Comments, opinions and an occasional ramble
The Wee Shu-min Cyber-drama
I followed the entire “drama” with interest because of the fact that Shu-min is probably a near perfect embodiment of a child from the elite strata of Singapore society.
I did not graduate from the Rafflesian lineage, but nonetheless, I attended institutions that are of comparative quality to Raffles. My observation is that Shu-min is more of an aberration, rather than the norm. To this day, I never cease to be amazed at how humble and un-stuckup (there’s no such word, it’s my invention) some of my peers were, even though they came from extremely wealthy and well-connected backgrounds. They treated everyone the same, regardless of their background.
If Shu-min had been my peer, I would most probably have been tossed into the trash can. My dad was a blue-collar worker, and my mum’s a housewife. By some stroke of miracle, I was granted access to good schools and received a good education. However, to her, she probably thinks that it is her right to enter a good school and receive top education. Her worldview is different because that’s the kind of world she knows.
Reading the various forums that had an active discussion on the issue, it appears that most of the blame has been placed on her. Granted that she’s 18 years of age and is no longer a juvenile (although I have doubts on whether she can be classified as an adult), I don’t think that bulk of the blame should be placed on her. I think that what should really be examined is what led her to develop such a high and mighty attitude.
As the chinese saying goes, 上æ¢ä¸æ£ä¸‹æ¢æª (translation: if the upper support column of a building is not straight, the lower column will be crooked. Means that if the person in charge or in power is substandard, the subordinate or underlings will similarly be substandard). I have seen for myself that some of those born with a silver spoon are nowhere like Shu-min in terms of mentality. In fact, they are polar opposites. My conclusion is that parental influence is probably the deciding factor.
I don’t think that there is much that can be done now that Shu-min already has such a stuck up attitude. The only path for her own salvation is to experience the life of the people she has so casually dismissed. She would do well to learn from the British judge who went to serve a ‘sentence’ so that he can understand how it feels like to be handed a sentence. Before one decides to be high and mighty, it would certain be good to understand the facts first.
Update (22nd October 2006): I’ve added a related post to this issue here.
Update (24 October 2006): Read what some smart-ass Canadians have to say here.
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about 2 years ago
Man i know this is very late but after reading the dad’s comment “SOME PEOPLE CANNOT TAKE THE BRUTAL TRUTH OF LIFE” and his public support for her, i am even more disgusted at how sick our society has become.
I know a lot of people who are retrenched at the age of 40..and its even more sad that the higher they fly (high-fliers..isnt it), the earlier they will be retrenched and never find a new job no matter how high their education level is. No amount of retraining etc will help
Try this, I have relatives with double master and numerous post grad diplomas who were told they are too “over qualified” when they look for work, ever for a much lower position/ salary. YES. employers would turn them away even if they are willing to take a major pay-downscale…….
The only job that does not discriminate you because of age is the PAP and PM position. When LKY “step down”, he always ends up “stepping up”
Ie. When he “step down” as prime minister, he becomes senior minister. Then when he “step down” as senior minister, he becomes minister mentor.
This is an international joke. I cannot explain to my foreign friends who our real leader is: president, prime minister or what? Then if our prime minister needs a mentor, then why did we elect him to be a prime minister then?
Imagine George Bush “stepping down” to become a president mentor for Hilary or Obama?
Total rubbbish