Masquerade of Our Society

Saturday, March 31, 2007

B-WORD CAUSES AIRPORT SCENE
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/180485.asp

A casual mention of the word "bomb", and apparent over-zealousness of the part of airport security officers, grounded a family of four's holiday plans earlier this month. I heard this over the Channel 8 news yesterday and my first reaction was of bewilderment, and of course amusement. So now, we can't tell people we are going to BOMBay in the airport?

After 911 (cliché, I know), National Security has heightened to a level never seen before. Besides the airport, key installations such as Caldecott Hill, power stations, and even our MRT stations are heavily protected. We should come to question ourselves: Are we overdoing it? Having armed Special Ops carrying firearms patrolling in train stations? Having Aetos Security Officers inspecting buses entering the airport (seriously, I've only seen them walking up and down the aisle, but never inspecting)?

Deterrence. No doubt. This effort in dampening would-be terrorists is recognized. However, what would one adjudge when he takes a bus into the airport (pardon my recycle of examples, I really can't stand those Aetos Security Officers), a Security Officer would routinely walk down the aisle and out, everytime? Not inspecting (let's leave the innocent passengers out) the underseats and undercarriages of the vehicle? Would a Bom.. I mean, would a "hazard to security" be placed in the middle of a bus aisle for anyone's taking?

Of course, it's by no coincidence that our country enjoys such peace. Citizens are able to roam and wander around the streets at 2am in the morning without feeling endangered; whereas snatchthieves and robbers are rampant in our neighbouring state even in broad daylight. However when issues such as the Airport B-word arises, doubts would arise, smudging the image of Security Bodies. Then, is deterrence just a beautiful word for "putting up a show"? No. The act of deterrence is to discourage or restrain terrorist attempts from acting or proceeding with positive efforts. This, we have achieved painstakingly. The concern now is our confidence we have (have left) in our Security Systems. A façade of deterrence or not, I really hope it would be the latter, and that this Airport Affair is a one-time.

The ability to laugh at one's own folly is maturity. Next time on my India Trip, don't ask where I'm going. If you insist, I'd tell you, "Ummmmbay".

ps. The family, in emails with Today, has expressed that they were "satisfied with CAAS' response and that the matter had 'reached and agreeable closure'" (Lucky them, they must have been compensated heavily.)

psps. I don't look like one who would blog such stuff eh? Haha

Donned my mask at 2:05 PM

Sunday, March 04, 2007

《爱情是什么》
厨师说：爱情是一个洋葱头，你一片一片剥下去，总有一片会让你流泪的。
气象学家说：爱情不怕黑暗，公园里越黑暗的角落恋人们越往那儿钻；爱情不怕热，气温即使40◦C，恋人们还要往一块儿贴；爱情不怕冷，冰天雪地里恋人们照样户外约会。
历史学家说：原始社会的爱情以生育为图腾，“你为我生”；中世纪的爱情是骑士救美人，“我为你死”；封建社会的爱情模式是才子多情，红颜薄命，“我们一块儿去死”；现代爱情的标签是“只要我爱，不管你有没有对象，不管你结没结婚”。
医生说：血压高者不宜，爱情会使血压增高；恐高者不宜，爱情会使人晕眩。爱情是感冒，被爱情病毒感染的人，既瞒不了自己，也瞒不了别人。
考古学家说：爱情如水，覆地难收；爱情如瓷器，碎了难复原；爱情如出土文物，既古老又新鲜。
文字学家说：我劝朋友们些情书时，将“爱”字宁可写成“愛”，那里面有“心”，爱情不能没有心，简体字不知为什么把“心”给简掉了，不过幸亏还有一个“友”。

Donned my mask at 11:02 PM

《超人》张卫健
明明是一个脆弱不堪的灵魂　却为你心甘情愿变身为超人
爱的筋疲力尽　才明白我并不是无所不能
也许因为我的天资不够　算不出来什么时候会分
肉体凡身凭什么想要你爱我一生

逝去的青春（那段青春）就像我们　曾经留给对方的伤痕
两个人无话不说再到最后陌生　我想我都可以去忍
路上的灯看著我们冒著雨在情节里飞奔
希望有个人　能明白我的眼泪和我的后半生
（原来我一开始就陷的那么深）

陪著你走过五彩斑烂的世界　不代表我就拥有过你的一切
谢谢你的告别　可以带给我这么多感觉
也许因为我的天资不够　体会不到你对我的体贴
但是可能你对我并没有那么了解

曾经站在大雨中等了又等　为了你安慰连我越气愤
你说甜蜜离开我马上引火烧身

Donned my mask at 6:37 PM