Daily Lessons from Life 26 September 2014 - Various ...

1. Asian Game

Do we need to be worried with the unsightly verbal sparring of competing 'giants' of the game, China, Japan and South Korea?

I find some of the competitors, especially Champions and winners adored, rightly or wrongly, in their countries are NOT playing their roles as 'sports ambassadors' of their nation. e.g. Sun Yang's idiotic remarks about how awful the Japanese National Anthem sounds.

Alas, I should have KNOWN better. Looking for Role Model in Sports People is a LONG SHOT! LOL!!

2. Locals fighting as jihadists overseas!

Malaysia supposedly arrested 3 going overseas to fight as jihadists. In Australia, an alleged would be jihadist who is only 18 years old was shot and killed after stabbing 2 policemen! The 'beheader' who beheaded the 2 British hostages is alleged to be a Brit based on his accents and what 'little' the world intelligence agencies like CIA/FBI/MI6 know about his!

Should we be worried in Singapore? We should as we are a 'popular congregation of diverse talents from around the world with our attracting foreigner-friendly policies and environment'.

Locally born and bred Singapore will be unlikely to join the foreign terrorists groups as the rigid and vigorous education system will not give them that much time to dwell on such worldly issues the terrorists seemed to want to ponder about and solve!

Nevertheless, there is no telling that some of the newly arrived foreigners may be in that category.

It was great to see the UN Security Council Emergency Meeting, I gathered, in NY getting so many big nation leaders speaking against the terrorists and the IMPORTANCE of NOT allowing Muslim to be abused by these terrorists.

Just like I NEVER agree to call violent football fans: 'fans' but just 'thugs' since Day 1. Neither will I ever call a terrorist a 'religious one'. Any religion that ask the followers to kill another person just because he/she is not a follower of that religion MUST BE evil. Period!

3. "New Indonesian leader hits out over democratic roll-back - AFP  Sep 26, 2014

JAKARTA - Indonesian president-elect Joko Widodo accused his opponents Friday of rolling back democracy after parliament voted to scrap direct elections of local officials, a move likely to hinder his ambitious reform agenda.

The outgoing legislature voted early Friday to scrap the local polls, a heavy blow for Widodo, who rose to power through the system and whose party had campaigned against the proposal.

The new law takes away the people's right to choose mayors, provincial governors and district heads across the archipelago, and instead hands power to local parliaments to pick them."

Who said to have true democracy is easy? President-elect Joko Widodo's election is truly a demonstration of how democracy can work as his ascent to the top of the political order of the country is fast, furious and peacefully achieved! It is a remarkable feat truly.

Yet, lawmakers, some anyway, are still looking to have a 'secured my place' easy way by doing away direct election at the local areas. Of course in some democratic nations, the local officials were appointed by the central government. However, in a situation where local officials are already been elected by popular votes, it is regression to go to an 'appointee' system. Of course, the arguments against local elections built 'factionalism, regionalism' and 'encourage corruption and votes buying' are valid points of view. However, same as national election, a MATURE electorate will be one that will cast their votes based on 'whoever can generate the biggest good for the most local people without trampling on the minority's basic human rights'.

Again, call me an idealist. I would not have it any other way! :-)