Why are we grumbling?
Perhaps the more pertinent question is: why arent we doing anything
about it?
It pains me to see students/professionals/teachers professing to
want to contribute to Singapore (in their scholarship interviews,
CVs) and yet not understand simple political issues and realities.
It is understandable that most tow the government line; but it is
most unfortunate that most do so not out of agreement with
government policy, but out of pure indifference.
Chinese have been known to be politically apathetic; an old saying
goes " he does not concern himself with who the ruler is, but
whether the ruler is just (competent)". China, for example, faces
the same problem, no matter how nationalistic the PRCs may be.
Taiwan and Hongkong, though, ruled by a military junta and a
moneythestic colonial government respectively for most of their
histories, have shown that they could break out of this mould and
develop politically active societies.
However, if a country has to come up tops in this aspect, it must
surely be Singapore - presidential walkovers, MPs who've never
fought an election, can attest to this. It is not enough to heap
blame solely on the government, though they might seem
contradictory at times when encouraging a civil society; the people
in Singapore must bear responsibility. ÆÛÉÆŶñ (lit. bully the
kind and afraid of the evil) will be an apt term here. Superiors
rant and rave at their subordinates, experienced forumers insult
less astute ones etc. Yet, self interest prevails when the
government threatens them with upgrading, with poor economies etc.
Hence, it is tenable to argue that most singaporeans care not of
the government, its polices, or other people, but care only about
themselves.
(this post is getting too long)
Enough of the finger-pointing-behind-the-back and
whining-to-your-spouse. Stand up, and if enough do, a difference
can be made.
