Things to be thankful for in S'pore
Letter from Daniel Koh Kah Soon
04:45 AM Aug 11, 2011
Despite some changes in the political scene, post-General Election, and some unease over where Singapore may be heading, there are many reasons for Singaporeans like myself to rejoice and be thankful.
While there is a need to address genuine worries of job security and widening income disparity, we generally do not have too many people unemployed.
While there is a need to attend to the rising cost of living, particularly worries about housing affordability, we do not have people sleeping long-term in our streets, and there is a clear effort to build more apartments and improve policies governing purchase of public housing flats.
While there is a constant need to arrest the worrisome cost of healthcare, our hospitals have excellent medical staff and facilities, and dependable healthcare is relatively accessible.
While the world continues to be threatened by social unrest and high crime rates, we live in a relatively safe place and can still venture out past midnight without fear of being mugged.
While some parts of the world are deeply divided along religious and racial lines, we have neighbours and even family members who hold different religious views. Yet we can live in peace with one another, at the same time respecting each other's right to religious belief.
No one will be completely happy with where Singapore is today. But we do have good reasons to be thankful, and I have listed some of mine.
Happy Birthday, Singapore.
Letter from Daniel Koh Kah Soon
04:45 AM Aug 11, 2011
Despite some changes in the political scene, post-General Election, and some unease over where Singapore may be heading, there are many reasons for Singaporeans like myself to rejoice and be thankful.
While there is a need to address genuine worries of job security and widening income disparity, we generally do not have too many people unemployed.
While there is a need to attend to the rising cost of living, particularly worries about housing affordability, we do not have people sleeping long-term in our streets, and there is a clear effort to build more apartments and improve policies governing purchase of public housing flats.
While there is a constant need to arrest the worrisome cost of healthcare, our hospitals have excellent medical staff and facilities, and dependable healthcare is relatively accessible.
While the world continues to be threatened by social unrest and high crime rates, we live in a relatively safe place and can still venture out past midnight without fear of being mugged.
While some parts of the world are deeply divided along religious and racial lines, we have neighbours and even family members who hold different religious views. Yet we can live in peace with one another, at the same time respecting each other's right to religious belief.
No one will be completely happy with where Singapore is today. But we do have good reasons to be thankful, and I have listed some of mine.
Happy Birthday, Singapore.
