Post 137 The big drum at the police station
I grew up in Kulim, a small town in the northern state of Kedah. In the 1950s I used to hear the beating sounds from a big drum at night. The sounds came from the police station five shop lots away from our family shop house. I later found out that the sounds were meant to be heard by policemen who were on night duty patrolling the town. When it was 1.00am, there would be one bang on the drum; two bangs would mean 2.00am and three would mean 3.00am. The beating of the drum would stop at 6.00am. To light sleepers staying nearby the police station, it must have been disturbing for them to hear the sound of drum every hour. However whenever I go back to visit my hometown, I would pass by the police station to see if the big drum was still hanging there.
The ancient timing system was based on the law of nature: early to bed and early to rise. In ancient China there was a common career called ‘Dageng’ (打更), with people going round striking at their gongs to inform villagers at regular intervals what time it was at night. There was a lack of accurate time keeping means at that time. More people were engaged to ‘Dageng’ in rural areas where there was no cultural and recreational life at night. However with the popularity of watches and 24-hour TV programmes easily available, time keeping through the beating of gongs and drums has now become legendary.
Clock watchers, who do time-keeping all the time in office, are doing no job. – quote by Ho Nee Yong
27 March 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
History repeats itself
Post 136 The love of money is the root of all evils
A friend of mine migrated to a foreign land with his family a few years ago. We met when he came back for a short trip. It was a gathering of old friends. We exchanged notes and updated one another with our latest developments. We talked on every topic with politics being the core subject. We came to the same conclusion as our high school Chinese literature teacher had told us 50 years ago: If the leaders of a nation are corrupt and without integrity, that nation must fall sooner or later. Otherwise history is wrong.
Our teacher told us that in the 5,000 years of history in China, kingdoms fell due to poor governance and incompetence of officials. Our much respected teacher warned us that under no circumstances should we bring shame to ourselves and to our family members. We also concluded at our meeting place at Kopitiam (meaning coffee café in Hokkien dialect) that our teacher was prophetic. History repeats itself. We see greedy leaders falling into their own traps and bringing shame to themselves. Our friend who is now a foreigner in his former home country added that not many people will learn from history, especially when one is blinded by greed.
Indeed in a multitude of crooked deeds, self-respect and a sense of shame are grossly lacking. To make our society devoid of malpractices, family education is of vital importance. Parents who fail to nurture their children to be people of character are doing injustice to the society they live in.
White-collar thieves and robbers are the manifestations of a failed family education.- Quote by Ho Nee Yong
20 March 2011
A friend of mine migrated to a foreign land with his family a few years ago. We met when he came back for a short trip. It was a gathering of old friends. We exchanged notes and updated one another with our latest developments. We talked on every topic with politics being the core subject. We came to the same conclusion as our high school Chinese literature teacher had told us 50 years ago: If the leaders of a nation are corrupt and without integrity, that nation must fall sooner or later. Otherwise history is wrong.
Our teacher told us that in the 5,000 years of history in China, kingdoms fell due to poor governance and incompetence of officials. Our much respected teacher warned us that under no circumstances should we bring shame to ourselves and to our family members. We also concluded at our meeting place at Kopitiam (meaning coffee café in Hokkien dialect) that our teacher was prophetic. History repeats itself. We see greedy leaders falling into their own traps and bringing shame to themselves. Our friend who is now a foreigner in his former home country added that not many people will learn from history, especially when one is blinded by greed.
Indeed in a multitude of crooked deeds, self-respect and a sense of shame are grossly lacking. To make our society devoid of malpractices, family education is of vital importance. Parents who fail to nurture their children to be people of character are doing injustice to the society they live in.
White-collar thieves and robbers are the manifestations of a failed family education.- Quote by Ho Nee Yong
20 March 2011
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
75% : 25%
Post 135 The four pillars in education
I was in the process of writing a chapter on character building when I suddenly thought of an old friend who is very knowledgeable on this topic. We met at a Kopitiam (a restaurant serving local coffee and food) in town and talked on this topic for two hours while enjoying our meals.
My old friend said that it was a one-way traffic in the West where grown up children are not expected as a matter of fact to look after their aged parents. He lamented that this has become the way of life in increasing measure in the oriental society. The hope of having many children to safeguard the welfares of old parents is now an expectation best not to be desired. In a materialistic world men have become egoistic and less caring. Aging parents who are well taken care of by their children are really blessed.
My old friend then asked me whether I knew of the ‘75%: 25%’ rule in education. He said he came up with this ratio. I told him I did not but that I know of the Pareto principle’s 80–20 rule. It states that, for many events, about 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. He then told me that the UNESCO Task Force on Education for the Twenty-first Century recommended that education throughout life be based upon four pillars: learning to know, learning to do, learning to live together and learning to be.
He finds that out of the four pillars, only one pillar (25%), learning to know, refers to the acquisition of knowledge. The other three pillars (75%) are on character building. The recommendations by the Task Force therefore stress that character building supersedes the accumulation of knowledge.
I chose the 75% and paid the bill.
I was in the process of writing a chapter on character building when I suddenly thought of an old friend who is very knowledgeable on this topic. We met at a Kopitiam (a restaurant serving local coffee and food) in town and talked on this topic for two hours while enjoying our meals.
My old friend said that it was a one-way traffic in the West where grown up children are not expected as a matter of fact to look after their aged parents. He lamented that this has become the way of life in increasing measure in the oriental society. The hope of having many children to safeguard the welfares of old parents is now an expectation best not to be desired. In a materialistic world men have become egoistic and less caring. Aging parents who are well taken care of by their children are really blessed.
My old friend then asked me whether I knew of the ‘75%: 25%’ rule in education. He said he came up with this ratio. I told him I did not but that I know of the Pareto principle’s 80–20 rule. It states that, for many events, about 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. He then told me that the UNESCO Task Force on Education for the Twenty-first Century recommended that education throughout life be based upon four pillars: learning to know, learning to do, learning to live together and learning to be.
He finds that out of the four pillars, only one pillar (25%), learning to know, refers to the acquisition of knowledge. The other three pillars (75%) are on character building. The recommendations by the Task Force therefore stress that character building supersedes the accumulation of knowledge.
I chose the 75% and paid the bill.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
70-year-old equestrian’s Olympic ‘miracle’
Post 134 Character of the highest quality
When I was about to write my blog for today, the headline “70-year-old equestrian’s Olympic ‘miracle’” at Yahoo! Sports caught my eyes. Immediately I decided to make it the topic for my short write-up.
Japanese equestrian Hiroshi Hoketsu has just qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics to eventually become the oldest competitor in London. The oldest Olympian in history was Oscar Swahn, who competed in the 1920 Antwerp Games at the age of 72. When sportsmen and athletes of age 70 + would normally have long retired from stiff competitions or even from life, Hoketsu has displayed himself as a person of sterling character. He said it was a miracle, but I say it is his lifelong dedication to a sport he loves. It is not a matter of winning but of participating.
Hoketsu serves as an icon of what the spirit of sportsmanship is! He enjoys his sport and is a good loser, for he has always been one of the last to be counted in Olympic competition results. Against the much younger competitors, Hoketsu has showcased to them the meaning of self-confidence and perseverance.
Character, not wealth or intellect, makes a person great. – quote by Ho Nee Yong
6 March 2012
When I was about to write my blog for today, the headline “70-year-old equestrian’s Olympic ‘miracle’” at Yahoo! Sports caught my eyes. Immediately I decided to make it the topic for my short write-up.
Japanese equestrian Hiroshi Hoketsu has just qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics to eventually become the oldest competitor in London. The oldest Olympian in history was Oscar Swahn, who competed in the 1920 Antwerp Games at the age of 72. When sportsmen and athletes of age 70 + would normally have long retired from stiff competitions or even from life, Hoketsu has displayed himself as a person of sterling character. He said it was a miracle, but I say it is his lifelong dedication to a sport he loves. It is not a matter of winning but of participating.
Hoketsu serves as an icon of what the spirit of sportsmanship is! He enjoys his sport and is a good loser, for he has always been one of the last to be counted in Olympic competition results. Against the much younger competitors, Hoketsu has showcased to them the meaning of self-confidence and perseverance.
Character, not wealth or intellect, makes a person great. – quote by Ho Nee Yong
6 March 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Nurturing the character of children at home
Post 133 Good manners
The character building of children should start from home. I should suggest that parents start from basic manners and social etiquettes. Children ought to be taught not to talk while eating, to sit properly at the dining table in order not to obstruct the persons sitting next to him, not to make noise while chewing food, and not to drip the soup onto the table while spooning the soup. Children must finish their food and not to waste them. Children must also taught to greet others, to be polite and not to shout to be heard, interrupt others while they are talking or address elders and seniors by their names, for all these behaviours are considered to be rude.
Parents ought also to set a good example for children to emulate at home. For example he will push the chair in under the table after meals and keep books and stationery in their original places so as not to waste time looking for them later on. In this way parents are seen to have been instrumental in nurturing the innate goodness and talents of their children who would grow up to be urbane and debonair in nature. Through good nurturing from young at home, children will then conduct themselves in a responsible way. In a wider perspective children will possess personal morals and social morality, making themselves accountable to the group, the nation and the people. Family education effectively delivered will see the making of pleasant personalities in children.
Good manners are good culture manifested.- Quote by Ho Nee Yong
28 February 2012
The character building of children should start from home. I should suggest that parents start from basic manners and social etiquettes. Children ought to be taught not to talk while eating, to sit properly at the dining table in order not to obstruct the persons sitting next to him, not to make noise while chewing food, and not to drip the soup onto the table while spooning the soup. Children must finish their food and not to waste them. Children must also taught to greet others, to be polite and not to shout to be heard, interrupt others while they are talking or address elders and seniors by their names, for all these behaviours are considered to be rude.
Parents ought also to set a good example for children to emulate at home. For example he will push the chair in under the table after meals and keep books and stationery in their original places so as not to waste time looking for them later on. In this way parents are seen to have been instrumental in nurturing the innate goodness and talents of their children who would grow up to be urbane and debonair in nature. Through good nurturing from young at home, children will then conduct themselves in a responsible way. In a wider perspective children will possess personal morals and social morality, making themselves accountable to the group, the nation and the people. Family education effectively delivered will see the making of pleasant personalities in children.
Good manners are good culture manifested.- Quote by Ho Nee Yong
28 February 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Migration
Post 132 The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence
Having witnessed many of my classmates, college mates and friends migrating overseas, I come to understand the meaning of the idiom ‘The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence’ better. A pasture full of grass is meaningless when its abundance is out of bound and so one is forced to change one’s mind set. One then has to break through the ‘fence’ in one’s thought before deciding to move on to the new and greener pasture. This action of going to a better place or job is one’s choice.
Before retiring in July 2008, Bill Gates gave his ten advices to high school students. Bill Gates told the young people his top golden rule: “Life is not fair - get used to it.” He says no one in the world can change this because injustice prevails in the society. The students were told to try to adapt it. For those who break the fence to cross to the other side of the pasture, they know the rule and adapt it by shifting their goal posts. When people choose to live the life they want, any value judgment on them is not justified. I wish all those whom I know in the new pastures the best of everything.
A person has choices while facing the challenges in life. He can choose to be a parasite throughout his life and live on hand-outs thereby losing whatever dignity he has; one can walk tall and believe in his ability to be independent; or one can move around globally in realising one’s dream.
No one can see the future but our attitudes in life can tell. - quote by Ho Nee Yong
21 February 2012
Having witnessed many of my classmates, college mates and friends migrating overseas, I come to understand the meaning of the idiom ‘The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence’ better. A pasture full of grass is meaningless when its abundance is out of bound and so one is forced to change one’s mind set. One then has to break through the ‘fence’ in one’s thought before deciding to move on to the new and greener pasture. This action of going to a better place or job is one’s choice.
Before retiring in July 2008, Bill Gates gave his ten advices to high school students. Bill Gates told the young people his top golden rule: “Life is not fair - get used to it.” He says no one in the world can change this because injustice prevails in the society. The students were told to try to adapt it. For those who break the fence to cross to the other side of the pasture, they know the rule and adapt it by shifting their goal posts. When people choose to live the life they want, any value judgment on them is not justified. I wish all those whom I know in the new pastures the best of everything.
A person has choices while facing the challenges in life. He can choose to be a parasite throughout his life and live on hand-outs thereby losing whatever dignity he has; one can walk tall and believe in his ability to be independent; or one can move around globally in realising one’s dream.
No one can see the future but our attitudes in life can tell. - quote by Ho Nee Yong
21 February 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Gathering of old classmates
Post 131 Keep the old friends
I am a regular among a group of old classmates who meet for lunch or dinner for old times’ sake. As we have already long retired from the rat race, we are not interested in comparing notes on our success or failure in life. We would talk of the good old days in school, the unforgettable mischievous acts of a few live wires in class, and current affairs. At times we would also show concern on classmates we know and who are in ill-health.
When a person is in a happy, cheerful mood, people like being with him whereas a person who is anti-social lacks friends. It is a pity that two or three of our classmates whom we know are withdrawn and do not like to join in social functions. They just want to be an island and be left alone. It is a fact that as we grow old, we need old friends to be with us. They allow us to joke and be playful, and to encourage one another.
It is said that the best mirror in the world is an old friend. An old friend knows us well enough to offer us good advice without inhibitions. An old friend is to be treasured because he has passed the test of being your bosom friend who would never let you down.
It takes a long time to make a new friend an old one. –quote by Ho Nee Yong
14 February 2012
I am a regular among a group of old classmates who meet for lunch or dinner for old times’ sake. As we have already long retired from the rat race, we are not interested in comparing notes on our success or failure in life. We would talk of the good old days in school, the unforgettable mischievous acts of a few live wires in class, and current affairs. At times we would also show concern on classmates we know and who are in ill-health.
When a person is in a happy, cheerful mood, people like being with him whereas a person who is anti-social lacks friends. It is a pity that two or three of our classmates whom we know are withdrawn and do not like to join in social functions. They just want to be an island and be left alone. It is a fact that as we grow old, we need old friends to be with us. They allow us to joke and be playful, and to encourage one another.
It is said that the best mirror in the world is an old friend. An old friend knows us well enough to offer us good advice without inhibitions. An old friend is to be treasured because he has passed the test of being your bosom friend who would never let you down.
It takes a long time to make a new friend an old one. –quote by Ho Nee Yong
14 February 2012
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