Japanese Occupation:
Singapore was occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. This was part of Japan's Greater Co-Prosperity Sphere (a hot load of BS).
It was during this period that Singapore experienced the betrayal of the British army and was subjected to brutalities and atrocities.
This event shattered the myth of the white man's invincibility and sowed seeds of nationalism as Singaporeans realised that they could not count on anyone else to defend the country. This set the stage for independence demands post-war.
This also served as ground for repeated invocation of the siege mentality.
However, this event also exacerbated Chinese-Malay tensions because the malays were co-opted by the Japanese while the Chinese were harshly treated because of the ongoing war between Japan and China.
This set the stage for the emphasis on racial harmony post war.
On the other hand, the British rule has also influenced contemporary Singaporean politics to a certain extent.
The British developed Singapore into a trading hub and its good governmental and administrative systems and structures were inherited for easy transmission of governance.
However, the idea of a plural society where different races lived together but do not mix persisted, giving us an awkward version of racial tolerance rather than actual harmony.
Finally, the merger and the subsequent separation proved to be a highly bitter moment which left a great impact on Singapore's politics.
The clash between malay Malaysia and Malaysian Malaysia only confirmed the preference for non-communal politics in Singapore and the rejection of the bumiputra policy in Malaya. Again, this was push for multiculturalism in Singapore.
The use of the media for smearing the government and "lying" to the people also convinced PAP that the mass media must be subdued and subjugated by the government, to be transformed into an implementer of government policies and agendas.
The separation plays finely into the idea that Singapore is a lone state surrounded by hostile neighbours, again, the siege mentality.
There was also a radical, renewed resolve to succeed economically without a hinterland, to go global rather than to be satisfied with the common market under Malaysia.
Finally, it marked the beginning of a series of spats between Singapore and Malaysia from time to time.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Identity and Politics
A nation is different from a state.
A state is that which has the monopoly of legitimate use of physical force within a given territory and contains institutions, population and territory (of course, already said it).
Nation is more, it is a community where members recognize rights and duties to each other. A community where people do not really know each other but feel as though they do.
Nation can be understood in 2 ways.
1. Primordialism: it is the culture, language, religion or which defines a nation. People are innately differentiated and can only feel comfortable with their own kind.
Primordialism has some value but is nearly pointless to mention in a globalized world where no nation is a nation because of some innate thing.
Instead, we can think of nations in the situationalist framework.
National integration is something which is continually negotiated and is always evolving and subject to change.
In this sense, nation building is a non-completable project.
The challenge for Singapore is that we are a nation of migrants, with little to no essentialist characteristics to manipulate for identity rhetoric. LKY admits that Singapore is still in the midst of nation building which may fail and cause the country to fall apart (typical of his siege mentality talk).
Furthermore, our recent statehood means that citizens have not undergone crises and difficulties together, making the fostering of mutual trust a very time taking process.
Singapore has employed these strategies. Notice that they are all processes of iconization: taking something which is contingently so (or not even so) and making it appear essential and innate.
First, the shared values of Singapore is an attempt to create and ideological consensus amongst Singaporeans and an establishment of duties of one individual to another which Singaporeans actually need not subscribe.
Next, the costly HDBs ground Singaporeans by giving them a sense of stake in the country which they need not have.
The National Service also allows races (at least for males) to work together, creating this racial cooperation which need not really happen.
The use of symbols and various celebrations of identity are aimed at pretending that there is unity, or at least, to celebrate it until it becomes reality. These include Singapore day for overseas Singaporeans, national day and racial harmony day for locals.
However,
1. Policy ambivalence sabotages this effort. For instance, the insistence of racial self-help groups, the rigidity of the MT policy all points towards this unwillingness for the mixing of ethnic groups despite all the hot talk about racial harmony.
2. It is a fact that the ethnic minorities, e.g., malays, happen to be performing poorly economically. This coinciding of ethnic identity and socio-economic plight inevitably results in sentiments of neglect by the government.
3. Globalization means that there is now a new clash between the more globalized and the less globalized, the heartlander versus the shenton way guy. Also, there is the issue of foreigners versus locals.
4. Statistically, there is much distrust amongst the races and towards the foreigners.
For instance, only 44% of the Chinese are willing to trust someone from another race and only 66% of youths and business owners welcome foreigners.
A state is that which has the monopoly of legitimate use of physical force within a given territory and contains institutions, population and territory (of course, already said it).
Nation is more, it is a community where members recognize rights and duties to each other. A community where people do not really know each other but feel as though they do.
Nation can be understood in 2 ways.
1. Primordialism: it is the culture, language, religion or which defines a nation. People are innately differentiated and can only feel comfortable with their own kind.
Primordialism has some value but is nearly pointless to mention in a globalized world where no nation is a nation because of some innate thing.
Instead, we can think of nations in the situationalist framework.
National integration is something which is continually negotiated and is always evolving and subject to change.
In this sense, nation building is a non-completable project.
The challenge for Singapore is that we are a nation of migrants, with little to no essentialist characteristics to manipulate for identity rhetoric. LKY admits that Singapore is still in the midst of nation building which may fail and cause the country to fall apart (typical of his siege mentality talk).
Furthermore, our recent statehood means that citizens have not undergone crises and difficulties together, making the fostering of mutual trust a very time taking process.
Singapore has employed these strategies. Notice that they are all processes of iconization: taking something which is contingently so (or not even so) and making it appear essential and innate.
First, the shared values of Singapore is an attempt to create and ideological consensus amongst Singaporeans and an establishment of duties of one individual to another which Singaporeans actually need not subscribe.
Next, the costly HDBs ground Singaporeans by giving them a sense of stake in the country which they need not have.
The National Service also allows races (at least for males) to work together, creating this racial cooperation which need not really happen.
The use of symbols and various celebrations of identity are aimed at pretending that there is unity, or at least, to celebrate it until it becomes reality. These include Singapore day for overseas Singaporeans, national day and racial harmony day for locals.
However,
1. Policy ambivalence sabotages this effort. For instance, the insistence of racial self-help groups, the rigidity of the MT policy all points towards this unwillingness for the mixing of ethnic groups despite all the hot talk about racial harmony.
2. It is a fact that the ethnic minorities, e.g., malays, happen to be performing poorly economically. This coinciding of ethnic identity and socio-economic plight inevitably results in sentiments of neglect by the government.
3. Globalization means that there is now a new clash between the more globalized and the less globalized, the heartlander versus the shenton way guy. Also, there is the issue of foreigners versus locals.
4. Statistically, there is much distrust amongst the races and towards the foreigners.
For instance, only 44% of the Chinese are willing to trust someone from another race and only 66% of youths and business owners welcome foreigners.
Reflections Marathon
I'm beginning a reflection marathon on the Government and Politics of Singapore from now until maybe 3pm. This is for the paper at 5.
The challenges of globalization.
First, let us define globalization. Globalization is the phenomenon of increase in integration and interconnectedness of states as well as the notion of a borderless world, a world where people are free to travel, to change citizenship and to study and work wherever they please.
As an implication of the interdependence, there is also the notion of a global village, that is, a world where any business seems to be everyone's business, a heightened responsibility due to heightened awareness of what's going on in the world.
Globalization can also be characterized as a process which is irreversible (as you can imagine how hostile it'll be to open your doors to the world only to suddenly close them).
Having exponential speed of spread, and usually aiding the spread of western, liberal values.
So here are some challenges of globalization for the Singaporean government.
1. Its irreversibility means that the foreign talent policy, once implemented, cannot be revoked without significant international backlash.
How is this a challenge? Well we know from 2011 elections that the influx of foreigners into Singapore has been a huge source of discontentment with the government. Birthrates and other reasons aside, the irreversibility of globalization means that the government will be criticized as hostile to foreigners rather than lauded as benign to its locals should it attempt a drastic revision to its immigration policies. The government is caught in a pinch, unable to satisfy both the international and the local community at the same time.
2. Exponential speed of spread means things are just going to get worse.
Not only is the government unable to significantly reduce, its attempt to portray Singapore as a global city inevitably compels it to loosen the immigration policy.
The influx of foreigners also means that national identity building becomes a more tedious task. Which has a number of consequences. Firstly, it decreases the sense of ownership locals have over the country. In a recent forum in NTU, a student remarked to PM Lee that he doesn't know who he is defending the country for anymore.
Next, this decrease in sense of ownership or stake-holdership means that more locals are ready to leave the country for better prospects elsewhere, resulting in the issue of brain drain, which increases the need for more foreign talent which.. yeah. you got it.
3. Exponential increase in oppositional pressure.
The spread of liberal values (think same-sex relations, liberal democracy which includes freedom of speech etc etc) means that the government subjects itself to greater objection and pressures to reform the conservative and illiberal policies of Singapore. This sandwiches the government between the heartlander (which presumably favours the more conservative values and more stable policies which maintain the status quo) and the globalist. (who yaks about being liberal and having political freedom). Considering that a good 40% default to vote PAP and a good 25% default to the opposition, this loss of the middle 35% swing votes may spell significant trouble for PAP.
5. Economic Displeasure.
Singapore is the nation with the largest concentration of millionaires in the world. As such, the actual household income for the average local family is very much lower than the GDP per capita of the country. This can be explained in 2 ways. First, although MNCs and TNCs set up shop in Singapore, they prefer to transfer workers from their existing homebases rather than co-opting Singaporeans. Hence, Singaporeans are benefitting less from globalization than expected.
Next, with the transition to knowledge-based economy, characterized by high use of technology means that many Singaporeans need to undergo retraining or become aliented. The skills mismatch means that many are unable to get the really well-paying jobs.
This is a huge problem because PAP's raison de etre has always been the materialistic fulfilment of the locals. However, with globalization, although the nation does well, many locals do not. Thus for those who are left out of the delicious globalization pie, PAP has lost its reason for existence.
4. Family problems.
Opening up the country means playing by the international rules and acquiring the lingua franca, that is English. This places inter-generation tension in the family because of different language use, resulting in lack of communication. That's not all. The digital divide, or disparity in technological competency can also be a huge source of tension.
The language problem: the Singapore government will be under competing pressures regarding its language policies in education. There will be a group asking it to do away the MT policies because it is often seen as disadvantaging the students in their acquisition of English, being an unnecessary subject which injects additional workload into the already hectic school life.
On the other, there will be conservatives who would hold the government responsible for maintaining the Asian-ness of Singapore through retaining the MT policy (because PAP said that the MTs are transmitters of cultural values, and so they can do nothing but blame themselves for this conundrum).
This is hardly conclusive, but nonetheless, time to move onto a separate topic.
The challenges of globalization.
First, let us define globalization. Globalization is the phenomenon of increase in integration and interconnectedness of states as well as the notion of a borderless world, a world where people are free to travel, to change citizenship and to study and work wherever they please.
As an implication of the interdependence, there is also the notion of a global village, that is, a world where any business seems to be everyone's business, a heightened responsibility due to heightened awareness of what's going on in the world.
Globalization can also be characterized as a process which is irreversible (as you can imagine how hostile it'll be to open your doors to the world only to suddenly close them).
Having exponential speed of spread, and usually aiding the spread of western, liberal values.
So here are some challenges of globalization for the Singaporean government.
1. Its irreversibility means that the foreign talent policy, once implemented, cannot be revoked without significant international backlash.
How is this a challenge? Well we know from 2011 elections that the influx of foreigners into Singapore has been a huge source of discontentment with the government. Birthrates and other reasons aside, the irreversibility of globalization means that the government will be criticized as hostile to foreigners rather than lauded as benign to its locals should it attempt a drastic revision to its immigration policies. The government is caught in a pinch, unable to satisfy both the international and the local community at the same time.
2. Exponential speed of spread means things are just going to get worse.
Not only is the government unable to significantly reduce, its attempt to portray Singapore as a global city inevitably compels it to loosen the immigration policy.
The influx of foreigners also means that national identity building becomes a more tedious task. Which has a number of consequences. Firstly, it decreases the sense of ownership locals have over the country. In a recent forum in NTU, a student remarked to PM Lee that he doesn't know who he is defending the country for anymore.
Next, this decrease in sense of ownership or stake-holdership means that more locals are ready to leave the country for better prospects elsewhere, resulting in the issue of brain drain, which increases the need for more foreign talent which.. yeah. you got it.
3. Exponential increase in oppositional pressure.
The spread of liberal values (think same-sex relations, liberal democracy which includes freedom of speech etc etc) means that the government subjects itself to greater objection and pressures to reform the conservative and illiberal policies of Singapore. This sandwiches the government between the heartlander (which presumably favours the more conservative values and more stable policies which maintain the status quo) and the globalist. (who yaks about being liberal and having political freedom). Considering that a good 40% default to vote PAP and a good 25% default to the opposition, this loss of the middle 35% swing votes may spell significant trouble for PAP.
5. Economic Displeasure.
Singapore is the nation with the largest concentration of millionaires in the world. As such, the actual household income for the average local family is very much lower than the GDP per capita of the country. This can be explained in 2 ways. First, although MNCs and TNCs set up shop in Singapore, they prefer to transfer workers from their existing homebases rather than co-opting Singaporeans. Hence, Singaporeans are benefitting less from globalization than expected.
Next, with the transition to knowledge-based economy, characterized by high use of technology means that many Singaporeans need to undergo retraining or become aliented. The skills mismatch means that many are unable to get the really well-paying jobs.
This is a huge problem because PAP's raison de etre has always been the materialistic fulfilment of the locals. However, with globalization, although the nation does well, many locals do not. Thus for those who are left out of the delicious globalization pie, PAP has lost its reason for existence.
4. Family problems.
Opening up the country means playing by the international rules and acquiring the lingua franca, that is English. This places inter-generation tension in the family because of different language use, resulting in lack of communication. That's not all. The digital divide, or disparity in technological competency can also be a huge source of tension.
The language problem: the Singapore government will be under competing pressures regarding its language policies in education. There will be a group asking it to do away the MT policies because it is often seen as disadvantaging the students in their acquisition of English, being an unnecessary subject which injects additional workload into the already hectic school life.
On the other, there will be conservatives who would hold the government responsible for maintaining the Asian-ness of Singapore through retaining the MT policy (because PAP said that the MTs are transmitters of cultural values, and so they can do nothing but blame themselves for this conundrum).
This is hardly conclusive, but nonetheless, time to move onto a separate topic.
http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/don-t-worry-be-casting
I wake up with an incredible neck ache and this neck ache makes my head hurt whenever I tilt my gaze towards the work on my table.
It begins as a little concession of rest and soon it becomes a torrent of laziness. I've almost effectively wasted my monday. Tomorrow's the first paper... and my very first true shot at an A in a long time. I have run through the content of the module since last friday... is that why there's this sickly complacency?
I worry, because it seems that my woes are catching up ever so quickly after I celebrate their departure. I worry because I realise that it requires effort, effort which I cannot always reliably give.
I worry because of the things on the horizon. The Sunday school lesson this Sunday, the logistics I have no idea how to do, the video with so little directions, the trip and all the packing, the money in my bank, the future of youth fellowship.
I worry because there are so many things I can be spending my time thinking about... but I don't think about them.
These worries I cast onto my God because that is my proper place. His power sustains my every good action to strive and improve. So I must snap out of the self-dependent anxiety and acquire an enthusiastic outlook because He will see to it that I glorify Him and so supply my every need.
For me, I need to stop doing my silly things. I will trust Him with my work by beginning.
I wake up with an incredible neck ache and this neck ache makes my head hurt whenever I tilt my gaze towards the work on my table.
It begins as a little concession of rest and soon it becomes a torrent of laziness. I've almost effectively wasted my monday. Tomorrow's the first paper... and my very first true shot at an A in a long time. I have run through the content of the module since last friday... is that why there's this sickly complacency?
I worry, because it seems that my woes are catching up ever so quickly after I celebrate their departure. I worry because I realise that it requires effort, effort which I cannot always reliably give.
I worry because of the things on the horizon. The Sunday school lesson this Sunday, the logistics I have no idea how to do, the video with so little directions, the trip and all the packing, the money in my bank, the future of youth fellowship.
I worry because there are so many things I can be spending my time thinking about... but I don't think about them.
These worries I cast onto my God because that is my proper place. His power sustains my every good action to strive and improve. So I must snap out of the self-dependent anxiety and acquire an enthusiastic outlook because He will see to it that I glorify Him and so supply my every need.
For me, I need to stop doing my silly things. I will trust Him with my work by beginning.
Monday, April 28, 2014
yun nan trip
I'll be going to yun nan from 16-30th for a (kinda) mission trip. I feel pretty excited about it.
This excitement leads me to wonder about why I didn't feel the same when I went Cambodia 4 years back.
I think the company is pretty important when it comes to mission trips. Being the youngest on the team and having only Jeremy who was of the same age (but at that point in time, a stranger), meant that I wasn't around people I was comfortable with.
It was more than an age thing too, it was one of expectations. The mission team was known to be a pretty hardcore team, focused on missions and thinking of maximizing the time spent rather than dreaming about the period of shopping which almost inevitably concludes mission trips.
Speaking of which, we spent our time visiting places like S21, tuolslang? Even recreation was serious in a way. At any rate, I guess the me 4 years ago was just desiring to have an easier time. This time round, I want it to be tough, to be challenging.
And it will be, so maybe that's where the excitement is coming.
Thinking of which, I turn my gaze to the distant month of December where we will be going to Cambodia.
For now I just pray that God will take away my neckache. hahaha
This excitement leads me to wonder about why I didn't feel the same when I went Cambodia 4 years back.
I think the company is pretty important when it comes to mission trips. Being the youngest on the team and having only Jeremy who was of the same age (but at that point in time, a stranger), meant that I wasn't around people I was comfortable with.
It was more than an age thing too, it was one of expectations. The mission team was known to be a pretty hardcore team, focused on missions and thinking of maximizing the time spent rather than dreaming about the period of shopping which almost inevitably concludes mission trips.
Speaking of which, we spent our time visiting places like S21, tuolslang? Even recreation was serious in a way. At any rate, I guess the me 4 years ago was just desiring to have an easier time. This time round, I want it to be tough, to be challenging.
And it will be, so maybe that's where the excitement is coming.
Thinking of which, I turn my gaze to the distant month of December where we will be going to Cambodia.
For now I just pray that God will take away my neckache. hahaha
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Change happens quietly.
As I was leaving the house today my mother was halfway through her talk on studies. She decides to conclude by saying that at any rate, success always comes at a price.
That brief statement caught me by surprise, which caught me by surprise. How is success done at a price? Isn't success a prize, a reward?
My mum sees my confused face and elaborates that all the hardwork and momentary fun that we lay aside to do our work or revision is the price for success.
That was when I explained to her that recently I'd feel despicable if I sat around and did nothing. If I just decomposed before my laptop watching videos.
There. That was when I noticed a change.
Perhaps half a year ago I'd be boasting that I have been sitting around doing nothing. It's different now, today whenever I find myself working hard on the computer I'd slow down and take a moment,
a moment to thank God for He accomplishes the impossible for me.
That brief statement caught me by surprise, which caught me by surprise. How is success done at a price? Isn't success a prize, a reward?
My mum sees my confused face and elaborates that all the hardwork and momentary fun that we lay aside to do our work or revision is the price for success.
That was when I explained to her that recently I'd feel despicable if I sat around and did nothing. If I just decomposed before my laptop watching videos.
There. That was when I noticed a change.
Perhaps half a year ago I'd be boasting that I have been sitting around doing nothing. It's different now, today whenever I find myself working hard on the computer I'd slow down and take a moment,
a moment to thank God for He accomplishes the impossible for me.
Monday, April 21, 2014
Let His blood be on us.
The crowds shouted the same thing in desperation when Pontius Pilate washed his hands and declared that Jesus' blood will not be upon him.
I wonder what Jesus thought when He heard it... because that's the whole idea of salvation isn't it? The blood that was shed, for the new covenant, to be upon the people of the covenant?
The events leading up to the crucifixion have this characteristic, people saying things which surprisingly captured the idea of salvation... but then meaning it poorly.
Caiaphas did the same sort of thing, saying "it is better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to perish"
Strange, because God thought the same thing. It is better for Jesus to die than to lose the entirety of creation to Sin.
These little incidences makes the story truly exciting. If anyone was keen in his reading, the conclusion to the drama will blow his mind.
It is as they say, One died for all and therefore all died. (2 Cor 5:14)
Also, the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sins. (1 John 1:7)
I wonder what Jesus thought when He heard it... because that's the whole idea of salvation isn't it? The blood that was shed, for the new covenant, to be upon the people of the covenant?
The events leading up to the crucifixion have this characteristic, people saying things which surprisingly captured the idea of salvation... but then meaning it poorly.
Caiaphas did the same sort of thing, saying "it is better for one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to perish"
Strange, because God thought the same thing. It is better for Jesus to die than to lose the entirety of creation to Sin.
These little incidences makes the story truly exciting. If anyone was keen in his reading, the conclusion to the drama will blow his mind.
It is as they say, One died for all and therefore all died. (2 Cor 5:14)
Also, the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sins. (1 John 1:7)
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Diabolical?
I was out with Serene at orchard last night. All the rest of wonderwoman couldn't join us.
I think it's such a blessing to be spending a carefree afternoon looking at cameras in the sony centre at wisma. That alpha 6000. I wonder... hahaha no money now.
With serene it's always about work, if not, it's something about her school work which she needs help in (hahaha).
So before long I started thinking about my impending internship at MOE for 6 whopping weeks. Yes, I do feel as though 6 weeks is going to be a really long time, and yes, I realised that few people will agree with my assessment.
And i was thinking back on the attachment last year. Those 4 weeks where I could have performed better. Easily. I could have held back my tongue, I could have been more proper. I could have been more proactive. I could... it goes on. Still, I wonder if I did a bad thing for being principled. I'm still of the opinion that fairfield was cheating the system and robbing us of a proper attachment experience with all those reports which we wrote for the teachers.
I think... I was such an abrasive person back then. I cannot tell why it was like that either. How do I be principled but not be an ass about it?
Then this morning I was having a chat with Dr Mie. It's a real relief that the chat happened because my impression of her was souring week after week especially after the 2 (arguably) hostile sounding emails regarding our individual and group assignments.
I guess she's just not that good with the use of linguistic devices to soften her tone... or maybe she didn't intend to, which is reasonable, if she felt that she needed to keep up the professionalism. So anyway, the talk went well. Even though I was giving her a piece of my mind, including some criticisms of how she run things, I wasn't an asshole with it.
it's these moments when I catch a glimpse of the person I want to be. She tells me I'll make a good teacher because I am honest and will never butter my words for students. I hope it is true, but more so, I hope I can get people to eat the bread without butter.
How is that done? How does one mean something without being hurtfully blunt?
I really need to get down to this.
I think it's such a blessing to be spending a carefree afternoon looking at cameras in the sony centre at wisma. That alpha 6000. I wonder... hahaha no money now.
With serene it's always about work, if not, it's something about her school work which she needs help in (hahaha).
So before long I started thinking about my impending internship at MOE for 6 whopping weeks. Yes, I do feel as though 6 weeks is going to be a really long time, and yes, I realised that few people will agree with my assessment.
And i was thinking back on the attachment last year. Those 4 weeks where I could have performed better. Easily. I could have held back my tongue, I could have been more proper. I could have been more proactive. I could... it goes on. Still, I wonder if I did a bad thing for being principled. I'm still of the opinion that fairfield was cheating the system and robbing us of a proper attachment experience with all those reports which we wrote for the teachers.
I think... I was such an abrasive person back then. I cannot tell why it was like that either. How do I be principled but not be an ass about it?
Then this morning I was having a chat with Dr Mie. It's a real relief that the chat happened because my impression of her was souring week after week especially after the 2 (arguably) hostile sounding emails regarding our individual and group assignments.
I guess she's just not that good with the use of linguistic devices to soften her tone... or maybe she didn't intend to, which is reasonable, if she felt that she needed to keep up the professionalism. So anyway, the talk went well. Even though I was giving her a piece of my mind, including some criticisms of how she run things, I wasn't an asshole with it.
it's these moments when I catch a glimpse of the person I want to be. She tells me I'll make a good teacher because I am honest and will never butter my words for students. I hope it is true, but more so, I hope I can get people to eat the bread without butter.
How is that done? How does one mean something without being hurtfully blunt?
I really need to get down to this.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Making the most out of your free time
I'm a little more free this week, in fact, I feel as though I'm already done with studying for Thursday's test.
Being free is nearly as tough as being busy. It feels tough when you don't have the right habits in place. I estimate that it is a joy for those who are ever desiring for time to do something. But I'm only ever desiring to let my eyes rot before YouTube.
I think I can begin with helping people. That's something I enjoy (most of the time).
I was reading up this book on retributive justice and Kantian theory today. I'm going to borrow it for Sherilyn because it seems like her essay can really use some help on this side of Kantian theory.
I agreed to help George with the RA video that they plan to shoot. Residential assistant, mind you.
Anyway, pretty excited about it. Kinda brings me back to the day when I sat down to write a short essay for application to CAPT (angsana back then, still prefer the name). I wrote that I expect to see myself helping various groups and people with video production. I'm glad I can confidently say that stayed true to that.
In my freer moments, I translate emails for carol at her beg and call. I try to think of it as a sort of training for all the Chinese we'll need to be using during the Yun nan trip as well as in church.
Trying to be more consistent with the handling of prayer requests. Ever since I uninstalled facebook from my phone I've had to find better reasons to even pick it up. I think that helped a lot.
I'm trying to get back into sports too. Let's see how all of these pan out.
Okay back to that essay I was writing. Final assignment.
Being free is nearly as tough as being busy. It feels tough when you don't have the right habits in place. I estimate that it is a joy for those who are ever desiring for time to do something. But I'm only ever desiring to let my eyes rot before YouTube.
I think I can begin with helping people. That's something I enjoy (most of the time).
I was reading up this book on retributive justice and Kantian theory today. I'm going to borrow it for Sherilyn because it seems like her essay can really use some help on this side of Kantian theory.
I agreed to help George with the RA video that they plan to shoot. Residential assistant, mind you.
Anyway, pretty excited about it. Kinda brings me back to the day when I sat down to write a short essay for application to CAPT (angsana back then, still prefer the name). I wrote that I expect to see myself helping various groups and people with video production. I'm glad I can confidently say that stayed true to that.
In my freer moments, I translate emails for carol at her beg and call. I try to think of it as a sort of training for all the Chinese we'll need to be using during the Yun nan trip as well as in church.
Trying to be more consistent with the handling of prayer requests. Ever since I uninstalled facebook from my phone I've had to find better reasons to even pick it up. I think that helped a lot.
I'm trying to get back into sports too. Let's see how all of these pan out.
Okay back to that essay I was writing. Final assignment.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
top
Did i mention that I scored highest in a recent essay amongst all of my module mates?
This feeling... it's been a long time.
Yet not everyday is Sunday.
I spent my afternoon bothered by how I blundered another essay, ending up with a measly B-.
I haven't gotten down to the bottom of my displeasure, but I already understand why the paper could only fetch a B-.
It's times like this which makes me wonder how I can live life in such a klutzy fashion sometimes.
The B- essay was very, very off topic with little effort to even consider the definitions of some of the key terms.
I frown a little but I think it's time to let it go.
There is only one thing I shall say to myself
I give my best for the next shot.
This feeling... it's been a long time.
Yet not everyday is Sunday.
I spent my afternoon bothered by how I blundered another essay, ending up with a measly B-.
I haven't gotten down to the bottom of my displeasure, but I already understand why the paper could only fetch a B-.
It's times like this which makes me wonder how I can live life in such a klutzy fashion sometimes.
The B- essay was very, very off topic with little effort to even consider the definitions of some of the key terms.
I frown a little but I think it's time to let it go.
There is only one thing I shall say to myself
I give my best for the next shot.
Saturday, April 05, 2014
Thursday, April 03, 2014
sharp and blunt.
A man is sharp in the tongue
but blunt with his words.
Sharp in his mind
but dull in the heart.
but blunt with his words.
Sharp in his mind
but dull in the heart.
Wednesday, April 02, 2014
I'm cynical
I'm working on stakeholder analysis for this proposed project for Holland Village.
Basically, if you read all my posts, you'll know that Holland village has a higher than national average concentration of old people. Our group thought that some social issue was the problem.
Most of these elderly have children who are now on the other side of the island where all the BTO flats are. This of course, is the government's fault and oversight: mature estates are where you can't build new flats. Yet mature estates are where you'll find many newly wedded couples leaving.
This is a crunch time isn't it? The BTO scheme develops non-mature estates and thus are sucking young people away from mature estates, leaving behind their parents.
Then the government turns around and says "hey look, you better take care of your parents because we have the parents maintenance act in play."
But meanwhile, such an act is nearly impossible to enforce. So what we have is some grannies and old uncles, living lonely lives in their mature estates.
So naive as we are, we want to give them a healthy, active ageing lifestyle.
We are going to propose elderly centres at the void decks.
I was skeptical, but it's a project isn't it? We're fools aren't we? Not particularly qualified nor brilliant, nor responsible for success. It's just hot air isn't it? Let's just do the stakeholder assessment and get this over and done with... or can we?
http://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2012/02/12/government-fights-lonely-battle-for-eldercare-centres/
My suspicions were confirmed when I read this article. Yeah, our government has built itself a trap. Coming in fast is the tide of increasing self-centredness in Singapore. We are caught between a rock and a hard.. wave.
The nimby (not in my backyard) sentiment is just... the nail in the coffin. It is made worse, indeed as the author mentions, by the liberalisation of CPF and the government's promise.
Basically, the government needs to somehow get elderly centres built while not bring bringing the prices of flats down.
But how can that be possible? Our incredibly superstitious society will have none of it. They will not entertain the prospect of studio apartments where the old come to live and die, they will not entertain allowing their void decks to become a hotspot for deaths.
They will not let studio apartments swallow up the green space which makes their estate so prime.
Stakeholder analysis? I'd say it is in the best interest of the government to do whatever it has done thus far: the paternalistic style. Just heck care, just build it.
Of course, it's going to see its votes plummet. But maybe the silver lobby will be its hedge.
Singapore is on track to be a very different place, but why should we expect it to stay the same?
Our circumstances have changed- the population is greyer than ever.
Basically, if you read all my posts, you'll know that Holland village has a higher than national average concentration of old people. Our group thought that some social issue was the problem.
Most of these elderly have children who are now on the other side of the island where all the BTO flats are. This of course, is the government's fault and oversight: mature estates are where you can't build new flats. Yet mature estates are where you'll find many newly wedded couples leaving.
This is a crunch time isn't it? The BTO scheme develops non-mature estates and thus are sucking young people away from mature estates, leaving behind their parents.
Then the government turns around and says "hey look, you better take care of your parents because we have the parents maintenance act in play."
But meanwhile, such an act is nearly impossible to enforce. So what we have is some grannies and old uncles, living lonely lives in their mature estates.
So naive as we are, we want to give them a healthy, active ageing lifestyle.
We are going to propose elderly centres at the void decks.
I was skeptical, but it's a project isn't it? We're fools aren't we? Not particularly qualified nor brilliant, nor responsible for success. It's just hot air isn't it? Let's just do the stakeholder assessment and get this over and done with... or can we?
http://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2012/02/12/government-fights-lonely-battle-for-eldercare-centres/
My suspicions were confirmed when I read this article. Yeah, our government has built itself a trap. Coming in fast is the tide of increasing self-centredness in Singapore. We are caught between a rock and a hard.. wave.
The nimby (not in my backyard) sentiment is just... the nail in the coffin. It is made worse, indeed as the author mentions, by the liberalisation of CPF and the government's promise.
Basically, the government needs to somehow get elderly centres built while not bring bringing the prices of flats down.
But how can that be possible? Our incredibly superstitious society will have none of it. They will not entertain the prospect of studio apartments where the old come to live and die, they will not entertain allowing their void decks to become a hotspot for deaths.
They will not let studio apartments swallow up the green space which makes their estate so prime.
Stakeholder analysis? I'd say it is in the best interest of the government to do whatever it has done thus far: the paternalistic style. Just heck care, just build it.
Of course, it's going to see its votes plummet. But maybe the silver lobby will be its hedge.
Singapore is on track to be a very different place, but why should we expect it to stay the same?
Our circumstances have changed- the population is greyer than ever.
Tuesday, April 01, 2014
Never Gets Old
Romans 6:11-14
11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
This shall be a verse that I will keep in my mind, always. When the desires of complacency and slothfulness arise in my heart, I will deny them. I will keep my time productive, my thoughts wholesome.
And although it may seem painful, although it may feel unnatural, sin shall no longer be my master. I will pursue holiness, so God, let it be my new nature.
Alright, I can start by not sleeping too late.
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