Thursday, July 21, 2011

2011 Jul 21, Thursday ~ Singapore's Racial Harmony Day

Today is Singapore's Racial Harmony Day. 
May we always live in peace with each other 
regardless of our race, language or religion. 
Amen.
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Singapore National Pledge
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Origin
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The National Pledge was written by Sinnathamby Rajaratnam in 1966 shortly after Singapore's independence. Rajaratnam revealed that the dream was to build "a Singapore we are proud of". He believed that language, race and religion were divisive factors, but the Pledge emphasises that these differences can be overcome if Singaporeans cared enough about their country. The draft text was handed to the then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who polished the text before submitting it to the Cabinet.
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The Pledge
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The National Pledge is:
We, the citizens of Singapore,
pledge ourselves as one united people,
regardless of race, language or religion,
to build a democratic society
based on justice and equality
so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and
progress for our nation.

[]Malay original

Kami, warganegara Singapura,
sebagai rakyat yang bersatu padu,
tidak kira apa bangsa, bahasa, atau ugama,
berikrar untuk membina suatu masyarakat yang demokratik,
berdasarkan kepada keadilan dan persamaan
untuk mencapai kebahagiaan,
kemakmuran dan kemajuan bagi negara kami.

[]Chinese translation

Pinyin
我们是新加坡公民,
誓愿不分种族、言语、宗教,
团结一致,
建设公正平等的民主社会,
并为实现国家之幸福、繁荣与进步,
共同努力。
Wǒmen shì Xīnjiāpō gōngmín,
shìyuàn bù fēn zhǒngzú, yányǔ, zōngjiào,
tuánjié yīzhì,
jiànshè gōngzhèng píngděng de mínzhǔ shèhuì,
bìng wèi shíxiàn guójiā zhī xìngfú, fánróng yǔ jìnbù,
gòngtóng nǔlì.

[]Tamil translation

சிங்கப்பூர் குடிமக்களாகிய நாம் இனம்,மொழி,மதம்
ஆகிய வேற்றுமைகளை மறந்து ஒன்றுபட்டு,நம் நாடு
மகிழ்ச்சி,வளம்,முன்னேற்றம் ஆகியவற்றை அடையும்
வண்ணம் சமத்துவத்தையும்,நீதியையும்
அடிப்படையாக கொண்ட ஜனாயக
சமுதாயத்தை உருவாக்குவதற்கு
உறுதி மேற்கொள்வோம்!
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The Recital by Singaporeans
The following being a video clip on how the Singapore Pledge should be recited. 
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Guidelines for usage
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The Singapore government's guidelines for the use of the pledge are:[1]
  1. The National Pledge is recited in schools during assemblies, during SAF Day, during the National Day Parade, and at National Day Observance Ceremonies.
  2. Individuals reciting the Pledge shall clench their right fists to the left side of their chests as a gesture to symbolise loyalty to the nation.
  3. The Pledge shall not be used for any commercial purposes.
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Notes
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I've learnt that ~ 2011 Jul 21, 1204hrs

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I've learnt that...
"For me, prayer is a movement of the heart; it is a simple glance toward Heaven; it is a cry of gratitude and love in times of trial as well as in times of joy; finally, it is something great, supernatural, which expands my soul and unites me to Jesus. . . . I have not the courage to look through books for beautiful prayers.... I do like a child who does not know how to read; I say very simply to God what I want to say, and He always understands me." 
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Prayer For Those With Health Problems


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Prayer For Those With Health Problems 

Dear heavenly Father... we pray for those who have to go through living their lives with the health problems ranging from the mild inconvenience of (Sinus in the morning, Hives due to Allergy, IBS, temporary sport injuries, mild disabilities, etc...) to the extreme inconvenience of (major disabilities, Epileptic fits, Colostomy, EDS, Paralysis, AVM, etc...). We pray that those who suffer will carry their cross with new found humility and with better understanding of life from the perspective of other sufferers. We also pray for friends and families of these sufferers that they exercise patience and tolerance when sufferers are late, unable to keep their appointments or unable to carry out tasks according to what was previously planned. Dear God, help both sufferers and those around them to practice loving one another in these times of difficulties. Help those of us who suffer to be like Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus and her "Little Way". Amen.

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The Flower ~ A Poem by St Theresa of the Child Jesus

Currently, I am unable to verify if St Theresa indeed wrote this poem... 
but it's a lovely poem so I'm going to post it anyway.


She is also known as 'Saint Theresa of the Roses'. 

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(verification needed)

The Flower
by Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus
also known as St Thérèse of Lisieux
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All the earth with snow is covered,
Everywhere the white frosts reign;
Winter and his gloomy courtiers
Hold their court on earth again.
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But for you has bloomed the Flower
Of the fields, Who comes to earth
From the fatherland of heaven,
Where eternal spring has birth.
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Near the Rose of Christmas, Sister!
In the lowly grasses hide,
And be like the humble flowerets, --
Of heaven's King the lowly bride!
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On Rhetoric & a Rhetorical Question

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art and study of the use of language with persuasive effect. In Aristotle's systematization of rhetoric, one important aspect of rhetoric to study and theorize was the three persuasive audience appeals: logospathos, and ethos, as well as the five canons of rhetoric: invention or discoveryarrangementstylememory, and delivery. Along with grammar and logic or dialectic, rhetoric is one of the three ancient arts of discourse. From ancient Greece to the late 19th Century, it was a central part of Western education, filling the need to train public speakers and writers to move audiences to action with arguments.[1]

rhetorical question is a figure of speech in the form of a question posed for its persuasive effect without the expectation of a reply.[1] Rhetorical questions encourage the listener to think about what the (often obvious) answer to the question must be. When a speaker states, "How much longer must our people endure this injustice?", no formal answer is expected. Rather, it is a device used by the speaker to assert or deny something. (e.g.: "Why me?") While amusing and often humorous, rhetorical questions are rarely meant for pure, comedic effect. A carefully crafted question can, if delivered well, persuade an audience to believe in the position(s) of the speaker.[2]

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