Monday, June 8, has been declared a Day of Remembrance for the victims of the Sabah earthquake.
Six pupils and one teacher from Tanjong Katong Primary School are confirmed to have died. The Singaporean adventure guide who was with them on a school field trip also died.
Source: www.straitstimes.com
It is with a very heavy heart as I write this.
My younger son graduated from Tanjong Katong Primary School last year. And yes, he was among the privileged group of leaders selected for the Omega Challenge Mt K Expedition last year. It is a trip for selected leaders from the various CCAs in school for the graduating batch and the school has been running the programme for years.
It is a simple trip, go to KK, stay a night. Climb Mt K, stay at Pendant Hut. Go Via Ferrata for some fun but challenging activities, go back Pendant Hut to rest. Next morning do summit climb, descend the mountain, stay a night. Home sweet home. No sight seeing, no shopping, no luxurious hotels, no great food. Yet my son had set his heart for the trip for years and actually consciously worked for it by getting into the school prefectorial board.
Prior to the trip, the school scheduled for training sessions which included serious stairs climbing. Students were also encouraged to do their own training daily which many enthusiastically did.
What did the students learned from such a trip? They learned to be prepared by building up their physical. They learned to look out for each other and cheered each other on when the going gets tough. They learned that they could have an enjoyable afternoon without mobile phones, iPads and other electronic gadgets by just chilling and playing board games with friends. They learned to make their own decisions, my boy did not feel too well when he reached Pendant Hut and he decided to forgo the next morning’s Via Ferrata’s activity so that he could be fully rested and ready for the summit climb the following day. He made the decision on his own, we only knew about it when he came back and recounted to us. They learned to accept setbacks, the whole team did not make it to the summit as the weather was unfavourable and the teacher made a decision to halt the climb. Some cried at the moment. So did they come back depressed and disappointed? No, they came back in high spirits for they had been through a valuable experience.
Does the school have the full support of parents for this programme? I can’t speak for others, but they have mine.
Would the school have the courage to continue with programmes that is beneficial for students after this incident? I do hope so.
Why am I writing this now? I just feel that at times like this when many families are still anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones, if we cannot say or do anything positive, let’s at least not make things worse.
Source: Loh Kat Teng
Dear friends (and various assortment of ‘spies’ from the other side),
We should offer thanks to God Almighty for all the Favours and Mercies He has bestowed upon us.
Although we are pleased with PM Lee’s remarks, we should not pat ourselves on the back. His statement is actually doubled-edged. And it is instructive of govt thinking on the matter. The operative phrase here is that SG is ‘still a conservative society’. And his remarks that it’s ‘changing’ offers sobering reminder not to rest on our laurels.
I think right now it’s important to act strategically. Our opponents are adept at media manipulation. The biggest mistake we can do right now is to appear too aggressive. They would play the victims card. We should therefore continue our activism in a civil way. Even polite. And we challenge the ideology. Not individual persons. We extend a helping hand of mercy to those struggling with same sex attraction.
There’s talk of wanting to ‘gatecrash’ Pinkdot to distribute pamphlets or carry placards etc.
My view is that would be a mistake. It would just make them look like victims.
Methinks we continue to engage in a civil way both online and off.
And let’s not rest on our laurels. We should do as much as poss to ensure that society does not change. And remain conservative.
We do what we can. God will do what we cannot.
Have a wonderful day in the Remembrance of God.
Syed Danial
To Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong: an Invitation to Pink Dot 2015
It is very disappointing to hear Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s response to the query on same-sex marriage at a recent interview with regional journalists.
Firstly, we respectfully differ with PM’s views that ‘we do not harass them (LGBT Singaporeans) or discriminate against them’. LGBT people in Singapore continue to be discriminated against through the existence of Section 377a of the Penal Code.
While it is claimed that Section 377a is not enforced, its presence alone encourages discrimination and reinforces prejudice, leading to censorship in the media and the aggravation of negative stereotypes, impacting the health and wellbeing of a significant segment of society. Young LGBT people grow up in fear of being bullied by schoolmates, and cast out by family members. Working adults hide their true selves because they fear being ‘outed’ would affect their chances at promotion, or even cost them their jobs and their means to survive. Transgender individuals are often called names on the streets, labelled as deviants, denied many mainstream jobs, and are sometimes assaulted.
In a recent study – Singapore’s first and currently only – of 450 LGBT respondents¹, a staggering 60% had said that they had faced discrimination or abuse in their lifetime. A significant majority of these individuals also reported an increase incidence of suicidal thoughts and behavioural issues.
Compounding this issue, is the dearth of information and resources available for community and social groups to provide proper assistance to those in real need of help – an added effect resulting from Section 377a and censorship regulations.
We hope Mr Lee can empathise with the LGBT community, who – despite the challenges they face: ridicule, verbal and at times even physical abuse from their own kin – continue to contribute faithfully to the Singapore dream, to the only home that they know.
We acknowledge the concerns raised by PM – given Singapore’s unique position as a multi-cultural, multi-racial and multi-religious society, there will be a plurality of viewpoints, some deeply entrenched. However, we disagree that this is something that should not be discussed – it is not a topic that can be swept under the carpet and allowed to fester.
We firmly believe that dialogue is our best way forward. As such, we would like to invite Prime Minister Lee to join us in celebrating the Freedom to Love, this Saturday, June 13, at Hong Lim Park, and meet with the individuals, families, and loving couples who form a vibrant part of Singapore’s social fabric.
In Singapore, racial and religious minorities are protected under the constitution. It is our hope that sexual minorities will one day be afforded the same protections, in order for us to live our lives without fear of being seen as less-than-equal in the eyes of the law.
Whether Singapore will eventually abolish Section 377a and create a society truly based on justice and equality, that values all contributing citizens regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity; a lot will depend on fostering goodwill and encouraging respect among groups and individuals.
It is also our hope that Singaporeans will one day all come together to celebrate inclusivity and diversity – for it is through this, and love for one another, that we show our true strength as a nation. – Pink Dot SG
¹Homophobia and Transphobia Survey by Oogachaga Counselling and Support
Source: Pink Dot SG
SINGAPORE – Former MediaCorp actress Sharon Au has apologised for her attempt at mimicking an Indian accent during Friday night’s SEA Games opening ceremony pre-show at the National Stadium.
Au, who shared hosting duties with actor Chua Enlai and television presenter Nikki Muller, wrote on her personal Facebook page on Saturday morning: “It was intended to be comic but in hindsight I realise how insensitive it was. I sincerely apologise to those whom I’ve inadvertently offended.”
Hi everyone, it was truly a magnificent SEA Games Opening Ceremony and I was really honoured to be part of it. Some of…
Posted by Sharon Au on Friday, June 5, 2015
Agence France-Presse (AFP) journalist Bhavan Jaipragas had accused Au of putting on a strong Indian accent to mock a young Indian girl sitting in the stands. He also said Au made fun of the girl’s name.
Jaipragas detailed the incident in a Facebook post on Friday evening, in which he called on Au and the organising committee to apologise.
“In an audience interaction segment before the start of the SEA Games opening ceremony at the National Stadium, emcee Sharon Au approached an Indian girl seated in the stands. The girl did not properly perform the act – saying aloud a line welcoming foreign contingents (others before her didn’t get it right too). Au, speaking into a mike and with the cameras trained on her, shockingly put on a strong Indian accent, and while shaking her head from right to left asked the girl: “What (Vat) happened? What happened?” he wrote.
‘Insensitive remark’ at SEA Games pre-opening ceremony activity: EDIT: Sharon Au has apologised for what she described…
Posted by Bhavan Jaipragas onFriday, June 5, 2015
Au had taken a step back from the acting and hosting limelight since returning from her overseas studies in 2011 to take up an executive position at MediaCorp.
Source: www.straitstimes.com