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Articles on Singapore Matters:

Singaporeans should be mindful of others

It is common courtesy to be mindful of others. Recently I experienced something that I am utterly shock about the behaviour of some Singaporeans. Not that I am a foreigner or something. I have been living in Singapore like forever but sometimes I just could not comprehend the behaviour of mindless people in Singapore.

Recently, I was at a bus stop at the National Library. I was waiting for my bus to get home. As it was in the evening, it was rush-hour and the entire bus stop was filled with eagerly awaiting people waiting for their buses.

Here is what shocks me. As a bus was approaching towards our bus stop, suddenly a crowd of people just rushed and gathered at the front of the bus stop, pushing and shoving each other. I could see snares and glares of some of the faces. No one is giving way, so much so that there were even a few suicidal ones who would even stand on the road, obstructing the oncoming bus. My goodness I thought, it seems like the herd has just gone MAD...Only until the bus captain had honked them, did they stepped back.

I was taken aback by such behaviours. In their act of lunacy of trying to get on the bus they could have gotten somebody hurt.

When I finally boarded the bus, passengers in front would not move to the rear. That makes it really difficult for others to board the bus. There were others behind of me trying to push their way in and for my discomfort, I had a lady infront of me. The pushing and shoving lasted a few seconds and each time I was banging into her unintentionally. I apologize each time I touched her, again unintentionally. Embarassing to say the least.

I realize we do not have the graciouness of thinking for others but only for ourselves. I could not comprehend, is it our upbringing or is it our Government's fault. Honestly I am still searching for an answer. Maybe we just have to look at ourselves.

As a young adult, I just couldn’t think that even the grown-ups would do such things!…I think that Singaporeans should learn to be more mindful when they are in such situations. They should not just think for themselves, and be so insensitive to others…Just how would they feel if they put themselves in other people’s shoes?…

Vincent Kool
Singapore
09 Nov 2006

Filial piety the way to go

As our society heads towards modernisation there seems to be cases whereby younger adults neglect and abandon their parents after they became independent. That is really sad.

I think young adults should remember that our parents do not have the luxury of thinking about themselves when they were young. 30 years back then survival is the utmost important. Their jobs back then were considered secured unlike now. Back then there was no Financial Planning, Unit Trust or flashy financial products. Back then all they could think of was to bring their children up so that in return the children will be their financial security of old age. There weren't savings for themselves. All savings were plough to their children whenever possible.

These actions about neglecting and abandoning are regarded as one of the most disrespectful and unacceptable. They certainly did not think of the sufferings their parents went through, the amount of money needed to bring them up. Once they feel they have the ability and the money to lead their own lives’, they would leave their parents alone.

I had personally witnessed such acts of disrespect and recently there was one particular instance which I would like to share.

There was a kind and polite sweeper who cleans my block daily. Unfortunately, he had a daughter who felt that she was from a poor family and could not accept the fact that his dad is a sweeper. The daughter only return home only once every fortnight, leaving his dad alone at home for most of the time. This old man would finish work daily around noon and he would return to an empty home. He told me he felt very lonely at home.

He explain what he had at home, only a TV to contend with and how he would spend most of his days yearning for his daughter to come back often to see him. His wife has already passed away.

Every morning, I would chat with him whenever I see him. Looking at his lonely expression, the least I could do is to comfort him. What he really needs now is his daughter’s love.

In my opinion, I feel that young adults must take good care of their parents even though they do not come from a rich family. They should reflect on their actions and think twice. Our parents had sacrificed their time and energy just to bring us up…We should treat the same way as our parents had treated us. Remember, nothing is worth more than a parents’ love.

Vincent Kool
Singapore
09 Nov 2006

Teens and Social Problems in Singapore

This article concerns the teens and students of Singapore. Singapore as a society has become more liberal. Citizens have more say and issues can be raised freely so to speak. However I felt as a young adult, with freedom of speech comes societall problems.

I used to listen to my father's stories when he was young and the mention of discipline was very high on the list of "have to's" and "a must" in schools as well as homes. Everthing then has to have a line drawn. Crossed that line and we are punished heavily.

That was "Then" but fast forward to this is "Now". As a society matures and prospers there is no doubt that rules or regulations will inevitably be more relaxed. I am not trying to suggest more rules but I am merely suggesting that behind all these transpire another set of social problems.

For example, the teens in my school have become so bad in discipline with horrendous and unacceptable attitude. I was a little taken a back by this but I soon found out that it was happening all over in Singapore. I ca't say for the other countries because I have not heard or seen anything like that before. Parents or citizens have taken over control of the "how you should treat my child?" The schools of today are unlike my father's generation whereby discipline are paramount to having

Misbehaviour of students and teens these days are like an understatement. They are more like disruptive, dare I say that some are even destructive. Now here is the problem but as a young adult I am looking at who's to blame. Is it the Country, the Government, the Ministry, the School or the parent. But I am little more objective. Lets look how can we solve this societal disease.

Just one simple solution and if that is something that could be done or even implemented so much the better. Bring back the discipline approach that has been long gone. We cannot force learning but we can enforce discipline. Regiment the approach towards disruptive teens and students. That way they do not influence or affect those teens or students that really wants to learn.

Vincent Kool
Singapore
14 Nov 2006
www.vincraineyble.blogspot.com

The Kampong Spirit Lives On

Kampong is a word in malay meaning village. Singapore in the early part of its independence and even before have been shrouded in many villages or Kampongs. Even till now when Singapore is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city, the spirit of Kampongness still lives on.

While the thick forest and atap houses have made way for modern flats and malls, the community spirit is still something tampines residents are proud of.

The Transformation of Tampines
Tampines has the distinction of being the first regional town centre in Singapore. Development began in the 1970s and schools, Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats, markets and parks were built, making Tampines New Town the institutional, social, recreational and commercial hub of the eastern part of Singapore.

Today, this self-sufficient town houses a population of 200,000 people in 52,000 HDB Flats on 424 hectares of land. In 1993, the Tampines New Town won the prestigious United Nations "World Habitat Award for Excellence in Housing Design". This award was in recognition of Singapore's outstanding contribution towards human settlement and development and the excellent housing standard is examplified by Tampines. The interchange area has also become even more bustling with Century Square and Tampines Mall housing a variety of retail shops, eating establishments and cinemas.

Love Thy Neighbour
Today, it isn't difficult to spot neighbours from all races chatting with each other at the markets and malls. Hence, despite its transformation into a modern and self-contained town, this warm neighbourliness and sense of belonging among residents is still very much evident now. Residents both young and old take part in activities such as the regular cleaning and pruning of plants. It is this social responsibility spirit among residents that helps us in maintaining a cleaner and better living environment for all of us.

Tampines is indeed a place to live in and the intelligent town of the future. Creative parks and beautifully landscaped gardens contribute to a serene and scenic living environment for both the young and old.

Spring - North East
Singapore
24 Dec 2004