Comments for The Singaporean Patriot's Soul http://patrioticsingaporean.wordpress.com For People Who Consider Themselves Singaporean Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:39:43 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on An SoS Appeal to The Handover Generation aka Post 65′ers by spursfan http://patrioticsingaporean.wordpress.com/2007/07/27/an-sos-appeal-to-the-handover-generation-aka-post-65ers/#comment-10 spursfan Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:39:43 +0000 http://patrioticsingaporean.wordpress.com/2007/07/27/an-sos-appeal-to-the-handover-generation-aka-post-65ers/#comment-10 Dr. Huang: Much has been said about apathy amongst Singaporeans. There is an interesting discussion on the apathy/lethargy issue on <a href="http://www.singaporeangle.com/2007/07/youth_activism_in_singapore_1.html" rel="nofollow">Singapore Angle</a>. The fear factor seems to pervade our national consciousness. Still I would say that the relationship between Singaporeans and those who profess to lead us cannot help but evolve beyond <a href="http://patrioticsingaporean.wordpress.com/2007/07/23/conflict-theory-in-practice-political-scene-in-singapore/" rel="nofollow">a parent-adolescent relationship</a>, as mentioned elsewhere in this blog. I concede that the establishment has a right to be annoyed at direct challenges to its authority, though I would maintain that $17 million is perhaps a tad much. While I'm not saying that such behaviour is desirable, wouldn't parents would be rich if they could have a dollar each time their child says "My parents are awful/They suck/They favour outsiders instead of caring about me"? Indeed could such incidents be a sign that something is not quite right with the relationship between the establishment and the people? In this light, unless the establishment is genuinely willing to loosen its tight hold on most aspects of life on this beautiful island, 'proper' elections would likely remain a Utopian dream. Recent media lead-ups to our nation's birthday have been rather self-serving, disturbingly more so than previous years. What I would rather see is that Singaporeans ignore the obvious and work on the obscure -- why fight near-impossible odds to 'change the political/voting system' when one can take the time on a daily, personal level to build socio-economic bridges with one's family, relatives, friends, and neighbours? For when the obscure becomes clear, the obvious becomes irrelevant... if one would only believe ;-) Dr. Huang:

Much has been said about apathy amongst Singaporeans. There is an interesting discussion on the apathy/lethargy issue on Singapore Angle.

The fear factor seems to pervade our national consciousness. Still I would say that the relationship between Singaporeans and those who profess to lead us cannot help but evolve beyond a parent-adolescent relationship, as mentioned elsewhere in this blog. I concede that the establishment has a right to be annoyed at direct challenges to its authority, though I would maintain that $17 million is perhaps a tad much. While I’m not saying that such behaviour is desirable, wouldn’t parents would be rich if they could have a dollar each time their child says “My parents are awful/They suck/They favour outsiders instead of caring about me”? Indeed could such incidents be a sign that something is not quite right with the relationship between the establishment and the people?

In this light, unless the establishment is genuinely willing to loosen its tight hold on most aspects of life on this beautiful island, ‘proper’ elections would likely remain a Utopian dream. Recent media lead-ups to our nation’s birthday have been rather self-serving, disturbingly more so than previous years.

What I would rather see is that Singaporeans ignore the obvious and work on the obscure — why fight near-impossible odds to ‘change the political/voting system’ when one can take the time on a daily, personal level to build socio-economic bridges with one’s family, relatives, friends, and neighbours? For when the obscure becomes clear, the obvious becomes irrelevant… if one would only believe ;-)

]]> Comment on An SoS Appeal to The Handover Generation aka Post 65′ers by nofearsingapore http://patrioticsingaporean.wordpress.com/2007/07/27/an-sos-appeal-to-the-handover-generation-aka-post-65ers/#comment-9 nofearsingapore Fri, 03 Aug 2007 12:32:01 +0000 http://patrioticsingaporean.wordpress.com/2007/07/27/an-sos-appeal-to-the-handover-generation-aka-post-65ers/#comment-9 Hi Perhaps there is something that all of us can do whilst we are still at this topic... We must wake up the rest of Singaporeans from their apathy. This apathy comes in various guises ... including fear of reprisals and that the "gahmen" will do horrible things to those who disagree with its policies and philosophies. Other reasons include rat race/ inability to have work-life balance etc. I know that my generation had been ingrained into us that to openly question authority figures may be deemed disrespectful,but I think in this day & age, we should all step out from our shells and to publicly state our sincerely but varied views about how we want the new Singapore to be. I want for my kids a Singapore that is a tolerant society ruled by a corruption free government that is progressive in thinking/pro-business and is properly elected ( without using gerrymandering/GRC etc). There is too much of either: 1. The govt is doing fine so let's write a blank check for it or 2. The govt sucks but there is nothing I can do about it 3. or Lee Kuan Yew, who is that eh? ( totally ignorant/disinterested etc) What say you? Dr.Huang Hi
Perhaps there is something that all of us can do whilst we are still at this topic…

We must wake up the rest of Singaporeans from their apathy.
This apathy comes in various guises … including fear of reprisals and that the “gahmen” will do horrible things to those who disagree with its policies and philosophies.
Other reasons include rat race/ inability to have work-life balance etc.

I know that my generation had been ingrained into us that to openly question authority figures may be deemed disrespectful,but I think in this day & age, we should all step out from our shells and to publicly state our sincerely but varied views about how we want the new Singapore to be.

I want for my kids a Singapore that is a tolerant society ruled by a corruption free government that is progressive in thinking/pro-business and is properly elected ( without using gerrymandering/GRC etc).

There is too much of either:
1. The govt is doing fine so let’s write a blank check for it or
2. The govt sucks but there is nothing I can do about it
3. or Lee Kuan Yew, who is that eh? ( totally ignorant/disinterested etc)

What say you?

Dr.Huang

]]> Comment on An SoS Appeal to The Handover Generation aka Post 65′ers by spursfan http://patrioticsingaporean.wordpress.com/2007/07/27/an-sos-appeal-to-the-handover-generation-aka-post-65ers/#comment-8 spursfan Thu, 02 Aug 2007 15:19:35 +0000 http://patrioticsingaporean.wordpress.com/2007/07/27/an-sos-appeal-to-the-handover-generation-aka-post-65ers/#comment-8 Hi Dr Huang, Thank you for your kind comments ;-) I'm hopeful by what I see from most of the Gen Y's -- and I dearly wish that the age-old values of hard work and long-term vision by pioneers such as yourself will be emulated (even if in limited form) by my Gen X peers... spursfan Hi Dr Huang,

Thank you for your kind comments ;-)
I’m hopeful by what I see from most of the Gen Y’s — and I dearly wish that the age-old values of hard work and long-term vision by pioneers such as yourself will be emulated (even if in limited form) by my Gen X peers…

spursfan

]]> Comment on An SoS Appeal to The Handover Generation aka Post 65′ers by nofearsingapore http://patrioticsingaporean.wordpress.com/2007/07/27/an-sos-appeal-to-the-handover-generation-aka-post-65ers/#comment-7 nofearsingapore Thu, 02 Aug 2007 12:06:35 +0000 http://patrioticsingaporean.wordpress.com/2007/07/27/an-sos-appeal-to-the-handover-generation-aka-post-65ers/#comment-7 Hi It is decent of you to migrate to this blog in order to avoid being confused with Gerald's blog. I belong to the baby boomers and other than following orders my generations hasn't done much. It is now up to your generation to do more to shape what you want Singapore to be. I am sure that if there is enough of people like you out there, much can be done to make Singapore a modern society not just in having new buildings but also in its mental outlook. We need more soul and less pursuit of money. Best of luck Dr.Huang Hi
It is decent of you to migrate to this blog in order to avoid being confused with Gerald’s blog.
I belong to the baby boomers and other than following orders my generations hasn’t done much.
It is now up to your generation to do more to shape what you want Singapore to be.
I am sure that if there is enough of people like you out there, much can be done to make Singapore a modern society not just in having new buildings but also in its mental outlook.
We need more soul and less pursuit of money.
Best of luck

Dr.Huang

]]> Comment on An Open Letter to the Young Singaporean by spursfan http://patrioticsingaporean.wordpress.com/2007/07/21/an-open-letter-to-the-young-singaporean/#comment-6 spursfan Tue, 24 Jul 2007 17:34:01 +0000 http://patrioticsingaporean.wordpress.com/2007/07/21/an-open-letter-to-the-young-singaporean/#comment-6 Gerald, No worries, I believe that the blogosphere has more than enough room for two Patriots who believe in the continued well-being of Singapore :-) Gerald,

No worries, I believe that the blogosphere has more than enough room for two Patriots who believe in the continued well-being of Singapore :-)

]]> Comment on An Open Letter to the Young Singaporean by Gerald http://patrioticsingaporean.wordpress.com/2007/07/21/an-open-letter-to-the-young-singaporean/#comment-5 Gerald Tue, 24 Jul 2007 16:29:15 +0000 http://patrioticsingaporean.wordpress.com/2007/07/21/an-open-letter-to-the-young-singaporean/#comment-5 Hi spursfan, Thanks for changing your blog address. Really appreciate it. I've enjoyed reading your first few posts and look forward to more good posts from you. :) cheers, Gerald Hi spursfan,

Thanks for changing your blog address. Really appreciate it. I’ve enjoyed reading your first few posts and look forward to more good posts from you. :)

cheers,
Gerald

]]> Comment on An Open Letter to the Young Singaporean by nofearsingapore http://patrioticsingaporean.wordpress.com/2007/07/21/an-open-letter-to-the-young-singaporean/#comment-2 nofearsingapore Mon, 23 Jul 2007 20:09:56 +0000 http://patrioticsingaporean.wordpress.com/2007/07/21/an-open-letter-to-the-young-singaporean/#comment-2 <em>I'm editing this for clarification, as these comments were originally posted on my initial blog singaporepatriot.wordpress.com -- which was a little too similar for Gerald's comfort... the issue has since been resolved, and I have since moved all content to <a href="http://patrioticsingaporean.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow">The Patriotic Singaporean</a>.</em> Hi Sgpatriot(wordpress), Welcome to Sg's blogosphere. It is unfortunate that you <em>had</em> chosen a similar name to Gerald Giam's blog as this will certainly add lots of confusion to all concerned. Cheers Dr.Huang (nofearsingapore.blogspot.com) I’m editing this for clarification, as these comments were originally posted on my initial blog singaporepatriot.wordpress.com — which was a little too similar for Gerald’s comfort… the issue has since been resolved, and I have since moved all content to The Patriotic Singaporean.

Hi Sgpatriot(wordpress),
Welcome to Sg’s blogosphere.
It is unfortunate that you had chosen a similar name to Gerald Giam’s blog as this will certainly add lots of confusion to all concerned.
Cheers

Dr.Huang (nofearsingapore.blogspot.com)

]]> Comment on An Open Letter to the Young Singaporean by spursfan http://patrioticsingaporean.wordpress.com/2007/07/21/an-open-letter-to-the-young-singaporean/#comment-4 spursfan Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:01:25 +0000 http://patrioticsingaporean.wordpress.com/2007/07/21/an-open-letter-to-the-young-singaporean/#comment-4 Hi Gerald, Thank you for the welcome and clarification. I have to admit my ignorance that you have a similarly-titled blog... feel free to critique whatever you see (or don't see) here :-) Cheers Hi Gerald,

Thank you for the welcome and clarification. I have to admit my ignorance that you have a similarly-titled blog… feel free to critique whatever you see (or don’t see) here :-)

Cheers

]]> Comment on An Open Letter to the Young Singaporean by Gerald http://patrioticsingaporean.wordpress.com/2007/07/21/an-open-letter-to-the-young-singaporean/#comment-3 Gerald Mon, 23 Jul 2007 15:32:24 +0000 http://patrioticsingaporean.wordpress.com/2007/07/21/an-open-letter-to-the-young-singaporean/#comment-3 <em>I'm editing this for clarification, as these comments were originally posted on my initial blog singaporepatriot.wordpress.com -- which was a little too similar for Gerald's comfort... the issue has since been resolved, and I have since moved all content to <a href="http://patrioticsingaporean.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow">The Patriotic Singaporean</a>.</em> Hi, Welcome to blogosphere. You may or may not be aware, but it seems you <em>had</em> chosen a WordPress blog address that is the same as mine on Blogger. I have had mine since June 2006. Since it appears that you, like me, intend to blog on socio-political issues in Singapore, readers might confuse the two of us with each other. I do not own a trademark to the name, so I have no right to suggest that you change your blog name. But may I request that you consider putting a disclaimer on your blog that "This blog is not affiliated with the blog singaporepatriot.blogspot.com". I will do likewise on my blog. Please feel free to email me anytime at sgpatriot (at) gmail (dot) com. I’m editing this for clarification, as these comments were originally posted on my initial blog singaporepatriot.wordpress.com — which was a little too similar for Gerald’s comfort… the issue has since been resolved, and I have since moved all content to The Patriotic Singaporean.

Hi,

Welcome to blogosphere.

You may or may not be aware, but it seems you had chosen a WordPress blog address that is the same as mine on Blogger. I have had mine since June 2006.

Since it appears that you, like me, intend to blog on socio-political issues in Singapore, readers might confuse the two of us with each other.

I do not own a trademark to the name, so I have no right to suggest that you change your blog name. But may I request that you consider putting a disclaimer on your blog that “This blog is not affiliated with the blog singaporepatriot.blogspot.com”. I will do likewise on my blog.

Please feel free to email me anytime at sgpatriot (at) gmail (dot) com.

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