Random Thoughts Of A Free Thinker: August 2011

Saturday, August 27, 2011

"More than machinery we need humanity; More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness"

Closing Speech from "The Great Dictator"

I'm sorry but I don't want to be an Emperor, that's not my business. I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone if possible, Jew, gentile, black man, white. We all want to help one another, human beings are like that. We all want to live by each other's happiness, not by each other's misery. We don't want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone and the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone.

Unseen/Unsaid: Here, Temporarily

Event - "The End of Poverty?"

On 10 September (Saturday), ONE Singapore will be holding a movie screening of the award winning documentary "The End of Poverty?" at Sinema Old School. There will be three timings for the screening and a discussion session will be held after each of them. Tickets for the event are priced at S$10 each (inclusive of ONE Singapore membership).

To reserve tickets and for more details, please visit here.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Whither Al-Qaeda after Osama's death and Arab Spring?

Earlier this month (August 2011), I attended a lecture by Professor Bruce Hoffman entitled "Al-Qaeda after Bin Laden and the Arab Spring" (henceforth, for convenience, I shall be referring to, Al-Qaeda as AQ, Osama Bin Laden as OBL and the Arab Spring as AS). The lecture, as its title suggests, was mainly about the prospects of AQ and terrorism following the death of OBL and in light of the recent events of the AS.

A "light touch" Workers' Party Party Whip?

It was reported in today's Straits Times ("Low Thia Khiang appointed party Whip", 19 August 2011) that the Workers' Party (WP) will appointing its party Secretary-General Mr. Low Thia Khiang as its Party Whip while its party Chairwoman Ms. Sylvia Lim will be appointed as deputy Party Whip. This, according to Ms. Lim, was done because the WP recognised that there is a greater need for party discipline and coordination in Parliament now that it will have six elected Members of Parliament (MPs) and two Non-Constituency MPs. Essentially, with a Party Whip in place, the WP MPs will have to "speak and vote in line with the party position". Of course, Mr. Low "is free to lift the Whip on occasion and let the MPs vote according to their conscience" although, according to Ms. Lim, the WP "has not discussed the range of policies or issues for which the Whip may be lifted".

After reading the report above, I cannot help but have some mixed thoughts.