Asean, from a few countries has grown into a 10-country complex organisation. Kavi C. Ann's perspective of Asean and its emerging power in SEA and Indonesia's prominence shows nothing but the innate POWER of individual entity of nations. Everyone want to be the leader.
Asean can never be homogenous. Conflicting ideas and proposal abound. Human rights infringement, curtailment of freedom of speech, social suppression. Can any Asean nation claim they are angel government.?
Myanmar sticks out like a sore thumb with its worst human right suppression of its citizens and the unjust detention of Aung San Suu Kyi. A dictatorship nation. Singapore, an authoritarian enclave under the despotic LKY, with self-enriching creed as of the "marriage" creed. Many citizens live life on the edge. The poor are marginalised. But S'pore is a first world nation.
No nation in this world can claim credulence to be a nation for the people by the people and with the people. Even the US, a liberal democratic nation, harbours so many hidden agendas in its foreign policies to bring the world into catastrophic topsy-turvy.
The invasion of Iraq is a case in point. To this day the countless innocent death and murders of innocent. Young troops sent to their death. So, is America the moral leader of the free world??
Asean will never be extraordinary in shaping the politics of SEA. China as the emerging economic power will replace US in our region. Japan will forever hang in the balance.
Middle East's conflict will cease only if US stop its one-sided policy on Israel. Palestines (Hamas) must understand that no one has the right not to let others exist. Peaceful co-existence is the only answer to middle-east's turbulent conflict.
Kavi C. Ann's wide view is her pespective of thoughts. A good article. But at the end of the day how Asean will emerge in the eyes of the World Arena, is left to the participating countries to show a clean record of governance and fair treatment of their citizens. Beyond that everything is a farce.
Asean may just be a toothless tiger, ferociously intimidating its very people but not doing more to the world at large. All the various Summits and Meetings can be just talk only. We shall see the progress in time...we are not Nostradamus. Let us not be N A T O. (No Action Talk Only).
patrick lee song juan
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Of Bringing up a Child-The greatest parental Love
The modern faceless society breeds many emotionless stone-faced children. After all the years of nuture and care and education, the value of love is thinner than cellophane. A parental investment without any returns and many a times, heartache
the way children will treat the aged old parents in their twilight years.
Childbirth is the ultimate ecstasy of creation. A new innocent life is brought into the merciless world. The joy of parenthood to many cannot be expressed in words. A mother's joy, a father's delight.
The formatives years, the first sign of recognition of the mother, the first uttering of mama and papa, the first small unsteady step of babykind against the bold evil 'steps' of mankind.
Seeing the progressive development of baby's growth is the happiness joy... moment to moment.
Happiness lasts only in nostalgia when society and environmental influence is strong in molding the then baby into an adult. Many modern parents lose the grip on the basic upbringing of the children due to circumstances not to their desire but for the sake of a more comfortable living. Both parents usually hold a job each as compared to our parents generation where our mothers were usually the homemaker full time.
Modern children lose a lot of emotional bonding and tender care. The maid becomes their nanny and it makes a world of a difference to the warm and cohesion of the family.
Many parents try their best to balance work and family and some succeed, while others failed...Hence Jennifer Senior can say that .."I love my children, but I hate my life.."
Living and bringing up a child is a choice between two opinions...for we can never have the best of both worlds... can never be possible. We cannot compromise our priorities.
Please view my article in my Blog- www.leesjuanpatworld.blogspot.com on my grand daughter's first birthday....
It will bring you into a world of a new born.....the slow but steady progressive stages of her life till her first year birthday under the watchful and happy eyes of a grandfather.
I love Claire, my cute sweetie pie, now at one year and three months old.
patrick lee song juan
the way children will treat the aged old parents in their twilight years.
Childbirth is the ultimate ecstasy of creation. A new innocent life is brought into the merciless world. The joy of parenthood to many cannot be expressed in words. A mother's joy, a father's delight.
The formatives years, the first sign of recognition of the mother, the first uttering of mama and papa, the first small unsteady step of babykind against the bold evil 'steps' of mankind.
Seeing the progressive development of baby's growth is the happiness joy... moment to moment.
Happiness lasts only in nostalgia when society and environmental influence is strong in molding the then baby into an adult. Many modern parents lose the grip on the basic upbringing of the children due to circumstances not to their desire but for the sake of a more comfortable living. Both parents usually hold a job each as compared to our parents generation where our mothers were usually the homemaker full time.
Modern children lose a lot of emotional bonding and tender care. The maid becomes their nanny and it makes a world of a difference to the warm and cohesion of the family.
Many parents try their best to balance work and family and some succeed, while others failed...Hence Jennifer Senior can say that .."I love my children, but I hate my life.."
Living and bringing up a child is a choice between two opinions...for we can never have the best of both worlds... can never be possible. We cannot compromise our priorities.
Please view my article in my Blog- www.leesjuanpatworld.blogspot.com on my grand daughter's first birthday....
It will bring you into a world of a new born.....the slow but steady progressive stages of her life till her first year birthday under the watchful and happy eyes of a grandfather.
I love Claire, my cute sweetie pie, now at one year and three months old.
patrick lee song juan
Filial Piety - Love and Respect your Parents
Never be unfilial to your parents. The day will come when the void becomes a chasm. Hug your parents. Utter kind words to soothe their heavy ears. Love them with all your heart. My father left us many yers ago. I guess I did not love him as much. I have my surviving mother at 94 years. We, all nine siblings, love her dearly.
Mother is a grand old dame... a great grandmother with grand children and great grand children.
The modern world of small families eroded the cohesiveness and warm of a large family of our parents time. Today's parents are both working. The value of respect and love are not well-imparted to the children. Less time is spent on their formative years. Sad. The education system failed miserably on the elite segregation of the top school, creating a crutch mentality of snobs and uncaring attitude to our fellow beings.
Children are also left to the maids and nothing is hands-down to them.
Maids are ordered around by these young children and their attitude will reflect on them in later years. They do not know what is respect to elders and parents.
The modern world degenerates into a society of faceless uncaring people....with no filial piety for their aged-old parents. And Khaw Boon Wan is setting a 'good' example to ask us to send our parents to Johore Bahru's old folks' home to stay. Thank you Mr Health minister!!
Alas! the cyclic effects of procreation and family values will reflect on them. An eye for an eye. By the same measure one day their children may also not treat them good as they have treated their parents. So treasure your parents, your loved ones
and life will be good and meaningful.
patrick lee song juan
Mother is a grand old dame... a great grandmother with grand children and great grand children.
The modern world of small families eroded the cohesiveness and warm of a large family of our parents time. Today's parents are both working. The value of respect and love are not well-imparted to the children. Less time is spent on their formative years. Sad. The education system failed miserably on the elite segregation of the top school, creating a crutch mentality of snobs and uncaring attitude to our fellow beings.
Children are also left to the maids and nothing is hands-down to them.
Maids are ordered around by these young children and their attitude will reflect on them in later years. They do not know what is respect to elders and parents.
The modern world degenerates into a society of faceless uncaring people....with no filial piety for their aged-old parents. And Khaw Boon Wan is setting a 'good' example to ask us to send our parents to Johore Bahru's old folks' home to stay. Thank you Mr Health minister!!
Alas! the cyclic effects of procreation and family values will reflect on them. An eye for an eye. By the same measure one day their children may also not treat them good as they have treated their parents. So treasure your parents, your loved ones
and life will be good and meaningful.
patrick lee song juan
Friday, July 2, 2010
Of Living, Love and Filial Piety.
The evolution of mankind, the modern world of living, the society of stress, of small families, eroded the very essence of family cohesion, warm, communication. With all that, a total fallout of parental and siblings understanding; giving rise to family alienation and lost of filial piety.
In olden days of yonder folklore, with cohesive large families staying together under one roof and sometimes three generations of family members co-existing in harmony. The patriarch of the household was well respected and all children, from parents to young siblings showed great filial piety to the grand old parents. And family value was passed down in practical lesson of example everyday. The elders were held in great esteem and parents, grandparents or even great grandparents were respected and filial piety was the order of the times.
Today's society is a sad cry of the past. Families are disspated. Both parents are working their wits out to maintain a status quo for the well-being of their one or two kids and along the way lose the very essence of emotional wants rather than materialistic wants. The children are brought up with maids and show little respect to the maid who looked after them. Where can they learned the finer points of respect and filial piety. The decadent of family unity, togetherness and warm.
No time to impart strong values to the children resulting in many unable to even behave in public not to say at home.
The education system of S'pore is a total failure on social etiquette. Many school kids are left on their own as lackies and roamed the Malls with alot of pocket money to spend. Sad, to look at their manners in public. Yes! there are good kids too but far and few.
Filial piety is not just a 3 minutes watch on a video produced by MCYS. It is a process of instilling a kid from young the importance of elder respect , of love , of care , of compassion and empathy for the very folks of yours and on a wider scale of society's under-privileged.
During Mother's Day on 9th of June 2010, I held a talk on Filial Piety at YWCA under the auspices of ARA (Active Retirees Association) and was well received with a packed room.
Love makes the world go round, understanding brings togetherness, sympathy brings care but filial piety brings about the cycle of human greatness unsurpassed in the perpetuation of emotion and spiritual well-being of one human to another, of child parental relationship in eternity.
Is there an eternity in our present faceless society of senseless pursuit of material wealth, casting aside the very wealth of human emotion and understanding and the bondage of a happy cohesive family?
We are lost in the vast universe of modernisation, unrealism, and we do not have a 'life' to live.....Is not living a life better off than we are not living ?
A simple good life is a happy good living.
Patrick Lee Song Juan
In olden days of yonder folklore, with cohesive large families staying together under one roof and sometimes three generations of family members co-existing in harmony. The patriarch of the household was well respected and all children, from parents to young siblings showed great filial piety to the grand old parents. And family value was passed down in practical lesson of example everyday. The elders were held in great esteem and parents, grandparents or even great grandparents were respected and filial piety was the order of the times.
Today's society is a sad cry of the past. Families are disspated. Both parents are working their wits out to maintain a status quo for the well-being of their one or two kids and along the way lose the very essence of emotional wants rather than materialistic wants. The children are brought up with maids and show little respect to the maid who looked after them. Where can they learned the finer points of respect and filial piety. The decadent of family unity, togetherness and warm.
No time to impart strong values to the children resulting in many unable to even behave in public not to say at home.
The education system of S'pore is a total failure on social etiquette. Many school kids are left on their own as lackies and roamed the Malls with alot of pocket money to spend. Sad, to look at their manners in public. Yes! there are good kids too but far and few.
Filial piety is not just a 3 minutes watch on a video produced by MCYS. It is a process of instilling a kid from young the importance of elder respect , of love , of care , of compassion and empathy for the very folks of yours and on a wider scale of society's under-privileged.
During Mother's Day on 9th of June 2010, I held a talk on Filial Piety at YWCA under the auspices of ARA (Active Retirees Association) and was well received with a packed room.
Love makes the world go round, understanding brings togetherness, sympathy brings care but filial piety brings about the cycle of human greatness unsurpassed in the perpetuation of emotion and spiritual well-being of one human to another, of child parental relationship in eternity.
Is there an eternity in our present faceless society of senseless pursuit of material wealth, casting aside the very wealth of human emotion and understanding and the bondage of a happy cohesive family?
We are lost in the vast universe of modernisation, unrealism, and we do not have a 'life' to live.....Is not living a life better off than we are not living ?
A simple good life is a happy good living.
Patrick Lee Song Juan
Political victimisation of the Oppositions
Guess many do not see eye to eye with SDP's martyr style politics. But as you can see through the years SDP has gained regional and world recognition for its courage to stand up to the despotic regime of PAP, even with court case after court case and jailed and bankrupted.
Tonight, SDP's CSJ and Siok Chin were invited to attend an Independent Day function by the US Ambassador at Ritz Carlton. I wonder any other opposition
members were invited. No doubt, PAP will be represented.
I believe in the cause of justice against injustice. And in this setting, the deprived will always be the victim even if they are doing something rational but the draconic laws of PAP thinks otherwise.
Everyone has the right to believe the conviction of righteousness. CSJ is one man against the aircraft carrier 'USS Enterprise'. Lack of resources and fire-power. But defiant and courageous to the end for the betterment of life for Singaporeans. But many do not see it, is because MSM propagandised with collaboration of PAP to discredit SDP's CSJ and for that matter the social stigma is branded on his forehead.
As the young are more literate and internet savvy, nothing can escape and be distorted again. No more one-sided report. The internet age is the eye to the world of authentic news.
We shall see the future of S'pore unfolding not so by PAP's dominance but by able and youthful politicians arising for the transitional change of S'pore politics rather than political hegemony of a one party system of PAP. A two-party or multi-party system will be viable.
Look at Mandala, and Bishop Tutu. Through their struggle, ultimately they saw the light at the end of the tunnel.
S'pore's PAP will not rule forever. No party can rule forever. Nothing is permanent in life. The day will come that all the sacrifice will be worth the salt and SDP may have the last laugh.
We shall see the demise of the PAP slowly but surely.
Patrick Lee Song Juan
(First written on Facebook,
copied to my Blog)
Tonight, SDP's CSJ and Siok Chin were invited to attend an Independent Day function by the US Ambassador at Ritz Carlton. I wonder any other opposition
members were invited. No doubt, PAP will be represented.
I believe in the cause of justice against injustice. And in this setting, the deprived will always be the victim even if they are doing something rational but the draconic laws of PAP thinks otherwise.
Everyone has the right to believe the conviction of righteousness. CSJ is one man against the aircraft carrier 'USS Enterprise'. Lack of resources and fire-power. But defiant and courageous to the end for the betterment of life for Singaporeans. But many do not see it, is because MSM propagandised with collaboration of PAP to discredit SDP's CSJ and for that matter the social stigma is branded on his forehead.
As the young are more literate and internet savvy, nothing can escape and be distorted again. No more one-sided report. The internet age is the eye to the world of authentic news.
We shall see the future of S'pore unfolding not so by PAP's dominance but by able and youthful politicians arising for the transitional change of S'pore politics rather than political hegemony of a one party system of PAP. A two-party or multi-party system will be viable.
Look at Mandala, and Bishop Tutu. Through their struggle, ultimately they saw the light at the end of the tunnel.
S'pore's PAP will not rule forever. No party can rule forever. Nothing is permanent in life. The day will come that all the sacrifice will be worth the salt and SDP may have the last laugh.
We shall see the demise of the PAP slowly but surely.
Patrick Lee Song Juan
(First written on Facebook,
copied to my Blog)
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Politicians and Dictators
The law of nature...
All human are prone to make mistakes. No one is perfect. Individualism abounds. When your rationality over-rules your mindset, many of us will do stupid things. No different with LKY in his octogenaric years. The trouble with LKY is... he does not know when to let go and transfer power to LHL. Sad... Now, the whole world knows PM LHL is but a digit in LKY's power domain. LHL by virtue is an intelligent guy.
Politicians are 'steadfast' only in the moment to achieving what they want. Beyond that, it can be a question mark, that is what I meant.
Despotic dictators and rulers of their sovereign countries were and are
mainly egoistic, full of pride, become irrational to reasons and command absolute power to control at all cause. Hence the downfall of many dictators. Never a smooth transition. The innate selfishness of every human being. Always remember the impermanence of everything on earth... than we will be saved.
Myself am never a perfectionist to anything. In fact after my recent 2 weeks retreat meditation in a Penang Meditation Centre , I find myself even more lacking in my betterment to be a 'saintly' person. I am working hard to try to reach 0.1 percent of mindful awareness of life.
Yes! S'pore's opposition parties need to grow amicably and with unity to oust the PAP along the way. But never forget, in the same measure, PAP are also growing with better advantage and surely alot of 'underhand' tactics to dominate the escalation of their political dominance.
I do not subscribe to any opposition party's perfection. Each has its strong and weak points. Everyday is an unfolding of events.
Lastly, I would like to recommend two books by Elhart Tolle for a good read: 'The New Earth' and 'The Power of Now'. After reading, one can balance one's life with the vast cosmic exuberance of the universe's complexities relating to the Ego, Pride and Failing of the human race.
The mantra in life is the abitity TO LET GO.... living will always be a gem !!
All famous and great leaders of history failed miserably due to their inability "TO LET GO"...... regards
patrick lee song juan
(first written on Facebook,
copy to my Blog)
All human are prone to make mistakes. No one is perfect. Individualism abounds. When your rationality over-rules your mindset, many of us will do stupid things. No different with LKY in his octogenaric years. The trouble with LKY is... he does not know when to let go and transfer power to LHL. Sad... Now, the whole world knows PM LHL is but a digit in LKY's power domain. LHL by virtue is an intelligent guy.
Politicians are 'steadfast' only in the moment to achieving what they want. Beyond that, it can be a question mark, that is what I meant.
Despotic dictators and rulers of their sovereign countries were and are
mainly egoistic, full of pride, become irrational to reasons and command absolute power to control at all cause. Hence the downfall of many dictators. Never a smooth transition. The innate selfishness of every human being. Always remember the impermanence of everything on earth... than we will be saved.
Myself am never a perfectionist to anything. In fact after my recent 2 weeks retreat meditation in a Penang Meditation Centre , I find myself even more lacking in my betterment to be a 'saintly' person. I am working hard to try to reach 0.1 percent of mindful awareness of life.
Yes! S'pore's opposition parties need to grow amicably and with unity to oust the PAP along the way. But never forget, in the same measure, PAP are also growing with better advantage and surely alot of 'underhand' tactics to dominate the escalation of their political dominance.
I do not subscribe to any opposition party's perfection. Each has its strong and weak points. Everyday is an unfolding of events.
Lastly, I would like to recommend two books by Elhart Tolle for a good read: 'The New Earth' and 'The Power of Now'. After reading, one can balance one's life with the vast cosmic exuberance of the universe's complexities relating to the Ego, Pride and Failing of the human race.
The mantra in life is the abitity TO LET GO.... living will always be a gem !!
All famous and great leaders of history failed miserably due to their inability "TO LET GO"...... regards
patrick lee song juan
(first written on Facebook,
copy to my Blog)
Why Hazel Poa and Hubby should not join Reform Party
The main reason....in politics one must be steadfast and...
be able to hold your own in terms of delivery of words and actions. In this respect, Kenneth Jeyaretnam (KJ) is totally lacking in substance. Alot of insinuation. Secondly, as a new kid on the block, a lot of humility will serves him well. He is over ostentatious.
Hazel Poa and hubby have their own free will to join any party. The fact that they chose RP, may be due to the strong 'double first' that KJ holds in his credentials. Don't forget Hazel and hubby were scholars with colourful credentials too.
In human encounter and interaction, if one possesses the angst in human understanding and sincerity in character, it doesn't matter if you are a taxi driver because your personality shines. Again this is lacking in KJ. Though I have not met KJ, but the various press conference and release of his, he is deemed a solipsist. I would like to meet him to learn from him.
S"pore Democratic Party (SDP) though under tremendous persecution by the PAP, the party and members hold unity; even was jailed for many times fighting for the right of S'poreans and along the way the compliant Court bankkrupted Dr. Chee and his sister Siok Chin to deter them from any chance of candidacy in the coming elections. Is not this party(SDP)the moral courage to fight on with all odds aganist them and never falter? In the eyes of the simple-minded citizens, they will brand SDP but gradually the light is showing at the end of the tunnel.
Worker's Party (WP), helm by LTK is established and decent in its approach to the policies of PAP. Only when Sylvia Lim was inducted into WP and fought at 2006 election in Aljunied GRC and emerged with 44% opposition support that jolted PAP into greater 'graciousness' to accept that not all minds are alike and will buy PAP's rhetorics. Sylvia Lim has the moral courage and discretion to be a great politician by her participation in questioning the PAP's policies in parliament. But the sweet voice was always drowned by 82 powerful sycophants of PAP.
I wrote a post-morten email to George Yeo on the reason why Aljunied GRC showed such results ((after the 2006 failure to PAP not gaining more support from the voters. PAP and the big 'Guns' were blinded by attacking mercilessly on James Gomez that backfired. LKY called names and no one dared to sue LKY. No used to do it. Vice versa, if the oppositions did that they will be dead duck!)) George Yeo acknowledged my email for the thoughful insight given. I still have it in my folder till today.
No party will last forever as is life's impermanence. PAP should be gracious in defeat any ttime now and not as LKY said about bring in the army. S'pore is not Burma under miltary rule and autocratic.
So, Hazal Poa and hubby due to youthful inexperience may have joined the wrong party. But to each his/her own. I wish them the best. But again when KJ said in the interview with CNA tha Hazel Poa can be the next PM....my friend Bryan Ti (was struck awed) and dropped his denture on the floor and luckily it was intact less KJ is liable for 'circumstantial' damage. Bryan Ti will not sue you because he is not LKY or LHL and his ministers.(always happy sueing!)
patrick lee song juan
(First written on Facebook,
copied to my Blog)
be able to hold your own in terms of delivery of words and actions. In this respect, Kenneth Jeyaretnam (KJ) is totally lacking in substance. Alot of insinuation. Secondly, as a new kid on the block, a lot of humility will serves him well. He is over ostentatious.
Hazel Poa and hubby have their own free will to join any party. The fact that they chose RP, may be due to the strong 'double first' that KJ holds in his credentials. Don't forget Hazel and hubby were scholars with colourful credentials too.
In human encounter and interaction, if one possesses the angst in human understanding and sincerity in character, it doesn't matter if you are a taxi driver because your personality shines. Again this is lacking in KJ. Though I have not met KJ, but the various press conference and release of his, he is deemed a solipsist. I would like to meet him to learn from him.
S"pore Democratic Party (SDP) though under tremendous persecution by the PAP, the party and members hold unity; even was jailed for many times fighting for the right of S'poreans and along the way the compliant Court bankkrupted Dr. Chee and his sister Siok Chin to deter them from any chance of candidacy in the coming elections. Is not this party(SDP)the moral courage to fight on with all odds aganist them and never falter? In the eyes of the simple-minded citizens, they will brand SDP but gradually the light is showing at the end of the tunnel.
Worker's Party (WP), helm by LTK is established and decent in its approach to the policies of PAP. Only when Sylvia Lim was inducted into WP and fought at 2006 election in Aljunied GRC and emerged with 44% opposition support that jolted PAP into greater 'graciousness' to accept that not all minds are alike and will buy PAP's rhetorics. Sylvia Lim has the moral courage and discretion to be a great politician by her participation in questioning the PAP's policies in parliament. But the sweet voice was always drowned by 82 powerful sycophants of PAP.
I wrote a post-morten email to George Yeo on the reason why Aljunied GRC showed such results ((after the 2006 failure to PAP not gaining more support from the voters. PAP and the big 'Guns' were blinded by attacking mercilessly on James Gomez that backfired. LKY called names and no one dared to sue LKY. No used to do it. Vice versa, if the oppositions did that they will be dead duck!)) George Yeo acknowledged my email for the thoughful insight given. I still have it in my folder till today.
No party will last forever as is life's impermanence. PAP should be gracious in defeat any ttime now and not as LKY said about bring in the army. S'pore is not Burma under miltary rule and autocratic.
So, Hazal Poa and hubby due to youthful inexperience may have joined the wrong party. But to each his/her own. I wish them the best. But again when KJ said in the interview with CNA tha Hazel Poa can be the next PM....my friend Bryan Ti (was struck awed) and dropped his denture on the floor and luckily it was intact less KJ is liable for 'circumstantial' damage. Bryan Ti will not sue you because he is not LKY or LHL and his ministers.(always happy sueing!)
patrick lee song juan
(First written on Facebook,
copied to my Blog)
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