A different Perspective

Dear Friends,

I was thinking of something else to write besides our purpose in life (getting a tad boring). I went down to the garden, but I still couldn't think of anything to write. It was only when I read someone's blog that I got an idea.

We have just finished the school's national day parade...And I was very bored and I wanted to get it over with as soon as possible. I really hoped that it would rain, so that will teach them not to hold so many rehearsals (like putting all the eggs in one basket), but after all, I guess they just wanted to put up a good show. But to me, these things are really meaningless...

I thought a good idea would be to sit in a circle with any of our friends, think of what we want Singapore to be like and to reflect on Singapore's past while appreciating Singapore's present. We should write it on a piece of paper and burn it in a fire and do a ceremonial dance all together while hoping our wishes come true instead of showing segregation like dividing us into our CCA groups. Of course, that would be cool except for the air and noise pollution.

Ah, as I wrote that it gave me another idea but we shall continue with the first one.

As I was saying I went to a blog, and read

"The school had a long day in school today.We had the run-through of NDP rehearsal and although a lot of waiting here and there,I feel that everything is worth it.The uniform groups look smart, especially when the cadets removed their hats and put it on again."

I thought the whole rehearsal yesterday was a waste of my time (in fact it wasted more than 2 hours of my life). And I was shocked when I read this perspective. I also thought that the uniform groups had silly looking hats, were too strict and followed stupid traditions (like no one goes home earlier than the rest of the CCA groups, must do push-ups even though everything is perfect and had a terrible hierachal order)

(But today I understood the hierachal order [i.e. having ranks like coporal, lance coporal, cadet etc.] Because the group is so big and if there wasn't an order there'd be a revolt. How did I learn this? Because thats whats happening in my CCA now. This is due to unco-operative and very immature people who do not see the big picture, but rather short-term pleasures.)

Anyway back to the story. So when I read it, I was rather surprised. Sure, I did have different opinions on what should be done, but if I had looked at it that way, maybe the afternoon would be much more bearable and perhaps even a little enjoyable. Well, after all, when we look back next time, our days of youth should be the happiest...(of course, looking at Singapore today...)

PART II - Segregation

Many people criticised people for drawing up the Raffles Town Plan which seperated the races. However, if you would consider and look at it now, everyday we face segregation. We are put into different classes because of our marks. We are segregated as CCA groups (today). We compete as schools. We are segregated because some are rich while others are poor. We are segregated because of our languages, our races. We even classify ourselves as mammals. But we must see ourselves truly as what we are. A part of the Universe, Energy. We are all energy if you look deeply enough. Its just that the pattern of Energy is different.

We have been so used to this that its actually embedded in our sub-consciousness and we don't even need to truly think before chasing people out of our classrooms because they are of a different class. Or discriminating against different races. And I was truly surprised last year when I read on the forum that most of you felt more comfortable with friends of your own races. It doesn't really matter to me. (As I mentioned before, I was doing groupwork with my Indian classmates last time and even though I was the only Chinese in a house full of Indians it didn't occur to me to feel strange.)

However, now that I have brought this up, this time, you should remember.


Aaron