I’ve never been one to dabble in politics. If I could help it, I would avoid politics because as shallow as it sounds, failblog and celebrity gossip were more interesting in comparison. On the occasion that I had to read up on local politics for school, it was minimal. I was living a fairly comfortable life – I had a roof over my head and food on the table, and didn’t see the need to know what was going on as long as the status quo was maintained. Like many of my generation, I was politically apathetic.

But this general elections, things appear to be taking a turn as I took more notice of the social and political situation in Singapore (much of it was forced upon me by the numerous opinions on social media). My comfortable life started to get a little uncomfortable. I may have a roof over my head and food on my table, but at 23, I also have the weight of close to $30,000 worth of study loans on my shoulders to pay off even before I start working (and after this debt is cleared, I will probably spend the rest of my life paying off housing loans). What makes me uncomfortable is not the loans that I have to pay. I admit that I am blessed to be able to pursue a degree and am grateful for such an opportunity. But it makes me uncomfortable to hear PAP candidates make remarks that seem to be a describing a very different Singapore from which I live in. By making claims that education is affordable, for example, is quite puzzling. Who is it affordable to when majority of our population, the middle-classes, have to struggle to maintain their “comfortable” middle-class lifestyle? And more importantly, what does this say about how well the PAP knows its people?

This post is not about dissing the PAP or the government. Many have, in the heat of the elections, vented their frustrations at the government and lost sight of the real problem. The focus is not on the individual issues that have been reiterated in the rallies, but the sum of them that reflects the complacency of a government who appears to have lost touch with the social needs and interests of its people.

To their credit, the PAP has done many things right and we would probably not be where we are if not for them. But just because they have a “track record”, doesn’t always mean that they will always do the right things. One cannot keep relying on past victories to validate the right to rule. This right has to be earned through the continual process of winning the consent of the people, and not by the constant reminder of its glorious golden years. Healthy competition has always been a great way to raise the standards and keep things in check. The opposition parties may not have as much experience, but they will definitely keep the PAP on their toes and working hard to earn our votes and the right to lead our country.

Tonight, Pritam Singh of the WP led about 35,000 people to recite the pledge. Never have I felt more proud to be Singaporean. It occurred to me then, that perhaps it is not the government who is guilty but the politically apathetic Singaporeans like myself who are to blame. In not caring, we were maintaining the status quo, we did not see the need to speak up, we saw nothing to fight for and WE allowed the incumbent government to turn complacent. This Saturday, we are no longer the politically apathetic youths of Singapore who lived in nonchalance or fear, but the generation that will take baby-steps towards inciting political change in Singapore.

The Ideal Family has always existed, but our definitions of it has changed over time. It is the collective acceptance of what a family ought to be like. This used to be the traditional family in what functionalists like Parsons and Bales (1955) see as a stable type nuclear family consisting of the father, mother and children, where each member plays a certain role in the family.

In some ways, Modern Family preserves some of the traditional values – the fundamental glue that binds families together is love. As long as there is love, age or gender is a non-issue; the importance of family because your family is always there for you, no matter what; family relationships are not without its problems but somehow, it can all be resolved in the end (note that EVERY EPISODE ends with an all too happy ending).

Part of the show’s appeal, I believe, is how the show strikes a balance between traditional and non-traditional notions of the family and somewhat deviant characters. Mitch and Cameron is a gay couple with an adopted Vietnamese baby. Manny is sensitive and romantic with maturity beyond his 12 years of age. Jay married Gloria, a Colombian sex bomb who looks more like his daughter. Phil is the dad who behaves more like a kid.

With the rise of divorce and homosexual relationships, it was only a matter of time before television began reflecting the prevalent changes in the definition of family. But whether or not the mass media’s portrayal of modern families such as these would promote tolerance and acceptance for non-traditional family types remains to be seen. Sure, the extreme conservatives may see such media as a contamination of traditional family values. But society is fast changing. Family is not a static concept; it must change together with its social environment. Those who try to essentialize the Golden Era’s idealistic notions of what a family should be are likely to fail. The way I see it, The Family can be anything you want it to be, as long as it is meaningful to you. No one else has the right to disagree because everyone is entitled to their own interpretations of what constitutes a Family.

I may be becoming a geek for reals, now I’m not only blogging about school, but I’m blogging about actual academic content. But I think writing all these is a good balance between totally getting distracted with online shopping, and abandoning my computer altogether in order to stay focused. I do actually think typing my thoughts out here is somewhat studying. Who says studying has to be boring?

Wow that’s 2 posts in a day after a year’s hiatus.

To sum up the absence of the past year, I believe I’ve gained a whole new perspective of life.

I want to be optimistic, but not idealistic. I want to believe in taking leaps of faith, but not losing my head.

Okay, maybe it’s not exactly very new stuff. But still, I do think I’ve grown in more ways than one. I wish I could thank you for that, cos I really do owe that to you. Ironically, in moving forward to become this person I want to be, I had to lose a valued friend. But it doesn’t change that you’ve been a big part of my life in the past year and I wouldn’t have taken my chances to find what I want if it wasn’t for you.

This entry is a tribute to the past and a toast to the future.

It doesn’t help that I can hear the every word said on the sitcom my brother is watching and have to resist every urge in my body to go outside and plonk my ass on the couch in front of the TV. My productivity level is dropping by every second I spend on this blog post so I shall attempt to revert back to well, studying.

This is so SHINGZZZ. Oh god just how loser did that make me sound?

But those who think they’ve got something good going, are more likely than not to stumble along the way.

A lost believer.
A scarred lover.
A first-time failer.
A careless gambler.

What makes of us when we stumble?

I know, I’m such a whiny little bitch.

When I had the option of working, I envied the life of a student. Now I miss being financially independent (I have to think twice about taking cabs, and buying too much snacks now). It’s true, the grass is always greener on the other side.

Truth be told, I am more afraid than anything else. I fear that going back to school was a mistake. It’s a tad too late for all that now.

She felt the need to laugh a little louder than the others. It makes her feel heard.

When an opportunity arises, her voice too in all its raspy glory, would rise to the occasion, giving her audience a long lecture on anything on her mind. Not that they were interested, but they listened anyway – it was the only right thing to do in such a situation. In her tales were a spirit that zealously begged for attention and romanticized proclamations. Conjuring excuses became second nature to her and promises from a year ago remained fresh in the form of a tragic recital.

She laughed a little louder than the others; but everyone heard her except herself.

It’s bittersweet, really. The horror, the unending trail of amendments, the feeling of what’s-that-word-I-thought-of-a-moment-ago-that-I-can’t-remember-now, the late nights and stress binging, the satisfaction of completion, the doubt, the anticipation for your editor/producer/commissioning editor/lecturer’s stamp of approval. The adrenaline rush.

And soon, writing will become an indispensible part of my life, at least for the next 3 years. But if you can’t run from it, embrace it.

So if it’s 04:41 in the morning and I’m still online, that’s probably me embracing my long lost lover in hopes that I will be done by 05:30 to reward myself with some McDreamy from season 1 of Grey’s Anatomy (ohhh yesss I’m watching it from season 1 while waiting for the new season).

Oh and if you were wondering about the title, it is indeed true. T.R. Knight’s contract has been terminated. Goodbye George, you will be missed dearly.