Life is boring. Monotonus.

All that I have is my new book, D-Day by Stephen E. Ambrose. Excellent book, though he's a sensationalist writer. Well, at least he has the facts. And I'd prefer reading a factual account rather than an analyzed account. Analysis somehow takes the interest out of History. It's quite sad, really, that the MoE Syllabus focuses so much on Historiography and analysis. I don't mean that it's not a good thing, but in the end a lot of the flavour of the history has been sapped out. I mean, I'd rather learn about the events and how they happened, like for example how the Saya San rebellion occured, and not just learn about how it contributed to the development of nationalism.

I believe that our new SEA-Hist teacher, Mr. Kung, also expresses the same opinions, or such I can perceive from his blog. Since 08A13B discovered him and he knows about it, I'm pretty sure he wouldn't mind us reading it at http://kungfuzi.blogspot.com/ . In any case he's better than however much many of us give him credit for, as evidenced by today's 'discussion' between him and Mr. Rollason during the H3 History lesson. It's kind of clear that he really has that passion for history.

As it stands, I've been posted to Mr. Rollason's group for the H3. Dunno, doesn't seem like there's anything to be worried about or to look out for. I guess the most important thing in my mind now is to get all my work done, on time. Looking forward to 2-3 weeks time, with the supposed full day holiday and the very very long national day weekend.

In any case, I've more or less mapped out the schedule for me for the next week or so. And it doesn't include venturing to the west side of Singapore besides Adrian's place for the CUPCAKE BAKING. Lit week next week. Need to learn make-up skillz so that Weiyuan can look like a flowery Romeo next Wednesday.

Bahh. Long time since I've really blogged. I'll humour myself with a reflective post.

Humanity is conflicted between rationality and his emotions. Sure, the gender stereotype of males supposedly more rational and females more emotional does exist, to the extent of which I am not in the position to comment. However, rationality and emotions are always conflicting - Princeton defined rationality as "having its source in or being guided by the intellect (distinguished from experience or emotion)". Well, I'd agree that rational decisions should never be affected by one's emotions. But, how can anyone not have any emotions? How can anyone be masterful enough to control the basic instinct of humanity in him?

Take Dwight D. Eisenhower for example. How could he, under all that tremendous stress and pressure of the free world, make a rational decision as to whether D-Day could be conducted? I'm sure that given the instablility of the weather at that time, and the morale of his troops, it was a decision that had too many factors to take into account before giving the go ahead. In the same way, how can any man be expected to make a rational decision? No matter what the circumstances may be, there is always the factor that there will be repercussions for every single action that you take - I quote Newton's Third Law 'For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction'.

So, who deserves to be blamed for being unable to make an irrational decision? Do you see yourself as Dwight D. Eisenhower, sitting in the Headquarters, and contemplating a decision that would potentially alter the course of History forever? Let it be said that History is not just about the figures, the important people, the statistics or whatnot. History goes down to even just any single person, anyone who could have made a mark on the world even if it was considered beneficial or detrimental. Who, out of you readers of my blog, knows who in the world was Karol Józef Wojtyła? (Just to let you know that is the name of Pope John Paul II.)

If we expect all our important figures to be able to make rational decisions for our benefit, then why is it that we don't ever picture ourselves in their shoes trying to make their decisions?

I'm too lazy to continue. Will finish it up some other day.
Merv.