Another crap exercise is going on. So far the solutions thrown out are
as good as what the pimps and prostitutes can offer. In fact the pimps
and prostitutes may offer crap solutions, but they came with some
pleasure added to soften the impact. So, let’s listen to the rubbish
that is being spewed around. Make the young pay more or pay upfront so
that when they are old they need to pay lesser or not at all. Soon they
will say let’s pay forward from the moment a child is born to make it
affordable.
Is this a real solution, serious solution, to making health care more
affordable? Why are they not thinking about reducing the exorbitant
charges and fees? The solutions did not bother about the overcharging
and the ever increasing charges that could be slammed at the helpless
patients. The sick got in not knowing how much to pay and the bill will
come after, at the discretion and mercy of the medical professionals.
And the patients just have to pay up. Is there any difference from
allowing someone to fill up a blank cheque?
This kind of solution is exactly a carbon copy of the HDB solution. If
15 year repayment is not affordable, stretch it to 30 years. If this is
still not affordable, stretch it to 45 years. And if still not
affordable, get both spouses to pay, and get the father, mother and
children to pay also can. Sure affordable.
See, the pimps and prostitutes cannot do worse with this kind of brilliant solutions.
8/14/2013
The overflowing tea cup
The call for allowing more foreigners into this island has not subsided,
instead in some corners the voice is getting louder. We must aspire to
be a global and cosmopolitan city, with the best of the rest of the
world coming here to give it the buzz. Sounds pretty exciting and
positive huh, a vibrant and rich city with a rich blend of culture and
lifestyle from people all over. In big countries, the rich city is like a
centre or heart of the country, a nucleus of sort. In our case, we will
be a global city and also a global country, as the country is in the
city or the city the country.
Now what is left of the country for the people? Where is the place for the citizens, or what is in it for the people when the city/country becomes homes to foreigners?
Many of these advocates for a cosmopolitan city of foreigners are just talking through their asses. There must be an optimum or desirable percentage of foreigners to keep a city vibrant without the citizens losing their place or right of existence. The percentage of foreigners could vary for cities in big countries to those in small countries and to those where the city is the country itself. A city like New York or London could have a bigger proportion of foreigners and still would not lose its perspective and place as a part of the USA or UK. A city in a small country with a relatively smaller population would be hard pushed to have a big foreign population without undermining the interests and character of the country. A city like Singapore, which in all sense a city country, would be under great pressure to have 50% or 60% of its population made up of foreigners. Pushing this limit to 70% or more is critical and could put the citizen’s interest in jeopardy. Where are we now? State secret?
What is the desirable or optimal percentage of foreigners should this city state allow in to be comfortable socially, politically and with no compromise to our sense of security? Have we already long exceeded our comfort zone and should be culling the foreigners now instead of foolishly and unthinkingly asking for more foreigners to be let in? Though there are some quarters internally that are rooting for more foreigners, the call for the incessant influx of foreigners is mostly from foreigners themselves. They have no vested interests as citizens of the city state and what is good to them is not necessary good for the citizens and worse, often bad, very bad for the citizens.
When the tea cup is full, it is silly to keep filling it up. We are already overpopulated for our own comfort except for the views of people who think it is good and desirable to live like mice in a small enclosed space. We have also exceeded the safe or comfort zone in the percentage of foreigners vis a vis our citizens. We are already a minority in our own country. Is that not scary? The citizens must have the final say on this.
In whose benefits are the calls for more foreigners into our city home? Is it for the general good of citizens, for the good of a small group of citizens, or for the good of foreigners? The people, non citizens, or citizens who treat this city state as a hotel, will be all for more foreigners. They have no stake or interest in the well being of the citizens except for themselves and their short sighted immediate comfort and good. The citizens’ interests can be sacrificed or ignored.
Please, the tea cup is overflowing. Unless we have a bigger cup, a swimming pool, talk some sense and spare a thought for the citizens that are being squeezed out of their island city state. Foreigners should stop prescribing what they think is good for Singaporeans. We know what is good or bad for us.
Now what is left of the country for the people? Where is the place for the citizens, or what is in it for the people when the city/country becomes homes to foreigners?
Many of these advocates for a cosmopolitan city of foreigners are just talking through their asses. There must be an optimum or desirable percentage of foreigners to keep a city vibrant without the citizens losing their place or right of existence. The percentage of foreigners could vary for cities in big countries to those in small countries and to those where the city is the country itself. A city like New York or London could have a bigger proportion of foreigners and still would not lose its perspective and place as a part of the USA or UK. A city in a small country with a relatively smaller population would be hard pushed to have a big foreign population without undermining the interests and character of the country. A city like Singapore, which in all sense a city country, would be under great pressure to have 50% or 60% of its population made up of foreigners. Pushing this limit to 70% or more is critical and could put the citizen’s interest in jeopardy. Where are we now? State secret?
What is the desirable or optimal percentage of foreigners should this city state allow in to be comfortable socially, politically and with no compromise to our sense of security? Have we already long exceeded our comfort zone and should be culling the foreigners now instead of foolishly and unthinkingly asking for more foreigners to be let in? Though there are some quarters internally that are rooting for more foreigners, the call for the incessant influx of foreigners is mostly from foreigners themselves. They have no vested interests as citizens of the city state and what is good to them is not necessary good for the citizens and worse, often bad, very bad for the citizens.
When the tea cup is full, it is silly to keep filling it up. We are already overpopulated for our own comfort except for the views of people who think it is good and desirable to live like mice in a small enclosed space. We have also exceeded the safe or comfort zone in the percentage of foreigners vis a vis our citizens. We are already a minority in our own country. Is that not scary? The citizens must have the final say on this.
In whose benefits are the calls for more foreigners into our city home? Is it for the general good of citizens, for the good of a small group of citizens, or for the good of foreigners? The people, non citizens, or citizens who treat this city state as a hotel, will be all for more foreigners. They have no stake or interest in the well being of the citizens except for themselves and their short sighted immediate comfort and good. The citizens’ interests can be sacrificed or ignored.
Please, the tea cup is overflowing. Unless we have a bigger cup, a swimming pool, talk some sense and spare a thought for the citizens that are being squeezed out of their island city state. Foreigners should stop prescribing what they think is good for Singaporeans. We know what is good or bad for us.
8/13/2013
Rumour of early snap election
There are some noises that an early poll could be called judging from
the visits by ministers to residents. I can’t confirm this but are there
reasons for an early premature poll? It is something that would be
frown upon as a waste of money and time of the people when the last GE
was slightly more than two years back. The calling for a snap poll must
need a very good reason to do so. And looking at the sentiments today
and the revelations of so many flaws in the system, it cannot be a good
time for the PAP right now. Unless my perception is wrong and the PAP
thinks that the ground is sweet again. Who knows?
There could be a few reasons for the PAP to want to call an early election. LKY is looking more like a physical burden to himself and to his constituency, and it is best to remove the obvious and put in a younger MP to do what an MP is supposed to do. It is also a good time for him to take a really good rest, to reminisce and romanticise his youth, and to bask under the glory before it is gone.
It would also be an opportune time to retire all the oldies in the team and bring in a few more eager beavers as several of the dropped ministers are just waiting to be released to the private sector to make their millions. It is agonizing to see them sitting at the back rows in Parliament and trying to bear with the new faces and their out of depth speeches. It is time to set free the tortoises, turtles and birds for them to lead their lives anew, like an act of acquiring merits in Buddhism.
Then there are some that are seen more like burdens to the team than assets and it is best to release them as well before they do more harm and damages.
But these are still not good enough reasons to risk an early poll. In a time like this when there are obvious anger and unhappiness over so many outstanding issues, unless something can be done to take away the sting, to make the people happy again with a battery of populist policies or handouts, no way will there be an early poll.
Ya, maybe this will be the key for a surprise poll. Christmas may come early, snow in June, and Hsien Loong could act as the lovable Santa Claus with bags of goodies for everyone, to lift away the dark clouds and brighten up the sky. Without a slew of positive policies that are people centric, that would benefit the people substantially and not just feeling good for the moment, a snap poll is definitely out of question.
Now let’s watch what Hsien Loong is going to say and do in his National Day Rally for a clue to substantiate this rumour. Please don’t accuse me of spreading this rumour. It is something that I heard on the ground. And it is something to think about and talk about.
There could be a few reasons for the PAP to want to call an early election. LKY is looking more like a physical burden to himself and to his constituency, and it is best to remove the obvious and put in a younger MP to do what an MP is supposed to do. It is also a good time for him to take a really good rest, to reminisce and romanticise his youth, and to bask under the glory before it is gone.
It would also be an opportune time to retire all the oldies in the team and bring in a few more eager beavers as several of the dropped ministers are just waiting to be released to the private sector to make their millions. It is agonizing to see them sitting at the back rows in Parliament and trying to bear with the new faces and their out of depth speeches. It is time to set free the tortoises, turtles and birds for them to lead their lives anew, like an act of acquiring merits in Buddhism.
Then there are some that are seen more like burdens to the team than assets and it is best to release them as well before they do more harm and damages.
But these are still not good enough reasons to risk an early poll. In a time like this when there are obvious anger and unhappiness over so many outstanding issues, unless something can be done to take away the sting, to make the people happy again with a battery of populist policies or handouts, no way will there be an early poll.
Ya, maybe this will be the key for a surprise poll. Christmas may come early, snow in June, and Hsien Loong could act as the lovable Santa Claus with bags of goodies for everyone, to lift away the dark clouds and brighten up the sky. Without a slew of positive policies that are people centric, that would benefit the people substantially and not just feeling good for the moment, a snap poll is definitely out of question.
Now let’s watch what Hsien Loong is going to say and do in his National Day Rally for a clue to substantiate this rumour. Please don’t accuse me of spreading this rumour. It is something that I heard on the ground. And it is something to think about and talk about.
How to keep the public service corruption free?
Actually there are a hundred and one things to do to keep corruption in
govt services in check. We have the world’s most effective corruption
prevention formula that may seemingly be legalising corruption by paying
out front so that there is no more temptation to want to take more to
risk losing everything. This formula would have removed a large chunk of
those that may be tempted to corrupt, leaving only a smaller number of
potential rogues in the system.
Next, our civil service was not born yesterday. It has been in operation for more than 48 years, even in colonial times, with well tested systems in place. And these systems and procedures have been constantly refined and improved to tighten up the loose ends over the years. By now, anything that can be tightened or enhanced to prevent corruption must have been worked into the system with tomes of manuals on operating procedures. It is unlikely that a mosquito could fly through the layers of mazes set up by the ministries to keep the mosquito out of the system. We have a very robust system of checks and controls. Believe me it is true.
To add to the checks and control there is the annual audit team to comb through the activities to make sure that all is in order. And the latest audit did reveal quite a number of lapses. And this is good as any discovery will mean that things can be captured and rectified.
And there is the fear CPIB to cast its shadow over anyone thinking crooked. This could be the last barrier to keep corruption out. If this fails, that nothing can hold anymore.
Chee Hean has replied to Low Thia Khiang’s queries on the recent spate of corruption involving senior govt officials, the reason for failure is never about the system but about the slack in maintaining and upholding the system. There seems to be an inability to follow standard and approved procedures or deliberately violated to abet corruption, or simply negligent on the part of the officers or their superiors. The flaws seemed to be the ease in circumventing a robust and tight systems of checks and controls. Why?
The causes of all the corruption cases are nothing sophisticated and bizarre that cannot be prevented. What could be the main contributor to the rise in corruption is lack of accountability. No heads will roll or at most a slap on the wrist would be considered the gravest punishment. How then could discipline and abiding to proper procedures be enforced when there is no fear factor? How would anyone not be tempted to take risk when the consequences are as good as no consequences?
A simple recommendation to ensure compliance to procedures is to make the officer directly accountable for his action. There can be flexibility for the officers on the ground to make exceptions but the officer must be directly responsible for his actions and be punished duly for not observing approved procedures or approving to override standard procedures. He decides and if things fall apart, his head rolls. Who ever authorises such actions, and if it leads to abuses or corruption in the system or process, shall be punished accordingly. And the minimum punishment could be demotion or if worse, dismissal and facing prosecution. When officers know that they will have to own up for their decisions, they will take more care to protect themselves and in the things they decide or approve.
The heads of dept, division or ministries must be the one ultimately responsible for the infringements and corruption appropriate to the authority he is bestowed with. When accountability and responsibility are well defined, the officers responsible would have to be very careful of their own actions and discretions. Without the will to punish anyone appropriately for corruption, it is only an open invitation for the officers to corrupt.
No matter how robust and well designed the checks and control systems are, without the will to enforce and take violators to task, it is as good as a system full of holes.
Next, our civil service was not born yesterday. It has been in operation for more than 48 years, even in colonial times, with well tested systems in place. And these systems and procedures have been constantly refined and improved to tighten up the loose ends over the years. By now, anything that can be tightened or enhanced to prevent corruption must have been worked into the system with tomes of manuals on operating procedures. It is unlikely that a mosquito could fly through the layers of mazes set up by the ministries to keep the mosquito out of the system. We have a very robust system of checks and controls. Believe me it is true.
To add to the checks and control there is the annual audit team to comb through the activities to make sure that all is in order. And the latest audit did reveal quite a number of lapses. And this is good as any discovery will mean that things can be captured and rectified.
And there is the fear CPIB to cast its shadow over anyone thinking crooked. This could be the last barrier to keep corruption out. If this fails, that nothing can hold anymore.
Chee Hean has replied to Low Thia Khiang’s queries on the recent spate of corruption involving senior govt officials, the reason for failure is never about the system but about the slack in maintaining and upholding the system. There seems to be an inability to follow standard and approved procedures or deliberately violated to abet corruption, or simply negligent on the part of the officers or their superiors. The flaws seemed to be the ease in circumventing a robust and tight systems of checks and controls. Why?
The causes of all the corruption cases are nothing sophisticated and bizarre that cannot be prevented. What could be the main contributor to the rise in corruption is lack of accountability. No heads will roll or at most a slap on the wrist would be considered the gravest punishment. How then could discipline and abiding to proper procedures be enforced when there is no fear factor? How would anyone not be tempted to take risk when the consequences are as good as no consequences?
A simple recommendation to ensure compliance to procedures is to make the officer directly accountable for his action. There can be flexibility for the officers on the ground to make exceptions but the officer must be directly responsible for his actions and be punished duly for not observing approved procedures or approving to override standard procedures. He decides and if things fall apart, his head rolls. Who ever authorises such actions, and if it leads to abuses or corruption in the system or process, shall be punished accordingly. And the minimum punishment could be demotion or if worse, dismissal and facing prosecution. When officers know that they will have to own up for their decisions, they will take more care to protect themselves and in the things they decide or approve.
The heads of dept, division or ministries must be the one ultimately responsible for the infringements and corruption appropriate to the authority he is bestowed with. When accountability and responsibility are well defined, the officers responsible would have to be very careful of their own actions and discretions. Without the will to punish anyone appropriately for corruption, it is only an open invitation for the officers to corrupt.
No matter how robust and well designed the checks and control systems are, without the will to enforce and take violators to task, it is as good as a system full of holes.
8/12/2013
Han Hui Hui, a brave young lass taking on the Govt
Below is an extract of a post by Han Hui Hui, a 21 year old who received
a letter from Allen and Gledhill, threatening to sue her for defaming
the Council for Private Education (CPE). She had problem finding someone
to defend her and finally ended up with Singapore’s Number One Human
Rights lawyer M Ravi coming to her defence..
‘On 19th April, I went to the high court to seek declaration that CPE being a government body does not have the rights to sue or threaten to sue Singaporeans for defamation.
I’m now seeking protection against this defamation suit via the constitution and the ordinary laws of the land. This lawsuit is not for anyone but for everyone, for the entire Singapore population, for the sake of our freedom of speech.
I took up this case not because I’m against the government but because of the love for our country, the need to protect human rights, our constitutional rights, our freedom of speech, our basic citizens’ rights.
Who does the CPE reports to? The ministry of education.
Who does MOE reports to? The parliament.
Who pays them their salary? Us, we the taxpayers.
How can they use our money to sue us for defamation?
The attorney general’s chamber is now involved as well.
The fact that AGC, the government is being involved further shows that our stand that the CPE a government body under Ministry of education does not have the right to sue for defamation. If public bodies funded by the public, can sue for defamation this will result in a stifling of criticisms, or genuine grievances, especially from those who do not have such an amount of resources.
How can they use their public fund to sue us? We should not allow public bodies to use lawsuits to silence criticisms against them. Why is the government going against our most creative cartoonist Mr Leslie Chew? Did any of his work Demon-cratic caused violence or people to have inability to pay their bills or be forced to leave the country?
We need to build a stronger and more inclusive Singapore so can we have our freedom of speech to hear the voice of everyone?
So our constitutional rights must be upheld against being sued for defamation by public bodies. Statutory board being a governmental body does not have the rights to sue or threaten to sue Singaporeans. I can forget about this case, I can forget about this lawsuit, I don’t have to fight this lawsuit. But I want to protect the rights of all other Singaporeans out there. Should we fight for our constitutional rights and the future of Singaporeans?’
More info of the court application: http://statboard-suecitizen.blogspot.sg/. To lend her a helping hand financially for this high court application, you can donate to her POSB Savings account number 279-12328-0.
‘On 19th April, I went to the high court to seek declaration that CPE being a government body does not have the rights to sue or threaten to sue Singaporeans for defamation.
I’m now seeking protection against this defamation suit via the constitution and the ordinary laws of the land. This lawsuit is not for anyone but for everyone, for the entire Singapore population, for the sake of our freedom of speech.
I took up this case not because I’m against the government but because of the love for our country, the need to protect human rights, our constitutional rights, our freedom of speech, our basic citizens’ rights.
Who does the CPE reports to? The ministry of education.
Who does MOE reports to? The parliament.
Who pays them their salary? Us, we the taxpayers.
How can they use our money to sue us for defamation?
The attorney general’s chamber is now involved as well.
The fact that AGC, the government is being involved further shows that our stand that the CPE a government body under Ministry of education does not have the right to sue for defamation. If public bodies funded by the public, can sue for defamation this will result in a stifling of criticisms, or genuine grievances, especially from those who do not have such an amount of resources.
How can they use their public fund to sue us? We should not allow public bodies to use lawsuits to silence criticisms against them. Why is the government going against our most creative cartoonist Mr Leslie Chew? Did any of his work Demon-cratic caused violence or people to have inability to pay their bills or be forced to leave the country?
We need to build a stronger and more inclusive Singapore so can we have our freedom of speech to hear the voice of everyone?
So our constitutional rights must be upheld against being sued for defamation by public bodies. Statutory board being a governmental body does not have the rights to sue or threaten to sue Singaporeans. I can forget about this case, I can forget about this lawsuit, I don’t have to fight this lawsuit. But I want to protect the rights of all other Singaporeans out there. Should we fight for our constitutional rights and the future of Singaporeans?’
More info of the court application: http://statboard-suecitizen.blogspot.sg/. To lend her a helping hand financially for this high court application, you can donate to her POSB Savings account number 279-12328-0.
47,000 voices heard in National Conversation
47,000 people of all walks of life and ages participated in the National
Conversation that was conducted over one year. Thanks to these 47,000
people, the concerns and worries of the people are now heard by the
Govt. This is quite an achievement as the same concerns and worries were
all over the place over so many years, especially in the internet and
even in Reach, but somehow they were not heard or no one took much
interest in them.
Hsien Loong is now going to address the concerns in his National Rally Speech and there are high expectations that things will happen with some major changes in the Govt’s thinking and policies. It can only be good for the people as changes cannot be for the worse.
The good thing about the Natcon, despite spending one year and 47,000 people to confirm the obvious is that more people are starting to think country and people and their own well being. And since it is the Gov’t’s initiative, with so much manpower, money and resources committed, something positive has to be done to make it meaningful and money well spent. The Govt also needs to show to the 47,000 people that it is listening and sincere in wanting to change to improve the lot of the people. It is also an important shift in Govt attitude towards a people up policies and a move away from the top down policies of the past. It is also important that the Govt should be seen to do what it preaches, this time listening to the people and trying to meet the aspiration of the people and not the agenda of the Govt or not what the Govt thinks is good for the people.
Now everyone is waiting for the fine details to see how far and accommodating the Govt is towards endearing to the people.
Hsien Loong is now going to address the concerns in his National Rally Speech and there are high expectations that things will happen with some major changes in the Govt’s thinking and policies. It can only be good for the people as changes cannot be for the worse.
The good thing about the Natcon, despite spending one year and 47,000 people to confirm the obvious is that more people are starting to think country and people and their own well being. And since it is the Gov’t’s initiative, with so much manpower, money and resources committed, something positive has to be done to make it meaningful and money well spent. The Govt also needs to show to the 47,000 people that it is listening and sincere in wanting to change to improve the lot of the people. It is also an important shift in Govt attitude towards a people up policies and a move away from the top down policies of the past. It is also important that the Govt should be seen to do what it preaches, this time listening to the people and trying to meet the aspiration of the people and not the agenda of the Govt or not what the Govt thinks is good for the people.
Now everyone is waiting for the fine details to see how far and accommodating the Govt is towards endearing to the people.
Policy changes coming up
Heng Swee Kiat was reported to have said that more policy changes are in the card in Hsien Loong’s National Day Rally speech next week. The key areas expecting major changes are Housing, health care and education. Nothing was mentioned on the influx of foreigners and the loss of jobs to foreigners due to discrimination? I do hope Hsien Loong will take a personal interest in this and put his weight behind Chuan Jin to give him more clout and confidence to deal with foreigners and foreign companies practising discrimination against Singaporeans.
Boon Wan has solved some of the more urgent issues of insufficient housing supply with his ramping exercise. The backlog of enforced demand due to bad policies should have ease somewhat. Now we will have to see what changes the Govt will come up with. Will there be a fundamental policy shift to ensure that ALL Sinkies be allowed to buy his homes direct from the HDB and to do away with all the silly and stupid Sinkie discriminating policies of the past? Will Sinkies be allowed to be prudent like Boon Wan has said, not to over commit in buying properties beyond their means and be allowed to buy properties/HDB flats that suit their needs and not the size of their income? Would Sinkies be allowed to buy smaller flats if they so desired without being forced by the Govt to buy bigger flats and compromise on their retirement savings just because the Govt think it must be like dat?
The exhorbitant medical care cost must be brought down, at least in govt hospitals, and that they are not allowed to charge like private hospitals just because they are now called privatised. Govt privatised hospitals are built using public funds and have a duty to serve the people and not merely profits. Many senior citizens are waiting to be bankrupt by high medical bills.
Would there be a comprehensive medical insurance scheme for the senior citizens that will minimise the amount they have to pay in govt hospitals or for the govt to fully pay for the medical premiums of those above 65 or 70 and above? The thinking behind medical policy needs a thorough relook as the population ages as the cost is running to frightening and unaffordable level. To what extent is the Govt responsible to the elderly for their medical care and medical bills?
The slippery education policy, the cost and how many to be educated to tertiary level and whether the Govt is seriously looking at a paradigm shift, to educate Sinkies to be crane drivers and hawkers is something mesmerising and truly innovative to watch.
More important is the population size and the size of foreigners in the country. Is the 6.9m a forgone conclusion and the people must accept it with no exceptions or changes? Will foreigners still be allowed to dominate our employment scene, to kick the citizens aside, especially the PMETs and to rule over Sinkies?
What is the ideal percentage of foreigners for the island and should there be a need to obtain the consent of the Sinkies? Or should 77 MPs be allowed to decide the fate of this nation and its citizens without question?
What is going to happen to the Sinkies and the high cost of living?
8/11/2013
Kishore – Count our blessings
This is what Kishore said in his article on Saturday of the 48 years of
nation building and how successful we have become. We have a lot of
achievements, a lot of blessings and also the inevitable weaknesses due
to what we are. Every nation has the same two sides of the coin except
whether there are more blessings or more weaknesses. There is nothing to
be apologetic for praising the Govt for what we are today. The material
achievements are there for all to see, with warts and all. In many
things we have outdone many countries in many ways and yes, we are the
envy of many. We have our problems, still manageable and tolerable. But
small problems if not nip in the bud could easily snowball and a mole
hill can become a mountain if we are reckless and complacent.
Kishore ended his monologue with an invitation for rude comments to remind him of the obvious that he had missed out that could make this city continue to be great or starting a downward spiral to ignominy. What is so obvious that he is not seeing is perhaps something that is too close to him. He is after all the Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
Singapore will miss the presence of a strong, robust and dynamic leader that allows it to punch above its weight. The answer is so obvious. For all our money and wealth, our infrastructure and system, they will be nothing without a strong leadership that is recognisable and well respected in the international arena. I don’t see anyone in that shoe anymore. There will be none for at least the next 20 or 30 years. We may be wealthy as a country, but we will not be able to impress or speak and be listened to. You need dynamism, charisma, wisdom and the acknowledgment from other leaders to be able to lead and be respected.
From the current slate, what we have is mediocrity. We will fade away and just be another rich kid in the neighbourhood and nothing else. Empty in the head but driving flashy cars and with some money to throw around at best. That is, provided we did not let the economy runs into a halt, that we did not let a nation in the making becomes a hotel with no ownership and everyone is ripping it apart for his/her immediate vested interests.
What else can be more obvious than a vacuum that cannot be filled for a long time to come? Do we have any leader that is respected, revered and thought highly of by world leaders in the immediate future? Do we have anyone who could look at the whole rather than bits and pieces and have the ability to piece everything together for the greater good of country and people? Or instead we have people who are running the ship aground?
What kind of future can there be when the best hope is to get views from the laymen and women, the aunties and uncles, to guide the country going forward when the million dollar talents have run out of ideas and knowing not where to go or what to do?
Would there be anyone be rude enough to tell Kishore the obvious?
Kishore ended his monologue with an invitation for rude comments to remind him of the obvious that he had missed out that could make this city continue to be great or starting a downward spiral to ignominy. What is so obvious that he is not seeing is perhaps something that is too close to him. He is after all the Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.
Singapore will miss the presence of a strong, robust and dynamic leader that allows it to punch above its weight. The answer is so obvious. For all our money and wealth, our infrastructure and system, they will be nothing without a strong leadership that is recognisable and well respected in the international arena. I don’t see anyone in that shoe anymore. There will be none for at least the next 20 or 30 years. We may be wealthy as a country, but we will not be able to impress or speak and be listened to. You need dynamism, charisma, wisdom and the acknowledgment from other leaders to be able to lead and be respected.
From the current slate, what we have is mediocrity. We will fade away and just be another rich kid in the neighbourhood and nothing else. Empty in the head but driving flashy cars and with some money to throw around at best. That is, provided we did not let the economy runs into a halt, that we did not let a nation in the making becomes a hotel with no ownership and everyone is ripping it apart for his/her immediate vested interests.
What else can be more obvious than a vacuum that cannot be filled for a long time to come? Do we have any leader that is respected, revered and thought highly of by world leaders in the immediate future? Do we have anyone who could look at the whole rather than bits and pieces and have the ability to piece everything together for the greater good of country and people? Or instead we have people who are running the ship aground?
What kind of future can there be when the best hope is to get views from the laymen and women, the aunties and uncles, to guide the country going forward when the million dollar talents have run out of ideas and knowing not where to go or what to do?
Would there be anyone be rude enough to tell Kishore the obvious?
8/10/2013
The courts of public opinion
The rich and power seek justice in the courts of law. They
have the money to hire the most expensive and eminent legal experts to bring
them the justice they can afford to pay for. Often the loser lost without a
fight as they cannot pay for the fight.
The courts of public opinion is a less defined and big grey
area. No one can buy justice in the courts of public opinion as opinion is free
and the judges are numerous. Everyone has an opinion, rightly or wrongly, fair
or unfair, biased or bigoted, but they all have something to say on an issue.
And there are many courts of public opinion on a case, some will favour while
some will go against the defendant under scrutiny. And one does not need to
commit a crime or do anything to be sentenced in the courts of public opinion.
SR Nathan, the immediate past President is awarded the
highest honour of the country, the Order of Temasek First Class. This is a very
rare honour that is reserved for a very few and very distinguished individuals.
Nathan is now among seven who were deemed fit enough to be decorated with this
honour.
While this is something that anyone would feel greatly
honoured as a life time achievement, what Nathan did not bargain for is to be
hauled into the courts of public opinion. In the main media it was a story of
great achievements and accolades for a man of distinction, with many great stories
to tell of the man. In another court of public opinion in cyberspace, the story
is quite contrary and ugly. Being bestowed such an honour is like being set up
for scorn. The commentaries were anything but pleasant. Many were questioning
what he had done that was so deserving of such an honour. The criticisms and
berating were very subjective, very personal and very uncomplimentary.
The courts of public opinion can be very unforgiving
especially the wrong ones. Many luminaries may hesitate to even think of accepting
great honours and awards and be praised publicly when the courts of public
opinions could disfigure all they have achieved and cast smears and doubts, and
disparaging dismissed all the good things that were said. Instead of being
affirmed and praised, the experience can be quite humiliating and uncomforting.
The courts of public opinion are never just or fair, more like
kangaroo courts. It is a bane to any public figure made to stand in such a
court to be demolished and diminished. No amount of money can buy the best
legal brains to earn a favourable judgement in these kangaroo courts. No matter
how high is the office, how powerful is the defendant, there is no defence
against the scorn of public opinion if one is undeserving or has a tinge of
grey in a white slate.
The world has since become more grey than merely white and
black.
Hsien Loong is going to build a fair and just society for Sinkies
I know this is a motherhood statement but what is wrong with it? It sounded like the PAP is running an election campaign and this is the key slogan for the party. It can also sound like the PAP has just formed the govt and is promising the people that this was what it wanted to do for the people. Wait a minute, this is our 48th National Day and the PAP has been running the country for the past 47 years and has just started to want to do this. What had it been doing all these years, building an unfair and unjust society? Should we say that it is better late than never, and Sinkies can be hopeful that going forward they can expect a fairer and just society? The worrisome part is that the Govt either does not know that it has built an unfair and unjust society or it has been doing so thinking it is ok.
And the PAP is going to ensure that every Sinkie will have a
home when it did not bother, to have a stake in this country now when it was
not important. Obviously there are Sinkies that have no home and no stake in
this country. It cannot be like, how can Sinkies have no home and no stake in
this country in the first place? Then what are these Sinkies doing NS for and
what will they be defending, other people’s homes and other people’s stake,
foreigners’ homes and foreigners’ stakes?
The high cost of living, high cost of medical care, the high
cost of everything, the govt is going to tackle them all. Sounds good, really.
The govt will be solving all these problems.
What sounds not so good or unpleasantly funny is that why and how did
all these happen? Would it not be better if the govt did not allow all these to
happen in the first place, nipped them in the bud like it always said? Would it
be better if the govt and those who are responsible did not allow these
problems to become problems to the people in the first place? What is the
meaning of proactive?
And there are problems of public transport, problems of
unemployment, problems of too many foreigners and many others. Who are the
twits that created all these problems for the govt to take care of? Who are
they that are giving so many problems to Hsien Loong and causing him many
sleepless nights trying to solve so many problems at the same time? These must
be people who are doing Hsien Loong in, right? I hope they are not being
awarded any National Day honours for creating all these problems.
As the PM, his job is really tough, with so many people
undermining him by making all the wrong decisions and policies and making him
responsible for cleaning the shit. Hsien Loong should rightly deserve the
highest National Day Award, the Order of Temasek(First Class) for cleaning shit
and not blaming anyone for it. Why no one recommends him for the highest National
Day Award?
8/09/2013
The Revengeful Japs never forget US nuclear bombing of Japan and will definitely return the same favour to US some day in future
The revengeful Japs will never forget US nuclear bombing of Japan and will definitely return the same favour to US some day in future.
The launching of Japs new aircraft carrier on 6th August is a bad omen for America. It is a veiled threat that they meant to take nuclear revenge against US some day in future.
Why is US coddling the Japs and inciting them to create trouble in the East China Sea against China? After an era of Western and Japanese domination and imperialism during the last one hundred and fifty years China was left crippled with lost of huge territories of land to invading Western countries and Japan and with her economy in shambles , China was critically weak and despised by the invaders. That was the time Japan thought it could invade and dominate China totally. But with intense patriotism the Chinese under the leadership of Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou En Lai and the Peoples' Liberation Army fought bravely against the Japs and defeated them. However , when the Japs attacked America's Pearl Harbour , they stirred the hornets' nest and brought the Americans into the war against the Japs. With America's atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki the Japanese war of aggression against China was brought to a stop. The Japs have always blamed America for destroying their only chance of invading and subjugating China not forgetting that even without America's nuclear bombing of Japan , China would definitely and ultimately defeat the Japs and drive them out of China. However, the revengeful Japs in launching the new aircraft carrier on the 68th Anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on Tuesday 6th of August is not a co-incident but is meant to carry out a clear signal and reminder to US that Japan will definitely take revenge on that infamy incident against US some day in future and in the same nuclear manner. Thus America should take the warning seriously and stop supporting and rearming an evil monster in the making. America should not side with the Japs but let China have a free hand this time round to deal with the Japs so that the Chinese can teach these Japs a fatal lesson once and for all and make sure that they will never rise up again to give trouble to the world.
Southernglory1
The launching of Japs new aircraft carrier on 6th August is a bad omen for America. It is a veiled threat that they meant to take nuclear revenge against US some day in future.
Why is US coddling the Japs and inciting them to create trouble in the East China Sea against China? After an era of Western and Japanese domination and imperialism during the last one hundred and fifty years China was left crippled with lost of huge territories of land to invading Western countries and Japan and with her economy in shambles , China was critically weak and despised by the invaders. That was the time Japan thought it could invade and dominate China totally. But with intense patriotism the Chinese under the leadership of Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou En Lai and the Peoples' Liberation Army fought bravely against the Japs and defeated them. However , when the Japs attacked America's Pearl Harbour , they stirred the hornets' nest and brought the Americans into the war against the Japs. With America's atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki the Japanese war of aggression against China was brought to a stop. The Japs have always blamed America for destroying their only chance of invading and subjugating China not forgetting that even without America's nuclear bombing of Japan , China would definitely and ultimately defeat the Japs and drive them out of China. However, the revengeful Japs in launching the new aircraft carrier on the 68th Anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on Tuesday 6th of August is not a co-incident but is meant to carry out a clear signal and reminder to US that Japan will definitely take revenge on that infamy incident against US some day in future and in the same nuclear manner. Thus America should take the warning seriously and stop supporting and rearming an evil monster in the making. America should not side with the Japs but let China have a free hand this time round to deal with the Japs so that the Chinese can teach these Japs a fatal lesson once and for all and make sure that they will never rise up again to give trouble to the world.
Southernglory1
My National Day Message
The
Singapore, our country, is there
for ‘US’ to make. The “US’ are Singaporeans, not PRs, the people that made this
country what it is today and will continue to make this country a liveable
place for our children for generations to come.
Our
Singapore, our country, its fate,
what it should be, must by decided by ‘US’ and not by a few individuals who
think they know best and what is good for ‘US’.
The
Singaporeans must make this country and govt to serve the interests of ‘US’ the
citizens foremost. And we can be generous and charitable to foreigners who come
here to visit or to work. It must not be the other way, when we are second to
foreigners and PRs and have to depend on their generosity and charity. The
foreigners and PRs are here because we have built such a great city for them to
live their dreams and make a good living. We allowed them, we gave them the
opportunity, not the other way. While doing this, we must not sacrifice or
compromise the well beings of our citizens to the extend that they become
jobless and have to scrape for a living, with low paying and unwanted jobs,
with no job security while having to cope with extremely high cost of
everything.
We
must be the owners, we are the owners of our country. We must be in charge and
not foreigners in charge. The foreigners, including the PRs, are here with our
consent and approval, enjoying our kindness at our discretion. The
Singaporeans, the ‘US’, must not be dependent
and at the mercy of foreigners for jobs and our well being. We are the host and they the guests. This must be the permanent formula and the host must not be elbowed out by the guests.
I
wish all Singaporeans a happy National Day fills with hopes of a better
tomorrow, for all Singaporeans and their children.
8/08/2013
Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri!
I just came back after spending the nearly the whole day out and cannot miss the well and colourfully dressed Muslim brothers and sisters everywhere. There is one place they are missing though, the foodcourts. But that is understandable as they will be having their feasts at home with their families and friends.
I was at this foodcourt and the only people I saw were mainly Chinese, some Indians and some foreigners. Having the Indians and Malays all eating together in the foodcourts was nothing unusual as they are part and parcel of this country, they are a part of every Singaporean. Now the foreigners are also becoming a part of us as well. Their presence cannot be missed.
Today I really felt something missing, without the signs and presence of Malays among the customers. It would likely be the same for a Chinese or Indian festival with the particular tribe making the missing act.
Once again, Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
I was at this foodcourt and the only people I saw were mainly Chinese, some Indians and some foreigners. Having the Indians and Malays all eating together in the foodcourts was nothing unusual as they are part and parcel of this country, they are a part of every Singaporean. Now the foreigners are also becoming a part of us as well. Their presence cannot be missed.
Today I really felt something missing, without the signs and presence of Malays among the customers. It would likely be the same for a Chinese or Indian festival with the particular tribe making the missing act.
Once again, Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
A single swallow justification
Now that the Hair for Hope event in support of the Children’s Cancer Foundation that led to the punishment of 2 girl students by their principal is water under the bridge, I would like to revisit the thinking behind the incident that let to the fiasco and public outrage. I quote the Principal Marion Tan “Can you imagine if I were to say yes, I’d have everybody coming to school with a bald head. Sometimes it’s a fad, so they would take advantage of the situation.”
She has her point in that the girls did promise to put on
wigs if they participated in the event. And if she was in the army, the girls
would jolly well wear the wigs as promised. That is how the army works,
regimentation, and an order is an order. In this case, the demand for such an
undertaking by the principal is misplaced as it showed a lack of understanding
and appreciation of the Hair for Hope event. It is all about empathy and
compassion for those cancer patients that have to go through the painful
chemotherapy and the undesirable consequence of a bald head.
Let me return to the quoted statement above. This is like
the proverbial saying a swallow does not make a summer but many would insist
otherwise. And this is the thinking of the people in authority. They cannot
release the CPF savings to the people caused some DOM had squandered all their
monies on mei meis, or some have gone to the casinos. So it is best that the
money be all locked up. Imagine if the govt would to say yes, every retiree
would take out their money and feed the mei meis and the casinos. Jiat lat, all
would end up with no money the next day and crying to the govt for charity.
The same justification for not allowing people with higher
income to use lower class hospital wards with higher subsidies. If one is
allowed, all the rich people will opt for C class wards, maybe people living in
the Istana would also do so. Think HDB too, if one is allowed to buy smaller
flats, all would want to buy smaller flats.
What kind of mentality is that? Do the people making
decisions up there really believe in this logic? The stupid ones do, I am sure.
The smart ones are only using this flawed logic for their own convenience and
to serve their agenda and whatever schemes they are brewing. They are too smart
to think that this is logical thinking.
Don’t take a swallow and claim that it is summer. Don’t
think that seeing an albino crow and conclude that all the crows are white. Can
this episode be a lesson to the policymakers to fine tune their thinking? Fat
hope, this is a golden rule to rule the people and take advantage of the
people, for their ignorance and passiveness towards authority. The authority is
always right and always logical in their reasoning. Tio boh?
I remember, if we were to give the people a drumstick they
will demand for the whole chicken, or something like that. Where got exception
one?
Two National Day Celebrations
This
National Day is special in the sense that there will be two celebrations held
about the same time and within the same vicinity. One has a theme, Many
stories, One Singapore and the other, Reclaiming Singapore for Singaporeans.
The first, the official celebration organized by the Govt, will be held at the Marina Bay with much fanfare and all
the pomp and pageantry, a great festivity for all, Singaporeans and foreigners.
At least a hundred thousand spectators will be there, watching the parade and
performances and a grand display of fireworks to end the night.
Reclaiming
Singapore for Singaporeans will be
held a short distance away at the Speakers’ Corner in Hong Lim Park. There will likely be a
smaller gathering of mainly Singaporeans to celebrate the National Day
organized by Singaporeans with no official budget to give it the glamour and
colours of a joyous event. They will celebrate the National Day in a solemn low
key way, more in spirit as true blue Singaporeans, to remember the days gone
by, the great but forgotten Singaporeans that contributed to the success story
of this little island. They will remember what it was like when the island
residents were mainly Singaporeans, like a bigger kampong of people who lived
together for a long time and knew each and every one in the kampongs.
Amidst
this little celebration there will also be a tinge of sadness, of the days gone
by, the buildings and places that were lost forever, of the unrecognized and
fallen heroes that were cast aside by the furious pace of development and
change. There will be remembrance, there will be praises and regrets, but it
will still be a National Day celebration by the original Singaporeans, the
pioneers who built this nation and their loved ones.
Happy
National Day to all Singaporeans.
8/07/2013
Silencing of the lamb
The lamb has been silenced. All is peaceful under heaven. 天下太平. Three
little girls were silenced, penalized by their school for participating
in a fund raising event to help cancer stricken patients and helping to
make a statement that it was alright to be bald, after chemotherapy
treatment. Their brave and gracious act was seen as of lesser importance
to a promise to wear wigs should they shorn off their locks and look
bald. This is not acceptable as it could mean something else, a fad or a
rebellious act.
The parents were furious, the public were furious. The girls were silent. The MOE has yet to make a statement on this. Would the Cancer Society that organized this event make a statement in defend of the girls? Or would this matter be stone walled, silence is better than saying the wrong thing? The three brave girls are facing the music in silence. Instead of being good role models, they are now seen as bad, disobedient and doing the wrong thing.
Some may think that this topic, Silencing of the lamb, is related to Leslie Chew. No, actually the silencing of the lamb is not even about the silencing of the girls. It is just coincidental that the case of the girls being silenced happened over the last couple of days.
There is a bigger silencing event going on nationwide. Ever been in the train or buses and notice the silence except when some loud mouth foreigners are around and screaming away? Our young are being silenced in a different way, by technology. Practically every one of them will be banging away on their mobile or ipad or whatever pad, oblivious of everything around them. They are busy, very busy, either messaging or playing worthless games of colour balls running down the screens. This is a generation of drones and droids who are glued to their little gadgets and do not care a thing about what is happening. You can sell them away standing or sitting in the trains or buses without them knowing.
Don’t the young have better things to do than to play with their mobile and ipads? Do they think about what is going to happen to them in the near future, their lives and their country? These are the lambs that live in a silent and meaningless world of their own, without a care.
The parents were furious, the public were furious. The girls were silent. The MOE has yet to make a statement on this. Would the Cancer Society that organized this event make a statement in defend of the girls? Or would this matter be stone walled, silence is better than saying the wrong thing? The three brave girls are facing the music in silence. Instead of being good role models, they are now seen as bad, disobedient and doing the wrong thing.
Some may think that this topic, Silencing of the lamb, is related to Leslie Chew. No, actually the silencing of the lamb is not even about the silencing of the girls. It is just coincidental that the case of the girls being silenced happened over the last couple of days.
There is a bigger silencing event going on nationwide. Ever been in the train or buses and notice the silence except when some loud mouth foreigners are around and screaming away? Our young are being silenced in a different way, by technology. Practically every one of them will be banging away on their mobile or ipad or whatever pad, oblivious of everything around them. They are busy, very busy, either messaging or playing worthless games of colour balls running down the screens. This is a generation of drones and droids who are glued to their little gadgets and do not care a thing about what is happening. You can sell them away standing or sitting in the trains or buses without them knowing.
Don’t the young have better things to do than to play with their mobile and ipads? Do they think about what is going to happen to them in the near future, their lives and their country? These are the lambs that live in a silent and meaningless world of their own, without a care.
We are so rich yet so miserable
Singapore is one of the richest countries in the world, or maybe the
richest on a per capita basis using the reserves divided by the
population of citizens. With this kind of money at the govt’s disposal,
why is it that the people are getting more and more unhappy and upset
with the govt? Shouldn’t the govt dish out some from the public coffers
to make the people happier and less miserable? Or the govt could do it
another way, by not squeezing more from the people through public
housing, medical bills in public hospitals or through subsidizing public
transportation and education?
Let me give two simplistic views on why the govt is not doing the obvious and get elected and get more popular votes in every election without having to stage rallies to convince the people how good it is. One possibility that is being rumoured, I hear drums beating, is that there is not enough money left as the losses in investments could not cover for the debt owing to the people in the CPF savings scheme. I say this is rumour and without any truth whatsoever as no one knows other than those in the know how much is left. The simple thinking is that if the govt has the money, there is no need to keep shifting the goal posts on withdrawal dates for taking out the CPF savings by the people or increasing the minimum sums to ever higher sums. Ok, no need to belabour this point as it is just an imagination of the people.
Another possible reason, this is just a personal view and is just as flawed as any rumour or misinformation, is that the govt is made up of sadistic people who enjoyed making the people miserable, especially Singaporeans. The billions or trillions in the reserves are there but the govt just refuses to let the people have them to have an easier time. The people must be strangled financially by a big 30 year housing loan to keep them in check and cannot be funny. The money in their CPF accounts must be kept away from them so that they cannot have fun with mei meis or toy boys. The govt just does not want to let the people have a good time.
OK, this is just a theory that the govt is made up of wicked people. Of course this is not true. They are the most compassionate, caring, selfless, righteous, honest and honourable people the country could ever produce. There is no reason for them to keep the money from the people. And the money is there, and they are not taking it to enrich themselves. The money is to be kept there for a rainy day in the future, when the rain comes. Maybe they are waiting for purple rain.
Seriously, why is the govt doing this to the people, making the people so angry and unhappy, and risking themselves being booted out in the next GE? Why don’t they take the easy way out, share the nation’s prosperity with the people to make the people live easier and more comfortable, cheaper public housing, free public transportation, cheaper health care, and still can charge foreigners to make up for the deficit? Why make foreigners richer and happier and citizens more miserable?
I really cannot understand. The govt cannot be so stupid right? What is the real reason for the govt to make life so difficult for the people and keep trying to make it worse by stubbornly trying to flood the island with more foreigners to replace the citizens, with higher and higher property prices and cost of living? Maybe this is the absolute proof that the citizens are daft and could not understand why the govt is doing this to them, for their own good. Only super talents can understand the goodness of all these tough and painful policies and decisions made by the govt.
Let me give two simplistic views on why the govt is not doing the obvious and get elected and get more popular votes in every election without having to stage rallies to convince the people how good it is. One possibility that is being rumoured, I hear drums beating, is that there is not enough money left as the losses in investments could not cover for the debt owing to the people in the CPF savings scheme. I say this is rumour and without any truth whatsoever as no one knows other than those in the know how much is left. The simple thinking is that if the govt has the money, there is no need to keep shifting the goal posts on withdrawal dates for taking out the CPF savings by the people or increasing the minimum sums to ever higher sums. Ok, no need to belabour this point as it is just an imagination of the people.
Another possible reason, this is just a personal view and is just as flawed as any rumour or misinformation, is that the govt is made up of sadistic people who enjoyed making the people miserable, especially Singaporeans. The billions or trillions in the reserves are there but the govt just refuses to let the people have them to have an easier time. The people must be strangled financially by a big 30 year housing loan to keep them in check and cannot be funny. The money in their CPF accounts must be kept away from them so that they cannot have fun with mei meis or toy boys. The govt just does not want to let the people have a good time.
OK, this is just a theory that the govt is made up of wicked people. Of course this is not true. They are the most compassionate, caring, selfless, righteous, honest and honourable people the country could ever produce. There is no reason for them to keep the money from the people. And the money is there, and they are not taking it to enrich themselves. The money is to be kept there for a rainy day in the future, when the rain comes. Maybe they are waiting for purple rain.
Seriously, why is the govt doing this to the people, making the people so angry and unhappy, and risking themselves being booted out in the next GE? Why don’t they take the easy way out, share the nation’s prosperity with the people to make the people live easier and more comfortable, cheaper public housing, free public transportation, cheaper health care, and still can charge foreigners to make up for the deficit? Why make foreigners richer and happier and citizens more miserable?
I really cannot understand. The govt cannot be so stupid right? What is the real reason for the govt to make life so difficult for the people and keep trying to make it worse by stubbornly trying to flood the island with more foreigners to replace the citizens, with higher and higher property prices and cost of living? Maybe this is the absolute proof that the citizens are daft and could not understand why the govt is doing this to them, for their own good. Only super talents can understand the goodness of all these tough and painful policies and decisions made by the govt.
8/06/2013
A German's view on Islam
 | | |||
Interesting this as the person who sent it to me emigrated as a 13 year old from Germany to Australia. Liz
A Germans View on Islam
This is by far the best explanation of the Muslim terrorist situation I have ever read.
The author's references to past history are accurate and clear. It's not a lengthy read, it's easy to understand, and it's well worth the read.
The author of this email is Dr.Emanuel Tanya, a well-known and well-respected psychiatrist.
A man, whose family was German aristocracy prior to World War II, owned a number of large industries and estates.
When he was asked how many German people were true Nazis, the answer he gave can guide our attitude toward fanaticism.
'Very few people were true Nazis,' he said, 'but many enjoyed the return of German pride, and many more were too busy to care.
I was one of those who just thought the Nazis were a bunch of fools. So, the majority just sat back and let it all happen. Then, before we knew it, they owned us, and we had lost control, and the end of the world had come.
This is by far the best explanation of the Muslim terrorist situation I have ever read.
The author's references to past history are accurate and clear. It's not a lengthy read, it's easy to understand, and it's well worth the read.
The author of this email is Dr.Emanuel Tanya, a well-known and well-respected psychiatrist.
A man, whose family was German aristocracy prior to World War II, owned a number of large industries and estates.
When he was asked how many German people were true Nazis, the answer he gave can guide our attitude toward fanaticism.
'Very few people were true Nazis,' he said, 'but many enjoyed the return of German pride, and many more were too busy to care.
I was one of those who just thought the Nazis were a bunch of fools. So, the majority just sat back and let it all happen. Then, before we knew it, they owned us, and we had lost control, and the end of the world had come.
My family lost everything. I ended up in a concentration camp and the Allies destroyed my factories.'
We are told again and again by 'experts' and 'talking heads' that Islam is the religion of peace and that the vast majority of Muslims just want to live in peace.
Although this unqualified assertion may be true, it is entirely irrelevant. It is meaningless fluff, meant to make us feel better, and meant to somehow diminish the spectre of fanatics rampaging across the globe in the name of Islam.
The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history.
It is the fanatics who march.
It is the fanatics who wage any one of 50 shooting wars worldwide.
It is the fanatics who systematically slaughte! r Christian or tribal groups throughout Africa and are gradually taking over the entire continent in an Islamic wave.
It is the fanatics who bomb, behead, murder, or honour-kill. It is the fanatics who take over mosque after mosque.
It is the fanatics who zealously spread the stoning and hanging of rape victims and homosexuals.
It is the fanatics who teach their young to kill and to become suicide bombers.
The hard, quantifiable fact is that the peaceful majority, the 'silent majority,' is cowed and extraneous.
Communist Russia was comprised of Russians who just wanted to live in peace, yet the Russian Communists were responsible for the murder of about 20 million people. The peaceful majority were irrelevant.
The average Japanese individual prior to World War II was not a warmongering sadist. Yet, Japan murdered and s! laughtered its way across South East Asia in an orgy of killin! g that i ncluded the systematic murder of 12 million Chinese civilians; most killed by sword, shovel, and bayonet.
And
who can forget Rwanda, which collapsed into butchery. Could it not be
said that the majority of Rwandans were 'peace loving'?
History lessons are often incredibly simple and blunt, yet for all our powers of reason, we often miss the most basic and uncomplicated of points:
Peace-loving Muslims have been made irrelevant by their silence.
Peace-loving Muslims will become our enemy if they don't speak up, because like my friend from Germany, they will awaken one day and find that the fanatics own them, and the end of their world will have begun.
Peace-loving Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians, Rwandans, Serbs, Afghans, Iraqis, Palestinians, Somalis, Nigerians, Algerians, and many others have died because the peaceful majority did not speak up until it was too late.
Now Islamic prayers have been introduced into Toronto and other public! schools in Ontario, and, yes, in Ottawa too while the Lord's Prayer was removed (due to being so offensive?) The Islamic way may be peaceful for the time being in our country until the fanatics move in.
In Australia, and indeed in many countries around the world, many of the most commonly consumed food items have the halal emblem on them.
Just look at the back of some of the most popular chocolate bars, and at other food items in your local supermarket.
Food on aircraft have the halal emblem, just to appease the privileged minority who are now rapidly expanding within the nation’s shores.
In the U.K, the Muslim communities refuse to integrate and there are now dozens of “no-go” zones within major cities across the country that the police force dare not intrude upon.
Sharia law prevails there, because the Muslim community in those areas refuse to acknowledge British law.
As for us who watch it all unfold, we must pay attention to th! e only group that counts - the fanatics who threaten our way o! f life.
Lastly, anyone who doubts that the issue is serious and just deletes this email without sending it on, is contributing to the passiveness that allows the problems to expand.
History lessons are often incredibly simple and blunt, yet for all our powers of reason, we often miss the most basic and uncomplicated of points:
Peace-loving Muslims have been made irrelevant by their silence.
Peace-loving Muslims will become our enemy if they don't speak up, because like my friend from Germany, they will awaken one day and find that the fanatics own them, and the end of their world will have begun.
Peace-loving Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians, Rwandans, Serbs, Afghans, Iraqis, Palestinians, Somalis, Nigerians, Algerians, and many others have died because the peaceful majority did not speak up until it was too late.
Now Islamic prayers have been introduced into Toronto and other public! schools in Ontario, and, yes, in Ottawa too while the Lord's Prayer was removed (due to being so offensive?) The Islamic way may be peaceful for the time being in our country until the fanatics move in.
In Australia, and indeed in many countries around the world, many of the most commonly consumed food items have the halal emblem on them.
Just look at the back of some of the most popular chocolate bars, and at other food items in your local supermarket.
Food on aircraft have the halal emblem, just to appease the privileged minority who are now rapidly expanding within the nation’s shores.
In the U.K, the Muslim communities refuse to integrate and there are now dozens of “no-go” zones within major cities across the country that the police force dare not intrude upon.
Sharia law prevails there, because the Muslim community in those areas refuse to acknowledge British law.
As for us who watch it all unfold, we must pay attention to th! e only group that counts - the fanatics who threaten our way o! f life.
Lastly, anyone who doubts that the issue is serious and just deletes this email without sending it on, is contributing to the passiveness that allows the problems to expand.
So, extend yourself a bit and send this on and on and on! Let us hope that thousands, world-wide, read this and think about it, and they also continue to send it on - before it's too late. And we are silent......
Tharman’s call on repaying the debt to the pioneering generations
Be grateful, all the successful million dollar salary employees in govt
service or in the private sector, the politicians included. What you are
enjoying today is made possible by the hard work and labour of the
pioneering generations who planted the seed to grow this tree. They paid
the price without enjoying much of their labour. Many lived a life of
poverty and died alone with little material comfort.
It is time for the successful to repay this debt to the pioneers of this modern and prosperous city. There are many things the Govt can do to acknowledge the contributions of the pioneers who were poorly paid and worked in very harsh conditions to make what is possible today. Their woes were not much different form the foreign workers today. But they were the foundations, the steps, the stones that we trampled on to scale greater heights.
For some of the pioneers, the little savings they have are fast eroding and wiped away by the high inflation and high cost of living. And with the longer lifespan, many will be in serious financial troubles before they call it a day. Many were also victims of the early retirement policies that took them out of the economic equation too early when they could continue to work to pay for another 30 or 40 years of existence. The situation will only get worse if the Govt does not give a helping hand.
Below are some of the things that our millionaire politicians and the huge reserves created from the pioneers can do.
1. Govt should come out with a comprehensive medicare insurance with the govt footing the premiums.
2. Seniors should enjoy free outpatient care in polyclinics
3. Senior ex NS men should be given a pension to compensate for the miserable $90 NS allowance they received in those pioneering days. The womenfolk should not be forgotten.
4. The older PMETs are also from the pioneering generations. All Singaporean PMETs qualified in their respective fields and professions should be given first priority to be employed unless their health fails them. The govt should implement this policy immediately in the ministries, stats boards and GLCs. The private sector may be difficult and undesirable to do so. Foreigners in the ministries, stats boards and GLCs should be released as early as possible and be replaced by citizens unless their skills are indispensable.
5. All NS men must be eligible to buy a HDB flat and not be disqualified by any stupid rulings. It is a stake for them to defend and make their sacrifices meaningful and not empty.
It is good that Tharman and the Govt is toying with this idea, to acknowledge the contributions of the pioneering generations. There is no need to pay more millions to those pioneers already having money oozing out from all their orifices.
Be grateful and thankful.
It is time for the successful to repay this debt to the pioneers of this modern and prosperous city. There are many things the Govt can do to acknowledge the contributions of the pioneers who were poorly paid and worked in very harsh conditions to make what is possible today. Their woes were not much different form the foreign workers today. But they were the foundations, the steps, the stones that we trampled on to scale greater heights.
For some of the pioneers, the little savings they have are fast eroding and wiped away by the high inflation and high cost of living. And with the longer lifespan, many will be in serious financial troubles before they call it a day. Many were also victims of the early retirement policies that took them out of the economic equation too early when they could continue to work to pay for another 30 or 40 years of existence. The situation will only get worse if the Govt does not give a helping hand.
Below are some of the things that our millionaire politicians and the huge reserves created from the pioneers can do.
1. Govt should come out with a comprehensive medicare insurance with the govt footing the premiums.
2. Seniors should enjoy free outpatient care in polyclinics
3. Senior ex NS men should be given a pension to compensate for the miserable $90 NS allowance they received in those pioneering days. The womenfolk should not be forgotten.
4. The older PMETs are also from the pioneering generations. All Singaporean PMETs qualified in their respective fields and professions should be given first priority to be employed unless their health fails them. The govt should implement this policy immediately in the ministries, stats boards and GLCs. The private sector may be difficult and undesirable to do so. Foreigners in the ministries, stats boards and GLCs should be released as early as possible and be replaced by citizens unless their skills are indispensable.
5. All NS men must be eligible to buy a HDB flat and not be disqualified by any stupid rulings. It is a stake for them to defend and make their sacrifices meaningful and not empty.
It is good that Tharman and the Govt is toying with this idea, to acknowledge the contributions of the pioneering generations. There is no need to pay more millions to those pioneers already having money oozing out from all their orifices.
Be grateful and thankful.
The DRUMS of War
Many bloggers are still very uncomfortable with Eng Hen’s comment on the
internet and the acronym DRUMS, meaning Distortions, Rumours, Untruths,
Misinformation and Smears, that can spread far and wide in the
internet. As this came closely after the new licensing laws on websites,
it is natural for bloggers to feel that both are inter related and a
concerted effort by the Govt to curb internet freedom. Some fear that
this is like the Govt declaring war on bloggers and netizens.
One underlying assumption is that DRUMS could be spread in the internet to undermine the Govt, or aiming at discrediting the Govt, or be simply anti Govt. Another assumption is that this would be the works of Sinkies to a great extent. The other more dangerous and expected part is that DRUMS could come from external sources which would be more direct in many cases, or in disguise and subtle as the works of the Sinkies.
Paranoia is raising its head in some quarters. No doubt the internet has been pretty critical of the Govt in many issues recently. Without the internet, such issues would not have been blown up and many would either die a natural death through a wall of silence, or be simply dissipated over time. The internet is making a presence that makes governing that much more difficult than before. Every little hiccup or flaw in govt decisions or policies will be pasted on the internet wall, truth or untruth, half truth or exaggeration, for all to see.
This development has made the Govt feeling very uneasy and very uncomfortable. They are unable to adapt or get use to being in the spotlight for all the wrong things. Things will be so much nicer and running the city so much easier without the irritating noises coming from the internet.
With this kind of mindset, that the internet is NG or up to no good, and DRUMS could be the latest label of threats to the people and country and any perpetrator of DRUMS is likely to face the music. The internet has in a way been seen as a trouble maker, an enemy of the state, on the other side of the fence unlike the main media. They are more likely to create mischief and chaos that will undermine the Govt.
Is that true? Admittedly there have been many unhappy and disgruntled views, very critical and some even hostile to the Govt, posted in the internet. If one is to step back and ask a simple question, why are such views posted and what are the intent of the authors, one cannot miss the fact that they are genuine feedbacks to the Govt and demanding attention. They are not advocating rioting or an uprising to overthrow the Govt. Look at them positively, they are saying that the Govt can and still have time to tackle the issues and problems raised. They are not enemies of the Govt but concerned citizens, or citizens who are badly affected by bad policies.
Would the Govt embrace them, take the angry comments seriously and work on it? Or would the Govt simply ignore and dismiss them as nothing worth listening to, that they are voices of the enemies? Taking the first stand could lead to a narrowing of the differences and making policies more acceptable to the people. Taking the latter stand would only divide the people further from the Govt.
In a crisis situation, or when the country faces a common threat, it is likely that many critics would rally around the Govt as one people one nation, to deal with the crisis. But if the Govt is to take the critics as enemies from first base, then they will be enemies, real or imagined, or even fabricated or concocted.
Many netizens are concerned and responsible citizens. Period. Do not regard them as enemies of the Govt. The people who spoke out, who spent efforts to tell the Govt that things are wrong, or things are going wrong, are people who care for this country and its citizens. They are the real patriots, the unappreciated friends of the Govt but wrongly perceived as threats by the narrow minded and the unenlightened.
The sound of the DRUMS can be music but can also be noise depending on who is the drummer and who is the listener. No more branding or tagging please.
One underlying assumption is that DRUMS could be spread in the internet to undermine the Govt, or aiming at discrediting the Govt, or be simply anti Govt. Another assumption is that this would be the works of Sinkies to a great extent. The other more dangerous and expected part is that DRUMS could come from external sources which would be more direct in many cases, or in disguise and subtle as the works of the Sinkies.
Paranoia is raising its head in some quarters. No doubt the internet has been pretty critical of the Govt in many issues recently. Without the internet, such issues would not have been blown up and many would either die a natural death through a wall of silence, or be simply dissipated over time. The internet is making a presence that makes governing that much more difficult than before. Every little hiccup or flaw in govt decisions or policies will be pasted on the internet wall, truth or untruth, half truth or exaggeration, for all to see.
This development has made the Govt feeling very uneasy and very uncomfortable. They are unable to adapt or get use to being in the spotlight for all the wrong things. Things will be so much nicer and running the city so much easier without the irritating noises coming from the internet.
With this kind of mindset, that the internet is NG or up to no good, and DRUMS could be the latest label of threats to the people and country and any perpetrator of DRUMS is likely to face the music. The internet has in a way been seen as a trouble maker, an enemy of the state, on the other side of the fence unlike the main media. They are more likely to create mischief and chaos that will undermine the Govt.
Is that true? Admittedly there have been many unhappy and disgruntled views, very critical and some even hostile to the Govt, posted in the internet. If one is to step back and ask a simple question, why are such views posted and what are the intent of the authors, one cannot miss the fact that they are genuine feedbacks to the Govt and demanding attention. They are not advocating rioting or an uprising to overthrow the Govt. Look at them positively, they are saying that the Govt can and still have time to tackle the issues and problems raised. They are not enemies of the Govt but concerned citizens, or citizens who are badly affected by bad policies.
Would the Govt embrace them, take the angry comments seriously and work on it? Or would the Govt simply ignore and dismiss them as nothing worth listening to, that they are voices of the enemies? Taking the first stand could lead to a narrowing of the differences and making policies more acceptable to the people. Taking the latter stand would only divide the people further from the Govt.
In a crisis situation, or when the country faces a common threat, it is likely that many critics would rally around the Govt as one people one nation, to deal with the crisis. But if the Govt is to take the critics as enemies from first base, then they will be enemies, real or imagined, or even fabricated or concocted.
Many netizens are concerned and responsible citizens. Period. Do not regard them as enemies of the Govt. The people who spoke out, who spent efforts to tell the Govt that things are wrong, or things are going wrong, are people who care for this country and its citizens. They are the real patriots, the unappreciated friends of the Govt but wrongly perceived as threats by the narrow minded and the unenlightened.
The sound of the DRUMS can be music but can also be noise depending on who is the drummer and who is the listener. No more branding or tagging please.
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