Letter to Singapore
Dear Singapore,
You have been so effective in parenting me. You put me in school, prepared me for my all-important career and even set up a fund for me to use all the way into my university life. You built affordable apartments, giving me a house I call my own and upgrade it every now and then. You put amenities in my neighborhood, allowing me to take for granted the convenience of easily available inexpensive, good food until I got hungry in a foreign land at night, craving for a simple something I canÕt get. You gave me a green environment, clean air and plenty of air-conditioned malls to pass time in. You worked hard to bring in the money and jobs, doing Ōnecessary evilsÕ, yet strive to protect me from temptations. You plan for my retirement, teaching me the values of saving and thriftiness. You set strict laws against deviants and petty crimes, strongly believing it is necessary to protect our values and making me believe it Õs the reason our streets are safe.
You have done great at nurturing and providing for me. For that, I am thankful. But now, IÕm grown up. Like a stubborn parent, you have continued to protect and make decisions for me. I am dependent on you, and sometimes, I doubt my ability to make wise decisions for myself, especially if it defies what you told me.
I hear of things IÕm missing. Like falling hard, breaking a leg and learning empathy for the crippled. Like speaking up whenever I disagree and learning to put my argument across convincingly. Like making friends with strange people dressed in stranger ways and embracing their alternative points of view and lifestyles, even if itÕs not one IÕd choose for myself. Like being encouraged to pursue an interest that will open my mind and color my life, even if it doesnÕt bring me any material satisfaction. Like doing harmless things simply because I feel like it, and not because IÕm allowed to.
ItÕs time you let go. We will become stronger and learn to make better decisions if we grow up with scrapped knees and some scars. Your streets are beautiful, you have interesting people and some wonderful heritage. If only you would spare us the time away from academia and material success to explore more of you and create our own legacy for your children. If only we wonÕt be overenthusiastic in replacing our history with prosperity. Let us truly celebrate the differences in our society, for being different is not being wrong. And how I hope you would encourage us to keep our own language in this global city, please leh.
LetÕs play together. WeÕll go roller blade without knee protection and hike without insect repellent. LetÕs put down work for a day and explore your peopleÕs alternative culture. IÕm sure weÕll enjoy ourselves and return home in one piece.