Current Affairs - October 2014
My little niece wanted to watch the movie Divergent and so I joined her. Midway through the movie, I realised that I am Divergent! There is nothing wrong with Divergent but the Dauntless felt threatened simply because they think you are not with them nor think like them. Dauntless want you to think alike and say and do the same things. They want to control your mind.
When you are in a group among family, friends, in a company or a country, isn't it unreal and dangerous if everyone echoes the same things without questions? Shouldn't human minds of every individual be independent? There will always be fear of reprisal, not gaining favours and being left out but if 10,000 people are walking the wrong way and you know it, will you still follow? Those who do are selfish and only wanted personal gains. Story line in Divergent can be easily found in a typical office working environment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sutgWjz10sM (Divergent)
Most of you must have also watched the Hunger Games and these days the movies are about young people leaving Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger to do Escape and Expendables. It is hard to tell young people what we went through unless they go through it themselves - like shitting in shit holes in a village or kampung. They may listen or even read about these stories of a bygone era but there is nothing like experiencing things in life yourself. Young people are idealistic. We once were but soon we learn that life is not like that. The young today will too but the older generation need to realise too that if we were young today, we will probably develop the same mindset.
Wherever we may be, there will be disagreement. If you beg to differ, do so respectfully. We can agree to disagree. Freedom of speech for example should be balanced with wisdom of no speech. The ability to speak in several languages is an asset but the ability to keep our mouths shut in any language is priceless. Diversity need not sow discord or be divisive. Our political or religious beliefs or even lifestyle are all different. Those from my generation or older will never think and do things like the youth of today because the circumstances and what we have seen and been through were entirely different.
We can become a great society and country if all our old men "plant trees knowing that they will bring shade for our young in future and knowing jolly well that we will never get to sit in their shades ourselves". This will be the hallmark of a great country. Before you get too serious, go watch it if you have not caught it - "A million Ways To Die In the West". It is stupidly hilarious! Watch the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sOa-2EhbTU
Hong Kong - It is not for me to get involved. Many of us have friends and relatives from Hong Kong. We watched their movies and TV dramas since young. We work, eat and shop there. Their youths are demonstrating in the name of democracy. I am sure not all of HK support it. Their older and younger generation will have profoundly different views for sure. For 150 years under British rule, there were no such happenings. The British selected their own candidates to head HK. If Beijing allowed HK to get what they were demonstrating for, then the rest of China's provinces would want the same thing. So this will never happen.
Perhaps they have not been informed or have forgotten how with China's backing, HK fought off George Soros with a HK$118 billion buying spree to defend and block Soros attack. Since 1997, HK have political freedom for 50 years so are now left with 33 years before China has full control. You can't escape the fact that HK is already part of China. What about the plight of shop owners, taxi and bus drivers and other people in all walks of life? All youths around the world are concerned about the future, about housing, jobs, careers. This is a good thing. You worry when they don't.
I spoke to many people on this issue including Hong Kongers. I just hope that these things do not happen in Singapore because we have come to a time where no matter what have been done it is not going to be good enough so it is not good when things are not good enough. The expectations are high. You should not want your country to descend into chaos. The worst thing is when you are being manipulated. Will you allow your children to get into this? Also in a massive crowd of people, a little push or shove can quickly turn deadly as sentiments are high. Therefore, the only two things I like about the HK demonstration was that the youths picked up their litter and when they broke into my favourite song by Beyond - Under A Vast Sky:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT_s-1A5kBE
Fare thee well my friends in Hong Kong, because only you have to power to resolve it. By the way, our police should be there as observers to learn how to cope with huge crowds.
To Singapore, With Love - The film by Tan Pin Pin was rated as NAR - Not Allowed for All Ratings. In short, banned. The Prime Minister has explained the reasons. I thought that had this film by released, not many people would have watched it but because it was banned, many rushed to watch it. I read that they went to JB for it. As a person, no matter how good you have been, you get people who after doing bad things to you and still badmouth you. What can you do about them? Ban them? They and their ideals have already been defeated.
National Stadium - I could not believe something like this can happen in Singapore. I could only read with dismay. All these should have been thoroughly covered and the design of the stadium probably means that certain parts will never get a lot of sunlight. After spending more than $800k you are going to use $1 million lights to treat the grass? What is wrong with SG these days? This is hugely disappointing.
Sexuality Workshops - There are all kinds of workshops these days. Business workshops, marriage workshops where the husband works and the wife shops and in schools now Sexuality Workshops. Didn't we say about less teaching and more learning. I don't know about now but in my days, on some occasions, the boys pass around sex books that are mild compared to what is available on the Internet these days but many of us including those who were ignorant did not get into any kind of troubles. Today, just because one school girl complained and alleged that a group called Focus on the Family Singapore was seizing the "opportunity to further spread its own values deemed conservative and God-ordained beliefs" and that they promoted "rape culture" it became a controversy.
It was quite unbelievable. People in general do not like to be told, more so the younger people these days. They want to have their own way. How many parents in other countries would like to have what we have here. In today's world right can become wrong. Tell me what is wrong with teaching abstinence? I can only tell you but eventually you take your own medicine. So I read that the argument was that the student felt it was more important to teach safe sex than abstinence. Not everyone practise abstinence before marriage but there are good reasons for it. It is not a Christian value but a universal value. As parents do you consent to your children having pre-marital sex? For those who have boys and say it is okay then you are just being a selfish brute. It is a different world today they say. Tell that to me when you have your own children one day. The trouble with the world today is because we are a modern world, a different world and we brought forth all kinds of trouble. Frankly, there is greater moral decadence. It gets worse every generation.
Common sense tells us that the organisation is one that promotes family values and if they are not traditional then what? Is it wrong to say that men and women have different traits and are biologically different? It is easy to make insinuation. Just because you have been advised not to dress too provocatively meant that you are inviting rape? Anyone who thinks that way or approve of such thinking is sick. Some wrote to the forum asking why Christian affiliated vendors have been approved to conduct programmes when Christians form only 18 per cent of the population which I thought was a lame question for people with a fixed and paranoid mindset. If they are the best to do this job then let them. So what even if they are Buddhists, Catholic or Muslims. Do you not buy songs from a rock band whose singer could be a Christian? You just wanted the CD or that song, you don't ask what about his parentage, race, origin or religion. We are tearing away values and common sense. Let the values be there whether you like it or not. What you practise is your own business eventually and you live with the consequences of your decision.
I don't know the full details but what I read was Ms Agatha Tan made disparaging remarks. She painted 'conservative' in a negative way and used the word bigotry on the organisation. I also read that Focus on the Family have many beneficiaries who received their services that supports troubled teens, individuals, families and others who faced infidelity. She wrote that "Having a known conservative group preach a non-existence or non-importance of individuals it does not approve of is extremely damaging to the self-discovery process." I think that she should have more self discovery about everything as she has just used that same broad brush and painted on the canvass of the episode.
MOE could do more to prove that Focus on the Family were right or wrong or Ms Agatha was right. Maybe they took the middle ground. Finally, I would say you read what you want to read. You can read something and say "why didn't you say this, it is wrong not to have said this''. Anyone can always pick a fight with anyone when you want to.
I just feel that we have to be careful. We need maturity and wisdom when dealing with all issues. Otherwise, we become bigots calling others bigots. Every day and in every situation we are learning. Learn well and make the right decisions.
When you are in a group among family, friends, in a company or a country, isn't it unreal and dangerous if everyone echoes the same things without questions? Shouldn't human minds of every individual be independent? There will always be fear of reprisal, not gaining favours and being left out but if 10,000 people are walking the wrong way and you know it, will you still follow? Those who do are selfish and only wanted personal gains. Story line in Divergent can be easily found in a typical office working environment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sutgWjz10sM (Divergent)
Most of you must have also watched the Hunger Games and these days the movies are about young people leaving Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger to do Escape and Expendables. It is hard to tell young people what we went through unless they go through it themselves - like shitting in shit holes in a village or kampung. They may listen or even read about these stories of a bygone era but there is nothing like experiencing things in life yourself. Young people are idealistic. We once were but soon we learn that life is not like that. The young today will too but the older generation need to realise too that if we were young today, we will probably develop the same mindset.
Wherever we may be, there will be disagreement. If you beg to differ, do so respectfully. We can agree to disagree. Freedom of speech for example should be balanced with wisdom of no speech. The ability to speak in several languages is an asset but the ability to keep our mouths shut in any language is priceless. Diversity need not sow discord or be divisive. Our political or religious beliefs or even lifestyle are all different. Those from my generation or older will never think and do things like the youth of today because the circumstances and what we have seen and been through were entirely different.
We can become a great society and country if all our old men "plant trees knowing that they will bring shade for our young in future and knowing jolly well that we will never get to sit in their shades ourselves". This will be the hallmark of a great country. Before you get too serious, go watch it if you have not caught it - "A million Ways To Die In the West". It is stupidly hilarious! Watch the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sOa-2EhbTU
Hong Kong - It is not for me to get involved. Many of us have friends and relatives from Hong Kong. We watched their movies and TV dramas since young. We work, eat and shop there. Their youths are demonstrating in the name of democracy. I am sure not all of HK support it. Their older and younger generation will have profoundly different views for sure. For 150 years under British rule, there were no such happenings. The British selected their own candidates to head HK. If Beijing allowed HK to get what they were demonstrating for, then the rest of China's provinces would want the same thing. So this will never happen.
Perhaps they have not been informed or have forgotten how with China's backing, HK fought off George Soros with a HK$118 billion buying spree to defend and block Soros attack. Since 1997, HK have political freedom for 50 years so are now left with 33 years before China has full control. You can't escape the fact that HK is already part of China. What about the plight of shop owners, taxi and bus drivers and other people in all walks of life? All youths around the world are concerned about the future, about housing, jobs, careers. This is a good thing. You worry when they don't.
I spoke to many people on this issue including Hong Kongers. I just hope that these things do not happen in Singapore because we have come to a time where no matter what have been done it is not going to be good enough so it is not good when things are not good enough. The expectations are high. You should not want your country to descend into chaos. The worst thing is when you are being manipulated. Will you allow your children to get into this? Also in a massive crowd of people, a little push or shove can quickly turn deadly as sentiments are high. Therefore, the only two things I like about the HK demonstration was that the youths picked up their litter and when they broke into my favourite song by Beyond - Under A Vast Sky:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT_s-1A5kBE
Fare thee well my friends in Hong Kong, because only you have to power to resolve it. By the way, our police should be there as observers to learn how to cope with huge crowds.
To Singapore, With Love - The film by Tan Pin Pin was rated as NAR - Not Allowed for All Ratings. In short, banned. The Prime Minister has explained the reasons. I thought that had this film by released, not many people would have watched it but because it was banned, many rushed to watch it. I read that they went to JB for it. As a person, no matter how good you have been, you get people who after doing bad things to you and still badmouth you. What can you do about them? Ban them? They and their ideals have already been defeated.
National Stadium - I could not believe something like this can happen in Singapore. I could only read with dismay. All these should have been thoroughly covered and the design of the stadium probably means that certain parts will never get a lot of sunlight. After spending more than $800k you are going to use $1 million lights to treat the grass? What is wrong with SG these days? This is hugely disappointing.
Sexuality Workshops - There are all kinds of workshops these days. Business workshops, marriage workshops where the husband works and the wife shops and in schools now Sexuality Workshops. Didn't we say about less teaching and more learning. I don't know about now but in my days, on some occasions, the boys pass around sex books that are mild compared to what is available on the Internet these days but many of us including those who were ignorant did not get into any kind of troubles. Today, just because one school girl complained and alleged that a group called Focus on the Family Singapore was seizing the "opportunity to further spread its own values deemed conservative and God-ordained beliefs" and that they promoted "rape culture" it became a controversy.
It was quite unbelievable. People in general do not like to be told, more so the younger people these days. They want to have their own way. How many parents in other countries would like to have what we have here. In today's world right can become wrong. Tell me what is wrong with teaching abstinence? I can only tell you but eventually you take your own medicine. So I read that the argument was that the student felt it was more important to teach safe sex than abstinence. Not everyone practise abstinence before marriage but there are good reasons for it. It is not a Christian value but a universal value. As parents do you consent to your children having pre-marital sex? For those who have boys and say it is okay then you are just being a selfish brute. It is a different world today they say. Tell that to me when you have your own children one day. The trouble with the world today is because we are a modern world, a different world and we brought forth all kinds of trouble. Frankly, there is greater moral decadence. It gets worse every generation.
Common sense tells us that the organisation is one that promotes family values and if they are not traditional then what? Is it wrong to say that men and women have different traits and are biologically different? It is easy to make insinuation. Just because you have been advised not to dress too provocatively meant that you are inviting rape? Anyone who thinks that way or approve of such thinking is sick. Some wrote to the forum asking why Christian affiliated vendors have been approved to conduct programmes when Christians form only 18 per cent of the population which I thought was a lame question for people with a fixed and paranoid mindset. If they are the best to do this job then let them. So what even if they are Buddhists, Catholic or Muslims. Do you not buy songs from a rock band whose singer could be a Christian? You just wanted the CD or that song, you don't ask what about his parentage, race, origin or religion. We are tearing away values and common sense. Let the values be there whether you like it or not. What you practise is your own business eventually and you live with the consequences of your decision.
I don't know the full details but what I read was Ms Agatha Tan made disparaging remarks. She painted 'conservative' in a negative way and used the word bigotry on the organisation. I also read that Focus on the Family have many beneficiaries who received their services that supports troubled teens, individuals, families and others who faced infidelity. She wrote that "Having a known conservative group preach a non-existence or non-importance of individuals it does not approve of is extremely damaging to the self-discovery process." I think that she should have more self discovery about everything as she has just used that same broad brush and painted on the canvass of the episode.
MOE could do more to prove that Focus on the Family were right or wrong or Ms Agatha was right. Maybe they took the middle ground. Finally, I would say you read what you want to read. You can read something and say "why didn't you say this, it is wrong not to have said this''. Anyone can always pick a fight with anyone when you want to.
I just feel that we have to be careful. We need maturity and wisdom when dealing with all issues. Otherwise, we become bigots calling others bigots. Every day and in every situation we are learning. Learn well and make the right decisions.
Comments