10/26/2006
duck can sing and cock can swim
Wee Siew Kim has formally apologised today after his earlier reply was deemed unacceptable in cyberspace. Not sure how MSM would interpret his reply, but if we take the lack of reports or forum letters as an indicator, maybe we can assume that MSM has let the matter rest. Only in Cyberspace, the modern day Liangshan that the mood is different, and the protest vehement. Talking about two different worlds, indeed there are two worlds apart. And one is speaking like chicken and another like ducks.
Some would want to let the matter rest but some will still be angry. What I think needs to be reviewed is the policy of inducting or co copting successful supertalents into politics. These are able men and women for sure. They have done well in their chosen fields. Politics is a different ball game.
There are many reasons why these able people should not be in politics. One of which is interest. Are they really interested and have the people's interest at heart? Or are they coerced to join, or just jump into the bandwagon for a little ride and fame, and fortune? Or they are in for a totally different agenda?
Whatever, these people have very little time given their tight schedules in their professions and family. People may want to believe that they are superhumans and can work 25 hours. But remove the facade of their achievements, they are basically another human being who needs to eat, sleep and rest and a little time for themselves.
It would be more merciful to let them enjoy their success in what they are doing than to bring them into politics to suffer, and if not being careful, be disgraced in front of everyone. By so doing, we are doing injustice to them and to the people.
Wee Siew Kim will now be very bitter for having accepted the call to be in politics. Why did he mess up his life, his family's life, to go into politics when he could be very happy as a CEO in the corporate world.
We must be fair to our people, especially the highly valued few supertalents that we have. Do not abuse them by forcing them to be supermen and superwomen. A duck can swim but not run. A cock can crow but not sing. Lets not assume that a duck can sing and a cock can also swim.
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8 comments:
Unfortunately RedBean,
We do not understand his motivation wanting to be MP. EVeryone know that MP has getting higher chance of business given their connection. This is so, especially in Singapore where so called GLC is so common and is not been questioned. He could have been CEO alone, and not MP. But then, you have to asked , could he be CEO if he is not MP. I believe MP, especially a high flyer one like him, can turn policy and regulation to his advantage given the lack of democracy and transparency in Singapore legal system.
Just type in google the following word together:
singapore bullshit
and you find what I means perhaps.
Although he apologised, but after this, business as usual for him. It take a mouth to say sorry, but it take action to prove otherwise. Talent or no talent, if he is MP, then he should work towards the best for the people, not vice versa.
Having an MBA myself, I know what business theory is all about. Business book never teach you about humility. It all about effectiveness and efficiency, etc productivity, cost-advantage. Yes, all these are crapped if it does not take human into consideration.
what motivation when you are invited to political office? i may be wrong, but many coopted politicians will be very happy in the corporate world making all their money without having to face the anger of a pathetic leech begging for help.
and why face the risk of being punched and still got to put on a smile? being a politician is not an easy task unless hypocrisy is not an issue.
the corporate world is a much simpler world. as a ceo you set the tone and the weather.
I have a different way of looking at it.
Our MPs are there to make up the numbers, given the super GRCs we have a penchant for.
They may be threatened to enter politics? Imagine, what happens when you say no to LKY?
His continued employment is just part of the deal. Would they get another cushy job elsewhere? Who can pay them?!
These MPs have not influence nor impact on the various policies. They are PR officers, which in Wee's situation, he had failed badly.
Because he did not run a competitive business. He had no angry customers to deal with. He was just clueless aside from what he learnt from his overseas education.
Dear Redbean,
Yes Cock should crow and duck should quack. However, when a duckling tries to crowing instead of quacking, it offends all the cocks who have crowed so long in hoping of the ducks understanding the problems of the cocks.
Get my point?
Cocks are common people.
Ducks are the elite.
the article "duck can swim, cock can sing" highlights a broader issue in Singapore today - that is the widening gap between the upper and mid to lower classes in the society.
the scholarship system has over the years breed a group of ruling elites. while they have served singapore well in the past, one question that keeps popping in my head is whether such a model is the way to go in the future.
this entire saga revolving around wee siew khim and his daughter once again suggests that the elite class in singapore might be getting too detached from the realities of the remaining 80-90% of the population...
i think wee siew kim is caught with trying to protect his little girl and thus came out a bit incoherent in his first reply. if it is not his daughter, then the answere could be more cogent and clear.
hi rowen and mr economics,
the cock and duck story can be look at from various angles. despite all the heat i think people are being too harsh on the girl. the anger is, i think, at other place and she becomes a scapegoat in the process.
this duck and cock formula. it entrenches the belief that once a cock can crow, it must be able to swim and dance and do all kinds of other tricks. that is why you see that once a person is a scholar or chosen one, he is fit to wear 20 or 30 hats, a super talent.
fortunately the kingmaker is not a footballer. if he is, all footballers will become politicians, ceos, and everything, under the same formula. then michael owen or zidane can be presidents or prime ministers and top bankers as well.
oops,
forget to extend my warm welcome to mr economics.
you are welcome to the blog. and all of you are most welcome to my forum at www.redbeanforum.com. it is turning into a morning bulletin now. : )
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