Karajan: beauty and Brahms

As published on The Supplementary Paper 

The year was 1978. It had been 24 years since Herbert von Karajan succeeded Wilhelm Furtwangler as principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic. The relationship between orchestra and conductor was far from rosy. Karajan’s celebrity status, as a jet-setter sporting his famous kiss-curl hairstyle outshone by far the prodigious orchestra. The Philharmonic was subject to the egotism of its director, its ignominy epitomized by the numerous Karajan-centric music videos produced at the time. Still, Karajan’s tremendous mastery of orchestral direction is hardly contestable: there seems to be a certain magic to his every gesture. Or maybe it’s just pure charisma (he’s married to a model wife!)

The contention among critics today is that Karajan’s imposing terms has purged much of the Philharmonic’s soul, leaving much of the later recordings hollow and superficially despite their beauty. Karajan is reputed to have stripped the Berliner brass of its prowess, preferring to tune up the bass to cushion his luscious strings. This obsession over beauty, coupled with the complete musical mastery of artistic direction leaves his 1970s and ‘80s Beethoven cycle devoid of power and agony.

However, in this 1978 recording of Brahms’ 2^nd and 4^th symphonies, this beauty seems to serve the music very well. Brahms’ sophisticated orchestration calls for careful attention to balance and blend – an area which Karajan was most skilful at. The abundance of inter-weaving passages commands musicians to subscribe to the architecture of fluidity – a task fit for a genius musical dictator. (In this regard, powerful Leningrad renditions of these symphonies under Evgeny Mravinsky have yielded interesting results.)

By the late 70s, too, Karajan had become knowledgeable about the mixers and dials in the recording studio. Technology buff that he was, he was often guest to Sony CEO, Norio Ohga, so that he could access the latest toys. More importantly, the late Karajan recordings were edited and mixed by the maestro himself. While this is as close as one can get to understanding the music from the perspective of the conductor (literally a ‘director’s cut’), sadly the atmosphere and sonority of Brahms’ orchestration is somehow lost in this recording.

Will it be worth the USD12 or so for this disc? This really depends on the nature of the listener. Should one take classical music as second-hand smoke or simply as a means to de-stress, Karajan’s streamlining will assuredly soothe the nervous and frazzled. For the aspiring conductor, audio recordings are not the way to learn the ropes — there’s a trove of video resources on Karajan’s art that are more instructive. Sawallisch and Solti offer more sincere and genuine takes on Brahms for the musically-literate.

Brahms: Symphonies Nos.2 & 4 – Berliner Philharmoniker, Karajan
Deutsche Grammophon
International Release 02 Jul. 2012
CD 0289 478 4219 4 GB
http://www.deutschegrammophon.com/cat/single?PRODUCT_NR=4784219

Reference recordings:
Brahms Symphony No. 2
Sir Georg Solti: Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Brahms Symphony No. 4
Wolfgang Sawallisch, London Philharmonic Orchestra

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Is it increasingly more difficult to believe in a faith?

People of the Muslim faith have been tested throughout the 20th century, and their struggle have only intensified into the 21st. 

Syria, Egypt and Tunisia all have seen the cover of prime local newspapers. The world has heard their plight in practising their faith in the light (or darkness) of tyrannic subjugation. Praises be to God the most Merciful, they have passed this test of faith, for now they have spoken, and the world has listened. 

Here lies the key: social media, really. True, increased exposure to the flurry of ideas through our computer screens do at times test our understanding of our faith. But we need not always be at the receiving end. It ultimately is up to the believer - he can either take a concerted effort in rooting out such information, or tackle them head-on. So, it is not quite social media making it hard for us to practise our faith, but we are only bounded by our own response to all information we receive. 

The key? Social media proved too formidable and inexorable a force to be reckoned with, even by the most powerful of men, good and bad.  The voice of the believers challenged the nerves of tyrants, and awakened world leaders into action - as represented by the American cruise missiles and French warplanes bombarding Gadaffi's forces in support of the Benghazi rebels, and the ouster of Mubarak, paving the way of an Islamist government. God is the Greatest!

See, the challenges to faith posed by social media, if being responded to in a responsible and constructive manner only serves to facilitate the bolstering of one's faith. Speak the truth and it will prevail. 

Inevitably the believer comes across information which genuinely challenge his belief. To this, I say, the rise of social media is in tandem with that of Google. The Internet is a treasure trove of knowledge which in the past were confined between the walls of scholars. Why not see this as an opportunity to gain knowledge and wisdom and hence only increase our faith. After all, "admitting one’s ignorance is the beginning of wisdom" (Socrates). 

Hence, this widening of opportunity for expression only means greater ease of not only believing but also to propagate your faith. 

Social media is not only the surging force of today. Let's not forget temptation. This too today rules Man; the king of kings reign supreme deep in Man's heart. We travel, we watch television and we succumb to the cultural forces of globalization for we admire some of these foreign cultures; their freedom in conducting themselves; concept of career success triumphs over the need for self-actualization and atonement. To this, I say, wait and see. Globalization, too, is an awesome force. Everyone will realize that globalization works two ways. They (the foreign) too will have to start accommodating the faithful and their practice. 

Why? For the bottom-line ones amongst us, the global Muslim population is forecast to increase by 35% in the next 20 years. Clearly, in weighing the cost and benefit of the changing world to faith, this number speaks for itself.

To be man or wo-man?

Transcending time, its accompanied progress in socio-economic circumstances across spaces, and the engagement in paradigm shifts by societies, the human condition remains a constant.


Surely, women have undertaken new roles far away from the kitchen - at the top floor of magnificent skyscrapers or in cabinet offices; being where the world's riches and power lie.
Still, no Hillary Clinton or Angela Merkel or Indra Nooyi can stand a chance in overcoming the forces of nature.

The sad truth remains: For as long as women have existed, they have fallen victim to the relentless menstrual cycle, and the excruciating pain of childbirth. 

These issues are exclusive to the female kind, while men can at most only sincerely emphatize with the plight of women.

Ranks, riches and power and related variables aside, is there much reason to believe that being a woman is better than being a man?


As trivial as this issue seems, it is a real, pressing issue. 

Quantitatively, it's worse than world hunger, poverty and HIV/AIDS: approximately half the world population are agonized by the monthly discharges alone, every month of their lives.

Given a choice of either side of nature in terms of sex, being a man is undeniably the more convenient (and rational choice). 

We will never have the luxury of setting the terms of nature to abide by, so when this is made a variable, then we should pay attention to it more than anything else.

Talk about inequalities and injustices in income, literacy and treatment by society, but there still is some degree of control to counter these forces for a female if she so desires. But Lady Fortune waits for no women in delivering the cramps.

Concert Review: Rite(s) of Spring

Source: Orchestra of the Music Makers – Official Website

http://www.orchestra.sg

The programme line-up for this evening is of particular interest. Yes, the pieces certainly fit squarely into the Singapore Arts Festival 2012 theme, Our Lost Poems. But the amalgamation of these three pieces in one evening is most amusing. Londoners made plain their dislike for Gustav Holst’s Beni-Mora during its first airing on 1^st May 1912, and exactly thirteen months later, the premiere of Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring in Paris instigated one of the most famous classical music riots in history. Meanwhile, this evening would see the world debut of Dr. Ho Chee Kong’s Passage – Fantasy for Cello and Orchestra. Could it be that the programme was orchestrated to create a scandal, as the former pieces had – this time in the humble Esplanade Concert Hall?

The evening opens with Oriental Suite-Beni Mora, a less-known orchestral piece by Holst, inspired by the sounds of the streets of Algerian. Having released an internationally-acclaimed album of Gustav Mahler’s first and second symphonies in 2010, it is no wonder that the OMM managed to give the world-class performance venue a beating, during moments of sudden and even abrupt climaxes and exploit its iconic atmospheric acoustics with the Algerian lyric passages, led by the flute, devoutly holding on to the E note in the third movement; yet the motif does not tire the audience given Holst’s mastery of harmonic texture.

Source:

http://www.liweicello.com

Dr. Ho’s Passage features Li-Wei Qin, who is hailed as “one of the most important Chinese cellists of his generation”, having appeared in venues around the world alongside conductors of the highest eminence. Li-Wei’s stage presence is a stark reminder of the pianist Lang Lang; visually foraging the hall, as if in search of inspiration to give life to the written notes, as so successfully he has done. The piece begins with a question posed by the solo cello that repeats itself in variations, in a painful search answers to the meaning of life. The orchestra has sufficiently matched the energy of the distressed cello, though there were portions when the cello seemed to be undermined by a zealous orchestra. Nevertheless, Li-Wei’s fiery cadenza was breath-taking, as he masterfully extracted the full depth and height of the sounds of his instrument. One was fortunate enough to be in the presence of a Yo-Yo Ma in the making; that too for a reasonable price.

Then, the hall turned pitch-black. An unannounced solo piece by Li-Wei was played, aptly to highlight Li-Wei’s star capabilities, and aptly too to summon the (in)famous beginning passage of The Rite by the bassoon, being forced to play in its highest range. This “misuse” of the bassoon famously infuriated composer Camille Saint-Saens at the premiere. This night, however, there can only be commendation of this solo by a culturally-evolved audience, mimicking crude Slav village song and noise. The Augurs of Spring, however, was disrupted by blatantly incorrect untimely entrances of the Eb Clarinet – a favourite instrument in Stravinsky orchestral pieces – to the point that the part was buried for full three measures. An unforgivable mistake in the presence of a paying audience.

Source: National Endowment for the Arts (USA)

http://www.nea.gov/about/40th/joffrey.html

The orchestra may have started not quite on the right note, nevertheless, the orchestra exhibited consistency and togetherness in ensemble playing, considering that the piece has “never been topped for sophisticated handling of primitive rhythms”¹ and has the most complex harmonies ever written. The mastery of these key characteristics was very prevalent through The Naming and Honoring of the Chosen One. The OMM received a very long applause (but short of a standing ovation) so very well deserved, but not for their music in entirety. Credit should be attributed to the immense ambition that this volunteer organisation possesses and dares to carry out. They dared to program sophisticated pieces, they dared to accompany a world-class soloist. And all these accomplishments just two years after its conception. Let’s also not forget that this society has been coined a ‘charity’ orchestra by the press. This is truly an all-rounded orchestra; contributing significantly to the local arts scene with its foray into high-order classical music, grooming youth in their craft, nurturing responsible young citizens. The OMM is on an exciting road ahead, and even the professional Singapore Symphony Orchestra may one day be made to run for its money.

Meeting challenge with resilience

Singapore has been battling challenges which threaten its very existence since its independence in 1965. Abruptly separated from Malaysia then, Singapore was left with little to survive on. The challenges then were managed very well by our leaders but our physical limitations continue to be a concern for Singapore’s economy. For a developed economy f today, not only has Singapore tackled age-old challenges, globalisation has also brought increased economic competition. Social and environmental issues have also evolved in the leap forward to the twenty-first century, yet again, by global happenings. Politically, it is vital that Singapore continues to have strong leaders at the helm. One can definitely say that Singapore has been very effective in managing the challenges of today.

Singapore has always been effective in tackling economic challenges. Being one of the four Asian tigers, Singapore had a head start in industrialisation as it welcomed by multi-national businesses - at a time when many of its Southeast Asian neighbours were most wary of them. Today, at least at the regional level, Singapore is faced with competition from its neighbours, particularly in the manufacturing sector, where their labour costs are low, while Singapore, given its scarce land resource and a modicum of manpower. In an economic world that values speed and rock-bottom operating costs, it is certain that Singapore cannot afford to remain content with what it has been doing for a little over two score years.

While Singapore emerged as one of the first industrialised Asian states, today it boasts to be a hub of many; a research and development hub, a tourism hub and an education hub, among others. Singapore is still manufacturing goods, but now these goods are those with high value-addedness. It has shifted away from making bicycles and canned pineapples to exporting hard-disk drives and wing clips of the Airbus A380. Restructuring of Singapore’s economy is by and large necessitated by its physical constraints while taking its strengths into account. Frankly, its neighbours are less able to compete with Singapore in the high-technology industries as the latter has always been emphasising education for its people. Education mobilises Singaporeans to engage in tertiary ad quaternary industries which are more profitable, productive and less land-exhausting. Here, it is clear that where Singapore is in danger of losing out, it has overcome its limitations to excel.

The Internet and social media has brought about a new set of challenges for Singapore today. As the world becomes as interconnected as never before, information spreads apace. This is beneficial to an information-oriented economy. Inevitably, bad information crafted by irresponsible parties threaten the social fabric of this country. Singapore before independence was plagued by racial unrests and riots which jeopardise our security. One may say that the Singapore government today is in paranoia when it comes to the local regulation of information. Such a claim is not with solely unfounded reasons. Its authorities are quick to put out any display of hostility between ethnicities in Singapore. Social media such as Facebook, blogs and Twitter speeds up the accessibility of such information. Being a non-homogenous society, these sentiments are able to fuel potential periods of unrest and instability if left unattended.

One can say that Singapore has been successful in maintaining its social harmony in spite of its diversity by a simple measure: Singapore since the 1960s has not witnessed a single racial conflict, creating a safe and stable environment for its citizens to work and play, and for foreign investments to pour in and strengthen Singapore’s economy. Again, maintaining social stability has always been a constant issue Singapore has always been tackling, but today, it manifests itself in new, thoroughly evolved forms today. Measures which are in place, albeit seemingly draconian and undemocratic, have undeniably made Singapore face.

Maintaining good governance in Singapore itself is an important challenge of today which needs to be tackled. Not that the quality of its leaders have deteriorated, but globalisation and new media puts its leaders in a position where they can be more easily challenged by their people. Being a democracy at least in name, free and fair elections have been the means for people to give their mandate – or not – to the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) government. The PAP has always received no less than a two-third majority in parliament since 1959 but this is no longer a given.

Singapore, in implementing sound and viable policies has won the hearts of not all of its citizens. Social media and foreign ideological influences have opened the eyes of Singaporeans, especially its youth, to new peoples and their ideas. This poses a problem to Singapore as anti-government sentiments, if not managed, may resonate at the ballot boxes. Singaporeans are exposed to top-notch opposition candidates and their ideals seem to be better able to win the hearts of those who feel sidelined. As a result, the PAP has only amassed 60.1% of valid votes – hence showing exceptional opposition performance – during the 2011 General Elections. While outsiders may pass this off as an unsurprising outcome of the democratic process, Singapore’s political stability is now questioned. All along, with an absolute majority, the government can pass policies without much question. However, we now fear that Singapore’s political scene would end up like the United States, whose bipartisan congress almost always end up in deadlock over key, pressing issues of national importance, as in its economic crisis.  Politically speaking, the power of technology can no longer be ignored or it will take its toll in ballot boxes.

More pressing and visible global issues literally engulf this island-nation. The haze caused by burning of forests in Kalimantan and Sumatra in neighbouring Indonesia has posed serious environmental problems. The haze drops visibility to only a few hundred metres, posing a health threat and inhibiting certain economic activities. Singapore has assisted its neighbours in tackling the haze with technological and technical assistance. Singaporean satellites are used to track forest fires, while Singaporean personnel and equipment help put out forest fires. These cooperative measures will not be permanent solutions to the haze, nor are they totally ineffective. The haze will persist so long as vegetation is set on fire, but the issue can be said to be well-managed, noting the decline in the incidences of forest fires in recent years.

Singaporeans tend to take its water supply for granted but it is one of Singapore’s most crucial issues. Singapore has always been purchasing water from Malaysia, which is then treated by Singaporean water-processing plants. However, the contract for this supply is set to expire in 2061. Currently, Singapore has been innovating means to ensure self-sufficiency in its water supply, mainly by introducing NEWater. It has been mocked by many in the local and international community as sewage is its source. Nevertheless, not only has the technology been in place, it has been exported and sold off to water scarce regions, particularly in the Middle East. Water scarcity is a future challenge but its management is an issue of today. Beyond reasonable doubt, Singapore is successful in sustaining its physical lifeline.

Underlying all of Singapore’s successes – and failures – are its leaders. Westerners tend to criticise Singapore for practising maximum governance where much power lies within the state, where policies implemented are often unchallenged and where political opponents have prison cells waiting for their blunder. However, this is done not to feed ravenous despots but to serve the Singaporean people. Its leaders are the best this country can offer despite its small population. The challenges faced by Singapore today has always been a constant, only evolving into new forms brought about by global phenomena and thus, change, too, has to always be the constant, evolving to adapt to new challenges. Singaporean leaders have always welcomed and embraced change to suit the needs of today’s economy, noting that tomorrow’s today will be of a different form from now. One might have recognised by now that the economy is the core of Singapore. Without it – and a strong one – there can be no talk on other aspects of Singaporean life. What have made Singapore resilient to challenges are its adept and imaginative leaders. For example, the building of the two Integrated Resorts, which include casinos, faced strong objection from many segments of society, but has also spurred a record double-digit 14.5% economic growth in 2010, while many in the west were struggling to even recover from the 2008 recession. Singaporean values in governance are not exactly moral, but are those which encourage flexibility and bravery to be different.

From a fishing village to a key player in the International Monetary Fund, Singapore has not only managed the challenges of today but has always emerged stronger with greater eminence at every hurdle it overcomes. Adaptation and determination has always been in our genes; most Singaporeans are sons of immigrants who braved through the seas to even reach here physically intact, braved through the hardship of the Japanese occupation and struggled to make ends meet upon independence – it is no wonder that Singapore has been successful in managing the challenges of today.

Melaka

My stay in my motherland for the past three days has been one filled with literal tears of joy, reconciliation and reflection. Melaka is where my forefathers originate; where they were born, raised, put to work, encountered rattan-enabled strokes and nurtured to break to productively break their backs.

Home Kampong
What I witnessed I the village was still nothing like how it used to be, albeit not as modern as Singapore. Still the nostalgia of the setting has not failed to send chills down my dad's and uncle's spines thus catalysing the tear-making process. The desired by-product was only to be triggered by a 40 year-overdue aunt-nephew embrace. The reversal of such deep reactions proved to be highly endothermic given that the elder has superb memory. Even spectator particles like me can't be spared from  these cheek-wetting moments.

Makan
I thought my tongue was malay enough until I sat cross-legged in a kampong house, harrassed by flies on a straw mat. I ate what looked like vegetables simmered in a gravy of vomit. But praises to god, its taste is most interesting and nothing like I've ever seen; the most creative way of utilising durian. Not forgetting the asam pedas which tasted just like my late grandma's cooking (says my dad). And I won't be stepping on the weighing scale for some time to come.

Urge.

This week I've faced life in a different manner.

Might I say that I was not too happy by the time the results came out. Not because I was unhappy about the results, though. That is least of my concerns. I only wanted to be promoted as that is all that matters.

I was really unhappy because I get annoyed when people misunderstand me. Nobody will take me seriously in a heart-to-heart conversation for I tend to have an upbeat demeanour and a "bo-chup" face, which I find useful for stealthily gathering aural information. And so, I decided to reactivate myself to post stuff on this blog. As and when I sense that an action of mine needs to be justified, this is for all to see and discern for themselves.

Right from the beginning of the year, I resolved to only have simple ambitions, that is, such that I can sufficiently feed my family.

It so happened that the post-promo period was met with an internal conflict of moral, directional and emotional sorts. Might I reiterate that it has got nothing to do with my results. (I am indifferent towards it, until now, like my parents. No cause for celebration.) Nor was it PW, although something ugly was triggered then, but it is only due to the sudden unleash of all the emotional baggage thus far. And so, ironically, I felt lousy of myself, as if society does not value me anymore, as if people I know think I'm rubbish.

This perception changed after much reflection, catalysed by morning sunlight and boredom, at Sembawang Park. I suddenly felt that I am to impact society one day.

I used to have very big dreams. Those which people expect of me: politician, lawyer, diplomat and so on. I thought I would one day I would be able to do all that I want. But somehow, my self-esteem degraded since. However, apparently, teachers don't think so, but I still didn't realise. I thought they shared the same opinion as me. Until today when I looked at this:

My very recent change of perception of my destiny is only reaffirmed by the above which came a considerable period of time before.

God give me strength to deliver my responsiblities, show me the path of those whom you love, bless my family with good health.

Yes, the above is a wordly endeavour of mine, but to me, I do hope that this big thing I'll be doing will help my fellow Malays, help make Singapore great and most of all, do justice to the care showered by my family thus far.


P.S. Thank you, Shahir, for making me work my fingers and discern my actions even more.

Sleep. And 8 hours of it.

When asked how I got my results, I tell people I don't study much. People get annoyed; either they think I'm arrogant or it is just impossible to them. This intellectual myopia in itself annoys me. But it's true! However, it doesn't end there.

I find that I'm able to increase the efficiency of my studying time by maximising learning when you're not facing your books. This includes lectures, tutorials and the time spent answering nature's call. And all this boils down to sleep. And 8 hours of it. And almost religiously.

There's no denying that sufficient sleep makes you feel fresh early in the morning. You find it easier to arise, no matter how much you're gonna hate the day ahead. Because you feel fresh, there're little means for you to fall asleep during lecture and tutorial (unless it's in the afternoon, of course). Such is important as usually, the golden nuggets which makes one ace one's papers are usually revealed during lecture.

One may say that listening to the recording still does the job. I'm afraid not. Widely-received scientific studies show that only 20% of communication happens aurally. The rest happens through body language. While we certainly do not pay attention by these details, they are subconsciously processed by the brain to be effectively digested. Maybe it's the eyes, the hand gestures or stature which adds impact to the message albeit subconsciously. So why remove this 80% of learning aid?

Another thing that freshness allows one to do is think. 4 hours of sleep will make even walking a chore. During tutorials and lectures you can't be bothered about anything's that going on. Then you tell yourself that you're going to recap at home or some time after lesson. Here comes the big academic evil: procrastination! You simply forget about the lesson. If not, you become simply too tired or bogged down by other work by the time you remember. Worse still, studies show that that retention ability diminishes with time. And that's why you have to mug last minute, cramming as much information in an unsorted, unlogical manner which you can't almost totally appreciate.  You go for consultation only to ask questions already answered during lecture/tutorial. Because you have so much to cover, you can't afford to sleep. Then you can't focus duing exam. Then you go into depression, leading to insomnia. No sleep at all!

The above clearly shows the academic viscious cycle which is all to blame on insufficient sleep. Conversely, early, sufficient sleep contributes to a virtous academic cycle.

You can receive information, process them and link them. This is especially important for any subject. Chemistry is one subject with no room for compartmentalised thinking to ace in it. With a clear mind, these links can be drawn during lectures themselves. It makes you stay awake. It encourages higher order thinking. For the arts, linking is the essence for forming solid arguments.

Thinking can happen on the way home. Or on the toilet. Or while eating. Start with DUH! questions first. At least it keeps you engaged stuff you need to know and APPRECIATE. This is hiw you don't have to spend time.mugging. Mugging time is only to boost details and strengthen the links, NOT to receive new information. Only then will consultations be productive. Last moments before exam are to be spent appreciating and processing information. This way, the content that needs to be known becomes a given.

By now, you realise that all these requires one to be alert, hence requires sleep. Sleep full length, leave the work behind and catch up with them when you wake up fresh. You need less time doing them as you think better. Give it your all in school and you can go home and "nua". Well, that's at least what I do...

Besides, people comment that my face has a perpetual freshness. It's easier for you to smile! Why not stop being the passive "sian" one and be the active smile-inducing party instead?! So sleep.

My results are not the best set but I can assure you this was done by seeking ways to increase the time-for-grades value, noting that I hold three CCAs and an ageing family which I would have to feed very soon.

We must be selfish.

I feel stressed out living in Singapore.

Not only do I have to be perpetually surrounded by people, humans and Homo sapiens, I have to cope with the behaviours of these people. It is bad enough that we have to live digging our faces into others’ armpits. But mismanaged odour in trains puts the most patient to the edges of the cliff of tolerance. The point is, in this day and age, where Singaporeans enjoy high material standards of living, why are we still rude and selfish?

Perhaps this same selfishness is the reason for Singapore’s economic excellence. Being ruthless and competitive in the global arena, amassing the world’s riches for ourselves, dominating trade routes, hoarding all that are for grabs; How Singaporean can we ever get?

Right from Singapore’s founding selfishness has always been key to our survival. How do you suppose our forefathers were able to make their voyage from their homelands to this tiny island, feeding on the bodies of those who died, indignantly throwing the dead overboard? On this island, these people shed blood, sweat and tears to eke out a living for themselves. The treasures were there, up for grabs and only the fittest would prevail. There were no transfer payment handouts from the government to yearn for every recession, healthcare benefits to safeguard social security or schools to learn the trades of the day. Our fathers earned every cent breaking their backs and waited for death to knock on their doors when they were severely ill. However, they were lucky enough to attend the best school ever to exist: the school of life.

Their plight did not end there. They braved through the Japanese occupation where deception, struggle and betrayal were their cup of tea. Even the creation of the Singapore in the form we know of today was not without pain. An alien left alone, at the ransom of its neighbours, it defied the odds to emerge as a player in the world economy today.

How then, could the people we have in Singapore today be the worst time has seen? Survival of the fittest has always been the essence of Singapore’s nation-building of the time that has passed and for the time to come. Hard work, struggle and determination are in our genes. Nature has selected its best to make this island great.

Selfishness has manifested in a new form in Singaporeans today. One which serves self before others, individual before nation. This is alright as this was exactly the case 10 score years ago. Worse still, back then, there was not an idea of nationhood. It was our unorchestrated combined strengths which contributed to an identity we have found for ourselves. And this is still the case.

Pity arises when our selfishness is channelled to matters of the least importance or even derogatory in nature. Yes, being inconsiderate can be said to be a product of this natural selection. Then, we can question, are we getting too comfortable?

What seem to interest Singaporeans today are whether our parks today are crowded, how packed our trains and how ugly the Miss Singapore Universe is.

No matter how strong these grievances, or how true they are, we live in the age of the advent of GST offsets admist economic troubles, world-class medical care envied by the West and top-ranked universities fuelling the needs of today’s economy.

Perhaps provisions such as the above have made us lose our head in the game.

Thankfully, natural selection will once again save Singapore from decline, I think. With the revelation of the foreign talent and its neighbours’ rise from economic idleness, it is high time that Singaporeans return to the way of the struggle before we are strangled. 

Not doing

I've led my life as a very irrational JC student thus far.

Not running for SC, HEXCO, Choir presidency, Scholars' Development and so on. Many asked what in the world I'm thinking. Here's what I'm thinking:

When you're good, you don't compete.  Look at the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra for instance. They don't involve themselves in the All-Japan Ban Contest as a participant but as the benchmark for wind band standards in Japan (by recording the set pieces for reference). This is the same for the world's top orchestras, though they are being ranked. Nevertheless, lists don't define the soul of these mature institutions. They typically the serve as the pride and soul of their home cities. That's way more important.

In all that you are good at, you have to be very confident. People compete because they are uncertain of their abilities. Isn't this a show of self-disrespect? When you're good, you should strive to be the one who sets the standard and be the mentor for your counterparts. Also, you don't need to compete if you're able to distinguish yourself from others such that you are in-substitutable. (Recall PED)

I recall Mr Teo Ser Luck's wisdom that one is not made a leader because of his position but by his character. One does not need to be a leader only when given a position. Positions are merely a source of empowerment to drive on to greater heights in the organisation. However, is this necessary if the individual if self-driven? In other words, one is a leader if he behaves like one in everything that he chooses to do.

Conversely, one is merely an administrator when given a position but has no leadership traits in him. Singapore schools are very good at producing administrators.

Leadership is a lifestyle, not a post. When you have unshakeable values and beliefs, you don't need accolades or leadership posts for you to be noticed. You find opportunities knocking at your doorstep because they know you are different. You don't need to go into scholar development or school programmes to prove your worth. Just do what you like to do and you will reap the benefits. Just look at how ministers are chosen. They come from various backgrounds, doctors, bankers, economists, generals, etc. They are chosen because they are good at what they do, coupled with strong beliefs and conviction.

For me, driven by beliefs and causes that I advocate, I chose to be a president of a non-niche CCA of 20 people, the Malay Cultural Society.  I don't think I'm devaluing myself by heading a very small CCA. I strive to unite all Malay NYJC-ians such that our different strengths would be put together to great causes for our community when we go out and work. I fear that my friends would forget their roots; the people who have helped them exceled, and that their success in the future would depend on the mandate of their own community. Why are the Chinese so successful?It's because they never forget to contribute back to their society when they succeed.

Now you know how I think. 

Antara Sayur dan Nafi

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manusia
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Is there hope for the world today?

I feel there is hope.

While most of the challenges we face today are often created by people
who wield power, either democratically or by unwilling submission of
peoples, what gives us hope really are ordinary people who care. One
will say that only people with power (at least in name) have the
capacity to change the course of events in the world. But real power
lies in the people who are willing to share and give. People who
advocate total inclusion of the disabled in our economy, for example.
Or those who merely come up with recipe books for fellow cancer
patients. These people impact your world, more effectively than guns
do.

And a lesson from Keefe:
Civil unrest should not cause us to lose hope, even on the grounds
that many lives are lost. Such conflict happen in the hope of a better
future for the society.

- done during GP. ;)

Woken Up

Phew, it's a heck of a long time since I put anything here. As you can see, new year - new template design.

The major event of this year has to be my getting posted to Nanyang Junior College. This is where I will spend two years (hopefully only two) of university preparation. I must say I have no regrets putting this institution as the first choice.

1. Mr Kwek
What better way to start tertiary education than to have the school principal pat your back as you enter the school. Mr Kwek was also the principal of Anderson Secondary School in the early '90s and under his leadership, the school has made a giant leap forward, made obvious by its achievement as the "Best Neighbourhood School" in 1992, awarded by The Straits Times. If I'm not mistaken, it was he who convinced Mrs Chong, my Math teacher in secondary school to get an MSG of 1.0 for Maths, which materialised.

What makes Mr Kwek so adored by many, I think, is through his straightforward-ness and friendly demeanour. We have a strong sense of security being in NY, thanks to his repeated calls to "find him in the General Office if you have no money because nobody should be deprived of education." He is a principal who truly put the interests of his students first. He is one in a million.

2. O.G.
Imagine 900 people from 100 secondary schools converging to bring a school hall down. That's exactly what happened.

Across the causeway

Why is merger and separation removed from the social studies syllabus, I wonder.

However, after reading a few books on the above, it becomes obvious that the above matter is simply too controversial. I am certain that even till today, academics still cannot reach a "net" agreement on why we left or even joined Malaysia.

SEPARATION

We are taught, or if not, have the impression that separation was due to difficult differences, mostly on domestic issues. For one, the promised common market never did happen.

However, this Malay book by Mustapa Mohamed, titled "Kemelut Politik Melayu" said that Tunku Abdul Rahman "sacked" Singapore out of Malaysia in order to protect Malaysia interest. Of course, we do know that Lee Kuan Yew did call for a "Malaysian Malaysia" rather than a "Malay Malaysia".

GOOD VS BAD

Another source of headache is the contention over who was the protagonist or antagonist in this matter. Either  party seem to always be antagonising the other.

Lee Kuan Yew mentioned in his memoirs of the presence of "Malay Ultras" in UMNO and the central government. One of these ultras include former PM Dr Mahathir. Conversely, Malaysian minds tend to think of the PAP as exclusively Chinese and a group of extremists who threaten to make torn the socio-political fabric of Malaysia. 

As a Singaporean, I am the worst person to soberly and objectively make sense of the situation then.

SS
These complications, on the other hand, can actually be made a reason for this topic to be reintroduced in the Social Studies syllabus. We need to let students appreciate these unique, interesting and abstract kinds of relations. Then, we get to groom young openminds to be critical yet objective. Coupled with sensitivity to the world around them, we get to build a generation of youth who are discerning and active in this country's workings.

Piece of my mind

If you do what your peers do, you will get the same results as them. To be better, you need to do more.

However, I believe one can work in a smarter manner, more efficiently - even if this means NOT doing certain "things" which your peers do.

These things include going to the movies, hanging out, etc.

Gene

I recall Mr Kamal's "extra-extra" lesson with the DHS HC team that hard work is in the DNA of Singaporeans. 

Founding

Our forefathers are not from this land. They migrated from all over Asia to Singapore in search of wealth and a spur to start earn livelihood. The Chinese, for example, came from the Southern parts of China, considered the "short Chinese" back in their homeland. While conditions at home were atrocious, the conditions of their journey to Singapore was no better, so as were their early days in Singapore. And so they worked as coolies, Samsui women and such. Some learnt their trades very well to become successful merchants, with the dividends to contribute to their homeland and local community. 

Singapore was never meant to be called home by these peoples. Singapore was merely a place to bag cash and send home, where they belong. However, only time understands love, hence, people become attached to this island. They gave birth to a new generation. 

Occupation

The Japanese Occupation purged the community of anti-Japanese sentiments. This is the period of time where we hear of anecdotes of how families and friends of different origins cooperate harmoniously to resist, or at least, to survive torment. Clearly, to live through severe rule requires strength and courage. In other word, survival of the fittest. 

Merdeka

Singapore was created with little resources given to capitalise on. Here, hard work occurs across all levels of society. As the individual, one had to be sure to be hardworking in order to raise their children, accompanied by sufficient faith to the government to lead them. At the government level, the government had to be adamant to do what others won't and fear in order to serve the people's interest, including allowing the entrance of MNCs. 

21st Century

For new citizens or even PRs, this kind of hereditary characteristic is even more prevalent. In spite of the challenges of living in an expensive city, the fact that one can still procreate and educate them well is very telling of their effort. 

Think about it.

On Geng

I am very disturbed by the surge of cases of aggression between and among secret societies. I ever witnessed a gang riot before, around 50 people beating up one poor chap with guitars, chairs, poles and such. 

It was almost like blitzkrieg, out of the blue, these young people dressed in black came out from the corners of HDB void decks to perform the deed. I believe this was due to an internal difference between the chap and the interests of the society. However, let me tell you the most disturbing part. This incident happened at a very busy time at a very busy T-junction. It was around 7pm, where workers head home from town at a crossing frequently used. It seemed to me that the youth involved were unperturbed by their surroundings! 

Who says a riot can happen only at night in the most secluded of places? In full view of passers-by, this shocking thing happened! I can do nothing but only to punch 999 on my Samsung Corby Pro. (Luckily the touchscreen never break)

This incident brings me to my two-cents worth (whatever this really means): 

1. Are gangs awesome?

My father often tell me how cowardly gang members are today relative to the gangs during the kampong days. Murder was sort of a norm in the Sembawang kampongs. It's members are truly loyal and daring and will contribute with their lives. Each member can act alone and a leader, so to speak, in his own right. This is in contrast with the characteristic of gangsters today who find strength in numbers. 

 Also, my mother recalled how the gangsters in the past would tell residents in the neighbourhoods in Whampoa, where my late grandmother lived, to shut their doors before a gang fight was to occur. In addition, my father told me that youth involved in criminal activities in the past cause problems only to themselves  and society but never to their own families. 

They did not want to be a headache to their parents and would often leave the household to avoid being an unworthy liability. Needless to say, at least gangsters in the past were more dignified in behaviour and strive to be a problem only to their foes. Unlike today, where young gangsters create problems with everybody, including their family. They still depend on their parents for money, carry out aggression in public places, as seen in Downtown East, disrupting everbody's life. 

To aggravate matters, such occurrences are due to the most mundane of issues, like a "staring incident". Clearly, these people should rethink the meaning of joining a gang.

2. Preventive Measures

It is known that there is a rule that teenagers are not to be found unaccompanied beyond 11pm, or their identification papers would be detained and can only be claimed at the police station after questioning. Apart from the inconvenience such a measure would cause for a very busy teenager like me, I question its effectiveness. As mentioned above, gang aggression happened a number of times in the most public of places. One in very popular Downtown East, the other at a very busy junction. Also, note the timing, there were many, especially, shopkeepers, who witnessed the stabbing, even more prevalent was the Yishun incident at the junction. 

How would stopping teenagers at night alleviate the problem? How would increasing frequency of patrols in secluded hotspots help? These two incidents happened in illumination, in full view of the public. Poor me. It's now so difficult to return home late with peace of mind after hours at school, or after a concert, or after a late-night movie with friends! While I am STUDYING in the DAYTIME, these buggers make curry of some poor fellas... Unfair sia!
 

What we need are smarter solutions to tackle the problem at its root. I wonder if there are intense intelligence systems. Perhaps employing informants? Also, we can get teachers to appreciate the inner workings of secret societies, even if this means working with their students who are members. 

Trial mobile post

woohoo... my first mobile blog post!

The Cuban Missiles and the Truth

Just a little bit of sound bites from my head before I start off…

We must not only thank John F. Kennedy for ensuring our very existence today. We owe our existence today to the people who got him into office. Imagine what it’ll be like if we have a monkey like George Bush governing USA at such a critical moment of the history of mankind. We must thank the Americans who voted for him with wisdom, and his colleagues for adequate lobbying. But such a notion lead me to wonder - since the fate of the world seems to lie in the hands of the one man, why not let the world elect the President of the United States?

I know that such a statement seems naïve, but I think its possibility should not be denied. Let’s look at Thirteen Days.

The Actual:




The Movie:

The parties involved were the USA, USSR, Cuba and their respective allies. How must have the people of Cuba felt? Maybe on the façade depicted by Castro’s government, the Cubans may show anti-America sentiments as a possible invasion was supposedly an invasion of Cuban pride and sovereignty. However I am certain during those moments, they were scared the hell out of their pants. Why don’t we give them a say in American politics? After all, Latin America was an American backyard, where the US can eat, spit and sh**. Ever heard of the power of the people? If the local government wouldn’t grant them security, let’s bring it to their doorstep (literally) and let them cast a vote for the American leadership. They were just LUCKY the Americans voted for the best choice.  In fact, with the RAW power of the people, the world would be peaceful then and today.

Now, finally, I shall move on to making tough decisions.

John Kennedy was in a very interesting position. I vividly remember the scenes of him being in the Oval Office with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Secretary Robert McNamara, Ambassador Adlai Stevenson and Attorney-General Robert Kennedy.

It seemed that all odds were against the practice of his judgement and conscience. More so, when taking into account the presence of the most reliable sources of advice he had, all around him. These people are battle-hardened and heavily decorated on their torso. In contrary, Kennedy was merely a civilian authority who took the oath of office barely four years before. Not only was he viewed as weak by Secretary Khrushchev, his own people had the same inclination to do so. 

After all, the only responsible and sensible thing for a president to do in such a circumstance was to heed the advice of his generals. After all, it would be responsible and heroic of him to avoid “another Munich”. Robert McNamara’s and Adlai Stevenson’s presence was merely one of an auxiliary nature but fortunately, JFK recognised the value of ALL of his people’s ideas. Henceforth, McNamara’s proposal for a naval blockade on Cuba and diplomacy through the UN as put forward by Stevenson was implemented to result in a partial success, I would say. 

This brings me on my idea of truth. What is Truth? To me, it is merely a perception. Say, a pencil is 15cm. Yes, the truth in this statement can be proved using reason. Maybe, we measure by using a ruler. But to what extent can a statement be proved to be the truth. Isn’t it merely by scrutiny, which is by the way, flawed in many ways (because it’s human)? In human talk, the truth is so only when justified by logic and usually, by quantifiable means. Hence, Truth is a perception. NOBODY KNOWS THE TRUTH except the Divine authority.

Poor Kennedy. He has the world’s best military minds at his disposal feeding him with calls for nuclear Armageddon. What made him stop? Was it a deep compassion for mankind? I think so. By logic, Moscow or Cuba should disappear from the world map. But for he is a human who loves another, he saved the nuking.

In other words, Kennedy made his tough decision using his heart! By logic, we all would have disintegrated almost 50 years ago. But because of the heart we didn’t cease to exist.

If only all rulers were like that.

The Most Awesomest Conductors

1. Carlos Kleiber with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra





2.Yevgeny Fyodorovich Svetlanov with the USSR State Symphony Orchestra




3. Yevgeny Aleksandrovich Mravinsky with the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra