Politics.

When someone mentions the word politics, people usually envisage it as our government or the Cabinet & ministers. What’s presently hot in the politics air right now would be our Opposition leader’s allegedly sex video with a woman, which surfaced about a week ago. There are actually people who think that he should step down and quit politics altogether if there is enough substantiation to prove that the man in the video is indeed him.

What’s ironic is that our current MCA president was once embroiled in a sex video scandal too and look where he is now! So I don’t get why people are making such a big fuss out of this. I’m not choosing sides here, because how could I possibly know for certain if the man in the video is really the man people claim he is? Not to mention the timing of this video being exposed couldn’t have been better. But what really makes me wonder is how come no action is taken against those who had the tape (possession), those who distributed it, and what more, how can a sex video be watched in the Parliament with all the ministers present? It’s not a circus show.

The person who placed the hidden video camera in the hotel room violated both the man and the woman’s human rights and privacy. But that’s of course not as important as determining who’s the man in the video huh? Because what’s more electrifying than that right?

That’s not the only kind of politics all of us have to tackle or know of. When you think of it, we deal with politics at home, at school, at work, and so on. Family members’ bickering and sibling rivalry are also politics. Two or more parties are battling each other to obtain one objective. The only difference in the many types of politics would be the goal, the aim. At country level, those involved in politics fight for the power and the money.

As for family, it could be due to nepotism & jealousy or again, wealth. At a workplace, everyone wants to climb the corporate ladder quickest with minimal effort. Every staff wants to be the superior’s pet, they want to be liked and even favourited among the senior staff so that it imposes a positive effect on their work performance and/or job prospect. In school, everyone wants to be the popular kid or at least get to hang out with the popular clan. Schools are never lack of “drama”.

Everywhere you go gossip about others will be knocking on your front door more often that you could imagine and if you’re unlucky, the topic could be on you. It’s best if you try to stay away from giving suggestive remarks when it comes to conversations like that. When your friends/colleagues are bad-mouthing your superior/s or someone else, you should only listen and not chip in your part (regardless whether you too have complaints & rants or not). Neither do you agree or disagree. Simply nod your head or say something like “Oh really?” or “I didn’t know that“.

The thing about hearsay is it unfurls more rapidly than STDs, or rather quicker than you can say no I don’t think it spreads faster than STDs. And it always gets back to the person who is the topic of the gossip. So when something like that ensues, if you were the one who generated the story or started spreading it, chances are you will face the music sooner or later. If you have contributed, that’s practically the same thing.

Most idle talk and rumours are usually due to women and that’s one hard fact. Most women just can’t ignore the excitement of spreading a juicy piece of story that she knows would excite her other women friends as well. Sometimes certain types of gossip are harmless and could be fun even, but there are some which could jeopardise relationships or in this case, your job. Never go overboard when you’re too caught up with gossip. In extreme cases, it could also cause suicide attempts and a person’s reputation.

So before you say anything, think if you would like it if someone were to say something like that about you. Think about how you would feel about it, and the corollaries that could crop up.

Always coming back to you, you are like my secret place.

Can you tell an abuser when you see one? When I say abusive relationships, I’m sure many of you would be picturing swollen eyes, broken noses, dislocated arms.. Well, that’s one type.

Another type would be mental abuse. And usually, people don’t seem to realise till it’s too late.

But I think both types are equally dangerous. Let’s talk about type 1 first. I know there are many people out there who is with someone who abuses physically. A husband, a boyfriend, a wife, a girlfriend, a father, a mother, etc etc.

Yes I’m not only talking about the men but the women as well.

I think that no living person deserves to be treated any lesser than how a human being should be treated. Parents are supposed to be guardians to their children, and by using physical force/any other form of abuse is not the right way to nurture them.

I’ve seen parents slapping their children, and mind you, they are only little boys and girls. How do you expect them to grow up normally? There will always be a scar left behind. One hit, sometimes that’s all it takes to wound them for a lifetime.

I am so disgusted by parents who sexually abuse their children, or anyone’s children for that matter. Or those who expect their children to be slaves at home?

It doesn’t come down to education, I don’t think only uneducated people are harsh and violent. A person may be a Harvard or Oxford graduate with PhDs and all that, but he/she could still be abusive.

Think about it this way, when you abuse your children, they do not grow up to be normal. For all you know, they could end up being a serial killer or something. There are many ways to teach, violence is without doubt not one of them.

Partners who abuse the weaker significant other. I don’t believe in second chances in most things, and this is certainly one of them. Often enough, the abuser would attack and hit but the next thing you know, he/she breaks down and begs for forgiveness, promising it would never again.

Trust me, it WILL happen again. I know a lot of people who put up with it, try to live a normal life but no one knows what really happens behind closed doors. I think that’s a very stupid thing to do. You need to stand up for yourself because you do not have to endure such pain and humiliation.

Type 2. When a person you have a relationship with, be it your parents/partner/even a friend, is constantly bringing you down by intimidating you or making you feel like you do not deserve anything good in life, that’s an abusive relationship.

No one likes to be pushed around and to be made feel worthless.

When you are in that kind of relationship for long, you tend to be what people say you are. You lose self confidence, your self esteem, your purpose of life. All you’ll ever think about is how big of a failure you are.

Why let yourself go through all that misery and despair? You know yourself better than any other person out there, so do not let anyone take control of your life. Stay away from all these hazardous and noxious people who want to knock you over.

I know, easier said than done. But this could be life-threatening. Step out before it’s too late, while you still can.

Ordinary people are daunted by strong minds,
don’t be one of them.