6/19/2009

From hot heads to wise old men

We have progressed over the last 50 years, and in two months time we will be celebrating 50 years of self government. During the early years of nation building, many of the ministry and dept heads were young and hot headed task masters. They howled and they growled to get things done. They were intolerant of mistakes and heads would roll at the smallest of errors. They demanded the best and no ifs and buts. In a way these were brash and rash men in a hurry to get things done. The room for errors were small. There were heads being given the boots for sending their peons to buy lunch or lottery tickets. Today, as we celebrate our manhood as a nation, we can see the change to a more mature people, civil and graceful. Mistakes were accepted as part and parcel of a job. No risk no mistakes. Big risk big mistakes. No sweat, another day's job. In a way we have grown to be kinder and more forgiving, a sign of maturity and age. We have arrived as a rich and graceful people with plenty of botok on the face, full of forgiveness and compassion for the people. No more hot heads in charge, but plenty of Yodas.

12 comments:

Wally Buffet said...

Live and Let Live!

Time to Move on baby!

Make Hay While The Sun Shines!

Come in Baby suit. Go in Baby suit!

Just Do It!

Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained!

The above are the new mantras and the guideposts to successful living as we near the end of this decade.

Anonymous said...

Glad that at least one Singaporean has confirmed, affirmed or rather described SIN as a nation.

Many think that this country is incapable of conceiving nationhood unless in-vitro. Oh yes, a foreigners' nation.

Anonymous said...

Glad that at least one Singaporean has confirmed, affirmed or rather described SIN as a nation.

Many think that this country is incapable of conceiving nationhood unless in-vitro. Oh yes, a foreigners' nation.

Anonymous said...

soorry hor!!
graceful acceptance of mistakes is only applicable for elites who make mistakes.

and the elites are still fxxking and marking lower mortals who work under them.

sorry also must explain!

Anonymous said...

"Anonymous said...
soorry hor!!
graceful acceptance of mistakes is only applicable for elites who make mistakes.
and the elites are still fxxking and marking lower mortals who work under them.
sorry also must explain!"

It is a pressure cooker society that we are living in. Sick to the core.

Anonymous said...

Internally, Singapore is an oppressive society started by the old leaders who think their ideas is good for society. It turned out that after 50 years or so, the society has become sick with materialism poison and full of hypocrisy. The elites are no better, always appearing in the official media but nobody knows what they do behind the limelight. The poor and the unintelligent are always treated shabbily by the government and related agencies. This is the kind of outwardly beautiful and inwardly ugly society that the old leaders have started. Full of crass moneyism everyday.

Wally Buffet said...

Anon. 10:18

Hi, think on the bright side.

In time, we may have:

1. A PRC for a prime minister.
2. A Filipino for defense minister.
3. A Malaysian for Home Affairs.
4. An Indian for Health Minister.
5. A Thai for Education Minister.
6. A Myanmarese for Labour Minister.

and..........hehe, I am saving the best for last, Singaporeans for NMPs.

Besides the diversity and richness of their various nationalities that they will bring to nation building, 1 to 6 may also be prepared to do more for less!

Anonymous said...

'In time, we may have a PRC for a prime minister....'

Wait long long. The Leegime will last another generation or two.

We are not as liberal as you think.

Anonymous said...

it is one of the most hypocritical societies in Asia....

Anonymous said...

50 years may be too short 4 a dynasty.

Anonymous said...

Singapore is sexy

Chua Chin Leng aka redbean said...

we need to make the foreigners more welcome. maybe we can rotate the presidency and pm posts to include the foreigners.