Where is the Love?

Today while I was listening to an online radio station, I heard a song that touched me deeply a couple of years ago. I was then stuck in a good (but not fantastic) paying job (with little job satisfaction) when the Iraq war broke out.
This song, "Where is the love?" by Black Eyed Peas resonated in me

In case you want to see the MTV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc18o5YRGYw

The lyrics reflected the frustration and anger of the band and possibly many groups of the people. They talked about negative images in the media reinforcing prejudices and the people living out what they see. I guess I'm more pessimistic about the values of humanity that they talked about. I'm simply not sure on what firm foundations we can derive any value or moral that is fair and equal.

I think they hit the problem on the nail when the band asked, "If you never know truth, you will never know love." On what can we base truth on? A sadly neglected question today. (Or epistemologically, even if we know what the truth is, how can we know it or be certain about it?)

I strongly encourage you to listen the song if you haven't. (Given that I'm so behind in many aspects of popular culture, I'm sure most of you are already familar with the band). :)

Apparently when the band toured Southeast Asia in July 2006, they dedicated this song to Aung San Suu Kyi....

Book Reviews

Am filling up an application for a fellowship. Decided that I haven't been working as hard on my PhD (holistically I mean, not just narrowly on my thesis).

Decided to write a book review. In case you're wondering how one should go about doing it. Here're some useful tips:

From the library of Queen's University
http://library.queensu.ca/inforef/bookreview/wri.htm

From the Library of Laurier University
http://library.wlu.ca/subject/writerev.html

From Chicano Centre of UCLA
http://www.chicano.ucla.edu/press/siteart/jli_bookreviewguidelines.pdf#search=%22how%20to%20write%20a%20book%20review%20journals%22

From Victoria University of Wellington
http://www.vuw.ac.nz/library/instruction/additionalguides/bookreview.aspx

PS: It's strange but it seems that most of the guides to writing book reviews are done by Canadian universities. Alternatively, it might be that I'm strange- googling to find out how to write book reviews.....

5th Month Anniversary

Guess what! Another month (and a couple of days) have passed again!

Can't believe we have been married for 5 months (and 3 days) now.

It's especially amazing the fact that you seem to have become so much more beautiful, patient, virtuous and caring than before our wedding. Although the routine of life is starting to settle down (what with studying in the evenings and over the weekends to prepare for your exams and my PhD), I have been very thankful that we have been able to spend lots of time together- whether it be going to Galloway and Porter Warehouse book sale or hanging around Sains till closing time for the "reduced price" items to appear on the shelves, or simply watching a DVD or home improvement programmes, you have been my best companion.

Thank you so much for preparing my meals and braving the numerous cyclists to fetch me to work and home (!) every day and giving me a hug every morning to remind me that I'm loved.

I love you lots.

Having Opinions

I just had quite a surreal (at times) conversation with a friend who said that I keep thinking that I was right. I must confess I wasn't exactly sure (am still not exactly sure) what he meant until I realised that he thought that I should make it explicit that all the stuff I said was merely my opinion. I was really confused since I thought it should be obvious that it's my opinion since I expressed it. Normally when I'm citing someone, I would say so (guess it's part of the academic training).

I thought he wanted to say that there was no nothing that we could say for certain or that there was nothing 'real' beyond each of our expressed opinion. But he said that he's not a relativist. Guess I'm confused..

On the way while cycling home, a thought came to me about my own academic training over these past years. In my undergraduate days, I was taught to have an opinion and defend it. (In O and A Levels, I merely need to reiterate and present all the arguments- 'for' and 'against' before having a cursory conclusion).

On the other hand, I have also increasingly realised that there is an inconsistency between the academia and the daily life. In our attempts to write a good piece of research, we are careful to present different arguments, hold one position and defend it. On the other hand, when we're not writing research papers, we tend to dismiss other people's claims (particularly on metaphysical matters) simply by just saying that it's just their opinion. Dismissing another person's argument by pointing out that other opinions or arguments exist is another strange way of arguing. Instead one ought to show the weaknesss of the other person's arguments.

Furthermore, it's not enough to merely state other people's arguments. It's important to 'own' those arguments. For instance, have you noticed that some of us often merely just quote verbatim from passages rather than paraphrase to show that we understand?

One scene came to my mind- after Jesus' disciples said what other people thought of Jesus. Jesus asked Peter specifically who Peter thought Jesus was. We all need to answer that question individually.. who do you think Jesus is?

Postscript:
John Piper warns against the use of religious language that we do not understand. Otherwise we merely acquire a veneer of religiousity.
(I encourage listening to the whole sermon rather than only reading the transcript. http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByScripture/10/178_The_Renewed_Mind_and_How_to_Have_It/)

American, British and Singaporean English

Although this blog was started for serious musing about the East Asia region and the international economy, it doesn't seem to have succeeded by a wide stretch of imagination.

At the risk of duplication with Mrbrown show, here's what I found extremely hilarious.

Rudy Pan displaying the range of English used in Singapore
http://www.mrbrownshow.com/?p=229

Highly rated for those who want to know the diversity of the English used in Singapore.

Gosh... another cannot be missed- song by Hossan Leong

http://www.mrbrownshow.com/?p=235

Arrghh.. another one not to be missed... Imran Johri on his experience as a Singaporean Malay in Malaysia.. :)

http://www.mrbrownshow.com/?p=226