Tuesday 2 December 2008

Why are you Homophobic?

Homophobia is an irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals.
In other words, its the fear of or contempt for homosexuals.

A passage i found online:

"Society holds out the hope for change to just about everybody else.
If there is something unsatisfying in your life, you don’t have to be stuck there.
The issue could be anything ranging from losing weight, finding a job, education, poverty, cigarettes, alcohol or drugs.
Whatever the issue is - society says that change is possible.

Except for one group of people - those affected by homosexuality.
To this group many say that change is not possible.
How unkind, hurtful and intolerant, it is for others to say that while change is possible for everyone else, it is not possible for homosexuals - for this one special group of people there is no hope for change."

Is that true?

There are many people in the world with homophobia.

And being a more traditional country, there are more people in Singapore with homophobia than many parts of the world.

But why?

Why do people despise or even detest homosexuals?

Male-to-male relationships often incite a stronger reaction in a homophobic person than female-to-female. Many females are alright with having homosexual friends, because lesbians and gays are not much a threat to them.
But the men. Whenever they see a gay man, they react with disgust.

I was once hugged by a homosexual in my army camp.
At that point of time i didn't know he was a homosexual.
He had not seen me for a week and hugged me and told me that he missed me.
I felt it was okay thought he was a little weird.
But few weeks later, the discovery of his homosexuality sent shudders down my spine.
I questioned myself of my response.

Are homosexuals supposed to be rejected & outcast, or to be accepted?

Let me show you a few wrong mindsets most men with homophobia have.
And i hope that you who are guilty (like i am) would decide to look at them with a new perspective.

MYTH #1: Homosexuals will be interested in me!

Whenever i see homosexuals, i will take a step back.
I'm afraid that they would end up liking and approaching me.
The look in their eyes.
That girly smile they wear.
Its all too scary!!

FACT #1: His homosexuality doesn't mean him being interested in you

Homosexuals have the same interest in people of the same gender as you have to an opposite gender.
Just because I am interested in the opposite gender doesn't mean that i will be interested in EVERY girl that walks past.
Similarly, just because homosexuals have an interest in people of the same gender, it doesn't mean that they'll end up liking every person of the same gender who walks past, especially not you!

Okay, lets get honest here.
As a guy, why would you be interested in a particular girl?
Maybe its because her looks caught your attention resulting in a very good impression.
But if you found out that her character was terrible, would you still be attracted to her?
If you go forward to introduce yourself to her but she scoffs at you and walks away, would you still be interested?
If she sees you and runs away, would you still be interested?

What I am trying to say is that, you who believe that homosexuals will eventually be interested in you, are the perfect person that a homosexual would not be interested in.
Because your behaviour towards them would really turn them off.
The point I'm trying to get across is to stop thinking that they would be interested in you.

MYTH#2: Homosexuals are freaky people

Homosexuals are really weird people.
They look so scheming, so sneaky, as if they're about to do something sick.
I can't stand the sight of them!

FACT#2: Homosexuals are freaky. As freaky as you are that is

I am referring to the men here.
Many guys are afraid of gays because they feel that their actions are just too freaky!
They would always imagine homosexuals planning to do something sick & disgusting.
The fact is, there really are Freaky Homosexuals out there.
They do weird stuff that scares the socks off many.

But just because a few Homosexuals are weird, it doesn't mean that all of them are weird.
In fact, if you would to compare, those who are weird are just the minority.

If you think about it, there are more weird & freaky non-homosexuals than there are homosexuals.
Think about it, there are so many non-homosexual freaky guys out there!
If you are a female or have a female friend with encounters of such people, you'll understand.

Many guys when in love with another girl, or just admiring her, would go dig out as much detail about the person as possible. He would go to friendster and see all her photos, starring at them for hours. He would read her profile and then check out all her 5000 testimonials one at a time. He would go to facebook and click on every link that he can find, just to find out more about her. He would read every post in her blog, even those 5 years ago!

Isn't that just freaky?!

To some of you it is, to some its not. To some of you this is perfectly normal.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Freakiness is in the eye of the beholder too.

The common factor here, is the beholder.
It isn't how beautiful or how freaky a person is, its how you see it as.

The truth is, looking from a certain perspective, you are equally as weird!!

MYTH#3: Homosexuals are just different and unacceptable

According to my moral beliefs, homosexuality is wrong and thus it is unacceptable.
How would the children in future grow up to be, seeing homosexuals around acting as if its normal.
Its not normal and behaving like a homosexual is not acceptable

FACT#3: Homosexuals are truly different, just like how every person is different

Everyone is different.
Everyone has different problems and different struggles.
And you say that it is unacceptable, how un-accepting should we be towards homosexuals?

Should we condemn them like the Nazi's did?

Where men convicted of homosexuality could be incarcerated in concentration camps.
Where castration was given as an option to homosexuals in exchange for lower sentences.

"Homophobia is like racism and anti-semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood."
- Coretta Scott King 1998

FACT#4: Homosexuals are just like you; human

Homophobia is the fear of homosexuals.
Lets dissect the word to understand its true meaning.

The Greek word 'homo', where we get the word homosexual from, means 'the same'.
So, literally, 'homophobia' means a fear of things that are the same.

Isn't that ironic?
Isn't that so dumb?

To be afraid of something that is the same as you.

Yes, being homosexuals they are different.
They have different desires, different preferences, et cetera.

But aren't these people human too?
Are they not as human to you?
Aren't they, 'the same'?
Why would you then condemn something that is similar to you?

Anyone can love someone who is lovable.
Even animals, they can love what they love.
But only a heart of a human, one that has to ability to feel compassion, can love someone who is unlovable.
Someone whom the society rejects and deems as 'unlovable'.

I am not asking you to accept the person's behaviour, I'm asking you to accept his humanity, to accept him as a human.

Everyone deserves to be loved.
But the outcast of society deserves to be loved more.
Because they've been through so much more.
Because they've experienced so much lesser love.

Many people have different views on homosexuality.
But lets not debate here whether homosexuality is right or not.
Lets not talk about helping homosexuals change.

Homosexuality is too vast a topic for me to address completely.
Their thinking, their beliefs, their hidden pain, their struggle, et cetera.
Society complicates life for homosexuals.

There are so many things that i don't know.
But what i know, is how much they crave for love & acceptance.
Yes they have homosexual friends who can totally understand them and accept them, but what they want is acceptance from their families, from the society.
And the rest of the non-homosexuals, is the society that they are longing acceptance from.
It is you.

But we can't do much can we?
Unless we are experts in the study of homosexuality, we can't do much to help them.
Except, to accept them.
Because acceptance, in itself is already, much.


So to make it practical, Guys, next time when you see a homosexual, please don't shun him away.
Please don't scoff at him or laugh at him.
Just be nice like how you would to a normal friend.
But of course practise wisdom and not mislead him to think otherwise.

For the girls, next time you see a guy acting like a jerk with homophobia, don't hesitate to bring him back to reality with a simple but effective slap.


One thing that i know can stand time & even eternity, is love. And acceptance is a means of showing love. You could make a difference even in eternity, with just a simple act of acceptance.

Friday 14 November 2008

Love Language Exam Paper

If you were to remember the last English Language examination paper you had seen, you would remember that there were many different types of questions.

Some of us have a preference in doing a certain section of the paper, while others never liked any of the sections.

Well, the way a man/woman chooses his mate, is similar to the different sections.
To each section, I've known at least one friend who belongs to it.

So lets see what kind of question, would be your love style.


1. Multiple Choice

You are given 4 choices and you are supposed to choose one.
If this is your love style, you are more likely to get to know more girls/guys, and then from there you choose the best one.

Advantages:
It is good in a way because you get to know more people and you'll be clearer on who you are more compatible with, what kind of person you prefer to be with for the rest of your life.


Disadvantages:
The bad thing is that you might appear flirtatious to others.


Temptation to watch out for:
The instructions say circle one of the four available answers, DO NOT circle more than one answer!
Circling two or more answers does not mean that your chances of getting it right is higher just because you had definitely circled the right person.
In fact your answer becomes invalid because of the wrong answers that you circled along with the right one.
What I am trying to say is that you should know your limits.
Choose one girl/guy only, don't choose more than one!

Sample:
Which of the following girls do you want to be with for eternity? (Circle only one answer)
a) Jane
b) Jene
c) Jine
d) June

2. True or False


You are given a statement and can only answer TRUE or FALSE.
You do not have much choices, not because there is a lack of attracted personnel's, but because you only want to consider one at a time.


Advantages:
You are focused, it is only a yes or no.
There is no third party that you allowed your mind to be distracted by.


Disadvantages:
Because it is so direct and straight to the point, only a yes or no, you might spend too much time thinking of the answer.
You might become very indecisive and waste much time.


Temptation to watch out for:
Many people answer true or false questions straight away after reading the question.
Sometimes the question is tricky and you gotta read the question a few times to understand it first!
So stay in balance, don't decide too quickly nor waste too much time thinking.


Sample:
You are in love with Bob and recently you think of him more than stroking your pet chinchilla. True or False?


3. Fill in the blanks


You are given a question with a blank and you are supposed to fill it in with any word.
You are the kind who would not stop until you find the "Perfect One".
Your life is a quest for the Right Person.



Advantages:
You know what you want, and you are determine to fill in that blank, to answer that question.
Also, you can try out answers, putting them into the blank and see if it fits the sentence.
If it doesn't you can immediately change it.


Disadvantages:
A blank page, or a complete sentence would not be as distracting as an incomplete one.
Having that blank there could be very distracting to you sometimes.


Temptation to watch out for:
Do not spend too much time on filling in that blank.
Don't focus too much energy on it too, don't let it give you a headache.
It's not worth spending too much time on it because usually these questions only cost 1 or 2 marks, there are more important things in life.
If you can't think of an answer, move on to do other parts of the paper (your life) first before coming back to the question again.


Sample:
I want to be with _____ forever. (You might be stuck with the words 'girlfriend', 'mother', 'Barack Obama', etc, etc)



4. Comprehension

You have to read a passage first before answering a few questions.
You like to read other's lives.
You like to analyze other's lives.
You like to understand the one that you love and know more about him/her, (Not hiding behind a pillar or tree peeking though) before asking yourself many questions.
Questions on whether he/she is the right person for you.
Questions on how the future will be like if you would to be together with her.


Advantages:
If you managed to get many questions right, it means that you really understand the person that you like. It'll be fantastic because when understanding is present, a relationship would be easier to develop.


Disadvantages:
It would take a very long time to read the passage and think of the answers.
It could be a very slow process, so you will have to be patient.


Temptation to watch out for:
Don't think you've passed just because you've answered correctly only one of the questions.
People tend to get happy even though they got the other 4 questions wrong but one right.
Because one question itself in this section costs 5 marks!
What i am trying to say is that, because the person you like has one or a few very good point/s that you like, don't let it blind you from seeing the other many many problems that might be dangerous if this relationship moves one.
But you don't need to be too picky and get full marks for this section too.
At least get a good pass!

Sample:
(Too Long for a sample, hehe)


5. Essay

I'm going to glorify this point a little more.
Partly because its one of the most romantic of all, but MAINLY coz it's my love style!!
haha..
You are given a short question to write an essay on. You have to write a minimum of 500 words.
You are the type who would like to not just find your love, but in between have a love story as well.
You love stories.
You love love stories.
You love your story to be a good love story.
You love creative introductions.
You love a very eventful body (in terms of an essay).
You love an exciting climax.
You love the part where the characters have to go through so much trials.
You love to see the characters emerge in triumph.
You love the adventure, the intensity.
But most of all, you would love a fantastic ending.


Advantages:
You think about her/him quite often.
You pay attention to his/her simple details.
You love spending time with her/him, not just going for plain old cliche style dates, but always trying something daring and new.
You will end up loving the person a lot because of how much you've put into the relationship.


Disadvantages:
You might end up putting more effort into this relationship than her/him.


Temptation to watch out for:
You also might end up being more in love with the essay than with her.
I am referring to being in love with the romantic dates, adventure more than the person herself/himself.
And when nothing exciting is going on, you might feel that the love is no longer there.

Sample:
If you could choose, how would you like the day where you meet the one whom you'll marry to be like? How would things progress from there?


6. Leaving it Blank

You have totally no interest to answer any of the questions
It doesn't bother you if you end up not marrying.


Advantages:
You might have the gift of celibacy!
Unlike the average person, you wouldn't be so distracted by members of the opposite sex.
Thus you can focus more on other important things in life!


Disadvantages:
You will have to bear through many Chinese New Years & Christmases when your relatives often pop out the magical question on when will you be getting married.

Temptation to watch out for:
Rickson might avoid you because he is afraid that your 'celibacy anointing' might rub off on him and he might become a celibate too. (Nah, Rickson won't avoid people, but he really doesn't want a share in that anointing, so please don't lay hands on him, haha)

7. Wrong Questions (with spelling error, etc)

You are doing a wrong question!!

Your question has a punctuation or spelling error. It might not seem like a huge error, but there is a high chance of answering it wrongly since the question itself isn't even correct.

You are on the wrong path in life!

Maybe it's because it is not the right timing, that you should be focusing on other areas on your life for that moment.

Or it could be that you are looking for a wrong thing in a mate.

Maybe you just want to find a mate with a hot bod that you'll be attracted to, et cetera.

And that is one serious wrong question that you are on!


Advantages:
No Advantages, go report on the error in your question, get it changed!

Disadvantages:
The right answer to a wrong question is still a wrong answer.

Temptation to watch out for:
Because the question is wrong, it might seem very easy, and you might be tempted to just be lazy and answer the question hoping you'll get it right.

Sample:
I was be going to borrow you my flim when you ____ can anot?



So THAT'S ALL!!!
Though i say these are love styles, often it can be influenced by your circumstances.
For example i might be an essay guy, but suddenly if 4 very nice almost perfect girls fall for me (though i know it won't happen, haha), i might use the multiple choice style because of such a situation.

Its just an example lar, i won't end up like that i think, haha.


Value in view of time & eternity this post has.
As mentioned in the previous post, you need to know yourself better.
To enjoy life you gotta enjoy relationships.
And one of the most important relationship you will have is the relationship with yourself!
Thus, know yourself more!!

Friday 31 October 2008

9000 words to Describe Rickson

A Picture paints a thousand words...

A mosaic like this paints 9 thousand words, about me.. :D



Try this out too

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s Mosaic Maker.

1. What is your first name? Rickson
2. What is your favourite food? Meat Balls
3. What is your favourite colour? Purple!!
4. What is your favourite drink? Strawberry Yoghurt Drink
5. Dream vacation? Heaven (I mean vacation, i don't wanna migrate there yet, probably in 80 years time then i would, haha)
6. Favourite hobby? Singing Everywhere (esp. in the lift, bathroom, staircase and when doing household chores)
7. What do you want to be when you grow up? Preacher
8. What do you love most in life? Life (of course)
9. Describe yourself in one word. Awesome! haha.



Though it doesn's seem like, this post has much value in view of eternity and time.

Because to enjoy time & eternity, you must first enjoy yourself. And to enjoy yourself, you must first know yourself.

Though it doesn't say much in words, but doing up such a mosaic will allow you to see how coulourful (or uncolourful) your life is.

And to remind you of who you are.

OR.. maybe its just fun and the bored you might want to try this out, haha...

Thursday 16 October 2008

Political INSPIRATIONS

The recent US elections stirred up such a hype, not just in their country but worldwide. Speeches by candidates touched millions of people.
White-collar workers, women, children, textile workers, dishwashers, immigrants, slaves and also... Musicians & Vocalists...

Enjoy these Political Songs, and BE INSPIRED!!!

"Yes We Can" by Barack Obama (will.I.AM)


Oh, and some comedians were inspired too...
"No We Can't" by John Mccain

BaraCk n 'Roll


And here.. is a song not motivated by any speech but challenged by a minister to be written.
I shall not say much, enjoy the difference that you see & hear. USA vs Singapore...

"Mai Hum" by Lee Hsein Loong



And finally, if you feel like getting inspired, listen to this great speech, so great that i call it the 21st century version of Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream".

Barack Obama's Speech



This post definitely has value in view of eternity & time.
Politians have the power to change the world, to change our present, to change our future.
Especially if its the future president of the most influencial country in the whole world.
Hopefully, our politics will be as strong or even stronger that what we've seen. (soon)

Last of all, may the Best man win the elections (i mean Obama btw).

Wednesday 15 October 2008

21st Birthday Wishlist!!

Oh Gosh! I can't believe it's been almost a year since i last blogged.

And i still remembered how much i enjoyed blogging!
I shall revive my blog now!

Pardon me if the level of my vocabulary, my grammer usage or my spelling deteriorated, i've been serving my NS for four months, thus...

Anyway, i shall start of with a simple post, on my 21st birthday wishlist!!

I'm not a very materialistic person and i don't ask for much, so here goes!!



NOBLE WISHELIST

1) WORLD PEACE!!! (of course, who could miss out on this most famous wish)
2) Singapore's economy to recover (doesn't really affect me, just that there are too many people who went crazy recently)
3) Nations world wide will come up with solutions to global warming and take necessary actions
4) That someone could create an alternative for plastic, a more eco-friendly one
5) That China would totally break free from communism
6) That the Israelites will turn their heart...
7) That AIDS, HIV,Ccancer, multiple-sclerosis and all kinds of crazy sicknesses to disappear out of the face of the earth!! (As in really really vanish, not disappear & move on the the moon or whatever, we don't want our Astronauts to be infected)

okay, all these are good thoughts but.. hmmm...
i guess these are not things that i really really want for my birthday, though its good that it happens..

I shall be more honest now.



UNREALISTIC YET HONEST WISHLIST

1) That i will have 1 million US dollars in my bank by the age of 21!!
2) 100K sounds good too
3) I don't mind 10K too
4) Okay okay, what about 5K? (please...)
5) That i can visit heaven! (temporarily only, not to stay yet, i still got many years ahead, haha)
6) I will have the ability to teleport
7) My NS days will fast forward (ORD tomorrow!!)
8) that my dog can talk (english or chinese will be good, hokkien would be more interesting though)
9) that my dog wont' have a very irritating human voice (preferably a Morgan Freeman voice)
10) that my dog will learn how to be nice to pretty girls.. or to any girls.. okay, to everyone..
11) that my dog will learn how to cut his own hair, bath and clean his own poo.
12) that my dog will smell like lavender..
13) that my dog can play the piano well
14) that i can one day go scuba diving and find a pineapple at the bottom of the sea! (not a decomposed one though)
15) That someone wil buy me a pet sponge, a pet starfish, a pet underwater squirrel, a pet squid and a pet crab! (Not the stuffed-toy version please!!)
16) And that all of them can talk!! (Talking pets, wooo~)
17) To be able to buy the whole TOPMAN & LEVI's & ED HARDY & QUICKSILVER & BILLABONG & RIPCURL's boutiques..

Oh well, i guess all these are a little too unrealistic right. Hmmm... let me try again.



HALF-REALISTIC HONEST WISHLIST

1) My pimples miraculously dry up and fall off (not while i'm eating though)
2) scars to naturally heal (wolverine?)
3) miraculously become shuai-er (think takeshi kaneshiro)
4) hair to grow faster [think samson (the ones on my head of course)]
5) to have to vocals of Jason Mraz or Bono or Chris Martin or Martin Smith or Magni
6) to play the guitar like jason mraz
7) I will grow 5cm more in height.
8) I will have photographic memory
9) That I can super duper speed read (so i can complete reading all the books in the world)
10) To be in divine health, no sickness whatsoever and that i won't need to see a doctor anymore for years
11) That my Parents, brothers, grandma and relatives would be super healthy and all live to 100 years old!!

okay okay, i know all these are only half realistic and requires a miracle to come to past.
I shall be real honest and realistic now..


REAL HONEST & REALISTIC WISHLIST

1) To gain 10kg!!!
2) To have a super nice personalized guitar (expensive and sounds super nice, with cool purple colour strings)
3) I don't mind MANY MANY NEW NICE clothes, jeans, shoes, bags, accessories, etc, etc.. (the keyword is MANY MANY NEW NICE!)
3) That Rickson will not lose his coolness or sense of humour due to 2 years of mundane life stuck in a 'certain place'..
4) That God will bless me with a (great) partner! (soon.. hopefully not in 10 years time, haha..)
Here you go, 40 great Wishes for my 21st birthday!!
Well i have many many other very important wishes, but most of them are spiritual ones (another 20 more? haha) & I guess many of you won't understand, so i shall not overwhelm you too much for the time being, haha..
THAT's ALL..


This post has TOTALLY NO VALUE in view of eternity or time for anyone else other than the author (me!).

Unless you are one of those who are dedicated to granting wishes like a 21st century un-obese Santa Clause that lost track of his time because he lost his calender and was decieved by his 7 reindeers that October 19th is actually the new Christmas because they wanted to save snow white from decomposing and need the power of the 21st century un-obese Santa Clause to revive her, whom the found out might be in Singapore thus coming over and coincidentally saw this blog and decided to coincidentally grant the last wishes before this male turns to the age of adulthood, THEN, it has value for you!!

P.S. I promise the next post will have some value in it!