A farmer's life deserves
respect
Letter from Natalie Cheong 04:46 AM
Apr 04, 2011
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has been
quoted as saying of people in less-developed countries: "Because
they don't know what life is, they're quite happy. They wake up,
they brush their teeth, then they'll farm, and then they'll sleep.
But do you want it that way?". What concerns me is the assumption
that all farmers in less-developed countries do not understand what
life is.
I have worked with farmers in Vietnam who
have grown up in marginalised indigenous communities. They are able
to read and write in English and think more critically than many
Singaporeans I have met. They are able to use the Internet and even
have Facebook. They humble me with their know-how and adaptability
in farming - a skill that has been long-lost in my
generation.
Farmers like them help to supply our
country's people with 90 per cent of our food. These are the unsung
and financially unrewarded people who have contributed to the
success of Singapore today. They are also the people whom millions
will rely on to be highly adaptive and resilient in light of
changing environmental conditions brought about by climate
change.
I am 22 years of age and do not claim to
have a comprehensive understanding of what life is. But I do know
that happiness, which is not based on disregard for others, is
central to what I would want my country to have.
