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Despite the massive dose of propaganda heaped on the inaugural Youth Olympic Games' opening ceremony today by the PAP-controlled Singapore media, it did not make the headlines in most international papers except Malaysia's The Star. Unlike the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games which attracted worldwide attention, the Singapore 2010 YOG is such a low-profile event that major broadcasters like CNN has chosen to give it a miss with its headlines on the Rogers Cup and PGA: [Source: CNN] We spent the last one hour scouring for news about the YOG in the international press and found nothing about it. No regional papers in the ASEAN region (other than Malaysia) wrote about the YOG opening ceremony in their sports headlines. The Jakarta Post made no mention of the YOG opening ceremony in neighboring Singapore: [Source: Jakarta Post]  Neither did the Bangkok Post bother to write anything on the YOG: [Source: Bangkok Post] The response is equally muted in other parts of the world. The British paper Daily Telegraph sports headlines is on the opening match of the English Premier League which saw champions Chelsea thrashing West Bromwich Albion 6 - 0: [Source: Daily Telegraph] USA Today focused on Tiger Woods' poor performance at the PGA: [Source: USA Today] There were no reports on the YOG in the Japan Times, Sydney Morning Herald, China Daily, Taipei Times or South Korea's Chosun Ilbo either. According to earlier estimates by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports,  "the international media value to Singapore will be worth $86 million as a result of the publicity from the over 2,000 accredited media personnel flying in to report on the YOG." If the YOG is indeed an "international" event, why is there so little publicity about it outside of Singapore? Perhaps there are indeed over 2,000 accredited foreign journalists having a jolly good time in Singapore right now, but found nothing interesting to write about the YOG. They may like to consider moving to the High Court next week to cover the trial of the 75 year old British author Alan Shadrake who will surely generate more FREE publicity for Singapore, thanks to the "wisdom" of the PAP regime in charging him for "contempt of court" and "criminal defamation".   EDITORS’ NOTE: Has your life been turned upside down by the YOG? Please share your views with us. We assure you that your identity will be kept strictly CONFIDENTIAL. We will be your UNCENSORED VOICE. We will publish your letter in FULL with ZERO editing, moderating or censoring. You do not have to suffer in silence! You have the RIGHT to speak up as a citizen of this country. Remember: you are a CITIZEN of Singapore, not a SLAVE of the PAP regime. Our mailbox has been swarmed by letters from YOG volunteers for the last few days. Unless you specifically want us to publish your REAL NAME, we will use a pseudonym instead. Please understand that due to manpower constraints, we may not be able to publish your letters immediately and we will have to stagger them a few hours apart to ensure that they get maximum exposure. Please keep your feedback coming! Singapore for SINGAPOREANS! Your interests always come FIRST.   Related articles: >> MOE teacher: How students can stay out of YOG >> YOG Webcast server crashed >> SFI promises to improve "DOG" food for volunteers >> Primary school students stand in the rain to welcome YOG torch >> Plight of Singapore volunteers at Youth Olympic Village >> JC students forced to attend YOG events >> Dr Vivian: Singaporeans are proud of YOG >> PM Lee: YOG has struck a “chord” with our people >> Dr Vivian: YOG venues will not become “white elephants” >> Online pressure forced SFI to provide better food for YOG volunteers >> Civil Service Club offering free YOG tickets >> Journey of YOG flame costs Singaporeans $7 million dollars >> Corny YOG propaganda in Straits Times >> Tharman: YOG enthusiasm is real >> Polytechnic student: I don’t care about YOG >> JC students being “volunteered” for YOG >> YOG: What the HELL is that? >> PAP provides YOG athletes and officials three daily buffets >> YOG students being given “dog food” >> Singapore students forced to volunteer for YOG >> Poor ticket sales forced closure of YOG gallery section >> PM Lee calls on Singaporeans to support YOG >> Young Singaporeans hurl vulgarities at YOG >> Dr Vivian wants Singaporeans to celebrate YOG >> NTU students complain about YOG >> Dr Vivian: Sports is not about “petty politics” >> More than 300 Singaporeans joined “I hate YOG” Facebook >> CNA poll: 90 percent of Singaporeans “not interested” in YOG >> Slovak YOG Ambassador slams YOG venues of “school standard” only >> Two Facebook groups calling for boycott of YOG >> Free condoms for YOG officials and athletes >> Singapore helping to repair Jamaica’s stadium in return for YOG marketing >> Former stripper to choreograph opening ceremony of YOG >> Desperate PAP wants Singaporeans to get “passionate” about YOG >> PAP to Singaporeans: Give way to YOG vehicles or get fined $130 >> PM Lee wants Singaporeans to do their part for YOG >> Only six teams in YOG soccer tournament Please join our Facebook page here and invite your friends to do so to create awareness of the current affairs affecting Singaporeans. 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作者：Andrew Loh 译者：新加坡文献馆 我记得在上世纪的80年代，我会期待在电视上观看国庆群众大会。李光耀的演说让我觉得他是一名优异的演说家，他的每一场演说都让人精神振奋。我会粘在屏幕上细听他的每一个字，即便非要上厕所也尽快赶回去看，为的是不要错过他所说的每一个字。 要澄清的一点是，我从来都不仰慕他，我只是喜欢听他的演说。 把时间拉回到2010年，我已经再也不能够容忍，即使只是阅读他的谈话。 他在今时今日的谈话都几乎会令人觉得反感，肤浅，尤其是那不可一世的嚣张气焰。我已经记不起有多少回了，他使用贬意言词羞辱新加坡人，这些字眼和比喻包括，狗，佣人，愚蠢，懒惰，无知等等。 他的一些支持者或许会尝试作出解释，说他只是为了要激励或者敦促新加坡人要更有生产力，竞争力和辛勤工作。我的体会却刚好相反，李光耀的选词用字在在表现出 傲慢和狂妄自大。在拥有着这一无往不克的政权和职权的格局下，他滋长了一个丧失功能的紊乱社会 – 这好比一个有如此个性的父辈会造成的局面。 这带来了不应该发生的唯唯诺诺心态，即便他犯了错误，没有一个人敢于指出他的过错。或者当他发表了一种观念说法，没有人 – 媒体更不必提 – 有胆量去置问或者去挑战他的论说。 这里边就隐藏着新加坡的危机。 已经过了50年，我们还是被按压在一个人的拇指之下，就像其他长期在位者一样，他已经是活在自已的世界里。我们大家也都是活在他的世界里，毫无保留的接纳了其内的所有缺点。 不是这么一回事，李先生，我不支持你的说法，认为一个人不必退休，他不应该停止工作。恰好相反，我相信，和你不一样，人生并非只是为了喂养一头经济畜生，或者是作为你的一个经济齿轮。 李光耀并非圣人，如果我们继续过着并且信奉他说的那种生活，我们会很快发觉我们的人生毫无意义。我们的所作所为只是持续不断与永无休止的追求所谓的‘一个光明的前程’- 一个乌托邦式的未来，一个遥不可及，也无法去到的目的地。 这是因为世间没有这种未来。 这是那些政客们，如李光耀的工作，使我们去相信世间是有这么一种的未来。 快乐，满足，称心如意，是眼前之事，並非来自未来。没有必要去追求什么‘美好的将来’因为那是无法触摸到的。 这是不存在的。 当我们看到了这一点时，我们会满足于当前处境。我们会明白人生是多样化的。那就是，到了最后，只是一些很简单的东西就会让我们感受到快乐 – 家庭，朋友，帮助别人，以及和我们心爱的人在一起。 我们并不需要拿着‘经济上的成功’去成就我们的心愿，或者去完成我们期待去做的事。 我满足于我目前的处境 – 我并非一名大企业家，或者是一名高级公务员，或者是一名特优的学者，或者是一名收入百万元者。 事实上，我在日常生活中经常面对经济拮据的困境。 然而，我心安理得，我感觉到快乐。 喜悦的心情会油然而生，是当我见到我的母亲时。是当我和我的姐妹们谈话，感觉到她们的快乐时。是当我见到我的外甥和侄子们时。或者是当我在和我的朋友谈天说地时。 我清楚的意识到我并非活在李光耀的那种不正常的失调家庭模式里。这种不正常是到了狂妄自大，个人自我中心，相互批斗，竞争程度到了我们可以若无其事的把外来 劳工安顿在坟场居住，支付女佣那么微薄的工资，拒绝让她们在每个月里享有一天的休息日，把年紀青青的孩子吊死，我们有着很高的自杀率，我们削减年长者的工 资，只因为他们已经年老。 还有着其他的许多，和许多。 新加坡如今是一个令人伤心的地方。它变成了一间旅店。我们的家园让一个人夺走了，他自认是我们的‘父辈’，实际上，确实是有一批人把他称为父亲。 这真是可怜可悲。 我希望李光耀尽快下台。 我不再钦佩他，或者他说话的行态，或者他所说的话。 事实上，我肯定他是一个最大的绊脚石，妨碍着新加坡和新加坡人的发展潜能。 李光耀对我而言，他並非一名圣人。 实际上，他已经成为一个最大的笑柄，这是一个可悲老人的事迹，他为了满足自尊心而几乎每天的，去做出一些引人注目的言行。 这的确是一个可悲的景象。 现在，每当我看到他出现在电视上，我会把电视关掉，或者走开。 此人一无是处，除了炫耀自我。 后记：文章内容与遣词用字以原文为本，译文中的额外文字为的是使文章更为通畅易懂。 原文来源：http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/07/lee-kuan-yew-a-sad-sight-indeed/  Read More →

The Malaysian Star, 15 August 2010 The inaugural Youth Olympic Games officially opened yesterday in a spectacular blaze of colour, with Jacques Rogge hailing it as a new chapter in the Olympic movement. With the Singapore skyline as an impressive backdrop, some 7,000 singers and dancers performed in an opening ceremony on a floating platform at Marina Bay. “Tonight we open a new chapter in the history of the Olympic movement,” International Olympic Committee president Rogge told the 27,000-capacity crowd and a worldwide television audience in declaring the Games open. Read rest of article here.  Read More →