Saturday, December 12, 2009

On countries

I was reading the papers yesterday and today and 2 articles caught my attention. The first was one reporting our pretty impressive results in the SEA Games and some observations the journalist had.

It caught his attention that Singaporeans thrives very well in individual sports eg air rifle, bowling, swimming, wushu... we can have the top coaches, instructors whom can help us polish our routine and with our own diligence and hard work produced impressive results. Yet we do not perform so well in games or sport where we have to be face to face with our opponents as in the likes of soccer, badminton etc.

He thinks that is due to our educational system which I agree with him. We have been drilled since young to follow instructions but we are never comfortable with confrontation and the need to think of counter attacks instantaneously. I guess we have been living in very pampered and comfortable life that we do not have to really think abt the hash reality if survival living. Tt is a challenge that I might wan to take up myself. To test my limits... Very interesting.

The other article I read was abt the country Rwanda. The image conjured up by most ppl would be the infamous genocide where it left 1 million ppl dead in a span of 100 days. In facing the aftermath of the tragedy, the country us ready to move ahead and get out of poverty to make sure no such tragedy will happen again.

Singapore is partnering them in sharing our development experience. I read the many articles on how committed and hungry this country is on developing their country as the Singapore in Africa.

In this country make up mostly of young ppl most of whom are orphans from the genocide, they are willing to forgive and move forward for the better good of her future generation. Their hope for a better future touches me..... I can actually feel the warmth in my stomach and even believe that they can make it.

Those Rwandans (is that what they call themselves ?) who were overseas felt they have a part to play in shaping the future of Rwanda, came back to their motherland to contribute their expertise. It makes me wonder shld anything happen to Singapore, will Singaporeans feel the obligation and responsibility to contribute? I most certainly will. There is just this patriotic feeling that this is my home, I have a part to play in protecting it. So I am STILL the patriotic girl who signed on because of "duty, honor, country".... hahaha

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