Puzzlements

Researchers are people who are puzzled about something and use rigorous methods to resolve those puzzles.

I cannot help getting this sense when I read research of people and in their research is not just hard, cold stone facts, but soft, experiences from their very own lives.

Why is is that so many witnesses of Israel-Palestinian conflict and Holocaust survivals study patriotism and nationalism?

It is magical to me.

They are truly puzzled why such conflicts exist and how people are capable of such atrocities, and it drove them to seek answers.

My puzzlement also drove me to conduct my masters research. I was sincerely baffled why so many good Singaporeans could not distinguish between a love for the nation, separate from love for the state and love for the government. Why is there in the Singaporean identity, a respect for our leaders and forefathers?

Why are 51, 000 Singaporeans praying for their Prime Minister to govern well?

Why is there such trust in the government?

I am sincerely puzzled.

Maybe, what characterizes people who go on to do graduate studies, and who go on to become academics, is not merely intelligence and knowing-it-all, but humility and lack of knowledge. Because people do not have the answers, and want to seek them... they do research.

If this is so, my utmost respect for individuals in this profession.