Are Singaporeans Patriotic?

Ok, since this week is our nation's 42nd year of independence, let's talk about patriotism.

First, a little video from our home grown singer and judge on Singapore Idol, Mr Dick Lee.



With that video as a starting point, here's this week's wonderful journal you have to write on...

Do you think you are and will continue to be a patriotic Singaporean?
What makes you say that? And while you are at it, do you think Singaporeans in general are patriotic? Why or why not?

In fact, a lot of Singaporeans seem to take pride that they are NOT patriotic. Why do you think that is the case?

Being the multi-taskers that you young people are and sticking to my prescribed teacher role of being Ms Patriotic, here's 2 new songs for this year's NDP to keep you company while you are deep in thought about Singapore...



Singapore National Day Parade (NDP) 2007 theme song, Will You.

Singers: Jadani Sridhar, Asha Edmund, Emma Yong, Lily Ann Rahmat, JaiWahab, Shabir Mohammed, Sebastian Tan, Gani Karim

Music & Lyrics by: Jimmy Ye

Lyrics:
Will you make this islandAmazing in all ways?
Surprises every corner,Delightful nights and days.
Will you take this countryAnd turn it from a place
To a home that greets youWith smiles on every face?Will you come on this brave journey?
Will you help to make it real?
Will you write us grand new stories,
Songs that everyone will feel?
So... Will you swim the current?
Will you scale new heights?
Will you make it happen,
Will you let your dreams take flight?
And... Will you make the difference?
Will you seize the day?
Will you live each moment,
Will you dare to find new ways?
Will you take this city
And turn it into a place
To a home that greets you
With smiles on every face
Will you come on this brave journey?
Will you help to make it real?
Will you write us grand new stories,
Songs that everyone will feel?
So... Will you swim the current?
Will you scale new heights?
Will you make it happen,
Will you let your dreams take flight?
And... Will you make the difference?
Will you seize the day?
Will you live each moment,
Will you dare to find new ways?
Dare to find, dare to find, dare to find new ways!



Have a wonderful long weekend! :)

Rosa Parks

You can go to this webpage to read about how her courage changed the world. And...

A video and article at the BBC website reporting her death in 2005.

KKK

Am trying out something. If you don't know the meaning of a word, move over it and see if the meaning of the word comes out. Not all of them will show up though. Only the words I think some of you may not know. Examples in this post are "waned", "guise" and "slurs". Let me know if it's useful. Try the lyrics of the song below too. Thank you.

Ku Klux Klan aka KKK as mentioned in class today which spreads the message of hate and violence. Though their power has waned, their presence remains though in a different guise and against different groups of people. Well, if you want to know more, go to this website for some history of this clan and this one (easier and shorter read) too.

Found another youtube video which features a report off CNN about the revival of the KKK in the United States. It's scary how people promote hate by feeding on the fear of others. More of concern is the fact that these people are recruiting young adults into their fold. Here we thought that we have become more educated and civilised as humans, these things remind us to be mindful of what we say and do. We really cannot take things for granted. Who is to say what can happen next if we tolerate things like insults and slurs on other people? Food for thought...



And another off the history channel..

Black Eyed Peas - Where is the Love?

Well, thought I'll just put this music video of "Where is the Love" by Black Eyed Peas and the lyrics to 'spread some lovin' as the blacks might say it...

Lyrics below:

Enjoy both the power of the music and the words :)

Lyrics from http://www.lyricsondemand.com/b/blackeyedpeaslyrics/whereisthelovelyrics.html

What's wrong with the world, mama

People livin' like they ain't got no mamas

I think the whole world addicted to the drama

Only attracted to things that'll bring you trauma

Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism

But we still got terrorists here livin'

In the USA, the big CIA

The Bloods and The Crips and the KKK

But if you only have love for your own race

Then you only leave space to discriminate

And to discriminate only generates hate

And when you hate then you're bound to get irate, yeah

Madness is what you demonstrate

And that's exactly how anger works and operates

Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight

Take control of your mind and meditate

Let your soul gravitate to the love, y'all, y'all



People killin', people dyin'

Children hurt and you hear them cryin'

Can you practice what you preach

And would you turn the other cheek



Father, Father, Father help us

Send us some guidance from above

'Cause people got me, got me questionin'

Where is the love (Love)



Where is the love (The love)

Where is the love (The love)

Where is the love

The love, the love



It just ain't the same, always unchanged

New days are strange, is the world insane

If love and peace is so strong

Why are there pieces of love that don't belong

Nations droppin' bombs

Chemical gasses fillin' lungs of little ones

With ongoin' sufferin' as the youth die young

So ask yourself is the lovin' really gone

So I could ask myself really what is goin' wrong

In this world that we livin' in people keep on givin'

in

Makin' wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends

Not respectin' each other, deny thy brother

A war is goin' on but the reason's undercover

The truth is kept secret, it's swept under the rug

If you never know truth then you never know love

Where's the love, y'all, come on (I don't know)

Where's the truth, y'all, come on (I don't know)

Where's the love, y'all



People killin', people dyin'

Children hurt and you hear them cryin'

Can you practice what you preach

And would you turn the other cheek



Father, Father, Father help us

Send us some guidance from above

'Cause people got me, got me questionin'

Where is the love (Love)



Where is the love (The love)

Where is the love (The love)

Where is the love (The love)

Where is the love (The love)

Where is the love, the love, the love?



I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder

As I'm gettin' older, y'all, people gets colder

Most of us only care about money makin'

Selfishness got us followin' our wrong direction

Wrong information always shown by the media

Negative images is the main criteria

Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria

Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinema

Yo', whatever happened to the values of humanity

Whatever happened to the fairness in equality

Instead in spreading love we spreading animosity

Lack of understanding, leading lives away from unity

That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' under

That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' down

There's no wonder why sometimes I'm feelin' under

Gotta keep my faith alive till love is found

Now ask yourself



Where is the love?

Where is the love?

Where is the love?

Where is the love?



Father, Father, Father help us

Send some guidance from above

'Cause people got me, got me questionin'

Where is the love?



Sing wit me y'all:

One world, one world (We only got)

One world, one world (That's all we got)

One world, one world

And something's wrong wit it (Yeah)

Something's wrong wit it (Yeah)

Something's wrong wit the wo-wo-world, yeah

We only got

(One world, one world)

That's all we got

(One world, one world)

This week's journal writing topic...

Let's keep it simple.

Ethnic costumes are not racism level indicators
Students more inclined to learn racial sensitivity from example. Do you agree?

The article can be found here.

Please complete by this weekend.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Guess this is a familiar picture for all you Harry Potter fans around. So this week's topic for those who can't wait to lay their hands (and eyes) on this latest and last installment.


Do you like the ending of this last installment of Harry Potter? Why or why not?


For those who do not read Harry Potter or has yet to read the latest installment, fret not. Here's another one for you to think about.


Do you think the Harry Potter series is good enough to be considered a classic?


Anyway, here's J.K. Rowling reading from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at the Natural History Museum, London on the 21st July 2007 during the book launch.

Oh and did you know that J.K. Rowling is the first billionaire author? Anyone interested? :)

Btw, 7.01am today...

Anyone going in their cosplay costumes to Kino? Remember to take pictures and share :)