would it kill you to breathe?

Thick as Thieves -- Dashboard Confessional

Would it kill you to breathe?
Easy only 17 miles lay between you and me
I could make it if I had to
I don't break easily
You've got my counsel, thick as thieves
If there's a crime we'll keep it secret
For there's only trace amounts left in your blood
You may be a sinner
But you may be justified

Just keep your mouth shut
Keep your guard up
I swear I'll make it right

Will it kill me to breathe
Not as easy as you think it is between you and me
I could fake it if I have to
I don't break easily
I need your counsel, thick as thieves
I have no crime to keep a secret
It was hers, it was not mine
Well I may be a sinner
But it wasn't me this time

Just keep your mouth shut
Keep your guard up
I swear I'll make it right

Listen to yourself
There is a hemorrhage in your mouth
It won't stop bleeding
Well you may be the traitor
I will hold the smoking gun
You'll get away clean
I'll keep your secrets til the grave has swallowed me
And I will never tell a tortured soul they are burning by my side
That I am a sinner
I am a savior
I am a lie

So keep your mouth shut
Keep your guard up
I swear I'll make it right

~>-->Xiaoo~AiiXx <33 LuRbb~<3 LUrrBb^^ EeuUu ~Wo~rrHhh**hhXxxxX~**^<3<3<333

English as it is broken. Really, I've seen more instances of bad grammar in MapleStory than any other game I've ever played.

I factor it down to two separate but interlinked causes.
1. The Singapore education/propaganda system has failed to improve the standard of English amongst the masses.
Well, kind of obviously, when you have a Malay trying to sing a chinese song and saying "What talking you?" on national tv, you can't go very far in the range demarcating population's grasp of English. Just look around. Yes, we may laugh at sites like www.engrish.com and www.talkingcock.com, but really, the signs are all around us. I'm pretty sure that beyond our facades or rather, fa-ca-days of having Queen's English (or as some would put it Queen Mother England), I'm unwilling to believe that the standard of English in Singaporean society is so degenerate.
Similarly, the chaos (kaos) that ensues from having ridiculously low levels of command of the English language is generally accepted by most of society, especially with those who seek to draw a national identity beyond the PAP, Merlion, and Sentosa. While I'm pretty sure that the government usually tries not to tolerate with such trashy English, I'm kind of frustrated that even companies don't try to set a proper standard in their languages.
For example: Scroll for Two-handeded Sword, or Sorry for any inconvenience cause.
What are they thinking, really?
2. The Singaporean masses don't really give two hoots whether their English is good or not.
Like I said earlier, if companies don't even do their part to ensure proper English, society could very well degenerate into the whyyyy euuu daooo miiiiee kind of situation, something I don't really want to think about.
Furthermore, as we have often proved, only those high up in the corporate ladder actually need the proper English, for those working in the lower rungs do not have to face international clients, nor do they have to provide an image of Singapore as a city of education and opportunities. Those in the lower rungs, no offence, can be contented to sit there, and continue speaking the mix of Hokkin, Teochew, English, Chinese and Malay that so characterises a Singaporean like no other.

So, the choice is - sacrifice a 'national identity' for 'global prestige', or vice versa?