YSunday, January 21, 2007

A Time and Place For Apathy.

I know this may seem like an ironic statement, coming from me. [Sidetrack! (wow, getting sidetracked after the first sentence, how sad.) Anyway, did you notice how I used my wit and cleverness to work a pun into my blog title address thingy? I am the Apathetic Avenger, however, you would know, someone who doesn't care about things wouldn't be a very good avenger. Hence, Apathetic Avenger can also be read as A Pathetic Avenger! Woohoo! My intelligence brings so much happiness. Yay for me! Alright, I'm done.] But this is how I really feel. I'm not saying that you should give everything in this world your fullest attention. I'm urging everyone to care about things that are important, not about things like what your friend did on Friday at 11pm while at her hot boyfriend's house. Pay attention things that affect your lives, things that are of actual significance.

It's amazing how seemingly minor events that occur halfway across the planet can have such major effects on us. Don't believe me? Allow me to illustrate. Let's say oil supplies decrease worldwide. Because supply decreases, while demand goes up, prices go up. (Oh yea, I rock at Economics!) Hence, in order for your Dad to continue driving to work so that he can make enough money to provide you with shelter and food, he has to scrimp and save for petrol, and is now unable to buy you that overpriced Crumpler bag (which is basically less than $10 worth of fabric, plastic, and velcro) that you so desperately desire. Now your life is incomplete as the Crumpler bag was your only means of upgrading your social status en route to becoming popular and cool, and you're now forced to hang out with losers and freaks.

How about a little something closer to home? Nicoll Highway collapsed in late 2004, due to some happenings that were hidden from public view. It results in the tragic deaths of four people. Those who were responsible for the collapse were given a light slap on the wrist, a small fine. So, because of that, now the completion of the Circle Line Mrt service has been pushed back to 2010. This affects you greatly, since you study at ACJC, and need to go to Ang Mo Kio to take a bus home, you are now forced to travel in one massive circle, instead of having a direct train from Buona Vista to AMK. You take one and a half hours to travel home from school everyday. When you reach home, you're too tired to do any work. You cry yourself to sleep at night, cursing the heavens for you ill-fated existence.

So, I hope that would convince you to take notice about Current Affairs. I guess it's good in a way that JC students are forced to take GP. So it's pretty much, "CARE! Or you fail!". Better to force someone to do something unwillingly than to let the rot their lives away. A most effective way of convincing others, I must say, especially, considering we are in kiasu Singapore, where kids put grades first, and learning the very last. Anyway, I think it's important to read our beloved Straits Times, but it's also important to take everything with a pinch of salt. Read between the lines. (Not literally, I'm not saying stare at the blank white space between the words.) Understand the facts, come up with your own thought process, and make your own inferences. Don't take everything at face value. For example. I will tell you that The Straits Times is a state-controlled newspaper, and that it is the only English language newspaper in Singapore. (I don't consider The New Paper or Today to be newspapers, more like... shit.) What does my statement tell you?

I also think we should embrace other non-traditional forms of media, such as the internet. Forums, personal websites, and even blogs can contain lots of information that is worth reading. However these jewels are hidden amongst vast quantities of absolute rubbish. There is this forum, which I regularly visit. It is concerned mostly with local issues. There are a fair number of clones and trolls and idiots that post there, but a lot of the content is rather deep and quite interesting. I don't post much there, I go there mostly to read, and to get opinions from the other side of Singapore's fence. I would post the link in my blog, except I don't want to be put on the PAP's blacklist at the tender age of 16. Contact me if you want the link. (It's not a pornographic website, mind you. Perverts.) Another website that I do visit is this one. This writer is, I'm sad to admit, much more mature and deep than I am. Fortunately, he's not as funny. His articles are insightful, his arguments clear, his language concise. He is also homosexual, as he stated in his biography. So I do find his articles do offer a fresh point of view, something that I'm not so familiar with. I should also state, that his website contains issues about homosexuality, so if you're closed-minded, keep away.

Remember that first movie in that trilogy with the rotating special effects? Remember what the bald black guy who wore shiny leather clothes said to the hero guy? There is the red pill, and the blue pill. Would you prefer to be blissfully unaware of what goes on behind your back, or would you rather embrace the truth, and get the full picture?

Which would you choose?

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Blogged @ 4:55 PM