Shimun Lai, a 19-year-old at Nanyang Polytechnic, posted a racially insensitive comment about smell and race that has gone viral. This kind of insensitive remarks will be repeated by the less sensitive and will irk those being targeted. People get offended by all kinds of things, some genuine, some imagery, some real, some unreal, some unjustified.
One aspect of Shimun Lai’s complaint is genuine and can be minimized, that is bad body odour, or unclean body. This problem is not race biased but affects all races, local and foreigners. All human beans have body odour and it smells badly if not wash properly. Then there are some with bad personal hygiene and do not take bath regularly. Some tend to sweat profusely and smell foul. Some have bad personal habits that produce very unpleasant bad odour.
And in the close proximity of trains and buses, even inside working areas or offices, really bad smell is a problem. And the person with the smell may not know it when people start to avoid them and stay away from them. The polite ones affected by the smell will endure quietly or walk away. The less intolerant will show their displeasure and may even tell the person off.
This little irritating problem calls for a public campaign to educate everyone to adopt simple personal hygiene routines to keep themselves clean and be less offensive to those around them. It may be a bit too much to ask for from manual workers as their work demands will make them dirty and smelly very quickly. And you have the foreigners with their own standard of personal hygiene and habits which they are used to without knowing that they smell and irritate and even offend those around them. We don’t have to live with their dirty smell.
For friendly co existence and acceptance, the offenders should be educated or briefed to keep themselves clean. It is not too demanding a request or expectation. It is actually very rude to walk around smelling and forcing it on others. In the train and buses, it can be unbearable. It is rude and offensive. The ministry should do its part to reduce this social stigma. What is the point of nice clean buses, beautiful restaurants and theatres, when the person next door did not bother to clean himself or herself. And I say this again, it is not a racial thing but affects everyone. Anyone who does not keep himself or herself clean will smell and will be unwelcomed.
Let’s do something to prevent this social problem from becoming an irritating issue. Everyone can spread the word around to their friends, and friends to their friends politely. It does not cost much to wash and bath and be clean. This is a first world country and first world habits, culture and social graces must be the norm. We should not go backward to accept and accommodate third world social habits by lowering down our standard of simple hygiene. We have allowed spitting and littering to return to our midst. It is a sorry state of affair.
Why do you think politicians irked when shaking hands with people? It is not fair to blame the politicians. Why should a pair of clean hands be dirtied by a pair of soiled hands? The politician is not impolite to want to wash the soil hands quickly. It is the other party that is rude and offensive.
3/27/2012
Spirit and intent equal nobility
24.(2A) In respect of any group representation constituency, no writ shall be issued under subsection (1) for an election to fill any vacancy unless all the Members for that constituency have vacated their seats in Parliament.
Uncle Yap posted in his blog on the legal provisions in our Constitution about holding of by election. The specific article of interest is posted above. I can understand why he is so furious with the provision. I too do not feel comfortable with it. And I believe every layman would be staring at it very hard, and very skeptical as to why the law is such. The immediate reaction is negative for sure. And no one can blame the lay people for their thoughts and reactions.
How can? What if kena langgar and 5 out of 6 or 4 out of 5 mati how? Superficially it would seem that a single MP would not be able to do justice to represent a whole GRC which by law is provided with 5 or 6 MPs to do the job. But the law is not something that is suka suka written by the unthinking lay people. The law is drafted carefully by very learned people and passed by very talented people in Parliament with good intention and the spirit of serving the people and country. It is meant to be good. The basic nature of the law is good. The law and the reason behind the law must be noble and with good intention. So how can this be seen so negatively?
I sat down and went into quiet contemplation and after several hours I was enlightened by the wisdom and beauty of the law. Now I understand why the lay people are called lay people, because they don’t have the wisdom and intellect to see beyond the tip of their nose. This law is very cleverly crafted to serve the interest of the people and not the leaders as some may think so. All the apprehension of flaws in this law is unfounded. If not, the talented and noble law makers would not have passed it.
Let me explain. The thinking behind this law is very far sighted and practical and has taken into consideration all the reservations and contingencies like 5 die and only one left to run the show. The first practical consideration is that you don’t suka suka hold by elections because someone got sack for a little indiscretion or someone wants to replace another one. Holding a by election is a very serious matter and involves a lot of people, logistics and money. So, unless very necessary like all the MP dies, one left standing should be good enough. Further, he can call on the support of other grassroot leaders to help out. So the people would not be deprived of being served by MPs. And not to forget, the MPs of today are so talented and full of energy that running around a GRC to serve the people on an OMO basis is a piece of cake. They don’t mind the sacrifice. And they are damn good at multi tasking.
But the truth is that it is unlikely that 4 out of 5 or 5 out of 6 MPs can kena langgar all at one time. The probability is so low that there is no need to worry about it. The reason and wisdom of the law maker cannot be doubted on this. For it to happen is more difficult than striking toto, or maybe once in 50 years. No, make it once in 500 years.
The people need not be unduly concerned about the law. It is very well thought out and the spirit and intent are definitely good and noble. You can have faith and confidence in the law makers for doing the right thing. If you don’t agree with my interpretation, please find a quiet corner to do some deep contemplation and you will see light at the end of the tunnel, and believe me. The law is as good as it can be.
Uncle Yap posted in his blog on the legal provisions in our Constitution about holding of by election. The specific article of interest is posted above. I can understand why he is so furious with the provision. I too do not feel comfortable with it. And I believe every layman would be staring at it very hard, and very skeptical as to why the law is such. The immediate reaction is negative for sure. And no one can blame the lay people for their thoughts and reactions.
How can? What if kena langgar and 5 out of 6 or 4 out of 5 mati how? Superficially it would seem that a single MP would not be able to do justice to represent a whole GRC which by law is provided with 5 or 6 MPs to do the job. But the law is not something that is suka suka written by the unthinking lay people. The law is drafted carefully by very learned people and passed by very talented people in Parliament with good intention and the spirit of serving the people and country. It is meant to be good. The basic nature of the law is good. The law and the reason behind the law must be noble and with good intention. So how can this be seen so negatively?
I sat down and went into quiet contemplation and after several hours I was enlightened by the wisdom and beauty of the law. Now I understand why the lay people are called lay people, because they don’t have the wisdom and intellect to see beyond the tip of their nose. This law is very cleverly crafted to serve the interest of the people and not the leaders as some may think so. All the apprehension of flaws in this law is unfounded. If not, the talented and noble law makers would not have passed it.
Let me explain. The thinking behind this law is very far sighted and practical and has taken into consideration all the reservations and contingencies like 5 die and only one left to run the show. The first practical consideration is that you don’t suka suka hold by elections because someone got sack for a little indiscretion or someone wants to replace another one. Holding a by election is a very serious matter and involves a lot of people, logistics and money. So, unless very necessary like all the MP dies, one left standing should be good enough. Further, he can call on the support of other grassroot leaders to help out. So the people would not be deprived of being served by MPs. And not to forget, the MPs of today are so talented and full of energy that running around a GRC to serve the people on an OMO basis is a piece of cake. They don’t mind the sacrifice. And they are damn good at multi tasking.
But the truth is that it is unlikely that 4 out of 5 or 5 out of 6 MPs can kena langgar all at one time. The probability is so low that there is no need to worry about it. The reason and wisdom of the law maker cannot be doubted on this. For it to happen is more difficult than striking toto, or maybe once in 50 years. No, make it once in 500 years.
The people need not be unduly concerned about the law. It is very well thought out and the spirit and intent are definitely good and noble. You can have faith and confidence in the law makers for doing the right thing. If you don’t agree with my interpretation, please find a quiet corner to do some deep contemplation and you will see light at the end of the tunnel, and believe me. The law is as good as it can be.
3/26/2012
Theme 2012: Honouring the Heroes, Resisters and Survivors
"They will remember that we were sold, but not that we were strong. They will remember that we were bought, but not that we were brave."
William Prescott, former slave
The tragic transatlantic slave trade, which marked one of the darkest chapters in human history, lasted for 400 years, despite a spirited resistance by the millions of enslaved peoples.
The transatlantic slave trade, often known as the triangular trade, connected the economies of three continents. It is estimated that between 15 to 20 million people, men, women and children, were deported from their homes and sold as slaves in the different slave trading systems….
The UN remembers the slaves of africa with the above carefully crafted statement. It was so well crafted that you do not know who were the slaves and who were the slave traders and owners. The statement is so decently worded that no one is offended except the descendants of slaves and the slaves.
But they are still killing niggers. They don’t lynch them anymore. They just shoot them when they go to the convenience store to buy sweets. Trayvon Martin, an African American teenager, was shot by a white man much bigger than him claiming self defense. Zimmerman is 28 and armed, and claimed self defense against an unarmed 17 year boy. The reason for his shooting the boy was simply because he was suspicious and... The boy weighed 140 lb and his killer weighed 250 lb.
Was there any evidence or signs of crime, or of Trayvon attempting to attack Zimmerman? The policemen found no evidence to arrest Zimmerman. The blacks in Florida rose to demand the arrest of Zimmerman. Who is this Zimmerman? His records, arrested for battery and violence against an officer, domestic violence and given license to carry arms. The boy was in high school, no criminal record, an ‘A or B student’ majoring in cheerfulness.
Now the boy is dead and the killer walked free. And we are remembering slavery in America with black slaves and black lynching that ended less than a century ago.
William Prescott, former slave
The tragic transatlantic slave trade, which marked one of the darkest chapters in human history, lasted for 400 years, despite a spirited resistance by the millions of enslaved peoples.
The transatlantic slave trade, often known as the triangular trade, connected the economies of three continents. It is estimated that between 15 to 20 million people, men, women and children, were deported from their homes and sold as slaves in the different slave trading systems….
The UN remembers the slaves of africa with the above carefully crafted statement. It was so well crafted that you do not know who were the slaves and who were the slave traders and owners. The statement is so decently worded that no one is offended except the descendants of slaves and the slaves.
But they are still killing niggers. They don’t lynch them anymore. They just shoot them when they go to the convenience store to buy sweets. Trayvon Martin, an African American teenager, was shot by a white man much bigger than him claiming self defense. Zimmerman is 28 and armed, and claimed self defense against an unarmed 17 year boy. The reason for his shooting the boy was simply because he was suspicious and... The boy weighed 140 lb and his killer weighed 250 lb.
Was there any evidence or signs of crime, or of Trayvon attempting to attack Zimmerman? The policemen found no evidence to arrest Zimmerman. The blacks in Florida rose to demand the arrest of Zimmerman. Who is this Zimmerman? His records, arrested for battery and violence against an officer, domestic violence and given license to carry arms. The boy was in high school, no criminal record, an ‘A or B student’ majoring in cheerfulness.
Now the boy is dead and the killer walked free. And we are remembering slavery in America with black slaves and black lynching that ended less than a century ago.
Obama to China: Rein in N. Korea
The title should be changed to ‘China to the world: Rein in the US’. An article by AFP, AP and REUTERS in the ST today reported that ‘…Obama yesterday urged China to use its influence to stop North Korea’s “bad behaviour” in a nuclear stand off with the West…if the reclusive state goes ahead with a rocket launch next month.’
Where is the nuclear stand off? A rocket launch of a satellite is not launching a nuclear missile to the US. The Americans are distorting the whole picture to deceive the world of a nuclear threat when the real nuclear threat is the US. The US, with its nuclear arsenal and capability, is threatening to nuke anyone at will or attack any country at will. And the sick joke is that it is warning other countries that North Korea is a threat when it is just going to launch its satellite in space.
The next thing the US would want the world to believe is that the North Koreans are poisoning the air by farting and must be stopped from farting and shitting. The shitting and farting are disguises of chemical warfare that the North Koreans are testing.
‘They need to understand that bad behaviour will not be rewarded.” This is what Obama said. Shouldn’t Obama look at the mirror? The bad behaviour is the US, regime change and interference with other countries domestic politics. In this case it is using this as an excuse to prevent the North Koreans from developing its rocket and satellite industry. What a big bully, trying to suppress other country’s progress.
The big bad wolf is the US, not the North Koreans. And stop all the provocative war games at the North Korean borders. It is in secret negotiation with Israel on a preemptive strike on Iran. Keep doing the good work and point the fingers at other countries as bad.
Where is the nuclear stand off? A rocket launch of a satellite is not launching a nuclear missile to the US. The Americans are distorting the whole picture to deceive the world of a nuclear threat when the real nuclear threat is the US. The US, with its nuclear arsenal and capability, is threatening to nuke anyone at will or attack any country at will. And the sick joke is that it is warning other countries that North Korea is a threat when it is just going to launch its satellite in space.
The next thing the US would want the world to believe is that the North Koreans are poisoning the air by farting and must be stopped from farting and shitting. The shitting and farting are disguises of chemical warfare that the North Koreans are testing.
‘They need to understand that bad behaviour will not be rewarded.” This is what Obama said. Shouldn’t Obama look at the mirror? The bad behaviour is the US, regime change and interference with other countries domestic politics. In this case it is using this as an excuse to prevent the North Koreans from developing its rocket and satellite industry. What a big bully, trying to suppress other country’s progress.
The big bad wolf is the US, not the North Koreans. And stop all the provocative war games at the North Korean borders. It is in secret negotiation with Israel on a preemptive strike on Iran. Keep doing the good work and point the fingers at other countries as bad.
First step in taking back the country
The fight to retake Singapore for Singaporeans has been a long and arduous task and appearing to be a fight in vain. Many were resigned to the fate that they will lose their grip on their country and foreigners will replace them in every field. And the foreigners have been on the upper hand with the govt on its knees begging them to come, and laying the red carpet to welcome them. And the demands by the foreigners grew louder, some even telling the Singaporeans to move out of their country if they are not happy. They are the talents to help the daft Sinkies, to bring prosperity to the island. And they threaten to leave if they were not granted privileges like the citizens.
Today’s ST front page headline reads, ‘Singaporeans first in new P1 registration rule’. Some reported that it was a generosity of the govt, to accord the citizens this privilege. Would you believe that they think it this way? This is the basic right and privilege of all citizens and should not be questioned or downgraded. It was given away and the returning of this privilege is nothing to crow about.
What is significant is that the enemy is on the retreat. The enemy has given up a small hill. Singaporeans must keep on pushing to reclaim their country and all the rights that are rightfully theirs. No one, no political party, must think that they can put Singaporeans as second class in their own country. Anyone, or political party that thinks otherwise should not be elected to undermine the interest of Singaporeans.
There is no need to say thank you. It is like giving you a few dollars as handouts and keeping tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in your CPF savings and expecting the people to be grateful. When you can have your savings at your disposal, not necessary that you would throw it away, you don’t need handouts and crumbs. And you can really feel richer.
When as citizens, you are the real owners and masters of this land of yours, then only can the people live more confidently and be proud of their country and citizenship. This is our country, this is our home.
PS. If more citizenships are thrown at the foreigners liberally, it will be LPPL.
Today’s ST front page headline reads, ‘Singaporeans first in new P1 registration rule’. Some reported that it was a generosity of the govt, to accord the citizens this privilege. Would you believe that they think it this way? This is the basic right and privilege of all citizens and should not be questioned or downgraded. It was given away and the returning of this privilege is nothing to crow about.
What is significant is that the enemy is on the retreat. The enemy has given up a small hill. Singaporeans must keep on pushing to reclaim their country and all the rights that are rightfully theirs. No one, no political party, must think that they can put Singaporeans as second class in their own country. Anyone, or political party that thinks otherwise should not be elected to undermine the interest of Singaporeans.
There is no need to say thank you. It is like giving you a few dollars as handouts and keeping tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in your CPF savings and expecting the people to be grateful. When you can have your savings at your disposal, not necessary that you would throw it away, you don’t need handouts and crumbs. And you can really feel richer.
When as citizens, you are the real owners and masters of this land of yours, then only can the people live more confidently and be proud of their country and citizenship. This is our country, this is our home.
PS. If more citizenships are thrown at the foreigners liberally, it will be LPPL.
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