weekeegeepee

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Essay Assignment.

1. “People, not the government, should decide how to organize their lives.” Is this a fair comment?

2. Is equality for all a realistic and desirable aim within a society?

3. What and how big a role should religion play in the governing of a country?


Please prepare, for one of the above questions: a) an essay plan, and b) examples to support your arguments, to be discussed in Week 6.

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Monday, January 29, 2007

MM Lee's dialogue with young journalists.

Remember last year when we watched the clip of MM LKY's televized dialogue with the young journalists? Remember that intense moment MM Lee had with Ken Kwek? Well (a little belated) here's the transcript, and an interesting comment on the exchange.

To relive the glory of the entire dialogue session.

(I can't seem to find the transcript anywhere online - someone email me the link if you know it. Thanks.)

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Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Philosphy Circle.

From a couple of teachers who are teaching GP and KI:

"Hi all!

We are initiating a Philosophy Circle for the students. Essentially, it's an avenue for them to simply come together once every fortnightly to learn and discuss philosophy. Students will be invited to come up with a list of topics that they wish to cover so that it'll be something that they are really interested in. They'll also be invited to present to their peers on the topics that they're interested. Attached is a further write-up on the Circle.

We'll be meeting for the first time on the following date:

Date: Monday, 29 Jan
Time: 5pm
Venue: B34

There's no obligation or commitment required - it's meant to be totally informal and spontaneous (as much as possible anyway)."

Sounds pretty interesting and helpful. I'll be joining in as much as possible, too.

Repost of Info-packs.

I'm posting all the new links to the GP info-packs.

I will also put the link to THIS entry in the links sidebar, so that you can always download the info-packs. I will update this post with new info-packs as they become available.

Social Issues Info-pack (2006)

Science & Human Values Info-Pack (2006)

Social Issues Info-pack (2006

Social Issues (Essays) (2006)

Social Issues (More Essays) (2006)

Politics Info-Pack (2007)

Global Issues Info-Pack (2007)

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Sunday, January 21, 2007

This popcorn and burger society is making me sick.

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In the IHT: Pakistani role seen in Taliban surge at border

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/21/asia/web.0121pakistan.php

Some excerpts I found interesting:

"Western diplomats in both countries and Pakistani opposition figures say that Pakistani intelligence agencies — in particular the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence and Military Intelligence — have been supporting a Taliban restoration, motivated not only by Islamic fervor but also by a longstanding view that the jihadist movement allows them to assert greater influence on Pakistan's vulnerable western flank."

"The Pakistani military and intelligence services have for decades used religious parties as a convenient instrument to keep domestic political opponents at bay and for foreign policy adventures..."

"The religious parties recruited for the jihad in Kashmir and Afghanistan from the 1980s, when the Pakistani intelligence agencies ran the resistance by the mujahedeen and channeled money to them from the United States and Saudi Arabia to fight the Soviet Union in Afghanistan..."

"In return for help in Kashmir and Afghanistan the intelligence services would rig votes for the religious parties and allow them freedom to operate..."

"The religious parties provide them with recruits, personnel, cover and deniability..."

...

"After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, President Pervez Musharraf, under strong American pressure, pledged to help root out Islamic extremism, and, as both head of the army and president, he has more direct control of the intelligence services than past civilian prime ministers. But according to several analysts, Pakistani intelligence officials believe it is more prudent to prepare for the day when Western troops leave Afghanistan."

"Pakistan has long seen jihadi movements like the Taliban as a counter to Indian and Russian influence next door in Afghanistan, the Western diplomat and other analysts said, and as a way to provide Pakistan with "strategic depth," or a friendly buffer on its western border."

...

"In the Koran it is written that it is every Muslim's right to fight jihad," ... "All we are telling them is what is in the Koran, and then it's up to them to go to jihad."

"Mr. Hai, 50, who is a Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam member, denied that his son had been persuaded to fight by anyone. "From the start it was his spirit to take part in jihad," his father said. "It's all to do with personal will. If someone agrees, then he goes. Even if someone wishes to, no one can stop him."

"It is an argument that supporters of the jihad use frequently. But for some of the families mourning their sons, there is no doubt that the madrasas and the religious parties are the first point of contact."

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Sunday, January 07, 2007

Politics Info-Pack.

Download your Politics Info-Pack here.

Please read it from cover to cover, as you have all the other info-packs.

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