President Barack Obama
we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals
Can someone put that line into our constituition and every constituition of the world?
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Tonight was really unforgettable.
The experience of watching history , on a common TV set as someone halfway across the world, 12 hours away, whom i’ve never met but have spoken too, and with millions of other such people — it is amazing.
This is the best of times, the worst of times.
I’m watching in anticipation.
Excited anticipation.
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To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.
To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West: Know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.
To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds.
And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect.
For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
Are we listening???!?!?
I’m so amused. I think our leaders ought to take a lesson of Public Relations and Public Speaking from Pres. Obama.
Out leaders somehow don’t seem to get it when they are insulting people. They think that they are actually being nice and making things better.
Telling the whole of Singapore that it’s easy to take 5 weeks off and 50,000 for a french cooking class during the financial storm of the century might be insensitive, but it’s his right to spend his money and leave in anyway he wants, provided he does do his job well.
Telling Singaporeans that we “lesser mortals” are just suffering from a bout of sour grapes, at a time when the govt is trying to show empathy and “apologise”, just brought the insult factor up by ten times.
It brings to mind a similar incident in 2006 (google wee shu min) when the rgs girl basically told singaporeans to quit whining about the govt’s uncaring , inadequate (in)actions, and “get out of her elite uncaring face” That was bad enough — but that could still be written off as the private rants of an 18 year old who didn’t know better.
Then her MP father comes along and apologises, but in the apology, mainstains that he stands by her “basic point” — in another words, the govt standing by the basic point that Singaporeans should quit holding the govt to their responsibilities as elected servants of the State because govt does not care.
Of course there are the delightful incidents of Singaporean degree holders being test tube washers, and masters holders were advanced test tube washers, and that our Singapore NS boys were whiny and immature.
Or that anal sex was like ’shoving a straw up someone’s nose to drink’ (she’s a law professor for human rights, by the way. )
How about the one where JB was full of criminals?
It’s funny. Oh it’s funny. Perhaps we should start making a ten-year series of “Things you should not say to the lesser mortals” for the elite schools.
Outstanding speech by President Obama. It was sombre and measured yet inspirational. Obama is certainly capable of fired-up, energetic speeches but for this speech he chose to sound a serious note to remind the American people of the challenges they are facing. To quote Lincoln, his words appealed to the better angels of their nature. After all, leadership is about convincing people of their own ability to achieve great things.
Our Singapore leaders could certainly draw some lessons from Obama’s style and how he connects with people. Then again, that might be an entirely different kettle of fish for them since they are more used to a direct, no-nonsense, technocratic style. I don’t think its because they don’t care. Maybe its because they are used to seeing things from a big picture, helicopter view. Sometimes they forget that its the little things, the EQ aspect of connecting with people at a personal level that is just as important. Always good to remind them once in a while.
Thanks for the comment Fargoal!
Yeh I don’t think it’s because they don’t care either
I think there’s just a disconnect, which probably could be healed if they (leaders, and all of us lesser mortals actually) made the effort to befriend people of all sorts. Like if your best friend was gay, you’ll probably recoil at the thought of saying gay anal sex was like shoving a straw up your nose. Or if the best friend who held you while you cried is making ends meet in a 2-room flat, you wouldn’t think of using the term “lesser mortals”. Or if the son that you slogged for so hard to put him through university, you wouldn’t call him a “test-tube” washer.
I recognise this disconnect happens so easily when from a young age, we are segregated in our education system. And when the “elites” get into administration, this whole philosophy of segregation perpetuates itself. A viscious cycle
I think that our leaders need a significant setback at the elections to be reminded of their own mortality; and be reminded that political power flows from the people – that they are our stewards and not our lords.
Hi Anc,
Thanks for your comment. It’s really an ideal that “political power flows from the people”.
Just looking at our newspapers, most of the time, our leaders are “appointing” new leaders, and “searching” for new talent, and “refreshing” the leadership — it’s always an initiative from the current leaders. Once in 4years, our papers talk about our leaders being “elected” with a strong mandate.
It’s hard for ANYONE to be reminded that political power flows from the people — and not from the powers that are.