After having read the Senior Minister's memoirs, From Third World To First, many thoughts came surging into my mind. As a Singaporean and having lived through the earlier traumatic times, our present enviable economic success and high standards of living, all achieved within one generation, fill me with pride and gratitude.
In my frequent travels overseas, the Singaporean identity instantly commands respect, admiration and sometimes even awe from non Singaporeans.
They are impressed by our palpable affluence and heap accolades upon us for having an incorruptible and highly efficient government, a safe and green environment and a harmonious multiracial society that is worthy of emulation by others.
On the debit side, our detractors view us increasingly as a victim of our own success. They have branded us “ugly Singaporeans”。 Some of our neighbours quite justifiably find us overbearing, boastful and condescending towards them. Others see us as overly materialistic, somewhat uncouth and lacking in social graces. Hopefully, this is a transitional phase.
In a nutshell, there is consensus that our economic progress is not matched by a corresponding enhancement in our social behaviour.
To be objective, it is unrealistic to expect that Singapore can blossom into a cultured nation within a mere generation. Even leading immigrant societies with superior resources, like the United States, Canada and Australia, took many generations to reach their present level of sophistication and maturity.
Nevertheless, I find it gratifying that the Singaporean character has undergone a tremendously positive transformation compared with just two decades ago. we are now more courteous, more compassionate and more civic minded than ever before. What have brought this about？
The ongoing courtesy and kindness campaigns, the revamp of our education system and the beneficial impact of the mass media have certainly helped. But more importantly, as an increasing number of Singaporeans nowadays travel abroad regularly, they can see for themselves how much more pleasant and civilised life can be in a more cultivated community.
The obvious role models for us to emulate are Japan, New Zealand, Canada and the Scandinavian countries, where courtesy and mutual respect for each other is truly a way of life.
Lamentably, two Singaporean traits still stand out like a sore thumb and should be regarded with growing concern by all right-thinking people here： they are our utter selfishness and inconsideration towards others. This is clearly manifested in the irresponsible way many of us drive and park our vehicles, the indiscriminate use of hand phones and other electronic devices, unpunctual for business and private appointments, jumping queues with no guilt feelings, chattering in cinemas, public lectures and libraries, using force on others with the slightest pretext, to name just a few of our more glaring failings.
One astute foreigner has observed that there are two sides to our nature： a highly-developed family conscience contrasted with an under-developed social conscience. To our close relatives, kiths and kins and friends, we are caring, kind, helpful, indulgent and generous. To the public at large, we tend to behave quite differently believing that, as they are strangers to us, we have no social obligations to be civil to them.
It is this aspect of our psyche, which unfortunately is quite widespread, that makes us appear coarse to those coming from a more genteel community.
I must confess that I do not know where the real solution lies, or whether these unedifying character traits, if left uncorrected and in the absence of a strong peer pressure for change, will become too deeply-entrenched to get rid of later.
However, one thing is certain. Parents together with our educational authorities have a pivotal role to play in helping to mould and shape the character of our young in their formative years. Lets hope that the next generation of Singaporeans will usher in a society more gracious and considerate than the present one.（The writer is a retired lawyer）
新加坡人有社會(huì)良知嗎？
藍(lán)秉湖
讀完了李光耀內(nèi)閣資政回憶錄下冊(cè)后,使我思潮起伏。
新加坡機(jī)場(chǎng)一片翠綠。
作為一個(gè)新加坡公民,我經(jīng)歷過(guò)早期動(dòng)蕩不安的年代?，F(xiàn)在我們卻享有令人羨慕的經(jīng)濟(jì)成就和高水平生活。而這一切只是在一代人的時(shí)間里完成。想到這點(diǎn),我心里充滿自豪和感激。
我經(jīng)常出國(guó),也時(shí)常體驗(yàn)到當(dāng)一些外國(guó)人知道我是新加坡公民時(shí),油然而生的那種尊敬、贊賞、甚至驚嘆的感覺(jué)。
他們對(duì)我們的富裕有著深刻的印象。對(duì)我們擁有一個(gè)廉潔和高效率的政府、一個(gè)安全和翠綠的環(huán)境、和一個(gè)值得其他國(guó)家仿效的多元種族和諧社會(huì),更是贊不絕口。
另一方面,詆毀我們的人認(rèn)為我們的成就反而害了我們。他們稱我們?yōu)椤俺舐男录悠氯恕薄?BR> 一些鄰國(guó)的人民也覺(jué)得新加坡人很傲慢、喜歡自夸和看不起他們。這些說(shuō)法并不是毫無(wú)根據(jù)的。
也有一些人覺(jué)得我們太過(guò)注重物質(zhì)生活,粗魯和缺乏社交禮儀。我希望這些只是過(guò)渡時(shí)期的現(xiàn)象。
簡(jiǎn)括的說(shuō),很多人都覺(jué)得我們?cè)诮?jīng)濟(jì)上取得的進(jìn)步,并沒(méi)有相對(duì)的帶來(lái)更優(yōu)雅的社會(huì)行為。
客觀的說(shuō),要求新加坡在一代人的時(shí)間里,發(fā)展成一個(gè)文雅的國(guó)家,是不切實(shí)際的。就算具有優(yōu)質(zhì)資源的杰出移民社會(huì),譬如美國(guó),加拿大,和澳洲,也是經(jīng)過(guò)好幾代人的經(jīng)營(yíng),才達(dá)到目前的文化和修養(yǎng)水平。
不過(guò),跟20年前比較,新加坡人的特性已經(jīng)有了巨大和正面的轉(zhuǎn)變。這點(diǎn)令我感到非常欣慰。
我們變得更有禮貌,更有同情心,也更有公民意識(shí)。是什么原因促使我們改變呢？
每年舉行的禮貌運(yùn)動(dòng)和“日行一善”周,教育制度的改革,以及傳媒的有利影響,肯定有所幫助。
但更重要的是,經(jīng)常出國(guó)旅游的新加坡人越來(lái)越多。他們目睹了在一個(gè)文雅的社會(huì)里,人們可以過(guò)著更愉快和優(yōu)雅的生活。
日本,紐西蘭,加拿大和斯堪地那維亞諸國(guó),是我們學(xué)習(xí)的對(duì)象。在這些國(guó)家,禮貌和相互尊敬已經(jīng)完全成為一種生活方式。
很遺憾的,新加坡人的兩種格外令人反感的性格特征－自私自利和不為他人著想,到現(xiàn)在仍然沒(méi)有改善。我們應(yīng)該關(guān)注這種情況。這樣的例子為數(shù)不少,比較明顯的有：魯莽駕駛、非法停車、在不適當(dāng)?shù)膱?chǎng)所使用手機(jī)和其他電子設(shè)備、不守時(shí)赴約、插隊(duì)、在戲院,講座和圖書(shū)館喋喋不休的談?wù)摷皩?duì)他人使用暴力。
根據(jù)一個(gè)敏銳的外國(guó)人的觀察,新加坡人具有雙重性格：對(duì)家庭的高度責(zé)任感和薄弱的社會(huì)良知,兩者形成一個(gè)強(qiáng)烈的對(duì)比。
對(duì)我們的近親和好朋友,我們表現(xiàn)得關(guān)心、和藹、寬容、和慷慨,也不吝于施出援手。
對(duì)于其他的人,我們的行為和態(tài)度卻往往大不相同。因?yàn)楸舜瞬徽J(rèn)識(shí),我們覺(jué)得沒(méi)有必要對(duì)陌生人以禮相待。
不幸的是,這種心態(tài)相當(dāng)普遍。因此,在來(lái)自比較高雅的社會(huì)的人士的眼中,我們便顯得粗俗無(wú)禮。
我得承認(rèn)我不知道怎么克服這個(gè)問(wèn)題。如果沒(méi)有群體壓力促使人們改變這些令人厭惡的行為,我也不知道它們會(huì)不會(huì)因此變得根深蒂固而難以更改。
但是,有一點(diǎn)可以肯定,家長(zhǎng)和教育部在塑造成長(zhǎng)期年輕人的性格方面,扮演著關(guān)鍵性的角色。希望下一代的新加坡人能創(chuàng)造一個(gè)比現(xiàn)在更優(yōu)雅和更具愛(ài)心的社會(huì)。
In my frequent travels overseas, the Singaporean identity instantly commands respect, admiration and sometimes even awe from non Singaporeans.
They are impressed by our palpable affluence and heap accolades upon us for having an incorruptible and highly efficient government, a safe and green environment and a harmonious multiracial society that is worthy of emulation by others.
On the debit side, our detractors view us increasingly as a victim of our own success. They have branded us “ugly Singaporeans”。 Some of our neighbours quite justifiably find us overbearing, boastful and condescending towards them. Others see us as overly materialistic, somewhat uncouth and lacking in social graces. Hopefully, this is a transitional phase.
In a nutshell, there is consensus that our economic progress is not matched by a corresponding enhancement in our social behaviour.
To be objective, it is unrealistic to expect that Singapore can blossom into a cultured nation within a mere generation. Even leading immigrant societies with superior resources, like the United States, Canada and Australia, took many generations to reach their present level of sophistication and maturity.
Nevertheless, I find it gratifying that the Singaporean character has undergone a tremendously positive transformation compared with just two decades ago. we are now more courteous, more compassionate and more civic minded than ever before. What have brought this about？
The ongoing courtesy and kindness campaigns, the revamp of our education system and the beneficial impact of the mass media have certainly helped. But more importantly, as an increasing number of Singaporeans nowadays travel abroad regularly, they can see for themselves how much more pleasant and civilised life can be in a more cultivated community.
The obvious role models for us to emulate are Japan, New Zealand, Canada and the Scandinavian countries, where courtesy and mutual respect for each other is truly a way of life.
Lamentably, two Singaporean traits still stand out like a sore thumb and should be regarded with growing concern by all right-thinking people here： they are our utter selfishness and inconsideration towards others. This is clearly manifested in the irresponsible way many of us drive and park our vehicles, the indiscriminate use of hand phones and other electronic devices, unpunctual for business and private appointments, jumping queues with no guilt feelings, chattering in cinemas, public lectures and libraries, using force on others with the slightest pretext, to name just a few of our more glaring failings.
One astute foreigner has observed that there are two sides to our nature： a highly-developed family conscience contrasted with an under-developed social conscience. To our close relatives, kiths and kins and friends, we are caring, kind, helpful, indulgent and generous. To the public at large, we tend to behave quite differently believing that, as they are strangers to us, we have no social obligations to be civil to them.
It is this aspect of our psyche, which unfortunately is quite widespread, that makes us appear coarse to those coming from a more genteel community.
I must confess that I do not know where the real solution lies, or whether these unedifying character traits, if left uncorrected and in the absence of a strong peer pressure for change, will become too deeply-entrenched to get rid of later.
However, one thing is certain. Parents together with our educational authorities have a pivotal role to play in helping to mould and shape the character of our young in their formative years. Lets hope that the next generation of Singaporeans will usher in a society more gracious and considerate than the present one.（The writer is a retired lawyer）
新加坡人有社會(huì)良知嗎？
藍(lán)秉湖
讀完了李光耀內(nèi)閣資政回憶錄下冊(cè)后,使我思潮起伏。
新加坡機(jī)場(chǎng)一片翠綠。
作為一個(gè)新加坡公民,我經(jīng)歷過(guò)早期動(dòng)蕩不安的年代?，F(xiàn)在我們卻享有令人羨慕的經(jīng)濟(jì)成就和高水平生活。而這一切只是在一代人的時(shí)間里完成。想到這點(diǎn),我心里充滿自豪和感激。
我經(jīng)常出國(guó),也時(shí)常體驗(yàn)到當(dāng)一些外國(guó)人知道我是新加坡公民時(shí),油然而生的那種尊敬、贊賞、甚至驚嘆的感覺(jué)。
他們對(duì)我們的富裕有著深刻的印象。對(duì)我們擁有一個(gè)廉潔和高效率的政府、一個(gè)安全和翠綠的環(huán)境、和一個(gè)值得其他國(guó)家仿效的多元種族和諧社會(huì),更是贊不絕口。
另一方面,詆毀我們的人認(rèn)為我們的成就反而害了我們。他們稱我們?yōu)椤俺舐男录悠氯恕薄?BR> 一些鄰國(guó)的人民也覺(jué)得新加坡人很傲慢、喜歡自夸和看不起他們。這些說(shuō)法并不是毫無(wú)根據(jù)的。
也有一些人覺(jué)得我們太過(guò)注重物質(zhì)生活,粗魯和缺乏社交禮儀。我希望這些只是過(guò)渡時(shí)期的現(xiàn)象。
簡(jiǎn)括的說(shuō),很多人都覺(jué)得我們?cè)诮?jīng)濟(jì)上取得的進(jìn)步,并沒(méi)有相對(duì)的帶來(lái)更優(yōu)雅的社會(huì)行為。
客觀的說(shuō),要求新加坡在一代人的時(shí)間里,發(fā)展成一個(gè)文雅的國(guó)家,是不切實(shí)際的。就算具有優(yōu)質(zhì)資源的杰出移民社會(huì),譬如美國(guó),加拿大,和澳洲,也是經(jīng)過(guò)好幾代人的經(jīng)營(yíng),才達(dá)到目前的文化和修養(yǎng)水平。
不過(guò),跟20年前比較,新加坡人的特性已經(jīng)有了巨大和正面的轉(zhuǎn)變。這點(diǎn)令我感到非常欣慰。
我們變得更有禮貌,更有同情心,也更有公民意識(shí)。是什么原因促使我們改變呢？
每年舉行的禮貌運(yùn)動(dòng)和“日行一善”周,教育制度的改革,以及傳媒的有利影響,肯定有所幫助。
但更重要的是,經(jīng)常出國(guó)旅游的新加坡人越來(lái)越多。他們目睹了在一個(gè)文雅的社會(huì)里,人們可以過(guò)著更愉快和優(yōu)雅的生活。
日本,紐西蘭,加拿大和斯堪地那維亞諸國(guó),是我們學(xué)習(xí)的對(duì)象。在這些國(guó)家,禮貌和相互尊敬已經(jīng)完全成為一種生活方式。
很遺憾的,新加坡人的兩種格外令人反感的性格特征－自私自利和不為他人著想,到現(xiàn)在仍然沒(méi)有改善。我們應(yīng)該關(guān)注這種情況。這樣的例子為數(shù)不少,比較明顯的有：魯莽駕駛、非法停車、在不適當(dāng)?shù)膱?chǎng)所使用手機(jī)和其他電子設(shè)備、不守時(shí)赴約、插隊(duì)、在戲院,講座和圖書(shū)館喋喋不休的談?wù)摷皩?duì)他人使用暴力。
根據(jù)一個(gè)敏銳的外國(guó)人的觀察,新加坡人具有雙重性格：對(duì)家庭的高度責(zé)任感和薄弱的社會(huì)良知,兩者形成一個(gè)強(qiáng)烈的對(duì)比。
對(duì)我們的近親和好朋友,我們表現(xiàn)得關(guān)心、和藹、寬容、和慷慨,也不吝于施出援手。
對(duì)于其他的人,我們的行為和態(tài)度卻往往大不相同。因?yàn)楸舜瞬徽J(rèn)識(shí),我們覺(jué)得沒(méi)有必要對(duì)陌生人以禮相待。
不幸的是,這種心態(tài)相當(dāng)普遍。因此,在來(lái)自比較高雅的社會(huì)的人士的眼中,我們便顯得粗俗無(wú)禮。
我得承認(rèn)我不知道怎么克服這個(gè)問(wèn)題。如果沒(méi)有群體壓力促使人們改變這些令人厭惡的行為,我也不知道它們會(huì)不會(huì)因此變得根深蒂固而難以更改。
但是,有一點(diǎn)可以肯定,家長(zhǎng)和教育部在塑造成長(zhǎng)期年輕人的性格方面,扮演著關(guān)鍵性的角色。希望下一代的新加坡人能創(chuàng)造一個(gè)比現(xiàn)在更優(yōu)雅和更具愛(ài)心的社會(huì)。