A Sidewalk Christmas
As most(in singapore) know, Orchard Road(the hub of singaporean life(lessness)) was open to human traffic on Christmas.
"Oh Whoopsy doo!"
It was interesting to observe how everyone spilled onto the road the moment it was closed to tyred traffic with a force that might be expected when a levee comes asunder, and how many just stood there even though there was more elbow-room on the sidewalks. The relatively greater animation and merriment amongst those who traversed the lanes 'along the watchtower' that were normally forbidden to the non-tyred sector of society was plain to see.
"Hmmm…"
Perhaps when people are deprived of more significant freedoms,
far more joy is found even in the most insignificant, inane and fleeting of opportunities to do that which is normally forbidden. Perhaps it serves as a cathartic valve providing relief for the negative feelings engendered by life in a repressive climate…and which, in turn, serves to ‘empower’ them to put up with far more BS that they might otherwise would. Thus, the need to get on the road may arise from greater needs left unsatisfied (we may not know exactly what we are deprived of, but that does not mean we do not suffer the psychological consequences that arise from such deprivation), being unable to take on confrontational attitudinal/behavioural postures, and failing to pursue intrinsically meaningful activities whilst interned within the bowels of a repressive society.
Little things, I suppose, please thus belittled minds.
I, however, stayed on the sidewalk.....and well away from along the watchtower
"Oh Whoopsy doo!"
It was interesting to observe how everyone spilled onto the road the moment it was closed to tyred traffic with a force that might be expected when a levee comes asunder, and how many just stood there even though there was more elbow-room on the sidewalks. The relatively greater animation and merriment amongst those who traversed the lanes 'along the watchtower' that were normally forbidden to the non-tyred sector of society was plain to see.
"Hmmm…"
Perhaps when people are deprived of more significant freedoms,
far more joy is found even in the most insignificant, inane and fleeting of opportunities to do that which is normally forbidden. Perhaps it serves as a cathartic valve providing relief for the negative feelings engendered by life in a repressive climate…and which, in turn, serves to ‘empower’ them to put up with far more BS that they might otherwise would. Thus, the need to get on the road may arise from greater needs left unsatisfied (we may not know exactly what we are deprived of, but that does not mean we do not suffer the psychological consequences that arise from such deprivation), being unable to take on confrontational attitudinal/behavioural postures, and failing to pursue intrinsically meaningful activities whilst interned within the bowels of a repressive society.
Little things, I suppose, please thus belittled minds.
I, however, stayed on the sidewalk.....and well away from along the watchtower
christmas 2007 malaysia singapore india singapore hong kong philipines uk new year jimi hendrix
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