Food for Thought!

My superiors are really something. In fact, people are really something. The thing with stereotypes is that most of the time, people do not actually fit into stereotypes. Ironical isn't it?
Was speaking to some of my enciks, and he really impressed me with his knowledge of current affairs - or rather if I used the stereotype as a basis of comparison. Apart from the staunch disbelief in the Americans and making sweeping statements, some of his arguments do make sense, and in fact provided fresh perspectives.
He claimed that in order for real reform and unity of a country to happen, you need a "bastard" - his crude form of "a totalitarian dictator" - to be in power. Because "soft" and "nice" people have people climbing all over their heads, and in the end either get assassinated or power overthrown. Take for instance, the Qin Emperor unified China, at the expense of thousands of Chinese which somehow offended him. Stalin unified Russia into a global superpower then with his Communist fury. Genghis Khan unified Mongolia into a force reckoned even with China (he even took over China to form a new dynasty) at the expense of dozens of other clans. Hitler gave Germany's sluggish economy a jumpstart into industralisation during his invasive expansion into other countries and Nazi rule. Even at home, Singapore's old guard laid down a series of controversial policies and acts that swiftly removed power from local clans and potential opposition - something which many until now are ignorant of admist the prosperity and peace we are enjoying now.
Those were alot of examples, valid ones in fact, and examples you cannot ignore. Interesting eh?
Another encik was sharing his experience as a mountaineer - he went to India to undergo a two-month course in mountaineering. He shared his knowledge about how mountaineering can be classified into a "summit" group - people who actually climbs to the summit and plant your flag/take photos on the highest piece of rock in that area - and a "expedition" group - people who provides logistical support at the various base camps lower down the mountain, but still high in terms of sea level. I did not know that several trips were in fact made between base camps due to two reasons; to acclimatize and condition the body and to bring the supplies and equipment up bit by bit. Furthermore, during the actual conquest, it may in fact get dirty - for if you were to "be injured" in any way that made you unable to move off, "most groups" would just abandon you and leave you to fend for themselves. The group would make their ascent without the injured person, and will only "collect" back the injured person if they "happened to meet him" on the way down. Sounds cruel isn't it? But here's the catch. Most groups can only go up at most once a year, and that does not neglect the fact they may be unable to get a chance at all during the window period in the next year. Furthermore, they may lack the sponsorship and funding for Round Two. Hence, once their feet actually step on the mountain base, it was a "do-or-die" attitude already. (But Singaporean teams, since we are people-scarce, will simply cancel their ascent and make their way back home with the injured fella)
Well, this simply popped the question of "Is that climb really so worth a life?" in my head, as I really wonder how much people put into the meaning of their life? Of course many of us would just think, "Better to live another day than die trying". But to really empathise with them would require one to spend years purportedly training, garnering support and promoting for that single month of expedition - that is something 99% of us can't.
So that's some food for thought?

One officer also shared some nice perspective which I overlooked. With reference to the early bookout by some companies, he quipped "I rather book out late and then book in late". To the clueless, companies that book out early (able to get out of camp) will most likely book in early as well - so everyone kind of get "equal a nominal time" in mainland. (Of course we know the "real" value of the time given is different due to travelling time) The officer's reason: You must look at the purpose of this bookout: Hari Raya. Many Muslims would rather book in late so that they would have more time to celebrate their Hari Raya tomorrow rather than book out early to "enjoy earlier" but end up with much lesser time for their Hari Raya. For instance, the late bookouts would reach home at 10pm but end up being able to be present in camp at 8pm next day but the early bookouts would reach home at 7pm but end up having to be present in camp at 5pm the next day! I am sure that extra 3 hours of Hari Raya would be more appreciated than 3 hours of extra sleeptime?
That is really some nice perspective to look at, rather than just be blind to the fact of "get out of camp as fast as possible". His basic principle, "Look at the purpose and achieve the p.,,urpose".
My current army time seems to be providing really interesting anecdotes and stories for me. Mmm...

So how far should we believe in stereotypes? Easy to say no, but how about those bitching that you make, isn't that stereotyping too? Like CQ is slack or JC is slack (with reference to army)?
Some food for thought :)

my body seems to be cracking up these days
after all those exercises which I put myself through - and they are not that strenous in the first place - and I am coming back with injuries, or rather side effects:
My knee are painful when i exert anything on it, especially after a good run - which I did this morning. The run wasn't even fast, it was rather a jog, and that made me surprise since all these while I do not receive any problems until now.
My wrist also experienced some pain near the wristbone, such that whenever I push something with my palm 90 degrees, I will experience a low but sharp acute pain at the bone. I dont know why, maybe due to my usage of computers? But I have been using computers for so long and I do not experience such problem, and I normally will take rests during my usage.
My ankle, well old injury that seems to be coming back again.

Maybe I should stay away from running for the time being. Running is known - actually it is - to be high impact, especially on our knees and ankle. I should go to swimming then.. but once the recruits come, it will be back to running again. Oh well, I hope I can heal up and recover again! Gosh I really miss my old powerhouse body - not that it is very good compared to the pros, but I think its considerably good haha.

Oh well, I hope my body's fine. I don't want it to break down, I cant la. 19 years old? .. zzz

is it my fault for not ensuring? maybe it is right? Maybe I just put too much trust in others, now I have to do dirty work.
so much for planning for my driving test so early in advance... now I need to fight for it back!