It is easy to see the unfairness, the ills and wrongs forced upon oneself. It is difficult to be conscious and recognize the privileges and luxuries afforded to each person. While I cannot claim to be a fortunate individual, there are still many privileges I enjoy, as a birthright.

I am yellow in a land where the population is yellow in majority. I have never felt discriminated against the colour of my skin. I have never been subject to racial profiling, abuse or racism.

I am male in a society where the population, through their beliefs and actions, support and propagate the patriarchy in hideous ways. I have never been made to feel helpless, inadequate or a second-class citizen for my gender.

I am heterosexual in a narrow-minded society that is conservative and discriminates greatly against homosexuals, including legislation that penalizes and classifies any intercourse between non-heterosexual pairings as ‘unnatural’. I have never been denied opportunities or criminalized for my sexual orientation.

I am literate and educated. The institutions providing education are flawed and employ a system that leaves much to be desired, yes, but I have been given equal opportunities on a level footing. I have enough to own a small collection of books. I have never needed extra tuition.

I have employment opportunities and qualifications that will ensure basic employability, and unemployment is low. Firms pick selectively and favour certain degrees over others based on the institution awarded.

The judicial system here is fair and just (as long as the case does not have political leanings, whereupon it is up to legal interpretation, I cannot say too much for fear of a costly libel suit *cough*). The law is respected and there is little corruption. I am ensured fair trials (again, withholding ‘certain’ cases *cough*)

I am on the lower strata of society in terms of economic wealth, but I have enough to live in relative modern comfort. I have a roof over my head, never truly starved, electricity, running water, mobile access, broadband internet. The fact that I can sit and type this is proof enough. (Although as I type this the lightbulb went out.)

I enjoy the right to religion (in my case, the right to not have a religion). I have never felt persecuted for my lack of faith (despite attending a Presbyterian school in my teenage years). The state is secular, and adopts a ‘blind’ and ‘mute’ approach to religious topics.

I have limited freedom of speech. While I cannot say whatever I want for fear of covert actions that might work against me, be they subtle or otherwise, this is not my Father’s time, where I would already been arrested for Leftist leanings. I have no rights to assembly. I can be detained without trial under the powers of existing legislation. I have never been arrested or incarcerated.

I have had healthcare coverage that helped to burden the cost of removing a tumour and a jaw reconstruction. Although it does not cover tooth implants and I have a half-empty lower jaw.

I have a dysfunctional, but still intact family. I have not been subjected to the hardships of single parent families.

There are many more which I cannot name at this moment, and many more that I may come to learn of. And while injustice and misfortune may turn their hands upon many, there are always blessings we are oblivious to.

I hail from a family of eccentrics. One then needs not ask why I resent reunions. Family drama and long-standing feuds of the petty few. Of course, that means in all my childhood I have never seen my total holiday red packet money go beyond two digits. While the folks remained married till this day, I have seen my fair share of a dysfunctional marriage first hand. I cannot count the amount of times I hid away as a child, the screams and shouting and general ruckus that was incomprehensible and terrifying to a seven year old.

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This is the single surviving photo of my childhood.

tokinasian asked: Yes, you've told me about yourself, but who exactly are you? I hate using this, but asl (age/sex/location)? And what professions do you hold?

Ah, the mundane details.

My name is as my Tumbelog’s.

20 (21 on the last day of September), Male, Singapore. I have a diploma for accountancy. I am currently undergoing the two year mandatory national conscription programme in the Army.

One can guess why I do not dwell on such things, they bring me little joy, and perhaps, disillusionment.

The earliest memory I can ever recall is having a play duel with my father with a plastic toy sword. I was four or five, and the happiest little tot ever. Alas, whatever happened to him?

tokinasian asked: Tell me more about yourself.

Consciousness plagues me. Coffee is my ambrosia, I am my own poison. Through book covers I delve. I seek understanding, but even that may be too much to ask for in this day and age. I am a conundrum of contradictions.