There is no doubt that Singapore has done well economically. We have transformed ourselves from a third world, to a first world country in just over 4 decades, in spite of our lack of natural resources and many other challenges. Our strength is in our ability to transform and adapt to the ever changing environment, both regionally and internationally. Besides making Singapore economically strong by constantly upgrading and restructuring our economy, there is also an urgent need to make Singapore strong socially, by building up social resilience among Singaporeans. However, we are currently still far from the ultimate goal of being a socially resilient Singapore.
Let us go back to 2011, where the last GE introduced a new word into the political vocabulary of Singaporeans – “a new political norm”. We had witnessed several milestones in the political arena, both in the ruling party, as well as in the opposition. After the elections, everyone – politicians, society, people, agreed that there is a need to forge a new social compact based on this new political norm. One, where the government is more receptive, more consultative and more engaging. One, where the populace is more vocal and more aware of its rights and not afraid to voice its opinion. This I think is inevitable with a more educated, aware and developed society.
While a new social compact is forged upon this new political norm, there must be a common consensus on the tasks that lies ahead and what we, as Singaporeans, and not just the government, must do. This is something that we have often heard – the government cannot do this alone, we must work hand in hand. And this is no less true. An often heard Chinese adage, tells us that one chopstick is broken easily, but ten chopsticks together, makes for strength in unity.
With the impending silver tsunami, the government has catered for the building of more long term care facilities, and acute care hospitals. However, even more importantly, Singaporeans must excogitate and reach a common consensus on what the task is ahead and how we can all come together to help.
There was an article reported in the BBC last year after the tsunami and nuclear reactor disaster that took place in Fukushima. It reads:
“The deadly tsunami had struck and resulted in a nuclear leak crisis in Fukushima last year. It was while watching the news on television that Mr Yasuteru Yamada decided it was time for his generation to stand up and volunteer themselves. No longer could he be just an observer of the struggle to stabilise the Fukushima nuclear plant. The retired engineer reported back for duty at the age of 72, and organised a team of pensioners to go with him. A group of more than 200 Japanese pensioners volunteered to tackle the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima power station. The Skilled Veterans Corps, as they call themselves, was made up of retired engineers and other professionals, all over the age of 60. They rationalized that they should be facing the dangers of radiation, not the young.
Mr Yamada had said, “Volunteering to take the place of younger workers at the power station is not brave, but logical. I am 72 and on average I probably have another 13 to 15 years left to live. Even if I were exposed to radiation, cancer could take 20 or 30 years or longer to develop. Therefore us older ones have less chance of getting cancer.”
Such is the courage and resilience we see in the Japanese people in the face of adversity. The Japanese people have faced many disasters, from world war, to earthquakes and deadly tsunamis. These have helped built social cohesion and resilience in its people. The fact that he was elderly showed how the elderly too had a role to play in our society.
As a nation, we are far from achieving this ultimate goal of being a socially resilient society. We must learn to work together as a team, as one people in handling difficult situations, including the silver tsunami. We must discard the mindset that “this is not my problem” and that “the government will solve the problem”. We must learn to take responsibility of our living environment, our lives and our own destiny.
We must take the responsibility of looking after our senior citizens well. Our children are watching and learning from us. We will grow old one day and similarly, we want our children to take good care of us in our silver years. We want a Singapore that is strong and inclusive, where its people can live meaningfully and age gracefully and with dignity.
We are not a homogenous society unlike inhabitants of other countries with distinctive one race, one culture, national custumes, languages, etc. or for example Japan as you have describe their uniqueness of the old guardians of the their nation being in the forth front of a devatating Tsunami diaster. I was in Tokyo on that fateday 11-Mar-2011 after a few hours it had struck.
We believe who we are. Not a migrant, no more colony, no more homeless, no more stateless, no more migrating, no more Second Class Citizen. Remember the past, learn to let go to built a better nation, Singapore, we call home. Be a Wise Soldier and Citizens.
We have an identity as the Citizen of Singapore and defenders of many cultures.
Our UNQIUE SOCIAL RESILIENCE AND IDENTITY OF SINGAPORE is we have an identity as the Citizen Of Singapore, and we all already have the knowledge, values and respect of who we are, our each other Cultures (Malay, Chinese, Indian and Western/European). WE ALSO CELEBRATE AND SHARE SOCIALLY EACH OTHER CULTURAL NEW YEARS EVERY YEAR, RELIGIONS AND LANGAUAGES.
Another of our special place of Singapore is Our UNQIUELY mystery social identity is our Calender which calebrates all Culturals New Year’s Day and Believe – Malay ( Selemat Hari Raya Pausa, Hari Raya Haji ), Chinese ( Chinese New Year, Vesak Day), Tamil indian (Deepavali, Vesak Day), Western/European (Christmas, Good Friday) and National Day ( Independence Day) day of our Nationhood and National Identity of all races.
Recent Yahoo News on “Common S’pore identity has yet to develop- – Sun, Mar 18, 2012″ was really let down.
The topic is ‘IDENTITY” and then the word “Culture”. Sound like Chicken or Egg come first, all get mixed up.
Maybe the words and meaning of “IDENTITY” and “CULTURE” are being defined in a MIXED UP and out of context by forum organizer and the panel speaker.
Definition: IDENTITY : The distinct personality of an individual regarded as a persisting entity
Definition: CULTURE – All the knowledge and values shared by a society
As long as our Country is independent, we have an identity as the Citizen Of Singapore, and we all already have the knowledge, values and respect of who we are, our each other Cultures (Malay, Chinese, Indian and Western/European). We also celebrate and share each other Cultural New Years every year, Religions and langauages.
Everyone is being nurtured and taught by Parents at homes, Schools, and Armed Forces.
Being established so many institutions in the societies, schols,armed forces and ministries, we do not need one genration ( 40 years) or 2 generations ( 80 years) to be understood………..and why ?? I was wondering of the whole forum of being flop, scanty or lack of understanding of beginning and embrassment of our social identity and culture by the panel organizer.
Our UNQIUE SOCIAL IDENTITY OF SINGAPORE is We celebrated and shared each other Cultural’s Happy New Years every year with foods, dances, customes, Religions and langauages. In fact, our first and second generation, we have been socially integrated until the WWW ( World Wide Web) dot.com internet information generation social network changes the social norm of Y ( 3rd/4th Generation ) of our nation and globalization of transmigrant integration in our society affecting the social fabric, our way of cultural understanding to uncharter destiny………. indistinct representation of our nation.
WE ARE WISE SOLDIERS AND CITIZENS
Our Uniqueness or One Of A Kind.
The NEW citizens, migrants residents, expatriate and foreign workers in Singapore did not realize that they being protected by WISE Soldiers and Citizens of this nation. If not, the situation will be riots, unrest over unemployment, jobs, immigrants, housing, austerity measures, politic, civil wars, with the government such as France, UK, Australia, PIIGS, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, Bahrain, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Hongkong, Myanmar, Nigeria, South Africa, India/Pakistan, Balkan States Wars, etc
Live and Let Live, life is short to be judgemental, learn to be WISE and grateful for every each day in Singapore there is peace and harmony, remember the Wise Soldiers and Citizens that have made this place wonderful, beautiful, peaceful, etc where you have an identity to celebrate on national Day and multi cultures festivities, food, costume, custom, dances, cultural’s NEW YEARS/Belives ( Hari Raya, Hari Pausa, Chinese new Year, Christmas, Deepavali, Vesak days, Good Friday, whom all of us have shared, enjoyed and acknowledge.
In other countries, the foreign workers are not identified as FOREIGN TALENT ( FT ), lucky here is categorized as FT.
If calamity befall on Singapore, all the FT, Foreigners will abandon Singapore except the Wise Soldier and Elderly Wise Citizen and Soldiers be the fore front to anticipate and rebuilt the City of Singapore.
The policy need to be reversible than irreversible, if it is disadvantage to the governing of the nation……….the citizens of Singapore, the cries of the needy………especially the elderly Wise Soldiers to volunteer at the fore front, there is a big contribution in time of trouble, as you have been inspired just like Japan’s Nuclear Meltdown to be contained, instead of letting young civil defence’s soldiers to be at the frontline. If this happen to Singapore, all the foreigners will abandon Singapore……………………..
THINK ABOUT IT for your realization of reality if it will befall in Singapore.
We need Wise Government and wise governance in all ministries, rather than being “good” governance……………or corporate givernance
We are Wise Soldiers and Citizens, the valuable assets to defend the Identity, the Cultures and the small Nation, Singapore we all call home.