As fresh faced kids, we all listened intently to the adults in our life who told us what we were meant to be when we got bigger, older and wiser.
The first ambition I ever had was to be Spider-man. I had no idea how genetically modified spider bites worked, or how to get a genetically modified spider, for that matter. Still, it was Spider-man I wanted to be, and I was not going to settle for anything less. As I voiced out my opinions, I was constantly told that Spider-man never existed, and he was just a figment of an old man's imagination. Granted, that old man was Stan Lee, but the fact remained that Peter Parker was no more real than the Boogeyman under my bed. So with my head bowed, I finally accepted that I would neither swing from sky scrapers, fight the Green Goblin, nor marry Mary Jane Watson.
As I grew a little older, I wanted to be a mad scientist. Not just any scientist, but a mad one; complete with the crazy hairdo and the beer bottle glasses. As you can imagine, that idea too did not sit too well with the folks. "How are you going to make money", they said. Being a kid of 8 or 9, it never bothered me that someday I would be expected to support a household, or hold what the community and society believed to be a "respectable job". I was never a poor student in school, and most relatives I encountered would make comments on how I would make a great doctor or engineer someday. Why doctor? What's wrong with being a mad scientist, I would ask. The answer was always the same. Son, it's just not done.
And so as I grew into a teenager, I became wiser, and started targeting a 'real ambition'.
Yet, two years after deciding on a profession, I think of all the past ambitions I have had, and ask myself this. Did I actually get any wiser, or was I cowed into accepting the limits society imposed on me? Guys, you can be whatever you set your mind to be. If I want to be Spider-man, then damn it, I will be Spider-man. Who is to say what is a respectable ambition, and what is not? The thing about potential is that once you doubt its existence, you automatically impose an extremely unforgiving barrier upon yourself, a barrier that unless broken will haunt your every effort at excellence. The effect of this barrier is like the "brick wall" long distance runners face. At a given point in their run, the runner feels the sudden urge to stop, and at that exact instant, it seems almost impossible to go on, and that the best choice would be to quit the race. However, once the barrier is overcome, the runner becomes extremely invigorated, pushing at their boundaries, and astonishing both themselves, and the crowd with their burst of excellence.
Who is to say we cannot do the same? I'll be bold here and say this. I will be whatever the hell I choose to be, regardless of what society expects of me, and honestly, you should too. Enough of being told what we can and can not do. Enough of having our limits imposed and set upon us. Enough of having our endless potential wasted by years of culling. We are all born with unique hues, yet sadly as we grow, we fade into the same shades of grey as the rest of the crowd. I say, stand out! Chase your dreams, however outlandish they may be. Try your hand at whatever it is you want to do, and if you fail, well at least you tried. Nobody won any awards for dreaming. Leave the dreaming to the dreamers and those who missed their boat. We are the youth of the nation, and we will do.
Go ahead. Chase your dreams. I dare you. I dare us.
So long for now. I'm gonna go look for a radioactive spider.
Jan 21, 2012
Jan 19, 2012
Media Censorship
[- Post has been removed by SOPA -]
Freedom of speech and expression is everything. Do not let anyone take that away from us.
We are the youth of the nation, and we shall be heard.
Say no to SOPA and PIPA.
Freedom of speech and expression is everything. Do not let anyone take that away from us.
We are the youth of the nation, and we shall be heard.
Say no to SOPA and PIPA.
Jan 14, 2012
Would you believe me if I tell you...
What would you do if one day you realize that everything you've read, every idea that you have was never really yours? What would you do if you realize that your quickest and most reliable source of information about the world, and even about your friends have been filtered out only to fit your view about the world, not about how the world actually is? Would you believe me if I tell you that the internet may be turning you into a bigot? That your favorite social networking sites or search engines are only showing you what you want to see, not what you need to see?
Only you have the answers to this question. My main concern is, if you so willingly believe anything I tell you, then yes, I am very concerned. However, if you took the time to be critical, to analyze every information, every idea, to try and see every possible point of view on one particular issue, then I have no doubt that you'll be able to see the world as it is, not for what you think it is, or in other words, what the internet or the media wants you to think.
The problem with blindly believing every piece of information, especially one that has been accustomed to your view, one that does not challenge your view in any way is that it makes you prone to becoming ignorant, self-centered, dogmatic, and unaccepting of other peoples views or values. Is there any wonder then why people spend more time believing in or creating mindless gossip, arguing, defaming the other person instead of being more productive, exchanging great ideas and actually running the country? *ehem*slight reference to Malaysian politics and society*ehem*
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVbQFEdNPB0XQZQvYmEFUUIpb6aUkX-ixEQ5_CJQxg9zdOgiwdKqwou-3CS2Qt4CTs1KolyVs8ZJYhvQtcNlyXjZsZAA5dKga8T4hbjmREaOHdUNWHUOEyZS66I8_irp3RBMZ7IOp8bxw/s320/filter-bubbles-43pixels.jpeg)
I was inspired to write this post upon watching a video of Eli Pariser, a political and internet activist, talking about The Filter Bubble. As the internet is becoming an important source of information and connection to the rest of the world, I believe that every thinking person who is using the internet should watch this video. Please click HERE. (It's a link to a video from youtube, I'm not blogger-savvy enough to figure out how to share the video here.)
For more information about what exactly is The Filter Bubble. Click HERE.
Awake your Mind, DISCOVER the TRUTH.
Only you have the answers to this question. My main concern is, if you so willingly believe anything I tell you, then yes, I am very concerned. However, if you took the time to be critical, to analyze every information, every idea, to try and see every possible point of view on one particular issue, then I have no doubt that you'll be able to see the world as it is, not for what you think it is, or in other words, what the internet or the media wants you to think.
The problem with blindly believing every piece of information, especially one that has been accustomed to your view, one that does not challenge your view in any way is that it makes you prone to becoming ignorant, self-centered, dogmatic, and unaccepting of other peoples views or values. Is there any wonder then why people spend more time believing in or creating mindless gossip, arguing, defaming the other person instead of being more productive, exchanging great ideas and actually running the country? *ehem*slight reference to Malaysian politics and society*ehem*
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVbQFEdNPB0XQZQvYmEFUUIpb6aUkX-ixEQ5_CJQxg9zdOgiwdKqwou-3CS2Qt4CTs1KolyVs8ZJYhvQtcNlyXjZsZAA5dKga8T4hbjmREaOHdUNWHUOEyZS66I8_irp3RBMZ7IOp8bxw/s320/filter-bubbles-43pixels.jpeg)
I was inspired to write this post upon watching a video of Eli Pariser, a political and internet activist, talking about The Filter Bubble. As the internet is becoming an important source of information and connection to the rest of the world, I believe that every thinking person who is using the internet should watch this video. Please click HERE. (It's a link to a video from youtube, I'm not blogger-savvy enough to figure out how to share the video here.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLI1-TRLaUcnp9tIScs98geQo7buKd2bG25o07h2WEjXkaMS8GyNzWB4dbZ6flCcaj4r29XQ9BGcLZlhUGP7RYs9kZw2aFk7cNQDdGpUJEKpoYp5BQr62VhttoH5GUb1NT6qOu3PtSYOPh/s320/thefilterbubble.jpg)
Awake your Mind, DISCOVER the TRUTH.
Jan 11, 2012
Truth Is
We know discrimination by gender, sexual orientation, religion, race or disability is wrong,
Truth is that society
by acknowledging their differences and the need to treat them as equals, are already judging.
We ultimately realize that happiness is the reason for living,
Truth is that society
is ever ready to pop our happy bubble.
We learn that the only right we have is over our virtues and principles we hold in life,
Truth is that society
molds you to compromise your principles in exchange for a superior position on the superficial social ladder.
We know failure in the quest for excellence would be inevitable
Truth is that society
tells us there is no such thing as perfection and only blaming others would make you feel better.
Yet, the very truth is that there's no truth.
Society's truth is not your truth.
My truth may not be your truth.
We keep telling our children to 'think out of the box' then we impose restrictions on them, forcing their retreat.
When a child questions an older figure, why is it seen as offensive if the question has a solid base?
Whoever said that age was the barometer of the quantity of respect awarded?
Professor Ha Joon Chang gave me one of the best advice that's so simple, yet often forgotten that I actually learnt through Awake Minds.
Do not fear. Dare to challenge the authority.
But of course, challenge authority with intelligence, not ego or pride.
We know failure in the quest for excellence would be inevitable
Truth is that society
tells us there is no such thing as perfection and only blaming others would make you feel better.
Yet, the very truth is that there's no truth.
Society's truth is not your truth.
My truth may not be your truth.
In the end, it is how we untangle and break free from the group mind that sets us apart.
We are fully absorbed in the concept of following the majority that we are so afraid to stand for our truth.
Why are we defending someone else's truth instead of our own?
What is keeping you and me back?
We keep telling our children to 'think out of the box' then we impose restrictions on them, forcing their retreat.
When a child questions an older figure, why is it seen as offensive if the question has a solid base?
Whoever said that age was the barometer of the quantity of respect awarded?
Professor Ha Joon Chang gave me one of the best advice that's so simple, yet often forgotten that I actually learnt through Awake Minds.
Do not fear. Dare to challenge the authority.
But of course, challenge authority with intelligence, not ego or pride.
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