this is probably insignificant, but i just shared a table with a
tourist sri lankan's over lunch in busy little india at noon today.
he came over as there were no other table available. we started
chatting not long after....
a retired engineer at almost 70, he came to buy machine parts to
take back home. first came in 1973, he loved singapore back then
when things were simple, orderly and affordable. he lamented
singapore has changed since (obviously).
keep the long story short, he said the singapore today is fueled by
money. he sees no `life' in the people here, nor compassion. all
activities and daily activities are driven by 2 things, the need to
survive (for the lesser ones), and the need to accumulate material
things (for the ones who are successful). tt the old here need to
work to sustain themselves is a sad thing to him (of cos, the govt
here is putting a positive spin to it, otherwise, the poor here
will starve and the gahmen is too busy to look after those with a
short shelf life).....ultimately, he thinks tt singapore will
falter (badly). he said all this without me even prompting or
skewing our conversation. obviously, he sees something he not
entirely comfortable with.
i listen more than i talk....obviously, since he has `taken more
salt than i have rice'...so i know my place. separately, he also
said something to me that pricked me and now has make me look at
things from a different perspective. he said, "today, i eat when i
need to, not when i want to".
as i got up from my chair to said my leave as he continues to munch
his simple meal of rice, fish and curry, he just look at me and
said, "this rice has too much starch...it is no good". i took it as
an analogy of singapore has too much focus on the wrong
thing,.....and this is no good.
i walked away, no doubt feeling slightly uncomfortable clutching
the new dvd player i just bought at mustaffa....
