Thursday, 21 August 2008
D-1
If there's any one line I wanna say in my 20 years life, it would have to be : If you don't protect and take care of yourself, no one else would.
I won't say I regret not loving my loved ones enough. True, I could have done much more but I know that will always be the case - that I can always do more for 'em.
I know I have done enough. Enough for those around me to know that I love them in so many different ways I do. Perhaps the only thing that's left would be to say I love the person straight in his/her face but that's not really in the culture here eh.
In all my past, the things that I regretted always resulted from my inability and refusal to think of myself. Nope, I'm not advocating selfishness here, but just stating that if you can't even take care of yourself properly, how would you be in a good enough state to help others, to impact others, to influence others, and to take care of others?
People say absence makes the heart grow fonder. I say, prolonged absence would allow time to work its magic - prolonged absence makes the heart forget.
Just one last random post before I fly I guess.
So here goes, here I come Thailand.
I won't say I regret not loving my loved ones enough. True, I could have done much more but I know that will always be the case - that I can always do more for 'em.
I know I have done enough. Enough for those around me to know that I love them in so many different ways I do. Perhaps the only thing that's left would be to say I love the person straight in his/her face but that's not really in the culture here eh.
In all my past, the things that I regretted always resulted from my inability and refusal to think of myself. Nope, I'm not advocating selfishness here, but just stating that if you can't even take care of yourself properly, how would you be in a good enough state to help others, to impact others, to influence others, and to take care of others?
People say absence makes the heart grow fonder. I say, prolonged absence would allow time to work its magic - prolonged absence makes the heart forget.
Just one last random post before I fly I guess.
So here goes, here I come Thailand.
18:46; The Pianist'
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
D-2
Woke up early today and went cycling. From my house to Sungei Kadut area. Home for lunch, played CnC, napped for 30-40mins, and wanted to go for a swim but the weather didnt allow. Met up with isaac for dinner at sakae, had a drink at coffee bean, then walked home.
Sounds like the kind of life I wanna have aft I come back from thailand in about 3 weeks. Flying off tmr nite by jetstar and coming back on 8sep morning.
Still, I have to admit that quite a bit of stuff were running through my head the whole day.
I guess it's true that if you are the actual personnel involved, you get a lil' more paranoid, a lil' more sensitive regarding the issue. Like if you are guilty of a particular thing, you'll be adverse towards raising the issue, whereas those not involved would be freely and comfortably making jokes out of it. Am I making sense?
Sometimes you decide to keep your distance from a particular someone in order to protect yourself and the person? And sometimes you just don't wanna get too close coz you're afraid that feelings and emotions may develop and complicate the whole matter? Perhaps that's why sometimes it's better to just remain silent and not let loose the tongue.
I guess I just have to learn how to cope and deal with it.
I think I have to reduce my crappy conversations and start more constructive stuff.
Ahh, wanted to blog sth abt love and marriage and babies - inspired by PM Lee's national day rally and probably coz of the things my mum and I have been talking about or rather, crapping about. Still, decided against it since I thought it would be rather pointless.
How do you draw the line between your gf/bf and your very close friend? I mean, won't the qualities for both be largely similar? Someone you can trust, who can bear with you, who will be supportive of you etc etc..
And when both my brothers flew overseas for training, they had their gfs to send 'em off. I wonder what my feeling will be like tmr night.
Random thoughts swimming around in my head again.
Sounds like the kind of life I wanna have aft I come back from thailand in about 3 weeks. Flying off tmr nite by jetstar and coming back on 8sep morning.
Still, I have to admit that quite a bit of stuff were running through my head the whole day.
I guess it's true that if you are the actual personnel involved, you get a lil' more paranoid, a lil' more sensitive regarding the issue. Like if you are guilty of a particular thing, you'll be adverse towards raising the issue, whereas those not involved would be freely and comfortably making jokes out of it. Am I making sense?
Sometimes you decide to keep your distance from a particular someone in order to protect yourself and the person? And sometimes you just don't wanna get too close coz you're afraid that feelings and emotions may develop and complicate the whole matter? Perhaps that's why sometimes it's better to just remain silent and not let loose the tongue.
I guess I just have to learn how to cope and deal with it.
I think I have to reduce my crappy conversations and start more constructive stuff.
Ahh, wanted to blog sth abt love and marriage and babies - inspired by PM Lee's national day rally and probably coz of the things my mum and I have been talking about or rather, crapping about. Still, decided against it since I thought it would be rather pointless.
How do you draw the line between your gf/bf and your very close friend? I mean, won't the qualities for both be largely similar? Someone you can trust, who can bear with you, who will be supportive of you etc etc..
And when both my brothers flew overseas for training, they had their gfs to send 'em off. I wonder what my feeling will be like tmr night.
Random thoughts swimming around in my head again.
22:47; The Pianist'
Monday, 18 August 2008
Complete
Here I am, O God
I bring this sacrifice
My open heart
I offer up my life
I look to you, Lord
Your love that never ends
Restores me again
So I lift my eyes to You, Lord
In Your strength will I break through, Lord
Touch me now
Let Your love fall down on me
I know Your love dispels all my fears
Through the storm, I will hold on, Lord
And by faith I will walk on, Lord
Then I'll see beyond my Calvary one day
And I will be complete in You
I bring this sacrifice
My open heart
I offer up my life
I look to you, Lord
Your love that never ends
Restores me again
So I lift my eyes to You, Lord
In Your strength will I break through, Lord
Touch me now
Let Your love fall down on me
I know Your love dispels all my fears
Through the storm, I will hold on, Lord
And by faith I will walk on, Lord
Then I'll see beyond my Calvary one day
And I will be complete in You
00:31; The Pianist'
Sunday, 17 August 2008
escapism; emo; edmund
See, Edmund suits me. E is a letter many words start with.
Been a long time since I found myself plunged into such a state.
Trying to escape (unsuccessfully) from things.
Trying to evade tackling issues I know I have to.
Blasting songs and staring into blankness - emo.
Just being myself?
Just feel like screaming and shouting, ok.
And it feels as though the whole free world's rocking and shaking.
Hurhurhur. Hurx3
Anyone even get what I'm trying to say?
And this is the kind of time when I just wanna escape into my own world.
A place of make-believe, my own rules, for me to seek solace.
My zethidus.
Been a long time since I found myself plunged into such a state.
Trying to escape (unsuccessfully) from things.
Trying to evade tackling issues I know I have to.
Blasting songs and staring into blankness - emo.
Just being myself?
Just feel like screaming and shouting, ok.
And it feels as though the whole free world's rocking and shaking.
Hurhurhur. Hurx3
Anyone even get what I'm trying to say?
And this is the kind of time when I just wanna escape into my own world.
A place of make-believe, my own rules, for me to seek solace.
My zethidus.
23:15; The Pianist'
:]
Talk about an emotional rollercoaster man.
And our God is awesome, the depths of His love cannot be fathomed, and the amazing ways He work in are just incomprehensible.
To pick up the pieces and walk through the remaining 4 mths, and walk prepared into the new year of 2009.
And our God is awesome, the depths of His love cannot be fathomed, and the amazing ways He work in are just incomprehensible.
To pick up the pieces and walk through the remaining 4 mths, and walk prepared into the new year of 2009.
00:50; The Pianist'
Saturday, 16 August 2008
others before self
To put others before self, to think from people's point of view. Don't be selfish dude, don't be selfish.
To live in self-denial, self-delusion and self-oblivion.
Have you ever led your group to charge forward, and you ran with all your might, shout with all your voice, and you suddenly stop - only to feel like a freaking fool with no one beside you at all.
And by then, it might be too late to realise that everyone else is somewhere else.
And today, I realised all along I only had 2 main pillars of support.
And this post would have been filled with much more angst and sounded much more emo, have I not given time for reprieve and have God not shown me that I was wrong to feel the way I did.
And yes, you - you who sent me an sms just a while ago and I replied saying God was using you - you were the one He used to show He remembers me and still loves me.
To live in self-denial, self-delusion and self-oblivion.
Have you ever led your group to charge forward, and you ran with all your might, shout with all your voice, and you suddenly stop - only to feel like a freaking fool with no one beside you at all.
And by then, it might be too late to realise that everyone else is somewhere else.
And today, I realised all along I only had 2 main pillars of support.
And this post would have been filled with much more angst and sounded much more emo, have I not given time for reprieve and have God not shown me that I was wrong to feel the way I did.
And yes, you - you who sent me an sms just a while ago and I replied saying God was using you - you were the one He used to show He remembers me and still loves me.
22:21; The Pianist'
random lines playing in my head
你要离开 我知道很简单
你说依赖 是我们的阻碍
就算放开 那能不能别没收我的爱
当作我最后才明白
再给我两分钟
让我把记忆结成冰
你说依赖 是我们的阻碍
就算放开 那能不能别没收我的爱
当作我最后才明白
再给我两分钟
让我把记忆结成冰
12:18; The Pianist'
Friday, 15 August 2008
perspectives and thoughts
Well, I guess many things in life do depend on which perspective you choose to take. And the gravity of a particular situation probably differs from different perspectives. Watched Vantage Point a couple of weeks ago and of coz the famous Rashomon comes to mind, and also just watched Atonement. Hmms all 3 shows depend heavily on the differing perspectives and this contributes to the basic structure of the plot.
Ahh dun wanna tok much abt the shows and all but just a few words from me - i thought vantage point was uhm, okay okay; Rashomon was shot in the black-and-white era so it may be dull for some ppl; and I thought atonement was simply so beautifully crafted.
Indeed, the power of just a few lines/words from someone who means so much. The sense of hope and strength these words give us to just hang on in thr somehow, somewhat. To pull us through things when we just feel like giving up. It's like a couple of photos/pictures you would bring along should you be overseas for a long period of time.
As for me, there'll always be those few words which I'll always remember., those faces/names which will give me strength to go on.
And I just thank the Lord for placing these angels in my life.
Ahh dun wanna tok much abt the shows and all but just a few words from me - i thought vantage point was uhm, okay okay; Rashomon was shot in the black-and-white era so it may be dull for some ppl; and I thought atonement was simply so beautifully crafted.
Indeed, the power of just a few lines/words from someone who means so much. The sense of hope and strength these words give us to just hang on in thr somehow, somewhat. To pull us through things when we just feel like giving up. It's like a couple of photos/pictures you would bring along should you be overseas for a long period of time.
As for me, there'll always be those few words which I'll always remember., those faces/names which will give me strength to go on.
And I just thank the Lord for placing these angels in my life.
23:33; The Pianist'
D-7
What a Friday. And Singapore just won the semis for women's table tennis - so now it's either a gold or silver.
And it's been my last week of training in camp before I fly off to thailand next week. Did 16km route march yesterday and boy am I glad it's over. After all, when you start using words like freaking and 鸡蛋 ever so often, you know that army's taking its toll on you. Well, I guess everyone's definition of vulgarities is different - for some, perhaps only the f word and hokkien terms of certain body parts are vulgar; some, damn and shit will suffice. Then, there's the in-betweens of 'hong gan', 'du lan', and the all-familiar knn. [I hope my blog don't get flagged coz of this -.-] Still, who is to say what's what? I guess it just boils down to the individual. After all this time in army, I must say it's no longer offensive to hear such expletives - in fact, many times I laugh at those statements. And of coz my stand is still against vulgarities, and I do frown on those who use them ever so often. I guess, once in a while it's pretty understandable to want to use certain intensifier/quantifiers, by those I [self]qualify my frequent use of 'damn', random expressions/outbursts of 鸡蛋 in the army, and once in a blue moon use of 'freak'. And as for the rest, I'm pretty proud to say I don't venture into.
Well, before fellow fervent bros and sis in Christ start to give me the look, or bypassing fanatics shell me on the tagboard, I must say that my anti-vulgarities stand is always made known to those arnd me - classmates and armymates. And in fact, just last Thursday, when I remarked 鸡蛋 to one of my men, kiat tat [my 4-yr-classmate] mis-heard it as the hokkien term for a certain body part and commented it was his first time hearing me scold such a vulgarity. Ohwells, after I clarified with him, one thought came to mind - people do remember me as someone who doesn't use vulgarities. Yes yes I hope I don't sound vaguely Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde here.
Went to Kranji War Cemetary, Old Ford Factory and the Battle Box @ Fort Canning Park today, as part of some cohesion activity thing. Nope, not gonna rant one whole long entry about the 2nd World War etc etc but just wanna touch a bit on Kranji War cemetary.
It was my first time there and I must say, it's been a long time since I had that sort of a calm, peaceful feeling. All was tranquil and serene. I can't find words to describe that sense of ... I don't even know what to say. It's just inexplicable I guess, probably due to my limited vocabulary, but perhaps the best word I can find that kept occuring to me was that, the place was romantic. No, it's not the lovey-dovey romantic kind where you would go to this place with your boyfriend or girlfriend, but romantic in the sense of the Romantic Movement in the later part of 18th Century.
Inevitably, as I walked along rows and rows of the tombstones, the line Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori from war poet Wilfred Owen's poem comes to mind.
Dulce Et Decorum Est
Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of disappointed shells that dropped behind.
GAS! Gas! Quick, boys!-- An ecstasy of fumbling,
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling
And floundering like a man in fire or lime.--
Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.
In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.
If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,--
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori - it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country. And as someone who's in full-time national service, albeit ending in less than 3 mths, I thought it was apt to just pause and think about it for a moment. I can't say I'm the most patriotic in the country, but I must say Singapore is a country I'd like to be in, to live in, where my friends and family are in. And while I know of many people who would head for the airport should news of war spread, I'm also certain that should such a day come, I'll grab my stuff and head back to camp.
And it's been my last week of training in camp before I fly off to thailand next week. Did 16km route march yesterday and boy am I glad it's over. After all, when you start using words like freaking and 鸡蛋 ever so often, you know that army's taking its toll on you. Well, I guess everyone's definition of vulgarities is different - for some, perhaps only the f word and hokkien terms of certain body parts are vulgar; some, damn and shit will suffice. Then, there's the in-betweens of 'hong gan', 'du lan', and the all-familiar knn. [I hope my blog don't get flagged coz of this -.-] Still, who is to say what's what? I guess it just boils down to the individual. After all this time in army, I must say it's no longer offensive to hear such expletives - in fact, many times I laugh at those statements. And of coz my stand is still against vulgarities, and I do frown on those who use them ever so often. I guess, once in a while it's pretty understandable to want to use certain intensifier/quantifiers, by those I [self]qualify my frequent use of 'damn', random expressions/outbursts of 鸡蛋 in the army, and once in a blue moon use of 'freak'. And as for the rest, I'm pretty proud to say I don't venture into.
Well, before fellow fervent bros and sis in Christ start to give me the look, or bypassing fanatics shell me on the tagboard, I must say that my anti-vulgarities stand is always made known to those arnd me - classmates and armymates. And in fact, just last Thursday, when I remarked 鸡蛋 to one of my men, kiat tat [my 4-yr-classmate] mis-heard it as the hokkien term for a certain body part and commented it was his first time hearing me scold such a vulgarity. Ohwells, after I clarified with him, one thought came to mind - people do remember me as someone who doesn't use vulgarities. Yes yes I hope I don't sound vaguely Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde here.
Went to Kranji War Cemetary, Old Ford Factory and the Battle Box @ Fort Canning Park today, as part of some cohesion activity thing. Nope, not gonna rant one whole long entry about the 2nd World War etc etc but just wanna touch a bit on Kranji War cemetary.
It was my first time there and I must say, it's been a long time since I had that sort of a calm, peaceful feeling. All was tranquil and serene. I can't find words to describe that sense of ... I don't even know what to say. It's just inexplicable I guess, probably due to my limited vocabulary, but perhaps the best word I can find that kept occuring to me was that, the place was romantic. No, it's not the lovey-dovey romantic kind where you would go to this place with your boyfriend or girlfriend, but romantic in the sense of the Romantic Movement in the later part of 18th Century.
Inevitably, as I walked along rows and rows of the tombstones, the line Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori from war poet Wilfred Owen's poem comes to mind.
Dulce Et Decorum Est
Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of disappointed shells that dropped behind.
GAS! Gas! Quick, boys!-- An ecstasy of fumbling,
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling
And floundering like a man in fire or lime.--
Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.
In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.
If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,--
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori - it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country. And as someone who's in full-time national service, albeit ending in less than 3 mths, I thought it was apt to just pause and think about it for a moment. I can't say I'm the most patriotic in the country, but I must say Singapore is a country I'd like to be in, to live in, where my friends and family are in. And while I know of many people who would head for the airport should news of war spread, I'm also certain that should such a day come, I'll grab my stuff and head back to camp.
18:12; The Pianist'
Wednesday, 13 August 2008
random songs lyrics
These couple of months in camp have been blessed by God - gave me the inspiration and the thought to pen down a few song lyrics, but haven't had the time to sit in front of my piano to compose out the tune. Ohwells, so since I haven't worked out the tune, I can't decide on my titles yet. Haha. So here goes.
To walk in His word, to walk in love,
To put down ourselves to obey Him,
To carry His cross to follow Him
To walk in the light, to walk by faith,
To walk down the narrow road marked right,
To walk with Him even if I should be alone.
In God alone, there is no doubt
In God alone, there is no mistake
In God alone, there are no fears, no tears
I'll walk on and on even if I should fall.
In God alone, there is no doubt
In God alone, there is no mistake
In God alone, there are no fears, no tears
I'll walk on and on, through it all.
Ahh, the song above just came naturally, flowing all out when I came across this verse in 2 John, 1:6. 'And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.'
如果没有明天，你的今天将是如何？
如果没有现在，你的刚才有价值吗？
是否做好准备，坦然见主面？
是否放下世界，选择跟随主？
哦主，我愿跟随，哦主我愿跟随
谦卑放下自己，不再回头看
哦主，我愿顺服，哦主我愿顺服
靠主恩典勇敢面对生命每一天
与主同步，放胆走完人生路
And this one, just came to me as I was sitting at the table in my bunk, can't really remember what I was thinking about though. And yes, to you whom I msg-ed that day, it was really meant as a song. :) God is amazing mydear, God is amazing.
To walk in His word, to walk in love,
To put down ourselves to obey Him,
To carry His cross to follow Him
To walk in the light, to walk by faith,
To walk down the narrow road marked right,
To walk with Him even if I should be alone.
In God alone, there is no doubt
In God alone, there is no mistake
In God alone, there are no fears, no tears
I'll walk on and on even if I should fall.
In God alone, there is no doubt
In God alone, there is no mistake
In God alone, there are no fears, no tears
I'll walk on and on, through it all.
Ahh, the song above just came naturally, flowing all out when I came across this verse in 2 John, 1:6. 'And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.'
如果没有明天，你的今天将是如何？
如果没有现在，你的刚才有价值吗？
是否做好准备，坦然见主面？
是否放下世界，选择跟随主？
哦主，我愿跟随，哦主我愿跟随
谦卑放下自己，不再回头看
哦主，我愿顺服，哦主我愿顺服
靠主恩典勇敢面对生命每一天
与主同步，放胆走完人生路
And this one, just came to me as I was sitting at the table in my bunk, can't really remember what I was thinking about though. And yes, to you whom I msg-ed that day, it was really meant as a song. :) God is amazing mydear, God is amazing.
20:53; The Pianist'
Sunday, 10 August 2008
Zoned Out
That sour feeling, that sensation of pain - why did it streak through me? Been a long time now since I had those, but the feeling is just too familiar to be un-understood.
Was pretty much tired out today. Been a long time too since I had one as bad as this. Wondering where my energy drained to. Maybe some part in me is still grappling with myself.
Sometimes when you just keep giving, you just give and give until you are so empty and there's nothing more you can give. And you never realised till you are totally drained. Yet people still want to get something from you. So sometimes, you just need to rest and allow others to feed you. And that's something I'll always rmb frm qiuxianglaoshi.
Was pretty much tired out today. Been a long time too since I had one as bad as this. Wondering where my energy drained to. Maybe some part in me is still grappling with myself.
Sometimes when you just keep giving, you just give and give until you are so empty and there's nothing more you can give. And you never realised till you are totally drained. Yet people still want to get something from you. So sometimes, you just need to rest and allow others to feed you. And that's something I'll always rmb frm qiuxianglaoshi.
21:21; The Pianist'
National Day
I skipped the National Day Parade in the evening. I know I probably ain't the most patriotic of citizens here in my homeland, but joining me was a full theatre of people watching The Mummy 3 at Cine at 5.10pm. Not to mention the previous sold-out session of 4.20pm, the subsequent screening at 6.10pm and also The Dark Knight at similar timings.
So what now, watching the NDP makes you a patriot? Or does wearing red on 9 August each year define patriotism? Well, at least I did my part and wore a red t-shirt - a colour I probably don only once a year.
I'm a true blue Singaporean, brought up in the Singapore education system, working my way through screening [for gifted programme] in pri3, streaming in pri4, PSLE in pri6, choosing my subject combination in sec2, tackling O levels in sec4, promos in J1, A levels in J2, serving my national service currently, and moving on to NUS thereafter. I possess the spirit of kiasu-ism and kiasi-ism, and Singlish comes naturally to me. Of course, I know my national anthem's in Malay and the title is Majulah Singapura [onward Singapore], not Mari Kita as what popular myths would testity. I can recite the Singapore pledge in both English and Chinese, sing the popular national day songs like Home, Stand Up For Singapore, Singapore Town, Count On Me Singapore, Where I Belong, 相信我吧新加坡, Dondang, Munaeru Vaaliba.. And I know what the colours, crescent and stars on my national flag stand for.
I'm sure in the future I'll grow up to be what people envisage as a good citizen - file my taxes faithfully, not break the law, fulfil my voting responsibility, contribute to the economy, get married, settle down and have kids..
So having watched the NDP for 19 years of my life and just skipping it for once makes me unpatriotic? Well, let's just say at least I know who my Minister Mentor, Senior Minister, Prime Minister, President, Speaker of Parliament, GRC MPs, opposition parties and politicians are. Maybe I could do with remembering the rest of the cabinet minsters but my point is, who says the young are non-chalent towards politics?
Patriotism is not merely some kind of knowledge. Even a tourist would do better at regurgitating the history of Singapura and the history of her tourist attractions/landmarks than me. Patriotism is more of actions than of words. I could tell you the history of China, the KMT and the CCP, but that wouldnt make me a patriot to China. I guess the big P-word comes in when you are upholding the values your country subscribe to - racial and religious harmony, democracy, clean and green city..
Indeed, I could do more than to stuff my head with knowledge like RADM (NS) Teo Chee Hean is our Defence Minister and BG (NS) George Yeo is our Foreign Minister, Mr Shanmugam is our Law Minister and Mr Wong Kan Seng our Minister of Home Affairs.
I guess I would be doing my part for my country in one simple act - refrain from littering.
And I suppose as Christians, we could do our part in praying for the country and also giving thanks for the country.
So what now, watching the NDP makes you a patriot? Or does wearing red on 9 August each year define patriotism? Well, at least I did my part and wore a red t-shirt - a colour I probably don only once a year.
I'm a true blue Singaporean, brought up in the Singapore education system, working my way through screening [for gifted programme] in pri3, streaming in pri4, PSLE in pri6, choosing my subject combination in sec2, tackling O levels in sec4, promos in J1, A levels in J2, serving my national service currently, and moving on to NUS thereafter. I possess the spirit of kiasu-ism and kiasi-ism, and Singlish comes naturally to me. Of course, I know my national anthem's in Malay and the title is Majulah Singapura [onward Singapore], not Mari Kita as what popular myths would testity. I can recite the Singapore pledge in both English and Chinese, sing the popular national day songs like Home, Stand Up For Singapore, Singapore Town, Count On Me Singapore, Where I Belong, 相信我吧新加坡, Dondang, Munaeru Vaaliba.. And I know what the colours, crescent and stars on my national flag stand for.
I'm sure in the future I'll grow up to be what people envisage as a good citizen - file my taxes faithfully, not break the law, fulfil my voting responsibility, contribute to the economy, get married, settle down and have kids..
So having watched the NDP for 19 years of my life and just skipping it for once makes me unpatriotic? Well, let's just say at least I know who my Minister Mentor, Senior Minister, Prime Minister, President, Speaker of Parliament, GRC MPs, opposition parties and politicians are. Maybe I could do with remembering the rest of the cabinet minsters but my point is, who says the young are non-chalent towards politics?
Patriotism is not merely some kind of knowledge. Even a tourist would do better at regurgitating the history of Singapura and the history of her tourist attractions/landmarks than me. Patriotism is more of actions than of words. I could tell you the history of China, the KMT and the CCP, but that wouldnt make me a patriot to China. I guess the big P-word comes in when you are upholding the values your country subscribe to - racial and religious harmony, democracy, clean and green city..
Indeed, I could do more than to stuff my head with knowledge like RADM (NS) Teo Chee Hean is our Defence Minister and BG (NS) George Yeo is our Foreign Minister, Mr Shanmugam is our Law Minister and Mr Wong Kan Seng our Minister of Home Affairs.
I guess I would be doing my part for my country in one simple act - refrain from littering.
And I suppose as Christians, we could do our part in praying for the country and also giving thanks for the country.
02:16; The Pianist'
Sunday, 3 August 2008
The Monk
RAWRRS!
I can't find my favourite book!! The Monk by Matthew Lewis!!
If I lent it to you, please reply me ASAP!!!
I can't find my favourite book!! The Monk by Matthew Lewis!!
If I lent it to you, please reply me ASAP!!!
21:38; The Pianist'
Friday, 1 August 2008
happy happy stuff
Finally bought the external hard disk drive casing, so now I've gotten back all the old documents/files I had in the previous computer before it kinda crashed. Thank God for that, for all the files, songs, chords, pics, etc etc :)
And I went swimming in the afternoon! Yaaays. And I think I got more tanned. Ok, maybe just a lil' teeny weeny bit since no one commented anything but for the very fair [pun intended] me, anything more than nothing would be good enough :P
And I went swimming in the afternoon! Yaaays. And I think I got more tanned. Ok, maybe just a lil' teeny weeny bit since no one commented anything but for the very fair [pun intended] me, anything more than nothing would be good enough :P
23:40; The Pianist'
thePIANIST;
~ice dragon~
edmund
twenty one
phpps tchs hci nus
bmt-b sispec-g eti-ep
npcc choir
piano
edmund
twenty one
phpps tchs hci nus
bmt-b sispec-g eti-ep
npcc choir
piano
theLOVE;
violin
saxaphone
jazz
spiritual revival.renewal
books
lit
friends
love
saxaphone
jazz
spiritual revival.renewal
books
lit
friends
love
theWISH;
personalised room
keyboard
games
books
love
guitar lesson
jazz piano lesson
love
guitar lesson
jazz piano lesson
theCHATTERBOX;
theESCAPES;
| 05S70 | Alfred | Andy Ng | Andy Paul Chen | Ben Teo | Ben Tan | Cheng Leng | Cherie | Chong Chen | Duo Jie | Eddie | Guan Han | Jeremy | Jun Hao | Kok Hong | Min Jie | Qu Kui | Samuel | Sean Leong | Shao Kai | Xin-ying | Xing Yan | Xun Yu | Yao Zhong | Yi Cheng | Ying Xia | Yu Shu | Zhi Yu |
~`church
| Adeline |
Grace Heah |
Grace Yam |
GUM |
iloveegg:) |
Isaac Lim |
Jeremy |
Jiaming |
Kenneth |
Quan Yong |
Sharon |
Solomon Knights =) |
Wenqi |
Xuemin |
Yineng |
Yingshan |
Yingshin |
ZhengYang |
~`others
| Brandon |
Choon Heng |
Isaac |
Jensen |
Jing Yuan |
Kai Him |
Kai Siang |
Lawrence |
Yoke Beng |
Zhi Xin |
theHISTORY;
theCREDITS;
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