I was a cynic once, when I was doing my studies in JI.It stayed
with me throughout my NS life, until I ORDed, and began dabbling in
photography, which really brought me out of my comfort zone and
into the dwellings of the elderly and the destitute.It brought me
to schools where students were lucky and more than happy to be out
of NA or NT stream, never mind about thinking of the future.
I got myself thinking perhaps my craft could help to enlighten
others to the plight of the less fortunate, and yet behind my mind,
lay a deep sense of truth, which I reluctantly began to accept when
I see that despite any sort of exhortations, no one really cared,
and people spend their time or money, on "charity events" because
of the prizes on offer.
No one does things for their own sake anymore, it's always about
the Other and what the Other can offer.
We seem so modern, progressive and future-minded as a state, but as
a society, the fair majority of Singaporeans still live day to day
in denial and choose only to exist within their little bubble, and
their ignorance is something sadly of their own making.If you
cannot stand up to a bus captain abusing his power and berating an
old lady, calling her names, I can surely understand why you will
simply shut your eyes and choose the easiest path and not bother
about any critical thinking.
My optimism died one day in February, when the above happened and
my exhortations were the lone voice in a bus, where my fellow
passengers continued in their iPod-strung world.
Call me a fool for daring to believe and to possess optimism.It's
your own freedom of speech.I may have lost some of it, and surely a
little dies everytime I see the blatant ignorance of the youth and
fellow peers.But I will not begrudge your choice to be a
sheep.After all, it's your choice to be slaughtered after the short
but comfortable existence in a fenced up field.
