与爱别离，泪流成海

在释见介著的《与佛陀赏花去》里，看到了这么一句：

佛经说：“我们过去生中与所爱的人分离所流的眼泪，比四大海的海水还要多”

那我在无止的轮回中，曾流了多少，还会流多少？

-----------------------------------------------------
注：出自《佛说解忧经》
“又彼有情，生死别离，爱恋泣泪，亦如海水”。

Images from temples in Northern Thailand

Some pictures from my recent backpack trip in Northern Thailand. These are mainly from Nan and Lampang.

Pink Dot 2011

This year's pink dot is so big that it is not a dot! From the arial view, it looked like the whole Hong Lim Park was a patch of pink!



I was there at 4pm as part of the Pelangi Pride Centre group. There were already quite a buzz with many people having set up mats and having a picnic. The signs were there that it would be much bigger than previous years, and it was.

I was there at the first one three years ago. Although I was not part of the organizing committee, I knew it only came through after much hard work of those who worked behind the scene. It was postponed many times and at some time, almost fell through.

There was much anxiety then. People weren't sure what will exactly happen. Would the police give trouble? Would the religious groups protest? But in spite of it all, the event was attended by more than 2000 people, and went through without any issues.

As one of those in that dot, it felt like I was witnessing a important moment in the LGBT movement in Singapore and I was part of the historical movement. I knew things were not change over night. But it was the start of something important.

At the first pink dot, many people were still cautious and afraid. There were many people who would only loiter around the edge of the park and looked on. Many did not dare to wear pink.

But they would eventually join the dot.

This year, I saw so many new faces. So many were there for the first time. There were still many on-lookers, many who would only loiter by the side. But mostly, it was like a party in the park. People who about happily, confident with no sign of anxiety.

After the event, I did saw someone changing out of his pink outfit in the toilet. Still, the fact that he participated in the event, was probably an important journey for him.

I suspected this year, the Pink Dot benefited some what from the spill over effects of the May General Election. Boo Junfeng's very well made video also helped to generate quite a bit of publicity. Furthermore, mainstream newspaper like Straits Time even reported mentioned it about it, and Google Singapore sponsored the event as well.

I must say we have come quite a long way in the three years.

And I hope in years to come, this would have build the bridge towards the rest of the society and help build a more inclusive and accepting society.

Thank you to the Pink Dot organizers who made this happen!



And yes, I spotted Nichole Seah and Vincent Wijeysingha in the event! I can't resist getting a photo with them! I must confess I was quite a big fan of both of these politicians during the last election!

Letter to ST Forum

My letter to Straits Times Forum appeared on its online edition:

http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/OnlineStory/STIStory_659158.html

Here's it:

Apr 21, 2011

Better an affordable home, than asset enhancement

THE Government argues that by enhancing the value of HDB homes (read: increasing the prices of homes), it gives a valuable asset to Singaporeans and a stake in the country ('WP's housing proposal irresponsible, says Mah'; April 15).

I find this problematic on several counts. First, for the majority, the home is an indispensable basic necessity, not a disposable asset. When prices of homes increase, the average home owner is not able to gain from it - while he is able to sell at a higher price, it also means he has to buy the new home at a higher price. Only the rich who can afford more than one home stand to gain.

Second, it deepens the divide between the haves and have-nots, for those financially less well off either find homes slipping beyond their reach, or face the heavy burden of financing a huge loan.

Third, the objective of asset enhancement through rising home prices naturally conflicts with the objective of providing affordable housing. It is tough to balance the two and implement effective policies.

Fourth, the argument that asset enhancement ties Singaporeans to the country holds little water. Anecdotal evidence suggests that people who emigrate cite 'unaffordable housing' as a reason among others. Ironically, the rising property prices here means emigrants can use the gains from the property to buy a 'more affordable' home in a foreign country. In fact, a majority of Singaporeans are displeased with rising home prices.

Instead of thinking of increasing prices to enhance the 'asset value' of the home, we should start to recognise that an affordable home is an asset in itself. Keeping home prices low and affordable means Singaporeans, especially young people planning to start families and buy their first home, can rest assured that they will always be able to own a place to call their home.

I think this would provide a more rooted sense of belonging than that of an expensive house. We need to recognise that we are deriving much utility from that house even if its resale price remains stagnant. We need to appreciate that while stagnant prices may mean little capital gain when selling the current house, it also means not having to pay through the nose for the new one.

Let us go back to the primary objective of public housing - to provide affordable housing to the majority of the people. Let us recognise that affordable housing is an asset in itself, both to the individual and the nation.

Lai Nam Khim

明月千里寄相思-吳鶯音

老歌，在Love of Siam里听到的，找了很久才找到。

遇上、错过、放弃

在冗长或转眼即逝的人生里，你遇上，错过，又或放弃了几个？

- 《小狗情人》

《一个我未曾到过的地方》

《一个我未曾到过的地方》 E. E. 康明斯


一个我未曾到过的地方，欣然地
超乎任何体验，就在你眼内的静谧：
在你最柔弱的手势里，是那些包围我的，
那些太近，以致我无法触摸的东西。

你淡然一瞥，便轻易解开我，
尽管我已如手指般紧闭，
你总是一瓣一瓣地把我打开，就如春天
（娴熟地，神秘地，轻触着）把她的第一朵玫瑰打开

若你的意愿是要把我关闭，我连同
我的生命便将合拢，美丽又骤然地，
就如这花朵内心里，幻想着
雪花小心翼翼地四处飘落；
我们世上所能感受的，无能媲美于
你那强烈的脆弱所蕴含的力量：其质感
连同其所有国度的颜色，驱使着我，
在每一次的呼吸间，诠释着死亡与永恒

（我不清楚，究竟是你的什么特质，关闭
又打开；但我心里某处能明白
你眼神的声音比所有的玫瑰还深邃）
没有人，甚至雨，有如此般细小的手。


translated from Somewhere I have never travelled by E. E. Cumming