Having said that I 'can't wait for this to be over, thank God it's over'-- i kind of miss camp, a bit. going back today brought back memories of old times. of the office, where you belonged, of SGT Shawn at his desk--but having said that, you never reminisce the rubbish, don't you. hmm. the conclusion is - being on leave is better. i think so.


anyway, many thanks to the many friends who came for my 21st=D dont' really have photos now but if I do i'll post it up =D i don't really enjoy 'birthdays', as you call it, because i feel that one has to deliberately enjoy the occassion, if not you'd waste the money, the day, the 'expectations', as you'd call it. so i was really apprehensive, i was just expecting a hum-drum 21st, perhaps, as so many others were; but then again, our Lord decided to surprise me! when one surveys the incidents leading to the party, you can't help but have to conclude that it's only by Jesus's grace that the party was a relative success. He promised me He'd bless the party while giving me an assurance of love, so all thanks to the Lord Jesus the living God who actually cares for people even though i've been a relative failure so far.

The wine was good, the food excellent, and chris bought a grand bottle of Sauternes Premier Cru which apparently cost $85; (Appellation Barsac Controlee) that was brilliant; the two bottles of second-grade Sauternes was good, the Pinot Noir from NZ was commendable and fruity as good Pinot should be (New World), the Alsace Riesling was refreshing- so the wine was good. performed with kevin and darren on the guitars and keyboards at the party
which was enjoyable, played my new song 'still madly in love' (think that went quite well), and the old song 'autumn' (highly overplayed though, haha). went out to winebar after that at Mohamed Sultan- opened another 3 bottles, wow, and wine really goes well with Mussels, i've realised - got really drunk after that. oh well. high, i won't consider myself drunk (i hasten to add) - oh well. woke up with a headache to play basketball. haha.

So I have to thank so many people. Have to thank Kevin SW (for the ferrying me around and the good friendship (which is increasing and back to good ol' levels -oh well)
plus the MCing which got me really embarassed), for mr darren who although was really quite baikar still decided to perform in his husky john mayerish voice and for being a bud all these years=D, for jeremy and his company and support and everything the car the friendship and all=D aiya. for mr benkhoo , for dave gang justin et al, for zach, kevin ws, tim=D for duana and sheng who brought me a nice cd and mug=D for samuel who brought the girls along (Haha) and most of all, to thank God for His provisions for 21 years and for His blessings on the party. yay.


=D

there have been many good experiences in my holidays. i just have to say i'm been quite blessed, time to bless others.
highlights of the hols:
1. staying over at daren's to watch champions league, eating au petit salut=D listening to great music and writing good music=D
2. playing pool, and then texas holdem' poker at wenyi's, and then supper afterwards
3. stil tinking. haha.
4. getting baptised! (EASTER, yay). the Maundy Thursday service was really great as well.
5. monday after getting baptised: learning the true meaning of grace. God's ever-forgiving-ever-giving grace. listening to music that I wrote that, by God's grace, i was able to write. (that doesn't link right)
6. mambo night.
7. having dinner with wen en and jeremy and playing mahjong. old friends.
8. my 21st birthday party=D with trimmings and the like. with good friends to share the occasion with. with God's special blessings.
9. mahjong with kevin, darren, and kev's sis, because that was really quite ironic. i lost alot of money but had quite lot of fun.
10. prayer meeting which just ended. a closer intimacy with our Lord Jesus and our Heavenly Father. assurances throughout the day of the fact that, in His own words, I am 'saved for eternity', and in other words 'I am saved once and for all- you cannot lose this salvation'. (sorry ah, i get a lil' insecure sometimes) the joy i felt when others get saved and accept Christ. just great fellowship with God, not just in the prayer meeting, but throughout the day. plus the message of the immutability of God (how constant God is) just reinforces it. i think what I really learnt is how easily God forgives me.


"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." James 1:17

- i'm sorry, i forget easily. just tell God thanks that Shawn's quite blessed. i'm sorry if i have nothing credible to say. i have lots of gifts to be thankful for. =D quite blessed. thanks.


THE GENERAL ELECTIONS - A COMMENTARY

Anyway the elections are coming, and what interests me are the articles about the state of the opposition in Singapore. Firstly, without entering into a lot of rhetoric of how we 'need an opposition voice' and all that which have already been brought up, let's just examine 5 critical points about the opposition and the dominance of the PAP. I'll just elaborate on a few of these points.

*disclaimer - this is not a political podcast in anyway. this represents the blogger's personal view. and i don't think you can find any defamatory facts or any untruths, because there are only opinions here, not facts.

1. Local politics are extremely prevalent in Singapore. Unlike other countries, the worry is not about whether you are 'pro-life' or 'pro-choice', or how you plan to boost the economy, or whether you should raise the budget for education in Singapore- rather, the worry is on whether the MP can give you lifts on every floor, or whether the MP can provide a sheltered walkway from my house to the bus stop. You can't blame the electorate, because the majority of Singaporeans do not have the high levels of education necessary for such advanced debate to be of any influence on the ground, to be seen in the voting patterns. Someone said once that to have true democracy, you must have a large middle class, which is not as prevalent in Singapore as in a more 'ideal democracy', such as in the UK or USA. There, because people have been exposed to ideas and are trained to have political opinions, having already attained economic stability, they would more likely be able to discriminate idea-wise between two candidates based on their political ideas, and their political plans, rather than the immediate gratification of what Singapore rather functions, such as whether they'll be upgrading or not. You can't blame PAP, because, being the government, they have money to offer gifts that the other parties cannot offer, due to the magnitude of economic power disparity. You can't blame the people, because people will naturally choose the best option. There is no real solution until the education levels of Singapore really increases, and then you'd see real debate on the voting ground.
2. Considering the PAP's dominance, they can afford to boost their mandate not by squeezing the Opposition so hard until the 'pips squeak', but to temper a slightly heightened sense of moderation and fairness (not to insinuate that the PAP is not fair, I don't want to be heckled down with a lawsuit, thank you very much) to the election process in order to boost their image in the minds of the English-educated young.
The radical (i hasten to add) English-educated young have certain pet peeves about the PAP. Firstly, the link of voting to lift upgrading is seen as a certain form of 'vote bribery', in that sense. One may argue that the PAP has its own funds and why should they be used to pay for opposition wards who didnt' support their mandate? I would argue on two fronts. Firstly, as the PAP is in government, they have a responsibility to the whole of Singapore as the ruling party to care for the needs and wellbeing of all Singaporeans, regardless of who they voted for. it is 'one people, one nation, one Singapore'. It is government funds that are in the CDCs, not party funds, as I recall. Clearly these should be equally accessible to all constituencies, regardless of party. Secondly, as the opposition clearly doesnt' ahve funds to provide the same level of upgrading, it is a question of 'vote for us because only we can give you lift upgrading'. The English-educated young may perceive that as cheap, and un-noble, and not well-intentioned (yes politics is a dirty game but you need a moral high ground too). It becomes a threat that may force people to vote out of fear for the PAP. (yes people may say it's a bonus to have your lifts upgraded, but if everyone else is having it upgraded and yours is not, it becomes a threat, right?).
I feel, perhaps, that the PAP would gain further 'moral credibility', take the moral high ground and gain popularity amongst young liberals if it were to benovelently grant upgrading rights to opposition wards as well, instead of playing hard-ball on such issues. Then people will see PAP for what it stands for: great party programme for Singapore, talented individuals in the party, cohesive organisation, a care for the well-being of citizens, etc., instead of focussing on the rather pragmatic and un-ideal ways that the PAP has used to gain power in different constiuencies.
3. Dr Chee Soon Juan needs to rethink his act because what he is doing to the SDP is imploding the party from within. nothing needs to be said. seriously. i mean if this is opposition politics then we're no different from Barisan Socialis.
4. Linked to point 2, is that even though the PAP claims that GRCs are in fact necessary for minority representation etc, it can be easily perceived as a quickfire and easy option for MPs to be voted into parliament without a fight under the cover of a heavyweight minister, as is so often expressed. At most, limit the GRCs to 3 members per team, or so. the only excuse i can think of why they haven't done so yet is that there aren't enough 'ministers' to cover each GRC if this was the case.
5. I am glad that the Worker's Party have decided to raise the level of debate and candidature in their election campaign.



that's all i have to say.

shawn