The title appears deceptively simple. For most people, their initial reaction would run along the lines of, “Is he mad ？ The social problems we face today stem from being too intolerant！ Look at road builles, fights, all the result of intolerance！”
Before you decide to move on from this column, hear me speak, and understand the destruction we bring upon ourselves.
As with all societies, behavioural patterns stem from upbringing. What we teach our children is what they turn out to be. Granted, there are some that have proven otherwise, but I speak of the masses, not the few.
Take the time to look around you. Look at the people and how they behave. Are we projecting the image of an ideal society ？ Nay, I say.
In our pursuit of all things material in this mad race we call life, many of us have become inconsiderate, selfish, and downright kiasu.
Kiasu. How that word stings my tongue, yet many embrace such a philosophy.
Darwinism dictates that the fittest will survive, and what better way to ensure survival than being kiasu？ Is that a good thing？
Society seems to think so, since kiasu-ism has been wholeheartedly embraced, to the point where marketing of Mr. Kiasu has actually become profitable and socially acceptable.
Got to have everything.
Got to be first in line.
Got to make sure my child gets only the best tutors so he will be first in standard.
Got to queue up early so I can get free textbooks, never mind that I have to double-park my BMW in that two lane street four blocks down.
Hey, there's a gap in the crowd waiting to get on board. I bet I can squeeze in front of that old man so I might be able to find a seat before he does, otherwise someone else will take it.
If it's free, I want one, never mind that I don't even need it, much less know what it is.
Since I've already paid for it, I might as well get the most of it. Besides, everyone else is piling their plates high enough to make Kuala Lumpur's Twin Towers look like Dwarf City.
I'm not in my own country, so their laws don't really apply to me. Besides, I'm a tourist. I bring them revenue. They should welcome me instead.
I could go on citing examples, if not for the fact that I'd be wasting a whole tree preaching to the deaf and blind.
We take things for granted, we take advantage of situations without regard for others, we teach our children to be selfless, kind, understanding, considerate, yet we don't practice what we preach.
And we're actually proud of it. So proud that we can actually have the cheek to merchandise our flaws.
Before you accuse me of being too tight in the pants, ask yourself this： Are you proud to be a Singaporean？ Note that I'm not asking if you are proud to be living in Singapore. I asked if you were proud to be a Singaporean. Tell me, what's there to be proud of？
Have you ever wondered what foreigners think of us ？ You should, especially if you're kiasu, since you'd want to know the praises people sing of us. Excuse me, but I hate to burst your bubble.
People overseas are saying that Singapore is a clean, safe, stable and a wonderful place to live. It's a food heaven, shopping heaven, business heaven, somewhere you'd want to spend your twilight years. I'd bet that's making you feel real good now, doesn't it ？
Have you noticed that no one praises Singaporeans？ When was the last time you heard someone say that Singaporeans are a friendly lot, people who make strangers in their land feel even more at home than where they came from？
We have nothing to be proud of. Singapore is clean because we have people to clean up after us. It's safe because the government enforces laws that deter even the thought of crime. It's a food heaven because we're such a pampered society that we actually want, not need, variety, and because we're such gluttons that we create the demand.
Brand names scream from every corner of Orchard Road because we're such a superficial society, feeling good only in brand-name clothes, cars and homes.
That's the ugly truth. It's like having someone tell you that you have no taste. Even if it is true. It's nothing you want to hear, especially if it is the truth. And what is society doing about it？ It's encouraging it. Because there is a market for it.
If we want Singapore to step into the next millennium as a gracious society, to be respected for who we are as much as what we are, we have to change our mentality.
The first and hardest step comes with accepting the flaws in ourselves, so we can start to change.
Let us see what a gracious society we can become, and see things positively. Let the government take steps by encouraging virtues, not discouraging vices. Let us learn to look away from what we may lose out and instead treasure the newfound virtues we develop. We aren't a perfect society, but there's nothing stopping us from striving for graciousness and good manners.
By now, some of you reading this may think that I'm：
a. Pessimistic
b. Hypocritical
c. Brash
d. All of the above and more
Some of you will even comment on how idealistic I am.
Think what you will, but I have simply pointed out the ugly Singaporean, and prescribed a simple answer to our next moral challenge. Having challenged the status quo, I challenge you to change.
（ This is an abridged version of the article first published in The Graduate magazine （April 1999 ） of the NUSS）
今日新加坡社會(huì)：我們是否過(guò)于容忍？
這個(gè)標(biāo)題似乎很簡(jiǎn)單。多數(shù)人的第一個(gè)反應(yīng)就是：“這個(gè)人瘋了嗎？我們今天所面對(duì)的社會(huì)問(wèn)題就是因?yàn)槲覀兲珱](méi)有容忍精神了！路霸、打架事件等,都是缺乏容忍而引起的！”
在你決定不看這篇文章之前,且聽我解釋,并了解我們?nèi)绾握跒樽约簬?lái)禍害。
在所有的社會(huì)里,人們的言行舉止是根據(jù)小時(shí)候的教養(yǎng)所調(diào)教出來(lái)的。我們?cè)鯓咏涛覀兊暮⒆?他們長(zhǎng)大后就變成怎樣的人。當(dāng)然,有時(shí)會(huì)有例外,但我指的是一般而不是個(gè)別的情況。
放眼四顧,看看我們周遭的人和他們的言行舉止,我們是否呈現(xiàn)一個(gè)理想社會(huì)的形象？非也！
正當(dāng)我們?cè)谏钪凶非笪镔|(zhì)財(cái)富時(shí),我們當(dāng)中很多人已經(jīng)變得不為他人著想、自私、甚至怕輸。
怕輸。多么令我討厭的一個(gè)詞！但不少人卻接受這個(gè)人生哲學(xué)。
達(dá)爾文說(shuō),適者生存,而求存的佳方法莫過(guò)于怕輸。
但這是一件好事嗎？我們的社會(huì)似乎覺(jué)得的確是一件好事,怕輸心態(tài)已經(jīng)被全盤接受,而“怕輸先生”的促銷也已變得有利可圖,被廣大社會(huì)接受。
什么都要。
樣樣都要排第一。
要確保我的孩子有好的補(bǔ)習(xí)教師,這樣才能考到全級(jí)第一。
要提早排隊(duì)領(lǐng)取免費(fèi)課本。就算我得把我的寶馬轎車停在4條街外的雙向車道上的另一部車旁邊,也不算什么。
咦,等著上車的人群中有一個(gè)空隙。想必能夠擠在那個(gè)老人的前頭,上車后或能搶先找個(gè)座位,不然其他人會(huì)霸占那個(gè)座位。
是免費(fèi)的我就要,就算我不需要那件東西,或根本不知道那件東西是什么,我還是照拿。
既然付了錢,就吃個(gè)夠本吧。何況其他人也把盤子疊得高高的,相比之下,連吉隆坡的雙峰塔也變成了小人國(guó)。
我身在國(guó)外,他們的法律與我無(wú)關(guān)。何況我身為旅客,為他們國(guó)家?guī)?lái)外匯,他們應(yīng)該歡迎我才對(duì)。
我能夠繼續(xù)舉例,但我不想浪費(fèi)一整棵樹的紙張來(lái)對(duì)聾人和盲人訓(xùn)話。我們就認(rèn)了吧。
我們把各事物當(dāng)成理所當(dāng)然。我們?cè)O(shè)法從每一個(gè)情況中索取好處,從不為他人著想。我們教導(dǎo)孩子們不要自私自利、要有愛(ài)心、要體諒他人、處處為他人著想,但我們自己的言行卻不一致。而我們還引以為榮,以致我們竟厚著臉皮兜售我們的缺點(diǎn)。
在說(shuō)我過(guò)于挑剔之前,你得先問(wèn)問(wèn)自己：你以身為新加坡人為榮嗎？請(qǐng)注意,我不是問(wèn)你是否以居住在新加坡為榮,而是你是否以身為新加坡人為榮。請(qǐng)告訴我,有什么地方是值得我們驕傲的？
你是否曾經(jīng)想過(guò),外國(guó)人是怎樣看我們的？如果你怕輸?shù)脑?你更應(yīng)該想一想這個(gè)問(wèn)題,因?yàn)槟惚囟ê芟胫绖e人是如何稱贊我們的。但很抱歉,我得刺破你的幻想泡沫。
外國(guó)人都說(shuō)新加坡是一個(gè)干凈、安全、穩(wěn)定和美好的居住地方。
新加坡是一個(gè)美食天堂、購(gòu)物天堂、商業(yè)天堂,是一個(gè)你要安享晚年的地方。你現(xiàn)在可感到飄飄然了吧？
你是否注意到從來(lái)沒(méi)有人稱贊新加坡人？你什么時(shí)候聽說(shuō)過(guò)有人說(shuō)新加坡人是友善的一群,讓外國(guó)人有賓至如歸的感覺(jué)？
我們并沒(méi)有什么東西值得我們驕傲。新加坡之所以干凈,是因?yàn)槲覀冇星鍧嵐と颂嫖覀兪帐皻埦?。新加坡之所以安?是因?yàn)檎鶎?shí)施的法律,使我們對(duì)犯法的行為想都不敢想。新加坡之所以是一個(gè)美食天堂,是因?yàn)槲覀兊纳鐣?huì)太會(huì)享福,我們貪吃,要求食物多樣化,產(chǎn)生了這個(gè)需求。
烏節(jié)路上到處都是商品,顯示我們的社會(huì)是多么的膚淺,只滿足于衣物、汽車和房子。
這是個(gè)丑陋的事實(shí)。這好比有人對(duì)你說(shuō)你沒(méi)有品味。就算千真萬(wàn)確,你也不愿聽到,特別是事實(shí)真是如此的時(shí)候。我們的社會(huì)作出了什么反應(yīng)？我們正在鼓勵(lì)這種行為,因?yàn)樯鐣?huì)上有這方面的需求。
若我們要新加坡以優(yōu)雅社會(huì)的姿態(tài)步入下一個(gè)千禧年,使別人因我們的身分和性格尊敬我們的話,我們就必須改變思維。
開頭的第一步——也是艱難的一步——就是接受我們內(nèi)在的缺點(diǎn),這樣我們便能夠開始改變自己。
讓我們看看我們能夠變成一個(gè)怎么樣的優(yōu)雅社會(huì),讓我們往好的方向看。讓政府鼓勵(lì)優(yōu)良品德,而不是勸阻不良行為。
讓我們不去計(jì)較我們可能失去的東西,而去珍惜我們的優(yōu)良品德。我們不是一個(gè)完美的社會(huì),但我們可以追求優(yōu)雅和有禮貌的社會(huì)。
在此,有些讀者們或許會(huì)認(rèn)為我很
一、悲觀
二、虛偽
三、莽撞
四、以上所有的選擇以及更多
你們當(dāng)中有些人更會(huì)說(shuō)我是理想主義者。
隨你們?cè)趺聪?我只不過(guò)形容了丑陋的新加坡人,并為我們下一個(gè)挑戰(zhàn)提供了一個(gè)簡(jiǎn)單的方法。在挑戰(zhàn)了社會(huì)現(xiàn)狀之后,我在此向你們作出改變自己的挑戰(zhàn)。
Before you decide to move on from this column, hear me speak, and understand the destruction we bring upon ourselves.
As with all societies, behavioural patterns stem from upbringing. What we teach our children is what they turn out to be. Granted, there are some that have proven otherwise, but I speak of the masses, not the few.
Take the time to look around you. Look at the people and how they behave. Are we projecting the image of an ideal society ？ Nay, I say.
In our pursuit of all things material in this mad race we call life, many of us have become inconsiderate, selfish, and downright kiasu.
Kiasu. How that word stings my tongue, yet many embrace such a philosophy.
Darwinism dictates that the fittest will survive, and what better way to ensure survival than being kiasu？ Is that a good thing？
Society seems to think so, since kiasu-ism has been wholeheartedly embraced, to the point where marketing of Mr. Kiasu has actually become profitable and socially acceptable.
Got to have everything.
Got to be first in line.
Got to make sure my child gets only the best tutors so he will be first in standard.
Got to queue up early so I can get free textbooks, never mind that I have to double-park my BMW in that two lane street four blocks down.
Hey, there's a gap in the crowd waiting to get on board. I bet I can squeeze in front of that old man so I might be able to find a seat before he does, otherwise someone else will take it.
If it's free, I want one, never mind that I don't even need it, much less know what it is.
Since I've already paid for it, I might as well get the most of it. Besides, everyone else is piling their plates high enough to make Kuala Lumpur's Twin Towers look like Dwarf City.
I'm not in my own country, so their laws don't really apply to me. Besides, I'm a tourist. I bring them revenue. They should welcome me instead.
I could go on citing examples, if not for the fact that I'd be wasting a whole tree preaching to the deaf and blind.
We take things for granted, we take advantage of situations without regard for others, we teach our children to be selfless, kind, understanding, considerate, yet we don't practice what we preach.
And we're actually proud of it. So proud that we can actually have the cheek to merchandise our flaws.
Before you accuse me of being too tight in the pants, ask yourself this： Are you proud to be a Singaporean？ Note that I'm not asking if you are proud to be living in Singapore. I asked if you were proud to be a Singaporean. Tell me, what's there to be proud of？
Have you ever wondered what foreigners think of us ？ You should, especially if you're kiasu, since you'd want to know the praises people sing of us. Excuse me, but I hate to burst your bubble.
People overseas are saying that Singapore is a clean, safe, stable and a wonderful place to live. It's a food heaven, shopping heaven, business heaven, somewhere you'd want to spend your twilight years. I'd bet that's making you feel real good now, doesn't it ？
Have you noticed that no one praises Singaporeans？ When was the last time you heard someone say that Singaporeans are a friendly lot, people who make strangers in their land feel even more at home than where they came from？
We have nothing to be proud of. Singapore is clean because we have people to clean up after us. It's safe because the government enforces laws that deter even the thought of crime. It's a food heaven because we're such a pampered society that we actually want, not need, variety, and because we're such gluttons that we create the demand.
Brand names scream from every corner of Orchard Road because we're such a superficial society, feeling good only in brand-name clothes, cars and homes.
That's the ugly truth. It's like having someone tell you that you have no taste. Even if it is true. It's nothing you want to hear, especially if it is the truth. And what is society doing about it？ It's encouraging it. Because there is a market for it.
If we want Singapore to step into the next millennium as a gracious society, to be respected for who we are as much as what we are, we have to change our mentality.
The first and hardest step comes with accepting the flaws in ourselves, so we can start to change.
Let us see what a gracious society we can become, and see things positively. Let the government take steps by encouraging virtues, not discouraging vices. Let us learn to look away from what we may lose out and instead treasure the newfound virtues we develop. We aren't a perfect society, but there's nothing stopping us from striving for graciousness and good manners.
By now, some of you reading this may think that I'm：
a. Pessimistic
b. Hypocritical
c. Brash
d. All of the above and more
Some of you will even comment on how idealistic I am.
Think what you will, but I have simply pointed out the ugly Singaporean, and prescribed a simple answer to our next moral challenge. Having challenged the status quo, I challenge you to change.
（ This is an abridged version of the article first published in The Graduate magazine （April 1999 ） of the NUSS）
今日新加坡社會(huì)：我們是否過(guò)于容忍？
這個(gè)標(biāo)題似乎很簡(jiǎn)單。多數(shù)人的第一個(gè)反應(yīng)就是：“這個(gè)人瘋了嗎？我們今天所面對(duì)的社會(huì)問(wèn)題就是因?yàn)槲覀兲珱](méi)有容忍精神了！路霸、打架事件等,都是缺乏容忍而引起的！”
在你決定不看這篇文章之前,且聽我解釋,并了解我們?nèi)绾握跒樽约簬?lái)禍害。
在所有的社會(huì)里,人們的言行舉止是根據(jù)小時(shí)候的教養(yǎng)所調(diào)教出來(lái)的。我們?cè)鯓咏涛覀兊暮⒆?他們長(zhǎng)大后就變成怎樣的人。當(dāng)然,有時(shí)會(huì)有例外,但我指的是一般而不是個(gè)別的情況。
放眼四顧,看看我們周遭的人和他們的言行舉止,我們是否呈現(xiàn)一個(gè)理想社會(huì)的形象？非也！
正當(dāng)我們?cè)谏钪凶非笪镔|(zhì)財(cái)富時(shí),我們當(dāng)中很多人已經(jīng)變得不為他人著想、自私、甚至怕輸。
怕輸。多么令我討厭的一個(gè)詞！但不少人卻接受這個(gè)人生哲學(xué)。
達(dá)爾文說(shuō),適者生存,而求存的佳方法莫過(guò)于怕輸。
但這是一件好事嗎？我們的社會(huì)似乎覺(jué)得的確是一件好事,怕輸心態(tài)已經(jīng)被全盤接受,而“怕輸先生”的促銷也已變得有利可圖,被廣大社會(huì)接受。
什么都要。
樣樣都要排第一。
要確保我的孩子有好的補(bǔ)習(xí)教師,這樣才能考到全級(jí)第一。
要提早排隊(duì)領(lǐng)取免費(fèi)課本。就算我得把我的寶馬轎車停在4條街外的雙向車道上的另一部車旁邊,也不算什么。
咦,等著上車的人群中有一個(gè)空隙。想必能夠擠在那個(gè)老人的前頭,上車后或能搶先找個(gè)座位,不然其他人會(huì)霸占那個(gè)座位。
是免費(fèi)的我就要,就算我不需要那件東西,或根本不知道那件東西是什么,我還是照拿。
既然付了錢,就吃個(gè)夠本吧。何況其他人也把盤子疊得高高的,相比之下,連吉隆坡的雙峰塔也變成了小人國(guó)。
我身在國(guó)外,他們的法律與我無(wú)關(guān)。何況我身為旅客,為他們國(guó)家?guī)?lái)外匯,他們應(yīng)該歡迎我才對(duì)。
我能夠繼續(xù)舉例,但我不想浪費(fèi)一整棵樹的紙張來(lái)對(duì)聾人和盲人訓(xùn)話。我們就認(rèn)了吧。
我們把各事物當(dāng)成理所當(dāng)然。我們?cè)O(shè)法從每一個(gè)情況中索取好處,從不為他人著想。我們教導(dǎo)孩子們不要自私自利、要有愛(ài)心、要體諒他人、處處為他人著想,但我們自己的言行卻不一致。而我們還引以為榮,以致我們竟厚著臉皮兜售我們的缺點(diǎn)。
在說(shuō)我過(guò)于挑剔之前,你得先問(wèn)問(wèn)自己：你以身為新加坡人為榮嗎？請(qǐng)注意,我不是問(wèn)你是否以居住在新加坡為榮,而是你是否以身為新加坡人為榮。請(qǐng)告訴我,有什么地方是值得我們驕傲的？
你是否曾經(jīng)想過(guò),外國(guó)人是怎樣看我們的？如果你怕輸?shù)脑?你更應(yīng)該想一想這個(gè)問(wèn)題,因?yàn)槟惚囟ê芟胫绖e人是如何稱贊我們的。但很抱歉,我得刺破你的幻想泡沫。
外國(guó)人都說(shuō)新加坡是一個(gè)干凈、安全、穩(wěn)定和美好的居住地方。
新加坡是一個(gè)美食天堂、購(gòu)物天堂、商業(yè)天堂,是一個(gè)你要安享晚年的地方。你現(xiàn)在可感到飄飄然了吧？
你是否注意到從來(lái)沒(méi)有人稱贊新加坡人？你什么時(shí)候聽說(shuō)過(guò)有人說(shuō)新加坡人是友善的一群,讓外國(guó)人有賓至如歸的感覺(jué)？
我們并沒(méi)有什么東西值得我們驕傲。新加坡之所以干凈,是因?yàn)槲覀冇星鍧嵐と颂嫖覀兪帐皻埦?。新加坡之所以安?是因?yàn)檎鶎?shí)施的法律,使我們對(duì)犯法的行為想都不敢想。新加坡之所以是一個(gè)美食天堂,是因?yàn)槲覀兊纳鐣?huì)太會(huì)享福,我們貪吃,要求食物多樣化,產(chǎn)生了這個(gè)需求。
烏節(jié)路上到處都是商品,顯示我們的社會(huì)是多么的膚淺,只滿足于衣物、汽車和房子。
這是個(gè)丑陋的事實(shí)。這好比有人對(duì)你說(shuō)你沒(méi)有品味。就算千真萬(wàn)確,你也不愿聽到,特別是事實(shí)真是如此的時(shí)候。我們的社會(huì)作出了什么反應(yīng)？我們正在鼓勵(lì)這種行為,因?yàn)樯鐣?huì)上有這方面的需求。
若我們要新加坡以優(yōu)雅社會(huì)的姿態(tài)步入下一個(gè)千禧年,使別人因我們的身分和性格尊敬我們的話,我們就必須改變思維。
開頭的第一步——也是艱難的一步——就是接受我們內(nèi)在的缺點(diǎn),這樣我們便能夠開始改變自己。
讓我們看看我們能夠變成一個(gè)怎么樣的優(yōu)雅社會(huì),讓我們往好的方向看。讓政府鼓勵(lì)優(yōu)良品德,而不是勸阻不良行為。
讓我們不去計(jì)較我們可能失去的東西,而去珍惜我們的優(yōu)良品德。我們不是一個(gè)完美的社會(huì),但我們可以追求優(yōu)雅和有禮貌的社會(huì)。
在此,有些讀者們或許會(huì)認(rèn)為我很
一、悲觀
二、虛偽
三、莽撞
四、以上所有的選擇以及更多
你們當(dāng)中有些人更會(huì)說(shuō)我是理想主義者。
隨你們?cè)趺聪?我只不過(guò)形容了丑陋的新加坡人,并為我們下一個(gè)挑戰(zhàn)提供了一個(gè)簡(jiǎn)單的方法。在挑戰(zhàn)了社會(huì)現(xiàn)狀之后,我在此向你們作出改變自己的挑戰(zhàn)。