Today’s Saturday edition of The Age featured the recent drama in the infamous Salt Club (int students are frequent goers). Many people blame that a revenge or a payback is not a rejected theory..
Few realised that the culture of secret societies in many asian countries have already shaped the way, of many international students here. Sure, majority of them do not get involved in any of these. But to the few people of those who are involved, it can be deadly. As proven in Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, many of these youths have backings from the ‘community’ they create or join.
When i was in Singapore, i frequent hear about the ’sparring’ that took place among members of the same secret society. ‘Sparring’ means one member will fight other member as a practice lesson. The clash amongst different groups are apparent, especially if one member of the group has entered the already divided territorial without going through proper ‘authority’. Supremity will be shown and that one person will suffer and in turn seek revenge by bringing the clans for the show down!
No, its not only in Singapore, same happens in Indonesia too. I still remembered when my best friend was stabbed to death by another group seeking revenge. The fault is, they got the wrong person. And as my friend run for help, no one was around, he died instantly, with multiple wounds on his bare chest! People were talking about revenge then, different groups react differently, but the only thing that stop them was a word of wisdom from his father, that the ‘revenge’ will not be appreciated by his son, who was lying in the coffin. I couldnt even shed a tear, dying in anger!
But this is a problem for paternalistic society.. where unless you settle it until the ‘last drop of your blood’ (a common phrase instilled in young minds), it will never be settled. Authority doesnt bother themselves with petty arguments or incidents. These people decided to take law into their own hands. Some people say its unlawful, but others say its instinct, human being, survival of the fittest. Its a matter of who decided to take down whom first.
Is this the society we live in?? Of course, on a grand scale, look at Iraq. such pre-emptive action clearly suggest that its OK to take down your enemy before they take you first….. Many people argue about it, but they get away with it…..
Like numerous incidents say… its imminent.. the question is not WILL it happen but WHEN?