Somewhere in 2007, before a class began, one of my students commented that Singapore is 'sick'.
She mentioned that why else would scholars go around molesting children, and a teacher who's also a scholar, go around asking 13 years old girls for their breasts size.
She asked me why is this happening.
I told her that it's because of the system emphasizing too much on competition, being 1st etc.
The result? Mental illnesses.
We're producing factories of lunatics, so to speak (read 'Competition and Consequences' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2007/06/competition-and-consequences.html).
Just as I wrote in 'What is, What is not' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2007/09/what-is-what-is-not.html,
"A country can be very good, but education from the wrong footing and perspective can destroy it."
Any system that's based solely on economics with no or little emphasis on morals and values will result in a selfish, me-1st mentality, with its accompanying problems and issues, and resultant social ills.
Consider the following :
1) People rushing in to the MRTs (and lifts), and for seats.
2) Drivers 'beating' traffic lights (ie. driving past traffic lights even though it has turned red).
3) Drivers hit and run, some feeling no remorse whatsoever for their actions.
4) Drivers driving past the zebra-crossing, or making illegal U-turn, or turns, with total disregard for pedestrians who are crossing the roads, and/or pedestrians' safety.
5) People lie, cheat and steal without batting their eye lids.
6) The lack of respect for the elders.
7) Wanton/rampant sex that makes us no different from the animals in our neighbourhood.
8) The abuse and abandonment of animals.
9) Irresponsible pet owners and parents.
10) Lack of P's and Q's (Please and Thank you) and social manners.
My sister related an incident regarding one of her students who's in Primary school.
He and his friend found a wallet outside the school compound one day.
The wallet contains $20 and several credit cards etc.
My sister asked him what did they do with the wallet? Did they hand it to their teacher or the school?
The boy said no.
My sister then asked what did they do with it then?
The boy told my sister that his friend wanted to keep the $20 cos' he's the one who found it.
However, the boy told his friend that if the friend doesn't split the $20 with him, he'll report his friend to the teacher! (That's similar to extortion, don't you think?)
So, the boys pocketed $10 each.
My sister then asked what did they do with the wallet and the cards etc inside?
The boy said they threw it into the dustbin cos' they have no use for it!
Take another example.
During one of my walks in the park, I heard the voice of a young boy shouting vulgarity and profanity at his friends.
From whom did he learn the 'fanciful' and colourful vocabulary from, I wonder.
On several occasions, I've witnessed parents who could not control and/or discipline their wayward kids.
I remember one occasion when a mother was begging and apologising profusely to her spoilt son who was wailing away, for dropping his water bottle.
The boy looked about 4-6 years of age.
On one of the rare occasion that I turn on the TV, I was fortunate enough to watch a program called "TAB TV".
It showed a recording done at several pubs where local women were approaching Caucasian men, who they met for the first time, and 'offering' themselves, whether implicitly or explicitly.
One was recorded as saying, "Ooh ... I feel so horny."
I do not know whether to be amaze , or amuse.
Have you held the door or lift open for others?
Do they thank you?
Or perhaps smile at you?
Or do they just whisk past you without even a glance?
Has anyone ever bumped into you?
Do they say 'excuse me' or 'sorry'?
I think it's because they've got gold in their mouths.
People complain that the public toilets in Tibet are dirty.
I wonder if they ever consider the toilets in Singapore.
Tibet's toilets are dirty understandably cos' their infrastructure is not set up.
But Singapore?
A 1st world country that boasts of so many '1st',
Yet the toilets in so many places, even big shopping centres, are just as bad as those of Tibet's, if not worst.
Strange, isn't it?
I can't comment about the guy's toilets, but the ladies' toilets can be quite appalling sometimes.
It makes me wonder if that's how they use their toilets at home, and who cleans it?Gandhi once said,
"You can see the greatness of a society by how they treat their animals."
I would like to contend that,
"You can also see the development of a society by how they treat their public toilets."
Singapore is developed, no doubt about it.
Physically, that is.
But mentally, morally and socially?
?????
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
- Gandhi
"The only way /solution for there to be peace on Earth, Harmony and Tolerance,
Is for adults who come into contact with children : that is, parents, teachers, tutors,
And the entire system / culture
Ought to change to one that emphasises, centres and hinges on Morality,
With morality as its base."
"Right attitude and character are more important than skills;
Cos' skills can be taught, but character takes a long while to change."
"Business is there to serve humanity, and NOT the other way round."
"As long as people believe that material wealth is more valuable than moral virtue, they will have no real security.
Even if the world economy were to flourish until material wealth is piled as high as the Sun,
The Sun's heat would be no match for the scorching heat of an immoral world.
Moral virtue is the True foundation for human perfection."
- Venerable Acariya Maha Boowa Nanasampanno
"The way to end suffering is NOT to increase greed and desires;
But to reduce and eliminate them."
"Ground the people and children in morals and virtues, and success and happiness will follow.
Ground the people and children in greed, hatred and delusion, then sadness, sorrows, pain and Suffering will ensue."
"A world in which proper spiritual development keeps pace with material development is a truly progressive world where people are bound to live in peace and happiness."
- Venerable Acriya Maha Boowa Sampanno
