Skip to main content

Gracious Society? - It begins at the TOP

The past week of pitching for the opposition wards has been less then gracious. Where is the call to be a gracious society? Is it just a feel good notion or should one be gracious when the situation is favorable towards you? ???

Yesterday, two letters published in the Straits Times forum page (28 March 06) spoke up against sacarstic press reports made against the opposition wards namely, Potong Pasir and Hougang. The letters defended Mr Chiam See Tong's work in the ward. The letters were objective and honest. Potong Pasir residents, stick to your guns, well said, Ms Lena Soh Kwee Kim.

It is true, Potong Pasir residents also pay taxes to the government, why can't the funds be made available to them. The carrot is always upgrading and calling them "Potong Kosong". For the 3rd time, Potong Pasir has been given the ultimatum, to wise up, otherwise, no upgrading, no lifts in every floor and no jogging facilities. In the last election, the carrot was, maybe the MRT will bypass Potong Pasir station. Where did all the "be magnanimous in victory and gracious in defeat" all gone too?

I was disappointed that the former PM who spoke so much on being a gracious society is not showing much grace to the opposition wards and her MP. There are always more than one way to woo a constituent. Be caring, be there to listen and be with the people. Sheer prowess alone is not going to bring the victory (this should be noted from the last elections). Power alone can't win hearts. Presence might. Try using another bait. Afterall, Potong Pasir residents had lived with nothing for a long time and those who newly shifted in didn't mind the lack of amenities. Will that truly be an attraction?

Maybe if the residents are not required to come up with any single cent, that might.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

truth hurts but it heals too

2 nights ago, I asked a very close friend of mine if I am an insistent person. Haha.. without any second thoughts, she said yes. Wow, that drove a long nail right through my heart. If you ask, you'll get the answers. Of course, initially I would think to myself, I do not think I am an insistent person all the time but I only insist when I am sure about certain things close to my heart i.e. when I have been seeking God about it or it is IN my system due to long periods of conditioning e.g. spiritually or just my personal value system. That analysis certainly made me felt better but it also got me reflecting (truth heals). As I thought through, certainty about something for me will activate a wish/desire to see it happen immediately and NOW. If it is God's will, it is NOW. As I look back on buying our first flat, it was the same. When I first view the unit (my current place), I was quite sure that the house was IT. But my then fiance and husband now do not think so and asked me ...

Beyond the acts of verbal confession

Most Word-Faith teachers will use Mark 11:22 - 24 to justify their teaching and practise on "Faith as Positive Confession". Mark 11:22 - 24 (NASB) 22And Jesus answered saying to them, "Have faith in God. 23Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and castinto the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he saysis going to happen, it will be granted him. 24Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe thatyou have received them, and they will be granted you. 25Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone,so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. Word-Faith teachers propogate that whatever you confess will come to pass but you must believe you have already received it. Therefore, if you still have lingering symptoms of an illness, confess that you are healed and not mention your symptoms then you are healed. I believe there's a ...

Mind

Ok. I admit, I use my mind a lot. I think a lot about many things in life. It used to be a great barrier for me to understand 'spiritual things'. For example, I didn't know how to see vision, how does the word of knowledge and word of wisdom operate. It is something abstract and uncomprehendable at stage of my life when I was exploring. Over the years, as I walked the journey of all these, God has taught me lots of important lessons. There was even a time when I was told "not to think so much" just be led by the Spirit of God. As I looked back, I realized that the MIND is an important faculty that God has created. WE are to love the Lord our God, with all our HEART, our SOUL, our MIND and our STRENGTH. We are to love God with our thoughts and what we think about. The MIND has to be renewed so that IT CAN APPROVE/DISCERN the will of the Lord - Romans 12:2. The MIND is the only faculty if renewed would be able to KNOW/APPROVE and discern God's will. God's wi...