Yushui Village in Lijiang, Yunnan, with snow mountain backdrop and cascading waterfalls.
4/23/2011
The timing of heaven
When a big storm is brewing, or when a natural disaster is about to hit the shore, all the creatures in the wild, big and small, will get the first signal to evacuate. The timing of heaven is obvious to those recipients who are meant to receive the signal of a major change.
Throughout our 40 odd years of existence, other than the founding years, never has there been a time when so many talents are standing up as if someone has blown a whistle. They came from thousands of miles away, they sprouted out from under the carpet, sprang out of cupboards, they came out of retirement, from the most unexpected quarters, all heeding a call for change.
They are not the only one that is answering to this call, everyone can sense that change is coming and many are standing up to make the change. Everyone in cyberspace is contributing in his little way towards this change. Even the often reticent and fearful aunties and uncles in the kopitiams and markets are making the change. They are stretching their hands out to greet the opposition party candidates. The days of fear and shunning the opposition parties were gone. There is a new kind of exuberance.
The recent barrage of failures after failures, against all the big talks about being pro active, about thinking and planning ahead and about preventing problems from taking root seem so defeating. Can the high cost of living be arrested earlier, can the high influx of foreigners be prevented, can the high housing prices and housing problems be foreseen? Can more be done to make public transportation more efficient, can the escalating medical cost be prevented?
The answer is either one in 50 years or due to external forces. Nothing can be prevented or anticipated even by supertalents with super salary. The worst part is that many of the problems created are claimed to be good for the people. The influx of foreigners are good, the high property prices are good, the high medical fees are good, after all you can’t get world class medical services for free. High GST is also good. Is there anything that is not good? High population density? High salary in public offices?
If these problems are regarded as good, don’t expect them to go away. They will be fed to become bigger.
The heaven has signal for change. The timing is just about right. And the forces for change are all ready to effect the change. Even the ruling party is contributing positively to the impending change either intentionally or unintentionally.
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17 comments:
Karma, this is karma for the evil leegim. I live in Tanjong Pagar GRC, even if opposition are monkeys, pigs or dogs I swear my wife and I will vote for them, its between them and the old devil.
Hi Joseph, welcome to the blog.
In the early years when PAP was at its prime, they used to say that pinning a PAP badge on a monkey, pig or dog, it would also be elected.
The force has gone over to the other side, it seems.
Truth shall prevail. Conscience cannot be suppressed.
History will be made somehow sometime through somebody. History is a great teacher, but human beings are bad students.
Time will tell ....
Hi Redbean,
Totally agree with your observations.. the apathetics are vigorously spreading the change msg and the fearful reticents are typing furiously at their keyboards.. those seeking alternatives voices must "thank" the ruling party for their "intentional and unintentional" assistance haha
thomas
dear redbean, your columns have really risen to the occasion.
some terrific pieces partic over the last few days. keep it up.
it is however very sad that so few are on the net reading all this.
i sincerely hope tt pple too will come out of their closets when it comes to voting. that they will vote for singapore.
meanwhile, the attacks on temasek review continue. near impossible to get on the site.
redbean, I must say that your timing of heaven article is indeed...err...timely.
I went to pick up my mail yesterday -- ah, no traffic, super-long weekend for folks over here. Lo and behold -- I saw an envelope that had "Grow and Share' printed on it.
Wow, these folks at the PAP are good -- not in the moral sense, but in the real politic sense.
Bear in mind, I have not worked in sg for quite sometime now. I collect small time rent from mid-level FT's, Just to keep things straight, I just pay the minimum 'top-up' necessary to CPF/ Medisave.
I sit on my arse and occasionally get mabok by the beach only working with a few clients now and earning just enough to keep me from feeling guilty as a lazy bum -- laughing at the current masses in Aust chasing the Almighty Dollar. Ah how Aust has changed -- from a laid back 'no worries mate' to a society of property and share market millionaires all madly consuming imports thanks to a strong dollar, and record agricultural and resource exports. 'Dig it up, chop it down, sell it'. Ah Capitalism, you wanton seductress you.
...anywa, I digress.
Opening up the mail, I discovered that I am $400 richer as of May1 and my MediSave has been topped up by $200 – because I happen to be in that 'older', 'pre-apek' category. Ah...the timing: The money is credited on May 1, just enough time to keep the idea of 'selfless gift from the govt', aka 'Growth Dividend'.
WTF? I am the most useless citizen of all. I do not contribute to the nation – I use S'pore merely as a hotel and bank. I shield myself as best I can from all govt interference, but just like a christian god, the PAP-govt-is-the-PAP-is-the-govt is showing 'unconditional love' for a sinner and prodigal son like me. And just like yaweh or jehovah, the PAP govt is everywhere. They managed to home in my location and shower me with their blessings.
Is this their easter blessings on me? For an anti-religious guy, this was a deeply spiritual experience. I felt, somehow 'connected' to the govt. They care...someone loves me...I am not alone...and my life has purpose.
My GRC is Holland-B. Timah, and Dr V is one my least favourite people. I find myself in a moral dilemma – I've been 'gifted' by a supreme power, I feel obliged to reciprocate a kindness...what do I do?
To ease my anxious state, I found comfort in Messrs Tanquery & Stolichnaya, and pointed the large iMac screen to a pornographic website, and choose 'threesome, double penetration, squirting mother and daughter' video to ease my mind. Nothing to nasty, just enough filth for easter (not to over indulge here), with a hint of romance.
2 gin tonics and 3 vodka limes later, and a nice video of people fucking their brains out – I had an answer to my moral dilemma:
Fuck Dr VB, and fuck the WP and SDP too. I'm not voting. The $200 in MediSave goes to the cost of treatment to my eventually failing liver, and the 400 bux credited to my cheap-skate POSB account goes toward my own small-time porno production and liver-destruction at Orchard KTV at Orchard Towers on my next Hotel visit
I no longer feel obligated nor guilty.
A tip to the faithful: Jesus might love you, but for your own protection, get him to wear a condom.
'Wu ji pi fan' meaning extremity results in corresponding opposite reaction, not exactly karma, however a natural consequence.
The rising numbers in calibres both in head counts and qualities in Alternative Parties is due to the fact that tyranny have been too rampant and obvious. The Calibre people are no more able to stomach the abuses and they are stepping out to show that they can bear it no more in the name of justice.
Me likens the better known Singaporeans that have joined the Alternative Parties in the Coming Election as people with strong sense of conscience. Though they could easily live life of plenty themselves, they volunteer for a calling of justice.
I salute these Singaporeans and feel very grateful for their gallant and chilvarous contributions to the people.
patriot
'Wu ji pi fan' meaning extremity results in corresponding opposite reaction, not exactly karma, however a natural consequence.
The rising numbers in calibres both in head counts and qualities in Alternative Parties is due to the fact that tyranny have been too rampant and obvious. The Calibre people are no more able to stomach the abuses and they are stepping out to show that they can bear it no more in the name of justice.
Me likens the better known Singaporeans that have joined the Alternative Parties in the Coming Election as people with strong sense of conscience. Though they could easily live life of plenty themselves, they volunteer for a calling of justice.
I salute these Singaporeans and feel very grateful for their gallant and chilvarous contributions to the people.
patriot
Likes to add that these calibres in the Alternative Parties are not god-send but conscious efforts on the part of these people themselves.
Once again; my salute to You(All).
patriot
Likes to add that these calibres in the Alternative Parties are not god-send but conscious efforts on the part of these people themselves.
Once again; my salute to You(All).
patriot
I hope the Uncles, Aunties and Gen Ys will follow the lead of the fearless Netizens, stop being kiasu and kiasi, and vote for CHANGE in this GE!
Hi anon 2:05,
I was afraid that too much redbean soup may kill the tastebuds, or over dosage.
At a time like this, all concerned citizens are hungry for news and redbean soup also can if abalone porridge is not available.
Matilah is going drink himself crazy with the $400 sent to him in Perth. At least they have not forgotten this quitter.
Say thank you please.
Good evening Mr Redbean, I have been talking to my ah lien neighbors for more than 6 mths now. She was so certain just 2 mths ago that she will not vote for oppossition. I met her yesteday and passed her our oppo manifesto. This morning she ran away from me. Now the time has come I am both angry and sad that she has chickened out.
I know like all of us here, this madness has got to stop. I drive a cab and I have oppo newsletters free for all to read. I try so hard to conjole, and almost to the point of begging that my passengers should seriously play a part to be take our pride back.
I want so much for us to change and grow to become trully a proud Singaporean. Will it happen? I am scared. Cus I can see we have to change otherwise we will be finished within 10 yrs.
I love this country and this is the only home that I know.
Good evening Mr Redbean, I have been talking to my ah lien neighbors for more than 6 mths now. She was so certain just 2 mths ago that she will not vote for oppossition. I met her yesteday and passed her our oppo manifesto. This morning she ran away from me. Now the time has come I am both angry and sad that she has chickened out.
I know like all of us here, this madness has got to stop. I drive a cab and I have oppo newsletters free for all to read. I try so hard to conjole, and almost to the point of begging that my passengers should seriously play a part to be take our pride back.
I want so much for us to change and grow to become trully a proud Singaporean. Will it happen? I am scared. Cus I can see we have to change otherwise we will be finished within 10 yrs.
I love this country and this is the only home that I know.
Hi J Network Singapore/Auntcabby, welcome to the blog.
It is a very pathetic thing to happen to many PMETs who find reemployment such a difficult thing while FTs have no such problem at all.
They have plenty of retraining programmes specifically for PMETs. FTs are all so talented that then no retraining.
Of course lah AuntCabby. It's more or less expected.
Two months ago no handouts were announced. This morning your Ah Lien neighbour got her letter telling her how much she will get.
She had been one of many being bought over liao!
But keep up the good work and stay with the opposition.
redbean,
There is nothing more expensive than a 'free gift'.
And I intend to have my 'master card moment'
1. Economic growth ~ 10%
2. My share $400 cash, $200 in bullshit ledger entry
3. Spending the PAP bribe on half bottle plus a blow job cavorting at a KTV...
...PRICELESS!
Thank you Temasek and GIC!
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