Tales from the typical Singaporean

Temasek Review has published a series of letters from disaffected Singaporeans trying to find their way in their country, and I think most locals can identify with what they are going through. Ms Judy Eng started recounting how she lost a job position to a foreigner, how the mainstream press gave slanted coverage of a story regarding foreigners, and how she landed a job after a two-month search but is still struggling with her housing loan.

Her letter was quickly followed by Ms Melissa Quek's, detailing her husband's loss of work-life balance and how they needed their parents' help to pay the COV costs for a flat. 32-year-old Devoran also wrote in, passing on a familiar story, where he considers himself lucky to have landed a flat due to being born at the right time.

These are the voices of frustration and disaffection on the ground, people who feel disenchanted with their circumstances that came about through no fault of their own, but rather through the callous policies of the PAP government in the never-ending quest to be cheaper, better, faster.

However, we must be mindful of escalating rhetoric to a point of no return, and it is because of this that I take issue with T. Rajendran's letter. He makes some valid points, most notablly about the lack of subsidised public transport for polytechnic students and the disabled, the rising costs of education, and the frivolity that graces Parliamentary sessions, but I take issue with this:

It is time for Singaporeans to take back our country, eject unnecessary foreigners and start providing decent lives for ourselves.

This is a very serious escalation in tone, and when it comes from a 20-year-old, I am concerned. I have stressed, time and again, that words have consequences. When words like that are written by a young man who is not even of voting age, it is worrying that a whole new generation unacquainted with our violent history may yet escalate their simmering disquiet into alarming action.

Yes, Rajendran, this country can be saved. I understand the frustration. But we have to watch where that heated rhetoric goes; the more often words like that are used, the likelier regrettable acts will be undertaken. That is a risk no Singaporean should dismiss easily. Let cooler heads prevail, and let us all enact real change, in our culture, our politics, and our policies, through support for opposition candidates and via the ballot box.

(h/t: Gwee Li Sui)

Update: I realised I was not unequivocally clear, so I'll clarify. I think Singapore needs change. The status quo is untenable, and our future generations will suffer greatly if we do not. But the way to effect change is by being actively engaged in our social and political spheres. We cannot afford to be apathetic any longer. And we, the people, need to take that first step, if change is to happen.

And that change must come about via the ballot box. Know hope, be that hope, and let your conscience be your guide.

At every crossroads on the path that leads to the future, tradition has placed ten thousand men to guard the past.