Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
The loyal oppositions
What our opposition leaders said about our pledge. They agreed that it is an aspiration we should adhere to, something which is always relevant.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Our Pledge
We, the citizens of Singapore
Pledge ourselves as one united people
Regardless of race, language or religion
To build a democratic society
Based on justice and equality
So as to achieve happiness, prosperity & progress for our nation
Pledge ourselves as one united people
Regardless of race, language or religion
To build a democratic society
Based on justice and equality
So as to achieve happiness, prosperity & progress for our nation
I still remember the pledge. I think many of us do because we have been saying it for years in school. I think it is quite a marvelous piece of work.
It is still as relevant now and in the future as it has been in the past.
Unlike countries with thousands or hundreds of years of history, building a nation in Singapore is never job-done. It is always on-going. We will not reach the perfect stage where everyone is happy and peace and prosperity are assured. So every generation will build upon what we have already achieved and improve on it.
There will always be threats and crises. And with more immigrants settling down here, we need to constantly remind ourselves of the words ‘regardless of race, language and religion’.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Happiness is where your heart is
One significant factor that contributes to your happiness is loving your country. If you dislike your country, think of migrating and see only faults in this and that everyday, how can you really be happy. Hopefully you can go to the country you want and it welcomes you and treats you well.
Loving your country doesn’t mean you like everything and have no complaints. No, you may still complain and find faults in many things. However, you also see the positive side of things you don’t like. You know that in certain things there is no permanent ideal solution.
You still feel the stress in your life and in your job. But you are also grateful for the things that you have and you appreciate the love and help your family members and friends give you.
You may like to have gambling and prostitution banned altogether, but you know it cannot be done and you live with it. You understand that it is not possible for you to like every policy.
The grass looks greener on the other side. But when you go to the other side, you realize that it is the grass in Singapore that is greener. Your home is Singapore.
Loving your country doesn’t mean you like everything and have no complaints. No, you may still complain and find faults in many things. However, you also see the positive side of things you don’t like. You know that in certain things there is no permanent ideal solution.
You still feel the stress in your life and in your job. But you are also grateful for the things that you have and you appreciate the love and help your family members and friends give you.
You may like to have gambling and prostitution banned altogether, but you know it cannot be done and you live with it. You understand that it is not possible for you to like every policy.
The grass looks greener on the other side. But when you go to the other side, you realize that it is the grass in Singapore that is greener. Your home is Singapore.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
A fair outcome
One-quarter of the investors who lost their money investing in the structured products got full compensation and two-thirds got partial compensation. This is better than what I had expected.
Everyone should take responsibility for his own action. We cannot just blame the financial institutions and say the investors themselves are faultless. During those boom time, high returns ranked higher in the investors’ mind than safety and risks. And who would have thought that they would lose all their money.
The investors, even the old and uneducated, should bear some responsibility too. Sorry, if I sounded a bit harsh but I believe this is the truth.
It would be unfair if you compensate everyone or compensate investors equally.
So I would say the case-by-case approach is the right way and the outcome is fair.
Everyone should take responsibility for his own action. We cannot just blame the financial institutions and say the investors themselves are faultless. During those boom time, high returns ranked higher in the investors’ mind than safety and risks. And who would have thought that they would lose all their money.
The investors, even the old and uneducated, should bear some responsibility too. Sorry, if I sounded a bit harsh but I believe this is the truth.
It would be unfair if you compensate everyone or compensate investors equally.
So I would say the case-by-case approach is the right way and the outcome is fair.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Frivolous petition
This is a report in the papers about people signing a petition for Ms Lee Bee Wah to step down as the president of STTA.
Now, if the organizers were there together with say 1% of those who signed online. And they posed for reporters and gave their views on the matter. This would have given their cause a great lift.
Instead the organizers didn’t come. Also none of those who signed online came. The people hired to look after the forms played hide and seek with reporters. Maybe most of these people just want to have their say but are not willing to stand up for what they say. I don’t think people would take them or their petitions seriously.
I think the petition is a frivolous one.
Ms Lee was merely stating the criterion required for a coach to be nominated for the Coach of The Year Award. It didn’t imply that Mr Liu was lacking in these things. Perhaps not enough - say you need a grade A+ to be nominated, but Mr Liu just got an A.
Suppose I were a coach in a company and my boss told me those were the criterion for promotion. If my colleague was promoted but I was not, I wouldn’t say that my boss had questioned my integrity, commitment or professionalism. It meant I had to work harder.
Now, if the organizers were there together with say 1% of those who signed online. And they posed for reporters and gave their views on the matter. This would have given their cause a great lift.
Instead the organizers didn’t come. Also none of those who signed online came. The people hired to look after the forms played hide and seek with reporters. Maybe most of these people just want to have their say but are not willing to stand up for what they say. I don’t think people would take them or their petitions seriously.
I think the petition is a frivolous one.
Ms Lee was merely stating the criterion required for a coach to be nominated for the Coach of The Year Award. It didn’t imply that Mr Liu was lacking in these things. Perhaps not enough - say you need a grade A+ to be nominated, but Mr Liu just got an A.
Suppose I were a coach in a company and my boss told me those were the criterion for promotion. If my colleague was promoted but I was not, I wouldn’t say that my boss had questioned my integrity, commitment or professionalism. It meant I had to work harder.
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