Eternal Summer and other stories

38th Tail: Maybe

huesofscarlett — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 07:53:00 -0400

It’s been too long since I actually put up a real post up here. I’ve just come to this realization. I have changed, I reckon. And, I don’t think it’s all that sad either. You would think it’s love. But, I disagree.

I woke up to the sound of your laughter ringing in my ears. I opened my eyes. You were lying right next to me, possibly deciding whether to cup my face or not. Just like the real you, you maintained that distance between us.

You were there with me for the rest of the day. You tugged at my heartstrings in the same breezy manner, not really knowing how I felt. Or maybe you do know things. I was on my toes for the rest of the day, not wanting you to notice my erring glance or hear that vulnerable sigh I’ve been mastering to hide from you.

You did not let go of me for the rest of the day. You always knew where to find me. You were like the kindergartner who only knows how to make fun of the girl who has eyes only for him.

Then came dusk. You disappeared into the fog. I knew then it was all a dream. The real you wouldn’t be into me.

The real you is someone I can always find flaws with, which I nonetheless accept. The real you happens to be someone who falls below my standards. But, I like that you’re not perfect.

I keep waiting. I keep waiting for you to grow up. I’m in wait for the day when you will stop mistaking me for another person. I’m waiting for the moment when you’ll comprehend what I can offer to you. I’m looking forward to the day when you’ll decipher the reason why you happen to the only person who thinks that my hands sweat a tad bit too much.

I’ve questioned myself multiple times why you bring the most heartfelt smile to my face. You’re neither attractive nor attentive. You wouldn’t be my person of choice if I wanted my feelings to be reciprocated. You expect me to show more affection than I am capable of, disregarding the millions of ways I have showed affection through my own banal means.

I’m starting to have feelings for you. Let us see where that leaves both of us. Maybe, you will learn to love me. Maybe, you never would. Maybe.

[N.B.: The photo credits do not belong to me.]

37th Tail: Hope is all you need

huesofscarlett — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:59:00 -0500

With everything that I going about, here’s the most appropriate poem for whoever needs it most:

Hope

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune—without the words,
And never stops at all,

And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.

I’ve heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.

- Emily Dickinson

36th Tail: To Aladdin

huesofscarlett — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:01:00 -0500

[Author’s note: A random letter to an equally random character from the past.]Being with my 4-year old cousin is making be experience the kind of childhood I never did. When I was her age, I was getting ready to start my first grade of elementary school, which I admit was rather boring. She shares my love for Disney movies and we watched Aladdin today. It felt like my life was literally culminating for that very moment, the moment you sense the blanket of innocence you were shrouded with, as a child, I mean. Way before Hogwarts, Aladdin was my inspiration for everything magical, during a time when I believed that things were indeed possible if you only had that lamp and whatnot. Thus began the magical journey, which people otherwise decided to call life…

Thank you Aladdin, for bringing the shining rays of optimism to my life.

35th Tail: Shit I actually care for

huesofscarlett — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:33:00 -0500

35th Tail: Shit I actually care for :

SOPA seems to be out of the way for now. As for PIPA, we shall have to wait till the 24th. Both of them are potentially destructive legislation, and just put a halt on innovation and job-creation as well. And, it’s not as if these are the sure-kill process for stopping internet piracy. It’s also not fair for me as a human being when I feel like I’m being tailed online like I’m some fugitive. Thank you, but, I appreciate my freedom. I’m sure you do as well. And, if you haven’t already signed the petition, please follow the link and join Google in putting the brakes on the legislation.

You’re welcome, haha. To the US Congress, I may not be a US citizen, but, passing this legislation would only mean that the everyday American is like a sacrificial goat for the biggies. You might not want that.

34th Tail: Shit I don't care for

huesofscarlett — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:13:00 -0500

[Author’s Note: I’d written this a while ago but didn’t think it was that big of an issue for me for ramble about any longer. But, thank you for reading anyhow. -Scarlett]

Guilty as charged. I am one of those people who watched almost all of videos in the “Shit Girls Say” series. At first I didn’t know what the hullabaloo was about. I would see my friends on facebook posting about it but decided to wait it out. Gradually the number of videos began to spiral out of control and here am I, now, talking to you about my afterthoughts.

The videos provided comic relief. Well, most of them anyways. And, who cares for profound thoughtfulness when you’re laughing for those 2 minutes of your life? Behold, my life is not as despondent as you think it is. But, everything that has a beginning, also has an end. The number of parodies that the viral trend “Shit Girls Say” series spawned has now metamorphosed to mortification. Innovative as all the Youtubers are, they need to acknowledge that things stop being funny after a while. Just look at the statistics of the 3 episodes in the “Shit Girls Say” series, and you’ll know. The number of views of the last to videos combined is nowhere as high as that of the first one in the series. Now you know, statistics don’t lie.

Like some people on the internet, I would not go as far as to say that the videos are “sexist” or “racist.” Call it faith, but I think the videos are just aiming to be satirical and I would say it is a means for people to bring into attention to the kind of everyday racism projected against them. While I acknowledge that it also brings into attention some of the “reverse racism” in the process as well as the portrayal of the stereotypical “white person” as the “stupid blonde,” the “shit” that is said to people in the minority is nonetheless true and shows how ignorant people tend to be.

But, for now, I would say pass to all these memes. Posting them all over the internet [reminds me of bacterial replication] is just overkill. And, no, the “Shit” meme is not funny any longer. We just never know when to stop, do we?

Thank you

- Bored Bambi

33rd Tail: Plans abound

huesofscarlett — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:36:00 -0500

Plans dictate my life. I perceive 2012 to be a busy year. Perhaps that is an understatement in itself. Anyhow, if life is 96% effort and 4% luck, then I know what I got to do. I wish you all luck.

I cannot wait for the break to be over so that I can start working all over again…

32nd Tail: Never knowing when the independence you so craved turns out to be your biggest confinement...

huesofscarlett — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 15:20:00 -0500

And, such is life…

31st Tail: Imagining North Korea

huesofscarlett — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 20:37:00 -0500

[Author’s note: I have been thinking of writing something on North Korea for a long time but I just never sat down to have it done for real. Haha, call me lazybones if you’d want. At first I had wanted to call this an Op-Ed, but, I thought I might try to consider perspectives that are not necessarily my own and not think of US foreign policy, which are things I usually like to talk about. Anyhow, my opinions do not reflect those of anyone I am affiliated with. And and and, please do not repost of copy things from here without permission. Thank you. Enjoy :D]

      From a totally detached standpoint, very few events are as riveting as an untimely power transition; it doesn’t matter whether you play the murky game of politics or not. And, if the regime in question just happens to be North Korea, you know you are in for a bumpy ride. The world awaited with bated breath as a state funeral on Dec. 28th, 2011 marked the beginning of the third phase of the Kim family’s rule as Kim Jong-Un, the late Kim Jong-Il’s youngest son, was declared the “Supreme Leader” of the military, government and the Workers’ Party. While we really cannot predict where will this new rule lead the North to, our options being limited to collapse, dissolution or even revitalization, it remains to be seen how the untested young Kim paves the path for the future of North Korea.       It all started thus: Dec. 18th, 2011 here at the East Coast and the 19th in Seoul, Republic of Korea. News came out that the helmsman of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, better known as North Korea), Kim Jong Il had passed away. Ironically, it was the South Korean President, Lee Myung Bak’s 70th birthday. A fairly nice day to present the failure of its intelligence agency, I would say, as the elder Kim’s surrendered to a heart attack (which eventually resulted in his death) not on the 19th but actually on the 17th during a train journey.

      However, it took a while to digest that the head honcho of North Korea was indeed no more. After all, rumors of his death and waning health weren’t that uncommon on the papers, with the first one being dated from 2003. Amidst news of his absences from various national ordinances, particularly the Olympic torch relay in 2008 at Pyongyang, another news soon emerged in 2009: his youngest son Kim Jong-Un was to be North Korea’s next leader. And, soon after, he was awarded with various official sobriquets, most important being that of the “Great Successor” and was supposed to officially ascend to power on March 2012. However, the elder Kim’s death put a halt to all those plans but it came as no surprise as the North Korean officials subsequently hailed allegiance to Kim Jong-Un as the Supreme Leader. Rodong Sinmun, the Workers’ Party newspaper, supported Kim Jong-Un as such, “Under the dying wishes of Comrade Kim Jong-il, we will follow our peerless leader and respected comrade Kim Jong-un to the ends of earth and heaven.”

       As for now, it remains to be seen how the 3rd Kim will actually deal with a nation ravaged by flood and famine, and particularly add on the the imbroglio across the Korean Peninsula. Now it falls upon him to continue the discussions with the US regarding the food aid as well as the dismantling of the nuclear arms with the US which had just restarted. This leads one to wonder as to whether the young Kim is groomed enough to take over the position that his father had taken over after years of internal support-building. Even if Kim Jong Il had been pushing Kim Jong Un to the forefront, the young Kim’s seeming lack of experience questions his ability to lead a regime like that of North Korea and project the strong personality cult his ancestors did. Will he be just a figurehead ruler while his now powerful uncle Jang Song Taek remains behind the scenes? Kim Jong Un, as he grows into his newly acquired leadership, needs behind him a strong and united regency, the likes of which will include experienced leaders like his uncle Jang and top military officials like Oh Ri Ho. And, with Kim Jong Il dead, it remains to be seen who will indeed be the real arbiter of the National Defence Commission (NDC), the central decision-making body in the North, of which Jang conveniently happens to be the Vice Chairman. At any rate, one would not put it past Jang, honed with years of experience within the inner circle, to turn Kim into a puppet ruler for the North.

        To top everything off, a smooth power transition is as essential to Kim’s sovereignty as it is for the stability of North Korea as a whole. Even if no internal power struggle is happening as its media has stated, for all we know, any hole in the North’s line of defense presents ample opportunity for others nations to subdue it, including China, its largest economic supporter as well. China, as friendly as it is, has plenty of leverage over the North, not just because of their trade interactions, but also for the fact that it conveniently happens to provide political asylum to the late Kim’s eldest son, Kim Jong Nam, in Macau. And if anything, Kim Jong Un’s hastened ascendency to power seems to reinforce the vulnerability of the Northern regime as a whole, seeing as how Kim Jong Il allowed for a year-long mourning period till he officially ascended to power in 1995.

        For now, the North has been lying low and avoiding direct confrontation with South Korea as well as the US, despite how opposed it may be to President Lee’s regime in the South or how it still has the “Military First” policy intact. Kim Jong-Il’s death not just left the combustible Korean Peninsula on the edge, but also happened to be directly responsible for the fall in the Asian stock markets and certain stock markets in Europe as well. While that remains at that, as Kim Jong Un nears the historic turning point of the centenary of birth of his grandfather, North Korea’s founding father, he is expected to lead the country of 2.3 million suffering from hunger towards a better life. That is Kim’s first crucial test of leadership in his odyssey to power; grooming himself in order to resemble Kim Il Sung to generate the same cult of personality is not.

       With all the very little information we have on North Korea, many expect Kim Jong Un, with all his exposure to the West, to lead its people towards economic resurgence. The North’s willingness to at least continue its negotiations with the US possibly seems to be indicative of that. And, I hope that is the case: its people deserve a respite from the constant famine and hunger that have marred their lives for decades. While I cannot claim to know anything about the internal politics of the North or even predict what kind of a leader will the young Kim emerge to be amidst the uncertainties, I sure wish to have sufficient scrying skills or a time turner to know what titles other than “Great Successor” he will be inheriting in the future.

Source: BBC News

30th Tail: Why I'm not Pocahontas...

huesofscarlett — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:05:00 -0500

[Disclaimer: This was intended to be a lighthearted post. Please do not interpret this as a rant. And, I don’t mean to sound offensive here or target any specific group of people. But, if you do not think I’m adopting a wrong approach, feel free to send me a message about it.]

“Exotic” as needs be.

I think I will forever fail to understand what people (well, guys in most cases) mean when they call you “exotic.” Well, neither am I “Pocahontas,” nor am I “Mulan,” haha; so why compare me to them? While I think “Pocahontas” and “Jasmine” awesome and wouldn’t mind being compared to a Disney Princess but things take a turn for the worse when this happens:

I find it awkward when someone calls me “exotic” and immediately goes off to mention how I am so lucky that I “don’t need to tan,” or how I know all the “hip-swaying dance moves.” Too bad, the melanin content is something I was born with and I conveniently happen to have very poor hand-eye co-ordination as well. And, having such a superficial fascination on someone based on their skin color, is boutique multiculturalism as Stanley Fish would say*, or as I might be driven to interpret, indirect/second-hand racism. Sometimes, how a person makes a statement, not the statement itself, can make a lot of difference. And, saying that a certain brown-skinned woman you first met reminds you of Pocahontas doesn’t make a good fit for the joke fodder and it doesn’t make you seem much suave either. While it might be understandable if you say it to a friend, but saying that to an acquaintance, even if done unintentionally is just okay. Read: NOT.

By the way, “exotic” is a rather nice word, if properly used. And a pointer for guys, girls don’t like it when you make their ethnicity the definitive factor for a conversation starter, haha. Girls I know do not like being flirted with for their skin color; they would possibly be happier if you wanted to talk about something intellectual and talk to them not just because of how they look. What am I now? A love guru?

*He has this awesome piece on “Boutique Multiculturalism” which I think makes a good read for anyone. Just Google the term and his article will come up.

P.S. I shall blame Smith College for unleashing the feminist in me as well.

29th Tail: Plans, plans, plans

huesofscarlett — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:10:00 -0500

Anyhow, I’m back on tumblr after a long break and I promise I’ll try to put regular updates this time around as well as some of my favorite music. Some things I’ve got lined up for write-ups:

~~Kim Jong Il’s death~~

Movie Review: My Name is Khan

~~2012 by a long shot~~ [Ongoing]

I might write about some more things in between as well. Stay tuned. Lots of love,

Scarlett

28th Tail: Lesson for the Self

huesofscarlett — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:45:59 -0500

[N.B. The quote might as well be the 27th Tail. That makes this piece the 28th Tail by default]

We wonder and we ponder and we wonder. Having seemingly never had any real relationships, don’t we all wonder whether we can sustain one or not? Sometimes I wonder whether I deserve to have a relationship of my own solely because I haven’t proven I can tackle one. It is those trivial moments of self-doubt which possibly reveal that we care enough to worry whether a relationship will be longstanding or not. We then set to approach it (the relationship) with a bated breath, sweaty hands behind our back, a tentative smile, constantly bitten lips, hope in those eyes, loose strands tucked behind our ears, head tilted to the right… hoping it will work.

"I woke up from life, only to find that it was all a dream."

huesofscarlett — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 03:40:02 -0500

“I woke up from life, only to find that it was all a dream.”

- Me (I don’t think there’s a quote like that)

26th Tail: Adieu 2011

huesofscarlett — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 20:37:00 -0500

2011. To be honest, it was a rather unremarkable year overall. Not that it was bad, because it wasn’t. If you’d ask me to page through the past 18 years of my life, 2011 would have a banal two-liner or so. I started out the year without any resolution. After all, resolutions tend to be restrictive and who said I’d need resolutions to make a successful year? Anyhow, for this year, I do happen to have one: Just do the best I can for anything and make sure I’ve got no regrets. Also, try not to over-do things. Sometimes, being a workaholic has not helped me.

Of all things, 2011 did really grant me a rather exciting summer. I had the time of my life in Korea and picked up a lot of things along the way. I know I made some long-lasting friends. As for the latter half of the year, it just went by in a haste. But, I’m really glad to say that I met this one person who will be in my mind for a long long time. Anyhow, to 2012.

25th Tail aka Gaddafi’s Death: Has Justice Been Served?

huesofscarlett — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:01:00 -0500

[Since I know that my school’s newspaper too fainthearted to deal with my op-ed on Gaddafi, what other venue works better than my own blog? This also marks my return to the tumblrverse. Thank you for following me]

Death: the end of a life – a life that should be worth no more or no less than others. Yet, when a man like Gaddafi is killed, celebration begins. It’s so morbid that one wonders since when has killing a person been justice served. First, it was Saddam, who was killed on an Eid day and then it was Laden. Yes, they had done many bad deeds. But, such a death? I don’t think any human being deserves that. And, after all, we are no one to determine the worth of a human life and treating the dead in such an appalling way doesn’t make us any more honorable. What happened to granting the dying person one death wish? Forget the fact that the Islamic rituals were not followed for him upon his death; his body was subjected to necrophilic tourism even 3 days after his death, a tale the horror stories are made of.

As for now, some specifics about Gaddafi’s death: As Sirte, Gaddafi’s homeland fell to the NATO forces on Oct. 20^th, his convoy was captured and he reportedly took hostage with his bodyguards inside a drainage pipe. Various sources state that he was then beaten and shot repeatedly and once dead, his body was subsequently kept and publicly displayed by the interim Libyan government for a few days so that everyone would know that “he’s dead.” He was initially refused a proper autopsy and a burial. And, videos footages of the late dictator’s death were circulated online. Gaddafi had committed many atrocities, one of the most recent being the attack on the Lockerbie families, yet that does not change the fact that how he was treated during and after his last moments is indeed gruesome. It is not about being sympathetic towards him but simply about following the procedures. He should at least have been sent to trial for all the crimes he committed.

His death saves the world from having various questions answered during his ICC trial, the least of all being which court should conduct his trial. His source of weaponry and warfare will never be disclosed to the public; neither will the man ever get a chance to explain his actions and nor will we get to know about the details behind his many atrocities. The “justice” we wanted is not what we get but it is his death that becomes “justice” for many. By and by, how can the death of one tyrant ruler equate the death of many innocents under his reign? But, if our idea of justice is not about knowing the truth and disregarding many human rights provisions, then justice has indeed been served.

This affront to legal justice during his last moments also explains as to why the UN Human Rights Council, Amnesty and Human Rights Watch have labeled this incident an extrajudicial killing or war crime. The UN Special Rapporteur, Cristof Heynes has stated that ‘The Geneva conventions are very clear that when prisoners are taken they may not be executed willfully and if that was the case then we are dealing with a war crime, something that should be tried.’ So far, the NTC has not responded favorably to calls for investigation.

Gaddafi’s death marks the beginning of a new era for Libya. While many would say a trial would have been a nice closure to his oppressive regime and would possibly have been a better form of justice for the victims of his regime, expecting the forces to be fluff is like calling for the moon. Trading off his life for the lives of the victims seems dishonorable for the victims as well. But, if his death indeed marks the start of a new democratic Libya, which I’m quite skeptical about given the tension between the various tribal groups, then one can probably breathe a sigh of relief. As the Libyans celebrate Gaddafi’s death and call it “justice”, real justice is actually far from over.

24th Tail: Sinking in

huesofscarlett — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 07:22:53 -0400

I wonder why have I not found the urge to do any write-up for so long. Well, if “writing” is “write-up”, then here you go!

23rd Tail: Life's many faces

huesofscarlett — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 09:41:54 -0400

Well, I just feel like I’ve changed and that needs a personal acknowledgement. I think the girl with romantic fantasies is no longer there. And, all it took me was a ride home to change my outlook on the Cinderella love life I kept talking about. College kept me trapped in a bubble but I know that for one thing that love changes in form. At present, I believe that love stands for dependence and acceptance. But, we’re human beings and we’re not the same person every single day. So, who knows what my outlook on love will be a fortnight later? After all, love is just like a form-fitting liquid that shows its different faces during different situations, and ain’t it true?

22nd Tail: Land of the Hangul

huesofscarlett — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 09:30:00 -0400

Oh Tumblr, how much have I missed thee…

Anyhow, the last couple of days have kept me very busy. Leaving CPD and coming to Korea, which includes all the associated plans, have indeed kept me very busy – busier than I would ever like to be. And, I dare say, my flight to Korea wasn’t my most delightful experience, but I did get to meet some new people and learnt about their experiences. That indeed made me glad.

Anyhow, I observed some interesting, and yet possibly known things, during my flight to Incheon. Indeed, no matter where we go, the color gradient aspect really frightens me. I’ve been talking to a dear friend of mine [Ellen] previously. Everywhere, it goes like this: white>yellow>brown>black and I’m not stating this out of any adverse intentions or I don’t intend to point fingers at any specific person either. But, you will probably see a yellow-skinned person having a better regard for a white-skinned person as opposed to a brown-skinned one. And, that is how the world runs. I’ve seen a Bangladeshi person getting scorned inside the airport subway but the Norwegian person was actually being revered at the same instant. I wish God had given us a brush to paint over the prejudice solely based on the skin color of a person.

There this one typical habit amongst Koreans that amused me. During my transit at Hong Kong and also after coming to Korea, I realized the extent of obsession with home-shopping networks on the part of Korean ladies. Well, it was just interesting. Other than that, I got to meet a lot of people in Korea and my matched Korean buddy helped me a lot. And, everything else, just speaking from the experiences of the first day, things in Korea are really cute… cuter than they should possibly be.

First day: the feeling of being in a different country has not sunk in as of yet [Time will definitely change things though]. Oh well, did I tell you that Korea is hillier than hilliness itself? Haha, if only that helps me lose some weight.

21st Tail: Thoughts Disjoint

huesofscarlett — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 13:33:17 -0400

I feel so out of touch now. Things just seem so distant and it feels like life keeps passing by me. Every where I live, no matter where it is, it’s just a bubble. One day I wish all the compartments of my life and social circles would form a mycelium network. But, desire for the peace of mind will never let that happen. I know that this is just a phase. I will be “The Giving Tree” and “The Prophet” for my own sanctity, which is so dear to my heart.

20th Tail: [Review-of-sorts] 2NE1- Lonely Took a while just to...

huesofscarlett — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 20:40:00 -0400

20th Tail: [Review-of-sorts] 2NE1- Lonely

Took a while just to get the song uploaded on tumblr. Anyhow, I’m done with it and presenting to you, now, 2NE1’s “Lonely.”

It’s no hidden fact that I absolutely love 2NE1, compared to most other girl groups in Korea *insert names here*. I like how relate-able they areand do not focus on putting forth a perfect image unlike most girl groups. Point to be noted: Most girl groups in Korea focus on perfect bodies or cuteness, nothing more (maybe, something more), nothing less. As a listener, the most important thing is to be able to form a connection with the singer before moving on to like the song. And, 2NE1 just lets you do that.

2NE1 has always gone for a hip-hop edge and for that very reason, their song “Lonely” came as a big surprise to me. For once, we could see the 2NE1 girls singing to an RnB melody which is mostly what I love [I can totally see my co-DJ laughing at me now]. And, it never hurts to take a risk and make the effort, even if it might not be well-received. I whole-heartedly appreciate 2NE1 for making such a giant leap of musical style and forgoing the auto-tune-tastic-ness of “To Anyone,” their first album. I would also say that they certainly did not fail; their vocal prowess was certainly something that cemented their reputation as a talented group.

As for the musicality, I don’t think I’m qualified enough to say a lot. But, the acoustic and live feel of the song makes the song seem really fleshy [You know what I mean, right?]. We see CL trying out singing a good number of lines by herself and trying out falsettos we’ve never seen her do. Minzy and Sandara Park show strength in their voices and especially Minzy , who has a deep voice most female singers in K-Pop lack. And, Park Bom just does what she’s best at. As for me, my favorite part of the song is when Park Bom and CL sing, “Baby, I’m so lonely.” Believe me, that part is beautifully done and it’s the hook for me. Overall, the lack of over-produced/manipulated-ness of the song makes it better than it would’ve been otherwise.

Even lyrically, the song is simple. Right now, I would even be able to state the lyrics for you if I wanted to [But, nay, I wouldn’t]. And, thematically, I think 2NE1 [rather, the producer] manages to hit a good spot with the listeners: Even if you have people around you, you can still be lonely. I mean, it’s completely okay to be like that since that’s only… normal. I like how the theme is not about love for a change. There are many things to life other than just “LOVE,” which is what most K-Pop songs are only about.

Finally, anyhow, kudos to 2NE1 and its producers for creating a song that let them come out of the box and was a simple yet hearty treat for the listeners.

P.S. Let me know if you would like me to review some more videos.

19th Tail: Doesn't need a title

huesofscarlett — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 14:00:43 -0400

Hereby I state: ~~The Korean Entertainment industry is beleaguered with issues that immediately need to be sorted out and what everyone from within the industry needs most is official counseling services.~~ It is just sad how so many Korean entertainment personalities have been committing suicide, and triggering the suicide of many other civilians in the process. Maybe, I shouldn’t have stated “Korean Entertainment” per se, because the problem is not a constituent of the K-ent, but Korea in general. And, I should probably note here that Korea has the highest suicide rate amongst the OECD countries from what I remember. While most industrialized countries reached the peak in suicide rates around the early 1980s, the suicide rate in South Korea only continues to rise. What has industrialization done to Korea? Statistics-wise, weren’t Korean happier with limited means earlier?

The uber-fast development of Korea has probably made its people richer. But, with the process, came unhealthy competitiveness, stress, over-working and consequent robotic life: all of which lead to ultimate loneliness*. All of these issues can probably be dealt with by talking to someone, or “psychiatric counseling,” as we might call it. However, for Korea, which is struck in a limbo between the Confucian values and hastened industrialization, seeking “psychiatric help” is a taboo, just like it is in countries like Bangladesh. People still have hard time believing that others can seek “help” not just in case of mental illness, but just for sorting out troubles from daily life through some well-deserved “self-attention.”

Now, I don’t really like to sound like I’m preaching, because that’s not what I want to do. There is no shame in asking for help from others because that’s what human beings are for. We’re dependent beings and it’s normal to seek help when required. I wish I had to power to demolish the culture that prevents us from seeking help, even if it’s just to save a life as precious as our own. And, not to be harsh, anyone who is thinking of ending one’s own life should know that there are always people who care for you and would be proud to be of help. We should always ask our loved ones whether they need any help or not.Things aren’t as simple as I’m stating , right now.

Suicide is not a fire exit or any escape route; it is leaving in pain and leaving behind other in pain as well. I hope we all recognize this fact and help anyone who is having a hard time.