitations are merely fears that I must step over.

This is our country. This is our right.

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*I respect the MM since I was born referring to him as Grandfather when I was little. But times change. And while his achievements and experiences are great. It's our turn now. And we must be allowed to make mistakes because if we don't…who will have the experience to save us when he's gone?

*Scholars must be trained overseas so that they may receive global exposure - new methods, new experience, cultural exposure, etc…But we have to admit the fact that this takes them away from the homeland. And for that, unless they a superbly great gift of knowing what their citizens are thinking about, they have to learn to listen - to both the good stuff..and the bad. We all like to kid ourselves into thinking we're great beings…and that's where we fall. Hard.

Dancin in the dark

July 6, 2006 on 3:29 am | In Lyrics, Personal Rants | No Comments

It's Your Love
by Tim McGraw

Dancin' in the dark
Middle of the night
Takin' your heart
And holdin' it tight
Emotional touch
Touchin' my skin
And askin' you to do
What you've been doing all over again

Oh it's a beautiful thing
Don't think I can keep it all in
I just gotta let you know
What it is that won't let me go

It's your love
It just does something to me
It sends a shock right through me
I can't get enough
And if you wonder about the spell I'm under
Oh it's your love

Better than I was
More than I am
And all of this happened
By takin' your hand
And who I am now
Is who I wanted to be
And now that we're together
I'm stronger than ever I'm happy and free

Oh it's a beautiful thing
Don't think I can keep it all in
And if you asked me why I changed
All I gotta do is say your sweet name

It's your love
It just does something to me
It sends a shock right through me
I can't get enough
And if you wonder about the spell I'm under
Oh it's your love

Oh, Baby
Oh…

Oh it's a beautiful thing
Don't think I can keep it all in
I just gotta let you know
What it is that won't let me go

It's your love
It just does something to me
It sends a shock right through me
I can't get enough
And if you wonder about the spell I'm under
Oh it's your love
It’s Your Love,
It’s Your Love.   

You know there's something wrong with me when I find my source of warmth and love from a song and pillow.

I'm glad things are working out for so many people.

But right now…i'm jealous.

but even more than that,

i'm sad.

Maybe that's what's wrong with me these days…maybe that's why i give so many shit excuses.

I've settled for less - accepting what life gives me and label it as fate and whistle to the tune of que sera sera. 

I've become weak.

Or maybe I just am.

Can you hear me? Yes, you. That girl with the pretty face and the sweet voice. Yeah! You!! The one wearing a white dress and baby blue bracelet and streaks of maroon in her hair! Stop looking around! I'm talking to you! I think you're the sweetest, most lovely person i've ever met…and I just wanted to ask you…Will you hold me for just one moment? Dance with me to this song? Sink your head in my shoulder and hold me close?

Who am I kidding? 

Really ridz, who am I kidding?

I am so pathetic. Why am I here feeling like this while half the world is watching a soccer match?

So. Fucking. Pathetic.