Comments on: Hankering for National Heroes http://s-pores.com/2009/02/heroes/ new directions in singapore studies Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:43:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Andrew (retired) http://s-pores.com/2009/02/heroes/#comment-46 Andrew (retired) Mon, 13 Apr 2009 03:22:55 +0000 http://s-pores.com/?p=206#comment-46 From my Toilet Library: There’s a fun, inexpensive publication in all Popular Book Stores called “Pioneers of Singapore”–Builders of Our Land (Asiapac Publication). It should be obligatory reading in our National Eduction school syllabus. Nice illustrations for kids, well balanced biography of 32 pioneers from all races. Brilliant. I have it in my toilet reading rack, more enjoyable than the Straits Times. Unfortunately, many of these illustrious people and their highly educated descendants, during the 1950s, founded political parties, to contest the PAP. Maybe PATHS NOT TAKEN should be mandatory reading for Singapore historians. Why was this book about Singapore, spearheaded in Australia and not Singapore? Also in my toilet rack, but requires more concentration, so perhaps not lavatory but verandah…. From my Toilet Library:

There’s a fun, inexpensive publication in all Popular Book Stores called “Pioneers of Singapore”–Builders of Our Land (Asiapac Publication). It should be obligatory reading in our National Eduction school syllabus. Nice illustrations for kids, well balanced biography of 32 pioneers from all races. Brilliant. I have it in my toilet reading rack, more enjoyable than the Straits Times.

Unfortunately, many of these illustrious people and their highly educated descendants, during the 1950s, founded political parties, to contest the PAP.

Maybe PATHS NOT TAKEN should be mandatory reading for Singapore historians. Why was this book about Singapore, spearheaded in Australia and not Singapore? Also in my toilet rack, but requires more concentration, so perhaps not lavatory but verandah….

]]> By: momomonster http://s-pores.com/2009/02/heroes/#comment-45 momomonster Sun, 05 Apr 2009 05:15:11 +0000 http://s-pores.com/?p=206#comment-45 Not to mention that a hero often needs to take the road less travelled. With a top down mentality that clamps down on those who choose the road less travelled, who, I ask, will dare to be a hero? It's a contradiction in elites' ethos within Singapore. Not to mention that a hero often needs to take the road less travelled. With a top down mentality that clamps down on those who choose the road less travelled, who, I ask, will dare to be a hero? It’s a contradiction in elites’ ethos within Singapore.

]]> By: aedena http://s-pores.com/2009/02/heroes/#comment-39 aedena Sun, 22 Mar 2009 13:38:11 +0000 http://s-pores.com/?p=206#comment-39 Maybe one can consider the personalities featured in this issue as ‘heroes’ – Samad Ismail, MK Rajakumar or even the rest of the Fajar 8? National Library’s efforts to revive pioneers could be seen in the Lim Boon Keng exhibition/book launch of 2007 and the recent tie-up with ISEAS on David Marshall. Another ’source’ to look at is the Trailblazers series shown on CNA, a collaboration between MOE and MDA last year. Maybe one can consider the personalities featured in this issue as ‘heroes’ – Samad Ismail, MK Rajakumar or even the rest of the Fajar 8?

National Library’s efforts to revive pioneers could be seen in the Lim Boon Keng exhibition/book launch of 2007 and the recent tie-up with ISEAS on David Marshall.

Another ’source’ to look at is the Trailblazers series shown on CNA, a collaboration between MOE and MDA last year.

]]> By: Y@ndao http://s-pores.com/2009/02/heroes/#comment-35 Y@ndao Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:42:01 +0000 http://s-pores.com/?p=206#comment-35 all this hankering for national heroes, when added to the plethora of countries/ideals/things tangible and intangible we are frequently called upon to emulate, reminds me of one of our national pastimes – copying other people. which reminds me of a documentary series on local TV a few years ago called “Extra-ordinary People”, featuring exceptional everyday Singaporeans~ it’s as if (1) being unheroic is a mortal sin. in that case, i’m sorry for being just ordinary. (2) that we should all be looking to copy our national heroes or all other types of heroes, instead of finding ways to be heroes in our own ways, by our own definitions. all this hankering for national heroes, when added to the plethora of countries/ideals/things tangible and intangible we are frequently called upon to emulate, reminds me of one of our national pastimes – copying other people.

which reminds me of a documentary series on local TV a few years ago called “Extra-ordinary People”, featuring exceptional everyday Singaporeans~

it’s as if

(1) being unheroic is a mortal sin. in that case, i’m sorry for being just ordinary.

(2) that we should all be looking to copy our national heroes or all other types of heroes, instead of finding ways to be heroes in our own ways, by our own definitions.

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