Something interesting my dad noted today while walking along the shops below my place was the peaceful silence that dominated the whole area. The chinese new year period in singapore means that shops and businesses close for the celebrations, thus giving the neighbourhood a silent feel. (Except for a few places that want to operate) Sadly, theres plenty of reasons (mostly economic) for such a scenario not occuring very frequently.

The stillness and quietness is indeed something quite soothing. God had created the quietness as well, as much as it may be an emptiness - simply a null of all sounds, the space that it spans out and the peace that it infuses seriously is something worthy to be deemed a creation. If nothingness were to be enjoyed, the quietness would be something that should be savoured first. As my dad put it, (he heard it from a friend who resides in Australia whose capable of accessing a natural environment that is quiet) the place is quiet to the extent where you can hear yourself think. I think, that is seriously cool.

Consider above this physical realm of quietness, and wonder about the silences of the realms within- when one thinks about things. Or perhaps is unable to think about things because of the constant rush of thoughts that gulf him up, or the consistent flow of messages from all angles, aimed to sway his perspectives. There may be no physical interruptions, but when there's an interal racket, it can't be any better that pure quietness right. Perhaps the latter would aid in resolving the racket, giving one an opportunitiy to untie the tight ends and loosen the tensions on the rope. There would be the escapists who just clutter up themselves in the physical realm so this inner conflicts are busy-ed to obilivion.

Wonder about the deeper significances of this silence. The emotions that grasp on it usually being shock, fear, sadness... or usually a tight mix of all. It being described as the 'death in the night' - the signature of anhilination of any creature or any process. The suspenseful darkness that holds onto its hand, giving stabs of awaitances to everyone who desires sight. The uneasy heart that does not know the answer to the question, can only subscribe to this path. (That begets an uncertain consequence)

Think about the void that this quiet promote. The emptiness that it does not (should not) fill. The blankness that it demands. The lack that it demonstrates.


Quiet.

As much as the title may sound negetive, I'm actually giving praise to the issue - or rather the fact that celebration is made possible through those 'excuses'. Of course, 'reason' sounds a whole lot better (although its similarly as engineerical), but 'excuse' gives me a warrant to need not be apologetic about negetive feelings, if they arise for any matter.

Occasions are crafted by time and chance, gelled within customs, traditions, supersitions and the like as they are oiled by the movements of history. Perhaps, some occasions deserve a celebration very obviously (like the welcoming of the new year with respect to the several calanders or the party after a big project has been completed or say, a victory achieved), some are placed akwardly, but seemingly politically incorrect if labelled as unneeded (mother and father's day). Then we have the religious festivals and also valentine's day.

Well sure, you live in the world long enough and you'll realise that each occasion is hooked on by coporations to work as income churners, and while their at it pollute the world with their media messages and questionable influences - but any idiot can blog about this, and I shan't bother.

So what sort of praise am I giving to those excuses? Very simply, they are an avenue for family gathering. In the sense that, the family has an excuse to meet up because of the occasion.(whatsoever it is) I know it doesn't sound much of a big deal since it always occurs now... but think about the ability these 'rituals' actually posses in drawing the whole family together. It is because of the occasions that the family can meet and relate. They act as indicators to remind us of when to meet each other again, because humans on their own are unable to actually plan a gathering for no apparent reason very naturally. To trigger the celebration, an excuse is needed, and because of that excuse, the family may be connected. It works its magic in the same style like sleep. Both being ritualistical beings, allow humans to carry out a certain activity at a certain time because its apt at the moment. I do realise that looking at the 'excuses' in this way seems really simplistic, and thats probaly because it is already in our programing. The family gathering is but just a bonus that comes along with the rest of the occasion's goodies, but the main point is to celebrate that event anyway.

And anyway, happy chinese new year!

Questioning a person is useful for gaining information, learning about his/her thoughts about something, gauging the feelings behind a certain phenomena thats occuring and other matters that exist by those styles. Lets not consider the element of sincere concern and just observe 'questioning' as a mechanical process of gandering data or achieveing a specific result (i.e. discipline, so that questionee will understand his/her need for repentence on his/her own accord). Defintely, it will be an art that takes time to master, and dramatically dependent on circumstance and differs from person. In terms of how basic the question would go, and how judgemental you would like to be in sieving out your data or fufilling your purpose; the question can be designed in several ways. But thats not my point today anyway, I'll zoom in now to the commonly asked question, which all guys will get to hear about in some point in time... (maybe not the literal version, although likely, but perhaps a cousin of similar form)

When both your mother and your girlfriend fall into the river and are drowning, which one will you save?

Flaws galore... and question plot holes immediately get hitched onto by all the guys, claiming that both their loved ones know how to swim. Either that, or that he'll talk about calling people to help him, or throwing a float to the more abled victim while saving the physically weaker one. Practically, their perfect answers, but answers that avoid the question anyway. It is very obvious to any reader that what this question attempts to do is to measure the love the guy has towards both parties - which love is greater, that to his mom or to his gf? The sweetalking liar could give answers favorable to each person while in the person's presence alone, but that is a problem of morality and has nothing much to do with the expected singular answer of the man. That in mind, we'll keep to being relevant to the questioner's intentions, no bother how illogical the physical scenario is. Lets asses a few responses and their arguements..

My Mother, she has been with me for a longer time and I need to appease filial piety
Aruguement of time = greater love cultivated and stronger emotions baggage; and the need to fufil the morals of a righteous being. This is seeing things at a 'stright-forward' love kind of scenario. The love of the mother was decided and not possible of determination, of course the guy will have attributes of the mother from genes anyway. The girlfriend's love was a love of choice, one that the guy decided that he would go for, and thus is more un'stright-forward'. To argue in terms of time of bonding is reasonable, for simple reasons like the love builds with time and space. The burden to lose that relationship would thus be a lot more stronger, especially when mom was the one who saw you through your growing years. Society's moral standards by the average at least, still see caring for your parents as a necessary thing to do. If we were to ignore emotions and aim to be politically correct, a 'spending time with parents and not forsaking them' would be very much respected and desired of the world. Simply because of an idea of repayment and, well emotional attachement as well.

My Girlfriend, she is the only one for me and my Mom has spent time with me already
A bit on passion here, a sort of love that burns rather than the appreciative love that motherly love has form upon. Love for a girlfriend can be done fierecly, aka Troy. And one claiming exclusively that the girl is your dreamboat wouldn't get much objections besides the simple advices and rethinks that elders will impart (perhaps your too young) There is another arguement of time here, citing that Mom has already spent time with you. What about the need of repayment? Depending on the questionee, this factor might not be applicable, may be ignored, or may even be overlooked.

My Mother, I can only have one mother, gfs can be seeked
Logic thats reasonable, but strongly hints that the love between your gf and yourself is questionable. This tends towards the guys not having a proper comitment made to the gf, and thus having an unfixed attitude, swaying back to the one his is assured with. He might even think, mom will never forsake. Gf has high possiblity of leaving or getting -insert negetive results here-, thus he is better sercured to stay with mom.

My Girlfriend, mom would want me to be hapy and I do love her alot
Hoovering between a logical honorable decesion and a selfish undeserving choice. It could be just a delusion that mom wants it that way to you as your blinded by the love of the girl, or it might be that your mom sincerely wants you to be happy. Of course, all moms want us to be happy.. its the kind of 'your happy, i'll be happy' thing (another crazy logic that drives guys crazy) and certain actions that seem sacrifical so as to sustain your happiness will be enough for that. Personally, I do that it also matters on how you want to appreciate the person. Not only fufill what she wants you to do, but beyond that into her welfare.

I would be overwhelmed with indecesion and let both drown
lol... "This is the real man" says a guy whom I've forgotten where I heard this from. And that has some truth in it. One reason, is because girls (lets use them as a varaiable now, so other subjects that can control a similar illustration can be used) give guys (variable 2) such a choice to make in the first place. Helpless, we mess up as we have no idea what to do. A concept like Love (the principle of the illustration) is difficult to be measured in such a sense anyway. The love towards a mother and the love towards a girlfriend and different types of loves. They both function in different styles, command different languages and play on different playing fields. Placing both 'loves' together and asking them to do battle in a cage is simply not understanding this concept of love in the end. A human being who can carry out the ability to love can do so in several styles, and it just so is in happenstance that love to the mother and love to the girlfriend are significantly noticeable.

Questions then, aren't reliable in gathering anything about the measure of love. Probaly because, love wasn't a concept that was meant to be measured.


"Water... It is shapeless and eternal... It cannot be destroyed. When scorched, it turns into steam and fly into the sky. When it is touched with extreme cold it forms a solid crystal amour that is slippery to grasp. It changes its very nature in order to survive. No sword can harm it... No force can wound it. Water absorbs all... even the illest of poisons... Yet it suffers not. It lives on despite those who invade it. Do you understand?" -- Kavax, The Way 6: Truth Hides Nothing

2006, welcome.

---

_Past

June 2004
July 2004
August 2004
September 2004
October 2004
November 2004
December 2004
January 2005
February 2005
March 2005
April 2005
May 2005
June 2005
July 2005
August 2005
September 2005
October 2005
November 2005
December 2005
January 2006
February 2006
March 2006
April 2006
May 2006
June 2006
July 2006
August 2006
September 2006
October 2006
November 2006
December 2006
January 2007
February 2007
March 2007
May 2007
June 2007
July 2007
August 2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
February 2008
March 2008
April 2008
May 2008
June 2008
July 2008
August 2008
September 2008
October 2008
November 2008
December 2008
January 2009
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009

---