The means to an end

Just a short one for everyone all to think about.

We frequently hear of this phrase "The ends justify the means". Does this really sit right? Morally that is. Can the means, however brutal, be justified by the ends, no matter how noble it may be?

I think not, and this whole saying was probably created by people who refuse to face their conscience and the consequences of their actions.

Can we really?

While helping a classmate translate a particularly cheem piece of reading material, I realised that its contents were so very applicable to something close at heart. Violence and conflict resolution. This piece was talking about some of Gandhi's ideas on how non-violent opposition is the way to go.

As a career soldier, would it be hypocritical of me to even say I half-agree with this? When I am pretty sure if push comes to shove, I would not hesitate to pull the trigger to defend the country and all the people and things I love here.

Non-violence according to Gandhi is a weapon of the strong, do not mistaken it for one second as a reaction of the weak. And yet at the same time when questioned if such a situation was even possible in today's context, he said no. A modern nation state (founded often upon violence), and maintain an army, can never really be non-violent in nature.

Expounding further, one cannot be violent in some aspects and yet non-violent in others. It's an entire state of mind. You're either violent, or you're not. Sounds real easy in theory. But in reality the lines seem to be really blurred... especially when you are on the receiving end.

So... it brings the question of how the heck do you have a non-violent army? -_-"

Just how proud are you of your country. Really.

As I take a break from a long night of writing to Uhm... write this (why am I doing this? LOL), during my search for material as well as pondering on the title and contents of 2 papers due soon, I came across much things that provoked my thoughts on how proud I am of my own country, from what I read, it certainly seems that many are discontent with the state their country is in, with some even going as far slamming it in the press and saying they are ashamed.

Now, regardless of where one hails from, should we be proud of our roots? Scars, warts, pimples and all. Perhaps we have to look deeper, both into the country and ourselves to find that answer. And perhaps, at the same time, discover some purpose and meaning to our lives instead of just scaling the corporate ladder, seeking greater economic success, satisfying and indulging in hedonistic excesses.

Going somewhere where no one knows my name

Thanks to FM, I have gotten myself acquainted to another great song (btw, I leeched it already. LOL!).

I wish I could do what was sung in the song. Leaving all behind and going to where no one knows my name. To start a new life.

After all that has happened, why am I still getting angry when I come across more things.

Mail-to-Blogger Address

Just testing out this rather neat feature I discovered while mucking around in the dashboard settings.

Irony Man

I finally got around to catching Iron Man at the local theatre here. Pretty fine show I might add, really cool to see all the comic book heroes come to life on the big screen with a heavy dose of special effects thrown in. Not to mention when I was younger Iron Man was one of my favourite characters to use when wasting my time playing arcade games like Marvel vs X-Man etc.

Did I forget to mention that I caught the show alone? It was a real odd feeling to stroll into a cinema on my own and take a seat not knowing either of the people on my side. I could still remember the last time I did something like this, it was for Saving Private Ryan on 22 August 1998, Golden Village (Bishan Junction 8). Why the vivid memory? Because the censorship board for reasons unknown decided that the show was too violent, and thus rated it NC-16. I turned 16 on that day :)

Been 10 long years since then. And while on the way back home, I pondered a little on the ironies of my life. I guess what they say is true after all, the future can hardly even be seen. What we had taken for granted could and most likely would slip right through your fingers without you even knowing.

4 weeks to go before I make my way back to SG for the long holidays. It hasn't been all that long since the last time I was back... but it sure seemed like an eternity.

Don't Write Me Off

This is a great great song. Cheesy lyrics. But very poignant.

Don't Write Me Off - Hugh Grant (from Music & Lyrics)

It’s never been easy for me
To find words to go along, with a melody
But this time there’s actually something, on my mind
So please forgive these few brief awkward lines

Since I’ve met you, my whole life has changed
It’s not just my furniture, you’ve rearranged
I was living in the past, but somehow you’ve brought me back
And I haven’t felt like this since before Frankie said relax

And while I know, based on my track record
I might not seem like the safest bet
All I’m asking you, is don’t write me off, just yet

For years I’ve been telling myself, the same old story
That I’m happy to live off my so called, former glories
But you’ve given me a reason, to take another chance
Now I need you, despite the fact, that you’ve killed all my plants

And though I know, I’ve already blown more chances
Than anyone should ever get
All I’m asking you, is don’t write me off, just yet
Don’t write me off just yet

Will I still be displaced?

While sipping coffee after gym this morning and having read the papers already, my mind was just wandering, when it occurred to me that I am nearing the half-way mark of my 4 year stay here. Hard to say for sure if it was fast, or it had taken an eternity to get here. But I was just wondering, would I be changing this blog's address after I get back eventually?

The answer dawned on me. After having been away for so long, from friends, from work, from family members, from home (oh home sweet home Singapore!), I don't think I will be feeling any less displaced!

To Forgive But Not Forget

I came across this article in today's The Jakarta Post titled "To Forgive But Not Forget", turns out it is an anthology of short films to commemorate 10 years of reform movement in Indonesia. May 1998 - May 2008, thus giving birth to the name of this project, 9808. Quite a bit of the article in the JP was dedicated to talking about how the mayhem swept across the country and led to the prosecution and rape of the ethnic Chinese here.

It's been 10 years since then, and perhaps it is important to remember that while the ethnic Chinese were the biggest sufferers of that period of turmoil, there were many others who also lost their lives during the reform movement, and the scars are still carried on into today by their family members.

Sure, one can find it in their hearts to forgive, but one can never forget, that much is true.

Lesser of two evils

What exactly would it be? Can one truly justify choosing the lesser of the two evils? Would that be a selfless or a selfish choice then?

They say make a choice and don't look back. Kind of being caught in a dilemma when neither choice gives happiness.