11/11/2012

Sunday’s political trivials





Xi Jinping is expected to take over the leadership of China after the national Congress that is now in progress. There is a nice photo of him today in the Sunday Times, plus a few others in his team. In fact the ST has been introducing the Chinese leaders for the past weeks. A few distinct features can be drawn from the crop of Chinese leaders. These include thick black hair nicely combed and oiled, a white shirt and a govt issued casual zipped jacket on the outside.

According to ST’s China correspondent Grace Ng, these features have their specific meanings. Nicely oiled and combed hair signifies pragmatism, white shirt means rigid professionalism but tempered by a casual jacket probably meaning not too dogmatic and rather down to earth, a leader closely in touch with the ground. The whole package is simply a no nonsense and task oriented pragmatic leadership, nothing frivolous.

What is obvious is the thick black hair on the roof of these leaders. They must have taken the advice by LKY seriously, that leadership must be kept young and vibrant, not oldies that are stuck in the mud with their obsolescent ways of thinking and ideas. And they will maintain this profile throughout their 4 or 8 years in power. Quite a remarkable achievement, looking at Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao and the whole team. They hardly age at all. Maybe the task is easy in a communist state. Maybe they think less hard or no need to work so hard and thus were able to keep their hair black in tact. I am really surprise that they could retain their youthfulness while carrying such huge responsibilities and load on their shoulders. Their hair only turned white after they left office. Jiang Zemin and Zhu Rongji were two good examples. Perhaps they lost all the privileges and the good life in office, no more free medical and goodies that came along while in high office.

Our leaders used to have some similar features, black hair and a suit of simple white shirt and pants. I am not sure if they have the same meaning as the Chinese leaders. Let me hazard a guess. Thick black hair signifies youth. White shirt and pants are often associated with pragmatism and even incorruptibility. These were the characteristics of our past leaders and today it is a different story.

Our political leaders entered politics young and with a nice black crop of hair. Heng Swee Kiat and the two generals are good examples. But within a few terms they would all turn grey or white, looking very wise and dignified. And they would stay that way till they are retired.

The white shirts have changed to something more casual and colourful. The favourite colour is pink or red. And designer jacket is often seen in Parliament. Oh, one more thing, our leaders are mostly nerdy looking in the sense that many put on glasses. The difference is that the glasses could be fashionably thick framed like celebrities. This could mean a more affluent society where life is more enjoyable, living life to the fullest. There is no govt issue jacket to come along.

The grey or white hair or no hair must be telling. Working too hard or thinking too hard to run this unique little island to be the best in the world. This must have taken its toll on their crowning glory. A little dyeing could help to retain that youthful look if they don’t mind trading the look of wisdom that came with grey and white, or the classic balding professori image.

I think the Chinese leaders are having a good deal, less stressful, and an easier job to handle. Or perhaps if they were given a chance to stay as long as they want in power, they would also look like our leaders, ageing wise men. I deliberately left out women as they are still young and beautiful.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I like the way our women politicians in PAP stay young & beautiful thru out their political careers.

Anonymous said...

In the old days PAP members wear white shirts which are their daily work clothes. They had to scrimp to buy a suit. Nowadays the PAP MPs recruited into the ranks have to go out to purchase white short sleeve shirts to keep up appearances'

Anonymous said...

Red Bean, did you deliberately or inadvertently forget to state that some of the Chinese leaders' jet black hair could be dyed ? ......hahahaha...

Anonymous said...

If hair can dye fake black;
then shirt can also dye fake white.
Tio bo?

Anonymous said...

Can someone please tell me how to grow white hair. I am serious! I have actually consulted a barber. My regular Indian barber tells me it cannot be done without completely damaging my hair and possibly doing damage to my scalp. I have tried everything to come across as older and more mature. I have even taken to nursing a pipe, sporting a bush jacket, frameless glasses etc. In a few more weeks, I will even be proceeding along with a walking stick.

Being older projects a more stable and reliable image in business. It's not a bad thing. Not a bad thing at all.

Darkness 2012

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

Its elementary Darkness. Just become a minister. You will acquire and exude wisdom.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

Please lah. Nothing the Chinese can do can match America's hip and handsome black, socialist, Afro-Americano, Kenya, rap, hip-hop, male model, ninja (Osama BL -- dead, Ghaddafi -- dead...during his watch), badd ass, Navy Seal Team 6 Commander-In-Chief President Barrack Hussein Obama.

Go ahead, dye your hair China. Obama is greying, and has hair less than 1cm long, and women get wet looking at him.

China cannot make it lah...this is way out of its depth.

America is one bi ENTERTAINMENT industry. If you have bullshit, give it to the Americans to make yur bullshit look great.

patriot said...

Sinkies like to wonder much; how Sin Leaders are able to sleep and some even assumed that they slept and sleep well.
Why the wonder?

For me, i do sometimes asked myself if all the Sin Leaders are physically, mentally and medically fit. Some walk with some aidants ever ready to catch and support when needed. At times, these Folks can be seen literally swaying.

Then, there are those that spoke hilariously, one or two better than jokers. Next and the most common one are those with grey or white hairs. A mixture of both are normal. Some faces certainly loojed tired and that was easily confirned whence they dozed off at Parlianentary Meetings. Some acquaintances told me to expect them to appear such. Their explanations were Sin Leaders are overworked. Some headed multiple ministries, adviser to many organizations and
appointed to the Board and Chairmanshio of many a company.

Some even jokingly wondered aloud whether the Leaders have time to make love. A few cared so much as to pity for their spouses. A little too kaypoh lah.

Anyway, my personal feeling is that Sin Leaders are really overworked and my worry is that Sinkies and Singapore are indeed in great peril. It seems that there are only a few good folks fit for Sin.

What will happen if they are unable to rule for whatever reason?

patriot

patriot said...

Sinkies like to wonder much; how Sin Leaders are able to sleep and some even assumed that they slept and sleep well.
Why the wonder?

For me, i do sometimes asked myself if all the Sin Leaders are physically, mentally and medically fit. Some walk with some aidants ever ready to catch and support when needed. At times, these Folks can be seen literally swaying.

Then, there are those that spoke hilariously, one or two better than jokers. Next and the most common one are those with grey or white hairs. A mixture of both are normal. Some faces certainly loojed tired and that was easily confirned whence they dozed off at Parlianentary Meetings. Some acquaintances told me to expect them to appear such. Their explanations were Sin Leaders are overworked. Some headed multiple ministries, adviser to many organizations and
appointed to the Board and Chairmanshio of many a company.

Some even jokingly wondered aloud whether the Leaders have time to make love. A few cared so much as to pity for their spouses. A little too kaypoh lah.

Anyway, my personal feeling is that Sin Leaders are really overworked and my worry is that Sinkies and Singapore are indeed in great peril. It seems that there are only a few good folks fit for Sin.

What will happen if they are unable to rule for whatever reason?

patriot

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

You a damn right this time. The American politics is all about entertainment.

The Chinese politics is about nerdy looking leaders, hardened by years of working through the ranks, honing their political skills to emerge at the top. Not good looking like hollywood actors, but what is behind the unappetising look is a very experienced and well trained brilliant man. Not to entertain, but to do a job.

Anonymous said...

History will continue to repeat itself, the first time is tragedy, the second as farce.

- Marx

Anonymous said...

Chinese leaders mean doing a job?There are many very poor and needy people in china. Dont be so taken in by the way they look cos they are just fake. Go deeper into China to see what China really is.

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

If you know the history of China and how poor they were when the communists took over and how they turned a billion poor peasants to become some of the richest in the world, no more famine, and the average Chinese walking with stomach full and walking with their heads high, you won't say such things.

How many countries in the world could do what the Chinese communists did in 60 years?