The Lost Issue

{h THE LOST ISSUE BROIDEN PERSPECIIVB IS PUB1ISHED 8Y SCIIOOT OT IHOUGHT 420 N0rlh Bridge R00d#06 27,

No

h Bridge Cenlre,

Sing0pore 188/2/, wrl,w.s(h00 0f *0ughl.(om.sg

lel:.65 6334 87/3. for t65 633i 2434 IUBSCRIPTIOI{ RAIIS FON 2OO8 S42 (12 i5sues,lonuoryro 0dober) forsub5(ripli0n enquiries0nd b0(kissues,enroil: brooderperspertives@vhool-of'thoughl.rom

IIIE BROADEN PIRSPECIIVIS TEA'II Edilorir(hiel tliz0belh K0n, iz@d001 ohh0ush1.(om (re0liv".Dlred0r 5hi00-Yir l(uik,yin@5(h0010f 1h0uqhl.(om Soler & Subxripii0n5 [40n0ger Yee long, yee@sthool of thoug ht.tom

(onlrlbulingWrihr! Xi0o!hingLing,l05elin B0u,YeeT0ng, N0di0 M0h, tl0ine Lo\s,6i0ng H0ng l{eol lntern Amelio Rozok Prinler lohez Prinling Houie

Dinribulor Righleous lnhrn0li0n0l su b!rriplion Servkes /l UbiCres(ent#05 09 5lng0pore 4085/l lel:.65 6323 1833. Iox: *65 63231838 S0le

sm0il: mi(h0el rhunq@riqhleou5.(om.5q

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5 IHINGS TO I(NOW

02

5 I(ONS IHAI WE HAVI

LOST

With each physic-al icon tiat n'e destroy. )et auother significaDt part ofthe \\,r,rlil dies.

FEATURE ARTICLE 71| 4ll

NO COUNTRY

bc

g 6nna

"(.;gl,l

FOR OLD MEN

As we progress, how m ould we grieue ouer the loss of the past? ON 2l.{D THOUGH]

RTTHINK VIRTUIS

Hrmiht\. Ie|rremncr. Arr\ituesiust ol,l hatiD i neu w, rrl,l XloLlesb.

n,

rlerr

30

[SSAY MAI{EOVIR

(UI.TURIWAT(ll

TTHIIS FOR A BRAVE NEW WORID

rN

GP essa]s often wander off-track because

EVIRYONE

oftheNaB ofihe mod, rn rnrld

YOU S(RIAM.

thei lulr moLrl drrectiun and understunLline

A.s

(flBrR)SPA[E, E

ilN

t(LhnolnS Frol!Ls, ran Ne fedly

lose rnrrsel\ es in \ i, A MAIITR OI OPINION

IHt

HIAR

i,,,l r":lin?

Hollr'rvood presents their ans'wers.

ANTHROPOI-OGISI

V5. THE IONSTRVAIIONIST Our wdters squanr o11 on the issuc ofwhether progress leads us fo vard orbackward.

tOGt l/s. Gt08At

32,

WHY DO SINGAPOREANS

RIBOI)IYOUR MIND

FIEI50

IOST IN TRANSLATION

LOST?

Ifwe h.r\e achieveJ trusperih and prosress, ther \\h\ Ll', so man\ SingaFrearrs frtl so unhitlpj ancl lost in tllrirLi\es?

tt

Evelr 2 weeks. $€ lose rnother lansriage in the \\'orld to slobdlisation. Whv shoukl rvr: crre?

5 THINGS TO KNOW

AEOUTTllIWRlIR

02

BR0ADtR PtRSPttTlVlS

l/l€ Lrsrissre

YOUTUBTTl] S

@ SUDDIII(OIIAPSID

OIJT

0t Slllltt

1

2

TIII' RA-NIIYAN IIUI)I)HA STATIIES AtiGtIANtSIAN (2l)I}1)

\\'iORID TR\DE CtrNIRI]'I-$/IN I'O\{T.JRS NEW YORK CITY, USA (2oor)

ld?v=biDdo9blj0

'Buddho to loFed

0d ol

Shome' orlhe Eerlin tilm

FesJ2000 She modelhe

film to copture

her

feelings obod grov/ing

Toliboi.

f,.c"

@ LOSING INTERCULTUR-4.L TOLI]RANCT/ olconstant e?rhas taken its toll notjust on peopl€ the and lhe iandscape ofAfghaDistan, but it lias also rrbbed this ancient land olits extraordinary cr tuml dive.sil,r', historf and heritnge.ln 1993,lhe) lost rnany antiquities iD Kabr Mnseun to n{ahideen looiers.In 2oo1, despite protests from archaelogists and scholaN and offet.s of moncv fron UNESco, the Tdibnn deslroyed the \rorld s tallest standins Buddha statues. Then xlullnh Mohammed Omar coDsidercd the statues to be 'idolatrols arrd un Islanic'ard 25 years

disrlissed the slobal outcry as pointless iveeping over a 'war on stoneJ'. These txiD statues, hoilever, rfe.e regarded as

th. fincst

cxarnples of earb. Buddhist aft

that had withstood the ravages oftime. $rather and foreign invrsion lbr r,5oo years since t|e time of censlis nian. lvhile Ahhanistan s iDtedrn tdrne n| - e-, H: n .,1 K'r."i, h"..i1,. d lhF recon n rr'ion a "cnltural inlerative" rnd UNESCO gathers the

LOSINC I HII AMERICAN DRLAM/ In an eene panllelofthe enpll niches of the Eamiian Buddhas destro)ed by Taliban enrenists, two poiverful shalts of light pierce Ne$'York's night sk)' every September

l]th a Tribute in Light" to the ta'o Workl Trade Centre toweN that wdc fcllcd seven yeam ago by ,1Qaeda extremists. America lost rnorc

thanjust two

posertul symbols ofits economic clout for indeed, the sreat AnericaD engine ofcomnerce still chugs on njshtily despite lints of aD inpending recession. Whai Amcrica lost forever was her brighFeyed confidence in hcr libcral denocratic ideology and the absolute certainty that shc uas always going to be welcomed andbeloved in the world. The September

should be left ernpty as an ctcrDalmonunert to the

attack were the wake up call that nade Amencans $'ith geDuine be{ilderrnent x'har the world had lons knoM the aNwers to, "why do they hare us so rnuch?". Once. Arnericans were surethat the sight ofthe NewYork sbline and Lady Liberty her.4ll woulr hdvp n,t'rpdJl "h.r.litAr"ricJ as the landwhere dreans came true and ev€{' rnan

emptiness ard

could be free. Now, fearing that foreigners are out to

rernanrins rclics, soDe uchaelogists believe the niches

tr

agedy that descended on AfshaDistaD

nnderrhe ralibrn

It

11

ask themselves

''sct thcm", the dmwbidse has been raised.

lhe

soldcn asc of the Ameican Drcm n ofEcially over. I

03

BR0ADIR

PIRSPIUIVIS

iie losi i$re

t

StPTt[IBIR IITH

Dotuil

tatt

lTtD l/ta a

AS

9tl

tR0tl ,{ ilAl{

TRAPPID IIITHT TOIA,iR

vold?v-tYzq0WICUs&l

YOUIUEI TH

I

TllI BIRTINWAII

.T'HI.]

eold?vaswm8o(ylP4&

4

3

P()Lr\R I(llt (lAPS.

F]N1rIRONIItrN I AROUNI)

THtr TIIRljIJ CORGES, CHINA (199.1 20o6)

THtrARCI'IC

FIGHT ifijgrj{u inje L N{5 'ron

LOSING OUR PT,IRSPECTn'I/ lie iL l|. ill tat.d Towcr of Eabel or E&iU's lcs.ndrry plraDiids, histol has ahl'ays bore wilrress lo Man's obsession wilh

o!r r,l ri'r i l Crcat Wrll anil fin.rllr, alt.r 1t lcars of

conslructing gargrDtuin rnonumcnts. T$'o of

In' I ^'r'r nr,lal 'l ,l

chiri.r

lhe

,,i

controversial constNcti(D, the llrree Corges Dam. Yci rfte. a decade ofilsistcncc that th€ dam w.s thc

\,.u 'o '. (he

l,.r ."\, pu\. F .,nr'f,'l'lr,

boonr and cnd centuries ol Ilooding caused by h$ publicl) ,dNittcd ihat the din'

Yinglzc, Chnra

co c.t a h

ind socirl cost. Sprnninu 6ookm, th. dam has djsdac.d ail.xst 1.3 nilliorpeopie, Uooded13 cities, Llo (${ns aDd 1.35o \.illases. Lrndslides .rnscd b) water se€!age rnd has

gc environrrental

I',d J^i, rJ , \-1.o1,.1 \--:r..r'liri

.1. .1.4r,r'r...,-" u r'"t,F,.'.f,'. ustrial cenlcF ufstrcan are c.eaLing

a

i"

roitinS bog

of effluent, sill .nd industrirl wasl€. Plagncd by .onutiion and spiraling cosis, ii is no wonder that $rans Xiaofcns, di.eclor ofrhc officc ni chirge of building thc dan, said, We caDnot wiD ptssii'g econonric tros})erit-r rt the cosl olthc.Niurntnt.Tt

04

BR0ADtR

PtRSPtOVEI

-.-:r t,4!\.. J tr t,.ar ir""1,.,\,t.-;l theAr(tic knorn asthe UIa tiunl lcc Shclf Nn'ived 3,oooleals on eatl onll to splirLler in 2ooo, forcirS rvhol. sroups olpolarb.ars. rlliales, {al.uses. s.als and tcs, native h!nan b.ings to change thei. lning trttcms. Tlie pola. ice cap of thc ilorkl earlh s n4rDoscdlv pcnnaner t icecolo is contucting .tL a .at€ oi 9% each .lccade, nlllJll ins that ltc coukl be 1,.r \. T.. ' a.' \r h-2

'n

sliekl lhal kccrs o r cath f(rn abso,ii.8, morc sunljghl a!d becoming hottcr. The rdditioral lloo.l ofntlted $,ate. $'ill also lead to risiDg sea l€vels lhrt may d(nq out jsland

bad news 1or lbe ice car is the

" lsunamis. Fannc$ struggli.g with rcscttloneDt h.r!e beconrc foor.r. Do$Dst.eanr. algac bloons a d

i

LOSING OUR (;LOB^1. cONIMONS/ Global $'amirg s!ecialists sce the Arclic as t|c a'orl.ls caDary iD the coal mi.. ifitfrlls, it is a harbingcr of im!rinent. innnedial. dangcr. lannirglL Arclic iccis ihimiiDg .apid l] , meltiDg and mptuirg due lo Leinltraturcs that are risiigt'icc as fast as ati\v|erc

' o

l lr' ll |li " r,l.rrti'l' . .,,,,o"

cities ljkc s|aDghri. Tlie wrr.rer Arciic will chtnge rveather paltenrs, ceusing annnal reproduction and

rgricnlttrral ljeld lo bc crratic. lsril il Iigh tim. $'c humlns start saving e.cr$ for the sake olsaving our oDl!inhabitlble !la.et iI thc universel')at

.I.1ort iss!r

5 BERLIN \TALL. llAS

I CFIRNI.\\1 r98q

Wornen can legain their lost virginity.

I,OSI\G'I'HE \\'':\LI-S BETI\IDEN US/

tI. frlnNs i)ur icons, slrnds rs

a

LINIiIiE

the.LeNrlitrcn ol this

b.r..n oflopc

nr

oDe

o r \.orld ot'iQntdr

d.st r.tion.I'.st \Vodd1\'irT\o. thc Soiiet UDion drott.d rn Iron Cnltril rcross Europc. dnnlirg l.l!r.f. l.t. tw. c^nrts ftf or rgrinst Connntrnisn. Sel L,p 1o l)u .nt highlt skillc.t rclirgccs ftoD lcr\ fiS !.:rsl C.,.riDr lo ivork nr th. cafitrlist U:csi. tlir Be,li,i \\rlLsrnrMlis.d iD con.\itc lb nthcdivisi.ms liet$e€,r t osc \!ho hid lrccdo.r N.d t|osc who ru,l lra!pe1i L'r 1l,eir go\c, nnrcnt s .g.rdr. Thc \\Iall lilerrlll r!l lhro,Lgh linrili.s, ..rco rstimti.rs rDd

!l co,rrrL,ni(rlkD B,rli. r!3!. in rn.stonishing testlr.on\ lo thc towc. of r.ligion, thousrnds of Cliristiar) pacili!ts let rhclr.rndl. light !igil in r Leipzig chu(h Lo ltlie lhe sti erls shin,lirg r\o.ror liolcncel rnd Joirr UslJoiD Usl" \!ilLri. a \!eelt. !rillnDijonrtd theDr iu the sLreet\ c!lljrig lir tl)e lill ot tirr \\rrll. lnfluenced L,r C!t],oli(isIr r(l dtrnocmtic idrals. then lercLer corbr(hev rsLei rrlel th. UN l\ lLeclariDg lieedon ol (hoi(e sho!ld be unncrsrll! rc()gnisrd to peopLe. rnd urgir)g lirst (l(rrnn!to rbrDdon thc Uirtl for'lite furishes those $h. hg bLrhi.d. Othcr n'alls p.rsist in thc lrorld' ir) th. l)NlZ of Kor.r, b.tilccn lsmcl rnd Prl.stiDc, l,.Ln..ir NI.\i.o rnd USL Pcrluts, ernrdlv. thc\ lines

1,r)

\ill.rnnrbl.

to dust

iI tiDc. rt

t)tiPtiNt)s oN \vHAl t(lt I [rt AN BY RE(;AIN, iurrr oi lo.hl s I.ung wo.u licl crught b.t\fetn two $,,dds Nhci, il , onr.r d.1Lr to s.\nribchrln)u, thc ltudiliu)al $odd ll,al U,gs th.nr lo lrhrc.hrsti! lcrs$ thc sirtn like liberal ru ll tl,rl rs!!, es ll'.,,, sc\url lrccdoni is the nreritrble \!\e ol llp irLl,,!.

,l

r'l

droror.ntsIi!.b(Ddc d.dli)rprcr!hingth!t'ltl, g,riit iiith.

!.r.in

SR0AllIR

hcrLd rnd bccone

iLg.rjn

'r'lr'rr'llr'| r'l r ' rl '.

\ I

u,

l

tlcif ltrcs Th.scmrgcritsseNed uf

brcl,ei, lrri.e,h rllowirg \ou n) tcchnicrllr br r lirsir rgairr lor just

'I P..'rl. ui lrt,r'1 ,... i' \l olcr rcgailitrg lost \irgiuil! l)!t Lo la(e ur) 10 o.. s $!sc of rcsP.msibilit\ . |rst dr(isnms jlnild be liced |.ldlv\itlr hrtl ud courrgc rD.l $urenshould cltr,g

rl

''I

l

I

l"

lI

:l

t

li,tuic \irL (ii.nol ngrir!orrrlost!ngnrit!b t rou c{r rerLriirl\ rerLri., tht ibilitl to trk. resp(^il)ilit\ rf d exe.t sellrco,,lr!1, iegri.ing dlgDitr tlre

rDd rcsrrct 1(r

0l

nrn r.arloush bc

o, s..ondrr) rirgin' Rcutcrs tu) rel)oned ir !oo7!bo!l j.ciersing n,Lnrbds ol!on.g

r'bof,

PtRilttTlVtS

tll

\o rsellrlrir.ft

l{istasL.

Fi;.;1,[,i rrl]ii.,i:

No Countryfor Old Men t

,4-s ure

tB0UT tLlt iirlr

ll

l-

proqre.ss,

ftol, mu ch shoultl we grieue oue| tlrc

r-tt oll

86n.1a

h,

r)

"t{

ct

o

loss ofthe

past? B) Shiao-l-in

Kuih

f*.;TrPc-\ *-idh" gPRZ

ftT

l

cinema-goer who watched ny unsuspecting lry ullsu5pecLrIlB clrlcllld-5usr

/f A

the zooT Coen brothers' creation No Countrli for old Men would have been ruclely jolted \'out of their pop co rn- crunching comfort zones.

Under the guise of a traditional thriller set in the lonely desert plains ofTexas, this year's Best Picture Oscar Award winner challenges all our notions ofhow we want stories in the movies - and the world by ertension - tO be,

No sisn ofr.dcmptiim or hope in the luhn e sEccs the sto{ - everythi.il sood s.cnN to bc ertlmn€d in tlie past. At the stat of No CorDi?V, the weather worn hcrc Sheritr Dell recaljs an era $'hcrc lxnnen like hnn and lis forelathers did not Dccd to crrN a firea.m. BLtt his dail,v wot-k has evohed inro somcthins nuch morc sinister: $'here twentv year old boys get sent to tlie eleclric chair for niurde.hg lbrrLeen yea. old girls sirnD\,forthc thill ofmurder; where sroM mcn massacre €ach other for a briefcase ofdrugs and rnoncyi and a devilish hitnaD gambles the lives ofhis viciims on the oulcome ola coiD toss. It is a $'orld that has becone all too dark aDd ficoDlprehens ible tor pcoplc brousht up h su! pos.d\' sirDrlc'r tines.

06

ER0ADIR

PtRSPtfilV[S

rn.losi issrr

tiLrlTtll 5!Ull YoU

G v5

oLl

0PilMlSM vs. PtSSlMlSll PAST

vr. iUTURt

I]6T0RY

lurc

*

c'\<

+ -RdJl

wtf 4 Mel

qioqad h d L4PP,''r"

lNUIdEt tLl

!

,

tgansri"d!1

At the heart of it, the Cocns'tale is a bleali assessDent

of nrdern. cyDic{l America and tesiinony lo horv mu.h hope the older gereration has lost iD Progress hdolgnrg in nostalgia fb' ihc 'good old days", thev feelsidehred by a wo dthal t|cynoloDgeruDdersta d

or want to pulicipate iD anymore

lhe

presetll

sene.atioD is vies'ed askaDce s'iih r iaded eve as producLs of these ghastl) timcs: urnattrrallv confortable andtoo well ve.sed in its paudoxes and pett! cneLties. \!'hat option do they havc but to mourn the things thal thcl have lost and sufcnder in the face of rclentless, cruel change? Apat|v, a norbid

sense

) r'"' ^u-^ +r.qot"

&

h.e-

of amusenrcnt or Derhaps horor seetl

appropriate rcsponscs.,^fter all, mode.n dav cr ture at a quick glance has all th€ characteristics ofrlre uni\€t\e ol No Coui ri: flrll of ma]'hcm rnd nischiel ' inanciy evil. morall) subjcctive, nrcoDruehensjblc, capricious. l.o. the Sherill Bclls ofthe world, the 21st cerLint aDd the ccDhrries drcrerfter lvill be as lhe

Jot OId Lletl

movietrunrpers No Cou

tt t!

\{NI,I ,'I'HE RLAI, LOST

GI],N

ERATION PL&\SI]

pcople lisLen to Pussycai DolLs'sexcd{rp, lartv Pop sonss ofro rcdcemnlg nroral or lusicxl valu e when thev can have thc tolitical antherns ofBob D)'lan, rlre aDti establishment atiitude of olct school raP or at least (he charneleon creativit) ofxladonna? rd tbr l,e.ve. s sakes- rvhat's with all this nonsense aboul bod!-!iercnrg, totigue sPlitting, bodyrnu tilatiDg rnd embcdding ofball bearinss ni one's skiD? Whateve. hrpfened to dressing sensibly Like soneone $'irh I

propcrjob and ed cation? \\rith everr- incli henr]nres ise and ncckhres fall, yet another inch is losl for Its wt (At{ a Nc$'YorkTnnes article crtitled me Gr?dr 'lfidu" obserled the co lusioD and houified Brifisl sensibilities of Bitish eldeN as Lhcy rvitness thei. childrcD abandonins propcr Bitish bchaviour for

Ir

r92r,

Bitai! ilto p-r,':ri^r LnLe, ll., ,hol\''rr:l) or 'J / nu\i. AnledcaD lib€rLarianism and dancins

cigareltes and too many cocktails "l4/h! conlou7rd il sir-" the $'iter quoted one soDorving parent, 'r

t.tt tnrU.,rt\,tn,l.laLottt r\t a\t.I tnt lrrd ultdf do r/rct/ dol Laqh dt ne or stnile

ttt..,,.t,.n t,

Itous., i r a superioi t1ld! r/ui ,rodd ens np ord let fi ightetls ,ne,6e.duse ir stiggesis rhot tltu l1o& knorDledg. oJ ell thinos, both qood ond bad, Q1d tlLat oftlp LtLo'

bdd

thelJ deliberutell! chaose t/re

qrotes

l al<e onr attitLrdes to the Millennials for instancc. Those borD ofGenemtioD X

"

'l

hc

witer

theD

young man's responsc to srch judsen1ent, m.tp iltelligctlt. We irndersr.rr.l l/or but Vdrr

a

We .Lre

d.n'i rndcrs.dnd rs.

ur, o//

lorr

crccds dn./

an.l before ]]alc oft benroaned the exccsses oftoda)'s Ccn.ration Y: wliy woLtld leoPle waDt to l'acebook

"o ,r.1nne?s, niceri€s an./ retnenents lnDe fuiled in accorrltdhrrer..,'lll these at1.l th. uis.lont ol thP

sl ,rlr.

eklers ditln l k.ep

b'a-h

-r r\''r

iiellictual di.ttibcs aboul lifc ivlien they caD take to the slrccts orthehalls ofgo!€mment tofightfor real causes? Worshi! JesslcaSirnpson's stuPidjtv or Ediso

serlal e\cesses $'hen they can ilorship God Almighty or at tlie very lcast sone halfiecent hcro likc crndhi or xlother Tcresa? Why would voung CheD s

07

then1.1) oD1

btingiirc

at1

the ]l,ar'

We na langer r.v)ect Uou tor your &'tsdon utrd in

our rcfllsion roe /nue

tur

ed

li

otn all

lh.

tl1it1lts aoLt

sdiiduerc oisesidn.lt"st, beca se tl1eU llar.nI prt)!.11 themsetDes k) he- wh.n therc is d ndsty 5.d n.ldl, it is

us{atl! ananq

BR0ADIR PIRSPIO

the eklers of

vts .Ic lorl

issu?

tlt

aldschaal, isttt it?"

WIIRtTi]t

ONIS

worth?v=qhslswfOpU&

KEEP

[,en

n

e

ct

/\AN

The sentiments expressed in the piccc by the okter folk souDd sily, old fashion€d and

olrrly wordsome to our nodern

ears

whilc

the opinions exp.essed by thc young sound

believes the latter is

I

thrlxing overboard in

onc geDe.ation $'hat took their ancestors manygenemtions to acquirc and pass on relinements in speech and aciiotr, niceties and reticences that distinguished the wellb.ed from thc ill-bred. These preseDt lapses woukl make the younger generalion unable

to avoid the mistakcs made by the oldcr

1-6PP

\,/0RRy?

Do\,nN

Witness howU.S. Senator Obama's claion

Beforc Al Gore, Angelina Jolie and tsono

call for chansc has been taken up like wildfire a$oss the $'orld by lan{ancse,

Sun

S

sapo.ean and even Nlalaisian yot' ths

far

ade social activisDr Iashionable. there i{as

yal Scnt fight for an independeDt ChiDa and Martin I-uther KingJr. s fight for cilil

bei'oDd his electorate. when Black ttyed Pea will.i.an concocted his Obama tribute mosic videos "Ies We Cdn" and "I4le o.e t/ie Orcs" together with Holllvood's young

islits. The childrcn of the fifties and sirtics Ncre aheady qLrestioDing the iDequalities of slobal power. !hc cvils of unLimited

rnd beauLiful.he canoDised thesenator

conspicious coDsumption. They $'o..ied

as

econonic growtb and the necessjLy of overpopulation when Eafl1 s{ppoted

this MilLennial scncration's brightest saint

abou t

for change. With ihc ljkes of Scarleti

s billion fewer hunaD beings. i.ookins

JohaDsson, Jessica Alba, John Legend, Amber Valletta and Kareen Abdul-Jabbar

back, \'e see our eldeN in their yonth advancnig the causcs ofaDti slavery, thc

e roting thei. honest hcafts out in beaulifully shot black and rite scenes

emancipation of womcn, $'onen

reminiscent of Calvh ]
ol chanv. As the rvriler of thc anciert book

ol

lhey sce present culture as prog.essile

"Nothjng is ne\r underthe sun".

see as

history, the inrelligentsia and cultural elite of tletime, rhe yourg, educatcd and heautifirl have proclaimed with unshakcable confidence thar human

ldities,

the younger see as the saining offteedom, a rccosnition of realitr nl all its glories and

indisnities, ar abandoDmcrtof inhibitive eas

thai cloiste.

and moral failures

a free spn

ofold

history was always on an upwrd trttjectory. To put it plainly, the

it. Tlie political

oursexscaDdals,

our bloody wars, ou. nurtLrling of tenorism,

our failure to address poverty, AIDS, xenophobia secrn tojustifr their siance. ChallcDge.t uith lhe n€w zeiigeEt, the {'dter ended his piece wilh a poisnant c!11 for both

his yolrns aDd old readers to wait before iudgins, we shall seeshat \t shall see."

Ior hnn,just as it is for os, thcrc can be no ansrver until thc childrerr ol the prcsent growiDto the adults ofthe tuture. So drcre do we so f.orn herc? Do we have n., choice but io wait otrt till we rcach our End of l)alE to see rdichgeneration gets to say "l Told

ln r9e2, whei ihe Clintons un against GFrge H.w Bush for Presi.lent, the)' rvere lovcd for being young and different. Simila y,nlthe 196os.l€e Kuan nany yonng singaporeans for being anti establishnient, lbr darnrg to .ebeL igainst British colonialism and Mala)'sian Yew aDd hjs PAP lvcre beloved by

politic']ling. Singaporear teenageN today are Dorv morc likcly to associate thc PAP Nith their om perccption of iheir parcDts: unnovable. coDsen'ative and oh so boiDsl

Our present day political, cuit(ral and THE MYTH OF A GOLDEN IT]TLTRE/ Every generation will raise its yorng

revolutionaries andeqrullyyourhfirl

supporters who believe they epiromise change and progress.

Ecclesiastes repeats ad nauseuni,

At various junctures in t'uman

shed the sknl ofa past sensibilirytheyhave

outgrom. \\hat the olde. fblk

lliasc

and the establishment of the nodern slstem

geDcratioD- Yet, the youth today see no loss.

becauseihcy perceive thenrselvcs as having

s su

$ty

economiclea.lers are nrostlyf ost-rear baby boomers raiscd ni the spirit ofthe 196os,

with firm mernories of r95os manners. Peace, political amEftss, love, cornrnuDib, justice, equality, spiritualily and aDiicapitalisn we.e cool buzzrvords. 08

8R0AD[[ PtRSPtiTlVtS

ine losr tssre

presumption $'as that listory was not one danned thing aftcr aDothe.. Hisloryhad a dircctio[ Time had an anow And the grcat civilisatioD ofxlan was inevitably hurtlnrg upwards, forwards, towards a veritabLe Heaven on Eartli {ith each da$n ofhopeftrl young peoflc. lve want to believe that if we caD jus! keep the economy soing, birs denoc.ac.y aDd caPitalisrn lo evcry dark inch of the world. defeat the lenorists, educate evervbodt aDd leale no child behnrd, a golden rge will rcturD to die $orld.

Eut increased w€alth, knoleledge and technological advanceInent have never guaranleed pemraDent, protbund chaDge that fundamentally reshapes oor destinr-'Hurnaniq seems to bc soins nl circles. Our ad!"nccs in Bimiingham, Sorth Ai-ica, East Cermany aDd Puerto Rico are niel with

heartbrcaknis .esressioDs in Rrvanda, K.rsovo, PalcstiDe, Sudnn a.d Pakistan.

i RRA.. N4

1-

tI

CHl\rqL Thc arriv{l of youth can iDdeed chanAc the lrorld but lvhethcr it chaDacs its dircctioD is aDothcr queslion. l)enr.rsmDbi. sls.. .s 1b. \ orlh{u I !opulrLioi, ,rores lro,I

a'r

<

\rerc bettc'r meD ri.ho liled ir better times. Frrb.tt.r$'onld il b.lbrth.m to xdDrit as thc cldcr Frcnc| do. that P]LF !a changc,

The great literary criticr\.C. Bradley said "No oDe ever closes r tragedy with thc fccling that rnan is a poor

ti,,sr€sl lr.rane(hosd lhe.rorcllrings !liarSe. lIe rrore Lhe\ stll the sanre.

mcan crcaturc. Hc maybc wrctchcd ard he may be awlul but he is not small. ' h literature, $.e see a hunanitv

Thurgli thc ccntLrrics. litcraN Srcats lik. !alzrc. Tolstov. Dostocvsb rD.l Dickcns hi\r r.v..ldl iD tl.ir works this sinl hnt| l crinrc, i.jl,slice. lrc.rcheJ! rnd g.eed r,(. .ot leculir. nmtations ofou.tirne but r!,e ol.l prcblems thrt hlrc persisted throush cvcn thc lDst dranratic chaDg.s nr our

thlt st

lidnns slilcklcd forcro ]n ihc dccisions of otl.rs bnt .laiDr t|.n lifc s stagc rs ti.c

C x!n rJr Io!lhs (liild liiie !rssior for

political, ccoDoDric ind cnltural status qro. Shrl.stcrr. srmDr.d i1 l) lvhcn h. \rrol. in (irtl /,rdr jr lhe rTth cenLu.), /,or. (aa |s, Jt ie tuIs l11p.lir Lls a lJ. Lrotlers dir,i.ld:

crough, and.lifficult to sustrin aDrid tirc complc\ dcnands ol adulthood.

h.ih.s. nn?hni.s. in.ornr'Ls, d6cord; in pald.?s, r?easonr oDd tltc botld cmcked

Ii'.n llr. nr.(r i..ni. rnri .(rrhlidrnr.fl

rrijtr/ son dnd /irri,r'.' He Drig|t .s

.o.k Sods lile the C.arclul Iread. l\\jsled Sjster aDd Kiss lir\e becolie jusl billion

ha\e been

dollar propefties, happ! rtrxl conlirtable

Our probiems arc slmltonatic lot of a fltic lar gcDcrlti.D of conuft rldcrs or

adoles(eDce to \ouDg adulthood, thev $.ill

chrngc the shrfc ofits sur(Nrdirgs but

c!.Dttrilii. Drrnv gct issiDrilrtcd iDt. th. v.r! lhiDgs th.] nltimrtclr

aDd

tJolesled |gnl.sl. ics slrId thel, Sround. f|e 1!3os sn\! r !rpredictrble Drass \lithdrrwrl of a ilhole Babt nooner s.ncration of sclflrochnn.d chans.

rc

ists

i

onr lnlitical to pcrsoDal coDccNs,

rh. .Frtion .f Yu|fiNl.rD . n d a drii'l lrom

sibsla.ce loNird

slrLe.

soon djsco\.er thal cals is Dot

bciDg tar-t of a

'l Hu

stst.n

ihct

scdnrdclidc.

llYrH Ot A COl.ltrN

PAS I

/

lio.

oldergetreratjor lhat has \!isened u! to tlie follies olyouthful contidence- lhey too tlLe

D

$'rrt olsclf-rightrousncss ofthe thq did iglrl and ra nriDg into thc lolll ole.shrirl.g lh€ prst. st ]]c

t|nrgs

$.ilirs

'lhus, enshrining the past irclitablybcrutitul

inro(ent

lacks

objediritr.

$rorsc. it dcccivcs us inro helpl€ss'ress and lhe Ieeling lhat il dvilisation cannot get offthe f.eight traiD to its doom, we Dright as well

enjoythe dc. This lcarD.d hclplcssncss cradicat.s otrr s.ns. of p.rsoDrl

sofue

malignarl, soDe noble.

rcsfonsibilirl iDd brc.ds.n unhe.lth! rboul t!e NUI lhirgs are.

rll

roLr.it and old, rn']r and poor, u,r€ducrted cof'flicit j. lhe lost ness ol our (iriLisalion. h LllroriDg edu(aLed

i.d

ai{al our pe$onrl

respolsibility hai! thrx\D awa] our moral comr.ss and.ll scnsc ol direclion lbr rir ilis.rtion. $e ha\ e 1o simpl) sense of

for this frcsent world order, $c

dec

e to sheh,e blaDre ol erch other rbout i{ho got us lost ir the first phce. rer.L the lr)ral mat of Right aDd u:r)ng and sinpl] do rvhatc!.r it iakcs. no mrttcr thc pcNonal

cost

to.oof.mt.

and find onriv.vb.cl<

10

:rnrbivaleDCe

Ilelplessness cultivates a culture ofblaDie,

iictnnisatior

thosc

i.dirid!.rls Drrlins .hoic€s,

\!c,rrc :rs

or idolisiDgthe firture as something

LhNL

b.si: tcotl. i{ho |a!c dc.p scns. of ^ 1r(rso.rld*rnr) a.d resforsibili\' elen .rs lhel leel tlie corstrairitr!, periD€ters laid ly present societv and pust histor!. The)' do not \i'alk as lrnldhss autdnatons or

ftolish !o!ngst.rs but of th. pdsisldrtl) lbolish. co \i|l naLL,rc ol erel)'Njn., loung orold. the blame lorwhl tlLe ivorklrclhius nired iD pain aDd su{erhg lies on rll our heads - notjust thc Forrl. i{ho crmc bc'n)rc' ns or thc f.otlc $'ho $'ill comc aftcr rs.

soDrething sacred and more

lhe nolion

bclotcd h.r).s refrescnt (rrscl!.s at our

\'.ll

ofr plisoD for m.Dkind as the m]th of r soldcr future. Indnlscncc iD nostalgia crD dif|I. r so.i.t!. Il dr. iTth ce Lu,\. lhe {ol'(l .oslalqia acluall\ described an ilhess $,ith de\astriirg s\'m}]toms ald ercn fxtal conscqtrrnes. Dcri\'.d from thc crcck ilords nDstos o..:tudr to natn.landl rDd alaos (sntiriDg awav in frtalistic !earnins

girnts rcross the pages. Our

aboul the 2rsl ccnlurr.

The mtth ofa goldeD past is as nmch

or srnrfl. nostrlsi, dcscribcd horv soldi.rs ii, Uo,ld U.rr '1\!o hngui\hed ad wasted

.les like

Adults nnrst gne

uf

NIr)..Ne

!s

lrelore

0g

and fingcr pointins.

Bl0ADtR PfRSPffTlVf\

//,. rrrl

i\\,'

Tliat kin.l ol sctisibilil.l j nst nisht bc wor-th e.linrg nost.lsn' ibout. I t

ilill : ilL -l-,i.rrr

.'

iBIII Tl]t i1R iIR

l0

ER0lDfRPtRSPtOVtS

//r.l,sriss!r

lti] $i it !

SHOPOIA|YP5I Nt]W!

vokh?v-l]zSKpleltN 8

&{e

o I

! re " relo re

d

.r-,{Pa'--Pttt-'-"*:

8!y?" follo!5 orli "Revderd

tfrrh

"Temperance is for Killjoys." tI_\t{DLI. 11,it NUlti) I t \'()1I ll.nOR]l.t t []i 1.:rl Il\']ll{i )iodo. so.ict\ coLrld casil! givethe decadenl rlor'.J, .' I I lo l r r,u.,-. .' r,p r., , i, Lr ,pl l1 :r." b . , ' . ir. , , - r l -\ '' r t.rdr!'s norn. People's drugs aDd

access to food. scr, alcohol,

lu rt goods arc uDlrrcc.d.ntcd

and

thq.

ar. contimrlhnrgcd by a.onrplicit nredi. io buv. cri, a.dd.j.lt,nlllolhepoinl,rl insensjbilirr. Nlode Lion is lor b.irhg ltilliors Nlro do not kDow hli$.to hale tun

and.njov th.nschcs. Tcmp.mDc. rno!.rncDts rl)ound thmugh historr, th.v

..", ;,'.rro-r-'

li-,,,ui,,,^l".'1" p\' io,

unlinfilled. Inarrorld\'lrere binges|otpins canbe iLislilied as'retail therap)', socjett's hedonistic behai iour is spinning ort of coDtrol. Tlie conse.t ence of societl's lack ofself-control is nDre apprreDt by thc dal: mtcs of alcoholisDr, obcsitJ , dng iaknrg, hcart

discase

a.d snroking are defr.ssingly

high.

F.nvimn mental and ecolosical !roblems also have thejr

roots ir nod€rn socielys "greed is good'ethos. Th€ preponderance of self-help s.oups and books rnd corfcssion and funishncnt rituals cnactcd daily oD talk shoss onlvhjghlight our addiction to indulgcncc and our

i.abilily lo break lhal

cycle.

arrd lo rail agajnsl the ills olddrknrgaDd drugs.1he)

r-dre.lltli.h ttrerh.rtLl"t thcb -t trnir tin

$ere not ali{ars successful because they i{ere snnctimcs t.n cocrcivc or rcstictilc; thc ncssag. of abstin.ncc is ncv.r rD ca$ scll. Buti|erc.rc tbnna e lessons to ddile lrom th.nr: tflnl)erance molements t\ F,'o.r F,r Jt, r ''t a I. r,.L r -F A, .ot-,.. ...induljlence on sorial order, ecoDonic lrospeiiy aLld

prevention mther than expensive cures? Economisis

the familvand $'e should be too. Thc cnix ofthc rnatterls

lial

baving it allin Lrnlinriled

atuounLs is nrnl,inil people Lrnhap!ie.. sickerand nro.e

ll

and sociologists concurthat it wouldbc chcaper and nrore eflecti!e lbr counliies lo Leach con

t

rol I heir' behaviour lio. r I he

ou

tleir cilizens

1o

tset, than spending

the rnillioDs as they do norr on hospital subsjdies,

irnraDce payouts and recoveryprcgMnnes. IDstead of halfh.artcd and rctctiti!. r.pcnting for our .onslrnftive ex.ess. w€ s|ould look inw.rds and re

1 u.dn. nrr..t."t. Lo. :rrltp.,ir; aDd slow lood noveneDts deserve a secoDd look

". r,,-",

ER0ADIR

PtRlPtmVtS

/r.

/,is/

^Jitr,

Eily'ofd hij

ol5top lhopp rs

Disrey ond

YOUTIJEITHI5

GIMMII,IORI

\,voth?v=m3cCi,lpPlq(

50/1llflli,lls

{othh=e qx(eiciTo&

"Modesty is for prudes." tiNIORI UNATELY. IT sEtrlts/ was the final na tu modesty's coiin the nromcDt Britney Spears flashed her pivates for the whole wo.ld to sce? of all dro$inq ofd ollilude tfiroughrhesqe5

l|RfTl]

5

the virtues utrder attack in todays world, rnodesty seenrs thc mostlost, the most pass6, the one society should statt $ritins culosies for. It s almost impossible to find any trace ofit h the nodcrn wo d.Theniedia

is inuDdated rvith

messages

of

immodesty:

MTV displats sc.tntily clad women every minute, the fashion indNbf recydes .liferent body parts to e\"ose each season and Abcrcronbie & Fitch p.inis f shirts for girls that read l!'bo Necds Buins Wlen You Have TtIt IIODISTY

Even fashion trends like demure dresses or loosc litting pants a.ejust a blip on the radar. Every time we think wehave hit alimit to imnodest behaviou. aDd dressing, anolber rcle model or celebrity comes aloDs to push the line back evcn f!fther. Public memory is siill seared with the imase of ,Ianet Jackson's nipplc or the Dude photos of all of Edison

The problen ivith acceptins such nores as a sisn of

living in more sophisticated times is that such forms of behaviour arc increasingly being sold as a new

forn

oflemale empoNerment. Girls are taught that they

SURVTY

are liberated if they are conpletely comfortable about

In today\ ivaryed inversioD ofvahes, Lhe stigma N attachedto thc person who corers up and nottothe one who flaunis it all- Increasingly so, people are elled out as prudish and rcpressed or are seen as enbanass gly nhip if theyepress any discomfort aboui the exhibitionist culture they live in.

expressing their sexuality openly. INane anounts of pressure from the nedja and their peers force adolcscent snls to look'hol' for men or make them feel sauch€ aDd inept

ifthE

tlre sexually in€r"eieDced.

]'here are organisatioDs and norements, mostly religious, that Dromotc modesty and purjty as stmddds that shoold rot have to be compromised

Society does not havc to buy the slippery slope arsument that immodest dre$ins aDd behaviour will lcad to 24hourma[iages and havinschildren otrt of wedlock. butthere must be meaninstul alterutjves of today. So ildel€nding nodesty offered to ihe

justtofit into

means offering girls the space to choose for rhenselves

society. But these rnessagcs do not get

enough aiftimeto nake more than

a

fleetinginpact

or they only cornc across as schoolmarmish orhish hrnded and turn even norc vouths off-

t2

SR0ADIR PLRSPLOIVIS

"vouths

and teachingboys to respect ihe opposite sex better, ther we welcone all incarnations of Hannah Montana

and Usiv Bettv, who show that tbe]' can choose to dress and behave nodestly. neve! apologise for themselves and still have cultural relevance.It

1/le los. issue

SURITl]IS

Il]IARTOIllllAII|INISS o'rof monliness.mm/2008/

0zl2alhssonrin.mon

rness.

beniomin-f mnklin4ursuitd

Ihlrk

vrrrue

ir for

tronklir ho5lo

fiotl

"Humility is for the weak." COMPLETELY FALSE/ Humility lool$ to be

a concession o{ weakness. As !uch, what h€ get in

another casnalty iD today's competitive go-getter

retu!

clief Rabbi of Ensland, said that humilitywas 'the o.phaDcdvirtue of

socicry. ,tonathan Sacks, the once

our age. " lnstead, arrogance and self

is too miny emmples of hubristic and simplislic assertioDs offoreisn policy, swaggerirg displays of

malfeasaDce and hollow and incendiar! bluster nl our

promotion have

beconie the new gods of modern lile.

Hunility

has become readily contused with beins a

pushover, and

a

osance and pride equated with self-

creat leaders and great people understand that takes strength aDd wisdon. lt takes strenglh and wisdom to admit eror, to sr$pend judgem€nt on

hunility

respect and self beliei In tbis Darrlinian world, survilal and success are predicated on an ovet display of one's achievements, real or imagined. The undeNtanding is that ifyou do not broadcast your achievcmcnts for all aDd sundry to hear, ihen you allow somconc clsc to tal<e thai job, that scholaship, the linrelight away li orn you. AdEnc€s h technolos/ and the pervasiveness ofsocial netlvorking websites have only e$cerbated the lengths to whic.h people

pcoflc, to admit that other people may have bette. ans\rers or eveD to acknowlcdgc thcE are no easy fixes or answers to problerns. Ii is rare for nodcrn politicians and leaders to committo such behanour in a media-saturated world. Ilorv many can {ollow

will promote theniselves.

means by which to teach our young accountabiliir-

In the poliiical s'orld, humilitj is sornctimcs used as a deceptive nask fo. the sake of erpediency and im.€exlen Prcsident Bush in his halcyon da)s wanted to promote America as a 'humble superpower". tsot resultant aLtions andpolicies only betray lhe lack of nricllcctual hurility in the public sphe.e. cheating the public and omitting informatioD seems to bc the norm fbr poliriciars, scientists and thinkers \rho bFl:. rF rhdl admlr;nS rhey do nol kno$ ever)thinB'

,Iesus,

13

Gandhi s dictate that "one must be as humble as the dust before he can discover truth"? Yet liumility may be the bcst bulNark asainsi political and rclisiotrs extremism and dogrnaiism and the most impoftant

caDdli ,nd Mother Tercsa lre held rp

of humility for good

reson. Aut what

as

icons

people forget is

that the)'had reseNon s of couragc, will and srrergth behind those self eliacirg smiles. Theywerc so rflered and {€ared at the same tirne because their nessage of

liuniility and seNice was so incredibly radical and powerftil that it could move people and nrtions like no directing anogance ever could. at

BR0,{D|R PERSPIGIVIS

r/r.1.s.

r:ssue

srssies?

iy

obo!l

ISSAY MAIGOVTR

Ethics for a Brave New World Finiling direction in our

essays

in

a

directionless world. By Tons Ycc

)

Y

wo months ago, I wrote an article about how the maturity of our personal values were

essential iSi]UT

Il]I

U]RITIR

in helping us negotiate the

challenging arguments we face in GP essays. We remember debating as an editorial team whether such an articie would go down well with students and teachers; whether people would buy into the idea that our essays really are a genuine reflection of beliefs and not just a tidy culmination of fancy examples, clever points and stoc-k conclusions. we

are so used to an educational climate that is

concemed with the pedantic rudiments of scodng in this exam

tlat

rve sometimes

lose focus on why essav-writing skitls are taught and assessed in the first place

14 BR0ADIR

PtRSPtflVts

ll.

lostissre

'fhis $,as

r{y

the responsc and fccdback that wc received lrorn orr readers was

Somehow people seemed hungry to be inspired about their work again, to be reminded that they were working for a purpose higher than simply scoring for an exam, but indeed acquiring a skill that was applicable to their whole life. plcrsantlv surprisirg.

sln ld be able to nrrr! both obie(ti\€s. l(is1ruelhattheidcalsofcssa! \riiing should bc prcscwcd as a true reflection of$.hat we beliere brl $'e also Iavc to find fra.ticrl fi ncworks b! $'hich to licw contoii so we can find a s""sternatic war Lo dircct Lhe.ro.al/elhical l| rst tlet i{c Nish to conlcy $ a staDdiD ou. essay.lt is not helplulto

Yci. surclv i{c

sirnply say Urat we hale to .ellecl character i{ithont giviDg tools to studeDts oD hoi{ the,1 are supposed to do this iD 9t) nrirutes rnd rc ain clerr and .onlilcing in tlrcir staDd. This issuc's afticlcNill foclls on hcbiDs our rer.teN acqlire this bala cenndbelpdefinc n lmrnenorl tbr discnssnrg issucs pcr-tairing n) our no.iem ivorld aDdtahlg a clear stand o Ure b.oad€sl derelopsrenrs in otrr so.icB. This framorork is helpful as over halt ofall cP essals- eithe. €rplicill! or irulicill!. reqLtirc ns to discllss outnnderD tlorkt / todry s socich / no$'/ these dals etc.]f$.e ar€ nrdeed supposed to be thinlins abotrt valu.s and mailldDg our argluncnts ti) suppor-t tiiem, then pRcticalL) w€ should l.sl siaIt detenninnrg what .r. ou vicws arc oD thc mod.rD world. This would most lik€ly be the nrost uselirl conlenl1oboild.sCPf Dralil! dcals i{itlr aryuments that energe ftoni tlie cu entchanges

{oild

sL€er'i g the

xIiDd )or, tliis is

loday.

orl)

a

lranie{ork lhat lrelps del:ne lbr you what

!c

should broadl)

h otrr classrxrns aDd coDkrsations. This is not contenl lo expljcill!- mernoisc rc.oDrm.ndcd cthical frxmc$ork. ,\s fu as this subject is concerned,

bc discxssnrg

o\or. there are no model answers or ideal stands when we are arguing over any issue, although I would very much like to believe that there are. Ethics, or our values, intend to set forth only how things ideally ought to be, not what they really are. But defining these values therefore help us evaluate the right and wrong of what is happening in the world and challenge us to act in a way that brings us closer to how the world should be. or

paEes \!e traledeiined 6 brord charactcristics ofthc DnxlcrD workl ard i{ill s,ite on how we liew Lhese chancleristics. hopcfully hcbing studeDts to begin t.r mlture their oiln undeNtrnding ofthese broad changes rnd lbrtil,r- thcir o\tn b.liefs about tlicmi drfiDing $'hat thev are Dow aDd what thet shoukl be. $te s'il] thcn usc 2 of

lDth€ lollo{urg

lhese 6 chamct.risti.s to rcspoDd to a tpic{l ',\ level question thal reqrires an analysis ol rodern woJ ld i.rplicalions on t|e issuc taskcd. If studeDts xre diligeDt aDd use tLis as a tuaneworli 10. our brave r€{ urrkl, they $illfind i|at thc!can tacklc aD) question on

thc modeN workl $,ith locus and hopelil1r' ethical clarit).

l5

SROADIR

PtRSPtCllVts

ri.

/Dst tssuc

TSSAY MAKTOVER

6 Characteristics of the Modern World

I I

MeJi,1:

4 o-lor/J Jr>m)naluJ /y t:c'mmercia/ meJia we havc always beer corcerred ovcr rvlio conirols the media. As ore of thc rnost powert rgenls olclansc in our nodern worklwe have seen pressu.c on

nI liorts for state!

Lo

steer a$'a,v {roni conplete

control ol lheii rncdia and allo$' the people or thc market to deternine its use and di.cciion. This eDgendered a stransc irony $'here our fea. olbeins contlollcd bv state use olmedia Ias shifted into an acceptance ofan arguablt srcatcr, noE nNidic,us, corpomtc contrcl ovd our state of rnind and conscious thouglits. The ris€ ol new nledia rcccntb has sonervhat shilied ])o\cr arvay froDl states and even comDanics, iDto the liaDds ot the Fotlc $'iih supposed greate. advancements in iDdividual f.eedo r, rcsultingh a gtlwing bui disturbing popularity of citizeD jou.Drlism and conscqucnt

2. Seience & 7'echnc'/<'3y, 4 ',,,or /J Jiverqenl/y olriven lv luc kn,c/,>q)c a/ anJ scionlific alvaVc uoenl Advanccmerts in science and technologr- is, at the bottom line. abou!crcatins possibilities. lvhereas the old world was domina(ed bv limitations of our physical environnrent aDd mechaDics, an inc.easing mastery of thc material that rakes ut our world hts madepossiblewhat wasliterallynrconceivable. lhis hasbecn almost addictivc as people xll orer lhe world, with atl tlieir ra.ied inteDtions and puposcs,liave hamessed technolosto acliiere tlieir own ends. lhe most disiurbing thing abort this scenano is i{heD we lay ench developnrent against cach other as a laGer study ofho$'we are prcgressing. As isolatcd cases, advancements in scicDce xre ofteD seen as bEaldh.orlghs. But Nhcn played against each other. sceing howfurposes coDflict, it has led to stark disuDit) hhamessnrgthis power and a groNins dive.gence a$'ay ftom the ideal ofa cohesive

16

BRoAo[R PIRSPIO

VtS tfi.1os? ).ssr.

I

t(.2r1.2/4t( (:7/.2t aU t 5a( t o,,1. 4 ,uor /J cc{ e>panJinq markel s ,z,J .2 onoml<: inleSrali,->n i{ill r.Drain on. oftbc

rnost healily debried issucs aDroDg pcoflc ofall solts. The indispulable lact is t|al ou. EconoDric progr.ss

qLrnlity

ollile

has, on the rvhole, inproyed on all leveLs, incLuding

the Lives ofthose liyiDg iD the poo.est rcgioDs of tlie world. Wherers

the past wrs characteised by donestic ma*ets that wcrc sufficicDt nr prcvidnig Decessities for citizcns of cach rcgion, iodat's intcgDtcd rnark.ts has givcn us acccss io a slobal nxrkeqnace ofsoods and s.rliccs that greatlv implove the qualit! and larietr ol our Lnes.

$ith Lhis e\change ol goods comes a lletho.n oI issues ranging lrom environmentaL exploitatioD to nonopolistic or predatory narkcts to clltumi impeialism to cycD accusatioDs of Of cou.se

hedoDisn $ r.ryetuatedby an obs.ssion $'ith gratitnng our nccds and dcsir.s. Ifcconomic nrtcgmtion is realb so good t|en lvhy does it fcclso bad to so man)?

4. 4o/ilica/ 6/o/a/isalion, ,4 ,uor/d lhal ,,,.'ishus it

zaaS eqa/ilaric.tn

mon chies. the patdarchal regimes racial clergy, and supremacisLs to na e iust a 1es, does so elhing to the humanpsyche. SubrnittiDgto authodty is not on the $,hole bad, as well brotrght up children all olerthe world rvould testify. There is nideed r time and place for rutlioiti. But wlien that rutlioriv lords over the hunan racc simtll to sccu. its o\or intcrcsts, ihcn histoNhas sho$n us that we ha\€ le.rnt not to stand tbrthis. The rnodern lvorld is characterised by a wariness nbout authori\'and power, an inheritance ofour subjtrsatedpast. W€ struggle to iifil tliat balance between enpoweiDg worlhy individLrals or institutions io lead and crerting eDough checks to mrke surc the) Dcver dominat.. Wc i{ant.ach humaD to f.cl thcy havc an cqual chancc to bc ihc bcst thcv caD be but )et find it ditli.xlt to deline v]]al lhal best is. A.d therein lies the tangled $.eb ol politics that chara(terises our mod€rn workl - tlie science ofsecurirg our best iDterest when we do not knorr x.hat orr best ThousaDds ofy.aN ofopfrcssion and abnsc undcr

1

I

l/

EROADIR PIRSPIO

WS t'h. L'st;s\rP

s,s

il!ltY

r\,iiAl{E[iiitX;

( 11/(Llr -./

5.Lt on: 4 ,uor/J lh.t ;5 in: reas itt3/y *w;/iclher

5

C|/o1i"a/

t

Nlarco Polo, CotLrnrbrs. Cherg 110 all ivere parl of

a $1r'ld ihat x'as fascinaled bi lvhit they sarv; a \.hole Dcw $u-ld t{rtall,v uDlil. thc one the) $ere liniliarnith. But $'itlr thatfascnration also crme lear ol ivhat tliey did not undcrstaDd. lcotlc h']ro lvere differe tcould

fortheoptilrist btrg cndless nei! possjbjlities, but to the pessinist

f

thc forcigD pcrson posed unprecedented threat. To.ta)'s modcrn world benelils honr )ea.s ol cultLml iDtegrrtior and has brcd a genemlion olroung people who are hardly sur" scd t|at pcople ar€ diJlererL. r\r e accessibilitr of information ]r.s nrid,r our cultural diflerences almostt tc xs mosi Drodcnr.ities are characle.ised bI

aDl ticr

tural Drixof.!.nr|nrg. Homogeneitt is hoi{e\ercorN ere.l u] t imale aiDi in this Dloden ilorl.l is thcreforc to frcscN. dre lascinalion lhat e,e are differeDt without thc f.arthat to bc undcsirable. OLI

w.

are nol lhe

s.

e

Lilerc,/isati.>n: 4 o-,or/J lhal a-;ants lo c hanqe and evr:>/v e inl,:>

6

so-Jl

hio.g

c"rytul/y lelter

Pcoplc still |aye a romanlicised Dotion of the good old days. was not all perches aDd cr.am iD fact it was nro.e ituillotines aDd pilhge. but there arc somc thiDgs oft|c t.st that $e beLieve shouldbe lcpt. Old idcals ofthc nranirge institution, o.SaDised .eligioD. a rcsp(nNiblc gov.mDcnt, a villnge cotunrunity are all eranrlcs ofhowthnrits could Iale been idyllic. Liberals $ill

Admilledlr. the past

.rgL' rrl lr-.1

.

1

l

,

'

,u

r - r ' r i \ :r'lr'r'r;r,. ' gui.lc'lines, so much so ,

stict orit] irterest is easil] opfrcsscd in thc liglrt oftladitional oflife. The nodeni r()rld is onc s'hich chall.nscs thc v.hes o1

defend ihestalus quo define ljfe by too

llal i $,ays

tlie past, \iewing thcm as archaic and inele!?nl and lhereiore seelinrg to redefiDc our Nlcs, almost to , poinl where yalL,es rnav turD ort

l8

ER0AD[R

PtRSPtOlVts

iie losi issrc

IlTODF.T,

PARAGRAPI{S/

Can a belief in the supernatural be sustained in our modern world? We selected

tvo chamcteristics to develop inio points.In thesetwo points r{e shdn both

content on what is happening but also

aD

opirion on what we belieae.

From the media characteristic:

n-t 3atpt,s,h9/,/, ohe a, tlte p/a.e3 thal the satetu."/2tu/ 31i// n.!h1.J^5 a 31r-t9 fresc,,lc ;5 ;h ladai, s aalern aass ae/;a. /1n/;(e th" paol ah"," .-ht.,l es sti.t/y .-,tt-//c!, tad4,'3 4a33 aed,a ;s a/aasl ehl;t"/y d coaaet.,ti/ ehleryrBe 4h-se key ;.lcht B 1.ir.xD rd'als *-a t;"ets ;h d,4ateta lh.'/, era.7V. sap+n4arl ^n/,s ;af-,ta,t ;h r-/e 1/as a3 th" uh.ah/\, ar uhkhotuh s1;// has a, c.t1arcs aar ;a9;'a1;o' a.,1 {a3.;'alca l/1c ao,lerh /.s;eal a;,t la tu ehl. 77e /;k8 af ta,.,/ 8/a;re, Thcz/al's lary"-a;ry h-t-t {;/n ;'N!a31ry -r th" sthry3 -f t h/asy 1,;/.3"s a.<]e ;h te.eaZ yeaft .f/ 1".. 161;m-/y 1- t/1" {act thal a l"/;"{,n the sapeha/ur.
;s saacth;hj t/ttX eon-1 /" lru/y /"teta;.e/ lal e.te

-"-.,-- -- l-

./-p--""'...2,: 't

-rcd {o

/-j

.ettd;h

-- /- /-a-

From the science md techDology charactedstic:

5-a" 7--7/" .o-u/d ho,ar4 aryae thnt dere/afaehts ;h sc;ede /e/;ef;a the s..tethatatu/. fhe leepet de Je/k ;'1o the z+/31c;8 cf . redioh a,rt the aote ,e gih a a''aan.t ,Jj of aat aatc;.!/ D-t/d, the /ess be D-u/d /--k t- th. sat"rhalatu/ /.t .a5es Y.t, a/8. c-6;/.in 1tp /a+t hu1/t" z-.t"rz ".tare.'f sc;c'Lc aay h,1r'e dat/l ,3 lefe/ap; j, rc a-,a// c!, a, a d;r;k lc;,5 thd 1'8 a// th;s trctu/eJ1e 1a5e1het 6;3s aa/y .aaaa.;1;es 3e.ar;1y ahJ ..53atu,.c ach;d 3r-unnlt"aft,ry parl;c/e r*eafth Q CfF,r' ftt e\.at/e ;s e healeJ th"-/.s;?.,/ J"la|" that ?/".1r/y sas1.1)N -at /Ath ;h th. satetha/a,a/ .5 J^-/J-r eto,te oar

19

ER0ADIR

PtRsPtUlVts thp

l.,stiss

e

F\511Y ri{Jiiltiaflilail

tJhqt ,{eeJ

Vo/-l

to K.a/is.

Too often, students feel their voice IS insignificant and feel that their lack of knowledge may make them sound stupid especially when tley talk about world affairs. This fear is cyclical. The point is, there is no such thing as a wrong opinion, only strong Or Weak OneS. ,cll nrinioDs arc valuable r.lien expresse.i.If they are weal lhen t|c exprcssion ofthat opirion {ill nahrrally mature ir an c,per marlelplace ofideas. Ifthcy arc stroDg iheD will be well received and even passcd on io othcrs. Studcnts have to understand thal their opinion only remrins insignificant and indccd innnatue ifit. fi.stly, stays unexlressed and secondly, ifthat ofiDion is Dot validated bt r foundation of these opinions

F(inula protest.t ut dn ahti-wn

talLa in otlun.lo, Fk,ri.la Thc

traad

is

chuntinlt

WHOSE

s?-Rnt?s? oLrR sat?tETs." PHOTO CREDIT/ Joel.Cook,Ilickr a\'c:ii!P aonnn.r\

This basic franewo.k is therelbre userd iI h.lping)ouns pcoplc articulate what tliey believe abouL currerl atlait|s today. Cel1aill)', t|ere ar. athousand aDd die things to talkabout, to b€liev€ ir and to argue about. But, rnany ofihcsc tliDgs fall under these 6 broad t.ends that cha.actedse

olr modcrn$orld.

The ethical conclusiorls

we drae,about these issues ca. L|ereforclcadto similar coDclusions

for topics thrt fall under these 6 l.ends. T|c bottorn liDc is that students Deed to unde$tand what js b.oadly happening in the world and what thcy shor d believe aboutthem.

Surprisnrgli, iltime is rexlly dcdicatcdto unde$taDdiDg this, then any qrestion that djscLrsses an issue within thc coDterl ofthe noden ilorkl car be assessed via this framework. we dcmonstratcd tliis usins an obscure question on the sopernatural, and as sccn, froduccd

\T'-{NT US TO

intcrcstiDg and relevant points that sho$ed conlenl, and dre convictioD ncccssaryto futthNst irto an aryument. We hope thal ill onr readeN leam io do this.

In the bigger scheme ofthings, Singapore is at a stage where we need voices. Not just any voice but voices that make sense, that are relevant and dying to be heard. Press on. We believe in vou. rr

?0

ER0ADFR

PIRSPIOIVI5 tnr'

r)srBs,.

A MATIER OF OPINION

WithQiog have we lo -

]\rour"lills col-utvlN

more than we have gained?

f

Is the future as bright as we believe? In moving one step forward, have we actually

taten

two steps backward as well? What would THE ANTHROPOLOGIST and TLIE CONSERVATIONIST say since they focus on such different aspecLs of development in the world? Our writers get under their skins to find out. CONTEXT / In assessing whether civilisatioD has progres:Fd. lhrrr drF.l-ar.igrr .1,!' llp pichr" .

mL ). Tloutl

lh,

r":r"

a-p.\ he ha\F gro,n

rl

knowledge accumulation, sophistication of technolos/ and industrial

productiviqr

much in the process. The

delinite\ lost nodem economy was built

IjIiA-NIPLES

/

a) Loss of rninodty languases in the face of globalisation and ihe ihreat posed by dominant languages like Spanish, En,alish and Chinese

we have

b) Lss of aninals and biodivclsitr

on the back of increased use of natural resources.

The e.tse of slobal business aDd intemaiional diplomacy came about only bccause lansuases of

naiorib

c) Loss of craftsmanshjp and artisan work in a nass produced world

srouDs were adopted by societies €n masse

at the expense of obscure langoages of ninority groLrps. Whethe. civilisation's gains ortweish its losses depends oD wliich pafticular aspecis of world

d) Loss of our naturrl resources ard the advent of a

throwaway cllture

development you are focused on. LorL t^ tl

plLfLtp PrroTo(Rr-DrT

TL.It.-attu" t o-ntan

.lnt

^-.ntp" 21 8R0iDR PtRSPtfilVtS the los. rssle

/

An Anthropologist Answers Studying humanity and all our customs, beliefs, ways ofbehaviour and our collective experiences, what patterns might an anthropologist see in the rv:ry our civilisation is developing?

As
with progress, havc we lost more than h. disci

ofrnthropolog! has. for a longtnnc. foc sed onerolLition. Bc it evolulion i! humans- cultu.es, th. phvsical srDonDdinSS, political and iDe

economi. institutions or e\en rncicnt cirilisatior's. the anllrrofologist is fascinrted by Iorv and wliv

p1 lr'r'l p' l\'l,r '\'rl^r I is nr$cll i{liilc'elolLrtion dilTcrcnt f.om !ro!,.css: .|rDg., Nliicir nLar bc bcD.ficial o. detr;tuental, ' ,' t,ui

proitr.ss implic's aD nnpr'or.mcnt iD one s cuIfPnr sit!aLion. Hcncc to delar o. p.elcnt tnrgress is to deDt inpi(tr.m.Dt. Irstead w€ oLrg|t to $'clcone frogrcss, tliough il mustb. DtDage.L scru puloud! so llrat $'c gair nore tlt.rd lvhat $'c lose.

l, I

-

"

r-

ll

- l,'\\ i'l l:,,'jl,,i"1.\

i

iDcoDL.o!ertiblc c\idcnce thrL we Iav. lost more than i{c' hrve 8ai.ed. Thq potltificlte thal ro,ooo yca$ ago, thrre $.ere 2o.ooo languages but loda}. . last

speitcr of one ofthe $ort.l er er

s 6,ooo hnsuages

y fotDighi. Uhile ditu in ishing lirguistic

di.s

1 r' ll-r

P

naLils .ntails

people to pick

lansuaAc ofconmerce arld poliiics.

.n lis,li.r

is g€lerailr"

o n i D eri rab lr lr*ird r jedor! ol pr.Srcss Progr.ss \c ;h.oldjuit manrs!

it .n'.a.elully to frtuJ.lle grnr Dmr. thni trrI.se. lo

.ILi.

s nr

bc too

(€lcomnrg

ut dr.

u alllthe n'ore

predigious language of theircoloni.l masteN, leadnrg t '. 4. .^ ' r i r" .- . -, , i I r r';'. b r ,^ margnulised l,irglishbcitlg spolien in m..ypalts of Al cx rDd Asia. a.d Sfanish in Soulh Anr.rica can .F_ h., ,t.,t. t ,-,.ut. ,., , r.,.,r ,, r.,....,. L1, L Lhe sLrbs.q eDt nNt!al conrmluiic{bilitv su.el! ontileigh thc losscs resultirg lionr thc death ol lanqraJ.es lhal oDlv isolated co.,.runitics sfeali.

ard

vilit p.ogress for causiDs the loss of (r.ltsnrrDshir). P.or]ress, c|aracicised bI the Induslrjal Rcvolutiori, has brought aboul Crjlics also

Drechanisation.ndmasrproducedsoods.lcadnigto a dcdnre h hand skills. There niay be a dcarth of

ndroil crrftsmer todat, but consuniers lrvc und ou bl cdly gxinecL the

.,osl liorn this developrnent.

n{ss

prcd uction cDable producels

Xleclian isrtioD and

to lo$.er their costs and these stNi.gs arc tassed on

consurners. Pcoflc no\! tavorr r factory_ manufactued talrle o!.r an tutricately Iand craftcd

to

.,.\.1r.'.'

BR0AtllR

'r

r.Jr.'l, r"i

as lorrg to producc. The g.oNi.g popula ty of lkea rnd QNrts extlxins i{li) subuJtan carycDtcrs Dia! b. tuiven out oibusnrcss.I rm slnr pithciic totra s

skillcd c.aftsmen hannted b) the sfcctr. of dD.mflo!ment, bul I am also thrilled lhat thc consuDr.r is faced ilith i.ocas.d clioice tnd lo$er cons. lhe grins dern€d lionr tbis change are un.loiiabLl great.r thaD the losses.

Admitt.dlv, sonre ol $'lrat $'e have losl lhrough

,-,i1 , ',, ".^r,,d n, r'rr r rll tDd erli,t.tions. loss olb;,)di!crsitt the

Industrialised fishing and the dcshuction of coral rccfs wouLll eleDhrally scc' sealood beins wipcd off

,.8 \' r. i.,j. .rit r '1.' ' .'t

PfRSPIOVt5

,

'

has caNc.i r signilicant number ofthe world s flaDt slecies to bccone erda.Sercd ot.{incl. At cu .nt ntes ol sp.cics loss, ecos) sle nrs cotrki reach the point of no reLLrm, $'hcrel) t|el caDDot rc'gene.ale thclrsehes- i. 5o ycars. and thnl .ould be the

rrccnr$r to our planet\ aDDihilation.

Dtuln ss is to iDvitr

?7

we have gained?

dilersil!

larrent.bl..Nc ouglit to.ejoice th.tpcolle all over the world cln no$'comnuni(ile drn.lr casier with is

socio ccononiic

Ilon:. Kcat

//,r l,)s/ iss!.

RftAIIDI!5UI5 INVIRONJ

IIlT

TULTURI GIOBALI5ATION

lIIRIIACI

WATTll It]

S

IIOK( IN \TIR WARS

't

h. t,ihraru

.l Ctl:trt

built b! Julnls Cutsu t

n

tt

1. AD PHoTo CREDIT/ vrAs$r.

\,Iorc ominotrsly, hnman cililisatnm is poisecL 1or a collapse rvii| t|.loss ofDatural resources, the mostsiglilicant being the lasl dwi.dlirg sutpli.s of I r .ir. li . lr' l.\.l-r .'' i. l,i, ,g accounts for onll 1% of rlll $'rter on Larlhi waLer

,-.,-

.,".,r1,.,..d1..,.1.1r .rir;,.

r

glaciersto m.lt andthc duDrfins of $'{ste into rivers. lirIthernorc. ihe exponenti.l incrc.sc iD thc dcDund foroil preserLh 8s rnillion birels d.il), froic.tcd to risc to r13 million blrrels daih b) 2o3o has

'-r.1d]

'.rrI'I 'l .rI'I ..\1 rl'JL. '1...-'l ir. nrnuhcturing cy.ryliriDg f(rn plastics to iDh. the wo.ld s econo.ry could tcmriDaic trcniatllrcll. 'ur

These charges are

rLn kr

ft.inr

lh€ !s€ ol oil. A global $'rt.hdog must bc fomred to

,-l

,.

l.'..'l.,i

',p' l' i

hOI{K IN OIYI,lPUI AD

HI73dtAh4

r.gardl.ss ofi{hcthcr thcv halc r{tified the Kloto P.olocol. ID..Dtn sshouldbc gi\'.ntocouDtriesthat iDplenrenL p,reen practi.cs. Thcsc Drcasrrcs Dr.Lr b. idealistic- buL {e ejthe. !,r'asD rt t|.s. shaws or nc grasp at DothiDg at all.

i{ith c.ftrirtv that

Orl! tlen

can we conclud.

rve have gaiDed nror€

lha

losl

f|onr trogrcss. ADd hofcfulll, the Dert clupter ol llu!,an e\ohrlion \de \q itcNould bc a shnrnig bcacon ofhope.

!t

SURITH5 WHYTHI UN SUPSflOVIR

TllI

DI,4IH OI IANCUAGTS

,/rid=105001735

IOS]

TONGU[S AND

P0 Ttis 0t tA

caDnot bc rcsurrected ancl oil lields (anroL be replenish.d aDd takc a toll on humrnit). but tliis dries nol nienn !v. Dmst stot frogr.ssing. ,{s thc nust evohed qre.ies o. Ilafih, blcsscd Nith nrtclligcDcc

INDANGIRMI|lT

{nd conpassioD- we n)usL ulilise lhc lools ]foridcd b! progress to rectifv our trrjsinltes. Slrid lalvs on toa.hnrg. hunting, fishing r!.1 loggiDg uusL be enacled. Nahnal habitrts mnst b. prcseNe.l rDd lieshwater sou rces frolected. Alt.drativc sourccs of eDers! like $lar, {ind and nuclear nrust substilutc

BR0ADIR

^.. r'l'/l

couDtrics that follute the enviroDrneuL e\cessnell,

ir.erersilrle ertincl .nimals

23

conn on!

,rN:!

PtR5PtUlW5

llf

los/ issrc

:t

i:ii

i'

il]I

GUAGt

{

l'{iAmEli

ill-

fi Pl

i'l

l0l''|

A Conservationist Answers In the quest to protect the world's natural resources for our continued sustainable use, what pattems do conseruationists see in the way our civilisation is developing? As conceiYed bv Elainc Low

with progress, have

we lost more than we have gained?

hile th€ !hrasc "reduce, reusc and rccr-cle" has been nrtrnrsiQlly hrlcd roeducation in otrr childhood days,

too fc$'of us halc kcpt to this growing up. As wc lieedlessly cxploit the na tra Earth s lratural rcsources, tlie ePitoIIe of hunan progrcss and civilization tharisthe 21st cenluf\ill d ,o r 'r. 1'1.\ lF \' \.''b:.,s"r ^ln rr irn!,F 'drr s dowrfall. Teclinoloitical aDd industri.l adranceInents

may havc usher€d hurnans into an unpreccdented age ofs€alth andcomfolt. but at ivhat costs? Global saming anxictics a.e only thc tip ofthe icebcrg of lilesol€1nrthc

sal<e

of

problems ire arc facing in cxchrDge for the improvcd lifesttles rre are Dorv Leading.

For one, slobalisation may hale mad. the world sm,ller and rnore accessiblc. but the celebration of no,\,,t.rJtir J ", d. , p r,\ ing $ri L.t ,rd ,d,ar ,.I and homogeneity. Many snlallcr poPulaLions of unique cll,',i. di\rr\ilJ cnd rrl, :r,loltlirrA a',olhcr l:Irgu{gc or \ ) of lil. i. ^-d' I lu.l' r.

more economic liabilitv. Onc exanple lvottld be the \"r:., AnF-i. .n\ turl, d o d,.il rL., ,) birrn .r'r their cultural praciices ind Drothe. torguc By

L'F.ol ,S 1gli.i- d ll uLrh -"- " -rl-ril rl"rr

traditional laDsuages, and hence lheir way of lile. becane mo buDd and lost. Similarly, the anDurt ol infornation wc can gather on the ecology of the

Amazon thatrnar-one or

thc need ro progrcss ar all costs is to lorgct dre cdlire !!Dose oiNhar

day prescDt a cure lo cance.

AIDS $ould deNnd heavily on the language

aDd

.ohurc oftheAmazonian tribes. andNould be lost to Ls r' ll', ) d$ r."l drdd".'.'ls,lle-nlL,li lio_ The UNESCO report lhat hau ofthe world's 6,t)c)o languages are in danger olbenrg cxtiLl.t is ceftainly .tu etnfl able and tmgic". The dilersit{ ald uniquencss

that so depicc hLrDraDityis consigncd to the

BR0AI][R PIRSPIOIVIS

tle

r

cor.espondnrgly, wilh thc tdverrl of tcchnolo!,r,

artisln work and cmftsmanshiP dcPrcciates in lavor ol masspmduccd aoods, alrothcrstanp olglobalisatio| and stan.la isation. GoDe wer. thc norks pxinstaldDgll fmduced b)

c.a ftsmen as uniqLtc

ofaftthat were tirDcti{rnal and bcautifirli lhe!-' are replicedbi frcto.-l Dradc soods \!hosc i.lertical natue is w|at $t regnrd as the magnrm ofus o{ industri isation. As ourpush forpr(Eress sliucs our djlersit], it rlso sliUcs our apprcciatioD for clalti{ork l{irile lheidcr of c.all- hiht Past is a coDrltine ta'v pieces

measu.e of thc liduosit)' of thc aftisan s skillbyhand, it Dow connotcs sinple il not mdimentaryMrks lor

e!cr! haute coutrre bag that is still se\!n bY hand risht Dow, ther. ar.'hu d.eds churned oui by n,.\,' r, , alnr " r ''t let' l tt t, t -', ofChina aDd In.lia.

ral)id endaDgcrmcnt aDd cxtiDction ofplants a'1d aniDrnls duc to ou. high (orsu DtioD pnllcrDs fcatures just as On the olher haDd. the

greatly. if Dot nore thaD the loss of otrr dive.silv. As ne cleir ai{al last quantiti.s of lard lbr our suburban

also dcstroY the solf biodiversitr lhrt is rital to thc wellbeing of onr houses and

ecologic{l eislencc. Iccord ing to the Wo,ld Hcalth

u.e1r'i/Jrr,r'!^HL,.,r^ "r 'l l1nl, poJJ r",

tbnn of herbal nrcdicrtion in thcirheaithcarc crD ore inagiDe i{hal sillhappe il thc Lladtgascnr pciwnikle (ftund in a counirl where 8(]% of its r'egctation is goDc). tlhich !rovides two Pot.nr elenreDts iI the teatmcDt for can.er, bccones e\ti'rct? uses a

bcing human dc.ns.

74

oblirion

h.c ofacoolie cutter societ).

?i,s/

tssle

6):1<*-

RITAIID

55LJt5

INVIRl]N]\lINT

itJIIURI GtOgAt

SAT ON

HIR TAGI

IiAI(H Tl]

5

8r fiND RTWND (2008)

r ,1J,,n

rrJ/(/r(s

r((l /,!r)r

lJrbk

h rl. sLn PIIoloCrRfr)rrlrLrr[;ttroros,liln[rcrr]rnr.r,Dri!D!

'1r nr!!ni5hNi tumn!frl ,roft, thu r or rr or cJ lo rrioori ror rs rs rs .rrh rl o,!nirilmlo ord o lrnrlttlrldm rm tl t eLr r

rlsr tl. t|.crl o1 d e. llslii,,g lhe nivth tlut th. r)ccrD is rn l.ljnile s.rrce ol lool aD.L 6r mrt.rials shoukl b. brLslcl iI rie\r ollram{ticrllv d\indhrg ilsh sto.ls. N ilh loo Nxn\ specics goDc, t|. o..ins ,nrr be e\lirustcd to thr toiltrlhcRit|.r'.in.o Ldiser,$e|ente thclrs.h$

lndm.nufa.hftd goods, aslil isr oncial constitlcnt of thcir pr..l,(l io,r ltnhernorc. thc thnn'r\r!.nl1dn ol .,i, s,)cietr (loes littlc'btrt ti) .rcourag. lr.slNge. ci(!irclsiug the ahud!-slnrt lif. strns ollhe producLs (hre to i r^ltnDlnd.u

ili! lrnre not l)et! r|1. to (ro!.r ti,lh lh,l ll€.r\r $lrrlir!, the loss in Dumbcrs r.s,,lli.g if a

ln llie shoft stan of r qu.l.t.r ol r cei,lur'!. Elobal

Aloirg Njth deiorestatiim is

'!'r

lh.i

{

l.-r

cosmcti(s.

c.olo$ ollhc lleJ ii,g Sen. tlie disapDeafunc.s of sDc.ins in t h.ir i e!pcr lile lood drains ivonld trltinrNl.lr hr\e l,ea\\ retercussi{Ds lirr hnmrDs, 1lr. .|e\ pre,lrtor ir mNnl siturti.rns. ,iegatj\ e drangc iD thc

ln rd(liLio,i. lhe liafth s natu al rcsorr.es such $ater aD(l oil are allDost strckcd bon.: drv lu \u\li,iI llr i. t,ri,$r, \r ir h',",Jn 1,. h,'oluii! aDd lieDeral adraDcc.rc l. S.lenllsls ar.L gtologists Irlc b.dr ringing Nri,,1i,! bells on thc .ndofoil ort.il.il \! l,c re p(trhrction ro l(mge, incr.rs.s r.d goes irto rn ineritlblc. rcl.,tl.ss ns

poftrhti(D has donllffl,.nerry puluctioD Dlrre thrD t|idcd. c.ononri{'o,,lprt l,as riseD fi1efold, rnd coDrfnt.r tro.rissi,,g 5!eeds rnd storrgc hlvc in.r.rRrd 1)r.rore thrn ! ltLctorofa miilnm.Ittool all ol ll!.t.rf hisloLr to thc !crr lqoo for our ivorld eroronLr to t)rcdtrcc ussftJo |illion nr oLrrf!l: tnh). tl,e worLcL eroDomr groi{s b!r|is rnro!.1everl hlo \ears. \Vith cxpon.DtirlgrosrlI co res erforeltial dech1. idrcn th. dcmand .. nnlcss

n n,r1

be .,eL

b\

the

llritish Petroleum. Slcll !Dd E\\o.. slrl.d thrl tl,e

us, \re

011he

f,ic€ ii,2oo5). it is not difficult

t.t|..r r d,rr \llrere $.e trurld not b. ablc nl frodr.. oLir l ,ri,rs e(tUiliment, fhstrcs. Dr.t.l.

to

!URI It]

5

r\i i io i ri lid(m, n r\ir!r!!! 6rrtr(lm I

LL$r

?/9&irr r HItPtt'I

nc trogr.ss eni use tll€.esources soon be

i{illDo lons.rargu. abo!1 llre iirportrn(e of

.l. r ' 1,, ,, F, 1.". ,-.t , r u I 9, "1 r-

.rrsl leIJf

r,;

brse Llielr ecorornic futrucs Dot on sho but on long tcnD, snsrrlDrble

e\ploitrtion

25 8R0[DtR PtR5PltTVlS

r/]r l,r(r 1!\,r.

NID

2llIi!

lIANDS

r!rr!trlrdimf :ril ll!r !or ron,?017 0ii ll o rlr

$'. do soDr.lhing trbo!t the rrte at i{hich

dc.line. l)r Colj,r C!lifbrll. t)rncr chicf gcologis l rr,1 rlcc !resident rt oil congl(Dcrrt.s in.lLidi.g

lalnostilonbl.

if

or dm,drtm m rioil,r bu!'rj {nr 5per I elf!{j

pplv

oD Earth. i{c xill licjfs our o\!D ertircti(D. Grllor(i N.k(r', llie lolr er of lxrtir Drv fnts it sn..in.lh, l1 \ve l,ui!an beirgs lclm to s.c th. int' i..cies I hrL bir ore !!rt ofa natuml s]si..r h rnolll€r and tlien to

lerli oloil $rtrlld comc m rs .fu]! rs 20r r Nltlr ULe (urrrni coDsnm ion rit..l .il rL LJS{ir(xr ler brrrcl

I n nt urq c; ut lloue

A IOUIIIRY OI tRAfT DODGIR5

.\,1,

P.r(

r.c 0riui trir(c|l!iy rri or! n{ iri

rm !rlrlli furni

]]iil]]|

INUU TH: Ii! TII

?6

BR0ADIR PIR5PICTVtS

t/rr hrsl issr(,

\{ATTll Ill]5

fIND NG |lIVIRIAIID (zoo4)

2/

BR0ADtR

PtRSPIOVtI

/l,r

/ost

iss!(

L0tAL vs. Gt0BAL

SURITHIS

Every Singaporean knows the tale ofthe Singaporc miraclc because il is a nantra reinforced throug| vcaN of social Studics terlboolG, tolitic.il speeches, NatioDal Davrallies and diily op edpieces in th.loc{l broadshccts: we ire hishlv conipetitive, crtting eGe, incr'cdibly etriciert Wc are the l^,t

ftftftNr

ito

d s

most competitive, economically free, corruftion free and rransparenr couDtrf. we are perfcctionists with the highest standards ni traftic managemen t, inirashrctu.e m aintenance, publichousins, healthcarc and education. ourpercapita income matches thc best of the wcst. we live securc, afflue t. pcaccflil liv€s lhat three quarters ofthe $'orld halc not ever see fordecades.

notleen andmay

Lhe Snrgapore alTativc, xe have aLcad)' achiered in our our eyes some kind ol nrlthologicaL staLus. The pefect

In shoft, in

lalion. Tte one nation tliat got it right. Tlie nalion that i{ill keep gettiDg it.ighl as long as \te stL,dyhader and wort longer'

Like Barrie's Lost Boys, we believe we are immorlal and have transcendecl the troubles other nations go through. But the secret paradox revealed in many ofthe world's m1'thologies is that for would-be immortals, life without trouble canbe a very troubling thing. A comfortable life protected from strife merely breeds boredorn

antl thus time for mental mischief and existentialist meandeling. And that is the crrx ofthe SinsaPore problcm. The unbelievable levels ol comfotl rDd lL'jrury years

aflo

ed

Lis

by 40 over

ofIand+okling liom the state through our most trying

years oI nationhood have creatcd aD ruihealthy clinate ol eternal childhood and escapisni. So manyofus are the sPoilt children

rerry nanny state that has rcalised increasnrgly over lhe pale ralism is Dot readDg the kind of offsPing that $'ill sunive the 21st centurr - \r 2oa6, Limhe Znohao and M!,1 of

a

years that

,Pdpo featured the local phenomcDotl of

a

straaberry

generalion" - inteLligent twenlv_sonrethings with little dircctioti in life or will to take hardship, ctiftinr, fiorn job tojob and stil

turDiDg 1o parcDts fo. pockct norey. SingaPoreans bon in harsher times lion ministeN to suburhrnitcs ' have i{ondercd alond about s'hether our $'ell cushioned foufth geDeration leadcrshrv€ $'hai it takes to bring Singapore throngh the 21st cenhrry Reflectinit on ihe fmstrations ofdeding with ihe childish expecLations of some Singaporeans

tr\ ev€n the smallest household

l|aithe government should

ptlble

,a

SingaPorean nrinister

sajd in jest, off reco.d, drat th€ statc should

jusl allow

Singaporeans to suffer more. HeNas not too far offtbe nrark

28

8R0A0tR

PtR5PtfllVI! rle

losfissr(

l,vAT(HTl]L5

5

DANCIROU5 TllINGI

Y0Ll sH0utD ttT Y0llR

(DSD0

talks / uieN /i'l /202

rhe

At some point, all parents learn to let go of their instilct to protect and mi0omanaAc their children because failins to do sure creates thc uglicst sofi ofdcpendency. O!er\ parcnted children refuse lo de!elop lhe enrotional and nrental resilience lhat would nature them iDto healtby adults capable of takhg initiative and leade.ship ove. their o$D lives as reell

as

tlieir couDtrl

.

bclioc sorrconc i{il al$ays look after ihcir problcrns for ihcm, they are conditioned lo rcDrain iD blissf!], conrttainins adolescence. lhet ,ls lory

as diey

don't feel anv sense ol direction because ther har€

Thc paradisc for child.cn musi cvolvc jlto a i{orld tbai forces thenr lo nrake decisioos lbr themselvcs.

.un their own ljves and groiv up. the cuuent adnlinistratjon's teDtrtive steps to looseniDg the parentai g.ip oD its people is laudrble and to be encouraged. The state ofSingaporc must allowthc people erer morc frccdom to makc thcir rnistalcs, room to fight out tbcn gdcunccs

ln'e out

t|e

wit| autho

t_v

and

conseqoences like adults. Should we

conti Lreove. babl'ing

th€ aveft8€ Shgaporean

f.on

ver] rcal adult choices of \!ho to nanf, what lifesb4es to practice, $'hich leader to listen to, wliat moiieto

.11 ,.$\..1'.u -r J!, '1i',. '. \.i,.ir .rp:'F.rts :"hr'11 r " r. ..Jt .a,,r'r' n.f L'.r B'i..

O\erprolerled .h;ldren ne\ er dis.i,ter lheir idertity, never feel like arthcntic bcines and arc thrs, tundamcntally lost creatures. They T1ls \s.ei-.1 ,roI^rac11 io, i,,d r,l,,a.: ion fron the parent tbat thej have come tc, deperd on

terrifying prospect ofwhat growing up

so Inrch and yet sinultaneously .esent because of

means: forever leaving behind the sweet

the dependeDcy.

D$'e11ing

in

navel-gaziDg

cliildishDess, they li!€ perpetualy short'chanscd livcs

offrustraiion. Ther- feel heltness and no natter hos nNch thc parcnt tclls them rbat they arc noL hebless.

the actions of ihe conhollinB parenL haye already lalghL Lhetu lo believe d illeren t. lven whetl made to see a bigge. purpose and direction to wo.k towa s, h' ir Ll--p "rl -Llu.rL. ' ur'r. n h ur..l-ln ne. .r1' belief that they caD actllally bc a part of it. \Vhai .mcrgcs as an attitude of \\thy should i bother...?actuallr-'mcans I don't knoi{ how lo bother... or"l don r think vou .are ii I bother...

Unlike Barrie's book though, the answer' is not in running ara/ay fi'om Never Land. It lies in changing the way Never Land is nrn.

of the

So at the sane time, we the people

Singapore must prepare for

comfoll ol blaming our palents for ruining our lives and taking full responsibility at last for our own steps in the wide unknown. crowina uD is nor a Dassive thina that bappens ro u! bul an active decision thal $€ male for ourselves. ODh chiklr€n iniasine they hrve no (hoice but to reniain tmpped iD the decisjons of an authoita.ian parent. Standing up for our peNonal liberties aDd fighting for thc ight to bc ircatcd as individuais aiihout rcsortiDg to Damc calliDg and

h\,t."i . iq,' r,

l-

^tt"uFnnrrt-rooC

l ILr'r doi

r8

ourchildish ilars. we u'ill regain our sellrespect and dirednD in life aDd ncver havc to fccl lost asain. rt

29 ER0ADtRPtRSPIOVEI

.i.1osr,ss!.

T

nke'ifq

S(hool,

IULTUREWATCH

In (Cyber)Space, Everybody Can Hear You Scream As cyberspace erpands and computer processing power heiglrtens, we imagine we can escape from realitl' and lose ourselves in the vinual world. Our world's

film-makers beg to

diffcr.

ey Nadia .l'tal

et's face it. Much of real life can seen

so incrcdibl,v difficuli to swallow. Perhaps its ihe mundanity of one's

e\istenc€ PIIOTO CREDIT/

aD unending slew of

thankless iasks and bland, neaningless houN

or

perhaps jt is thc sheer pain offacins oD€'s own [oublcd neDtaL or pbysical state. Peedng too deepl)' into one's soul oDly prolokes heallbreaking despair at liow dark tbe hunm heart is. Or it colld just be the Nil of reg.el and thc sutre.ing causedbynemories ofth. past and

CI{EDI'V

jovs of plug and tlay. Slide lhejack in, insert those ear buds, .nle the cther into the wircless rorkl and you caDloseyour real self and becornc a coniPlelely neh'peNon:the epic rock god ofGLtitar Herces ll , the well-respected guildleader ofhundreds on world of Warcraft, the sexiest Dcsperate Hortsewife on second l,ife aDd tlie edgiesi soth chick on SIlIs. Rule aDd raze leseDdary empnes. flft outrageously aDd make out wantonly wiih strangers- Resurect the dead. Destrcy hole annadas of ships. Live vicnriously

'he il.)o.r :ls r. hil."d lL rirhour .o.. lu unr. real lifc or threat to one's real identity- Nobody need

$4uter€r it

is,

hund

beings have aheays

kno\n that

life is not alwa]'s $onderiirl and the world is x broken. sad place. Given the chalce, they would escape into

AB!UlIHIV/R]T[R

llriters and

tb€ sweet oblivion of an alternate reality. cornputer techDolos/ prosrcsses and process

as

^nd power

g

eaer kno$'.

or

so we

thnrk.

Bv Dow, most of us are familia r wiih the idea that our

ritual trek leales and ripe for

rca]

footprints tmckable, taceable

e\ploitatioL You

data

trail ofhlperlinked

i-"il: on.}'l,.ni.r'

disiial bread

the prcmise of virhral rcaliry dansles like the folbidden

rhe world.

fruit. thoush stili in relative infancy compared to what $'e see h scierce fiction. the present world of crierspace and othertecliDologies ofsimr ated reality

explored ho{'rogue governmcDt agents er?loited the

ramp. ur witl. e^ lr breahrs"r

li*

ECIIELON prosranme's satcllite and surveillance techtrologies to accumulate intelligence abour its

sense of cscape. We all know ihe stmnge

30

SR0ADIR PIRSPIOIVIS

fie

c.u INEMY oF fHE STATE (1998)

bs rcveals nuch of your real self to

lo.sr issue

Heroes&Villains

I),)ctrmcntnrs orr ficklc

\o

{l s

crcr chrnFin*Dcrc.Dtions

@6@d6

Mas Selamat Kastari

wnrnil id .o wal do we thi k tle Singnpore b.arch ofthe Jenaah lslaniiah is r he.o in rD) real sense ofthe $ord. ifter.nl, thjs wasthe nan rvho rvas plaDningto \ij l .' l'1.,,' r, B ,! ,, ', r. ., n n c,Jrs HERO / Don l gel

t|is losl alleged

I\'llNORll Y Rl,lPORl (2oo:)snost ncDiorabl. scene had Tom Cmise tr,r'iDg t{r stav trndcrcovcr $'hilc

l,- .'.'Jrr1"'r.l -r' I i,l ^ Al.lhrr,d,l.,r.n.

advctiscDrcnt loards tlrat ftack.d his identily n in ute by niinutc, callnrg outIis nanrc.nd frele.red consume.

Scie ce llclion $.riters aDd Ilolltaood point out that the real i{orld $'ith all its ag.ndas, fcaN and tcnoN will al$'ays nltrudc iDto our viftual cscatadcs. In STR-A\-GE DA\s (1995), SQUID techDology allows trscrs to upload and downiord sensory erpe.iences dnectly from the cerebral co.tex. But the nrovie's herc t.enny ends up leehrgrnore loDeL! aDd despeute tliaD eve. as his literal a.klictnD to memoies of his ei' sirlfriend prevcnt iinn from scciDg hcr forthc \illail sheactuJlyisandih s moling on$itb hislifc. Snnila y, \IANILL{ SKr' (2oor) s trotagorist siitns on lbr a Drosr.mrne called LLrcid Dreaminq lhal lels hin! erpe ence an unerdillg tailor nade drean life $,hile he reDanb cD osedcdh frozen .lfter his suicide attenpt. But even his Lucid DEan begirN io $'rver crmtically as his urlsovernabl. coDscionsDcss kc.fs rcrnindins

hnr

of

lis vmit), lis inabili\'to

choosc thc

.boui Lle loss olhis looks allthe i|nrgs heso desDeralely \{ants to lorget. is

lll liR-\r[ SITNSIUNI] O| IIII

SPOTLESS

NIIND (2oo:t) that shor cl liavr thc last wor d ihorgh. t.aced with the opiion io .ras. his most bittcr as scll $ hrpfv mcnDrics ofatumultousbrcakup, i|c mo\ie s

l.rcJocl chooscs to trotcct hh nr.nron oilis girlfi ie.d iD ril hcr imterfe.tion and creale .ew nlemories with herasaln.ll does see r like losins)ourserh a fascinile olrelrlit] is piriDlless. Peace aDd ar opporluDit] for rcal happiness comes apparentl) oDly whcD $c begiD to face

the truth of our impcrfcct

$uld in

But snrcc Singaporc's autbodtics lost

|nn ,nd

^irpoft.launchcd Singiforc s largest nranhuni, Mas h.ncc Sclamat hrs cvolled into a b;zarr€ anti hero to a shrngelt itleelulaudience. Every detail olthe escape hns beel millied lor oniedic elfect especially Mas SeLanltt's lirnp udthe frct thrthe escaped frcm the toiiet. Fun cntclrrisiDs T-shirt sclliDg tccns to poison pen blosseN to .ycn th. usual\' rrofcssior al New Yofk Tjmcs. watchnrg th. usuall!'' inrpeccable Siigapore

DiachiDe handle lhis hish Drolile s€curiLv botch up has been cruelly ertertaining and a! opto.tur)jtI {ar SjnEapo.e's citics to irdllge iD annch:rir tut

tuttirg.It

dg|t $'onuD,

his scxual past and his dcprcssion

1l

us

head ol

its squalor.

,t

Edison Chen \TILLAIN

/ How nany things has Hong Kong siDgcr/acror Edison Cnen lost in iLrst lhe span ol a nlonlh? Pe$onal privacy. Djgdty. Prid€- selfrespect. ?e.sonal securitt (some t.iads threateDedto hunt him down). AD) futu.e prospects as r cRdible rcmaDtic lead or filD. FIjs caretullv cultivatcd "nicc s ! " fublic persona. The respcct ofhis pccrs. Ficndshjfs wiih cr-sirlfriends Bobo Chan, cillian C|unit, Cecilia Cheung. The tmst ofhis !resenr gi.llriend fhe trust ofhis tuture wile and in larls.,Lnd oh )es, all r3oo djgital irnases of his ex sirlfieDds and that one damDable ptult Mrcintosh PowerBook.

rt

l

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BR0ADER

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