Fiat Justitia et Pereat Mundus

The holidays are really, really too short. Or are they? Which sorta begs the question - Is 'short', in terms of length, an absolute term or a relative term? 7 days. Compared to the 3 months of holidays that other uni students have, it's probably as short as it can ever get. However, from another perspective, these 7 days of holidays are the same 7 days that all my other 250+ classmates have. Therefore, are my holidays short? What is the reference/standard used for comparison?

Was watching this movie called 'Come What May'. No, it's not a sequel of Moulin Rouge, though I personally love the movie AND the song. The synopsis from IMDB:

"Caleb and Rachel team up to lead the Patrick Henry College team in the intense world of collegiate moot court competition. Caleb looks to date Rachel, but she's waiting for courtship. Meanwhile, Caleb becomes caught in a moral tug-of-war between his parents - a newly Christian father and a feminist attorney mother. Caleb's mom goes before the U.S. Supreme Court defending abortion, even as Caleb simultaneously takes on the opposing legal argument at the national moot court championship."

At the heart of this movie are several themes:
1. Truth and Belief - Absolutism and Relativism

"People believe what they choose to, but you need to believe the truth. What you believe determines what you do." - Don Hogan (The Christian father)
" See.. when somebody tells you something is 'morally wrong', watch out. There's always a sliding scale. Even stealing, well, what if you're starving? Some people are so sure that there's black and white. There's always a grey area, they just won't admit it." - Judith Hogan (The attorney mother)
"While you and I do have different views and opinions, should that really matter as long as we respect each other?" - Judith Hogan

In this day and age, it'd seem that there are many Judith Hogans speaking to us. With God's unchanging and absolute character, comes His unchanging morals and values for us. Some detractors may say that while God said "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour" (Ex 20:16), Rahab was commended for her faith in God (Heb 11:31) despite lying to save the lives of the 2 spies (Jos 2). Would that have been double-standards? But we should bear in mind that Rahab saved 2 lives by doing what she did, and that would have been upholding a higher principle. Although we must not easily compromise on laws and principles, let us not go down the path of being overtly-legalistic either. At the end of the day, I think we have to go back to the Word to discern the heart of God so that we will act in a way pleasing to Him.

Especially in our multi-religious society, where religion appears to remain still a touchy and sensitive issue, is it really true that respect is all that matters and that differing beliefs don't matter? No doubt, we should and must respect others for they too are created in the image of God, but we shouldn't go down the path of thinking that "all beliefs are good and well as long as they do not harm others", etc. This doesn't mean that we go around denouncing others' beliefs, picking fights and inciting riots, but to engage others peacefully with respect.

Patrick Henry College's founder, Dr. Michael Farris (also a US constitutional lawyer and Baptist minister) says this in the movie, "Here, we have confidence in reason, because we have confidence in God."

2. On Abortion

At the centre of this movie is the question of "When does life really begin?" Roe v. Wade is mentioned extensively, a landmark case in the US which upheld that that a mother may abort her pregnancy for any reason, up until the "point at which the fetus becomes 'viable'", where 'viability' is defined as the potential "to live outside the mother's womb, albeit with artificial aid".

There's this exchange between Caleb and Don, his father:
Caleb: "The issue is, how do you know when does a baby's life begins?"
Don: "That's not a biology question, you know. Biology has nothing to do with it, in fact it's so simple that a 10 year old can understand it. Just pick a time when you know the baby's alive."
Caleb: "The day he's born."
Don: "Alright, what about the day before that? Is the baby alive the day before that?"
Caleb: "Of course."
Don: "And how about the day before that?"
Caleb: "Sure."
Don: "There you have it. Life doesn't begin incrementally. It's not like the baby was anymore alive today than it was the day before. It's radical, it's an event, and it only happens once in a human's existence."
Caleb: "At conception."
Don: "No other explanation makes sense. And it's so simple, anyone can understand it."
Caleb: "But why don't they get it?"
Don: "It's not that the people don't get it, they don't wanna hear it."

At the end of the movie, during the moot court finals, Caleb argues against Roe v. Wade, "They tear the baby out of its only means of life support, and say 'Wow, look at that, our machines can't sustain it's life,' and somehow, that proves it's not viable!"

Something for all of us to think about.

3. Fiat Justitia et Pereat Mundus

The literal translation would be "Let there be justice, though the world perish." In the movie, it's interpreted to mean, "Do the right thing, come what may."

Dr. Michael Farris says this, "Moot court becomes real court before you know it. Winning Moot court is great, for the moment, but living by Christian principles, living by God's righteousness, that will guide your whole life."

4. Commitment

Don: "Say you lend a guy 10,000 bucks. What are you gonna want from him?"
Caleb: "Well I'd want him to pay it back."
Don: "Would you lend it to him if he wouldn't commit to that? If Rachel gives you her trust, if she puts herself in your hands, she wants a commitment that you're not gonna break her heart."

There are other themes on family, work, etc. But I think it'll be better for each of us to explore them ourselves (Actually, more like this post is getting horrendously lengthy.)

In summary, I think the movie's a good watch. The DVD's not mine though. If and when I get my hands on it, you can borrow from me.

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I really think blogging takes a lot of time.

Why Buy It Next Time When I Want It Now?

And so begins the one week of holidays (or is it pseudo-hols?) It'd seem that all my evenings for the week are already occupied, and a couple of (the limited) mornings and afternoons are taken up too. That kinda leaves little time for the DVDs I wanna watch, books I wanna read and the dreaded Pathology I'd probably need to force myself to start studying. And therefore, from the outset, it appears that this 1 week will be a meaningfully spent one, despite having no tennis to watch until the US Open begins the week after. (Federer is now leading 6-1, 0-3 in the Cincinatti Masters. Hopefully he'll wrap up the match this set)

With regards to EOPT, there's really nothing much to say, but to really thank and praise God for really nice examiners (who gave me the feeling that they really do try their very best to help you pass) and for indeed, peace during the test proper itself (though the experience while waiting for the 1st 2 shifts of students to finish can be pretty nerve-wrecking).

But all that above is really besides the point. I happened to see this plastic bag from metro in the kitchen (the place I frequent most during tests and exams, probably contributes to my apparently increasing abdominal girth. Hopefully it's just my imagination ) a couple of days back, which says in huge font, "Why Buy It Next Time When I Want It Now?" Says pretty much about what appeals to the masses nowadays, doesn't it?

Since young, I've always been thought to spend within my means. My mum would always tell me never to “先洗未来钱” ("spend future money" - in Canto). And I always thought I never will, or even be tempted to. But with the ownership of a credit card, things get a little more complicated. Some may say, "Just don't get a credit card!" They're probably right. But the 'Aunty' side of Emmett tends to like the idea of getting points for charging things to his credit card, with the rationale that he's still spending within his means. And true to his resolve, he has been clearing all of his bills and not accumulating any interest.

But, the problem comes when there's something that I'd really really wanna buy. Like the 5 seasons of House M.D. (I know the 6th season is gonna be showing soon). Or some British first-day covers which cost like $10+ each. Or the endless list of DVDs (which I sometimes seriously doubt that I'll have time to watch). But with "Why Buy It Next Time When I Want It Now?" in your face, it becomes so much easier to succumb to the shiok-ness of instant gratification.

So what to do? Here are a few suggestions:
1. Don't own a credit card
2. Don't own a credit card (Don't have an aunty mindset)
3. Charge only what you can afford to your credit card (Of course, I'm speaking from a young adult's point-of-view when I don't need to pay for any big-ticket items at this point in time. I don't know, maybe working adults have an important use for credit facilities)
4. Don't accumulate interest on your credit card by clearing your debt monthly
5. Save up a portion of your allowance (I have to admit I'm not a particularly good saver. Besides setting aside my tithe, I don't really plan that much, 'tho I do keep track of my accounts meticulously.)

Nothing really new. You can probably find some of these tips in the "Invest" section in Sunday Times. But as you can see, 'tho practical these may be, they're not the easiest to abide by. Personally I only manage to keep to point 4. Time for improvement.

So hopefully, to all out there, when you next see, "Why Buy It Next Time When I Want It Now?" Think twice, thrice, or as many times you would, before you whip out that credit card. Better still, just walk away, or close that online shopping browser window. That's what fleeing from temptation means right? (:

P.S. Btw, the aforementioned items are not a 'trying-to-hint-discretely' wishlist, just in case anybody gets the wrong idea. (: Although should anyone have any intention to add these things to my collection, they're most certainly welcome :p

And Federer just won his 61st career title. 6-1, 7-5. A few fantastic shots. Really superb shot-making. Anyone wants to watch the US Open finals together? :D

A Start to Everything

Some may obviously question the wisdom of starting a blog when his EOPT (end-of-posting-test) looms in less than 8h, but well, I'm gonna start it anyway. Not only for the catharsis in escaping from Oxford, Kumar and Clark (medical textbooks), but also to put an accelerator in overcoming the inertia of expressing my thoughts in written language. Afterall, there is indeed, a beginning to everything. Not to say that I am fully prepared (some seniors have said one can never be, or at least feel, fully prepared in any test/exam in medicine), but at this point of time, it'd seem that there is more value in writing this than staring blankly at the investigations to be done for Rheumatoid Arthritis.

I've always resisted the temptation of having my own personal blog, though I have tried my hand at blogging. Reason being:
1. I find it time-consuming to maintain a blog. Afterall, not much point leaving a blog lying to waste if I'm not going to update it on a regular basis.
2. I did not understand the idea/concept/purpose of a blog. Is it going to be a place whereby I share my innermost personal thoughts/struggles - If so, why put it on a public domain for all to see in the first place? Or is it going to be a site where people find out what I do by the day, weeks and months - Surely my life isn't the most interesting one.

In response to my own doubts, I have decided that this is going to be a place where I'm gonna let others in on my insights/feelings on certain issues, be it societal, political, religious or personal. Well, don't expect me to divulge my innermost feelings on certain issues (not that you'd know of their existence anyway) (: Well, and I don't really care who's going to be reading what I write, but if you do, and if you have comments or feedback, do email me and we can discuss it =) Just don't start an online war on this blog. I'm just a noob blogger.

Sorry to disappoint anyone who'd have expectations of a fancy blog layout (doubt there'll be anyone though, for people who read this blog probably know me, and all who know me know me for who I am) Hah.

So much for an introduction. Hopefully this blog will officially get up and running soon, and its existence be sustained. No promises on the regularity in posting (oh dear. I'm not a commitment-phobe, am i?). Well, I'll try my best.

As for EOPT, whatever will be, will be. In God I trust.