Filipina gets trashed by dim-witted confucian gits in singapore


ed’s comment on the fascist-scum site, Temasek Review, goes,

You dimwitted xenophobic twats have a lot to say about what Beguia said, but just about bugger all to say about the racist and xenophobic shite posted by the other commenters on facebook.  Is it any wonder that she takes on the tone she does.  What she said wasn't right, but what the other commenters said wasn't either.  All you xenophobic twits ought to be shipped back to china, regardless of race, or 'native born' status.  They love 'same same' over there.  What sort of parents do you people have man. 

Oi Beguia, you shouldn't be apologising given the racist, xenophobic shite you had cast on you as a result.  If they took issue with your points and nothing besides, then yes.  Apologise.  But if not, your irrational comments serves to simply allow the illustration of the racism-xenophobic-apathetic nature of the rest of these confucianised singaporean gits. - TR



The situation was this.  This PAP MP, Penny Low, came under ‘heavy criticism’ for looking down at her handphone when the National Anthem was played during the National Day Parade.  The so-called uproarious singaporean ‘netizens’ took issue with her loyalty to the country since she was a Malaysian-turned-singaporean.  Then this women, by the name of Beguia steps up on Facebook to defend Penny with some remarks that were forceful, but mostly true, 

“You have my unequivocal support as an important member of parliament in spite of what happen... just because you made a move during the national anthem doesn't put your loyalty to singapore in question. These moronic 'Singaporeans', their code, their morals, their 'loyalty' and 'patriotism'... all dropped at the first sign of trouble... just ask any of them if they want to be excused from serving NS and they will be the first to raise their hands... Require any of them to serve an extra month of NS and they will riot in Singapore... Ask them to fight a war, almost all will declare they are ready to pack up and run.

...But when foreigners like Bangladeshi, Thais and Indians come and provide labour for building flats and roads, you didn't seem to have complained about it.... if tomorrow the government decides to hire foreigners to become soldiers and no more serving of NS for all men let's see if you will make the same comment... By the way, if foreigners can come and snatch your jobs and flats it only shows one thing.... how incompetent you are. (ref. pictures below)”

Most of it is quite true when you think about it, except for ‘how incompetent you are’, which is probably meant to portray foreigners as more skilled than locals.  That, of course, is not always true because many, but not all, new foreigners are employed for being cheaper, and not because they are exceptionally skilled.  Bequia probably chose not to see that point as she’d prefer to think she’d been employed for her exceptional talent instead of her ‘being cheap’ - just like all the chinese in singapore would like to think that they made it because they are more intelligent and creative and not because of state-sponsored and popularly-practiced racism and discrimination against those whom are different or whom are more intelligent and creative.

I recall stating to my brother, who is a senior Lecturer of Law in one of the top British universities, that he can forget about such a position if he had to attend interviews conducted by singaporean chinese.  That’s a great thing about the UK.  You generally get to where you are on the basis of your skills, and not because you like dumplings for breakfast, lunch and dinner. (that is a metaphor for preferring what one is accustomed to....and which also explains why many Indian and Malay foodshops are now closing down in ‘multicultural’ singapore, or why both the chinese-controlled government and a significant proportion of the chinese population have been 'preferring' the chinese in the media, jobs, etc, for ages.)


As for the chimps running Temasek Review - who give chimps a bad name - they took pains to refer to Penny Low as ‘PAP Malaysian MP Penny Low’.  That, to me, seemed kind of strange as I thought, ‘How can she be a PAP MP if she was a Malaysian?’  Then I thought, ‘Oh, she must be a singaporean now’.  So why refer to her as ‘PAP Malaysian MP’ when the PAP, or ‘People’s Action Party’ - silly name that - is the government of singapore.  They obviously want to focus on her being an erstwhile Malaysian, and therefore worthy of the ‘foreign talent/trash’ term.  

What just about pissed me off about this issue is that whilst everyone seem to be focused on some of the nonsense Beguia spouted, precious few, if any, had anything to say about the racist or xenophobic statements made in response to her. So I have a suggestion.  Why not ship the grandparents of the non-Malay ‘native-borns’ back to India and China.  That would bring the ‘foreign talent/trash’ numbers in singapore down don’t you think.  And toss in the urns, graves, etc, and you’ll be freeing up more space in space-stricken singapore.  That would be good for the environment as well as we don’t have to create a perfect environment for dispatching asthmatics to the grave during the hell-money burning periods when the chinese hope to better the lives of their ancestors in the afterlife because they were too busy being ‘practical’ and being politically apathetic to ensure that they have a good life in this life.  Tragic comedy isn’t it. 

And I have to wonder why few took issue with the racist/xenophobic remarks posted in response to her like,

Pinoy trash defends Penny

or,

“why nowadays the maids so good life can use internet one?’, by an inbred cretin, Wesley Ng.


So even though she is a clerk, she is still classed or viewed as ‘maid’ because the locals employed and employ many as such.  It doesn’t matter if she isn’t. 

Quite similar to how many chinese singaporeans refer to the current Indian president as ‘prata man’- but chinese presidents, PMs, etc, aren't referred to as 'kway tiao' man or 'bak kut tei' man (chinese dishes) and other indians as ‘mamas’ (a term used to refer to Indian corner shop proprietors, but is still used to refer to any indian whatever his profession or educational status.  I’ve been called that quite a few times as well by both acquaintances and friends as well despite my having more intelligence and creativity than all of them put together.  Puny-minded people, in general.)  And when any chinese uses such terms, no other chinese, despite her/is claim to not being a racist, would take issue with it.  That is why to stereotype chinese as small-minded, juvenile, and self-absorbed racists is not a stereotype. 

The truth is, people who do not appreciate difference will inevitably become similar to each other as they will notice and learn from none other but themselves.  You can call it cultural inbreeding.  It produces as much perspectival retardation as does biological inbreeding.  And when such a people become predominant economically or numerically, as is, unfortunately the case in Qin-gapore, they will set the standard for what’s smart and not.  Thereafter, all intelligent and creative life is snuffed out.  Any wonder why blues and rock pubs have today been replaced with chinese restaurants and food courts.  Eating as culture?  What is left to distinguish between animals and human mate?

Man, I certainly can’t be blamed for wondering when these chinese are going to grow up and stop making a royal pain in the arse of themselves.  Too bad that the likes of ‘Mark’ (a chinese who comments here most insightfully) et al are a minority amongst the so-called ‘native-born’ Chinese.  So I feel kind of bad making this statement, but I have to remain objective lest I enable the bulk to be exonerated by the egalitarian-mindedness of the all-too-few.

finally,

those who keep talking about this 'loyalty to singapore thing', are they loyal to singapore, and all that it means, or are they simply 'loyal' to the interests of the racial majority'.  Such people are nothing but a foreign state of mind occupying the essentially multicultural state of Singapore. Till they get with the multicultural programme, they're out of sync with its potentials and identity. I don't know what this fuss is over this 'loyalty' thing.  LKY is 'loyal' to singapore and does not look down on his phone, and neither does his son, during the national anthem.  But does that mean that they are loyal to the interests of singaporeans?  So this 'looking down' at the phone thing means nothing.  And those who keep talking about this 'loyalty to singapore thing', are they loyal to singapore, and all that it means, or are they simply 'loyal' to the interests of the racial majority'.  The fact that 'singaporean' culture is now synonymous with the chinese 'eating, shopping, and gambling' says much about the content of this 'loyalty' doesn't it.  Such people are nothing but a foreign state of mind occupying the essentially multicultural state of Singapore.  Till they get with the multicultural programme, they're out of sync with its potentials and identity.


in sum, and a bit about Filipinas,

I really hate Filipinas being trashed by those populating the perspectivally-retarded state of Qin-gapore and who, being so ‘practical’ that they can’t afford the time or sense to carry their own shopping bags, school bags, and army backpacks, or feed their own kids, have to employ filipina maids, and then look down on them for being more of a mother and a father to their children than they have the heart and mind to.    And as for Filipinas coming in to take ‘singaporean jobs’, these perspectivally malnourished plonkers don’t even realise that they are largely being employed by the ‘native born’ chinese.  Talk about gross retardation. 

What just about pissed me off about this issue is that whilst everyone seem to be focused on some of the nonsense Beguia spouted, precious few, if any, had anything to say about the racist or xenophobic statements made in response to her. 

I have a higher opinion of Filipinas then i do Confucianised singaporean women, or chinese women specifically.  Generally, they are highly adaptive, have a higher degree of humility, femininity, warmth, youthfulness, and vibrance.  But you’ll have to note one thing.  Filipinas have strong characters as well, but unlike chinese women, they do not usually look for men that they ‘can control one’.  They prefer real men, i.e. as strong as them, but if you aren’t, as is the case with Confucianised men, or men who think with their other ‘heads’, they’ll control you and take you for your money, which is the case with singaporean women as well. 

As for Confucianised singaporean women, you’ll have to be an effeminate and closeted homosexual to marry them - as the women are more masculine than men.  One Chinese friend - a coffeeshop worker with whom i would chat with over tea, or play chinese chess with now and then - he’d thrash me every single time...haha ...a good learning experience though - even remarked once that singaporean chinese men are ‘very women’ (hen xiang ni ren - ‘very like women’)

I’ve often said, over the past decade, that singaporean women make a good case for homosexuality amongst men.  I also said once, in an irate moment, that God made Filipinas so that singaporean men with character, but whom had married singaporean women for want of choice, would have a good reason for adultery.  Singaporean women of today are too practical to be women.  They have no ideals other than ‘the ideal, controllable man’ - which quite describes the Confucianised singaporean, and especially, and more accurately, chinese men in general - ‘ideal condo’, ‘ideal bank balance’.....  It takes a real man, i.e. ed, to realise that. 


ed


penny low looking down at her phone
the exchange between Beguia and silly gits
Beguia apologises

Comments

  1. Was it a work phone or a personal phone? Was it an emergency? I'm not familiar with this situation at all other than from what you've said here.

    Regardless, I think the way everything in Singapore is turned into a racial issue is a reflection of the majority's fear of being eventually supplanted. I'm not defending it or saying it's right to attack people based on race, just theorizing about the source of the fear that Singaporean Chinese have of foreigners. Every day growing up they're exposed to media that says foreigners are coming for them, to take their livelihood and take their country, and they're also exposed, in the form of maids, to foreigners in inferior positions. This combination could lead to Singaporean Chinese believing that their 'right' is being sold out to inferior foreigners that must be scared off, as a means of personal survival in the country.

    That being said, people (who are capable of thought) should be able to overcome a base instinct (reactionary defense mentality) to realize that human beings aren't superior or inferior based on place of birth. The racial situation in Singapore is a lot like the situation in the US between roughly 1890 and the 1960s. Blacks were considered to be inferior. To some degree, they still are and they're still proving they aren't. It's a process, but whereas in Singapore the majority is the party enforcing the idea of racial inequity, it's the tiniest minority in the US now. The blacks, Jews, Asians, East Europeans and Indians, etc., that have immigrated to the US haven't destroyed this country. They've made it stronger. It wasn't a Jew or a black that set the US on its current path to destruction. It was a white male Republican from Texas. Just something to keep in mind. The majority isn't always right, and they don't always have the people's interests at heart. Like Singapore, money is the basis of everything in the US.

    As for Rachelle Beguia, who lives and works in Singapore, why should she not have the right to express her opinions? She lives there. She's affected by legislation, etc. I'm reminded of the taxation without representation problem that helped spark off the war for independence in the US. Just because she's a Filipina doesn't mean she's somehow incompetent or stupid, or that she's a maid. There are Filipinos all over the world that make BANK in a way that makes Singaporean paychecks look like pennies. Money isn't the measure of a person's personal worth, but that's just putting it in a way that most Singaporeans will understand.

    Should Rachelle have said what she said? Absolutely, even if it's partially misguided or wrong. Freedom of speech doesn't apply only to certain people or certain races, or even to correct opinions. Freedom of speech is about expressing yourself, and you shouldn't be censored just because your skin is another color. It's absurd that Singaporeans complain that the press is censored in their country, but then they turn around and actively work to censor someone who's opinion they don't agree with through massive public ridicule. It's a double standard, or like children playing at democracy.

    I think I'm about to drop off into a rant that won't make any sense so I'll leave it at that. Good post, ed.

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  2. I've heard that theory by Jean Piaget before. I'd forgotten about that. It's true. People always try to fit new ideas/people/things into the working framework they already have of the world around them. I think I might have read about that in an article theorizing about why older generations have a hard time adapting to the more complex computing technologies available today.

    Singapore has a lot of potential, but superiority complexes and divides along racial lines will only hold it back. The US is far from perfect, but we've moved further forward on that work in progress than Singapore has. Many Americans still have the idea that Americans are somehow better than people in other countries, especially underdeveloped ones. At least we've reached a point where the mainstream doesn't generally hold to that idea when it comes to people inside the US. I think that has a lot to do with the geographical isolation of the US and a general lack of knowledge (firsthand) about other cultures. There are still relatively few places in the US where people have a lot of exposure to first generation immigrants from other countries, and even where they do, it's a diluted experience, because those immigrants are living in the US. Singaporeans have a lot more travel opportunities. It's cheaper to get to another country there and experience another way of living. Maybe in 100 years Singaporeans will look back on this behavior the same way that young generations of Americans look back on segregation. Maybe in 100 years, Singaporeans will be more racially tolerant (not just on paper) than Americans are. It's always hard for anyone to accept something different from what they know. I still butt heads with my wife over some cultural issues, and we've been together for over 3 years.

    As for my studies, they're coming along nicely. I have a full scholarship, courtesy of my service to the US Army. I'm pursuing a degree in history, and if I play my cards right, I might be able to get a master's degree before the scholarship runs out. I've been posting some of the essays and papers I've written on my blog. You can see them all if you click the "Essays" tab under the header image. I'll probably write more about the experience of going back to school (at my age) later as well.

    Thanks again for the good post and also for the interesting conversation.

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  3. I suppose the reason why older people are less adaptive is two-fold. Firstly, having acquired the appropriate qualifications and skills for their job, they might become quite complacent and not pursue relevant knowledge with as much vigour unless required by their bosses. Secondly, having their interest, initiative and imagination monopolised by the work experience, they can become quite incapable of processing seemingly unrelated information, or information that is not immediately required for work. Hence, over time, they can become generically less adaptive and irrelevant to changing times. Afflicts just about everyone - but is most pronounced in confucian and other staunchly traditionalist/fascist states. Quite explains why my 'friends' in singapore have become dumber with age.

    To some extent, I think americans would have greater exposure than singaporeans, or any s.e.asians, because america has vastly different cultures living together. In s.e.asia, the differences between cultures - other than the difference between the indian and chinese cultures - aren't really that great. And economic necessities, amongst others, are sort of seeing things go the 'chinese' 'pragmatic' way.

    In the u.s. you have chinese, indians, japs, korean, 'whites' of scottish, irish, eastern/western european descent, latinos, black of caribbean/african descent, and so on. That's a whole lot of fantastic differences isn't it. I dare say that america itself contains greater differences within it national borders, than s.e.asia has within the entire region. If i was to strike the lottery, provided i buy it that is, i'd probably mosey on over to New Orleans - love the musical culture there.

    Another problem with s.e.asians is that they are not accepting of differences amongst 'their own' which is alright if it comes from the west. Even the multicultural indians are only multicultural when it comes to differences from non-indians. So they wouldn't really accept me for instance as i quite different from other indians in sight and sound.

    Yeah, maybe in time, singaporeans might become cross-racially appreciative instead of just being 'tolerant' and ignoring differences. But by then, everyone will be so 'chinese' that there wouldn't be much difference to appreciate in the first place - as is already quite the case now. If you were in singapore in the 70s, you might have seen a pretty different breed of chinese, indians, eurasians and malays - especially the english-speaking and 'westernised' ones with whom i associated. Than you'll look at the current version of 'singaporean' and appreciate the stark contrast.

    A history degree! Fantastic stuff. A wealth of different perspectives to sink your teeth into. Yeah, I certainly hope the scholarship lasts past the master's level for you. You obviously have the drive, and that certainly deserves the financial support. I'll certainly check out the 'essays' tab. Thanks for putting that up.

    Have a good week ahead mate.

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  4. Well, ed, the thing about Americans is that most never travel. I've met 30ish year old people that have never left the city they were born in. I've known people in their 40s who've only visited the next state and have never been on a plane. There are differences in culture depending on what major part of the country you're in, south-east, midwest, west coast, or northeast, but it's more homogeneous than not with the exception of the major urban centers. Also, the foreign elements present in US urban centers aren't as authentic as the same culture in their home countries, because they've become Americanized. To travel from the US to Europe, Asia, or the Middle East requires a large sum of money that most Americans cannot or will not pay for air travel. Not that most Americans would want to go to the Middle East or most parts of Asia. Most Americans have no desire to see South America either.

    It's complicated, but what I'm getting at is that most Americans are geographically and mentally isolated. A lot can't even tell you where major countries are on a map. Last Spring, in an art history class, in the middle of the "Arab Spring" conflicts that were in the news 24/7, only myself and one other person in the class knew where Tunisia and Libya were and could point them out on an unmarked map. Americans generally have an idea that the US is the center of the world and the rest isn't really that important. I'm not just preaching here. I'm talking from experience. I was the same way growing up. It's probably partly the result of the so-called education (more like indoctrination) we're given in high school and the fact that the US is just so damn big. When one part of your country is bigger than most other countries, it makes it hard to keep perspective. Having a huge country also makes it hard to not think poorly of people who weren't able to achieve the same success. I know that idea is part of the education. So, while it's true that there are urban centers where a diluted version of foreign cultures is present, most Americans will never travel to them, or even see the value in experiencing it.

    Anyhow, long story short is that I'm trying to say that while the US may be further along the path towards true equality, we have a long way to go still, partly due to the education being pushed down our throats by older generations who control the text book approval boards, through prejudices passed down from parents that we have to overcome, and by geographic isolation.

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  5. You think you are really smart and self righteous, why dont you have a look at yourself firs,t a retard big mouth, bias and untalented. You have a bone to grind with Singaporean why don’t you spit that out, You use a big word like xenophobia like butter and rub it into everything. you say people hide behind anonymity why did you send a poLet me describe you - Bitter, resentful , xenophobic, yeah you hate your own country men. Get a life Ed or shall I call you Stephen.

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  6. "Not that most Americans would want to go to the Middle East..."

    ...unless they are in the army;) Sorry, couldn't resist it;)

    Well, considering that American cities are larger than singapore, or even singapore and malaysia put together, I wouldn't really view americans who don't travel to other states as un-adventurous. And i think the 20+ hours travel time to asia is quite off-putting. But, hey, at least they have National Geographic right;)

    Haha...yes, i know about lots of americans not being able to tell where major countries are on the map. Saw some documentary on that once. And i have to say that i'm not too thrilled about other place-names being pronounced 'the american way'. That is quite culturally arrogant actually.

    I recall a conversation between an american and someone else whilst on a cruise around the Hawaiian islands some years ago, and one bloke was correcting the other guy with regards to the correct pronunciation of a particular non-american place. And the guy retorted with an, 'well, i speak american english, so i'm pronouncing it the american way'. Seems like 'american english' is more of a 'cultural statement' of dominance. All that said, i have to say that the 'hot dog' they served up on the ship was the best i've ever had in my life. No wonder that obesity is quite a problem in the states.

    This is a strange situation actually. America, given its relative cultural self-absorption, is set on the path to becoming, well, dumber than it otherwise could be. And the rest of the post-colonial world, suffering from self-esteem issues, is discarding significant aspects of its cultural knowledge and emulating the 'west' - via the impressionable young. Pretty soon, there's going to be no significant cultural difference in the world, and the american standard is going to become the global standard, as it already quite is. But, thankfully, with other cultures in america, even though they are somewhat 'americanised', its still going to emerge as brainier than confucian states where all non-chinese difference is completely weeded out, or other s.e.asian states that mindlessly play 'follow the leader'. India, for example, pathetically tries to copy american effects in the movies, and fight scenes, and, well, basically end up making fools of themselves.

    Yes, i agree with you about the americo-centric mentality. Partly, it can be due to the fact that with democracy, and tons of things going on in the states, people can be very much occupied with 'home affairs' and not spare, or have, enough time to know 'others'. And with 'others' increasingly playing copy-cat of the states, americans would probably focus on their home-grown stuff than bother about non-american copies. It is a problem contributed to by both the americans and non-americans. For instance, being the way i am in sight and sound amongst s.e.asians, i face quite a bit of disapproval. It's alright to 'be american' if you're american, or following what americans initiated. But it's not alright to 'be american' - in terms of being individualistic or avant garde - if you're initiating something which american hadn't started first. Innovation, it seems, is subconsciously accepted by s.e.Asians as the right of the west. Juvenile attitude of course. But that's evidence of gross self-respect amongst s.e.Asians. And it certainly doesn't help with the ridiculous nationalistic/fascistic 'cultural pride' that takes place in s.e.Asia at times.

    But the last thing i want to see is s.e.Asians becoming too 'pro-asian' and sticking to their own cultures either, i.e. like the BJP in India, or the Confucians. I'd rather see fusion. How to bring that about, i've got no clue.

    I really like your candour when it comes to America. Most i've encountered are pretty defensive or/and don't even realise what you've stated.

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  7. I think English subtitles are required to make sense of what you attempted to say.

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  8. Looks like the trolls from the TR has striked this site. Instead of accusing Ed of being xenophobic, why don't you reflect on whatever things that you all have done to your fellow locals, especially of the minority ethnic groups from the past few decades, mostly by not doing anything to prevent them from being marginalised, which implies that you do not really like all your own country men after all and which results in the current situation in the local context? And also, in giving some insensitive and irrational comments to some foreigners, aren't you also bitter, resentful and xenophobic? Am I right to say that? Ed is just doing his part to present the facts that very few locals might have realised. And for your information, if you actually bother to read his article posted today, he's speaking up for the Malays and the Indians, whose significance has been diminished since the 1980s. Have you done the same for them as well? If you haven't done anything, start learning to understand different others and stop devoting your time on the hate website like the TR.

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  9. Hey bro. Thanks for stand up. But you cannot expect LeeKahYoke to have the intelligence to understand what you've said given the absence of it as evident in what he'd said. Let's just respond to those who address the issue sensibly - even if it contradicts our views. I wouldn't want this site to attract hundreds of insensible comments by responding to every single one of them.

    You need to come to England if you ever hope for your logic to be understood. You can bunk with me. No worries. V and I will certainly welcome you.

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  10. Even most military don't want to go to the Middle East. The ones that do are the ones you have to keep an eye on because they're warmongers or otherwise prone to some sort of violent behavior. The normal reaction to being sent to a war zone, soldier or not, is fear and apprehension and hoping for the best.

    You said that a lot of Americans cities are the size of Singapore or larger. I don't have a demographics report next to me or anything but I would say that with the exception of a few cities in the North East and the West Coast, most have the typical American culture. I mean, when I think of Atlanta, I think of a city full of typical Southern whites and blacks. It's not that interesting a place, even if it is a city. I used to live just over an hour outside of the city limits.

    I've had arguments with people about how to pronounce certain words or place names. I've been told that I should say things the American way. I then had to go into a long discussion with this person about how the name of a place can't be changed to fit another language. It only has one name. I don't remember the example I used, but if, say, the Japanese insisted that the name of Atlanta was Aturantura, because that's the Japanese way, would he agree that Aturantura was the name of the city and pronounce it that way also?

    I wonder if India is really copying stuff in an effort to perfectly mimic Hollywood, or if they do it badly on purpose because the poor quality has, in itself, become a hallmark of Indian 'Bollywood film making'? Also, I hate to tell you, but the dumbing down of Americans is well under way. I'm not going to go all conspiracy theory on you here, but I will say that a dumber population is a more easily controlled population. Not only more easily controlled, but can more easily be made to believe that they're actually and passionately making the right choice.

    I can't even begin to guess how the whole global culture thing will play out. I'd like to say that we'll reach some common middle ground, but people don't like making concessions, especially in regards to what they feel is an intrinsic part of what defines them as a person. The current media-inflated conflict between the Middle East and the West is an example. The people who spin these stories lead other people to believe that there's no way to reconcile or coexist with or God forbid intermingle with and adopt practices of the other side. They paint a black and white picture where one side has to come out victorious. This mentality is present in culture, religion and politics. Even if we were to eventually intermingle to the point of being physically indistinguishable from each other as a human species, there would still be religion and politics.

    All I can say is that as a species we're never going to get anywhere if we keep fighting each other instead of working together to better the world and our lives. If as much effort had been put into developing green technology and tech that would help people live longer safer lives as has been put into war, we'd all live disease free and be immortal by now.

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  11. So there are exceptionally violent 'warmongers' and such? Forgive my ignorance, but i actually thought that was just in the movies. (btw, '3 Kings' is an exceptional movie) You were in the war weren't you. So I gather you are speaking from personal experience. It must have been hell. Frankly, i feel privileged to speak to someone who's been in it. Much to learn.

    I'm surprised that you've had arguments about saying things 'the american way'. I thought it was uncommon, or that the person I encountered who said that was a rarity as i was most accustomed to hearing the chinese say things along those lines. You could ask those people with whom you argued if they would pronounce the 'champs elysees' the way it looks or the way the french pronounce it. I noticed some years ago, and wrote, that americans would pronounce words correctly if they were European words, but not if they were non-European/American words.

    Actually, i was talking about south Indian films, not 'bollywood' - that's northern Indian. I don't really like n.Indian films as i find them, well, a bit brain-dead, albeit vibrant. I like sharp wit, philosophical debate, and, um, fleshier women...haha...so i stick to s.Indian films. I think the reason why they make a royal screw-up of their effects is that Indians are a passionate lot, and so they tend to over-exaggerate the fight scenes most times. It's so silly at times that if i was observing the filming on set, i'd probably throw my slipper at them...except that i don't wear slippers, and my cowboy boots probably cost more than indian film sets, so i wouldn't want to waste it on them.

    Oh yes. I'm quite into conspiracy theories, and i certainly see what you mean - one of the reason why i so damned pissed off that the series 'Millennium' was killed off...just about the best thought-provoking series that came out of the states.

    Yes. I agree with you take on cultural polarisation that's going on. You have much experience in s.e.Asia, along with your experience in the states, and that's really going to enable you to see both sides of the picture. I think it'll come in really handy in your historical studies. I suppose what's going to be happening is a sort of division of the world between cultural zones. America in the west, Confucianism in s.e.Asia, and with China's reach going into Africa and Central Asia....though I'm not sure how Africa's going to be taking that, but it might be tempered by American/western influence there as well. South America is going to be another interesting arena. The middle east, for quite a while, is going to be pretty impotent with Israel playing the american watchtower over them. I'll look forward to you insights as you embark on your historical studies. That, plus your experiences in the army, the states, and s.e.Asia is going produce quite a few perspectival gems. Will have to look at your essays soon. Very varied stuff indeed.

    Thanks for the most interesting conversation mate.

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  12. Yeah you're right. There's no point in explaining the rationale to those who resort to talking things insensibly.

    Anyway thanks for your invitation. I've always wanted to go to UK to be part of the inclusive society relatively as compared to Singapore. I hope I could secure some scholarships in order to pursue my postgraduate studies in the UK after graduating from NUS in 2 years' time.

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  13. Well then, if i'm still hanging about here, we'll certainly meet up Mark :) Hope you get your scholarship as your enthusiasm in your course certainly makes you deserving. I mean it

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  14. The only people I ever knew that were excited to go into a combat situation were the ones that thought they were GI Joe and it was a game or a movie or something. That's the impression I got at least. The 'normal' people that I talked to were all disappointed to have to go, at the very least. I distinctly remember seeing a guy cry as he watched his wife from the window of the bus that was taking us to the military airport at Hunter Army Airfield. Going to war isn't glorious. It's like some people read the Iliad, but forgot to read the Odyssey, which contains the real moral of the complete story.

    I've noticed that most people do accurately pronounce French words. I can't help but wonder if it's some natural instinct, since about 50% of modern English has French origins. Or it may be because of the mystique of French high culture. People in the US tend to associate things that are French with a higher level of cultural quality than, say, something from Russia or China or even England or the US. So, pronouncing French words correctly might be seen as a mark of good breeding/education. Places in Asia, on the other hand, haven't played much of an important role in world affairs compared to European countries, so they're still viewed by a lot of people as not worth understanding or knowing about, with Japan as an exception. Also, China, because of it's economic power, but it's not viewed in a positive light, despite the fact they bailed us out on our economy. I think that it really depends on what part of the country you go to, when it comes to pronouncing things 'the American way'. That attitude is more prevalent in rural areas. That's all opinion based on experience, though.

    I didn't realize there was a difference between north and south Indian films. That's interesting to know. You just made me remember something though. In an art history class I took the professor was telling us that in terms of abundance of visual stimuli in art, the more the better, as it was considered auspicious. I wonder if that's the reason north Indian films are so over the top? The cultural idea that the more visually stunning it is, the better it is.

    Millennium? I've never heard of it, but that was the name of the newspaper the main character wrote for in Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. =D

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