Alternative history to Singapore

Is history ever a consistent single story line? I believe there will always be gaps and distortions. Sometimes the construction of these are accidental or subconscious as the historian or writer necessarily makes interpretations and summaries. Sometimes these are deliberate due to self-interests or misguided good intent.

Growing up in the typical education system of Singapore, I never questioned the facts of history and the key heroes that led the country to independence. I took things for granted. There was no encouragement to be inquisitive as the environment favoured people who did well in conforming to the norm.

Inquisitiveness is de-valued and reframed as rebelliousness or defiance in our society. As I switched career to become a counsellor, the value of genuine curiosity became more significant. I became interested in the post-modern and post-structuralist approaches that pervaded beyond counselling.

How do we question the facts? Aren't facts supposed to stand on their own without doubt? After I heard an interview with Dr. Lim Hock Siew, who was a political prisoner arrested during Operation Cold Store, it became clearer what had happened to the facts.

Truth or "closer to the truth" can only be formed when more facts are provided. When I heard about such facts being suppressed and silenced, it led to many more questions. Why was there a fear of the truth? Was it a valid fear? Are there repercussions for those who withheld the truth?

I believe a valuable lesson here is to learn how to look for what had been absent, what lies beyond the presented facts.

The wisdom of adaptability - 心能转境

心能转境

不论遭遇如何境地，
山不转，路转；
路不转，人转；
人不转，境转；
境不转，心转。
心一转，宇宙人生，穷通祸福，
一派潇潇洒洒，任运自然。

-- 星云大师

What's in a word?

A woman lost her husband and lived with a major regret in her heart for many years. She had released permission for an operation that resulted in his coma and death.

The regret had another layer of meaning as it meant not being able to hear his last words because of the coma. In his last moments, she had spoken to him by his bed assuring him that she would care for the family. She knew what he would have wanted. Although without speech, he responded with his tears and felt at ease to pass on.

She continues to struggle with the missing words and only hopes to hear him in her dreams. Perhaps it's time his tears begin to speak.

Tenacity

When one talks about suffering, it is often about personal experience. How does one describe the suffering endured through loving and caring for another person? Is it suffering or should it deserve a better name. Tenacity? A determined purposeful way of living for the care of another?

I came across a caregiver who looked after her spouse for a decade after he retired and suffered a stroke. That meant having to single handedly support two schooling children. in addition to daily care for the spouse.

The spouse has since passed on. Yet, their home is clean and welcoming and I could not help but compliment her on this even though it might have seemed unusual. There was something dignified about how the place was well maintained as a home.