Comments I have Made

1. "That Wasn't an English Word?" by Nathan Ang

http://nathanang.blogspot.com/2011/07/that-wasnt-english-word.html#comments

2. "Shakespeare's Language, Our Language" by Ivan Yeo

http://ivanlablog.blogspot.com/2011/07/shakespeares-language-our-language.html#comments

3. "Water Sources for Singapore" by Nicholas Tey

http://nichtey.blogspot.com/2011/08/water-sources-for-singapore.html?showComment=1313300204257#c4314182983830121723

4. "National Day T3P8" by Leonard Goh

http://leonard-languageartsblog.blogspot.com/2011/08/national-day-t3p8.html

5. "Singapore, Malaysia and Soccer" by Tan Jiefeng

http://2i121.blogspot.com/2011/08/singapore-malaysia-and-soccer.html

6. "Mugging" by Gordon Koh

http://twoeyeone-fifteen.blogspot.com/2011/08/mugging.html

7. "This I Believe" by Raphael Chang

http://twoeyeone.blogspot.com/2011/08/this-i-believe.html

8. "Final post of the year" by Roystan Ang

http://2i102roystanang.blogspot.com/2011/08/final-post-of-year.html

9. "Personal Essay: This I believe" by Nathan Ang

http://nathanang.blogspot.com/2011/08/personal-essay-this-i-believe.html

10. "Sportsmanship" by Daniel Tan

http://swordofthedragonslayer.blogspot.com/2011/08/sportsmanship.html

Proverbs

Hello all! Today I will be sharing with you the unexplored aspects of the English language, where roads are few, people are sparse and little have explored. Famous English proverbs will be the subject of today's post. I'm sure you know many of them, such as "Once bitten, twice shy." But do you know their origins? And what I think of some of them? Nope. So join me as I delve into the world of proverbs!

1. Beware of Greeks bearing gifts

I'm sure you know the story of the Greeks and the Trojan Horse. This proverb was captured by Virgil in his book Aeneid, Book 2, 19 BC. As we all know, the Greeks sent a gift of a giant horse to the Trojans. They presented it as a gift, but in fact there were Greek soldiers concealed in the horse. When nightfall came, the Greeks sprang out and massacred the Trojans. The city of Troy was destroyed in the process. The meaning today is to be suspicious of gifts that come from the enemy.

2. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned

This one is definitely a commonplace proverb amongst most married men. This proverb originated from William Congreve, in his poem The Mourning Bride, 1697. I think this is an exaggeration, albeit a funny one. In many countries in the world, the hierachy is patriachal. In other words, the men are the dominant sex. This is true in Eastern countries like China, India and some tribal natives in Western countries like Brazil or America. If a woman were really to unleash the fury of hell on a man, I imagine she'd be severely punished! In fact, society in these countries despised a strong woman. Women were expected to always submit to men, not the other way around! I think this was inaccurately formed.

3. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me

This must be a common proverb circulating amongst schoolchildren, especially those who endure taunts. The origin is unknown, but the meaning is clear: Verbal assaults will not have any physical, tangible effect on a person. While I think the intent -- to help people ignore taunts and insults -- is noble, the phrase itself is not correct. It has actually been scientifically proven that verbal insults have an impact on a person's long-term health. Children who do not have to endure taunts and jeers grow up with a higher self-esteem and they are more optimistic and motivated in life when they reach adulthood. So words actually can hurt a person, by inhibiting his or her development.

4. To travel hopefully is better than to arrive.

This phrase is a Robert Louis Stevenson quotation, from Virginibus Puerisque, 1881. The idea is the same as the earlier Taoist saying, "The journey is the reward". There are two meanings for this phrase. One is that ignorance is bliss, and this is in fact the official meaning of the proverb. However, I choose to interpret it in another way. The meaning can also be that when you chase after something, the thrill is not in the achievement, but is in the chase. In one of those cheesy police-and-thief high-speed chases, the thrill is always in the chase, not in the police catching the thieves. When you put in effort to improve in a certain field, you'll definitely enjoy the process more than the result.

I have been your guide on just a short segment of the entire tour you can take of the English language. For more information, you can also go to this website: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/proverbs.html

and have a fun time clicking on the various links, looking at English proverbs you never knew existed!

Sportsmanship

Hello all. To my Singaporean audience, I'm sure some of you have been keeping up with recent sports events, such as the recent Singapore v.s. Malaysia match in the qualifier rounds. Singapore beat Malaysia 5-3 in one match, and drew 1-1 in the next to progress to the next round of qualifying matches in the World Cup. Some Malaysians, unhappy with the defeat, attempted to use underhanded means to steal the rightful victory from Singapore. Green laser pointer lights were shone at the Singapore team's goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud during a crucial free kick in an attempt to crack the Lion's strong defense. Furthermore, some Malaysian fans taunted the Singaporean fans with jeers of "Singapore dogs" and threw bottles at them. This has raised the vital question of sportsmanship. Is the next generation going to be so focused on winning that they forget their moral values?

Sportsmanship means to be fair in following the rules of the game. If one loses, one congratulates the winning team and does not begrudge them the win. If one wins, one commends the losing team on their valiant effort in trying to win. To be a sportsman does not mean just to be proficient in a certain sport. It also means understanding and displaying the underlying moral values of sports that should be inculcated into all who truly respect the sport. Sportsmen want to win, but they do not result to unscrupulous means to do so. I think this is the true beauty of sports: the human element.

I think, in the above scenario, the act of cheating definitely was not justified. The match was being held in Bukit Jalil National Stadium, in Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysians already had the advantage of home ground. Of course, the normal exchange of jaunts and attempts at intimidating the opposing team was inevitable. It is a commonplace occurence at soccer matches all around the world, especially one as important as the qualifiers for the World Cup. However, I think the Malaysians definitely did not need to stoop as low as attempting to sabotage the Singapore team's defense, throwing bottles at the Singaporean fans with intention of bodily harm or taunting the Singaporeans by calling them dogs. I feel the Malaysians should be more accepting of the loss, which resulted from completely clean play on the Singaporean side and an arsenal of underhand tricks from the Malaysian side. I am not just speaking in my capacity as a Singaporean. While I am enraged by the fact that Malaysia, which has fostered close relations with Singapore over the half century we have been independent, I am looking at the situation as an observer. If the Malaysian team really wanted to win that badly, there were many alternatives to cheating. They could have trained harder, recruited better players and studied the weaknesses of the Singaporean team more. The fact that they tried to take the easy way out shows that they were just too lazy to put in more effort and thusly do not deserve the win.

However, I do not think it is right to fight fire with fire. The Malaysian team may have been less than accepting of the win on the Singaporean side and insulted Singapore by saying it is "nothing without foreign players". The Malaysian fans were extremely unhappy about the loss. The Singaporean fans may have been attacked. Does that give Singaporeans the right to stoop to their level and retaliate? I do not think so. Just because someone may have been wronged, does it mean that he is justified to take the law into his own hands and retaliate? No. The Singaporean who hacked into the Malaysian football website is not only showing that he is incapable of ignoring meaningless insults, he is also damaging relations between Singapore and Malaysia even further. If nobody on the Singaporean side had retaliated, Singapore would have been completely justified in accusing Malaysia of being the agressor. Now the matter has been complicated as Malaysia now has a counter-argument to Singapore's accusations. Instead of being resolved in a relatively short period of time, the matter is likely to drag on longer.

To end off, here is an edited quote from Shakespeare in his play, The Merchant of Venice.

"The quality of sportsmanship is not strained; it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath. It is twice blest; it blesseth him that gives and him that takes." So may you be also a sportsman, and not only enjoy sports more, but allow others to enjoy it more as well.

Studying Abroad

As more people in the world have better education, the importance of qualifications becomes ever – more important. With a growing number of people seeking higher education and better qualifications, the choice of where to go for university studies weighs heavily on even more people. In my opinion, overseas university studies provide their fair share of advantages. While I also accept that students studying abroad might face difficulties, I do not believe that the only cause is living and studying in a different culture or that these difficulties outweigh the advantages.

There are numerous benefits to studying abroad. One of them is practice of another language. While anyone can study foreign languages anywhere in the world, there is a huge benefit from having daily practice in using the language. One does not just become more fluent, but also understands the more complex nuances of the language. Also, one who has had extensive exposure to a language has a distinct advantage over someone who has only relied on theory when applying for jobs or positions that require the usage of this other language. For example, in China, only those people who can pass the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi or the Chinese Proficiency Test for foreigners will be able to obtain a visa to work or live in the country. Those who are unable to obtain a passing mark will have to retake the test until they are able to pass. Those who are proficient in the use of Chinese language will have a definite edge over those who are not as they do not have to spend a few weeks or months taking courses on the Chinese language and can immediately apply for a visa.

Having said that, students will inevitably face numerous difficulties while studying abroad. One such difficulty would be separation from family and friends. When one goes abroad to study, one will be alone in the country for an extended period of time. Away from the support and love of parents, one is left to fend for oneself in an unfamiliar land surrounded by unfamiliar people. Most students who go abroad would also not be so forthcoming, and take a longer time to make new friends in a foreign country. Even worse, the more introverted of such foreign students might suddenly find themselves with no one to confide in or to spend time with. Away from the guidance of parents, one might also turn astray from the path of lawfulness. Consider the recent example of the Hwa Chong alumnus who was found with many videos of child pornography on his laptop. He had been on a scholarship in a foreign university. Had he been studying in Singapore, it would be much more convenient for his parents to check on him and maintain a watchful eye over him, and perhaps he would not have turned astray in the first place.

However, I think it is inappropriate to consider these difficulties to stem from living and studying in a different culture. With the advent of airplanes, many countries around the world have become global countries and the presence of foreigners in the country is hardly surprising. I only see a few problems that one might face in trying to live and study in a different culture. One would be the language barrier. While people who go abroad to study generally study the main language of that country as well, one will often be unable to completely master the language within the few months of preparation one is given before the start of the first term of university. There will still be some figures of speech or metaphors used in conversation that one will not understand. However, I do not think this is a very big problem. As countries become more globalised, most have recognised the usage of English as the international language and most people these days can speak English, albeit haltingly. Another problem would be racial discrimination. Although it has become far less common in our present day world, it still exists in many parts of the world. For example, an Australian girl recently made a video about how Asians in her school were “always yammering on their phones” and how they were irritating. In her video, there were many defamatory comments about Asians. This showcases the severity of racial discrimination that lingers in certain parts of the world.

Some people would argue that it is better to stay home. They bring up the monetary cost of studying abroad and dismiss the concept. Others are concerned about losing friends in their home countries. I am of the opinion that the monetary issue, at least, is not a problem. As more parents can afford to provide their children with good education, more students realise the importance of education in a knowledge-based economy. As such, many students are pushing themselves harder to win scholarships and bursaries. Through these scholarships and bursaries, students who have excelled in their studies can obtain government funding to study in foreign universities. Their expenses will be paid for, in exchange for a few years of bondage when they have graduated from university. I also think the drifting apart from friends is not a very large problem. As one ages, one makes many friends, such as those in the same class or school. Inevitably, some of these friends will be forgotten as new ones come in to replace them. In a new country, I think one has the opportunity to make many friends to replace those who gradually drift out of one’s social circle. Additionally, with the advent of technology like the Internet, one can still keep in touch with many friends through various social platforms like FaceBook, Twitter, Tumblr, the list goes on.

To conclude, I believe that the advantages of studying abroad outweigh the disadvantages. Safety remains one’s first concern above all else. Students who are not so mature or independent should also consider heavily whether studying abroad is the right path for them.

Happy National Day

Yesterday was a day of commemoration for the existence of this country. It was the day for celebration of our achievements, and the day for remembrance of our forefathers who made the vibrant Singapore today possible. But amidst all our rejoicing at the success Singapore has become, let us not forget how it all began.

Singapore's independence should never have been something to celebrate. In 1965, Singapore left only because the Malaysian Central Government decided that the racial riots in both countries would lead to eventual self-destruction. Singapore's Government, which had for so long tried to convince the people that merger with Malaya was the right way to go, had to break the bad news to the public. Singapore was going to leave Malaysia.

With no viable economy, and the constant threat of Communism to fight, Singapore was in a tough spot. Unemployment was at an all time high of 10%. Half the country lived in slums and squatters. Electricity, clean water and adequate food was a luxury. It seemed like we would never make it through. Those of you who think Singapore was destined for greatness, think again. Imagine living in this time. No Internet. No computer games. No phones. Black and white television. No air-conditioner. No washing machine. Not even a clean house to live in. Would you then have celebrated the separation of Singapore from Malaysia?

Yet through brilliant, far-sighted leadership Singapore made it through the tough times as a country. The fire seven times tried us, and we emerged victorious each time. First was the job and housing crunch of the 1960s. Next was the Asian financial crisis. Then SARS came along and everyone thought they would die. Then it was bird flu. Then dengue fever. Each time we were put to the test, sorely battered and bruised. Yet we weathered the storms. And with each time, we grew as a nation. It was in the fiery blazes of these disasters that our national identity was forged. And it was forged anew each time it broke. The iron that this country is made of has been tested time and time again. And it has withstood the devouring infernos.

To the young people of today: This country was never meant to be. But it is, and it is because of the mettle of our people that we have grown as one nation today. Grown as one country. Grown as one people. The seed that was sown by sheer accident has germinated. In times of drought it put down roots, digging through the ground for water. When others tried to choke it it put out leaves and fought ever more to reach the sun. And now the tree stands tall and strong, after fourty six years of trial. It is our job to continue the legacy our forefathers have left behind, to continue digging for water. To continue fighting for sunlight. To continue the struggle they left behind.

It is good to celebrate our achievements. But if you remember the hardship of the past, you will only appreciate our National Day all the more.

This I Believe: Perseverance

When I was in primary school, I was always teased because I was chubbier than everyone else. I was very naive and gullible, and this made me the victim of many practical jokes and bullying. I was even insulted on various occasions, for being fat. I had no real friends to speak of, except maybe one or two who were nicer to me.

At that tender age, innocent and sheltered from the harsh realities of the world, I thought they were -- there was no other word for it -- cool. Yes, cool. They'd play soccer every day during recess, coming back looking like soccer professionals a minute or two before the bell rang. They'd eat lunch together after school, laughing and joking over plates of fragrant chicken rice, steaming bowls of noodles and half-empty bottles of sweet drinks. They'd even go over to one another's house for birthday parties, which were rumoured to be the best ever hosted. They were an adventurous, rebellious group, and to be counted amongst their ranks I thought I was willing to do anything.

It started off with joining in their soccer games. I was always the last one chosen, the fat little kid who couldn't kick a ball to save his life. Oft I heard a groan of disdain or a sigh of annoyance from the captain who had to pick me. Oft I caught glimpse of my team members glaring at me with irritated faces. Oft I ran to take a pass, only for the pass to be taken by someone else from my team. I was never allowed to touch the ball, except when they wanted to mock me. Then they would pass it to me, and I was permitted to dribble straight towards the enemy goal. Inevitably, I would miss time and time again. I would miss all the passes, fumble over my own clumsy feet and fall down, time and time again. I was the Zero.

At lunch, when I brought my food to the table the laughter would subtly die down. The animated banter would come to a halt. Even the food seemed less fragrant in the chilly atmosphere. Soon, I got the message: I could not eat with them. But in my naivete, in the innocence of youth, I persisted with my beliefs. It was just because I hadn't proved myself yet, right? I could still win their friendship, right? Missing all the balls in soccer didn't matter, right?

I was bullied, beaten, mocked, taunted, teased, tormented and humiliated. And yet I now I stand all the more firm, unshaken by tremors, undaunted by storms, unblemished from the lesson learnt. I have learnt to climb onto the obstacles that block my path, and turn them into stepping stones. And it is these erstwhile friends that are responsible for this.

I have them to thank for moulding me into the person I am today. If they had not tripped me, would I have learnt to pick myself up? If they had not taunted me, would I have learnt to ignore the taunts? If they had not wronged me so many times, would I have learnt how to endure the torments? No. Just as plants amongst weeds strive ever more to break the weeds' stranglehold and capture the light of sun, a person who has been tormented will fight all the more determinedly to rise above the opposition. Just as the hand once burnt by fire learns to handle the flames better, a person once deceived will know who not to count as friends. Just as gazelles run ever more swiftly with lions snapping at their heels, a person who has been bullied will be spurred on even more.

Perseverance is the mark of a true leader: to continue in adversity, or not embark at all. I believe perseverance is the quality that serves one best in life.

Financial Firestorm: Will America pull through?

http://www.economist.com/node/21525446

“The Debt-Ceiling Deal”

The deficit-reduction deal that finally raised America’s debt ceiling and prevented immediate default seemed to be successful, at least in the short-term. Republicans managed to prevent higher taxes, while Democrats managed to preserve their healthcare and housing initiatives. Ironically, however, nobody seems to be satisfied with it. Democrats and Republicans alike denounced the scheme, and both pointed the finger of blame at each other.

The deal promises $917 billion in spending cuts over the next decade, in return for an increase in the debt ceiling of $900 million. A plan to further reduce the deficit by $1.5 trillion must be formulated and approved by Congress by December 23^rd, in return for another increase in the debt ceiling of the same amount. This is far from a perfect solution, but it will have to do until a better one can be set into motion. Why is the deficit such a big deal? On it’s own, it is economic in nature, and that is something the Government can rectify. But the problem comes in when political parties try to politicize the economics. Then the entire country becomes involved, and the problem is made much more complex.

I think the economics should stay economic and fiscal in nature. Granted, economic policies affect the entire country, just as politics do. But the critical difference is that when facing an economic problem, a country can stand united to meet it head-on, with all of its strength. A plan can be worked out in a relatively short amount of time, and the plan can be set into motion across the entire country. Policies can be effective in just a few months. When political parties try to use economics to impact politics, the country becomes divided. Nobody can agree on what to do, because both parties think the other is wrong, and that their own chosen solution is the best. There is no ability to reach a compromise, let alone a consensus that everyone supports. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “A house divided cannot stand.” That is the case in America, when the Republicans and Democrats were not just fighting a routine political battle. They needed to first fight the economic battle, as a whole, as one entity. When that was won, the political battle could be carried out.

Who can be deemed to be “more correct”? The Republicans press for huge tax cuts, which they claim will help companies to hire more workers and create jobs. The Democrats press for higher taxes on the affluent and more wealth to be distributed amongst the poor. Frankly speaking, I do not think either one will work on its own.

The Republicans believe that with more money, companies can create more jobs. I think it already has become very apparent that companies based in America are no longer hiring from the pool of workers in America, who demand high pay, good working conditions as well as job security. Compare this to the image of a typical Chinese factory worker. He comes from a poor family or village, so he is thankful for any type of job at all. He is used to waking up early and sleeping late. He does not complain about being overworked or having not enough sleep. Isn’t it much easier and much less bothersome for companies to hire workers fro countries with lower standards? This is essentially why America cannot recover effectively from the economic crisis. Companies find it much easier to hire from other countries. But the demands of high salary are driven by higher cost of living. The only solution I see is to retrain workers so they have better qualifications for the job. Essentially, higher tax cuts will never work because the money saved does not benefit the employees. The money saved benefits the top cats and lines their pockets.

The Democrats believe that with more distribution of money to the poorer people, they will be more able to get jobs. How does that premise work? A person who consistently gets “unemployment benefits” for doing absolutely nothing will soon realise that he can live off the government’s “welfare packages”. It is just like giving a child rewards for lazing in front of the television and expecting him to do his homework. The basic idea simply does not work. The main focus should not be on looking after the unemployed. The main focus should be on enabling the unemployed to be employed so they can look after themselves. The added disadvantage is that when such pensions for elderly folks are rolled out, it is very hard to take them back. People will think it is unfair that they worked for so long, and the people before them got to enjoy it but they didn’t. The people of France protested all over the country in response to President Nicolas Sarkozy’s decision to raise the retirement age from 60 to 62. How do you expect someone to get a job and look after himself when he can get more from lazing in front of the television all day?

I think these two measures can only work if they are employed together, with an added component. Companies will get tax cuts, provided that they use the money to help their employees get trained. Individuals will get pension, provided that they go for retraining classes to improve their qualifications. The basic premises of the two different measures can work if they are modified with conditions. Which company would increase a relatively high employee salary when it could use the money to fatten its profit margins, and which person would go work when he could get money for free? I think this is one of the best ways to share political pain equally between the two parties, and solve America’s budget deficit problems.

Ultimately, America’s leaders will have to pull together and emerge from the fiscal firestorm that already threatens to engulf the nation. Otherwise, America will default on its debt. And when it does, it will be too late.

Copycats of the East

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904292504576484080863377102.html

“Made in China: Fake Stores”

We are all familiar with the traditional Chinese copycat companies, who market goods that are extremely cheap, extremely similar to the goods marketed by global brands such as Apple, and often do not last long. But have we heard of the new Chinese copycats: those who set up imitation IKEA furniture stores, imitation Subway outlets and imitation Dairy Queen ice cream outlets?

Sophisticated store owners are now recreating the store experiences of many global brands which have decided to enter China: such as IKEA, Apple and Subway, down to the nitty-gritty details like helpful store maps, coupons, shopping bag logos and employee uniforms. These stores so remarkably resemble the original brand stalls that it is very easy to confuse the original and the copycat. Sometimes the goods they sell aren’t even fake. In Kunming, China, a foreign blogger posted photos of a fake Apple store selling real Apple goods, such as iPads and iPhones, in an almost identical store setting.

I think this has benefits as it helps to raise awareness for the original stores. I have never heard of Dairy Queen before today, but now I think I will go try the ice-cream they sell, if they have an outlet in Singapore. Subway has undoubtedly become more widely recognized in China because of its copycat counterpart. The fake Subway stores even accept Subway discount coupons if customers confuse the two brands. In the case of the fake Apple outlet in Kunming, Apple also benefits from the sales of the iPads and iPhones as those are imported from its factories. For Subway, which is trying to encourage a type of food not traditionally consumed in China, the extra publicity actually helps many Chinese citizens to gain some exposure to Western style food.

However, it also has detriments. Apple is known to exclusively select its staff for its outlets in other parts of the world, but the Kunming outlet is not subject to such restrictions. It could tarnish the reputation Apple has worked so hard to establish and put many potential customers off Apple goods even before they buy the goods. Also, if this trend continues, the Chinese government will be regarded as powerless to stop rampant infringement of copyrights even in their own country, large though it may be. The Chinese Communist Party spends so much money yearly on internal defence to prevent riots and protests even before they are conceived. With a robust economic growth and vast financial resources, being the biggest creditor of the United States of America, it is hard to believe that China is powerless to even cut down on the number of such imitators, when it has proven to be so effective in controlling public sentiment via censorship of “anti-government” material.

Should these fake spinoffs of original brands be allowed to continue? Perhaps a more apt question is: can they be stopped? Every year, the number of ambitious copycat companies increases, and the trend has been showing no sign of slowing down, even during the economic recession when buyers all over the world became more cautious and thrifty. It is unclear what other effects this will have on China’s reputation as a global economic power, global brands and consumer sentiment in China. One thing, however, is clear: If China does not stop this trend, or at least attempt to, its reputation will be irrevocably tarnished.