I dropped by the National Museum after work today to do a little poking around since I haven't been there since i got back. I know, it's awful how I've neglected my interests because of the need to earn $$$. While on that subject, I was reading The Secret today and it said that I should believe that I have everything in abundance so that I would attract/turn it into reality. When i keep thinking that i need something, it means i'm constantly telling myself that i don't have it or enough of it, and this attracts similar situations/circumstances, placing me in a unbreakable cycle. Sounds reasonable and well, no harm giving it a try :D I think at the end of the day, the most important thing I want to have in abundance is love... and I do have that, so thank universe. I'm really grateful.
Anyhow, visited the Post-War exhibition that's currently up and as I watched the short clip that took us through Singapore's struggle to break away from colonialism and gain independence.. I felt so patriotic. We've come so far as a nation, we've managed to climb to the top to be one of the best and I could say we are one of the countries that managed to do so well after breaking away from colonial rule (i got a huge sense of 'take that angmohs! we can do well even without you!' during the exhibition hahaha!). The film ended with a quote by MM Lee.. the gist of it was that we should be the ones responsible for the survival of our own nation. (Honestly starting to think that i have STM and ADHD) Think i might go back and take a photo of that quote because it just hit me at the right spot.
Which is why it's funny how we are leading ourselves towards a future where we are dependent on FTs to survive. It felt heartwarming to see our home being built by Singaporeans for Singaporeans, being led by Singaporeans for all the right reasons, for a better future for everyone. It's scary to think of how life will be like 10 to 20 years down the road where our education system is even more competitive than it is now, where our heritage is destroyed and hidden beneath concrete structures, where our Singaporean Soul is destroyed.
When I was in Budapest and Vienna, I became really intrigued with Communism's role in these countries' history and the fact that these people standing in front of me telling me stories about their home had lived through such revolutionizing times was just really touching. They spoke with such hope for the future and it made me wonder about our own SG. This must have been how things were like then. Though we weren't under as radical a rule as these nations were, the idea of being independent would no doubt invoke the same feelings of hope.
I just really don't want such sentiments to be lost in the midst of our climb to the top.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
I didn't tune in to this year's National Day Rally (okay, i never have.. i just yahoo! news it or read summaries) because I was working but read tweets and recaps of it online. There were quite a few points that made me snort with derision and I know I still lack contextual knowledge but what I know now is still enough for me to make a judgement.
The first point that I retweeted (because I thought that they are important (to me at least)) from @YahooSG:
1. Mix of pre-school operators will give diversity, choice to parents BUT to parents, please let your children have their childhood!
My part-time job gives me the opportunity to interact with kids and there have been many times where I've been so disappointed with the kid of childhood they have. This obviously isn't just a result of the choices parents make - innovation, development, increasing urbanization and the growing pervasiveness of technology and new media are also important reasons why most kids in developed countries are just like 'little adults'. They've lost the innocence they should have when they are handed these objects that even adults have problems resisting. And kids know the basic commercial value of these items that they flaunt it (albeit a little too extensively). I've had so many 7-12 year olds stick their iPhones 4 / iPads in my face that my initial annoyance has now been replaced with numbness.
It always bugs me when i see a kid having their own iPhone.. but I guess the iPhone is just the better version of our gameboy from back then. In the sense that kids these days don't enjoy a childhood that isn't peppered with technology is something that's hard for parents to avoid.. they could but it would really mean strict restrictions and not giving their child what most other kids have, and that might cause more problems (feelings of inadequacy, jealousy etc.) in the short run.
Just yesterday, a boy in the group I was leading said that he only has a Nokia phone because his parents think that it's better for his character development. The good ol Nokia that took our generation by storm. The sturdy and hard-shelled cellphone that could give a person a concussion. THE pioneering efficient and well-designed mobile phone. I just looked at him and said "Your parents are doing the right thing."
I know it's contradicting since I am more or less addicted to my iPhone and social media.. but I remember a life back then where I looked more at what was around me than what was behind a small plastic screen (okay... obviously we watched tv too lol). And I appreciate that my childhood wasn't invaded by such devices to the extent it has today. IT WAS, but not as much as it has now.
My opinion is that when you are given such devices at an age where you are better able to understand and later control (okay TRY TO CONTROL) the effect it has on you, you won't be as distracted from the tangible things around you. Kids need to interact with the physical world, not with an electronic device that has the world in it because it's not enough, so parents have to 1. exert more control on exposure to such products and 2. know that a kid shouldn't be handed such items until they are at a suitable age.
I know that they are many flaws in what I've just said.. and honestly this wasn't supposed to be my end point but I digress way too easily (starting to think i have ADHD!) and my thoughts seem to be all over the place... still, it's better to be writing these thoughts down and reflecting on them than to have them locked up in my little head, right? :D
The first point that I retweeted (because I thought that they are important (to me at least)) from @YahooSG:
1. Mix of pre-school operators will give diversity, choice to parents BUT to parents, please let your children have their childhood!
My part-time job gives me the opportunity to interact with kids and there have been many times where I've been so disappointed with the kid of childhood they have. This obviously isn't just a result of the choices parents make - innovation, development, increasing urbanization and the growing pervasiveness of technology and new media are also important reasons why most kids in developed countries are just like 'little adults'. They've lost the innocence they should have when they are handed these objects that even adults have problems resisting. And kids know the basic commercial value of these items that they flaunt it (albeit a little too extensively). I've had so many 7-12 year olds stick their iPhones 4 / iPads in my face that my initial annoyance has now been replaced with numbness.
It always bugs me when i see a kid having their own iPhone.. but I guess the iPhone is just the better version of our gameboy from back then. In the sense that kids these days don't enjoy a childhood that isn't peppered with technology is something that's hard for parents to avoid.. they could but it would really mean strict restrictions and not giving their child what most other kids have, and that might cause more problems (feelings of inadequacy, jealousy etc.) in the short run.
Just yesterday, a boy in the group I was leading said that he only has a Nokia phone because his parents think that it's better for his character development. The good ol Nokia that took our generation by storm. The sturdy and hard-shelled cellphone that could give a person a concussion. THE pioneering efficient and well-designed mobile phone. I just looked at him and said "Your parents are doing the right thing."
I know it's contradicting since I am more or less addicted to my iPhone and social media.. but I remember a life back then where I looked more at what was around me than what was behind a small plastic screen (okay... obviously we watched tv too lol). And I appreciate that my childhood wasn't invaded by such devices to the extent it has today. IT WAS, but not as much as it has now.
My opinion is that when you are given such devices at an age where you are better able to understand and later control (okay TRY TO CONTROL) the effect it has on you, you won't be as distracted from the tangible things around you. Kids need to interact with the physical world, not with an electronic device that has the world in it because it's not enough, so parents have to 1. exert more control on exposure to such products and 2. know that a kid shouldn't be handed such items until they are at a suitable age.
I know that they are many flaws in what I've just said.. and honestly this wasn't supposed to be my end point but I digress way too easily (starting to think i have ADHD!) and my thoughts seem to be all over the place... still, it's better to be writing these thoughts down and reflecting on them than to have them locked up in my little head, right? :D
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Rediscovering Home
In this short month that I have left, I shall get to know Singapore once again. I want to break the notion in my mind that Singapore is just an all-round urbanized hub. I want to experience the bits of Singapore that hasn't (yet) been developed to be part of its concrete empire. I want to discover and rediscover our heritage and our vibrant culture. I want to withdraw myself from commercialism (lol i'll try) and embrace the need for less material goods (sorry, my iPhone is still my baby). Through this, I hope to go beyond what I've conceived Singapore to be - a place that is too focused on what the heart/mind wants and not what it needs. I want to find the SOUL in this place we call home.
Friday, August 24, 2012
It's a new beginning once again
I was on my way home from work as I browsed through works by Alvelyn Alko when this question suddenly smacked me in the face - what's my form of self-expression?
Every time I'm inspired by some amazing photograph, music, prose or idea, I start reflecting on myself. I used to think I'm just comparing, like 'oh wow, why can't i do that?' but it makes me remember how blogging used to be my platform for self-expression, until voyeurism started pulling at my heartstrings too tightly that I thought it'd be better to stop. Nonetheless, I remember having more direction and purpose when I used to blog. Now I tend to blog only when I'm frustrated/upset... so when I do read my recent archives, it's plagued with emotions that I would rather not relive again.. but just like how music can evoke extreme emotions in a person, reading those posts just makes me sad again. I don't want to express myself ONLY when I'm upset.
So here I am.
Starting anew. Starting my effort to document all the highs and lows in my life. All the soon-to-be adventures. And most importantly, it's my way of reflecting.
Every time I'm inspired by some amazing photograph, music, prose or idea, I start reflecting on myself. I used to think I'm just comparing, like 'oh wow, why can't i do that?' but it makes me remember how blogging used to be my platform for self-expression, until voyeurism started pulling at my heartstrings too tightly that I thought it'd be better to stop. Nonetheless, I remember having more direction and purpose when I used to blog. Now I tend to blog only when I'm frustrated/upset... so when I do read my recent archives, it's plagued with emotions that I would rather not relive again.. but just like how music can evoke extreme emotions in a person, reading those posts just makes me sad again. I don't want to express myself ONLY when I'm upset.
So here I am.
Starting anew. Starting my effort to document all the highs and lows in my life. All the soon-to-be adventures. And most importantly, it's my way of reflecting.
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