Sensei Michael

This line comes from the famous Melian dialogue, in which a powerful Athenian navy besieges Melos. The Athenians thus speak from a position of power. "...we shall not trouble you with specious pretenses---either of how we have a right to our empire because we overthrew the Mede, or are now attacking you because of the wrong that you have done us---and make a long speech that would not be believed; and in return, we hope that you, instead of thinking to influence us by saying that you did not join the Lacedaemonians, although they are colonists, or that you have done us no wrong, will aim at what is feasible...since you know as well as we do the right, as the world goes, is only in question between equal power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must." Melos attempted to argue from a "law of equality", of humanity at its best. Athens argued with reality. Melos, being weak, has no capability at all to discuss anything in equality. Singapor...

I used to teach Economics, and wrote this in response to a student who questioned Singapore bosses' treatment of our foreign workers. If the boss houses them an d pays them the way they would pay a Singaporean, then the bosses, well, they would rather pay a Singaporean. It is basic demand and supply, the very same thing I told a Chinese reporter (back when I was in Shanghai) who demanded to know why I was paid so highly compared to a Chinese principal. I told her the same thing - if the boss could get a lower paid Chinese to do the same thing I did, they would. I got paid and treated that way because the boss needed my value. In the same way, the day when the boss no longer needs the "value" those exploited workers give (said value in this case being their low wages and exploit-ability), a Singaporean would then take up the position. Or perhaps, one day, when the law mandates that the boss needs to treat them the same way a Singaporean would be treated, the boss...

Our national language is Malay, as evidenced by the language of our national anthem, the language on our coat of arms and the language of our military commands. Singapore must be one of those few nations in the world where 70% of its population cannot speak its national language with any level of reasonable fluency.