5/19/2011

The Duke of Bukit Timah

After 45 years of history, our political development is taking on the image of medieval Europe when society was divided into the ruling class, the gentry, the landowners and the farmers. We have unwittingly developed a similar ruling class, a gentry class, landlords and of course the worker class that do all the working today to feed the ruling class. The ruling class and gentry are those that have contributed to the success story of this island and it is timely that they should be honoured by the peasants and workers. As a republic, titles like kings and princes may be a bit too much to stomach. Perhaps something less grandeur, like Dukes and Duchess, Counts and Countess, Barons and Baroness would sound quite pleasing. They would also remind the people of our rich colonial past without being seen as subjects of an empire if we were to use titles like Sir or Datuk. The Duke of Bukit Timah, the Count of Toa Payoh, the Baron of Sengkang, etc etc, nice right? And the families of such title holders be entitled to a life pension, I mean stipend, to befit their nobility. Such titles will be better than trying to reinvent the wheel, like Emeritus Ministers or things like dat. And when there is a wedding among these nobilities, we can make it real big, and sell souvenir T shirts, cups and glasses as well. Good for tourism and tourist dollars. The Europeans still have their kings and royalties, the Indians have their Maharajahs, we can have out very own nobilities. And Catherine Lim can write books about the exploits and adventures of Dukes, Counts and Baroness instead of about bind foot maids, so unattractive subjects.

8 comments:

Wally Buffet said...

ESM?

Nothing original.

I am already the Emeritus Emperor of Lijiang since 2009.

Hehe.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

Wally, when you are emperor, no need to clamour for emeritus, simply emperor: )

Wally Buffet said...

I WAS the emperor but you know, my remote corner of China is now overrun by all the Emperor wannabes from the bigger cities like Beijing and Shanghai who have had it with city life. So, I am no longer the Emperor.

But because I was good to the folks in town, they have now named me Emeritus Emperor until such time that a more benevolent emperor can be found.

Fuck me, what's with this title anyway. I just wanna ride into the sunset graciously, without fanfare and let a younger man assume the "exalted" office.

Hehe.

Anonymous said...

It tickles me to think that a certain 70-year-old man is still vain about empty pompous title like ESM!

Renho

Anonymous said...

ESM = extra sensitive mah!

Anonymous said...

Can you imagine the greeting if GTC in a Marine Parade walkaround happen to meet me - I have to say 'Emeritus Senior Minister, sir, ... rubbish rubbish rubbish etc"

He really make my day!

Really Daft.

Jonathan Wu said...

Is "ESM" an official title? Hasn't Goh C.T. stepped down from the Cabinet already? I think it is most befitting to just call him "MP Goh" as a basic respect to Member of Parliament.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

Hi Jonathan, welcome to the blog.

Yes it is official. When you see him you still have to call him SM. The news will report him as ESM Goh and not MP Goh.