At a recent wedding dinner of the daughter of an old friend, I met some former colleagues whom I had not seen for ages. Like me, they had also retired from the civil service. We had a good time catching up with one another. But in addition to trivialities, we also talked about the more serious issue of pension.
As it was a matter of personal interest, the discussion drew enthusiastic comments from many. A suggestion was made for Li to write to the Forum page of the press on the financial status of retired civil servants and make a case for the monthy allowance to be adjusted.
Li had no objection to writing the letter - on condition that he would not have to put his real name to it. He was afraid of repercussions and getting more than he had bargained for. Here in Singapore, he felt, the wise thing to do was not to make too many public views.
On my way home, I pondered what Li had said. Is the fear a leftover from history that still haunts people or is it a self-created suspicion？
The ruthlessness of politics in human history can leave one terror-striken. But even if the feeling is as nerve-wracking as coming face to face with a “ghost”, the question is： “Has anyone really seen a ghost？” Ghost stories are just hearsay, not backed by any scientific evidence.
And history tells us that there have been rulers who, at critical times, deliberately created a “ghostly” atmosphere, to control the minds of the people and consolidate their gains and power.
There are, of course, those who are “ghost-fearing” and those who are not. But it is the latter, who, with great drive and determination, and a conviction that “science will prevail over superstitions”, who have created the civilisation we have today.
Unfortunately, this has not diminished the “fear of ghosts”。 And people are still wary of “political repercussions.” The power of this paralysing sense of fear has driven some to a blind spot where they cannot see matters in perspective.
They believe that by expressing views critical of the government, their behaviour will be labelled anti-state and anti-government. Furthermore, this mistaken notion has swung the pendulum to the other extreme - they are convinced that keeping silent and keeping out of trouble is the safest way to live.
Even now, many are still worried about “saying the wrong things” on non-political issues, preferring instead, to sit on the fence. It is an urgent task to help them break out of this self-imposed mentality of remaining “silent”。
This “irrational fear” is a result of being over-sensitive. It is also the legacy of a particular time and situation.
But to build a more vibrant and dynamic society, Singaporeans must overcome this feeling of needless fear.
（The witer is a retired civil servant . Translated by Yap Gee Poh.）
沒有理由怕發(fā)言
梁啟留
在老謝嫁女婚宴上,幾位多年不見面的老同事久別重逢,無所不談,從身邊瑣事談到養(yǎng)老金問題。
尤其養(yǎng)老金問題談得格外熱烈,這關(guān)系切身利益。其中有人建議由老李負(fù)責(zé)投函報館,反映退休公務(wù)員目前經(jīng)濟(jì)情況,以便向政府建議能否調(diào)整退休者的每月津貼額。
對此建議,老李不表異議。不過,卻附帶條件：雖說稿件由他來寫,但拒絕稿上署真實(shí)姓名。原因恐怕日后被受牽連,得不償失。其意認(rèn)為要在新加坡住得安全,少提意見,是明智之舉。
宴畢后,在歸途中,我反思剛才老李那一番話。想一想,這究竟是過去人類歷史所留下的陰影,還是一種心理上杯弓蛇影在作祟呢？
說起過去人類歷史所留下的陰影,即政治黑暗令人驚心膽破,宛如見“鬼”就怕般感覺。但“鬼”有誰見過？那只是道途聽說,毫無一點(diǎn)科學(xué)根據(jù)。
然而,歷有些統(tǒng)治者,卻利用非常時期,特意制造黑幕沉沉,“鬼”氣陰森的恐怖氣氛,以求駕駛?cè)嗣袼枷?鞏固其既得利益和地位的目的。
在社會變革中,當(dāng)然有怕“鬼”和不怕“鬼”的一群。尤其那些不識“鬼”為何物的社會,他們就憑著一股沖勁和執(zhí)著感情,相信“科學(xué)必戰(zhàn)勝迷信”的信念,推動社會進(jìn)步,造就今日人類社會文明。
但社會文明并沒有削弱人們“怕鬼”的心態(tài)；而人類文明也沒有解凍對政治的恐怯。這種杯弓蛇影的懾駭力,卻把人類美好的信念,無情地推向一個錯誤的盲點(diǎn)。
他們認(rèn)為舉凡批評政府,將被指為反國家、反政府的行為。這種誤導(dǎo)性氣氛,似乎逼使人類走向另一個環(huán)境,即保持沉默和明哲保身是最安全的生活方式。
時至今日,許多非政治性的意見或談話,人們也因“怕錯”而不敢表達(dá),采取靠邊站觀望態(tài)度。所以如何讓他們在自捆的“沉默”心態(tài)中解脫出來,是當(dāng)務(wù)之急。
其實(shí),“沒有理由的怕”是精神反應(yīng)過敏,也是某個時期特定的環(huán)境所留下杯弓蛇影的后遺癥。
新加坡人若不改變這種無謂“怯怕”心理,對建立一個具有生命活力,朝氣蓬勃的新社會是不利的。
As it was a matter of personal interest, the discussion drew enthusiastic comments from many. A suggestion was made for Li to write to the Forum page of the press on the financial status of retired civil servants and make a case for the monthy allowance to be adjusted.
Li had no objection to writing the letter - on condition that he would not have to put his real name to it. He was afraid of repercussions and getting more than he had bargained for. Here in Singapore, he felt, the wise thing to do was not to make too many public views.
On my way home, I pondered what Li had said. Is the fear a leftover from history that still haunts people or is it a self-created suspicion？
The ruthlessness of politics in human history can leave one terror-striken. But even if the feeling is as nerve-wracking as coming face to face with a “ghost”, the question is： “Has anyone really seen a ghost？” Ghost stories are just hearsay, not backed by any scientific evidence.
And history tells us that there have been rulers who, at critical times, deliberately created a “ghostly” atmosphere, to control the minds of the people and consolidate their gains and power.
There are, of course, those who are “ghost-fearing” and those who are not. But it is the latter, who, with great drive and determination, and a conviction that “science will prevail over superstitions”, who have created the civilisation we have today.
Unfortunately, this has not diminished the “fear of ghosts”。 And people are still wary of “political repercussions.” The power of this paralysing sense of fear has driven some to a blind spot where they cannot see matters in perspective.
They believe that by expressing views critical of the government, their behaviour will be labelled anti-state and anti-government. Furthermore, this mistaken notion has swung the pendulum to the other extreme - they are convinced that keeping silent and keeping out of trouble is the safest way to live.
Even now, many are still worried about “saying the wrong things” on non-political issues, preferring instead, to sit on the fence. It is an urgent task to help them break out of this self-imposed mentality of remaining “silent”。
This “irrational fear” is a result of being over-sensitive. It is also the legacy of a particular time and situation.
But to build a more vibrant and dynamic society, Singaporeans must overcome this feeling of needless fear.
（The witer is a retired civil servant . Translated by Yap Gee Poh.）
沒有理由怕發(fā)言
梁啟留
在老謝嫁女婚宴上,幾位多年不見面的老同事久別重逢,無所不談,從身邊瑣事談到養(yǎng)老金問題。
尤其養(yǎng)老金問題談得格外熱烈,這關(guān)系切身利益。其中有人建議由老李負(fù)責(zé)投函報館,反映退休公務(wù)員目前經(jīng)濟(jì)情況,以便向政府建議能否調(diào)整退休者的每月津貼額。
對此建議,老李不表異議。不過,卻附帶條件：雖說稿件由他來寫,但拒絕稿上署真實(shí)姓名。原因恐怕日后被受牽連,得不償失。其意認(rèn)為要在新加坡住得安全,少提意見,是明智之舉。
宴畢后,在歸途中,我反思剛才老李那一番話。想一想,這究竟是過去人類歷史所留下的陰影,還是一種心理上杯弓蛇影在作祟呢？
說起過去人類歷史所留下的陰影,即政治黑暗令人驚心膽破,宛如見“鬼”就怕般感覺。但“鬼”有誰見過？那只是道途聽說,毫無一點(diǎn)科學(xué)根據(jù)。
然而,歷有些統(tǒng)治者,卻利用非常時期,特意制造黑幕沉沉,“鬼”氣陰森的恐怖氣氛,以求駕駛?cè)嗣袼枷?鞏固其既得利益和地位的目的。
在社會變革中,當(dāng)然有怕“鬼”和不怕“鬼”的一群。尤其那些不識“鬼”為何物的社會,他們就憑著一股沖勁和執(zhí)著感情,相信“科學(xué)必戰(zhàn)勝迷信”的信念,推動社會進(jìn)步,造就今日人類社會文明。
但社會文明并沒有削弱人們“怕鬼”的心態(tài)；而人類文明也沒有解凍對政治的恐怯。這種杯弓蛇影的懾駭力,卻把人類美好的信念,無情地推向一個錯誤的盲點(diǎn)。
他們認(rèn)為舉凡批評政府,將被指為反國家、反政府的行為。這種誤導(dǎo)性氣氛,似乎逼使人類走向另一個環(huán)境,即保持沉默和明哲保身是最安全的生活方式。
時至今日,許多非政治性的意見或談話,人們也因“怕錯”而不敢表達(dá),采取靠邊站觀望態(tài)度。所以如何讓他們在自捆的“沉默”心態(tài)中解脫出來,是當(dāng)務(wù)之急。
其實(shí),“沒有理由的怕”是精神反應(yīng)過敏,也是某個時期特定的環(huán)境所留下杯弓蛇影的后遺癥。
新加坡人若不改變這種無謂“怯怕”心理,對建立一個具有生命活力,朝氣蓬勃的新社會是不利的。