Small Island Syndrome

January 29th, 2003 Uncategorized

Fighter planes had been flying overhead non-stop since the talk of war, between Malaysia and Singapore that is, not North Korea nor Iraq, started. My mother believed the words of the politicians on teevee: we (Singapore) must not let them (Malaysia) think us weak and easily intimidated. She added that we are superior economically and have no fear for their bullying. I feel irritated by her nationalism and she is irritated by my lack of patriotic spirit. Certainly, water is fundamental to Singapore – we have only our own piss – but why is going to war, the first in their heads? Why isn’t diplomacy pursued until exhaustion before this option? Singapore politicians have always had the small island syndrome and at the slightest provocation, feel the need to assert Singapore’s sovereignty. The water issue must be dealt with on its own; Sovereignty fears will only becloud the real matter in the talks, which is: the buying and selling of raw water.

The root of the legal wrangle lies in sovereignty fears: the original water agreement was part of the Separation Agreement. The heart of the matter lies in that we have too many Chinese in Singapore, hence, Malaysia is worried there are too many Chinese and Singapore is worried because we are surrounded by Muslims. Everything else is an excuse to fight

Marx and Engels

January 29th, 2003 books

Marx’s “Religion is the opium of the people” is one of the most often misquotes I encounter. It is but a close approximation of what he said: “Religion is the opiate of the people.” I did not read closely the entire 3 volumes of Das Kapita + Communist Manifesto to know this; I only know that because another textbook claimed to have correctly quoted him. It could be that Marx never said a thing like that but was said to have said it by Friedrich Engels. Engels knew, perhaps, all these pithy words would not sound right out of his mouth. He need a character and Marx, with his big beard and strong manners, was his character. Marx took hostage his imagination. He made himself the pen and Marx the hand that held it.

My Pens

January 12th, 2003 TreatsTags: Pens

In my fountain pen collection:

Parker 45 Stainless Steel Flighter Medium (gold plated) Nib. Acquired in 1999 at Grace Brothers, Canberra, for A$49.90 with the intention of gifting it to my father as an early birthday present.

When my father was a student, my grandfather gave him a Parker 51. Then it costed a third of my grandfather’s pay. My father promptly lost it and replaced the 51 with an imitation which was never suspected. The imitation was later stolen.

I decided, upon hearing that story, to keep the pen for myself.

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Namiki Vanishing Point (Forest) Green Medium (14k) Nib with stainless steel band and clip. Acquired at Elephant and Coral Pen Distributers, Singapore for S$150 three months after being hired in a Market Research firm.

The salesgirl at Elephant and Coral never forgot me since my first visit to get the VP. I spent an hour at the shop and she was showing some irritation with my indecision – to buy or not to buy? Now I can never just browse there, which is a grave pity: they have a gorgeous collection there.

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Pelikano, transparent orange, stainless steel cap, Medium (Stainless Steel) Nib. Acquired at a stationers near where I live for S$19.90.

It was so cheap I had to buy it. Still I spent half an hour deciding. The pen felt rough like the cheap calligraphy set I had to buy in Primary School for art classes. The salesgirl largely ignored me, consoling her colleague whose eyes look suspiciously red and swollen. Two months later, I gifted it to my brother.

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Pelikan M200. Medium (gold plated) nib. Clear body. Acquired in 2002 at Fook Hing Watches and Pens for $150.

The shop, located in Brash Basah, is run by an old Chinese man who doesn’t mind my indecision and my dipping. Although their pens are not as shiny new as Elephant and Coral but their prices are about 20-30% lower. It is filled with brown ink that complements the gold band.

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Lamy Safari, white. Acquired at the stationers near home for S$33. An impulse buy that I did not regret, unlike the Pelikano. It is now my office pen, lovely for drawing graphs and scribbling notes.

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Pelikan M600. Fine (18k) nib. Stripped Green barrel. Acquired in 2003 at Fook Hing Watches and Pens for $240.

The pen scratches and will have to be sent to Pelikan Malaysia for adjustment. Curiously the M600 had an 18k nib when I thought only M800 (and above) had 18k nibs.