F.A.C.T.S.

This stands for Families Against the Casino Threat in Singapore. No, I'm not shitting you and as most folks would know by now through the wonders of mass mail circulation. Here's the site!

While I applaud their efforts for devoting their time to such a cause, don't we all know by now that nothing will change the Singaporean government mindset when it comes to making money? I don't see this hooha when the government decided to open up the life sciences industry. So it's alright to teach your children that gambling is evil but messing around with your God-given DNA genes through stem-cell research is perfectly fine indeed. Where are the Christians on this issue man?

I utterly sit on the fence on both issues. I'd be the first to admit that I'm selfish. I don't know how much I can benefit from both matters. But I rather keep my mind open on this issue.

Parents will warn kids about the dangers of gambling. These kids will grow up to be conscious of the dangers. There are those families who go on gambling tours to Genting, etc. Guess who would grow up thinking that gambling is just a hobby?

In Singapore, legalised betting is already an S$2-billion-per-annum industry and a declared national past-time. Why? No balls to take the cludgels up against that? Too afraid that the Internal Security Act will pounce on you and your HDB flat eh? Or is one of the F.A.C.T.S. committee members' relative on the National Kidney Foundation subsidary list? Hey, doesn't Singapore Pools give NKF some money annually as part of their yearly PR-goodwill campaign? Hmmm.... and it makes me wonder.

Like what the Manic Street Preachers so self-righteously declared, "pro-life equals anti-choice". Is that really the case? Just teach your kids well. That's the best thing that any parents can do.