1/30/2009

True grit and true leadership

Seng Han Thong was badly torched and recovering in the hospital ward. Many would have been so depressed in his condition. But he did not. He had written a message to boost the morale of the workers in this depressing time. The message was encrypted in a Chinese New Year card he designed. "Mr Seng's message in the card read: 'Press on in the Year of the Oxen. Do not fear the opposing tides.' ...Mr Lim(Swee Say) described it as an example of how Singaporeans could exhibit 'positive energy' even in adversity. 'Even though he (Mr Seng) is recovering in hospital, he is also projecting his positive energy to the rest of us,' he said." This is what great leaders should possess, a strong spirit even in adversity, can be down but not out, and keep on standing up to the challenge.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

'he is also projecting his positive energy to the rest of us'

Wow! Sounds like someone in the Star Wars' movies.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

if seng han thong were a soldier, his injury will qualify him for a purple heart or a military cross for being injured in the line of duty.

Anonymous said...

I would say, that most people aspire to go to Heaven but prefer to stay in Hell because Hell is more familiar to them. However, a few people want out of Heaven and Hell altogether, out of this Samsara. Therefore, leadership for all it is worth, has to be getting people out of Hell, into Heaven and out of Samsara. Thank you.

Francis Chua, Singapore

P/s- By the term Hell, I meant intense suffering. By the term Heaven, I meant subtle suffering. By the phase Out of Samsara, I meant no more suffering.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

> This is what great leaders should possess, a strong spirit even in adversity,<

Yah. Like the 'resolve' of Hitler, Mao, Pol Pot, Idi Amin...oooh great leadership, great spirit in adversity. Yes, truly 'great' people.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

francis,

actually many prefer hell than in heaven.

Anonymous said...

FrancisChua wrote:
>most people ... prefer to stay in Hell

Redbean wrote:
>francis,

>actually many prefer hell than in >heaven.

Isn't that what I was meaning? Oh my! Oh no! Maybe, there is a distinction to be drawn between 'most' and 'many'? Or maybe, it is 'prefer but not to stay', rather than 'prefer to stay'? Now, how do I interpret the 'actually'?

Just kidding.

Francis Chua, Singapore

Anonymous said...

Matilah_Singapura said...
> This is what great leaders should possess, a strong spirit even in adversity,<

Yah. Like the 'resolve' of Hitler, Mao, Pol Pot, Idi Amin...oooh great leadership, great spirit in adversity. Yes, truly 'great' people.

January 30, 2009 1:24 PM

Even Matilah_Singapura 'see' it clearly. The rest just pretend. "Oh, is it really? Where is it? Where is it?" The country is led by dumbs!

Francis Chua, Singapore

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

you mean you got three?

Anonymous said...

>Matilah_Singapura said...
> This is what great leaders should possess, a strong spirit even in adversity,<

Yah. Like the 'resolve' of Hitler, Mao, Pol Pot, Idi Amin...oooh great leadership, great spirit in adversity. Yes, truly 'great' people.

>FrancisChua said...
Even Matilah_Singapura 'see' it clearly. The rest just pretend. "Oh, is it really? Where is it? Where is it?" The country is led by dumbs!

>Matilah_Singapura said...
What do you mean 'Even Matilah sees it clearly'?

I mean exactly what you mean: ... "Like the 'resolve' of ... "

Francis Chua, Singapore

Anonymous said...

normally only due to stupidity a soldier earns a purple heart-lah.
you get a cross for being a dead man.
For being burnt, you get BBQ.

haaaiyaaaa you.,,,not funny ya?.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

just give him a medal, anything that is uniquely singapore.

give the man a medal.

Anonymous said...

I suggest give the man a piece of charcoal to remind him the hardship of the people. He can always picture frame the charcoal up and remind himself daily the hardship of the people. People who see the charcoal will know that he is being reminded daily the hardship of the people.

Francis Chua, Singapore

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

i can't believe my eyes. the grand finale of the chingay 09 parade was about a man being set on fire, in front of city hall, and beamed into the big screens of every home's tv.

what a rude reminder!