Friday, March 28, 2014

Incoherent, random thoughts

Don't know why I'm starting to worry about the future of Singapore, and of the world. The writings of people who worry or worried more than me about what will happen in the future is affecting me I guess. Isn't it naive to believe that the financial system, which currently runs on "trust" in governments, and creates wealth through speculation will continue as per normal in the foreseeable future?


It has been said that being a progressive is always the way to go. A conservative is one who attempts to safeguard tenets of society that one deems relevant, but those which progressives what to change or in their words, improve.


But how much can one do if the dominant governing principles of the current state of civilisation are about to be changed? Am I to stand aside and observe the collapse, or try to safeguard where I come from, or embrace the change and try to lead the path into the unknown?


I believe I am a reformist, someone who believes that constant change is beneficial to society and must be encouraged, whether top down or bottom up or both. Yet being one scares me now. The magnitude of the current situation is being overshadowed by too many petty concerns, mine included.


Even if I do try to enter policy work, is this something I will be able to change? Or will be subsumed into the "elite" of society, and forget the concerns in my mind now and focus on the more minor issues? Is there even any point in me worrying? Aren't individuals powerless in the face of "historical forces", as analysed by certain schools of history?


The end of the arc of capitalism, the state of the environment... I don't know. This is too much for a naive 19 year old to understand.


'No need to rush; the end of the world is only the end of the world as you know it.' - Mark Strand


Time to prepare for a new world, I guess. Don't know if others, or I, will be ready enough for it though.

Saturday, March 22, 2014

BMT is almost over. Nothing much to say about it really, other than that I met a bunch of really awesome people and got to do many things I never thought I would (e.g. shouting rather funnily during bcct). Everything has a closure, as my dad always says, and BMT is no exception.

 In the next few weeks, what I decide to do will determine how I spend the rest of my life. Haiz. Why must I decide on my future at such a young age? I guess having a choice is not a bad thing, but how to make the right choice is a different matter altogether.

As usual I'm not being very coherent with my thoughts. I think I need some downtime to myself to reflect, but army isn't really the ideal place for that.

Oh well. Life goes on, whether or not you are living it to the fullest.