I do not know that 4 persons actually protested to CPF for being non-transparent. I would participate in the protest if our government actually allows it. Read these paragraphs from http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/HI01Ae01.html
"In a recent attempt to test the limits of this constitutional guarantee, four people tried to mount a silent demonstration in front of the headquarters of the government-run Central Provident Fund (CPF) in August 2005. They wore T-shirts emblazoned with slogans calling on the CPF to be more transparent with pensioners' funds while standing in complete silence. Soon thereafter, 40 or so police officers in anti-riot gear confiscated their T-shirts and demanded that they disperse because they were a "public nuisance".
"Three of the four silent protesters mounted a court challenge against the government for denying them the freedom of assembly. However, Justice V K Rajah dismissed the suit, ruling that the police could reasonably have deemed the words on the T-shirts and placards as "insulting and/or abusive apropos those responsible" for managing the CPF, a public institution, and that their being stationary in front of the building represented harassment. "A persistent course of conduct for a sustained period of time can constitute harassment," the judge ruled.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Would IMF like Singapore?
We just passed our election, and we thought we have seen the best in upgrading works, repairs, voice of the people, and what more? I have seen: Life renovation, parks upgrading, roof repair, and door to door survey of people.
IMF is coming! And we are seeing: Roads being laid anew, main highway are going to closed, demonstrations are banned (I thought it has never been allowed?), 4million people are TOLD to smile, and servants are trained to bring ambassadors' wife for shopping. Later, IMF told us 'all civil society should allow peaceful demonstration' (meaning we are not civil after all).
I tried to develop a sense 'we are hospitable.' Yet, a hidden sense of disgrace emerge from beneath. We are Singapore and we do things our own way, say what we think is right, and show people our life as it is. Instead, we almost scrambled to attempt HIDING our self-induced inferiority complexes. I think we have the infrastructure and opportunities to be a great nation. But first, we need to learn to be ourselves, and show others the same. Make them love and assimilate the real Singapore.
IMF is coming! And we are seeing: Roads being laid anew, main highway are going to closed, demonstrations are banned (I thought it has never been allowed?), 4million people are TOLD to smile, and servants are trained to bring ambassadors' wife for shopping. Later, IMF told us 'all civil society should allow peaceful demonstration' (meaning we are not civil after all).
I tried to develop a sense 'we are hospitable.' Yet, a hidden sense of disgrace emerge from beneath. We are Singapore and we do things our own way, say what we think is right, and show people our life as it is. Instead, we almost scrambled to attempt HIDING our self-induced inferiority complexes. I think we have the infrastructure and opportunities to be a great nation. But first, we need to learn to be ourselves, and show others the same. Make them love and assimilate the real Singapore.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
What I like about Singapore
Being a Singaporean for over 30 years, I have never like Singapore more. Travelled to many countries, I found Singapore to be efficient, kind, cheap, safe, and respectful of each other. There is no place like home. However, as a true breed Singaporean, I have to say that I would love to tell others about it if:
(1) My old house was en-bloc earlier (not prior to election).
(2) Anyone can potentially become the big boss in government-linked companies.
(3) Phillip Yeo don't shame scholars (and admit he know nuts about research)
(4) Our soccer team beats Japan and Korea.
(5) We can organize weekend big walk type of happy demonstration.
(6) Taka jewelry store assistant don't stand outside the doorway blocking me from entering (and stop bugging me).
(7) MRT runs faster.
(8) There is no copying and everyone focus on innovations.
(9) Price is transparent and customers don't haggle.
(10) School students can wear what they like to school.
(11) The baby boomers work harder and mention less about retirements.
(12) University academics think less of themselves and pay more attention to students.
(13) We can just be ourselves and speak Singlish, chew gums, and don't have to smile to tourists.
(13) Everyone agree that we should work hard, but within 40 hours per week and no more. Let's go home and enjoy our life, despite rain, wind, or earthquake!
(1) My old house was en-bloc earlier (not prior to election).
(2) Anyone can potentially become the big boss in government-linked companies.
(3) Phillip Yeo don't shame scholars (and admit he know nuts about research)
(4) Our soccer team beats Japan and Korea.
(5) We can organize weekend big walk type of happy demonstration.
(6) Taka jewelry store assistant don't stand outside the doorway blocking me from entering (and stop bugging me).
(7) MRT runs faster.
(8) There is no copying and everyone focus on innovations.
(9) Price is transparent and customers don't haggle.
(10) School students can wear what they like to school.
(11) The baby boomers work harder and mention less about retirements.
(12) University academics think less of themselves and pay more attention to students.
(13) We can just be ourselves and speak Singlish, chew gums, and don't have to smile to tourists.
(13) Everyone agree that we should work hard, but within 40 hours per week and no more. Let's go home and enjoy our life, despite rain, wind, or earthquake!
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
IMF tells hospitable Singapore to be less hospitable
``The bank's preference is that civil society groups should be able to peacefully express their views outside of the conference facility in a way that doesn't cause disruption,'' World Bank Singapore representative Peter Stephens said in respond to Singapore's ban on protest during the IMF meetings.
In quoting Lin Yutang, the liberty we need is,"... this liberty to squel when hurt, and not the liberty to talk." In this sense, both IMF and Singapore government missed the point. 'Peaceful demonstration' may instead be said as, 'voicing your inequality' (in Chinese (Sheng1 yuan1)). I don't think a reasonable Singapore is stupid enough to stand in front and block traffic. Where got time?
In quoting Lin Yutang, the liberty we need is,"... this liberty to squel when hurt, and not the liberty to talk." In this sense, both IMF and Singapore government missed the point. 'Peaceful demonstration' may instead be said as, 'voicing your inequality' (in Chinese (Sheng1 yuan1)). I don't think a reasonable Singapore is stupid enough to stand in front and block traffic. Where got time?
Monday, August 07, 2006
I don't know.
I don't know about tomorrow:
1. Will the stock market rise,
2. Will I retain my job,
3. Will my love-ones still love me,
4. Will I will get to surf the Internet,
5. Will Singapore go for war,
6. Will I get to watch TV,
7. Will it rain,
8. Will I meet someone I wanted to see,
9. Will I fall sick,
10. Will I finish my work.
But I do know:
A++ That I am happy at this point in time. :)
1. Will the stock market rise,
2. Will I retain my job,
3. Will my love-ones still love me,
4. Will I will get to surf the Internet,
5. Will Singapore go for war,
6. Will I get to watch TV,
7. Will it rain,
8. Will I meet someone I wanted to see,
9. Will I fall sick,
10. Will I finish my work.
But I do know:
A++ That I am happy at this point in time. :)
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Malaysians are happier than Singaporeans
In a research finding, http://www.le.ac.uk/pc/aw57/world/sample.html
Malaysians ranked 17 in world's happiness ratings. Singapore 53.
Sounds like Singaporeans are not a happier bunch. Malaysia is more backward in terms of amenities and economic efficiency. However, the people are friendlier and take things easy. You do not need a lot to be happy, but you need enough. They do.
Now we have a lot to learn from our neighbors.
Malaysians ranked 17 in world's happiness ratings. Singapore 53.
Sounds like Singaporeans are not a happier bunch. Malaysia is more backward in terms of amenities and economic efficiency. However, the people are friendlier and take things easy. You do not need a lot to be happy, but you need enough. They do.
Now we have a lot to learn from our neighbors.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
The Mind of Love
Before this, I discuss about love efficiency as a function of the society. But what is love? Love is a function of the mind. And the mind functions at different levels: Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual.
The most basic function of love, at the physical level, which is shared by all animals including human is the role of sexual intimacy. Most love would include this component. This is also the basic component of family life. You may not care for your mate and the law does not require you to. However, not having sex in marriage is a reason for lawful divorce.
Emotional bonding makes up the next level. The feeling of emotional intimacy and being cared upon, and being owned by someone is important to all man. Some animals may not have this except those of higher sentient, like dogs and wolves. Feeling of emotional bond brings security and sense of belongingness. Its fundamental to all love that last.
Spiritual love is rarer. Human has the capacity for intellectual reasoning and ideological sensation. In exercise such as meditation, the meditator often experience joy beyond physical pleasure and or emotional pleasure. Its a mental satisfaction and contentment of what we do and who we are. Love in the spiritual form indulges in care and concern for the person we love, and derive satisfaction from the act. Its a mental sensitivity to the feelings and wellbeing of those we love.
We feel love at different levels. However, reduction of dissatisfaction and pain in love requires us to love at the highest level possible. It replaces selfish indulgence and possession of the physical others. What left is a two-way humane and caring relationship that last.
The most basic function of love, at the physical level, which is shared by all animals including human is the role of sexual intimacy. Most love would include this component. This is also the basic component of family life. You may not care for your mate and the law does not require you to. However, not having sex in marriage is a reason for lawful divorce.
Emotional bonding makes up the next level. The feeling of emotional intimacy and being cared upon, and being owned by someone is important to all man. Some animals may not have this except those of higher sentient, like dogs and wolves. Feeling of emotional bond brings security and sense of belongingness. Its fundamental to all love that last.
Spiritual love is rarer. Human has the capacity for intellectual reasoning and ideological sensation. In exercise such as meditation, the meditator often experience joy beyond physical pleasure and or emotional pleasure. Its a mental satisfaction and contentment of what we do and who we are. Love in the spiritual form indulges in care and concern for the person we love, and derive satisfaction from the act. Its a mental sensitivity to the feelings and wellbeing of those we love.
We feel love at different levels. However, reduction of dissatisfaction and pain in love requires us to love at the highest level possible. It replaces selfish indulgence and possession of the physical others. What left is a two-way humane and caring relationship that last.
Love and the society
Love is a feeling between two persons, mostly man and woman. Each of them attracted to the other, in similar or different ways. We often find ourselves attracted to similar type of persons.
Society sees love as the precursor to marriage. Although love and marriage are two distinctive subjects. In prehistoric societies, a dominant male may possess several females. Later societies ritualize these possessions into a ceremony called marriage. However, as societies in ancient times are not productive, many males could not afford to feed another person, as such, one rich (dominant) male often married several females. Modern society retained marriage, however, it no longer practices polygamy, which is probably due to a better capacity for males to feed the entire family and the more socially powerful females demanding more possession of males.
Marriage is important because its the fundamental unit that ties a person to its place. We do not belong because of a house, or property, but because our social nature rooted our domain onto a group of persons, mostly family members. In a family, the adults take care of the young and old. It has a stabilizing effect on the society. No wonder we celebrated and defended marriage throughout history, often implemented harsh punishments to those how broke the bonds.
Today, with the rise of large corporations, mobile workforce, and global network, I felt that family as the foundation of the society is deeply shakened. Increase in divorce rate were often said to due to reasons such as 3rd party, violent behaviors, or irrespsonsiveness. But I felt the enabling factor for divorce is the shift of the socially powerful from a family-centered communities to a commercially-centered communities. Our wealth, success, and fame is driven by our recognition in the corporate world. Thus, family is no longer look upon as an institution that governs our lives. Its the big companies, our colleagues, and customers. We only answer to the latter and the former is becoming dispensible.
Family will still retain the role of comfort and care giving. The enabling factor for comfort and care, I would argue, is much base on love. Naturally, man and woman has needs and they have to be satisfied. Love, no matter if its between a husband and wife, or any other persons, will contain a strong emotional bonding and maybe physical intimacy. In the case of a Geisha offering comfort to her customer, it can be love although she was paid to do so. Payment is a way for society to share resoures to the worthy. When some man gives money to his wife, we do not call him the customer but the function is similar. At the end of the day, we need to be counselled, comforted, be emotionally healed by our love ones through kind words and feeling of security. But when this function is no longer afforded by a family, the residents may break off and family fall apart.
I do not know where this entails our society. Higher divorce rates, and possibly multiple relationships throughout ones life. However, the happiness of the person shifting between relationships cannot be assured, and its much base on the maturity of the society to cope with liquidating resources and handling emotions. Also, in conservative society, where divorce is not encouraged, potential divorcees may hurt themselves more in starting the process through bad mouth and cumbersome administrations. Nonetheless, many of the legal and social processes will change and a more love-efficient society should emerge.
Society sees love as the precursor to marriage. Although love and marriage are two distinctive subjects. In prehistoric societies, a dominant male may possess several females. Later societies ritualize these possessions into a ceremony called marriage. However, as societies in ancient times are not productive, many males could not afford to feed another person, as such, one rich (dominant) male often married several females. Modern society retained marriage, however, it no longer practices polygamy, which is probably due to a better capacity for males to feed the entire family and the more socially powerful females demanding more possession of males.
Marriage is important because its the fundamental unit that ties a person to its place. We do not belong because of a house, or property, but because our social nature rooted our domain onto a group of persons, mostly family members. In a family, the adults take care of the young and old. It has a stabilizing effect on the society. No wonder we celebrated and defended marriage throughout history, often implemented harsh punishments to those how broke the bonds.
Today, with the rise of large corporations, mobile workforce, and global network, I felt that family as the foundation of the society is deeply shakened. Increase in divorce rate were often said to due to reasons such as 3rd party, violent behaviors, or irrespsonsiveness. But I felt the enabling factor for divorce is the shift of the socially powerful from a family-centered communities to a commercially-centered communities. Our wealth, success, and fame is driven by our recognition in the corporate world. Thus, family is no longer look upon as an institution that governs our lives. Its the big companies, our colleagues, and customers. We only answer to the latter and the former is becoming dispensible.
Family will still retain the role of comfort and care giving. The enabling factor for comfort and care, I would argue, is much base on love. Naturally, man and woman has needs and they have to be satisfied. Love, no matter if its between a husband and wife, or any other persons, will contain a strong emotional bonding and maybe physical intimacy. In the case of a Geisha offering comfort to her customer, it can be love although she was paid to do so. Payment is a way for society to share resoures to the worthy. When some man gives money to his wife, we do not call him the customer but the function is similar. At the end of the day, we need to be counselled, comforted, be emotionally healed by our love ones through kind words and feeling of security. But when this function is no longer afforded by a family, the residents may break off and family fall apart.
I do not know where this entails our society. Higher divorce rates, and possibly multiple relationships throughout ones life. However, the happiness of the person shifting between relationships cannot be assured, and its much base on the maturity of the society to cope with liquidating resources and handling emotions. Also, in conservative society, where divorce is not encouraged, potential divorcees may hurt themselves more in starting the process through bad mouth and cumbersome administrations. Nonetheless, many of the legal and social processes will change and a more love-efficient society should emerge.
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