At Rallies

I have an admission to make ...

Tons of scripts are awaiting me to mark
Prelims scripts
I could have spent these few evenings devouring the scripts...
Yet I did not
I was at the rallies

YES ... I was actually attending election rallies!

Well, I figured that the scripts can wait, for I can always catch up with them through my own management of hours. The rallies, however, are immediate, instant, and once missed will not return.

And the rallies this year are worth the time. Every bit of it. For I witnessed fiery passion in the speakers and the supporters and audience, I witnessed breathtaking persuasive rhetoric and incisive arguments, and I witnessed the beginnings of a next phase in our nation's electoral development.

The rallies were at times thought-provoking lectures, and at times carnival fiestas. Indeed, the crowds that descended upon the rally sites caused long massive jams, and the blaring cheering and flag-waving audience was a phenomenon to behold. And have you ever witnessed a studium fully packed with people on the field, on the tracks, on the stands, and then outside the stadium looking in from the fences or standing at the next buildings beyond? How many people would that be? Or trying to squeeze one's way into the never-ending sea of people, and then trying to tip-toe to see the stage and speaker, who looked just like a tiny speck in the distance. And all these while standing on muddy soggy grass and ground. Then, there were mobile network jams (and mainly for my network operator) - trying to call/sms unsuccessfully for the entire duration of the 3-hour rally (using so much power that my phone battery bar indicator went from green to orange in the process - a never-before phenomena), and thereafter having to keep walking to get to a decent transport place ... and people are willing to brave all that.

Frankly, the rallies this year are significant. There are now the faint inklings of the beginnings of a more mature and qualified candidature outside of the ruling party. The control and exercise of tone, language and rhetoric by the non-ruling party candidates are impressive this round. Wit, dignity, composure and intellect were all evident and well utilised in strongly passionate and persuasive speeches. Most thankfully, empty low-level rantings and ravings are generally absent in the more respectable parties - this augurs well for an hnourable and dignified electoral process.

Then, there was a large proportion of young working adults and, surprise of surprises, a sizeable turnout of JC students at the rallies. There is a clear awakening in interest in the nation's future amongst the next generation. They are the beginnings of a young intelligensia. Perhaps, social studies and national education have fulfilled their functions well afterall - getting the students interested and challenged in thinking about crucial themes in human societies/civilisations, and applying them to broad national and international issues and concerns.

I feel a re-awakening in the nation, and I feel a re-awakening in me.

It was indeed time well spent.