ELITISM
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
♥ Wednesday, October 24, 2007
I had a discussion today and i made a somewhat 'unconvincing remark' on the privilege of being in law school..so i will expound on that, and convince, if no one, myself at least that there is no place one could possibly want to be in.
What is it you look for in a profession? Lets talk nobility. The place where you can evoke change, the one position that allows you to make the world a better place...this is the throne of the politics, the niche of the lawyer. Where a comma breaks a sentence, and a fullstop completes it. Where 'and' and 'but' gives meaning to the millions of people under the law, and any addition or removal of particular words changes mentality and attitudes. Take the recent s 377A debate for example: a matter of words, governed by a few people, who chooses whether those words stay or those words go, and the rest are bound to those words. So the question is, who are these people that governs these words? THe public?? No. Neither sociologists, nor engineers nor teachers, nor psychologists, nor historians. Its the lawyer. Unlikes the sociologist and the psychologist, he is the one at the forefront of the battle, the soldier at the frontline. He is the one whose word gives meaning to society, whose punctuation dictate how lives are going to be lived, whose arguments determine whether a person's rights stay, or leave.
Let's talk about the challenge of the education and the excitement that comes along with it. I cant speak much about the profession since i am not acquainted with it. However, lets evaluate a few courses, and lets compare. The engine course- well, if you like angles, maths, physics, calculation, this will be the perfect course for you. You become practical in an abstract sense. Everything comes down to a formula, and what goes into that formula must produce an answer that you expect. The engineer becomes the engineered- a mechanical robotic hint of a life unable to appreciate the abstract or the arts. They are people who things must make sense, who are governed by the laws of Newton, who are so entrenched into a life of digits and decimals, they become the proverbial 'square'. Only a select erudite few manages to grasp the more important things in life. What are these more important things? Haha go meet an engineer, you'll be able to figure out what are these things. Everything that doesnt interest him- those are it.
Lets look at the Science course- other than desmond and a few who aspire to be teachers, and maybe janice who's convicted about saving the environment, the rest are people who choose this course by a manner of elimination. Either they dont know what they want, or they cant be bothered, or simply, their results dont allow them to do anyhting else that sounds remotely interesting. The challenge of this course is well, hard to imagine. There are complexities and alot of things to remember, probably. I can imagine the people in this course have tonnes of activitiies elsewhere. Is it because the course fail to provide satisfaction? Or is it because the course is simply that- another course in a whole course of dealings, another eventuality void of meaning or purpose?
Let's look at the arts. Personally, if i wasnt doing this law course, i probably would have joint the arts course. This is the closest to what i deem as relevant to Life with a big 'L'. The life of society, the life of communities, the life of individuals, the life of Man. Anthropology, psychology, history, philosophy, geography, politics... It is the heart of society. It allows man to ask themselves how did they arrive, why they act and think the way they do. This is one of the most pertinent questions to be answered isnt it? But what about the challenge? I think the challenge and if any, excitement in handling this course is in the observation. The scrutiny on demographic trends, the peek into societal and economic dealings and the consequential shaping of mentalities. There is a certain fun in that, i can imagine. But like i said in the 2nd para, i rather be in the heat of it.
Now we can go on and on, but i'll just be pissing more people off. So to mitigate the situation let me just say this. That i am not saying that there is one more necessary profession, that there shouldnt be the existence of other courses or other faculties. I am just saying that there is a reason and a good enough one, to why people attach such prestige and elitism to law school and lawyers. I am saying that there is a reason why there is no where else i would rather be, and that although i am doing like shit in school, i am still motivated to be the best that i can be here.
I am also saying this, if you can do law, do it. No shit it is difficult, i mean i am a science student and not exactly the most articulate or erudite, BUT i think it makes a difference to your life, and way you think. I think you learn how to be a socialite, an intellectual, a competititor, a debater, a writer, a designer. I think you learn how to communicate and mediate. I think you learn how to be a man of principle and to fight for them, and to be willing to fall with your philosophies. I think you become influential and charismatic and i think you get a good peak, a bird's eye view of the human condition. I think in law school, you become a person who matter.
Law school. All the way.
TODAY
Saturday, October 20, 2007
♥ Saturday, October 20, 2007
Friday, 19th of October.
One of the very few entries pertaining to my life, and the way i spent it in a day.
Morning, managed to do some mugging, and then had to go to linus's place to collect the damn soccer ball for Cage match in the night.
Went to school early for Law Camp OGL interview. i thought i handled it rather fine. Could have done better, definitely- the same sentiment i had in all interviews. But no huge blunders, as what happened in medicine interview. And for that, i guess i am grateful enough.
Then, torts tutorial. Fordham was great la. As usual, her whimsical cynicism perpetually perks the class up. Ane everyone i think aspires to be as quick witted and brilliant as her.
I tried posing what i believed was a rather smart question. Hhaha turned out got the basis of that question wrong. Wasnt embarrassing though cuz i thought that well at least i thought of that right. haha...anyway just to remind myself what that question was : in a hypothetical that follows the fact pattern of Fitzgerald v Lane, where Pf is 50 % liable for the damages suffered, but then he suffers damages at which now Df is 50 % liable as well, and the amount they are claiming in damages are similar ( i.e 5000 dollars), wouldnt it have the same effect as one party being completley contributory negligent? Which is the case where both cant claim. "
After that, i came to Kent Ridge to fetch LOSER. haha but its damn fun still la. And she kinda cordoned off her entire evening to hang out la. Quite touching. haha but then right, just as the afternoon was going so hilariously well, she just had to accidentally step backwards, and practically transferred her entire body weight onto her foot, which was right on top of my small toe. Like what hte hell right, if she was wearing high heels i would probably be having 4 toes now. LOSER and i watched The BRave ONe. And Jodie Foster is a damn reliable actress la. Haha i htink 'suave' and 'woman' doesnt go together. But i rarely see actresses carry off such confidence and cool-ness in their characters, other than maybe meryl streep. ANd the storyline is kinda jodi picoult-like- where the lines blur, what is wrong and right, and how many wrongs can make a right, the serendipitious twist at the end etc..
Then went to play cage at kallang. Hmm not bad i would htink. Didnt score any, but had a few good hits. And that for a soccer amateur, does deserve a good pat on the back, definitely.
Went for dinner/supper= dinper, supner? Anyway on the way back in the car, had lotsa fun and lotsa great laughs. One observation i make about these friends, is that i always forget what happens with them- clearly nothing realy serious happens with them. But then again, thats what so amazing. Its like a comedy series. It just goes on and on, and as much as u know the story lacks substance, its one hinged on the ideals of friendship, and made entertaining with jokes.
haha anyway, i came back and got into a huge arguemnt with my friend over not including this other friend in a birthday present. So anywya as much as i thought my point across, guilt got the better of me, and i went like at 2 am in the morning to pass him materials to do the work for my freinds' bday. DAmn tired gotta go to bed.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
♥ Tuesday, October 16, 2007
my OBSERVATIONMass Media: practically non existent. The lack of leadership or the refusal to take up leadership begs certain questions. An inferiority for such a daunting task? A refusal of ownership in the community? Or a simple case of far too many commitments? But then again, dwelling deeper, those people who have taken up the role of leadership have truckloads of work, so i am guessing that there has got to be a deeper reason. Perhaps the lack of enthusiasm of the community itself. I dont know. But observe hard enough- you'll figure it out.Teaching Ministry: 'we're peope who think, not people who pray'. That kinda sums it up doesnt it? And yet i think we have done a pretty damn good job considering our arid and insipid spirituality, and personally its interesting how people who are in it, are all somewhat gifted in this aspect of teaching...in my humble opinion of course. Regardless, the teaching ministry has been forward looking and optimistic about things to come. Thats an enthusiasm yet seen by many others. Music Ministry: I will give credit where credit is due. Sadly, credit is due to a select few. If its a reflection of the leadership, perhaps that is what should be worked on. But they have forked out time and effort in leading worship every week. And for that, i think they do deserve the proverbial pat on the back. Special Projects: In my mind, this ministry feels like a subsidiary. Not exactly the essence of the community, but definitely not redundant either. This ministry feels more like a close knitted cell group, having more social and prayerful activities than any other ministry, if i am allowed to say that. And perhaps that is in itself is a good enough raison de'tre. I wouldnt know. Nevertheless, i have faith in the leadership. Core Team: the one subjected to the most scrutiny and sometimes well, the most persecution. To tell the truth, i am so inclined to lash out against the individuals, but then again, its at the Team that i am evaluating. And personally, they give the perfect ying to our yang- the spiritual balance and discernment the community needs. I think this is a dedicated group striving to work for the betterment for the community- hello ,they went for a retreat specifically for this purpose. When was the last time anyone did that? And there are a good mix of idealists and dreamers, of realists, of pragmatists and architects. So all in all, if you want to consider the community as one huge organic entity, with the spirit of God breathing reason, faith and grace into this huge mechanism, with each ministry being each essential organ, we do look alright dont we? Well, here comes the sad truth. ARE YOU READY?For many of us, we're immersed in an environment of competing influences. Ambition on one hand, relationship on another, we cant grasp God, much less his community!Insecurities on one hand, inferiority on another, we are so stifled by our inadeuqacies that it makes more sense not to deal with it. The influence of community is really as large as your concentration span. Outside sunday, outside tuesday(for those who even come), community is an idea, not a reality-as is the influence of it. Oh perhaps its not true for you and i am mistaken, grossly. A negligent attempt on my part and an utter facetious remark void of any substance or basis whatsoever?? Well...ok list down your priorities in life, and get back to me again. With that let me just share with the anonymous internet community my purpose in community. i am the leader of the teaching ministry. i am the lex luther to the superman, the joker to the batman, the villain to the hero. A pompous way to justify myself, definitely. But regardless, purpose is borne out of necessity. And at this point in time, there is a need to be the iconoclast ,an imperative for a vindicator. Without temptation, how can anyone know he is holy? Without the human, can anyone experience the divine?? Is it possible to know what you have got, without experiencing loss? Sometimes its the vigilante that exacts the real fair justice. I am that.You will not know inspiration, until you know desperation. You will not know enlightenment, until you know disillusionment. You will not know conversion, until you know condemnation. Lose yourself to find yourself? When you know how to die you know how to live? Its about time someone did something radical.
