Professional Documents
Culture Documents
THE
LOST
ISSUE
BROIDEN PERSPECIIVB IS PUB1ISHED 8Y SCIIOOT OT IHOUGHT t;
420 N0rlh Bridge R00d#06 27, No h Bridge Cenlre,
Sing0pore 188/2/, wrl,w.s(h00 0f *0ughl.(om.sg
lel:.65 6334 87/3. for t65 633i 2434
t,
IUBSCRIPTIOI{ RAIIS FON 2OO8
S42 (12 i5sues,lonuoryro 0dober)
forsub5(ripli0n enquiries0nd b0(kissues,enroil:
brooderperspertives@vhool-of'thoughl.rom
FEATURE ARTICLE
ON 2l.{D THOUGH]
RTTHINK VIRTUIS
XloLlesb. Hrmiht\. Ie|rremncr.
Arr\ituesiust ol,l hatiD i neu w, rrl,l
[SSAY MAI{EOVIR
n, rlerr
30
(UI.TURIWAT(ll
tt
IHt ANTHROPOI-OGISI
V5. THE IONSTRVAIIONIST
32,
Our wdters squanr o11 on the issuc ofwhether
progress leads us fo vard orbackward.
AEOUTTllIWRlIR
@
SUDDIII(OIIAPSID
0t Slllltt
OIJT
1 2
TIII' RA-NIIYAN IIUI)I)HA STATIIES \\'iORID TR\DE CtrNIRI]'I-$/IN I'O\{T.JRS ld?v=biDdo9blj0
AtiGtIANtSIAN (2l)I}1) NEW YORK CITY, USA (2oor)
'Buddho to loFed 0d ol
Shome' orlhe Eerlin tilm
Toliboi.
f,.c"
25 years olconstant e?rhas taken its toll notjust on panllelofthe enpll niches of the Eamiian Buddhas Dotuil lTtD l/ta a 9tl
the peopl€ and lhe iandscape ofAfghaDistan, but it destro)ed by Taliban enrenists, two poiverful shalts tatt tR0tl ,{ ilAl{
TRAPPID IIITHT TOIA,iR
lias also rrbbed this ancient land olits extraordinary of light pierce Ne$'York's night sk)' every September
cr tuml dive.sil,r', historf and heritnge.ln 1993,lhe) l]th a Tribute in Light" to the ta'o Workl Trade
vold?v-tYzq0WICUs&l
lost rnany antiquities iD Kabr Mnseun to n{ahideen Centre toweN that wdc fcllcd seven yeam ago by ,1-
looiers.In 2oo1, despite protests from archaelogists Qaeda extremists. America lost rnorc thanjust two
and scholaN and offet.s of moncv fron UNESco, the posertul symbols ofits economic clout for indeed,
Tdibnn deslroyed the \rorld s tallest standins Buddha the sreat AnericaD engine ofcomnerce still chugs
statues. Then xlullnh Mohammed Omar coDsidercd on njshtily despite lints of aD inpending recession.
the statues to be 'idolatrols arrd un Islanic'ard Whai Amcrica lost forever was her brighFeyed
disrlissed the slobal outcry as pointless iveeping over confidence in hcr libcral denocratic ideology and the
a 'war on stoneJ'. These txiD statues, hoilever, rfe.e absolute certainty that shc uas always going to be
regarded as th. fincst cxarnples of earb. Buddhist aft welcomed andbeloved in the world. The September
that had withstood the ravages oftime. $rather and 11 attack were the wake up call that nade Amencans
foreign invrsion lbr r,5oo years since t|e time of ask themselves $'ith geDuine be{ilderrnent x'har the
censlis nian. lvhile Ahhanistan s iDtedrn tdrne world had lons knoM the aNwers to, "why do they
n| - e-, H: n .,1 K'r."i, h"..i1,. d lhF recon n rr'ion hare us so rnuch?". Once. Arnericans were surethat
a "cnltural inlerative" rnd UNESCO gathers the the sight ofthe NewYork sbline and Lady Liberty
rernanrins rclics, soDe uchaelogists believe the niches her.4ll woulr hdvp n,t'rpdJl "h.r.litAr"ricJ
should be left ernpty as an ctcrDalmonunert to the as the landwhere dreans came true and ev€{' rnan
emptiness ard tr agedy that descended on AfshaDistaD could be free. Now, fearing that foreigners are out to
nnderrhe ralibrn It ''sct thcm", the dmwbidse has been raised. lhe
soldcn asc of the Ameican Drcm n ofEcially over. I t
TllI BIRTINWAII
.T'HI.]
3 4
eold?vaswm8o(ylP4& F]N1rIRONIItrN I AROUNI) P()Lr\R I(llt (lAPS.
THtr TIIRljIJ CORGES, CHINA (199.1 20o6) THtrARCI'IC
FIGHT
LOSING OUR PT,IRSPECTn'I/ lie iL l|. ill tat.d LOSING OUR (;LOB^1. cONIMONS/ Global
Towcr of Eabel or E&iU's lcs.ndrry plraDiids, histol $'amirg s!ecialists sce the Arclic as t|c a'orl.ls
has ahl'ays bore wilrress lo Man's obsession wilh caDary iD the coal mi.. ifitfrlls, it is a harbingcr
conslructing gargrDtuin rnonumcnts. T$'o of o!r of im!rinent. innnedial. dangcr. lannirglL Arclic
In' I ^'r'r nr,lal 'l ,l ,,i r,l ri'r i l iccis ihimiiDg .apid l] , meltiDg and mptuirg due lo
chiri.r lhe Crcat Wrll anil fin.rllr, alt.r 1t lcars of Leinltraturcs that are risiigt'icc as fast as ati\v|erc
controversial constNcti(D, the llrree Corges Dam. -.-:r t,4!\.. J tr t,.ar ir""1,.,\,t.-;l
Yci rfte. a decade ofilsistcncc that th€ dam w.s thc theAr(tic knorn asthe UIa tiunl lcc Shclf Nn'ived
l,.r ."\, pu\. F .,nr'f,'l'lr, \,.u 'o '. 3,oooleals on eatl onll to splirLler in 2ooo, forcirS
boonr and cnd centuries ol Ilooding caused by (he rvhol. sroups olpolarb.ars. rlliales, {al.uses. s.als
Yinglzc, Chnrah$ publicl) ,dNittcd ihat the din' and tcs, native h!nan b.ings to change thei. lning
has co c.t a h ind socirl cost.
gc environrrental trttcms. Tlie pola. ice cap of thc ilorkl earlh s
Sprnninu 6ookm, th. dam has djsdac.d ail.xst 1.3 n4rDoscdlv pcnnaner t icecolo is contucting .tL a
nilliorpeopie, Uooded13 cities, Llo (${ns aDd 1.35o .at€ oi 9% each .lccade, nlllJll ins that ltc coukl be
\.illases. Lrndslides .rnscd b) water se€!age rnd ' a.' \r h-2 'n 1,.r \. T..
I',d J^i, rJ , \-1.o1,.1 \--:r..r'liri bad news 1or lbe ice car is the sliekl lhal kccrs o r
"
lsunamis. Fannc$ struggli.g with rcscttloneDt h.r!e cath f(rn abso,ii.8, morc sunljghl a!d becoming
beconrc foor.r. Do$Dst.eanr. algac bloons a d hottcr. The rdditioral lloo.l ofntlted $,ate. $'ill also
.1. .1.4r,r'r...,-" u r'"t,F,.'.f,'. i" lead to risiDg sea l€vels lhrt may d(nq out jsland
i ustrial cenlcF ufstrcan are c.eaLing a roitinS bog
' o l lr' ll |li " r,l.rrti'l' . .,,,,o"
of effluent, sill .nd industrirl wasl€. Plagncd by cities ljkc s|aDghri. Tlie wrr.rer Arciic will chtnge
.onutiion and spiraling cosis, ii is no wonder that rveather paltenrs, ceusing annnal reproduction and
$rans Xiaofcns, di.eclor ofrhc officc ni chirge of rgricnlttrral ljeld lo bc crratic. lsril il Iigh tim. $'c
building thc dan, said, We caDnot wiD ptssii'g humlns start saving e.cr$ for the sake olsaving our
econonric tros})erit-r rt the cosl olthc.Niurntnt.Tt oDl!inhabitlble !la.et iI thc universel')at
lines !l co,rrrL,ni(rlkD B,rli. r!3!. in rn.stonishing tlcif ltrcs Th.scmrgcritsseNed uf brcl,ei, lrri.e,h
testlr.on\ lo thc towc. of r.ligion, thousrnds of rllowirg \ou n) tcchnicrllr br r lirsir rgairr lor just
Cliristiar) pacili!ts let rhclr.rndl. light !igil in r
Leipzig chu(h Lo ltlie lhe sti erls shin,lirg r\o.ror
liolcncel rnd Joirr UslJoiD Usl" \!ilLri. a \!eelt.
!rillnDijonrtd theDr iu the sLreet\ c!lljrig lir tl)e lill 'I P..'rl. ui lrt,r'1 ,... i' \l
ot tirr \\rrll. lnfluenced L,r C!t],oli(isIr r(l olcr rcgailitrg lost \irgiuil! l)!t Lo la(e ur) 10 o.. s
dtrnocmtic idrals. then lercLer corbr(hev rsLei rrlel
$!sc of rcsP.msibilit\ . |rst dr(isnms jlnild be liced
th. UN l\ lLeclariDg lieedon ol (hoi(e sho!ld be
unncrsrll! rc()gnisrd to peopLe. rnd urgir)g lirst
|.ldlv\itlr hrtl ud courrgc rD.l $urenshould cltr,g
(l(rrnn!to rbrDdon thc Uirtl for'lite furishes those ''I rl l I l" lI :l t
$h. hg bLrhi.d. Othcr n'alls p.rsist in thc lrorld' li,tuic \irL (ii.nol ngrir!orrrlost!ngnrit!b t
tlre
ir) th. l)NlZ of Kor.r, b.tilccn lsmcl rnd Prl.stiDc, rou c{r rerLriirl\ rerLri., tht ibilitl to trk.
l,.Ln..ir NI.\i.o rnd USL Pcrluts, ernrdlv. thc\ resp(^il)ilit\ rf d exe.t sellrco,,lr!1, iegri.ing dlgDitr
1,r) \ill.rnnrbl. to dust iI tiDc. rt rDd rcsrrct 1(r \o rsellrlrir.ft
l ny unsuspecting
lry cinema-goer who watched
ullsu5pecLrIlB clrlcllld-5usr
/f the zooT Coen brothers' creation No Countrli
A for old Men would have been ruclely jolted
l- \'out of their pop co rn- crunching comfort zones.
tB0UT tLlt iirlr ll Under the guise of a traditional thriller set in the lonely desert plains
ofTexas, this year's Best Picture Oscar Award winner challenges all our
notions ofhow we want stories in the movies - and the world by ertension
- tO be, No sisn ofr.dcmptiim or hope in the luhn e sEccs the sto{ - everythi.il sood s.cnN to bc ertlmn€d
in tlie past. At the stat of No CorDi?V, the weather worn hcrc Sheritr Dell recaljs an era $'hcrc lxnnen like
hnn and lis forelathers did not Dccd to crrN a firea.m. BLtt his dail,v wot-k has evohed inro somcthins nuch
morc sinister: $'here twentv year old boys get sent to tlie eleclric chair for niurde.hg lbrrLeen yea. old girls
sirnD\,forthc thill ofmurder; where sroM mcn massacre €ach other for a briefcase ofdrugs and rnoncyi
and a devilish hitnaD gambles the lives ofhis viciims on the oulcome ola coiD toss. It is a $'orld that has
becone all too dark aDd ficoDlprehens ible tor pcoplc brousht up h su! pos.d\' sirDrlc'r tines.
+ -RdJl c'\<
wtf 4 h d L4PP,''r"
qioqad
tgansri"d!1
,
Mel
At the heart of it, the Cocns'tale is a bleali assessDent pcople lisLen to Pussycai DolLs'sexcd{rp, lartv Pop
of nrdern. cyDic{l America and tesiinony lo horv sonss ofro rcdcemnlg nroral or lusicxl valu e when
mu.h hope the older gereration has lost iD Progress thev can have thc tolitical antherns ofBob D)'lan, rlre
hdolgnrg in nostalgia fb' ihc 'good old days", thev aDti establishment atiitude of olct school raP or at
feelsidehred by a wo dthal t|cynoloDgeruDdersta d least (he charneleon creativit) ofxladonna? rd tbr
or want to pulicipate iD anymore lhe presetll l,e.ve. s sakes- rvhat's with all this nonsense aboul
sene.atioD is vies'ed askaDce s'iih r iaded eve as bod!-!iercnrg, totigue sPlitting, bodyrnu tilatiDg rnd
producLs of these ghastl) timcs: urnattrrallv embcdding ofball bearinss ni one's skiD? Whateve.
confortable andtoo well ve.sed in its paudoxes and hrpfened to dressing sensibly Like soneone $'irh I
pett! cneLties. \!'hat option do they havc but to mourn propcrjob and ed cation? \\rith everr- incli henr]nres
the things thal thcl have lost and sufcnder in the ise and ncckhres fall, yet another inch is losl for
face of rclentless, cruel change? Apat|v, a norbid Its wt (At{
sense of amusenrcnt or Derhaps horor seetl
appropriate rcsponscs.,^fter all, mode.n dav cr ture Ir a Nc$'YorkTnnes article crtitled me Gr?dr
r92r,
at a quick glance has all th€ characteristics ofrlre Brifisl 'lfidu" obserled the co lusioD and houified
uni\€t\e ol No Coui ri: flrll of ma]'hcm rnd nischiel sensibilities of Bitish eldeN as Lhcy rvitness thei. WIIRtTi]t ONIS
'
inanciy evil. morall) subjcctive, nrcoDruehensjblc, childrcD abandonins propcr Bitish bchaviour for
capricious. l.o. the Sherill Bclls ofthe world, the 21st AnledcaD lib€rLarianism and dancins Bitai! ilto worth?v=qhslswfOpU&
cerLint aDd the ccDhrries drcrerfter lvill be as lhe p-r,':ri^r LnLe, ll., ,hol\''rr:l) or 'J / nu\i.
movietrunrpers No Cou tt t! Jot OId Lletl cigareltes and too many cocktails "l4/h! conlou7rd
il sir-" the $'iter quoted one soDorving parent, 'r
\{NI,I ,'I'HE RLAI, LOST GI],N ERATION PL&\SI] ttt..,,.t,.n t,t.tt tnrU.,rt\,tn,l.laLottt r\t a\t.I tnt
Itous., lrrd ultdf do r/rct/ dol Laqh dt ne or stnile
i r a superioi t1ld! r/ui ,rodd ens np ord let fi ightetls
,ne,6e.duse ir stiggesis rhot tltu l1o& knorDledg. oJ
ell thinos, both qood ond bad, Q1d tlLat oftlp LtLo'
thelJ deliberutell! chaose t/re bdd 'l hc witer theD
qrotes ayoung man's responsc to srch judsen1ent,
l al<e onr attitLrdes to the " We .Lre m.tp iltelligctlt. We irndersr.rr.l l/or but Vdrr
Millennials for instancc. Those borD ofGenemtioD X d.n'i rndcrs.dnd rs. ur, o// lorr crccds dn./
"o
,r.1nne?s, niceri€s an./ retnenents lnDe fuiled in
an.l before ]]alc oft benroaned the exccsses oftoda)'s
Ccn.ration Y: wliy woLtld leoPle waDt to l'acebook accorrltdhrrer..,'lll these at1.l th. uis.lont ol thP
sl ,rlr. b'a-h -r r\''r eklers ditln l k.ep then1.1) oD1 btingiirc at1 the ]l,ar'
iiellictual di.ttibcs aboul lifc ivlien they caD take to We na langer r.v)ect Uou tor your &'tsdon utrd in
the slrccts orthehalls ofgo!€mment tofightfor real our rcfllsion roe /nue tur ed li otn all lh. tl1it1lts aoLt
causes? Worshi! JesslcaSirnpson's stuPidjtv or Ediso sdiiduerc oisesidn.lt"st, beca se tl1eU llar.nI prt)!.11
CheD s serlal e\cesses $'hen they can ilorship God themsetDes k) he- wh.n therc is d ndsty 5.d n.ldl, it is
Almighty or at tlie very lcast sone halfiecent hcro us{atl! ananq the eklers of tlt aldschaal, isttt it?"
likc crndhi or xlother Tcresa? Why would voung
The sentiments expressed in the piccc by Witness howU.S. Senator Obama's claion Beforc Al Gore, Angelina Jolie and tsono
the okter folk souDd sily, old fashion€d and call for chansc has been taken up like ade social activisDr Iashionable. there i{as
olrrly wordsome to our nodern ears whilc wildfire a$oss the $'orld by lan{ancse, Sun yal Scnt fight for an independeDt ChiDa
the opinions exp.essed by thc young sound S sapo.ean and even Nlalaisian yot' ths far and Martin I-uther KingJr. s fight for cilil
bei'oDd his electorate. when Black ttyed islits. The childrcn of the fifties and sirtics
Pea will.i.an concocted his Obama tribute Ncre aheady qLrestioDing the iDequalities
mosic videos "Ies We Cdn" and "I4le o.e of slobal power. !hc cvils of unLimited
t/ie Orcs" together with Holllvood's young econonic growtb and the necessjLy of
believes the latter is thrlxing overboard in rnd beauLiful.he canoDised thesenator as conspicious coDsumption. They $'o..ied
onc geDe.ation $'hat took their ancestors this MilLennial scncration's brightest saint abou t overpopulation when Eafl1 s{ppoted
manygenemtions to acquirc and pass on for change. With ihc ljkes of Scarleti s billion fewer hunaD beings. i.ookins $ty
relinements in speech and aciiotr, niceties JohaDsson, Jessica Alba, John Legend, back, \'e see our eldeN in their yonth
and reticences that distinguished the well- Amber Valletta and Kareen Abdul-Jabbar advancnig the causcs ofaDti slavery, thc
b.ed from thc ill-bred. These preseDt lapses e roting thei. honest hcafts out in emancipation of womcn, $'onen s su lliasc
woukl make the younger generalion unable beaulifully shot black and rite scenes and the establishment of the nodern slstem
to avoid the mistakcs made by the oldcr reminiscent of Calvh ]<lein ads. Change has ol chanv. As the rvriler of thc anciert book
geDcratioD- Yet, the youth today see no loss. ol Ecclesiastes repeats ad nauseuni,
lhey sce present culture as prog.essile "Nothjng is ne\r underthe sun".
becauseihcy perceive thenrselvcs as having
shed the sknl ofa past sensibilirytheyhave At various junctures in t'uman
outgrom. \\hat the olde. fblk see as ldities, history, the inrelligentsia and cultural
the younger see as the saining offteedom, elite of tletime, rhe yourg, educatcd
a rccosnition of realitr nl all its glories and and heautifirl have proclaimed with
indisnities, ar abandoDmcrtof inhibitive unshakcable confidence thar human
eas thai cloiste. a free spn it. Tlie political history was always on an upwrd
and moral failures ofold oursexscaDdals, trttjectory. To put it plainly, the
our bloody wars, ou. nurtLrling of tenorism, presumption $'as that listory was not one
our failure to address poverty, AIDS, danned thing aftcr aDothe.. Hisloryhad a
xenophobia secrn tojustifr their siance. ln r9e2, whei ihe Clintons dircctio[ Time had an anow And the grcat
un against GFrge H.w Bush for Presi.lent, civilisatioD ofxlan was inevitably hurtlnrg
ChallcDge.t uith lhe n€w zeiigeEt, the {'dter the)' rvere lovcd for being young and upwards, forwards, towards a veritabLe
ended his piece wilh a poisnant c!11 for both different. Simila y,nlthe 196os.l€e Kuan Heaven on Eartli {ith each da$n ofhopeftrl
his yolrns aDd old readers to wait before Yew aDd hjs PAP lvcre beloved by nany young peoflc. lve want to believe that if we
iudgins, we shall seeshat \t shall see." yonng singaporeans for being anti caD jus! keep the economy soing, birs
Ior hnn,just as it is for os, thcrc can be no establishnient, lbr darnrg to .ebeL igainst denoc.ac.y aDd caPitalisrn lo evcry dark
ansrver until thc childrerr ol the prcsent British colonialism and Mala)'sian inch of the world. defeat the lenorists,
growiDto the adults ofthe tuture. So drcre politic']ling. Singaporear teenageN today educate evervbodt aDd leale no child
do we so f.orn herc? Do we have n., choice are Dorv morc likcly to associate thc PAP behnrd, a golden rge will rcturD to die $orld.
but io wait otrt till we rcach our End of l)alE Nith their om perccption of iheir parcDts:
to see rdichgeneration gets to say "l Told unnovable. coDsen'ative and oh so boiDsl Eut increased w€alth, knoleledge and
technological advanceInent have never
Our present day political, cuit(ral and guaranleed pemraDent, protbund chaDge
THE MYTH OF A GOLDEN IT]TLTRE/ economiclea.lers are nrostlyf ost-rear baby that fundamentally reshapes oor destinr-'-
Every generation will raise its yorng boomers raiscd ni the spirit ofthe 196os, Hurnaniq seems to bc soins nl circles. Our
revolutionaries andeqrullyyourhfirl with firm mernories of r95os manners. ad!"nccs in Bimiingham, Sorth Ai-ica, East
supporters who believe they Peace, political amEftss, love, cornrnuDib, Cermany aDd Puerto Rico are niel with
epiromise change and progress. justice, equality, spiritualily and aDii- heartbrcaknis .esressioDs in Rrvanda,
capitalisn we.e cool buzzrvords. K.rsovo, PalcstiDe, Sudnn a.d Pakistan.
CHl\rqL
Thc arriv{l of youth can iDdeed \rerc bettc'r meD ri.ho liled ir better times. The great literary criticr\.C. Bradley
chanAc the lrorld but lvhethcr it Frrb.tt.r$'onld il b.lbrth.m to xdDrit as said "No oDe ever closes r tragedy
chaDacs its dircctioD is aDothcr thc cldcr Frcnc| do. that P]LF !a changc, with thc fccling that rnan is a poor
queslion. l)enr.rsmDbi. sls.. .s 1b. ti,,sr€sl lr.rane(hosd lhe.rorcllrings mcan crcaturc. Hc maybc wrctchcd
\ orlh{u I !opulrLioi, ,rores lro,I !liarSe. lIe rrore Lhe\ stll the sanre. ard he may be awlul but he is not
adoles(eDce to \ouDg adulthood, thev $.ill small. ' h literature, $.e see a hunanitv
chrngc the shrfc ofits sur(Nrdirgs but Thurgli thc ccntLrrics. litcraN Srcats lik. thlt st .les like girnts rcross the pages. Our
nltimrtclr c!.Dttrilii. Drrnv gct
aDd !alzrc. Tolstov. Dostocvsb rD.l Dickcns bclotcd h.r).s refrescnt (rrscl!.s at our
issiDrilrtcd iDt. th. v.r! lhiDgs th.] hi\r r.v..ldl iD tl.ir works this sinl hnt| l b.si: tcotl. i{ho |a!c dc.p scns. of
^
tJolesled |gnl.sl. ics slrId thel, Sround. crinrc, i.jl,slice. lrc.rcheJ! rnd g.eed r,(. 1r(rso.rld*rnr) a.d resforsibili\' elen .rs
f|e 1!3os sn\! r !rpredictrble Drass .ot leculir. nmtations ofou.tirne but r!,e lhel leel tlie corstrairitr!, periD€ters laid
\lithdrrwrl of a ilhole Babt nooner ol.l prcblems thrt hlrc persisted throush ly present societv and pust histor!. The)'
s.ncration of sclflrochnn.d chans. cvcn thc lDst dranratic chaDg.s nr our do not \i'alk as lrnldhss autdnatons or
rc ists i onr lnlitical to pcrsoDal coDccNs, political, ccoDoDric ind cnltural status qro. lidnns slilcklcd forcro ]n ihc dccisions of
rh. .Frtion .f Yu|fiNl.rD . n d a drii'l lrom Shrl.stcrr. srmDr.d i1 l) lvhcn h. \rrol. otl.rs bnt .laiDr t|.n lifc s stagc rs ti.c
sibsla.ce loNird slrLe. C x!n rJr Io!lhs in (irtl /,rdr jr lhe rTth cenLu.), /,or. i.dirid!.rls Drrlins .hoic€s, sofue
soon djsco\.er thal (liild liiie !rssior for (aa |s, Jt ie tuIs l11p.lir Lls a lJ. Lrotlers dir,i.ld: malignarl, soDe noble.
cals is Dotcrough, and.lifficult to sustrin h.ih.s. nn?hni.s. in.ornr'Ls, d6cord; in
aDrid tirc complc\ dcnands ol adulthood. pald.?s, r?easonr oDd tltc botld cmcked
Ii'.n llr. nr.(r i..ni. rnri .(rrhlidrnr.fl rrijtr/ son dnd /irri,r'.' He Drig|t .s \'.ll
.o.k Sods lile the C.arclul Iread. l\\jsled ha\e been $.ilirs aboul the 2rsl ccnlurr.
Sjster aDd Kiss lir\e becolie jusl billion
dollar propefties, happ! rtrxl conlirtable Our probiems arc slmltonatic lot of a
bciDg tar-t of a stst.n ihct scdnrdclidc. fltic lar gcDcrlti.D of conuft rldcrs or
ftolish !o!ngst.rs but of th. pdsisldrtl)
'l Hu llYrH Ot A COl.ltrN PAS I / lio. lbolish. co \i|l naLL,rc ol erel)'Njn., loung
tlLe oldergetreratjor lhat has \!isened u! to orold. the blame lorwhl tlLe ivorklrclhius
tlie follies olyouthful contidence- lhey too nired iD pain aDd su{erhg lies on rll our
D $'rrt olsclf-rightrousncss ofthe
st ]]c heads - notjust thc Forrl. i{ho crmc bc'n)rc'
t|nrgs thq did iglrl and ra nriDg into thc ns or thc f.otlc $'ho $'ill comc aftcr rs.
lolll ole.shrirl.g lh€ prst. \!c,rrc rll
roLr.it and old, rn']r and poor,
'lhus, enshrining the past :rs edu(aLed u,r€ducrted cof'flicit j. lhe
i.d
The mtth ofa goldeD past is as nmch soDrething sacred and more inro(ent lost ness ol our (iriLisalion. h LllroriDg
ofr plisoD for m.Dkind as the m]th or idolisiDgthe firture as something ai{al our pe$onrl respolsibility
sense of
of r soldcr future. Indnlscncc iD irclitablybcrutitul lacks objediritr. for this frcsent world order, $c hai! thrx\D
nostalgia crD dif|I. r so.i.t!. Il dr. iTth $rorsc. it dcccivcs us inro awa] our moral comr.ss and.ll scnsc ol
ce Lu,\. lhe {ol'(l .oslalqia acluall\ helpl€ss'ress and lhe Ieeling lhat il direclion lbr rir ilis.rtion. $e ha\ e 1o simpl)
described an ilhess $,ith de\astriirg dvilisation cannot get offthe f.eight dec e to sheh,e blaDre ol erch other rbout
s\'m}]toms ald ercn fxtal conscqtrrnes. traiD to its doom, we Dright as well i{ho got us lost ir the first phce. rer.L the
Dcri\'.d from thc crcck ilords nDstos enjoythe dc. This lcarD.d hclplcssncss lr)ral mat of Right aDd u:r)ng and sinpl]
o..:tudr to natn.landl rDd alaos (sntiriDg cradicat.s otrr s.ns. of p.rsoDrl do rvhatc!.r it iakcs. no mrttcr thc pcNonal
or srnrfl. nostrlsi, dcscribcd horv soldi.rs rcsfonsibilirl iDd brc.ds.n unhe.lth! cost to.oof.mt. and find onriv.vb.cl< 10
ii, Uo,ld U.rr '1\!o hngui\hed ad wasted :rnrbivaleDCe rboul t!e NUI lhirgs are.
awav in frtalistic !earnins Ilelplessness cultivates a culture ofblaDie,
iictnnisatior and fingcr pointins. Tliat kin.l ol sctisibilil.l j nst nisht bc wor-th
e.linrg nost.lsn' ibout. I t
Adults nnrst gne uf
lhe nolion LhNL thosc NIr)..Ne lrelore !s
l0 ER0lDfRPtRSPtOVtS //r.l,sriss!r
lti] $i it !
SHOPOIA|YP5I Nt]W!
vokh?v-l]zSKpleltN
8 &{e o I ! re " relo re d
.r-,{Pa'--Pttt-'-"*:
tI_\t{DLI. 11,it NUlti) I t \'()1I ll.nOR]l.t t []i 1.:rl unlinfilled. Inarrorld\'lrere binges|otpins canbe
Il\']ll{i )iodo. so.ict\ coLrld casil! givethe decadenl iLislilied as'retail therap)', socjett's hedonistic
rlor'.J, .' I I lo l r r,u.,-. .' r,p r., , i, behai iour is spinning ort of coDtrol. Tlie conse.t ence
Lr ,pl l1 :r." b . , ' . ir. , , - r l -\ '' r of societl's lack ofself-control is nDre apprreDt by
t.rdr!'s norn. People's access to food. scr, alcohol, thc dal: mtcs of alcoholisDr, obcsitJ , dng iaknrg, hcart
drugs aDd lu rt goods arc uDlrrcc.d.ntcd and thq. discase a.d snroking are defr.ssingly high.
ar. contimrlhnrgcd by a.onrplicit nredi. io buv. cri, F.nvimn mental and ecolosical !roblems also have thejr
a.dd.j.lt,nlllolhepoinl,rl insensjbilirr. Nlode Lion roots ir nod€rn socielys "greed is good'ethos. Th€
is lor b.irhg ltilliors Nlro do not kDow hli$.to hale tun preponderance of self-help s.oups and books rnd
and.njov th.nschcs. corfcssion and funishncnt rituals cnactcd daily oD
talk shoss onlvhjghlight our addiction to indulgcncc
Tcmp.mDc. rno!.rncDts rl)ound thmugh historr, th.v and our i.abilily lo break lhal cycle.
..", ;,'.rro-r-' li-,,,ui,,,^l".'1" p\' io,
arrd lo rail agajnsl the ills olddrknrgaDd drugs.1he) r-dre.lltli.h ttrerh.rtLl"t thcb -t trnir tin
$ere not ali{ars successful because they i{ere prevention mther than expensive cures? Economisis
snnctimcs t.n cocrcivc or rcstictilc; thc ncssag. of and sociologists concurthat it wouldbc chcaper and
abstin.ncc is ncv.r rD ca$ scll. Buti|erc.rc tbnna e nrore eflecti!e lbr counliies lo Leach tleir cilizens 1o
lessons to ddile lrom th.nr: tflnl)erance molements con t rol I heir' behaviour lio. r I he ou tset, than spending
t\ F,'o.r F,r Jt, r ''t a I. r,.L r -F A, .ot-,.. ...- the rnillioDs as they do norr on hospital subsjdies,
induljlence on sorial order, ecoDonic lrospeiiy aLld irnraDce payouts and recoveryprcgMnnes. IDstead
the familvand $'e should be too. of halfh.artcd and rctctiti!. r.pcnting for our
.onslrnftive ex.ess. w€ s|ould look inw.rds and re
Thc cnix ofthc rnatterls lial baving it allin Lrnlinriled ". r,,-", 1 u.dn. nrr..t."t. Lo. :rrltp.,ir;
atuounLs is nrnl,inil people Lrnhap!ie.. sickerand nro.e aDd slow lood noveneDts deserve a secoDd look
GIMMII,IORI
\,voth?v=m3cCi,lpPlq(
50/1llflli,lls
{othh=e qx(eiciTo&
Il]IARTOIllllAII|INISS
o'rof monliness.mm/2008/
0zl2alhssonrin.mon rness.
beniomin-f mnklin4ursuitd
In the poliiical s'orld, humilitj is sornctimcs used as ,Iesus, caDdli ,nd Mother Tercsa lre held rp as icons
a deceptive nask fo. the sake of erpediency and im.€e- of humility for good reson. Aut what people forget is
xlen Prcsident Bush in his halcyon da)s wanted to that the)'had reseNon s of couragc, will and srrergth
promote America as a 'humble superpower". tsot behind those self eliacirg smiles. Theywerc so rflered
resultant aLtions andpolicies only betray lhe lack of and {€ared at the same tirne because their nessage of
nricllcctual hurility in the public sphe.e. cheating liuniility and seNice was so incredibly radical and
the public and omitting informatioD seems to bc the powerftil that it could move people and nrtions like
norm fbr poliriciars, scientists and thinkers \rho no directing anogance ever could. at
bFl:. rF rhdl admlr;nS rhey do nol kno$ ever)thinB'
Ethics for a
Brave New World
Finiling direction in our essays in a directionless world. By Tons Ycc
)
Y
-
wo months ago, I wrote an article about how
the maturity of our personal values were
essential in helping us negotiate the
challenging arguments we face in GP essays.
iSi]UT Il]I U]RITIR
We remember debating as an editorial team whether such
an articie would go down well with students and teachers;
whether people would buy into the idea that our essays
really are a genuine reflection of beliefs and not just a
tidy culmination of fancy examples, clever points and
stoc-k conclusions. we are so used to an educational climate that is
concemed with the pedantic rudiments of scodng in this exam tlat rve sometimes
lose focus on why essav-writing skitls are taught and assessed in the first place
This issuc's afticlcNill foclls on hcbiDs our rer.teN acqlire this bala cenndbelpdefinc
n lmrnenorl tbr discnssnrg issucs pcr-tairing n) our no.iem ivorld aDdtahlg a clear stand
o Ure b.oad€sl derelopsrenrs in otrr so.icB. This framorork is helpful as over halt ofall
cP essals- eithe. €rplicill! or irulicill!. reqLtirc ns to discllss outnnderD tlorkt / todry s
socich / no$'/ these dals etc.]f$.e ar€ nrdeed supposed to be thinlins abotrt valu.s and
mailldDg our argluncnts ti) suppor-t tiiem, then pRcticalL) w€ should l.sl siaIt detenninnrg
what .r. ou vicws arc oD thc mod.rD world. This would most lik€ly be the nrost uselirl
conlenl1oboild.sCPf Dralil! dcals i{itlr aryuments that energe ftoni tlie cu entchanges
sL€er'i g the {oild loday.
xIiDd )or, tliis is orl) a lranie{ork lhat lrelps del:ne lbr you what !c should broadl)
bc discxssnrg h otrr classrxrns aDd coDkrsations. This is not contenl lo expljcill!- mernoisc
oro\or. rc.oDrm.ndcd cthical frxmc$ork. ,\s fu as this subject is concerned,
there are no model answers or ideal stands when we are
arguing over any issue, although I would very much like to
believe that there are. Ethics, or our values, intend to set
forth only how things ideally ought to be, not what they
really are. But defining these values therefore help us
evaluate the right and wrong of what is happening in the
world and challenge us to act in a way that brings us closer
to how the world should be.
lDth€ lollo{urg paEes \!e traledeiined 6 brord charactcristics ofthc DnxlcrD workl
ard i{ill s,ite on how we liew Lhese chancleristics. hopcfully hcbing studeDts to begin
t.r mlture their oiln undeNtrnding ofthese broad changes rnd lbrtil,r- thcir o\tn b.liefs
about tlicmi drfiDing $'hat thev are Dow aDd what thet shoukl be. $te s'il] thcn usc 2 of
lhese 6 chamct.risti.s to rcspoDd to a tpic{l ',\ level question thal reqrires an analysis
ol rodern woJ ld i.rplicalions on t|e issuc taskcd. If studeDts xre diligeDt aDd use tLis as
a tuaneworli 10. our brave r€{ urrkl, they $illfind i|at thc!can tacklc aD) question on
thc modeN workl $,ith locus and hopelil1r' ethical clarit).
6 Characteristics
of the Modern World I
I
MeJi,1:
4 o-lor/J Jr>m)naluJ
/y t:c'mmercia/ meJia
we havc always beer corcerred ovcr rvlio conirols the media. As
ore of thc rnost powert rgenls olclansc in our nodern worklwe
have seen pressu.c on nI liorts for state! Lo steer a$'a,v {roni conplete
control ol lheii rncdia and allo$' the people or thc market to
deternine its use and di.cciion. This eDgendered a stransc irony
$'here our fea. olbeins contlollcd bv state use olmedia Ias shifted
into an acceptance ofan arguablt srcatcr, noE nNidic,us, corpomtc
contrcl ovd our state of rnind and conscious thouglits. The ris€ ol
new nledia rcccntb has sonervhat shilied ])o\cr arvay froDl states
and even comDanics, iDto the liaDds ot the Fotlc $'iih supposed
greate. advancements in iDdividual f.eedo r, rcsultingh a gtlwing
bui disturbing popularity of citizeD jou.Drlism and conscqucnt
4. 4o/ilica/ 6/o/a/isalion,
,4 ,uor/d lhal ,,,.'ishus
it zaaS eqa/ilaric.tn
ThousaDds ofy.aN ofopfrcssion and abnsc undcr mon chies. the
clergy, patdarchal regimes and racial supremacisLs to na e iust a
1es, does so elhing to the humanpsyche. SubrnittiDgto authodty
is not on the $,hole bad, as well brotrght up children all olerthe
world rvould testify. There is nideed r time and place for rutlioiti.
But wlien that rutlioriv lords over the hunan racc simtll to sccu.
1 its o\or intcrcsts, ihcn histoNhas sho$n us that we ha\€ le.rnt not
to stand tbrthis. The rnodern lvorld is characterised by a wariness
I nbout authori\'and power, an inheritance ofour subjtrsatedpast.
W€ struggle to iifil tliat balance between enpoweiDg worlhy
individLrals or institutions io lead and crerting eDough checks to
mrke surc the) Dcver dominat.. Wc i{ant.ach humaD to f.cl thcy
havc an cqual chancc to bc ihc bcst thcv caD be but )et find it
ditli.xlt to deline v]]al lhal best is. A.d therein lies the tangled
$.eb ol politics that chara(terises our mod€rn workl - tlie science
ofsecurirg our best iDterest when we do not knorr x.hat orr best
f
genemlion olroung people who are hardly sur" scd t|at pcople ar€
diJlererL. r\r e accessibilitr of information ]r.s nrid,r our cultural
diflerences almostt tc xs mosi Drodcnr.ities are characle.ised bI
aDl ticr tural Drixof.!.nr|nrg. Homogeneitt is hoi{e\ercorN ere.l
to bc undcsirable. OLIu] t imale aiDi in this Dloden ilorl.l is thcreforc
to frcscN. dre lascinalion lhat e,e are differeDt without thc f.arthat
w. are nol lhe s. e
6 Lilerc,/isati.>n:
4 o-,or/J lhal a-;ants lo
c hanqe and evr:>/v e inl,:>
so-Jl hio.g c"rytul/y lelter
Pcoplc still |aye a romanlicised Dotion of the good old days.
Admilledlr. the past was not all perches aDd cr.am iD fact it was
nro.e ituillotines aDd pilhge. but there arc somc thiDgs oft|c t.st
that $e beLieve shouldbe lcpt. Old idcals ofthc nranirge institution,
o.SaDised .eligioD. a rcsp(nNiblc gov.mDcnt, a villnge cotunrunity
are all eranrlcs ofhowthnrits could Iale been idyllic. Liberals $ill
.rgL' rrl lr-.1 . 1 , l ,u r - r ' r i \ :r'lr'r'r;r,.
,
' '
defend ihestalus quo define ljfe by too stict gui.lc'lines, so much so
llal i orit] irterest is easil] opfrcsscd in thc liglrt oftladitional
$,ays oflife. The nodeni r()rld is onc s'hich chall.nscs thc v.hes o1
tlie past, \iewing thcm as archaic and inele!?nl and lhereiore seelinrg
to redefiDc our Nlcs, almost to , poinl where yalL,es rnav turD ort
tJhqt Vo/-l
,{eeJ to K.a/is.
Too often, students feel their voice IS
insignificant and feel that their lack of
knowledge may make them sound stupid
especially when tley talk about world affairs.
This fear is cyclical. The point is, there is no
such thing as a wrong opinion, only strong
Or Weak OneS. ,cll nrinioDs arc valuable r.lien expresse.i.If
they are weal lhen t|c exprcssion ofthat opirion {ill nahrrally
mature ir an c,per marlelplace ofideas. Ifthcy arc stroDg iheD
these opinions will be well received and even passcd on io othcrs.
Studcnts have to understand thal their opinion only remrins
insignificant and indccd innnatue ifit. fi.stly, stays unexlressed
and secondly, ifthat ofiDion is Dot validated bt r foundation of
F(inula protest.t ut dn ahti-wn
talLa in otlun.lo, Fk,ri.la
Thc traad is chuntinlt WHOSE
This basic franewo.k is therelbre userd iI h.lping)ouns pcoplc
s?-Rnt?s? oLrR sat?tETs."
articulate what tliey believe abouL currerl atlait|s today. Cel1aill)',
PHOTO CREDIT/
Joel.Cook,Ilickr t|ere ar. athousand aDd die things to talkabout, to b€liev€ ir and
a\'c:ii!P aonnn.r\ to argue about. But, rnany ofihcsc tliDgs fall under these 6 broad
t.ends that cha.actedse olr modcrn$orld. The ethical conclusiorls
we drae,about these issues ca. L|ereforclcadto similar coDclusions
for topics thrt fall under these 6 l.ends. T|c bottorn liDc is that
students Deed to unde$tand what js b.oadly happening in the world
and what thcy shor d believe aboutthem.
WithQiog -
have we lo ]\rour"lills
col-utvlN /
more than
we have
gained? f
Is the future as bright as we believe? In moving one step forward, have we actually taten
two steps backward as well? What would THE ANTHROPOLOGIST and TLIE
CONSERVATIONIST say since they focus on such different aspecLs of development in
the world? Our writers get under their skins to find out.
GIOBALI5ATION
lIIRIIACI
WATTll It] S
't h. t,ihraru .l Ctl:trt built b! Julnls Cutsu t n tt 1. AD PHoTo CREDIT/ vrAs$r. rLn kr ft.inr conn on!
\,Iorc ominotrsly, hnman cililisatnm is poisecL 1or a lh€ !s€ ol oil. A global $'rt.hdog must bc fomred to
hOI{K IN OIYI,lPUI AD
collapse rvii| t|.loss ofDatural resources, the ,-l ,. l.'..'l.,i ',p' l' i ^.. r'l'/l
mostsiglilicant being the lasl dwi.dlirg sutpli.s of couDtrics that follute the enviroDrneuL e\cessnell, HI73dtAh4
I r .ir. li . lr' l.\.l-r .'' i. l,i, ,g r.gardl.ss ofi{hcthcr thcv halc r{tified the Kloto
accounts for onll 1% of rlll $'rter on Larlhi waLer P.olocol. ID..Dtn sshouldbc gi\'.ntocouDtriesthat
,-.,- .,".,r1,.,..d1..,.1.1r .rir;,. r iDplenrenL p,reen practi.cs. Thcsc Drcasrrcs Dr.Lr b.
glaciersto m.lt andthc duDrfins of $'{ste into rivers. idealistic- buL {e ejthe. !,r'asD rt t|.s. shaws or nc
lirIthernorc. ihe exponenti.l incrc.sc iD thc dcDund grasp at DothiDg at all. Orl! tlen can we conclud.
SURITH5
foroil preserLh 8s rnillion birels d.il), froic.tcd i{ith c.ftrirtv that rve have gaiDed nror€ lha losl
WHYTHI UN SUPSflOVIR
to risc to r13 million blrrels daih b) 2o3o has f|onr trogrcss. ADd hofcfulll, the Dert clupter ol
TllI DI,4IH OI IANCUAGTS
'-r.1d] '.rrI'I 'l .rI'I ..\1 rl'JL. '1...-'l ir.
'ur llu!,an e\ohrlion \de \q itcNould bc a shnrnig bcacon
nrnuhcturing cy.ryliriDg f(rn plastics to iDh. the ofhope. !t ,/rid=105001735
wo.ld s econo.ry could tcmriDaic trcniatllrcll.
A Conservationist Answers
In the quest to protect the world's natural resources for our
continued sustainable use, what pattems do conseruationists see
in the way our civilisation is developing? As conceiYed bv Elainc Low
hile th€ !hrasc "reduce, reusc and that so depicc hLrDraDityis consigncd to oblirion r
rccr-cle" has been nrtrnrsiQlly hrlcd the h.c ofacoolie cutter societ).
roeducation in otrr childhood days,
too fc$'of us halc kcpt to this cor.espondnrgly, wilh thc tdverrl of tcchnolo!,r,
na tra growing up. As wc lieedlessly cxploit the artisln work and cmftsmanshiP dcPrcciates
Earth s lratural rcsources, tlie ePitoIIe of hunan in lavor ol masspmduccd aoods, alrothcrstanp
progrcss and civilization tharisthe 21st cenluf\ill olglobalisatio| and stan.la isation. GoDe wer. thc
d ,o r 'r. 1'1.\ lF \' \.''b:.,s"r ^ln rr irn!,F 'drr s norks pxinstaldDgll fmduced b) c.a ftsmen as uniqLtc
dowrfall. Teclinoloitical aDd industri.l adranceInents pieces ofaftthat were tirDcti{rnal and bcautifirli lhe!-'
may havc usher€d hurnans into an unpreccdented are replicedbi frcto.-l Dradc soods \!hosc i.lertical
age ofs€alth andcomfolt. but at ivhat costs? Global natue is w|at $t regnrd as the magnrm ofus o{
saming anxictics a.e only thc tip ofthe icebcrg of industri isation. As ourpush forpr(Eress sliucs our
problems ire arc facing in cxchrDge for the djlersit], it rlso sliUcs our apprcciatioD for clalti{ork
lilesol€1nrthc of
sal<e
improvcd lifesttles rre are Dorv Leading. l{irile lheidcr of c.all- hiht Past is a coDrltine ta'v
measu.e of thc liduosit)' of thc aftisan s skillbyhand,
For one, slobalisation may hale mad. the world it Dow connotcs sinple il not mdimentaryMrks lor
sm,ller and rnore accessiblc. but the celebration of e!cr! haute coutrre bag that is still se\!n bY hand
no,\,,t.rJtir J ", d. , p r,\ ing $ri L.t ,rd ,d,ar ,.I risht Dow, ther. ar.'hu d.eds churned oui by
and homogeneity. Many snlallcr poPulaLions of n,.\,' r, , alnr " r ''t let' l tt t, t -',
unique cll,',i. di\rr\ilJ cnd rrl, :r,loltlirrA ofChina aDd In.lia.
a',olhcr l:Irgu{gc or \ ) of lil. i. ^-d' I lu.l' r.
more economic liabilitv. Onc exanple lvottld be the ral)id endaDgcrmcnt aDd
On the olher haDd. the
\"r:., AnF-i. .n\ turl, d o d,.il rL., ,) birrn .r'r cxtiDction ofplants a'1d aniDrnls duc to ou.
their cultural praciices ind Drothe. torguc By high (orsu DtioD pnllcrDs fcatures just as
L'F.ol ,S 1gli.i- d ll uLrh -"- " -rl-ril rl"rr greatly. if Dot nore thaD the loss of otrr dive.silv. As
traditional laDsuages, and hence lheir way of lile. ne cleir ai{al last quantiti.s of lard lbr our suburban
becane mo buDd and lost. Similarly, the anDurt ol houses and solf also dcstroY the
infornation wc can gather on the ecology of the biodiversitr lhrt is rital to thc wellbeing of onr
Amazon thatrnar-one day prescDt a cure lo cance. ecologic{l eislencc. Iccord ing to the Wo,ld Hcalth
or AIDS $ould deNnd heavily on the language aDd u.e1r'i/Jrr,r'!^HL,.,r^ "r 'l l1nl, poJJ r",
.ohurc oftheAmazonian tribes. andNould be lost to uses a tbnn of herbal nrcdicrtion in thcirheaithcarc
Ls r' ll', ) d$ r."l drdd".'.'ls,lle-nlL,li lio_ crD ore inagiDe i{hal sillhappe il thc Lladtgascnr
The UNESCO report lhat hau ofthe world's 6,t)c)o pciwnikle (ftund in a counirl where 8(]% of its
languages are in danger olbenrg cxtiLl.t is ceftainly r'egctation is goDc). tlhich !rovides two Pot.nr
thc need ro progrcss ar .tu elenreDts iI the teatmcDt for can.er, bccones e\ti'rct?
etnfl able and tmgic". The dilersit{ ald uniquencss
all costs is to lorgct dre
cdlire !!Dose oiNhar
bcing human dc.ns.
INVIRl]N]\lINT
itJIIURI
GtOgAt SAT ON
HIR TAGI
IiAI(H Tl] 5
fIND NG |lIVIRIAIID
(zoo4)
SURITHIS
5 DANCIROU5 TllINGI
Y0Ll sH0utD ttT Y0llR
(DSD0
At some point, all parents learn to let go of Thc paradisc for child.cn musi cvolvc jlto a i{orld
their instilct to protect and mi0omanaAc tbai forces thenr lo nrake decisioos lbr themselvcs.
their children because failins to do sure .un their own ljves and groiv up. the cuuent
creates thc uglicst sofi ofdcpendency. O!er\ adnlinistratjon's teDtrtive steps to looseniDg the
parcnted children refuse lo de!elop lhe enrotional parentai g.ip oD its people is laudrble and to be
and nrental resilience lhat would nature them iDto encouraged. The state ofSingaporc must allowthc
healtby adults capable of takhg initiative and people erer morc frccdom to makc thcir rnistalcs,
leade.ship ove. their o$D lives as reell as tlieir couDtrl . room to fight out tbcn gdcunccs wit| autho t_v and
,ls lory bclioc sorrconc i{il al$ays look after
as diey ln'e out t|e conseqoences like adults. Should we
ihcir problcrns for ihcm, they are conditioned lo conti Lreove. babl'ing th€ aveft8€ Shgaporean f.on
rcDrain iD blissf!], conrttainins adolescence. lhet ver] rcal adult choices of \!ho to nanf, what lifesb4es
don't feel anv sense ol direction because ther har€ to practice, $'hich leader to listen to, wliat moiieto
.11 ,.$\..1'.u -r J!,
'1i',. '. \.i,.ir .rp:'F.rts
:"hr'11 r " r. ..Jt .a,,r'r' n.f L'.r B'i..
O\erprolerled .h;ldren ne\ er dis.i,ter lheir
idertity, never feel like arthcntic bcines and So at the sane time, we the people of
arc thrs, tundamcntally lost creatures. They
T1ls \s.ei-.1 ,roI^rac11 io, i,,d r,l,,a.: ion Singapore must prepare for the
fron the parent tbat thej have come tc, deperd on terrifying prospect ofwhat growing up
so Inrch and yet sinultaneously .esent because of means: forever leaving behind the sweet
the dependeDcy. D$'e11ing in navel-gaziDg comfoll ol blaming our palents for
cliildishDess, they li!€ perpetualy short'chanscd livcs
ruining our lives and taking full
offrustraiion. Ther- feel heltness and no natter hos
nNch thc parcnt tclls them rbat they arc noL hebless.
responsibility at last for our own steps
the actions of ihe conhollinB parenL haye already in the wide unknown.
lalghL Lhetu lo believe d illeren t. lven whetl made to
see a bigge. purpose and direction to wo.k towa s, crowina uD is nor a Dassive thina that bappens
h' ir Ll--p
"rl -Llu.rL. ' ur'r. n h ur..l-ln ne. .r1' ro u! bul an active decision thal $€ male for
belief that they caD actllally bc a part of it. \Vhai ourselves. ODh chiklr€n iniasine they hrve no
.mcrgcs as an attitude of \\thy should i bother...?- (hoice but to reniain tmpped iD the decisjons of an
actuallr-'mcans I don't knoi{ how lo bother... or"l authoita.ian parent. Standing up for our peNonal
don r think vou .are ii I bother... liberties aDd fighting for thc ight to bc ircatcd as
individuais aiihout rcsortiDg to Damc calliDg and
Unlike Barrie's book though, the answer' h\,t."i . iq,' r, l-
^tt"uFnnrrt-rooC
l ILr'r doi r8
is not in running ara/ay fi'om Never Land. ourchildish ilars. we u'ill regain our sellrespect and
dirednD in life aDd ncver havc to fccl lost asain. rt
It lies in changing the way Never Land
is nrn.
29 ER0ADtRPtRSPIOVEI .i.1osr,ss!.
IULTUREWATCH
In (Cyber)Space, Everybody
Can Hear You Scream
As cyberspace erpands and computer processing power heiglrtens, we imagine we can
escape from realitl' and lose ourselves in the vinual world. Our world's llriters and
film-makers beg to diffcr. ey Nadia .l'tal
et's face it. Much of real life can seen jovs of plug and tlay. Slide lhejack in, insert those
so incrcdibl,v difficuli to swallow. ear buds, .nle the cther into the wircless rorkl and
Perhaps its ihe mundanity of one's you caDloseyour real self and becornc a coniPlelely
e\istenc€ aD unending slew of neh'peNon:the epic rock god ofGLtitar Herces ll ,
PIIOTO thankless iasks and bland, neaningless houN or the well-respected guildleader ofhundreds on world
CREDIT/ perhaps jt is thc sheer pain offacins oD€'s own [oublcd of Warcraft, the sexiest Dcsperate Hortsewife on
neDtaL or pbysical state. Peedng too deepl)' into one's second l,ife aDd tlie edgiesi soth chick on SIlIs.
soul oDly prolokes heallbreaking despair at liow dark Rule aDd raze leseDdary empnes. flft outrageously
tbe hunm heart is. Or it colld just be the Nil of reg.el aDd make out wantonly wiih strangers- Resurect the
and thc sutre.ing causedbynemories ofth. past and dead. Destrcy hole annadas of ships. Live vicnriously
'he il.)o.r :ls r. hil."d lL rirhour .o.. lu unr.
real lifc or threat to one's real identity- Nobody need
CI{EDI'V
$4uter€r it is, hund beings have aheays kno\n that eaer kno$'. or so we thnrk.
life is not alwa]'s $onderiirl and the world is x broken.
sad place. Given the chalce, they would escape into Bv Dow, most of us are familia r wiih the idea that our
tb€ sweet oblivion of an alternate reality. as ritual trek leales rca] footprints tmckable, taceable
cornputer techDolos/ prosrcsses and process
^nd
gpower and ripe for e\ploitatioL You data trail ofhlperlinked
AB!UlIHIV/R]T[R
ramp. ur witl. e^ lr breahrs"r i-"il: on.}'l,.ni.r' disiial bread c.u bs rcveals nuch of your real self to
the prcmise of virhral rcaliry dansles like the folbidden rhe world. INEMY oF fHE STATE (1998)
fruit. thoush stili in relative infancy compared to explored ho{'rogue governmcDt agents er?loited the
what $'e see h scierce fiction. the present world of ECIIELON prosranme's satcllite and surveillance
crierspace and othertecliDologies ofsimr ated reality techtrologies to accumulate intelligence abour its
@6@d6
Mas Selamat Kastari
HERO / Don l gel wnrnil id .o wal do we thi k
us
t|is losl alleged tle Singnpore b.arch ofthe
head ol
Jenaah lslaniiah is r he.o in rD) real sense ofthe
I\'llNORll Y Rl,lPORl (2oo:)snost ncDiorabl. $ord. ifter.nl, thjs wasthe nan rvho rvas plaDningto
scene had Tom Cmise tr,r'iDg t{r stav trndcrcovcr $'hilc \ij l .' l'1.,,' r, B ,! ,, ', r. ., n n c,Jrs
l,- .'.'Jrr1"'r.l -r' I i,l ^ Al.lhrr,d,l.,r.n. But snrcc Singaporc's autbodtics lost |nn ,nd
^irpoft.launchcd Singiforc s largest nranhuni, Mas
h.ncc
advctiscDrcnt loards tlrat ftack.d his identily n in ute
by niinutc, callnrg outIis nanrc.nd frele.red consume. Sclamat hrs cvolled into a b;zarr€ anti hero to a
shrngelt itleelulaudience. Every detail olthe escape
hns beel millied lor oniedic elfect especially Mas
Scie ce llclion $.riters aDd Ilolltaood point out that SeLanltt's lirnp udthe frct thrthe escaped frcm the
the real i{orld $'ith all its ag.ndas, fcaN and tcnoN toiiet. Fun cntclrrisiDs T-shirt sclliDg tccns to poison
will al$'ays nltrudc iDto our viftual cscatadcs. In pen blosseN to .ycn th. usual\' rrofcssior al New
STR-A\-GE DA\s (1995), SQUID techDology allows Yofk Tjmcs. watchnrg th. usuall!'' inrpeccable Siigapore
trscrs to upload and downiord sensory erpe.iences DiachiDe handle lhis hish Drolile s€curiLv
dnectly from the cerebral co.tex. But the nrovie's herc botch up has been cruelly ertertaining and a!
t.enny ends up leehrgrnore loDeL! aDd despeute tliaD opto.tur)jtI {ar SjnEapo.e's citics to irdllge iD ann-
eve. as his literal a.klictnD to memoies of his ei' ch:rir tut tuttirg.It
sirlfriend prevcnt iinn from scciDg hcr forthc \illail
sheactuJlyisandih s moling on$itb hislifc. Snnila y,
\IANILL{ SKr' (2oor) s trotagorist siitns on lbr a
Drosr.mrne called LLrcid Dreaminq lhal lels hin!
erpe ence an unerdillg tailor nade drean life $,hile
he reDanb cD osedcdh frozen .lfter his suicide attenpt.
But even his Lucid DEan begirN io $'rver crmtically
as his urlsovernabl. coDscionsDcss kc.fs rcrnindins
hnr of lis vmit), lis inabili\'to choosc thc dg|t $'onuD,
.boui Lle loss olhis
his scxual past and his dcprcssion
looks allthe i|nrgs heso desDeralely \{ants to lorget.
Edison Chen
\TILLAIN / How nany things has Hong Kong
siDgcr/acror Edison Cnen lost in iLrst lhe span ol a
1l is lll liR-\r[ SITNSIUNI] O| IIII SPOTLESS
nlonlh? Pe$onal privacy. Djgdty. Prid€- selfrespect.
NIIND (2oo:t) that shor cl liavr thc last wor d ihorgh.
?e.sonal securitt (some t.iads threateDedto hunt him
t.aced with the opiion io .ras. his most bittcr as scll
down). AD) futu.e prospects as r cRdible rcmaDtic
$ hrpfv mcnDrics ofatumultousbrcakup, i|c mo\ie s
lead or filD. FIjs caretullv cultivatcd "nicc s ! " fublic
l.rcJocl chooscs to trotcct hh nr.nron oilis girlfi ie.d
persona. The respcct ofhis pccrs. Ficndshjfs wiih
iD ril hcr imterfe.tion and creale .ew nlemories with
cr-sirlfriends Bobo Chan, cillian C|unit, Cecilia
herasaln.ll does see r like losins)ourserh a fascinile
Cheung. The tmst ofhis !resenr gi.llriend fhe trust
olrelrlit] is piriDlless. Peace aDd ar opporluDit] for rcal
ofhis tuture wile and in larls.,Lnd oh )es, all r3oo
happiness comes apparentl) oDly whcD $c begiD to face
djgital irnases of his ex sirlfieDds and that one
the truth of our impcrfcct $uld in its squalor. ,t damDable ptult Mrcintosh PowerBook. rt
I
'.:
:
'-
{ a .'. -
:
--
c
-
:i
rAHa
--; ::HF
EF2:
:
s; F+ :
;Fq:
r.ae
: +i:-
i
F26-
6.;sr !
-: . a "r: :
=.. '
.
4
6
!l
=:l
a
:. g a
,rg ',
=
.-.
t
wn
=
lll
a t
J
t
o
c
o t
t
I
o eror oror !