Some brief and perhaps belated thoughts on two issues:
1. GEPers versus others
Certainly not a new issue, it recently re-emerged in the news when someone's findings on adjustment issues, etc, of students in the GEP were reported.
What I think:
a. In every education system, and, in fact, in any given society, there will be the elite. Just as there will be the other end of the scale. And for obvious reasons, as pointed out by some who have commented on the issue, people tend to stick to people who are like themselves. There is nothing surprising about that.
b. It is also to be expected that others will always look at the elite as different - either negatively or positively. And people's perceptions will be based on their personal direct interaction with them, what they hear from other people, what they hear from people who heard from other people, what they read in the newspapers, etc. In other words, people's perceptions are very likely accurate only to some extent.
Anyway, I don't wish to repeat arguments or points brought up by others. This link will be interesting to anyone who is interested in those points and arguments. You will find there the links to the TODAY articles on the issue as well as comments of GEPers and ex-GEPers, which gives some insight into what these smarties are like.
2. The case of Mr Nguyen Tuong Van
a. May he rest in peace. And, indeed, all criminals who have been executed, drug traffickers, drug addicts, human traffickers, etc. If you believe in a God and in prayer. A priest I know of makes it a point to pray for perpetrators of violence (e.g. terrorists) and, from a certain perspective, such people really need our prayers. Are people who execute others 'perpetrators of violence' too? Yes, from a certain perspective, and yes, I would pray for them too.
b. I hope people will also spare a thought, and more, for his mother and brother. What a horrible experience this must be for his mother, having fled a harsh life for greener pastures and a better life, and then having to deal with this tragedy (for that is what it must be from her perpsective). And as for his brother, if the story is indeed true that Mr Nguyen trafficked the drugs to pay off his brother's debts, I think he needs counselling for life. I really don't know how he is going to go though life with the knowledge that this was all because of him. He really, really, needs our prayers, or at least some kind thoughts.
Again, I am not going to repeat other people's ideas here. This link will lead you to some of those ideas.
1. GEPers versus others
Certainly not a new issue, it recently re-emerged in the news when someone's findings on adjustment issues, etc, of students in the GEP were reported.
What I think:
a. In every education system, and, in fact, in any given society, there will be the elite. Just as there will be the other end of the scale. And for obvious reasons, as pointed out by some who have commented on the issue, people tend to stick to people who are like themselves. There is nothing surprising about that.
b. It is also to be expected that others will always look at the elite as different - either negatively or positively. And people's perceptions will be based on their personal direct interaction with them, what they hear from other people, what they hear from people who heard from other people, what they read in the newspapers, etc. In other words, people's perceptions are very likely accurate only to some extent.
Anyway, I don't wish to repeat arguments or points brought up by others. This link will be interesting to anyone who is interested in those points and arguments. You will find there the links to the TODAY articles on the issue as well as comments of GEPers and ex-GEPers, which gives some insight into what these smarties are like.
2. The case of Mr Nguyen Tuong Van
a. May he rest in peace. And, indeed, all criminals who have been executed, drug traffickers, drug addicts, human traffickers, etc. If you believe in a God and in prayer. A priest I know of makes it a point to pray for perpetrators of violence (e.g. terrorists) and, from a certain perspective, such people really need our prayers. Are people who execute others 'perpetrators of violence' too? Yes, from a certain perspective, and yes, I would pray for them too.
b. I hope people will also spare a thought, and more, for his mother and brother. What a horrible experience this must be for his mother, having fled a harsh life for greener pastures and a better life, and then having to deal with this tragedy (for that is what it must be from her perpsective). And as for his brother, if the story is indeed true that Mr Nguyen trafficked the drugs to pay off his brother's debts, I think he needs counselling for life. I really don't know how he is going to go though life with the knowledge that this was all because of him. He really, really, needs our prayers, or at least some kind thoughts.
Again, I am not going to repeat other people's ideas here. This link will lead you to some of those ideas.
Comments