On Desire and Eccentricity

Two weeks ago I picked up On Desire: Why We Want What We Want by William B. Irvine from the philosophy section at a local bookstore. In the mood for melancholy reflection, I was surprised to discover that the book is an academic disposition on the origin of desire grounded in solid research. Besides the usual suspects - the philosophy and manifestation of desire, the religious advice, etc. - Irvine's book features two sections on the science and psychology of desire, which direct the readers to a much more objective view on the subject. (Warning: they're very dry and repetitive to read, if you're thinking of giving this book a go) There're often clinical explanations for the way we feel about the world, and what we want may stem from areas of our subconscious that are totally unrelated to our current circumstances and quests. Some of our inappropriate/wrong desires are practically out of our control--they're beyond our rational mind and will to curb. They're what we are and they're not what we think we are.

Those who're looking for solutions to dealing with their desires won't find the answers in this book, unless they're ready to accept the good old advice: "Be happy with what you have." That said, there's one section which will bring consolation to certain readers: The Eccentrics.

With reference to Diogenes and Thoreau - two famous philosophers in history - research findings and other scholarly writings, Irvine speculates that eccentricity is one possible key to happiness. Eccentrics are nonconformists who refuse to relinquish sovereignty over themselves: they have their own vision of what's valuable in life. Their status as social failures - and financial failures - doesn't bother them, since they don't have the social desires of winning others' admiration and their material desires tend to be minimal. Life is a constant source of delight, as typical eccentrics are passionately devoted to not one idea, enterprise or hobby, but half a dozen obsessions. Flaunting a buoyant self-confidence, the eccentrics are comfortable in their own skin, and appear far more able than most adults to experience joy.

And here comes the bad news: either you're born with a capacity for eccentricity, or you're not. In the words of French encyclopedist Denis Diderot, eccentricity requires a degree of courage and self-reliance that can't be learned. The findings of neuropsychologist David Weeks point to the same conclusion: the majority of his eccentrics knew they weren't like other people by the age of 8.

Does that sound familiar to you? Or is it simply frustrating, intimidating, or even crushing to read that you're denied this one implausible hope?

Resolution

I'm going to be away for a while. If you're someone who knows me, you know how to reach me.

Sun Chung Flower Shop

Mr Wong Nai-chung (黃乃忠), owner of Sun Chung Flower Shop (新忠花店) on Fuk Wing Street in Sham Shui Po. For overseas friends or expat readers who're unfamiliar with Hong Kong, it's one of the old neighborhoods that are mostly inhabited by the lower class. The shop is no more in the old neighborhood now, since the Housing Society seized the premise on July 13 2009 under the pretext of Urban Renewal Project.

As you can see in the picture, Mr Wong's trade is traditional Chinese flower decorations (faa paai), the large sized wreaths used at Chinese festivals and other occasions for celebrations. Mr Wong inherited the business from his father in his mid-20's, and his craft has been the center of his life ever since. It's what connects Mr Wong with people: neighbors-turned-friends and peers, strangers who came to order and to admire his dedication, young students who learnt from him fading traditions.

Since the government announced its plans for re-development of Sham Shui Po in 2004, over 300 local residents and shop owners have been affected. The five years have been a prolonged nightmare for most of these elderly citizens, as they despaired for the loss of their lifelong homes and/or means of livelihood. While the government talked compensations, they were meager offers for those who would have no way of reopening their businesses elsewhere because of high rents, or other factors such as the lack of suitable premises. The legal complications also put a serious strain on these elderly folks. Government letters, spilling cold and imminent threats, found their ways to the residents' mailboxes at increasing frequency. Officials patrolled the areas and announced plans for expulsion.


A former vegetable seller in the neighborhood food market. Her electricity was cut off two months before the eviction by the authority. Shortly after their departure, her aging mother succumbed to illness and passed away.














Amid all this confusion and scare, few residents or shop owners saw that they should put up a fight. The government had started the repossession without a formal evaluation of the redevelopment's impact on the local community, which is required by the law. While pressed for evidence of evaluation, the Housing Society consistently failed to produce relevant documents and shunned talking about it with the public. The reclamation was unlawful; yet in the words of the authority, Mr Wong had illegally 'occupied' government premise as he refused to vacate it. In January 2009, the District Council granted a summary judgment against Mr Wong, the defendant, in a lawsuit over the authority's resumption of land. Subsequent submissions of evidence by Mr Wong failed to alter the ruling.

Mr Wong and his supporters - former legislator, members of concern groups, Sham Shui Po neighbors - then filed an appeal. The hearing is supposed to take place in High Court in the next two months. Meanwhile, the government launched their attack. A notice announced that the authority would put Mr Wong's business into receivership on the morning of July 13. The eviction means that even if Mr Wong wins the lawsuit, he will still have lost his shop and have no place to come back to.

Supporters of Mr Wong from all over Hong Kong. For more photos of the last two days of Sun Chung in Sham Shui Po, click here:
















To support Mr Wong at such a difficult moment, friends and supporters staged a sit-in protest from 9am, and waited for the arrival of bailiffs. We - I was among the crowd - sat surrounding the wreaths on the ground, in a gesture to block the intruders. The Housing Society staff and their guards stood on the opposite side of the streets, while reporters and local residents looked on. Mr Wong and his friends took turn to speak. The stand-in was only an illusion: to avoid confrontation with the crowd, the bailiffs had sneaked into the building from a back entrance. They had several guards standing along the stairs, so as to block everyone's view.

The 'repossession' took place in secrecy.


















By 1.30pm the Housing Society had completed its mission. Mr Wong's supporters disassembled the large-sized wreaths on the street, so they could be transported to a safe place before the authority seized or destroyed them. If the media had hoped for a clash between Mr Wong's crew and the authority, they were bound to be disappointed. Friends and strangers spared a day in their life to be with Mr Wong, because they were moved by his story and angered by the ruthless redevelopment in our town.

By now we - Hong Kong citizens - have seen how our government will do anything to hand over what we have to the developers for money. They will take away people's homes, investments and commitments, and their dignity as human beings in living the way they are able to live. Our culture - faa paai being one example - is only to be wiped out with the old architecture in this town. To borrow Milan Kundera's words on Prague, Hong Kong is becoming a city without memory.

Blue Print Review

My latest short 'Pale Heart' appears in the 21st issue of Blue Print Review. The theme of this issue is detours/short cuts. Also featured are works by fellow bloggers Rose Hunter and Molly Gaudry.

The Blue Print Review is an experimental journal edited by Dorothee Lang, who puts a lot of heart into connecting the texts and images by contributors from all over the world. Life would be much easier for us writers, if there're more editors like Dorothee who's open and affectionate about the literary journal business.

When You Dance You Can Really Love

Ezequiel Paludi y Geraldin Rojas, world renowned tango dancers from Argentina. The two graced the stage at the last milonga of Tango Tang 10th anniversary festival at Butterfield's, a private club in Hong Kong. Given my limited experience in tango, I can't quite find the words to describe what an amazing performance it was. How does anyone blend such elegance and intricacy with impeccable momentum and skill? To manifest art through the movements of one's body, an ever-flowing passion and will--it's nothing less than a dream.

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More than anything I've ever known - art, literature, sex - dance sets the soul free. It allows you to truly liberate your emotions--your hopes and secrets, the acceptance of failures and disappointments, the unnamed oppression surging from within. In life desire is only another mask for pain: the harder it burns, the closer you're to death. In dance desire is truth: it brings you to the verge of yourself, and you live a rebirth rather than self-destruction. In dance, you don't anguish over the fall.

Pornographer of Pain, Romanticized

Five days after her diagnosis with cancer, German modern dance choreographer Pina Bausch bid a sudden farewell. For all the drama, dreams and cruelty - occasionally, a ruthlessness that borders on being pointless - in her works, Bausch kissed the world goodbye with an ambivalent smile.

I wish I'd die like that one day. Still young enough to dream or feign belief, but old enough to face the reality of infinite loss. Just as you start to fall apart, you close your eyes to meet the end. Knowingly, unknowingly--it doesn't matter as long as there's no or little pain. Or it's even fine to leave now.