The status quo is a powerful thing, as it has been there, done that, is a point of reference, and what people are used to and conditioned to think towards.
The Chinese say, the first to arrive is the master. Indeed.
To the people conditioned under the status quo, it is what they have been brought up to know, to understand, and accept as a way of life. The fact that it is the status quo shows some meaning: it must have a reason behind it, hence it is the status quo.
If we do not think deeply towards it, it remains. The status quo.
To the people who have no or little interaction with the forces of the status quo, or people fed up with the status quo, change then becomes the attractive option.
Change means new. And new sounds nice, much nicer than old. Change means breaking loose from the chains of the past. Change means clearing the cobwebs of the yesteryears, and escaping the clutches of history that binds us down. Change means you stand out from the crowd, and change makes you the creator of something, rather than the follower of something. Change makes you a person with ideas, rather than a person who copies them. To the eternally subconsiously optimistic human mind, change looks attractive. Change looks good.
Change looks attractive, but how do we go about doing it? For those who are fed up with the status quo, are you fed up with the whole process? Or are you fed up by just bits and pieces of it? How do you identify the seperate components that fed you up? Would your fed-up-ness of the status quo cloud your judgement on these components, and spread it onto the whole status quo? Do you want change for the sake of it, or do you want change because you have sorted out the components as mentioned? Would you throw the baby out of the bath water?
For those who have little interaction with the status quo, what makes you so sure that the status quo failed because of its system, not because of its people? Are you making illogical links and creating illogical scapegoats? Do you want change simply because of your own agenda - your own mental status quo? And the very fact that you have little interaction with the status quo, who are you to judge on it? How do you come to criticise the status quo? By pure imagination? By hearsay coming from a few biased opinions? How can you be so sure of your criticism, so sure until you reject the defenders of the status quo as pure conformists?
For the defenders of the status quo, how do you know you truly like the status quo, and not purely conforming? Is your defence of the status quo borne out of habit? Do sentimental feelings attached to the status quo cloud your judgement over the true benefits and costs ? Or put simply, are you plain lazy to think and accept whatever that was thrown down upon you by the predecessors? Did you ever try to cleanse yourself of all that, then try to think objectively upon the true value, if any, of the status quo?
As John Edwards once said in the presidential debates, whenever the agents of change come forward, the forces of the status quo rise and repel these changes.
The incumbent versus the revolutionist. The experience of the old versus the optimistic promise of the new. The corrupted yet full visualisation of the defenders versus the uncorrupted yet narrow imagination of the change agents. The feel of stagnation versus the anticipation of flow and movement. The comfort zone vs a risky unchartered path. Incretmentalism vs Overhaul.
Everyone feels that they are open to ideas. But are they truly open? Have insufficient information, experience, sentiments, personal bias cloud their judgement? Has the judge's own mental status quo reject diverging ideas at the first reading? Or is the judge just using the consideration (yet subsequent quick rejection) of differing opinions just to make himself feel that he is open when he is truly not?
It is not possible to be completely neutral, but it is totally possible to be respectful of the opposite camp. When you do not respect, you would not be respected. Simple as that.
First ever YOG - Singapore 2010! Just came back from the Padang!!
I'm so glad I made my way there, despite the tight timing after leaving NUS at around 6pm, and I did not regret a single bit!
I was quite surprised to see a blistering crowd at the Padang, in front of the City Hall.
moments before the announcement
The atmosphere was really energetic! I was really surprised to see many young students at the road in front of the City Hall, many decked out in red, and the JJC students in green! Their energetic jumping around really made the place have the 'youth' feel.
The performances and crowd and atmosphere was one as if 'we're sure going to win'.
the SMU percussionists
The emcee Daniel Ong keep asking 'Counting down to the historic moment..', as if we are sure gonna win this one.
Then, it came the broadcast on the giant screens. The atmosphere was tensed, and the crowd was silent. Whenever Singapore's name is shown, the crowd went to a huge cheer.
"Singapore, Singapore, Singapore!" shouted the crowd.
Then comes the moment.. "And the 1st Youth Olympic Games goes to the city of.."
I was clenching my fists, and Wee Lai, who was beside me, was doing the same too.
"Singapore."
Immediately, the crowd erupted into a huge chorus of roars and drowned out the sound of the telecast. Everyone started to jump up and down! (Me included =P)
To be honest, tears of joy were brimming in my eyes. I seriously can't believe it!
the party begins
Well, as I told Camy, the heart says Singapore but the head says Moscow. We're the underdogs and I'm glad we won it!!!!
It's hard to describe the atmosphere and how I felt in words. You have to be there to experience it!
This is the recording of the whole waiting process from one member of the audience near me!
From here, I felt 'Singapore' again, like in the Tiger Cup matches, election rallies and NDP. This is the Singapore I love, and the Singapore I want to contribute to.
the party continues
It kinda strengthened my resolve to work in the Civil Service, and be able to work in projects like these, providing moments for Singaporeans to feel proud and happy about.
us
It's gonna be an exciting next few years for Singapore, with the F1 racing in 2009, IR opening and of course, the FIRST EVER Youth Olympic Games in 2010!
The next general elections will be at 2011, and it will be interesting to see how all these will affect the GE.
Exciting indeed =)
For my personal bookmarking:
The annoucement:
The celebrations:
PM Lee's Speech:
(P.S. I don't know where to insert this, but I'm so impressed by the JJC students, whom I believed ALL came down, wearing green and jumping and dancing their hearts up, leading the crowd with their energy. I'm also impressed by the unity and discipline they showed, when the teacher in charge asked them to gather, they gathered immediately, echoing down instructions, akin to army effiency. Then, they all raised all the hands swiftly together, shouting their JC cheers. When singing the song 'Home', they gathered their arms around each other's shoulders, mightily showing their school spirit. Even when asked to 'squeeze' for the teacher to speak to them, they did so in such enthusiasm and discipline it's really impressive. I can't even see this in the army. Well done JJC! You've impressed me.)
(P.P.S I love the way Singaporeans, upon this kind of setting, foster that sense of unity. In that setting, it's no longer you versus me, but us versus them. The enemy, in this case, Moscow. I love the way Singaporeans smile to one another, stranger or not, when asking people to give way in the crowd, and when dancing to the beat after our victory. At that moment, we are as one, and the little differences between you and me doesn't matter anymore. We're Singaporeans, savouring that moment of victory, as one, and together we're happy, and together we'll stand strong should we fail, like in SARS.)
(P.P.P.S I would like loved it if the likes of Weichern and Soonleong were together with me at the historical annoucement, as I know these are people who share the same sense of patriotism with me, and will truly love it whenever Singapore succeeds. I fondly remember the instances where usually reserved guys hug one another when Singapore scores in the Tiger Cup Semis and Final, putting aside all barriers and expressing our love for the country. Ok, I'm feeling a bit over patriotic now =P )
MTI Internship Interview Just came back from the MTI internship interview.
It was an enriching interview =)
I'm glad that instead of the usual theoractical questions, e.g. what are your strengths and weaknesses, give an incident whereby.., who inspired you.. etc, they asked about our views on the Singapore economy, and what can be done to go about solving the problems.
Readers of my blog know that I'm a keen follower on such stuff, and I'm glad I had the knowledge to give views on issues I've long thought about. I spoke about my personal experience with public hospitals, about the dire state of queues I myself experienced. Other than that, we discussed about the transport system in Singapore (ERP ERP ERP), the IRs and F1 racing, and the arts.
I'm glad that I proposed the alternative energy industry as the future driver of the Singapore economy. I kinda got inspired through watching Obama's and Clinton's speeches in their presidential debates, where they talked about creating 'green-collar' jobs and stopping the dependency on Middle-Eastern oil 'once and for all'. I hope it is a deviation from what were often mentioned in the newspapers: services sector, R&D and high-end manufacturing.
I'm also glad I suggested Islamic banking as another way forward for Singapore. Luckily, I saw that on MTI's website about the key Budget initiatives, where Islamic banking services are given further tax rebates. I kinda guess this was a lucrative trend, and just whacked it at the interview =P
I realised I talked a lot during the interview, so I hope I wasn't being overly-agressive =P
It was really enlightening to hear views from the 'insiders'. The people who were involved in drafting economic reports, the people who had access to all these top-secret economic data.
It was my first time discussing such stuff with people who are actually doing reports and putting proposals forward, rather than discussing issues in a tutorial situation whereby all talk is academic, and that does nothing to have actual influence on the outcome.
It was fun suggesting things to them, and hearing their rebuttals to us, and them providing their insider views on the reasons behind the government doing certain things.
I'm glad to find out that the economic and strategies division really do things I want to do in the future, i.e. do research on the economy, and provide the strategies that chart Singapore's future economic path. And I'm glad to hear that "economists are in high demand" =p
About the pay.. hehheh there's a secret regarding economists' pay which I'm damn happy about!
All in all, it was an eye-opening interview. Even if I fail to get it, I'll try my best to apply for MTI again, or try to work there in the future.
Random thoughts in CNY break I think sometime ago I read on The Newpaper that having less sleep will make you react more to things, meaning you're more emotional.
Haha as I'm blogging now, following the stayover in the clubroom and watching Arsenal vs Rovers til 6am, and waking up at around 8.15am, I'm super seh.
I want to sleep, but usually I can't 'bear' to sleep at night, so maybe it's time to sort out some thoughts. It has been quite some time since I've posted, so it might be quite long.. pardon me for that eh? =)
How was CNY? Hmm.. seriously, I don't do CNY visitings anymore. As all my 4 grandparents have passed away, the linkages between my uncles and aunties are quite broken. For my father's side, whom I live with, I live in my grandma's house. And being in the grandma's house, people visit you, instead of you visiting others. haha I big loh, so just wait at home wait for people to come.
For my mother's side, we were never that close to begin with, and following my mum's passing away back then in 1990. Going my maternal side has always been rather a chore, just for the sake of keeping ties alive, and to be downright cynical, the place is a Hongbao heaven, as they are really really generous.
That being said though, my uncles and aunties are really nice people. While we are never close, I always have this feeling that they treat us as one of their own. Every new year, they will ask us if we have enough money to spend, and on top of the Hongbao money, some will stuff money to give us, always telling us “拿去买东西吃，吃是不能省的”。
These are the little gestures that will stick with me for the rest of my life =)
My point is since my maternal grandma passed away, and that Ang Moh Kio area going through some 're-development' of blocks, we don't really keep in contact, and we don't really know the new address. So, no visiting loh.
But Chu San was really fun! Really 1000 thanks to Camy for 自编，自导，自演-ing the whole party! Great spread of food, drinks, desserts, 2 mahjong tables, cards, PS1, Hamigua's Wii, and your friendly family members! Super gan dong! I had great fun just walking around, chatting, playing games and enjoying the spirit of gathering :)
Well during CNY, as I'm rather free and enjoying the mental slack, I had many many random thoughts. I'll post them one by one when I have the time and energy.
One thought was put into me when visiting my father at CNY eve eve. Ok usually when I meet him, it's at the kopitiam downstairs, and we don't really have super a lot to talk about. He's that typical parochial citizen, who roughly knows what goes on in Singapore and the world, but rarely comments on it. Not many topics to talk about. So? He'll usually talk back about the things that happened in the past, about his past, our family's past etc.
And seriously, after every such conversation with him, I'll feel like I'm back in those times. Suddenly I'll just feel like I'm a little boy, when MXPS is relax, 奶奶 is healthily managing the family and I'm that naughty yet obedient little boy.
And suddenly like a little boy, I feel so relaxed, where there are no burdens, no worries. You're just a follower in the family, you do not lead, you do not put in any comments, everyone is healthy, and you just follow. Your job is just to do what you need to do - study.
And suddenly (again), you wonder why you feel so relaxed then, and why I feel so stressed up now. My realisation - Just do it!
When we were small, when I needed to do homework, needed to study for exams, granted, I do not hand in all my homework on time, but I'll do them all eventually, and study for exams eventually. No added pressure of doing well, no calculation of bell curves, no chasing for perfection, and you, well, just do it. You do not think that much, you just do it, and everything naturally follows. Not much stress, and you're happy.
Fast foward to now. For every term paper, I complain. Why can't we just have a mid-term test? Aiyah, nearer that deadline then do lah. For every graded assignment, I complain. Wa lao! Why can't we just have one? Why need 3 throughout the sem? For every graded stuff, be it attendance, class participation, assignment, midterm, term paper, I fret over not being able to get an A, I fret over losing marks if I don't do them.
I can't link really well, but I think the problem is choice. Whenever we do something, we give ourselves a choice. For every lecture/tutorial lesson, I'll subconsiously think: it's damn stupid, can I don't go? For every term paper/assignment, I'll think: I'm tired. Can I just anyhow do? For every midterm, I'll think: I'm tired, can I don't study everything and just pick the ones I want to study?
Hence, I'll need to invite the 'fighter' in me out, making myself mentally ultra-tired whenever I do all these stuff. When we were small, when we need to do something, you don't think, you just do. But when we have grown up, everytime, when there is something to be done, we offer ourselves a choice, that is, to have superficial understanding, to do a slip-shot work, or to skip lessons.
It's like in army. Whenever you think something as optional - e.g. morning runs, outfield exercises, drawing and checking and returning of stores/equipments, guard duties etc., you complain, and you don't feel happy. But whenever you accept it being part of your life, e.g. things like 1-month overseas training, IPPT-clearing, SOC-clearing, and when you just do it, you become more happy, and perhaps even can joke around when doing all these shit stuffs.
Back to studies. I need to find back that 'just do it' spirit, like in primary school, and simply do what 'teacher' says. Stop giving myself a 'choice' to skip lessons, to fall asleep during lectures (try that in the army), and to mentally give up when doing assignments. Like a primary school boy, I HAVE to go for lessons, I have to do nice homework or teacher will scold, I speak up in class because I'm a talkative boy and I just want to do well because I enjoy doing well.
Wouldn't that make me happier? Hmm.. Just do it.
And something minor today inspired me to think about Camy's old post regarding loving and 'unloving'. Perhaps now it's about knowing and unknowing, and friending and unfriending. It just feels weird, totally. Reminds me of the soci examples of total socialisation/re-socialisation.
Ok I dunno how to end this, I'm too tired oredi. More random thoughts next time. Tata!
Selamat Tahun Baru Cina! It has been a happening last few days!
I'm really glad bikequest's over. It was fun being in the preparation, getting to work with the 28th MC, and in the mean time getting to know them better. It was especially so in the last day, when we were printing and packing game packs, having the 'preparation for war' feeling.
On the actual day, well, as a programmer you're assigned to be a station master, so basically you just stone there for the whole night waiting for cyclists to come. Normal stations have around 3 people, but I'm glad we had 5! It was fun being with Remmy, Nadya, Cheryl and her boyfriend, and it was fun utilising my new games Saboteur and No Merci! And of course I got to learn how to play battleship as well, LOL.
I was glad to see all the participants at the end of the event, I hope that they have enjoyed themselves, but it was rather impossible to gauge because all you see were dead corpses lying all over outside the bike shop =p Food hunt has a better kind of ending, when people are still enthusiastically talking along our 'romantic' river side, enjoying the natural breeze and seeing the bright lights of town.
Monday I was supposed to have lessons from 9-4pm straight (with makeup malay tutorials filling my usual gaps), then 6-8pm. I was rather glad I couldn't wake up at 7, so I reached school at 2pm! Before that I cut my hair (finally!) and frantically settled my payment for the David Tao concert (woot!) at OCBC, so that's another thing done! I stayed over at the clubroom on Monday night, not before discussing our public finance assignment with Cindy, and having supper with our stayover gang near Hwee Guang's house.
School started on 11am (thanks to Lee Mau Ting having the flexibility to cancel all tutorials this week - as compared to rrrgh profs who still demand us to hand in assignments next monday). Oh yah, on this day, another stall has agreed to sponsor us! (Purposely not shown to blur our potential participants =P) The day ended at 6pm.
Meaning? I had no time to do any CNY shopping =(
Well well well, speaking of CNY, usually I'm the traditional kind, and I'll make sure I buy and wear new stuff on the first day, but well, this year the business has broken my traditions I guess. New clothes at CNY kinda lost its meaning after you have the financial power to buy new clothes throughout the year, and this time I'll don the new clothes I bought during the Angmor New Year bah.
Hmm and maybe go kio the discounts after CNY for my new clothes! Hehheh.
Everything is looking good this year, perhaps only some stress here and there.
Well, there are so many things to do (foodhunt stuff, assignments that are due on Monday, catching up of readings) during this CNY period, but I'll just try to enjoy it and treat it as if it's part of the 'relaxation' at home :)
Yeah! It's great being rewarded after the huge struggles I faced last semester! :)
Mentally it was a huge struggle for me, with everything bombarding me at one go.
Well, 苦尽甘来 i guess :)
It's addictive. Once you were in it, you will always want to be in it!
Last semester, being in it gave me that extra stress to maintain it, to prove that it is not a flash in a pan.
This time round, strangely, I feel extra relieved and relaxed about being in it. Somehow, I'm more assured of myself now, and I feel extra motivated!
I must believe.. I have truly arrived.
However, this sem's gonna be hell tougher. More responsibilities, a more tedious timetable, Malay 2, tuition twice a week, and the continued travelling to and fro Timur dan Barat Singapura.
I must practise SAF's 2nd core value - leadership, to make sure things go smoothly. 3rd core value - discipline, to make sure I allocate my time properly and not slack beyond what I need to rest my mind and body. And most importantly, 5th core value - fighting spirit, to do what my mind doesn't want to do, to conquer the struggles I always face internally, and to excel beyond what I am made to acheive without working hard.
If I've conquered last semester, what is this semester?
Mark Hughes always said, winning is a habit, so is losing.
The 5th core value will make sure I'll stay in the former.
I hope I can keep this winning habit of mine :)
Ps. I think I'm stuck in a dilemma, or even many dilemmas. As I told wenwen before, I love being appreciated and valued upon. However, from my own little body and from my own little mind, I can't see what I am really to the world.
Even if internship is confirmed, I face many dilemmas. Seriously I don't know my own capabilities, and how others view me. I do not feel I'm THAT good. And if I'm flattering myself by making the most out of the limited things I hear.
A House IC? R House IC? (Am I even THAT good?) DPD prog for Oweek (Am I THAT good at all?). Sometimes I feel like challenging myself, but I seriously think there are better candidates out there. I can if I work harder, but I know myself, if others are better (which many are I believe), I will be more than happy to give others the chance.
I always believe, it's never for my own challenge, it's always for the event. I will only take it if people truly believe in me. After people believe in you, your potential is limitless, when you put in effort, and work everything out.
