Rude Singaporeans

I spent a trip back home reflecting on an article from The Sydney Morning Herald, which was about Singaporeans’ lack of good manners.

My first reaction? I found myself on both sides of the fence. I thought it was inaccurate but it couldn’t be entirely false, can it?

There will always be ungracious and gracious people around us whether we are living with an indigenous tribe, or staying in a five-star hotel. Visitors to a place may choose to highlight the bad or the good, depending on many factors, really.

Everyone has their own opinions and beliefs, let’s respect that.

The article may have made some assumptions but we are lying if we say that we have never been witness to or victims of ungracious behaviour on public transportation or at food courts.

The article gives us the opportunity for self reflection and that is evident in the comments made by netizens in Stomp, Transitioning.org, and Spug Forum for instance, and newspaper readers in the past week.

Talking about how we are as a society can indeed affect how present and future generations think and act. Discussing such issues is a step to an awakening for us to the real situation of our society.

Campaigns, controversial articles, or just outspoken individuals – sometimes, we need something to jolt us to see our world from a wider perspective. When we get too engrossed in the pace of our own lives, we overlook the small yet important things around us.

But let us also not dismiss the Singaporeans who are living testimony to the idea that graciousness is alive and well in our country.

Singaporeans have been sharing their graciousness stories with SKM and the Movement continues to document events affirming everyday kindness as well.

I have written an entry not to defame an article or how it was presented, but to invite Singaporeans to take this as an opportunity to assess ourselves as a society.

Do we really have a long way to go? Or are we not doing so badly as a society?

Are you thinking now?

Thanks for taking the first step.

Start, show and share,
GG