Heartware

Today seems to be a day of the big media exposure and wooha over the TNP for me. If you read the hardcopy of the Sunday TNP, 13 Aug 2006, at page 13, you will know why. I never understand how a simple photo can cause such a stir within my social circle. But today's TNP is quite funny though. It has a report on porn stars going into politics, and there is this ex-porn star Mary Carey who said, 'As you can see I'm dressed more seriously. I got brown in my hair because brunettes are taken more seriously'... it certainly sounds like a blonde joke to me.

Today is also the first time I attend the annual National Day Rally at UCC. For the first time in several years, the PM did not give out any goodies to the Singaporeans. Instead he chose to discuss the issues that are at heart to the challenges that Singaporeans would face in the coming years, with the changing economic and social forces around the world. And I think the whole speech can be summarised as Singaporeans have to come together, and stick together, and walk together in this changing world, to face the new challenges ahead.

To me, the key for Singapore's future depends whether Singaporeans are rooted in the right values in order to move ahead. It's certainly part of the PM's message, but it came out quite strongly in me even before I hear that speech. What is values? Values are stable, long-lasting beliefs about is important in variety of situations, that guide our decisions and actions. Singaporeans need to have the right values. Certainly bringing girlfriend home and spending your time with her in the room you share with your own brother, locking your own brother out of the room doesn't demonstrate right value. Thinking that foreigners are here to snatch our jobs is certainly anchored by not so correct values too. Not everyone wanna agree with me but here goes:

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
- Matthew 7:24-27


People may not wanna follow the source of this piece of wisdom, but it demonstrates one fact, that is whoever base himself in the wrong set of values is doomed to fall one day when the wind starts blowing. Similarly, if the nation bases itself to the wrong set of values, it's bound to fall. That's why some historians have argued that the fall of the Roman empires is due to the indecadence of the Romans in engaging with various immoral behaviours. That is basing your nation in the wrong set of values.

At the heartware of the nation, there need to be rooted the right values. And at the heart of every soul, the right values and wisdoms is also very important. With that, I guess I have to rest. Till next time I blog, I'll post up the pic which stirred my circle of friends :P

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Parable of the 'Good Samaritan'

Of Teaching and Learning

Iakobou Epistode: From Confusion to Clarity