|
Censorship and Political Correctness Fans the Flames of Bigotry
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Listening to This Place Is A Prison by The Postal Service
The problem with political correctness is the only thing it changes is making people be more discrete with their prejudice rather than having it all out in the open to be challenged and ridiculed. Discuss.
Political correctness in my opinion does make people obliged to be more discrete with their prejudice, but i dont see how it encourages intolerance. Using racism as an example, i find discretion itself an effective tool in allowing different groups of people to live alongside each other, not necessarily integrating. That in itself is a form of tolerance. It is fact that many people in my multi cultural society are inherently racist, yet due to political correctness, do not act on their nature save for circumstances in which they are aware that 1) no outsiders are observing and 2) that which they do not get into trouble with the law. It may seem cowardly and disgusting, but it works. The thing about political correctness is that it is essential due to the nature of the subject - challenging and debating will bring about no change to their mindsets. There is also nothing to argue about. Such prejudices are deeply ingrained and many times people do not conciously choose to hate a particular group of people. Their circumstances such as poverty or lower social standing compell them to harbour such prejudices, or some simply enjoy being elitist. No amount of "bringing it out into the open" can change such stubborn mindsets, in fact the open allowance may conversely do more harm.
Recently there was a string of incidents in my country where a couple of citizens publicy gave racist comments (on online blogs, local forums etc). The result was neither corrective measures nor open challenges against racism to be discussed, but swift police action. These people were charged in court and made to publicy apologise. Annd... thats it. i believe those involved are still inherently racist, but what does it matter to the rest of the country? As long as they shut up and not "pose a threat to the delicate multi-racial fabric of the nation", no one is bothered.
Dont get me wrong - it would be nice if there was a way to eliminate or even slightly ease all forms of prejudice. And i get that it isnt nice to be hiding behind political correctness while intolerant minds tear innocent people apart. But i doubt that there is any other safer way of dealing with prejudice than discretion, discretion, discretion.
Also, i agree that present generations are less prejudiced. i agree with Keyser that it is largely with the help of laws, governments etc. And so this is a start. Together with discretion, my opinion is that the newer generations will have less exposure to openly aired discrimination, and hence be encouraged to tolerate, and then slowly accept.
For full topic discussion, go to http://forums.ffgurus.net/showthread.php?t=28610&page=1&pp=25
rockin' at 1:40 AM
An Update
Monday, January 23, 2006
Listening to Sun Child by The Vines
I'm addicted to Family Guy! Its fucking awesome... The jokes are damn random, prejudiced and incredibly retardedly smart. I've also been trying to get the South Park episode of Tom Cruise In The Closet, which pokes fun at him being gay and at his religion too. Guranteed gold, plus that it is banned in the UK makes that particular episode ever more so temptingly sweet.
We won OVA 2-0 on sunday. Overall an okay-okay game i guess.. But like i was telling lots of people, i never felt confident of our lead at any miniscule period of time during the game. Scary shit. i dunno if it was the weather, what with us being so used to rain, rain and more rain... But that little bit of sun seemed to sap all of us of our precious energy. Ahh at least we scraped through. Would have liked to played better - i am aware of the couple of times my stick wasnt flat and the ball literally went between my legs (and under my stick).. And also thanks to qing, that my left side is especially weak. Oh and obviously my hits which all went astray. Ah well. Just gives me something more to work on, yeah? And while i'm complaining, i might as well continue. My shin hurt like fuck lah! Damn lucky i was wearing the super shin guard, because even with that there is a major swell (but luckily no blue-black, that means no veins broke). But still got that cut above the shin guard which i cannot phantom how physics-wise, the ball can cut up like that. Weird.. But anyhoo, after much icing its much much much better. Even had nj training today! Although you cant really call it a training for me and huiee :p Hahaha... Nissa you are damn fit and super motivated and super enthu! :)
Will be going to visit my grandfather in Ipoh for chinese new year, so yay for no visiting and no obscure relatives saying how much you've grown and how much you look like your dad/mom (well, obviously).. Just really close relatives that we've havent seen in a long time for this year so yay :) My grandfather damn cute... He went to buy illegal firecrackers for us because he knows we havent played firecrackers before. Also he made my aunt to go to town just to book a table today because he scared wait no space at the restaurant. Well hopefully the journey up is good - got ready a few of my own CDs so i wont have to listen to Rod Stewart and other random golden-age singers for 6 consecutive hours.
rockin' at 10:47 PM
Love
Friday, January 20, 2006
Listening to The Maker Makes by Rufus Wainwright
i read the short story, Brokeback Mountain, by Annie Proulx, in an afternoon. What amazed me, beyond anything else, was how the novel itself was purely about love. To the rainbow-coloured flag-raising gay fans out there, i'm sorry - but this isnt about you. It isnt about sexual attraction, it isnt about homosexuality. Proulx puts that all last. The immediate core, the entire crux of the story is the intimacy of two people - friendship and brotherhood first, before any physical attraction.
A review said something to this effect: about how - with complete understanding of each other's thoughts, opinions, dreams, fears... and absolute grasp of the other's emotions... In addition, the utter joy of being with someone you are so comfortable and close to, and doing things that both enjoy... The transcendent connection that is paramount to every single undoubted, loving relationship existing... That physical closeness follows should not come as a shock to any emotional being.
It took me almost an hour to write this entry. I wanted it to sound right, i didnt want to undermine any of Proulx's intentions of writing this novel, and hence the entity of the film. She didnt write a novel about gay cowboys and anal sex. She wrote about love. Thats all - pure, unimpeachable and absolute.
rockin' at 10:09 PM
Brokeback Mountain
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Listening to Ana's Song (Acoustic) by Silverchair
i can't wait for Brokeback Mountain, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger. "It is the new film from Academy Award-nominated director Ang Lee. An epic love story set against the sweeping vistas of Wyoming and Texas, Brokeback Mountain tells the story of two young men - a ranch-hand and a rodeo cowboy - who meet in the summer of 1963, and unexpectedly forge a lifelong connection, one whose complications, joys and tragedies provide a testament to the endurance and power of love." - Focus Features
Jack Gyllenhaal, the boy from Donnie Darko. Heath Ledger, A Knight's Tale. Two incredible hotties = a hell of an amazing movie. Haha ok their fucking hotness aside, i've read reviews that rave about their acting. Hell, acting gay must be one of the hardest things to do (especially if you're not). i simply can't wait for it to come out in Singapore!
Gyllenhaal says, "Heath almost broke my nose in (a kissing) scene. He grabs me and he slams me up against the wall and kisses me. And then I grab him and I slam him up against the wall and I kiss him. And we were doing take after take after take. I got the sh*t beat out of me. We had other scenes where we fought each other and I wasn't hurting as badly as I did after that one."
rockin' at 11:51 PM
woof woof
Listening to Tiny Dancer by Dave Ghrol
Today was spent doing nothing much. i read a couple of chapters from Catch-22, i'll most probably finish up the book later tonight. i watched Cell Dogs on Animal Planet too, and it kinda reminded me about how much i must mean to my dog. i mean, i love her like hell sure i do. But i dont think i show it enough. It never equates to spending an entire day by her side. So i've been trying to be abit more present, i've been trying to teach her new tricks... Sure i know she's pushing 7 this year, but no one said its impossible. She still acts like a puppy anyway.
rockin' at 10:46 PM
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Its the games like last night's match against Police that remind me how much i fucking love the game.
rockin' at 2:45 PM
Capital Punishment
Friday, January 13, 2006
i was reading SPG's post on capital punishment. Although i admire her enthusiam and amazing optimism of the human race, i think its all just a very idealistic ramble.
That capital pushisment does not directly influence safety in singapore? You're kidding, right? Does OD mean nothing? Does driving while under the influence of drugs mean nothing? Does drug rape mean nothing? Saying that the consequence of death does not deter people from doing stupid, wealth-accumulating acts, is - well in fact stupid. It makes people think twice, thrice, hell in fact it makes them think endlessly. I'm not saying that it completely throws people off, but isnt the present state of our country saying something?
The idea that every person is equal? HAHA. You're looking through the eyes of God, i assume? Because other than those divine eye glasses, there is none else existing. And saying that, why bring in God, religion into a world that doesnt give a FUCK about those morally upright views in law, in society, in every fucking daily life? IT DOESNT EXIST. EQUAL STANDING IS BULLSHIT HERE. i dare you. i dare you to say you are equal to the pedophile that rapes 12, 13 year old girls. i dare you to say you are equal to the man who hits his own wife. Hell you cant even get an office worker to say he is equal to an old mangy guy walking in chinatown.
"I’m your superior, I know what’s best, so you have to play by my rules." Such tactics I believe, are used only when the person in authority doesn’t know how to deal with the subject rationally with intellect and reason, thus having to resort to threat... And for a society that is unsure, condemnation of such finality and certainty is utterly despicable. -SPG
i really dont know if i should applaud her, or laugh. She's kidding, right? You know, its not like the state is trying to play cat and mouse, its not as though its so damn eager to condemn every man who comes before the judge with the death penalty. Its not as though we do not make our fucking laws clear, its not as though we layer and layer and confuse and trick people in making their mistakes. Get this straight. People break these laws, knowing consequences. People break these laws with sure intentions - intentions that directly hurt people. If you're gonna reason to these people with "intellect and reason", i think good luck to you. Because if their own intellect and reason cannot possibly save them from obvious death, then i dont see how they can put two and two together. In addition, "intellect and reason" only brings about more fucking complexities into an already complex scenerio. You're giving them a chance to explain themselves, to explain why they find gratification in doing something that harms others. You're giving them a chance to say, "hey. i did this to better myself - either socially, money-wise, selfishly etc.. And i'm sorry that people got hurt along the way. i didnt mean it, honest. i promise i wont do it again. I'll find another way round it, cos i can always try again, right?"
Oh and i dont get why she is comparing the success of capital punishment to child discipline. Would you expect a child to understand severities comparable to crimes commited by adults? Isnt it kinda insulting to them matured minds. Anyway if a child took a pencil that isnt theirs, compared to a kid taking a rock and repeatedly smashing the skull of a helpless kitten - WOULD THE PUNISHMENT BE THE SAME? If you give the kid the same type of punishment, isnt that giving a wrong impression. Dont you need something harsher to impress a sense of right and wrong? Giving out lengths of imprisonment, fines, physical punishment like caning (or is that morally wrong in her view, too?) Those are incomparable to the death penalty. Those are like a few harsh words, a couple of days spent indoors, no sweets. Same old, same old.
I'm not for or against capital punishment. i just got abit riled at some of her arguments. Do i think that some people are not worthy to take another breath? Yes. Am i willing to be the one that does it? No. What i dont like about anti-death penalities is that good tax dollars are fucking wasted on these useless fucktards, whereas there are many homeless, insanely poor, handicapped ETC EYYCEGCEY people living much much fucking harder lives than them prison mates. WHAT THE HELL.
rockin' at 10:40 PM
-
Everything is mediocre. I'm going to quit my job, i'm going to help out more around the house (which reminds me the laundry is most probably done by now), i'm going to paint my room, i'm going to concentrate a hell lot more, i mean a HELL FUCKING LOT more on hockey, i'm going to improve my fitness, i'm going to find myself.
rockin' at 12:49 AM
Read This
Sunday, January 01, 2006
i really cant believe it. The entire unapologetic manner, the slight tinge of smugness, the whole fucking ignorance of the severity of the issue. I'm just gonna say what is on my mind, because this does not regard feelings, it fucking regards the lives of yourself and others. i cannot further stress on this fucking fact, and the fucking fact that you're acting like its no big deal - that its something to be proud of, and you do not even apologise to huijia, gets me fucking pissed off. Yarn, i'm not saying this to your face because i dont think i can control myself. I'm not saying this to your face because i dont think you will even bother to hear me. I REALLY DONT KNOW WHAT THE FUCK YOU WERE THINKING WHEN YOU STARTED THE ENGINE, EVEN AFTER GOD KNOWS HOW MANY PEOPLE TOLD YOU NOT TO.
Since you're gonna take this issue so lightly now, i'm just going to request that next time, please dont drag any one into any dangerous situation, and if you're gonna be as stubborn as you were that night, and presently are, then dont even bother asking us if you're still gonna do it again.
rockin' at 10:42 AM
|
