<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>rainnix <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>9:41 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>rainnix <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (2 of 2) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>30658.2 in reply to 30658.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>BornSingaporean on Fri, 26th Mar 2010 12:12 pm
Born in 1965, the year of our independence, I cannot but help feel a sense of betrayal and rejection. My parents were, like most of ours, immigrants who chose to come here for an opportunity of a better life. They did everything that was necessary to ensure that their offsprings would have a better shot at prosperity and personal progress. They saw the govt (at that time) as being the captains of the ship and they were the crew. Instructions were carried out with little or no dissent, not out of fear, but rather out of the intense desire that it will lead to a better life for their kids.
We understood(then) on the need for a strong defence. So we never questioned the idea for National Service. At one point, we were told to beware of over populating ourselves so as not to stretch limited resources. We understood and some of us even went ahead and took permanent steps. Our parents realised that education was the only way to escape the poverty trap. So that became their sole aim. To give their kids that golden ticket
The point here is that our parents did what was right and necessary so that their children could have a better life. We in turn are doing the same. We built this nation from the bottom up. We educated ourselves , we defended our country, we raise our children to believe in the value of a good education and hard work. In other words, we did what we were supposed to do as responsible and law abiding citizens.
But now we hear that Singaporeans are “daft” “lesser mortals” “ungrateful” and so on. These coming from the very people who profess to be captains and navigators of the ship. Obviously they have not read Mutiny On The Bounty. I think somewhere in the evolution of our society, a gap developed between the ruling and the ruled. Many years of unfettered governing has led to a sense of arrogance and ” we know what’s good for them” mentality. And rather than reflect on ways to narrow this gap through honest discussion and genuine dialogue, they have resorted to name calling and dividing us into camps. Alternative views are labelled as immature rantings, requests for more transparency are brushed aside as though we are not important enough to know such details.
I am NOT against inviting people to join our family. However, being such a small nation, would it not be prudent to carefully choose new family members. One cannot help but feel that we are being replaced rather than being complemented with new Singaporeans.
We are not behemoths like China or the United States. However, as a small family, wouldn”t it be easier then for us to talk and discuss things and come to a common understanding? Thats what we did when I was growing up in my family. My parents were not always right. Sometimes, we as kids actually knew better. That was why our parents educated us. So we would know better and help the family progress. They actively listened and this helped narrow the gap.
Something is not right here in our family. There is alot of talking but very little listening. Some members are angry, some are in trouble, some are blissfully ignorant, some are oblivious, some are getting ready for a fight, some are getting ready to leave, some are helpless, some are hopeless, some think that it’s only temporary, some think it’s the end, some think its for the better, some think the worse is to come, some don’t want to think about it and some don’t care.
So how?
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Born in 1965, the year of our independence, I cannot but help feel a sense of betrayal and rejection. My parents were, like most of ours, immigrants who chose to come here for an opportunity of a better life. They did everything that was necessary to ensure that their offsprings would have a better shot at prosperity and personal progress. They saw the govt (at that time) as being the captains of the ship and they were the crew. Instructions were carried out with little or no dissent, not out of fear, but rather out of the intense desire that it will lead to a better life for their kids.
We understood(then) on the need for a strong defence. So we never questioned the idea for National Service. At one point, we were told to beware of over populating ourselves so as not to stretch limited resources. We understood and some of us even went ahead and took permanent steps. Our parents realised that education was the only way to escape the poverty trap. So that became their sole aim. To give their kids that golden ticket
The point here is that our parents did what was right and necessary so that their children could have a better life. We in turn are doing the same. We built this nation from the bottom up. We educated ourselves , we defended our country, we raise our children to believe in the value of a good education and hard work. In other words, we did what we were supposed to do as responsible and law abiding citizens.
But now we hear that Singaporeans are “daft” “lesser mortals” “ungrateful” and so on. These coming from the very people who profess to be captains and navigators of the ship. Obviously they have not read Mutiny On The Bounty. I think somewhere in the evolution of our society, a gap developed between the ruling and the ruled. Many years of unfettered governing has led to a sense of arrogance and ” we know what’s good for them” mentality. And rather than reflect on ways to narrow this gap through honest discussion and genuine dialogue, they have resorted to name calling and dividing us into camps. Alternative views are labelled as immature rantings, requests for more transparency are brushed aside as though we are not important enough to know such details.
I am NOT against inviting people to join our family. However, being such a small nation, would it not be prudent to carefully choose new family members. One cannot help but feel that we are being replaced rather than being complemented with new Singaporeans.
We are not behemoths like China or the United States. However, as a small family, wouldn”t it be easier then for us to talk and discuss things and come to a common understanding? Thats what we did when I was growing up in my family. My parents were not always right. Sometimes, we as kids actually knew better. That was why our parents educated us. So we would know better and help the family progress. They actively listened and this helped narrow the gap.
Something is not right here in our family. There is alot of talking but very little listening. Some members are angry, some are in trouble, some are blissfully ignorant, some are oblivious, some are getting ready for a fight, some are getting ready to leave, some are helpless, some are hopeless, some think that it’s only temporary, some think it’s the end, some think its for the better, some think the worse is to come, some don’t want to think about it and some don’t care.
So how?
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