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July 17, 2009
Don't be a 'velcro society'
By Leow Si Wan
<a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20090717/In-SG-TEO.jpg"><img src="http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20090717/In-SG-TEO.jpg"></a>
"Our sense of identity and 'rootedness' struggles to compete with the convenience and flexibility offered by the physical and social mobility of our times," Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said. --ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM
IN TODAY'S globalised world marked by new technologies, Singapore must avoid becoming a 'velcro society,' one in which connections come undone as quickly as they are made, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean cautioned on Friday.
Addressing 1,000 upper secondary Raffles Institution students at its school hall, Mr Teo, who is also the Defence Minister, said new network technologies and global flows of talent and resources are challenging history and community, with people spending more time chatting with virtual friends, than with their neighbours.
"Our sense of identity and 'rootedness' struggles to compete with the convenience and flexibility offered by the physical and social mobility of our times," said Mr Teo.
'It is no wonder that some commentators have described contemporary society as a 'velcro society'. This label captures both the ease with which new connections are made and the absence of scars when they come undone.'
Mr Teo gave this personal account to drive his point home.
"On my way to work, I see many young Singaporeans emerging from the buses they take to school. You tap your e-z link card, the bus takes you where you want to go, you tap your e-zl link card again, alight and that is it - tap on, tap off.
"If your bus service were to be discontinued, you might get annoyed because of the inconvenience. If it were replaced by another service, you would just hop onto the new service. Or if the old service remained �but a new one appeared, which offered a faster ride with fewer stops, you would change buses without a further thought.
"But I doubt that many of you would shed a tear because you have become emotionally attached to the bus service, or the bus captain, or the other passengers who might catch the same service. It does not matter as long as you arrive at your intended destination. Tap on, tap off."
While acknowledging that "anonymous, transactional" bus rides are a part of Singaporeans' everyday lives, he cautioned: "However, something valuable would be lost in the process if the daily routine of 'tap on, tap off' turned out to be metaphors for the way we live and negotiate our relationship with the past, present and future - no emotional attachment for friends or neighbours, home or country. "
Still, the minister's 'gut feel' is that Singaporeans do possess a sense of pride and belonging to the country, citing the examples of the recently concluded Asian Youth Games- where athletes and volunteers alike demonstrated pride and enthusiasm - and the National Education show last Saturday where some 20,000 primary school children braved the rain to sing the "Stand up for Singapore" as one.
The challenge Singaporeans face is how to themselves into the global village, to tap on the opportunities the world has to offer, but still feel rooted at heart.
Latest comments
at one time, PAPa said, "child, spread your wings, venture overseas, put us on the map, make us proud."
later, PAPa suffered from the empty nest syndrome, a braindrain in other words, and flung its doors wide open to some talent, whether foreign or fallen only it knows best. when its children deemed other countries to be quite comfortable for living and settling down, while home is always home, PAPa branded its children "quitters", threatening to disown them.
"fine, now your wings are strong and you don't remember who gave you the wings to fly, huh? you think this is the raffles, a velcro society, feel like coming back, come back, don't feel like coming back, then don't?!"
"but PAPa, when i see how you treat your guests - both rich and poor - better than you treat my own brothers and sisters who have chosen to remain, PAPa, please don't blame me for losing faith and losing hope in you. remember, my ah ma and ah gong made you who you are!"
Posted by: unewolke at Sat Jul 18 01:26:33 SGT 2009
looks at how the differential treatment how this PAP government welcome the foreigners versus helping our poor...
who turned its people into a velcro society?
Posted by: pappy at Fri Jul 17 23:02:48 SGT 2009
C'mon la, we have always been a velcro society. We go where the $$$$$ is. It is the value for $$$$$ that is important. Our PAPa government taught us this. I am sure if we get paid 3 million bucks, we can remove the velcro completely and instead get permanently attached to the paymaster. Why the attachment towards individuals, organisations or state institutions that short change us?
Posted by: fcxiao at Fri Jul 17 21:30:13 SGT 2009
harlynrj
"So tell the truth and shame the devil.
Will you be caught reciting the pledge?
And where will you be and what will you be doing when the pledge is recited nationwide? "
I only pledge to make as much money in Singapore while I can.
I be eating and shopping in JB at that time...
Posted by: kokoobird at Fri Jul 17 20:07:46 SGT 2009
So tell the truth and shame the devil.
Will you be caught reciting the pledge?
And where will you be and what will you be doing when the pledge is recited nationwide?
Posted by: sharlynrj at Fri Jul 17 19:29:27 SGT 2009
July 17, 2009
Don't be a 'velcro society'
By Leow Si Wan
<a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20090717/In-SG-TEO.jpg"><img src="http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20090717/In-SG-TEO.jpg"></a>
"Our sense of identity and 'rootedness' struggles to compete with the convenience and flexibility offered by the physical and social mobility of our times," Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said. --ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM
IN TODAY'S globalised world marked by new technologies, Singapore must avoid becoming a 'velcro society,' one in which connections come undone as quickly as they are made, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean cautioned on Friday.
Addressing 1,000 upper secondary Raffles Institution students at its school hall, Mr Teo, who is also the Defence Minister, said new network technologies and global flows of talent and resources are challenging history and community, with people spending more time chatting with virtual friends, than with their neighbours.
"Our sense of identity and 'rootedness' struggles to compete with the convenience and flexibility offered by the physical and social mobility of our times," said Mr Teo.
'It is no wonder that some commentators have described contemporary society as a 'velcro society'. This label captures both the ease with which new connections are made and the absence of scars when they come undone.'
Mr Teo gave this personal account to drive his point home.
"On my way to work, I see many young Singaporeans emerging from the buses they take to school. You tap your e-z link card, the bus takes you where you want to go, you tap your e-zl link card again, alight and that is it - tap on, tap off.
"If your bus service were to be discontinued, you might get annoyed because of the inconvenience. If it were replaced by another service, you would just hop onto the new service. Or if the old service remained �but a new one appeared, which offered a faster ride with fewer stops, you would change buses without a further thought.
"But I doubt that many of you would shed a tear because you have become emotionally attached to the bus service, or the bus captain, or the other passengers who might catch the same service. It does not matter as long as you arrive at your intended destination. Tap on, tap off."
While acknowledging that "anonymous, transactional" bus rides are a part of Singaporeans' everyday lives, he cautioned: "However, something valuable would be lost in the process if the daily routine of 'tap on, tap off' turned out to be metaphors for the way we live and negotiate our relationship with the past, present and future - no emotional attachment for friends or neighbours, home or country. "
Still, the minister's 'gut feel' is that Singaporeans do possess a sense of pride and belonging to the country, citing the examples of the recently concluded Asian Youth Games- where athletes and volunteers alike demonstrated pride and enthusiasm - and the National Education show last Saturday where some 20,000 primary school children braved the rain to sing the "Stand up for Singapore" as one.
The challenge Singaporeans face is how to themselves into the global village, to tap on the opportunities the world has to offer, but still feel rooted at heart.
Latest comments
at one time, PAPa said, "child, spread your wings, venture overseas, put us on the map, make us proud."
later, PAPa suffered from the empty nest syndrome, a braindrain in other words, and flung its doors wide open to some talent, whether foreign or fallen only it knows best. when its children deemed other countries to be quite comfortable for living and settling down, while home is always home, PAPa branded its children "quitters", threatening to disown them.
"fine, now your wings are strong and you don't remember who gave you the wings to fly, huh? you think this is the raffles, a velcro society, feel like coming back, come back, don't feel like coming back, then don't?!"
"but PAPa, when i see how you treat your guests - both rich and poor - better than you treat my own brothers and sisters who have chosen to remain, PAPa, please don't blame me for losing faith and losing hope in you. remember, my ah ma and ah gong made you who you are!"
Posted by: unewolke at Sat Jul 18 01:26:33 SGT 2009
looks at how the differential treatment how this PAP government welcome the foreigners versus helping our poor...
who turned its people into a velcro society?
Posted by: pappy at Fri Jul 17 23:02:48 SGT 2009
C'mon la, we have always been a velcro society. We go where the $$$$$ is. It is the value for $$$$$ that is important. Our PAPa government taught us this. I am sure if we get paid 3 million bucks, we can remove the velcro completely and instead get permanently attached to the paymaster. Why the attachment towards individuals, organisations or state institutions that short change us?
Posted by: fcxiao at Fri Jul 17 21:30:13 SGT 2009
harlynrj
"So tell the truth and shame the devil.
Will you be caught reciting the pledge?
And where will you be and what will you be doing when the pledge is recited nationwide? "
I only pledge to make as much money in Singapore while I can.
I be eating and shopping in JB at that time...
Posted by: kokoobird at Fri Jul 17 20:07:46 SGT 2009
So tell the truth and shame the devil.
Will you be caught reciting the pledge?
And where will you be and what will you be doing when the pledge is recited nationwide?
Posted by: sharlynrj at Fri Jul 17 19:29:27 SGT 2009
