Films, and such.

Time and TIME again.

I wrote this while i was at work, with too much TIME on my hands.

Speaking of time -and magazines- i read a nice quote from Wong Kar Wai in I-Weekly (which i borrowed from a colleague) recently that i shall include later. But firstly, as any loyal reader of TIME will have noticed, President Obama and the Economic Crisis has been dominating all the headlines lately. The crisis is naturally at the forefront of everybody's thoughts. When personal livelihood is brought into the picture, people tend to pay greater attention to the latest happenings. Much has been said in this great debate, and often said with strong feelings and loud voices. The public outrage at AIG's bonus handouts being the latest chapter in what is beoming THE defining event of recent history.

As the leader of the largest economy in the world, President Obama, along with Timo Geithner and company, have come under the intense scrutiny. Which brings me to my point. Whilst much has been said, precious little of the critcism has been constructive. Worringly enough, there has been many ridiculous commentary throughout the affair. During peace time, such gaffes might make for a good laugh or an SNL special. However, in the current climate, it is dangerous and reckless to say the least.

John Maynard Keynes once said that consumers were ruled by the 'animal spirits' of optimism and pessimism. It is these very spirits that amplify the effect of the stupidity contained in the words of the opposition and critics. An economy that is extremely low on consumer confidence will only worsen when fed news, correct or otherwise, that the plans are flawed and useless. Leaders, Republicans, Democrats or otherwise, must understand that economies are influenced greatly by their comments. Most importantly, people need to understand the circumstances they are in. It is impossible to find a quick fix. When faced with the greatest singular economic crisis in over 50 years, what reference can the Administration take? When critics claim the plans are not producing results, what barometer is being used? The wild growth experience in the years preceeding the crisis? Isn't that how the economy ended up in its current predicament? Of all the criticism levelled at the Administration, none is more laughable than the sweeping statement that 'the plan is flawed'. Why, of course it is! Quite simply put: If someone has the 'perfect' solution to the situation, why not just provide it now and save everyone the trouble. Truth is, whatever plans and suggestions offered will contain some flaws. The current crisis has numerous causes and layers, such that only an educated guess and trial and error approach has a chance of success.

Of course, when their personal well-being is under threat, the public do not have much patience for such trial and error. As President, the decision maker and symbol of the government, Obama knows that. Already, his most recent comments are marked with a slightly bitter and frustrated tone, lamenting that despite only being in office for forty days, the american public expect him to solve the greatest crisis since the Great Depression.

Time, it seems, is not on his side.

The Feb 16 issue of TIME contains an article about India's construction of a fence to cordon off Bangladesh and seperated its borders. In itself, the construction represents the true irony of modern times. We live in a highly globalised world, a perhaps overcroweded world, where cultures, and economies are so closely intertwined (as the aforementioned Economic Crisis only serves t prove). And yet at the same time we can be so divided, so seperated, so distant from each other. Perplexing enough, we have never been closer, and never been so desperate to get away from each other.

Needless to say, the fence recalls the similarly divisive Berlin Wall back in the heart of a segregated Germany, in the thick of the Cold War. The future, it seems, is yesterday happening today. History tells us what has happened to that symbol of seperation. Time will tell what happens to this one.

Which brings me neatly (or timely, if you can pardon the already large number of puns) to the quote by Wong Kar Wai. Wong is, of course, the auteur who has so expertly used his medium of film to explore time and its effects on people, at times with complex results, in the likes of 2046 and Ashes of Time. An interview for the release of Ashes redux is the background for this quote. I could think of no one better than the wrap up this time themed entry.

"在江湖裡面最大的，武功最高的不是人，是那個時間，是那個自然."

Loosely translated, it says: In the world, the most powerful being is not man. It is time, and nature.