Critical

People don't change | People do change

One year ago, I thoroughly believed in the first statement. People, as individuals, were of a certain mold - unchangeable, stretching around a just few yards but never drastically changing from the basics.


I believed people had roots and were inclined to return to them one way or another, just like a boomerang to its thrower. Their core characteristics were what kept them alive, their innate traits their lifeline.


All that has changed now. Maybe because I've seen more, heard more, felt more; maybe because I'm less naive and more cynical; maybe because I have changed. This change: it is not good and it is not bad (no attempt at justification here).


I now believe that people do change. They change because circumstances force them to, because they become subject to attuning their behavior towards that of others, because they have past mistakes and mindsets they do not wish to recycle or reinvent. 


Many times they also change because a radical event fraught with hype has engulfed them, or because prolonged suffering has hardened them towards a purpose, or because there is a cause important and personal enough that they are willing to shed their old shells of narrowed mentality.


Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said, "change is the only constant". Steadfast, perpetual and continuous, change is what brings change. Complacency is consistency, consistency is stagnation; stagnation is death of the physique and of the soul.




Today at noon, the police raided the BERSIH office without a warrant. Initially trying to break down the front door, about fifteen of them went in with more waiting outside. As I type this, some of their office items are being confiscated and all staff is being arrested.


Bersih's yellow tees have also been declared illegal. It's a piece of basic clothing. How can there be a national law against what we put on our backs? 


The rakyat is angry and disgusted, even more so in the past few days. 


The rakyat will not be hampered or frightened by threats and detentions.


The rakyat shall continue to nurture its spirit and march on July 9th.


The rakyat can and shall reclaim their rights, their voice and their deserved livelihoods.

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Do you get starstruck?

Leighton Meester & Ed Westwick in Gossip Girl.


Celebrities. Famous people. Icons you see and hear on TV. 
Finally meeting them in person and then getting starstruck, dumbstruck. 

I was listening to Fly FM this morning and the Pagi Rock Crew deejays were discussing the subject. Nadia had spotted Shebby Singh at a porridge shop over the weekend, but just watched him from a distance when she really wanted to go up and say hi.

This happens to practically everyone. Happens to me, happens to you. We see our favorite stars in movies, we watch reruns of their music videos, we stalk every single article they write, we yearn and dream of the day when and whether we'd ever meet them in the flesh.

And when we finally do meet them, after all the pressure-building-heart-pounding moments, we falter and freeze. We don't know what to say. We just stare at them like they're some fantastically rare and oddly designed reptile in a zoo. We cannot believe they are right before us, at touching distance.

After the magical moment passes, reality slaps us in the face. Falling out of shy, giggly, fangirl/fanboy mode, surrounding sounds are louder, sights are clearer. 


"Why didn't I go up and say hi? Or ask for a picture? Dammit."

WHY DO WE EVEN REACT THIS WAY?

I mean, they're people too, aren't they? There was a point when they weren't famous; when they weren't in a state that you would ogle and swoon over.

But then, knowing us humans (and also psychologically speaking), we're rather religious subscribers to this cult called Fame.

We get dumbstruck/starstruck because:

1. We're restrained by our own disbelief. The fact that the opportunity - the person - is present is too much to handle.

2. We're too caught up with the Perfect Notion. We don't know what to say or how to act. It would be lame, unworthy of notice, irrelevant, uncool, etc, etc.

3. We perceive them as having god-status. We daren't approach them. We just don't.

Sorta dramatic points, but you get the gist. We basically freak ourselves out most of the time. Doubting and second-guessing, we miss out on stuff because we deny ourselves of 'em.

So the next time you see someone you really wanna say hi to, go right up to him/her and just do it. Don't be hatin on yourself later! :)

Hello

Photo courtesy of Tumblr

I'm now officially moving here after being on Xanga for four years :)

Here's to good posts, great experiences and new people!

Cheers.