The Political Dilemma

UPDATED : This post may have been changed since your last visit. It now contains an additional philosophical spin :)

Over the past few days, I've been keenly observing the local political scene, namely that of the Ijok by-election. While I am largely unconcerned about the final outcome of the election, what bothers me the most is the way the entire election process was conducted. I will not go into the details, as I do not intend to nor have the capacity to act as a political analyst, but (speaking strictly within the capacity of a layperson) I am frankly quite disgusted by the immaturity and barbarism displayed by all sides involved.

For instance, resorting to childish insults, bottle throwing, pushing and shoving etc. ; you would be forgiven for assuming that such behavior should have long been consigned within a kid's nursery. It is at this point that I will introduce a dilemma that has been swirling in my head. Firstly, I'll unveil the bedrock of this dilemma by quoting Plato :

"Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber."

Ok, so my perspective on all the happenings in that by-election is just a reflection of the larger picture. Personally, I consider all those acts as uncivilized and I have no desire to dabble in politics, much less touch it with a pole. Henceforth, that is the price that we must pay if we choose to eschew politics, be it simply out of conviction, or perhaps a dash of pride, that we are superior to that form of power wrangling. By now, I'm sure you people can see the dilemma, which logically leads to only two possibilities (save emigrating) :

1. Steer clear of any political involvement
2. Descend into the political pit and join in the mudslinging

The first choice is to choose the path of a passive and apolitical citizen. To choose that fate is to suffer the consequences of being ruled by idiots. You lose your rights to kick up a fuss that "you could have done a better job than that primate up there", simply because you failed to exercise your constitutional liberties, that is to engage in politics.

The second choice is hardly a better option. Yes, it may require guts to enter an arena and hope to tame the beasts. While that may seem to be an amicable solution, it is far more likely that you end up mauled to death. Unless, of course, you fight like a beast yourself with all its ferocity and tenacity, and be transformed into a beast in the process. Yes, politics in reality is only interested in the survival of the fittest. It bestows power on him that outwits his foes. Therefore, I am of the opinion that those who enter into politics with the noble intention of bringing genuine changes are naive. Sooner or later, they will be consumed by the system that they seek to change. It can be summed up easily in two words : Power corrupts.

So, this is the dilemma that I'm describing. I desire political change, a dream of it shifting to a higher place of maturity. On the other hand, standing by and observing the whole drama does nothing to improve the situation. Hence, any course of action taken to improve the system will eventually lead back to square one. Since both paths lead to a roughly similar outcome, which should I choose? Pardon me if I don't make any sense. It might just be that blogging at 3am tends to cloud one's senses.

Jin, Jeremy and I in the INTEC library

Well, the pic above says plenty about what I've been stuck with over the past few days. Had to sit for a math test, and ended up studying like crazy all the way 'til the last lap. Now that it is over, I still feel numb about it. I'm neither satisfied nor disappointed. Don't ask me why... I just feel that way.

Just another passing thought...

Reporting in from the AUSMAT com lab. Its been a while since I last blogged from this place, but here I am, inspired by a recent turn of events to post some thoughts. Further fuelled by discussion with a friend (you know who you are ;) ), my abstract thoughts have gradually evolved and taken on a sufficiently concrete form to be blogged about here.

Acceptance

It is an enigma embedded in the soul of every human being. We seek it from various quarters, starting from our families, to friends, and then extending to society at large. So said the philosopher Aristotle, “He who is unable to live in society, or who has no need because he is sufficient for himself, must be either a beast or a god”. It is something that all of us desire it, consciously or not. And yet, we are too proud to admit to that fact, apparently finding the act of seeking acceptance directly from a fellow human being as degrading. Thus we do it discreetly, either by indirect or subconscious means.

Perhaps it is nature's rule of thumb that those who deviate away from convention are doomed to be outcasts, or far worse. For example, death would be almost instantaneous for a fish that displays either physical or behavioural characteristics which fail to conform to that of the rest of the shoal. Could the same rule apply to us humans? Could it be that some live on the fringe of existence simply because of this law while others live in blissful communal ignorance? For some, a little adaptation by taking up a mask will easily convince the herd that he is truly one of them. For some others, no masks will ever truly conceal their abberation or uniqueness (depending on your point of view).

Many have never felt its significance, except perhaps at fleeting moments in their lives. It is probable that the abundance of it in their lives have numbed their senses. However. some others crave for it, being allotted an insufficient amount by life itself. Fewer still spend a lifetime seeking it, being deprived of it almost completely. Some walk upon the road of desolation not by choice, but because of circumstances beyond their control. So where do you stand? Have you spent your days taking it for granted, only because you have never tasted the bitterness of its deficiency?

The Lost of Hope

The lost of hope. That is a fate worst than death. For to lose something so essential is to cease living, and simply exist. Hope is the belief that our tomorrow will be a better day, another chance at improving our current station of life. Take that away, and a person will be reduced to no more than a beast, existing without purpose. Likewise, hope is the compass that keeps the ship sailing towards its destination. It is hope that gives us a purpose to live...

Anyway as promised, I must congratulate my sister over her early 21st birthday gift here. I'm sooo jealous, I want a brand new car too! Drive safely ya sis :)

A quote (thanks Ben):

When you're up, your friends know who you are
When you're down, you know who your friends are.

Superficiality and friendship. That is the theme of the night. Another word for that would be shallowness or on-the-surface for those of you who might be frantically flipping through your dictionaries. Nah, just joking. :)

Recent events involving different groups of people have led me to the realization that despite knowing people for years, I still don't know them. Yea, its ironical that despite knowing someone for 5, or even 6 or 7 years yet I know next to nothing about that person. No, I'm not referring to those people whom you go "hi" and "bye" whenever you bump into them and that constitutes 90% of the conversation you have with them. I'm referring to those people whom you hang out with on a regular basis.

One minor example that happened a year or two before of what I'm talking about is a friend whom I have known for several years and would even consider among my inner circle. How surprising it was to find out that throughout all these years this particular friend had a relationship and eventually broke off and he drifted off into depression. All these happened right under my nose without me getting a whiff of it. Eventually I found out about it through a third party. Til this day, I bear the pretense that I am totally unaware of the whole affair. He does not know that I am aware about his previous relationship and the following incidents. I did try to probe however but I ended up rebuffed. So much for being friends and regular lepakking. Please don't ask me who it is because I'm not saying who. I won't play guessing games either. :)

Through several other experiences I've learnt that time does not necessarily strengthen a friendship. I've found knives in my back bearing the names of those I've considered as friends for a long time. Apparently not. How painful it has been time and time again to see a friend rejoice over my misfortune. How painful it has been time and time again to realize a friend scheming against me. How painful it has been to be the object of hate. Through it all I've learnt bitterness and to be distrustful of people in general. Sorry, my friends if I seem cold or distant at times. Sorry for the things which I cannot or will not do. These are the scars of wounds that have not healed.

This is a poem written last year. It has a macabre touch but its actually part of a series that carries a deeper meaning.

Exile - Part II
15th December 2006

O Horror,
does it pleasure you
to hear my agonized screams?
Never mind that it was forbidden,
the fruit of death has never been sweeter.
As the truth dawned like a failed star
on a death saturated wastelands,
I savoured every illicit morsel
until I saw it
for what it truly was.
I saw you in the eye.

O Despair,
that you would mock at the stains
that linger on my hands.
Laugh at me gleefully
as I scrape my fingers bloody
in vain.

O Fear,
that you would jeer
as I draw my wounds.
Your silent voice
torments my soul
as you leech me of my sanity.
You claw at my bleeding heart,
taunting me of impending judgement.

O Shame,
how could you rub my raw wounds?
Accursed I am now,
to wander to the ends of the earth,
scarred and desolate
forever reminded of my sins.
Only to have you as my companion
til my grave and beyond.