storyofhuizhu

January142017

lust list #9: Chloé susanna boots

November292016

“It’s always over before it’s had a chance to start.”

November242016

just finished reading Escape from camp 14 which details a north korean’s escape from north korea, having been born and bred in a concentration camp. It was a particularly difficult book to read - not because of the language, but because of how heart wrenching it is. we are no stranger to disaster. we see it everyday on the news; people dying, people suffering. but being confronted with the fact that everything this person has ever known is drastically different from what I’ve learnt growing up in the place I have, I am pushed to react to these stories with the knowledge of my disgustingly privileged position at the back of my mind. stories of eating rats and dipping dirty fingers into spilt soup on the ground and then licking them created a thought in my head “I would never do that”. but really, what sort of revoltingly privileged and spoiled person I am that this is the first thought that comes to my mind? also, you want to hate him for betraying his parents and causing their execution but at the same time, how do you begrudge someone who has only ever known distrust and betrayal all his life? I found it excruciating that I have been alerted to such cruelties yet at the same time, in my privileged position, I can’t help but maintain selfish thoughts like “I want to earn a lot of money in the future to buy the stuff I like”. how can I reconcile my moral compass with my personal desires? but then I read these words from jemmawei and made me realise that little and powerless that I am, I can only try my best to be the best person I can to absolve the guilt I feel for continuing to lead my comfortable life.

November142016

LGBTQ

* this post is solely for self-reflection and not intended to offend anyone or inflict my own opinions onto anyone

I have always been uncomfortable with this community, this issue. At the same time, I am also afraid. The internet community is so volatile and people around me hold their own strong opinions. People have lashed out at others who have shown anything less than 100% support for this community and issue.

I have tried so so hard to reconcile my own beliefs with my religion, crafting long paragraphs explaining why I think the way I do. Right now, I finally feel like I am at peace with myself.

I do not support the LGBTQ community. I find it difficult to see transgender people as the gender they claim to identify with instead of their biological sex. I would prefer it if gender was prescribed by biological sex. I find it disgusting to witness displays of affection between people in the LGBTQ community. I am of the opinion that a marriage should be between a female and a male.

Notice the above sentences all start with ‘I’. This is an indication that these are my personal opinions and I will try my very best to ensure that I do not force it onto anyone. I am also well aware that these opinions might very well be a result of my upbringing, my society. My perspective has been tainted by people around me and my view of the world. Above it all, I stand by how I feel.

Do I think gay marriage should be legalised? Probably. I am adamant that regardless of sexual orientation, people are entitled to human rights. For that, I am glad I learned the complications that may arise from gay marriages - travel, property, etc. Therefore, I think that the legalisation of gay marriage would facilitate these procedures. I also want to clarify that regardless of my views on this community, I would never treat someone differently because of their sexual orientation. I still see every one of them as humans equally deserving of respect.

10AM