Note: This article was written in December 2003. It is NOT suitable for the faint-hearted.
It isn’t easy living with a grade like a C6 (or below). Believe me I should know, I got one for my General Paper (GP) during the ‘A’ Levels. I was totally distraught, and it didn’t help that I could not find any self-help guide books that pertained to this. As such, I have compiled here some ways to deal with the stress, anger and depression one might feel upon scoring a C6 (or below) got GP.
Method One
Tear up your results slip. This will definitely appease your anger and shame for quite a while. But don’t just stop at this step, being a pragmatic Singaporean, you must consider the long term consequences of your actions. Thus, I recommend that you prepare a list of excuses to give your potential employer, or the university of your choice, should they request for your slip. Do your research so you won’t use one that is too cliché, or use one too unbelievable. Yes. Always be prepared.
Method Two
Find a TALL building to jump off. Remember what they told you about being considerate to the feelings of your friends and loved one? Well forget that. Keep in mind that to survive in this dog-eat-dog world, we have to be ruthless sometimes. So now that the chance is here, don’t let it slip by. Always watch out for good opportunities; you don’t get them all the time.
Also note the emphasis I placed on the word “tall”. Being committed to a cause and seeing things to the end are some of the qualities many organisations look for in an individual; see to it that you display them. Jumping off a building of substantial height will ensure certain death and relief; it will also probably lead to a blame being put on some unfortunate person (this act of “saving your ass” is derived from modern day office politics). This method is highly recommended for those who bear a grudge against their parents, society or the education system.
Method Three
Sue the school or examination authorities. Gather evidence from your tutorials and assignments that show you are not impaired in your ability to argue coherently and to make substantial, meaningful points. If possible, rope in friends in the same predicament as you are. It always helps to blow up the issue. Not only will you gain more media coverage, it will also help you win sympathy votes from the public. Schools and major boards cannot withstand too much public pressure so as Sun Zi says “use your enemy’s weaknesses to your advantage”.
WARNING: This method involves a lot of time and money. For those looking for a quick and easy solution to their grade problem, I would still suggest Method 2.
I would go on but I suddenly realised that I have very little ability to make organised and coherent points. As such, I have decided to leave out some of my thoughts on this whole C6 issue. I shall not tell you how ironic it is that while society encourages character strengthening and abhors superficiality, it also discriminates according to an individual’s one-time performance in a major examination. I might say that the objectives of receiving an education seem somewhat blurred, that one-time grades rather than long-term learning performance are playing so major a role today in society. But being incapable of clear analysis, I will not in case I end up rambling.
Now excuse me, I have a TALL building to scout for.
Thursday, November 04, 2004
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Terrorism - Is it over?
More than 3 years have passed since the horrible happenings of September 11. In this period of 3 years and so, so much has happened around the world. The launch of a War Against Terrorism, the struggle of so many nations to find a stand in this campaign so aggressively supported by the USA, the Bali Bombings, the Iraq Hostage Crisis, the attacks in Russia, the bombings in Indonesia, these simply consist the tip of the iceberg labeled as the “Post September 11 World”.
It is of no doubt that the “Post September 11 World” is a huge concept. It is a huge issue; something akin to a huge octopus whose far-reaching tentacles have touched upon so many aspects of society. It touches on violence, belief systems, tolerance, the individual, the list goes on. But before we move into explaining these details of the “Post September 11 World”, perhaps we should look at why this is such a crucial issue to discuss.
For this purpose, I will be basing my discussion on examples and case studies in Singapore. The reason for this is to start from an aspect which we, as students living and studying in Singapore, can easily identify with. Some people might call this myopic and consider it a severe oversimplification of dealing with this issue, but I feel that only through this approach can we come to terms with the “on-the-ground” kind of emotions i.e. the implications on the average Singaporean.
In the Context of Singapore
Singapore is very well informed of what has happened all over the world through the media. For sure, every time we see footages of explosions and suicide bombings, or hostage incidents, our hearts go out to those innocent people who are affected. But no matter how many bombings go on in the Middle East, how many people are taken hostages by terrorists or how many terrorists have been captured by international authorities, life still goes on as per normal here. True we’ve had a close shave and scare when the Yishun MRT Station bombing plot by members of the Jemaah Islamiah was uncovered. We’ve had heightened security and constant emphasis on security, and so far we seem to be coping well in Singapore. Life at the very basic and mundane level seems back to normal; or so we think.
How many of us have actually noticed the absence of dustbins in MRT stations these days? I was not aware of this change (even though it was publicized in the media) until that very day when I had to blow my nose while waiting for the train to arrive. Being the conscientious citizen who does not litter, I looked around for a dustbin to dispose of my tissue, only to realize that there was none on the platform. Silly as it might sound, I had to travel more than 10 stations to my destination to dispose of that tissue in a toilet dustbin. From this minor incident, I then went on to find out that there were no dustbins at some bus interchanges as well. Suddenly, I also noticed the posters and announcements at MRT stations urging passengers to report any suspicious looking objects. Once in a while, I would even chance upon one of the MRT personnel patrolling the platform. All these incidents might seem quite minor and uninteresting on their own, but when you look at them from a general perspective, the social implications are definitely there.
For one, they just go to show how the global issue of terrorism has permeated our society. These acts are carried out with the objective of creating a safer environment for Singaporeans through heightened security. They are part of a nation’s response and reaction to a world in which planes crashing into skyscraper towers are no longer “just part of a video”; a world in which any man, woman or child can blow up a street with explosives; in other words, a Post Sept 11 World.
These incidents also lead me to question the real motives of terrorism. Terrorism, according to http://dictionary.cambridge.org/, is defined as “(threats of) violent action for political purposes”. In my opinion, despite the presence of the term “political purpose”, the main disruption in which terrorism results is more to the everyday routine of life and not so much to the political beliefs or structures in a country. Terrorism essentially results in the disruption of routine; it instills an additional sense of inconvenience and uncertainty in what we see and do.
When several parts of Singapore were plunged into darkness due to a power plant failure, many Singaporeans actually called in to question if this was an act of terrorism. The authorities had to assure them that it was due to a technical fault and not some attack on our infrastructure. Similarly, when the Nicol Highway collapsed, there was a fear of whether the collapse was the result of a terrorism attack.
Paranoia is the word that springs to mind. These incidents clearly show that there is a sense of fear and uncertainty that has been unconsciously weaved into the social fabric of Singapore due to the many drastic events occurring around the world. We do not talk about this fear very openly, but it is apparent in how we deal with life today. The suspicion felt upon seeing an Arab at the airport, the uncertainty of whether a particular individual’s briefcase might contain a bomb, the inconvenience of having extra security measures. Life is no longer as basic or mundane as it was before; and it is here that terrorism has truly succeeded. Terrorism has made its mark on Singapore’s society, on our individual lives. It presents itself as a constant reminder that life will never go back to how it was before September 11, 2001. It challenges our beliefs and values by forcing us to rethink our definitions of security, of religious understanding, of tolerance.
Singapore’s precautionary measures might be considered quite encompassing by most standards; we have been able to protect ourselves against potential physical attacks so far. But in this Post Sept 11 World, no one is 100% safe. And it is the knowledge and acknowledgement of this in our daily lives that threatens the very foundations upon which our society is based. This is the real danger of terrorism.
It is of no doubt that the “Post September 11 World” is a huge concept. It is a huge issue; something akin to a huge octopus whose far-reaching tentacles have touched upon so many aspects of society. It touches on violence, belief systems, tolerance, the individual, the list goes on. But before we move into explaining these details of the “Post September 11 World”, perhaps we should look at why this is such a crucial issue to discuss.
For this purpose, I will be basing my discussion on examples and case studies in Singapore. The reason for this is to start from an aspect which we, as students living and studying in Singapore, can easily identify with. Some people might call this myopic and consider it a severe oversimplification of dealing with this issue, but I feel that only through this approach can we come to terms with the “on-the-ground” kind of emotions i.e. the implications on the average Singaporean.
In the Context of Singapore
Singapore is very well informed of what has happened all over the world through the media. For sure, every time we see footages of explosions and suicide bombings, or hostage incidents, our hearts go out to those innocent people who are affected. But no matter how many bombings go on in the Middle East, how many people are taken hostages by terrorists or how many terrorists have been captured by international authorities, life still goes on as per normal here. True we’ve had a close shave and scare when the Yishun MRT Station bombing plot by members of the Jemaah Islamiah was uncovered. We’ve had heightened security and constant emphasis on security, and so far we seem to be coping well in Singapore. Life at the very basic and mundane level seems back to normal; or so we think.
How many of us have actually noticed the absence of dustbins in MRT stations these days? I was not aware of this change (even though it was publicized in the media) until that very day when I had to blow my nose while waiting for the train to arrive. Being the conscientious citizen who does not litter, I looked around for a dustbin to dispose of my tissue, only to realize that there was none on the platform. Silly as it might sound, I had to travel more than 10 stations to my destination to dispose of that tissue in a toilet dustbin. From this minor incident, I then went on to find out that there were no dustbins at some bus interchanges as well. Suddenly, I also noticed the posters and announcements at MRT stations urging passengers to report any suspicious looking objects. Once in a while, I would even chance upon one of the MRT personnel patrolling the platform. All these incidents might seem quite minor and uninteresting on their own, but when you look at them from a general perspective, the social implications are definitely there.
For one, they just go to show how the global issue of terrorism has permeated our society. These acts are carried out with the objective of creating a safer environment for Singaporeans through heightened security. They are part of a nation’s response and reaction to a world in which planes crashing into skyscraper towers are no longer “just part of a video”; a world in which any man, woman or child can blow up a street with explosives; in other words, a Post Sept 11 World.
These incidents also lead me to question the real motives of terrorism. Terrorism, according to http://dictionary.cambridge.org/, is defined as “(threats of) violent action for political purposes”. In my opinion, despite the presence of the term “political purpose”, the main disruption in which terrorism results is more to the everyday routine of life and not so much to the political beliefs or structures in a country. Terrorism essentially results in the disruption of routine; it instills an additional sense of inconvenience and uncertainty in what we see and do.
When several parts of Singapore were plunged into darkness due to a power plant failure, many Singaporeans actually called in to question if this was an act of terrorism. The authorities had to assure them that it was due to a technical fault and not some attack on our infrastructure. Similarly, when the Nicol Highway collapsed, there was a fear of whether the collapse was the result of a terrorism attack.
Paranoia is the word that springs to mind. These incidents clearly show that there is a sense of fear and uncertainty that has been unconsciously weaved into the social fabric of Singapore due to the many drastic events occurring around the world. We do not talk about this fear very openly, but it is apparent in how we deal with life today. The suspicion felt upon seeing an Arab at the airport, the uncertainty of whether a particular individual’s briefcase might contain a bomb, the inconvenience of having extra security measures. Life is no longer as basic or mundane as it was before; and it is here that terrorism has truly succeeded. Terrorism has made its mark on Singapore’s society, on our individual lives. It presents itself as a constant reminder that life will never go back to how it was before September 11, 2001. It challenges our beliefs and values by forcing us to rethink our definitions of security, of religious understanding, of tolerance.
Singapore’s precautionary measures might be considered quite encompassing by most standards; we have been able to protect ourselves against potential physical attacks so far. But in this Post Sept 11 World, no one is 100% safe. And it is the knowledge and acknowledgement of this in our daily lives that threatens the very foundations upon which our society is based. This is the real danger of terrorism.
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
What it means to be Singaporean
What is it to be a Singaporean? Strangely I have never given that question much thought before; as a matter of fact, that question has never popped into my head for the past 19 years.
But recently, after joining AIESEC in NTU, this question has struck me quite a few times. AIESEC is an international student organization present in 85 countries which promotes youth development through its overseas traineeship opportunities. Members work to bring in and send out youths for actual work experiences with established companies, and at the same time, take part in international conferences. It has a very vibrant culture and its members include people from all over the world. So far, I have met students from India, Myanmar, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and I dare say it has been quite an experience. I have also met a couple of trainees who are here on their attachment. There are people from France, Slovakia, Romania, Japan, even Switzerland.
Anyway, it all started on National Day, when there was an AIESEC party and gathering. I had been assigned the task of manning the Singapore booth and naturally I had to do my research. As I sat in front of my computer trying to think of what Singapore had to offer, I couldn’t help but think that I wasn’t really very Singaporean after all. Hey I couldn’t even think up a lot of interesting stuff. Sure, sure, everyone knows the little facts about how Singaporeans are kiasu, that we are a “fine” country, that our government is a big nanny, that there are so many restrictions here, blah blah. But is that all that Singapore has to offer? Am I going to tell these “ugly” characteristics to a group of foreigners so eager to learn about their host country?
Speaking of the trainees, I must say I have a lot to learn from them. They had their own country’s booth too and as I went around listening to what they had to offer, I was struck by how well they knew their country, and how proud they were about their origins. I mean, I spent more than half an hour at the Switzerland booth looking at the photos and listening to the Swiss describe their way of life. Their attitude and zest really say a lot.
I’ve realized that the foreign students in AIESEC are really interesting too. Nowadays, I like to ask them what they think of Singapore. Strangely enough, their answers have helped me recognize what I have been taking for granted for so long.
“Singapore’s really clean.”
“The government takes good care of the people; back from where I was, that doesn’t happen at all.”
“It’s very accessible around here.”
“Almost everyone gets to go to school. I came from a village so imagine how different it is back home.”
Oh and I’ll never forget when this Indonesian guy asked me if I knew how the Singapore River was cleaned up in the 60s. He was so pleased and proud of himself as he described the process to me. To think I was complaining to him about the education system here not too long before that.
“A Singaporean is never more Singaporean than a Singaporean not in Singapore.” Perhaps we have really become complacent in this protected and comparatively care-free environment after so long. I don’t know. If I were studying overseas I might be able to comment on that. But then again, I don’t think I’ll fret too much about that. I’ve come to realize that I still can learn a lot about being Singaporean, especially through AIESEC.
On October 15, a trainee will be arriving from Romania. I think I’ll volunteer to join his welcome committee to bring him around and get him settled in. I may be a Singaporean in Singapore, but being with non-singaporeans might very well teach me a thing or too about being more Singaporean. =)
But recently, after joining AIESEC in NTU, this question has struck me quite a few times. AIESEC is an international student organization present in 85 countries which promotes youth development through its overseas traineeship opportunities. Members work to bring in and send out youths for actual work experiences with established companies, and at the same time, take part in international conferences. It has a very vibrant culture and its members include people from all over the world. So far, I have met students from India, Myanmar, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and I dare say it has been quite an experience. I have also met a couple of trainees who are here on their attachment. There are people from France, Slovakia, Romania, Japan, even Switzerland.
Anyway, it all started on National Day, when there was an AIESEC party and gathering. I had been assigned the task of manning the Singapore booth and naturally I had to do my research. As I sat in front of my computer trying to think of what Singapore had to offer, I couldn’t help but think that I wasn’t really very Singaporean after all. Hey I couldn’t even think up a lot of interesting stuff. Sure, sure, everyone knows the little facts about how Singaporeans are kiasu, that we are a “fine” country, that our government is a big nanny, that there are so many restrictions here, blah blah. But is that all that Singapore has to offer? Am I going to tell these “ugly” characteristics to a group of foreigners so eager to learn about their host country?
Speaking of the trainees, I must say I have a lot to learn from them. They had their own country’s booth too and as I went around listening to what they had to offer, I was struck by how well they knew their country, and how proud they were about their origins. I mean, I spent more than half an hour at the Switzerland booth looking at the photos and listening to the Swiss describe their way of life. Their attitude and zest really say a lot.
I’ve realized that the foreign students in AIESEC are really interesting too. Nowadays, I like to ask them what they think of Singapore. Strangely enough, their answers have helped me recognize what I have been taking for granted for so long.
“Singapore’s really clean.”
“The government takes good care of the people; back from where I was, that doesn’t happen at all.”
“It’s very accessible around here.”
“Almost everyone gets to go to school. I came from a village so imagine how different it is back home.”
Oh and I’ll never forget when this Indonesian guy asked me if I knew how the Singapore River was cleaned up in the 60s. He was so pleased and proud of himself as he described the process to me. To think I was complaining to him about the education system here not too long before that.
“A Singaporean is never more Singaporean than a Singaporean not in Singapore.” Perhaps we have really become complacent in this protected and comparatively care-free environment after so long. I don’t know. If I were studying overseas I might be able to comment on that. But then again, I don’t think I’ll fret too much about that. I’ve come to realize that I still can learn a lot about being Singaporean, especially through AIESEC.
On October 15, a trainee will be arriving from Romania. I think I’ll volunteer to join his welcome committee to bring him around and get him settled in. I may be a Singaporean in Singapore, but being with non-singaporeans might very well teach me a thing or too about being more Singaporean. =)
Saturday, September 04, 2004
Luckily Archimedes wasn't in Singapore when it happened...
You know everytime someone mentions “EUREKA”, that old guy called Archimedes never fails to pop into my mind. Well for the sake of those who haven’t heard the story, Archimedes was this famous (shame on you for not knowing him) scientist and mathematician from Syracuse. He was once asked by King Hiero II to determine if a wreath belonging to the king was made of pure gold. Because the wreath was a holy object dedicated to the gods, Archimedes could not disturb the wreath in any way. (In modern terms, he was to perform nondestructive testing).
Now Archimedes was deeply troubled by this problem, and luckily for him the solution occurred to him when he was bathing. In those days, most people bathed in tubs so when Archimedes lowered himself into the tub for a nice relaxing hot soak, he noticed that quite some water was displaced in the process. He thought for a while, realised the implications, shouted “Eureka!” and happily ran into the streets with hardly a piece of clothing on himself. And that was how he solved the puzzle, and came up with Archimedes’ Principle, which we now study in fluid physics.
I don’t know why but this thought popped into my mind today: “what will become of famous Archimedes if he were in Singapore when that happened?” Ok so I think weird thoughts. But you have to admit the consequences would have been most interesting.
For one, someone would call the police immediately at the sight of a not too young (or hunky) man dashing out of his house naked. I suspect that even if Archimedes simply ran out of his bathroom and into the living room without exiting the apartment, someone would call the police anyway. Singaporeans have this uncanny ability to notice that someone in the opposite block was walking around the apartment indecently dressed. It might have to do with all the practice we get from picking out small flaws in the television shows we watch. Honestly you’ll think that with the high percentage of myopic citizens we have, milk cans lurking in the backdrop (think a drama serial about babies), or even a tiny misjudgment by the film editors (think a purely unintentional Singapore version of Janet Jackson at Super Bowl) would go unnoticed. But no, we always get to read about them in the papers some time later. Uncanny I say.
Anyway let’s get back to Archimedes. Aside from that charge, I think he would have been handed a warning letter from the neighbourhood police. For what you may ask? Well for disturbing the peace of the neighbourhood. Ok this part will require some deducing so let’s all put on our Sherlock Holme’s hat. (In thick British accent) With the kind of excitement that comes with the discovery of a new physics principle, I’m deducing that Archimedes probably wouldn’t have bothered to keep his voice down. Also, judging from the normal bathing habits of people in Singapore, it would have been past dinner time when the incident occurred. Let’s say at about 9pm. Now at this time, people are either enjoying themselves watching television, or not enjoying themselves doing their homework. Both tasks require utmost concentration and focus, and a strange, disturbing shout like “EUREKA” is kind of hard to go unnoticed. Probably there will be several complaints from distressed parents who will be upset over the disruption of peace and thus the inconsiderate creation of a non-conducive studying environment for their children.
So as of now, Archimedes is facing two charges already. He’ll probably try to explain his situation and at the same time expound his wonderful discovery of the Archimedes Principle. This should be a happy ending and closure to the whole incident, he thinks. But he overlooked the fact that it’s Singapore; I bet $10 he forgot to apply for a patent at the relevant ministry.
Poor Archimedes... Talk about stifling creativity… hahah
Now Archimedes was deeply troubled by this problem, and luckily for him the solution occurred to him when he was bathing. In those days, most people bathed in tubs so when Archimedes lowered himself into the tub for a nice relaxing hot soak, he noticed that quite some water was displaced in the process. He thought for a while, realised the implications, shouted “Eureka!” and happily ran into the streets with hardly a piece of clothing on himself. And that was how he solved the puzzle, and came up with Archimedes’ Principle, which we now study in fluid physics.
I don’t know why but this thought popped into my mind today: “what will become of famous Archimedes if he were in Singapore when that happened?” Ok so I think weird thoughts. But you have to admit the consequences would have been most interesting.
For one, someone would call the police immediately at the sight of a not too young (or hunky) man dashing out of his house naked. I suspect that even if Archimedes simply ran out of his bathroom and into the living room without exiting the apartment, someone would call the police anyway. Singaporeans have this uncanny ability to notice that someone in the opposite block was walking around the apartment indecently dressed. It might have to do with all the practice we get from picking out small flaws in the television shows we watch. Honestly you’ll think that with the high percentage of myopic citizens we have, milk cans lurking in the backdrop (think a drama serial about babies), or even a tiny misjudgment by the film editors (think a purely unintentional Singapore version of Janet Jackson at Super Bowl) would go unnoticed. But no, we always get to read about them in the papers some time later. Uncanny I say.
Anyway let’s get back to Archimedes. Aside from that charge, I think he would have been handed a warning letter from the neighbourhood police. For what you may ask? Well for disturbing the peace of the neighbourhood. Ok this part will require some deducing so let’s all put on our Sherlock Holme’s hat. (In thick British accent) With the kind of excitement that comes with the discovery of a new physics principle, I’m deducing that Archimedes probably wouldn’t have bothered to keep his voice down. Also, judging from the normal bathing habits of people in Singapore, it would have been past dinner time when the incident occurred. Let’s say at about 9pm. Now at this time, people are either enjoying themselves watching television, or not enjoying themselves doing their homework. Both tasks require utmost concentration and focus, and a strange, disturbing shout like “EUREKA” is kind of hard to go unnoticed. Probably there will be several complaints from distressed parents who will be upset over the disruption of peace and thus the inconsiderate creation of a non-conducive studying environment for their children.
So as of now, Archimedes is facing two charges already. He’ll probably try to explain his situation and at the same time expound his wonderful discovery of the Archimedes Principle. This should be a happy ending and closure to the whole incident, he thinks. But he overlooked the fact that it’s Singapore; I bet $10 he forgot to apply for a patent at the relevant ministry.
Poor Archimedes... Talk about stifling creativity… hahah
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
Inertia and Force
Inertia (noun): the reluctance of an object to stop moving when it is in motion or to start moving when it is stationary.
It is strangely coincidental how a word so commonly used in the study of physics is actually so predominant in our daily lives. Yet it is highly ironic that while so many of us may be able to identify this occurrence when answering physics questions, so few of us really recognise how much impact it has in our social lives.
Imagine this scenario: you are flipping through the pages of your secondary school autograph book when you suddenly come across the page contributed by a very close friend of yours. As the memories flood back into your mind, you realise how long it has been since you spoke to this friend of yours. Yet, you hesitate to give him or her a call. A little voice at the back of your head says, “it’ll be so awkward” or “maybe next time when I have more time”; and you obey that voice.
That voice, whether you want to acknowledge it or not, is inertia at work. So often, we get caught up in the nitty gritty details of our hectic lives. We unknowingly become so used to rushing around and getting things done that we are reluctant to stop and focus on something that is very much closer to our hearts: friends.
The very people with whom we once played catch, the people who stood by us when we felt low and vulnerable, the people with whom we shared so many highs and lows, happy and sad, wacky and crazy times. I think it is such a pity that so many friendships casually die off because inertia becomes too powerful to overcome. I feel sad that even during gatherings, some people cannot turn up or do not bother to because inertia is so overbearing in their lives. It’s like driving on an expressway without wearing a seat belt: we become aware of inertia only when the driver is thrown through the windscreen upon a sudden stop. Similarly, by the time we become aware of this inertia in our social lives, more often than not the damage is already done.
But as in physics, inertia can be overcome by the introduction of a force in the correct direction. A force is a push or a pull exerted to change the state of an object. If exerted on a stationary object for example, the force can allow the object overcome its reluctance to move.
I have a lot of respect for those who are able to create this force and propel themselves to overcome inertia. They are able to gain strength from the thought that the goodness which comes out of maintaining that friendship is worth the extra effort. They try continually, ever so determined to bring back remnants of those good old memories. I salute them for their tremendous efforts and their faith in the human spirit.
We tackle physics questions concerning inertia and forces with apparent ease. Let us one day be able to tackle our social problems regarding these same two concepts with that same kind of ease. Let not a simple misstep on our part tear down years of friendship and love.
It is strangely coincidental how a word so commonly used in the study of physics is actually so predominant in our daily lives. Yet it is highly ironic that while so many of us may be able to identify this occurrence when answering physics questions, so few of us really recognise how much impact it has in our social lives.
Imagine this scenario: you are flipping through the pages of your secondary school autograph book when you suddenly come across the page contributed by a very close friend of yours. As the memories flood back into your mind, you realise how long it has been since you spoke to this friend of yours. Yet, you hesitate to give him or her a call. A little voice at the back of your head says, “it’ll be so awkward” or “maybe next time when I have more time”; and you obey that voice.
That voice, whether you want to acknowledge it or not, is inertia at work. So often, we get caught up in the nitty gritty details of our hectic lives. We unknowingly become so used to rushing around and getting things done that we are reluctant to stop and focus on something that is very much closer to our hearts: friends.
The very people with whom we once played catch, the people who stood by us when we felt low and vulnerable, the people with whom we shared so many highs and lows, happy and sad, wacky and crazy times. I think it is such a pity that so many friendships casually die off because inertia becomes too powerful to overcome. I feel sad that even during gatherings, some people cannot turn up or do not bother to because inertia is so overbearing in their lives. It’s like driving on an expressway without wearing a seat belt: we become aware of inertia only when the driver is thrown through the windscreen upon a sudden stop. Similarly, by the time we become aware of this inertia in our social lives, more often than not the damage is already done.
But as in physics, inertia can be overcome by the introduction of a force in the correct direction. A force is a push or a pull exerted to change the state of an object. If exerted on a stationary object for example, the force can allow the object overcome its reluctance to move.
I have a lot of respect for those who are able to create this force and propel themselves to overcome inertia. They are able to gain strength from the thought that the goodness which comes out of maintaining that friendship is worth the extra effort. They try continually, ever so determined to bring back remnants of those good old memories. I salute them for their tremendous efforts and their faith in the human spirit.
We tackle physics questions concerning inertia and forces with apparent ease. Let us one day be able to tackle our social problems regarding these same two concepts with that same kind of ease. Let not a simple misstep on our part tear down years of friendship and love.
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