Vision 1999: To reach the Swiss 1984 standard of living by 1999.
Many Singaporeans may remember that statement made by the government in the run-up to the general elections in 1984. It was bold; grandiose, even. While it might have been appropriate enough a statement to make in light of the economic growth Singapore was enjoying that year, the phrase 'standard of living' – apart from its obvious economical connotations – makes one ask: what of the societal aspects to the supposed Swiss standard of living that the government longed to emulate?
What of the graciousness of this society, and of the conduct and bearing of its citizens? Irrelevant, it would seem, if recent observations made in the times I spent at my very own housing estate were anything to go by.
Two nights ago, as I sat at the al fresco area of the coffeeshop downstairs of my flat, three men were having their dinner at the next table. I heard them, rather, as their conversation – an inane one, by the way, in which one of them was griping about some work-related matters to his companions – was loud and boisterious, and was punctuated with the grotesque sounds of open-mouth chewing, slurping and belching.
It was excruciating to be sitting in such proximity to those men. Compounding my discomfort was a lone man sitting two tables further who obviously did not think that his habitual act of spitting was in poor taste; every five minutes or so, he would hock up a gob of saliva and spit at a spot near his feet. And twice in the whole time he was there, he pressed a finger against the side of his nostril and blew his nose.
This morning, I went down to the same coffeeshop for my daily ritual of nursing a cup of tea and writing.
'Eh, got people sitting here or not?' I thought I heard someone say; I was hunched over my laptop in concentration, and was not aware of my surroundings. I looked up and saw a middle-age man hovering at my table, a plate of food in his hand. I was deep in thought and, not having snapped out of my reverie, was gazing at him blankly.
Seeing how I did not respond, he said: 'Eh, hello. Got people sitting here or not?'
Eh, hello.
Whatever happened to 'Excuse me?'
I gestured my palm to the empty seat. He sat down with much aplomb, the keys and coins in his pockets clinking as he did so. Thereafter, he launched into his meal. 'Attacked' would have been more appropriate a term to use, for he was devouring his food. With his spoon, he errantly scraped twice or thrice before he took a scoop, even as he simultaneously stabbed at a piece of meat or vegetable with his fork. He shoved more food even as he was already chewing with his mouth open.
Next to me, an elderly woman reached out for the ashtray I was using, and without asking, slid it across the table to her end – to right in front of herself – and claiming the ashtray as her own. It was only later when I lit up that she sheepishly nudged the ashtray back to a spot halfway between us.
Every instance I had described above was an everyday observation, of mannerisms exhibited without second thoughts as people went about their daily lives. The way that those in observation conducted themselves without so much of a hint of consciousness at how ugly their behaviors were only made me realize, with much dread, that the government's sweeping vision of a first-rate society in Singapore remains an elusive goal. In its march to affluency and world-class amenities, this government seems to have forgotten the other threads in the tapestry of society that are equally important in what constitutes as high standards of living.
The vision is strictly flawed, and conjoured in myopia. A sweeping notion that seems perfectly feasible when seen through the eyes of cosmopolitans detached from the heartlands. Utopia as it appears to a select few while they look only within the high society they live in, the cultured and the educated stringing along a generation of commoners who were raised with no notions whatsoever of societal grace and conduct.
The fault lies not with either party, and neither should be held accountable for the failure of this vision. The vision is well-intended, I am sure, and certainly the promise of a society in which graciousness is prevalent is most welcome. The crux of the matter lies in the adage that 'the apple does not fall far from the tree', that members of any given society behave only as well as they had been raised. Asking of conduct and grace from a whole generation of Singaporeans raised bourgeois is a lost cause. To seek a Swiss standard of living in the short span of a decade whilst this generation forms the backbone of our society is, frankly, preposterous.
I invite the powers-that-be to step into the heartlands and actually spend a week or two here; what you see may surprise you.
Eh, hello, indeed.
Do I look like a fucking telephone to you?
34, male and very Cancerian. Often irascible, even if he is prescient to his emotions. Lives for the resonance of beautiful passages, cinematic magic and aural bliss. Dabbles in 
Which, again, brings me to my point. Good service will probably be lost on most of the customers here. I suppose, it’s a chicken-and-egg problem.
BTW, I don’t think any of my male friends actually notices or gets so affected by things like that. I do – but I’m still a woman, no matter what you might think :-P
“Do I look (like) a fucking telephone to you?”
Laugh. So classically you.
~ Xena ‘who-used-to-devour-the-biscotti-before-coffee’ Warrior Princess
It can’t be that bad. You’re a heartlander too right? And look how you turned out. 8)
i cant stand all the stuff u described the men doing. my ex used to behave like tht.. and it bugged me like hell.
and i agree with xena about the service thing. I almost always get good service cos i make it a point to be polite to the staff.. and if i don’t, i don’t go back again.
You aren’t far from the cruel truth indeed. But let’s consider the fact that for social graces to be commonplace among the citizenry, it sure takes more than a generation or two.
Personally, I try to culture my more uncouth friends whenever I have the opportunity to. If we all do our part within our own circles, there may yet be a fighting chance.
Well i think they meant economic standard of living not standard of ethics, morals and civic mindedness. That would spell disaster for the government.
The most democratic nation on Earth, where the Swiss vote on almost everything, including moving your tree from your yard, because it has positive externalities.
I blame it on the Chinese agrarian mentality.
It is arguable that because the Chinese are halfway between and shame and guilt culture, civic mindedness is harder to form. The Japanese are a shame culture, so civic mindedness is etched around not being shamed by one’s actions. The West is one based on guilt. You answer to your conscience and God (if you believe in one), and so you are civic minded because it matches up to your ethical code.
At least he asked. Some people just plonk their asses on the chairs at my table without asking. If I’m with friends, I take great pleasure in asking them to fuck off.
We can’t blame the government for people’s behaviour, can we?
People feel so fucking helpless and powerless in this paternalistic place, that’s why they can’t figure out what to do (or not to )except to blame the govt.