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, 上梁不正下梁歪 (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.