Saturday, 05 June 2010 at 22:47 - As posted on Facebook as a note
What really drove me to work my butter fingers is an experience not to be erased from my mind for a long time to come.
It’s about the Raffles Model United Nations (RMUN) 2010, where I met all sorts of beautiful people from all over the country and the world. Noteworthy is its Security Council, which I so happened to be part of. And this would prove to be a blessing, contrary to my prospect of the low degree of cohesiveness of the group I was to work with.
Such pessimism and scepticism of any possibility of progress arose while scrolling down the forum page of the UNSC. It seemed so arduous to even call for a gathering before the RMUN. To make one introduce himself was like burning down and rebuilding the UN headquarters three times over.
Hopeless.
The pre-MUN meeting. Would it testify my low hopes or shed light at the end of the nuclear – biochemical SC tunnel? Let me tell you what happened.
I arrived at Orchard MRT at 4.24p.m. Now, there were three exits from the ticket gates to choose from. I was looking for either Shaun, Samuel or Woon Wei for they were the only ones I managed to meet during the 2nd briefing. (Btw, the 2nd briefing also started to show signs of hopelessness – only about 7 delegates attended!) I saw none of them or any SC-looking people. Seeing that I was 6 minutes early, noting that I would look like a terrorist roaming around the concourse, I went down to the platform level. 6 minutes up, I rang up Shaun.
I think you would be bored by now… Fast forward >>>
Let’s just say that there were only 6 present. Shaun, Zien, Ralene, Dian, Woon Wei and I. Is that demoralising enough? It was incredible how serious discussions on the question of Yemen turned into an outrageous session of truth or dare! Little that I know that such fun was to be experienced by the council more often than not for the next three days! At that time, poor attendance blocked my foresight of good times to come.
One would say that the first RMUN day was uneventful. After the whole damn thing, I realised how much a pain I was a pain the arse due to my groundless stubbornness. Certainly, the Press Conference was one of relaxed nature with a little game of dodge-ball. And so I had to rethink my diplomatic approach. Fellow delegates, this delegate of the great nation of India wishes to apologise for the lack of understanding and high amount of noobness on the floor. Shiva bless you!
It didn’t occur to me that simple severe unpunctuality was to cause great delay – and a fun one too, at least for me! Voting on a suggested amendment was to happen. Due to my absence, I had little knowledge to build upon my knowledge. That is even more powerful than a veto! Being the tie-breaker...
Crisis! Cocked pistols; red buttons. I really wanted to fall asleep as one by one was condemning the Chinese activities in Libya, condemning Libya's reluctance to cooperate, and so on. Jeremy increased its operational readiness from DEFCON 4 to DEFCON 1. When asked later why, he claimed that it was his annual duty to do so as a US diplomat. Haha. In reply, I applauded his move on the floor and merely mobilised India's nuclear arsenal. Let me tell you that this has got nothing to do with China's close proximity to India. It was to zest up the room. Again, only condemnation of these actions was heard of. EC of Turkey asked to relax. I WAS DOING JUST THAT! However, little that I knew that these few words would resonate with shockwaves in the other councils. My inbox flooded with WTF? messages. Their wrath was to be imposed on me over a cup of tea during the break.
Day 3. The crisis was resolved. Indian GA waged war against Pakistan... Balls! Ashish said that this was not possible outside the security council. It was funny how I was talking about deactivating nuclear missiles when the Pakistanis barged in. Locking of borders, allowing the influx of terrorists, trade of sanctions -- BALLS! As expected, the resolution on the secondary issue was not passed with the P5s unanimously voting against. No issue with that, really.
With the remaining time, truth or dare was the question to be asked after the spin of poor Jeremy's phone. It occurred to me that this was to be a RMUN -UNSC tradition. SSM - arrggh! Hugging Ashish from behind is not that bad after all. It actually felt.... let's not go there!
The first signs of unity in defiance was visible just before the plenary, with plans to intentionally enter the plenary late, hoping to garner some glamour for the UNSC! Meanwhile, we did nuts in A24.
Then comes the Dinner and Dance. Jeremy initiated a party chain in which I followed suit. It soon turned into a massacre, stepping onto people's toes and printing sweat on others' shoulders. Oh and then SC boycotted the dinner and dance. WAIT! DINNER? Haha! We boycotted the D&D AFTER eating. Nvm, I believe it's the nature of the SC in reality. Fund the nuclear program first then condemn it...
On our part, we had a HELL of a time in A24. Musical tables, press-ups, dare or dare. Mass forfeit, Chan Mali Chan, Nobody - could not get enough of all those! Yes, Ern Chuen's done was cuter and sexier, but Jervis' only caressed me forcibly through an undefined medium.
Defiance is to prevail when instructed to vacate the venue for the grand finale. Well, guess what? WE decide where we go - almost all of us, with reasonable exceptions. Even the route to Marymount MRT was filled with cheery melodies and hymns, as if drunk. Then, some chilling out at J8 food junction.
Now, all of the above, emphasising that we were all complete strangers actually happened. How did this happen? Maybe because we are small. But I still stick by my stand as expressed in the plenary that harmony happens. The only affirmative action possible for such harmony to occur is through education. That's it. You can't possibly pluck two atoms to combine into a molecule. You need to set the preconditions right, like high temperature and pressure.
So what are the preconditions contributing to this kind of unity? Are we destined to be together in such strong covalent bonds? Certainly, compromises in one's division of time is needed. But how come to such an extent that we feel warmth although we may have such stark political differences?
Jervis, I can't take my eyes off you. That's all I have to say.
Thank you all for the blast that we shared these 3 days! And the directors, putting up with our nautical nonsense we know that you do not really wish.
From the Indian Security Council member, with love,
Shiva bless you.
Sincerely yours,
Zakrie B Abdul Manap
Anderson Secondary School
Indian Delegation
