1 step forward, 2 steps back

Came across this post in Martyn See’s blog. I must say his blog makes for very interesting reading. He touches on a lot of topics that every singaporean should be concerned about. His investigation by the police for producing a particular film is also quite sad. And just brings into light yet more aspects of our media. Personally, i am totally jaded with many things.

A large proportion of people are just going about their lives, pursuing that elusive million dollars, that big house, that nice car, etc. All in the hope to live the singapore dream. But at the end of the day, what do we see all around us? Parents stressed out, adults hating their jobs and being stuck in a rut, parents taking that stress out on each other and their kids, kids in turn feeling stressed and exasperated, killed dreams, killed aspirations, constant rhetoric to be realistic/be quiet/do as you’re told/follow the crowd/don’t go against the system/study hard and get a good job/be a productive citizen, kids being told from a young age that they must study-harder-get-as-many-As-as-possible-get-a-good-job-etc, civil servants who are disillusioned, “highflyers” getting fastracked on the road to power and prosperity by virtue of their mugging prowess in exams when they were barely 20yearsold, a climate of fear, people all thinking alike, all too many people who are just terrified of change.

And what is it with this whole obsession with experience and track record?
Sometimes, i think a stellar track record could have more dangers than we realise. There is always the ego factor, self-confidence, and an over-belief in one’s own ability. How often have we seen the big boys fall to the lesser and more inexperienced newbie?

All too often i think.

And I am sure that the commonly quoted disclaimer was not put there for no reason.
Past performance is no indication of future success.

Repeat after me:
Past performance is no indication of future success.

Ok, I might have taken some liberties in the phrasing of that disclaimer. But the idea is there, and it is very often seen in prospectuses of funds and investments.

And this post by Martyn See shows how people can change.

Of course many of us from this internet generation were not born at the time when the speech was made, which was during the turbulent 1960s when Singapore separated from Malaysia. I wonder why our parents do not remember how things have changed when they probably were around to witness the political upheaval and cultural happenings during that time. During the time when Bugis street was buzzing and alive, when rock and pop music was big in singapore, when there was a whole lot of political activity.

But what has happened now?

That same post compares and contrasts many of the changes along the years, as the ruling party has consolidated its power and almost crushed all opposition.

But the pressure is on.

Things are changing very rapidly, and the newer generation has already tuned out of the constant medianoise reporting the same old staid and skewed view.

And like another blog has said, the people are unhappy, and as much as there is talk about crossing the sacred OB markers, the powers that be have to be aware and be afraid, that they are at a large risk of crossing the people’s OB markers. One can only take so much stifling and being pressed down by a large unrelenting hand. Take it too far, and the consequences could be fire. And that overall unhappiness and disillusionment is building up. Things are very much akin to a pressure cooker. The younger generation is willing to take more risks at the expense of material pursuits.

So, what will things be like in 5 years?

Things could very well be the same.

But there is hope.

And I certainly hope for a big change.

A change in mindsets.

A change in social climate.

Isn’t it about time that the people owned the country rather than the other way around?