Daily Lesson from Life 09 August 2008

09 August is the National Day for Singapore. It is now 43 years old!

There were a few debates in the cyberspace and on the local newspapers recently on if Singaporeans should be grateful to have a government dominated by a benign political party or to clamour for some more opposition parties representation in the parliament.

The inevitable arguments for are:

1. Singapore has come a long way from a fishing village under the Peple's Action Party (PAP) and Singaporeans should be grateful;

2. it will be wrong for Singaporeans to clamour for more opposition representation as it means we are ungrateful;

3. there is nothing seriously wrong with the system now so why rocked the boat; etc...

For me there is a need to distinguish between the heart and the head:

1. the head which represent rationality says:

- the system worked so far. Bu there are cracks appearing. We need to look at the cracks openly and try to understand what is causing the cracks to appear?;

- as leaders who have been very successful for a long period of time, there is a need to create a mechanism that actively promote critical feedback of the establishment and be prepared to truly listen to divergent, and even dissenting views, unless they involved race and religions, two sensitive topics that could destroy the stability upon which all other national building activities are based!;

- we have to in fact, cultivate critics, so that it will keep us honest and on our toes always!

2. the heart which represent emotion says:

- at 43 years old, we have grown up. We need to develop the man into an independently thinking man and yet has a heart to care for his/her people;

- we like the old, which have given us a lot, but it will be short-sighted if we don't look for the young and new for renewed purposes and energy!;

- when there are rumblings, we as leaders need to listen. In fact, we need to actively encourage expressing of genuine dissent. As long as they are with reasons and based on facts and stay clear of race and religions, we must be prepared to listen. If we need to we will agree to disagree!

Happy birthday Singapore. There are work to be done to close the gap between the perception of issues cared about by the populace but being made light of at the highest level of government!