out of the (nkf sheltered) well

methinks it's about time i did a little commentary on the real world out there again. yes it's "the secular issue" again.

but before that, i really must thank God for answering my prayer for pastor tay's word on sunday was one of great comfort and encouragement in the aspect of evangelism. many thanks to my fellow brothers in Christ who offered words of encouragement. =)


anyway i simply have to comment on this juicy one:
the big secret about nkf is out.

when i heard about it, i was valiantly trying to suppress the urge to yell "I TOLD YOU SO!"

i've always been skeptical about our good old national kidney foundation. why is it that other charities could survive without having to mobilize at least 80% of the staff at mediacorp, while nkf (and maybe renci) is the only poor thing that regularly holds a gala fundraising (complete with luxury cars/condos/what have you not to offer)? just as i've always been against those people selling $5 coupons for imaginary orphans and handicapped elderly folks.

with all due respect, i know that those patients are a bunch of people really in need of help and i sympathize with their plight. i also understand that those medical fees can be a huge liability for some people and having community support for such people is great.

furthermore, aren't christians supposed to be charitible folks?
i'll leave my views about stereotypes for another post.

my view on charity is this:
if i want to do charity, i'll find my own way of helping and serving people. giving money to organizations who will probably pocket your money to buy first class air tickets is not my idea of doing charity.

what got me riled up is the irresponsible way a certain person of some authority tried to hide behind the protective arm of the law by threatening a lawsuit against a journalist who wrote something possibly defamatory and detrimental towards his public image. whether or not that person really used public donations for personal use, i would not comment.

the thing about singapore is if you've got power, you can pretty much do whatever you like in here (other than commit murder of course.. even then...)

if someone wrote or said something unflattering about you (read: a*star/acidflask, straits times/nkf), it is 99% untrue (because YOU said so!). when that happens, the other party has two options:

1. author/speaker would be subjected to the humiliation of having to do this public apology and shut down or cut off any access he has to publicize his views to prevent any more misleading articles that might confuse sheep.

2. author/speaker has to hire a lawyer and make those trips down to the subordinate courts. (in this day and time, this is no joke. public transport fares are rising faster than you can say "tibs!" and you need the cash to pay your lawyer's fees later.)

singapore is not corrupt. but it sure helps if you are somebody.
gives me another reason to detest this filthy world we live in.