Saturday, May 17, 2008
Random thoughts
- seeing a double decker 225 (green plate) in the usual trunk service bus feels weird, but pleasantly surprising and it vowed me.
- despite being closed down for many years, MXPS's building still lay intact. Looking at the building, memories kind of came back. The basketball court with rough floor, the expressway alongside the road leading to the parade square, the red-bricked floors of the main building.
- coupled with seeing Haijiao on Tuesday briefly on the way to Bedok interchange, i kinda miss primary school days.
- finally ran after the examination period torture. running with phlem in the oesophagus is torturous. I think I must have coughed 100 times and spitted 1000 litres of phlem unto the grasses during the run. I felt like choking on the phlem and dying, that's how bad it was.
Nonetheless, I completed the usual route.
- running alone can be well, lonely, and unmotivating. It's good I pressed on, stopping only when the cough gets real serious, and chionged for the last part.
Haha, a simple chat perhaps re-consolidated what I learnt in soci. No matter what we do, there are lines. We are just made to draw them.
Since Harry asked us 'WHAT are you, and WHO are you?", two simple questions to begin the soci tutorials, it kinda struck me as how we define ourselves.
Who are you? The society defines you. A boy? Gender definition. Youngest son? Family definition. A university student? Social role definition. A Chinese? Ethnic definition. A Teochew? Further ethnic definition. Singaporean? Statehood definition.
People draw lines, and people NEED lines to define themselves, to give themselves a notion of self-worth, to tell themselves they are part of a bigger society out there. When you see a male, stranger or friend, the notion of NS, soccer, dota, dirty jokes all come to mind, that sense of 'brotherhood'. When we see a fellow Teochew, that sense of common root, language, culture comes to mind. When we see China rising after so many years of Civil Wars, internal conflicts and foreign bullying, that sense of pride being Chinese seeing China host the Olympics comes, even when it is no business of yours. When we see Singaporeans abroad, even though we might not know each other, we feel a sense of bond, a sense of similiarity.
People need identities, multiple ones that is, to define themselves, to give themselves more (imagined) 'groups' to identify themselves with. Inevitably, imaginary lines are drawn across these 'groupings'.
The line is almost like a magical thing. Inside the line, the sense of identity, the sense of togetherness, the sense of similiarity. Outside the line, 'outsiders', different people, not involved with us. As what Philosophy 1101E taught me too, to unify what's inside the line, you need things that are outside the line too, to make people feel they are indeed special being inside. Confusing?
For example: Right now, globally, people are organised into countries, or states. For now, the lines are drawn between countries. For people to identify themselves as fellow citizens, other than the existence of the country itself, you need other countries to be there, in order for people to feel unique about being this particular country's citizens.
On the other hand, people do not feel that they are part of the Earth as a whole, not yet. That is why when policies are made, we see a trading, or compromise on each countries' interest, rather than what's best for the world, on a global level. But what if aliens decide to invade us and we have to defend the Earth together? Ha, then suddenly, the line becomes that of the Earthlings vs. the Aliens. Right now, there are no known Aliens invading us, so it's rather hard to make people think themselves as a group called "Earthlings", make policies that cut across state lines, and think of the world as a whole.
What's my point? Lines are there, and will always be there. They are necessary, for the people inside to feel the bond, for people to feel they are part of something 'special'. However, at the same time, it might lead to people feeling weird outside.
But what I feel is, as long as the lines drawn do not lead to people clashing with one another (e.g. racist acts, wars etc etc), it's part of life, and it's perfectly alright. So what's the matter man? Accept it, and we'll live peacefully and cooperatively =)
lowtide blogged @
12:12 am
