In preparation for SAT, I will pause blogging till the week after to start writing more to satisfy my need to let my view be heard. And also to kick start my brain before i ORD!

-wonght
I feel it coming

Singapore’s success to establish itself in the international world in various fields as well as how she prides herself in meritocracy and equal opportunities, in my opinion, has in part paved the road to how our societial make up as well as how Singaporeans treat the arts and humanities and other non-practical pursuits for failure.

In the early years of budding Singapore, our government especially our founding father, mr. lee, focused our energy towards rapidly industrialising our heavily entrepot trade economy. In our bid to modernise the economy, to provide jobs and income, we focus on pragmatism. As such Singaporeans are pushed into non-service industries to work in factories and help produce goods to help Singapore prosper. As we grew, the government realise a need to push for a knowledge based economy but the knowledge was not an all out push for more knowledge. Instead a few key thrusts that to the government seems to be the most lucrative. As such the sciences grew in strength and our arts left to languish.

The success stories of technopreneurs as well as the positioning of Singapore as a research hub has skewed our perspective on what is important and what can feed us. The arts became a luxury, a leisurely activity to be pursuit by the rich and not by normal middle to low class citizens. Many students were whipped into a strongly science focused education from young, despite recent efforts to diversify our youth’s education to include a little arts and humanities. However, deeply ingrained into the many generations of singaporeans is the idea that science pays arts don’t. The arts people are the  minority, the weird, the eccentric and those rich enough to afford it.

This is in huge contrast to other modern societies such as in the US, the UK, Germany or France. Yet this seems to be what had made singapore a huge success, the model for emerging economies, stretching out her fletching wings.

Yet beware, the trap of success is great. With the semblance of opportunities abound, and the strong sense of diligence leads to eventual success, Singaporeans have now believe that by working really hard, we can do it. The need for spiritual fulfillment has been very much reduced. We do not pray that our God will deliver us or that he/she would create miracles to lift us out of poverty. If we work hard enough, surely we can leave behind all that hardship? Thus religion has yet to become a strong driving force behind Singapore’s politics or societal growth. However with growing affluence, this seems set to change but due to other reasons.

The ideals of meritocracy has helped Singapore achieve what she is today. However, it has in a way create complacency amongst us that it is there for us. We tend to not participate actively in civil society. Our youths takes disinterest in matter relating to society. This can be partly attributed to the low status of acts and humanities in Singapore. This is create by our success model.

-wonght
Success can bred failure, not necessary due to complacency

“Laksa, nasi lemak, Hainanese chicken rice, chilli crab and bak kut teh are all Malaysian dishes, Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen declared.”

However these foods are found all over Asia. How rude of Malaysia to lay stakes that only Malaysia can promote these food as their specialty. It makes no sense. So can one restaurant stop another from selling the same products and advertising for it? By the way Mr. Ng, Hainanese is from China so should China have the finally claim? Bak kut teh is translated from Chinese, why is it Malaysian?

Such baffling remarks can well only come from Malaysia. By making such remarks the minister is merely making a mockery out of their government, straining ties with their neighbours and make their neighbours wonder why they tolerate such an inconsiderate and rude neighbour. At times, perhaps it is best Malaysia’s government wakes up from all her bureaucracy and realise well all this don’t work and is merely creating more problems.

And seriously who can lay claim to food, especially there is a Singapore Nodle famous in Malaysia. So who does the rice, the noodle, the spice all originate from. Can only those country lay claim to them. Sadly for our cosmopolitan city with 4 main races, nothing belongs to us right, Malaysia?

-wonght
Politicians can only become so stupid before someone kicks them out of office maybe save if you are a Malay minister in Malaysia or in MIC or MCA

Just finished reading a thousand splendid sun(cuiying birthday gift last year). I was really moved by the book especially the last few chapters. The book was a little dark at parts and doesn’t have the protagonist always win ending but I guess that is in a way one of the take home message as well as the author’s way of portraying how some things are just beyond us.

After reading the book as well as listening to news from recent world events, I have really come to realise and a fact as well as deeply appreciate it: Singapore is really a peaceful, safe, stable and secular place to be in. Well some have said how wonderful another country is over Singapore, especially most mulling over how overly stressed out as well as too fast paced we are here. But there is definitely a few things that I think no other country can truly beat, somethings so truly Singapore. And that is our harmony. Our racial and religious harmony. Something taken for granted by too many Singaporeans.

The need for tolerance to create this harmony has been deeply ingrained in us especially so from our history as well as the region’s. Singapore can maintain her stability and provide so much good infrastructure that even shames developed countries. USA and Japan might have cities that is more ‘urban’ and modern than ours little city, but how much of their country is so? We have no gunfights, no rioting,  no radicals and no inequality. Our government does strives to provide equal opportunities for all. Unlike in the book where mariam tried so hard but failed. And nor anyone here like Laila loses their love ones in a blink of an eye.

True we lack debate and opposition voices in our government but is it always true beneficial? No revolutionaries but we achieve stability. Opposition in many democracies are destructive than constructive. Will any republicans care to provide a better alternative to Obama’s Health plan? Will the totally untest DPJ be any better than LDP, given that the top management consists of quite a few LDP defectors. Or should we be like Afgan, constantly invaded or being in revolutionary states? I personally prefer sticking to PAP especially if we cannot have a better alternative.

But to me the crux as well as the main message comes from Mariam’s selfless sacrifice as well as her dad’s last ditched attempt to make it up to her. Despite all the bad things her dad has done, he finally enlightened to the fact that mariam no matter what is still his daughter and that was nothing to be ashamed of. And his final words sadly mariam never did get to hear. Seeing some of my friends lose their close ones and see how my cousin lost everything he had over a month, a deep chord struck in me. Treasure your love ones before it is too late. Which is why I had so firmly pushed on and believed that one of my friend should be given the chance to go and see his loved one for the last time, something taken away from me. Life is short and no matter what faith you are, nothing can really spare you the pain of losing your loved ones.

Mariam also reminds me of the unsung heroes who sacrificed themselves for others with no regrets doing so. It reminded me of the Nicoll Highway foreman who I think should be remembered and hey if some school founder’s name can be used why not his?

Ending this book only seemed to make my impending departure next year worst. Though still a long way to go, the long wait is what is killing me. Making me think constantly what would happen when I do leave. And yes the one person that I cannot leave behind is my mum. Yes she is demanding controlling and maybe some say I’m still hiding behind her apron but well no matter what she is my mum. Still have to respect her and she has enough to worry, no need for me to create more for her unnecessarily.

Thus I end this, reminding myself once again not to tear next year when I depart.

-wonght
I will sorely miss you all even if you all forget who I am

Below is a series of texts that might seemed fragmented and a little out of context for it is mainly in reply to certain comments other made but will attempt to include everything.

I: http://wonght12.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/a-teaser-to-the-new-post/

Reply: Han Teng, the bible is definitely a book written by man, but yet it is inspired by God as it itself claims in 2 Timothy 3:16. Whether there are conflicts in the accounts, we will have to put it to test first before we can come to any conclusion yes?

II: Well as you said claimed by the bible. Thus if i NOW write two sentence: The bible is a book of lies. The above statement was written by god’s through my hand.

So how? And well one of the key splits between cats and protestant does come from conflicting views on how to intepret parts of the bible or rather which parts to follow.

Note that there are parts in the bible that insist that jesus was mortal and was nothing more than a man, not god’s son

Reply(2):  Is the Bible imperfect because it contradicts on the imortallity of Jesus in the Bible? Like Shaun says, please enlighten me, us.

God is he simply because of the restrictive use of the English language. This in itself shows how limited our human soul is that we cannot even come out with a proper pronoun to describe God and not imply and gender bianess in the pronoun. Infact, God does exhibit feminine trait. Such that God has created us, like a mother who has created us through child birth.

I do not see how by answering the question that ‘in the name of religion what can and should be committed?’ can answer your question on the existence of God. However, I wouldn’t deny that Christians has misused the name of God to commit evil.… Read More

However, it doesn’t mean that by using the name of God to commit something means that the power to commit that something was from God.

Fallen humans instructed the cursades.

What empowered the witch hunters in the salem trials? The appointement of of these people as witch hunters.

What gave strength to people to carry out war?
Physical strength: Military power, might, number of troops
Mental strength: Desire to conqour, to win.…
Win over territories, resources and even ideology.

Please tell me, who gave human the ability (intellectual, emotional, actions) push forth and beyond and the needlessness of returning back to books that claim to be of God’s hand?

Religion and true followers are not seperate. Religion and followers are seperate entities.

Please tell me more about the difference between Catholics and Protestant in Bible intepretation.

Thank you.
God Bless.

III: Well then where does the morality behind most war maybe save the world wars and minor skirmishes does come from? And by what proof do you have that everything we are must be attributed to god? The theory of evolution more than sufficiently demonstrate how humans came to be.

Thus no one actually gave us those abilities, we developed them as we require them. Both are possibilities but which one more probable to the rational mind?

Sadly they should not be. Religion no matter what is a social construct. And the followers in using the poisonous name of religion commit these crimes, thus these crimes have their roots in the religion. Thus fallen humans nor witch hunters did not commit the crimes in the personal power, rather they bolster their claims thru religion.… Read More

So if the pope or archbishop who knows nuts about science start claiming the uselessness of condoms to africans, is it him or the religion who aids in condemning those believers to the horror of HIV/AIDS.

Then what about the polio sufferers who followed their religious leaders’ words piously to reject the vaccination?

Well then prove first and foremost to me the existence of god to begin with. Thereafter contrive to demonstrate how GOD must have had been Jesus Christ’s father or the holy trinity as prescribe in your religion. Proof must be given by… Read More the claimant not the naysayers. Else anyone everyone can claim things without cold hard proof.

Using things within the religion to prove the religion merely constructs circular but definitely fallacious arguments. If I were to even accept your arguments then by analogy I can accept every other religions, occults or cults. Also science is being make utterly redundant since a scientist can claim what ever he likes without need to give proof for those who disbelieve are suppose to give proof? And his work self justifies thus we have no need to bother to cross refer and attempt to recreate his/her experiments?

Sadly then why is God portrayed as a male in statues in churches? Does the inability of language to capture the sexless translate to our ability to imagine such neutral sex?

And no i don’t mean that God allowed those acts but your religion allowed it not?

Finally why do catholics so love mother mary, or virgin mary. Why do they in a sense(though … Read Morecatholics would surely object to the use of the verb) pray to her life a goddess? When protestants do not do so? I believe(though correct me if i am wrong as i am not formally bible trained) lies in the parts about how virgin mary knew she was with jesus. Even if not between these two variants of christianity, then within the various denominations of protestants. Why does free charismatics read the bible so literally that they believe giving a dollar will get you specifically 10 dollars back as the bible states. This ugly belief has led me to see christians refusing to donate to buddhist causes.

Then why for baptism, some insist to entirely immersing the person entirely in water while some sprinkle water? Different interpretation of the bible again! If the religion cannot even maintain a cohesive and coherent front how can it ever convince anyone that god had willed for it to exist…

Reply: ‘Else anyone everyone can claim things without cold hard proof.’ Has anyone actually experimentally proven that the Theory of Evolution exist? Hence, isn’t this a work which self justifies itself? How than can a rational mind accept that the theory of Evolution sufficiently proofs how human come about?

Who defines morality in this world? Can we not say that morality is indeed subjective? And whoever is of power, of wealth and of status controls what is right or wrong?

Tell me than, is there a need for an absolute righteous, in order to define morality in this world?… Read More

Tell me please, who gave us the ability to aquire new abilities when the need arises?

‘Religion no matter what is a social construct. And the followers in using the poisonous name of religion commit these crimes, thus these crimes have their roots in the religion.’ ‘religion cannot even maintain a cohesive and coherent front how can it ever convince anyone that god had willed for it to exist…’

It was through man’s social construct that brings about the existence of the concept of religion. The need to brand the group of people who believes in Christ, resulted in them being called Christians.

I won’t deny that religion have permitted evil acts. After all religion is the result of human construction.… Read More

The crusades, the Northern Ireland conflict, the 30 years war.

However, weather my religion has committed sinful acts, even in the eyes of my God,
Does not prove or disprove the existence of God.

I can admit that even myself have in many times misused my religion.
But does that prove that God does not exist?

Does the difference in religious traditions show that God does not exist?

Finally, please enlighten me, where in the Bible shows that by giving a dollar, you will get specifically 10 dollars back?

Thank you… Read More
God Bless

IV: Yes there are mounting evidence and proof for the theory of evolution. So much more than there is for creationist theories. So no it is not a self fufilling prophecy. Most importantly your argument was a classic case of Tu quoque.

Well but one thing it does show religion is not reflection of God assuming God exist. And this God is not as define or as explained by the bible or the koran or the vedas or the buddhist scriptures.

If religion seems to be such a bad social construct then should it not be abandoned?… Read More

For for morality and ethics there can be objectivity but not always deontology rooted in religious belief. Many times such ‘morals’ have shown to be far too destructive. There are other ethical theories at play.

Any biology student can also tell you that the ‘new’ abilities is a result of the imperfect system of genetic mutations and variations under the stresses of natural selection.

As for the part from the bible, I’ll have to check. It was my presbyterian friend who claimed that that’s what they used. It apparently goes along the line of something like if you give something, you get back ten folds. Which was then intepreted by the free charismatics as such.

Reply: Theory of evolution… a theory to date.

Why would I want to donate to Buddhist cause or for that matter an aethist cause other than humanitarian?

The different practise of other christian denomination can be different in minor area. Most important is we do not major in the minor but major in the major. Read the bible with an open mind and not compare the various practises at this stage.… Read More

Everthing or believe is subject to abuse be it religion, politics, humanitianism or what have you. Question .. Do you allow yourself to be deceived/misled or do you deceive/mislead others to achieve your ends?

So what is wisdom?

Reply(2): Of there are other ethical theories at play, than how can one say that there can be objectivity in morality and ethicity? Which theory will than define what is absoulte right and absolute wrong?

There are many bad social constructs in this world. Capitalism can lead to the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. Should we than abandom capitalism and adopt another economic model?

Every social construct has its pros and cons. I dare say that religion has produced many good outcomes too.… Read More

If religion was such a bad social construct, than why did mankind even created this concept of religion in the first place?

Religion may not be a true reflection of God. However, true followers and believers of God are a reflection of God.

Any biological student can also tell you that the theory of evolution is but just a theory that is in their content syllabus. Till the day a monkey is evolved into a human, can the word Theory be dropped from the phrase ‘Theory of evolution’.

V: So is the theory of gravity a theory. So is the the theory of creationism a theory… The term theory as used by science differs from what most layman usage of layman would be. If so what you are attempting to imply about theories just being theories, then do we intend to return back to a society with no knowledge?

Sadly the differences in practice do matter. Else why did they even exist?

Also RELIGION with its extensive usage of GOD to approve their actions, become more daring to commit these actions. So back to the argument fallacy of Tu quoque. So if others use it does it mean that it is vald for you to do it too because other people do it too? So murder should be allowed because other people DO commit murder? Since they are too, well it doesn’t matter if I do right?… Read More

Moreover, religion GIVES people the reason to do it and brainwash many to commit it.

There are many theories of science, so is science not objective? Objectivity can be achieve as long as we can settle upon a theory or framework to create our knowledge in.

Capitalism does now inherently make the rich richer and poor poorer. The application of the theory in our world is what causes it. Marxism is a good ideology but communism was a reltively bad implementation of Karl Marx’s ideals.

Does the existence of a social construct meant it show stay? Then why does anyone bother to stop the spread of cults?… Read More

The point which I ultimately drive at is: If God exist, then why do we need to commit to any form of doctrine? Can it not be a personal practice? I believe so. Back to theory, THEORY has a different usage in science. DO FIND OUT WHAT IT IMPLIES. Do pull another fallacy of equivocation upon me. AND thus any biological student should tell you a theory is not just a theory in your sense…

Though my lack of biblical knowledge might have made some of many claims shaky but as can be seen from the last few replies these 1 + 1 people who reply to my comments are clearly commiting 2 BIG logical fallacies: Tu quoque and equivocation. And the love to play with the word equivocation. And most clearly that don’t seemed to be very trained in basic science methodology as well as  simple biology, maybe it is in their creationism creed?

-wonght
Religion poisons EVERYTHING! – Christopher Hitchens

We as humans have the ability in us to push forth and beyond and the needlessness of returning back to books that claim to be of god’s hand.

If god is perfect why even create an imperfect book? Why the need for revisions? Why the in built bias against feminine side? Why is god he? How do we even know he exist and most importantly in the name of religion what can and should be committed? What then crosses the boundary? Who tells the crusaders to go on their crusade? Who empower the witch hunters of the salem trials? Who now give strength to taleban or al qaeda to carry out their jihad?

Do mankind not have enough ways to die? Why give more reasons for such? Religion and her followers are not separate entities, so stop separating them.

I picked up a book by nicolas carr – “The Big Switch”. In it the author describe the way forward by computing as an utility delivered by the internet grid. He seem to be extremely delighted at the growth especially with the economic gains that can be achieved through such computerisation. However, I personally don’t share his optimism. Though further into his book it would seem that he too isn’t too delighted with all the consequences.

Why would something that can benefit us economically is always good. There are far too many things to be consider. In the free for all market, ideas by anyone and everyone gets airtime. But is it always good to hear every opinion? Most importantly is should every opinion be allowed to be aired in the first place?

First and foremost, I do believe that there are other things that can outweigh economic benefits. One that comes to mind is the cultural values of the humanities. Without the enticing advertisments that can be hooked to such articles. Few, if any, websites carrying information would throw spotlight onto. How will how the H1N1 mutations or rather the progress of H1N1 research be able to compete with news like Ronaldo’s legendary move to Real Madrid? Such plain boring news would pale out and fade. We can no longer package these sort of news with the rest of them and hope that somehow it catches the attention of the casual onlooker. This is magnified by suggested reads which tend to just lead these readers to more soccer news. And these news can be lucrative for web masters, bringing in huge adverts.

Does the plentiful views and ideas being air actually help all the time? Extreme views can also be easily promulgated over the internet, with chances that young impressionable minds mind be lured into believing that these are FUNDAMENTAL to society. With the uncontrolled propagation of information, which one is the most reliable. Some say the crowd can be the editor but how effective and how good. Is crowd intellegence always sufficient to find out if something is right or wrong. If so then juries should be the best judicial system since we don’t need experts to peel off those decieving, emotion-tugging arguments. Crowds can be swayed, too easily at times. Perhaps the expert opinions as well as the high impedence against publish press can be the only things that truly ensues only sensible good quality stuff goes into the press. With the utilization of the World Wide Computer, well this control is lost.

So does the ability of computing turning into utility be a good thing? It is but a tool yet this tool seems to superficially liberate us but actually trap us further down. But eradicating further what little inter-country borders we have, we place ourselves further in the mercy of money hungry corporations. So no matter what people might say about me being too conservative, BOOKS, NEWSPAPERS are still the way to go. Wiki? For fun and little quirks. E-paper? Unless it is the same as the print.

Last thing to think about is, is the computer actually that mobile? Well we do have mobile phone and handheld. But what if we run out of battery? Can book run out of electricity? And as we use these appliances we consume more and more electricity. Does one already printed book going to consume more electricity? Paperless might not be as cost saving as it seems. Next time someone claim paperless is better. Think again. All the displaced jobs where do they go? If I have to spent 1kW to view something online would it be better. In most cases yes but taken to the extreme?

-wonght
Harbinger of truth: we are moving to the extremes of computing…

http://www.marcsteinmetz.com/pages/fluchtstuecke/efluchtstuecke_minis.html
The above site shows a series of tools created by inmates to attempt to escape. Can’t believe how humans cold have thought of using such scarce materials and create something out of ordinary stuff. Sadly the motive behind them were quite wrong. Else if these minds could have come together and perform a little technological marvel and create things and perhaps have reduce, reuse and recycle the heap of rubbish on Earth.

-wonght

Check out this blog post. http://derekclontz.wordpress.com/2009/07/01/details-of-michael-death-hoax-revealed-and-we-know-where-he-is-hiding/
http://derekclontz.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/michael-jackson-faked-his-death-say-sources-with-comeback-tour-to-be-biggest-ever/.

I so can’t believe such crazy conspiracies spinners still exist. Wonder when will evolution ever get rid of them.

-wonght
 Well just go and look at his physical corpse!

Most who know me would know that i respect tradition a big deal and that I am a firm believer of if it ain’t broken dun fix it. Yet what if it is not broken on the verge but not yet still can work, but the continual will result in a total breakdown and an eventual annihilation?

What set me thinking was the direction at which VIP might take. VJC takes her roots back to VS. In continuing tradition, the two schools should remain tightly linked and move together in a concerted effort. But what if the failure of own is inexorably dragging the progress of the other? How much should we sacrifice to keep it moving together? If the point comes down to cutting off your own flesh to be able to continue on the journey further would it be morally right to do so? Or do you have a duty back to your roots.

Being an old boy to both I feel very conflicted. VJ does has a responsibility back to VS but Vj also needs to survive. Is it right for VJ to maybe turn her IP to a six year course and indirectly compete with VS?

Actually to me the best solution thus far would be a merger. I was perhaps naive once to oppose turning co-ed. But looking at the viewpoint of remaining relevant in the shifting education landscape, it might just be the only choice VS is left with. If there is a very strong compelling reason then press on. Well PLMGS used to be a boys’ school.

With merger and turning co-ed can relieve the dangers of becoming religated to a lower level then perhaps it is now best for the alumni, management, staff and current students to look more indepth and really consider this: How important is tradition to us?

-wonght
A big stride I take to move on and survive