Just came back from helping out @ ANGLES HCI 2010. I was helping out as an usher and one of the elocution coaches.
This year's impromptu topics were, frankly speaking, very challenging - I probably wouldn't do very well for the topics if I am a finalist.
Back to the crux - there was this one topic regarding graciousness in Singapore.
There were many interesting viewpoints (which I unfortunately forgot).
And I was suddenly rudely reminded of the lack of graciousness that many Singaporeans now unfortunately possess.
One very appalling yet strong evidence:
from STOMP: 'How can this man continue to sit on the seat when two elderly people are standing in front of him?'
Yet another picture
Again taken from Stomp: 'This mother was seen throwing a piece of tissue paper onto the floor at this MRT station. When she realised a STOMPer had seen her, she tried to hide it under her dress.'
Why is this so?
Is it our culture to be ungracious? I don't believe so.
We must, first and foremost, evaluate the reasons for this trend, before we can even rectify it.
I think that ultimately, the fast-paced, rapidly globalizing environment of Singapore, has impacted the society and imbued our citizens with individualistic ideals. Not exclusively to those in the workforce, but to the other members of the dependent population as well. And secondly, there are too many laws, fines and punishments, and some citizens are probably getting tired of them. That's human nature - the more you enforce certain regulations, the more obstinate they would become.
And this has subsequently led to the graduallly diminishing of core social, civic, and moral values. Just like in 'Animal Farm' the absence of these values will in turn bring in societal declination.
And the government is taking serious, desperate measures to keep these values intact, one most noticeable move being the use of Phua Chu Kang, an icon itself in the domestic media realm:
The improvement since the campaign's start isn't very large, though.
I personally believe that we should focus on our NEXT generation, which would have the highest chances of absorbing these values, since they are still youthful. These shouldn't be taught as part of a 'syllabus', but should, instead, be included as a school value, or etc. etc.
Graciousness isn't something that you can clearly evaluate or define. It originates from core values of the heart. Teachers or educators should thus note that these values, not specific acts of graciousness, should be taught to the students
I suppose that's all.
Cheers,
Zhu Cheng
I feel the same way as you about the ungraciousness. However, I would like to comment on your suggested solution.
ReplyDeleteYes, a person has his own principles, and it is possible to influence the principles under long guidance, but what actually causes the "ungraciousness" is the lack of moral courage.
I believe most of the people on MRT are urging to sacrifice their seat, but yet again, it is human nature to fear that other people would look down on us. Yes, we all know that it is the other way round, where the other people look down on themselves, and respect you, but there is always the lack of moral courage when you see that people do not do it.
The way to solve this problem is to spread the moral courage ourselves. It is seeing other people's gracious actions that inspire us to do the same. You cannot teach moral courage, you can show your moral courage and teach others.
I believe you should understand and perhaps have heard before what I'm saying, that the main point is not for the government to solve it, but to solve it ourselves.
Yes, that power to initiate this phase of change (do note that the government has also started from the young generation, since the campaign is for everyone and that we have been guided by our teachers, to be able to know that we should initiate the spreading of moral courage(that's a long bracket, read the non-bracket part again before you continue)) lies within our hands.
(sorry for the grammar and vocab, I am not in the writing mood today.)
ReplyDeleteI unfortunately, do not agree with this apparent trend around Singapore that says everyone and everyone is uncourteous, I myself had NEVER took the priority seat. Seeing is Believing they always says. And I myself, apart from reading about this act of unkindness on medias, had never really saw it myself.
In fact, what I saw is always various teenagers giving up their seats to elders. I remember one particular incident, when I occupied a seat on the MRT, and an elder came along, probably in her 80's, she stood in front of the rows seats, without hesitating I decided to stand up, and to my surprise, the man seated beside me had stood up with me at the exact same time. There was a later one seat extra and neither of us took it back.
The thing is, the media had focused too much on the acts of unkindness, after all, what is more newsworthy and controversial? Several more enraging pictures of people not giving up their seat or some interview with a guy who did?