I always enjoy watching kids play. Black or white,
girls and boys, they would innocently mingle with one another,
rich or poor, here in our homeland. When you talk to them, they
seem to have high hopes and confidence in their future -
to be teacher, a lawyer, a doctor, a soldier to protect the
country, etc, in their sweet smiles and wide opened bright
eyes.
When they reach secondary schools, some of the innocence is
sadly lost. They begin to be more aware of each other, and hidden
fault lines that once was not there starts to appear.
Material wealth, favoritism, exam achievements divides them into
differing cliques. Being young and immature, and worse if the home
environment was not of the nurturing kind, they are
unaware of their own potential - some be good at academic subjects,
some just are slow starters. Some are good with hands, some good at
other things, things which are gifts that are inherent in every
human soul, unknown by them and only yet to be
realized....
I am saddened whenever I see intellectuals seeking to
protect their own self interest at the expense of others,
by looking down on others to make themself look
exclusive,ultimately dividing society into Them and US.
That IS NEVER the aim of education, for education was meant to
help and improve not only oneself, but others around him as
well.
The ah beng may not be an intellect in academic sense or
have excellent grasp in languages, but he is not without basic
senses and abilities, at times even abilities that
would put a PHD to shame. He is a human being, one of us.
He is where he is today, often not by choice, but
by negative influences, his environment, his self confidence
destroyed by a society hell bent on obtaining a degree, or be
deemed a faillure, as well as limited places and funds in
colleges and Uni. Should he be given funds and
time with a nurturing environment, he too may turn out to be a
PHD scholar.
But no society can support a nation of PHD scholars, more
so the monetary compensations it presumes that doctorate
should be entitled to. Each has his/her own natural
gift which complements and benefits society, and must be
allowed to grow and shine.
The ah beng is a fellow human, a fellow law abiding
citizen, just like anyone of us. He is equally hard working
and while may be capable of the worst, he/she would be
fully capable of the best for our society, if given the
chance, just like anyone else, you and me included.
There really is no THEM or US. They are us and we are
them - equal human first then citizens. We bleed the same, and
aspire the same, if given the chance. Let us not divide, but seek
ways to bridge our gaps, for we are ONE.
They too, were the bright eyed innocent kids with hopes and
aspirations just like everyone else, rich or poor, clever
or late bloomer, indian, malay, chinese, peranakan, or
mixed. This is Singapore, our heritage and our
future.