Scene of the day:
Doctor, Patient
Doctor: "Do you have blood in your tools recently?"
Patient: "No, but I had some brown stains on the chair."
Doctor: "???!!!"
I was supposed to go to SMM to settle some QM stuff, and I was hoping to enjoy a longer night's off, but alas ... you know what happened.
I realized that those people whom I could converse well with, and strike up a jolly good conversation with, are going to leave my workplace very soon, leaving behind with me the intellecutally inept *grin*
CW is ORD-ing; GYY is on the near success of getting out of this place. I basically think the people here are ok, but I probably won't forge any good friendships out of it. so it's quite sad that those people are going to leave very soon.
Had an interesting discussion today with CW. He was saying that the modern economy is changing, even the government is changing their economic policies, and I agree. The world is a global village, and with the advancement of technological advancements, it is little wonder why Singapore is so affected externally by other foreign countries. We are no longer talking about the trade agreements between Malaysia, but rather international trading links forged between the US, Europe, Japan and China. How can Singaporeans adapt to the new economic climate? Instill creativity (project work)? Revamp the education system (thinking questions, O & A level, IB, Through-train project)? New government policies (hiring gays)? We touched on creativity, Singapore's education system and the Confucius' traditional mores.
What's creativity and why is the government trying so hard to 'teach' creativity? CW commented that creativity cannot be taught, and interestingly, we both said 'creativity can only be nurtured' in unison. I think it's so very true. I'm baffled by the fact that the government lists out steps, and processes, to teach creativity. And worse now, guidelines for teachers to teach students creativity. I think that creativity can only be fostered in an environment whereby it is not forced upon, and it is not stressed upon. I doubt the US government had a creativity campaign did they? It was a natural climate that fostered the nurture of creativity over the years. It's akin to the formation of the Earth - the right factors were just present for life to flourish. I think the main reason for the dearth of creativity in Singapore (or maybe Asia as a whole) is due to our traditions, culture, and roots. Our tradition speaks well about filial piety - listen to elders or you will suffer - Our culture tends to make us less likely to speak up, less likely to stand up for our rights and less likely for us to voice out our own opinions. We also dare not try to venture out of our comfort zone (sound familiar? Entrepreneurship.) Asians are typically on the shy side. That is how the classroom pedagogy is built upon. It is built upon values that bestow full power to the teacher. Students have to conform or they would have to face strict punishments. Fortunately, it is not too bad a scenario in the classroom but nevertheless; discipline is still stricter as compared to the US. It is this lack of 'freedom of thought' from young that we are so conservation, so unreceptive to new ideas (because we are taught to believe that whatever we were taught from young is the universal truth), and finally so un-creative. However, I believe that this totalitarian concept is responsible for promoting a 'guai' or obedient population of Singaporeans, contributing to no strikes, no revolutions, no uprisings, and finally contributing to a safe, stable, secured country. Can this be some sort of undercurrent brainwash?
Anyway, the talk about creativity is something recent. Could creativity probably an explanation by the Asian states as to why US, and Europe creates more entrepreneurs? Just as EQ is a probable explanation to why some people have better inter-personal relationships - a more genial outlook? But it seems creating this climate for creativity has its flipside. As mentioned above, this environment provides one with the "freedom of thought", therefore people would dare to speak up, and fight for their rights. On a family scale, I foresee that this will probably manifest as "a rebellious child talking back to his parents" - this a definite no-no in a Chinese traditional home. Talking back is bane, and caning, harsh scolding will come suit - there is definitely no room for reasoning. The respected elders are never wrong. one means one, two means two, and one will not turn into two On the other hand, American homes function a little different. There is always a chance to justify oneself for one's behaviour - there is always room for reasoning. For a good change, a magazine like "Parenting" that is found in Singapore is advocating a "no cruel child caning, verbal abuse" environment. Others (Elders) should see this as a proliferation of American culture, and many traditional older generation are expected to fault this method of parenting. They believe in instilling fear of punishment in children and to deter them from making any mistakes. Bad discipline, poor manners and behaviour are simply not tolerated.
The flipside of such an environment can be seen clearly in the West. Merciless killings, committed by children are unimaginable. One such example, which happened last year: 2 brothers (one of them was only 12) who looked like choirboys allegedly bludgeoned their own father to death with a baseball bat. This is totally unheard of in Singapore. Unfortunately, Japan seems to be breaking new grounds too. Japan has been embracing the American culture, and that has resulted in bloody killings committed by teenagers themselves. Just recently, a spate of horrifying perverse crimes committed by a teenager shocked Asia. He tricked young boys, molested them and later murdered them. Years back, a teenager in Kobe beheaded a innocent harmless kitten. And how is that? Should a liberal environment so suitable for nurturing creativity be allowed? For it seems liberty diverts into 2 roads - creativity or rebellion/indifference. Can the stability of the country or human lives be compromised?
For now, let us all be "guai" Singaporeans and follow the government's instructions. Let's participate actively in the government's campaigns shall we? Singapore is FULL of campaigns. We had "Speak Mother Tongue", "Be Courteous" campaign for the past 10 years, and now it's the "Speak Good English" campaign hot on everyone's lisp(lips). To side track a little, the courteous campaign was a total fiasco! I wonder how this creativity, entrepreneurship, life sciences, biotechnology stuff will turn out in 10 years time. And I dare say the Soccer dream 2007( or 2010) has already been shattered.
Would we one-day see chewing gum beneath the SBS bus seat? Riots in Sewbawang? Strikes in Jurong wharves? Violence at home? Free trade of guns? And gays fornicating in Orchard?
Doctor, Patient
Doctor: "Do you have blood in your tools recently?"
Patient: "No, but I had some brown stains on the chair."
Doctor: "???!!!"
I was supposed to go to SMM to settle some QM stuff, and I was hoping to enjoy a longer night's off, but alas ... you know what happened.
I realized that those people whom I could converse well with, and strike up a jolly good conversation with, are going to leave my workplace very soon, leaving behind with me the intellecutally inept *grin*
CW is ORD-ing; GYY is on the near success of getting out of this place. I basically think the people here are ok, but I probably won't forge any good friendships out of it. so it's quite sad that those people are going to leave very soon.
Had an interesting discussion today with CW. He was saying that the modern economy is changing, even the government is changing their economic policies, and I agree. The world is a global village, and with the advancement of technological advancements, it is little wonder why Singapore is so affected externally by other foreign countries. We are no longer talking about the trade agreements between Malaysia, but rather international trading links forged between the US, Europe, Japan and China. How can Singaporeans adapt to the new economic climate? Instill creativity (project work)? Revamp the education system (thinking questions, O & A level, IB, Through-train project)? New government policies (hiring gays)? We touched on creativity, Singapore's education system and the Confucius' traditional mores.
What's creativity and why is the government trying so hard to 'teach' creativity? CW commented that creativity cannot be taught, and interestingly, we both said 'creativity can only be nurtured' in unison. I think it's so very true. I'm baffled by the fact that the government lists out steps, and processes, to teach creativity. And worse now, guidelines for teachers to teach students creativity. I think that creativity can only be fostered in an environment whereby it is not forced upon, and it is not stressed upon. I doubt the US government had a creativity campaign did they? It was a natural climate that fostered the nurture of creativity over the years. It's akin to the formation of the Earth - the right factors were just present for life to flourish. I think the main reason for the dearth of creativity in Singapore (or maybe Asia as a whole) is due to our traditions, culture, and roots. Our tradition speaks well about filial piety - listen to elders or you will suffer - Our culture tends to make us less likely to speak up, less likely to stand up for our rights and less likely for us to voice out our own opinions. We also dare not try to venture out of our comfort zone (sound familiar? Entrepreneurship.) Asians are typically on the shy side. That is how the classroom pedagogy is built upon. It is built upon values that bestow full power to the teacher. Students have to conform or they would have to face strict punishments. Fortunately, it is not too bad a scenario in the classroom but nevertheless; discipline is still stricter as compared to the US. It is this lack of 'freedom of thought' from young that we are so conservation, so unreceptive to new ideas (because we are taught to believe that whatever we were taught from young is the universal truth), and finally so un-creative. However, I believe that this totalitarian concept is responsible for promoting a 'guai' or obedient population of Singaporeans, contributing to no strikes, no revolutions, no uprisings, and finally contributing to a safe, stable, secured country. Can this be some sort of undercurrent brainwash?
Anyway, the talk about creativity is something recent. Could creativity probably an explanation by the Asian states as to why US, and Europe creates more entrepreneurs? Just as EQ is a probable explanation to why some people have better inter-personal relationships - a more genial outlook? But it seems creating this climate for creativity has its flipside. As mentioned above, this environment provides one with the "freedom of thought", therefore people would dare to speak up, and fight for their rights. On a family scale, I foresee that this will probably manifest as "a rebellious child talking back to his parents" - this a definite no-no in a Chinese traditional home. Talking back is bane, and caning, harsh scolding will come suit - there is definitely no room for reasoning. The respected elders are never wrong. one means one, two means two, and one will not turn into two On the other hand, American homes function a little different. There is always a chance to justify oneself for one's behaviour - there is always room for reasoning. For a good change, a magazine like "Parenting" that is found in Singapore is advocating a "no cruel child caning, verbal abuse" environment. Others (Elders) should see this as a proliferation of American culture, and many traditional older generation are expected to fault this method of parenting. They believe in instilling fear of punishment in children and to deter them from making any mistakes. Bad discipline, poor manners and behaviour are simply not tolerated.
The flipside of such an environment can be seen clearly in the West. Merciless killings, committed by children are unimaginable. One such example, which happened last year: 2 brothers (one of them was only 12) who looked like choirboys allegedly bludgeoned their own father to death with a baseball bat. This is totally unheard of in Singapore. Unfortunately, Japan seems to be breaking new grounds too. Japan has been embracing the American culture, and that has resulted in bloody killings committed by teenagers themselves. Just recently, a spate of horrifying perverse crimes committed by a teenager shocked Asia. He tricked young boys, molested them and later murdered them. Years back, a teenager in Kobe beheaded a innocent harmless kitten. And how is that? Should a liberal environment so suitable for nurturing creativity be allowed? For it seems liberty diverts into 2 roads - creativity or rebellion/indifference. Can the stability of the country or human lives be compromised?
For now, let us all be "guai" Singaporeans and follow the government's instructions. Let's participate actively in the government's campaigns shall we? Singapore is FULL of campaigns. We had "Speak Mother Tongue", "Be Courteous" campaign for the past 10 years, and now it's the "Speak Good English" campaign hot on everyone's lisp(lips). To side track a little, the courteous campaign was a total fiasco! I wonder how this creativity, entrepreneurship, life sciences, biotechnology stuff will turn out in 10 years time. And I dare say the Soccer dream 2007( or 2010) has already been shattered.
Would we one-day see chewing gum beneath the SBS bus seat? Riots in Sewbawang? Strikes in Jurong wharves? Violence at home? Free trade of guns? And gays fornicating in Orchard?
posted by Christopher | 7:42 PM
1 Comments:
well .. 6 years down the line, at least we have the 'gays fornicating on orchard' bit .... HAHAHAHAHAA
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