Monday, September 15, 2008

Besides Hong Lim Park

Other ways to find a life companion, for yourself or for your children .....






Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Hypocrisy and Selfishness

They claimed they were not against foreigners but in the same breath, what they said showed that they treated foreigners as potential criminals - they would steal our things, molest our daughters. Isn't this hypocrisy?

I think if you say this about other Singaporeans, they can sue you.

We would have to share our buses and other facilities with them; the value of our properties will drop. Isn't this selfishness?

Of course the MPs cannot say their voters are selfish.

But I think the project will still go on because if you don't do it here, then you can't do it in other residential estates as people would also complain.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Bloggers' code of conduct ?

After reading the response in the papers by a group of bloggers to the list of proposals by the Panel formed to look into how to manage the new media, I got these impressions:

1. These bloggers look more like making demands than giving feedbacks.
2. They are only interested in getting what they want and didn’t give much thought to other aspects that are equally important.
3. They display an I-know-better-than-you attitude in contrast to The Panel's humble one.

The bloggers are only interested in the political part as if blogging is only about politics. Other aspect like pornography, they just dismiss it saying there are already laws to deal with it. Laws for pornography but no laws for politics?

There are thousands of pornographic sites or other undesirable sites and they did not give any suggestions how to handle them or at least minimize their impact.

And for the political parts they want no restrictions at all so they can say whatever they like. Bloggers just adhere to a code of conduct will do, they say. Hahaha, just make some simple rules and everybody follows or whether they adhere to the code or not, never mind. So simple!

It makes me think of the saying: Give you an inch you want to take one foot, or give you one cm you want to take 30cm.

I think it is better to take a cautious approach, doing things step by step. It takes years to build something but it can be destroyed in a very
short time.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Rights and Concessions

I was thinking about rights and speakers’ corner.

First, about rights.

People desire a decent life. That means food, housing, affordable health care and opportunities to education and jobs. People can expect these rights from the Government they elected.

In some countries these rights are not met because the politicians are corrupt or the leaders do not govern the country well. People can vote for another government but it is no use if the politicians only care for themselves. The political parties tell untruths and accuse each other of wrongdoings. The people get disillusioned and find that they cannot trust any of them.

In some countries a certain race may get some special rights, but this should not be used to discriminate against other races.

Some people say allowing people to demonstrate is their right. As usual they will mention freedom of speech and expression as if it were some scientific principle that is applicable in all situations without any conditions.

Allowing people to demonstrate is a concession, not a right. It is just one of the ways for people to express their views. But if it jeopardizes the country’s security, for example, it could be banned. That was the reason why it was banned in our Country all these years.

It is all right to give people this concession but it comes with responsibilities. There should be conditions and restrictions for demonstrations too, for example demonstrators should be peaceful and they should not damage properties.

I think this concession will be expanded further in our Country if people make use of it responsibly.

In some countries people abuse this concession given to them:

1. The mass demonstrations in South Korea over the import of beef from US. Enormous resources were wasted. Finally, nothing much changed except there were losses and destructions. Everyone lost.

2. The recent demonstrations in Thailand. The demonstrators want to throw out a government the people have elected. And they are using force and threats. You call this rights and democracy. Does it mean people who don't like any future government can do the same. More like the Thais are going back to ancient times when people could only get rid of a ruler by assassination or by violence.

3. The demonstrations by The Green Camp and The Blue Camp against each other in Taiwan a few years back. They were frivolous and wasting everybody’s time.