Back in 1995, I had a really nasty injury, the kind that would forever stick with you. I was playing 5-a-side football with some friends, wasn't the best but I know I could hold my own. It was a beautiful day, not too hot, sufficient cloud cover to allow some testosterone-charged boys to play football on a basketball court on a warm June afternoon. Then, it happened.
The ball was up in the air and I went in for a header. I jumped and next thing I know I was lying in a heap on the concrete, pain shooting through me, mind numbed all at once. My ankle just buckled under me. It seemed from the guys that I landed awkwardly on my ankle, with my full bodyweight crushing the joint. I knew it was bad. Somehow, I managed to get back up and limped away from the game, grimacing while the rest carried on after I assured them I was gonna be OK.
I picked up my stuff, still limping heavily and somehow managed to ride my motorbike home, all 25 km. The next day, I woke up to a badly swollen ankle staring back at me. Pain was so excruciating, I couldn't walk for a few days. Strangely, I don't remember ever going to the doctor. I let it heal naturally. Bad move. It never did heal completely. For the whole month of June that ear, I did not do much, just sat at home for 2 weeks, unable to move my ankle.
For six months I couldn't run without any pain. After 8 months, I started jogging but not sprint. This cause me to miss the 1996 football season which I would have made the team had I been OK. As things were, I missed that season. I did manage to get myself in the team the following year, played all the games, winning 2, drawing 2 and losing 2. The 1997 football season ended in the last group game for us, for me, it marked the end of my sports "career". Not like there was any to begin with.
Still, that injury stuck with me and never went away. I still remember doing my 24km route march during my Basic Military Training (BMT). My ankle buckled under the weight of all those equipment at roughly the 18km mark. This happened even after wearing ankle guards and lacing up my boots as tight as possible to ensure adequate support. I din't give up and continued the march, albeit at the tail end of the column. Crossed the finish line to rapturous applause for completing the arduous journey.
After I left the Army, I scaled down a lot on physical activity, fearing for my ankle. Suffice to say while that minimised the chances of me twisting my already weak ankle, it did cause me to "expand". All that inactivity caused another problem - backaches. I have lost count of the number of times my ankle gave way. Most times I didn't even go to see the doctor and just bear the pain. I'd love to be able to play soccer, badminton, sepaktakraw and silat like I used to, fact is, I can't.
Last Saturday, I went to have a traditional massage for my back which has been in perpetual pain ever since I helped my brother move his furniture the week before that. Damn, that guy was good. Well, my back did get better though there is still some pain. Then, yesterday, I managed to sprain my ankle again. While walking down the slope at the multi-storey carpark at my home.
Should have asked him to massage my ankle then.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Friday, May 26, 2006
Damn the stork!!
I have been reading a dear friend's blog from time to time and it did puzzle me why whe had some password-protected posts. I just never got around to ask her till this morning. Well, it's just the same thing about not wanting unwanted attention from unknown people. Well she granted me access to her posts and I got a pleasant surprise, her 2nd baby is on the way!
Well, my younger brother's wife, yeah my sis-in-law, is also expecting her first kid, which would make me a blood uncle, is that what you call it? I know I already am an uncle by marriage, but that's not the same isn't it. A year ago when my brother got married, I said, in jest, that the race is on - the race to reproduce, seeing that I have been married for 2 years and still waiting for our first. Well, I lost the race, I think the stork got lost looking for my home.
For the moment, I am OK with the status quo, though my wife is not exactly contented. Sometimes it's the things we do unintentionally that gives away our feelings though. For example, I love kids, I dote on my niece and nephews, I play with my friend's first boy, gee, that little devil is so cute. However, it does not bother me too much that I don't have one of my own yet. For me what's more important is that me and my wife are financially, mentally and psychologically ready to have kids before we do start a family.
Me and my wife do get angry and sad whenever we read about abandoned babies, abused toddlers, irresponsible parenting and abortions. I guess it's because we love kids and also because we have yet to have one after 3 years. She feels hard done by when she reads about all these things and thinks of the unfairness the whole situation is. Here, we are waiting for our first kid and there, they are killing their kids.
My wife does feel pressure, though it's more self-inflicted than anything else. Noone has ever put pressure on her, least of all me. Our parents are supportive of us in whatever we do and have never questioned when we are going to have a baby. For that, I am thankful.
Still there are some insensitive ones who do ask how come or why. It's not like we ain't trying, just that the damned storks has gone to the wrong houses.
Well, my younger brother's wife, yeah my sis-in-law, is also expecting her first kid, which would make me a blood uncle, is that what you call it? I know I already am an uncle by marriage, but that's not the same isn't it. A year ago when my brother got married, I said, in jest, that the race is on - the race to reproduce, seeing that I have been married for 2 years and still waiting for our first. Well, I lost the race, I think the stork got lost looking for my home.
For the moment, I am OK with the status quo, though my wife is not exactly contented. Sometimes it's the things we do unintentionally that gives away our feelings though. For example, I love kids, I dote on my niece and nephews, I play with my friend's first boy, gee, that little devil is so cute. However, it does not bother me too much that I don't have one of my own yet. For me what's more important is that me and my wife are financially, mentally and psychologically ready to have kids before we do start a family.
Me and my wife do get angry and sad whenever we read about abandoned babies, abused toddlers, irresponsible parenting and abortions. I guess it's because we love kids and also because we have yet to have one after 3 years. She feels hard done by when she reads about all these things and thinks of the unfairness the whole situation is. Here, we are waiting for our first kid and there, they are killing their kids.
My wife does feel pressure, though it's more self-inflicted than anything else. Noone has ever put pressure on her, least of all me. Our parents are supportive of us in whatever we do and have never questioned when we are going to have a baby. For that, I am thankful.
Still there are some insensitive ones who do ask how come or why. It's not like we ain't trying, just that the damned storks has gone to the wrong houses.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
What do you believe in?
A: Do you know who Leonardo Da Vinci is?
B: Oh, you mean the Da Vinci Code? Are they the same person?
Up to a few months ago, most people in Singapore would not have cared much for the man and his genius. Then, Dan Brown wrote the novel which got millions hooked up. Not forgetting the outrage in the Christian world at the claims in the book which rocks the very foundation upon which Christianity is based upon.
Honestly, I have no idea what the hoopla is all about. On a religious level and speaking from a Muslim point of view, the Da Vinci Code matters not. This is because Muslims believe Jesus was a Prophet, just like Muhammad PBUH. He was a messenger of god preaching the same religion Muhammad PBUH did 600 years later. Christianity, as we know it today, is perceived by Muslims to be corrupted by man over the years to fit their needs and feed their desires. I'm not about to get into a religious discussion here.
It is now accepted by many that the Da Vinci Code is nothing but a fabrication, something Man has done over the years. Conspiracy theories exists because man has always questioned the truth. Remember JFK? The Holocaust? While there exists a universally-accepted truth regarding the headlines, there are those who question the truth and fabricate stories and evidence to make their version of the truth more compelling. It is hard to accept one version of the truth over the other, to present evidence supporting each claim makes it even harder.
The difference between the Da Vinci Code and other conspiracy theories or alternate truths that makes it so compelling and so rivetting is the fact that the claims made in the Da Vinci code questions the faith of millions. While a lot of it is blasphemous and non-canonical, it does ask some very interesting questions. Personally, I am intrigued by all this hoopla, who wouldn't? Not because of the theories put forward, but more so for the imagination one man has and dared to put forward.
It's not just Christianity who has these alternate truths, Islam has it too. The Sunni and Shiites have been at loggerheads since our Prophet's death. While the Sunni agree on the choice of the 4 Rightly-Guided Khalifas, the Shiites argued that only the last Khalifa was to be accepted as the earlier three were considered to be usurpers. Then, there are theories of our Prophet being labelled as a womaniser and paedophile. Muslims all over the world has rejected these claims as heretical and blasphemous.
Imagine Jesus having descendants who are still alive today and the belief of resurrection of Jesus is false and that there will be no resurrection. In the end, it's all a question of faith and the strength of that faith we have. Put it simply, if our belief in our faith is strong, any lies put forward and depicted as the truth will not matter and will not shake the foundations of our beliefs if we believe it to be true.
B: Oh, you mean the Da Vinci Code? Are they the same person?
Up to a few months ago, most people in Singapore would not have cared much for the man and his genius. Then, Dan Brown wrote the novel which got millions hooked up. Not forgetting the outrage in the Christian world at the claims in the book which rocks the very foundation upon which Christianity is based upon.
Honestly, I have no idea what the hoopla is all about. On a religious level and speaking from a Muslim point of view, the Da Vinci Code matters not. This is because Muslims believe Jesus was a Prophet, just like Muhammad PBUH. He was a messenger of god preaching the same religion Muhammad PBUH did 600 years later. Christianity, as we know it today, is perceived by Muslims to be corrupted by man over the years to fit their needs and feed their desires. I'm not about to get into a religious discussion here.
It is now accepted by many that the Da Vinci Code is nothing but a fabrication, something Man has done over the years. Conspiracy theories exists because man has always questioned the truth. Remember JFK? The Holocaust? While there exists a universally-accepted truth regarding the headlines, there are those who question the truth and fabricate stories and evidence to make their version of the truth more compelling. It is hard to accept one version of the truth over the other, to present evidence supporting each claim makes it even harder.
The difference between the Da Vinci Code and other conspiracy theories or alternate truths that makes it so compelling and so rivetting is the fact that the claims made in the Da Vinci code questions the faith of millions. While a lot of it is blasphemous and non-canonical, it does ask some very interesting questions. Personally, I am intrigued by all this hoopla, who wouldn't? Not because of the theories put forward, but more so for the imagination one man has and dared to put forward.
It's not just Christianity who has these alternate truths, Islam has it too. The Sunni and Shiites have been at loggerheads since our Prophet's death. While the Sunni agree on the choice of the 4 Rightly-Guided Khalifas, the Shiites argued that only the last Khalifa was to be accepted as the earlier three were considered to be usurpers. Then, there are theories of our Prophet being labelled as a womaniser and paedophile. Muslims all over the world has rejected these claims as heretical and blasphemous.
Imagine Jesus having descendants who are still alive today and the belief of resurrection of Jesus is false and that there will be no resurrection. In the end, it's all a question of faith and the strength of that faith we have. Put it simply, if our belief in our faith is strong, any lies put forward and depicted as the truth will not matter and will not shake the foundations of our beliefs if we believe it to be true.
Friday, May 19, 2006
Young and restless
Blink. Blink. Blink.
That's all it takes and the day is gone. It's still relative how time flies, our perception of time is determined by our interest in the things we do at that point in time. For something we enjoy doing, 3 hours seems like too short a time, something we loath will take forever to finish even if it takes 5 minutes.
I was out bowling yesterday night with my wife, parents and sister. I spent 30 mins wandering in Parkway Parade awaiting their arrival at East Coast because I didn't want to be sitting there doing nothing while waiting for them. I went to meet them at East Coast once they arrived and we began our game. On the lane next to ours was a young malay couple minding their own business, playing their own game. So did we. I noticed that the boy - yeas, boy, cos he didn't look like he was past the legal drinking age in Singapore - had some nice tattoos on both his forearms.
Now, this might seem like a normal thing nowadays. But in a part of the world where being Malay would normally mean being a Muslim, this is not right. Tattoos and piercings are explicitly haram, not permissible, in Islam, with the exception of an ear piercing for the ladies, that's about it. Then again, there are countless Malay youths out there who sport tattoos and piercings, thinking it is cool to do so, as if wearing revealing clothes is already not enough.
Call me backwards, call me . Last, I checked they were Malays, Muslims and brought up on Eastern values of filiel piety, social tolerance and proper behaviour. Yet, there they were acting like a bunch of ruffians, tattoos everywhere, bodies pierced at places I don't want to know drinking alcohol - the very things the religion they profess doesn't permit. One religious teacher once commented that most Malays in Singapore become Muslims on special occasions only, namely, Hari Raya, their wedding, the collection of their IC and their death.
It's true. When Hari Raya comes around, the very same people who do not observe the fasting during the month of Ramadhan are the very same people who will wear the nice clothes, normally baju kurung. The Very same people who do not pray the required 5 times daily are the same ones who throng to the mosque during the Hari Raya prayers. The very same people who get drunk, commit pre-marital sex, sports tattoos and piercings are the very same ones who profess Islam as their religion during their wedding. And when they die, they are buried accoring to Islamic burial rites, all the while never practising the religion they profess.
I lament the fact that getting drunk, sporting tattoos, going to nightclubs/discos/pubs and pre-marital sex is getting more and more common among our youths, more so the Malays, because of the religion we profess. Such a sad situation but nothing we can do about it.
That's all it takes and the day is gone. It's still relative how time flies, our perception of time is determined by our interest in the things we do at that point in time. For something we enjoy doing, 3 hours seems like too short a time, something we loath will take forever to finish even if it takes 5 minutes.
I was out bowling yesterday night with my wife, parents and sister. I spent 30 mins wandering in Parkway Parade awaiting their arrival at East Coast because I didn't want to be sitting there doing nothing while waiting for them. I went to meet them at East Coast once they arrived and we began our game. On the lane next to ours was a young malay couple minding their own business, playing their own game. So did we. I noticed that the boy - yeas, boy, cos he didn't look like he was past the legal drinking age in Singapore - had some nice tattoos on both his forearms.
Now, this might seem like a normal thing nowadays. But in a part of the world where being Malay would normally mean being a Muslim, this is not right. Tattoos and piercings are explicitly haram, not permissible, in Islam, with the exception of an ear piercing for the ladies, that's about it. Then again, there are countless Malay youths out there who sport tattoos and piercings, thinking it is cool to do so, as if wearing revealing clothes is already not enough.
Call me backwards, call me . Last, I checked they were Malays, Muslims and brought up on Eastern values of filiel piety, social tolerance and proper behaviour. Yet, there they were acting like a bunch of ruffians, tattoos everywhere, bodies pierced at places I don't want to know drinking alcohol - the very things the religion they profess doesn't permit. One religious teacher once commented that most Malays in Singapore become Muslims on special occasions only, namely, Hari Raya, their wedding, the collection of their IC and their death.
It's true. When Hari Raya comes around, the very same people who do not observe the fasting during the month of Ramadhan are the very same people who will wear the nice clothes, normally baju kurung. The Very same people who do not pray the required 5 times daily are the same ones who throng to the mosque during the Hari Raya prayers. The very same people who get drunk, commit pre-marital sex, sports tattoos and piercings are the very same ones who profess Islam as their religion during their wedding. And when they die, they are buried accoring to Islamic burial rites, all the while never practising the religion they profess.
I lament the fact that getting drunk, sporting tattoos, going to nightclubs/discos/pubs and pre-marital sex is getting more and more common among our youths, more so the Malays, because of the religion we profess. Such a sad situation but nothing we can do about it.
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Shamelessness: Nature or Nurture?
Help!! My creative juices are running dry!!
I shudder at that thought. I mean for someone who has a lot to say about alot of things, not having anything to say about nothing is like dying a slow painful death. I like making my feelings known and I am not ashamed to show people how I really feel. Heck, I cried at my wedding. Ooopsss....
OK, the topic of the day is, what makes us who we are? Ever wondered that? Nature vs Nurture?
I was out with my wife, MIL and niece yesterday. I took half-day leave while my wife too the day off cos we were tired from our trip to Batam. More on that later. We went to Jurong Point for dinner, intending to bring my MIL to Seoul Garden, not realising they had closed that outlet. In the end, we brought her to eat at the Banquet foodcourt. Not the ideal place to bring her for a Mother's Day Dinner, albeit a belated one. Cutting it short, after dinner we went to do a little shopping, my wife had accidentally mixed my white singlets with coloured clothes, causing them to be stained pink. Pink!!!!!
So, we went to buy my singlets and she went to look through some other items. Later on, she decided to buy new clothes for her niece. While looking at some pieces she was looking to buy for her niece, her niece had actually picked out some pieces of clothings without being asked to, indicating she wanted that piece. There we were looking at some cheaper items and she picked out a dress which was 4 times more epensive than what we were looking at. All this at 5 yrs of age, not bad for an illiterate kid huh?
I have always thought kids would be reserved when out with people other than their parents. Seems not for this kid. I remember when I was growing up, I had always slept over at my late grandmum's place and had a great time with my cousins. Difference is we always played with what we were given and didn't dare ask for more. Even if I was thirsty, I wouldn't go to the kitchen and get a drink for myself. Instead, I'd ask my aunt or my grandmum for a drink or at least permission to get a drink. To me, what's not mine and closed shouldn't be opened without permission, even if it was for a little while. This has been drilled into me, something cultivated since young.
Well, back to my niece. I don't hate her, in fact, I love her. I play with her whenever I go to my MIL's place. However, seeing her act that way, it wasn't the first time - she opened my fridge at my home when we weren't looking and took for herself a piece of candy without asking, really made me wonder if this is part of nature or a lack of nurturing. I personally feel it's a lack of nurturing which is her shortcoming - not her fault really. She lacks this feeling of segan, Malay for shamefulness. Could I blame her for picking out a nice dress when her parents never seem to take her out shopping? Could I blame her for taking candy off my fridge?
Honestly, I was not angry, more shocked actually at her audacity. As such, I can't blame her. The blame has to fall on the very people charged with her education and development. No prizes for the correct guess though.
I shudder at that thought. I mean for someone who has a lot to say about alot of things, not having anything to say about nothing is like dying a slow painful death. I like making my feelings known and I am not ashamed to show people how I really feel. Heck, I cried at my wedding. Ooopsss....
OK, the topic of the day is, what makes us who we are? Ever wondered that? Nature vs Nurture?
I was out with my wife, MIL and niece yesterday. I took half-day leave while my wife too the day off cos we were tired from our trip to Batam. More on that later. We went to Jurong Point for dinner, intending to bring my MIL to Seoul Garden, not realising they had closed that outlet. In the end, we brought her to eat at the Banquet foodcourt. Not the ideal place to bring her for a Mother's Day Dinner, albeit a belated one. Cutting it short, after dinner we went to do a little shopping, my wife had accidentally mixed my white singlets with coloured clothes, causing them to be stained pink. Pink!!!!!
So, we went to buy my singlets and she went to look through some other items. Later on, she decided to buy new clothes for her niece. While looking at some pieces she was looking to buy for her niece, her niece had actually picked out some pieces of clothings without being asked to, indicating she wanted that piece. There we were looking at some cheaper items and she picked out a dress which was 4 times more epensive than what we were looking at. All this at 5 yrs of age, not bad for an illiterate kid huh?
I have always thought kids would be reserved when out with people other than their parents. Seems not for this kid. I remember when I was growing up, I had always slept over at my late grandmum's place and had a great time with my cousins. Difference is we always played with what we were given and didn't dare ask for more. Even if I was thirsty, I wouldn't go to the kitchen and get a drink for myself. Instead, I'd ask my aunt or my grandmum for a drink or at least permission to get a drink. To me, what's not mine and closed shouldn't be opened without permission, even if it was for a little while. This has been drilled into me, something cultivated since young.
Well, back to my niece. I don't hate her, in fact, I love her. I play with her whenever I go to my MIL's place. However, seeing her act that way, it wasn't the first time - she opened my fridge at my home when we weren't looking and took for herself a piece of candy without asking, really made me wonder if this is part of nature or a lack of nurturing. I personally feel it's a lack of nurturing which is her shortcoming - not her fault really. She lacks this feeling of segan, Malay for shamefulness. Could I blame her for picking out a nice dress when her parents never seem to take her out shopping? Could I blame her for taking candy off my fridge?
Honestly, I was not angry, more shocked actually at her audacity. As such, I can't blame her. The blame has to fall on the very people charged with her education and development. No prizes for the correct guess though.
Monday, May 08, 2006
Anonymity - boon or bane?
When I first started out on blogging down my thoughts, I grappled with the seriously thought-provoking, imsomnia-inducing and stomach churning issue of anonymity. I honestly didn't know if I should leave myself invisible to those who do read my blog, especially considering the amount of mud I was throwing at other people.
As I continued to write, I received some fairly encouraging words and some nice comments complementing my style of writing as well as the troubles I had gone through. Then, a friend suggested for me to let people know about my blog. I thought, why not? After putting so much effort into writing, updating and chronicling the various facets of my life, it would have been a waste if, even my close friends did not know about this. So, I did. Well, it's suffice to say, some are pleasantly surprised that I am doing something without quitting halfway, and doing a nice job at that.
Now, even my wife reads my blog. It's not that we don't talk to each other or we can't talk to each other about some things. Far from it. When talking face to face, emotions can and will cloud our judgements, especially when the topic is contentious. Reading a blog or a letter, dampens the emotional effect by limiting the human interaction thereby limiting the emotional interference. You get your point across better and more clearly. Furthermore, when writing your thoughts down, you could revise what you want to get across before it is sent, but with face-to-face communication, one wrong word or tone of voice could just send everything on a downward spiral.
Being totally anonymous would not have given me joy of hearing what my close friends has had to say about my writings. It would also have blocked an avenue which I have used in the past to get my message to my wife, in times of conflict. While blogging anonymously would have granted me considerably much more freedom to write about anything, save for defamatory and seditious comments, it would have meant that my blog would almost certainly go unnoticed, except for the occasional blog hoppers and that would have made my blog as important as Jean-Claude van Damme's latest movie.
While blogging down my thoughts will not make George Bush step down or Israel to cease to exist, it does gives me a certain degree of power. I know there are those who read my blog occasionally, though I'd like to think that I have a fan-club somewhere, so I couldn't go too far as make some comments to hurt those who do read my blog. That would have been utterly irresponsible.
"With great power comes great responsibility." Remember that quote from the movie Spiderman?
As I continued to write, I received some fairly encouraging words and some nice comments complementing my style of writing as well as the troubles I had gone through. Then, a friend suggested for me to let people know about my blog. I thought, why not? After putting so much effort into writing, updating and chronicling the various facets of my life, it would have been a waste if, even my close friends did not know about this. So, I did. Well, it's suffice to say, some are pleasantly surprised that I am doing something without quitting halfway, and doing a nice job at that.
Now, even my wife reads my blog. It's not that we don't talk to each other or we can't talk to each other about some things. Far from it. When talking face to face, emotions can and will cloud our judgements, especially when the topic is contentious. Reading a blog or a letter, dampens the emotional effect by limiting the human interaction thereby limiting the emotional interference. You get your point across better and more clearly. Furthermore, when writing your thoughts down, you could revise what you want to get across before it is sent, but with face-to-face communication, one wrong word or tone of voice could just send everything on a downward spiral.
Being totally anonymous would not have given me joy of hearing what my close friends has had to say about my writings. It would also have blocked an avenue which I have used in the past to get my message to my wife, in times of conflict. While blogging anonymously would have granted me considerably much more freedom to write about anything, save for defamatory and seditious comments, it would have meant that my blog would almost certainly go unnoticed, except for the occasional blog hoppers and that would have made my blog as important as Jean-Claude van Damme's latest movie.
While blogging down my thoughts will not make George Bush step down or Israel to cease to exist, it does gives me a certain degree of power. I know there are those who read my blog occasionally, though I'd like to think that I have a fan-club somewhere, so I couldn't go too far as make some comments to hurt those who do read my blog. That would have been utterly irresponsible.
"With great power comes great responsibility." Remember that quote from the movie Spiderman?
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
My vote matters - not this time
I'm having a good laugh at myself. After so long, thinking about who I should be voting for, I finally realised that I do not have to vote after all. This confusion stems from the fact that the estate I stay in, Bt Panjang is divided into 2 electorates, Bt Panjang and Holland-Bt Timah. Well, as it turned out, my area is under Holland-Bt Timah, hence, I do not need to vote as it is a walkover in favour of the ruling party.
Now, I do not know if i should rejoice or feel gutted that the chance to vote is no more. Rejoice because I will not have to spend roughly an hour of my time going to the voting center to cast my vote. Gutted as I would have no say in who will be in the Government. Not that it matters anyway. I mean let's be honest, how many of us actually get to have a say in the policies, how many amongst us get our views aired in Parliament and how many of us who work, hand to mouth, actually are aware of the political issues being drummed up at each elections?
Honestly, I am intrigued at what the various candidates had to say. I would like to know the plans each candidates have brought with them and how they intend to carry out those plans. While one election may not change the face of Singapore politics, it may start something of a revolution in the way the population thinks. I have never been interested in politics until a few years back when an aunt said to me, "Judge people not by what you hear from others but by what you see for yourself. Look beyond the prejudice and see the achievements."
Those words resonated within me and reverberated as I grew older. It all stemmed from a statement I made about voting for the opposition when I could vote just to spite the ruling party for what I perceived to be hardballing the opposition. Then, I began to realise and appreciate the transformation of Singapore from a sleepy trading outpost to thriving business center. What's more, despite our growth and wealth, the population is never left behind. Seriously, how many other countries could boast of such an achievement?
Personally, I think not having to vote does spare me the need of having to evaluate who is a better choice. Because, if the elections are anything to go by, politics is not about the future of the citizens but more about how you go about discrediting your opponents and presenting yourself as the person to take care of your constituency.
Now, I do not know if i should rejoice or feel gutted that the chance to vote is no more. Rejoice because I will not have to spend roughly an hour of my time going to the voting center to cast my vote. Gutted as I would have no say in who will be in the Government. Not that it matters anyway. I mean let's be honest, how many of us actually get to have a say in the policies, how many amongst us get our views aired in Parliament and how many of us who work, hand to mouth, actually are aware of the political issues being drummed up at each elections?
Honestly, I am intrigued at what the various candidates had to say. I would like to know the plans each candidates have brought with them and how they intend to carry out those plans. While one election may not change the face of Singapore politics, it may start something of a revolution in the way the population thinks. I have never been interested in politics until a few years back when an aunt said to me, "Judge people not by what you hear from others but by what you see for yourself. Look beyond the prejudice and see the achievements."
Those words resonated within me and reverberated as I grew older. It all stemmed from a statement I made about voting for the opposition when I could vote just to spite the ruling party for what I perceived to be hardballing the opposition. Then, I began to realise and appreciate the transformation of Singapore from a sleepy trading outpost to thriving business center. What's more, despite our growth and wealth, the population is never left behind. Seriously, how many other countries could boast of such an achievement?
Personally, I think not having to vote does spare me the need of having to evaluate who is a better choice. Because, if the elections are anything to go by, politics is not about the future of the citizens but more about how you go about discrediting your opponents and presenting yourself as the person to take care of your constituency.
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