My thoughts on the Singapore General Elections

I am saddened. Truly and deeply saddened by Minister George Yeo's departure from Singapore's cabinet. Do we as Singaporeans know how to vote wisely?

During the recent general elections, I've seen so many once apathetic Singaporeans rise up to have a say in our politics. Standing behind the opposition and saying that it is time that PAP relinquishes their power. At this point in time, I question, do they truly know the repercussions of uninformed votes?

We crave for a voice that represents us in the parliament, for someone who'd stand up against the PAP. But does that mean we have to vote for the opposition?

I am appalled, truly bewildered that some people voted for the Reform Party. I question the quality of their representatives, their view on what truly matters and their representation of us in parliament and in the world. I am rendered speechless at some of the rallies, the issues that were raised were beyond mircoscopic.

Could I entrust my country, my home to someone who only has a microscopic view on the economy, on demographics? They raise issues like foreign expertise and talent, how they deprive Singaporeans of university places and jobs, but my question is, IF we are as good as them, we WILL and SHOULD rise up and pit ourselves against them and prove our worth. The betterment of a society is not about the exclusion of threat, but the inclusion of challenge. It says a lot about the people if all we do is exclude challenge. Are we then a nation that is onward, or are we a nation that regresses in complacency?

Do Singaporeans give thought about who they are voting out rather than who they are voting in? A smart voter would vote for someone who speaks for the people in a ruling party who CAN make a difference, not someone from the opposition whose voice may be heard, but overruled. An informed voter would put people who can see what the country NEEDS, what the people WANT and find a balance between the two, rather than just what the people WANT. At times, what we want may not be the best for our country and to put it bluntly, if our country doesn't prosper, we won't either.

What have we given up and done this general elections? We effectively voted out a minister with 23, TWENTY THREE years of political exposure and experience. I repeat, 23 years in which Minister Yeo served, he has been the face of Singapore to many countries, we have effectively thrown 23 years of man hours down the drain. Let's be honest here, we know how the world works and a lot of the time, it is the connections that get the job done, the people we know and the people who know us. Our net worth is as much as our network goes. So THANK YOU Singaporean Aljunied voters, you have dwindled our net worth as a country by 23 years of work. Well done.

Did it not cross anyone's mind that foreign ministers represent a country and other countries know us by who represents us? It saddens me so much to know that we've made a choice as such.. the damage and repercussions I cannot seem to fathom. Minister Yeo has done so much with such extraordinary vision, the affection, admiration and respect people have for him speaks volumes of him as a humble minister whose desire is for the people and his portfolio just adds so much more to him.

Don't get me wrong here, I am all for the voices of the people, I am all for capable opposition. Note, CAPABLE. As much as we can say we are a first world nation, we still have a long way to go as voters of one. Do we truly understand the power of democracy and are we well informed to cast an intelligent vote that would change the course of the country? Are we only interested in politics and the economy only during general elections and apathetic throughout? Do we only consider our interests rather than the interests of our country? Can we see things macroscopically?

I think we are still a young nation and our people have a lot more to learn and a long way to go in understanding democracy.

Oxymorons

Oxymorons - a figure of speech that combine contradictory terms


I think my life exemplifies that. Or rather, I think I have the tendency to put myself into them. Why? How? Why? How? I honestly don't know..


I love clarity in my life, I love situations to be as uncomplicated as possible, and likewise, relationships. But somehow, for some inexplicable reason, I end up in them. Perhaps in pursuit of clarity, I complicate things, in my head at least. For example, when someone says, "don't put all your eggs in one basket" in relation to relationships, my mind and brain just fires off at tangent.


First train of thought goes like this: "So, I'm one of the baskets, and that means I'm an option and thus he should not be a priority, and if that's the case, then I have to pull away to guard my heart, but if I don't allow myself to get to know the person, I'd never know him better. But But But.. if a guy isn't sure about you, then you should protect yourself and not let them in. So... RUN?!?!" 


Second train of thought goes: "You believe in the same thing too. So it's good that you are on the same page. but wait.. that means he isn't serious about this. So I shouldn't go on because it's a waste of time, but I don't know whether or not I can be serious about this either. So it should be alright.. right? But he should lead the relationship and if he isn't sure, then why not wait for him to be sure before even letting him be a part of your life." 


Third thought goes: "Right. Guards up NOW!! Immediately! Jocelyn, he isn't worth you thinking so much of if he isn't serious. If you're just an option, then walk out right now until he knows what he wants, until he sees your worth and pursues your heart."


Just imagine 20 or 30 of these thoughts running through my head simultaneously. I don't know how I do it either, but I just do. Part of me knows that at this stage in my life, I'm happy where I am, I would like to have someone to be a part of my life, but I need to be sure that this person is sure as well, but for that to happen, there will be a stage of "confusion" and that throws me off my clarity balance and my initial reaction is to... RUN. Am I a commitment phobe? Yes... and.. No? I think I'm phobic until I make up my mind and that's when my commitment is set and it's all or nothing. See what I mean by I exemplify oxymorons?


Why is it so complex? It's not supposed to be right? I know people just tell me to let it be, let time tell.. but.. All my questions need an answer and I feel exasperated when I don't get my answers and that adds to my confusion and leads to my withdrawal. Which honestly.. it's such a vicious cycle really. That's just the logical/rational part of me kicking in and I don't know what to do. 


I wish I can just untangle my brain!

Chemistry - the science of love?

Why do they call it chemistry? Is it cause of all the chemical reactions that take place in your body when you meet someone? Or is it the chemical reactions between you? Pheromones in the olfactory bulb on your cribriform? Or the endorphines that run through your veins? Reflexes that make you vasodilate, blush and feel butterflies in your stomach? 

Or, did some random guy, a long time ago, think of this as a reason to run/go into a relationship? It's something you can't really argue right? If he says,"we can't be together cause we lack chemistry (aka: the spark)" or when he says, "I think we should be together, cause we have so much chemistry". 

It's not quantitative, sort of qualitative and it's absolutely subjective. 

Question is.. Is chemistry enough? Can it last? 

I reckon every start of a relationship needs a little bit of chemistry.. Nothing would really work when the science of it doesn't work right? Simple equation, addition of reactants  - chemistry - reaction. I honestly wish it were that simple. 

My head. My heart. My head. My heart. My head. My heart. 

One's trying to out rule the other and I don't know which is going to win really, but I reckon only time can tell and will tell if my heart and my head can come to common consensus, which I think, would not be too hard a thing to do. I hope God will speak to my heart and lead my head to His will!