Linh Do

I was hoping that my TEDxMacquarieUniversity speech would be ready by the time I had to link to this idea of sabbaticals. Hmmm. I’ll write something soon :)

***You know, I was going to write a nice long piece about the cultural stupidity of 21sts and their irrelevance in our self-indulgent lifestyles, but I’m just too tired (in Austin, right now).

Instead, read on for an FAQ for my attempt of organising my own 21st/going away/whatever.

When and where is your 21st?

Because I have no energy to make this post private to relevant people; you should already know via your email invite. If you think you should know but, don’t – that’s probably because you didn’t RSVP through official channels.

You are welcome to start arriving from 7:45pm onwards though.

How do I get to this secret location?

Driving isn’t really recommended just because there is limited parking, but you can try.

Taking the96 tram towards East Brunswick (from Bourke st) to the end of the line and walking for about 5 minutes is the easiest way though.

What should I wear?

I don’t really care as long as you look clean and clothed. I’m assuming most people will wear some variation of “nice” cocktail attire, but if you look clean and clothed in fisherman pants and that’s your thing – do it.

What’s the deal with gifts?

I don’t exactly dig the consumerism/materialism scene. Gifts are unnecessary if you so choose to play the “I’m a poor uni student” card. If given, some form of a financial donation towards my sustainable development tour of Africa/South America before Rio+20 would be greatly appreciated though. Thoughtful and well considered gifts will also be appreciated and accepted. Generic gifts of alcohol or gift cards will be returned with little care for your dignity and social etiquette.

Will you be feeding and hydrating us on the night?

Yes, I am a good host, despite being a reluctant one. (Do eat dinner before hand though).

What time will you be doing speeches?

10pm. Sharp. (So don’t think it’s cool to be uber late).

Your birthday isn’t until the 11th of December though, what gives?

I’ll be in Durban then, most likely comatose having just worked on www.symnews.org during COP17 for 3 odd weeks .

So, that’s where you’re going away to?

Yep, but I go away all the time sans the actual going away party scene. I’m actually heading off … forever. In that I don’t really have a return date yet. I’m doing a 6 month sustainable development road tour across Africa and South America in the lead up to Rio+20.

Are you hosting a party, a going away or a networking event?

Ha, oh, stop with the jokes. I can’t believe I’ve actually already answered this question three times. Yeah, I don’t know. We’ll just have to see.

I asked for my invite to be posted, why did you email me?

Because I’m still overseas as I write // organise this thing, you’ll get something in the post when I return to Australia.

Is there a theme?

21sts stress me out enough on so many different levels without the need to add another one. I do like this video (it’s a pity I couldn’t find a warehouse):

I think it’s ridiculous that the first blog I’ve written in a long time is on the Royal Wedding. But, I feel it’s somewhat needed (and I’m having a fairly chilled out morning in New York right now after a day spent thinking way too much at Activate, which you can read about here).

Below is a combination of what I just posted on Facebook/Twitter, and to respond to some of the questions that have already popped up. It’s not intended to be an eloquent piece covering the ins and outs of Royal Weddings; I’m certainly no expert (on any sort of wedding for that matter). Read it as you would a piece of social commentary from someone who tends to come across as crazy because Twitter truncates my often long and convoluted thoughts into bite sized pieces.

Oh, and I’m sure lots of people are writing/tweeting/Facebook-ing/etc-ing about the Royal Wedding; but this is more a commentary on those people, as opposed to the Wedding itself.

To begin, I’m currently in America. Working. Hard. I actually had very little idea about the specifics of the wedding (aside from it happening); the when/what/who’s coming etc. – all details that I was (and somewhat still am) devoid of. How I found out it was earlier this morning (EST time in America)? By being invited, the night before, to a Royal Wedding party by some friends at the Guardian.

And of course the abundance of hate from my Facebook news feed, consisting of people who I generally respect.

What kills me the most is having people claim to “normally” be modern / a feminist / an advocate of republicanism / polyamory or whatever, feeling a sense of shame by watching the Royal Wedding. Or using the Royal Wedding as a platform to express their aforementioned self-claimed titles, in the same way that Socialist Alternative groups across Melbourne promote their values (i.e. straw men tactics).

Since when has there been categorical ways of defining yourself as a feminist? Nothing says that you have to downright not shave, or support affirmative action. Last night on the Subway, an old couple were laughing over “having never met a Republican [the American variety] who was also a feminist but guessing that it could be possible, just weird”. What’s weird about being a feminist an fiscally conservative? This need to categorise one another without any exceptions is applicable for every issue, from those I that I advocate on like climate change to things like feminism in the modern day world.

Yes, the wedding cost a lot of money. As I disclosed early, I’m not sure how much – but if I based it on where all of my research from this posts derived from, then it cost approximately 35 million Euros (which, PS. the UK still use the GBP). But don’t all weddings cost more than they ought to, unless you get married at the registrants office? And even then, if you wanted to go to the extreme, you could make the argument of how “if you really loved one another, you don’t need a legality to prove it” etc. People of course, do not just get married for love (which if I wanted to be a total nark, I can point you to research that dismisses it as nothing more than a combination of our neurons reacting in a certain way for a certain period; almost like the aftermath of a car crash); they also get married for the legal benefits. Money is money, where people spend it is up to them (think about how much you’ve spent on going out or on various gadgets). And the extent to the amount they spend is relative, 35 million Euros to the Royal British Family is less than 1% of the net worth.*

Do I wish that social justice issues got just as much coverage? Of course. The only other time I’ve talked about the Royal Wedding prior to now was learning that two billion individuals will watch on television. It gave me plenty of food for thought because I’d been in and out of many Rio+20 meetings at the time where one of the aims was to make it a billion person summit (in terms of engagement) but, no one really knew how. And here, the Royal Wedding was just doubling that. That said, how often have you considered the “glamorisation” or over coverage of other issues in the media like war, financial crises or petty politics? At least, at the end of the day and if nothing else – this is a celebration of happiness.**

To those who chose not to watch the Royal Wedding, why do you have to note missing it? Or your relief at doing so? Do you also note every time you miss other events? It’s not like your boycotting the 2008 Olympics because of China’s human rights record. Is this just your way of asserting your supposed superiority or intelligence over those who chose to watch?

How I’m going forward with this? I’m going to respond to someone on Twitter telling me that “us haters are simply trying to help balance an equation” by hating on you all. From this point onwards, or in 2012, I’m going to use your birthdays as a means of communicating to you why I’m rueing your existence in my life. Facebook’s notification system for birthdays opens up a world of tokenistic warm wishes. I just want to be remembered amongst the masses.***

I don’t hate on what you choose to celebrate in your life; so stop hating on how the Royal Wedding, or rather Prince William and (now) Princess Kate****, is being celebrated.

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*This stat is totally hazy though, the worth of the Royal British Family depend on how you’re classifying it but, the core message: minimal.

**I’m not even going to delve into the “does love/marriage bring one happiness” stuff; there’s a lot to this piece that I haven’t touched upon – this isn’t meant to be a thesis after all.

***Yes, I do realise that this will further dwindle the amount of friends I actually have…

****Lastly, politicians and even people in general, are always referred to by their last names or with reference to their titles in the media; why don’t we extend the same respect to the Royal family?