tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post8539914044064375332..comments2024-03-01T15:11:54.107+08:00Comments on Little Stories: The Importance of Speaking UpGilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-54531284122001220662011-12-01T21:14:42.219+08:002011-12-01T21:14:42.219+08:00He's a kid who dared to say something about wh...He's a kid who dared to say something about what he sees, you would diminish the significance of that the moment his peers call him annoying and expect the media to pick up on that instead, somehow extrapolating the implications of being 'annoying' and equating that with him not wanting to change society? Comments like these are the ones which causes Singapore's societal progress to be retrograded.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-19144863933114447062009-03-09T22:37:00.000+08:002009-03-09T22:37:00.000+08:00He went to RI. I heard from someone in his class t...He went to RI. I heard from someone in his class that he is quite annoying and often confronts people for no reason. The media leaves out all the bad stuff.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-1820469855947554382008-12-30T01:40:00.000+08:002008-12-30T01:40:00.000+08:00True, at RI you don't get that much freedom over y...True, at RI you don't get that much freedom over your CCA anyway.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-32321983363452982282008-12-17T01:49:00.000+08:002008-12-17T01:49:00.000+08:00Mr Wang, your post hits very very closely to emplo...Mr Wang, your post hits very very closely to employment too.<BR/><BR/>Many Singaporean bosses do not let the employees have a voice. They put you in portfolios they THINK you are good at through some observations or discussions which usually do not involve you. Might explain why so many Singaporeans are so turned off and actively disengaged.<BR/><BR/>The bosses just don't listen. Command and control, very SAF.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-35990982071516792132008-12-14T22:58:00.000+08:002008-12-14T22:58:00.000+08:00Agree. Talk and reason it through, rather than jus...Agree. Talk and reason it through, rather than just "i say so and that's final"ArtBoonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11861908245832796219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-40986678136627890282008-12-14T12:40:00.000+08:002008-12-14T12:40:00.000+08:00The importance of speaking up, is tempered by, the...The importance of speaking up, is tempered by, the dangers of speaking up.<BR/><BR/>We live in a society of the easily offended.<BR/><BR/>To speak,<BR/>One needs to know the lines,<BR/>For to speak one's mind,<BR/>Comes at a price.Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15186339395772858004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-5044353549582371942008-12-13T15:39:00.000+08:002008-12-13T15:39:00.000+08:00At Ri you don't get to choose your CCA anywayAt Ri you don't get to choose your CCA anywayAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-82445590312579197702008-12-12T13:57:00.000+08:002008-12-12T13:57:00.000+08:00Good parental mentoring is important, if children ...Good parental mentoring is important, if children are to learn how to speak up. They must be treated like adults.<BR/><BR/>I came across this. I was quiet shocked.<BR/><BR/>http://dotseng.wordpress.com/2008/11/07/the-day-parents-say-no-to-child-abuse/<BR/><BR/>It disturbs me.<BR/><BR/>Sengkang SallyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-87759645143969232612008-12-12T12:11:00.000+08:002008-12-12T12:11:00.000+08:00Sorry this is off topic but just wondered if you'd...Sorry this is off topic but just wondered if you'd offer your two cents on the post in the link below:<BR/>http://jebatmustdie.wordpress.com/2008/12/11/the-rise-of-racism-and-the-fall-of-malay-leadership/<BR/><BR/>Singapore is claimed to unfairly treat its Malay minorities, as seen by the different representation at the cabinet according to population statistics. Does Singapore promote meritocracy and hence race does not matter?<BR/><BR/>Thanks.<BR/><BR/>*You don't have to post this as it is more a personal message to you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-35073709069646799462008-12-11T22:37:00.000+08:002008-12-11T22:37:00.000+08:00We need credible self-funded oppositions & ind...We need credible self-funded oppositions & independents who take actions and know how to use publicity and run a proper campaign.<BR/><BR/>We need citizens to be civic minded, press the GRCs on important things as well as many daily issues that needs addressing.<BR/><BR/>If we can't even resolve issues like giving way on the MRT, or parking responsibly in the HDB estates... How are we to solve society's issues?<BR/><BR/>If you've been in it long enough, you'll find a lot of discrepancies within the "system" that is inefficient and cause dissent. Our problem lies in the inaction of those who know... and willing choose not to act."Overseas Chinese"https://www.blogger.com/profile/18325518924167110681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-11456119084354894572008-12-11T21:09:00.000+08:002008-12-11T21:09:00.000+08:00Ah okay, thanks Mr Wang. I was just wondering if I...Ah okay, thanks Mr Wang. I was just wondering if I had a reading comprehension problem!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-74237408149566599602008-12-11T04:42:00.000+08:002008-12-11T04:42:00.000+08:00Simple, yet succinct. Mr Wang, I appreciate the pr...Simple, yet succinct. <BR/><BR/>Mr Wang, I appreciate the presence of your blog to invoke some common sense among the herd culture.<BR/><BR/>Passion and initiative are sorely lacking in the hearts and minds of Singaporeans. Personally, I find myself being the sole individual to speak out and chastise inconsiderate / rude people that pepper the island while the rest merely look on or glance away conveniently. I am but a circus act to be gawked at when I help a crippled stranger up the bus or offer to help the elderly lady with her groceries to the taxi stand.<BR/><BR/>In a similar fashion, Simon Wittberger has no qualms about voicing his opinions in an appropriate manner. I applaud his valiant initiative.<BR/><BR/>As a former educator, I constantly encouraged my pupils to speak up and be heard. In my opinion, teachers in Singapore lack the humility to accept that they are not infallible gods and are just as susceptible as anyone else in making mistakes. <BR/><BR/>"Because I Say So" is the common mantra without providing a logical and reasonable explanation to pupils. Should a pupil press further, the teacher would purse her lips in disdain and dispel such disruptive behaviour by being condescending towards the cursed individual. If all else fails, a trip to the Discipline Master / VP / Principal should do the trick.<BR/><BR/>I am fortunate to be brought up in a home where everyone had something to say at the dinner table and decision-making was inculcated during childhood. My mother would apologize when she was wrong, explain the rationale behind her decisions while maintaining her firm arm of discipline over me. (Boy, was I caned frequently during my childhood!) In short, I was taught to "speak up when you're right."<BR/><BR/>Likewise, I displayed these traits towards my pupils. (without the caning, of course!) Pupils accustomed to the stereotyping and brandishing of the blame game (cue : "must be the em3 class! troublemakers!") actually queried, "Mrs XX, why do you care about us? Nobody has ever asked nor cared about our opinions. We're always wrong." Those words brought tears to my eyes. Generations have been taught to be resigned to their lot, losing their unique personalities in the process.<BR/><BR/>It's been a decade since I first filled the shoes of an educator. A former pupil whom I'd taught when she was in Primary 3 recently expressed her delight upon locating me on Facebook. She's taking her A Levels this year. I've bumped into numerous students who burst into smiles while shrieking, "I've been looking for you!" <BR/><BR/>Respect the child. Value his/her opinions. Offer rationale, not doctrines. <BR/><BR/>The child will remember and thank you as the one who has shaped his/her character and values in life. He/She will inculcate these in his/her own children in time to come, forging not only a healthy individual but collectively, a "Learning Nation" as MOE <I>tries</I> to advocate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-52137340991935585762008-12-10T08:01:00.000+08:002008-12-10T08:01:00.000+08:00Let me make a wild guess, Mezzo, based on a couple...Let me make a wild guess, Mezzo, based on a couple of clues littered around your blogs <BR/><BR/>(eg your blogger profile; the title of one of your blogs; the subtitle to another one of your blogs etc etc) <BR/><BR/>You're (a) Muslim, (b) of mixed descent, and (c) not classified as "Race: Others" in your NRIC, and (d) troubled, confused or unhappy with some aspect of your personal identity?<BR/><BR/>It doesn't matter. It's all irrelevant to my post anyway.<BR/><BR/>Similarly you criticise Samuel for claiming / aspiring to be the top Eurasian student, and you say therefore he shouldn't speak up about Wen Yi's case / social issues.<BR/><BR/>According to your line of thinking, you would have been happy for Samuel to speak up about Wen Yi's case / social issues, if only Samuel had:<BR/><BR/>(a) not aspired or claimed to be the top Eurasian student; or<BR/><BR/>(b) done badly in his PSLE or never been that bright at all, such that he would not have had such an aspiration, or would not have been able to make such a claim.<BR/><BR/>Well, when I break it down nicely for you like that, it might be easier for you to see how illogical your own thinking is.<BR/><BR/>Or maybe it's still not any easier for you.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, whatever. You're entitled to your own opinions. This will be my last comment on this PSLE/race aspects, since it really isn't relevant to my post.Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-9104441617076744752008-12-10T07:33:00.000+08:002008-12-10T07:33:00.000+08:00Anon December 9, 2008 8:37 PM:Oh, if it is an erro...Anon December 9, 2008 8:37 PM:<BR/><BR/>Oh, if it is an error, not to worry - in a few days, I'll probably get a clarification. Someone who reads this blog and knows either or both of the Sam Witterbergs will contact him / them and let them know, and one of them will clarify.<BR/><BR/>On many occasions where I've featured an ST forum letter, the Forum letter writer will show up on this blog or drop me a personal email. That's how small Singapore is.Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-28148151333866415922008-12-09T23:27:00.000+08:002008-12-09T23:27:00.000+08:00Obsessive and passionate to the point of announcin...Obsessive and passionate to the point of announcing to the world that he should have been top Eurasian boy, not some other Eurasian boy?<BR/><BR/>Think of how that other boy must have felt. First he was told that he was top Eurasian boy, and then the next day he's told, "Oh, you're only top because of a technicality." <BR/><BR/>Simon Wittberger and his parents wanted acknowledgement that HE was top boy, not this other boy. If it was just about academic brilliance and having a goal, he would have been content knowing that he was actually top. <BR/><BR/>Instead, he had to tell the world that he was the "real" top boy, and in the process, crap all over the other child's day in the sun.<BR/><BR/>Yes, we want people to speak up. But we want people with something worth hearing to speak up. We don't need a nation of blowhards.Mezzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12832423014086477073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-30428100233513894232008-12-09T22:29:00.000+08:002008-12-09T22:29:00.000+08:00Wrt Mezzo:I certainly wasn't trying to be sarcasti...Wrt Mezzo:<BR/><BR/>I certainly wasn't trying to be sarcastic there. My point was that despite all that hoo-ha about his PSLE grades, it appears that isn't all that he's fixed about ("only"), and that he actually cared enough about an issue to write in to the forum. And at a tender age of 12. <BR/><BR/>For the record, I was from RI and I've seen for myself too many people who cared only about mugging and memorizing for top grades and nothing else, and a select few who put their brilliant minds to thinking about issues outside of academic grades. (I was neither lol).<BR/><BR/>GabeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-4086114251333202972008-12-09T20:37:00.000+08:002008-12-09T20:37:00.000+08:00Maybe I'm missing the bleeding obvious, but do we ...Maybe I'm missing the bleeding obvious, but do we know the writer and student identified are indeed the same person? It's not exactly a common name for sure, but still.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-61453439944737198342008-12-09T16:14:00.001+08:002008-12-09T16:14:00.001+08:00Obsession is a good thing, IMO. In some countries,...Obsession is a good thing, IMO. In some countries, it's known as "passion", LOL. <BR/><BR/>That's what Singaporeans tend to lack: passion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-9498943332288328822008-12-09T16:14:00.000+08:002008-12-09T16:14:00.000+08:00Speak up? They told me to get lost. And that is wh...Speak up? They told me to get lost. And that is why I have been in Seattle for so long lah.<BR/><BR/>I am going to Vancouver soon anyway. Very depressing market in USA now.<BR/><BR/>Until the day the father lets go, the son will always make mistakes and hide under the wife's skirt one.<BR/><BR/>Hojiber, the lazy to sign in.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-61227670007862989782008-12-09T15:38:00.000+08:002008-12-09T15:38:00.000+08:00Is it obsessive to aim to be top in anything? I su...Is it obsessive to aim to be top in anything? I suppose it might be. On the other hand, I can also see why it might not.<BR/><BR/>If for example, you were already regularly topping or near the top of one of the top schools in Singapore, it's really not THAT big a stretch to aim to be one of the top students in Singapore.Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-75906797433047123742008-12-09T15:34:00.001+08:002008-12-09T15:34:00.001+08:00Good on you Mezzo for spotting that.Good on you Mezzo for spotting that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-47780809498068475632008-12-09T15:34:00.000+08:002008-12-09T15:34:00.000+08:00I don't think that there is anything wrong with pe...I don't think that there is anything wrong with people who strive for academic brilliance (or for that matter, any other kind of brilliance). In fact, I think it's commendable.<BR/><BR/>It's even more commendable when they are at the same time able to take an interest in areas outside their studies.Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-15637901383253494462008-12-09T15:02:00.000+08:002008-12-09T15:02:00.000+08:00"How commendable. I see a fine young mind here, an..."How commendable. I see a fine young mind here, and glad that he isn't one of those unthinking minds whose only concern are getting top grades.<BR/><BR/>Gabe"<BR/><BR/>I assume you're being sarcastic. In his New Paper interview, this fine young mind said that he had intended to be the "top Eurasian boy" for the PSLE. He complained that MOE did not recognise him as Eurasian, and some other boy with a lower score (about 5 pts) got the honours. <BR/><BR/>If that isn't being obsessed with grades, I don't know what is.<BR/><BR/>And I don't think that his choice about schools has anything to do with being allowed to do whatever CCA he chooses. He has already been accepted into RI, which is probably why he has no intention of apply to ACS.Mezzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12832423014086477073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-82140434981660967142008-12-09T12:48:00.000+08:002008-12-09T12:48:00.000+08:00OMG, could it be his father who wrote it? Mr Wittb...OMG, could it be his father who wrote it? Mr WittbergerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-75432424269739050912008-12-09T09:55:00.000+08:002008-12-09T09:55:00.000+08:00Singaporeans do speak up. They are just generally ...Singaporeans do speak up. They are just generally labeled as troublemakers. Diversity is generally not rewarded in Singaporean society.<BR/><BR/>Don't flame me - I'm just calling it as I see it. Then again, I've been away for a while so I may be wrong.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com