"Most young Singaporeans we spoke to were trying to break out of the mould that their parents and the school system had put them in." - Professor Thambyah Siok Kuan (The Straits Times 111204)

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What does it feel like to be a product? Something rolled off the assembly line to be put to "use" in society? The Government is far from personal, but are we really ID numbers tied to taxable income, criminal records and number of children?

I have been blessed with parents who weren't obsessed with where I should be going. That kind of free rein was a privilege that I've only come to appreciate in recent years. I once had the arrogance to say that it was because they couldn't make me do anything; now I realise that to have even developed that line of thought, they must have let me do as I wished in the first place. (Still, I gather they're quite thankful I didn't turn out to become a soccer bookie or an extortionist.)

still, it's good to read that people are starting to wake up from the mass delusion that having more [money/cars/houses/credit cards/parties] is all there is to do. This could be uncomfortable for the people (the 'Garhmen') whose job is to provide us with an environment that enables us to survive on the international market without attempting to turn us into tireless, endlessly creative drones. The economics of survival (as put in the article) must be balanced with the humanity of the individual, family, and even society.

Platitude...everyone knows that, right? The question is "how"?

I can imagine them scrambling to see how benefit could be generated from this.

"...contribute to the vibrancy of the arts scene..." - because we have built a multi-million dollar theatre/exhibition centre to be a "regional arts hub".

"...foster social consciousness in our children..." - because we have had to graft a prosthetic "community involvement points" programme to get our children to take a second glance at the less fortunate.

Well, it turns out that I have no idea how to run a country, and this must be their first time as well. So it'll making it up as we go along, shan't it?


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// Thoughts

What about those people who have found their calling in creating commercial projects. I've got a couple of friends like that. I was repulsed at first, the thought of people I've known since they were 13 getting caught up in the mud-slicked race for money. Until I stopped listening for them and listening to them. I've finally started to accept that it could be really about the project first, money second. Who am I to deny them their passion for creating something that people would pay to use? How is that different from wanting to write a piece of music that people would want to listen to?

Rock on, guys.