Personally, I would want to apply the same ideal (New Year Resolutions) in an on-going manner. Everyday, every week, present and the future are to be analysed constantly. The start of a new year ought not be the reason to get motivated. However, it is not a bad thing if the New Year can inspire one to start something new, or start anew because everyone is making her/his New Year resolutions at the same time with a shared feeling of hopefulness.
Happy New Year All!
Saturday, 31 December 2011
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
The Meaning of Christmas
What is the true meaning of Christmas? It is a question heard often during the Christmas season year after year. The meaning of Christmas seems to be forever in danger of being lost by all the commotion and promotion of the season. Is it the presents under the tree, the lights in the windows, and the cards in the mail, et cetera, et cetera? Is this really Christmas? Besides what The Bible says about Christmas, I think Christmas is about giving, sharing and loving all humanity regardless of race, language, religion, gender and age. It is not just one day. Christmas can be - should be - every day.
Ed's article on The Meaning of Christmas, and A Merry Christmas to All strikes a chord and I totally agree with him that Christmas 'is not a day of compensation, where we make up for our self-interested behaviour throughout the year...'. It's the genuine concern and interest one shows to another human being without any ulterior motive, and that is the true spirit of Christmas that one should practise throughout the year.
Merry Christmas to All!
Ed's article on The Meaning of Christmas, and A Merry Christmas to All strikes a chord and I totally agree with him that Christmas 'is not a day of compensation, where we make up for our self-interested behaviour throughout the year...'. It's the genuine concern and interest one shows to another human being without any ulterior motive, and that is the true spirit of Christmas that one should practise throughout the year.
Merry Christmas to All!
Sunday, 24 April 2011
Is Malay truly singapore national language?
The following was placed as a brief comment beneath the article, ‘Using foreign teaching methods to teach Malay?’ source
‘Without the influx of the foreign talents, singapore is already a different country. Over the past decades, the vibrancy of a diverse, multicultural country has been replaced by a chinese fascist, legalist state. With the elevation of chinese culture over the minorities, speak mandarin campaign, SAP schools for the chinese, celebrations of chinese festivities, HBD quotas to control the races,etc, etc, etc, it is very clear that the chinese has ruled this small island, taking over the Malays who are the rightful owners in this island.’
In the article by Dr Wong Wee Nam, all these talks about how the stature of the Malay language is not going to be the same whether to teach Malay as a foreign language or the use of foreign teaching methods, is not critical. The teaching methods though important, the recognitions and opportunities rendered to the Malays are KEY. This allows the Malays to know that they have equal opportunities as the chinese which is not the case today.
Why would the Malays be motivated to learn the Malay language, when the chinese TV programs are getting all the hypes, the only programs you see on TV in coffee-shops are chinese, when one could hardly see Malay stalls in coffee-shops, just in the selected few, and the important or key job positions in companies are filled in by the chinese. And yet, we have the cheek to claim Malay as our National Language. Just as what Dr Wong pointed out, ‘In the old days, Malay was the communication link between the races in Singapore.’ When we cease to give equal recognition and opportunity to other races and promote only one race (chinese), the other races are forced to be assimilated into the chinese culture (over the past few decades). Do you blame the Malays when they are less fluency in their own language?
‘Without the influx of the foreign talents, singapore is already a different country. Over the past decades, the vibrancy of a diverse, multicultural country has been replaced by a chinese fascist, legalist state. With the elevation of chinese culture over the minorities, speak mandarin campaign, SAP schools for the chinese, celebrations of chinese festivities, HBD quotas to control the races,etc, etc, etc, it is very clear that the chinese has ruled this small island, taking over the Malays who are the rightful owners in this island.’
In the article by Dr Wong Wee Nam, all these talks about how the stature of the Malay language is not going to be the same whether to teach Malay as a foreign language or the use of foreign teaching methods, is not critical. The teaching methods though important, the recognitions and opportunities rendered to the Malays are KEY. This allows the Malays to know that they have equal opportunities as the chinese which is not the case today.
Why would the Malays be motivated to learn the Malay language, when the chinese TV programs are getting all the hypes, the only programs you see on TV in coffee-shops are chinese, when one could hardly see Malay stalls in coffee-shops, just in the selected few, and the important or key job positions in companies are filled in by the chinese. And yet, we have the cheek to claim Malay as our National Language. Just as what Dr Wong pointed out, ‘In the old days, Malay was the communication link between the races in Singapore.’ When we cease to give equal recognition and opportunity to other races and promote only one race (chinese), the other races are forced to be assimilated into the chinese culture (over the past few decades). Do you blame the Malays when they are less fluency in their own language?
Sunday, 17 April 2011
In response to BBC:Gay couple 'removed from Soho pub for kissing'
'A man has told of how he was ordered to leave a central London pub after a staff member objected to him kissing a man he was on a date with.' bbc
Whether someone is homosexual or heterosexual, their rights are as important as yours and that include showing public displays of affection provided that they are not having sex in public. Why should gay people have to be extra alert to people’s sensitivity to engage in behaviour that is acceptable for heterosexuals?
In today’s society, we need to be more acceptance on each other’s sexual orientation. There are still so many people who are living as second class citizens in our society just because they are different in race, religion, etc. It’s still good to see the public had responded to support this couple at Soho pub on the 16th, just two days after the incident. Source bbc
Whether someone is homosexual or heterosexual, their rights are as important as yours and that include showing public displays of affection provided that they are not having sex in public. Why should gay people have to be extra alert to people’s sensitivity to engage in behaviour that is acceptable for heterosexuals?
In today’s society, we need to be more acceptance on each other’s sexual orientation. There are still so many people who are living as second class citizens in our society just because they are different in race, religion, etc. It’s still good to see the public had responded to support this couple at Soho pub on the 16th, just two days after the incident. Source bbc
Friday, 8 April 2011
Another China Milk Scandal
'China 'tainted milk' kills three children. Three children have died in north-west China from suspected poisoning after drinking milk from two local dairies, state media says.
Thirty-five others, mostly children, are being treated at hospitals in Gansu province, officials said'- bbc
Last month, Wei Chao'an, vice minister of agriculture, said 'The milk products made on the Chinese mainland are trustworthy' - GOV.cn
Yet again China's government has failed in a most basic duty - to provide safe food for its people.
Thirty-five others, mostly children, are being treated at hospitals in Gansu province, officials said'- bbc
Last month, Wei Chao'an, vice minister of agriculture, said 'The milk products made on the Chinese mainland are trustworthy' - GOV.cn
Yet again China's government has failed in a most basic duty - to provide safe food for its people.
Sunday, 3 April 2011
My thoughts on Singapore Kindness Movement
The following is an excerpt from a comment that has caught my attention:
John’s comment as posted on according2ed’s site
“....It seems that neither the Courtesy Campaign nor the singapore kindness movement is taking any effects in singapore. The fact that there is a need to put in place a kindness movement to call the people (which consists mostly chinese) to become a more caring and gracious society says a lot about the chinese. You can give the chinese education but you can’t educate the chinese!...” - ''Singaporeans' are rude, arrogant, filthy'
Here’s my response and additional thoughts to that article:
When you have a nation that always has a chinese majority and actively promotes the chinese culture, and elevates the chinese culture over all others, it is no surprising that the government has to introduce the singapore kindness movement to ‘fix’ the issues that it has created. The government, over a few decades, has taught the chinese to identify themselves as the preferred race in singapore, and through the self-absorption, the chinese are concerned only with their own interests.
One alternative solution is the promotion of multiculturalism in singapore. It will contribute to the way a person looks at things, enhance empathy, vibrancy and passion. One should not mistake the present singapore culture for the culture of all singaporeans as this is the culture that is left over after the chinese culture is elevated and promoted over all others. Monoculturalism gives rise to self-absorption and narrow-mindedness. Try to be less ‘chinese’ and more ‘singaporean’ - become the best of all cultures.
John’s comment as posted on according2ed’s site
“....It seems that neither the Courtesy Campaign nor the singapore kindness movement is taking any effects in singapore. The fact that there is a need to put in place a kindness movement to call the people (which consists mostly chinese) to become a more caring and gracious society says a lot about the chinese. You can give the chinese education but you can’t educate the chinese!...” - ''Singaporeans' are rude, arrogant, filthy'
Here’s my response and additional thoughts to that article:
When you have a nation that always has a chinese majority and actively promotes the chinese culture, and elevates the chinese culture over all others, it is no surprising that the government has to introduce the singapore kindness movement to ‘fix’ the issues that it has created. The government, over a few decades, has taught the chinese to identify themselves as the preferred race in singapore, and through the self-absorption, the chinese are concerned only with their own interests.
One alternative solution is the promotion of multiculturalism in singapore. It will contribute to the way a person looks at things, enhance empathy, vibrancy and passion. One should not mistake the present singapore culture for the culture of all singaporeans as this is the culture that is left over after the chinese culture is elevated and promoted over all others. Monoculturalism gives rise to self-absorption and narrow-mindedness. Try to be less ‘chinese’ and more ‘singaporean’ - become the best of all cultures.
Sunday, 20 March 2011
In response to an article by according2ed - Jap earthquake: the emperor, the elite, and the 'charitable'
It’s an undeniable fact that quite a few industries have benefit from disasters. That’s where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Shouldn’t the donations be coming from these industries and the rich since they are profiting from the situation. Why should the working people be charitable? The Japan government should be providing jets to get the people out of the affected areas. Why is the rich the ones who get the first chance to survival? That is the issue when you are in a capitalist world! That is the problem when you have hierarchy in the society! I totally agree with you that ‘creating a truly egalitarian society’ is the solution to the problem.
Have they tried to address the root cause? For instance, Wiki leaks has just revealed that the IAEA had warned the Jap elite more than 2 years ago that “its nuclear power plants were not capable of withstanding powerful earthquakes [telegraph]. Why aren’t the Jap elite be held accountable for this disaster and donate their wealth?
It is an interesting thought that in such disasters, it allows people to practise being kind where such kindness is actually supporting a greater evil. If you think deeper, it is true. The opportunity to donate to a famous disaster is the way people tell themselves they have done enough.
Ending my comment with a great quote from Ed – ‘The Root of all evils find its incubatory refuge in all that is perceived to be good’
Have they tried to address the root cause? For instance, Wiki leaks has just revealed that the IAEA had warned the Jap elite more than 2 years ago that “its nuclear power plants were not capable of withstanding powerful earthquakes [telegraph]. Why aren’t the Jap elite be held accountable for this disaster and donate their wealth?
It is an interesting thought that in such disasters, it allows people to practise being kind where such kindness is actually supporting a greater evil. If you think deeper, it is true. The opportunity to donate to a famous disaster is the way people tell themselves they have done enough.
Ending my comment with a great quote from Ed – ‘The Root of all evils find its incubatory refuge in all that is perceived to be good’
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