Comments for Citizen Historian http://citizenhistorian.com The Unrewarded Amateur Conscience Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:02:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 Comment on Review: 10-Stories Queenstown Through The Years by Diesel http://citizenhistorian.com/2008/01/01/review-10-stories-queenstown/#comment-27964 Diesel Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:55:29 +0000 http://citizenhistorian.com/2008/01/01/review-10-stories-queenstown/#comment-27964 <a href="http:/" rel="nofollow">

]]> Comment on David Marshall: His Thoughts and Convictions by Leon Comber http://citizenhistorian.com/2008/06/07/david-marshall-his-thoughts-and-convictions/#comment-27336 Leon Comber Wed, 13 Aug 2008 04:04:28 +0000 http://citizenhistorian.com/2008/06/07/david-marshall-his-thoughts-and-convictions/#comment-27336 A very interesting and informative paper, and I enjoyed reading it. It would be great, too, if if could be brought to the attention of Dr Kevin Tan who, I believe, if finalizing a biography of David Marshall for publication soon by ISEAS. A very interesting and informative paper, and I enjoyed reading it.
It would be great, too, if if could be brought to the attention of Dr Kevin Tan who, I believe, if finalizing a biography of David Marshall for publication soon by ISEAS.

]]> Comment on The POSB Students’ Savings Scheme: A Largely Forgotten Childhood Experience by Gary CSY http://citizenhistorian.com/2008/05/04/the-posb-students%e2%80%99-savings-scheme-a-largely-forgotten-childhood-experience/#comment-6234 Gary CSY Sun, 11 May 2008 13:49:32 +0000 http://citizenhistorian.com/2008/05/04/the-posb-students%e2%80%99-savings-scheme-a-largely-forgotten-childhood-experience/#comment-6234 it didn't stop at 1978, while i was in primary school during 1981 - 1986, the POSB saving scheme was still ongoing. POSB officers would come during the start of the year to open up bank account with young children who have saved up to $2 stamps. And teachers are the one selling the stamps weekly to the students. so once we filled up a card to $2 and few months time, the POSB officers came and collect it to bank it for us. it didn’t stop at 1978, while i was in primary school during 1981 - 1986, the POSB saving scheme was still ongoing. POSB officers would come during the start of the year to open up bank account with young children who have saved up to $2 stamps. And teachers are the one selling the stamps weekly to the students. so once we filled up a card to $2 and few months time, the POSB officers came and collect it to bank it for us.

]]> Comment on The POSB Students’ Savings Scheme: A Largely Forgotten Childhood Experience by deathscythe http://citizenhistorian.com/2008/05/04/the-posb-students%e2%80%99-savings-scheme-a-largely-forgotten-childhood-experience/#comment-5828 deathscythe Tue, 06 May 2008 02:53:03 +0000 http://citizenhistorian.com/2008/05/04/the-posb-students%e2%80%99-savings-scheme-a-largely-forgotten-childhood-experience/#comment-5828 It’s fascinating how structural changes in the banking sector trigger individual (and arguably, collective) memories, which is an issue the essay has acutely pointed out. However in terms of how “the generational subordination of children replicates itself in the minds of the growing children who become adults”, I do have some reservations with regard to this line of reasoning. There appears to be a logical leap from how an individual recollection can translate into socio-cultural reproduction that influences the way Singaporeans behave in general. The essay mentions that childhood memories during the late 1960s involve collecting stamps as part of a savings initiative. Given the case it seems that for children saving money is an individual experience that is not overly-concerned with whether is there competition between the different schools. Rightfully such experiences, though common insofar as most children participated in this programme, are in fact modified by other factors like socio-economic standing. Yet for children whose preoccupation is with collecting stamps on a card, the significance here isn’t so much on inter-school rivalry as it is for self-gratification. Therefore if saving money becomes a personal activity that is, surprisingly, unrelated to money per se, childhood experiences in this case need not translate into an ideology of subordination that perpetuates inter-generationally. This is because children do not necessarily grow up thinking that they’ve been silenced in childhood. Admittedly there is silencing occurring in terms of depriving children agency of speech. Nonetheless one also has to bear in mind that the very instruments of repression (namely, government publications) are written by adults for adults. Children are rendered subjects of adult silencing in this case, and as such erodes the former’s agency. Yet the personal dimension of memory is such that childhood activities like saving money don’t operate with an acute sense of political consciousness in mind. To believe that children are aware of the repression they’re subjected to & grow up feeling this way risks exacerbating the children’s silence further on the part of the analyst; for the analysand (children) is now regarded as a political subject participating in ideological struggle, when that may not be the case. Although social institutions (which belong to the adult sphere) instigate the silencing of childhood memories, nevertheless these recollections do get perpetuated orally. Government reports exist as a mode of official discourse, which is contrapuntal to verbal communication & reminiscing as counter-discourses. Therefore this implies that individual childhood memories don’t simply get subordinated by external social mechanisms, and instead find articulation in other forms of communication…which is partly how the essay’s able to use female conversation as a mode of entry into this issue of self & institution, wouldn’t you say? The public sphere can silence individual memories, yet simultaneously the private sphere can provide emancipation that needn’t develop into an inter-generational worldview of submission. “[M]emory is seldom retrieved and talked about” precisely because it is private. Simply because memory, collective or otherwise, is private does not mean that it’s subordinate to external society. Just some thoughts on the issue. :) It’s fascinating how structural changes in the banking sector trigger individual (and arguably, collective) memories, which is an issue the essay has acutely pointed out. However in terms of how “the generational subordination of children replicates itself in the minds of the growing children who become adults”, I do have some reservations with regard to this line of reasoning. There appears to be a logical leap from how an individual recollection can translate into socio-cultural reproduction that influences the way Singaporeans behave in general.

The essay mentions that childhood memories during the late 1960s involve collecting stamps as part of a savings initiative. Given the case it seems that for children saving money is an individual experience that is not overly-concerned with whether is there competition between the different schools. Rightfully such experiences, though common insofar as most children participated in this programme, are in fact modified by other factors like socio-economic standing. Yet for children whose preoccupation is with collecting stamps on a card, the significance here isn’t so much on inter-school rivalry as it is for self-gratification.

Therefore if saving money becomes a personal activity that is, surprisingly, unrelated to money per se, childhood experiences in this case need not translate into an ideology of subordination that perpetuates inter-generationally. This is because children do not necessarily grow up thinking that they’ve been silenced in childhood. Admittedly there is silencing occurring in terms of depriving children agency of speech. Nonetheless one also has to bear in mind that the very instruments of repression (namely, government publications) are written by adults for adults. Children are rendered subjects of adult silencing in this case, and as such erodes the former’s agency. Yet the personal dimension of memory is such that childhood activities like saving money don’t operate with an acute sense of political consciousness in mind. To believe that children are aware of the repression they’re subjected to & grow up feeling this way risks exacerbating the children’s silence further on the part of the analyst; for the analysand (children) is now regarded as a political subject participating in ideological struggle, when that may not be the case.

Although social institutions (which belong to the adult sphere) instigate the silencing of childhood memories, nevertheless these recollections do get perpetuated orally. Government reports exist as a mode of official discourse, which is contrapuntal to verbal communication & reminiscing as counter-discourses. Therefore this implies that individual childhood memories don’t simply get subordinated by external social mechanisms, and instead find articulation in other forms of communication…which is partly how the essay’s able to use female conversation as a mode of entry into this issue of self & institution, wouldn’t you say? The public sphere can silence individual memories, yet simultaneously the private sphere can provide emancipation that needn’t develop into an inter-generational worldview of submission. “[M]emory is seldom retrieved and talked about” precisely because it is private. Simply because memory, collective or otherwise, is private does not mean that it’s subordinate to external society.

Just some thoughts on the issue. :)

]]> Comment on Elvis and Singapore by Daniel Chan http://citizenhistorian.com/2007/08/29/elvis-and-singapore/#comment-1562 Daniel Chan Sat, 23 Feb 2008 06:21:20 +0000 http://citizenhistorian.com/2007/08/29/elvis-and-singapore/#comment-1562 “When I was a child, ladies and gentlemen, I was a dreamer. I read comic books, and I was the hero of the comic book. I saw movies, and I was the hero in the movie. So every dream I ever dreamed has come true a hundred times...I learned very early in life that: ‘Without a song, the day would never end; without a song, a man ain’t got a friend; without a song, the road would never bend - without a song.' So I keep singing a song. Goodnight. Thank you.” -From his acceptance speech for the 1970 Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation Award. Given at a ceremony on January 16, 1971. (Elvis quotes from copyrighted material with lines from the song “Without a Song”.) Daniel Chan Club President Singapore First Elvis Fan Club (SFEFC) “When I was a child, ladies and gentlemen, I was a dreamer. I read comic books, and I was the hero of the comic book. I saw movies, and I was the hero in the movie. So every dream I ever dreamed has come true a hundred times…I learned very early in life that: ‘Without a song, the day would never end; without a song, a man ain’t got a friend; without a song, the road would never bend - without a song.’ So I keep singing a song. Goodnight. Thank you.”
-From his acceptance speech for the 1970 Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation Award. Given at a ceremony on January 16, 1971. (Elvis quotes from copyrighted material with lines from the song “Without a Song”.)

Daniel Chan
Club President
Singapore First Elvis Fan Club (SFEFC)

]]> Comment on Elvis and Singapore by Daniel Chan http://citizenhistorian.com/2007/08/29/elvis-and-singapore/#comment-1528 Daniel Chan Tue, 19 Feb 2008 10:51:59 +0000 http://citizenhistorian.com/2007/08/29/elvis-and-singapore/#comment-1528 Hi Chi Tim, Thank you for your response. Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. (EPE) is the business entity created by the Estate of Elvis Presley/The Elvis Presley Trust and is the modern-day evolution of the company identity under which the late Elvis Presley conducted business. EPE is a subsidiary of CKX, Inc., a publicly traded company listed on the Nasdaq National Market System (NMS) under the ticker symbol CKXE. Please visit EPE official website at http://elvis.com/ For your info. Elvis Presley generated an income of more than US$46 millions as a dead celebrity excl his 600,000 loyal fans' gate admissions collected every year's tours to Graceland in Memphis. Elvis Presley is a great talent & entertainer, he is unique and until today has no replacement. It is sad that many young Singaporeans are unfamiliarised with this great talent and great philanthropy. The Singapore Elvis Alt Country Meetup Group branded Elvis as 'old fashion'. Japan has more than 5,000 fans and also in Taiwan, Hongkong, India to name a few Asian countries. They have fans as young as 16 years old and so do in U.K., Europe and of course the USA. Our media and radio stations do not really promote the King's music, maybe only on his two anniversaries on 8th January and 16th August. He still retain his title today as the King of Rock n Roll. After 30 years of his passing his on-legacy still followed by millions loyal fans around the world. America's university has started a subject in literature teaching Elvis' legacy. Visit our website at www.elvis.meetup.com/169/about for updates on Elvis on-going legacy and the happenings in the Elvis World today. Thank you for showing your interest in the King Of Rock N Roll, Elvis Presley. Thanks for sharing. Daniel Chan Club President Singapore First Elvis Fan Club (SFEFC) Hi Chi Tim,
Thank you for your response.

Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. (EPE) is the business entity created by the Estate of Elvis Presley/The Elvis Presley Trust and is the modern-day evolution of the company identity under which the late Elvis Presley conducted business. EPE is a subsidiary of CKX, Inc., a publicly traded company listed on the Nasdaq National Market System (NMS) under the ticker symbol CKXE.

Please visit EPE official website at http://elvis.com/

For your info. Elvis Presley generated an income of more than US$46 millions as a dead celebrity excl his 600,000 loyal fans’ gate admissions collected every year’s tours to Graceland in Memphis.

Elvis Presley is a great talent & entertainer, he is unique and until today has no replacement.
It is sad that many young Singaporeans are unfamiliarised with this great talent and great philanthropy.

The Singapore Elvis Alt Country Meetup Group branded Elvis as ‘old fashion’.

Japan has more than 5,000 fans and also in Taiwan, Hongkong, India to name a few Asian countries. They have fans as young as 16 years old and so do in U.K., Europe and of course the USA.

Our media and radio stations do not really promote the King’s music, maybe only on his two anniversaries on 8th January and 16th August.

He still retain his title today as the King of Rock n Roll.

After 30 years of his passing his on-legacy still followed by millions loyal fans around the world.
America’s university has started a subject in literature teaching Elvis’ legacy.

Visit our website at www.elvis.meetup.com/169/about for updates on Elvis on-going legacy and the happenings in the Elvis World today.

Thank you for showing your interest in the King Of Rock N Roll, Elvis Presley.
Thanks for sharing.

Daniel Chan
Club President
Singapore First Elvis Fan Club (SFEFC)

]]> Comment on Elvis and Singapore by Admin http://citizenhistorian.com/2007/08/29/elvis-and-singapore/#comment-1521 Admin Mon, 18 Feb 2008 10:39:07 +0000 http://citizenhistorian.com/2007/08/29/elvis-and-singapore/#comment-1521 Hi Daniel First, thank you for reading and commenting! Second, yes, it would appear that "40th" is a calculation mistake. The changes are made accordingly. Third, our perspectives are usually limited to what we know and experience. That's why sometimes we may be innocently unaware of other con-current activities happening. And that's why I'm grateful you commented and shed light on the activities held by the SFEFC. It's only through such discussion that we can know more. On that note, may I know what's the EPE? Many thanks for taking the time and trouble! Chi Tim (co-Editor, citizen historian) Hi Daniel

First, thank you for reading and commenting!

Second, yes, it would appear that “40th” is a calculation mistake. The changes are made accordingly.

Third, our perspectives are usually limited to what we know and experience. That’s why sometimes we may be innocently unaware of other con-current activities happening.

And that’s why I’m grateful you commented and shed light on the activities held by the SFEFC. It’s only through such discussion that we can know more. On that note, may I know what’s the EPE?

Many thanks for taking the time and trouble!

Chi Tim (co-Editor, citizen historian)

]]> Comment on Elvis and Singapore by Daniel Chan http://citizenhistorian.com/2007/08/29/elvis-and-singapore/#comment-1518 Daniel Chan Sun, 17 Feb 2008 17:50:41 +0000 http://citizenhistorian.com/2007/08/29/elvis-and-singapore/#comment-1518 Further to my last posting, the writer did not have an overlook of the events organised during Elvis Week in Singapore by Singapore First Elvis Fan Club (SFEFC). How can he remarked that not much is made of Elvis's passing in Singapore when on the anniversary itself 16th August 2007 SFEFC held a dinner buffet and Elvis' live concert shown on the big screen at Kolam Ayer Community Centre with the performance of Singapore Elvis Presley Wilson David. Minister Yaccob Ibrahim was invited to attend but unfortunately he was on an overseas trip. ELVIS FOREVER the theme of the show on 18th August 2007, Saturday between 5.00pm and 6.30pm SFEFC held a talk and presentation of Elvis' lifestory and showed excerpts of his 25th Anniversary Concert followed by a live performance of Elvis's numbers by members of the club. The performance was accompanied by our own pianist. This was held at the Library@Esplanade. If really there was a performance by the other Elvis group at Lau Pa Sat Market, it is nothing compared to SFEFC's two prestigious events held at the these venues. SFEFC's events were highlighted in EPE Fan Clubs' website Presidents' Forum. Both of these events were also publicised in The Straits Times Life Section on and before the events. By: Daniel Chan Club President Singapore First Elvis Fan Club (SFEFC) registered by EPE, Graceland. website : www.elvis.meetup.com/169/about Further to my last posting, the writer did not have an overlook of the events organised during Elvis Week in Singapore by Singapore First Elvis Fan Club (SFEFC). How can he remarked that not much is made of Elvis’s passing in Singapore when on the anniversary itself 16th August 2007 SFEFC held a dinner buffet and Elvis’ live concert shown on the big screen at Kolam Ayer Community Centre with the performance of Singapore Elvis Presley Wilson David. Minister Yaccob Ibrahim was invited to attend but unfortunately he was on an overseas trip.
ELVIS FOREVER the theme of the show on 18th August 2007, Saturday between 5.00pm and 6.30pm SFEFC held a talk and presentation of Elvis’ lifestory and showed excerpts of his 25th Anniversary Concert followed by a live performance of Elvis’s numbers by members of the club. The performance was accompanied by our own pianist. This was held at the Library@Esplanade.

If really there was a performance by the other Elvis group at Lau Pa Sat Market, it is nothing compared to SFEFC’s two prestigious events held at the these venues.

SFEFC’s events were highlighted in EPE Fan Clubs’ website Presidents’ Forum.
Both of these events were also publicised in The Straits Times Life Section on and before the events.

By: Daniel Chan Club President
Singapore First Elvis Fan Club (SFEFC)
registered by EPE, Graceland.
website : www.elvis.meetup.com/169/about

]]> Comment on Elvis and Singapore by Daniel Chan http://citizenhistorian.com/2007/08/29/elvis-and-singapore/#comment-1505 Daniel Chan Sat, 16 Feb 2008 16:35:13 +0000 http://citizenhistorian.com/2007/08/29/elvis-and-singapore/#comment-1505 It is sad that I have just read this article today, 17 February 2008. I hope I am not too late to comment on the writer's updates on Elvis Presley's legacy. FYI it was his 30th Passing Anniversary and not 40th as what has published. I wonder the figure was given to him by the Singapore Elvis Alt Country Meetup Group or the impersonator. The former is not an official fan club registered by EPE and most likely they know little about his legacy. It's ashame they are using Elvis' name. Is there any publicity or evidence that they performed at Lau Pa Sat Market on 16 August 2007? Daniel Chan - Club President Singapore First Elvis Fan Club (SFEFC). It is sad that I have just read this article today, 17 February 2008. I hope I am not too late to comment on the writer’s updates on Elvis Presley’s legacy. FYI it was his 30th Passing Anniversary and not 40th as what has published.
I wonder the figure was given to him by the Singapore Elvis Alt Country Meetup Group or the impersonator. The former is not an official fan club registered by EPE and most likely they know little about his legacy. It’s ashame they are using Elvis’ name.
Is there any publicity or evidence that they performed at Lau Pa Sat Market on 16 August 2007?

Daniel Chan - Club President Singapore First Elvis Fan Club (SFEFC).

]]> Comment on Elvis and Singapore by S C Mohan http://citizenhistorian.com/2007/08/29/elvis-and-singapore/#comment-974 S C Mohan Sat, 22 Dec 2007 11:24:02 +0000 http://citizenhistorian.com/2007/08/29/elvis-and-singapore/#comment-974 Do you have the contact of Wilson David, the Singapore Elvis,please? Do you have the contact of Wilson David, the Singapore Elvis,please?

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