Social Issues- “The Return of the Original Bond Breaker “ by Lynn Lee

(Term 3 W9 1st submission)

Commentary on “The Return of the Original Bond Breaker “ by Lynn Lee. The Straits Times 17 Aug

At a recent interview, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew made a comment on how local scholarships were losing their lustre. He highlighted the fact that talented individuals were unwilling to accept the scholarships and contribute to Singapore’s public sector after their education. In response to this comment and the announcement of 2007’s Presidents Scholars, the Strait Times offered a critical view of our scholarship programme on August 17.

This report had caught my attention as it was informative. It reported on the psychological mindsets of Presidents Scholars. In addition, I have long aspired to be a PSC scholar (doing medicine at Ivy League Universities) and thus this article was highly enlightening. However, the most informative article was this: “the return of the original bond breaker.” The arguments in the article are highly thought-provoking.


Now, the main argument that he raised was that the Presidents Scholarships were highly limiting as it has a bond attached as a condition. Talents were forced to return to Singapore to serve in the public sector and could not “become trailblazers in the field of his interest.” This argument is highly valid and addresses one of the fundamental problems of the Singapore scholarship system. Talented Presidents Scholars are deprived of a chance to make a name in the private sector due to the bond condition. Being restricted to the public sector, these promising scholars are unable to realize their potential and make the most out of their intelligence. Their contribution to the welfare of Singapore is thus undermined.


However, from the government standpoint, it is understandable that bonds are attached to the prestigious scholarships. The purpose of the scholarship programme is to provide a good education to the country’s talents and more importantly, recruit them into the country’s public sector. Thus these bonds are formal agreements to guarantee the return of the highly educated talents to the country’s administration. This is essential for the country; without these bonds, there is a high risk that the scholars could forsake their nations for better opportunities elsewhere.


To rebuke this point, the author argues that the government must take a risk. He reassures the government that most of the scholars will return as they have a strong “inner compass.” This is because these scholars had their values and characters instilled in Singapore and are bound to have a strong sense of love and duty for their country. Thus, they will return and make contributions in whatever possible ways.


I agree with this statement. For me, although opportunities elsewhere are alluring, I am deeply rooted to this country. This is the place that understands me, my culture and my personality. This is the place where I had grown up in and I feel comfortable here. In addition, most of my relatives live in Singapore and this place would forever burn with the warmth of kinship and love. In contrast, despite the higher quality of life overseas, it is not my homeland. Therefore, there is always a part of me which fails to accept the foreign way of life.


Despite the hardships, Singapore is where I belong. I believe that this is what most Singaporeans would feel. Thus, there is some logic in the argument that the government should rest assured that its “un-bonded” scholars would return to contribute to our development.

Political/International Relations Issue- Electricity in Africa : The Dark Continent

(For Term 3 WW9 Blog 2nd submission)

Political/International Relations Issues

Commentary on Electricity in Africa: The Dark Continent by Dar Es Salaam, dated 18 August 2007. The Economist, Aug 18th 2007, Page 36

Source: http://www.economist.com/world/africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9660077

A power shortage crisis has gripped Africa. The facts are worryingly. According to the article, Africa generates merely “4% of global electricity despite accounting for one-third of the world’s population.” Moreover, in African nations like Nigeria, only 10 out of the existing 79 power stations are operational. Power shortage in Africa is also projected to outstrip its economic growth. This could damage the weak foundations of the vulnerable African economies.

The following article raises the problem of the widening social income gap existent in our world today. As civilization marches forth with increased economic prosperity, an entire continent has been neglected. This continent is Africa. Africa is a region that has historically been left behind by Man’s progress. It is associated with an abyss of despair, suffering and darkness. How true! Since the days of colonial independence, internal conflicts, civil wars, and class struggles have torn apart the African society. Decades of racial oppression have fragmented African politics and damaged African pride. Due to the overwhelming social instability, investors have fled the continent, contributing to economic turmoil. Thus, Africa is undeveloped- politically, socially and economically.

However, this uneven distribution of wealth has only worsened in recent years. Firstly, globalization has opened up the African domestic markets to the multinational companies. Local African businesses and producers are displaced by the stiff competition brought by globalization. Furthermore, globalization has led to the exploitation of Africa by multinational companies. These companies employ African labour at under-market rates and take advantage of the widespread corruption in Africa to export African natural resources for corporate profit.

Secondly, although the international community has recognized poverty in Africa, little has been done to ameliorate the situation. In fact, the Western nations have been hypocritical in solving the problem. Despite millions pledged in aid, Africa still remains low on the political agenda of the developed nation. This lack of concern for has been demonstrated in the recent Darfur conflict. Despite obvious genocide occurring in Darfur, the international community has been slow to react to the situation. This tardy response reminds us of international apathy towards Africa.

Thirdly, the public in the developed countries remain ignorant of the widening social income. Although concerts such as “Live 8” have been organized to raise awareness of poverty in Africa, teenagers my age continue to take our electricity and other basic resources for granted. To us, Africa lies in obscurity. We embrace the “I don’t care” mentality and believe that the African crisis is unrelated to our lives.

To be frank, the only way to solve the African situation is that there must be a political drive. Political leaders from developed nation must focus more on African economy and politics. They must divert national resources to genuinely help Africa and commit themselves to ameliorating the situation in Africa. Only with this political drive will the public begin to take notice of Africa and start contributing their efforts to develop Africa.

In short, more can be done to help Africa and narrow the income gap. All we need is a little more concern and commitment.

Political/Social Issues: Wen Pushes the Right Button

(Term 2 Week 9 Blog Sumission 2)

Commentary on “Wen Pushes the Right Button” by Kwan Weng Kin and Chua Chin Hon- The Strait Times: Saturday, April 14, 2007

This article had reported a recent visit by the Chinese premier, Wen Jiabao, to the Kyoto in an effort to repair Sino-Japanese diplomatic relations. In this trip, the Chinese had exhibited masterful diplomacy. For example, in a speech addressed to Japanese lawmakers, the Chinese leader had avoided mentioning the Nanjing massacre and showed respect for the Japanese preference of avoiding direct criticism of confrontation. In this essay, I shall similarly lavish plaudits on the Chinese Premier and comment on the need for diplomacy between the traditional loggerheads, China and Japan.

Firstly, I shall praise The Chinese Premier for his efforts in playing down Sino-Japanese differences to visit Japan. A walk down history lane would reveal that the reason for the distrust between the 2 nations is the lack of communication. Since the Japanese invaded China and obliterated Nanjing, relations between the 2 nations had soured. Till this day, the Chinese remain emotionally “wounded” by the Japanese massacre and are not magnanimous enough to forgive Japan. Meanwhile Japan is unwilling to lower her pride to apologize for her WW2 aggression. The lack of contact and conversation between these nations’ leaders had exacerbated the mistrust and hatred inherent in these nations’ diplomatic relation.

I believe that Mr. Wen deserves praises for his skilful handing of the Sino-Japanese relations. Unlike his predecessors, Mr. Wen had not turned a cold shoulder to the Japanese. Instead, he is highly receptive to the idea of warming Sino-Japanese relations and embraces Japan for what it is. More importantly, Mr. Wen accorded Japan with the respect that she deserves. For example, during the visit, Mr. Wen had eschewed direct confrontation and criticism of the Japanese and avoided raking up the unhappy past. This is the very antithesis of his predecessors, who often played up the history card to coerce Japan into a corner, much to the acrimony of the Japanese. All these qualities demonstrated by Mr. Wen deserve acclaim.

That aside, it is of paramount importance that China and Japan repair their diplomatic relations. This is because both China and Japan are the cornerstone economies of Asia. The economic growths of other Asian nations are dependent on these two powerhouses. Should China and Japan engage in a conflict, it would destabilize the economic growth of the entire region. Asian countries would then go into economic recession and lose their competitive edge in an era marked by rapid globalization.

Good and tactful diplomacy, as practiced by Mr. Wen, is the sole key to Sino-Japanese relations. Both the Japanese and Chinese must realize that that they are auxiliary to each other. As globalization spreads across the globe, collectivation (cooperation) between countries has to transpire. Countries must combine their economic resources and practice free trade in order to survive in a highly competitive world.

In conclusion, China and Japan must act fast to solve their diplomatic problems. Only if they cooperate economically can they move into a win-win situation where peace and prosperity reinforce themselves into an upward spiral.

498 words

Environmental Issues: Living Well With Global Warming

( For Term 2 Week 9 Blog Sumission 2)
"Living With Global Warming" (4/10/07) Introduction

April 16, 2007 issue - Something weird is happening to the world's weather. Ski slopes in central Japan and the Alps were still green weeks after the start of the season. Giant hornets, once found only in the Far East, are now swarming in a warmer ...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17952352/site/newsweek

Commentary on Newsweek’s Special Report on “Living Well with Global Warming” by William Underhill, Emily Flynn Vencat, Eric Pape, Barrett Sheridan, Richard S. Lindzen, Karen Breslau, Michael Klare

Issue on Global Warming: From Newsweek Vol. CXLIX, No. 16/17. April16/April 23, 2007 “Special Report: Living with Climate change”, Pg 37-83


In this article, the writers examined the impact of global warming on the different countries and highlighted two important facts about the phenomenon. Firstly, global warming is likely to be one of the few tectonic forces like aging populations that gradually but powerfully changes the economic landscape. Secondly, humans would gradually adapt to global warming and could even possibly profit from it. Drastic responses to this phenomenon are currently unnecessary. In this essay I shall comment on these points.

I would agree with the first point that global warming gradually changes our economic landscape. The environmental impacts work on a basis of delayed feedback mechanism. Although the repercussions of global warming have not surfaced, they are not inexistent. In fact, what is happening is that the effects are being accumulated. Eventually, a breakpoint would be reached when Mother Earth’s pollution capacity is exceeded and it can no longer sustain life.
Currently, there are already indications of the environment breaking down. For example in recent years, hurricanes have occurred with record-breaking ferocity and frequency. The mammoth chunks of millennia-old ice shelves at the Arctic are melting. Magnificent rivers are disappearing due to onslaughts of droughts.

All these climate changes wrought by self-centered human behaviour have an immense economic impact. For example, Hurricane Katrina has caused billions in damages to the oil field along the Gulf of Mexico. This damage of epochal proportions has severely reduced the America oil production for several months, resulting in severe revenue losses.

Next, I would disagree with the second point, in which the writers became skeptical about the impacts of Global warming. Instead, they reported how people in the developed nations like America would be able to adapt to Global Warming given the high level of technology inherent in the country.

In my own opinion, this is a dangerous point. The impacts of Global Warming are far-reaching. These grim consequences could change the geography of Mother Earth and annihilate the life forms that Earth supports. It is a serious misconception to think that the sole response to global warming is adaptation. Yes, we can adapt- but for how long?

Currently, huge swathes of land area like Florida and San Francisco are low-lying regions. The rising sea level that stems from the melting of polar ice caps would put these densely-populated areas underwater. Should the worst fears of scientists be realized and the water rises by six metres, it is indeed naïve to think that building dams would be feasible. These dams would probably crumble under the immense weight of the surrounding waters.

In conclusion, we must act fast on global warming. This is a global problem which requires global cooperation. Countries, developed or underdeveloped, must work together to curb the problem. In the time being we must not let our economic agendas distract us from the environmental one. After all, the environment is an irreplaceable pillar of our economy i.e. water for survival, oil for profits. Therefore, let’s make a concerted effect to sustain this pillar.

499 words

Issues regarding teenagers: Teenage Gambling

Commentary on “Youth Gambling: Nipping it in the bud” by Yap Su-Yin- Strait Times: Home Section Friday, February 16 2007

The above article had reported the measures undertaken by the government to address the problem of teenage gambling, which is of increasing concern due to the planned construction of the two integrated resorts which would provide more gambling opportunities. As elaborated by the article, teenage gambling is a social problem with grave ramifications. In my essay, I shall therefore do my part in tackling this social problem by commenting on why teenagers get associated with gambling and the effectiveness of the campaign from my viewpoint as a teenager.

Firstly, teenagers are eager to get started on gambling despite initial disinterest due to their strong “experimentative mindset”. They are at this point of life where they have a strong urge to try out illegal things. The urge is driven by the curiosity and the thrill of doing something prohibited. They want to challenge existing regulations and bear this mindset: “Illegal gambling-so what? What can happen to me if I get caught?”

Secondly, another important factor influencing teenagers to gamble is peer pressure. Uninterested gambling individuals may be persuaded by the charismatic ones to gamble. These uninterested individuals have to agree or face the awful prospect of being ostracized. Gambling therefore becomes a matter of social ranking. It guarantees a certain social cachet that eases navigation amongst the various cliques populating a school.

Thirdly, teenagers are easily vulnerable to family influence. If the teenager comes from a family of avid gamblers, he would naturally try out gambling to satisfy his curiosity and to understand his families’ obsession with this activity.

These three reasons account for why teenagers get associated with gambling. Once they get started, teenagers will be emboldened by their successful attempt of “evading the law” and continue gambling. As time progresses, they will be increasingly addicted, giving rise to other social problems like borrowing money from loansharks or getting involved in triads.

In light of this, teenage gambling has to be nipped in the bud. To do this, the government has created short films, road shows and interactive games aimed at getting the “don’t start” message to the youth. This fresh approach to tackle gambling would raise awareness of the ills of gambling among youth. However, a shortcoming of this approach is that the short films (etc) are easily forgettable and would not make a huge enough impact on the mindset of the youth. As such, I believe that these road show or films should instead depict tragic real-life cases of picking up gambling, astound the youth about its dreadful consequences and psychologically deter gambling among the youth. In addition, I believe that the teachers in school should monitor the students closely and look out for tell-tale signs of gambling i.e. sudden loss in interest in studying. Lastly, to effectively stop gambling, the media should encourage parents to be role models for their children and stop gambling on their part.

Teenage gambling is a serious social problem. It needs to be stopped before it balloons out of control.

498 words

THE END

Educational Issues: What is Good English?

Commentary on “Why use big words when simple words will do?” by Janadas Devan - Sunday Times, 11 February 2007

This highly insightful commentary by Janadas Devan corrects the common misconception of Good English. Using the recently-concluded NKF saga as a learning platform, the author puts across his point that a good command of the language is not about replacing simple vernacular with bombastic words or seeking to “impress” the readers with profound language.

My position on good English is similar to that of Janadas Devan. In my opinion, there are three main reasons why flowery languages should be avoided.

Firstly, flowery language, which is a string of highly complex word and vocabulary, is highly confusing and barely understandable. By replacing all the simple words in the sentence with the most complicated ones from the thesaurus, you are essentially creating a code-encryption. This defeats the purpose of English, which is to convey a clear and easily understandable message to another party.

Secondly, as mentioned by Janadas Devan, substituting simple words with flowery languages could change the meaning of the sentence. This is a unique feature of English (or any other languages), where there is a wide hoard of vocabulary to choose from. This implies that each vocabulary has a different implied meaning or implication. Therefore, although the meaning could be similar, they are not identical and would be used differently in different situations and contexts. As such, blindly substituting the words could subtly alter the meaning of the sentence and convey a different message to the reader.

Thirdly, reinforcing the author’ point, using flowery language does not show that one is well-learned. Instead, blindly substituting vocabulary from the thesaurus accentuates that fact that one has a weak vocabulary. In addition, substitution of words “for the sake of words” annoys the readers, creating a bad impression and could mar an otherwise good piece of content.

However, I would like to clarify that long words are not bad. However, what is bad is the problem of using long words needlessly. In fact, I firmly believe that long words are an integral part of English. Complicated words are needed to increase the sophistication of the language and to elegantly convey a message. As what Janadas Devan has mentioned, complicated words and flowery language must be able “to capture the complexity, subtlety and variety of the infinitely complex reality” and to aid in the expression of ideas.

In my opinion, English proficiency is not “measured by the number of bombastic words or the length of the essay.” The real test for English proficiency is actually how clearly and concisely one can express his ideas using the wide hoard of vocabulary in the English language. Well, this is an uphill task. To do so, one must be acquainted with a lot of vocabulary, which occurs through immense reading. In addition, one must have a broad base of vocabulary at his fingertips. This is the most difficult part as it requires a constant recall and application of learned vocabulary.

English is a deceptively simple language. It takes only true patience to master English.

499 words

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Quote For Thought

“The trouble of English is that it has a great air of simplicity, it advertises itself as simple, the more we consider it the more problems we encounter…The Sea is the English character-apparently imperturbable and even. It is of one colour and level and obviously cannot contain such creatures as fish…But if we look into the sea over the edge of the boat, we see a dozen of colours, and depth below depth, fish swimming in it. (These are) the depths and colours of the English romanticism and the English sensitiveness - things we do not expect to find but exist.”

–E.M. Forster

Hi all (not to be graded)

Not to be Graded...Hi all, this is my first post. I would like to start this blogging experience with this really memorable and inspiring quote from an interview documented in the National Geographic Magazine with scientist Francis Collins.

COLLINS when asked if praying is all about getting God to intercede and heal a loved one -"In my own experience as a physician, I have not seen a miraculous healing, and I don't expect to see one. Also, prayer for me is much more a sense of trying to get into fellowship with God. I'm trying to figure out what I should be doing rather than telling Almighty God what he shluld be doing. Look at the Lord's Prayer. It says," THy will be done." It wasn't " Our Father who art in Heaven, please get me a parking space."...

Huh..this is a really inspiring quote on science and religion and really corrects the common misconception of praying simply as a tool of making your wishes come true...Really inspiring and a good way to start of my blogging experince.:)