Iran:绿色呼唤

In the midst of mugging (or attempting to mug) for my LAST block test, I had the urge to come up here to blog instead of going to Blogger.

Recently I’ve signed up with Twitter to really catch up on all these IT stuff. Am I glad to do so? Definitely, especially since GP Essay decided to come up with a topic about networking media such as Facebook and Twitter’s impact on human interaction.

But more important I have been able to catch up with news about Iran and participate in many real-time discussions and receive latest information that even the most established News agencies cannot provide.

I’m an avid supporter of Public Journalism, and I can’t be happier to see Iranians taking the lead to post first-hand experiences and information on Twitter to share with the rest of the world.

This is despite the fact that every single Iranian Twitter, Blogger, Facebooker and YouTuber are under the intense scrutiny of the unacknowledged government, and are risking being detained and tortured in the notorious Evin Prison.

The sacrifice that every single Iranian has made for the “Sea of Green” is evident, yet it disappoints me to see that in Singapore, there is hardly any information on the media, or any official governmental response on the issue. Gives me a feeling that nobody seems to give a damn about Iran.

Fortunately I know that there are people out there across the globe who are concerned, and expressing their most sincere concerns through Twitter and Facebook, that being one of hte few methods available to “smuggle” information into, and out of, Iran.

I went on to YouTube earlier this afternoon (Yes, digressed from my books…) and checked out a few videos on Iran. People are writing songs to express their emotions, and I find one particular sentence exceptionally true:

We’re born speechless but free and now we’ve found our voice.

Now that they have found their voice, then why are we turning a deaf ear to it?

To all readers, please do not let their “Allahu Akbar” be shouted in vain.

Help Iran.

Revival of sorts.

Since I’ve just conducted a Revival of sorts ceremony for my ancient LiveJournal, I might as well do so for this wordpress as well.

As much as I miss writing in my identity as a Dandelion of Hua Cao Island, I guess the harsh reality gave me a good slap in the fact. People do get jaded after ranting on endlessly and receiving nothing in the end. Even though I am that cynical.

But I’ll be back sooner or later. I’m pretty inspired by what some of my seniors wrote on their blogs about current school policies. I might just be back soon.

So watch this space.

The Floral Movement: Act 4 – Large Petals Syndrome

(From the Official Hua Cao Island Dictionary)

Large Petals Syndrome (LPS)

Function: noun

Definition:

A widespread syndrome among Dandelions in Hua Cao Island, resulting from the shedding and changing of petals when the Dandelions grow from juniors to seniors. Accompanying its maturity, Dandelions are said to experience suddenly deterioration of courtesy, ending up behaving as though they are the Gods. Dandelions of this age tend to behave in an inappropraite manner.

In order to curb this, the Hua Cao Island has recently implemented creative and useful rules as deterrence. The “Seedling” System will be implemented to deal with Dandelions who misbehave. Every offence will result in the forced removal of a certain number of seedlings according to the level of misbehaviour. Dandelions are now expected to wear their petals proud, as “the petals represents the pride of Hua Cao Island”. Also, they are forced to speak in the manner of a good Dandelion, not sprouting any offensive nature scripts such as “Fertilise you!”.

At this age, how will the Dandelions work to control themselves? Must the definition of GentleFlowers always remain stuck the way it has been for thousand of years? Why is it that even private matters have to be in control?

 Hua Cao Island claims that this is for the students own good, however, many Dandelions beg to differ…

The Floral Movement: Act 3

Once a year, on a sacred day, a grand and important election is held on Hua Cao Island.”This two dandelions have contributed much to the island to qualify themselves to stand before you today…” a monotonous and irritating voice surrounded the Grand Hall. His name was Bleaf, a special breed of dandelion that has mutated after graduating from Hua Cao Island many years back and indulging himself in the wealth of his fellow counterpart Juleaf. This, is the most important annual election among the Dandelions — selection of a so-called “Dandelion Leader”, but more commonly known to the dandelion population as HONPuppet. Dandelions are already sick of all the puppetry they have seen. All the broken promises, all the unfulfilled pledges remain echoed deep in their hearts. They know that these puppets were nothing more than one of the usual Floral Sceneries of Free Speech on the Island. It was time that something be done.  ”Obama!” “Bleaf!” Void votes were cast. It was freedom of speech isn’t it? The dandelions believed that the school still upholds the idea of free speech, where elections were sacroscant and sacred. They knew that the votes have always been treated in privacy and in no way will identities be revealed. They naively thought that Big Bleaf was never watching.  They were wrong.  It was already too late when they realised the votes were no longer a private matter. Bleaf has already taken action.  Freedom of Speech of the Dandelions, gone.

The Floral Movement: Act 2

We know, that the past should be forgotten, and the future is worth waiting for. But sometimes, the past should be raked up, for these are the true reflections of the Life of the Dandelions.“Don’t tell me what you suld do, tell me what you NEED to do.” — Jasmine In Dandelion Spirit, Jasmine is one of the few flowers of another breed invited to nurture us Dandelions. While we dandelions are, by nature, kind, warm and thoughtful, the Jasmine breed is not at all similar. This is especially obvious in terms of something that all dandelions have: LOGIC. Recently, rumours have spread that Jasmine is actually an evil spokesman for the untolerable new invention: GM Crops. A jealous plant by nature, it was said that due to her jealousy of the well-rounded education system in the nursery, she started a campaign to convert dandelions to GM Crops, which will cause them to be unable to partake in many activities as a young, blooming dandelion. This is to allow the dandelions to lose out opportunities like she did as a child, and only attempting to take up extra courses “as a wilthering flower”.  Of course, she knows that this is impossible. Her main motive is but to ensure that none of her young dandelions will shadow her with their talents… … AND also to protect certain dandelions, whom have been rumoured to be actually Jasmines in disguise. One Little Sweet Kid have been found to be in cahoots to usurp the top positions of the cohort. Beware…

The Floral Movement: Act 1

Once upon a time there was this gigantic nursery, known as Hua1 Cao3 Island. Known to be the largest and most prestigious nursery in the vicinty, it houses and breeds exotic dandelions(蒲公英) that are always regarded by other plants as the cream of the crop. On the outside, it appears that this is a nursery of prestige, a place where all plants strive to enter. However, behind the scenes, it is in fact another story altogether.  These dandelions never enjoyed the life in this so-called “nursery”. To put it crudely, it is actually no better than a prison, where they are often put to the most unfair and cruel treatment. It was a prison controlled by a dictator wind, and he often resort to all sort of actions to achieve their motives. These dandelions were hence often put through tough tests and propaganda. Many of the unfortunate dandelions who were unable to fulfill these requirements somehow mysteriously disappeared throughout the years…  The dictator wind of this nursery, otherwise known to the general public as Honourary Official Nurse, is the mastermind of all these evil deeds. His pretence as a kind, gentle figure of a listening ear, however, has never been able to fool these smart dandelions. Not only is he actually unwilling to ever admit his mistakes, he often makes the worst judgements, and giving a Floral Scenery (otherwise known as scenario) to dismiss our opinions if any opposition arises. This nursery, a place where dark secrets hide. Whatever will happen to these poor dandelions? No one will ever know. No one.

The Prelude

I guess it’s only appropriate to try something new after a long, faithful 3+ years of service to Blogger. I think I will try a new blogging style for this blog though.  Not my usual bitch-talk in Glossy Gossip, but something deeper, something that has “academic rigour”. Watch this space.

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