I woke up at 7.30 am this morning despite having slept at 2.30 am just to play tennis and later swim. I will take a break from typing today. Erm… look at the pictures to figure out what I did today 🙂 After the swim we walked home, thus explaining the random pictures of houses.
lifeguard on duty 😦
my neighbor fixing their roof
random house # 2… the owner is selling his house as you can see the sign on his lawn
Mood: David McCullough is one of our most gifted living writers!
Having watched National Treasure-Book of Secrets, I decided to start on my summer assignment for APUSH now that I have a better appreciation for U.S. History. The required reading is none other than David McCullough’s John Adams and as for the second parallel reading I decided to go with 1776, another book written by McCullough. I’m currently on the third chapter of the John Adams book (Pg 189) which is no where near the end. This book i’m currently reading is as thick as JK Rowling’s Harry Potter. Unfortunately for me, this John Adams book is a HISTORY book… a NONFICTION one that has nothing to do with spells.
Another thing… I have strayed away from my Latin studies these past few days but am returning to it soon cause i’m constantly haunted by the Classics. In just the first five minutes of the National Treasure-Book of Secrets movie, the words: “Sic semper tyrannis” appears only to be followed by a few other Latin words and writings. Of course the first thing that came into my mind was ‘Thus always to Tyrants-the motto of Virginia’ which later drew five pairs of glaring eyes at me. Well, what can I say… the Romans and Greeks were too influential and to not know them is like not knowing your alphabets. And even then, the word ALPHABET itself is Greek for the first two letters-Alpha and Beta. Likewise, in the third page of the book John Adams, it is brought to attention that John Adams, the great man he was, was a reader of Cicero, Tacitus, and other of his Roman heroes in Latin, as well as Plato and Thucydides in original Greek which he considered the supreme language. I will very well admit that it is because of such Latin influence that I am committing myself to finish reading the book (the other reason being that finishing the book is a requirement… if not I will fail a class which I have not even started taking).
FYI: John Adams was the second President of the United States. He attended Harvard at a tender age of 15 (Harvard was the only college/university then) and later pursued Law studies. Adams was devoted to the cause of America and it was because of him that today we all celebrate 4th July – INDEPENDENCE DAY. I will continue this post at a later time… once i’m done reading this book.
June 17, 2008
I am resolved to rise with the sun and to study Scriptures on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings, and to study some Latin author the other three mornings. Noons and nights I intend to read English authors… I will rouse up my mind and fix my attention. I will stand collected within myself and think upon what I read and what I see. I will strive with all my soul to be something more than persons who have had less advantage than myself.
“It will be hard work, but the more difficult and dangerous the enterprise, a higher crown of laurel is bestowed on the conqueror… But the point is now determined, and I shall have the liberty to think for myself.”
The greatest thing of all, is the gift of an inquiring mind. But all the provisions that He has made for the gratification of our senses… are much inferior to the provision, the wonderful provision that He has made for the gratification of our nobler powers of intelligence and reason. He has given us reason to find out the truth, and the real design and true end of our existence.
the book i’m currently reading
I will embark on my next piece of literature as soon as i’m done reading John Adams
It is on this day last year that I wrote my first real post titled “Trip to Niagara Falls”. Time flies. I’m greatly appreciative of those who till today, continue to visit my blog and despite knowing you will be fed into boredom by what I write, continue to support me in this cause. I started this blog a year ago just to update on my life in America… I will continue writing so long as there is still people interested in reading about my life (even one person would do). And as with the intended purpose of this blog is to keep in touch with current and past friends, my blog will still be closed to search engines.
Friendship, is one of the distinguishing glories of man…. from this I expect to receive the chief happiness of my future life.
Mood:Fight for Democracy! I’m exercising my rights to Freedom of Speech… a right that Singaporeans do NOT have or more like they are not entitled to.
With my mind still on politics, i’m strongly moved to write about my views on the Singapore government. What caught my attention was a video clip posted on Youtube titled ‘Police Abduction’. Basically the pro-activist Chee Siok Chin was continuously followed or in better words tailgated as she walked several streets down to Shangri-La Hotel. What puzzles me is that why do police forces have to block and harass a women from entering the hotel for whatever business she has there. Now I know that she has been under the watchful eyes of police who have been instructed by someone in the Lee family (I suppose) for her strong beliefs in letting Singaporeans be free from the authoritarian system. In fact those who support her know that her ultimate goal is to let Singaporeans take charge of their own destiny. This would be called democracy… where the government functions by which political sovereignty is retained by the people and either exercised directly by citizens or through their elected representatives. This is how the U.S. government (Congress and Senate) functions.
As most of you would have heard of the long campaigned Democratic race between Obama and Clinton and how Obama clinched the Democrat nominee title. Well I will tell you since I have heard so many speeches by all whom have once campaigned for the Presidential office that Obama and the other candidates made a promise to the people of America. A promise that they would carry out if they are elected into office. What they have just done is nothing but appealing to the people. Appealing for their vote… because at the end it is the people of America who is voting. Back to Singapore’s side. PAP has won every election by majority vote not because Singapore people love them (you probably know what i’m talking about). If you say that i’m biased then you are wrong… i’m just comparing between the government of America and that of Singapore (both claim to be a democratic country).
Several non-governmental organizations that publish and maintain assessments of the state of freedomin the world, according to their own various definitions of the term, and rank countries as being free, partly free, or unfree using various measures of freedom, including political rights, economic rights, and civil liberties. Let’s see how Singapore is ranked.
Worldwide Press Freedom Index is published by Reporters Without Borders. Countries are assessed as having a good situation, a satisfactory situation, noticeable problems, a difficult situation, or a very serious situation.
The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Index of Democracyis an assesment of countries’ democracy. Countries are rated to be either Full Democracies, Flawed Democracies, Hybrid Regimes, or Authoritarian.
Index
Scale
Freedom in the World
free
partly free
not free
Index of Economic Freedom
free
mostly free
mostly unfree
unfree
Worldwide Press Freedom Index
good situation
satisfactory situation
noticeable problems
difficult situation
very serious situation
Democracy Rating
full democracy
flawed democracy
hybrid regime
authoritarian
Country
Freedom House
Economic Freedom
Press Freedom
Democracy Rating
Singapore
partly free
free
difficult situation
hybrid regime
Base on ratings, Singapore is ranked below Bolivia and Albania and only slightly better than Madagascar. Not only is Singapore faring badly in democracy ratings, so are we when it comes to ratings on the freedom of our press. Basically this is how I see it… even though one may be right, the press still has to be biased and lean to the higher authority (take for example the Chees vs. the Lees lawsuit). Why… because Singaporeans fear the Lees (this word ‘fear’ that i’m using is not the biblical usage of ‘respect’ that we show one, but instead the definition of ‘fear’ in this case is being frightened/scared and even to the point where we become cowards for not voicing out even when injustice has been done.
My next claim. I have not seen the printed version of the Straits Times but i’m pretty sure that Dr Chee Soon Juan’s and his sister’s case is printed somewhere on the papers. They have been jailed again this time for ‘contempt of court’ in their trial against the Lees (Lee Kuan Yew and his PM son). Dr Chee represented himself in this case and was apperently interupted at many instances by ‘objections’ from the Lees’ lawyer. The Judge said that the two defendants (Dr Chee and his sister) had scandalised the court and impugned its integrity. To read the full version of the cross examination by Dr Chee, visit the Singapore Democratic Party’s website… click the link. http://yoursdp.org/index.php/component/content/article/1-singapore/494-mm-lee-lost-for-words-during-cross-examination-by-chee
Over here in the U.S., there was group of protesters at the Singapore Embassy in Washington D.C. led by Timothy Cooper, executive director of Worldrights. Mr. Cooper stated to Mr. Keuk that the group had come to draw attention to what they believe is the misrule of law—not rule of law—in Singapore. He said that they were raising questions about a judicial system that appeared to disallow both Dr. Chee and Ms. Chee the fundamental right to mount a proper self-defense and cross-examination of plaintiff’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and PM Lee Hsein Loong during last week’s damages hearing by cutting short their time and severely restricting the nature of their questions.
Mr. Cooper also noted that there exists a far-reaching perception in the international legal community, especially among human rights advocates, that in Singapore political cases, where leading opposition figures are concerned, a fair trial is viewed as highly unlikely in defamation suits. And that serious questions had been raised by many about the government’s use of libel laws to try to silence its fiercest political critics.
Mr. Cooper also observed that the group had serious concerns about the right of Singaporeans to enjoy freedom of speech and assembly, bulwarks of any politically mature nation—either in Asia or elsewhere. Finally, Mr. Cooper stated that Singapore’s leadership’s reluctance to embrace universally recognized civil and political freedoms for its own citizens held the nation back from reaching its fullest potential, observing that political plurality and economic prosperity are not—nor have they ever been—mutually exclusive. In fact, he said, they are mutually inclusive, with one serving well the other.
(This excerpt is taken from the Singapore Democrats Website)
So what is the concern now? I may be away from Singapore right now but as long as I am still a citizen of the country, I am still bounded to the laws of the Singapore government. And if I ever decide to return to Singapore, I would have to first affirm that i’m not going back to be a slave to the Singapore government. I am also against the need for both my brothers to serve national service (if they are ever called upon for enlistment). They should be exempted from NS as according to embassy, Military or national service (NS) liable males who emigrated overseas before age 11 and have not enjoyed significant socio-economic benefits of citizenship, (e.g. applied for a Singapore Identity Card or studied in Singapore beyond the age of 11), will be allowed to renounce their Singapore citizenship if they do not wish to fulfil their NS obligations. I don’t see a need for my brothers to waste two years of their time and be interupted from their studies just to protect Lee Kuan Yew’s assets (i’m putting it this way since everything is wholly owned by him).
If you in any way disapprove of what I wrote above do consider again these issues:
– Unjustifiable Ministers pay rise by 60%. Lee Hsien Loong is paid S$3.1 million. With that amount of money, we could afford to hire one US President; one UK Prime Minister; one Japanese Prime Minister; AND one German Chancellor and still have about half a million US dollars left over, to give away to charity.
– CPF System. My dad is renouncing his Singapore citizenship just so that he could withdral his CPF money. I’m sure your parents hate the system… the Singapore Government has again increased the CPF withdrawl age to 62 (I think).
– GST hike. I think everyone is affected by this… needless to say.
– Rising cost of food and household items
– Immigration Issues. Foreigners Vs. Singaporeans (who is more valued in the government’s eyes)
– Everything else that I have not mentioned.
I’ll end with a few videos if you are interested you can visit the Singapore Democrat website or Dr. Nair’s blog titled: Singapore Dissident (http://singaporedissident.blogspot.com/)
of all the people in Singapore, the Lees have to target Chee Soon Juan
so you cant walk down Orchard Road??
this is part 1 of censored ‘movie’- One Nation Under Lee
“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” – Elie Wiesel
Oh hey guys! Where should I start? I have been away for a really long time (not really actually) and if you are wondering what i’m up to now that its summer then you’ll find out pretty soon. I’m working on a project now… a really big and perplexing one and i’m intending to finish it by this month if not then by the end of my summer holidays (i’m not revealing it now as i’m intending for ‘It’, the project, to be a surprise).
The title says it all. I have been closely watching the Democrat Party race for the past 6 months and i’m happy to say that as of tomorrow, Obama would be the offical Democrat nominee! Clinton has been a really good candidate alongside Obama but unfortunately she is lacking support both from voters and super delegates. Obama is in need of 38 more super delegates’ vote before he reaches the magic number of 2118 and lets hope he will make it by tonight. CNN, FOX, and other news channels have had continuous coverage on Obama, something that worries me as not many people are hearing about McCain‘s campaign.
I started a small research on all the presidential candidates early this year and was hoping that Giuliani and McCain would be the two final Republican candidates fighting to be the Republican nominee while on the Democrats side I have been rooting for Obama. McCain has left a very strong impact on me from the very start as I heard his speech on how he is going to handle the Energy issue while researching for my Governor’s Honors Program debate. His other story which many of you may not have heard is that he was a POW in the Vietnam War. Back then McCain was a pilot serving in the U.S. Navy and on one of his missions, his plane was shot and after that it was all brutal torture for him. He was a POW for five and a half years and until this day, he is unable to raise his arms over his head (because of all the tortures).
Obama on the other hand was schooled in Jarkata after his mum divorced his African father (from Kenya) and married to an Indonesian. Later he moved back to Honolulu, Hawaii where he was born to finish high school and subsequently went into Law School.
All three Presidential Candidates each have unique backgrounds but only one of them would make history. Clinton would be the first woman President (if elected), likewise Obama would be the first African American, and McCain would be the oldest person to ever take office (he is currently 71). Good luck to all of them!
lifeguard on duty 😦
Josiah: “look… I can drive with one hand!”
David McCullough is one of our most gifted living writers!
This book i’m currently reading is as thick as JK Rowling’s Harry Potter. Unfortunately for me, this John Adams book is a HISTORY book… a NONFICTION one that has nothing to do with spells.
My blog’s first anniversary
Rachel Meredith Wong 
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