IN this third installment of the of kopitiam discussion series with several veteran politicians, lawyers and, in this particular instance, a veteran economist, I would like to talk about the economy with particular reference to the upcoming mini budget.
I have been regularly asked to discuss economic issues by those who said they were fed-up with politics and politicians.
COntinue reading the article at Kadir Jasin blog here.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
LETTER FROM LEE KUAN YEW'S DAUGHTER
SLUMP TIME HAS ARRIVED
by Lee Wei Ling
In 2007, in an end-of-year message to the staff of the National
Neuroscience Institute, I wrote: 'Whilst boom time in the public
sector is never as booming as in the private sector, let us not forget
that boom time is eventually followed by slump time. Slump time in the
public sector is always less painful compared to the private sector.'
Slump time has arrived with a bang.
While I worry about the poorer Singaporeans who will be hit hard,
perhaps this recession has come at an opportune time for many of us.
It will give us an incentive to reconsider our priorities in life.
Decades of the good life have made us soft. The wealthy especially,
but also the middle class in Singapore , have had it so good for so
long, what they once considered luxuries, they now think of as
necessities.
A mobile phone, for instance, is now a statement about who you are,
not just a piece of equipment for communication. Hence many people buy
the latest model though their existing mobile phones are still in
perfect working order.
A Mercedes-Benz is no longer adequate as a status symbol. For
millionaires who wish to show the world they have taste, a Ferrari or
a Porsche is deemed more appropriate.
The same attitude influences the choice of attire and accessories. I
still find it hard to believe that there are people carrying handbags
that cost more than thrice the monthly income of a bus driver, and
many more times that of the foreign worker labouring in the hot sun,
risking his life to construct luxury condominiums he will never have a
chance to live in.
The media encourages and amplifies this ostentatious consumption.
Perhaps it is good to encourage people to spend more because this will
prevent the recession from getting worse. I am not an economist, but
wasn't that the root cause of the current crisis - Americans spending
more than they could afford to?
I am not a particularly spiritual person. I don't believe in the
supernatural and I don't think I have a soul that will survive my
death. But as I view the crass materialism around me, I am reminded of
what my mother once told me: 'Suffering and deprivation is good for
the soul.'
My family is not poor, but we have been brought up to be frugal. My
parents and I live in the same house that my paternal grandparents and
their children moved into after World War II in 1945. It is a big
house by today's standards, but it is simple - in fact, almost to the
point of being shabby.
Those who see it for the first time are astonished that Minister
Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's home is so humble. But it is a comfortable
house, a home we have got used to. Though it does look shabby compared
to the new mansions on our street, we are not bothered by the
comparison.
Most of the world and much of Singapore will lament the economic
downturn. We have been told to tighten our belts. There will
undoubtedly be suffering, which we must try our best to ameliorate.
But I personally think the hard times will hold a timely lesson for
many Singaporeans, especially those born after 1970 who have never
lived through difficult times. No matter how poor you are in
Singapore , the authorities and social groups do try to ensure you have
shelter and food. Nobody starves in Singapore .
Many of those who are currently living in mansions and enjoying a
luxurious lifestyle will probably still be able to do so, even if they
might have to downgrade from wines costing $20,000 a bottle to $10,000
a bottle. They would hardly notice the difference.
Being wealthy is not a sin. It cannot be in a capitalist market
economy. Enjoying the fruits of one's own labour is one's prerogative
and I have no right to chastise those who choose to live luxuriously.
But if one is blinded by materialism, there would be no end to
wanting and hankering. After the Ferrari, what next? An Aston Martin?
After the Hermes Birkin handbag, what can one upgrade to?
Neither an Aston Martin nor a Hermes Birkin can make us truly happy
or contented. They are like dust, a fog obscuring the true meaning of
life, and can be blown away in the twinkling of an eye.
When the end approaches and we look back on our lives, will we regret
the latest mobile phone or luxury car that we did not acquire? Or
would we prefer to die at peace with ourselves, knowing that we have
lived lives filled with love, friendship and goodwill, that we have
helped some of our fellow voyagers along the way and that we have
tried our best to leave this world a slightly better place than how we
found it?
We know which is the correct choice - and it is within our power to
make that choice.
In this new year, burdened as it is with the problems of the year
that has just ended, let us again try to choose wisely.
To a considerable degree, our happiness is within our own control,
and we should not follow the herd blindly.
(The writer is director of the National Neuroscience Institute and Lee
Kuan Yew's daughter (Lee Kuan Yew is the former Prime Minister of
Singapore ).
by Lee Wei Ling
In 2007, in an end-of-year message to the staff of the National
Neuroscience Institute, I wrote: 'Whilst boom time in the public
sector is never as booming as in the private sector, let us not forget
that boom time is eventually followed by slump time. Slump time in the
public sector is always less painful compared to the private sector.'
Slump time has arrived with a bang.
While I worry about the poorer Singaporeans who will be hit hard,
perhaps this recession has come at an opportune time for many of us.
It will give us an incentive to reconsider our priorities in life.
Decades of the good life have made us soft. The wealthy especially,
but also the middle class in Singapore , have had it so good for so
long, what they once considered luxuries, they now think of as
necessities.
A mobile phone, for instance, is now a statement about who you are,
not just a piece of equipment for communication. Hence many people buy
the latest model though their existing mobile phones are still in
perfect working order.
A Mercedes-Benz is no longer adequate as a status symbol. For
millionaires who wish to show the world they have taste, a Ferrari or
a Porsche is deemed more appropriate.
The same attitude influences the choice of attire and accessories. I
still find it hard to believe that there are people carrying handbags
that cost more than thrice the monthly income of a bus driver, and
many more times that of the foreign worker labouring in the hot sun,
risking his life to construct luxury condominiums he will never have a
chance to live in.
The media encourages and amplifies this ostentatious consumption.
Perhaps it is good to encourage people to spend more because this will
prevent the recession from getting worse. I am not an economist, but
wasn't that the root cause of the current crisis - Americans spending
more than they could afford to?
I am not a particularly spiritual person. I don't believe in the
supernatural and I don't think I have a soul that will survive my
death. But as I view the crass materialism around me, I am reminded of
what my mother once told me: 'Suffering and deprivation is good for
the soul.'
My family is not poor, but we have been brought up to be frugal. My
parents and I live in the same house that my paternal grandparents and
their children moved into after World War II in 1945. It is a big
house by today's standards, but it is simple - in fact, almost to the
point of being shabby.
Those who see it for the first time are astonished that Minister
Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's home is so humble. But it is a comfortable
house, a home we have got used to. Though it does look shabby compared
to the new mansions on our street, we are not bothered by the
comparison.
Most of the world and much of Singapore will lament the economic
downturn. We have been told to tighten our belts. There will
undoubtedly be suffering, which we must try our best to ameliorate.
But I personally think the hard times will hold a timely lesson for
many Singaporeans, especially those born after 1970 who have never
lived through difficult times. No matter how poor you are in
Singapore , the authorities and social groups do try to ensure you have
shelter and food. Nobody starves in Singapore .
Many of those who are currently living in mansions and enjoying a
luxurious lifestyle will probably still be able to do so, even if they
might have to downgrade from wines costing $20,000 a bottle to $10,000
a bottle. They would hardly notice the difference.
Being wealthy is not a sin. It cannot be in a capitalist market
economy. Enjoying the fruits of one's own labour is one's prerogative
and I have no right to chastise those who choose to live luxuriously.
But if one is blinded by materialism, there would be no end to
wanting and hankering. After the Ferrari, what next? An Aston Martin?
After the Hermes Birkin handbag, what can one upgrade to?
Neither an Aston Martin nor a Hermes Birkin can make us truly happy
or contented. They are like dust, a fog obscuring the true meaning of
life, and can be blown away in the twinkling of an eye.
When the end approaches and we look back on our lives, will we regret
the latest mobile phone or luxury car that we did not acquire? Or
would we prefer to die at peace with ourselves, knowing that we have
lived lives filled with love, friendship and goodwill, that we have
helped some of our fellow voyagers along the way and that we have
tried our best to leave this world a slightly better place than how we
found it?
We know which is the correct choice - and it is within our power to
make that choice.
In this new year, burdened as it is with the problems of the year
that has just ended, let us again try to choose wisely.
To a considerable degree, our happiness is within our own control,
and we should not follow the herd blindly.
(The writer is director of the National Neuroscience Institute and Lee
Kuan Yew's daughter (Lee Kuan Yew is the former Prime Minister of
Singapore ).
VICTIMS OF CATEGORIZATION [VOC] PHENOMENON
When I was in Form two, I realized that people around us tend to put us into boxes – you are clever, you are naughty, you are stupid, etc. It is not just the description of behavior, it goes beyond that – they mean it as YOUR characteristic. It is like you are boxed into one category and you are treated as such irregardless of whether you change or not. It was a major challenge for me to ensure that “negative categorization” of me does not impede my progress. If you do not understand what I am saying try to look back to your schooldays – you have the “bully”, you have the boy/girl ho is always “to be bullied”, you have the “smart ones”, you have the “dumb ones”. We label them and then act accordingly to them. I coined the term “victims of categorization” so that I can analyse it in my mind and make sense of the world.
Today, I realize that what happened in school is in fact a normal phenomenon in life. Let’s take politics, for example. You could just be an ordinary member in DAP, probably not even active at all apart from attending some of their ceramahs. The fact that you are in DAP will cause you to carry all the stigma that DAP may have. If DAP is perceived as a Chinese chauvinistic party, you will be categorized as such even though you are a non-Chinese! Likewise, if you are in UMNO, you will carry its stigma too. Even though you are a married to a Chinese and your entire family is multi-racial, you will be categorized as Malay chauvinist and corrupt! This example can be applied to all the other parties. Ordinary members are not spared from being categorized by the other ordinary citizens.
Of course there are die-hard DAP or UMNO or PKR or PAS, etc members. That’s different. I am talking of citizens who want to belong to a particular political party because they feel comfortable with it and find it ONE way to participate in the political development of the country. These good intention people become unnecessarily victims of categorization such that it impedes their contribution to the larger objective of contributing nationally.
Ordinary members are “forced into a corner” into taking up positions they may not want to take due to VOC phenomenon. What do ordinary party members get anyway compared to their political masters? A kiss of their master’s hands? Such a phenomenon is not good for political development and growth of political maturity among the ordinary citizens who are ordinary party members.
I always encourage anyone to join any party so long as the objective is to serve the Nation. I also encourage some of my friends not to join any political party because life is not completely about politics. We need Raperas in every area of life.
This mindless behaviour of boxing people generally into boxes and then limiting their potential and their role to the relevant box does not augur well for the Nation as a whole. To me, this VOC phenomenon is yet another example of the failure of our education and value system. It seems to me, in this sense, that our entire thinking process needs to be reformed!
“VOC phenomenon tends to cause blinkers in the mind and if you do this, you are guilty of “pressuring” ordinary people into becoming pawns of their politicians. Raperas on the other hand are not infected by the VOC virus as they are aware of its operation and effects.
As I said, politics was just an example I used to demonstrate the operation of the VOC phenomenon. VOC phenomenon, however, operates in many spheres of our lives, including in the family. We unthinkingly label a family member as such and such and after that, for the rest of his/her life we treat and perceive her/him according to the categorization that we have put them in. From my informal research and observations over the years, I have seen such VOC inhibit people’s potential for growth.
Think about it.
PEACE !
Today, I realize that what happened in school is in fact a normal phenomenon in life. Let’s take politics, for example. You could just be an ordinary member in DAP, probably not even active at all apart from attending some of their ceramahs. The fact that you are in DAP will cause you to carry all the stigma that DAP may have. If DAP is perceived as a Chinese chauvinistic party, you will be categorized as such even though you are a non-Chinese! Likewise, if you are in UMNO, you will carry its stigma too. Even though you are a married to a Chinese and your entire family is multi-racial, you will be categorized as Malay chauvinist and corrupt! This example can be applied to all the other parties. Ordinary members are not spared from being categorized by the other ordinary citizens.
Of course there are die-hard DAP or UMNO or PKR or PAS, etc members. That’s different. I am talking of citizens who want to belong to a particular political party because they feel comfortable with it and find it ONE way to participate in the political development of the country. These good intention people become unnecessarily victims of categorization such that it impedes their contribution to the larger objective of contributing nationally.
Ordinary members are “forced into a corner” into taking up positions they may not want to take due to VOC phenomenon. What do ordinary party members get anyway compared to their political masters? A kiss of their master’s hands? Such a phenomenon is not good for political development and growth of political maturity among the ordinary citizens who are ordinary party members.
I always encourage anyone to join any party so long as the objective is to serve the Nation. I also encourage some of my friends not to join any political party because life is not completely about politics. We need Raperas in every area of life.
This mindless behaviour of boxing people generally into boxes and then limiting their potential and their role to the relevant box does not augur well for the Nation as a whole. To me, this VOC phenomenon is yet another example of the failure of our education and value system. It seems to me, in this sense, that our entire thinking process needs to be reformed!
“VOC phenomenon tends to cause blinkers in the mind and if you do this, you are guilty of “pressuring” ordinary people into becoming pawns of their politicians. Raperas on the other hand are not infected by the VOC virus as they are aware of its operation and effects.
As I said, politics was just an example I used to demonstrate the operation of the VOC phenomenon. VOC phenomenon, however, operates in many spheres of our lives, including in the family. We unthinkingly label a family member as such and such and after that, for the rest of his/her life we treat and perceive her/him according to the categorization that we have put them in. From my informal research and observations over the years, I have seen such VOC inhibit people’s potential for growth.
Think about it.
PEACE !
UMNO: SERIOUS ABOUT REFORMS!
Quite a few have been shocked and many more surprised at the unprecedented developments in the run-up to the UMNO General Assembly where many UMNO members have been hauled up before the UMNO disciplinary committee for various breaches of party ethics.
There has been much talk of weeding out money politics in UMNO and recent events seemed to suggest that UMNO may be walking the talk. A "Big fish" like Datuk Seri Ali Rustam has been banned from contesting in the UMNO polls while many other were suspended.
On the youth front, Khir Toyo has been found not guilty, while Khairy Jamaludin was found guilty and given a warning. Khairy, however maintains his innocence while Khir Toyo claims that the allegations were fabricated by others.
These allegations of fabrication are equally worrisome as one cannot discount the real possibility of being "set-up" by political opponents. This is an important aspect that the UMNO disciplinary committee must address. It is useless that a mechanism that is intended to weed out money politics mutates into a sophisticated mechanism to kill off opponents.
THe DPM Datuk Seri Najib who is slated to take over as President of UMNO come April has promised to further reform UMNO once he is in charge. "If we don't change, we will be changed. It is no secret we have to change". he said. You can read it here.
PEACE!
There has been much talk of weeding out money politics in UMNO and recent events seemed to suggest that UMNO may be walking the talk. A "Big fish" like Datuk Seri Ali Rustam has been banned from contesting in the UMNO polls while many other were suspended.
On the youth front, Khir Toyo has been found not guilty, while Khairy Jamaludin was found guilty and given a warning. Khairy, however maintains his innocence while Khir Toyo claims that the allegations were fabricated by others.
These allegations of fabrication are equally worrisome as one cannot discount the real possibility of being "set-up" by political opponents. This is an important aspect that the UMNO disciplinary committee must address. It is useless that a mechanism that is intended to weed out money politics mutates into a sophisticated mechanism to kill off opponents.
THe DPM Datuk Seri Najib who is slated to take over as President of UMNO come April has promised to further reform UMNO once he is in charge. "If we don't change, we will be changed. It is no secret we have to change". he said. You can read it here.
PEACE!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
John Edgar Hoover, FBI
Thanks to The Cutting Edge for this photo.I have been talking about John Edgar Hoover to some of my friends since last September. He is an interesting character in American political and forensic history. History must be read and learned from or we will be condemned to repeat it, so said my secondary school teacher. I remembered that in my mind.
Who is this personality?
On May 10, 1924, Hoover was selected to head the Bureau of Investigation. He was singularly responsible for professionalizing the FBI and turning it into an efficient crime-busting unit, including rooting out corrupt politicians. However, in the long run, it also made FBI and him particularly into a very powerful unit that can influence and shape those in the corridors of power.
The FBI under Hoover collected information on all America's leading politicians. Known as Hoover's secret files, this material was used to influence their actions. It was later claimed that Hoover used this incriminating material to make sure that the eight presidents that he served under, would be too frightened to sack him as director of the FBI. This strategy worked and Hoover was still in office when he died, aged seventy-seven, on 2nd May, 1972.
J. Edgar Hoover became and, for the greater part of his tenure, remained the most powerful man in Washington.
His biography and what can be learned from it is interesting reading.
Read it and you will understand, that is if you want to understand.
PEACE !
Sunday, March 15, 2009
VANITAS VANITATUM
I loved this poetry when I was first introduced to it in Lower Six, not realising how relevant it will be today. "Vanitas vanitatum" is Latin and is often translated as "vanity of vanities". How relevant today.
VANITAS VANITATUM OMNIA VANITAS
by: Anne Bronte (1820-1849)
IN all we do, and hear, and see,
Is restless Toil and Vanity.
While yet the rolling earth abides,
Men come and go like ocean tides;
And ere one generation dies,
Another in its place shall rise;
THAT, sinking soon into the grave,
Others succeed, like wave on wave;
And as they rise, they pass away.
The sun arises every day,
And hastening onward to the West,
He nightly sinks, but not to rest:
Returning to the eastern skies,
Again to light us, he must rise.
And still the restless wind comes forth,
Now blowing keenly from the North;
Now from the South, the East, the West,
For ever changing, ne'er at rest.
The fountains, gushing from the hills,
Supply the ever-running rills;
The thirsty rivers drink their store,
And bear it rolling to the shore,
But still the ocean craves for more.
'Tis endless labour everywhere!
Sound cannot satisfy the ear,
Light cannot fill the craving eye,
Nor riches half our wants supply,
Pleasure but doubles future pain,
And joy brings sorrow in her train;
Laughter is mad, and reckless mirth--
What does she in this weary earth?
Should Wealth, or Fame, our Life employ,
Death comes, our labour to destroy;
To snatch the untasted cup away,
For which we toiled so many a day.
What, then, remains for wretched man?
To use life's comforts while he can,
Enjoy the blessings Heaven bestows,
Assist his friends, forgive his foes;
Trust God, and keep His statutes still,
Upright and firm, through good and ill;
Thankful for all that God has given,
Fixing his firmest hopes on Heaven;
Knowing that earthly joys decay,
But hoping through the darkest day.
"Vanitas Vanitatum Omnia Vanitas" is reprinted from Poems By Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell. Charlotte, Anne, and Emily Bronte. Philadelphia: Lea and Blanchard, 1848.
VANITAS VANITATUM OMNIA VANITAS
by: Anne Bronte (1820-1849)
IN all we do, and hear, and see,
Is restless Toil and Vanity.
While yet the rolling earth abides,
Men come and go like ocean tides;
And ere one generation dies,
Another in its place shall rise;
THAT, sinking soon into the grave,
Others succeed, like wave on wave;
And as they rise, they pass away.
The sun arises every day,
And hastening onward to the West,
He nightly sinks, but not to rest:
Returning to the eastern skies,
Again to light us, he must rise.
And still the restless wind comes forth,
Now blowing keenly from the North;
Now from the South, the East, the West,
For ever changing, ne'er at rest.
The fountains, gushing from the hills,
Supply the ever-running rills;
The thirsty rivers drink their store,
And bear it rolling to the shore,
But still the ocean craves for more.
'Tis endless labour everywhere!
Sound cannot satisfy the ear,
Light cannot fill the craving eye,
Nor riches half our wants supply,
Pleasure but doubles future pain,
And joy brings sorrow in her train;
Laughter is mad, and reckless mirth--
What does she in this weary earth?
Should Wealth, or Fame, our Life employ,
Death comes, our labour to destroy;
To snatch the untasted cup away,
For which we toiled so many a day.
What, then, remains for wretched man?
To use life's comforts while he can,
Enjoy the blessings Heaven bestows,
Assist his friends, forgive his foes;
Trust God, and keep His statutes still,
Upright and firm, through good and ill;
Thankful for all that God has given,
Fixing his firmest hopes on Heaven;
Knowing that earthly joys decay,
But hoping through the darkest day.
"Vanitas Vanitatum Omnia Vanitas" is reprinted from Poems By Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell. Charlotte, Anne, and Emily Bronte. Philadelphia: Lea and Blanchard, 1848.
Friday, March 13, 2009
CrystalBall: Six Little Pigeons
Thanks to this site for the picture.One little, two little, three little pigeons,
four little, five little, six little pigeons,
why little, why little,why little pigeons,
why didn't you fly away?
One little, two little, three little pigeons,
four little, five little, six little pigeons,
why little, why little,why little pigeons,
one has to be caged away.
One little, two little, three little pigeons,
four little, five little, six little pigeons,
why little, why little,why little pigeons,
see the cat that is coming your way?
One little, two little, three little pigeons,
four little, five little, six little pigeons,
why little, why little,why little pigeons
five will be chased away.
One little, two little, three little pigeons,
four little, five little, six little pigeons,
why little, why little,why little pigeons
being pigeons, cant be eagle anyway.
One little, two little, three little pigeons,
four little, five little, six little pigeons,
not little, not little, not little pigeons
pigeons cause histoplasmosis by the way!
PEACE !
Thursday, March 12, 2009
CrsytalBall: PUSS IN BOOTS
In ding dong bell, the naughty kid who put pussy in the well is Johnny Flynn. We don't really know what happened to him thereafter but it was little Johnny Stout that saved pussy. WE, too, do not know what happened thereafter to him either. But for years one is sung as a hero and the other as a misled kid who could not recognize the contributions of pussy in catching all the mice. This part of the nursery rhyme history will just record the events.
Puss in boots as we know is a cat given to the youngest child of a miller. His other two brothers were given the mill and an ass, which appeared as better assets. BUT, puss in boｏts was no ordinary cat - it had a crafty mind, creative methods and very diligent in pursuing its objectives to serve its master.
As we know it, puss in boots understood the psychological and economic climate of its times. It was able to create an image for its master, who later came to be known as "Marquis of Carabas". Even the peasants were persuaded to tell the King that all the land belonged to the Marquis. The correct perceptions of power was created. The King was impressed with the Pusｓ'ｓ master. But there was still one challenge - the Ogre and the castle.
Puss in boots, however also seem to understand the psychology of the wealthy and the powerful. Using this knowledge and pandering to the Ogre; ego, it managed to overcome the ogre, in fact eat it! Fairy tales are the realm of the impossible. Sｏund familiar?
And the Marquis of Carabas married the princess and ruled the land.
PEACE！
MY OTHER BLOG
Friends,
Do you know I have another blog called "journey to God"? It is HERE
Do visit it sometime..:)
PEACE !
Do you know I have another blog called "journey to God"? It is HERE
Do visit it sometime..:)
PEACE !
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
CrystalBall: PINOCCHIO AND HUMPTY DUMPTY
.JPG)
Fairy tales is one of those things that I read when I was a kid. Pinocchio is about a boy whose nose grows every time he lied. It will be easy to recognize liars if Pinocchio phenomenon affects humans beings.
Humpty Dumpty is another story that used to baffle me. Firstly, being fat why was he sitting precariously on the wall? Obviously, the potential of a fall must have been real. Secondly, since he was not doing anything useful apart from just sitting, why should all the King’s men and all the King’s horses put Humpty Dumpty back together again? Did they really think Humpty will change from his predisposed self?
Being an adult, I wonder if Pinocchio and Humpty Dumpty were to get together, probably Humpty may not fall at all. Why? Because Pinocchio is such a liar that he may convince others that Humpty’s sitting on the wall is actually good for the King’s men. On the other hand, if Humpty does fall, he can lie and say that it was done by Little Johnny Flynn – the kid who put pussy in the well. And if Pinocchio can show the King’s men that Johnny Flynn is so dangerous, then Humpty must be put back together again.
But how? All the King’s men and the King’s horses cannot do it. Enters the witch and her magic wand. Swoof! The scene changes. And Pinocchio did it…almost.
But Pinocchio forget about one more creative character – Puss in Boots!
Don’t you just love fairy tales and what they predict?
PEACE !
Saturday, March 7, 2009
DEDICATED TO ALL READERS - FOR ONE WEEK
I have always loved Bee Gees. The melody is nice. It is also full of meaning if you understand the lyrics. Possibly, I may not be able to blog for a few days after tomorrow.
PEACE !
PEACE !
Friday, March 6, 2009
CrystalBall: Its here.
The hawker is coming to town. He has wares to share from and he is getting is stalls ready from tonight.
If you do not like tau fu or if you have been criticizing tau fu based products for too long, then you better watch out, you better be ready to eat them for long! Next week, there is a campaign on tau fu eating. Those who hate tou fu or tou based products, stay away from supermarkets that serve these!
Funny, tou fu which is soft rhymes with kung fu which is hostile?
Peace!
If you do not like tau fu or if you have been criticizing tau fu based products for too long, then you better watch out, you better be ready to eat them for long! Next week, there is a campaign on tau fu eating. Those who hate tou fu or tou based products, stay away from supermarkets that serve these!
Funny, tou fu which is soft rhymes with kung fu which is hostile?
Peace!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
MAY ALLAH FORGIVE OUR EXCESSES
A friend emailed to me youtube showing Karpal Singh being surrounded by some members who claim to be from UMNO youth. I rewinded and rewinded the clip. I could hear Karpal Singh pleading again and again: ‘Please let into Parliament”.
I may respect many of Karpal’s contribution to the development of law in the country but there are many political approaches of Karpal that I completely disagree. I do not even like the many things he says in Parliament or the way he says it. But I could not stop my tears from flowing when I saw the clip. I was sincerely embarrassed, and fearful of the wrath of Allah.
HOW COULD WE HAVE FAILED TO INCULCATE THE SPIRIT OF “RAHMAH” (MERCY) AND TACT IN OUR YOUTH?
Ya Allah, please continue to have mercy on us, your humble weak servants.
Ya Allah, You, the One who forgives Again and Again, please continue to forgive us for the excesses from among us.
Ya Allah, give us the strength to be grateful for the mercies that You have bestowed upon us.
Ya Allah, please give us the strength to cast aside the Iblis of arrogance and be ever mindful of Your Wrath and pleasure.
Ya Allah, please give us the wisdom to distinguish between right and wrong and to stop calling Your name in vain.
YA ALLAH, PLEASE BE SWIFT IN YOUR GUIDANCE AND SLOW IN YOUR WRATH.
Ya Allah, please forgive this weak, humble servant from invoking Your help for where else do I turn?
SALAM.
P.S. This post is not intended to offend or to support anyone. If I did unintentionally offend anyone, I readily offer my apologies. I also don’t agree that Pemuda UMNO is celaka. As I said before, I know a lot of good muslims there.
I may respect many of Karpal’s contribution to the development of law in the country but there are many political approaches of Karpal that I completely disagree. I do not even like the many things he says in Parliament or the way he says it. But I could not stop my tears from flowing when I saw the clip. I was sincerely embarrassed, and fearful of the wrath of Allah.
HOW COULD WE HAVE FAILED TO INCULCATE THE SPIRIT OF “RAHMAH” (MERCY) AND TACT IN OUR YOUTH?
Ya Allah, please continue to have mercy on us, your humble weak servants.
Ya Allah, You, the One who forgives Again and Again, please continue to forgive us for the excesses from among us.
Ya Allah, give us the strength to be grateful for the mercies that You have bestowed upon us.
Ya Allah, please give us the strength to cast aside the Iblis of arrogance and be ever mindful of Your Wrath and pleasure.
Ya Allah, please give us the wisdom to distinguish between right and wrong and to stop calling Your name in vain.
YA ALLAH, PLEASE BE SWIFT IN YOUR GUIDANCE AND SLOW IN YOUR WRATH.
Ya Allah, please forgive this weak, humble servant from invoking Your help for where else do I turn?
SALAM.
P.S. This post is not intended to offend or to support anyone. If I did unintentionally offend anyone, I readily offer my apologies. I also don’t agree that Pemuda UMNO is celaka. As I said before, I know a lot of good muslims there.
POLITICAL THOUGHT – NEED FOR RADICAL CHANGE (PART 5)
8) “Well, we already have the right to vote in every general election, so what’s the fuss?” - This is yet another response I get in my talks or discussions. Actually, this point is so important and covers many aspects that one can write volumes of books on it! I shall try to get across the spirit of the matter. Let us ask these questions:
a) is voting the only right of the citizen as far formation of Government is concerned?
b) Is the composition of the cabinet unimportant to the quality of service to the Nation?
c) Is the citizen voting the candidate or the party? (Need to rethink party voting and consequent formation of Government?)
d) What does “mandate” mean really?
e) What happens when MPs do not perform, must the Rakyat wait another 5 years – Is that not too long here real damage to the nation may be done, especially if the MP is a Minister or someone with important position?
There are many more such critical questions that bother me. These questions necessarily arise under our current political system. Surely, the duty of the Rakyat to the Nation cannot end at voting? If this is so, then we should create the mechanism and the system that will allow that duty to continue.
On mandate. We have heard before politicians use the term “mandate” to justify their every action until the next election. They give a narrow and incorrect interpretation to the word “mandate”. Having won an election, they say they have mandate. To me a mandate is a contract between the elected and the voter based on explicit and implicit terms. The explicit terms are of course all those promises that he explicitly told the voters ie his election manifesto. The implicit terms would include things like upholding the constitution, rule of law, serving the general interests of the Rakyat, etc. Therefore, when the elected MP breaches any of these terms, the mandate is revoked – the voter no longer wants him. He cannot hide behind collective decisions of his other elected colleagues. The mandate was personally given to him.
Under our current political system and thought, mandate is presumed to be continuing until the next election even when the MP breaches all the terms! A mandate is presumed to be a blank cheque to do anything. That cannot be so. This presumption becomes frightening when you consider that even the employment of a clerk is subjected to a three months probationary period. Raperas need to understand this concept and its misapplication in realpolitik carefully.
As to the other questions that I have raised, you may want to seriously think how mechanisms could be legitimately put in place to improve the system.
We need major reforms in this department. You will note that politicians hardly talk about political reforms.
PEACE !
NEXT: Last post on the preliminary points of political thought, God willing.
a) is voting the only right of the citizen as far formation of Government is concerned?
b) Is the composition of the cabinet unimportant to the quality of service to the Nation?
c) Is the citizen voting the candidate or the party? (Need to rethink party voting and consequent formation of Government?)
d) What does “mandate” mean really?
e) What happens when MPs do not perform, must the Rakyat wait another 5 years – Is that not too long here real damage to the nation may be done, especially if the MP is a Minister or someone with important position?
There are many more such critical questions that bother me. These questions necessarily arise under our current political system. Surely, the duty of the Rakyat to the Nation cannot end at voting? If this is so, then we should create the mechanism and the system that will allow that duty to continue.
On mandate. We have heard before politicians use the term “mandate” to justify their every action until the next election. They give a narrow and incorrect interpretation to the word “mandate”. Having won an election, they say they have mandate. To me a mandate is a contract between the elected and the voter based on explicit and implicit terms. The explicit terms are of course all those promises that he explicitly told the voters ie his election manifesto. The implicit terms would include things like upholding the constitution, rule of law, serving the general interests of the Rakyat, etc. Therefore, when the elected MP breaches any of these terms, the mandate is revoked – the voter no longer wants him. He cannot hide behind collective decisions of his other elected colleagues. The mandate was personally given to him.
Under our current political system and thought, mandate is presumed to be continuing until the next election even when the MP breaches all the terms! A mandate is presumed to be a blank cheque to do anything. That cannot be so. This presumption becomes frightening when you consider that even the employment of a clerk is subjected to a three months probationary period. Raperas need to understand this concept and its misapplication in realpolitik carefully.
As to the other questions that I have raised, you may want to seriously think how mechanisms could be legitimately put in place to improve the system.
We need major reforms in this department. You will note that politicians hardly talk about political reforms.
PEACE !
NEXT: Last post on the preliminary points of political thought, God willing.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
THE STRUGGLE FOR POLITICAL POWER VS. NATIONAL INTERESTS
The struggle for power among the politicians ordinarily hurts the Rakyat and if the Rakyat is not careful, it may escalate to extremely painful and dangerous situations. We have to strive all we can to maintain public order and national stability. This is our home; we have to take care of it.
We have to collectively make the politicians realize that NATIONAL INTERESTS are far larger than their respective quests for political power.
As the current situation shows, there appears to be no end. Perak is turning out to be "The Tale of Two Governments" with no benefit to the people. What is happening in Perak will certainly have an impact on the whole country in terms of investor's confidence and business development. Without confidence, there is no investment, no employment opportunities, and hence no incomes. We all suffer. Our families suffer.
How did GOVERNANCE ever get out of hand?
What a price to pay for political scores?
PEACE !
We have to collectively make the politicians realize that NATIONAL INTERESTS are far larger than their respective quests for political power.
As the current situation shows, there appears to be no end. Perak is turning out to be "The Tale of Two Governments" with no benefit to the people. What is happening in Perak will certainly have an impact on the whole country in terms of investor's confidence and business development. Without confidence, there is no investment, no employment opportunities, and hence no incomes. We all suffer. Our families suffer.
How did GOVERNANCE ever get out of hand?
What a price to pay for political scores?
PEACE !
ASSEMBLY MEETING IN THE CAR PARK?
These are interesting and educational times. The "Perak State Assembly" convened a meeting in a car park. Can this be done, putting aside the issue of whether the meeting can be convened without the Sultans' consent? I think the better view is that an Assembly need not take place in a particular building. It can take place anywhere. This must be so or otherwise it may be impossible to convene assembly sessions say, during war conditions where the designated State Assembly building may have been apprehended by the enemy. The "State Assembly" must refer to the proceedings duly convened rather than the physical place.
Likewise, a "court" is not a building either. I have been part of a "court" hearing on a hill where the "court" had to visit the locus in quo ie the place of crime. When evidence taking was going to take place, the judge simply declares that the "court is now in session".
Very interesting times.
Peace !
Likewise, a "court" is not a building either. I have been part of a "court" hearing on a hill where the "court" had to visit the locus in quo ie the place of crime. When evidence taking was going to take place, the judge simply declares that the "court is now in session".
Very interesting times.
Peace !
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
POLITICAL THOUGHT – NEED FOR RADICAL CHANGE (PART 4)
7) “I am not interested in politics” – this is another statement that we hear the majority often say. But what do we mean by that? Do we mean that we are not interested in becoming politicians? If that is so, I too have the same mindset. I am not interested in becoming a politician too because I cannot see how I can serve my nation by being that under our current political system. However, that does not mean that I stop observing political developments and the behaviour of politicians in the country. I have to. This is my home.
I am concerned that when people say “I am not interested in politics”, they are confused with the responsibility as a citizen. These are two different things. As a citizen, our responsibility to the nation is diverse and continuing till we die. This responsibility requires us to evaluate the current political system and monitor the behaviour of politicians in our country. In fact, to influence it if alignment is needed. This is because, politicians are in powerful positions to affect our Nation – they can redistribute resources, they create national policies that determine the direction of the Nation (or lack thereof), they have all the Nation’s tools at their disposal and the potential of abuse is real, etc.
Raperas by definition have to be interested in politics as they are in environmental issues, public order issues, etc. To me, being completely indifferent to politics in the country is an abdication of responsibility and duty to the nation. We happily note that today, there is a major outcry by the People that politicians should stop politicking and focus on the job of taking care of the nation’s interest. These are responsible citizens, who though not in politics, are nevertheless concerned about the ill effects of the politicians’ obsession with politics at the expense of important matters such as the economy, stability, etc.
In summary, you HAVE to be INTERESTED in politics if you want to safeguard the Nation for yourself and the future generation.
8) “Well, we already have the right to vote in every general election, so what’s the fuss?” - TO BE CONTINUED AS ALLAH WILLS.
PEACE !
I am concerned that when people say “I am not interested in politics”, they are confused with the responsibility as a citizen. These are two different things. As a citizen, our responsibility to the nation is diverse and continuing till we die. This responsibility requires us to evaluate the current political system and monitor the behaviour of politicians in our country. In fact, to influence it if alignment is needed. This is because, politicians are in powerful positions to affect our Nation – they can redistribute resources, they create national policies that determine the direction of the Nation (or lack thereof), they have all the Nation’s tools at their disposal and the potential of abuse is real, etc.
Raperas by definition have to be interested in politics as they are in environmental issues, public order issues, etc. To me, being completely indifferent to politics in the country is an abdication of responsibility and duty to the nation. We happily note that today, there is a major outcry by the People that politicians should stop politicking and focus on the job of taking care of the nation’s interest. These are responsible citizens, who though not in politics, are nevertheless concerned about the ill effects of the politicians’ obsession with politics at the expense of important matters such as the economy, stability, etc.
In summary, you HAVE to be INTERESTED in politics if you want to safeguard the Nation for yourself and the future generation.
8) “Well, we already have the right to vote in every general election, so what’s the fuss?” - TO BE CONTINUED AS ALLAH WILLS.
PEACE !
POLITICAL THOUGHT – NEED FOR RADICAL CHANGE (PART 3)
6) “You cannot bring change without being in a political party” – when you say this, you readily recognize that under the current political system and thought, any meaningful political change is possible ONLY when you are within a political party. Therein lies the crux of the problem. This also gives rise to several aspects that must be analyzed thoroughly (cannot be done here). Of course, we all familiar with the benefits of a political party, the main factor being the advantage of organization.
At the outset, let me say that the biggest fallacy propagated by the politicians is this: political change can only be brought about by political parties and politicians. Developments in political history will testify that this is indeed a fallacy. Changes in political thought and system occurs primarily OUTSIDE the political parties and subsequently due to popular adherence to the new thought, political parties adopt the thoughts. The change comes from thinkers and reformers supported by the thinking public.
Change within a party is almost impossible unless you have a RADICAL leader. The party system, in order to sustain itself has all sorts of mechanisms that will disallow you to depart from pre-set rules and modes of behaviour. There are many such mechanisms – patronage, party whip, permitted and organized parachuting to party positions, etc. Dissent is necessarily disallowed. If you check the Societies Act, you will see that political parties (decisions) are the only society that are exempted from review by the courts of law. All these mechanisms are designed to ensure that the party does not suffer a trauma from any radical change. This is one of the main reasons why you find that political parties self degenerate through time – they fail to be sensitive in advance to changes among the polity.
The major problem with the current party system is that it does not have and does not allow for a proper mechanism for leadership to evolve. This is self evident in this country where you find that leadership opportunities are mainly open to family members of the party leadership. It is almost as if in this country of more than 27 million Malaysians, leadership is incestuous! This is something that must be corrected so that true leadership from among the people can arise. Tun Dr Mahathir the son of a school teacher, a commoner was an exception in our political history.
Worse, the party system may throw up the worst possible candidate for leadership. A foreign example will be George Bush. Malaysians cannot forever wait for changes to come from the very West that we are so fond of condemning.
We have to put our thinking caps on and make efforts to bring about reforms in the political system and develop our political thought. This is not a job that politicians will embark on; they are reactionary by nature and not initiative driven towards change. We need to create a system that will bring about the best leadership possible – this must firstly occur from outside the political arena. This will also include changes to our existing laws.
PEACE！
At the outset, let me say that the biggest fallacy propagated by the politicians is this: political change can only be brought about by political parties and politicians. Developments in political history will testify that this is indeed a fallacy. Changes in political thought and system occurs primarily OUTSIDE the political parties and subsequently due to popular adherence to the new thought, political parties adopt the thoughts. The change comes from thinkers and reformers supported by the thinking public.
Change within a party is almost impossible unless you have a RADICAL leader. The party system, in order to sustain itself has all sorts of mechanisms that will disallow you to depart from pre-set rules and modes of behaviour. There are many such mechanisms – patronage, party whip, permitted and organized parachuting to party positions, etc. Dissent is necessarily disallowed. If you check the Societies Act, you will see that political parties (decisions) are the only society that are exempted from review by the courts of law. All these mechanisms are designed to ensure that the party does not suffer a trauma from any radical change. This is one of the main reasons why you find that political parties self degenerate through time – they fail to be sensitive in advance to changes among the polity.
The major problem with the current party system is that it does not have and does not allow for a proper mechanism for leadership to evolve. This is self evident in this country where you find that leadership opportunities are mainly open to family members of the party leadership. It is almost as if in this country of more than 27 million Malaysians, leadership is incestuous! This is something that must be corrected so that true leadership from among the people can arise. Tun Dr Mahathir the son of a school teacher, a commoner was an exception in our political history.
Worse, the party system may throw up the worst possible candidate for leadership. A foreign example will be George Bush. Malaysians cannot forever wait for changes to come from the very West that we are so fond of condemning.
We have to put our thinking caps on and make efforts to bring about reforms in the political system and develop our political thought. This is not a job that politicians will embark on; they are reactionary by nature and not initiative driven towards change. We need to create a system that will bring about the best leadership possible – this must firstly occur from outside the political arena. This will also include changes to our existing laws.
PEACE！
Monday, March 2, 2009
POLITICAL THOUGHT – NEED FOR RADICAL CHANGE (PART 2)
5) “Stop wasting time, we cannot change the system”- This is a phrase often used by the ordinary citizens. There are many levels of discussing this mindset. I shall attempt at one level. At a certain level, this mindset is understandable – it may represent frustration, helplessness or emanating from a sense of the dubious “after all, who am I?. What I cannot understand is when this is uttered by those who have never a spent a second of their lives considering whether they can make any change for the better. To me, such people who deliberately refuse to think have forfeited the right to complain. They are free riders.
I have often told my students that “God did not create the brains for pure decoration”. This, however is embarrassing to tell adults. Is it true we cannot change the system? If that is so, are we conceding that we are still using the same transportation system since Merdeka? Surely, highways, monorails and LRTs did not exist then? What about our communication system? Did we not change it in this country? Only a few years back, it is unthinkable that you can send a whole cabinet of files to say, England in a few seconds. Today, we do it through email. If you think about it, the way we communicate today is completely different and unimaginable from just a few years back. That is RADICAL change. I can go on and give examples of “systems” in our lives that have changed.
But I think you get the point. If you do not, try some thinking. The only and major pre-requisite that you need for change is – THE WILL TO CHANGE. That will must be as strong as the will to save your drowning child. It is this lack of will that is still dominant in our society. You can call it by any fashionable word that you want –“comfort zone”, “fear of the unknown and so on. But the basic point is: you do not want to change but think you do and hence you conjure up excuses. Our human failings.
But know this – the academic gurus of the current political thought does not want it to change – what’s going to happen to their glory and years of dedication to failed political thoughts?
But know this – the current capitalists that benefit does not want it to change – what’s going to happen to their profits?
But know this – the current politicians in the game do not want it to change – what’s going to happen to their power and their network? (This is why I have always maintained that NO politician can be an agent for useful change unless they have evolved into Statesman or Raperas).
I cannot go into depth on this blog, so let me share an extreme simplistic example. A Buddhist monk whom I met in my teens told me something that I did not understand then. He said, “There are masters only because there are humans who allow themselves to be slaves”. I thought he must be mad! I was sure nobody wants to be a slave. However, I grow up sadly realizing that many not only live a life of slavery, but they accept it as a way of life! To avoid any misunderstanding of the word “slave”, I mean by it a person who does the every bidding of another person, without thinking, without conscience, without dignity – purely for selfish survival. A slave becomes the property of the master and is no longer human in this sense. That is why slavery is cruel and for the willing slave, it is shameful. A slave is unable to think of change.
Be warned that our society has evolved to higher levels of slavery. I often see slaves honored with honors, wealth and positions. But the fact remains – they are slaves. They have no dignity, no conscience, no humanity. Such are truly lost souls. God forbid, to this day, I have never personally recognized any of these slaves as any other than slaves. This is what I hope Raperas will be able to understand. Do not let wealth, power, positions detract you from recognizing the willing slave as one. If you can, tell him/her so. This will be a catalyst for change.
If you can start to do this in your personal lives, then we are already on the road to changing the political thought and system. Politics, we must always remember is primarily about power in the current political system. It is based on a master-slave relationship. Phrases like “working with the people” are often illusory. Do not be fooled.
If you have been following the above discussion, you must now be able to conclude that there will be resistance to change. Of course. You should not be surprised because the first person that will resist you is YOU with your creative excuses. So why should,nt those who benefit from this system?
I used to tell my student thats if all of them refuse to come to my class, I cannot be a teacher. Understand what I am saying? Change is that easy.
Peace !
I have often told my students that “God did not create the brains for pure decoration”. This, however is embarrassing to tell adults. Is it true we cannot change the system? If that is so, are we conceding that we are still using the same transportation system since Merdeka? Surely, highways, monorails and LRTs did not exist then? What about our communication system? Did we not change it in this country? Only a few years back, it is unthinkable that you can send a whole cabinet of files to say, England in a few seconds. Today, we do it through email. If you think about it, the way we communicate today is completely different and unimaginable from just a few years back. That is RADICAL change. I can go on and give examples of “systems” in our lives that have changed.
But I think you get the point. If you do not, try some thinking. The only and major pre-requisite that you need for change is – THE WILL TO CHANGE. That will must be as strong as the will to save your drowning child. It is this lack of will that is still dominant in our society. You can call it by any fashionable word that you want –“comfort zone”, “fear of the unknown and so on. But the basic point is: you do not want to change but think you do and hence you conjure up excuses. Our human failings.
But know this – the academic gurus of the current political thought does not want it to change – what’s going to happen to their glory and years of dedication to failed political thoughts?
But know this – the current capitalists that benefit does not want it to change – what’s going to happen to their profits?
But know this – the current politicians in the game do not want it to change – what’s going to happen to their power and their network? (This is why I have always maintained that NO politician can be an agent for useful change unless they have evolved into Statesman or Raperas).
I cannot go into depth on this blog, so let me share an extreme simplistic example. A Buddhist monk whom I met in my teens told me something that I did not understand then. He said, “There are masters only because there are humans who allow themselves to be slaves”. I thought he must be mad! I was sure nobody wants to be a slave. However, I grow up sadly realizing that many not only live a life of slavery, but they accept it as a way of life! To avoid any misunderstanding of the word “slave”, I mean by it a person who does the every bidding of another person, without thinking, without conscience, without dignity – purely for selfish survival. A slave becomes the property of the master and is no longer human in this sense. That is why slavery is cruel and for the willing slave, it is shameful. A slave is unable to think of change.
Be warned that our society has evolved to higher levels of slavery. I often see slaves honored with honors, wealth and positions. But the fact remains – they are slaves. They have no dignity, no conscience, no humanity. Such are truly lost souls. God forbid, to this day, I have never personally recognized any of these slaves as any other than slaves. This is what I hope Raperas will be able to understand. Do not let wealth, power, positions detract you from recognizing the willing slave as one. If you can, tell him/her so. This will be a catalyst for change.
If you can start to do this in your personal lives, then we are already on the road to changing the political thought and system. Politics, we must always remember is primarily about power in the current political system. It is based on a master-slave relationship. Phrases like “working with the people” are often illusory. Do not be fooled.
If you have been following the above discussion, you must now be able to conclude that there will be resistance to change. Of course. You should not be surprised because the first person that will resist you is YOU with your creative excuses. So why should,nt those who benefit from this system?
I used to tell my student thats if all of them refuse to come to my class, I cannot be a teacher. Understand what I am saying? Change is that easy.
Peace !
Sunday, March 1, 2009
POLITICAL THOUGHT – NEED FOR RADICAL CHANGE (PART 1)
There is clearly a need for a rethinking of current political thought, a redefining of the entire political system. Before I proceed, let me attempt to address a few points that will arise in the minds of some –
1) “Any system is fine, it is the people that matters”. This is a common objection whenever you suggest some change in the system. True, it is always the people that matter as it is the human that has to manage and work within the system. However, one must remember that the effectiveness and the quality of the system that is in place largely sets the standards and the parameters of behavior. For example, under the current political system, we have the “opposition and the Government party”. Under current political thought, you are EXPECTED to be foes of each other to the extent that cooperation between the two is almost forbidden even if it does not serve national interest. Our current political system (based on the perception of so-called realpolitik) is either racial or religious based. Hence, any aspiring politician must be able to tailor his behavior into either of these two categories – the system moulds the behavior. When the political thought itself is premised on racial and religious platforms, the fact that racism and religiosity will be perpetuated escapes the thinking of most. If I am correct, then the thinking that “any system is fine” must be incorrect.
2) “We must be practical, not idealistic”. This is another statement I often hear in my life. My experience has been the speaker does not really understand the full import of what he said. Practicality and pragmatism are two different concepts that give rise to different results. In its “original form”, “pragmatism” was a philosophical tradition that originated in the United States around 1870. The most important of the ‘classical pragmatists’ were Charles Sanders Peirce (1839–1914), William James (1842–1910) and John Dewey (1859-1952). Of course as most concepts experience, this concept too mutated into political and other sciences.
For example, it is practical that if you are alive, you will need to work to earn a living. It may be pragmatic that you earn your living through corrupt means if that gives you more and faster income than though decent means. Racial politics may be pragmatic but certainly not practical as it divides society. “End justifying the means” is pragmatism, not practicality. I believe we keep confusing the word “practical” with “pragmatic”. Is it then any wonder that there is ensuing confusion and chaos in our political world?
It has always perplexed me when I was younger and it continues to perplex me in my adult life that even so-called persons who are expected to be intellectuals fail to see that practicality need not be an antithesis to idealism. My perplexion subsides only when I realize that our education “system” has failed – thinking has low priority in our political thought. Idealism is covered under the next point.
3) “No wonder you cannot be in politics, you are idealistic”. I am sure, even you must have heard this line of thinking. Is it not frightening that collectively we seem to have accepted that idealism has no place in our political thought? This also implies that we accept and elect leaders with no ideals and reject those who have. But do we again know what we are saying? Idealism is the philosophical theory which maintains that the ultimate nature of reality is based on mind or ideas. It holds that the so-called external or "real world" is inseparable from mind, consciousness, or perception. Today of course, the word has, in our society, mutated to mean a “utopian” way of thinking. That is, something of a “perfection”.
Firstly, if we use the word as is rightly understood in political philosophy, are we saying that we want leaders that believe that the “real world” is unconnected to mind, consciousness or perception? This would be frighteningly ridiculous correct?
Secondly, if we use the word as is ordinarily understood today to mean something of a “perfection”, what is wrong with having an objective of attaining “perfection”? Of course perfection by definition may be unattainable but is that not setting high standards? If we reject idealism or idealistic thoughts, it seems to me that we condone mediocrity and mediocre thoughts. Frankly, our political system and thinking to me is at an extremely mediocre level. What is worrisome is that this mediocrity in political behavior and thought has through familiarity been accepted as THE political system. Fools reign supreme because the thinking ones are kicked aside by the rallying cry against “idealism”!
Thirdly, ideals are relative but it seems to suggest “high standards as perceived by the society at a certain thinking level”. For example, to the caveman who is hunting, it will be ideal for him that he can store up food for a certain period that will free him from daily hunting. I can imagine the caveman who speaks of this being brushed aside by his fellow caveman as being “not practical, idealistic”. Today, however, that caveman will be considered a visionary because we have invented the refrigerator. If you understand this example, then you will see that leaders must have ideals for society to truly progress (as opposed to “window dressing progress” - to be discussed another day). Our political thought must incorporate ideals in its philosophy. If you do not understand this, then either a) take your time and b) understand how powerful indoctrination of your mind has been.
4) “I am a party man”. It is our Malaysian malady that we love to say things that we do not fully understand. As I often say, thinking is not a trait taught by our education “system”. What does “party man” mean? Does that mean once we are “Party man”, we stop being fathers, mothers, citizens, Muslims, Hindus, Christians, humans, males, females, etc? Which is paramount and takes precedence – being a party man or a citizen? (To me being a Rapera takes precedence as this word (as I understand it) is comprehensive). Our current political thought forces us into a box. We have to be categorized and once categorized, you cannot behave in manners that may be construed as being outside your respective boxes.
Our current political thinking boxes us into “PAS”, “UMNO”, “DAP”, “PKR”, etc, overriding the more important commonality of being a citizen of the Nation. When I was in form four, I coined the term “victim of categorization” not realizing that this term will be equally useful to explain my views today about current political thought. Once we are boxed into “political party boxes” we, as normal citizens become victims of categorization. We are unable to speak out against our own party when they do wrong and unable to support another party when they do right. While this will allow political scores to be made, as a Nation we flounder. National Interest as a binding force between competing political parties is not permitted under our current political system. This must change, RADICALLY.
Due to citizens compelled to become victims of categorization under our current political thought and system, in the long run, the true losers are the ordinary citizens and ordinary party members.
Should it not be that even after you retire from politics, you must still be a responsible citizen? Only a "party man" has a time span on his responsibility to the Nation.
5) TO BE CONTINUED – PART2, AS ALLAH WILLS.
PEACE !
1) “Any system is fine, it is the people that matters”. This is a common objection whenever you suggest some change in the system. True, it is always the people that matter as it is the human that has to manage and work within the system. However, one must remember that the effectiveness and the quality of the system that is in place largely sets the standards and the parameters of behavior. For example, under the current political system, we have the “opposition and the Government party”. Under current political thought, you are EXPECTED to be foes of each other to the extent that cooperation between the two is almost forbidden even if it does not serve national interest. Our current political system (based on the perception of so-called realpolitik) is either racial or religious based. Hence, any aspiring politician must be able to tailor his behavior into either of these two categories – the system moulds the behavior. When the political thought itself is premised on racial and religious platforms, the fact that racism and religiosity will be perpetuated escapes the thinking of most. If I am correct, then the thinking that “any system is fine” must be incorrect.
2) “We must be practical, not idealistic”. This is another statement I often hear in my life. My experience has been the speaker does not really understand the full import of what he said. Practicality and pragmatism are two different concepts that give rise to different results. In its “original form”, “pragmatism” was a philosophical tradition that originated in the United States around 1870. The most important of the ‘classical pragmatists’ were Charles Sanders Peirce (1839–1914), William James (1842–1910) and John Dewey (1859-1952). Of course as most concepts experience, this concept too mutated into political and other sciences.
For example, it is practical that if you are alive, you will need to work to earn a living. It may be pragmatic that you earn your living through corrupt means if that gives you more and faster income than though decent means. Racial politics may be pragmatic but certainly not practical as it divides society. “End justifying the means” is pragmatism, not practicality. I believe we keep confusing the word “practical” with “pragmatic”. Is it then any wonder that there is ensuing confusion and chaos in our political world?
It has always perplexed me when I was younger and it continues to perplex me in my adult life that even so-called persons who are expected to be intellectuals fail to see that practicality need not be an antithesis to idealism. My perplexion subsides only when I realize that our education “system” has failed – thinking has low priority in our political thought. Idealism is covered under the next point.
3) “No wonder you cannot be in politics, you are idealistic”. I am sure, even you must have heard this line of thinking. Is it not frightening that collectively we seem to have accepted that idealism has no place in our political thought? This also implies that we accept and elect leaders with no ideals and reject those who have. But do we again know what we are saying? Idealism is the philosophical theory which maintains that the ultimate nature of reality is based on mind or ideas. It holds that the so-called external or "real world" is inseparable from mind, consciousness, or perception. Today of course, the word has, in our society, mutated to mean a “utopian” way of thinking. That is, something of a “perfection”.
Firstly, if we use the word as is rightly understood in political philosophy, are we saying that we want leaders that believe that the “real world” is unconnected to mind, consciousness or perception? This would be frighteningly ridiculous correct?
Secondly, if we use the word as is ordinarily understood today to mean something of a “perfection”, what is wrong with having an objective of attaining “perfection”? Of course perfection by definition may be unattainable but is that not setting high standards? If we reject idealism or idealistic thoughts, it seems to me that we condone mediocrity and mediocre thoughts. Frankly, our political system and thinking to me is at an extremely mediocre level. What is worrisome is that this mediocrity in political behavior and thought has through familiarity been accepted as THE political system. Fools reign supreme because the thinking ones are kicked aside by the rallying cry against “idealism”!
Thirdly, ideals are relative but it seems to suggest “high standards as perceived by the society at a certain thinking level”. For example, to the caveman who is hunting, it will be ideal for him that he can store up food for a certain period that will free him from daily hunting. I can imagine the caveman who speaks of this being brushed aside by his fellow caveman as being “not practical, idealistic”. Today, however, that caveman will be considered a visionary because we have invented the refrigerator. If you understand this example, then you will see that leaders must have ideals for society to truly progress (as opposed to “window dressing progress” - to be discussed another day). Our political thought must incorporate ideals in its philosophy. If you do not understand this, then either a) take your time and b) understand how powerful indoctrination of your mind has been.
4) “I am a party man”. It is our Malaysian malady that we love to say things that we do not fully understand. As I often say, thinking is not a trait taught by our education “system”. What does “party man” mean? Does that mean once we are “Party man”, we stop being fathers, mothers, citizens, Muslims, Hindus, Christians, humans, males, females, etc? Which is paramount and takes precedence – being a party man or a citizen? (To me being a Rapera takes precedence as this word (as I understand it) is comprehensive). Our current political thought forces us into a box. We have to be categorized and once categorized, you cannot behave in manners that may be construed as being outside your respective boxes.
Our current political thinking boxes us into “PAS”, “UMNO”, “DAP”, “PKR”, etc, overriding the more important commonality of being a citizen of the Nation. When I was in form four, I coined the term “victim of categorization” not realizing that this term will be equally useful to explain my views today about current political thought. Once we are boxed into “political party boxes” we, as normal citizens become victims of categorization. We are unable to speak out against our own party when they do wrong and unable to support another party when they do right. While this will allow political scores to be made, as a Nation we flounder. National Interest as a binding force between competing political parties is not permitted under our current political system. This must change, RADICALLY.
Due to citizens compelled to become victims of categorization under our current political thought and system, in the long run, the true losers are the ordinary citizens and ordinary party members.
Should it not be that even after you retire from politics, you must still be a responsible citizen? Only a "party man" has a time span on his responsibility to the Nation.
5) TO BE CONTINUED – PART2, AS ALLAH WILLS.
PEACE !
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