[[How has been]]

Monday, January 29, 2018

[[Two key competencies: Being able to achieve what you want]]

The first is thus: Being able to achieve what you want.

I reckon this is what is conventionally known as power. In Nietzsche's concept of will to power, I think this would work as a good enough definition for it. The idea here is that one is able to actualise desires. Able to enforce one's will onto the surroundings in order to obtain that which is desired. Power can take many forms. There are many ways to obtain ends. It also depends on what ends are desired.

The president of the USA is commonly known as the most powerful person on earth. In some sense, he is able to achieve what he wants. If he wants to go to Alaska, he goes to Alaska. If he wants to nuke north korea, he nukes north korea. If he wants to pass a bill, he signs it into law. If he wants someone detained, he issues an executive order. And if he wants to be re-elected, he says populist things. He is probably most powerful in the sense of he can remove the power of the most people (or some standard like that), namely by killing them in a war. Yet there are many things that are beyond his power that might be within my power for example, to throw a frisbee in a somewhat controlled manner, for example to run 2.4km within a certain timing, or to spend the entire day playing online games, watching videos and procrastinating thesis.

Of course, the astute observes that alot of power is not innate. Physical limitations are of course present e.g I cannot touch something 3metres high because I am short but many people can. But many things are not physically limited. For instance, the ability to command respect or to be obeyed or to play a good chess game or to know arabic. There are some things that also works much better with tools. For instance, I could demand you give me your money but you could easily ignore me i.e I don't have power over you because I am not particularly big and intimidating. But I could hold a gun. Then I would have power over most people. The astute then observes that power can be built. Many things can be worked towards, competencies can be honed, skills can be learnt, tools can be shaped or purchased.

One thing that is attractive to me is that of being strong in this sense, powerful in this sense. Being able to gain the power and hence use the power to achieve what one wants. A large part of this boils down to discipline. Also some bit of natural aptitude. And some sort of drive. Basically conquering the situation, being active rather than passive.

Now the second is: Knowing what to want. I reckon Ill cover this in another post. But... just quickly speaking, seems that if you dont know what to want, maybe you are better off without power.

Bonus third: changing what one wants.

[[I wrote this at]]*|2:15 AM|

Friday, January 19, 2018

[[On social justice]]

So, I went for some social justice thingy. And they told us to journal. But instead of doing that, I'm gonna abstract it and talk about social justice in the abstract. I searched this blog and found "on social justice" a draft from 2015. When I clicked it, it was blank. Im pretty sure what I wanted to say then would be very different from what I want to say now.

Instead of describing my whole position on this complex thingy, let me just say a few broad points.

I fully agree that as Christians we are to reach out to the poor, the orphans,the sojourner and whatever "socially disadvantaged group" there is. By reaching out I don't mean to just tell them Jesus loves them, but to meet their physical (and other) needs as well

I would even agree that Christians striving for downward social mobility are on the right track.

I would agree that the Christian community is to model an alternative community where socio-economic standings are erased in light of a greater reality under Christ.

What I feel though, is that this light has to be kept pure. The light to the world.

I wonder, does the light get tainted when it is subsumed under the workings of the state?

Is the church called to be the anti-thesis to the state or to change the state? Of course changing the state by being ourselves would be great. But if the aim is the change the state, is there a problem, is this aim somewhat misguided?

Is alleviating poverty .etc the end? I mean, once you see it in larger terms as Christians are supposed to, being in poverty is not all bad, being rich is a curse (yeah of course, I tell it to poor people and they might tell me I don't know what it's like to be poor and if I tell it to rich people they might tell me I don't know what it's like to be rich).

We love because Christ loved us. We seek justice because God is just. But why should the state do all these. Why should we try to get the state to do these? How much should the systems be changed and how much should we be anti-system, seperate from the system, different, radical?

One further instrumental and potentially irrelevant point: if you try to change the system, more often than not, the system changes you. (Maybe not you, but Christianity?)

[[I wrote this at]]*|1:17 AM|

Monday, January 8, 2018

[[The ant and the grasshopper]]

It is summer. For Singaporeans who cannot fathom the idea of Summer, let us assume that it is the June holidays, or your year end leave, or whatever.

It is summer. The birds are chirping. The sun is shining. Love is in the air. The harsh cold is far away, a recent memory but in the past nonetheless.

The ant is hard at work. The ant wanders the area in search for food. The ant is working, being productive. The ant grabs food and painstakingly carries it back to the nest. The ant creates a stockpile for winter. The ant is a team player. The ant provides for her family (even though, as you learned people know, the worker ant's lifespan will not last till winter). The ant does not skive. The ant takes the sunshine as fortune smiling upon her and works to conserve this good fortune, prudently. For the ant knows that summer does not last forever. And good fortune stored can offset the less pleasant circumstances coming up in the future. The ant goes to sleep safe in the knowledge that the family will survive another year.

The grasshopper however. The grasshopper doesn't give two shits about the winter. The grasshopper has fun in the sun. The grasshopper hops around and plays music. The grasshopper chats and makes merry with his friends. The grasshopper lives in the present. The grasshopper eats his fill, for there is abundant food. The grasshopper goes to sleep pleased that the day was enjoyable.

Winter comes. The grasshopper is hungry. The ant is full. Does the grasshopper die? I don't know.

But who's to say that the ant's choice was better. Did the ant experience the joy of playing? Did the ant know what being carefree is like? Did the ant know how to live?

Or was the ant just worrying about the future? Being self-sacrificial? Or was it placing security in one's own efforts? Or was it a culture thing?

Was the grasshopper stupid? Individualistic? Short-term focused? Or did the grasshopper know what its like to live? To enjoy the things in life. Enjoying things in life comes at a cost. Of future hunger. And shame when you have to beg. But why not? Perhaps the grasshopper can become friends with the ant. Perhaps the grasshopper can teach the ant a thing or two about music, about play as gratitude for the food.

Many people try to live longer. But they don't live. They are just breathing and scurrying around. Like ants.

Me?

[[I wrote this at]]*|1:47 AM|

Monday, January 1, 2018

[[]]

I wrote this at SWAT, in poetry. Is supposed to be a poem but yeah. Was written quite quickly. I think should edit more but... yknow deadline was close.

It's titled Being self absorbed

Lord my God, how does one follow you?
You ask for faith, yet it is you that gives faith.
You ask for obedience, yet obedience is from the spirit.
What is this choice that we have?
To totally depend on you or to not have you; to not have anything.
A dog can chose its master without giving up being a dog; I cannot choose faith in you without giving up myself - the sin I was born with.
The sin that is me. I have not known a day without sin. It is all I know, most of what I naturally want.
How can a pig not love filth? Rolling around in shit, being comfortable and filthy?
Yet you have given me the faintest grasp of being clean.
You have told me of a better reality, in words, and given me a brief taste.
But the taste is waaaaay too brief and I am forgetful.
It is hard to remember how a steak is better when directly facing platters of maggi mee, not entirely unwholesome - there is an egg in it.
Hows that fair?
It is selling my house, to hunt for treasure, that you heard of once, from someone.
If there is no treasure, I have no house and I am retarded.
Give me a larger taste, that I may remember when I smell alluring stenches of sin
Give me more frequent glimpses, that I may not forget when I see tantalising sights.
For the road is lonely dark and deep.
And there are miles to go before I sleep.
But you are with me, your rod and staff, they comfort me.
Give me friends to walk along with me. Other people further advanced along the road.
Fellow sinners, not pseudo saints. For the loneliness is enough without fakeness.
Help me God. I am tired and life seems way too long.
Your will be done, really, your will be done.

[[I wrote this at]]*|1:05 PM|