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Poor Command of History - A Singaporean plight?

scroobal

Alfrescian
Loyal
While having a discussion with a forummer here on politics and history it dawned on me the poor grasp of history by Singaporeans. Much of the blame rest with the Govt and the media while rest must surely rest with us.

I recalled an article from Kent Ridge Common presumably by student/s who have access to materials and libraries and who are required by academic rigour to verify materials.

http://kentridgecommon.com/?p=5638

The article is great but there is a clear error and it is significant and it is in bold and underlined. Anyone can tell what is wrong?


Current election dates a deterrent to youth participation
(photo credits:WhyOhGee)
By Zack and minor contributions/editing from Kelvin Teo.
Zack (not his real name) works for an organization that collaborates closely with a Singapore government ministry on a project basis. He is passionate about bringing changes to the land he calls his country and home. He works tirelessly in his own capacity to help bring about changes that he hopes will one day benefit future generations. He does not like to talk about his contributions, but rather lets his feet do the talking.

Dr James Gomez pointed out in a public forum entitled:”Youth in Politics: Southeast Asia and Singapore” a trend that alleges a huge degree of political apathy amongst our youths. Gomez attributed this to our historical past, alluding to the Hock Lee bus riots that saw the participation of politically-active chinese middle schools and Nanyang University students. It isn’t wrong to say that the youth of today are the agents of change for tomorrow, but unfortunately, the conditions in Singapore currently do not have the fertile soil to sow the seeds of youth participation to bear the fruits of change for tomorrow.

I elect to focus the angle of my argument on the unfavorable dates in which the elections are held, which deter our youths’ participation in the events leading up to Polling Day. For the 2001 General Elections, the Nomination Day was on 25 October and the actual Polling Day was on 3 November and for the 2006 General Elections, the Nomination Day was on 27 April and the actual Polling Day was on 6 May.

In terms of schooling calender, the months of April to May and October to November are the most unfavorable. During that period, students will be busy revising for their examinations. During the 2006 General Elections, the final examinations for my university modules lasted until 3-4 days before Polling Day. As much as I wanted to attend an election rally, I ended up being bogged down by the heavy content of my modules. After my last paper, my professor came up to me and asked how was the paper. My cynical reply was that his paper was okay, but the date was problematic – it was agonizing close to the elections. The professor fell silent and gave me a wry smile. I must admit that I was quite cynical of the political development process in Singapore, and I considered myself among those youths who wanted to migrate. However, I had the good fortune of attending the final Workers’ Party rally at Serangoon stadium. It was a jam-packed atmosphere, but my outlook totally changed when Mr Low Thia Khiang led our national pledge. The icing on the cake was the “Ole, Ole, Ole!” chants that revived my childhood memories of the camaraderie amongst Singaporean football supporters at matches involving our national team at our Grand Old Lady (National Stadium). I thought this show of passion will be buried away for good, but I had least expect it to be revived in a rally such as this. The awe-inspiring air made me re-consider my options, convincing me to stay behind and work towards changes in every possible way that I could muster. However, it could have been different had my examinations finished later. I might have gone ahead and be a ‘quitter’ so to speak. I considered myself among the lucky few who could manage to soak in the atmosphere during elections time, but I cannot say the same for my other classmates who had to mug for their final examinations.

Narration of Kelvin’s experience
I had to help tutor a junior friend of mine who happened to live near Potong Pasir. My junior was preparing was for his General Certificate of Education (GCE) examinations. I vaguely remembered it was the late October period. His daily routine was to study at the McDonald’s cafe at Potong Pasir, and I would come along and help him when I have the time. Most of his days was spent revising for his coming examinations. I could recall there was one night when Mr Chiam See Tong came in and and had a photo session with with my junior. His contesting candidate, Sitoh Yih Pin arrived moments later and had another photo session with him. So, my junior showed some good measure of fairness to both candidates by savoring the experience of a photo session with both of them. However, is that encounter even considered soaking in the atmosphere of elections? I think not, especially when he is studying the whole day, oblivious to what is happening around him, and then say “cheese!” for a few seconds in front of the camera with Chiam and Sitoh. That is really unfortunate, especially considering the fact that the elections period is a good time for our youths to soak in the atmosphere, but it has to fall during the busy part of their academic schedule.

The next elections
The typical conspiracy theorist will say:”Oh the election dates are deliberately set because the government has learnt well from the past where the Chinese middle school and Nanyang University students were so actively involved in local politics, so the dates have to be fixed at a time when they are busy preparing for their examinations.” Whatever the ostensible reasons for the previous two General Elections dates, the busiest period merely takes up four months (April to May, October to November) in a year. Which means the more favorable periods take up the majority part of the year. The best periods for youth involvement would be during the holidays (June, December) and the months close to the date of school reopening (January, July). However, let’s look ahead in anticipation of the next General Elections. Hopefully, it will fall during a more favorable period when our youths will be able to soak in the atmosphere and participate in the political process without worrying for their studies.
 

laksaboy

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
You can't blame them when they have been brainwashed since young to subscribe to the Gospel of Singapore according to Saint LKY (and retold every NDP).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hock_Lee_bus_riots

I am no history buff, not too sure about what students have joined the riots, but I do know that those students did not instigate the incident, and it was purely a labour dispute that turned ugly. Maybe older folks who have first/second-hand experience can elaborate.

In those good old days, at least unions and unionists have balls. Not the castrated version of the 'tripartite' bullshit we have now in the NTUC.
 

kingrant

Alfrescian
Loyal
Yes, the Hock lee bus riots started as a labour dispute that was also mixed with anti-colonial sentiments. Workers strike for better working conditions etc. Instead of negotiating, the management started a rival union to break up the strike and sabotage their efforts. The picketeers were also set upon by the police. The pro-communists exploited the strike and called up thousands od Chinese middle school students ( to bring food and entertainment) and other unions to join in. Things went to a head, and inevtiably, with the humongous crowd, violence occurred, with a detective corporal set on fire and many injured.

It was the strategy of the Comintern to use the Open Front to seize power, this included penetration of trade unions, student organisations and other mass orgs. The well-tuned student unions and schools that took part in the strike didnt just spontaneously combust like they were so many political active and socially sensitive youths but were led and exploited by highly skilled manipulators in mass rallies for political ends.
 

Ramseth

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
Japanese grasp of history - Conversation with a Japanese ex-girlfiend (JGF)

JGF : Hey, your Japanese handwriting not bad.

Ramseth : Err...that's Chinese.

JGF : Oh sorry, Japanese use Chinese characters too, we call them Kanji.

Ramseth : Oh I see, China and Japan must have been very friendly in the ancient past.

JGF : Yes, we study ancient Chinese literature in schools too, translated to Japanese course.

Ramseth : Then why Japan turned enemy against China, attacked China and killed many Chinese?

JGF : Where got like that? China attacked Japan first, Japan was forced attack back.

Ramseth : Huh? Who told you that?

JGF : It's all in the school textbooks. Manchukuo (Manchuria) was supposed to be independent and ally of Japan. Japan stationed troops there to protect them. China attacked us first.

Ramseth : Oh I see...I guess let bygones be bygones...tonight your place or my place? :biggrin:
 

Dreamer1

Alfrescian
Loyal
Nanyang students were not involved in Hock Lee,it was Chinese iddkle school students,mainly fr Chung Chenh and Chinese High.I cant recall off hand wherther Nanyang U was formed by then,probably not yet.

I share yr view,it is a different generation!totally manipulated by MM LKY since 1959.

Most of the voters feel that this is OK,so be it!
Dot don'tell me this is going to be a great small country-qoted talk cock king GCT,it is not going to be!
 

scroobal

Alfrescian
Loyal
It is important that we all attempt to learn by reading as many books from a variety of sources. I will try and give a synopsis so that it will easier to follow. Firstly the error in the text from Kent Ridge Common is that no Nanyang University students took part because Nantah was not built and there was no such university at that time. Nantah eventually became a communist hot bed but it should not carry the can for everything that occurred.

Hock Lee Riots were the result of 3 main culprits who were formenting labout unrest. The 3 kingpins were Lim Chin Siong, Fong Swee Suan and Devan Nair from the middle road clique. Lim started out as a clerk in a bus company and Fong started out as a conductor and knew some of the sharp practices of bus company management. There was also one other person behind prodding them from behind the scenes in order to undermine the legitimacy of democractically elected Workers Party led by David Marshall and to ensure the failure of the first locally elected govenment. The person behind the scenes was none other than Cambridge educated lawyer who is now the Minister Mentor of this country. These 4 were in the same party and 2 of them were elected to then legislature. Read the hansard and one will know who wanted to see David Marshall fail. The then governor William Goode accused old man as being the "backseat driver" of the riots and old man subsequently used the same term to blame eveyone else. He was riding no tiger - he was the pushing the tiger.

Its the very same reason why civil servants at that time despised the PAP and the old man. Its also why David Marshall hated the old man.

The middle school kids had already being captured by the communist as they were being marginalised during British times and there was very little future for them in terms of good jobs. They were thus easily manipulated.

If you want to understand the history start with first riots that took place in front of the Istana in 1954 that involved Chinese Middles School student and the conscription issue. The person who led the riots was one Lim Hock Koon, the younger brother of Lim Hock Siew. Hock Koon became a wanted person and went on the run, He eventually became no. 2 in the communist hierachy of Singapore reporting to Comrade D. Hock Koon mysteriously appeared at Victoria Memorial Hall for the inauguration and founding of PAP. He was arrested in 1971 after being on the run for nearly 20 years. He was the senior most CPM leader to be arrested ever. In 1979, he suffered a stroke and became paralysed on one side.

In the 1980s when Dennis Bloodworth began his research to write his book, he relied on 4 ex-communists for the main body of his work on the communists. They were Lim Hock Koon, Devan Nair, Gerald de Cruz and Jek Yuen Tong. He also interviewed other members of the movement including the son of well known businessman who was involved in the assasination of a student. This son was recruited into the CPM by Lim Chin Siong and took his oath in a attap hut administerd by Lim Chin Siong in front of a portrait of Stalin. Dennis Bloodworth wrote the book in an interesting manner. The book was designed to be semi cryptic and it was intentional.

One needs to read widely to get the picture. The govt has painstaking cleansed out Devan Nair and Old man from the list of culprits behind the riots. Its is also the reason amongst others why the paper will never be released.
 
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Cruxx

Alfrescian
Loyal
Eh, what are Hock Lee bus riots ah? Singapore history I only know Sir Stamford Farquhar, the venerable founder of Shonanto.
 

Ramseth

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
Eh, what are Hock Lee bus riots ah? Singapore history I only know Sir Stamford Farquhar, the venerable founder of Shonanto.

What riots are you talking about? Singapore was a sleepy fishing village until 1959 when LKY took over. The only riot was the Malay-Chinese racial riot during mid 60s merger. That's why we must have racial harmony and GRC. :biggrin:
 

Cruxx

Alfrescian
Loyal
What riots are you talking about? Singapore was a sleepy fishing village until 1959 when LKY took over. The only riot was the Malay-Chinese racial riot during mid 60s merger. That's why we must have racial harmony and GRC. :biggrin:

I'm not sure many Sinkies can detect the sarcastic tone in your words. Many of these sheep actually believe that Singapore really was a destitute fishing village before the omnipotent, incorruptible LKY took over the reins and rescued us from eternal oblivion.
 

Ramseth

Alfrescian (Inf)
Asset
I'm not sure many Sinkies can detect the sarcastic tone in your words. Many of these sheep actually believe that Singapore really was a destitute fishing village before the omnipotent, incorruptible LKY took over the reins and rescued us from eternal oblivion.

When Jap Gen. Yamashita arrived at what he'd call Syonanto, he was very surprised and disappointed. Ford Motor factory actually manufactured fishing rod gears only. So he banged table at Brit Gen. Percival and told him to FO. :mad: Then he hired one LKY to fix things up to civilisation standards. When he left and the Japs lost the war and Brits came back, they saw not bad, so left it to LKY to fix it and run it, happily ever after. That's concise history of Singapore. :biggrin:
 

Jah_rastafar_I

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Asset
I'm not sure many Sinkies can detect the sarcastic tone in your words. Many of these sheep actually believe that Singapore really was a destitute fishing village before the omnipotent, incorruptible LKY took over the reins and rescued us from eternal oblivion.



Are you sure? :rolleyes:
 

cleareyes

Alfrescian
Loyal
I notce that alot of youngster are not interested in History.

Claiming them to be dead and boring and yet, when they need to use history is illustrate their point, instead of doing proper research, they try to recreate their own set of history by adding facts that did not exist or has not even existed at the point of datement.

Is this how our politics are suppose to be? where people become ignorant at their own convience and yet try to act smart at their own ease as well?

i m sure the Hook Lee Bus seris of riots is just one example put up about the ignorance of University students. if Uni students are of such quality, I dun dare think of those who does not have a degree.
 

Thick Face Black Heart

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
It was the strategy of the Comintern to use the Open Front to seize power, this included penetration of trade unions, student organisations and other mass orgs. The well-tuned student unions and schools that took part in the strike didnt just spontaneously combust like they were so many political active and socially sensitive youths but were led and exploited by highly skilled manipulators in mass rallies for political ends.

As I've always suspected, the so-called socialists revered by some oppositions today are not angels, they were using exploitation and communists front methods to achieve their aims. Many folk like the students were merely cannon fodder.

And if anyone thinks they're peace-loving doves who never resort to violence, thats a mistake.

Count me a dog if you will, I think LCS will have been much worse for singapore than PAP LKY.
 

scroobal

Alfrescian
Loyal
Looks like you got the same disease that I am suffering from.
What riots are you talking about? Singapore was a sleepy fishing village until 1959 when LKY took over. The only riot was the Malay-Chinese racial riot during mid 60s merger. That's why we must have racial harmony and GRC. :biggrin:
 

cleareyes

Alfrescian
Loyal
As I've always suspected, the so-called socialists revered by some oppositions today are not angels, they were using exploitation and communists front methods to achieve their aims. Many folk like the students were merely cannon fodder.

Today, those that called themsel;ves socialist, how many of them actually stand for socialism? or Do they know what is socialism?

To use militant method in achieveing political aim is common practise among many schools of politics, doesnt mean you claim to be a democratic, you will not use violence.

And if anyone thinks they're peace-loving doves who never resort to violence, thats a mistake.

That is for the sheeps, and it seems we have plenty.

Count me a dog if you will, I think LCS will have been much worse for singapore than PAP LKY.

True. Had Lim Chin Siong be on top and not lee Kwan yew, we might see a very different side of Singapore. perhaps a worse side than what we have today.

but i m sure those anti-pap and anti-LKY folks will "beg" to differ. Too bad they will never have a chance to prove otherwise.
 

Ramseth

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Asset
Japanese grasp of history Part II

(Japanese ex-GF (JGF) came visit Singapore. I brought her around Clifford Pier-Padang-Raffles Place area to see Merlion, Sir Stamford Raffles, Lim Bo Seng etc.)

JGF : What's this Merlion?

Ramseth : Oh, it's just a national symbol, just like Japanese chrysanthemum throne.

JGF : I see, who's this Sir Stamford Raffles?

Ramseth : Oh, he's a British colonist. He developed Singapore from a fishing village to a trading port.

JGF : I see, all the while I thought it was Lee Kuan Yew. Who's this Lim Bo Seng then?

Ramseth : Oh, he's in charge of fighting Japanese when they invaded Singapore.

JGF : You mean, he killed Japanese? He's a bad man then.

Ramseth : No, no, he's in self defence, the Japanese invaded them and wanted to kill them.

JGF : No, that's not what it's written in the textbooks. Singapore conspired with US and UK to choke Japanese shipping routes, that's why Japan was forced to attack. Anyway, let bygones be bygones, tonight your place or my hotel room? :biggrin:
 
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Thick Face Black Heart

Alfrescian (InfP)
Generous Asset
but i m sure those anti-pap and anti-LKY folks will "beg" to differ. Too bad they will never have a chance to prove otherwise.

One should never allow oneself to be consumed with anti PAP/LKY sentiments to think that everyone apart from him must be better.

Similar story in Malaysia when DAP leader Lim Kit Siang sang praises of LKY in order to run down his political opponents. We all know the ruling party in M'sia is probably much worse than PAP, but KS was stretching things too far.
 
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