Singapore - OUR Nation.

This article is extended to all Gen Y Singaporeans. However, even if you fall outside of my target audience, do read on. This article is not only applicable to the pre-GE period.

Can't vote, why care? This is why.
I must state upfront that this article is not about "Long live the PAP!", nor is it about "Change is good!". I merely seek to draw out the oppressed humanity left within you. As in my earlier post, my aim is to discourage my fellow Singaporeans from being politically apathetic (indifferent, or simply bo chap!), because it is OUR country that is at stake. This is the place where our descendants are going to live. Their future is in our hands.

Also, for those who find it hard to choose between the opposition or the PAP this election because you are unfamiliar with the events that occurred the GE five years back, now is probably the best time to start learning what happens in our political arena, so as to be able to make a better choice five years down the road.

Who am I?
I am, but, an average Singaporean, definitely not one who can proclaim academic prowess, but merely one who managed to climb up the ladder in our education system. I am on the A level track, and fortunately, did well enough to qualify for a slot in a local university. I have 'recently' completed my National Service, and I await the very day my next academic journey begins. What do I like? To find the 'perfect' answer, in everything. Everything. I do not claim that I know everything about politics, but I will not say that I know nothing about politics. And before this article becomes another 'PAP vs Opposition' read, I would state my stand on the General Elections 2011. Simply put, I am neither Anti-PAP, nor Pro-Opposition. But much as I try to be politically neutral, there might be some instances that I might have unknowingly suggested otherwise. So, before you encounter any, allow me to apologize for not being great with words, resulting in any uneasiness while reading this article which claimed to be politically neutral.

What is my cause?
Like anyone of my age, or even those in their 30s and 40s, I have, without a doubt, no problem supporting myself. If I do not have enough income, I could simply look for more part-time jobs, till the point of self-sufficiency. Hence, this is not about me, or you, or us.

The group of people I am standing up for, is the one who probably cannot read this article. Is it because they are computer illiterate? No, I'd prefer to believe that they simply are unable to afford one. A thought surfacing in your mind? Is it.. the elderly?

Without a doubt, yes. But not every elderly. I stand for the rights of those who are without a voice, for those who have already accepted that their fate is beyond their ability to change. The minority who have fallen through the cracks of our system, and are unable to provide for themselves without assistance.

Looking a little closer.
We have always talked about track records and how well our country has been governed in the past 50 years, how we managed to transform from a geographically insignificant island to a world-class global city, along with the many world-class hubs. And yes, we should never forget how we arrived at what we have today. Our dearest politicians, I, along with many other Singaporeans, would like to extend our most sincere thanks, for all the hard work that you have put in, for the well-being of our nation.

But wait, something is amiss. Did we forget someone? If you are, but, a product of our education system, your answer would probably be no, we didn't. But, thankfully, because we are all humans, there is a little voice inside our hearts that cries "How can we forget them!"

Yes. The people who were in sync with our politicians, the backstage workers, our current elderly. Those who lived through WWII, and through the industrial revolution. Those who have suffered, by no means, anything less than our political leaders. Those that placed their heart and soul into believing that, if they worked hard, their future generations, us, would be able to live a better live. They were the engine of growth in our economy, when it mattered the most. They were the nimble and flexible who raised productivity when  when new methods of production surfaced. And definitely, they were the ones who took a little less, so that we could have a little more. But are we leaving them in the lurch now, simply because they have outlived their usefulness? Simply because they have lived beyond their ability to contribute?

Needless to say, what we enjoy now, my fellow Singaporeans, are not the fruits of only the politicians, but that of our elderly as well. I am proud of them, because they have achieved what they set out to do. But being proud of them is only as far as it goes. Shouldn't we, at least, honor them by providing a helping hand when they are no longer able to provide for themselves? Maybe we can, at least, ensure that they have the basic living necessities? That we do not leave them behind, simply because they can no longer contribute substantially to our economy?

Think about this - We are really not much different from our elderly when they were our age. Except maybe, technologically. But definitely not in terms of energy and dreams. And won't you agree with me, that if this could happen to them, it could happen to us one day? That we are simply dismissed to the outcast of our society, because we can no longer do as much as when we were young? Because we are no longer 'useful'?

In the army, one of the most cliche phrases that commanders, or even peers, use is,

"Leave no man behind."

But are we really practicing what we preach? Aren't the elderly, also, our comrade(fellow Singaporean)?

In my following imperfect analogy, I shall try to illustrate what I stand for.

Suppose you are a commander of a Platoon. One, out of twenty seven, of your men gets shot. He is severely wounded, and is immobile. Now, you know that if you were to leave him there, he would be unable to fend for himself, and would die, for sure. But if you were to bring him along with you, you would be able to save his life, at the expense of your rate of extrication. Will you choose to leave him on his own, or will you bring him along with you?

Sad to say, there are, and have been, some who chose the former.

I once read this quote, and I felt that it was really meaningful for anyone living in a community. It says

"The measure of how developed a country is, is not by how strongly we are pushing forward and breaking new grounds, but how many people we have neglected, in our quest for greater heights."

We are, but, as strong as our weakest links.

At the end of the day, not every reader would share the same sentiments as me. To these people, I would like to ask,

Has our upbringing voided us of our primal instinct - Communal living? Have we become so materialistic and selfish that we choose to remain oblivious to the sufferings of our community, so long as our own needs are met? What if these people I am referring to are your (grand)parents? Or have you not enough empathy to put yourselves in their shoes?

Ask yourself honestly,

When someone approaches you for money, do you think

"I could have used that dollar to...",
OR
"How much more this dollar would mean to him!".

I am, by no means, asking you to be a good Samaritan who places others' needs before yours. But definitely you could place others' needs before your wants!

--Extra--

Now, the most dreaded part of this writing. I really don't hate writing this, but amidst this electoral fever, people always get 'burnt' while writing anything related to any parties. At the end of the day, I am including this simply because I don't want anyone out there to be with regrets, whoever they might support.

I don't want any of you to say, not in order of merit/importance,

1) "Why did I not start the change 5 years earlier?"

2) "Why did I push my luck, when everything was still going relatively smoothly?"

3) "Why did I not vote for PAP/Opposition? My vote might have been the determining factor for their victory."

But I would rather you say,

"Fortunately, I spoiled my vote. Given the amount of information at the time of the elections, I would have voted for the wrong party."

Please, vote wisely. Vote for one whom you truly believe is able to bring you safely across the sea for the next five years, before reaching the next port, where you can choose the next captain to lead you, along with your fellow sailors.

The head processes figures, but the heart can tell sincerity from pretense. Living in a community really isn't all about money. There are some things that you just cannot peg a monetary value to. We ain't running Singapore Inc.

Readers, I definitely appreciate comments, be it for, or against my opinion. But do read through them at least one more time before you post to ensure that it is constructive. Your co-operation is most appreciated!

Come what may!